The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 51

The Gaia Order holds a general assembly every month.

In name, it’s a time for everyone to pray together for the main god Gaia and to seek ways for the Order to improve, but usually, it becomes a time to listen to the Pope or Cardinals.

This is because, given the nature of the Order as an organization, there’s no need to compete for profits, and even if they do fight, they can’t voice it out loud.

“We must strongly protest to the Imperial Family.”

However, today’s general assembly was different.

A man who held as much power as a Cardinal but had no interest in the internal affairs of the Order.

Marco, the Commander of the Silver Cross Knights, had opened his mouth.

“···Sir Marco. What are you suddenly talking about?”

“It’s not just talk. The invasion of demons continues in the Imperial Capital. With even the Celestial Festival, which the Imperial citizens should enjoy, canceled due to the rebellion of black mages, it’s clear that there’s a problem with the Empire’s security.”

“We already protested when the demons appeared, so please calm down for now···.”

“I’m not talking about such token protests. We must make our anger known in the name of the Gaia Order. Since the Silver Cross Knights have also suffered losses, we cannot remain silent.”

“···.”

Cardinal Bernardo, who was leading the general assembly, swallowed his breath at Marco’s words.

What he was saying was undeniable.

‘Why is that man suddenly getting involved in the Order’s affairs?’

However, there are things in the world that one should not bother with.

Especially for Bernardo, who receives enormous donations from the Carmen Knights, meddling with the Empire was quite inconvenient.

Fortunately, the opponent was Marco.

Bernardo knew how to handle him well.

“Sir Marco. I will definitely protest to the Empire. However, there is a more important matter now. News has come that demons have appeared in the Leven barony outside the capital. It is a time when the lambs [followers] need the strength of the Silver Cross Knights.”

Bernardo reverently made the sign of the cross.

Handling Marco is not difficult.

If you tell him where the demons are, he will run.

It was a very simple formula.

“What kind of demons have appeared?”

“Pardon?”

“I asked what kind of demons have appeared.”

“···I heard they were lower demons.”

Bernardo answered, feeling a strange sense of unease.

Normally, he would have already grabbed his battle-axe and rushed out, but Marco’s reaction was surprisingly calm.

“If it’s the Leven barony, it’s where the fourth largest branch in the Empire is located. They should be able to stop it without much damage even if the Silver Cross Knights don’t move.”

“···Pardon?”

Bernardo stared at Marco with a blank face.

He calmly lifted his battle-axe high.

Thud-!

Marco’s massive battle-axe fell to the floor.

The gazes of all the priests participating in the general assembly gathered at the loud noise.

“What’s important now is not just some lower demons. No one can ignore the Gaia Order! If Cardinal Bernardo does not protest, the Silver Cross Knights will protest directly.”

“W, wait a moment. I understand, so please calm down···.”

Bernardo couldn’t hide his embarrassment.

Marco, who had strong power and only thought about killing demons, suddenly started acting strangely.

‘H, how can a person change so much overnight···?’

Bernardo decided to temporarily halt the general assembly.

Fortunately, the general assembly had become lengthy and overlapped with prayer time.

“What crazy bastard made Marco like that!!!!”

Bernardo, who had entered the Cardinal’s office with several archbishops, started shouting as soon as he closed the door.

It was prayer time, but he didn’t care about such trivial matters.

“I am Cardinal Bernardo! How dare you talk back to me, who has experienced all the storms of the Gaia Order···!”

Bernardo poured out his anger to the archbishops in his room.

That crazy Knight Commander was trying to single-handedly destroy all the interests of the Order.

From his perspective, receiving enormous donations from the Carmen Knights, he was going crazy.

“P, please calm down, Cardinal!!”

“Damn it! Calm down my ass! If I hear the word protest one more time, I will never let it go···!”

Knock- Knock-

At that moment, someone knocked on the door of the Cardinal’s office.

The dull sound was enough to know who it was without even asking.

“This is Marco, the Commander of the Silver Cross Knights. May I come in?”

“Come in, Sir Marco.”

“···?”

The archbishops unknowingly made puzzled faces.

The Cardinal, who had been shouting in anger until just now, was now wearing a benevolent smile.

The person who said he wouldn’t leave Marco alone was nowhere to be seen.

“There was something I wanted to say during the general assembly, but the time for the general assembly overlaps with patrol time, so I am saying it now.”

“Ah, so that’s the situation. Speak now.”

“Please allow the Silver Cross Knights to appoint one honorary knight.”

“Honorary knight···?”

Bernardo narrowed his eyes at the unexpected words.

An honorary knight is a position that only cares about honor, as the name suggests.

Since it’s a position where one can only take the rights without fulfilling the duties of the Silver Cross Knights, many nobles wanted it.

‘Could it be that suddenly participating in the Order’s affairs is also···.’

Could Marco be connected to other political forces?

Bernardo looked at Marco with that thought.

“Don’t tell me you’re thinking of giving the honorary knight position to a noble family?”

“No. The opponent is a commoner. He is a guard who helped a lot when dealing with demons in District 4 last time.”

“Guard··· I see.”

Bernardo nodded at Marco’s words.

If it’s not a noble but a commoner, he can give as many honorary knight positions as he wants.

“Thank you, Cardinal Bernardo.”

“It’s alright. It’s a pity you couldn’t participate in the general assembly. Sir Marco, let’s talk about the things you couldn’t say at the next general assembly.”

“I understand.”

Marco, who made the sign of the cross, walked out of the Cardinal’s office.

Bernardo maintained his benevolent smile until his footsteps were completely gone, and then narrowed his brow.

“Hoo. With this, I won’t have to hear any talk about protests.”

The next general assembly will be held next month.

By then, the demon invasion incident will have passed, and it will become an ambiguous matter to protest.

Bernardo smiled at his scheme.

“Your Eminence, is it okay to just give away positions like honorary knight···?”

“It’s okay. Unless it’s used politically, I can give 100 honorary knight positions to commoners.”

It would be even better to sell them for money, but at least it’s better than Marco running around saying he’s going to protest to the Empire.

He couldn’t reduce the donations he received from the Carmen Knights···.

*

Raelle stood in front of the arched branch of the Order.

It was the branch of the Order in District 4.

The Order was one of the places Raelle disliked, but it was a different story on the day he received a reward.

He was going to become a devout follower of the Gaia Order just for today.

‘The priests look happy because Felix isn’t here.’

Bishop Felix was always obsessed with money, so he had a bad reputation among the people.

As the saying goes, the upper stream must be clear for the lower stream to be clear, and it seems the priests are finally straightening their shoulders.

Raelle approached the priest guarding the front of the branch.

“Gaia-men [servant of Gaia]. Priest. Hello. I’ve come to see Priest Cecilia.”

“Welcome, brother. Priest Cecilia is inside, but··· What business do you have with the priest?”

The priest guarding the door stared at Raelle intently.

It was as if he was looking at a suspicious person.

“···I am this kind of person. I told the priest in advance, so don’t worry.”

Raelle took out a silver badge from his chest.

It was a lie that he had told Cecilia in advance, but the important thing was the silver badge.

‘Come to think of it, the silver badge is also a lie.’

Anyway, the important thing was the name of the guard captain.

“Ah···! I’m sorry. Please come inside.”

Only then was Raelle able to enter the branch.

He couldn’t understand why religious people looked at his face and acted like this.

He heard he had a licentious face, but what kind of nonsense was that.

Finding Cecilia inside the branch was easy.

She was praying in front of the statue of Gaia.

“Priest Cecilia.”

Raelle sat next to her, waited for her prayer to end, and then spoke.

“Ah, Raelle! What brings you to the branch?”

Cecilia smiled and looked at Raelle.

As far as Raelle knew, she was the most devout person in District 4.

“I heard that the Order is giving out rewards today. For catching the demons back then.”

“Ah, really?”

“Yes.”

It’s normal for Cecilia not to know.

Originally, it’s common sense for medieval bastards to barge in without making appointments.

“A reward. Raelle, who caught the demons, must be getting something great, right?”

“Priest Cecilia.”

“Yes, Raelle.”

“Even if you become successful in the Order later, you can’t forget me. You know?”

“That’s impossible! I will never forget Raelle.”

“Don’t just say it, come on. Promise me.”

Raelle held out his pinky finger.

It’s a historically significant way of making promises that also works in the Middle Ages.

“Yes? Hehe. Raelle, you have an unexpectedly cute side.”

“It’s not cute, it’s important.”

He has a firm grip on the next emperor’s lifeline, so he needs to have a firm grip on the next saintess as well.

Raelle held out his pinky finger with a serious expression.

“Okay. I promise.”

Cecilia smiled and hooked her pinky finger with his.

She was briefly surprised by the firm man’s hand, but since Raelle was still, it would be strange for her to react in any way.

“Okay.”

Raelle nodded with a satisfied smile.

If it’s not a K-promise [Korean promise] to have a meal together later, but a pinky promise, then even if Cecilia becomes a saintess, some crumbs will fall.

Step- Step-.

At that moment, the heavy sound of armor was heard from outside.

Raelle frowned and stood up from his seat.

“···It’s not Carlson?”

Squeak-

Before Raelle could go out, someone opened the door of the branch and came in.

“Huh?”

Shiny plate armor and the symbol of the Order attached to the chest.

And the huge battle-axe attached to the back.

Raelle blinked as he looked at the familiar face.

“May the peace of Gaia be with you. Long time no see, Raelle. Priest Cecilia.”

There stood Marco, the Commander of the Silver Cross Knights, wearing huge plate armor.

“M, may the blessing of Gaia be with you. I am Cecilia, a lower priest···.”

Cecilia trembled and looked at Marco.

As a priest of the Order, it was unheard of to see Commander Marco this often.

“Commander. Hello. What brings you here···?”

Raelle straightened his posture while expressing his doubts.

He thought he would only be given some money at most because a reward was coming down, but Marco came down himself.

This was definitely going to be a huge reward.

“I have come to give a reward to you and Priest Cecilia.”

“Ah, what kind of reward is it that the Commander himself came?”

Raelle looked at Marco, lowering the corners of his mouth that were about to rise.

‘Amazing.’

Marco scanned Raelle and felt a sense of wonder.

It hadn’t even been a month since he had cut down the middle-tier demon.

‘Such an achievement in a month···?’

But Raelle’s momentum was completely different.

His growth rate was incomprehensibly fast.

Marco felt regret.

He wanted to ask questions about swordsmanship or combat, but this was not the place.

“Originally, we have to go through the proper procedures, but since District 4 is far from the main headquarters, we will proceed in a simplified manner. First, Raelle. On behalf of the Order, I will give you the honorary knight position of the Silver Cross Knights.”

“···Honorary knight?”

Raelle widened his eyes at the reward he had never imagined.

An honorary knight is a position where one can obtain the honor of the Silver Cross Knights without belonging to them.

‘I can use this···.’

An honorary knight is the same as having the name of the Silver Cross Knights on his back.

If he supports the Second Princess in that state, he may be able to receive the support of nobles who value religion.

‘Of course, there will be complaints from all over the place···.’

That’s okay.

The moment Yuri becomes the next emperor, those complaints will disappear.

“Receive it. From today, you are an honorary knight of the Silver Cross Knights.”

“Thank you, Commander.”

Raelle made the sign of the cross and received the token given by Marco.

It was the same shape as the symbol of the Order attached to the plate armor of the Silver Cross Knights.

“And for Priest Cecilia··· I wrote a recommendation letter to the Archbishop in my name.”

“Y, yes?!”

Cecilia looked at Marco in surprise.

A recommendation letter to the Archbishop, not even a bishop, for Cecilia, a lower priest.

“I, I didn’t do anything that great··· Raelle caught all the demons.”

“I saw the priest’s talent. Someone from the Order’s headquarters will come soon. Show your strength properly then.”

“I understand. Gaia-men···.”

Cecilia made the sign of the cross and gave thanks to the main god Gaia.

All of this was God’s guidance.

“Good. With this, the awarding of the Order’s rewards is over···.”

Marco looked around the inside of the branch.

The face that should be seen here was not visible.

Step- Step-.

At that moment, a knight with an awkward expression stood behind Marco.

“Carlson? Where have you been?”

“Ah, I was patrolling the area for a while. I returned as soon as I heard that the Commander had arrived.”

It was obviously Carlson.

The cold sweat on his forehead made it obvious that he had been gambling with dice.

“I see. Are you doing well in District 4? If you cause any harm to the Silver Cross Knights, you will have to return immediately.”

“Yes? Hahaha, of course, I’m doing well!”

Carlson sent desperate glances at Raelle.

It was a signal to help him.

Raelle sighed inwardly and took a step forward.

“I have never seen a paladin work as hard as Carlson. Commander.”

“I see. I can trust your words.”

Marco smiled and patted Raelle on the shoulder.

A strong swordsman does not lie.

“Carlson. Make sure to participate in the upcoming training of the Silver Cross Knights.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Then, I’ll see you again next time. Raelle. Priest Cecilia.”

“Yes, Commander.”

Step- Step-

Marco returned to District 1 immediately after awarding the rewards.

Originally, the new bishop was supposed to bring the rewards, but he heard that the Commander would personally award the honorary knight position, so he came before the bishop.

“Wow, I lived thanks to you, brother.”

Carlson sighed in relief after Marco left and sat down.

“So stop gambling. You were gambling again, right?”

“Haha, but the Commander is really strange. Why does he trust a thug like you so much?”

“···This crazy bastard is being a nuisance after I saved him.”

“Ouch!”

Raelle raised his hand and hit the back of Carlson’s head.

Carlson, who raised his hand to cover his head, widened his eyes when he saw the symbol on Raelle’s chest.

“Brother! What is that?!”

“It’s the token of the honorary knight of the Silver Cross Knights. I’m now the same as the Silver Cross Knights.”

Raelle smiled and stuck out his chest.

He was going to indulge in authority just for today.

“···Huh? Then, isn’t brother my junior?”

Carlson blurted out the words that suddenly came to his mind.

“Are you kidding me? Do you want to get hit again?”

Raelle raised his hand again, and Carlson finally flinched.

“You two seem to have a very good relationship.”

Cecilia offered a short prayer, wishing for the friendship of the two.

“Priest Cecilia. You promised earlier. Don’t forget me.”

“Hehe. Don’t worry, Raelle.”

“A promise, so brother and Priest Cecilia are really like that, right? ···Ouch!”

Raelle hit Carlson’s head again for being annoying.

*

In medieval fantasy, it is not difficult to show off friendship between nobles.

Just approach and have a friendly conversation in front of other people.

“Are there any parties in the Imperial Palace in the near future?”

Raelle said to Lane while looking at the backyard of the orphanage.

Since they decided to walk the same path as the Lane Knights, good ideas had to be shared immediately.

“Party? Why do you need that?”

“We have to let people know that we support the Second Princess. Just approaching in a place where nobles can see at the party will naturally spread quickly, right?”

Of course, Raelle spoke directly in the Special Guard, but the Special Guard is a secret of the Imperial Family.

Raelle cannot carelessly talk about the Special Guard, which includes the Demon King, Dragon, and Heavenly Killer Sword Lord, even to Lane.

At least he can talk about it when Yuri gets closer to becoming the emperor.

“Oh··· Certainly, that would be a good way to get attention. You’re more talented in that area than I thought.”

“···.”

Raelle made a sullen expression.

It didn’t feel good to be recognized by an attention seeker.

“But there are no parties scheduled right now. The recent situation is ominous.”

It hasn’t been long since District 2 was destroyed by the rebellion of black mages.

Even in the party hall in District 2 of the capital, all the nobles except the Second Princess died.

There was no crazy person who would throw a party in a time like this.

“Then let’s throw one.”

“···I’m saying the current situation is not good?”

“What’s so important about that? It’s important to increase the Second Princess’s power as soon as possible.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Lane nodded.

Come to think of it, that might be right.

It is also important to quickly inform the Duke’s will.

“And Commander. If you throw a party, there is someone you must call.”

“Who? Is it an important person?”

“···Lucas. There is an academy student named Lucas.”

Raelle recalled the red-haired protagonist he had seen at the Celestial Festival.

“Lucas···? Are you talking about the top of the academy’s graduating class? I saw him during the rebellion of the black mages.”

“Yes. Let’s call that friend.”

“The current students are getting good reviews among the knight orders, but··· is he that good? Inviting him to a party before he even graduates from the academy is not a matter of etiquette between the knight orders. We may have to give up all the other graduates while being mindful of the other knight orders.”

“Manners and whatnot, it’s unconditional. Unconditional. We have to make that guy our ally even if we throw away all the other guys.”

Raelle is acknowledging that he has interfered with the flow of the world.

But he had no intention of navigating this damn world alone.

The protagonist of this world is Lucas.

While he leads the story, Raelle only needs to hold on tight to the golden lifeline behind him.

That was the life Raelle wanted.