The Illegitimate Who Devours Weapons

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Lucky]

Chapter 2

The Esteemed Martial Lee Clan.

The direct bloodline of the Lee Clan is born with extraordinary abilities.

All children of the Martial Lee Clan undergo a special coming-of-age ceremony called the Naming Ceremony when they turn ten. It is through this rite that their abilities are awakened.

In other words, a child of the Lee Clan who has not undergone the Naming Ceremony is nothing more than an ordinary child, albeit one with a slightly more robust physique.

‘Could I have awakened?’

Even as I muttered the words, I knew it was impossible.

And yet, the sensation of magic flowing through my body was too vivid to dismiss as mere imagination.

"Let's try using it."

If nothing else, I prided myself on knowing more magic techniques than anyone.

In my previous life, I had desperately sought ways to utilize my damned body.

From rudimentary street magic to the clandestine spells found in back alleys, and even the techniques permitted within the limits of my family's authority—I had explored them all.

But now…

‘This is different.’

My body… felt different.

The distorted energy pathways I once had—twisted and malformed—were nowhere to be found. My current magic channels were completely different from the past.

Was it because I was still an infant?

No, that wasn’t enough to explain it. My body’s energy pathways were so normal that it was unrecognizable as my own.

A chilling realization settled over me.

I had once been diagnosed with an abnormal constitution—so rare that there were no recorded precedents.

I recalled the doctor’s words, uncertain whether my condition had been congenital or acquired.

;Did someone tamper with my body in last life?’

Political intrigue within the clan flashed through my mind.

A bastard child from an outsider.

And yet, despite that, I had drawn attention during the Steel Selection ceremony.

To those who held power within the clan, I must have been nothing more than a thorn in their side.

Several names immediately came to mind.

Madam Baek Hwayeon, the matriarch of the clan. My half-siblings. The Elders. The heads of branch families and vassal houses.

‘Come to think of it, this doesn’t add up.’

The Steel Selection Ritual, the Naming Ceremony, and the years that followed—how had my abnormal condition remained undiscovered for so long?

Someone had attacked me.

Silencing—the act of eliminating a future rival before they could rise. A common tactic among those vying for power.

‘Was it a curse? Sorcery? Or poison?’

For such a thing to happen while I was under the protection of the Shadow Sword Unit…

‘Damn it.’

My head felt like it was burning.

I had suffered so much in my past life because of my body’s defective energy flow.

I exhaled deeply, forcing myself to remain calm.

‘No point in agonizing over it without solid proof. More importantly…’

For the first time since my regression, I observed my energy pathways.

‘What the hell… is this?’

A black aura swirled around my fingertips.

It was not magic.

It was an unknown force.

Something that had never existed in my previous life was now residing within me.

I glanced at the nanny before I began crawling across the room, touching everything I could reach.

Nothing happened.

The last thing left… was the decorative sword mounted on the wall behind the sofa.

“……”

I looked between my tiny body, the sofa, and the sword hanging two meters above the floor.

‘Nanny, just sleep a little longer.’

I started climbing onto the sofa, struggling with every movement.

The mere one-meter height of the sofa felt insurmountable.

If I had been a normal child, climbing it would have been impossible.

But the strong blood of the Martial Lee Clan, combined with my restless efforts after regression, seemed to work in my favor.

"Made it."

I cautiously reached for the sword.

Crunch—

A metallic groan, as if iron were crumbling.

The same black aura surged forth, wrapping around the blade.

And then—visions flashed before my eyes.

A warrior raising his sword.

Countless warriors following suit, lifting their weapons in unison to a commanding call.

An ancient, long-forgotten ceremony of the clan.

A ritual of the past.

With that, the memory was abruptly cut off—unnaturally severed.

A wave of dizziness hit me, and I nearly lost my balance.

I barely managed to catch myself with my arms, preventing a fall from the sofa. For a moment, I simply stared blankly into the air.

"Could this be…?"

A wisp of black energy flickered at my fingertips, drifting like smoke.

But the moment I clenched my fist, it vanished without a trace.

As the days passed, I found myself moving more and staying awake longer.

My body was growing at a pace visible to the eye—every time I woke up, I could feel the difference.

And then, the awaited day finally arrived.

The Steel Selection Ritual.

The first crucial milestone in my life within the clan.

The ceremony that would determine my place in this family.

Since early morning, my nanny had been bustling around, preparing me for the occasion.

She dressed me carefully, adjusting every piece of clothing, every accessory—even making sure my hair was perfectly arranged.

Sensing her efforts, I remained still, leaning into her touch to make things easier for her.

“Young Master, I’m sure you’ll achieve great results today,” she whispered. “Your path will always be paved with success.”

She knew full well that an infant couldn’t understand her words, yet she spoke to me anyway.

I could feel the genuine encouragement in her voice—along with a deep sorrow.

‘Of course she would feel that way.’

I was a bastard child, left in the care of the clan with no backing or support.

My half-siblings had received nurishing food, elixirs, and secret rituals even before birth.

Meanwhile, I was forced to enter this ceremony without having absorbed a single drop of an enhancement elixir.

‘Don’t worry, Nanny.’

I reached up and gently stroked her cheek.

She blinked in surprise before breaking into a warm smile.

Just then, a voice interrupted us.

“The nanny will follow directly behind the Clan Head until we reach the ceremonial hall. When the Young Master’s turn arrives, you will present him to the Clan Head.”

It was Butler Choi, the family’s head steward.

“Yes, I understand,” the nanny replied, clutching me a little tighter, as if bracing herself.

I turned my gaze forward—to the man standing ahead of us.

The Patriarch of the Lee Clan.

Lee Taeshin.

One of the only ten 1st-Ranked Martial Masters in the world—an existence so powerful that even among those ten, he was regarded as being on another level.

"Father."

In my past life, our paths had rarely crossed.

Even when we did, he had never once spared me a glance.

But at that moment—his eyes landed on me.

I did not look away.

I met his gaze head-on.

“…Interesting.”

A flicker of interest flashed in my father’s otherwise expressionless eyes as he looked down at me.

Behind my father, following in procession, was my eighth sister, just a few months older than me walking along with her nanny. I was carried closely behind them by my own nanny.

Whoosh!

As we passed through the arched corridor, a vast circular plaza came into view. The stands surrounding it were packed with people, all gazing down at me.

Among them were members of the branch families, vassal families, and the gathered elite under the sky of the Esteemed Martial Lee Clan.

They had all come to witness the birth of a new direct descendant of the Lee Clan.

“Honor!”

“Honor!”

Boom!

Hundreds of warriors stood in formation before Lee Taeshin.

A flawless, synchronized display.

Their weapons, raised high toward the sky, were all different in shape and form.

Though they were arranged in categorized ranks by weapon type, each warrior wielded their own unique armament.

This was the Steel Selection Ritual—an esteemed tradition of the Lee Clan.

Unlike hollow ceremonies that relied on ceremonial weapons meant only for show, The Martial Lee Clan paid homage with the weapons they actually wielded in battle.

“…Hmm.”

Snap!

At the slightest nod from Lee Taeshin, the warriors stepped back in unison, parting to form a path.

He strode forward, making his way to the ceremonial platform at the center of the plaza.

Countless weapons were embedded in the ground of the platform.

Swords, sabers, spears—the fundamentals.

Gauntlets, staffs, bows, and even firearms.

A single glance at the sheer number of amazing weapons made it clear: this was the Esteemed Martial Lee Clan’s undeniable strength.

Standing before them, Lee Taeshin swept his gaze across the audience before speaking in a deep, steady voice.

“The Steel Selection will now commence. Hand Hwa to me.”

“Yes, my lord.”

The eighth sister’s nanny carefully passed her into his arms.

At the center of the open ceremonial ground stood a massive stone, its surface carved with a hollow just big enough for a child to sit.

Lee Taeshin set the eighth sister down in that hollow and unsheathed a dagger.

“Waaaah—!”

A thin cut formed on her fingertip as the dagger barely grazed her skin.

A few drops of blood dripped onto the stone.

And in that instant—

Vwoooom!

Brilliant blue light erupted from the altar, branching out like a web toward the many weapons surrounding it.

Then, all at once, the light converged on a single point.

“Oh! That sword… could it be?!”

A wave of cheers rippled through the crowd.

A sword gleaming white, radiating light.

I recognized it immediately.

The Ivory Sword.

"That’s right… The eighth sister was chosen by the Ivory Sword."

A legendary blade that had remained dormant for generations.

The Ivory Sword was a sacred relic.

And not just any sacred relic—one of the highest-ranking among them.

In the distant future, this very sword would be wielded by my eighth sister to single-handedly cut down hordes of monsters.

That was when people would bestow upon her the grand title: White Knight.

Whoosh.

As Taeshin Lee waved his hand through the air, the Ivory Sword soared effortlessly to the front of the platform, as if it had wings.

"Just how much mana does one need to achieve something like that?"

The distance was a full fifteen meters.

Moreover, the Ivory Sword, known as a sacred relic, possessed considerable magic resistance.

Yet, he had pulled it in with a mere gesture.

It was impossible to fathom the level of mastery required for such a feat.

"The Ivory Sword. A fine blade."

After making this simple remark, Lee Taeshin continued speaking.

"The Ivory Sword now belongs to Lee Hwa."

With that declaration, my father stepped down from the platform and handed my eighth sister back to her nanny.

One of the escorting martial artists stepped forward to receive the Ivory Sword.

Now, it was my turn.

"Young master, you must do well."

My nanny whispered softly in my ear before carefully passing me to my father.

"The ceremony for Lee Young will now commence."

Soon, a dagger traced a shallow cut across my hand.

"Ugh."

Was it because of my infant body? The wound wasn’t deep, yet it burned as if seared by fire.

Still, I did not cry.

Perhaps for that reason, my father spoke in an impassive tone.

"You are admirable."

It was the first compliment I had ever heard from him, yet it was only because I had not cried.

The thought left a bitter taste.

Moments later, a few drops of my blood fell.

Now, my Steel Selection had begun.

"Will it be the Clear Echo again?"

In my past life, the weapon that chose me had been the Clear Echo Sword, a top-tier Heaven-grade sword, even stronger than the Ivory sword.

Woooom—

A blue light spread across the clearing.

Then, as it erupted outward—

The ceremony ground fell into complete silence.

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Lucky]