The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 62

< Duel >

A prestigious position guarding the Imperial Family, and the Empire’s finest knight order.

The Carmen Knights are the envy of all knights.

Among them, Commander Gideon Garcia was a knight recognized by everyone.

He was more loyal to the Imperial Family than anyone else.

Gideon Garcia was a man who wouldn’t even step outside the Imperial Palace unless it was a day like today, when many members of the Imperial Family were moving at once.

Gideon’s loyalty to the Empire was beyond doubt.

“…”

However, Rael swallowed hard as he watched Gideon approach.

Rael did not trust the Carmen Knights.

‘Why is he suddenly approaching me?’

Unlike the original story, the Carmen Knights were strange in many ways.

They neglected the Empire’s defenses with sudden drills, and some traitors even targeted the Princess directly.

Not trusting the Carmen Knights, Rael tensed up as he looked at Gideon.

“That was a really impressive duel.”

“Thank you.”

“I was moved as a knight myself. What’s your name?”

“It’s Rael.”

“Affiliation?”

“…”

Rael glanced back.

Yuri was looking at him with worried eyes.

He nodded to her once, then turned his head back.

“Honorary Knight of the Silver Cross Knights, and a knight of Her Highness Yuriel.”

“I see. A knight of Her Highness Yuriel…”

Gideon paused at Rael’s words, nodding.

Then, he slowly scanned Rael from head to toe.

‘What an amazing talent.’

Gideon recognized not only his shining talent but also the incredible beauty of his swordsmanship.

‘How many people at this party could decipher the mysteries contained within his sword?’ Gideon was certain that he was the only one.

‘It’s the sword of the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord.’

The Empire’s strongest swordsman.

Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord.

His sword seemed to emanate from Rael’s hand.

‘Did he find the swordsmanship of the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord, which was only rumored to be hidden somewhere in the Empire? Or…’

Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord.

‘Was he directly taught by that man?’

To know the details, he had to get his hands on the knight named Rael.

Gideon smiled and continued.

“Sir Rael, how about joining the Carmen Knights?”

“…Commander, I am a knight of Her Highness Yuriel.”

“I know that, but the Princess’s knight is treated the same as the Carmen Knights. After all, it’s the same as serving the person who will become the Emperor. Even if you join the Carmen Knights, you won’t be branded with the disgrace of changing your lord. If you join the Carmen Knights, I’m even willing to hand over the position of the 1st Division Commander.”

“…”

Rael met the Knight Commander’s eyes.

The sudden offer of a scout was absurd, but… in the first place, what he was saying was nonsense.

It was ridiculous.

The Princess’s exclusive knight and the Carmen Knights are similar but completely different positions.

What the Knight Commander was saying now was closer to persuading the nobles in this place.

‘I’m going to take the knight of the Second Princess, whose power is weak, into the Carmen Knights, so please turn a blind eye to it.’

‘How desperate must he be to say such things in front of the nobles?’

‘It’s strange to do this just because of my talent.’

Of course, Rael had no intention of going even if he was offered the position of Commander of the Carmen Knights.

‘This person is the next Emperor, you idiot.’

Rael paused for a moment, took a breath, and took a respectful bow with his hand on his chest.

“I’m sorry. I intend to serve the Second Princess.”

“Will that mind never change?”

“Yes. It will never change.”

Carmen Knights or whatever.

There’s no reason to go to a place that’s worse than the next Emperor’s knight.

“…”

Gideon nodded and looked at Rael with a blank face.

He wondered what this man was thinking, rejecting his offer in front of the nobles.

The honor of the Carmen Knights cannot be compared to the Second Princess’s exclusive knight.

Gideon, who grew up in this world, did not understand Rael’s heart at all.

Clap clap clap-

At that time, a man approached with applause.

“Hmm, Sir Rael. That was a really good sparring match.”

“Thank you, Commander Rein.”

Rael smiled as he looked at Rein.

As he came, Gideon naturally stepped back.

“Sir Gideon, it’s been a while.”

“Yes, Sir Rein. It’s a pleasure to see you at the Grand Duke’s party. And Sir Rael, I would like to have a conversation with you alone next time.”

“Anytime, if I have the chance.”

Rael took a light bow.

Only then did Gideon turn around and return to the Imperial Family.

“…Rael, are you okay? Why is that bastard suddenly like that?”

Rein frowned as he watched Gideon walk away.

The sudden recruitment offer was surprising even to him.

“I’m fine. And thank you. Sparring with Commander Rein in this duel was very helpful.”

“Ahaha, is that so? More than that, go to the Princess quickly. As a knight, you must report your victory to your lord.”

Rein smiled and pushed Rael’s back.

As a knight, he had to report the victory of the duel.

“Your Highness Yuriel, I have won the duel.”

Rael confidently walked to Yuri and took a bow.

“Well done, Rael. Thank you for your hard work.”

A smile spread across Yuriel’s lips.

Rael was much stronger than she thought.

For some reason, joy rushed in at that fact.

“It was a duel where I could feel the passion of the young knights. I look forward to the future of the Empire.”

The Grand Duke, who watched the duel, moved with a satisfied face.

He had praised Rael, the knight of the Second Princess, so now it was time to introduce Yuriel to the nobles.

Step. Step.

The Grand Duke first approached the First Prince.

It was to greet the Imperial Family member as the host of the party.

“Your Highness Damian, you are still full of confidence. It feels like just yesterday that I saw your coming-of-age ceremony in the Imperial Palace.”

“You flatter me. Your Excellency the Grand Duke is still hale and hearty.”

“I hope you will continue to work hard for the Empire.”

“Yes, Grand Duke.”

The Grand Duke, who exchanged light greetings with Damian, turned his head and looked at Simon.

He was trembling, as if he had not yet recovered from the shock of the duel.

“Your Highness Simon, don’t worry about the knight. It was a fair duel, so the nobles won’t care.”

“…I understand.”

Simon turned his body as if nothing was wrong.

But the nobles who were nearby had to see his expression crumple.

“Your Highness Iris, the magic tool business is still going strong.”

“Yes, thank you for your concern.”

The Grand Duke, who also gave a light greeting to the First Princess, headed to the corner of the party hall.

It was time to greet the Second Princess Yuriel, who was only accompanied by a knight and a maid.

“Seeing him go to Yuriel last, was the order of entry nothing?”

“That’s right. There’s no way he’d support Yuriel.”

The nobles talked with relief as they watched the Grand Duke’s order of greetings.

‘Is it about time?’

Rael smiled with satisfaction as he watched their reactions.

This was his plan.

‘This is a strange feeling.’

The Grand Duke, Eric Greys, looked at Yuriel.

There were no nobles around her, but Yuriel was the most radiant princess at this party.

‘Is it for the future of the Empire…’

The Grand Duke, who had always thought about his own safety and interests, realized something important while living in the lowest place.

The Emperor of the Empire must be the one who cares for the people more than anyone else.

At least, that’s what the Grand Duke thought.

“I see the future of the Empire.”

Swoosh-

The Grand Duke, standing in front of Yuriel, slowly knelt on one knee.

It was the legal procedure that a noble had to take when greeting an Imperial Family member.

However, a noble of the Grand Duke’s stature did not have to do it. He had that much weight and dignity.

In fact, the First Prince and Second Prince did not point it out.

“Grand Duke, it’s been a while.”

Yuriel naturally put her hand on the Grand Duke’s shoulder, and only then did the Grand Duke rise.

“Your Highness Yuriel, how have you been?”

“Thanks to you, Grand Duke.”

The Grand Duke paying respect to the Imperial Family and Yuriel naturally accepting him.

The eyes of the nobles who watched them grew wider and wider.

“T, this can’t be…”

The Grand Duke only pays that much respect to the Emperor.

That is, the Grand Duke has designated Yuriel as the next Emperor.

“…Does the Grand Duke really support the Second Princess? Why?”

“The Empire will be turned upside down.”

The Grand Duke, who had been in seclusion for 10 years, returned by supporting the Second Princess.

Even at a place like this, the moment he showed such an unconventional move, he could no longer withdraw his support.

‘Does the Second Princess have a hidden card?’

The nobles naturally thought of other possibilities.

The Grand Duke, Eric Greys, was like a tiger who had been rolling around in the Empire for decades.

It was absolutely impossible for them to understand with their common sense that he would support the Second Princess, who had nothing.

“Grand Duke.”

“Yes, Your Highness Yuriel.”

Yuri also felt the gazes of the nobles.

It was a look that said they couldn’t understand that the Grand Duke would support such a princess.

‘I have to do as much as Rael has shown.’

That’s why she couldn’t stay still.

As Rael said, she had to let them know she was the Second Princess.

“The founding Emperor of the Empire said this: ‘You cannot become the Emperor of the Empire simply by dreaming of greatness. Grab it with both hands and create your destiny.'”

“…Yes, that’s right.”

Yuri looked at the Grand Duke with a determined look.

She was ready to change her destiny.

“I will declare firmly in this place: I will not be satisfied until the crown is placed on my head.”

And at her words, the party hall was turned upside down.

*

“Your Highness Yuriel, I am in charge of the Samuel County…”

“What kind of relationship did Your Highness have with the Grand Duke to become so close?”

Nobles began to approach the Second Princess.

The Grand Duke, Eric Greys’s support became an oasis for Yuriel, who was like a wasteland.

‘There’s something we don’t know about the Second Princess.’

‘We have to move as quickly as possible. That’s how we can read the flow.’

The nobles’ movements were fast.

It was their specialty to have one foot in the door.

If it is revealed that the Second Princess has something, it will be too late then.

They had to make a line before that.

Meanwhile, in the corner of the party hall, there was also someone who had no interest in the power struggles of the nobles.

He was an academy student who was specially invited to the party.

‘T, amazing.’

Lukas’s head was full of the duel he had just seen.

A light yet heavy force, a sword that confuses the opponent.

Even the academy professor could not unfold such a sword.

“Sir Kirie, do you know about Sir Rael?”

Lukas asked the Rein Knight next to him, recalling the sword.

As he was an important figure Rael had asked for, the Rein Knights also had important personnel protecting him.

“Ah, Sir Rael. He’s a really great person.”

Rein Knight’s adjutant Kirie nodded as he looked at Lukas.

He was protecting Lukas on Rein’s orders.

“Really? To what extent?”

“Hmm, Commander Rein said he’s the best talent in the Empire. If you’re the top graduate of the academy, you would have been able to see his sword, right?”

“Yes, it was really amazing. Ah, come to think of it, Sir Kirie. Do you know what ‘Icheon’ that Sir Rael was talking about is? It was the first time I’ve seen a knight say such a thing during battle.”

“Aha. That’s Sir Rael’s confidence.”

Kirie smiled and began to explain to Lukas.

“Confidence?”

“I haven’t figured it out completely yet, but I’m guessing his intentions to some extent. He’s so confident in his own swordsmanship that he spits out that will. The swordsmanship becomes stronger as much as that. Recently, the Rein Knights have been seeing the effects as well.”

“I, I see…!”

So cool!

This is the knights’ practical know-how that I couldn’t learn at the academy!

Lukas’s eyes sparkled.

“Sir Kirie, you were here.”

At that time, a man approached from behind.

The man who swept back his gray hair smiled as he looked at Lukas.

“You’re Lukas, right?”

Rael looked at the man in front of him with a strange feeling.

The protagonist of the original story, the hero of the Empire, Lukas.

He finally got to meet him in person.

“S, Sir Rael…!”

“…?”

Rael tilted his head as he looked at Lukas.

Why is he reacting like this?