The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 128

“Rael, the most important thing is taking care of your body. To let everyone know you’re the youngest Sword Master, you need to focus on managing your condition.”

“I told you I’m fine, Commander Lane.”

Rael was on his way to Grand Duke Eric’s room.

He appreciated Commander Lane’s concern, but it wasn’t a serious injury.

His internal injuries were healed with just a little bit of divine power from a priest.

“Rael, you’re planning to tell Grand Duke Eric and Princess Yuriel everything about Gideon, right?”

“Of course. There’s no reason to hide it.”

Rael had kept the Pope Heavenly Demon a secret from others.

That was because he still hadn’t properly grasped the Pope’s intentions.

However, Gideon was different.

The murderous intent he felt from him was undeniably clear.

“I agree. Gideon, that bastard, crossed the line.”

Gideon harbored murderous intent in the Lane Knights’ training ground and at Grand Duke Eric’s residence.

Lane had no intention of letting this go.

“…Sir Gideon tried to kill Rael?”

Inside the Grand Duke’s room.

Yuriel’s eyes widened at Rael’s words.

“Rael, is that true?”

Eric narrowed his eyes as if he couldn’t believe it either.

He couldn’t understand why the Carmen Knights Commander would try to kill Rael.

“Yes, Your Highness. It’s certain.”

“I also saw it with my own eyes, and Sword Dragon and Great Wuchen were there as well.”

“…We need to file an official complaint.”

Yuriel continued with a firm attitude.

“I don’t know what he’s thinking. Rael is an honorary knight of the Silver Cross Knights and a knight of the Second Princess of the Carmen Empire. To exude murderous intent and try to harm such a person….”

“I’m also curious as to why that bastard tried to kill me. Do you know anything about Gideon?”

Rael lacked information about Gideon.

“Gideon is… a knight who thinks of the Empire more than anyone else. That much is certain.”

Eric answered, thinking of Gideon.

That man had been obsessed with the Empire since before Eric was afflicted with demonic energy.

“But why is he doing this to me? There are plenty of knights like me.”

“Not everyone loves the Empire in the same way. Gideon’s patriotism is quite twisted. He’s someone who believes the Empire needs a crisis to unite.”

A crazy man who sincerely believed that a major crisis was necessary for the Empire’s unity.

That was Gideon Garcia.

“A crisis?”

“Yes. Perhaps Gideon thought that you, Rael, were an obstacle to the Empire’s unification.”

” …”

Even after hearing Eric’s words, he didn’t quite get it.

Rael had never hindered the Empire’s unification.

Rather, he wanted to protect the Empire more than anyone else.

The orphanage was his home, belonging to the Empire.

“Whatever the reason, it doesn’t matter. If he showed hostility towards Rael, I won’t stand for it either.”

“Princess Yuriel, but….”

Yuriel’s maid, Isabel, swallowed her words.

The Carmen Knights were an important tool in the succession war.

They were the Emperor’s swords, but winning the hearts of the Carmen Knights was also part of the battle for the throne.

“No, Isabel. Even if the Carmen Knights are important, Rael is more important to me.”

Rael was the foundation of Yuriel’s power.

Without him, Yuriel would still be treated as a half-baked royal.

‘Hmm… satisfying.’

His treatment was getting better and better.

Rael felt satisfaction whenever Yuriel’s perception changed.

“That’s right. We must never let this go. The threat to Rael is a problem, but Gideon trampled on Grand Duke Eric’s authority.”

Lane clenched his fist and continued.

“First, I will suggest that Gideon be dismissed from his position as an executive of the SOMA Assembly.”

“Dismissing an executive of the SOMA Assembly… certainly, that would set an example.”

“Yes. Sword Dragon and Great Wuchen have also agreed to this.”

Would that really set an example? No, in the first place, was being an executive of the SOMA Assembly such a great position?

Rael was skeptical, but he decided to watch the situation for now.

“The problem is that there’s nothing to politically attack him with.”

Grand Duke Eric clicked his tongue.

He had no intention of ignoring the fact that Rael was attacked in his own residence.

However, he thought more like an aristocrat than anyone else in this room.

He quickly understood why Gideon could act that way.

“There’s nothing to gain by protesting to Gideon right now. Gideon’s most frightening aspect is the position he has built up.”

Gideon Garcia.

That name was too great in the Empire.

“Is Gideon that influential?”

Lane stood up.

It was Lane who answered Rael’s question.

“That’s right. He’s the Empire’s strongest knight and the Carmen Knights Commander who has been in charge of guarding the Imperial Family for decades. Frankly, it’s quite difficult to attack him politically. He’s like a snake, acting meticulously to avoid getting caught.”

Gideon apologized immediately after attacking Rael, saying it was a mistake.

Perhaps it was an action that took everything into consideration.

Gideon’s position, built up over decades.

That was a weapon even greater than his martial prowess.

“Of course, if Your Highness protests, they won’t be able to stand still. But at best, it will end with a formal apology. It’s not enough to cause him meaningful damage.”

“I’ll also lend my strength, but….”

Yuriel trailed off.

She also knew the ways of the nobles.

Rael was an honorary knight of the Silver Cross Knights, a knight of the Second Princess, and the winner of the Dragon-Phoenix Competition.

He was a rising star of the Empire that everyone acknowledged.

However, Gideon was already the sun in the sky.

He had already built up a position so high that he could not be brought down.

The moment Gideon, the Carmen Knights Commander in a high position, apologized to Rael, it was impossible to argue about right and wrong.

Everyone swallowed their sighs, knowing that fact.

“So… you’re saying I just need to become more famous than the Carmen Knights Commander.”

It was Rael who spoke up amidst the silence.

He crossed his arms and pondered, then nodded.

“That’s right. And that’s the most difficult thing.”

Lane clicked his tongue.

“Well, you never know until you try. Let’s go.”

“Go?”

Rael got up from his seat.

“The Hero Inauguration Ceremony. It starts today, right?”

Rael smiled.

If he couldn’t bring him down, he would just have to rise higher.

*

The Hero Inauguration Ceremony was held more quietly than the Saintess Inauguration Ceremony.

It was more like a sacred ritual than a festival.

“Kuh, Brother. Surely one of the Empire’s Three Heroes will become a Hero, right? Of course, it’ll be either you or Lucas, but just imagining it makes my heart flutter!”

Carlson chuckled, looking at Lucas and Rael.

If one of these two became a Hero, he would be the Hero’s best friend.

As a paladin of the Gaia Order, he could be satisfied with just that.

“Carlson, why are you so excited?”

“Brother Rael! Of course, I should be excited. The Hero Inauguration Ceremony is a ritual passed down only in legends within the Order. Who will be the Hero to stand at the forefront and trample the demons? As a paladin of the Gaia Order, to be able to see it with my own eyes is an honor, a great honor… Gaia-men [devotees of the goddess Gaia].”

“I’m also very excited. It’s been my dream to become a Hero since I was young.”

Lucas’s eyes sparkled.

His dream was to become a Hero who helps people in need.

“Yeah. Good things are good.”

Rael smiled.

Just a few months ago, he was thinking of passing the Hero position to Lucas, but now he was aiming for the Hero position himself.

“Sir Rael, you should be nervous. I don’t intend to let this go this time either.”

“It wouldn’t be bad for you to become a Hero either.”

Rael sincerely thought so.

It was a shame that the opportunity to strike a blow against Gideon was fading away, but it was also a good thing for Rael if Lucas took the lead in the war against the demons.

Of course, he wasn’t going to give it away for free.

“By the way, what are we supposed to do now?”

Rael looked at the knights entering the main platform one by one.

Knights from branches in various regions who wanted to become Heroes had come to the Order to prove their qualifications.

They were all making the sign of the cross as if they were nervous, and entering the main platform.

“We just have to wait.”

“Wait? Why?”

“They’re testing the qualifications of the Heroes.”

“Testing?”

“Yes. About five of them will be filtered out there. Only those people can participate in the Hero Inauguration Ceremony in front of His Holiness the Pope and the Saintess.”

Rael looked at the numerous knights entering the main platform.

There seemed to be at least a thousand, and only five of them would be chosen?

‘Carlson. Then shouldn’t we go in there too?’

“Brother Rael, you will participate in the inauguration ceremony immediately with the recommendation of Cardinal Bernardo. Oh, by the way, I was recommended by Commander Marco, and Lucas was recommended by Cardinal Angelo. He said he was impressed by the Dragon-Phoenix Competition last time.”

” …”

Rael thought once again about being one of the Empire’s Three Heroes.

Isn’t this completely a cartel in the eyes of others?

‘Well, it’s none of my business.’

Even in medieval fantasy, the most important thing was connections.

Rael turned around, thinking that.

“…Sir Carlson. Do we have to keep waiting?”

Quite some time had passed.

Lucas raised his scabbard to block the pouring sunlight.

Even though the weather was getting colder, the sunlight was still bright.

Because there were so many people, the Hero Inauguration Ceremony test took longer than expected.

“That’s right. I thought the ceremony would proceed immediately after waiting for a while… It seems more people have gathered than the Order expected.”

In order to take the Hero test, you have to go through a complicated procedure.

The fact that so many people had gathered despite that meant that the position of Hero was coveted.

“Carlson. Where is the Saintess?”

“The Saintess will be in the audience chamber of the main platform. She’s probably preparing for the ceremony.”

“If we have nothing to do, let’s go see the Saintess.”

“Ah, should we?”

Saintess Cecilia.

Rael wanted to introduce Lucas to her.

‘Lucas has also awakened magic… If he sees the Saintess’s brainwashing, he might feel something.’

Of course, that wasn’t the only purpose.

Rael also wanted to check on the Saintess’s condition.

She was the golden lifeline that Rael had worked hard to create.

“Rael, you’ve come! Sir Carlson, you’ve come too? Um, and this person is…?”

Cecilia, who had been focusing on prayer in the audience chamber, smiled as she saw the knights who had visited her.

Her smile had something that made you feel good just by looking at it.

“This friend is called Lucas. Haha, the three of us are called the Empire’s Three Heroes.”

Carlson patted Lucas on the back.

He really liked the title of the Empire’s Three Heroes.

“Ah! So you’re Lucas, one of the Empire’s Three Heroes. Nice to meet you. My name is Cecilia. I’m in charge of the Order’s Saintess, though I’m lacking.”

“I’m Lucas. It’s an honor to meet the Order’s Saintess in person.”

Lucas took an example and made the sign of the cross.

Rael nodded slowly as he watched the scene.

Unfortunately, it seemed that Lucas hadn’t noticed the Saintess’s brainwashing either.

‘Pope… I don’t know what he did.’

Rael looked at Cecilia with a look of regret.

She met Rael’s eyes with pure eyes.

“Rael. Did you come because of the Hero Inauguration Ceremony? The ceremony will start soon.”

“That’s part of it, and I also came to ask Cecilia how she’s doing.”

“Hehe, I’m really happy. The people of the Order are really kind, but I don’t feel comfortable. I feel lighthearted when I’m with Rael.”

Rael nodded at Cecilia’s words.

As expected, she was the golden lifeline he had created.

“Lucas.”

Rael whispered quietly to Lucas.

“Yes. Sir Rael.”

“Do you feel anything from the Saintess?”

“I can feel a tremendous amount of divine power from the Saintess. So this is the Order’s Saintess.”

Lucas nodded, seemingly moved.

He had never felt such deep divine power before.

“Hmm, is that so?”

“Yes. Did you ask me something else, Sir Rael?”

“It’s not really important, so don’t worry about it.”

Rael said with a look of regret.

If he brought up the story about the commoners to the Saintess now, Lucas would definitely feel something strange.

However, the fewer people who know that the Saintess’s condition is strange, the better.

‘I need to make time to be alone with her.’

If he could undo the Saintess’s brainwashing, he could find out the Pope’s secret.

Rael looked at Cecilia, who was smiling brightly, thinking that.

*

After meeting Cecilia, the Hero Inauguration Ceremony began.

Candidates from all over the continent who had gathered to become Heroes of the Gaia Order were quickly filtered out, and only 4 of them were granted the right to participate in the Hero Inauguration Ceremony.

“Brother Rael. I’m so nervous!”

Carlson, who had gathered in the main hall, couldn’t control his pounding heart.

It was a solemn atmosphere with all the cardinals and archbishops gathered, but the fact that a paladin was standing at the Hero Inauguration Ceremony was a touching event for him.

“Be quiet, Carlson.”

“That, that’s the Holy Sword Saint…! Brother! Brother! Look over there!”

Rael looked at where Carlson was pointing.

The sword held by the statue of the main god Gaia possessed tremendous divine power just by looking at it.

“Holy Sword Saint? Is that so great?”

“Yes. It’s great. They call it an Ego Sword. It’s the most outstanding masterpiece on this continent, and as far as I know, you can’t even grab that sword unless you’re a true Hero.”

Lucas answered Rael’s question.

“Hmm, is that so.”

Indeed, in the original work, there was a description that whenever Lucas wielded the Holy Sword, a tremendous light poured out.

It must be a great sword.

‘…But can I grab that?’

Even in the original work, the Holy Sword is something that only Lucas can handle.

Can I really handle it?

Rael quietly waited for the Hero Inauguration Ceremony to begin.

Step. Step.

After a while, the Pope of the Gaia Order walked out to the center of the main hall.

Saintess Cecilia was also seen behind him.

The Heavenly Demon scanned the Hero candidates once, then stood in front of the statue of the main god Gaia.

“Today, this is the place to appoint a Hero to assist the main god Gaia. The path of the Hero is never smooth. Now that the demons are threatening the world, the Hero must take the lead and shine light on this world.”

A tremendous amount of divine power spread out from the Heavenly Demon.

At the same time, the cardinals and archbishops began to pray, making the sign of the cross, and light began to leak from the Holy Sword held by the statue.

“The path of the Hero will surely not be easy, but Gaia will be with you on all those paths. From now on, the blessing of the Holy Sword, which distinguishes the true Hero, will shine on the candidates.”

Whirr-

The Holy Sword, which had absorbed the divine power of the Pope, cardinals, and archbishops, emitted light.

“Only the Hero chosen by Gaia will be allowed to stand under the light.”

The radiance emanating from the Holy Sword, the Order’s sacred object.

That was Gaia’s choice, shining on the true Hero.

The knights who participated in the Hero Inauguration Ceremony were finally able to understand those words.

“Ah, ah… Gaia-men.”

One by one, the knights who couldn’t withstand the light began to be pushed back.

The sacred light embraced him, but pushed the knights away like a breeze.

The knights were led by the light as if they had lost their souls and staggered backwards.

“Ugh, ugh….”

After Carlson, who was trying to withstand the light somehow, fell backwards.

There were only two people left in the hall.

“…”

“Gaia-men.”

Rael and Lucas.

They accepted the light and wore comfortable expressions.

Whirr-

Lucas’s body shone, and the blessing of the Holy Sword gently wrapped around his body.

Lucas’s appearance, as if wrapped in silk, was like the main god Gaia ascending to heaven.

It was an undeniable Hero’s appearance.

‘…What is this?’

And next to Lucas, Rael was just standing there.