The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 126

Thud, thud.

Knights in full armor entered the training grounds of the Rein Knights.

The emblem of the Carmen Knights was emblazoned on their chests.

“Sir Rael, you were here. I heard rumors that you were receiving instruction from executives of the Soma Association, so I came to find you.”

The empire’s strongest knight, Gideon Garcia.

He approached Rael with a faint smile.

“Sir Gideon, to come to the Rein Knights’ training grounds without proper procedure, are the Carmen Knights so idle these days?”

It was Rein who stood in his way.

Gideon had entered the Rein Knights’ training grounds without following proper procedure.

This could be seen as disrespecting not only the Rein Knights but also the Grand Duke.

“It’s been a while, Sir Rein. I came after seeing the executives of the Soma Association gathering. Is there a problem?”

“It’s not a problem that Sir Gideon, an executive of the Soma Association, has come. But wasn’t it unnecessary to bring the Carmen Knights?”

“As their captain, I couldn’t stop the knights who insisted on following me, saying it was dangerous for their captain to go to another knight order’s training ground alone.”

“Ha. I see.”

Rein scoffed, finding it absurd.

Who in the heart of the empire would pose a threat to Gideon?

“Sword Dragon, and Great Hero Mucheon. It’s been a while.”

“I didn’t expect to see you here, Gideon. What’s going on, since you’ve had no activity as an executive of the Soma Association?”

“I heard that the two of you are instructing Sir Rael. As a swordsman myself, I couldn’t just stand by.”

“Haha, you’ve become even stronger in the meantime. There’s no other master like you in the *Jianghu* [the martial arts world], I could give you a seat in the Nine Great Sects.”

“Thank you, Great Hero Mucheon.”

Gideon conversed with them naturally.

Seeing this, Rein cautiously approached Rael.

“Rael, something feels suspicious. Gideon has never acted like this before. If you don’t want him here, I’ll force him out.”

“…Just a moment.”

Rael stared intently at Gideon, who was greeting Sword Dragon.

Although he didn’t want to face him, now that they had met, he had to consider the most beneficial option.

‘This is an opportunity to properly gauge Gideon’s power.’

Gideon had come to Rael as an executive of the Soma Association.

If so, it would naturally lead to a sparring match for guidance.

‘There are three Sword Masters present. There’s no safer environment than this.’

Also, you never know. He might be able to find out Gideon’s purpose.

Since he was acting differently from what Rael knew, he needed to find out what Gideon thought of him.

If he was hostile, Rael would have to adopt a corresponding attitude.

“It’s okay, Captain. It’s just a brief exchange of swords anyway. What could happen with three Sword Masters here?”

“That’s true, but… Tsk. Rael, Gideon’s domain has the power to interfere with time. Be careful, there’s no domain as annoying as that when you face it for the first time.”

Rein gave a light warning and stepped back.

Because Gideon, having finished his greetings, was approaching Rael.

“It’s nice to see you, Sir Rael. Is this the first proper conversation we’ve had since His Highness the Grand Duke’s party?”

“It is.”

“Even then, your sword energy impressed me. For you to already be challenging the wall of domain, it’s truly a novel feeling.”

“…Thank you.”

Rael couldn’t hide his surprise at the unexpectedly normal conversation.

Judging by the flow of the conversation, Gideon was the most normal person in the Soma Association.

“The offer to join the Carmen Knights that I made back then is still valid. Now, I could offer you the vice-captain position instead of the 1st unit captain.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll have to decline that offer.”

“That’s a pity.”

Swish-

“But don’t worry.”

Gideon slowly drew his sword.

It was the sacred sword of the Kemen Empire, given only to the commander of the Carmen Knights who protect the empire.

“As an executive of the Soma Association, I’ll give some small advice to a growing junior.”

“That’s an excessive gift.”

“Not at all. Didn’t Belen learn a lot thanks to you at the last Dragon-Phoenix Gathering?”

“I’m not skilled enough to give guidance.”

“How modest. Now, draw your sword.”

Rael drew his sword, listening to Gideon’s words.

As expected, a sparring match for guidance.

Gideon was smiling generously, but his eyes weren’t smiling at all.

“I understand that you didn’t learn the basics of swordsmanship at the academy, is that correct?”

“That’s correct.”

‘Attacking with academic background is useless.’

Rael was an elite who had completed higher education, so he wouldn’t be hurt by such things.

“To challenge a Sword Master at the age of 25 without graduating from the academy or receiving the teachings of the Order… truly a coveted talent.”

Gideon raised his magic power with a faint smile.

At the same time, a thick magic power settled around him.

“A domain is a space created when a swordsman can perfectly control their power. Within it, the swordsman can become stronger than anyone else.”

The only reason Gideon Garcia came all the way here, mentioning the name of the Soma Association, which he hadn’t even been active in, was to show the rising star a clear difference in power.

“…!”

Rael’s eyes widened as he felt Gideon’s power.

The tremendous magic power pressed down on his surroundings, and his muscles twitched even when he was just standing still.

However, Gideon, whom Rael was facing, still seemed to have plenty of余裕 [leeway/composure].

“This is my domain. Chronobreak.”

Blue magic power swirled like a storm around Gideon.

Soon, Gideon exuded a terrifying aura and rushed at Rael.

“Heavenly Slaughter Sword, First Form, Entering Heaven.”

Clang-!

Rael gritted his teeth against the magic power that pressed down on his body and raised his sword.

And, feeling the power contained in Gideon’s sword, he groaned.

“Keuh …!”

The power in the sword was on a different level.

Simply the collision of sword and sword bent the sword as if it would break.

‘Besides… he’s fast.’

To be precise, Rael was slow.

Everything slows down in his domain.

Only Gideon maintained his speed.

Clang-!

“Keup!”

A powerful attack that would break his body with just one allowance.

Rael focused and received Gideon’s slash.

‘Even without murderous intent, it’s this much…’

Of course, there was no murderous intent in Gideon’s sword.

It means he’s controlling his power.

As if to show the difference in level, he only used the power that Rael could block if he gave his all.

“The most important thing in swordsmanship is talent. But, there is a limit to human talent.”

To be precise, there may be no limit to human talent, but there was a limit to the human body.

No matter how great the talent, unless one escapes from the framework of being human, one cannot become drastically stronger.

“Your master, the Heavenly Slaughter Sword Master, was a senior who was more than a dozen years ahead of me. That difference is still the same.”

Gideon, who had run to the extreme of talent, could not catch up with the Heavenly Slaughter Sword Master because of that.

The Heavenly Slaughter Sword Master’s back was still in front of Gideon, the dozen years that Gideon had run while looking at the Heavenly Slaughter Sword Master’s back.

The Heavenly Slaughter Sword Master did not move away as much as Gideon could not catch up.

Because their talents had reached the limit of human beings.

That old monster didn’t die, and he didn’t get old.

That’s why Gideon couldn’t catch up with the Heavenly Slaughter Sword Master.

“I tried to narrow that gap for the rest of my life, but it was impossible. That is the limit of talent. And Rael. There is also a gap of decades between you and me.”

“What… what are you trying to say?!”

Rael gripped his sword, looking at Gideon, who was suddenly spouting nonsense.

Clang!

Rael’s sword was pushed back once again.

Even a sword containing the sword energy of Entering Heaven could not completely block Gideon’s slash.

“If you’re not confident in narrowing that gap, you should know how to bow down.”

Whoosh-!

Gideon’s magic power settled again next to Rael, who had retreated.

It didn’t even take 10 seconds for Chronobreak to take over the surroundings again.

As if proving that the title of the empire’s strongest knight was not a false rumor, his domain unfolded in an instant.

‘There’s definitely a weakness.’

Rael slowly felt the flow of space.

Controlling time is not the realm of swordsmanship but of magic.

There’s no way you can interfere with time just because you’re good at wielding a sword.

“…”

Soon Rael found the answer in his own body.

‘It’s not interfering with time. It’s disrupting the nerves.’

Overwhelming swordsmanship and magic power. And his charisma, built up over decades.

All of that is deceiving the other person’s nerves.

It just makes you feel like time is flowing slowly, but the actual time is the same.

Rael has even mastered the senses of a predator. Nothing could deceive his senses.

Clang-!

Immediately after recognizing that.

The agitation disappeared from Rael’s eyes.

“… How?”

In just three exchanges, Rael adapted to Gideon’s domain.

Chronobreak was a domain that Gideon had honed throughout his life.

It was impossible to break through it in just three exchanges.

However, there was a swordsman who had accomplished that impossible feat before his eyes.

Gideon couldn’t figure out where his change had come from.

“To think that he’s already seen through Gideon’s domain…”

“…That’s what I’m saying.”

Sword Dragon and Rein also looked at Rael in surprise.

Adapting to the domain within the domain of a mature Sword Master.

Could they do it?

They wouldn’t know, but to find a way to break through in just three exchanges like Rael.

It was something they couldn’t dare to be confident in.

“Rael! It’s a martial art worthy of commanding the world! You’ve already grasped the essence of Mount Hua!”

Mucheon clenched his fist as if he was happy.

His disciple was already surprising the *Jianghu* [martial arts world].

‘A genius of the century… no. A monster.’

Gideon looked at Rael before his eyes.

There was a difference of decades between him and Rael.

That difference could not be narrowed even with the modifier ‘overwhelming talent’.

Gideon knew that best because he had been chasing after the Heavenly Slaughter Sword Master for the rest of his life.

But that common sense was about to be broken now.

Clang-!

Rael, who had once again received Gideon’s sword, changed his stance in an instant.

He glared at Gideon’s weakness with clear eyes.

“Heavenly Slaughter Sword, Second Form, Ascending Heaven.”

Rael’s lightning-like slash aimed for Gideon’s head.

Clang-!

Gideon felt a chill down his spine as he watched the sword narrowly pass by his head.

‘Dangerous.’

Gideon’s head sank coldly.

Rael.

This monster was dangerous.

He could tell by directly facing the sword.

It was understandable that the Heavenly Slaughter Sword Master, that old man, had made a disciple now.

If left alone, he was a talent that would devour the empire, no, the world.

‘Besides… he’s still growing.’

What Gideon saw was only a fragment of Rael’s talent.

He would grow further and become a hero representing the empire in the future.

‘…I have to deal with him now.’

Gideon sensed it.

Rael would become a knight representing the empire in the future.

Swordsmen would gather under his sword, and he would be at the forefront of the war against the demons.

‘The knight representing the empire is me, Gideon Garcia!’

He has to be killed.

Even if he couldn’t kill him, he had to inflict a fatal wound that would prevent him from recovering.

He would block his path every day, every moment.

Crack-.

He unleashed the magic power he had been controlling.

Gideon gripped his sword tightly and drew strength from his entire body.

“…. Uh?”

Thump. Thump.

Rael’s heart was pounding.

An unknown sensation made Rael nervous.

Rael deflected Gideon’s sword that was rushing at him and unconsciously rolled his body on the floor.

Boom-!

Immediately after, the ground where Rael had been standing collapsed.

Gideon had destroyed the foundation with a single sword.

“This damn…!”

Rael frowned at the taste of blood in his mouth.

Gideon’s sword contained murderous intent that had not been there until now.

“Indeed, I underestimated you too much, Rael.”

Gideon’s sword energy blazed like fire.

His sword contained the ultimate of the sword that he had built up as the commander of the Carmen Knights.

“Then, can you receive this too.”

Gideon’s thick magic power surrounded Rael.

His eyes were still coldly sunken.

“Gideon! You bastard! Are you using lethal moves in a guidance match!”

Mucheon was the first to react.

He immediately kicked off his seat to intervene in the duel.

‘Damn it! At this rate, it’ll be too late!’

Mucheon glared.

At this distance, he couldn’t block Gideon’s sword, which was already unfolding his domain.

“…”

Rael bit his lip tightly.

The madness and murderous intent in Gideon’s eyes made Rael’s heart pound.

He was giving his all now.

He drew out his power as a Sword Master to kill himself.

‘I can’t block that.’

Clearly, with Rael’s skills, he could never block that sword.

So, even if it’s incomplete, he can’t hide it anymore.

Rael stirred up the magic power in his entire body.

The power that had been dormant in his body.

And the magic power absorbed from the duel with Gideon heated up quickly in an instant.

‘Clearly… it was this feeling.’

Rael entrusted himself to the sense of elation rising from his lower abdomen.

It was the first time he was using it in a real battle, but there was no problem with his senses.

“*Hoicheon* [Return to Heaven].”

Magic power burst out from Rael’s body.