Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 88

Weapon-Eating Bastard – Episode 88

I gazed at the scene unfolding before me.

The elderly man conversing with someone was undoubtedly Ancestor Yi Hyang-seon, the second head of the family.

-Someone must also prepare for future generations. Seal me away with it.

To transcend countless ages and witness a tale from the distant past.

Moreover, to feel it so vividly as if hearing it right beside me… it was a sensation beyond description.

I didn’t understand the ancient Korean spoken by the other party, yet I comprehended it, and the archaic attire felt both foreign and familiar.

Even though I was hearing a voice from over a thousand years ago.

The voice felt as familiar as if it were my own.

-There’s no need for Father to take on that role.

-Father, you still have much to do.

Several voices echoed in succession.

It was the same sensation I felt when reading the memories of weapons through Black Qi [a dark energy], or, more precisely, the sensation I felt whenever I first read the new memories of Mujin, not just ordinary weapons.

I was a mere observer, yet I watched every scene as if I were present in reality.

‘But, how?’

I could only read memories through Black Qi when it came to weapons.

But now, I hadn’t touched the ancestor’s weapon.

Then, where did this memory originate from?

‘Could it be that energy from just now?’

Something similar to Black Qi, yet different.

I had a feeling that the energy was showing me memories.

-I’ve already lived a full lifespan. I’ve even seen my grandson’s son, so it’s time to relinquish my desires.

Zzzzzz!

With a sound like splitting dry wood, the scenery before my eyes began to distort.

I focused my mind.

I wasn’t yet certain what was happening, but I had a feeling that I was hearing a secret history that had remained unknown for over a thousand years.

-Fath… this is…….

-In the tomb…… this…….

-Not the capital…… not…….

The story continued in an agitated tone.

-Father was a bystander.

Then, a single phrase struck my ears.

It was the voice of Ancestor Yi Hyang-seon.

About the ancestor’s father, namely Yi Hyul-hyeon, the founder of Sungmu Yi Family.

-Someday, that… will reveal itself… I will hold it until then.

-Someone must prepare for future generations.

The ancestor’s voice continued.

The voice was clear, but the phenomenon of frequent interruptions in important parts did not disappear.

And.

-In the distant future, among the descendants, an heir chosen by Black Night [MC’s sword] will be born.

-Father tried to hide it, but I saw it as a beacon of hope.

-I will seal … with myself, so do not try to awaken me. This … is dangerous. The inhuman hordes seeking this … will continue to emerge like weeds…….

The ancestor, as if leaving a will, lifted the stone tablet and handed it to his eldest son.

-Create something like it and spread it throughout the world. Someday, an heir will follow that stone tablet and find me.

As Yi Hyang-seon said those words, his gaze suddenly turned to the distant void.

I was in that void.

‘Gasp!’

Was it just a coincidence that our eyes met, or did he truly recognize me?

The deep, heavy amber eyes stared intently at me.

Clang!

The collapse of the illusion accelerated.

The viewpoint shifted.

It was the entrance to the tomb.

The ancestor opened his mouth before the shimmering lights.

-I will bear even the ailments that have befallen you because of …, so let us make a promise. I ask that you protect this place for the one who will come to my tomb.

Surrounding the ancestor were fairies.

It was the story of the contract between the ancestor and the fairies.

The fairies emitted light.

It was a light signifying the completion of the contract.

The viewpoint changed again.

I couldn’t tell how much time had passed.

-So much time has passed.

The ancestor sat alone, embracing his sword.

In this place with numerous sealing spells, he silently gazed into the void, waiting for something.

‘Did he come here alive?’

I don’t know how much time has passed between the previous two scenes and this moment.

I can only guess that it wasn’t a short time.

But the ancestor didn’t age.

Not only did he not age, but he looked as if time had been reversed, appearing decades younger.

-Please.

Even though his body was rejuvenated and full of energy, the ancestor’s face was filled with fatigue.

And quietly, he raised his head.

The ancestor’s gaze met mine.

-I hope… that you will come… and release… me from this heavy…….

Zzzzz! Zzzzz!

The distorted world eventually crumbled.

The visible world began to scatter into black particles.

And…….

* * *

When the illusion ended, the scene that unfolded before my eyes was the scenery of the crypt covered in black mist.

“Ugh!”

A terrible headache struck my head.

At the same time, my senses began to mix chaotically as if someone had stirred my head.

Suddenly, the scenery of my room in the main house appeared in both eyes, and the taste of sweet sugar was on my tongue, and suddenly, the fragrant tea scent penetrated my nose.

“Cough! Hack! Hack!”

I fell to the ground and coughed violently.

At that moment, black mist poured out of my mouth, nose, eyes, and ears like water.

It was the black mist that had covered my body before seeing the illusion.

‘Black Qi had clearly devoured it…….’

Throb-.

Whether it was due to some kind of impact, the black mist did not move as violently as before and wriggled.

Whoosh!

As if not giving up yet, it rushed at me.

But unlike before, I was prepared in advance.

Kiiiiing!

Black Night spat out a chilling sword cry.

Stab!

The black mist pierced by Black Night trembled and wriggled.

Then, it scattered as if blown away by the wind.

“Haa…….”

The tension was released and I collapsed.

‘I didn’t know it would be this difficult.’

In fact, my physical condition was not bad.

I had replenished my mana and rested after the battle with the fairy, so I had stamina left.

But I was incredibly tired.

It was my first time feeling like this.

‘What on earth happened?’

I organized my thoughts with a deep sigh.

Sealing, tomb, black mist, numerous illusions, and Black Qi.

‘……This?’

And I felt that the nature of Black Qi, located near my heart, had changed strangely.

If I didn’t intend it, it would just stay in my heart, but now it felt like it was spread evenly throughout my body.

Its size has also increased significantly compared to before.

It was incomparable to when I ate a few masterpiece-level weapons.

I raised Black Qi as a test.

The black particles extending from my fingertips were darker than darkness.

Black Qi flickered like a flame on my palm.

“What on earth is this…….”

After watching the surging Black Qi for a while, I clenched my fist.

Then it immediately scattered and was absorbed back into my body.

I didn’t know why the Black Qi in my heart had devoured the black mist and grown in size.

Even if I thought about it, there was no answer.

I shook my head and slowly got up from my seat.

‘I can’t know all the context yet, but…….’

I think I know why my first brother didn’t release all the information.

‘If it wasn’t for Black Qi, I might have been swallowed too.’

The place that the ancestor sealed at the cost of his life could not have been rashly opened.

I turned my head and looked at the ancestor sitting there.

‘In the first place, this place was not a tomb, but merely a space for sealing. The ancestor was waiting here for someone to come in later generations.’

Under the circumstances, the ancestor voluntarily entered this place to seal the black mist that was absorbed into me.

And he had his descendants engrave stone tablets and release them into the world.

For the descendants who would come here in the distant future.

No, for me.

‘Can that be possible?’

Even if he reached the highest level, can a human read the history of the future more than a thousand years ago?

Even the owner of Foresight, the greatest prophet, can only vaguely see the future within a few years.

Moreover, I even regressed.

‘There’s something. Besides…… even the content you mentioned about the founder.’

I had a feeling that there was more hidden history.

Unfortunately, that’s a story I can’t know for now.

Swish!

I sheathed Black Night, which had stabbed the black mist, and released the fixing strap and placed it respectfully on the ground.

After tidying up my clothes and arranging my hair neatly, I took a breath.

And I stood before the ancestor’s remains with a polite but dignified gait.

“Please forgive the rudeness of greeting you so late.”

Now, the eerie energy that I felt when I first entered the crypt was no longer felt.

“The last descendant of the family meets the ancestor.”

Once, twice, and again half a time [a traditional Korean bow].

I bowed two and a half times and took a short moment of silence to pay my respects.

“It’s too late, but I came here like this according to the ancestor’s arrangement.”

I looked at the ancestor sitting there as he was.

And I continued to speak with all my heart.

Towards the ancestor who could not close his eyes comfortably in the coffin and waited for future generations even after death.

“Now that I will bear that burden, I hope you will rest in peace.”

It was that moment.

Swish-.

The ancestor’s body, sitting with his sword in his arms, began to scatter like dust.

The ancestor, the sword he held in his arms, and even the clothes he wore.

I looked at the ancestor who had laid down the burden he had been carrying for a long time and entered eternal rest, and once again took a deep moment of silence.

Whoosh!

But not everything disappeared.

One of the coats that the ancestor was wearing on the outside flew towards me as if flowing down.

As if telling me to take it as a gift.

It was a coat with antique white patterns on a black background.

I bowed my head once again and held it in my hand.

* * *

I took the Black Night Record, the ancestor’s coat, and other records and relics and walked out of the tomb.

What greeted me was a multitude of lights.

-You came. You did it.

-Amazing. Amazing!

-Thank you! Friend! Thank you!

The fairies flew around like fireflies.

I couldn’t see their expressions or faces, but I could fully feel the fairies’ joyful emotions.

-For a long time.

-For too long.

-Finally, the promise is over.

-Can we go now?

The fairies surrounded me and chattered.

I nodded.

“Yes, you guys have worked hard enough. Thank you for your efforts.”

The ancestor also laid down his long burden and entered eternal rest.

Now it was time for the fairies who were tied to this place by the contract with the ancestor to scatter.

The fairies burst into laughter.

-Thank you. We’re all better now too.

-Thanks to you, friend!

Whoaaaa!

The fairies, who already had bright lights, began to emit light that was so dazzling that it was blinding.

I didn’t bother to check with my magic eyes, but I could tell that their covenant bound to this place had been fulfilled.

-Thank you! Thank you!

The fairies came to me and hugged me.

Since they were only the size of my palm, the expression ‘hanging on’ was more appropriate than ‘hugging’.

The guys hugged me one by one without exception and flew into the sky.

-Let’s play again later!

-Thank you~!

With such a noisy greeting, the fairies disappeared as if scattered in the air.

I smiled and packed the luggage I had left outside.

Now it was time for me to leave this place too.