The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 124

Rael visited the training grounds of the Rein Knights for several days.

He ate all three meals with the Rein Knights, and if there wasn’t time to sleep, he borrowed a room in the lodgings.

“Rael, have you finally joined the Rein Knights?”

“No, sir. I’m just using the training grounds.”

“…I see. Make yourself comfortable.”

Eric, the leader of the Rein Knights, looked at Rael with a somewhat displeased expression, but Rael didn’t pay attention to such gazes.

“Are you making any progress with your Domain?”

Recently, Rein had been spending more time with Rael than with the Rein Knights.

Since the Knights ran well enough on their own anyway, he had even passed off the administrative work to his adjutant, Kirie.

“Honestly, I have nothing. I don’t even know where to start in the first place.”

“I understand. It’s probably even harder for talented guys like you.”

“Is that so?”

“It’s easier for guys who excel in only one thing. For example, a guy who’s great with a strong sword only needs to increase his strength or compensate for the weaknesses of his strong sword, but guys like you who are good at everything have a hard time finding their way. For reference, it took me over a year just to conceive my Domain.”

“If it took the Captain over a year, does that mean it’ll take me over ten years?”

“…Rael, what does that mean?”

“I’m just kidding.”

Rael looked at Rein’s Illusion Sword Dance with a hint of regret.

Captain Rein was an elite knight who had dedicated decades to chivalry, despite how he looked.

If it took such a person a year to create his Domain, how long would it take Rael?

“Trying to conceive a Domain at the age of 25 is strange in the first place. My dream at that age was to manifest Sword Qi [a type of energy that enhances a swordsman’s abilities]. You’re too fast, way too fast.”

“But I can’t give up. I need to become stronger.”

“It’s because of that attitude that I’m helping you. Well, what I said is just common sense. Trying to become a Sword Master at 25 is already against common sense… Who knows? Maybe you’ll break common sense again and create a Domain.”

Rein was secretly hoping that such a thing would happen.

Because then he would become the teacher of the youngest Sword Master.

‘Although Heavenly Demon Sword Lord is already there, he doesn’t show his face often…’

He would be more popular in the Empire’s social circles.

Rein smiled contentedly as he thought about the future.

“Captain, I’ll go again.”

“…Take a break first, Rael. I can’t maintain the Illusion Sword Dance for hours either.”

Rein shook his head at Rael’s stamina.

Why was this monster so strong even without regular training?

He couldn’t figure it out.

“Ahahaha! Rael! Long time no see!”

Fortunately, Rein’s reinforcements arrived quickly.

The damned Sword Master Association had come to find Rael.

The first to arrive was Sword Dragon.

The best swordsman of the Vanessa Kingdom and a Sword Master with overwhelming strength that could hold its own even in the Empire.

He had a liking for Rael, so he readily rushed to the Empire at Rein’s request.

“Greetings, Sword Dragon. It seems like you haven’t been back in the Vanessa Kingdom for long, but I’m seeing you sooner than I thought.”

“Today, I’m not here as the best swordsman of the Vanessa Kingdom. I’m here as an executive of the Sword Master Association.”

“…You didn’t have to come.”

“What did you say?”

“I said, thank you for coming. Didn’t that guy Kyle come?”

“Haha! My grandson went into secluded training as soon as he heard you were challenging the Domain. He said he wouldn’t come out until his Virgin Boy Art reaches its peak!”

“Ah, yes. I understand. But Sword Dragon, aren’t you an executive even with your strength?”

Sword Master Association.

Perhaps it was much more impressive than Rael had imagined.

“The position of Chairman? That’s not a place you can get just because you want to. In professional terms, knowing too much can hurt you!”

“…Then, let’s train.”

Rael sighed and picked up his sword.

No matter how he looked at it, the Sword Masters weren’t normal.

“You’re an excellent swordsman, but not a complete one. You didn’t raise your level step by step, but started from a different point due to your innate talent. Since you easily overcame creating Sword Qi and Sword Intent, it will be more difficult for you in the Domain.”

Sword Dragon also generously shared his enlightenment for Rael’s sake.

“I heard similar words from Captain Rein.”

“That guy is more of a hard worker than he looks. In particular, Rein’s Domain shows the essence of the sword that he has built up. Now, I’ll show you my Vitality Palace again, so try to gain some enlightenment from within!”

“…”

Why is the essence of the sword you’ve built up like that?

Rael entered Sword Dragon’s Vitality Palace with dead eyes.

*

After the training, Rael straightened his clothes and spoke to Sword Dragon.

“Come to think of it, where is the Righteous Sky Alliance Lord? I heard he was coming with you.”

“Ah… that person is busy. You probably won’t see him for at least a week.”

“Does he have other schedules?”

“Well, yes. That’s right. As the Righteous Sky Alliance Lord, he’s searching for traces of the Demonic Cult… It’s nothing you need to worry about.”

“…?”

Rael nodded without much thought.

Since he didn’t even know the person’s face, he couldn’t complain about not receiving help.

There were many others who wanted to help Rael.

“Rael. This is a textbook passed down in the Silver Cross Knights. Use it for reference.”

“…Thank you, Captain Marco.”

Marco, the captain of the Silver Cross Knights, also came to see Rael.

The strange energy he felt from him was still there, but Marco himself hadn’t changed.

He brought several manuals that the Silver Cross Knights practiced.

“Sir Rael. This is a secret magic book from the Blue Magic Tower.”

“I don’t need magic books. And don’t use honorifics with me.”

Ferma, the Blue Magic Tower Lord, also came to visit.

When Rael refused the magic book, he apologized repeatedly, saying that he wasn’t well-versed in swordsmanship, and then left.

He didn’t know why he came in the first place.

In addition, Uncle Eric visited several times, and he also had conversations with the War God Clara and Eren Gore, the leader of the Elves.

The dragon Tiana and the beastkin Bestia also offered their advice.

Rael thought about their words and conceived his Domain.

“Now, listen. Gather all the power you’ve absorbed at once and shoot it like an energy wave. Kwwaaaaaang. How about that?”

Reina lay in a hammock and punched the sky.

It was the result of her staying up all night thinking for Rael.

“Reina, if it were that easy, I would have done it.”

“It definitely seemed possible when I was talking to Reine… I guess it’s hard for humans, not elves.”

“Elves can’t do that either, can they? More importantly, where did Ghent go? I had something to ask him.”

“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him in the garden for days.”

“…Was he kidnapped or something?”

Ghent had never missed a day of gardening while working as a special guard.

He was worried that something might have happened since he was suddenly doing something he didn’t usually do.

“Leave him alone. Giants are usually like that. He’s just regaining his instincts.”

Reina was secretly wary of Ghent, who liked nature more than she did.

“Tsk. I was going to spar with Ghent, but Reina, do you want to fight?”

“I don’t want to. Fight Vermeil III.”

Reina threw Vermeil III, who was on her stomach, at Rael.

[I don’t want to! Let me go right now! Kyaaak!]

Vermeil III trembled in Rael’s arms.

Seeing that, he lost all his energy and didn’t even want to fight.

“I’m not going to fight, so be quiet.”

[Thank you.]

Rael watched Vermeil III climb back onto Reina’s body and picked a tomato from the garden and put it in his mouth.

It felt quite good to have the sweet tomato juice burst in his mouth.

The concern about the Domain was actually obvious.

This unidentified ability to absorb the power around his body.

He had to figure out how to use it.

“As expected, my eyes for seeing swordsmen are never wrong. Rael. You’ve stepped into the Domain of a Sword Master.”

The next day.

Rael blinked as he looked at the Heavenly Demon Sword Lord who had appeared in the Special Guard.

“What? I thought it would take you a month to come next time, but you’re already here?”

The Heavenly Demon Sword Lord was a very elusive person, and as a teacher, he would disappear for months after visiting once.

He hadn’t shown his face since the Dragon Phoenix Grand Meet, so he thought he would have to wait at least another month, but he appeared sooner than expected.

“The movements of the executives were unusual, so I came to find out. It was you, Rael.”

“Executives?”

“I am the Chairman.”

“Yes?”

“I’m saying I’m the Chairman of the Sword Master Association.”

“Ha… Shit.”

Rael cursed without realizing it.

Why was such a person called the best swordsman on the continent?

He couldn’t understand it.

“No, are you ignoring your beloved disciple and contacting the Sword Master Association? Teacher. You shouldn’t do that.”

“I only occupy the position of Chairman, and I don’t communicate with them. I stopped by the Empire while hunting demons, and I heard rumors that you were challenging the Domain. It’s been a while since I taught Dapcheon, so I came to see my disciple’s condition.”

“Oh, is Heavenly Demon Sword Form 4 a sword technique related to the Domain?”

Rael asked with some anticipation.

He was feeling a wall for the first time.

“Heavenly Demon Sword Form 4, Shattering the Sky. It is a sword that breaks the sky. It is not a Domain.”

“Then, is the Heavenly Demon Sword Lord’s Domain not related to the Heavenly Demon Sword?”

“The Heavenly Demon Sword is a sword containing the enlightenment of my life. There is also a Domain that originates from the Heavenly Demon Sword, but it is closer to mine than yours. If there is a path you want to take, it would be better to choose that path.”

“Then, can you show me the Heavenly Demon Sword Lord’s Domain even once?”

Rein’s Illusion Sword Dance and Sword Dragon’s Vitality Palace were definitely great Domains, but he wanted to see other people’s Domains as well.

In particular, the Domain of the best swordsman on the continent would surely give him some inspiration.

“No one who has seen my Domain has survived. There are no exceptions.”

“…Yes, yes. Then, please give me some teachings.”

Rael nodded appropriately.

He was the Chairman of the Sword Master Association, but he had a lot of useless things.

“First, think of something you can’t do no matter what you do. After that…”

Still, the Heavenly Demon Sword Lord’s explanation was quite helpful to Rael.

Rael exchanged swords with him and received teachings on a higher level of swordsmanship.

After a week, Rael found a possibility for the Domain.

*

Now that the Hero Appointment Ceremony was just around the corner.

Rael had finished conceiving his Domain.

Surprisingly, Reina was the most helpful.

The words that Reina, who was lying in a hammock, said became a hint when conceiving the Domain.

“Rael, is it true that you’re challenging the Domain?”

“Carlson. It’s true, but how did you know? Did Captain Marco tell you?”

Rael asked, looking at Carlson.

He had never received help from this guy, so how did he know?

“No. The rumors are very widespread these days. The winner of the Dragon Phoenix Grand Meet, the Empire’s Three Heroes, Rael, is challenging the realm of Sword Master.”

“Rumors are disgustingly fast.”

How could rumors be so fast in a world without smartphones?

It was a world where it was natural to immediately tell people around you when something interesting happened.

“Extra! Extra! There is a knight in the Empire challenging to become a new Sword Master!”

“What is that…”

Rael chuckled as he watched the boy handing out newspapers next to him.

Did these guys not have the concept of privacy?

No, there was no way they would have such a concept.

He was just curious how they found out.

Statistically, there was a high possibility that Rein had been bragging about it.

“Ah, Rael! There! Lucas is coming!”

“Where?”

Rael turned his head at Carlson’s words.

They were there to welcome Lucas back.

“…Rael. Who are those women next to him?”

“What else could they be? Girlfriends.”

Lucas, who had returned much later than scheduled due to an accident on the uninhabited island where the graduation exam was held, had four women on either side of him.

He had even more women than before, so what did he do on the uninhabited island?

“Guys, I have to greet Sir Rael and Sir Carlson. Let’s all meet at the academy.”

“Hmph, it’s not like I really want to see you!”

“Lucas! I’ll be waiting for you at the academy!”

The women around Lucas looked at Lucas with regret and turned around.

He didn’t show it, but Rael was secretly envious.

Was that also a butterfly effect? Lucas seemed much closer to the heroines than in the original story.

“Rael. Let’s kick that bastard out of the Three Heroes, right?”

“I’m going to leave too, so you can be the Three Heroes alone.”

“Sir Carlson! Sir Rael! I’m here!”

Lucas smiled brightly and approached them.

Living on an uninhabited island wasn’t bad, but he still enjoyed being with these two the most.

A different kind of warm feeling was welling up in his heart than with his girlfriends.

“Lucas. You’re banished from our Three Heroes.”

“Yes?! What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“No, shouldn’t I banish you? If you get banished from a party like this, you become popular with women… Rael! Please banish me!”

“Please shut up, Carlson.”

Rael hit the back of Carlson’s head, wondering how he became a paladin.

And he looked at Lucas.

“Lucas. You’ve worked hard. Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Yes. I’m fine. Ah, Rael. I heard the rumors. You’re challenging to become a Sword Master.”

“…Didn’t you just come from an uninhabited island?”

“I just bought this.”

Rael shook his head as he looked at the newspaper in Lucas’s hand.

Lucas smiled and continued.

“I expected Rael to become stronger. But I also met a good opportunity this time and became stronger. Be prepared, Rael.”

“What, did you meet a dead dragon and become able to use magic?”

Lucas meets the soul of a dead dragon on an uninhabited island and awakens magic.

He was probably much stronger than Rael thought.

“Oh, how did you know? I was going to reveal it at the Hero Appointment Ceremony!”

Rael smiled at Lucas.

The Hero Appointment Ceremony was approaching.