The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 100

“N-No way. The Three Swordsmen… The rumors weren’t exaggerated, no… they were even more than that.”

Thud.

Harmon, a knight of the Vanessa Kingdom, knelt down.

The rising stars of the Carmen Empire, the ‘Empire’s Three Swordsmen’.

He had only heard rumors, but their true strength was beyond that.

“…Okay. Good work.”

Swish-.

Raelle sheathed his sword and turned around.

His opponent in the round of 16 was a knight from the Vanessa Kingdom.

Not a particularly difficult opponent.

‘Why do these nobles talk so much?’

Every time they lose, they react as if they can’t believe they lost, which makes me cringe every time I see it.

It would be understandable if they were strong, but these insignificant guys all react like that.

“Waaaaaah-!”

“The Empire’s Three Swordsmen! Raelle!”

“All three Swordsmen have advanced to the quarterfinals! Amazing!”

Raelle sighed at the cheers from the audience.

“Call me whatever you want. I don’t even get angry anymore.”

The Three Swordsmen or whatever…

The first time he heard it, he was ready to grab Zenith by the collar, but humans are creatures of adaptation.

He didn’t even have the energy to get angry at every little thing like that.

“Raelle, hyung-nim [older brother]!”

“Raelle, sir. You’ve worked hard.”

“You guys too.”

Raelle gave a faint smile as he saw Carlson and Lucas approaching him.

These two had advanced to the quarterfinals before him.

‘They were so injured, but seeing how sturdy they are, they’re not normal either.’

That was a compliment, by the way.

Carlson and Lucas are grateful guys who threw themselves into the fight against the black magician at my word.

Even Raelle wouldn’t think of messing with guys like that.

“Ah, hyung-nim. Come to think of it, I forgot to bet on you to win.”

“What? Say that again, you little punk. Should I send you to Gaia’s side [euphemism for death]?”

“Keuhuk, hyung-nim, I’m dying…”

Raelle grabbed Carlson by the collar and shook him back and forth.

They said I couldn’t bet on my own name anymore, so I told Carlson to do it, but he couldn’t even do that simple task?

Is this guy crazy?

“Raelle, sir. Please don’t be angry…!”

After a while, Raelle, having finished venting his anger, took Carlson and Lucas and moved on.

The capital was still in full festival mode everywhere.

Children with chicken skewers in their hands ran around, and the wide square was packed with countless people.

The smell of cheap spices stung the nose from the stalls lining the streets.

‘The world is so peaceful.’

It felt like what happened a week ago was a lie.

It was like Raelle was the only one who suffered, and everyone else didn’t experience anything.

‘Well, that’s true.’

It wasn’t wrong since that’s what actually happened.

Raelle looked at Lucas and said.

“Lucas. By the way, did you handle Princess Scaria’s matter well?”

“Yes. She has decided to stay at my house for the time being.”

“Your house? …Was it that high-rated of a novel?”

“What did you just say?”

“It’s nothing.”

Princess Scaria started living with Lucas, unlike in the original story.

Maybe it’s the butterfly effect of Raelle ruining Nagor’s plan.

Thanks to that, Lucas seems to be living a happy life.

‘Anyway… I should start networking with important people soon.’

Winning the Yongbong Tournament is important, but Raelle had other things in mind from the start.

He wanted to use this opportunity to expand his networking scope outside the Empire.

‘I got the names of important people from Clara, too.’

There’s some time left, so it’s time to use them.

“Raelle, hyung-nim. By the way, why are you wandering around the Vanessa Kingdom area?”

Carlson asked, eating a chicken skewer he bought from a street vendor.

This area was frequented by people from the Vanessa Kingdom.

He had been spending time around here as Raelle told him to, but he didn’t know the reason.

“You’ll find out when the time comes. It’s about time they came.”

“Yes? What do you mean by ‘it’s about time’….”

“Raelle…! No, the Empire’s Three Swordsmen! To meet you in a place like this, it must be fate!”

Raelle smiled at the booming voice.

And he looked at the approaching burly man.

Kyle Belmos.

He’s smaller than Ghent, but he’s a damn big noble from the Vanessa Kingdom for a human.

“Kyle! It’s been a while.”

“Oh, Kyle! Raelle, hyung-nim, is this the guy you were waiting for?”

“Nice to meet you. Lucas and Carlson. …But Carlson. Why do you speak casually to me but use honorifics to Raelle?”

Kyle Belmos was a warrior.

So he didn’t care about titles… but it was obvious that he was older than Raelle.

He couldn’t understand Carlson’s different treatment.

“Uh… I just felt like I should?”

“I see!”

Belmos nodded at Carlson’s words and looked at Raelle.

“Raelle. Wandering around this area, were you perhaps waiting for me?”

“Yeah. I was surprised to see your name in the quarterfinals, so I came.”

That was half true.

How the hell did this guy make it to the quarterfinals?

Was the Twenty-Four Swords of the Vanessa Kingdom or whatever real?

“Oh! You’re congratulating me. My friend. That’s good. I’ll invite you to the Belmos family’s place. Let’s have a meal together.”

“If it’s free, I’m always welcome. Ah, is the Sword Dragon there too, by any chance?”

“Are you talking about my grandfather? Of course. I’ll introduce you to him if I get the chance.”

Raelle smiled at Kyle’s words.

Why was he looking for Kyle in broad daylight?

It was because of his grandfather, the Sword Dragon.

‘He teaches Lucas a lot about swords in the original story.’

Sword Dragon.

He liked young and strong warriors.

In the original story, he was one of the swordsmen who gave Lucas the most teachings.

Moreover, the Sword Dragon was a righteous person who sided with humanity even when the Vanessa Kingdom betrayed humanity.

There’s no harm in building a relationship with him.

“Kyle! Where are you! Do you know how dangerous it is to get lost in the Empire!”

At that moment, a middle-aged man with a heavy body walked over from the other side.

He thought Kyle was big when he saw him, but this man was a head taller than Kyle.

“…Is he a descendant of the giants?”

Lucas muttered without realizing it.

He had heard that there were descendants of giants in the Vanessa Kingdom.

He thought it was just a rumor, but seeing that size, it didn’t seem like a lie.

“Lucas, what’s a descendant of giants?”

“Ah… I heard that there are descendants of giants in the Vanessa Kingdom. I think those are them.”

“Oh! You little brat, you know the legend of our Belmos family!”

The man smiled broadly, his face lighting up at Lucas’s words.

“…Is it real?”

Raelle chuckled, hearing the words for the first time.

The Belmos family being descendants of giants.

It was a secret history that didn’t even appear in the original story.

‘Ghent, that bastard… I wondered why he got so angry when I associated him with other races.’

It was because there were already cases of giants interbreeding with humans.

I’ll have to tease Ghent about it next time I see him.

“Grandfather-! I was just about to go find you!”

“That’s right! My grandson!”

The man and Kyle hugged each other, showing off their affection.

Raelle felt very uncomfortable because of it, and his eyes sparkled at the word ‘Grandfather’.

He was going to go to their accommodation directly, but it didn’t seem like he needed to.

“Kyle, is that your grandfather, the Sword Dragon?”

“Huh? You’re… the Empire’s Three Swordsmen! The best of them, Raelle! Will you cross swords with me!”

“Grandfather! I’m first! I haven’t beaten Raelle yet!”

Raelle nodded, looking at the two men flexing their muscles in front of him.

‘What a crazy family.’

He didn’t think he needed to think deeply about the Sword Dragon.

Let’s just think of him as a guy similar to Kyle.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Raelle. I’ve often heard rumors of the Sword Dragon even in the Carmen Empire.”

“Hmm? Hahaha! You’re a friend who knows etiquette.”

The Sword Dragon smiled, looking at the swordsman who praised him.

He was said to be one of the Empire’s Three Swordsmen, and he seemed to have both personality and skill.

‘Huh…?

And then, the Sword Dragon properly examined Raelle’s body.

Now that he saw it, he exuded a presence that made it hard to believe he was the same age as Kyle.

‘There’s another guy as strong as Kyle… Huh, the guys around him are monsters too. Are there guys like this all over the Carmen Empire?’

No, that couldn’t be.

The young men the Sword Dragon had seen while wandering around the Empire didn’t even come close to Kyle.

It meant that the Empire’s Three Swordsmen were abnormally strong.

“Raelle. How is it! Your impression of meeting the Continent’s Greatest Swordsman!”

“He’s just claiming to be the Continent’s Greatest Swordsman.”

“You! Are you insulting my grandfather! It’s a duel!”

“You’ll die if we duel. You have to make it to the quarterfinals, Kyle.”

Raelle soothed the nonsense Kyle was spouting and looked at the Sword Dragon.

‘He’s better than Commander Rain or Namaha.’

Even among Sword Masters, there’s a difference in class.

Maybe the Sword Dragon is a seasoned Sword Master, not just an entry-level one.

Certainly, he had the skill to claim to be the Continent’s Greatest Swordsman.

“Raelle, was it? What are you saying to my grandson, who I wouldn’t trade for the world.”

“Grandfather-!”

Kyle snuggled up to the Sword Dragon, acting cute.

Seeing that big guy acting like that gave him a headache.

‘Even a Sword Master would die if they put that pig in their eye.’

Raelle looked at Carlson and Lucas, thinking that.

They were blinking, seemingly unable to grasp the sudden situation.

“Ah, right. Carlson, Lucas. Say hello. This is the Sword Dragon.”

“Gaia-men [expression of surprise/respect]. Nice to meet you. I’m Carlson of the Silver Cross Knights.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Lucas. Sword Dragon, sir. I’ve heard so many times that you’re an excellent swordsman, but it’s no exaggeration at all.”

“Hehe. These are very polite young men. Would you like to spar with me?”

For reference, the sparring the Sword Dragon is talking about is guidance sparring [training session focused on teaching].

In the original story, Lucas grew tremendously while sparring with him.

“It would be an honor. Sword Dragon, sir.”

Lucas’s eyes sparkled as he looked at the Sword Dragon.

“Oh. You’re a rare and good young man. Seeing your red hair, you must be Lucas of the Three Swordsmen.”

The Sword Dragon scanned Lucas and nodded.

He was a monster no less than Raelle.

No, in some ways, he might be better than Raelle.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve seen such deep eyes.’

The eyes of a warrior who is steadfastly walking the path he has chosen.

The Sword Dragon smiled, looking at the warrior he liked.

“Come with me. Lucas. I will pass on the greatsword of the Belmos family to you.”

“Thank you!”

Lucas bowed deeply.

Learning a new sword was always a thrilling experience.

“Carlson. You should learn from the Sword Dragon too.”

Raelle pushed Carlson’s back as he watched their conversation.

“Me too? I think it would be better for me to learn from Commander Marco at the Order….”

“Kyle! Take Lucas and Carlson to the accommodation.”

“Huh? Me? Okay!”

Kyle approached Lucas and Carlson and put his arms around their shoulders.

“My friends! I’ll guide you to the training ground my grandfather uses!”

“Thank you. Kyle, sir.”

“No, wait a minute. Why me too….”

After the three disappeared.

Raelle bowed to the Sword Dragon.

“Please take good care of my friends. Sword Dragon, sir. They’re talented guys, so you won’t regret raising them.”

“Hmm. What are you thinking?”

The Sword Dragon tilted his head, looking at Raelle.

He didn’t mind entrusting his friends to him.

Teaching excellent young warriors was something he liked to do too.

But he felt a strange ulterior motive from that guy.

“Sword Dragon, sir. Please make Lucas strong.”

“…That guy?”

“Yes. He’s a guy with tremendous talent. If the Sword Dragon guides him, he might even dream of becoming the true Continent’s Greatest Swordsman. Maybe… he’ll be a perfect match for the talent the Sword Dragon is looking for.”

The reason the Sword Dragon guides young warriors is to teach his sword.

The Sword Dragon, who is looking for a genius swordsman to carry on the will of the sword he has achieved throughout his life, passes on the ‘greatsword’ to Lucas in the original story.

“Interesting. But let me tell you.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t you want to learn the sword from me?”

Raelle seemed to be trying to leave his friends with him and escape alone, and that touched the Sword Dragon’s pride.

Did he not need the guidance of the Vanessa Kingdom’s greatest swordsman?

“Guidance sparring would be appreciated, but I have a teacher.”

“Oh. A teacher greater than me, you say.”

Raelle bowed his head silently.

The Sword Dragon was strong, but he couldn’t compare to that old man.

“Good. Come to the Belmos family’s accommodation in three days. I’ll teach that red-haired guy my sword. In return, I want to see the sword you’ve learned.”

“I understand.”

Raelle smiled, looking at the Sword Dragon walking towards the other side.

Now the real thing was starting.

Raelle wouldn’t wait for Lucas anymore.

*

Step. Step.

Raelle walked the quiet night streets.

It had been a while since he had walked alone, so he had a lot of time to think.

“The Sword Dragon should teach Lucas well even in a short period. The Taegeuk Sword or whatever will develop further.”

Raelle liked Lucas.

He was fair and just like a protagonist and basically good.

You can see that just by the way he fought for the Namgung family, who he had no connection with, or risked his life in the orphanage to fulfill Raelle’s request.

Lucas is a good person who doesn’t fit in medieval fantasy.

Therefore, he didn’t want to take away his things if possible.

“But if it doesn’t work out even after doing this much, it can’t be helped. Lucas. I have a lot to protect too.”

Raelle smiled.

He couldn’t have imagined thinking this way just a week ago.

‘Whether they’re heroes or champions… I have to take care of everyone if they can become stronger.’

Raelle knows better than anyone.

He is stronger than Lucas now, but Lucas has a high chance of surpassing him.

Knowing that, Raelle supported Lucas.

However, he couldn’t just wait for Lucas to get stronger.

The world isn’t that easy.

“So I was looking for a way to get stronger soon… You came at the right timing.”

Raelle turned around with a smile on his face.

An old man was standing in the center of the dark alley.

Even with Raelle’s sharp senses, he hadn’t noticed him until he revealed his presence.

“I didn’t expect to see you in a place like this. Teacher.”

Raelle looked at the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord.

And he swallowed hard at his tremendous presence that filled the alley.

When he first met the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord, he couldn’t feel anything from him.

But now he could feel how strong the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord was.

‘The monster isn’t me, it’s this person.’

The Sword Dragon was incredibly strong, but the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord was on a different level.

He was standing at least one level higher than other Sword Masters.

The fact that he could feel that was proof that Raelle had grown.

“It’s been a while, Raelle.”

Step. Step.

The Continent’s Greatest Swordsman, the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord.

His deep eyes stared intently at Raelle.

“You’ve even cut away the last hesitation that remained at the tip of your sword.”

“…Yes. The Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord is right. It ended up like this.”

Raelle smiled.

How does this old man know his heart and come at the right timing?

It was amazing every time he saw him.

“Do you now have the confidence to cut the sky?”

The Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord asked, looking at the swordsman in front of him.

Numerous emotions were erupting from his eyes.

“The sky… No. I want to cut the world.”

Raelle wanted to protect the orphanage.

It was a very small nest that he loved and cherished.

But to spread his wings to protect the nest in this unforgiving world, he needed strong power.

Raelle finally acknowledged that obvious fact.