The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 121

The Gaia Order was the state religion of the Empire and was deeply intertwined with its people.

No matter where you went in the Empire, you could find a branch of the Order.

However, that didn’t mean that the Pope, the head of the Gaia Order, was easily accessible to the common people of the Empire.

In fact, even members of the Gaia Order rarely saw the Pope’s face except during important rituals or events.

This was typical in medieval fantasy settings.

“This door is imbued with divine power, so proceed with caution.”

This was the path to the Pope’s audience chamber, located at the highest point of the Gaia Order’s headquarters.

As a space symbolizing the Pope’s authority and dignity, a large door with Gaia’s face engraved on it came into view.

Bernardo carefully opened the door and stepped into the cloister.

“…”

Raiel moved forward, gazing at the magnificent cloister.

Stained glass depicting Gaia’s teachings adorned both sides of the cloister walls, and statues of Gaia were prominently displayed throughout.

“Ah, Gaia’s presence…”

Bernardo trembled as he felt the divine power emanating from the cloister.

Raiel, who did not believe in Gaia, felt no particular emotion as he walked this path, but he did acknowledge that it was quite grand for a religious order.

“His Holiness the Pope is waiting inside, Raiel.”

“Cardinal Bernardo, aren’t you coming along?”

“The Heavenly Demon [a title for the Pope] wishes to speak with you alone, so I must excuse myself. Ahem, I trust you know what to do.”

Bernardo winked at Raiel and turned away.

It was a signal to mention his name.

Of course, Raiel had no intention of following Bernardo’s instructions.

Squeak-

As he opened the door to the audience chamber, a rather large space came into view.

On either side of the main door, there were sculptures of angels flying in the sky, and in one corner, there was a statue of Gaia and numerous prayers engraved on the wall.

Raiel somehow got the impression that this place was similar to the Special Security Forces’ underground prison.

“Newcomers to the audience chamber are often surprised by its overwhelming majesty, but you don’t seem to be.”

Raiel stared at the kindly middle-aged man standing in front of the Gaia statue.

Unlike his graying hair, his body, which radiated divine power, still seemed robust.

A long, wide white robe reached down to his ankles, and the Gaia Order’s emblem was embroidered on the luxurious fabric.

“May Gaia’s blessings be upon you. Welcome, Sir Raiel.”

“Your Holiness, it’s an honor to meet you.”

The Heavenly Demon, the man in the highest position in the Gaia Order, greeted Raiel with a gentle smile.

‘He’s on a different level than Bernardo or Angelo…’

Raiel stood opposite the Pope and made the sign of the cross.

Bernardo’s words were not a lie.

An enormous amount of divine power was emanating from the Pope before him.

‘And that’s not all. He looks experienced in combat.’

The Pope gave off the impression of a clergyman, as Cecilia had said, but Raiel focused on his solid physique visible beneath the white robe.

Of course, not all clergymen only prayed in the Order.

As the Empire was a nation that revered martial arts, there were many clergymen who could fight, even if they weren’t knights.

However, it was still surprising that the Pope’s body was so well-trained.

“I’ve heard many stories about you. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you ever since I heard that Marco liked you.”

“Thank you, Your Holiness.”

“I wanted to have a conversation with you before the Holy Maiden Inauguration Ceremony began. It is Gaia’s blessing that the strongest promising talent in the Empire is affiliated with the Order.”

The Heavenly Demon smiled benevolently and made the sign of the cross.

Then, he slowly amplified his divine power as he looked at Raiel.

“Your Holiness?”

“You are the honorary knight of the Silver Cross Knights who has appeared in decades. I have been preoccupied with prayers and haven’t done much as Pope, so I would like to bestow a light blessing.”

“No, it’s okay…”

Before Raiel could finish speaking, the Pope’s divine power poured down on him.

Raiel’s eyes widened, and he took a step back.

He had a constitution that did not accept blessings, and he thought it would be troublesome if this was discovered.

Whoosh-!

However, the Heavenly Demon’s divine power, which had swelled in an instant, filled the audience chamber.

The Pope’s divine power ignored his constitution, which did not accept blessings, and settled into Raiel’s body.

‘…How?’

At that moment, Raiel bit his lip without realizing it.

A foul sensation churned through Raiel’s body.

A disgusting scent, incompatible with him, emanated from the sacred light.

“…”

“It’s a light blessing to relieve fatigue. Congratulations on winning the Yongbong Competition [a martial arts tournament], though it’s late. Thank you for raising the Order’s name, Sir Raiel.”

“…Thank you.”

Raiel forcibly swallowed the unknown, disgusting energy.

“It’s always a pleasure to talk to young knights. I know it’s not easy for you to talk to the Pope alone, but please understand that it’s something I must do as the highest clergyman of the Order.”

“Not at all. I also consider it an honor to speak with Your Holiness.”

“Haha… I heard that you grew up in an orphanage sponsored by the Order. You must have respected Gaia since you were young.”

“…Gaia’s blessings cannot be denied.”

Raiel smiled and replied.

The Order’s sponsorship hadn’t helped him at all, but he certainly kept Bernardo’s word not to lie.

“Are there any inconveniences in your life? The Order can provide you with anything you need.”

“I am also a knight of the Second Princess, so you don’t have to worry about my livelihood.”

“I heard that it hasn’t been officially announced yet, so that’s how it is. I must be getting old, making a fuss in front of young people. Don’t worry too much about it.”

The Pope stared intently at Raiel’s face.

His eyes, which spoke of self-deprecation as an old man, were still sharply alive.

“…”

Raiel swallowed hard as he met his gaze.

The Pope’s gaze, which had served Gaia for a long time and had become half-detached from humanity, touched Raiel’s senses in a disturbing way.

Each time, the disgusting divine power he had felt earlier came to mind.

“In fact, I wanted to have a conversation with you alone, even if it wasn’t as the Pope.”

“…Alone?”

“Yes. Just like now.”

“In that case, are all those eyes watching the honorary knight who came to the audience chamber without Your Holiness’s permission? If you give the order, I will deal with them immediately as an honorary knight of the Order.”

“…”

The Heavenly Demon looked at Raiel in surprise.

Raiel raised his hand to the scabbard as if he were about to draw his sword.

‘How many are there?’

Raiel swallowed as he felt the gazes on him.

It wasn’t the Silver Cross Knights.

It wasn’t the divine power he had felt when he went to see Carlson or Commander Marco.

‘They’re Inquisitors.’

They were different from the foolish nobles who envied Carlson.

Real Inquisitors, real monsters who hunted the demons beyond the forbidden Alheim [a mythical realm], were watching him.

“Heo…”

The Heavenly Demon exclaimed and raised one hand.

At the same time, the gazes that had been watching Raiel disappeared.

“Sir Raiel, you are a very likable knight. I had no intention of threatening you, so please don’t misunderstand. They are always by my side, even if it’s not specifically for you.”

“For what it’s worth, you were trying hard to deceive my senses, matching your wavelengths to the divine power in the audience chamber.”

“…”

The Heavenly Demon could not hide his surprise at Raiel’s words.

The Inquisitors who guarded the Pope.

Each of them was an invisible sword of the Order, having reached the highest level of Graduate.

They were not a force that could be detected by a knight in his twenties.

‘To think he could figure this out in such a short time.’

The Heavenly Demon raised Raiel’s evaluation by several levels.

“Of course, Your Holiness wouldn’t have had any strange thoughts. You wouldn’t have been trying to threaten my life. I’m just a commoner, so I have a lot of unnecessary worries. I apologize if I have offended you.”

“Sir Raiel, do you believe in Gaia?”

The Heavenly Demon smiled benevolently.

The young knight’s spirit could be answered with Gaia’s teachings.

“…Yes. I believe.”

Raiel believed in the ‘existence’ of the god Gaia.

The power of divine power, which only existed in this world, was proof of that.

However, he did not think that Gaia was justice.

“Then the Gaia Order will not harm you. You have nothing to worry about.”

The Heavenly Demon nodded.

It was too regrettable that such an amazing knight was not loyal to the Gaia Order.

“I wish I could forcibly make you belong to the Order. That’s how brilliant your talent is.”

“Your Holiness, I believe in Gaia.”

“Haha… Sir Raiel, isn’t youth wonderful? I am very happy when I talk to children who are full of spirit and confidence.”

The Heavenly Demon smiled generously.

Gaia had said not to punish until after three times of patience, so this mistake could be overlooked.

“Sir Raiel, didn’t you listen to Bernardo’s advice?”

“…”

Raiel stopped talking.

The old monster in front of him was not fooled by Raiel’s tricks.

“Don’t make that face. I am satisfied that you are not a heretic. Gaia’s teachings will eventually be understood by you as well. It is not something you can refuse just because you want to.”

The Pope’s eyes shone brightly, as if there was not a trace of doubt.

The obsession and madness that one person had cultivated throughout their life was so full of divinity that it was disgusting.

“I apologize for testing you. As the Pope and the leader of the Gaia Order, I simply wanted to see the power of the young knight who is considered the future of the Order.”

“…Your Holiness, then I would like to ask you one thing.”

Raiel examined the Pope’s expression.

He felt that he was not hostile to him.

Therefore, he thought he could ask this question.

“Ask me anything.”

“The Holy Maiden… Did she pass Your Holiness’s test?”

“Ah, the Holy Maiden.”

The Pope thought of the Holy Maiden.

She was a clergyman who followed Gaia’s teachings well.

However, she did not fully understand Gaia’s teachings.

In order to spread Gaia’s teachings, one must have overwhelming divine power.

Sometimes, the sacrifice of the few must be accepted for the sake of the many.

She was too good to accept Gaia’s teachings.

But there was no problem.

Because she had been ‘completely’ corrected.

“The Holy Maiden’s faith is so strong and shines so brilliantly. However, bugs tend to gather around flowers. If a bug appears that touches her faith, the Gaia Order will never forgive it.”

“…”

“Sir Raiel, as an honorary knight of the Silver Cross Knights, can you protect the Holy Maiden?”

Raiel looked at the Heavenly Demon and nodded.

He glanced at him and saw him staring at Raiel with a chilling glint in his eyes.

“Yes. No matter what happens, I will protect the Holy Maiden.”

“Thank you, Sir Raiel.”

Raiel looked at the Heavenly Demon’s face once more.

His face now wore a benevolent smile.

After Raiel, the honorary knight of the Silver Cross Knights, left the audience chamber.

The Heavenly Demon, the Pope, knelt in front of the Gaia statue.

“Lord God Gaia, please give me light.”

The Heavenly Demon looked at the sword hanging on the Gaia statue’s waist.

The Holy Sword of the Lord God, for the hero.

The Holy Sword, pulsating as if it were alive, emitted divine power as if searching for the knight who had been here until just now.

He had watched the Holy Sword for a long time, but this had never happened before.

Along with the Holy Maiden, a hero had even been born in the Empire.

“Does the hero of the era really exist…”

The Holy Maiden had appeared, and the Holy Sword was emitting light for the hero’s appointment.

Not much time was left before the continent was engulfed in war.

Until then, he had to make the followers perfectly understand Gaia’s teachings.

“If the hero of the era does not understand Gaia’s teachings… we must make them understand by any means necessary.”

The hero and the Holy Maiden were the faces of the Order and the objects of worship for the people.

If they did not properly understand Gaia’s teachings, it would be the same as his own fault, representing the Gaia Order.

“May Gaia’s teachings reach the hero of the era. Gaia-men.”

The Heavenly Demon, who had spread out the Gaia Sutras [religious texts] in front of the Gaia statue, continued to ponder endlessly in the quiet audience chamber.

He did not doubt his beliefs in the slightest.

*

The Holy Maiden Inauguration Ceremony is one of the most important and sacred rituals in the Order.

Much preparation was needed to appoint a woman with special qualities and grace, who was particularly close to the Lord God Gaia, as the Holy Maiden.

Before the ritual began, the Holy Maiden candidate underwent a purification process of fasting and prayer.

Only when her body was filled with a sincere heart for the Lord God Gaia was the Holy Maiden Inauguration Ceremony held.

Whoosh-

A tremendous waterfall of divine power filled the cathedral.

This ritual, in which all the clergymen of the Order were mobilized, was the process of officially declaring Cecilia as the Holy Maiden of the Gaia Order.

“Wow, that’s amazing. But isn’t it a waste of all that divine power?”

“Human doctrines have strange aspects. Gaia’s teachings say that moderation is fundamental, but even if we ignore the divine power, these many foods do not align with the Order’s doctrines.”

“The Holy Maiden Inauguration Ceremony is that grand of a ritual. The Holy Maiden, who hasn’t appeared in the last few hundred years, has finally appeared, so the Order has increased the scale.”

Yuri, who was sitting in the imperial family’s private seat in the cathedral, raised her hand.

Divine power settled on her hand, and a pleasant sensation enveloped her body.

This Holy Maiden Inauguration Ceremony was a ritual conducted by the Gaia Order, the state religion of the Empire, so she, as a member of the imperial family, had to participate.

“Still, I don’t understand. Elves don’t use the power of nature so carelessly for such events, Raiel. Isn’t that right?”

“Isn’t that because elves don’t have the power to waste?”

“Raiel, apologize for that. I’m going to get angry.”

Reina narrowed her eyes as she looked at Raiel.

She could tolerate everything else, but she couldn’t tolerate insults to the elves.

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding.”

Raiel answered Reina’s words casually and looked at the center of the cathedral.

Cecilia, who was emitting tremendous divine power, was standing in front of the altar and praying.

“Raiel, you must respect the elves. Without the elves, there would be no forests in the Empire, and you wouldn’t have the delicious food you eat…”

“Mr. Raiel, is there something bothering you?”

At that moment, Yuri looked at Raiel with worried eyes.

Throughout the Holy Maiden Inauguration Ceremony, Raiel seemed to be pondering something.

“No, there’s nothing in particular.”

Raiel said expressionlessly.

In fact, he had many troublesome thoughts about the Order.

The Holy Maiden and Commander Marco being brainwashed, and the Pope and Cardinal Angelo being suspicious.

These were things that Raiel couldn’t understand.

‘But what can I do if I tell Ms. Yuri?’

The Gaia Order had power similar to that of the Empire’s imperial family, and the Pope was in a position similar to the Emperor.

Unless Yuri was the Emperor, she was only the Second Princess.

He couldn’t touch the Pope, the highest leader of the Order.

‘Besides… I don’t think I should touch the Pope right now.’

Raiel felt the white divine power that Cecilia was emitting in front of the altar with his whole body.

[I pledge allegiance to the Lord God Gaia and dedicate my life to the Gaia Order.]

Cecilia’s voice echoed throughout the great hall, carried by the divine power.

It was definitely the same divine power, but her divine power felt different from the Pope’s, pure and holy.

‘Am I the only one who doubts the Pope’s divine power?’

That was also one of the reasons why Raiel couldn’t ask anyone else for help.

He shouldn’t act rashly because he didn’t know what the Pope would do.

If Raiel was given time, he was confident that he could break the Holy Maiden’s brainwashing at any time.

To do so, he had to create an opportunity to be alone with her.

Until then, he didn’t plan to do anything noticeable.

“Raiel, I heard you caused trouble in the Order, so you couldn’t participate in the Holy Maiden Inauguration Ceremony and are here. If you have any concerns, tell me now.”

“Shut up. Ghent, I almost got screwed because I listened to you.”

“I was only making a suggestion. You made the choice, Raiel.”

“You crazy giant. Wait for me after this is over. I’ll tell you all about the giants’ disgusting sexual preferences.”

Raiel made up his mind to tell Ghent about the descendants of the giants of the Vanessa Kingdom and looked ahead.

The Pope, who had officially declared the birth of the Holy Maiden, was smiling brightly and was enveloped in divine power.

He was conveying teachings to the clergymen.

“The Gaia Order is always before you. The heretical religions that are currently causing chaos on the continent will also kneel before the name of justice.”

The Pope’s words echoed through the streets through divine power.

“By heretical religions, do you mean the Demonic Cult?”

“That’s right. I heard it’s been spreading across the continent, mainly in the Vanessa Kingdom… It seems it’s even entered the Empire.”

“It’s the end of the world. For those who are not part of the Gaia Order to set foot on the Empire’s land…”

Raiel nodded as he heard the murmuring around him.

The Demonic Cult spreading from the Vanessa Kingdom.

Perhaps the Pope was talking about that.

“Hey, Ghent, do you know anything about the Demonic Cult?”

Raiel looked at the giant next to him.

He was unnecessarily knowledgeable about human affairs, so he seemed to know something.

“…”

However, Ghent only shook his head silently.

“What? If you don’t know, just say you don’t know.”

“Raiel, I told you to apologize. A joke is not an apology.”

“Okay, geez. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Is that enough?”

Raiel apologized to Reina, who was rushing at him, and pushed her away.

Before he knew it, Ghent had gotten up from his seat.

“What? Where did that bastard go?”

Raiel briefly looked around to find the missing Ghent, but the giant was nowhere to be seen in the great hall.