The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 61

< Duel >

‘Damn it, damn it…! That bitch Yuriel…’

Second Prince Simon sat among the nobles, biting his lip.

The surrounding nobles sensed his mood and sipped their drinks in silence.

“My brother has grown more than I thought. Don’t you think so, Simon?”

The only one who remained calm amidst all this was First Prince Damian.

“…Brother. Why did you just stand there? Did you want to see me humiliated that badly?”

Simon watched Damian speak with an indifferent face, fueling his competitive spirit.

He must have wanted me to be humiliated.

That’s why he stood by and did nothing.

“What are you talking about? I told you not to interfere since you were talking to Yuriel.”

“…Tch.”

Simon clicked his tongue.

As expected, he didn’t like Damian.

‘Interesting. Yuriel is getting quite clever… but her knight seems very capable.’

Damian turned his attention away from his grumbling brother and thought about Yuriel’s knight.

He wasn’t someone to be dismissed just because he was a commoner.

He had an eye for reading the situation accurately.

‘Having someone like that must be part of Yuriel’s ability.’

Damian looked at Yuriel with a bit more interest.

It seemed he should pay a little more attention to her.

“…Did Her Highness Yuriel just corner Prince Simon?”

“No. Her knight overwhelmed Prince Simon’s knight.”

“Isn’t that the same thing! A knight is the pride of their lord!”

Meanwhile, the nobles who were far from the Second Prince began to focus on the Second Princess in the corner.

They were intrigued by the new side of her that they hadn’t seen before, and they had many questions about her knight.

“An honorary knight of the Silver Cross Knights? Who is he?”

“He’s the one who killed the demon that infiltrated District 4 and became a knight. He’s quite famous in the Order.”

“I heard that Lord Marco recommended him directly.”

“Huh, isn’t Lord Marco someone who doesn’t care about anything except hunting demons?”

Some nobles who favored the Gaia Order knew about Raelle.

Centered around them, the story of the Second Princess and Raelle spread throughout the party hall.

As the nobles fell into confusion, the emcee’s voice was heard once again.

[His Grace the Grand Duke is entering.]

Thud. Thud.

The Rain Knights, maintaining their formation, opened the doors to the party hall.

As the doors opened, a middle-aged man in a neat uniform entered the party hall.

The Empire’s only Grand Duke.

Grand Duke Eric Grace.

“His Grace the Grand Duke is still going strong even after 10 years.”

“Has he completely recovered from his illness?”

“So, he’s returning to his duties.”

The nobles admired the Grand Duke and offered their praise.

Some of them were watching carefully as they spoke.

The incident that had just occurred was quite significant.

“I am quite surprised that all the nobles of the Empire have gathered at an old man’s party like mine. Even the imperial family, the future of the Empire, have graced us with their presence.”

Eric turned his gaze to the imperial family and smiled.

“I would like to greet each of the princes and princesses individually, but… there is something I would like to say before that.”

Originally, if a member of the imperial family attended a party, it was customary for the host to greet them.

However, Eric continued with a faint smile.

“I heard that there were knights who had an argument in this fine place.”

“… !”

The nobles were startled by the Grand Duke’s bluntness.

It was called a knight’s argument, but the nobles knew the truth.

It was a dispute between the princes and princesses.

‘To mention it directly, is he planning to cause trouble?’

The nobles waited for the Grand Duke’s next words.

“As the Grand Duke of the Empire, I cannot ignore the problem that occurred at my party. I intend to resolve it cleanly so that there are no repercussions.”

The Grand Duke looked around, seeking agreement.

He was an old tiger who had spent decades in the imperial court of the Empire.

He was not at all burdened by the gazes of the nobles he was seeing for the first time in 10 years.

“Since it is a dispute between knights, I think it would be good to settle the matter neatly with a duel. What do you all think?”

The nobles nodded at the Grand Duke’s words.

It was the most moderate and noble-like solution in the Empire.

“The Grand Duke is as sharp as ever.”

“He still has the spirit of when he was a general of the Empire.”

“He’s saying to decide who is right with a sword, like a knight.”

“But Lord Lauren is a veteran who was active in the Carmen Knights [elite knight order], wasn’t he? I heard that Honorary Knight Raelle is still in his 20s.”

“If he doesn’t even have that much confidence, he can’t be called the princess’s knight.”

Some of the nobles raised the issue of fairness, but it was not accepted.

The nobles just wanted to see a duel between knights.

Moreover, the fact that there was no one to take the side of the disadvantaged Second Princess was also a major factor.

“Thank you, Grand Duke. Lauren, come here.”

Second Prince Simon suppressed a smile and walked forward.

Lauren.

He was an excellent swordsman, befitting a prince’s knight.

Because he was a seasoned graduate of the Carmen Knights.

There was no chance he would lose to a commoner knight.

“I am grateful that the Grand Duke has given me this opportunity. I will prove the dignity of the Second Prince.”

Lauren confidently puffed out his chest and walked forward.

The opponent was just a rookie knight in his 20s.

He had no reason to run away.

“…Raelle, are you okay?”

Yuriel, who was in the corner of the party hall, carefully looked at Raelle.

She knew he was strong. But the knights of the imperial family were chosen from the best in the Carmen Knights.

Lauren was much stronger than the Carmen Knights member they had faced back then.

“Since His Grace the Grand Duke has set the stage, I have to step up.”

Raelle smiled.

Eric must have heard about Raelle’s strength from Commander Rain.

That’s why he’s confidently setting the stage like this.

“Your Highness Yuriel.”

“If it’s a burden, you can refuse…”

Raelle shook his head at Yuriel’s worried expression.

He knew why Yuriel was worried.

She didn’t know Raelle’s true strength.

It was natural for her to be worried.

‘Worry is good, but she’s too soft-hearted.’

Raelle shook his head.

She didn’t have the aura of the future emperor that he had seen in the original story.

Now that he had caught the golden thread, this was also something he had to do.

“Straighten your shoulders and have confidence. This party is an important event. I’ll do the proving, so just follow me, Yuriel.”

“…”

Yuriel then looked around.

This was not the Special Guard.

She was not Yuri, but Second Princess Yuriel von Grandia.

She had to show the dignity befitting her position in front of the nobles of the Empire.

Yuriel steeled her resolve as a princess.

And, straightening her shoulders, she said.

“Raelle. Prove whose knight you are.”

“Yes. Your Highness Yuriel.”

Raelle bowed and walked forward.

The Carmen Knights and the Rain Knights stood in a circle in the center of the party hall, where there were no nobles.

The knights created a dueling arena with their bodies so that the nobles would not be harmed in the impromptu sparring match.

“This is going to be interesting. Lord Lauren’s duel.”

“I’m worried it might end too quickly.”

“If he received the title of Honorary Knight, he must have a hidden card or two.”

The nobles in the party hall all watched the duel.

A knight’s duel is a contest that respects each other’s honor based on chivalry, but the nobles watching it did not think so.

These were influential nobles who held positions in the Empire.

If one of the knights were to fall in front of them, it would be a great humiliation for the loser.

This was a battle of pride between the Second Prince and the Second Princess.

‘As expected, His Grace the Grand Duke must be supporting the Second Prince. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have created this opportunity.’

Now was the time to prove the Second Prince’s worth.

Lauren slowly entered the dueling arena.

Raelle stood in front of him.

‘A commoner, of all people…’

Lauren scanned Raelle’s body from top to bottom.

There was a method of measuring combat power passed down among knights.

It was to check how worn the opponent’s sword handle was compared to the scabbard.

If the handle was clean compared to the worn scabbard, it meant they were a fake who didn’t train properly.

If the handle was more worn than the scabbard, it meant they were crazy about training and needed to be careful.

‘Weak.’

According to that standard, Raelle was a fake.

The scabbard was completely worn out compared to the sword handle, which wasn’t very worn.

He didn’t seem to train much, and he didn’t seem to have much interest in swords.

Besides, he was young.

He was about the same age as the princess at best.

There was no way he could beat him, who had been wielding a sword for decades.

Lauren looked at Raelle with a confident smile.

“I’ll teach you about swords, you brat.”

“…”

“If you had knelt down before the duel, I might have turned a blind eye once, but you’re a commoner with a strong sense of pride.”

“Geez, you talk too much.”

Raelle scratched his ear as if he was annoyed.

“…What?”

“Draw your sword. You little punk. I don’t have any respect for elders when it comes to you.”

Raelle usually treated people his age with respect, as befitting someone from the Land of Eastern Etiquette, but he had no intention of treating someone like him with respect.

“You’re really unbelievable. I’ll show you what a real knight is.”

Swish-!

Lauren drew his sword.

A clear sword aura rose above his sword.

It was the sword aura of a knight who had reached the level of a seasoned graduate.

“The sword aura is really clean.”

“That is the sword of the Carmen Knights that only the imperial knights can learn…”

The nobles admired Lauren’s sword aura.

He was that high-level of a knight.

“You drew your sword first. Don’t blame me later.”

“Hmph. I wonder how long you can maintain that confidence.”

Lauren couldn’t understand the confidence that the knight in front of him had.

He was a knight who had reached the level of a seasoned graduate after wielding a sword for decades.

That meant that he could not lose to a commoner knight.

“Heavenly Slaughter Sword, First Form. Entering Heaven.”

“…?”

However, it didn’t take even 5 seconds for that confidence to shatter.

Whoosh-

With a strange incantation, a burning sword aura bloomed on Raelle’s sword.

The nobles who saw his sword aura shouted in surprise.

“G, Graduate?!”

“No way! To draw out a sword aura at that age!”

Raelle almost laughed at the reaction.

The reaction was the same as when he had drawn out his sword energy.

He wondered how they would react if they knew that Raelle’s power was above the level of a graduate.

‘Raelle…?’

Yuriel was also surprised.

She never thought he would be able to draw out a sword aura.

Raelle had only used sword energy when he saved Yuri’s life.

To be able to draw out a sword aura in just one month was unbelievable.

‘But why is he saying the technique…?’

Yuriel tilted her head and watched his duel.

“T, This is…”

Lauren gripped his sword tightly as he looked at Raelle’s sword aura.

As if to say that he wasn’t just bluffing, he also had a trick up his sleeve.

His sword aura was stronger than Lauren’s at first glance.

‘…But I can win in swordsmanship. No, I will definitely win.’

Lauren stared straight ahead and thought.

Magic is originally an area where talent is strong.

But swordsmanship is different.

The decades of effort he had put in would not betray him.

Lauren firmly believed in his sword.

“If the two knights are ready, we will begin the duel.”

The referee for the duel was Rain, the commander of the Rain Knights.

He raised his sword into the air and then struck it down.

It was the signal to start the duel.

“Haaah!”

Lauren confidently swung his sword.

He intended to take the lead from the start, as the opponent would lack experience.

‘Still hasn’t come to his senses.’

Raelle lightly met his sword.

His eyes were still burning with fighting spirit.

He wondered how long that passion would last.

Clang-! Clang-!

“T, This can’t be…!”

After only three exchanges.

Lauren’s expression twisted as he was pushed back.

The strangely light and fast sword pierced his vitals, and the sword aura was greatly reduced even when simply blocking a simple feint.

‘Not only is his output outstanding, but his swordsmanship is also excellent?’

For a commoner to be such a strong swordsman.

Lauren sweated as he stepped back.

“Where are you trying to run away to?”

Raelle leisurely followed him and swung his sword.

Clang-!

Lauren quickly dodged, but his armor had already been cut.

Blood oozed from the thinly cut chest.

“Cough…!”

Lauren coughed in pain and felt fear as he regained his stance.

This was the first time he had faced such an opponent.

The sword aura, which contained a strong power, was supposed to be heavy with each strike.

But the guy’s sword was different.

It was so fast that it was difficult to follow with the eyes, but the power contained in the sword aura was so heavy.

It was a sword that had two things that could not coexist.

Thud-.

“…!”

Lauren’s back touched the knights as he only retreated with each exchange of swords.

‘D, Did I lose?’

It was too futile a defeat that did not match the name of the Second Prince’s exclusive knight in this impromptu duel; the one who retreated so far as to touch the knights for the safety of the spectators loses.

“What are you doing, Lord Lauren? You have to try again. Surely you’re not going to run away because you lost that much?”

Then, Raelle, who was in front of him, smiled and beckoned with his sword.

Raelle didn’t want to end the duel like this.

“…!”

Lauren bit his lip as he looked at Raelle, who was crushing his pride.

“You bastard…! I’ll make you regret it!”

Lauren drew out his sword aura once again.

It was a much thicker and darker sword aura than before.

Lauren decided not to be careless anymore.

It was true that he had underestimated the opponent’s strength.

But from now on, it would be different.

Lauren focused all his senses on the knight in front of him.

The moment his sword, which he had built up over decades, bloomed.

However.

The wall between Raelle and Lauren was thicker than he thought.

The moment Lauren looked at Raelle and swung his sword.

“First Form. Entering Heaven.”

Slash-

“Cough…!”

Raelle’s sword cut through his chest.

It was a quick sword that his eyes could not follow.

‘W, Where did such a monster come from…’

Lauren realized.

The opponent was someone he could not beat.

He couldn’t understand it, but… the guy’s sword was touching the Sword Master [highest rank for swordsmen].

Clang-!

Lauren, who was cut by Raelle, floated off the ground and flew backward.

Thud-.

Lauren, who had lost consciousness, collapsed in a sprawling position.

A huge wound could be seen between his split chest plates.

“C, Call a priest!”

“No way. Lord Lauren was pushed back in a battle of sword auras?”

While the knights were moving busily to call a priest and the nobles were surprised.

Swish-

Raelle sheathed his sword and looked at Rain, raising the corners of his mouth.

‘He’s doing it quite spectacularly.’

Rain nodded at the sight of that face.

“It seems the match is over. The winner is Yuriel’s knight, Lord Raelle.”

Immediately after the winner was named, the nobles looked at Raelle with surprised eyes.

The nobles of the Carmen Empire, who revered power, all wielded swords as a hobby.

That’s why they knew how amazing Raelle had just been.

“To defeat Lord Lauren at that age…”

“He even looked relaxed. That means his power is even greater.”

“Is it even possible to wield a sword aura at that age?”

“Where did Yuriel find such a knight…?”

The nobles all showed interest in Yuriel’s knight, Raelle.

That interest would gradually be conveyed to the Second Princess, and it would become one of the powers that Yuriel possessed.

‘If the Grand Duke reveals that he supports Yuri in this state…’

Game over.

From that moment on, the Second Princess’s time would come.

“Oh my… That was truly a beautiful duel.”

But at that moment, one of the knights who had not moved from the corner of the party hall stood up.

‘What?’

Raelle swallowed as he looked at the approaching man.

The Empire’s strongest knight.

Gideon Garcia, the commander of the Carmen Knights.

He was walking towards Raelle.