The Illegitimate Who Devours Weapons

Episode 3

“It’s an ivory sword!”

“To be chosen by the Holy Sword!”

A large number of people in the stands cheered and exclaimed in admiration.

There was also some commotion in the seats reserved only for direct blood relatives and senior members of the family.

“It’s a holy relic, but it’s a holy relic.”

“Once again, a child with great talent has been born into our family.”

“It’s a family celebration.”

As the elders were talking among themselves, the old man sitting in a corner also smiled quietly.

‘It is the luxury of the family.’

A man with a sturdy build and sharp eyes that make him seem like he is not middle-aged.

His name is Lee Tae-hong.

He was the younger brother of Lee Tae-shin and a key figure among the key figures of the Lee family who held the position of general manager.

‘Ivory Sword, of all the other swords, I chose the Ivory Sword.’

Lee Tae-hong felt a smile spread across his lips.

A sword that is a holy relic recognized by the Vatican and is of the highest rank among holy weapons.

Being chosen as a holy relic is a great feat in itself, but among them, the ivory sword was an object of a different order.

Lee Tae-hong nodded happily, hoping that the girl’s future would be blessed by her ancestors.

Soon, the eighth child left the ceremony hall, and another child was placed in Lee Tae-shin’s arms.

At that moment, the atmosphere cooled down as if cold water had been poured over it.

A murmur of voices began to be heard from the stands where the conversation was taking place in a bright atmosphere.

“Is that the kid?”

“A while ago… … .”

“Tsk tsk, you bastard.”

So many words come out when looking at a child.

Lee Tae-hong’s gaze turned to the child.

‘That’s the kid.’

The hidden bloodline of the head of the family, Lee Tae-shin, who entered the family not long ago.

How surprised I was when I heard that from Butler Choi.

‘He was a cheeky kid.’

I was embarrassed because the newborn baby was staring at me without any shame.

Since then, the child with the nickname Yeong has always been in my sights.

“I will begin Young-i’s ritual.”

At that moment, Lee Tae-shin’s voice was heard.

‘What kind of talent does that child have?’

Lee Tae-hong looked down at the ceremony hall with shining eyes.

That was when.

“It seems that the general is also very interested in illegitimate children.”

A familiar voice came to Lee Tae-hong’s ear.

Lee Tae-hong turned his head and looked at the owner of the voice.

“… … I meet the Chief Elder.”

Lee Tae-hong’s eyebrows twitched.

Senior Chief Justice Lee Cheol-jung.

He was an elder from a family whose mind was so unfathomable that it seemed as if he was raising hundreds of snakes inside him.

“I came here to talk to you since you were alone. Is that the child? The child the head of the household brought from outside.”

“Yes, that’s right. They said that the Spirit Sword Corps found it and protected it.”

“I don’t even know who he was born to or how he was born, so I’m going to have to give him a wedding. I really don’t understand the thoughts of the family head.”

Lee Cheol-jung said with a big smile.

Lee Tae-hong clicked his tongue softly.

“What does it matter whether you have a legitimate child or an illegitimate child? You are all children born with the same Lee bloodline.”

“They’re all the same. An illegitimate child is still an illegitimate child. If you haven’t prepared anything, how could you possibly come up with something? Hehe, the General knows that fact better than anyone else.”

‘You’re like a narrow-minded old man obsessed with pure blood.’

Lee Tae-hong tightly gripped the armrests of the chair without being seen.

Yeah, I know that very well.

In the iron wire ceremony, each of the Lee family’s children shows off their individual talents.

Lee Tae-shin, who was chosen by dozens of swords, became the strongest swordsman of his time, and Lee Tae-shin’s first son, who was chosen by swords, magic books, and staffs, became famous in magic and swordsmanship.

And to be born with such talent, the children of the Lee family are born with many blessings from birth.

He knew better than anyone that those who were born and raised as ‘outsiders’ had many disadvantages from the start.

“Come to think of it… … The general was also from outside?”

Flash-!

At that moment, light burst out from the ceremony room.

The eyes of people including Lee Tae-hong and Lee Cheol-jung were turned there.

People’s reactions varied.

Someone sighed.

Some people are shocked.

Some people question.

And most people laugh.

“Haha! I can’t believe I got selected for something that was just average.”

The place where the light burst out was the outermost part of the ritual hall. It was where the lowest-ranking flat objects were placed.

“As the General said, you are of the Lee family bloodline, but you were chosen for such a low-grade weapon. Isn’t it unprecedented for a mediocre weapon to be chosen in a steel wire ceremony? That is indeed a result worthy of an illegitimate child.”

“Ugh… … .”

Instead of answering, Lee Tae-hong let out a long sigh.

But soon he shook his head.

‘Yes, even if you start off wrong, if you work hard, you will be able to make a name for yourself. You can also develop your talents in the administrative field.’

Even though the results weren’t good, what’s the point?

I’m still a lump of flesh that can’t even walk on my own. It won’t be easy, but isn’t the path ahead of us still unknown to anyone?

Hwaak-.

Another light entered Lee Tae-hong’s eyes.

‘no way?’

He quickly examined the weapon from which light was streaming out.

But once again, I couldn’t help but be disappointed.

Flat red bow.

It was a little better than the Sacheolgeom, but it was still an average piece.

“Heh heh, that’s a bit strange. Two talents. But even so, it’s just two bad qualities combined.”

That was when.

A brighter flash than before burst out.

Lee Tae-hong glared at the source of the light.

‘A masterpiece!’

The area located in the center rather than the flat area was where the masterpieces were located.

‘That cane is definitely… …!’

A masterpiece, Yu Jong.

It was a willow walking stick, painstakingly made over a long period of time in a French forge.

“Magical talent!”

Lee Tae-hong raised his voice without realizing it.

Unlike martial arts, magic is a field that is largely determined by innate talent.

Moreover, unlike the Four Iron Swords or the Red Bow, Yujong is a true masterpiece.

Lee Tae-hong tried hard to suppress his laughter.

“I guess you can’t ignore him just because he’s an illegitimate child. Talented with a bow and sword, and magic, too.”

Lee Cheol-jung’s eyebrows furrowed.

After all, an illegitimate child is an illegitimate child.

Even though magical talent was quite rare, the thought of him as an illegitimate child still remained.

“It’s no use having multiple talents. It’s hard to excel at just one, so don’t you see the limits of a talent that is only good enough to create a masterpiece?”

Hwaak-!

But as if mocking him, the light burst out again.

“also?”

It was not one or two lights, but multiple lights at the same time.

The masterpiece Blood Spirit Spear, the masterpiece Iron Fist… … .

That was just the beginning.

The light moved from the outside where the flat surface was located, moving further and further inward.

‘Over there!’

Light travels.

More and more.

Slowly inward.

Soon, the light was directed to where the holy relics were.

The holy relic, the holy sword Miach.

Holy relics, crossbow, and dragon.

A brilliant light was streaming out from the spot where the holy relic was placed.

The illegitimate child was chosen as a holy relic.

There are so many of them that it is impossible to estimate how many there are.

“Heh heh heh!”

Lee Tae-hong finally burst into a hearty laugh as he looked at Lee Cheol-jung’s distorted expression.

“As the director said, this is unprecedented! Have there ever been so many direct descendants who had this much talent?!”

Lee Cheol-jung’s eyebrows were furrowed to the point where he was drawing a thousand-character stern expression.

When I saw that expressionless face, my heart sank.

What does it matter if it’s a deficit or a deficit?

Lee Tae-hong looked at the ceremony hall with a bright smile.

Hwaaaaaaaah-!

At that moment, Lee Tae-hong closed his eyes without realizing it due to the intense flash of light.

‘also?’

He opened his eyes slightly and felt around for the place where the light had burst out.

The closest seat to where the ceremonial platform is installed.

The very center of the ceremony.

Lee Tae-hong’s mouth slowly opened.

‘Isn’t that where the heavenly level is located?’

A grade given only to weapons with special abilities and history, Heavenly.

The celestial weapon itself is something that can be called a strategic weapon.

Even in the long history of the Lee family, there are only a few people who have been chosen as the best in the Cheolseonsik.

But at this very moment, countless celestial powers shone through the child’s blood.

“… … .”

Only silence lingered in the ceremony hall.

Then, one by one, they came to their senses and it became noisy.

“What did I just see?”

“Is there something wrong?”

“No way. The consciousness of the iron wire… … .”

Voices filled with shock, disbelief and doubt.

It was one man’s voice that put it to sleep.

“Quiet.”

Everyone was silenced by those few but powerful words.

When the atmosphere seemed to have calmed down, Lee Tae-shin said.

“According to the principle, it would be right for all weapons selected here to become Young’s property.”

All the attendees gathered at the ceremony were shocked.

After looking around the crowd, Lee Tae-shin continued speaking.

“I think it’s right to handle it according to the family rules, but it’s not right to handle it so simply. I’d like to hear your opinion.”

Lee Tae-shin looked towards the seats where the senior members were sitting.

“Senate Chief. What do you think?”

“… … There must be some kind of mistake. There can’t be an incident like this on the iron wire.”

“I’m sure you know that’s not possible.”

Lee Tae-shin cut off the words coldly and turned his gaze to Lee Tae-hong, who was sitting next to him.

“General. What do you think?”

“Can you give me a moment to think about it?”

“good night.”

Lee Tae-hong closed his eyes tightly.

We looked back at several precedents in the long history of the Lee family.

After gathering his thoughts, Lee Tae-hong opened his mouth carefully.

“Giving all those weapons goes against the meaning of the Cheolseon ritual. The Cheolseon ritual is a family tradition that must continue in the future.”

The iron wire ceremony is a ritual to prepare for the future.

It was absurd to provide all weapons, not only for that child’s future, but also for the children who would be born after him.

“There was something similar during the Great War. The Yi family’s armory was completely emptied, and the newborn child was given a choice of weapons from among the limited number.”

Lee Tae-hong began to cite the history of a family that few people knew about as an example.

“Your ancestors passed the choice to your children like a stone. After the war, when the family was stable, the remaining weapons were given to them.”

“It’s a stone grabber.”

“I think it would be a good idea for you to first select a few weapons that reacted to the consciousness, and then have the youngest choose one of them.”

Lee Tae-shin thought for a moment and then nodded.

“Not bad. Is there anyone who disagrees with the General’s opinion?”

There was no opposition.

Even Lee Cheol-jung did not object, but only groaned in discomfort.

“Then we will hold the ceremony again according to the precedents of our ancestors.”

Lee Tae-shin slowly raised his hand.

Then, ten glowing weapons flew up and stood in front of the stage.

“Now, choose, my son.”

Lee Tae-shin said as he placed ten weapons in front of his youngest son, Yeong.

* * *

It was an unprecedented event.

Even I didn’t know something like this would happen.

At first glance, it seemed like a good thing for me, but it wasn’t something that could be easily seen.

“I think it’s right to handle it according to the family rules, but it wouldn’t be right to handle it so simply.”

I nodded to my father’s words.

‘That’s right.’

Too much of anything is not always good.

Not just one, but hundreds of weapons.

If it’s an average or masterpiece level, it won’t be a problem, but there are also holy relic level and heavenly level ones mixed in.

Besides, I was still an illegitimate child with no power. Even if I received those weapons, I would not be able to keep them or protect them.

“I think it would be right for you to select a few of the weapons that have shone here and let the youngest one choose.”

General Lee Tae-hong, the eldest of the family who had encountered each other several times in the past, came up with a wise solution.

“Now, choose, my son.”

I looked at the weapons radiating a brilliant light before me.

Most of them were of the heavenly level, three of them were of the holy relic level, but in terms of power, they were weapons that were no different from the heavenly level.

‘You’re telling a newborn baby to touch these little things.’

They were sharp objects that could leave a large scar even if they were just lightly brushed against.

But I found myself laughing without realizing it.

Because that crazy thing was so fitting for Sungmoo.

‘Still, it’s a good situation for me.’

It was a bit embarrassing, but in the end, the first button was sewn better than I could have imagined.

I looked at the weapons floating in the air.

The sword with the history of the true dragon, Prach.

The holy spear, Baekgyeong, is said to have been forged by an adult mixing parts of his own flesh to catch a powerful monster.

A staff made from the branches of the world tree where fairies sleep, called Braalhain.

The Yeongmageom sword is said to have been created when the moon, sun, and stars are aligned.

In addition, there were other great weapons of a class that could not be ignored, all of which were waiting for my choice.

‘You have to choose only one of these.’

The worry didn’t last long.

I slowly reached out my hand.