Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 81

Weapon-Eating Bastard – Episode 81

While doing the analysis, Valerie wrote an experimental log about Lee Cheol.

-Day 1 of Experiment.

‘Ah, experiment. It’s training.’

Valerie chuckled and tapped on the keyboard.

The experiment is secondary, and this is just… yes, an examination. More like training and examination. It’s definitely not an experiment to satisfy my curiosity.

This is just faithfully carrying out what Lee Cheol requested.

Of course, it would be a waste to discard the data I worked so hard to create, so I’ll save it as a file.

-Day 1 of Training.

-First, the reaction of the optic nerve, brain waves, and nerve reactions through fMRI [functional magnetic resonance imaging] from time to time… Maybe I should get a CT [computed tomography] machine. I might need to examine the body in more detail.

……(Omitted)…….

It has been confirmed that the one-dimensional mana circuit can be easily seen with the Magic Eye.

Up to 6th circle magic, there was some pain, but it was confirmed that 7th circle magic could be read without difficulty.

I can’t understand what kind of training he did to control such a complex Magic Eye at such a young age.

Valerie continued her analysis during the day, while Lee Cheol continued his training in the adjacent lab.

Valerie checked Lee Cheol’s condition from time to time while doing the analysis.

Even though magic and machines thoroughly manage it, it’s not easy to completely figure out the mental or spiritual aspects, even when checking with brain waves.

Valerie continued to write in her log.

-Day 3 of Training.

-I also experimented with the possibility of clairvoyance by having him read a magic formula hidden behind an iron plate on purpose.

To put it simply, it’s not clairvoyance.

If I had to say, it seems like he’s reading the energy of objects.

But that was just an ordinary pencil, not an organic matter with life, nor an artifact with special power.

I can’t figure out what he’s reading or through what process.

Isn’t this more like a martial artist’s Mind’s Eye?

Next, I tested moving objects.

I used familiars and simple experimental animals.

At this time, he showed the ability to predict even the flow of blood and the movement of muscles in advance.

I wondered if it was like a martial artist’s insight, but I saw brain waves when he used the Magic Eye.

There’s also the possibility of precognition.

But this kid can’t keep his Magic Eye open for more than 2 hours.

It would have been nice if his brain and eyes had a little more durability.

More experiments! No, more training!

-Day 8 of Experiment.

-He updated the difficulty so quickly it was terrifying. I subtly raised the difficulty significantly, but he even caught up with that. Even I wasn’t that fast.

His recovery is terrifying.

It’s as if he was born with a body for the Magic Eye. The brain’s reaction is also strange. I should have bought a CT scan.

Now I might have to take it apart…….

……(Omitted)…….

It wasn’t precognition.

Rather, it’s closer to an analytical eye.

But it’s not a concept like reading the thoughts imbued in objects or having insight into the structure of objects like my Magic Eye.

I was going to name it ‘Mana Eye’ because I thought it was a type that reads some kind of energy, but that wasn’t it either.

Lee Cheol’s Magic Eye wasn’t seeing several things at the same time.

It’s just that the type of things he sees is incredibly high-dimensional.

I think it’s almost time to name it. Well, if I had to express it…….

Valerie stopped writing in her log.

The moment she said it out loud or wrote it in her log, it felt like it would be framed in that direction.

Thud!

About that time, Lee Cheol opened the door to the lab and walked out.

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

Valerie quickly pressed the Alt+Tab keys to lower the screen.

“……”

‘Ugh, just pretend you don’t know. Look at those eyes.’

That sharp little brat.

He noticed that the screen went down and is narrowing his eyes and staring at her.

“The machine suddenly stopped, so I came out. The alarm was loud; didn’t you hear it?”

“The alarm was loud?”

Valerie tilted her head and checked the panel connected to the inside of the lab.

‘It’s over?’

The machine had automatically stopped because all the prepared stages of training were finished.

But how already?

Originally, his growth rate was fast, but I thought it would take at least two more days.

Lee Cheol, who came next to her and read the panel together, nodded.

“It seems to be over.”

Lee Cheol shuddered as if it were terrible.

“What, what are you? How did you read it?”

Even though she speaks Korean well, her native language was French, and of course, French was written on the panel.

“I can do everyday conversation. I can also read and write simple things. The direct line of the Soongmu Lee family must learn the languages of important countries.”

Valerie’s face turned red.

“You, you, why didn’t you say so!”

“You didn’t ask. Besides, I can’t do free talking to that extent.”

Valerie blinked her big eyes and recalled her memories.

“Th, then, by any chance……”

“I sometimes heard you talking to yourself and swearing, but you don’t have to worry too much about it.”

Valerie gritted her teeth.

Damn brat.

“Hey! That’s not the point. Why is it taking you so long? I thought it would be over two days ago! You were slacking off, weren’t you!”

Valerie shouted without realizing it, feeling embarrassed.

“……”

Lee Cheol looked at her again with suspicious eyes.

But soon, he sighed and shook his head.

“I think I’ve been accumulating some fatigue from repeating it every day. My mana circuits also seemed a bit overheated because there was no rest time. My concentration dropped a bit, so I unconsciously held back for a few days, but you noticed that.”

“Huh? Ah, yes! I noticed! Anyone would notice if the growth rate suddenly drops. Haha, ha……”

Lee Cheol nodded.

“Then, may I go to my room and rest for a while?”

“Yes! Go ahead. Go ahead!”

“Thank you.”

Lee Cheol left the lab.

Valerie, left alone in the lab, swallowed hard.

What? Holding back? Concentration? Mana circuits this and that?

“……Should I have made it a little stronger?”

Valerie’s eyes gleamed dangerously.

But she soon dismissed the thought and checked today’s records.

Now, the identity of Lee Cheol’s Magic Eye was beginning to take shape.

* * *

On the day the training ended, Valerie led me to the training ground for the first time instead of the lab.

“The first stage of training is over.”

“Is that so?”

It was painful, but it was a very beneficial time.

It was also a time when I realized that traditional training methods weren’t the only right way.

Some types of training showed greater efficiency when supported by the latest equipment and systematic methods.

‘The control of the Magic Eye has become much easier. Now, I can control it to some extent without having to concentrate.’

I pressed my eyelids with my fingers.

Even though my ability to handle the Magic Eye had improved a lot in Cheonwisan, it was difficult to control it at all on the streets of Gyeongju.

Even after coming to the workshop, the Magic Eye would open on its own if I wasn’t tense.

But after starting training, I began to control the Magic Eye as naturally as breathing.

The duration of the Magic Eye has also increased considerably. I’ve also become skilled at distinguishing between what I want to see and what I don’t want to see.

There are still many shortcomings, but at least it doesn’t open on its own and cause pain.

“I honestly want to keep training in the lab……”

Valerie took out a cigarette, put it in her ivory mouthpiece, and lit it with her index finger.

“You’re not a scholar, and you need something that you can actually use. So, I thought it would be better to do proper training now.”

“I’m fine with it. But I don’t know if I’m helping with the research. I said I would help with what I can.”

“Huh? Ah, ah. No. You’re helping enough.”

Valerie looked away and thought about the experimental data that would be stored on her hard drive.

Lee Cheol doesn’t seem to know, but a lot of data has already been extracted.

Lee Cheol’s Magic Eye had many exceptional aspects, so valuable data could be obtained.

‘If I can just finish the paper first…… Hehe, it will be a huge topic in academia. Who in the world would write a paper on the Magic Eye?’

It will be a paper that only she can write in the whole world.

My teacher will also be surprised.

In fact, I came to Korea to learn the structure and process of magic, but there were other benefits.

Then Lee Cheol spoke first.

“By the way, shouldn’t you quit smoking? It’s not good for your health.”

“It doesn’t matter. I burn all the toxic substances with mana. Besides, if my body gets a little worse, I’ll just drink a potion.”

She was a heavy smoker like no other.

Potions are so expensive, but she’s willing to put up with it and smoke.

I didn’t bother to interfere.

“Then, should I use the Magic Eye this time like before?”

“Wait a minute.”

Valerie raised her mana.

Starting from where Valerie was standing, mana spread like a spider web throughout the training ground.

“I’ve strengthened the magic formula of the training ground. It will be much more complex than before. Now turn on the Magic Eye. Ah, wait. And now you should get rid of the routine of closing and opening your eyes.”

“It’s an unnecessary habit.”

“Even small things become habits if repeated for a long time. That might be good for immediate control, but it can have a negative effect later. For example, what if you need to use the Magic Eye but can’t close your eyes?”

I nodded.

I also agreed with getting rid of unnecessary habits.

Whoong!

With my eyes open, I focused mana on my eyes.

It took a little time to open the Magic Eye without the habit of closing and opening my eyes, but soon the Magic Eye opened naturally.

Throb!

A slight headache stabbed my head.

I frowned without realizing it, but that was it.

Until a few days ago, the pain was felt quite strongly, so I needed time to adjust, but now I only felt a slight headache even though the training ground’s formula was strengthened.

“Good. Are you watching well?”

“……Yes. I can see well.”

I was impressed.

The colorful flow of mana was intricately intertwined and spread throughout the workshop.

It felt like looking at a human mana circuit, or like looking at a work of art made of mana circuits.

There was a rule in that complex flow, and there was freedom even within the rules.

‘Valerie de Bell…….’

I don’t know much about magic, but to be able to create this kind of workshop, and even strengthen it by simply injecting mana into such a complex structure, she was a terrifying person.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Hmm…… Well, okay.”

Valerie didn’t open her Magic Eye.

She looked at me and opened her mouth.

“Now, we’re going to train you to control the Magic Eye in a real situation. Be careful not to drop what’s attached to your head so you can see the flow of mana.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“You have to do well with unnecessary habits or the know-how of the Magic Eye as I told you.”

“How are we going to train?”

“Well…… We’re not training anything else, it’s the Magic Eye, right? Then it’s obvious!”

Whoosh!

At that moment, a huge fireball soared over Valerie’s head.

The orange-burning fireball was so bright that it stung my eyes even without looking at it with the Magic Eye.

“……Why is that suddenly.”

I have a bad feeling.

“Magic Eye training is simple, isn’t it? Just watch, dodge well, and that’s it. Dodge well! Hahahahaha!”

Kwaaaaa!

The fireball flew towards me, aiming accurately at me.

The air trembled with that terrifying heat.

“Damn it!”

I immediately drew Mujin.

But Valerie’s shout came.

“Uh-uh! You can’t use weapons!”

You should have said that in advance!

I pulled up my mana and stared at the fireball.

A tremendous flow of mana.

If I get hit, I’ll be roasted alive.

‘This crazy scientist!’

I read the flow with the Magic Eye, analyzed the situation, and identified the location to avoid.

I quickly dodged to the side and rolled on the ground.

‘I avoided it.’

If it was right after I came to the workshop, I wouldn’t have been able to avoid it.

The Magic Eye has grown.

No, to be exact, I, who handles the Magic Eye, have grown.

“Huh? It’s not over yet?”

“……!”

At that moment, the fireball, which should have collided with the ground, changed direction vertically and flew towards me again.

“Hehehe.”

Valerie made a bizarre smile and shook the ivory mouthpiece she was holding in her mouth.

Her mouthpiece was her own wand.

Depending on the movement of the mouthpiece, the fireball split, shot out, and changed shape.

“Listen while dodging.”

Valerie blew out cigarette smoke.

“Now that I know the identity of your Magic Eye. I’ll explain it to you from now on.”

A smile formed on Valerie’s lips.