The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 133

The night in the Imperial Capital was dark.

As the season edged closer to winter, the streets were deserted.

Thud. Thud.

In a quiet, dark alleyway, men with concealed faces gathered beneath an old brick building.

One was draped in a black cloak that covered his entire body, while the other wore a mask that hid his face.

“Divine Teachings Unbeatable.”

“Demonic Path Under Heaven.”

Swish.

After a brief confirmation, the man in the cloak pulled out a *spring picture* [a lewd image used for secret communication] from his chest.

The lewd picture was a stationery used by the Demonic Cult.

Since only elders or higher could read it, it was used to deliver the most important secrets.

“What measures does the cult have to counter the Gaia Order?”

At that moment, the man in the cloak opened his mouth.

The masked man, who had tucked the spring picture into his chest, frowned.

“…That is not information you need to know. Just carry out your assigned tasks.”

The masked man glared at the man in the cloak.

Daring to speak directly to a Demonic Cult member, he would have to order this messenger to be discarded.

“I apologize. Heavenly Demon Reborn, Myriad Demons Adore.”

The cloak bowed his head in apology.

It was the Demonic Cult’s way of apologizing.

” ….Who are you!”

But at that moment.

The masked man swiftly drew his sword and slashed at the cloak.

He channeled his demonic energy and glared at the messenger before him.

This guy was not a messenger from the Vanessa Kingdom.

“To dare utter the name of the Gaia Order’s Pope before the Demonic Cult…! Where is the real messenger?”

Inside the bisected cloak, a man wearing a bizarre mask was looking at him.

Evading the sword with ease, Ra-El scratched the back of his head as if annoyed.

“Ah, damn it. You guys weren’t the Heavenly Demon Reborn?”

He had roughly learned the messenger’s communication method from the paper Clara the Throwing Star had obtained, but it seemed this Demonic Cult didn’t have a Heavenly Demon.

“If you don’t want to talk, I’ll just have to force it out of you!”

Demonic energy surged from the Demonic Cult member’s sword.

The Demonic Cult’s messenger held an important role, so he possessed the strength of a fully matured graduate [a term indicating a certain level of martial arts proficiency].

He didn’t think he would be pushed back in a one-on-one fight, so he planned to subdue his opponent and dig out information.

“Heavenly Slaughter Sword Form 1. Mouth Heaven.”

“…!”

However, the next moment.

The Demonic Cult member’s eyes widened.

Divine power was erupting from the man before him.

Sizzle-

At the same time, the Demonic Cult member’s demonic energy began to shrivel.

The divine power pushing back the demonic energy caused the Demonic Cult member’s sword to tremble.

‘Damn it, he’s much stronger than me…!’

The opponent was no mere thief.

At least a Sword Master-level powerhouse.

Such a strong person was targeting the Demonic Cult.

Crunch-

Realizing this, the Demonic Cult member bit down on the poison hidden in his mouth.

He was determined not to give the enemy any information.

“D, Demon King Reborn, Myriad Demons Adore.”

The Demonic Cult member swallowed the deadly poison, blood pouring from every pore in his body before he died.

Ra-El, watching this, clicked his tongue in disbelief.

“…These bastards only copy the shitty parts of the Demonic Cult.”

Demon King Reborn, Myriad Demons Adore, what’s that supposed to be?

If it’s the Demonic Cult, shouldn’t they be worshipping the Heavenly Demon?

“Anyway, these rootless bastards. Tsk.”

Ra-El took out the spring picture from his chest.

He must have killed himself because he didn’t want to give information, but he could read the information even by looking at this spring picture.

“There are so many dirty pictures. Wait, damn it. Isn’t this a Lizardman?”

Ra-El frowned and flipped through the spring picture.

Inside his chest, there were many other spring pictures besides the one Ra-El had given him.

They were probably collected from Demonic Cult members hidden throughout the Empire.

When he gathered the words contained in the dozens of spring pictures, a hidden sentence was revealed.

——————————

Unite with the ancestors of the Vanessa Kingdom to announce the rise of the Demonic Cult.

The execution is in one week.

——————————

“Well, it was the Vanessa Kingdom after all.”

Ra-El nodded.

The 99% certainty had now become 100%.

Behind the Vanessa Kingdom was the Demonic Cult.

It was an expected event, so there was no particular shock.

Ra-El checked the next sentence.

——————————

Priority target for elimination.

The Gaia Order’s Hero, Ra-El.

——————————

“…Why are these bastards picking on me.”

Ra-El frowned as soon as he saw the words hidden in the demonic energy.

Of all people, he was the priority target for elimination.

Is this what they mean by ‘He who wears the crown, bears the weight’?

“The rise of the Demonic Cult is in a week?”

“Yes. But I don’t know exactly what will happen.”

Ra-El shared the results with Clara, who had belatedly joined him.

Clara pondered for a moment at Ra-El’s words, then cautiously asked.

“But Ra-El, if you’re sure the Vanessa Kingdom is the culprit, isn’t it all over now?”

“What do you mean it’s over? We can’t just barge in without a plan.”

The only evidence that the Vanessa Kingdom’s delegation were pawns of the Demonic Cult was this spring picture.

But Ra-El was the only one who could read the demonic energy contained in this spring picture, and even if he somehow showed it to others, Ra-El would be powerless if the Vanessa Kingdom denied it.

“Why can’t we?”

“Huh?”

“Since we know the Vanessa Kingdom is a pawn of the Demonic Cult, can’t we just barge in? You’re the Gaia Order’s Hero. If you say you received a revelation, wouldn’t they all believe you?”

“…”

Is that so?

Ra-El pondered for a moment at Clara’s words, then nodded.

‘Come to think of it, I’m the Gaia Order’s Hero, aren’t I?’

He was also a Hero chosen by the Holy Sword that had appeared in hundreds of years.

He was such an important person that the ruling classes of the continent gathered in the Empire to hold a conference because of him.

If he claimed it was the Demonic Cult, what could the Vanessa Kingdom’s delegation do?

“…”

Ra-El lowered his gaze.

Buzz-

[Ra-El. Why are you looking at me?]

The Holy Sword Saint, tied to his waist, felt a sense of unease for some reason.

*

The Gaia Order’s headquarters.

Cardinal Bernardo, resting in his quarters, hummed as he chose the accessories he would wear today.

“Hmm-. Ahh. Gaia’s blessings are descending-.”

His massive body had just as many places to wear accessories.

Therefore, it wasn’t wrong to receive more donations than other cardinals.

Bernardo nodded as he put on a golden necklace.

‘Becoming the next Pope is no longer a dream.’

Bernardo was on close terms with the Order’s Hero, Ra-El, who had appeared in hundreds of years.

Ra-El and he were already close enough to call each other brothers, and they had built up enough camaraderie to never betray each other in any situation (or so Bernardo thought).

“If Ra-El really does learn to manipulate Domains as the rumors say… hehe. Then the day I become Pope will come.”

The rumors about Ra-El and Domains had decreased quite a bit since he became a Hero, but Bernardo trusted Ra-El.

He firmly believed that one day, he would repay him for the donations he had given.

Knock knock-

At that moment, the lower priest Claude knocked on the door of the Cardinal’s chamber.

“Cardinal Bernardo. You have a visitor.”

“Please guide them to the reception room. I will be there soon.”

“Ah… the Hero says it’s urgent, so I was wondering how long it would take you …. ”

Bang-

The lower priest’s eyes widened at the suddenly opened door.

Before him stood Bernardo with a benevolent smile.

“Ra-El, no, where is the Hero?”

“I’m here. Cardinal Bernardo.”

Ra-El, who was standing behind Claude, stepped forward.

“Oh, ohh. Hero. Please come inside. Claude? You’ve worked hard. Go and rest.”

“Yes. I understand. Gaia-men …. ”

Squeak- Thud.

The lower priest Claude blinked at the sudden situation, then turned around.

“Ahem. Hmm… Hero. No, Ra-El. Since it’s just the two of us, feel free to call me comfortably.”

“As you wish. Cardinal Bernardo.”

“Hehe. You. You’ve finally come to me.”

Bernardo smiled as he looked at Ra-El, who had come to his quarters.

Finally, Ra-El, his brother and friend, had opened his heart to him.

“Yes. I wanted to have a conversation for the development of the Order.”

Ra-El looked around and threw out an appropriate remark.

The luxurious quarters, unlike those of a Cardinal, showed Bernardo’s character.

“Feel free to say anything. Ra-El.”

“Yes. As the ‘Gaia Order’s Hero,’ there is something I would like to ask.”

“Ahem. What is it?”

Bernardo straightened his posture and replied to the word Hero.

His massive belly protruded forward.

“Cardinal Bernardo. Can the Hero represent the Order?”

“Of course. The Hero is a being blessed by Gaia just by holding the Holy Sword. At the same time, they are the ones who achieve the sacred values and ideals pursued by the Gaia Order, and they are a symbolic representation of the Order’s spirit and beliefs …. ”

Before Bernardo could finish speaking, Ra-El threw out the next question.

“I have one more question. Does the Gaia Order have the authority to eradicate heretics within the Empire?”

“That is also obvious. The Gaia Order is the state religion of the Kamen Empire, and the Empire has designated heretics as illegal organizations. Moreover, due to the agreement with the Imperial Family, the authority to hunt heretics without violating Imperial law …. ‘

“So. The Order can kill heretics, and the Hero represents the Order. Correct?”

“…Hmm?”

Bernardo blinked at Ra-El’s question.

And belatedly, he looked at Ra-El’s sparkling eyes.

“Correct?”

“Ahem. Ra-El, no, Hero. That’s true. But what kind of heretics they are, whether they are Imperial citizens, and what their scale is …. ”

Bernardo felt that something was wrong.

He couldn’t take back the words he had spoken as a Cardinal, so he was thinking of adding additional explanations.

“Thank you. It was a good time. Cardinal Bernardo. Gaia-men.”

Ra-El got up from his seat.

He had heard what he wanted to hear, so now it was time to take action.

“Gaia-men …. Huh?”

Bernardo, left in the Cardinal’s chamber, blinked, not knowing what was going on.

*

The Vanessa Kingdom’s delegation was staying in a luxurious mansion provided by the Empire.

Even with the entire delegation staying there, there was still space left, so the remaining space was being used as a training ground.

“That’s right! You’re doing well!”

The Sword Dragon, the Vanessa Kingdom’s First Sword, was overseeing the training of his grandson, Kyle.

Kyle’s swordsmanship had grown tremendously in the short time he hadn’t seen him.

‘It’s a joyous occasion, but… it’s strange. Kyle’s talent shouldn’t have been this great.’

Of course, Kyle was also an excellent swordsman, but this rate of growth was impossible.

Even Ra-El, the most talented swordsman the Sword Dragon had ever seen, hadn’t grown this quickly.

‘He’s already knocking on the wall of Sword Master …. ‘

If he had simply grown quickly, the Sword Dragon wouldn’t have had strange thoughts.

However, Kyle’s sword energy was not pure.

How could the magic power of someone who had mastered the Virgin Boy Art [a martial art that requires the practitioner to remain a virgin] not be pure?

The Sword Dragon felt a sense of incongruity in that regard.

“Sword Dragon. Is something worrying you?”

At that moment, Edmund approached.

He was the Vanessa Kingdom’s Second Sword, but he was more popular than the Sword Dragon and was serving as the delegation’s leader.

“Ah, Edmund, it’s nothing. I’m just worried about Kyle’s magic power.”

“You mean Kyle. Isn’t it just because he’s growing? Originally, growing children waver a little.”

“Hmm, is that so.”

The Sword Dragon nodded.

He himself had wavered in many ways before creating the Vigour Palace [a technique to maintain purity], so it was understandable.

‘Sword Dragon… how should I convert this man?’

Edmund narrowed his eyes as he looked at the Sword Dragon.

If the Sword Dragon, who had already reached Sword Master, received the Demonic Cult’s blessing, his strength would increase uncontrollably.

If he took the lead in the upcoming rise of the Demonic Cult, it would be a great help.

‘If it weren’t for the Vigour Palace, I would have injected demonic energy… tsk.’

Edmund maintained his smile and swallowed his regret.

The Sword Dragon’s Vigour Palace always kept him in a pure state.

Sword Masters were like bombs that could explode at any moment.

He would try a few more times and give up if it didn’t work.

[KWAHHHHH-!]

Just as Edmund was swallowing his regret, a huge roar erupted from the main gate.

“What’s all the commotion!”

Edmund was startled and came out of the training ground.

He widened his eyes as he saw the half-destroyed main gate and the Holy Knights entering the mansion.

“W, what is going on! This is where the Vanessa Kingdom’s delegation is staying!”

Edmund swallowed hard.

Before his eyes stood Ra-El, the Gaia Order’s Hero.

“Gaia-men. I am Ra-El, the Gaia Order’s Hero.”

“…I am Edmund, the leader of the Vanessa Kingdom’s delegation. This is the residence of the Vanessa Kingdom’s delegation. If there is no proper explanation, I will formally protest.”

Edmund said as he looked at Ra-El.

However, Ra-El smiled as if he had no worries.

“I have received Gaia’s revelation that there are heretics here.”

Ra-El raised the corners of his mouth and drew the Holy Sword Saint.

A huge divine power erupted from the Holy Sword Saint.