The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 41

Black Magician

“Ugh… I’m gonna die.”

Rahel sat up, yawning and stretching.

Last night, Rahel carried Carlson, who had passed out drunk, from the tavern, dumped him in a guest room at the orphanage, and fell asleep next to him.

“Kuh-erk, kuh-erk.”

“…No wonder I had a fitful sleep. It was this bastard.”

Rahel sighed, looking at Carlson sleeping in the corner of the room.

He had a strange dream all night about a crazy elf making roaring noises, and Carlson’s snoring was the culprit.

Rahel left the deeply sleeping Carlson behind and went outside.

The children, who were heavy sleepers, were still asleep, but it was already morning for the adults.

Rahel stepped out into the orphanage yard, basking in the warm morning sunlight, and greeted a welcome face he happened to see.

“Ah, Commander. Good morning. Haha.”

Rahel smiled brightly, looking at the new golden lifeline that had appeared last night.

Every dog has its day, and a new lifeline had descended into Rahel’s life, which had been twisted like a mangled dog.

It was Rain of the Rain Knights.

‘I knew something was strange. There’s no way those stupid elves and giants could have made Yuri the emperor. There must have been help from others.’

Those two idiots are in charge of brute force, and the Rain Knights and the Grand Duke recognized the true value of the Second Princess.

Rahel had finally met the biggest supporter of the next emperor.

A knight order that has been helping since the next emperor was at the bottom of the pecking order…

Rahel had no intention of ever letting go of this new golden lifeline.

“…Yes. Good morning, Rahel.”

The golden lifeline, Rain, looked at Rahel with a sullen face.

The young man, who had clearly been like a sharp thorn, had suddenly become friendly overnight.

“Good morning to the Rain Knights as well. Should we introduce ourselves on this occasion? We may be seeing each other often in the future. Ahaha.”

Rahel greeted Rain and approached the knights behind him.

He approached with a smiling face, but the knights just blinked.

“…?”

The knights turned to Commander Rain with expressions that said, ‘What the hell is this guy?’

They didn’t like the fact that a commoner they had just met yesterday was acting friendly with their commander, but since Rain was staying still, they couldn’t say anything.

‘Rahel, why is that guy suddenly acting like this…?’

But Rain was just as unable to understand Rahel’s actions.

Rahel had suddenly started treating Rain in a friendly manner after last night’s conversation.

‘His attitude definitely changed right after I said we were supporting the Second Princess…’

Rain wasn’t stupid.

Rahel’s attitude changed 180 degrees right after they talked about the Second Princess.

‘Could it be that he has some kind of connection with the Second Princess? …No, that’s impossible.’

Rahel grew up in District 4 and has a record of joining the guard.

There’s no way an orphan from the guard would have a connection with a princess.

‘Besides… insulting the emperor is the same as insulting the Second Princess’s father.’

Rain recalled Rahel’s words and actions last night.

The terrifying hatred that even insulted the emperor’s parents was frightening.

‘Damn it. I can’t figure out the reason at all.’

In fact, Rahel had already erased the fact that he had insulted the emperor last night from his memory, but Rain didn’t really know how crazy he was.

It was the limit of imagination for a fallen noble in a medieval fantasy.

‘Tsk. The Grand Duke also likes him, and it’s a good thing that such a talented person is getting closer to the Rain Knights… There’s no need to worry about it.’

Rain was highly overestimating Rahel’s talent.

He hasn’t fought him directly, so he can’t measure his exact strength, but he will definitely become a Sword Master.

A conclusion reached by a Sword Master after crossing swords.

This was not an expectation but a conviction.

“…You guys. Get along with Rahel.”

Rain whispered quietly to the knights who were looking at him.

“Yes? Who is that guy that you’re telling us to do that?”

“Just do as I say, you bastard.”

It’s lucky that we discovered such a monster before the other knight orders.

If we can get him used to the knight order, we can subtly suggest that he join the knight order again later.

‘Can’t he just put his name on the list without actually participating in knight order activities? Or should I just tell Yuri that he’s close to the Rain Knights?’

Rahel smiled contentedly, imagining the future.

Being close to the Rain Knights doesn’t mean he’s going to jump into the next emperor’s fight.

It just means he’s going to put his name on the list.

It’s clear that the path to Yuri becoming emperor will be difficult and arduous.

Rahel was planning to add just one spoonful after the Rain Knights had suffered in the lead.

‘Let’s add just one spoonful, no more, no less!’

For Rahel, the orphanage is always the top priority.

However, if he can live a comfortable life in the process, it’s good to seize the opportunity.

“Hehe.”

Knowing this, Rahel had already created an image by always using polite language to Yuri.

Yuri, who doesn’t know anything, probably thinks of him as a polite man.

A contented smile spread across Rahel’s face.

“…Ugh, my head. What happened last night after I fell asleep? I feel like you two have gotten strangely close.”

At that moment, Carlson, who had eliminated his drunkenness with divine power, frowned and walked out.

His back hurt from the morning because he had slept in the corner of the guest room that Rahel had roughly thrown him into.

“Man, don’t you know the Rain Knights? You have to show respect to the biggest knight order in the empire.”

“No, of course I know them. But Rahel, I’m also a Silver Cross Knight. If you have power, shouldn’t you be nice to me too?”

“You’re a nobody.”

“Ah…”

Carlson nodded at the undeniable fact.

Rahel was indeed a brother with a lot to learn from.

‘That Carlson guy… he’s also very talented.’

Rain was inwardly surprised even while looking at Carlson making a stupid expression.

He can’t be compared to Rahel, but in fact, that guy also had great talent that didn’t match his age.

But he was already a Silver Cross Knight, so he didn’t pay attention to him.

‘What is the identity of this orphanage?’

Rain suddenly began to suspect the orphanage itself.

Could it be that the other children also have talent?

Just in time, he saw children yawning and walking out, so Rain looked around the orphanage with his eyes wide open.

Of course… even if he stared until his eyes hurt, he couldn’t see anything in particular.

Noon.

Rahel moved to go to work at the Special Guard.

There’s nothing special to do at the Special Guard, but he still has to go to work once a day so that he doesn’t get unnecessary suspicion from the Outer Guard.

‘They were already saying that my impression has gotten better recently.’

From the perspective of the Outer Guard guarding the Special Guard, it may seem strange that Rahel isn’t crazy, but from Rahel’s perspective, each of those interests was a burden.

His life was already twisted, and it couldn’t be twisted any further.

“Even those who have committed sins, the god Gaia will forgive them! We also have a soul purification department here that purifies dirty souls!”

While walking, he saw a priest selling soul purification charms on the street.

The priests sell soul purification charms and receive donations, and the more donations they receive, the higher their position in the clergy.

Maybe that lower priest is also aiming to become a bishop.

‘I’m really confident that I can sell that well if I sell it…’

Medieval fantasy people were too ignorant.

If Rahel were a priest of the clergy, he was confident that he would rise to the position of bishop in an instant.

‘Soul. Soul… Come to think of it, the Pope is said to be able to purify real souls, so what happens if the Pope gives me a blessing?’

If he’s the Pope, can he purify the souls of people who don’t have souls?

Rahel walked while worrying about useless things.

“There are commoners who want to help their families even if they have to sell themselves! We are reaching out to them!”

District 4 was very noisy.

Not far from the soul purification charm sales office.

People wearing black cloaks were shouting.

If someone saw them, they would think it was a suicide counseling center, but the next words were spectacular.

“Our black magicians are always accepting applicants, and we are also buying corpses that have not been dead for long! We guarantee that we will give you a better price than going in as a slave!”

Rahel has met those guys wearing Gaksital [masks worn to conceal identity] a few times.

Black magicians.

Those who love human experimentation, which is considered taboo among magicians.

Those crazy people were encouraging human trafficking against commoners.

“Here! They’re black magicians!”

“Damn it, the Outer Guard is here! Run away!”

The Empire and the Magic Tower suppress black magicians who commit taboos, but they survive like cockroaches.

They commit taboos while avoiding the eyes of the law, and gather black magicians again while showing off the strong power they gained by committing taboos.

The upcoming rebellion of black magicians was also part of that.

‘Human trafficking next to a priest selling soul purification charms. Go crazy. Go crazy.’

Rahel shook his head, watching the black magicians running away with their tails between their legs.

Even if there are no human rights in this world, those bastards went too far.

‘You shouldn’t fall for those words… Would people who believe in lucky letters not believe that?’

What’s even more fucked up is that some of the commoners might fall for those words.

As expected, it would help the world if the black magicians died as soon as possible.

Rahel clicked his tongue and headed to the Special Guard.

“Good work.”

“You’re working hard. Captain Rahel.”

Rahel, who received a salute from the Outer Guard, waved his hand and entered the Special Guard.

As he walked inside, feeling the ghostly energy and demonic energy, he felt a familiar energy.

It was the refreshing magic of nature.

“Ugh…”

As expected, Reina was in the Special Guard.

She was lying in the shade of a tree, hugging a branch of the World Tree, instead of the hammock she usually lay on.

She was in that state yesterday, and she looked the same today.

“Reina. Does it hurt a lot?”

“It’s okay… ugh.”

Rahel sat next to Reina and checked her condition.

Sweat was beading on Reina’s forehead, and her face was pale.

Her breathing also seemed quite difficult, and no matter how he looked at it, she wasn’t in a condition to go to work.

“Yuri is working outside, and Ghent is on duty monitoring the Ghost King? If you’re going to be here alone, why didn’t you rest at home?”

“I couldn’t go home because I was sick…”

“Don’t tell me you’ve been lying down like that since yesterday?”

“Uh-huh… and even if I go home, I’m alone. There’s no friend to take care of me except Ghent.”

“…”

Rahel felt complicated emotions as he looked at Reina.

What kind of pitiful elf is this?

Reina had a talent for making people feel sorry for her.

Rahel sighed and looked around.

There was Ghent’s harmony porridge of yin and yang nearby.

“Should I feed you some rice porridge?”

“Yes. I’m hungry…”

Rahel scooped up the porridge with a spoon and began to feed Reina, who opened her mouth like a baby bird.

It was a skill he had honed at the orphanage, feeding young children.

It was very annoying if rice got on the child’s lips or clothes, so he had to move the spoon precisely.

“I don’t want to eat anymore… Rahel. You feed me much better than Ghent.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

Rahel put down the porridge and examined Reina’s body again.

He wasn’t a doctor or a priest, so there was nothing he could really know by looking at her body.

“Rahel. You were also human. You were mesmerized by the elf. Ooh-hoo. Hehe…”

Reina was smiling and spouting nonsense even in the midst of all this, but somehow it felt different from usual.

It wasn’t stupid words coming out without going through her brain, but a feeling that she was forcibly acting out her personality.

‘Children will confess everything if you poke them in the stomach.’

He couldn’t poke Reina’s stomach to reveal her lies, so Rahel pulled on her pointy elf ears.

It’s a famous weak point of elves.

“Rahel. What are you doing?”

However, Reina didn’t react even when he touched her ears.

Rahel felt a question and asked.

“Doesn’t it hurt? Ears are a weak point for elves.”

“What are you talking about, Rahel? What race would reveal their weaknesses like that?”

“…”

Are there such rootless bastards?

If the ears aren’t a weak point for the elves, they should just take them off.

‘This is really a shitty world.’

With regret, Rahel began to massage her ears.

Touching the ears of an elf was a new experience for Rahel, who had gone through thick and thin.

“Stop it… Huh?”

Reina shook her heavy head from side to side, trying to get Rahel off of her ears.

In the process, she suddenly felt that her headache had weakened.

‘My head… doesn’t hurt anymore.’

Reina looked inside her body.

She had forcibly opened the spirit world a while ago and offered a spirit to Baslord.

In simple terms, she played the role of a door connecting the spirit world and the present world.

That’s why Baslord’s magic, which is the natural enemy of elves, remained in her body.

‘The magic of ‘extinction’ is disappearing from my body.’

Reina, who had experienced this pain several times, knew it.

It was the first time that magic had disappeared so noticeably as it was now.

Reina hadn’t done anything.

The only thing that had changed…

“…Hand?”

Reina looked up at Rahel, who was touching her ears.

Rahel’s touch.

That was alleviating Reina’s pain.

“…Ah, I’m sorry. Reina. I touched it like I was touching a rabbit’s ear.”

Rahel felt Reina’s gaze and took his hand off her ear.

He touched it without thinking because of the feeling he had never felt before, but if he thought about it as the ears of another human being instead of Reina, it was a great rudeness.

“Give me your hand. Rahel.”

“Why the hand?”

Without saying anything, Rahel held out his hand to Reina.

And Reina carefully held his hand with both hands.

“Ah…”

She could definitely feel it.

The pain is reduced.

The magic of extinction in her body was disappearing.

“What are you doing?”

Reina’s mind went blank at the sensation of the magic that had been tormenting her gradually disappearing.

Reina held Rahel’s hand tightly and slowly brought it to her chest.

It was to get rid of the magic of extinction that had penetrated deep into her body.

“Hey, hey. Let go of my hand. This crazy elf…”

Rahel was surprised to see Reina suddenly grabbing his hand and leading it to her chest.

Even if he tried to pull his hand out, it was difficult to pull it out because Reina was holding his hand so tightly.

‘I can’t use force on a patient… Why is she suddenly doing this?’

At that moment when he was about to forcibly pull his arm out, no matter if she was a patient or not.

“Rahel. Just for a moment. Just stay like this for a moment…”

Reina hugged Rahel’s hand tightly and closed her eyes.

The fatigue of the two days that she couldn’t sleep properly because she was in so much pain rushed in at once.

She closed her eyes and fell into a sweet sleep.

“…”

Rahel frowned and looked at Reina.

She was wearing a peaceful expression instead of a painful one.

“No, what kind of elf is this?”

Rahel looked at Reina, who had fallen asleep while hugging his hand, with a dumbfounded look.

She was in so much pain until just now, but she fell asleep with such a comfortable face that it was hard to wake her up.

‘I should have pulled my hand out sooner…’

Rahel resented himself for not properly stopping Reina.

If a guy like Ghent or Carlson had pulled his hand, he would have immediately shouted ‘Reprimand!’ and pulled his hand out, but because a pretty elf was pulling his hand, he hesitated for a moment.

“Ghent. When is that bastard coming?”

Rahel sat down, leaning against the tree next to her with one hand taken away.

The posture was very uncomfortable, but he was still able to sit somehow.

‘I’m already a little tired because I haven’t been able to sleep well. Tsk.’

He was short on sleep because of Carlson’s snoring, and he was getting tired because he was being held by Reina and couldn’t move.

Rahel eventually closed his eyes while leaning against the tree.

It seemed like it would be good to get some sleep even a little at times like this.

“Hmm…”

About an hour passed like that.

Rahel felt a presence and opened his eyes.

“Rahel. I never thought you were that kind of guy…”

“…Ghent. Listen to me first.”