The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 115

Ra-El felt a crushing pressure, a murderous aura bearing down on him, and his gaze locked straight ahead.

Every time Bestia’s vertically slit pupils scanned him, he felt chills crawl across his skin.

‘Is this the infamous murderous aura of the Beastmen?’

The murderous aura of the Beastmen, beings so intrinsically tied to their bestial nature, was sharper, more primal than ordinary murderous intent.

It felt like being a defenseless herbivore caught in the gaze of a predator.

“Before we begin training, I must apologize. This training is so dangerous that even among the Beastmen, there are casualties every year. So, please be careful.”

Bestia bowed immediately after her warning.

Then, using her left foot as a pivot, she launched her right foot towards Ra-El’s head in a swift kick.

“Oh?”

The next moment, Bestia let out a sound of genuine admiration.

Ra-El had reacted instantly, tilting his head back just enough to grab her approaching foot.

“The more intelligent you are, the harder it is to overcome the Beastmen’s murderous aura, yet you’re already resisting it? You’re truly remarkable, Ra-El.”

“…Is this truly the Beastmen’s training method? Isn’t it a little… barbaric?”

Ra-El’s senses were hyper-focused on Bestia’s movements the moment the murderous aura had erupted.

Clutching her furry foot, he felt a strange, almost ticklish sensation from the soft fur in his hand.

“I understand you might enjoy holding my foot, but perhaps you could release it now?”

“Haa….”

Ra-El, not wanting to be misunderstood, immediately let go of her foot.

“I’m serious about you being amazing. It’s incredibly difficult to move at all after being subjected to my murderous aura.”

Bestia wagged her tail, her eyes fixed on Ra-El with a mixture of surprise and respect.

The murderous aura of the Beastmen, fueled by their inherent wildness, possessed a potent power that directly stimulated the very soul of a living being.

Ra-El’s ability to move so quickly indicated a strength far beyond the norm.

“…Bestia, didn’t you say you would teach me how to control power? Why are you attacking me without warning?”

“I told you, I’m going to teach you the instincts of a predator. It’s my first time teaching a human, but I believe I can apply the same methods I use with the Beastmen.”

“And what method is that?”

“Repeatedly pushing you to the brink of death. By stimulating your survival instincts, you’ll learn to unlock your power and senses.”

“…”

A barbaric method indeed, perfectly befitting a medieval fantasy world.

However, Ra-El was not a man of the Middle Ages.

A product of higher education, he couldn’t quite embrace such a crude training regimen.

“Instead of such… visceral training, perhaps you could provide a detailed explanation of the senses of a predator? I assure you, I’ll grasp it much faster. I am, after all, one of the most intelligent individuals in the Empire.”

“Doesn’t look like it?”

“…”

Ra-El stared intently at Bestia, his expression unreadable.

And he seriously considered, ‘Would I actually lose if I fought her seriously?’

“Well, fine. I must do my best to fulfill Tia’s request. Since it’s my first time teaching a human, I’ll try it your way. But be warned, it’s difficult to articulate. The senses of a predator are, quite literally, something you feel with your senses.”

Bestia nodded, a thoughtful expression on her face.

After a moment of muttering and pondering, she continued.

“You must have heard of it. Living beings can sometimes tap into greater power when pushed to their absolute limits.”

He had indeed heard of it.

The surge of strength that comes from exceeding one’s normal boundaries in extreme situations.

Like a father lifting a car to save his trapped daughter.

“It’s similar to that feeling. It’s about drawing out the power deep within your body and soul, but it’s subtly different from simply generating magic power. It’s more like… ‘I am now going to hunt you!’ I suppose. It’s difficult to put into words.”

“….. What in the world are you talking about?”

“I’m not particularly skilled at explaining things. I’d much rather demonstrate directly.”

Hwaaa-.

As Bestia slightly lowered her head, an even more intense murderous aura than before slammed into Ra-El’s body, threatening to overwhelm him.

At the same time, Bestia’s figure vanished from his sight.

“…!”

Ra-El, sensing an immediate and intense murderous aura behind him, instinctively drew his sword and whirled around.

But Bestia’s arm was already upon him, bending like a whip and aimed directly at his face.

‘Fast!’

It was completely different from the movements she had displayed earlier.

It was so fast that it was difficult to even react, and it targeted his nape with lethal precision, as if intending to end his life in a single strike.

Bang-!

The moment Ra-El raised his sword to block her arm.

He felt a tremendous impact on his left side, and Ra-El’s body was launched into the air, flying backward.

“Keuh….”

Ra-El, staggering to his feet, bit his lip while clutching his sword.

The arm strike had been a feint, a distraction.

It was designed to force him to raise his sword, leaving his lower body vulnerable.

Ra-El, enduring the throbbing pain in his lower abdomen, spoke through gritted teeth.

“What the hell… how can a fist and a foot attack simultaneously?”

“The Beastmen’s bodies possess incredible flexibility. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to replicate with a human body, so don’t even consider imitating it. Now, prepare yourself again.”

“No, wait just a minute…!”

In the blink of an eye, Bestia was upon Ra-El once more.

Taack-!

As Bestia stepped on the ground, dirt erupted like a miniature volcano.

Simultaneously, her arm lashed out again, aiming for Ra-El’s exposed flank.

‘It’s fast, but… I saw it this time.’

Ra-El took a step back with his right foot and swung his sword upwards from below.

This time, the fist was the real threat.

Kwaang-!

A deafening roar echoed from the point where the sword collided with the fist.

Ra-El, his shoulders trembling from the force of the impact, glared at Bestia.

She wagged her tail, a look of satisfaction on her face as she assessed Ra-El.

“Now I understand why Tia praised you so highly. You possess a remarkable talent. No, it’s more than that. To adapt to my movements in just two attempts… you’re truly amazing.”

Beastmen possessed the intelligence of humans combined with the raw instinct of wild beasts.

To survive in the wilderness, they had to instinctively assess the strength of any opponent they faced.

Bestia had quickly grasped the extent of Ra-El’s strength and potential.

‘His ability to manipulate magic power is more natural than an Elf’s… his strength and senses surpass even those of a seasoned Beastman. What kind of monster is he?’

Ra-El possessed a talent that would astound even a dragon who had lived for thousands of years.

Bestia nodded, acknowledging his exceptional abilities.

“A hero of the era… yes, you have every right to be proud. You’re also quite handsome, though I suppose the only downside is that you’re slightly lacking compared to me?”

“…”

Ra-El couldn’t help but think that the beauty standards of some races were incredibly skewed.

Did they have any idea how many times Ms. Sarah and Sister Reizel at the orphanage had called him handsome?

‘These crazy races.’

At first, he had assumed that only the giants had strange tastes, but seeing Ehrenorg’s enthusiastic reaction, it seemed that her face appealed to other races as well.

“How are the senses of a predator coming along? Do you think you’re starting to grasp it? I’ve demonstrated it twice now.”

“…Just a moment.”

Ra-El mentally replayed the movements Bestia had shown him.

‘I need to recall the flow of magic power.’

Bestia had generated explosive speed and power in an instant, moving far faster than Ra-El could normally track.

Could he draw such power from his own body?

“First, you need to understand the power contained within your body. Every single muscle, even the depths of your soul, and then… feel the magic power.”

“Magic power?”

“I’m not familiar with the human race’s terminology, but the Beastmen refer to the way they sense magic power as the sixth sense. It’s the feeling of manipulating a non-existent limb.”

“…”

Ra-El closed his eyes, focusing his mind.

Bestia’s words provided a crucial clue.

Tia had once said something similar to him.

[Your magic power is not engraved in your soul, but in your muscles and blood vessels. This is the Dragon’s way.]

Human magic power resided within the soul.

The soul that every living being in this world possessed.

But Ra-El didn’t have a soul.

Therefore, he accumulated magic power in a way that differed drastically from the people of this world.

Magic power permeated his muscles and blood instead of his soul, and at some point, the very nature of his body had been transformed.

‘The magic power residing in my body… have I ever truly utilized it properly?’

Of course, he had injected magic power into his arms and legs countless times.

However, he had rarely, if ever, consciously recognized the magic power engraved in his muscles and blood vessels, as Tia had described it.

No, not even once.

‘She said it’s like a sixth sense. No. My magic power is… different.’

Bestia called the ability to sense mana the sixth sense.

It was distinct from the ordinary five senses, a feeling of manipulating a part of the body that shouldn’t exist.

But Ra-El was different.

Magic power resided within his body.

Because it had been there for so long, because he had lived with it for so long, he had become blind to its presence.

“…Good? Ra-El. Don’t stop breathing in that state.”

Bestia watched Ra-El with a look of wonder.

He seemed to have already grasped a fundamental understanding of the senses of a predator.

“Maintain your composure from beginning to end. That way, you can unleash the senses of a predator whenever you desire.”

Thump-. Thump-.

Ra-El’s heart began to beat rapidly, his pulse quickening.

He focused his concentration, feeling the flow of magic power within him.

The magic power residing in his body, which he had been so accustomed to that he hadn’t even noticed it, was now awakening.

‘Did I truly possess this much magic power within me?’

Ra-El blinked, astonished by the sheer volume of magic power coursing through his body.

It wasn’t that he had never used the magic power residing within him.

Ra-El instinctively tapped into the magic power of his body when wielding the Heavenly Slaughter Sword.

However, knowing something and truly understanding its limits were two entirely different things.

“This is truly amazing…? Ra-El. You’re a genuinely frightening human.”

Bestia’s pupils widened once more, reflecting her astonishment.

Those geniuses born with exceptional mana sensitivity instinctively accumulated magic power within their bodies.

Bestia was witnessing that monstrous phenomenon right before her eyes.

Moreover, he had grasped the essence of the senses of a predator in just a single day.

Ra-El possessed an extraordinary talent for perfectly controlling the power and magic power dormant within his body.

Bestia, watching Ra-El manage his magic power, continued.

“Have you ever learned the senses of a predator from another Beastman besides me?”

“There’s no way.”

“Oh? That’s strange. It’s not something you can simply learn on a whim. I barely managed to grasp it after nearly dying several times under the tutelage of my senior….”

Bestia’s eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of suspicion in her gaze.

“Then perhaps… are your parents Beastmen-?”

“Are you crazy?”

“I suppose not, since you don’t have fur….”

Bestia tilted her head, folding her ears in a gesture of confusion.

Most Beastmen didn’t even fully comprehend their own bodies.

But for a human who wasn’t born with the instincts of a beast to reach this level…

It completely defied her common sense.

“Well, that’s alright.”

Sreung-

Ra-El drew his sword, the steel gleaming in the light.

The senses of a predator.

He had only taken the first step, and there were still countless aspects to master.

“Come on. We need to finish what we started.”

“Heuh, are you sure you’re alright? I won’t hold back this time.”

At first, it had been solely to fulfill Tia’s request, but now she was genuinely curious about the human before her.

Bestia’s tail wagged back and forth, betraying her excitement.

*

“Tsk… she even used her fingernails. Crazy woman. No, crazy tiger.”

Ra-El walked down the street, gingerly stroking his arm.

The arm that Bestia had scratched still stung.

To be able to wound a body that was strong enough to withstand even sword energy for a time, it was clear that she hadn’t won the position of leader of the Beastmen based solely on her looks.

‘The senses of a predator… if I had to compare it, it feels somewhat similar to a domain.’

The domain that could be manifested upon reaching the realm of Sword Master.

The Beastmen’s secret technique, the senses of a predator, shared a commonality with the domain in that it allowed for perfect control over one’s power.

‘If I practice a little more, I might be able to grasp something more profound.’

In truth, Ra-El still didn’t fully understand the path from Graduate to Sword Master.

Could it be because he had never received formal sword training?

He could feel himself growing stronger, but the title of Sword Master somehow carried a significant weight.

Ra-El returned to the Special Guard, lost in thought.

‘Hmm? Is this what the Special Guard always feels like?’

And, he shuddered at the ominous energy permeating the base.

Ra-El was currently actively utilizing the senses of a predator that he had learned from Bestia.

Arriving at the Special Guard in that state, he felt like he finally understood why Bestia disliked this place so much.

Just standing still made him feel like some kind of malevolent energy was clinging to his body.

Sreung-

Regardless, Ra-El drew his sword, the sound echoing in the stillness.

He intended to practice his swordsmanship here for a while longer.

He felt bad about causing further disturbances in the Elven forest, and he needed a quiet place to contemplate his power and magic power.

There were few places in the Empire as quiet as the Special Guard.

Hoo-uk-

Ra-El slowly swung his sword, carefully examining his body.

The senses of a predator were both simple and incredibly complex.

Controlling all the power that the body possessed was far more challenging than he had initially anticipated.

“Ra-El. What kind of training is that?”

As Ra-El was absorbed in his training, a familiar voice broke the silence.

A giant approached from the shadows.

“It’s the senses of a predator training. Are you familiar with it?”

“The senses of a predator? Isn’t that the Beastmen’s secret technique? The beauty that Tia brought taught you that? You’re a lucky man.”

“That beauty… say it one more time in front of me, Ghent.”

Ra-El threatened Ghent with his sword, a playful glint in his eyes, while simultaneously focusing on controlling his magic power.

To be honest, it was difficult to fully articulate, but he could definitely feel his magic power more clearly.

‘This… it’s flowing into my body? …Why?’

And, he could faintly sense the magical energy in the air being drawn into his body.

The power that entered his body vanished from Ra-El’s awareness at some point, leaving him puzzled.

What was the underlying principle? And where could he utilize this phenomenon?

Ra-El seriously pondered the mysteries of his own body.

“Ghent. What is Ra-El doing?”

“Ra-El is said to be learning the Beastmen’s secret technique.”

“Ah, that’s amazing. As expected, Ra-El always does strange things for a human. If you learn the Beastmen’s secret technique, can you also talk to animals?”

“…There’s no way.”

Ra-El looked at Reina, who had belatedly arrived and was spouting nonsense with her usual enthusiasm.

Vermeil III was nestled comfortably in her arms.

“Hey. You need to compare the long and the short. Now, Vermeil III. Tell Ra-El all about my outstanding qualities!”

“…”

Ra-El shook his head, a sigh escaping his lips as he looked at Reina.

How had that intelligent elf become so… eccentric?

“Ra-El, have a cup of tea while you’re at it.”

Ghent, also choosing to ignore Reina’s antics, offered Ra-El a cup of tea.

“Ah, thank you.”

Ra-El, accepting the tea from Ghent, glanced at Vermeil III without much thought.

The fox was looking up at Reina with the same innocent expression it always wore.

[This stupid elf is completely undervaluing her appearance! If it were me, I would seduce him with my body first-!]

And, suddenly, Vermeil III’s voice echoed clearly in Ra-El’s mind.

“Phew!”

The tea that Ra-El had just taken a sip of spewed out in a messy spray.