The Illegitimate Who Devours Weapons

Weapon-Eating Illegitimate Son Episode 27

5:30 AM, Class 5’s exclusive training room.

I stood there unwavering, even as I felt my whole body screaming.

‘I overdid it yesterday. Phew, I’m done.’

It wasn’t something I should have said when I was only 13, but my whole body ached.

I felt better last night thanks to the treatment and recovery techniques at the infirmary, but when I woke up, I started to feel pain all over.

In particular, the jaw, which had been hit repeatedly, and the thigh and arm muscles that had been overused were severely affected.

Still, since I was continuing to use the recovery technique, I thought I would be able to get back to full condition within today.

“… … .”

As soon as I arrived at the training ground, I saw the cadets who had already come out.

“come.”

“You came really early.”

I felt their eyes turn to me.

The way he was glancing at me from time to time seemed like he wanted to talk to me.

‘Still, that’s fortunate.’

Although there were some students who showed hostility or aversion, there were no students who avoided them or turned their eyes away.

If you were to remain as cowering as you were yesterday, there would really be no hope.

It might have changed a little bit, though.

“Your Majesty, have you arrived?”

At that moment, Kim Han, one of the cadets who had been observing, walked over timidly.

I smiled and nodded too.

“You’re early.”

Kim Han’s expression brightened at my light greeting.

“… … I was worried that I might have only shown you my inadequate side yesterday.”

“We are still cadets. We are bound to have shortcomings.”

Kim Han opened his mouth and scratched the back of his head at my answer.

Then, as if he had made up his mind for a moment, he opened his mouth.

“Your Majesty. If you don’t mind, may I ask you one thing?”

“Feel free to ask.”

“I was greatly inspired by what you showed me yesterday. Those words… … .”

“Enough with the flattery, let’s get to the point.”

Kim Han took a deep breath and asked with a confident attitude.

“What should I do? Can I… …be like you, Master?”

A strange heat was felt in Kim Han’s eyes.

I smiled again at that sight.

‘It has to be like this.’

At this point, I was wondering why I didn’t remember this kid.

“A request like this is always welcome. But teaching? I’m not yet at the level to teach anyone.”

“I understand what it means to struggle, but I don’t know how I can do my part right now.”

I thought about what Kim Han had shown me yesterday.

Kim Han appeared almost in the latter half.

I remember that I subdued him with an irregular attack without dragging him out because his stamina was already at rock bottom.

“You have good eyes. Or maybe you have a good sense.”

“yes?”

“You dodged my fake three times in a row yesterday? How did you do it?”

“Ah… … As expected, you are very accurate. I have a good eye. I saw your strength drain away when you threw the stick.”

I was surprised by those words again.

Distinguishing between the false and the false in others is something that everyone has to do, but it is not easy.

“Try to save those eyes. I think you’d be better suited to technique than strength. If you practice what you have with your life on the line, you’ll be different someday.”

“Umm… … .”

Kim Han took a deep breath and fell into deep thought.

At that time, the assembly time gradually approached. The dark training ground began to brighten dimly.

“……hello.”

And Choi In-ha appeared, with his back to the brightening sky.

He had a cast on his finger. Judging from his bluish complexion, he seemed to have internal injuries as well.

“This is a terrible sight.”

“yes.”

“If it’s like that, you won’t be able to receive training, right?”

Choi In-ha smiled bitterly at my words.

“Then would you have understood if I took a break? Wouldn’t you have thought it was pathetic if I kept fighting?”

It was quite a rebellious tone.

The cadets who had known Choi In-ha from the beginning looked at him in confusion and glanced at him.

“so?”

“I just came out because I don’t want to hear things like that anymore.”

Choi In-ha said those words and staggered towards one side of the training ground.

The cadets greeted Choi In-ha brightly, but Choi In-ha just nodded with an indifferent expression.

‘You’ve changed.’

Boys entering puberty are easily stimulated and change easily.

In his previous life, Choi In-ha was an unknown private. He was a good person, but that was about it.

But if this change continues, this time might be different.

Starting with Choi In-ha, the cadets who approached the training ground one by one with awkward movements turned their gazes toward me.

Some with blazing eyes, some with eyes filled with hostility, and some with eyes filled with confusion.

At exactly 6 o’clock, Lee Jeong-ho appeared on stage.

The cadets who were scattered here and there quickly lined up in two rows.

“Four sick and five absent without permission. That’s a total of eleven people. We’ll skip reporting today. Next time, the class leader decided yesterday will report.”

At Lee Jeong-ho’s words, the cadets secretly glanced in my direction.

Lee Jeong-ho looked around at the cadets gathered in the training ground and sighed deeply.

‘You all look tired.’

It’s amazing that there are this many sick leave from the first day of cadet training. On top of that, there are quite a few kids who showed up with injuries, although not to the extent of Choi In-ha.

‘And the atmosphere… has changed. Those relaxed guys are getting nervous because of one predator.’

All the cadets’ attention was focused on one person, the youngest bastard, who was standing in the back with an expressionless face.

They say that if you put a catfish in a tank of sardines, the sardines will struggle to survive, and that’s exactly what happened.

“Originally, today’s schedule was to do basic measurements, but looking at the situation… … .”

Lee Jeong-ho, who was speaking, stopped talking.

I thought back to the night I lost sleep after being pointed out by Lee Chul.

Those words telling me to do it right.

Lee Jeong-ho opened his mouth with a determined expression.

“I will correct that. I will start the basic measurements right now.”

The training ground was in an uproar.

A cadet raised his hand and shouted.

“Instructor! Due to the training led by the youngest master yesterday, there are currently many injured people, so measurements are limited! Aren’t there also people who are sick?”

Lee Jeong-ho turned his head towards the cadet with a cold gaze.

“So? This is a sparring session that you did voluntarily to elect a class president. You have to take responsibility for it.”

“Ha, but there are a lot of injured people and everyone’s condition is… … .”

“If you’re going to whine like that, then just leave. No one’s going to stop you.”

“Yes, yes? I just… … Why are you suddenly like this… … Instructor Lee Jeong-ho… … .”

The cadet seemed shocked by the sudden change in the instructor’s words and actions, and the end of his words trembled.

“I feel like I’ve been spoiling the cadets so far. From now on, I will faithfully fulfill my duties as an instructor of the cadet corps. You should know that too.”

Another commotion hung over the training grounds.

They still look so pitiful.

But the transition period won’t be long. I will make it happen, and those who have already changed will lead the change.

“Let’s start with the basic measurements right away.”

The first schedule of the cadet corps began with Lee Jeong-ho’s words.

* * *

There were three measurements.

Magic power, physical strength, martial arts, and cultural knowledge.

I was all first class.

‘… … It’s more serious than I thought.’

In comparison, the cadets of Class 5, known as the garbage dump, were at best level 4 or 5, with an average level between 6 and 7.

Of course, there might have been an effect from yesterday. It’s probably one or two levels lower than the actual cadets’ original skills.

“Measurement complete. Let’s proceed with autonomous training under the leadership of the squad leader. Let’s assemble at 6:00 tomorrow as well. That’s all.”

The measurement ended at 4 p.m.

It was a practical measurement that pushed everything to the limit, as expected of a basic Sungmoo-i.

The measurements, which lasted almost 10 hours, excluding meal times and breaks, were so tiring that even I was exhausted.

I walked up onto the stage, leaving the panting cadets behind.

“I don’t think I need to introduce myself. I’m Lee Cheol, the class president.”

Clap, clap… … .

The sound of applause was heard. Several people, including Kim Han, clapped, but even they noticed and stopped.

“You must have heard what Choi In-ha said yesterday. The class president has full authority except for the instructor’s orders.”

The cadets flinched.

“I will treat you mercilessly. Only follow those who want to. I have no intention of dragging along those who don’t want to follow.”

“What are you saying?”

“… … What an unlucky kid.”

There was a lot of muttering. I knew that he was saying it on purpose so that I could hear him. I didn’t bother to point it out.

“If you don’t like me, feel free to request a duel. If you land a single valid hit on me, I’ll hand over the title of class leader. But you’ll have to be prepared. At that time, there won’t be any stupid rules like a ban on using magic.”

Still the cadets were quiet.

In that silence, Choi In-ha’s soft voice could be heard.

“If I follow that training… … will I become stronger?”

“no.”

I shook my head firmly.

“I guess you still don’t understand what I’m saying. It’s up to you to become stronger or not. Don’t look to me for advice.”

The cadet corps is a place that teaches you many things.

And it is up to each individual what they will gain from those lessons and how strong they will become.

“Let’s get started without further ado.”

I opened my mouth.

“Fight the people next to you.”

* * *

An unexpected duel began.

Nothing was explained.

It didn’t even explain whether or not you could use magic power.

Fight.

That was all I said.

“Gasp, huh-.”

“Damn it. Why would you do something like this… … .”

Because of yesterday’s events, everyone was in a terrible state, and because of the basic measurements, both magic power and stamina were greatly depleted.

There were few people who had a proper form of sparring.

“Ugh, ugh-.”

“Those who are finished, spar diagonally. Don’t stop. It will continue like that.”

It was the beginning of an endless sparring match.

30 minutes passed like that.

The first straggler has emerged.

“I won’t do it! I can’t do it! I lost! I lost!”

“It’s the limit! I can’t do it!”

And again, a few cadets fell out.

45 minutes now.

There were eight people left.

Choi In-ha swung his sword with bloodshot eyes.

1 hour.

Gradually, the duel began to turn into a melee, with people fainting and collapsing.

1 hour 35 minutes.

There are six left in total.

They continued to spar with each other indiscriminately.

Choi In-ha vomited blood in the middle of the fight, perhaps because his internal injuries had worsened. However, he did not give up and continued the fight.

“… … .”

The cadets who had given up in the middle and were watching the training session watched the training ground with complex emotions they couldn’t explain.

No, they all knew. The name of that feeling was defeat.

“Ahhhh!”

Choi In-ha screamed as he unknowingly took the opponent’s attack with his cast-covered right hand.

Even though tears were falling, he did not put down his sword.

1 hour 45 minutes… … 2 hours.

The limit had already been exceeded.

The remaining cadets were already barely able to move their arms beyond the level of grumbling of children.

‘That’s it.’

I also know that excessive training is not good. Class 5 just needed this kind of external pressure.

That’s it for today.

I put down my sword.

“That’s enough. Let’s stop here for today.”

I also took a deep breath. At my words, the six people who were still alive collapsed.

“We held on until the end. We… … Ugh, it’s not like we didn’t fight… … Ugh!”

With a name similar to Choi In-ha, I think it was Im Yeong-ha.

It was a well-built boy who had openly shown his rebellious side in our second sparring match yesterday. He glared at me with blazing eyes.

“so?”

“Let me just ask you one thing.”

“Speak.”

“If we change… … if we do this damn struggle… … what can we achieve?”

“At least we’ll be at the starting line.”

Everyone fell silent at those words.

I looked around at the cadets who were watching the drill.

When they all made eye contact with me, they flinched or looked away as if they were uncomfortable.

“Let’s disband for today. You’ve worked hard.”

I said that and left the training ground.

* * *

A distant silence remained in the training grounds.

“You’ve worked hard, guys.”

“You must be tired.”

Cadets who had given up in the middle of the training came down and started to receive the equipment of other cadets.

“… … .”

Those who continued to spar until they passed out or those who remained until the end did not respond to their words.

The embarrassed cadets smiled awkwardly and spoke again.

“What trouble are you going through because of that bastard?”

“That’s what I mean.”

Last year, the atmosphere of Class 5 of the Cadet Corps was not like this. It was a warm atmosphere where everyone helped each other, led by Choi In-ha.

“… … I don’t like that bastard. What’s the point of this?”

“That’s an old-fashioned mentality. Even if I train while strictly following the schedule, it’s not enough. I have no intention of following that.”

“Stop it.”

It was Kim Han. Kim Han spoke with trembling eyes.

“I… … rather, am frustrated. The young master was extremely tired, but he couldn’t hit me even once.”

The students who had been gossiping about Lee Chul shut their mouths tightly at those words.

Awkward atmosphere. Uncomfortable air.

They were all trying hard to look away.

But one cadet who still didn’t want to admit it opened his mouth.

“Yeah, yeah. That’s right, Inha. What do you think? I’m so annoyed by that bastard that I can’t stand it. If this keeps up, I think I’ll even throw the cadets away. We had a great time last year. You’d be better off… .”

Choi In-ha, who had been blankly staring at the ground, suddenly started giggling after hearing those words.

“I liked it so much that I paid a fee.”

“……what?”

“If you don’t like it that much, then leave. I… … have no intention of doing that.”

Choi In-ha’s eyes glowed coldly as he struck away the arm of the cadet who was reaching out to support him.

“If I don’t change this time… … I really think I’ll live like a loser. I want to try it at least once, even if it means breaking my limbs. Really, really… … .”

Choi In-ha was gritting his teeth.

“What good will this do! What kind of endless sparring is this in the 21st century! More efficient… … .”

“I know. This is crazy. But… … I’ve never achieved anything because of that damn efficiency.”

Choi In-ha continued speaking with a bitter smile.

“I’m not a descendant of a wealthy family or a powerful vassal. I’m just an orphan from Hope Garden. Isn’t efficiency something that only applies to those who are born with it?”

Although they received a lot of support as war dead, the lives of orphans are all the same.

Choi In-ha said, gritting his teeth.

“You guys know that too. That youngest bastard… … no, what the master is trying to make him do.”

“… … .”

The cadets’ eyes shook.

“I’m going to try to fight. I don’t want to be ashamed of myself in front of my parents. No, I don’t want to be ashamed of myself. I think this will really be the last time.”

Everyone kept their mouths shut at Choi In-ha’s words.

They knew it too. They just tried not to accept this uncomfortable atmosphere and change.

Including new cadets, including those who have been paid.

If I hadn’t felt anything from what I saw of Lee Chul over the past two days, I wouldn’t have been able to join the cadet corps in the first place.

“So come to your senses. Rebelling, pretending not to know even though you know… … But I’ll be stronger in the time I waste. I’ve given up on the idea of ​​just barely getting promoted. I know that this is the only way I can get to the starting line.”

This is Sungmoo-i-ga.

Strength is our highest value.

A monstrous place with struggle engraved in its bones.

The weak are eliminated, and the strong take everything.

Living a mediocre life here was in itself a luxury.

Whether child or adult, those who do not fight cannot survive in the Sungmu family.

Choi In-ha stood up from his seat, staggering.

He looked unsteady as he walked, but he didn’t look shabby at all.