The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 11

Butterfly Effect

“Meat… Meat…”

Chomp- Chomp-

Reina shoved meat into her mouth with forks in both hands.

She kept saying she would grill the meat, but she ate it all as soon as it was cooked.

‘I don’t like the word ‘eat up’…’

Rahel hates the expression ‘eat up’ because it reminds him of the street urchins who used to bother him when he was young.

But isn’t this exactly when you should say ‘eat up?’

Rahel looked at the elf stuffing meat into her mouth with pitiful eyes.

Is this really the dining habit of an intelligent being who has lived for 150 years?

She eats with her mouth, but where did she eat her age?

“Ah… Sorry. I was hungry. Rahel. You eat too.”

Reina, belatedly noticing Rahel’s gaze, moved the grilled meat to the corner.

“Thanks for thinking of me, even now.”

Rahel ate the meat and talked with Reina.

“So, Reina. What’s your relationship with those elves? And what’s the World Tree branch?”

Reina, who was ashamed of eating all the meat by herself, answered Rahel’s question while eating.

Reina’s situation was exactly as Rahel had expected.

The Elves need to be in constant contact with the World Tree, and the World Tree branch was an artifact that the Elves distributed to Elves who were far away.

Transactions between ordinary people are strictly prohibited, and there is said to be a channel where only Elves can buy it.

‘But Reina is a traitor to the Elves.’

Reina couldn’t get the World Tree branch from the Elves, so she was only getting it through illegal channels.

After that, it’s obvious. Reina, who was caught, was attacked by the Elven warriors who were tracking her.

“You even went into debt to buy the World Tree branch?”

“… The bastards who sell it to me raise the price every time. They know there’s nowhere else to get it anyway.”

“That’s a big problem.”

Rahel nodded and brought the meat to his mouth.

“Saving my life is already a big debt, so you don’t have to help me anymore. I’ll handle this myself. It’s a disgrace to entrust a matter within the race to another race.”

“What are you talking about? Who said I would help? Grill more meat.”

“…”

Sizzle-

Reina put the meat on the stone plate with a dissatisfied expression.

She pursed her lips as if to say something, but Rahel focused more on the meat.

You have to eat free food when you can.

“Hey. Reina.”

Rahel stared blankly at the meat cooking on the cheap brazier and stone plate on the cheap wooden table and spoke to Reina.

“… Why?”

“You didn’t tell me the most important thing. Why did you betray the Elves?”

The Elves have a very strong sense of camaraderie.

That was the setting of the novel, and that was true of the Elves Rahel had actually met.

They cherished and loved their fellow Elves who grew up under the World Tree.

‘In the first place, a traitor is an impossible existence for that race.’

But Reina was a traitor to the Elves. And despite being attacked by her own kind for being a traitor, she wanted to save the Elf who attacked her.

A pure and kind-hearted traitor. Rahel felt an inexplicable sense of incongruity between them.

“… It’s a personal matter. You must have at least one thing you can’t tell me either.”

“You said you owed me for saving your life, but you can’t even tell me this?”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Reina looked at Rahel’s face in embarrassment.

To be honest, she could have survived even without Rahel.

But since she forcibly drew out her magic without the blessing of the World Tree, she would have had to recuperate for a long time.

An Elf who can’t use magic would have been useless to ‘him’, so Rahel was practically a lifesaver.

“If you don’t want to say why you betrayed them, how about this: Are you really a traitor?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m asking if you really betrayed the Elves. I can’t understand how an Elf like you—not like that Keln guy from before—could betray her own kind, no matter how much I think about it.”

“……”

Reina narrowed her eyes and looked at Rahel.

It’s hard to say it herself… but Reina, the Elf who betrayed the Elves, was quite famous.

But all the humans who saw Reina were afraid of the Elves and avoided her, and no one had ever said anything like that to her.

If he hadn’t saved her a little while ago, she would have suspected that he was an Elven spy.

She was so grateful for his warm heart, but Reina shook her head.

Not yet, not yet… I can’t trust this person yet.

“The Elves are my enemies. They’re fools who don’t know what’s really scary and are still buried in the past. So I sided with the stronger side.”

“Is that so?”

Rahel stared intently at Reina.

It was Rahel’s specialty to grasp the other person’s intentions with his sharp senses.

The changed breathing pattern and the downward gaze. The trembling corners of her lips vividly conveyed her emotions.

‘Is she feeling guilty about lying?’

According to the original story, the Elves will soon be destroyed.

What on earth is going to happen to the Elves?

For some reason, it felt like he would find out if he stayed with this foolish Elf.

“Okay. Let’s not talk nonsense and just eat meat. Reina, you’re paying.”

“… It’s my food for the week, so eat only a little!”

Reina quickly cheered up and stuffed the meat into her mouth.

Her first impression was of a rather strange Elf… but he thought he had become closer to her than he had expected.

*

The day after getting a free meal from Reina.

I was chatting with Yuri in the Special Guard.

“Rahel, you don’t have any work today, do you?”

“Yes. Ghent is taking my place today.”

The Special Guard’s job is to monitor the Demon King.

I took Ghent’s place last time, so it was my turn to receive it today.

Thanks to that, I was able to play around for about a week without meeting the Demon King.

“If you don’t have anything to do, you can go outside the Guard without my permission and take care of personal matters.”

“Really?”

“Rahel, you’ve finished your adaptation period… you’re doing a good job, and you were even the captain of the Guard, so I can trust you.”

A needle in a haystack.

The ace of the Central Guard is recognized even by the next Emperor.

So, as soon as I got to the Special Guard, I started preparing to leave.

I’m thinking of helping out at the orphanage since I have time today.

‘I always went at night, so I can see Ms. Sarah today.’

There are also advantages to having a more comfortable work environment.

I heard that Reina and Ghent have a contract with Yuri, so even if they don’t have any work, they have to be tied to the Guard during the day.

“Kha-! Ghent’s wine is so flavorful.”

“I’ve collected only the best varieties, so it can’t help but be delicious. Rahel, would you like a glass too?”

Of course, I don’t know if that’s what it means to be tied to the Guard.

I approached the two long-lived species who were drinking from noon.

“I’m okay today. I have something to do. No, but Reina, don’t you remember the promise you made with me yesterday? We were supposed to go see the loan shark today. How can you drink so much?”

“Rahel! If you go now, I’ll drink it all. Is that okay?”

“… I can’t talk to you. Hey, Ghent, put that crazy woman to sleep in the Guard today. She’ll be kidnapped by slave traders if she goes home in that state.”

“I’ll take responsibility for taking care of her until she goes to work.”

It was also a problem to have her sleep there since her house was already in ruins.

‘It looks delicious, though.’

Actually, I don’t hate alcohol, so I was thinking of joining them for a while, but looking at the empty bottles piled up next to them, I don’t think I can join them.

The two of them had strong livers, as expected of long-lived species.

“That’s right, Ghent. There’s something I want to ask you.”

“Ask me anything.”

“You said there’s a Thousand Slayer Sword Master and a Dragon in the Special Guard’s grounds. I want to meet them too. What should I do?”

I need to start collecting information about the Special Guard.

I need to meet the other two besides the Demon King.

“Hmm, it’s not difficult. Both of them will like you, so I’ll ask them for you soon.”

“… You have to ask to meet them?”

“Unlike the Demon King, the two of them are under the protection of the Empire. They’re kind people, so you’ll be able to get along with them quickly.”

Judging from Ghent’s reaction, it seems like I’ll be able to meet them sooner than I thought.

I thanked Ghent and turned around.

I had to hurry if I wanted to buy some snacks before going to the orphanage.

‘If it weren’t for monitoring the Demon King, the work environment would be really good.’

The two who are tied to the contract are also drinking, so I can wander around as I please.

I left the Guard and headed to District 4.

I soon arrived at the orphanage, my haven.

“Rahel-! What’s going on from the afternoon? Patrol? Don’t tell me you got kicked out for causing an accident?”

Ms. Sarah, who was collecting laundry, was in the orphanage’s yard.

I immediately approached her and helped her collect the laundry.

“That’s not going to happen. My work has become easier. I’ll stop by during the day from time to time.”

“Really? That’s a relief! The kids will be so happy. Ah! Sister Cecilia is inside, so say hello! She came to volunteer with her friend.”

“Is that so?”

I carried the laundry basket in both hands and entered the orphanage.

Normally, I would have helped her hang it on the drying rack, but since I heard that the next Saintess was inside, I handed over the drying work to Ms. Sarah.

‘The next Emperor and the next Saintess. If I get close to both of them, my old age will be guaranteed.’

A bright future awaits me, who came from the streets.

“Rahel oppa! It’s Rahel oppa!”

“It’s been a while, Nia.”

“Hyung-! Why did you come?!”

“Harry. What do you mean why did you come? You should say, ‘Welcome, hyung-nim!’”

“Welcome, hyung-nim!”

“Ms. Sarah! Oppa is teaching Harry something weird again!”

Harry and Nia, who came to me, are the most active children in the orphanage.

Surprisingly, the two, who have just turned 10, were the oldest brother and sister in the orphanage.

‘This scary world thinks you’re all grown up when you’re only 10 years old.’

The clergy comes every year and takes away the older orphans.

Among them, children with a talent for holy law become lower-ranking priests of the clergy, and if not….

‘One more beggar is added to the city.’

The more I think about it, the more I realize they’re trash.

I greeted the children and went inside.

The orphanage was small, but the children’s expressions and atmosphere were bright.

“Ah. This is the orphanage that Sister Cecilia sponsors.”

“Yes. The children are really cute, aren’t they?”

Inside the orphanage, the next Saintess, Sister Cecilia, was visible.

A man I had never seen before was standing next to her.

“Hello. Sister Cecilia.”

“Huh? Ah! Rahel. It’s been a while! I think this is the first time I’ve seen you at the orphanage at this time? Maybe you’ve been kicked out of the Guard altogether…”

Cecilia approached me with a welcoming smile.

It was a really bright smile; she likes to help people.

“No. That’s not it.”

I answered with a smile.

What do you think of me that everyone who sees me asks if I’ve been kicked out of the Guard?

Anyway, that’s not the point. There was a man I had never seen before next to Cecilia.

“By the way, who is this?”

“He’s a member of the clergy. He said he wanted to see District 4, so I’m showing him around. Mr. Bennett, this is Rahel. He’s a great person who is the 3rd Guard Captain of the capital.”

Cecilia said with a bashful smile.

She seems really happy about the situation of clergy members meeting each other.

“Nice to meet you, Rahel. I’m Bennett.”

A man with a cheerful impression, Bennett, greeted me with Cecilia’s introduction.

“I’m Rahel. Nice to meet you.”

I accepted the greeting appropriately and looked at his face.

I’m sure I’ve never seen him before… but strangely, the name Bennett was familiar.

‘Bennett. Bennett… Ah?’

As I repeated his name in my mind, it quickly came to mind.

A villain of importance level 3 who appears in the early part of the novel.
A supporting character who tries to carry out a terror attack in the Empire’s slums but is stopped by the protagonist.

‘Why is this bastard here?’

He should be messing around at the academy and getting caught by the protagonist around this time… Why is he messing around with the clergy?

“By the way, this orphanage has really good facilities. This must all be Gaia’s grace.”

“That’s right. Let’s all pray to Gaia together.”

Cecilia started praying with a serious expression, and Bennett, who was quietly closing his eyes and pretending to pray next to her.

I quietly observed Bennett between them.

*

After Cecilia and Bennett left, it was time for the children to have lunch.

After playing with the children, I went to the orphanage’s backyard and caught a beggar.

“Hey. Beggar.”

“Yes. Rahel-nim.”

“I told you to tell me if a suspicious guy comes out. Did I? Huh? Why didn’t you report that Bennett bastard?”

I said, kicking the beggar’s money bowl.

The beggar was using a cane like a crutch because his leg seemed to be uncomfortable, so I felt sorry for hitting his head.

“Oh, he’s a guy who came for the first time today! I was going to report it to Rahel-nim anyway!”

“Is that so? Tsk. It’s a relief that he came for the first time today.”

Seeing him begging with an uncomfortable body in this harsh world, I felt sorry for him and threw him a copper coin before continuing.

“Hey. Tell Zenith-ajusshi [Zenith-uncle]. Bring me everything you know about that bastard. Got it?”

“I understand! I’ll report it right away!”

The beggar, who answered my words, took his crutches and ran into the alley like an athlete.

I wonder why he has crutches when he runs so well.

“Shibal [damn it]. He was a fake patient. My copper coin…”

Tsk.

I licked my lips and recalled information about Bennett.

‘Why is a guy who should be in the academy cozying up to the clergy?’

I slowly recalled the contents of the novel.

Bennett is a sorcerer who casts spells with people’s lives.

He is currently affiliated with the clergy, but in the original story, he infiltrates the academy.

He colludes with Paste, a bastard from a count’s family who is jealous of the protagonist, to find out when the slums’ guards are empty….

‘… Uh?’

Paste, a bastard from a count’s family?

I’ve heard that somewhere too?

“Wait a minute. Wait a minute, wait a minute… Hey! You over there, come here.”

“Yes, yes!”

I gestured to the beggar who was hiding in the corner while talking to the crutch-wielding beggar.

“Do you know the name of the noble I beat up in the bar last month? They said he was a bastard abandoned by the count’s family.”

“Ah… I don’t know the noble that Rahel-nim beat up… but Paste-doryeonnim [Paste-young master] is treated like a child abandoned by the count’s family…”

“This shibal [This damn it].”

“Hic. I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

I ignored the beggar’s words and frowned.

I tried not to touch the original story’s events as much as possible.

The butterfly effect is not there for nothing.

I didn’t want the world’s flow to be turned upside down because of my actions.

But, problems arose from living a diligent Guard Captain life.

‘Bennett is caught by the protagonist before he messes with the slums.’

If he had been alive, the Empire’s slums would have suffered great damage.

Moreover, he visited the orphanage today.

I don’t know if it’s simply to look good to the clergy or if he’s targeting the orphanage.

‘I have to stop his sorcery.’

As long as there is even a slight possibility that the orphanage will be involved in the incident.

I can’t let him live.

“… Ah, you’re really annoying.”

I’m the only one who knows the inside story of the incident and his true nature.

Bennett must be killed by my hand.