Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 90

Weapon-Eating Bastard – Episode 90

Before leaving the family estate, I received four master-class weapons as compensation for my duel with my sixth sister.

When I chose those weapons, not only the council leader but even my eldest brother wore strange expressions.

They could understand the Manmyeon Cheolpi [a highly versatile weapon] because of its adaptability, but the other three pieces of equipment seemed baffling to them.

However, they were useful enough for me.

Because they are being recreated through Mujin [MC’s unique ability to recreate weapons].

Woo-oong!

Mujin in one hand, Black Night [MC’s sword] in the other.

The form of Mujin, infused with mana, gradually changes.

‘Black Ki [Mujin’s core ability] reads the memories of all weapons.’

There are no restrictions on the weapon.

And weapons, in general, were not just swords and spears.

Whoosh!

The shape of Mujin, writhing and wrapping around my left arm, changed wide and thick.

A width the size of my upper body, with a handle on the back, and a gently curved surface.

It was a shield.

One of the four special pieces of equipment I absorbed while at Valery’s workshop.

A master-class shield, the Sacred Shield Ancile.

A shield with a legend that the chief god bestowed upon Pompilius, the second king of Rome.

The original is celestial-grade.

What I received was one of the eleven replicas that a blacksmith made by order of the god who feared the loss of the original.

The original was so great that even though it was just a replica, it was a shield with performance close to a sacred object.

I held it out in front of me to cover my body, and lightly gripped and lowered Black Night in my right hand.

“Squeak! Squee-eek!”

The orc swings the log again.

If it were before, I would have dodged, but this time I firmly fixed my lower body and charged with the shield.

Clang! Crack!

A short explosion.

After that, the log shattered and burst apart.

“Squeak!”

A moment of bewilderment flickered in the human pupils gleaming within the orc’s hide.

I parted the scattering debris of the log and extended Black Night.

Thud!

The orc’s neck rolled on the ground.

The combination of shield and sword, or spear, was a classic combat method used since ancient times.

And the reason it has been used for so long is because it is that simple and powerful.

“Kieeeek!”

Ting! Tiding!

The freaks rushed in, not caring about the death of their comrade.

Left foot, one step forward.

The shield in my left hand firmly covers my upper body, and Black Night in my right hand hides behind the shadow of the shield as if ready to strike at any moment.

Clang!

I lightly deflect the freak charging in front with the shield, and from the shadows, Black Night flashes its sharp blade.

“Kuluk!”

The freak collapses, spewing a shower of blood.

I advanced forward again.

Block, cut, and one more step.

Deflect, stab, and one more step.

One kill per step, the freaks were being unilaterally slaughtered from the moment I held the shield.

“Kiek!”

But the freaks weren’t just taking it.

Even though several had died, they still had the advantage in numbers.

Unlike the previous indiscriminate attacks, attacks came from four directions in a coordinated surprise.

‘They’ve changed. They haven’t completely lost their reason.’

No matter how fast I am, with only two arms, there was a limit to how quickly I could react.

But I wasn’t worried.

Like many master-class equipment, Ancile also had a special power hidden within.

Bang!

One of the furry freaks rushing at my back, where I wasn’t extending the shield, was blocked in mid-air.

It was the manifestation of Ancile’s ability, the Spirit Mana Barrier.

The ability to create an opaque barrier within a certain range by consuming mana.

Sgaak!

As soon as I cut down the monsters rushing in front, I cut off the neck of the monster blocked by the Spirit Mana Barrier.

Wince!

The freaks’ attacks faltered when even the surprise attacks from all directions didn’t work.

‘If you don’t come.’

I readjusted my grip on the shield and focused my eyes.

‘I’ll go.’

Whoosh-.

I took a short breath and kicked off the ground with my back foot.

Clang!

A sound like a cannon exploding emanated from where I struck with the shield.

Just like that, one by one.

I carefully cut down the approaching enemies.

It was a steadfast and orthodox combat method without flashy movements or trickery.

Even though it was a shield that could barely cover the upper body, it presented the unyielding presence of an iron wall to the enemies, and the swung Black Night delivered unavoidable death.

It was like a human-shaped tank.

Even if they tried to attack from a distance or from behind, the Mana Eyes [ability to see mana] and sixth sense detected all attacks, and even if they attacked simultaneously, they were all blocked by the Spirit Mana Barrier.

“Hoo-.”

I took a short breath and lowered my body again.

“Kieee…….”

The battle paused for a moment.

The number of freaks left was less than ten.

The eyes of the freaks, who had been rushing in without fear of death until now, were trembling.

Thud!

With each step I took forward, the freaks took a step back.

The frenzy that had driven them to rush in, even disregarding the lives of their comrades, seemed to have subsided.

And it was at that moment.

Kkyyaaaaaaak!

A strange flute sound echoed.

A high-pitched sound closer to an animal’s cry than the sound of an instrument.

The sound was merely unpleasant to me, but the freaks’ demeanor suddenly changed when they heard it.

Tuh-ung-.

One of the freaks began to run out into the forest on all fours, panting.

‘Now?’

Starting with that one, the freaks scattered in all directions at once.

‘There’s someone giving orders.’

That cry just now.

It was clear that it played some kind of role.

Escape, huh.

At first glance, it was a clever decision.

If this happened, no matter how much I chased, it would be impossible to catch them all since I could only do close and mid-range attacks.

At least a few would survive.

Of course, that’s assuming I can only do mid-range attacks.

Weeing!

The form of Mujin, which had been transformed into Ancile, changed once again.

Instead of chasing, I took a stance.

My body stood facing sideways, and I stretched out my left hand holding Mujin forward.

And for a moment, the form of Mujin, changed by the pouring moonlight, was revealed.

A bow.

Mujin was in the form of a bow.

A master-class, Jeokgak Bow [Korean traditional horn bow].

Similarly, one of the three weapons I absorbed.

Arrows are not needed.

Aura will replace the arrows.

I naturally drew my right hand to below my chin.

Sensing the approximate location with my sixth sense, and specifying the exact location with my Mana Eyes.

The distance is about 300 meters.

There are obstacles blocking the front, but that doesn’t matter.

I released the string.

Tuwhack!

With a rough sound, the remnants of aura burst out behind me.

Kkieeeek!

A scream echoed from deep in the forest.

I grabbed the bow and kicked off the ground.

‘The number left is 9.’

I draw the bowstring while crossing the forest.

Swaaaaaaek! Kwadeuk! Bang!

Although I had absorbed the memories of the bow, my proficiency was lower compared to other weapons, so it wasn’t a perfect hit.

But the arrows gradually pierced the backs of the freaks.

I moved quickly, tracking the freaks’ energy.

‘It was a slightly lower-grade weapon, but it’s not bad.’

I looked at the Jeokgak Bow, which had the shape of a Korean-specific Gakgung [another name for Korean traditional horn bow].

Among the master-class weapons, the Jeokgak Bow was closer to a mediocre item, in contrast to Ancile, which was close to a sacred object.

The reason is one.

Because its ability is ‘shooting assistance’.

If you are a proper archer, you are a master enough to be called a sharpshooter even without shooting assistance, so it was a useless ability.

But.

‘It helps me.’

It was the perfect weapon for me, who had low bow proficiency.

The time to absorb it was also short.

The battle was now close to a hunt.

I released the string for the last time.

Tuwoong! Bang!

With this, I succeeded in dealing with all the remaining freaks.

I lowered Mujin and gathered my mana.

“Kieek! Kehk!”

Of course, I didn’t kill them all.

I dragged three freaks who were still alive, suppressed their mana, and tied their arms and legs.

“Gieeeek!”

Wooddeuk!

In preparation for a possible situation, I broke their shoulders, arms, and legs.

These were strange beings whose identities were unknown.

I couldn’t know what else they would do, so I had to do this much.

‘Their eyes are cloudy, and the energy they give off is that of a monster. It doesn’t seem like they’re contaminated. Rather, is it a kind of brainwashing, a curse?’

I observed the freaks who were struggling and letting out screams mixed with pain.

‘I should infuse them with mana.’

My mana, imbued with the power of Jahaseokcheong [MC’s unique mana], has resistance to curses and poisons.

If I could remove the energy within their bodies, I might be able to hear something.

It was the moment I was about to grab the man’s wrist, which was drooping, and infuse him with mana.

Bbeeeeeee!

Another strange sound echoed in the mountains.

A similar feeling to the cry that seemed to be giving instructions to the freaks earlier.

And.

“Kyyaaaaaaaak!”

The man began to convulse as soon as he heard the sound.

“Stop! Stay still!”

I reached out to subdue the man, but soon stopped, doubting my eyes.

Cheeeeeek!

The skin melted like cream, the hair plucked out, and the pupils of the eyes suddenly tore vertically.

The moment a pungent stench wafted, the man’s appearance had completely turned into a lizard-shaped monster.

“…….”

That wasn’t the end.

The other two freaks I had subdued also abandoned their human forms and transformed into monsters, as if shedding cocoons.

‘This is…… what the hell.’

-Shweeek!

One of the lizardmen, who had torn off the ropes used to subdue them and recovered their broken arms, looked down at me.

In that form, the human form they had just had could not be found.

Did a human become a monster?

Or was the monster just wearing a human mask?

‘……Disgusting.’

Either way, it was an unforgivable taboo.

I grabbed Mujin.

* * *

On the rock at the summit of Mount Toham [a famous mountain in Korea].

A human figure was visible on that high peak.

A woman wearing rags.

On her face, she wore a plain white mask that looked somewhat eerie.

“Brown eyes…… black hair…… Sungmoo Igada [a specific clan or lineage]…….”

It was a nasty voice like scratching a chalkboard with fingernails.

The woman gnashed her teeth, looking down at the mountain as if she could see something.

“I came in a hurry because the door of the tomb was opened, but what on earth is that? Run away. Run away…….”

She put a white flute that looked like it was made of bone to her lips.

Kkyyaaaaaaak!

The comrades began to flee.

But this time, that devilish brat started using a bow.

“A cursed…… a guy who deserves to die…….”

The woman fidgeted as if she wanted to move right away.

But she knew she shouldn’t face him.

It wasn’t her time to go out yet.

The woman scanned the mountain once.

“Oh, those who will gain true freedom. I will take off your last remaining mask.”

The woman put the flute to her lips.

Bbeeeeeee!

And once again, a distorted cry erupted in the mountains.

She trembled as if she was somewhat envious of the sound, listening to the screams echoing in the mountains.

She listened until the sound was over.

And, when everything was quiet, she put on her rags and slowly went down the mountain.

-Kieeeek!

The monster’s cry echoed in the mountains.

The woman’s eyes glowed eerily.