The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 135

Edmund, the Second Sword of the Vanessa Kingdom, swallowed hard as he watched the paladins approaching to arrest him.

‘Damn it, what should I do?’

A revelation from Gaia.

Something absurd had happened.

‘To find the erotic paintings so quickly, is the revelation real?’

Hero Rael’s actions were relentless.

Finding the erotic paintings in an instant, and the cardinal on standby guaranteeing that the paintings were traces of the Demonic Cult—it was truly swift.

It was a speed that even Edmund, an elder of the Demonic Cult, found difficult to handle.

Edmund turned his head.

Regardless of whether the revelation was real or not, he had to overcome this situation first.

‘What is Sword Dragon doing?’

Sword Dragon, the First Sword of the Vanessa Kingdom.

If he were here, he could have forced his way out of this situation, even with unreasonable demands.

‘Damn it. Sword Dragon is nowhere to be seen. Always when I need him….’

Sword Dragon didn’t show his face even while the paladins were searching the lodgings.

Perhaps he anticipated that his presence would be a hindrance and deliberately hid himself.

He was an executive of the Soma Association and had a close relationship with Rael.

Maybe Sword Dragon also suspected Edmund.

‘Then the remaining option is….’

Edmund looked at his adjutant, Gordon, who was standing next to him.

The place where Hero Rael found traces of the Demonic Cult was under the floor of the adjutant’s room.

‘Gordon….’

Gordon, noticing Edmund’s gaze, nodded.

From the moment he stored the erotic paintings in his room, he had prepared for the worst-case scenario.

‘Even if I die, I must save Edmund-nim [a respectful title].’

Gordon steeled his heart and drew out the demonic energy deep within him.

Edmund was an elder of the Demonic Cult.

If he could save an elder of the Demonic Cult by sacrificing himself, he wouldn’t fear sacrifice.

“The Demon King Reincarnates, All Demons Worship!”

“Ugh, Ughaaack!”

Fwooooosh-!

Demonic energy erupted from Gordon’s body.

He pushed away the paladins who approached him and kicked off, enveloping himself in the Demonic Cult’s sorcery.

“Everything is for the Demonic Cult!”

The hand imbued with demonic energy aimed for Rael’s neck.

Even if he was a hero, he was confident he could twist his neck if there was even a brief opening.

“What is this?”

However, Rael had been watching Gordon approaching from beginning to end.

From Rael’s perspective, who had already reached the realm of Sword Master, Gordon’s struggle was nothing more than a dog’s death [a futile effort].

Rael lightly drew his holy sword.

The holy sword imbued with divine power slashed at Gordon’s approaching neck.

Crack-!

No, he was about to slash.

An arm rose from Gordon’s chest as he rushed towards Rael.

Edmund was standing behind him before he knew it.

“Gordon, how dare you…!”

Edmund gnashed his teeth as if enraged.

“Keuh, keuheuk… You bastard Edmund… Even if I die, the Demonic Cult will not die….”

Thud-.

Gordon, with a hole in his chest, collapsed to the floor.

The paladins who were trying to arrest the Vanessa Kingdom delegation stopped in their tracks due to the sudden situation.

“A human emitting demonic energy…”

“Traces of the Demonic Cult were found in Gordon’s room. So he was a remnant of the Demonic Cult.”

The paladins nodded.

Since traces of the Demonic Cult were found, it was only a matter of time before Gordon’s identity was exposed.

He must have wanted to target the hero before that happened.

“Gordon…! Gordon!”

Edmund trembled as he looked at the fallen Gordon.

He was a sincere knight who was furious at the betrayal of his comrade, as anyone could see.

The paladins, seeing this, looked at Rael as if embarrassed.

The remnant of the Demonic Cult had revealed himself, and the delegation’s representative had killed him, so there seemed to be no need for further investigation.

The Vanessa Kingdom delegation also seemed like victims.

‘That’s it. With this, the Vanessa Kingdom delegation can clear their suspicions.’

Edmund bowed his head towards the dead Gordon and quietly raised the corners of his lips.

He even performed the act of killing a brother of the Demonic Cult himself, so even if he was a hero, he wouldn’t be able to suspect him any further.

“To think that Gordon was a remnant of the Demonic Cult… I, Edmund, as the representative of the Vanessa Kingdom delegation, apologize to the hero and paladins of the Gaia Order.”

Edmund raised his head with a gloomy expression.

His acting, as an elder of the Demonic Cult, was perfect.

He had reversed the situation with Gordon’s sacrifice.

“However, I am well aware that your suspicions will not be resolved to this extent. The entire Vanessa Kingdom delegation will take responsibility and cooperate with the investigation.”

Now, Hero. What are you planning to do now?

Edmund turned his head and looked at Rael.

And, as soon as he saw his expression, his face hardened.

“Interesting.”

Rael was looking at Edmund with his arms crossed.

His eyes, which seemed to lack any emotion, seemed to see through everything about Edmund.

‘Is this the hero of the Gaia Order….’

Edmund clenched his fist without realizing it.

It felt like being a herbivore in front of a carnivore.

His heart began to pound just from making eye contact.

“Sir Edmund. As you said, even if it is one person’s fault, the Vanessa Kingdom delegation is not without responsibility. You have no objection to being taken into custody for investigation, do you?”

“…..Yes. I understand.”

Edmund nodded.

He was a member of the Vanessa Kingdom delegation.

Unless the hero himself forcibly broke in with a revelation like now, he wouldn’t be able to conduct a strong investigation.

“Well, fine. Take them away and investigate.”

Rael chuckled and waved his hand.

Everything was going according to his plan.

*

The Gaia Order’s interrogation room.

Edmund sighed as he had just finished talking with the Archbishop.

“Damn it. A revelation from the Gaia Order? Such nonsense….”

Bang-!

Edmund punched the wall with his fist to relieve his anger.

He had been transferred by the paladins and was locked in the Order’s detention room.

It would take at least a few days to be held for investigation by the Order.

‘It’s a shame… but the matter will be resolved since I abandoned Gordon.’

Adjutant Gordon.

He was a loyal subordinate of the Demonic Cult.

He didn’t want to abandon him because he was a promising guy, but he had no choice.

If he put everything on him, the Vanessa Kingdom would be able to participate in the talks again.

The Empire wouldn’t want to be hostile to the Vanessa Kingdom either.

‘The problem is Rael. That guy. He’s definitely suspecting me.’

Edmund remembered Rael’s gaze.

Edmund, who had stood on countless battlefields, could tell.

A look that was certain the other person was an enemy.

Hero Rael was convinced that he was a member of the Demonic Cult.

It didn’t matter if a traitor came out of the Vanessa Kingdom and he was detained for a few days.

However, he couldn’t just let Rael suspect him.

He didn’t know when that crazy hero would target him.

“Is he the top priority after all….”

The Order’s hero was the Demonic Cult’s top assassination target.

Edmund didn’t agree with it, but after actually meeting him, he could see why.

He was dangerous.

It wasn’t just that he had strong divine power.

There was something special about him that was different from ordinary humans.

‘Killing the hero to promote the power of the Demonic Cult… it will definitely be effective. I have to deal with him as a top priority.’

The Gaia Order was stronger now than ever before.

The saintess, a symbol of peace, had been appointed, and a hero chosen by the holy sword had also appeared.

If he killed the hero now, the Gaia Order would surely falter.

But they wouldn’t be destroyed to this extent.

Even if there were demons behind the Demonic Cult, the power that the Gaia Order had built up over hundreds of years could never be ignored.

“Unless we kill the saintess, the symbol of peace, together…”

The Gaia Order’s symbol of peace, the saintess.

And the hero chosen by the holy sword.

If he could kill both of them at once… the Order would surely suffer damage to the point where it couldn’t recover.

“An interesting idea.”

At that moment, a man entered the detention room.

“…Who are you?”

Edmund widened his eyes as he saw the man who entered the detention room.

There was definitely no sign of anyone, so how…?.

“Tell me more about that.”

The emblem of the Carmen Knights was engraved on his chest.

*

The Gaia Order’s hero has captured the Demonic Cult.

The rumor spread through the capital in an instant.

The hero who heard the revelation that had come down in hundreds of years was amazing, but it was even more amazing that there was actually a Demonic Cult plot there.

“…It’s really amazing. How did he do it?”

Carlson was looking at Rael as if he was genuinely amazed.

He was surprised when he became a hero, but seeing him actually achieve results after receiving a revelation, he could once again realize that Rael was a hero.

“It’s a revelation. A revelation. I received the revelation myself.”

“Gaia-men….”

Carlson offered a prayer, thanking Gaia for her grace.

Gaia, who treats all humans equally, had also bestowed grace upon his brother Rael.

He was convinced that even he, who liked gambling, could be saved if he believed in Gaia.

“Carlson. How is the delegation investigation going?”

“Yes. I did conduct a custodial investigation as you said… but I don’t think there will be any particular results. I think they will be released before the talks begin.”

“It doesn’t matter. I expected them to be released soon anyway.”

The important thing is that Rael has achieved results.

Now that he knew that it was possible to push through with the hero’s authority, things would be easier in the future.

Rael was satisfied with that much.

“So, where are you going? Sir Edmund isn’t here.”

“I’m going to see Sword Dragon-nim [a respectful title].”

Sword Dragon.

He was diligently cooperating with the Order’s investigation.

Rael came to the detention room to meet him.

“Rael-hyung [term of endearment for older brother/male friend]. I’ll go back here.”

Carlson, who arrived in front of the detention room, took a step back.

Even if it was Hero Rael, it could be misunderstood by others if he, a Silver Cross Knight, entered the detention room.

“Okay. Good work. Carlson.”

Rael lightly greeted Carlson and opened the door to the detention room.

Creak-

When he opened the door to the detention room, he saw a man with Sword Dragon.

“…Rael, is it.”

“Yes. Sword Dragon-nim [a respectful title]. Greetings, Great Warrior Mucheon.”

“Rael! I heard you caught the Demonic Cult. Why didn’t you take me with you!”

“Please sit down first. I have a lot to say.”

Rael sat down in front of Sword Dragon and Great Warrior Mucheon with a smile.

The first to speak was Sword Dragon.

“Rael, I have something to ask.”

“Yes. Sword Dragon-nim [a respectful title].”

Sword Dragon was hesitating whether to bring up the question in his heart.

As the First Sword of the Vanessa Kingdom, he had to ask, but if he asked, he felt like he might not be able to return.

“…Is the entire Vanessa Kingdom delegation a member of the Demonic Cult?”

“What? What are you talking about? I heard the delegation’s investigation is over?”

Mucheon widened his eyes.

And Rael nodded with a faint smile.

“So you knew. Sword Dragon-nim [a respectful title].”

“There were more than one or two suspicious things. I’m ashamed that I only realized it after you arrived, Rael.”

Sword Dragon sighed.

Kyle’s condition.

The delegation’s movements.

Their behavior.

Looking back now, everything was suspicious.

“That’s understandable. Perhaps most of them don’t even know they are members of the Demonic Cult. Because the core is one person.”

” ….Edmund.”

Sword Dragon gritted his teeth.

That bastard led his grandson, who he wouldn’t hurt even if he put him in his eyes, to the Demonic Cult.

“Yes. It’s that guy.”

Rael smiled.

He knew from the beginning that he was the core.

Unlike other people, Edmund had a very strong and disgusting scent of demonic energy.

“…Then something is strange. Rael, why didn’t you catch Edmund?”

Mucheon narrowed his eyes.

If he were Rael, he would have forced his way to find evidence of the Demonic Cult from Edmund, even if he had to be unreasonable.

Rael, as a hero, had the authority to do so.

“Great Warrior Mucheon said it. About why the small fries are invading the Thousand Empire Carmen.”

Rael recalled the face of the trash that was eating away at the Empire.

“…Could it be!”

Mucheon widened his eyes.

“Yes. The Gaia Order’s headquarters is firmly established in the Empire, so there’s no way the Demonic Cult’s underlings could infiltrate. Unless someone turned a blind eye.”

The Thousand Empire Carmen was the strongest country on the continent.

Why are there so many terrorist attacks in the Empire’s capital?

This world is not a novel.

If there is a result, there is also a cause.

Someone is intentionally weakening the Empire’s defenses.

‘Gideon Garcia. It’s time to catch that crazy bastard.’

The demon’s invasion. Next was the Demonic Cult.

Trash that would bring chaos to the Empire was crawling into the capital.

“Shouldn’t we… catch and throw in all the collaborating bastards at once.”

Rael raised the corners of his lips.