The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 208

A month had passed.

Ra-El slowly opened his eyes.

Waking up in a tent with sunlight streaming in had been his routine for a month now.

In the capital, mornings were greeted with the chirping of birds, but the Allied forces’ encampment was devoid of any creatures.

“…I feel like I slept for ages.”

Over the past month, Ra-El had been training the Allied forces, sacrificing sleep.

Carlson and Lucas had shown the most significant progress, and Ra-El’s divine power had also advanced a step further.

Thanks to that, he was exhausted every day… but he went to bed early last night.

Because today was the day the war would begin.

Ra-El clenched and unclenched his fists, checking his condition.

As expected of a body that had transcended human limits, he felt perfectly refreshed after a good day’s rest.

Knock, knock-

“Ra-El, are you awake?”

Someone knocked on Ra-El’s tent.

“Yes, come in.”

Cecilia entered the tent at Ra-El’s permission.

She wore a faint smile and clasped her hands neatly.

“Everyone is waiting for the Hero.”

“I apologize. I slept longer than I thought.”

“It’s not late. It’s just… everyone is so nervous that they woke up early.”

Ra-El followed Cecilia out of the tent.

As she said, a tense atmosphere hung over the Allied forces’ encampment.

“Cecilia, you look tired too. Are you alright?”

“I’ve been praying all night as well. I’m glad you seem to have slept well, Ra-El.”

“…I’m just not sensitive to that sort of thing.”

Ra-El chuckled and turned his head.

Alheim still floated in the distance across the plains.

And the sea behind it was now devoid of any demons.

The demons of the Abyss in the sea had all emerged.

Yet, the demons remained still, unmoving.

“I’ll go to the priests of the Order. Ra-El.”

“Yes, good luck, Cecilia.”

“…Ra-El, please survive. You are my hope.”

“Of course. Isn’t that what we’re all trying to do?”

Cecilia smiled brightly at Ra-El’s words.

She clasped her hands together, offered a light prayer, and turned away.

Walking through the encampment, he soon encountered familiar faces.

Ra-El looked at Rain, the most laid-back Sword Master on the continent.

“Ra-El, you’re finally awake. Sleeping so peacefully.”

“The continent’s future might depend on my condition. I have to sleep, even if I don’t want to.”

“…You always have an answer for everything.”

Rain smiled, scanning Ra-El from head to toe.

‘To change this much in just a month…’

The Allied soldiers might not notice it since they saw Ra-El every day, but it was different for Rain, a Sword Master.

Ra-El had become much stronger than he was a month ago.

His very aura was completely different.

“Ra-El, what do you do every night to get so strong? I clearly saw that no one entered your tent.”

“Don’t say strange things. I was always strong.”

“Do you think I don’t know how strong you were originally? Tch. Well, it’s not bad for the Hero to get stronger.”

“Rain, don’t pick a fight with the Hero.”

Then, Ferma, the representative of the mages participating in the Allied forces, approached.

Ferma stood in front of Ra-El, as if protecting him from Rain’s sinister gaze.

“Pick a fight? What are you talking about…”

“Hero, did you rest well? The magic circles are still well-maintained today.”

Ferma ignored Rain’s words and bowed to Ra-El.

“…Yes. You’re doing well. You’re not neglecting the preparation of the interception magic circles because you’re worried about him, are you?”

“Don’t worry. I, Ferma, and the Archmages swear to burn the demons to ashes.”

Ferma’s eyes sparkled.

He felt alive as a mage, preparing for the Great War.

Because he had designed the magic circles with the Magic’s progenitor, the Dragon.

‘It’s good to see him working hard… but I still can’t get used to that.’

Ra-El raised his head and looked at the sky.

The divine power gathered over the past month was beyond imagination.

Ra-El had gathered an enormous amount of divine power from across the continent, enough to understand why Rain was surprised.

The statues all over the continent.

The priests of the Gaia Order praying while calling Ra-El’s name.

The knights belonging to the Allied forces reporting Ra-El’s achievements to their home countries….

There were many reasons why his divine power had increased, but the biggest one was ‘that’.

The giant screen floating in the sky.

That magic played a big role.

“When will that magic turn off?”

“Lady Tia designed the magic. There’s no way it will turn off. Our 모습 [appearance] will be broadcast throughout the continent until this war ends.”

“…”

That giant screen was magic that Tia developed to increase Ra-El’s divine power.

It broadcast the 모습 [appearance] of Alheim floating in the sky, the demon army below it, and the Allied forces confronting them throughout the continent.

‘I can’t believe something like that worked. I should have done it sooner.’

At first, he thought Tia was doing something crazy… but surprisingly, it was incredibly effective.

Thanks to that, Ra-El’s divine power had evolved even further.

“Rain, I told you not to mess with the Hero.”

“Huh, that’s ridiculous. Do you even know the relationship between me and Ra-El?”

Ra-El left Rain and Ferma, who had started bickering.

It was a familiar sight to see those two acting like that. Maybe it was to relieve tension.

“Ra-El, are you ready?”

In the center of the encampment stood armed Allied soldiers.

Among them, Ghent, wearing a huge chain mail, approached.

“Looks sturdy, Ghent.”

“Hmm. As you said, it’s an effective armor even for giants. Human technology is more impressive than I thought.”

It was Princess Serena who made the giants’ armor.

She provided armor to the entire giant race in less than a month.

“Well, since she even made armor for you, don’t die easily.”

“I want to as well. There are still many beautiful things in the world that I haven’t seen. But war doesn’t spare anyone.”

Ghent looked at Alheim across the plains.

Today was the day the war would begin.

The Allied forces had been preparing for a month to make final preparations, but they couldn’t wait forever for the demons to attack.

Because they didn’t know what the demons were preparing.

So, on the day our preparations were complete.

Today, a month later, they decided to attack even if the demons didn’t move.

The past month had also been a time to think about how to break through the demons’ defenses.

“Where are the other giants? Where is Ghent?”

“Thanks to my father’s defeat in a duel with Bestia, the giants are moving with the beastmen.”

“…He lost after all.”

Ra-El nodded.

In fact, Bestia was a strong beastman, strong enough to become Ra-El’s teacher.

He didn’t think Ghent would win, let alone Ghent.

“Why didn’t you fight? Ghent. You might have had a chance.”

“As you know, I’m different from the other giants. I don’t see any reason to fight and prove myself, and I don’t see any reason to be with them just because I lost.”

“Hearing that, you seem like the most normal one. And… what are you doing since a while ago?”

Ra-El chuckled and turned his head.

Since he started talking to Ghent, Reina had been standing behind Ra-El, hesitating.

“G, good morning.”

“It is a good morning… but do you have something to say?”

“Th, that’s. Um…”

Ra-El looked at Reina, who was rubbing her fingers nervously, and slowly turned his head.

Reine, who was shouting “Fighting! Fighting!” in a small voice behind her.

Erengor, hiding behind a nearby knight, clenching his fists tightly.

Besides them, elves were hiding in various places, such as cargo, tents, and under tables, watching Reina.

‘What are these stupid races doing…?’

Did they forget that today was the day the war would begin?

Ra-El looked at the elves in disbelief.

“When this war is over… won’t you go to the World Tree with me?”

Reina, who had been hesitating, squeezed her eyes shut and said.

Going to the World Tree together had an important meaning for the elves.

It meant going beyond just you and me, to a deeper relationship.

Of course, Ra-El was human, so he had no idea what it meant.

“You did it, Reina!”

Reine’s eyes welled up with tears as if she was moved, and the elves hiding among the Allied soldiers smiled contentedly.

From Ra-El’s point of view, he could see everything, so he had no idea what they were doing.

In some ways, this race seemed more foolish than the giants.

“Reina.”

“U, un?”

“Please don’t talk about things like that before the war. It makes me so uneasy. And you guys.”

Going to the World Tree when the war is over.

Even though he didn’t know what it meant, it would be better to perform a ritual to pray for death.

Ra-El raised his hand and pointed to each of the elves behind him.

“Is today a day to play? What are you doing not standing by?”

“Ahem. Benefactor. Good morning.”

Erengor was quick to notice, as befitting the leader of the elves.

He naturally came out from behind the Allied knight, bowed his head, and disappeared.

The other elves did the same, hiding behind Erengor.

“Th, this can’t be….”

Reina drooped her shoulders with a look of despair, regardless of whether the other elves disappeared or not.

The World Tree was that precious to the elves.

Being rejected to go together meant the end of the relationship.

Of course, Ra-El didn’t know any of those profound meanings.

“Reina.”

“It’s okay. I’m going to retire when the war is over too. I’ll get severance pay from Yuri and live in the elven forest, living the high life…!”

She would build a house near the elven forest.

She would pile up mountains of meat with the money she had saved and eat it whenever she wanted….

“Don’t talk nonsense. There’s no way I would refuse your request. I’ll come find you when it’s all over, so wait for me. Don’t say such uneasy things, okay?”

“U, uuhom. Homhm. Hmm… You should have said that sooner. Heungheung [crying sounds].”

Reina forcibly lowered the corners of her mouth, which were slowly rising, and left the spot.

Her ears were red as she ran towards the elves.

Ghent, who had been staring at their conversation, approached and put his hand on Ra-El’s shoulder.

“Ra-El. As a man, I have something to say to you too.”

“Don’t say the next word, Ghent.”

“I know you’re having a hard time, but Yuri and Cecilia are also waiting for the war to end.”

“…I told you not to say it.”

Ra-El forcibly ignored the gazes he felt from over there….

*

On the day of the war.

The Allied forces held a final meeting.

“Ra-El, how about you and a few others go as a separate unit to assassinate the Demon King?”

Ra-El shook his head at the Black Dragon’s words.

“There’s no guarantee that the demons will stop just because the Demon King dies. Even if we kill the Demon King, it’s all for nothing if the Allied forces suffer great damage. Assassinating the Demon King is a last resort. And we can’t change the plan now.”

“I agree with you. But… the demons’ momentum is unusual. We need to think about a backup plan.”

“We’ve thought about it all for a month. Let’s consider assassinating the Demon King as a last resort.”

Over the past month.

The Allied forces had thought of countless strategies.

And now, the war was approaching.

Tension was evident on the faces of the executives as well.

Especially the young executives who were participating in the war for the first time.

So did Carlson and Lucas.

So did Kyle Belmos, the Black Dragon’s grandson, and Belen, the temporary commander of the Kamen Knights.

“Ugh, I’m nervous….”

Carlson shuddered.

He had quite a bit of combat experience as a Paladin, but this was his first time in such a great war.

“Relax.”

Slap- Slap-

Rain, who was next to him, smiled and patted Carlson on the shoulder.

“Carlson. If you’ve decided to fight, risk your life! That’s the mindset of the Knights!”

“Commander, if you say things like that these days, you’ll be called a *kkondae* [old-fashioned person].”

“…”

Rain smacked his lips and lowered his arm.

After the meeting.

The Allied forces confronted the demons and took their place on the plains.

Alheim hadn’t moved at all for the past month.

But today was different.

It looked chaotic, as if a war would break out at any moment.

“Shouldn’t we give a speech to start the war?”

“…Me?”

Ra-El, who was standing at the forefront of the Allied forces, blinked at Yuri’s words next to him.

“Who else would do it if not Ra-El? You’re the commander of the Allied forces.”

“I’m not the commander of the Allied forces, the Black Dragon is….”

“To say that, Ra-El, you’ve done too much, haven’t you?”

“…I guess so.”

Over the past month, Ra-El had been acting as if he was the commander.

It was just an excuse to say that the Black Dragon was the commander now.

“Speeches aren’t really my thing… but I can’t help it. Then, Yuri, let’s go together.”

“Yes? Me too?”

“Isn’t it obvious? The Emperor of the Empire is participating in the Allied forces in person, so how much would the morale of the Allied forces rise if you participated in the speech?”

Through Tia’s magic, it was known throughout the continent that the Emperor of the Empire was participating in the war.

Yuri’s approval rating must have risen tremendously, so he had to raise the morale of the Allied forces on this occasion.

“In that case… I’ll add a word or two.”

“Yes, let’s go.”

Ra-El climbed onto the wall of the encampment with Yuri.

A huge roar erupted from the Allied forces who saw the Hero on the wall.

Waaaaaaah!

It was a roar to forget the fear of the upcoming war.

Ra-El looked at the Allied forces below the wall and opened his mouth.

Ferma, who was waiting below, amplified Ra-El’s voice.

“I’m from a commoner background, so I don’t have a talent for speeches, so I’ll just say one thing.”

Ra-El raised his sword high so that everyone could see it.

Divine power surged through the blade of the Flash, creating a pure white flame.

“Those who participate in this fight will become legends. As a Hero, I will be at the forefront more than anyone else, and I will treat you better than the nobles who hide. Follow me.”

Waaaaaaah!

“Gaia-men!”

“Hero! I will follow you too!”

A huge roar was heard once again from the Allied forces.

Words to fight at the forefront more than anyone else.

It was an example for those who had always fought for the nobles who hid behind them.

The fate of the continent was in their hands.

This war would be a legend and a myth.

The Allied forces reaffirmed their will to fight, seeing the flames rising from Ra-El’s sword.

“Ra-El, I don’t think I can intervene.”

“Why didn’t you add a word?”

“No, rather than that, Ra-El. No, Ra-El.”

“Yes.”

Ra-El looked at Yuri with a serious face.

She met Ra-El’s eyes, then smiled brightly.

“When the war is over, I’ll be waiting in the Imperial Palace too.”

Why…?

Ra-El had such thoughts, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

Because he felt like something big would happen if he said these words.

Waaaaaaah!

The Allied forces’ roars did not stop.

The morale of those who would write the legend was endlessly high.

At that moment.

Thump- Thump-

A huge tremor of the earth began.

“…Crazy bastards. Talk about timing.”

Ra-El looked at the demons below Alheim.

That huge army began to move.