The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 207

The Blue Magic Tower, a towering structure in the first district of the Imperial Capital, housed the largest concentration of mages in the Empire.

The master of the Blue Magic Tower, Ferma, was renowned as the Empire’s most powerful mage.

Having attained nearly everything he desired, Ferma found his interest piqued only by thrilling gambles or high-stakes bets, even if just fleetingly.

However, about a year prior, Ferma encountered an extraordinary being.

The progenitor of magic itself: a dragon.

This encounter reignited the passion for magic that had been dormant within Ferma’s heart.

Ferma dedicated himself to relentless training, pushing beyond his limits, and guiding the mages as the Tower Master.

All of this was in support of the dragon, Rael.

Initially, he believed it was merely a game for the dragon.

But Rael seemed to have a genuine goal, gradually establishing himself within the Empire.

Ferma could only observe Rael’s progress as the Tower Master.

He had been providing various forms of assistance to the Veggards [Veggards likely refers to a specific group or organization within the story], but it felt insufficient.

Because Rael was succeeding to such an extent that he didn’t particularly need Ferma’s support.

Ferma constantly contemplated how he could better aid Rael.

Then, the opportunity finally presented itself.

The Great War against the Demon race.

Ferma was prepared to throw himself into this war for Rael’s sake.

Until he saw the dragon flying in the sky….

“You mean Lady Bestia is coming too?”

“Yes. The Beastmen’s territory is quite distant from the Kamen Empire, so it will take some time, but she must have already departed.”

“Really? …Why?”

Rael looked at Tia with a curious expression.

He hadn’t anticipated Bestia’s arrival.

“Why else? The Beastmen wouldn’t want to miss out on a large-scale battle like this. Those beasts share a similar temperament with the giants. Besides, Bestia, the leader of the Beastmen, is your teacher, so she can offer valuable assistance.”

“Lady Bestia is even bringing her clan to help, so Lady Tia should contribute even more enthusiastically.”

“How much more enthusiastic can I get? That’s why I’m even visiting this cramped magic tower.”

“…Cramped magic tower, you say. Ah.”

Only then did Rael remember that Ferma was present.

He had completely forgotten about him while talking to Tia.

“Tower Master. As you can see, this person, no, this being is a real dragon.”

Rael said, gesturing towards Tia.

With the Great War imminent, he intended to reveal the truth to Ferma.

“This being, Rael. That’s a bit much to say.”

“Then what should I say?”

“Well, never mind. So, this human is the most outstanding mage among humans, right? Hmmm. Her level isn’t as low as I thought.”

Tia observed Ferma with interest.

While he wasn’t on her level, his magic was considerably advanced for a human with such a short lifespan.

“T, thank you.”

Ferma bowed deeply from his seated position on the sofa.

He felt a thrill in his heart at the dragon’s acknowledgment.

“All the magic and magical tools that the Tower Master has seen so far were created by Tia.”

“That’s right. Rael is a good liar.”

“Ahem. Anyway… I apologize for any misunderstandings I may have caused. I allowed those misunderstandings to persist in order to conceal Lady Tia’s existence, so please understand.”

Rael said, nodding his head slightly.

He was confessing the truth to Ferma now that the Great War was approaching.

In truth, he could have confessed earlier, but he was confident that he would never lose, even if Ferma became enraged and attacked him…

“Ah….”

Ferma lowered his head at Rael’s words.

Indeed, it was said that only one dragon remained on the continent.

But Ferma had witnessed it with his own eyes.

Rael’s power that shattered the storm of immense magic that appeared in Alheim [Alheim is likely a location within the story].

As the strongest mage on the continent, he could discern the truth.

That power was beyond human capabilities.

It emitted a bright light akin to divine power, yet it was destructive like magic and flowed smoothly like mana.

The power that the hero Rael possessed had already surpassed the dragons of legend.

‘Just what kind of being is Rael?’

Numerous thoughts swirled in Ferma’s mind.

Frankly, the assumption that he was human had already vanished.

‘A hero who commands dragons…? No. Perhaps you are…’

No matter how powerful the Gaia Order [Gaia Order is likely a faction or organization within the story] is, they cannot compare to a dragon.

But look at their friendly conversation.

“Lady Tia is intimidating him, so he can’t even speak properly. This person is still the representative of the mages, so he is essential for managing them. What are you going to do about it?”

“It’s okay. If he remains like this, I can simply dominate him with magic. It’s easier to control the mages that way.”

“…That might not be bad either?”

Ferma shuddered and continued his thoughts.

Who would perceive those two as a human and a dragon?

It was unimaginable for a human to be so close to a dragon.

Moreover, a dragon who goes to war against the demons at the request of a human.

Such a phenomenon was unprecedented and should not be happening.

“…”

At that moment, something clicked in Ferma’s mind.

The dragons were caught up in the Great War and disappeared from the continent.

And Rael suddenly rose to prominence in the Empire and is confronting the demons.

In other words, Rael descended to the human race to avenge the dragons.

‘…Dragon Lord.’

A being who interacts with dragons without pretense.

A being who has surpassed the power of dragons.

Rael was not just a simple dragon.

The strongest among dragons.

It made sense if he was a Dragon Lord….

“I see. I understand, Rael.”

Ferma raised his head with a relieved expression.

His face was filled with a bright smile.

“…?”

Rael tilted his head, looking at him.

He felt like he had understood too quickly for some reason.

“You understood me well, right? There are no more misunderstandings between us. From tomorrow, we will regard each other as a hero and a Tower Master.”

“The Blue Magic Tower will be at the forefront of the fight more than anyone else, and I, Ferma, will always be at the head of that.”

Ferma’s expression was calm, and a faint smile played on his lips.

“…Yes. I look forward to working with you.”

Rael stared at him intently before nodding his head.

His eyes were sparkling a little too much, but good was good.

*

“The Tower Masters are strangely enthusiastic about the war.”

“Really? Lady Tia said she would assist the mages a bit.”

“Yes. Her name was Lady Tia. The Magic Towers are rallying around the Dragon and Ferma. Perhaps the integration of the Magic Towers that the Empire has long desired will be achieved after the war.”

“Well, it’s good if they fight hard.”

Rael nodded his head while talking to Zenith.

As expected, showing sincerity elicits sincerity in return.

Sincerity still holds value in this corrupt world.

“What about the Thousand Slaughter Sword Master?”

“They say he is gradually making appearances at the Allied Forces training grounds.”

“That old man has finally come to his senses.”

After witnessing Rael’s Thousand Slaughter Divine Sword suppressing the storm of magic.

The Thousand Slaughter Sword Master seemed to have realized something and joined the Allied Forces.

Perhaps he felt that he was not the only hope.

“And about the Beastmen who joined the Allied Forces… They are causing quite a few problems.”

“Why are the Beastmen like that?”

“That’s…”

Bestia.

After a long time, she was still proud of her appearance.

Surprisingly, thanks to her, the atmosphere among the other races also brightened.

“I’m Bestia. Gent, who is this?”

“Genwool Kidsleeper. And my son’s name is not Gent, but Genwool Stormheart.”

However, there are always eccentric individuals among them.

Genwool Kidsleeper glared at Bestia and gripped an axe in one hand.

The giants, born for battle, and the Beastmen, with their animal instincts, were bound to clash.

“What are the Beastmen doing here?”

“I want to ask you the same thing. Why are you here? I came to help Rael.”

“We are the same. We came here to help our brother.”

“So, are you stupid giants trying to act territorial?”

“We do not use the word ‘stupid’ for giants. However, we do use the word ‘weak’. Because the weak are wrong.”

“Hmph, that’s the most agreeable thing I’ve heard from a stupid and weak giant.”

Bestia naturally raised her fist as well.

“…”

Rael didn’t know why those two were fighting.

In fact, he didn’t want to know.

“Rael. What should we do? Personal disputes are prohibited within the Allied Forces.”

“…Tell them to sort it out themselves. They may be headstrong, but they’re not malicious at heart. Whoever wins will listen to the other.”

He was too preoccupied to concern himself with the inter-racial power struggle.

Rael ignored Genwool and Bestia, who seemed on the verge of fighting, and entered the Allied Forces conference room.

It was almost time for the meeting to begin.

“…. Huh?”

Rael looked to the immediate right of the head seat in the conference room.

He saw a woman who had not been present at the meetings until now.

“…Yuri? No, Your Majesty. What are you doing here?”

“I’m going to participate in the meeting….”

“You’re participating in the meeting…? It’s dangerous. Are you sure you’re okay with that?”

Yuri’s participation in the Allied Forces meeting probably didn’t just mean she wanted to observe the operation.

It likely meant she intended to fight directly.

“Rael! You can’t just dismiss it with those words!”

“It’s okay, Rein.”

“But, Your Majesty!”

“I understand. Please sit there.”

Rael allowed Yuri to sit down and then took his place in the head seat.

Even if she was the Emperor, he was the leader of the Allied Forces.

“Rael, think again. Sword Dragon! Please say something!”

“I respect Rael’s opinion.”

The official leader of the Allied Forces was still the Sword Dragon, but from the moment Rael drove away the storm of magic, everyone in the Allied Forces, including the Sword Dragon, regarded Rael as the leader.

It was right to follow his judgment.

“Commander Rein. Her Majesty is stronger than you, isn’t she?”

Rael said, looking at Rein.

Rein flinched for a moment but soon shook his head.

“…That’s not the point! What if something happens to Her Majesty….”

“If we lose the war anyway, the continent is doomed. Besides, isn’t this what Her Majesty wants?”

“Rein. Don’t worry. I’ll protect myself.”

“I don’t know anymore.”

Rein closed his eyes tightly and sat down.

“The Magic Tower Masters calculated that it would take about a month for all the demons to emerge from that strange sea.”

Only a month remained.

It wasn’t enough time for anything significant to change, but there was only one course of action.

“The Allied Forces will concentrate on training and will be stationed in this plain.”

“Training?”

“Then are you going to idle for a month? Actually, even a month isn’t certain. There’s no guarantee that the rate at which the demons emerge from the sea is constant, and those bastards might attack when they deem it sufficient.”

Rael looked at Carlson and Lucas, who were seated next to him.

They were the individuals who had been parachuted into the Allied Forces as the Empire’s Three Musketeers.

“And you two. Especially Carlson. You can’t delay it any longer.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know? Training. You have to become a Sword Master.”

“…Me?”

Carlson blinked his eyes.

Rael had become a Sword Master, and Lucas had followed that path, but he thought it was something far removed from him, a paladin.

“Lucas, you’re the same. Your Heavenly Extreme Boundary [Heavenly Extreme Boundary likely refers to a specific skill or ability] is impressive, but it’s not enough.”

Lucas had reached the realm of Sword Master, but Sword Master is not just about being able to manifest a domain.

You have to perfectly utilize that domain and integrate it into your swordsmanship once again.

“I will teach you two intensively.”

Considering that there was only a month left.

He had to make a decision in at least two weeks.

Carlson and Lucas had to become strong enough to face the Demon King.

“Rael, I want to receive training too….”

“Your Majesty. You can speak comfortably.”

Yuri had been using a strange tone that was neither informal nor formal since earlier.

Yuri, whose face was slightly flushed at Rael’s remark, carefully opened her mouth.

“…. I want to train with you too.”

“I understand. Let’s do that.”

Rael recalled Yuri’s skills.

She had also accepted the murderous intent of the Heavenly Slaughter Star [Heavenly Slaughter Star likely refers to a specific concept or entity] into her body and was approaching Sword Master.

‘The remaining period is one month.’

Even that is not a guaranteed month.

It could be two weeks or one week.

At worst, it could be tomorrow.

So Rael had to make the most of this time.

‘Divine power. And perfectly hone the Heavenly Slaughter Divine Sword.’

He would not rely solely on the Thousand Slaughter Sword Master’s defiance of fate.

Until Rael’s sword reached the Demon King, he could not cease training.

“Everyone, dismiss.”

Rael’s eyes sank coldly as he thought of Alheim floating in the sky.

And so.

An unusually quiet month passed.