The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 176

Rael, having arrived at the Special Guard headquarters, headed toward the Dragon Lair situated by the lake.

He was worried Tia might be out, but fortunately, she was inside, deeply engrossed in her magical research.

“It’s been a while, Tia.”

“The hero of the Gaia Order. What brings you here? Have you come to provide more research samples?” Tia glanced at Rael before returning her attention to her magical device.

For reference, Rael’s blood was currently bubbling away inside said device.

“You’re still drawing blood… but I actually came to ask you something.”

“Is that so? Have a seat. I’ll get you some tea.” Tia snapped her fingers, and a teacup floated over to Rael.

Rael brought the teacup to his lips without thinking, then frowned and set it down.

The extreme bitterness assaulted his tongue.

“Damn it. I shouldn’t have drunk the tea here….”

“It’s an acquired taste, isn’t it? So, what brings you here? Do you need more training? Should I call Bestia again? She’s been complaining that life in the Beastmen’s territory is too comfortable and she’s getting bored.”

“I’m fine with the Beastmen. I came to ask about the conditions that would trigger the Demon King’s rampage.”

“The conditions for the Demon King’s rampage…? Why are you asking about that? Are you planning to defect to Alheim’s side?” Tia widened her eyes in an exaggerated manner, reminiscent of Reina.

Rael shook his head at her over-the-top reaction and continued, “Of course not. Don’t you know the conditions for the Demon King’s rampage?”

“No, but do humans even need to ask? There’s only one condition for the Demon King’s rampage, isn’t there?”

“Which is? I don’t know.”

“Injecting her with demonic energy.” Tia said matter-of-factly, sipping her tea.

Rael tilted his head, puzzled by her casual attitude.

“Tia, why is it so obvious that injecting demonic energy would cause her to rampage?”

“The Demon King is a monster born from human malice. Her power originates from humans, so it’s only natural that she’d explode if you inject her with demonic energy.”

“…That’s a bit hard to grasp.”

Tia’s explanations were sometimes incomprehensible, even when he paid close attention.

Rael’s confusion likely meant that most people from the medieval era wouldn’t understand either.

“Think of it simply. The Demon King’s power is demonic energy derived from humans. It’s slightly different from the demonic energy that demons possess. So, when the two meet, they’re stimulated by forces they can’t comprehend, and they explode. Boom!”

“What happens when that happens?”

“The Demon King will rampage, as the name implies. In the process, a tremendous amount of demonic energy will be released… The demons will probably be overjoyed.”

“You said it’s different from the demons’ demonic energy, but in the end, demonic energy is still demonic energy.”

“Just because it’s different doesn’t mean demons can’t use it. That’s why the demons are desperately searching for the Demon King, isn’t it?”

Rael nodded in response to Tia’s words.

Ultimately, the important thing was that the demons were after the Demon King and were likely closing in on her.

“Tia, how strong do you think the Demon King will be if she rampages?”

“Rampage…? Well, what’s certain is that she’ll be stronger than me.” Tia stated calmly.

It was a fact she had uncovered through extensive research.

“Really? When I asked you before, you didn’t seem so sure you’d lose.”

“Dragons are a race that learns and adapts. If the Demon King wasn’t a natural occurrence but was born in the Order’s sanctuary, where human malice has accumulated for decades, her power will be far greater than I initially anticipated. She’ll probably wipe out the capital of the Empire without much effort.”

A question mark appeared in Rael’s mind at Tia’s words.

No matter how strong the Demon King was, could she really destroy the entire capital of the Empire?

The Demon King in the original story wasn’t that powerful.

“…Tia, if the Demon King rampages, will you stop her?” Rael asked cautiously.

“Yes, of course, I have to stop her.”

“Why? Didn’t you refuse to help when I asked last time? I thought dragons weren’t interested in human affairs.”

When a chain letter [a letter promising good luck to those who forward it and threatening bad luck to those who don’t] spread through the Imperial capital, Rael had asked Tia for assistance.

However, Tia had refused, saying that if humans couldn’t handle something like that, they deserved to be destroyed.

“It’s a shame if humans are wiped out, but if the world is on the verge of ending, I have to intervene. I’m the last dragon left on this continent. If I die, the dragon race will become extinct.”

“…I suppose so.”

“I don’t know if I can stop her alone… but if things go south, I can call for help as soon as I sense the signs of a rampage.”

“Help from who?”

“Ghent or Reina would be a bit risky… I’ll probably get help from you or the Swordsaint.”

“…”

Rael nodded.

Only then did he realize where those two had disappeared to during the Demon King’s rampage.

*

Step. Step.

Rael felt the cold air as he descended underground.

The Demon King’s prison maintained the same temperature as always, even in winter.

It was likely due to the chilling aura emanating from the Demon King’s power, not the external temperature.

‘Tia and the Swordsaint disappear because of the Demon King’s rampage.’

Rael sighed as he thought about them.

Tia, who prided herself on being the strongest on the continent, and the Swordsaint, who could inflict significant damage on the Demon King even once.

Those two would vanish because of the Demon King’s rampage.

Perhaps without their sacrifice, Lucas wouldn’t have been able to defeat the Demon King and would have perished.

‘To save them… I have to prevent the Demon King’s rampage.’

Rael thought as he opened the prison door.

The Demon King was inside, her limbs bound.

“Rael, you’ve finally come. It’s rare to see your face.”

“It hasn’t been that long. I stopped by after returning from Arconia.”

Rael passed the sweets he had brought through the bars of the prison.

The Special Guard’s building now had a steady supply of chocolates, brought in and out every time someone went to guard the Demon King.

Chomp. Chomp.

The Demon King quietly began to eat the chocolates Rael had given her.

If you only looked at her, you couldn’t distinguish her from Niah or Harry at the orphanage.

‘Of course, she does have horns on her head, though.’

Rael sat in his chair and stared at the Demon King.

Then, suddenly remembering, he tapped the Holy Sword on his waist.

‘Saint. Is there a way to purify the Demon King?’

The Holy Sword Saint.

If anyone knew, it would be the Holy Sword, which had been the Order’s sacred object for centuries.

[To purify the Demon King, you must release the malice that has accumulated within her. If she rampages like that, the entire Empire will be devastated.]

‘What does releasing malice mean?’

[It means reducing the total amount of malice she possesses. That way, even if the Demon King rampages, the surrounding damage will be lessened.]

‘So, how do I do that?’ Rael asked, frustrated.

Then, Saint hesitated for a moment before answering.

[…Faithful belief and prayer to Gaia?]

“Ha. What kind of useless Holy Sword is this?” No matter what he said, it always came down to the conclusion that a rampage was unacceptable.

However, even in the original story, the Demon King’s rampage was a confirmed event.

‘If the condition for the Demon King’s rampage is the injection of demonic energy… does that mean the demons will invade?’

If so, that meant the demons would invade the Special Guard in the original story as well.

Demons invading such a heavily guarded place… did that even make sense?

‘No… there’s one more thing.’

Rael looked at the Demon King, who was eating chocolate.

‘The Demon King might want to go outside.’

He remembered her saying that she hated demons.

But if Rael imagined being trapped there, it wouldn’t be difficult to join forces with someone he hated.

Just then, it seemed she had almost finished eating the chocolate, so Rael picked up the chair and walked in front of the Demon King’s prison.

“…Want one?” Sitting down with the chair right in front of the prison, the Demon King offered him a chocolate.

Her hand was shaking as she held out the chocolate, as if she was very reluctant.

“I’m fine, you eat it.”

“Thank you, Rael. But why are you so late?”

“I told you, it hasn’t been that long. I’ve been stopping by regularly about twice a week.”

When there were major events like the Arconia trip or hero work, he sometimes had to postpone it, but he always made time to visit regularly.

“That’s not enough. This prison is quite boring.”

“Talk to Ghent or Reina. Or there’s Yuri.”

Ghent, who was initially surprised that the Demon King could speak, seemed to have adapted to some extent now.

It was the result of Rael persuading him to give her chocolate.

“I can communicate with giants and elves, but they’re afraid every time I talk to them.”

“Then what about Yuri?”

“If Yuri refers to another human besides you, I cannot communicate with her.”

“Why?”

“She is naturally resistant to demonic energy. I tried a few times, but it was only for a moment. I stopped because she looked like she was about to die soon.”

“…A natural resistance, huh.” Rael nodded.

That must be why Yuri was in charge of guarding the Demon King.

To prevent that monster from escaping into the outside world, she sacrificed her own well-being.

Chomp-chomp-

The Demon King focused on the chocolate again after their brief conversation.

Rael stared at her as she ate, then slowly began to channel his magic power.

‘If Yuri can do it, can’t I do it too?’

The power of Circulation [Rael’s unique magic ability] could even contain the Demon King’s demonic energy.

Then maybe he could handle the Demon King’s power as well.

Rael slowly raised his hand and reached out to accept the Demon King’s power.

Of course, Rael had unconsciously absorbed the Demon King’s power before learning Circulation, but this was different.

He was consciously absorbing more demonic energy than before.

Crackle-

At that moment, murderous intent began to flood Rael’s mind.

The demonic energy and malice that enveloped his entire body began to hammer human malice into Rael’s consciousness.

– Die. Die. Die. Die. Die. Die. Die.

He felt dizzy, and his vision blurred.

Rael frowned and stopped using Circulation.

“…Damn it. Haa.” Rael slowly took a deep breath, feeling the cold sweat covering his body.

The monster Demon King, created from the gathering of human malice. Her power was far more ferocious than the demons’ demonic energy.

“What are you doing, Rael? Don’t accept my power beyond your limit. The human named Yuri endures my power; she doesn’t accept it like you do.”

“…Okay. Sorry.” Rael looked at the Demon King, who was watching him.

Her face was expressionless, but that only made her seem colder.

‘What is she thinking?’ Rael carefully opened his mouth.

“You said you don’t remember the past properly, right? What do you usually think about?”

“I entrust myself to the darkness and do nothing. As I spend time like that, someone comes to visit.”

“…Is there anything you want to do?” To be trapped in such a prison… Rael couldn’t even imagine it.

He was sure the Demon King wanted something too.

“I don’t particularly think about that.”

“Why?”

“This place is boring… but I met a human I like. So I hope you, Rael, will visit more often.”

Swoosh-

The Demon King held out a chocolate through the bars of the prison.

“…”

Rael looked at the chocolate, then raised his head and looked into the Demon King’s eyes.

Her expression was similar to Niah’s when she wanted him to visit the orphanage more often.

“This is….”

Why were so many people relying on him?

It was unnecessarily burdensome.

Rael sighed, took the chocolate she offered, and put it in his mouth.

The chilled chocolate was still sweet.

“Okay. Fine. I’ll try to come often.”

Anyway, Rael had to stop her from rampaging.

It wouldn’t be difficult to save one more person while saving the Empire.