The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 106

The audience at the Dragon-Phoenix Meet was as silent as a graveyard.

“…”

“…”

It was no wonder, considering the unbelievable scene that had just unfolded before their eyes.

Every noble in the Empire revered the sword and martial prowess.

Even if they didn’t venture onto the battlefield, they all learned and practiced swordsmanship as a basic skill. That’s why they understood the magnitude of what they had just witnessed.

“He killed a high-ranking magical beast with a single strike…?”

In the quiet audience, one of the nobles muttered in disbelief.

Yet, the other nobles remained silent.

The event that had just occurred was beyond their comprehension.

The magical beasts beyond the Geumji Alheim [a dangerous, monster-infested region] were formidable opponents for humans.

These monsters, shrouded in magical energy like the demons, were the natural enemies of the human race, capable of draining their life force upon contact.

This was why the nobles were so enthusiastic about the Dragon-Phoenix Meet events.

These events, where participants engaged in fierce battles against enemy magical beasts and barely emerged victorious, provided the nobles with a thrilling sense of satisfaction.

“Hah, hah… I’m speechless.”

“I didn’t know Lord Rael was that skilled.”

But what Rael had just done was beyond that.

A single strike.

The young knight, only 25 years old, had killed a high-ranking magical beast with one blow.

The Cockatrice, which Velen, the captain of the 1st Division of the Carmen Knights, had struggled against for 10 minutes, was now a lifeless corpse.

This meant that Rael’s skill far surpassed Velen’s.

‘No, it’s not just far surpassing…’

Velen, who had defeated a high-ranking magical beast alone, was a genius on the verge of breaking through to the Sword Master level.

Then, what did it mean that Rael had defeated the same magical beast with a single strike? How strong was he?

“As expected of a disciple of the Great Swordsman of the Continent, the Heavenly Executioner Swordmaster.”

“Yes. It was truly a beautiful sword technique. Absolutely amazing.”

“Ahem. Lady Yuriel has a good eye for recognizing such talent.”

The nobles who witnessed the battle all had the same thought.

A great storm was coming to the Empire.

To ride that wave… they had to start moving now.

“At this point… there’s no need to watch the rest of the tournament.”

“It’s an overwhelming difference. There were rumors that if he wins this tournament, the Order would promote him as a hero… Shouldn’t we summon His Holiness the Pope right now?”

“Lord Rael was also an honorary knight of the Gaia Order, so it suits him well.”

The nobles, awakened from their shock, began to speak one by one.

Some were from the families of the Dragon-Phoenix Meet participants, but most couldn’t even feel jealousy towards Rael’s skill.

The beggar on the street is most jealous of the fellow beggar who receives one more coin than they do, not the wealthy noble.

In other words, jealousy arises when the levels are similar.

Rael had directly proven that he was on a different level from everyone else.

The entire Empire had recognized Rael’s skill.

“…”

Only one person.

Gideon Garcia of the Carmen Knights.

He gnashed his teeth as he looked down at the arena.

‘Heavenly Executioner Swordmaster…’

Gideon glared at the spot where the Heavenly Executioner Swordmaster had been sitting until just now.

He had vanished as soon as Rael had slaughtered the magical beast.

‘Where did he raise such a monster…’

Crack-

The steel railing of the audience seat that Gideon was gripping was crushed like paper.

The Empire was currently in a state of chaos.

Greedy nobles and other countries eyeing the Empire.

And even the demons beyond Alheim, looking for an opportunity.

As the commander of the Carmen Knights, Gideon had to stop those who threatened the Empire.

In such a situation, the emergence of a monster like Rael was unwelcome to Gideon.

‘I can’t let a man without the qualifications take responsibility for the Empire.’

Rael.

His skill as a disciple of the Heavenly Executioner Swordmaster was genuine.

He was much stronger than when he fought Loren.

Whether he had gained enlightenment or not, Rael was already knocking on the door to the Sword Master level.

‘I won’t hesitate to use any means necessary anymore.’

Gideon decided that Rael had to be eliminated.

One knight representing the Empire was enough.

If not him, no one could take responsibility for the great Carmen Empire.

“For the Empire.”

Gideon’s eyes, looking down at the arena, coldly narrowed.

*

Clap, clap, clap…

Rael returned to the Order’s seat, receiving weak applause.

No matter how you looked at it, he was more impressive than Velen, but the applause was so weak, it was clear that it was discrimination from the Carmen Knights cartel.

‘Medieval fantasy is truly a world full of discrimination and hatred. Tsk, tsk.’

He should smash those bastards’ heads in, but he, who had completed higher-level character education, had to endure it.

Rael sighed and moved his feet.

“L, Lord Rael. That was amazing.”

“Thanks. Was your name Salon?”

“Yes! Thank you for remembering! G, Gaia-men!”

Rael smiled as he looked at the priests and paladins who were hesitating as they looked at him.

Even the Gaia Order was no different.

When he showed his strength, their attitude changed completely.

“Rael, brother! What are you doing!”

“Huh?”

Then, a paladin whose attitude hadn’t changed at all approached and frowned.

“There’s such a thing as professional ethics! It’s my turn next, what am I supposed to do if you do that in front of me!”

“…This bastard is acting up again.”

“Agh!”

Rael smacked Carlson on the head and sat down next to him.

“Where’s Lucas?”

“As soon as he saw Rael brother’s sword, he ran out, saying he was going to prepare too.”

“Then isn’t it your turn next? You prepare too, you idiot. Lucas sharpened his sword, do you want to be the weakest of the Empire’s Three Heroes?”

“Ah! Damn it, it’ll be a disgrace if I catch it later than Lucas!”

Carlson jumped up from his seat, grabbed his sword, and ran to the arena.

Rael chuckled as he watched him.

‘Still, I’m glad these guys are here.’

There are some people who won’t change no matter how strong he becomes.

Rael gains strength from thinking about those people.

[I will fight the high-ranking magical beast.]

Before he knew it, Lucas was in the arena, fighting the high-ranking magical beast.

Rael watched the original protagonist sharing his sword with the magical beast with a sense of wonder.

Lucas continued to hunt the magical beast as steadily as Velen.

‘Will Lucas take 10 minutes too? It’s ambiguous. Carlson is a paladin, so he’ll probably be a little faster.’

For a fair fight, Rael also told Lucas and Carlson a few of the magical beast’s weaknesses.

Perhaps Carlson, who was a paladin, would be a little faster, and Lucas would take a similar amount of time as Velen.

‘Lucas needs to become a hero and receive the Holy Sword to catch the demons well. Hmm…’

At this rate, the path for Lucas to become a hero seems distant, but… there’s nothing he can do.

That is also fate.

Rael decided not to go against the flow of this world.

“May the peace of Gaia be with you. That was great swordsmanship, Rael.”

Thud. Thud.

Boom!

At that moment, a huge battle axe fell next to Rael.

A terrifying weapon that smashes the heads of demons whole.

‘Isn’t finding peace while carrying around a battle axe like that sarcastic?’

Rael thought as he looked at the huge battle axe.

He always felt awkward whenever he saw the paladins’ greetings, but Marco’s greeting was more than awkward, it was scary.

“Gaia-men. Thank you, Commander.”

Rael erased his stray thoughts and made the sign of the cross.

Marco sat next to Rael and opened his mouth.

“Congratulations on becoming a hero of the Gaia Order in advance. Thank you for raising the name of the Order, Rael.”

“Don’t say things like that, you still don’t know.”

“The Lord God Gaia told us to treat everyone equally, but even so, there are exceptions.”

Marco shook his head as he looked at the swordsmanship he had just seen.

His sword was already in a position that could not be compared with swordsmen of the same age.

When did he first meet Rael?

Just a few months ago, his skill was not this level.

‘Is this also a blessing from Gaia? It seems like he has several times more time than others.’

The speed at which he was getting stronger was absurdly fast.

He was a strong swordsman compared to his age back then, but now, an aura like that of a master who had wielded a sword for decades was emanating from him.

‘If that sword had been aimed at me just now…’

Marco had wanted to spar with Rael for a long time.

If Rael’s sword had been aimed at him, would he have been able to block it without taking damage?

‘I can’t be sure.’

Squeak-

The fist gripping the battle axe tightened even more.

The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to fight Rael.

Especially now that he was sure about his master, that feeling became even stronger.

“Rael, so you were a disciple of the Heavenly Executioner Swordmaster after all.”

Marco had felt an aura similar to the Heavenly Executioner Swordmaster from the first time he saw Rael.

“…Well, yeah. Did that old man, the Heavenly Executioner Swordmaster, say it himself?”

“Yes. He appeared in the audience and announced it right before your match started.”

“I wondered why. People were staring at me so much.”

Rael recalled the time he met the Heavenly Executioner Swordmaster.

He said he would give him another hint soon, and it seems like that was this.

“Rael. I have a question.”

“Yes. Ask me.”

“What are you planning to do in the future? I think there’s an intention behind revealing this power.”

Marco looked at Rael and asked.

He thought he knew Rael’s personality well.

‘He didn’t show any signs even after killing Batholod.’

Rael thought he was someone who didn’t pursue honor.

But suddenly revealing his power at the Dragon-Phoenix Meet, where everyone was watching.

In Marco’s eyes, Rael’s personality seemed to have changed suddenly.

“I thought that strong power only brings unwanted responsibility. But the opposite was the same. So I did it. I needed power to take responsibility.”

It was starting now.

Rael would not hide his power.

“Is that so.”

Marco smiled as he looked at Rael’s expression.

Until now, Rael had the appearance of a mercenary who had rolled around on the battlefield for decades.

But now his face looked very comfortable.

“If you need my help, I’ll help you with anything. Lord Rael. You are an honorary knight of the Silver Cross Knights.”

“Thank you. Commander Marco.”

It’s quite a strange feeling that someone who should be obsessed with killing demons is saying such things.

This was also a butterfly effect created by Rael.

Rael smiled as he looked at Marco.

*

The Special Guard’s underground prison.

Gent was sitting in the prison to monitor the monster formed from human malice.

Drip- Drip-

The water droplets that formed on the ceiling fell on Gent’s head, awakening his mind.

This place, full of magical energy, required even Gent, a member of a different race, to pay attention.

‘It’s still a boring time.’

Monitoring the Demon King required 8 hours a day.

It was an unavoidable task since it was a dangerous monster that could explode with malice at any time if it didn’t encounter intelligent beings, but it was still boring.

‘It’s strange to even call it monitoring… I’m just sitting still.’

Gent looked at the monster in the prison.

The Demon King was similar to a young human female, except for the horns on her head.

Even to Gent, who didn’t feel sexual desire for humans, she had a pretty cute impression.

“Hmm…”

However, there was something strange.

Recently, the Demon King’s face had started to become clearer and clearer.

At first, he thought it was a mistake, but today, as he looked at the Demon King’s face, he felt it.

– I want to kill. Isn’t it natural for giants to want to kill other races? I have to kill more, more!

The Demon King’s curse, which always filled his head, was also felt to be weakening.

It was also the aftermath of Gent being able to stare at the Demon King.

‘Is it because of Rael after all? I’m worried that there might be a problem if the seal has weakened.’

Tia is directly monitoring the Demon King’s seal, but… she is currently immersed in research.

Perhaps Tia is temporarily missing the seal.

Gent had such worries.

“Rael said he even talked to the Demon King… Maybe that’s the problem.”

Talking to a monster like the Demon King means accepting such a monster into your mind.

Perhaps such an act has loosened the Demon King’s seal.

“Do you know Rael?”

At that moment, the Demon King, who had been hanging her head in the prison, raised her head.

” …..? ”

Gent stared at the Demon King with wide eyes.

The monster, with eyes sparkling like a human female, opened her mouth in a pure voice.

“I want to eat mint chocolate. When is Rael coming?”

”

Gent bit his tongue as he looked at the Demon King, who was staring at him clearly and making strange noises.

At first, he thought it was a hallucination, but it wasn’t a hallucination, it was reality.

Then, has he finally gone crazy from the Demon King’s magical energy?

Thud -. Thud -.

Gent began to hit his head with his hands.