The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 13

The Butterfly Effect

“Hum hum-.”

A pleasant hum echoed in the room.

Yuuri, a guard belonging to the Special Guard, was sitting in her office today, focused on her work.

Besides monitoring the Demon King, she is in charge of the administrative tasks necessary to maintain the Special Guard.

[Demon King’s seal. No abnormalities.]

[The Heavenly Demon Sword Master, whereabouts unknown. But not dangerous.]

[The Dragon is still immersed in research.]

In fact, even though she calls it administrative work, there is hardly any work to do.

In the first place, the Special Guard does not belong to the Imperial Central Guard.

This is the Imperial Family’s direct guard.

The administrative work that Yuuri does is just reporting that there are no problems with the Demon King’s seal.

The other two are beings who don’t cause accidents.

“Is this enough?”

Yuuri stretched and got up from her seat.

This was Yuuri’s office, but it was also where she lived.

The condition for her, the Empire’s princess, to leave the Imperial Palace was that she not leave this place.

She only has a chance to go out once a month with a maid, and the rest of the time she has to spend in the Special Guard.

“Yuriel-nim.”

“I told you to call me Yuuri here.”

Yuuri sat on the sofa, watching the figure that emerged from the shimmering air.

She, Isabel, wearing a black uniform, approached Yuuri and knelt down as if she was used to it.

“Don’t do that when we’re alone; it’s burdensome.”

“I can’t do that, Yuriel-nim.”

Yuuri chuckled and put her hand on Isabel’s shoulder.

It was the Imperial Family’s etiquette.

Only then did Isabel get up from her seat.

Gent, Reina, and even Rael.

Only after everyone in the Special Guard had returned did Yuuri return to her true self.

The Second Princess, Yuriel von Grandia.

Yuuri looked at Isabel with a dignified expression.

Blue eyes, colder than the ice lake in the north, pierced through her own.

It was a slightly nervous look, but the dignity emanating from her turned even that into an authoritative appearance.

Isabel unknowingly lowered her head and handed over the paper she held.

“The guards who came in this time were cleaner than I thought. Please check it yourself.”

Isabel placed the paper on the table in front of Yuuri and stepped back to stand behind her.

“···You don’t have to do background checks.”

“Preserving your well-being is Yuriel-nim’s duty. It’s not a matter of like or dislike.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll take a look later.”

Yuuri shook her head.

Isabel always had that attitude.

She is overly loyal to the Imperial Family and sees herself as serving the Second Princess, not Yuuri.

“Yuriel-nim, you still live in such a humble room.”

“Is that not allowed?”

Yuuri asked, pouring tea into a cup on the table.

“It seems like an inadequate place for the Emperor’s bloodline to reside. If you wish, we can create the same environment as the Imperial Palace’s chambers at any time.”

“You’re saying something interesting. Are you implying that my dignity is diminished when I lie on this bed? Does that mean that the Emperor’s bloodline is somehow lessened by the bed?”

“···That’s not what I meant.”

“As long as I’m here, this place *is* the Princess’s room. And don’t bring me these kinds of investigations anymore. They’re annoying to read.”

Tuk- Tuk-

Yuuri crossed her legs and tapped the table with the paper.

It was a sign to leave now.

“I understand. Have a good night, Yuriel-nim.”

‘As expected, Yuriel-nim is a dignified and confident person, befitting a princess.’

Isabel bowed her head and disappeared into the air again.

Only after she felt that Isabel had completely disappeared could Yuuri relax.

“Ugh, I’m so frustrated. Really.”

She wasn’t born because she wanted to be a princess, and she doesn’t know why she has so much to do.

Yuuri looked at the paper lying alone on the table.

It was the investigation into Rael that Isabel had given her.

‘It’s rude to look at other people’s information, but…’

Still, should she take a quick look?

If she knows his situation, it might be helpful when talking to him next time.

Yuuri slowly read the paper. She had read this kind of investigation several times, but this was the first time the content was so short, like Rael’s.

“···Does this kind of person really exist?”

After reading the paper, Yuuri started reading it again from the beginning, as if she was amazed.

“Raised in an orphanage, drew out his Sword Qi [a type of energy cultivation] at the age of 10… rejected numerous guild offers and wanted to be loyal to the Empire, so he applied to the guard…? No, why didn’t he go to the Knights?”

With that level of talent, it wouldn’t have been difficult to enter the Knights of the 1st District.

Why did he apply to the Central Guard in the 3rd District?

Yuuri lowered her gaze.

“He’s never even set foot in a brothel… all his salary is donated to the orphanage…?”

Since it was information obtained by the Imperial Family’s informants, it meant that it was all true.

“Rael-ssi… he was a good person. No, is he a strange person?”

Yuuri raised her evaluation of Rael by one level in her heart.

It seemed like it would be good to have a serious conversation with Rael next time.

*

The beggars are working harder than I thought.

Other people may not know, but Rael could tell.

The movements of the beggars wandering the streets have changed.

Beggars were seen everywhere, including festivals, weddings, and funerals.

Of course, beggars were seen before, but now Rael could see them naturally gathering information among the people.

‘As expected, the Beggars’ Sect [a fictional organization often depicted in Wuxia stories] is real.’

Wuxia novels can’t be lying.

Beggars clearly have excellent information-gathering abilities.

“Rael, you said you’d go with me to see the moneylender’s face. When are you going to take me?”

“I was going to go yesterday, but you were drunk and couldn’t come to your senses. I can’t today because I have work to do, but I’ll make time this week.”

Rael lay on the hammock and talked to Reina.

Reina was standing next to him, chattering, and Gent was pruning the branches.

Last time, he got angry and told her not to prune the branches, but today he’s quiet.

The Elves were not normal after all.

“That’s right. Gent made wine for you. Gent! Can I give it to him now?”

“Do as you please. But aren’t you forgetting something?”

“Huh? ······ Ah! Ah, I made a mistake. Rael, Brother…”

“Hmm.”

Gent nodded, looking at Reina.

In fact, he was thinking of teasing her a little, but it seemed like Rael was already doing a good job.

“Okay. It seems like we’ve gotten quite close, so I guess I can stop now.”

“Gent! You’re a kinder Giant than I thought. Then I’ll go get the wine!”

Reina patted Gent on the shoulder and went inside the building.

‘These kids must be having fun every day.’

Rael chuckled, looking at the two of them.

But now he feels quite close to both of them.

In fact, Gent and Reina were easy to deal with.

Gent can be praised for the crops in the field and sympathized with regarding the greatness of nature, and Reina just needs to agree with what he says.

There are no bigger pushovers than these two.

‘Yuuri-ssi still needs a little more effort.’

In contrast, the Princess was difficult.

He wants to get closer, but he needs to think about how to do it.

‘They don’t seem to be very close to Yuuri-ssi either.’

Yuuri usually worked alone.

Her hobbies were very wholesome, and she read books or took walks in the office on days when she had no work.

It seemed strange for Rael, who had no interest in that, to suddenly approach her, so he was putting it on hold for now.

‘But she seems very happy when she goes out sometimes.’

On the days she went out, she would be smiling and happy from the morning, so it seemed like it would be good to take advantage of that time to approach her.

Hah- Hah-

While Rael was thinking about Yuuri in the hammock, a fox approached.

“Oh, come here, fox.”

Rael put a piece of jerky in the mouth of the fox that climbed onto his stomach and was hissing.

The way it was gobbling up the jerky, making a chomp-chomp sound, was quite cute.

“Did you become friends with Vermeil III?”

Gent, who had finished pruning the branches, approached while stroking the fox’s head.

Gent was also calling the fox Vermeil III.

It seems that Vermeil III is the real name, not just a nickname that Reina calls him.

“···It’s shocking that his real name is Vermeil III.”

“The names of spiritual beings are usually like that; what’s so strange about it? I’m more surprised that you’ve already become friends with Vermeil III. Even Yuuri is still awkward, but you seem to be closer than me.”

“Animals originally like handsome people.”

“Is that so? Well, Rael, you’re quite handsome among humans.”

Gent nodded.

Rael was quite handsome among humans.

“Gent, if you accept Rael’s nonsense, there’s no end to it. You have to know how to ignore him properly.”

At that time, Reina, who came out of the Special Guard building with wine, frowned.

Why does that crazy Elf come and do that when she’s in a good mood?

“Vermeil III, bite.”

“Ack! Vermeil III! How could you do this to me?!”

While Reina was running away from Vermeil III, Rael chewed on jerky and lay leisurely on the hammock.

After some time, Vermeil III climbed back onto Rael’s stomach, and a tired Reina also approached again.

“Hoo, haa… That’s right, Rael. There was something I wanted to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about your body. You were fine even after receiving the blessing of the forest, and you’re maintaining your sanity even after encountering the Demon King. I’m curious about the secret.”

“You guys can handle that much; what are you curious about?”

“That’s a different story. Gent and I are long-lived species with strong vitality. Besides, we’re among the strongest in the clan.”

“···You and Gent? Really?”

He knew that these pushovers were strong, but to be among the best in the clan…

How on earth are the Giants and Elves surviving in this harsh world?

It was a real question.

“You don’t know because you don’t know! If you mention Gent and Reina to other races, they’ll all be surprised and run away!”

“Ah, yeah. Let’s just say that. Then what about Yuuri-ssi? Yuuri-ssi is the same human as me.”

“Yuuri… is from a noble family, so she’s been pouring blessings on her body since she was young, so her mental barrier is as thick as a long-lived species.”

Reina, who had to hide Yuuri’s origins, tried to say it as indirectly as possible, but in fact, to Rael, who was human, it was like advertising that Yuuri was a princess with a megaphone.

What noble family would receive blessings to the extent of a long-lived race?

“Of course, Yuuri’s mental strength also plays a part. But not you? I can’t see any blessings on your body… and your mental strength, well, it doesn’t seem like much.”

“What are you saying? You crazy Elf.”

“Anyway! What are you? How are you withstanding the Demon King’s aura? It’s important!”

Reina shook the hammock as if she would devour Rael.

It seemed really important, so he answered quite seriously.

“Genius.”

“Huh?”

Reina’s sparkling eyes blinked at Rael’s words.

“I must be a genius. You’re asking a 20-year-old human what you, who has lived for 150 years, don’t know?”

“Well, that’s true…”

“That’s what a genius is. A genius is someone who does things that others can’t do without any problems. You can’t help it if you don’t understand. It’s called a genius because it transcends the common sense of the world.”

“Oh, yeah… congratulations.”

Reina’s expression began to harden at Rael’s words.

Regardless, Rael continued to speak.

“No, I think you have talent too, Reina. Don’t give up.”

“Okay… Um, I’m going to go play with Vermeil III.”

Reina said that and ran into the forest, hugging the fox that was on Rael’s stomach.

As Rael watched her running away, he turned his head and spoke to Gent.

“Hey, Gent, Reina is a little strange sometimes, right?”

“Rael.”

“Yeah?”

“I think you are too.”

“What are you saying? You tall guy.”

How absurd.

It’s clear that there’s a long-lived species cartel, seeing as how they’re covering for each other.

Rael covered his eyes with both hands as if he was annoyed and left his body to the hammock.

“···.”

And Gent stared at Rael like that.

Why does this human end every conversation with criticism?

‘God gave him talent and took away his personality.’

Nature is great after all.

*

Rael saw the beggars again in just two days.

He was too lazy to go and urge the mask, but strangely, they contacted him first.

‘They couldn’t have gotten the information already… was the mask made?’

Even though Rael believes in the romance of the Beggars’ Sect, he doesn’t rate the beggars of this era that highly.

He must have found a pretty good magician and entrusted the mask to him.

Rael headed to the Beggars’ hideout as usual.

“Uncle Zenith, you got the information in two days?”

And Rael, who met Zenith at the Beggars’ hideout, was inwardly surprised and asked back.

“Yes. As you said, the beggars don’t suspect even when they’re next to them and say important information. Rael, you were right. It’s a really groundbreaking idea!”

Zenith felt like he wanted to hug Rael right away.

The organization called Beggars, which he had built with his youth, was facing a positive phase.

If they make connections with the capital’s information guild and start working properly, Beggars can quickly become the city’s best information guild.

“Tsk tsk, you should have done it earlier as I said. Your brain is hardened. That’s why your hair is falling out.”

“······.”

Zenith’s mood, which had been about to soar, plummeted to the bottom in an instant.

Rael ignored the middle-aged man with a hurt expression and read the paper on the table.

‘The quality of the information is good?’

The only information Rael gave was the name Bennett and the fragmentary information that he was a member of the cult, but quite a lot of information about Bennett was written.

‘If you think about it, it’s normal for this place to do a better job than the Beggars’ Sect.’

In Wuxia novels, it’s stupid not to know that beggars are information brokers.

But medieval fantasy is different. The beggars here are just beings to be helped. They have no idea that they’re carrying their information.

“Huh?”

Rael’s eyes were caught by one word as he read the information about Bennett.

“Bennett is looking for a branch of the World Tree?”

“Yes, he seems to need a lot of it. If you approach him under the guise of a deal, you’ll be able to meet him alone easily.”

“Isn’t the branch of the World Tree only needed by Elves?”

“Even medicine can become poison if it’s too much. The branch of the World Tree is often used for cursed items. He must be a sorcerer.”

“Hmm…”

Certainly, he is a sorcerer.

The credibility of the information brought by the beggars has increased by one level.

‘If this is true… is Reina’s life becoming difficult because of the butterfly effect I created?’

Originally, Reina would have been the only one looking for the branch of the World Tree.

But because Bennett, who came out of the academy because of Rael, is looking for the branch of the World Tree, he’s charging Reina more.

“Uncle Zenith, you don’t happen to have a leftover branch of the World Tree in Beggars, do you?”

“Would we have something that precious!”

“I didn’t expect it anyway. Thanks for the information. Call me when the mask is made.”

Rael folded the paper, stuffed it into his pocket, and got up from his seat.

‘I should go see Uncle Eric after a long time.’

It’s time to use the connections of Rael, the 3rd Guard Captain.