The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 111

With a tense grip on his sword, Belen trembled as he looked at the man before him.

It wasn’t just that he had been pushed back in a single clash, but the fact that he felt this pressure from Raiel, who was only 25 years old, was absurd.

‘Am I just overly nervous…?’

Belen knew very well what was at stake in this match.

So, he might be feeling an unconscious burden.

Belen couldn’t bring himself to believe that Raiel’s skills were on the verge of surpassing the Sword Master’s realm, so he had to think that way.

‘I need to steel my resolve. I am a knight who has received the Emperor’s command.’

Belen gripped his sword fiercely.

He had abandoned his knighthood and even used poison for the Emperor’s command.

Now that things had come to this, defeat was absolutely unacceptable.

“Hoo.”

Belen relaxed his body and took a stance.

He stepped forward with his left foot, took a high stance with his sword, and glared straight ahead.

It was the basic stance of the Carmen Knights.

As he took the stance that he had practiced every day, the tension that filled his body seemed to dissipate.

“There’s a lot that needs to be reformed.”

Raiel shook his head as he looked into Belen’s eyes.

His mind still seemed to be filled with the evil of the Carmen Knights.

As an expert, he had to personally reform him.

“I won’t let my guard down any longer!”

Kooong!

Belen shot towards Raiel, kicking off the ground.

It was swordsmanship that he had practiced thousands, tens of thousands of times in the Carmen Knights.

Raiel, who had been calmly watching the sword approaching with its powerful Sword Qi [magical energy imbued in a sword], swung his sword with one hand.

Kwaaaang!

Despite the light response, Belen’s sword was knocked back with a huge explosion.

“Kuh…!”

He managed not to drop his sword, but Belen had to frown at the pain he felt in his hand.

The stronger he gripped the sword, the stronger the recoil he felt.

‘To block the Carmen Knights’ swordsmanship so easily…’

Is there really such a big difference between me and Raiel?

Belen couldn’t believe it.

“Surely, this isn’t just a warning or some kind of payment, is it? Huh? It’s not, right?”

“…”

“Come on, you can show me more. Can’t you? Sir Belen, the captain of the 1st Division of the Carmen Knights.”

Raiel approached Belen, raising his sword.

It didn’t make sense that the captain of the Carmen Knights, the strongest knight order in the Empire, was this weak.

The thought that his orphanage was in danger because of such things made him annoyed.

“Kuaaaa!”

Belen stomped on the ground and charged at Raiel.

A knight wouldn’t be broken by just this.

He had to prove the righteousness of the Carmen Knights and himself.

Hwaaa!

Belen’s Sword Qi flared up even more strongly.

The power was focused on the slowly extending sword.

The Carmen Knights’ sword was characterized by its continuous chain of attacks.

If a slash was blocked, they would thrust; if a thrust was blocked, they would slash.

The Carmen Knights’ swordsmanship was to pressure the opponent by continuing attacks endlessly.

Kkaang!

“Too slow.”

However, there was a big problem with that swordsmanship.

It was the confidence that the Carmen Knights were the strongest.

The Carmen Knights, where the best talents gathered, and their long-established swordsmanship were extremely effective, but if the level difference was so great that continuous attacks were impossible, would they still be the strongest?

“Ugh…!”

Belen’s sword was pushed back every time it collided with Raiel’s Sword Qi.

It was similar to the feeling he had when he received sparring lessons from Gideon.

It felt like he was hitting a solid wall that he could never break through.

‘No way…’

Belen didn’t show off his skills, but he didn’t think he was lacking either.

The Carmen Knights were a place where the best talents of the continent gathered.

Among them, Belen, who had caught the eye of Gideon Garcia, was clearly one of the geniuses of this generation.

However, Belen’s sword couldn’t reach Raiel.

Belen gritted his teeth at that fact and gripped his sword lightly.

‘Just once…!’

Even if there was a difference in skill, it didn’t matter.

Commander Gideon had foreseen Belen’s shortcomings and had given him the Solitude of the Black Dragon.

So, he only needed to touch him once.

Belen didn’t want to betray the Commander’s expectations.

“To act all high and mighty, calling yourselves the strongest in the Empire with just this much… tsk.”

Kkaang!

Raiel frowned as he deflected Belen’s sword.

Were the nobles he had been so afraid of only this much?

The thought made him feel increasingly nauseous.

“Haa, kuh… Aaaargh!”

Belen’s sword couldn’t move forward.

Raiel’s sword was always there first, wherever he swung, and if he retrieved his sword, Raiel’s sword would stab into the gap.

If he tried to slash, it would be blocked; if he tried to thrust, the sword would slip away.

Every time Belen attacked, he had to allow two or three counterattacks.

It was as if all his inner thoughts were being exposed.

‘No, not yet… I can still do it.’

Unlike Raiel, who had nothing to lose, he was in a position where he couldn’t afford to lose.

He was fighting with the name of the Carmen Knights on his back.

The moment he lost, the name of the Carmen Knights would be placed below Raiel.

‘That can’t happen!’

Even if he had to die, he couldn’t tarnish the name of the Carmen Knights.

“I don’t like noble bastards for this reason. They’ve never been close to death, but they rush in like they’re about to die at the slightest thing.”

Raiel chuckled and raised his sword.

He had exchanged blows a few times to prevent nonsense about coincidence or carelessness, so the playing around was over.

“Thousand Slaughter Sword, Form 3.”

Immense magic began to gather on Raiel’s sword.

He forcibly poured the magic inherent in the gazes of this world, looking at him, into the sword.

Raiel smiled as he felt the magic that seemed about to explode.

Now he could control this magic much more naturally than when he first used it.

“Answer to Heaven.”

Raiel’s sword fell from above, and the sword that transcended space shredded Belen’s body.

“…!”.

Belen resisted the unknown force, pushing out his Sword Qi.

He was the captain of the 1st Division of the Carmen Knights.

He was confident that he could block most swordsmanship.

But the moment he recognized that power, he had already been cut.

“Kuaaaa!”

Belen swung his sword wildly, emitting Sword Qi.

However, the sword of Answer to Heaven didn’t just cut when it slashed.

Thud!

Eventually, Belen was hit by the Sword Qi that struck his armor and rolled across the floor.

He even rolled around in the dirt, a humiliation for a knight, but the unidentified force chased Belen to the end.

Kwaaaang!

Raiel’s swordsmanship, which blew away the surroundings of the arena centered on Belen, slowly subsided.

He mustered his tremendous willpower to get up and take a stance, but immediately looked ahead with a blank stare.

“Want to continue?”

Raiel’s sword was already blocking Belen’s neck.

The sword, ready to cut his throat at the slightest movement, drained the strength from Belen’s body.

*

The semi-finals of the Yongbong Tournament, which was virtually the final, had ended.

The audience, who had been watching the overwhelming match, fell silent once again.

“Gent, was it Belen? Didn’t they say that guy was the Empire’s most promising talent? He’s not even comparable to Raiel.”

“Humans tend to include various factors in their evaluation besides just skill.”

After Reina and Gent’s cold assessment.

The nobles also opened their mouths in surprise as they watched the match.

“Sir Belen is being overwhelmed like this…”

“If Sir Belen, who caught Barthold, was defeated so easily, how strong is Sir Raiel?”

“The next Dragon Slayer is as good as decided.”

The nobles opened their mouths one by one, commenting on the match.

The Carmen Knights were the best knight order in the Empire. No one had imagined that Belen, who was the captain of the 1st Division in such a place, would suffer such a humiliating defeat.

“The Empire’s Three Heroes… Sir Raiel seems to be beyond that level.”

“A new wind will blow. Sir Raiel was definitely… a knight of the Second Princess.”

Amid the nobles’ great praise, Grand Duke Eric Grace also nodded as he watched the arena.

‘Raiel. You’re finally taking off.’

The troublemaker from District 4 was now being noticed by the nobles in the heart of the Empire.

That appearance seemed to be the complete opposite of his past.

“The Imperial Family and the Carmen Knights must not be feeling well.”

Eric spoke to Yuri, who was sitting next to him.

“…Yes. I think so.”

Yuri turned her gaze to the Carmen Knights behind the arena.

Their expressions were as stiff as bombs about to explode.

They had called a cardinal from the Order to push for the next Dragon Slayer position, and they had increased the scale to attract spectators from all over the continent.

But the two swordsmen who made it to the finals were a swordsman from the Grand Duke’s side and the Second Princess’s knight. Moreover, their pride, Belen, had been battered.

From the perspective of the Imperial Family, it was infuriating.

Immediately, the gazes of the surrounding nobles towards Yuri increased.

They were wondering how to get on the Second Princess’s good side.

The two swordsmen who advanced to the finals of the Yongbong Tournament were both subordinates of the Second Princess.

Having the two most outstanding talents in the Empire was quite significant.

Not to mention Raiel, Lucas was also being praised as the greatest talent in the academy’s history.

Even if not now, in five or ten years, two Sword Masters might be added.

If so, it was only a matter of time before the Second Princess became the Emperor.

‘The hierarchy among the Imperial Family may finally collapse.’

The Grand Duke checked the expressions of the nobles around the First Prince.

Although the First Prince, who had legitimacy, had a solid power base, not all of them were fixated on the First Prince’s legitimacy.

It was true that there were many older nobles who were obsessed with legitimacy, but there were also nobles who supported him because of his enormous power itself.

The First Prince’s power was so great that there had been almost no defections so far, but now the situation had changed.

The Grand Duke turned his head towards the Carmen Knights.

‘The Carmen Knights are the kind of guys who will do anything to maintain their position as the best in the Empire. I wonder what they’ll do now.’

Crack. Crack.

Gideon, who was standing close to the arena, gritted his teeth and stared at the arena.

Raiel’s sword was pointed at the neck of Belen, the captain of the 1st Division of the Carmen Knights.

It was an overwhelming defeat that could not be excused.

‘Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord. Was your disciple that strong…?’

His eyes were bloodshot, and anger soared to the top of his head.

The Carmen Knights couldn’t even open their mouths because of the atmosphere emanating from him.

‘How should I handle this situation? I can’t take away the Dragon Slayer position now. For the absolute position of the Carmen Knights…’

Lost in thought, Gideon suddenly noticed the surrounding atmosphere.

The winner had not yet been declared because of him.

“…Applaud.”

“Yes, yes?!”

“You fools. How long are you going to keep that situation going?”

The captain of the 1st Division of the Carmen Knights had been defeated by Raiel.

The best thing to do was to move on quickly from this situation.

Clap. Clap.

Gideon took the lead and started clapping.

Then, the sound of applause spread around.

‘The Yongbong Tournament must not lose its composure, as if it is nothing.’

It was just one defeat.

The power of the Carmen Knights, which had been built up over the past years, would not disappear with Belen’s defeat.

However, it was true that the name of perfection was being tarnished.

Gideon glared at Raiel with angry eyes.

*

“Congratulations, Sir Raiel.”

“Raiel, I believed in you!”

Lucas and Carlson were waiting outside the arena.

“I told you not to worry. …More importantly, did you do what I asked you to do?”

“Haha, of course. Sir Belen’s name value is quite high, so the odds were good. I made a sweet profit in your name.”

“Good job. You take some for yourself, and give the rest to the orphanage.”

“Hehe. I understand, Brother.”

“Hehehe.”

“…”

Lucas smiled bitterly as he looked at Carlson and Raiel.

The fact that these people were among the best knights in the Empire sometimes felt awkward.

“More importantly, the final is tomorrow… Lucas looks good, but is Raiel’s body okay?”

“Of course, I’m fine. I didn’t get hit once.”

He didn’t allow a single hit because it seemed like they had done something strange to Belen’s sword.

Well, even if there were no tricks, he wouldn’t have been hit anyway.

“Sir Raiel. I hope we have a good match tomorrow.”

“A good match… Yes, we should.”

Raiel smiled as he looked at Lucas.

The final match of the Yongbong Tournament tomorrow was the same as what Raiel had planned from the beginning.

He didn’t think that either he or Lucas wouldn’t be able to make it.

So, this final was an important turning point for Raiel.

Whether he would suffer for this world or not depended on it.

“Lucas.”

“Yes, Sir Raiel.”

“I’m going to do my best tomorrow with the determination to kill you. If you’re not confident in winning, give up now.”

“R-Raiel, what are you suddenly saying?”

Carlson was startled and tried to stop Raiel, but Lucas was looking straight into Raiel’s eyes.

Raiel knew very well. Lucas was not the type to run away after hearing these words.

“Sir Raiel.”

“Yeah?”

“If I win against Sir Raiel tomorrow, can I call you ‘hyung’ [older brother] from now on?”

“…Ha. Look at this guy.”

Raiel raised the corners of his mouth as he looked at Lucas.

Seeing that confident look, it seemed like he had tested him for no reason.

“I always do my best. You’ll be in big trouble if you let your guard down, Sir Raiel.”

“Okay. Do your best, Lucas.”

This was a test that Raiel was giving to Lucas.

Because if he couldn’t beat him, he would never become the protagonist of this world.