The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 130

Chirp chirp—Chirp chirp—

“Ugh, so noisy this morning, it’s killing me.”

Ra-El opened his eyes to the sound of birds chirping outside the window.

The early bird catches the worm, but how much did it eat to be so loud?

It’s a world with less environmental pollution, so nature is unnecessarily enthusiastic from the morning.

“Haam. I’m so sleepy.”

Buzz buzz—

Ra-El grabbed the Holy Sword at his waist and yawned as he left the room.

He hasn’t been able to come often recently because he’s been busy, but this is Sara’s inn, where Ra-El is staying long-term.

When he went down to the first floor of the inn, a delicious smell wafted through the air.

“Ra-El. You’re awake? No, should I call you Hero now?”

“Of course, Teacher Sara. If you don’t call me Hero, the Order will get angry.”

“Oh my, I understand. Hero.”

“I’m just kidding. Haam. Please give me a bowl of stew. With lots of meat.”

“Hehe. I was already preparing it.”

Sara put a lot of meat in the stew and placed it in front of Ra-El.

And she looked at Ra-El with worried eyes.

His complexion didn’t look good at all.

“Ra-El, are you very sleepy? Are you okay? It seems like the Order had a lot of work for you to do.”

“I couldn’t sleep well yesterday. Don’t worry.”

Ra-El ate the stew with a lot of meat and yawned.

It was true that he had been busy for about two days since the Hero Appointment Ceremony, but he couldn’t sleep because of the Order… and something else.

“I ate well. Teacher Sara.”

“Yes, yes. Ra-El. Come visit the orphanage when you have time. The children are waiting.”

“I’ll stop by tomorrow.”

Ra-El greeted Sara and came out of the inn.

When he went out on the street, every priest he saw greeted Ra-El.

“May Gaia’s blessing be with the Hero. Gaia-men [Followers of Gaia].”

“Gaia-men. Thank you.”

The priests all looked at Ra-El with friendly eyes.

The Lord’s Prayer he said among the priests yesterday seemed to have been quite effective.

Since there are many priests from commoner backgrounds in the Order, it must have been quite touching for them.

‘It feels like a real dream.’

It feels like only yesterday that he was twisting the wrists of pickpockets at the Central Guard and pocketing small change, but now he had become the Hero of the Gaia Order.

This was a growth that would make the Miracle on the Han River [A metaphor for rapid economic growth in South Korea] blush.

Buzz buzz—

[Damn it! Put me back with Lucas!]

“…Is it really a dream?”

Ra-El sighed at the Holy Sword’s voice nagging at his waist.

Now it even knew Lucas’s name and was causing a fuss, so he couldn’t sleep a wink yesterday.

‘I’m being cursed at by a Holy Sword while living my life. Is this not a dream?’

No matter how messed up the world is, this shouldn’t be happening.

[Why did a bastard like this become a Hero? He’ll definitely be a disaster for the Gaia Order! Bring back Lucas!]

“You’re talking nonsense, really.”

Ra-El narrowed his eyes as he looked down at the Holy Sword chanting Lucas’s name.

He was annoyed no matter how he thought about it.

How can he be cursed at by a sword, of all things?

Ra-El picked up the Holy Sword attached to his waist, sheath and all.

“It’s noisy,”

And he flicked his forehead towards the handle.

Buzz buzz—

[W, what is this crazy bastard! Hitting the Order’s Holy Sword!]

The Holy Sword Saint trembled in dissatisfaction.

It was unfair that he, a sacred object that had protected the Gaia Order for thousands of years, had to suffer this at the hands of a human.

Saint couldn’t understand at all.

“I want to ask you something. You crazy lump of steel. If you don’t sleep and whine 24 hours a day, how am I supposed to sleep? Huh? Do you want to die?”

[Steel! My sword is made of Adamantium… Huh? You, you! You can hear me? Huh? How can you hear me? No one has ever heard me before!]

“I can hear you, so I’m answering. You son of a bitch.”

He was furious when he thought about not being able to sleep because of this crazy sword.

Ra-El continued to hit the handle with anger.

[Aah! Aah! Wait a minute! Stop it!]

The Holy Sword Saint trembled as he felt pain he had never felt before.

Why should he, a sacred object that has protected the Gaia Order for thousands of years, suffer this at the hands of a human?

Saint couldn’t understand at all.

“Be quiet if you don’t want to get hit more.”

[D, disaster. A disaster has come to the Gaia Order… .]

“Tsk.”

[ … ]

As expected, you have to hit broken things to fix them.

The Holy Sword became quiet when he hit it.

Ra-El attached Saint to his waist and went to the training ground of the Rein Knights.

He was busy attending the Order’s event yesterday, so today he came to see people outside the Order for the first time.

“The Hero of the Gaia Order has arrived.”

Ra-El entered the Rein Knights’ training ground with a smile.

At the same time, the knights inside turned their attention to Ra-El.

“Sir Ra-El! No, Hero? Um? What should I call you?”

The first to approach was Kirie.

Ra-El smiled at him.

“Just call me Sir Ra-El, Sir Kirie.”

He refused to be called Hero just because he became a Hero.

He was somewhat moved by ‘Sir Ra-El’, but he wasn’t particularly moved by ‘Hero’.

Besides, he had already heard the title of Hero a lot in the Order.

“Ra-El, hyungnim [term of endearment for older brother]!”

“Sir Ra-El. You’ve come.”

Carlson and Lucas also approached Ra-El.

“Good morning. Were you training?”

“Yes. Lucas said he wanted to have a magic duel, so I was helping him with Rein.”

“Ah. Magic is good.”

Ra-El nodded.

Magic was one of Lucas’s strengths.

If he learns it, it will be helpful when fighting the demons.

“Ra-El. Congratulations. I still don’t feel like it’s real that you’re a Hero… I believe you’ll show a good image as a Hero from now on.”

Rein also approached Ra-El.

No one in the Empire doesn’t know the relationship between the Rein Knights and Ra-El.

If Ra-El became a Hero and did something strange, it would be a disgrace to the Rein Knights.

“Don’t worry. I’m Ra-El.”

“…That’s why I’m worried.”

Rein smiled bitterly.

Buzz buzz—Buzz buzz—

At that time, the Holy Sword attached to Ra-El’s waist trembled.

Rein looked at the Holy Sword with interest.

“The Holy Sword Saint… The rumor that it’s an Ego Sword was true. Ra-El. Can you show it to me once?”

Rein is a strong man who has reached the realm of Sword Master, but he had never seen such a unique sword before.

A sword that has a will even though it doesn’t contain magic.

As a swordsman, he really wanted to see it.

“Well, it’s not difficult to show you. I was going to train with this today anyway.”

This world is basically a medieval fantasy.

It’s natural to be interested in sacred objects like the Holy Sword.

Sreung—

Ra-El drew his sword from his waist.

At the same time, a bright light filled the training ground.

[Damn it! Disaster of the Order! Let go of this! This is a scam! Don’t be fooled!]

The Holy Sword Saint worked hard to express his opinion, but unfortunately, Saint’s words were not conveyed to others.

“This is Saint… It’s really amazing. It’s worthy of being called the Order’s sacred object.”

“Yes. It’s a really dignified, elegant, and sharp sword.”

Rein and Kirie couldn’t hide their admiration as they looked at the Holy Sword.

It was an amazing sword that the two, who lead the great Rein Knights, had never seen in their lives.

“The Holy Sword Saint is said to never rust or wear out over time, and never loses its light no matter how dirty it gets.”

“Ra-El, hyungnim…! I’m so jealous! Can I touch it just once?”

“Sir Carlson. Didn’t you say that those who have not been chosen by the Holy Sword will be punished by God the moment they grab the Holy Sword?”

“Damn it! Ra-El, hyungnim, can do it, but I can’t?!”

Lucas and Carlson were equally impressed as they looked at the Holy Sword.

[Damn it! Why isn’t this human being punished by God? Why?!]

Ra-El ignored the nagging Holy Sword and held the sword.

He had never been interested in swords in his life.

The sword he had used the most so far was the sword he received when he became the captain of the guard, so no further explanation is needed.

“Well, shall we test how good the Holy Sword is?”

Ra-El slowly raised his magic power.

“Thousand Slaughter Sword First Form. Enter Heaven (入天) [A sword technique].”

Chwaaaak—

Divinity poured out from the Holy Sword Saint.

The divinity combined with Ra-El’s magic power and became a subtle light.

“…Not bad?”

Ra-El nodded as he swung the sword of Enter Heaven.

As expected, it’s the Holy Sword.

With the addition of divinity to Ra-El’s power, the destructive power became much stronger.

[Hmm, hmm. Your skills aren’t bad.]

Saint couldn’t hide his surprise either.

The sacred object of the Gaia Order that has existed for thousands of years, the Holy Sword Saint.

There are countless human heroes he has passed through.

Ra-El had overwhelming talent among them.

[But what can’t be done can’t be done! Hand Saint over to Lucas right now…]

“Thousand Slaughter Sword Second Form. Ascend to Heaven (昇天) [Another sword technique].”

However, as Ra-El’s sword continued, Saint’s reaction gradually began to change.

[O, oh. A human has this kind of power… ?]

Saint felt that something was wrong.

A hero of the era who can save the human race.

That position must be occupied by the human who can become the strongest.

And, the hero of this era was clearly Lucas.

Because he felt a strong divinity from him.

Then what is the strength of this human?

“Thousand Slaughter Sword Third Form. Step on Heaven (踏天) [Yet another sword technique].”

The power to destroy anything gathered in Ra-El’s sword.

After a while, Saint, who saw swordsmanship that transcended space and broke rocks, emitted divinity here and there.

[No way. C, could it be that this guy was the real hero of the era… ?]

Was he, a sacred object that has protected the Gaia Order for thousands of years, wrong?

Saint couldn’t hide his embarrassment.

“Sir Ra-El. Really… It’s an amazing swordsmanship even when I see it again. Didn’t you even say that you reached the realm?”

Lucas admired Ra-El’s sword.

His sword was already one step higher than himself.

“That’s right, but it’s still incomplete.”

[Ye, ye, realm?! No way. Is that a lie?]

The Holy Sword Saint didn’t even have the strength to be surprised anymore.

How can a human who has only lived for about twenty years reach the realm?

Ra-El, who chuckled at Saint’s reaction, looked at Lucas and said.

“Lucas. Do you want to try using the Holy Sword?”

“Yes? If I can use it, I would definitely want to try it, but wouldn’t I be punished by God if I held the Holy Sword?”

The Holy Sword’s choice is only one person.

Since Ra-El was chosen, there was no room for Lucas to intervene.

“It’s okay. I’ll allow it, so try it once.”

“Ra-El, hyungnim? What nonsense are you talking about? The transfer or rental of the Holy Sword is blasphemy. Ra-El, hyungnim, should also have dignity as a Hero…”

Before Carlson, who had a serious expression, could finish speaking, Ra-El lightly threw the Holy Sword to Lucas.

“Hey, hey! Ra-El! Are you really crazy?”

Rein looked at Lucas in surprise.

Everyone knew that if an unqualified person held the Holy Sword, they would be punished by God, so he couldn’t help but be flustered.

“It’s okay. If I control it, Lucas will be able to use it too.”

Ra-El’s expression was calm.

In the first place, the Holy Sword was calling Lucas so much, so there was no way it would punish Lucas.

“T, this is… .”

Lucas blinked as he looked at the Holy Sword Saint in his hand.

A warm divinity and sacred power that penetrates the body.

Lucas grabbed the sword as if possessed.

[Lucas! Hero! Saint has finally found his master!]

The Holy Sword Saint trembled as he felt Lucas’s energy.

That’s right.

This energy was the Hero’s sacred aura.

“…Supreme Sword First Form.”

Lucas unfolded his sword while holding the Holy Sword.

He remembered that he would be punished by God, but he thought it would be okay since Sir Ra-El allowed it.

Hwaaaak—

Divinity spread out from the center of Lucas’s sword.

The divinity that naturally dominated the surroundings was so intense that even the Rein Knights could feel it.

“Ra-El. Why does it seem like Lucas is more suitable to be a Hero?”

“It’s a misunderstanding. A misunderstanding. I was the one chosen as the Hero at the Hero Appointment Ceremony. Right? Carlson.”

“…Was there a mistake at the Gaia Order’s Hero Appointment Ceremony?”

Lucas’s divinity was so great that even Carlson, who had directly witnessed the Hero Appointment Ceremony, doubted it.

[Th, that’s right! This is the Hero! Where did you bring a gangster from!]

Saint muttered as if he was excited.

When Lucas grabbed the sword, it felt like his divinity had become even stronger.

“It’s really amazing. It’s like… It’s been my sword from the beginning.”

[I think so too! Lucas, Hero!]

“Use it a little more. Lucas.”

“Thank you. Sir Ra-El.”

Lucas continued his swordsmanship while holding the Holy Sword.

“Supreme Sword Second Form.”

Divinity burst out every time Lucas swung his sword.

That power was still divine and strong, but the light of the Holy Sword Saint’s sword was gradually fading.

[Oh. This level of swordsmanship is… ?]

Because the Holy Sword Saint felt a strange feeling as he looked at Lucas.

Lucas’s talent was definitely one of the best among the Heroes, and his sword was luxurious.

However, it was not as explosive as Ra-El’s.

Ra-El’s sword was wild yet beautiful, and there was a thrill that made the surroundings heat up.

The Holy Sword Saint was unknowingly looking for the same intensity as Ra-El’s sword.

“Ah, the light of the Holy Sword… .”

Lucas smacked his lips as if he was disappointed as he looked at the Holy Sword, which had weakened in light.

He wasn’t a real Hero, so it seemed like he couldn’t continue to use the Holy Sword.

“Huh, I guess he’s not a real Hero.”

“Why is Ra-El, hyungnim… .”

“Carlson. You’re going to die if you keep doing that. Lucas, don’t be too disappointed. I’ll lend you the Holy Sword again if I get the chance.”

Seeing how well he uses it, it seems like I can hand it over to him later when fighting the demons.

Ra-El received the Holy Sword back from Lucas.

The Holy Sword Saint was still muttering.

[Surely… Surely Lucas is the Hero… But why does my body want this side? It’s a strange feeling… .]

The Holy Sword Saint,

Clearly, he chose Lucas.

However, Ra-El’s swordsmanship and talent confused even the Holy Sword Saint.

Was Ra-El really the hero of this era?

[The sword is honest. Is Ra-El the Hero of this era… ?]

“…”

Ra-El stared blankly at the Holy Sword repeating nonsense, then shook his head.

“What kind of idiot sword is this?”

Ra-El frowned and sheathed the Holy Sword.

*

The Pope’s audience room.

The Heavenly Demon knelt in front of the statue of the main god Gaia.

Three days have already passed since the Hero Appointment Ceremony.

He focused on prayer to communicate with Gaia.

“Lord God Gaia. Do not lead me into temptation.”

The Heavenly Demon prayed seriously with his hands together.

A few days ago, a hero of the era was born.

The Hero will be the representative of the Gaia Order in the future.

And he must give everything for him.

Because that is Gaia’s teaching.

“I will give everything. Gaia-men.”

Step. Step.

The moment the Heavenly Demon finished praying. He heard footsteps approaching the audience room.

The Heavenly Demon turned his head slightly and looked at the man entering the audience room.

“Sir Gideon has never come to visit first. It’s a strange thing.”

Gideon Garcia.

The strongest knight in the Empire and the commander of the Carmen Knights.

He came to the Pope’s audience room.

“If you had told me in advance, I would have prepared a treat. Would you like a cup of tea?”

“Stop with the useless greetings. Pope.”

Gideon walked to the center of the audience room and looked at the Heavenly Demon.

And he emitted magic power towards the surroundings.

“Get out of here.”

It was a warning to the gazes looking this way.

Just by Gideon lightly releasing his magic power, the group of inquisitors began to suffer.

“Oh my, your personality is still the same.”

Ssuk—

The Heavenly Demon smiled bitterly and raised his hand.

At the same time, the inquisitors’ gazes disappeared.

“Yes, what’s going on that you came to visit in person?”

“Pope. The Order’s movements are suspicious. There is a limit to cutting it off at the Carmen Knights’ level.”

Tak-.

Gideon scattered the documents he had prepared in front of the Pope.

It was the suspicious flow of Gaia Order believers that the Carmen Knights had found.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Sir Gideon.”

“Stop pretending you don’t know. Surely… You’re not still continuing that work, are you?”

The Pope’s overwhelming divinity.

Gideon knew the source of it.

“Gideon.”

At that time, Pope Chunma smiled kindly.

It was a bright smile befitting the Pope, but Gideon felt an unknown fear within it.

“Stop with the useless threats. If what happened back then is revealed, you won’t be happy either, will you? You’ll have to protect your position as the commander of the Carmen Knights.”

“…”

“You want the peace of the Empire, and I want the development of the Gaia Order. Shouldn’t those who are looking at the same goal fight?”

The Heavenly Demon smiled and raised his divinity.

The documents Gideon brought burned in the heat of the divinity.

‘Can that really be called divinity?’

Gideon stared intently at the Pope, then turned his head.

“There will be talks about the war with the demons soon.”

“I see. I will also attend as a representative of the Gaia Order.”

“At that time, there is something I want the Hero to take on.”

“Hero… It seems like you don’t like Sir Ra-El. I heard there was an unpleasant incident at the Grand Duke’s mansion, is the scar on his face because of that?”

“…You talk too much. Heavenly Demon.”

Gideon hardened his face.

It was a signal that he would not stand still if he provoked him any further.

“Okay. It will be the Gaia Order’s job for Sir Ra-El to be active as a Hero.”

The Pope bowed his head and smiled.

Ra-El.

The Order’s Hero chosen by the Holy Sword.

The Heavenly Demon saw his faith at the Hero Appointment Ceremony.

‘Sir Ra-El… Was able to accept divinity.’

A body that absorbs divinity.

He is a Hero material that cannot be compared to others.

‘Lord God Gaia’s choice is not wrong.’

There was no way that someone who accepted all the divinity would not have faith.

No, even if he lacks faith, it doesn’t matter.

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

Because he was ready to fill his faith at any time.

“I believe you will keep your promise.”

Gideon turned his body as he looked at the Pope drawing a cross in the air.

He didn’t want to be in the same space as a crazy clergyman anymore.

‘Ra-El… .’

Gideon, who came out of the audience room, looked back on what had happened a few days ago.

‘Clearly, he was far below me.’

Ra-El’s swordsmanship was not like the Carmen Empire.

The swordsmanship that had not been properly trained was great for his age, but there were clearly clumsy parts, and the way he handled mana was not as sophisticated as the nobles.

However, Ra-El was strong, and his talent shone.

The connection of clumsy swordsmanship was so smooth, and the way he handled mana was explosive even if it was not sophisticated.

‘As expected, he’s a monster.’

A monster with a natural sense for fighting.

Gideon was convinced that he could surpass him.

That’s why he instinctively tried to kill him.

‘Now that I’ve failed once, I can’t use the same method.’

Ra-El has officially become the Order’s Hero.

As Gideon, who thinks about the stability of the Empire, had to find another way.