The Illegitimate Who Devours Weapons

Episode 7

The main building of the Sungmu family was very quiet and peaceful, unlike the other buildings within the family home.

In the still atmosphere, as if time had stopped, the only thing that could be heard was the sound of wind chimes hanging from the eaves.

A young man was walking down the hallway of the main building.

She had a kind-looking face with her neatly swept bangs and clear eyes.

His name is Lee Myeong-jeong.

He was the eldest son of Lee Tae-shin and was considered the most likely candidate to become the next head of the family.

‘It’s my father’s call.’

Lee Myeong-jeong walked through the main building and swept the hilt of the sword hanging on her waist.

‘Is it because of that?’

It was a well-known fact that the government had recently requested the cooperation of the Sungmu family in developing undeveloped areas and stabilizing dangerous areas.

The Northern Expedition was an annual event repeated every time the government changed, because nothing was more effective in raising support and gathering votes than a policy toward the frontier.

But this time, something is different.

‘When you sent me a request for cooperation, I thought you were organizing another expedition.’

Even if they didn’t go on an expedition, they should have done some promotional work, but instead of doing any promotion, they were extremely quiet.

‘There is something, you know.’

There were still many unexplored areas spread across the world, and even the dangerous areas that were stabilizing were still being attacked sporadically by monsters.

In particular, the Asian continent was home to the world’s largest unexplored territory, stretching from northeastern China and Mongolia to southeastern Russia.

Daughter-.

Lee Myeong-jeong, who came to her senses to the sound of wind chimes coming from afar, realized that she had already arrived in front of the head of the household’s office.

‘Yeah, it’s pointless for me to think about it on my own. The answer will be in what Father has to say.’

Lee Myeong-jeong shook off her troubled feelings and straightened her clothes and hair.

“Father, this is Myeongjeong.”

“Come in.”

“yes.”

When she opened the door and stepped inside, Lee Myeong-jeong was startled.

Although I felt nothing but my father’s presence, there was another woman there besides Lee Tae-shin.

‘how?’

Even at this moment when she was right before my eyes, I couldn’t feel her presence.

It feels like encountering a ghost or a hologram.

The woman tilted her head and smiled bashfully.

Only then did Lee Myeong-jeong realize her rudeness and hurriedly bow her head.

“Hello. My name is Lee Myeong-jeong.”

“Hi! Baby! Don’t you remember me? I saw you. When you were this big.”

The woman giggled, waving her hands at her waist.

“yes?”

Lee Myeong-jeong raised her head and looked at the woman.

Pale white skin, messy hair, and a constantly smiling expression.

Lee Myeong-jeong opened her eyes wide.

“Could it be Aunt Kyunghwa?”

“Correct! Hello! You’ve grown up well. You’re amazing. You’re amazing.”

Lee Kyung-hwa stood up and started stroking Lee Myeong-jeong’s hair.

Lee Myeong-jeong didn’t know what expression to make, so she just smiled awkwardly.

It was so long ago that I don’t remember very well, but I vaguely remember him treating me well.

“Sit down.”

At that moment, Lee Tae-shin opened his mouth quietly.

Lee Myeong-jeong bowed her head briefly and sat down.

“Anomalous phenomena have been observed in the north.”

Lee Tae-shin immediately got to the point.

“It is said that seismic waves and magical waves were observed in the King’s Nest.”

Lee Myeong-jeong felt her breath catch at those short words.

In the wilderness, there was only one being who could be called a king.

A monster that is difficult to handle even with the power of the strengthened human race.

An apocalyptic monster that has destroyed numerous civilizations.

When I listened to Lee Tae-shin’s words, things that were difficult to understand before became understandable.

“Are you saying it’s waking up?”

“I might wake up, I might not. That’s what I’m going to find out.”

“It’s so sudden.”

“The signs had been there for nine years. It was as if they were reacting to something.”

Lee Tae-shin picked up the teacup in front of him as if it was nothing.

“It will be different from my previous overseas trips. I will be away from home for a long time.”

Originally, Lee Tae-shin often left the family.

A few months at the longest, a few weeks at the shortest.

Only then was Lee Myeong-jeong able to resolve another question.

“This is why the government was quiet about the expedition.”

“Yes. A secret request has arrived. This request will be to explore the King’s Nest.”

“What did they give up?”

“It’s a 20% stake in the netanium mine.”

Netanium was a type of rare earth element that was created when the fossils of ancient monsters were mixed with fossil fuels such as coal.

It was a mineral resource with infinite rarity and utility, and a rare mineral measured at an extremely high price.

If it’s 20%, it’s hard to measure the value.

If the price is that high, then the risk must be significant.

“You never know what might happen, so take the Spirit Sword Corps with you.”

“I’ll take a few of the underlings who are hiding. Don’t worry.”

Lee Myeong-jeong kept her mouth tightly shut.

How many people in the world would be able to speak of the unexplored lands that would require a large-scale expedition, and of the places where the king might have awakened, as if it were nothing special?

“I will protect the family without incident while my father is away.”

“Yes, I believe you. For requests from the government, you can ask the head of the Senate, and for internal matters, you can ask the general. And hard currency.”

“Yeah, why?”

“Won’t you follow me too?”

Kyunghwa Lee opened her eyes wide and blinked.

“I think you’ll need it. In this day and age, no one knows more about the past techniques that have been put to practical use than you. Maybe if you go there, you’ll get what you want.”

Only then did Lee Myeong-jeong realize why Lee Gyeong-hwa had been called to this place.

She was considered to have some mental problems, and her only interest was in the distant history of the past, or in ancient martial arts, which had not even been recorded.

But if we take away the fantasy of antiquity, they are simply anachronistic technologies.

Modern technologies, which have been refined and studied over countless years, are naturally superior to those of the past.

‘And yet, my father needs me… … .’

On the one hand, I thought that Lee Kyung-hwa’s knowledge might have unexpected value.

On the other hand, I also wondered if the situation was so dangerous that I had to borrow even Lee Kyung-hwa’s knowledge, which was not that great.

“I’ll give you some time to prepare. Before that, I have a few questions to ask, so clear your schedule.”

“Hmm.”

Lee Kyung-hwa seemed to think for a moment, then spoke carefully.

“Do I really have to go?”

Lee Tae-shin asked with a puzzled look.

“Don’t you like ancient ruins? You’ll find many traces that haven’t been discovered yet.”

“Um, um. But I don’t want to go. Brother. I don’t want to go.”

“Is there any reason?”

“I found something interesting. There was a cute baby.”

Lee Kyung-hwa smiled wryly. Her expression was like that of a child who wanted to quickly play with a fun toy.

“I gave you a present too… … I don’t remember your name. Ye, Yeol? Yeol! My brother’s son!”

“I don’t have a son named Yeol.”

Lee Myeong-jeong, who had been thinking for a moment, opened her mouth with her eyes wide open.

“Are you talking about the youngest, Yeong-i?”

“Yeong-i? Oh! Right! I think that was her name. She’s small and really cute, but her eyes are a little scary. She came in from outside like Taehong’s brother!”

“What about that kid?”

“He’s great. He’s different.”

Lee Tae-shin looked at Lee Kyung-hwa quietly.

“Did you see something?”

“Um, I don’t know. So let’s stay together. I think it’ll be more fun.”

After a moment of silence, Lee Tae-shin nodded as if he understood.

“Okay, do as you wish.”

Lee Tae-shin obediently respected Lee Gyeong-hwa’s wishes.

Lee Myeong-jeong was deep in thought.

‘Young-i is a child who hasn’t even had a naming ceremony yet.’

It may sound like an excuse, but Lee Myeong-jeong has never had the time to visit her youngest sibling.

This was because he was training both powers, which were difficult to master even with one, and because there were countless requests coming his way.

The youngest sibling in his memory was still the child he had seen at the old iron wire fence.

“Auntie. So, are you planning to stay at the family home for a while?”

“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking.”

“Then I will prepare a quiet place for you to stay. And… … Would you like to meet the youngest now?”

Kyunghwa Lee nodded as if it was obvious.

“Then wouldn’t you like to go together?”

“okay!”

Lee Kyung-hwa smiled brightly.

* * *

Immediately after meeting my aunt, Kyung-hwa Lee, I returned to my room.

“Master? How about training?”

“I’m back for a bit. Nanny, can I stay alone for a bit?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. It’s okay. I was just about to go out to prepare lunch.”

I sent the nanny out of the room and sat down at the desk.

The nanny left the room with a puzzled expression, perhaps because she had been doing more and more since she started training and never returned in the middle of it.

I didn’t plan on stopping training in the middle, but I had no choice.

Because the contents of the notebook my aunt left behind as a gift were unusual.

‘It’s not easy to read because the handwriting is bad, but… … Isn’t this magic?’

Since it was not a note to show to others, it was disorganized and full of old Chinese characters and unidentified symbols.

The contents that were interpreted with such effort were related to magical arts.

‘It’s not just about magic. It also has something about martial arts written down.’

The level was so high that it was difficult to understand.

I had a feeling that the story I had heard about Lee Kyung-hwa might be a little different from the truth.

‘These are… … old-fashioned magic techniques based on magic power, right?’

I took out the jade tablet from the bookshelf and started reading the notebook.

In the past, magical arts did not have the concept of a magical source that stored magical power, so they only used the magical power spread throughout the body.

In modern times, after many attempts to accumulate magical power in the danjeon, brain, and other areas, it was concluded that accumulating magical power in the heart was the most stable and excellent method.

-But I wonder. How did humanity, who lived before magic was developed, survive without going extinct?

It was a note written by Lee Kyung-hwa on one side of the notebook.

This has also been one of the challenges for many modern historians.

How could ancient humans survive when their awakening, supernatural abilities, and knowledge of magical powers were underdeveloped?

There are many surviving records from the Middle Ages, but few from earlier generations.

Although there are records through relics and artifacts, many parts are shrouded in mystery.

‘… What the heck is this? Amplification? Transmutation?’

After reading the notebook for a while, my eyes lit up.

It was about the techniques of people in the distant past who handled magic.

-Just because magic wasn’t developed in ancient times, can we just treat the technology from that time as outdated? Could it be that it simply fell into disuse?

Rather, they would have fought monsters more fiercely than in the modern and contemporary era when a stable society was established.

The same goes for technologies called amplification and conversion. These are technologies that have no concept in modern times.

Aren’t we thinking of the magic lane as just a path through which magic power flows?

‘It’s difficult.’

Even in modern times, where magical arts are handled through magic circles, no one takes magic paths lightly.

Just because water comes from a source doesn’t mean the water route isn’t important.

‘Even so… … does Aunt think that the way we use magic is crude compared to the past?’

At the end of the note was written one line of sentence.

-Rather, the people of that era may have been more advanced in the technology to handle magical power itself.

It’s a shame. If only I had a little more records from that time, I might be able to recreate it with the records I have.

The man in my memory suddenly came to mind.

‘Infinite magic!’

I focused straight on the magic.

Magic power spread from the magic source and directed throughout the body.

Instead of accepting the magical power returning to the magical power source, it continued to operate solely on magical power.

Up to this point, it is exactly as written in the notebook.

From this point on, memories of Mujin that I had read began to creep in.

I caught the man’s magical power usage in Mujin’s memories that I couldn’t understand.

‘This… … works!’

A missing piece of the puzzle has been put into place.

Before I knew it, I had a sword in my hand.

Slowly, he took a step forward and swung his sword.

That moment.

“Baby!”

Suddenly the door opened wide and my aunt appeared in the path of my sword.

‘no!’

But the sword had already been swung. It was impossible to stop it any longer because it was the first time in his life that he had used magic.

Wow-!

Something came between me and my aunt.

It was a human hand that stopped my sword.

Even though it was a human body and a sword facing each other, a sound like a piece of metal breaking came out.

“Wow, this is my little brother’s room, and he’s visiting for the first time, but the welcoming greeting is so loud.”

A young man spoke to me with a smile.

The moment I saw him, I couldn’t help but open my eyes wide.

“older brother?”

The one who stopped my sword was one of the few benefactors who took me out of my family and helped me.

The first brother was Lee Myeong-jeong.