The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 86

< Dragon Phoenix Assembly >

It was mealtime for the Special Guard.

Usually, Gent prepared the meals.

He enjoyed tending the garden, but he was also a surprisingly domestic giant who enjoyed cooking.

“Are you really okay with this, Rael?” Yuri asked.

“Yes. Of course, I should go.”

The Dragon Phoenix Assembly.

With the Imperial Family directly involved, the Assembly had grown significantly, and even royals and nobles were sending their promising young knights.

In a medieval fantasy where every day could feel monotonous, it was only natural that this event became a battle of pride and a power struggle between factions.

Yuri, who had entered the succession race, couldn’t just sit still and watch.

“Thank you so much, Rael.”

“It’s nothing. You were going to ask me anyway, Yuri.”

“That’s true, but…”

From the start, the entire empire had been waiting for Rael to participate.

Bernando’s claim that Rael had captured a high-ranking demon was just that – a claim. Since Rael denied it, the conclusion was that he hadn’t captured Baslord.

He had defeated Loren of the Carmen Knights in a duel at the Grand Duke’s return party, but a single victory could be attributed to luck.

This time, it was an opportunity for all the talented individuals of the continent to gather.

It was a chance to prove his true skills.

“So, you two will be busy starting next week. The Special Guard will be quiet,” Gent observed.

“Famous people are coming from all over the continent because of the Dragon Phoenix Assembly. It’s a pretty important time,” Yuri added.

Rael roughly knew the important figures from the original story [referring to the novel he transmigrated into].

If someone truly impressive came along, it wouldn’t hurt to network a little.

“More importantly, is there any problem with monitoring the Ghoul King?” Rael asked.

Since realizing his constitution [his unique magical and physical makeup], Rael had been avoiding the Ghoul King.

There was no benefit to weakening the Ghoul King’s seal further.

“It’s the same as always. I tried talking to him as you said, but it was impossible for me,” Gent replied.

“Reina. You couldn’t talk to him either, right?”

“Huh? Uh, uh. That’s right…” Reina, who was eating meat, was startled and quickly answered Rael.

“Tsk. Is Tia still researching?”

“Yes. Lady Tia has always had long research periods like this. It should be ending soon.”

They couldn’t afford to neglect the Ghoul King.

He had been asking Gent to do various experiments, but it seemed that no one but him could have a proper conversation with the Ghoul King.

‘If I could control my constitution… I could meet the Ghoul King,’ Rael thought.

This was a problem Rael had to work on.

If he mastered the Heavenly Slaughter Sword and reached the realm of Sword Master, there might be a way.

Reaching a realm meant perfectly controlling one’s power.

“Hmm.”

Meanwhile, Yuri blinked as she watched Gent and Rael’s conversation.

Something about the atmosphere at the table felt strange.

“…”

Yuri glanced sideways to see the cause.

It was Reina, who was sitting quietly without saying a word, unlike usual.

She was picking at her meat, glancing at Rael, and then looking away.

‘Reina…’

To Yuri, who had honed her perception in the Imperial Palace for over a decade, her actions were too obvious.

It seemed she had fallen for Rael after the rescue of the Elves.

“Gent. What kind of herb is this?” Yuri asked, changing the subject.

“It’s pickled cactus that only grows around oases in the desert. Just one bite will quench your thirst. It’s the mystery of nature. Try it.”

Gent moved the dish in front of him and offered it to Rael.

“Oh, it’s good?” Rael commented.

“It makes me happy to see even a barbarian like you realizing the mysteries of nature. Have one of these too. It’s said that cats in the southern region seek them out…”

Gent smiled and moved side dishes onto Rael’s plate.

He couldn’t help but be grateful that Rael was enjoying what he had grown.

“Ah…”

And Reina stared blankly at their close interaction.

For some reason, she felt strange watching them talk…

“Ahem… Reina. Is there something you don’t like about the meal?” Yuri asked, subtly trying to gauge the situation.

Yuri naturally started a conversation with Reina.

If things continued like this, Reina might misunderstand something.

“H, huh? No. No. It’s fine?”

Yuri nodded as she looked at Reina.

As the Second Princess and the leader of the Special Guard, Yuri felt it was her duty to resolve this situation.

She didn’t want her comrades to grow distant.

“…Gent.”

“Yes, what is it, Yuri?”

“We should go to the Dragon Phoenix Assembly too. To support Rael.”

“Dragon Phoenix Assembly? Hmm. That’s an opportunity to observe humans leisurely. Besides, Rael can fight well on his own anyway, right? If he wanted to, he could take down those humans with one hand…”

“…Gent.” Yuri repeated, more firmly, while subtly gesturing towards Reina.

“Hmm…”

Gent finally nodded.

He had been so focused on the meal he had prepared that he had forgotten about Reina.

Gent knew her situation well.

“Come to think of it, I should see my comrade Rael’s duel with my own eyes. Shouldn’t I, Rael?”

“…What nonsense are you spouting all of a sudden? Do whatever you want.”

Rael, who had been focused on the free meal, looked up.

He didn’t mind them coming to watch.

It was always good to have people he knew around.

“You’re okay with it too, right, Reina? We’re going to see Rael.” Yuri asked.

“U, uh? Ah, yes. Let’s do that! Hehe,” Reina replied, a little too eagerly.

Reina nodded.

She felt inexplicably happy.

“Rael.”

“What?”

Rael looked up while eating.

Gent was looking at him with a benevolent expression.

“Do your best.”

“Why are you talking nonsense again, Gent?”

Rael frowned at the giant who kept interrupting his meal.

However, he soon remembered that Gent had provided the meal and relaxed his expression again.

“Come to think of it, Rael. I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“Didn’t you say that humans don’t know that you killed Baslord?”

“That’s right. I hid it because I didn’t want to stir up trouble.”

Rael, who believed in the theory of innate depravity, thought of humans as potentially treacherous.

The admiration for the strong could turn into jealousy at any moment, and they would want to bring down those in positions they couldn’t reach.

That was human nature.

Even the people who were showing Rael a positive attitude now might turn their backs on him if they knew his strength was beyond imagination.

Rael knew that fact well.

That’s why he only showed as much strength as he could handle.

“Hmm. I see. Then what was that rumor about Baslord?”

“What about it? Stop beating around the bush and tell me.”

“I heard that one of the humans is going around saying that he caught Baslord.”

“…What?”

Rael frowned at the nonsense.

*

The slums of District 5.

Zenith sighed and looked at the ceiling.

“The whole world is about Rael… This world is truly fleeting.”

With Rael’s influence growing unbelievably large.

Zenith couldn’t understand why this crazy bastard was running the empire.

“Why are you being so dramatic again? Did you eat something wrong?” Rael asked, annoyed.

Was this old man going through menopause? [a period of hormonal change] His hair seemed to be thinning, and now he was even complaining of depression.

“So, who is the bastard who stole my credit?”

“It wasn’t your credit in the first place. You’ve been saying it wasn’t you, so why are you…”

“Sigh. Just get to the point.”

“It’s Belen of the Carmen Knights.”

“Belen…? That name sounds familiar.”

“A genius who became the captain of the 1st unit at a young age. He disappeared from the gossip columns because he was loyal to the empire and joined the Carmen Knights at a young age, but he’s still quite a famous name.”

“…Ah?”

The words ‘1st unit captain’ made Rael recall the face of the man named Belen.

When Yuri was attacked by the Carmen Knights.

He was the man who came as the representative of the Carmen Knights to save her.

‘The guy who got pushed around by the Tower Master and Commander Rein back then.’

Later, he heard that he was looking at the beginning of Sword Master from a well-matured graduate [someone who has reached a high level of swordsmanship].

He must be stronger now, so he would have to meet him in person to know his strength.

“Why is that bastard talking about Baslord?”

“To be exact, he’s not saying it himself. It seems he doesn’t deny it when people around him say it.”

“…That man’s way of speaking is disgusting.”

Rael felt angry when he saw guys like that.

Because of guys like that, he, who lived fairly, was at a disadvantage!

“He seems to be participating in the Dragon Phoenix Assembly as the representative of the Carmen Knights. Maybe it’s a public opinion campaign in preparation for that time.”

“He’s participating in the Dragon Phoenix Assembly?”

He looked quite young, but he didn’t expect him to be young enough to participate in the Dragon Phoenix Assembly.

“Anyone under the age of 30 can participate in the Dragon Phoenix Assembly. I heard that he’s barely under 30.”

“Well… I understand. Investigate further.”

Rael frowned as he recalled Belen’s face.

He didn’t seem like the type to steal someone else’s achievements… It seemed he was a thug after all.

“Clara. Did you find everyone I mentioned?”

“Yes. Here.”

Clara had investigated whether the people Rael had requested were participating in the Dragon Phoenix Assembly.

As a god of war, she was in charge of investigating valuable information that beggars couldn’t.

The beggars were in charge of the entire empire, and Clara was in charge of places where beggars had difficulty obtaining information.

“Here. It seems that many people are coming from a place called the Righteous Heaven Alliance (正天盟) [a fictional organization].”

“Righteous Heaven Alliance?”

“Yes. It’s an alliance of those who walk the righteous path.”

“What a load of crap.”

Why were these bastards walking the righteous path in a medieval fantasy?

Why were there so many crazy people in the world?

Rael had a headache again today.

‘It would be good to talk to him if I get the chance. And the same goes for him…’

Rael nodded as he looked at the list Clara had given him.

The guys on this list were all famous in the original story.

As expected of a large-scale Dragon Phoenix Assembly, most of them were participating, so it wouldn’t hurt to network if he had the chance.

“Rael. People will start coming next week for the Dragon Phoenix Assembly. There’s a lot of interest in the Three Heroes of the Empire, so take good care of your condition.”

“The Three Heroes of the Empire? What’s that?”

Rael tilted his head at the title he was hearing for the first time.

Who was the idiot with such a ridiculous title?

“You don’t know? It’s the three most watched people in the Imperial Capital right now. Rael, the knight of the Second Princess, Carlson of the Gaia Order, and Lucas of the Imperial Academy. These three promising individuals…”

“Stop talking nonsense. What? Three Heroes? Did you just make that up, old man?”

Three Heroes?

What the hell.

Where does that exist in a medieval fantasy?

“Why are you complaining again? Three Heroes means three, and isn’t it the ‘hero’ from ‘gallant hero’? That’s why uneducated people…”

“Stop talking crap!”

Rael couldn’t contain his anger and grabbed Zenith by the collar and shook him.

Today, there was no respect for elders or anything.

“Why, why are you angry at me… sob.”

Was it okay for the leader of the Beggars to be treated like this?

He swallowed his tears again today.