The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 125

The Empire was gearing up for the Hero Appointment Ceremony.

Rumors were spreading among the nobles and knights.

It was said that Rael, the victor of the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament, was on the verge of breaking through to the Swordmaster level.

Rael’s name was already well-known throughout the Empire.

He was the Second Princess’s knight, an honorary knight of the Silver Cross Knights, and had won the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament after slicing through a high-ranking monster in a single strike.

The rumor that such a talented individual was challenging the Swordmaster level quickly spread throughout the Empire.

“What? Is it true? Sir Rael is becoming a Swordmaster…?”

“Shh! Keep it down. Can’t you see the executives from the ‘Swordmaster Association’ are visiting the Empire? They’re even staying at the Grand Duke’s mansion.”

“C, could it be? The reason Sir Rael has been visiting the Grand Duke’s mansion every day is…”

The Swordmaster Association’s executives were visiting the Empire.

And Rael was visiting them every day.

Considering Rael’s fame and strength, it wasn’t a difficult conclusion to draw.

“What the hell.”

Regardless of what others thought.

Rael was racking his brain to develop his envisioned domain.

“Focus, Rael.”

“Yes, yes. I’ll focus.”

Rael wasn’t holding a sword anymore.

He was sitting down, meditating to understand his own body.

‘Where the hell is all the magic power I’ve absorbed going?’

The answer came from an unexpected source.

An executive from the Swordmaster Association gave Rael the inspiration.

The Righteous Heaven Alliance.

Despite its name, it was nothing special.

They pretended to be a martial arts clan with grand masters and the Namgung family, but they were just eccentric individuals who believed in the Gaia Church while claiming to be Swordmasters and Graduates [those who have achieved a high level of mastery].

“…So, this person is the Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader, Great Chieftain Mucheon?”

However, the absurdity of this world always finds a balance.

The ridiculousness of the Righteous Heaven Alliance was concentrated in their leader, the Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader.

Rael blinked as he looked at the elderly man.

“Even in this world where righteousness and chivalry are gone, I, as a Taoist of Mount Hua [a sacred Taoist mountain in China], will fight to the end. That grand journey begins with the Righteous Heaven Alliance.”

Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader Mucheon.

He claimed to have reached the realm of Mysterious Realm [a state of profound understanding and power in martial arts traditions].

Just by listening to him, it was clear that Mucheon should be in a mental hospital, not here.

The problem was that he was incredibly strong.

Just standing in front of him, one could feel an overwhelming power.

He was a master on par with the Sword Dragon, even among Swordmasters.

“Sword Dragon, why is that person like that?”

Rael glared at the Sword Dragon, who had brought the Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader as someone to help him.

The Sword Dragon flinched, understanding the meaning of that look, but it couldn’t be helped.

“He was bright until a few years ago. But after becoming obsessed with an ancient book he found at home, he went crazy. Since then, he’s been searching for the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword and vowing to kill the Demonic Sect.”

“What? The Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword? What kind of book makes a person like that?”

“Something like Hwasan… Mount Hua Explosion? I don’t remember the exact name. It’s a word that doesn’t exist in the Vanessa Kingdom.”

“…”

“Hey, Sword Dragon. Is this the swordsman you wanted me to teach? As an executive of the Swordmaster Association and a senior who has reached the Mysterious Realm, I will give him at least a minimum of guidance, but he looks like he has no manners from the start.”

Mucheon waved his sword, looking at Rael as if he didn’t like something about him.

Just looking at it made him feel annoyed, but the profoundness contained in his sword was truly worthy of a Swordmaster.

“Sword Dragon, is that kind of person an executive of the Swordmaster Association? My disappointment in the Swordmaster Association is growing.”

“…He may seem like that, but his skills are real. Even if you have the Spiritual Energy Palace, you can’t guarantee victory against him. His skill in teaching swordsmanship is also outstanding. Think about it. He’s doing such crazy things, yet he’s still an executive of the Swordmaster Association and the leader of the Righteous Heaven Alliance. Do I need to explain more?”

He’s crazy, but he’s also skilled.

Rael nodded as he looked at him.

If that’s the case, then he should learn everything he can.

He had bowed his head to the Sword Dragon, Rain, and the Heavenly Demon Swordmaster to become stronger.

Step. Step.

Rael walked towards Mucheon and naturally performed a fist salute.

“Great Chieftain Mucheon. I am Rael from the Kamen Empire. This junior in the martial arts world seeks guidance from you, senior. Please, teach me.”

“Oh! A junior from the martial arts world! To meet a young martial artist while traveling the world, what a blessing! Gaia-men!”

“…. Ahem.”

He almost couldn’t bear the sudden Gaia-men, but he belatedly remembered that the Righteous Heaven Alliance believed in the Gaia Church.

Rael cleared his throat and continued.

“Yes, Elder. I always keep the teachings of the sages in my heart. Gaia-men.”

“I’ve been waiting for a Taoist like you! The internal energy sleeping in your body seems to be over 10 giaps [a unit of internal energy in martial arts], so you’ll be able to carry out my teachings properly! I’ll teach you everything I can!”

Mucheon’s eyes sparkled.

It was natural, as it was the first time he had met someone who could communicate with him.

“…”

What. That was easy.

Surprisingly, Rael liked Mucheon.

‘I like this old man?’

He already knew that this world was crazy.

However, what Rael found even more unbearable was the way people looked at him as if he were the crazy one in this crazy world.

‘Swordmaster Association? A martial arts novel senior is better than those unheard-of guys.’

Rael sincerely thought so.

“…Rain. What am I looking at? How is Rael talking to Mucheon so familiarly?”

“Sword Dragon, you can just ignore what Rael is doing. There’s a saying that birds of a feather flock together, crazy people get along with crazy people.”

“You bastards! I have to train my juniors, so get lost.”

Mucheon waved his hand at the Sword Dragon and Rain and looked at Rael.

His eyes were already shining as an educator.

“So, what’s your concern?”

“…I don’t know how to use the power within my body. No, to be exact, I don’t know where my power is.”

Rael told him his concerns.

Since domains are completely different for each swordsman, Mucheon quickly grasped the problem even with such a vague explanation.

“Dantian [an energy center in the body, often associated with martial arts and meditation].”

“…Yes?”

“The stupid swordsmen of the continent say that they use magic power from the soul, but I learned the secrets of the body by reading ancient books. Internal energy is the power that comes from the dantian.”

“Dantian, you say?”

Rael narrowed his eyes and looked at Mucheon.

Did I try to match him, but is he actually nothing special?

Doubt about Mucheon rose from the depths of his heart.

“Put your hand below your navel. Your internal energy is sleeping in the dantian there, so use it as the center to develop your domain.”

Rael followed Mucheon’s words with a reluctant face.

“The dantian is a part of your body, but not. It’s like the feeling of a tail growing from your tailbone or having a third arm. Once you recognize that feeling, it will be easy.”

“So what is that… Huh?”

As Mucheon said, he concentrated, but Rael didn’t feel anything in his lower abdomen.

Instead, Rael found something unknown inside his chest.

Tia said.

Rael’s body was similar to that of a dragon.

The magic power engraved in his muscles and blood vessels was Rael’s unique characteristic, different from other humans.

‘What is this?’

Among those magic powers, Rael discovered a foreign power.

The power, which seemed like a part of his body, revealed its presence only when it met Rael’s eyes.

‘Why didn’t I notice this?’

No, he could only notice it now that he had learned the senses of a predator.

As Tia said, Rael had not yet perfectly grasped his own body.

‘That’s right. If I unconsciously absorbed the surrounding power… that power must be somewhere in my body.’

Rael’s soulless body evolved forcibly to accept magic power.

Magic power was engraved in his muscles and blood vessels, and the power Rael absorbed was mixed in those gaps.

It was just that it had merged into his body so naturally that Rael couldn’t notice it.

Rael felt the magic power dwelling in his body. There was divine power and demonic energy within it.

Everything was sleeping inside his body.

“Oh, oh! Qi circulation [the flow of vital energy throughout the body]. No, is it sudden enlightenment! Hey! Sword Dragon! Rain! Come here right now! You have to stand guard!”

Mucheon widened his eyes as he looked at Rael, who had begun to contemplate his inner self.

This was sudden enlightenment.

A ritual to break through one’s own limits.

“…I don’t understand what the hell he’s talking about.”

“Please, Sword Dragon.”

The Sword Dragon and Rain sighed and approached Rael.

*

The next day.

Rael was still in the training ground.

But today’s training was different from the training so far.

Clang-!

A tremendous roar erupted as sword and sword collided, and the two retreated simultaneously.

“Where… where is that power coming from?”

Rain swallowed, looking down at his trembling hand.

He had been pushed back in the collision of sword energy and sword energy.

It was truly unbelievable destructive power.

It was a power that even Rain, a Swordmaster, couldn’t understand.

“Rael, is that your domain?”

Rain looked at Rael’s sword as if it were a wonder.

It didn’t have the power to dominate the surroundings like the Illusionary Sword Dance, but Rael’s sword didn’t seem to lack anything compared to a Swordmaster’s domain.

“It’s still incomplete. If it had been as I intended, Sir Rain’s sword should have broken. Tsk.”

“You monster.”

Rain chuckled as he looked at Rael.

This monster, who graduated at the top of the academy and won the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament, finished developing his domain in less than a month, while it took him over a year.

Moreover, he was unfolding his domain, albeit incompletely.

This was an achievement that deserved to be issued a Swordmaster Association certificate right away.

“Rael, I’ll tell the Sword Dragon and Great Chieftain Mucheon right away. You’re going to be the youngest member of the Swordmaster Association!”

“Please don’t do that. Please.”

He got a hint thanks to Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader Mucheon, but he didn’t want to join the Swordmaster Association.

No matter how he thought about it, Rael didn’t like the name of that association.

“Besides, it’s not perfect yet. When it’s properly completed, I’ll show it to you first, Commander.”

“Ahem. Rael. You won’t deny that my help was significant in creating your domain, will you?”

Rain asked, pretending to be calm.

His social life was at stake at this moment.

“Of course. Use my name as much as you want in social circles.”

Rael smiled.

Regardless of his true intentions, it was true that he had helped him, so he could lend him his name.

“What do you mean sell my name? It was just a simple curiosity. Still, since you’ve allowed it, I should brag about it to some extent. Haha.”

Rain patted Rael’s shoulder as if he were in a good mood.

It was good that his social life was going smoothly, but he was happy that Rael had developed his domain.

As a swordsman and an executive of the Swordmaster Association, his heart fluttered when he saw an outstanding swordsman.

“Still, it’s fortunate that you completed your domain before the Hero Appointment Ceremony. At this rate, the next Hero position will be secure.”

“Speaking of which, I was curious. What exactly is the Hero Appointment Ceremony?”

In the original story, Lucas was the only Hero candidate.

Besides, Lucas at that time was already a hero of the Empire, so he was immediately appointed as a Hero without a proper ceremony.

“It’s one of the most sacred rituals for the Gaia Church, as much as the Saintess Appointment Ceremony. At the same time, it’s like a declaration of war against the demons. That’s why high-ranking nobles from other countries come to the Empire.”

“…Is that so?”

Rael frowned.

There were still many obstacles within the Empire, and he was worried about what kind of terrible things would happen again.

“I don’t know the exact process of the ceremony. Maybe proving your strength and accepting blessings. But you’re going to be the Hero anyway, right?”

“…I don’t know yet. But if it’s about proving strength, there are people stronger than me, aren’t there?”

“It’s not just about strength. If that were the logic, we’d have to bring your teacher, the Heavenly Demon Swordmaster, or Gideon Garcia. The important thing is the recognition within the Church, a body that accepts divine power well, and the blessing of the Holy Sword.”

“The blessing of the Holy Sword…”

He had seen it in the original story.

The radiance emanating from the Holy Sword, the Church’s sacred object.

Only the Hero was allowed to stand under that light.

“Well, Cardinal Bernardo is strongly recommending you, so don’t worry.”

“I’m not worried.”

Why does that Bernardo person keep pushing him?

Should he make it clear that he won’t give him even a crumb of benefit even if he becomes a Hero?

Rael seriously pondered.

“C, Commander Rain!”

At that moment, the adjutant Kirie ran to the training ground.

“What’s wrong, Kirie.”

“T, that is… A request for cooperation has come from the Kamen Knights.”

“The Kamen Knights?”

Rael also turned his head at the mention of the Kamen Knights.

“Yes. Sir Gideon says he wants to meet Sir Rael in person.”

“Gideon…?”

Rain narrowed his eyes.

To want to meet him at this timing, he seemed to know roughly what his purpose was.

“Just ignore him. First Squad Captain Belen was defeated by me. It’s awkward to meet face to face for no reason.”

Rael shook his head.

He had overwhelmed Belen at the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament, and he was a little concerned when he heard the news that he was staying out of sight.

‘Besides, I don’t want to see the Kamen Knights Commander even more.’

The Kamen Knights Commander, Gideon Garcia.

There were more than one or two strange things about that guy.

At least until he became a Hero, he didn’t want to meet him face to face.

“This is… Rael, I don’t think it’ll be easy to refuse.”

However, Rain made a sorry expression.

“Yes? Why is it hard to refuse? Can’t we just say that you’re training in the Rain Knights? No matter how much of a Kamen Knights Commander he is, he can’t freely attend the Grand Duke’s Knights training.”

“…Gideon is also an executive of the Swordmaster Association. If he says he came as an executive of the Swordmaster Association, not as the Kamen Knights Commander, then we have nothing to say.”

“What is that…”

Rael chuckled in disbelief.

Swordmaster Association. This crazy organization is ultimately not helpful.

“Kirie. So when did Gideon say he would visit? If Rael doesn’t want to, we can create something else to do then, right?”

Gideon is the Kamen Knights Commander.

There won’t be many days when he can take time off.

“That is…”

Step, step.

At that moment.

Rael and Rain turned their heads at the same time.

Knights wearing the armor of the Kamen Knights were entering the entrance of the training ground.

At the head of them was Kamen Knights Commander Gideon Garcia.

“It’s right now.”

Kamen Knights Commander Gideon Garcia.

He smiled faintly and stared straight at Rael.