The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 136

The Gaia Church’s investigation into the Vanessa Kingdom delegation concluded swiftly.

It turned out that Vice Commander Gordon was a spy for the Demonic Sect, and Edmund, the delegation’s leader, personally executed him, which significantly influenced the outcome.

“That was faster than I expected. Honestly, I thought they’d be released in a couple of days,” Raelle said, sounding surprised.

The Vanessa Kingdom delegation essentially represented the Vanessa Kingdom itself.

To detain such figures for nearly a week demonstrated the Gaia Church’s considerable influence.

“Raelle, if the Gaia Church’s Champion [referring to Raelle himself] hadn’t ordered the investigation, and they were released in two days, what would become of your authority? But you were right. No matter how much we investigated, we couldn’t find any traces of demonic energy.”

“I told you, even if the Church investigates, they won’t find anything. Well, it’ll all come to light soon anyway, so just wait and see,” Raelle replied casually.

He wasn’t concerned about the delegation’s release.

What mattered was what those individuals would do at the upcoming conference.

“Sir Raelle, is it really alright for them to be released? If the Demonic Sect has infiltrated the Empire, shouldn’t we eliminate the threat before their influence spreads?”

Lucas, who had been listening to their conversation, asked cautiously.

Lucas and Carlson had already learned from Raelle that they were indeed members of the Demonic Sect.

However, Raelle shook his head.

“We can’t arrest them without concrete evidence. Even if I forcibly detain them, other Demonic Sect members will simply infiltrate. Now that we’ve identified the initial signs, we need to uproot even the deeply embedded elements.”

Raelle recognized the extent of the Gaia Church Champion’s power through this incident.

Currently, he wielded political influence comparable to Gideon Garcia.

“…I understand. I trust your judgment, Sir Raelle,” Lucas nodded, looking at Raelle.

“More importantly, Lucas, how’s your training progressing?”

“Yes, Sir Raelle. As you mentioned, I’ve gained a deeper understanding.”

After the Champion appointment ceremony, he had secluded himself in the training grounds, even foregoing meetings with his girlfriends.

His goal was to integrate the insights he had gained while wielding Raelle’s Holy Sword, Saint, with his magic.

“Really? I’ll lend you the Holy Sword again later. Keep up the excellent work.”

“Thank you, Sir Raelle!” Lucas clenched his fist, his eyes gleaming.

The hero of the continent, who was destined to be the Holy Sword’s original owner, was being trained by it.

Buzz-

[To lend the Church’s sacred artifact so freely! Are you out of your mind?]

“Be quiet. You enjoy it too, don’t you?” Raelle said, gripping the Holy Sword.

He remembered that Saint had clearly been inwardly pleased when he went to Lucas.

[I certainly sense the aura of a true hero from Lucas… Ugh, ugh. Raelle, the sword is trembling as you hold it.]

“…”

Raelle pretended not to hear Saint and looked up.

It seemed unwise to engage in a lengthy conversation with that Holy Sword.

“By the way, when does the conference begin?”

“It’ll start shortly after the royals arrive.”

Raelle looked around.

He was currently at the heart of the Gaia Church’s headquarters.

And the delegations from other countries, except for the Kamen Empire, had already arrived at the conference hall.

The Vanessa Kingdom delegation.

The Righteous Heaven Alliance delegation.

The Nagore Desert Kingdom delegation.

And representatives from other smaller countries and free cities.

The entire continent had converged on the Empire to prepare for the impending war with the demons.

“Raelle, the Nagore Desert Kingdom managed to participate in the conference? I heard they lost a lot of influence within the Empire after Knight Commander Namaha’s disappearance.”

The Nagore Desert Kingdom’s standing on the continent had significantly declined due to the incident during the Dragon Phoenix Assembly [a major event in the story’s lore].

However, that’s precisely why they were able to appoint a new leader.

“I heard they’re rebuilding their strength, with Princess Scaria at the helm. Since the princess holds no animosity towards the continent.”

Princess Scaria, who supposedly lived with Lucas, had become the head of the Nagore delegation.

He didn’t know much about his girlfriend’s circumstances, but she was a kind supporting character in the original story, so he didn’t need to be wary of Nagore anymore.

Squeak-

As Raelle surveyed the scene.

The front doors of the conference hall swung open, and the Kamen Empire’s royals entered.

Thud. Thud.

The Kamen Empire’s royals possessed the innate ability to command attention with their mere footsteps.

It was the charisma of rulers born to stand above others.

Receiving everyone’s undivided attention, the royals, who were the last to arrive at the conference, took their places at the center of the hall.

The Emperor stood at the forefront.

‘That’s the Emperor…’ Raelle stared intently at the Emperor’s face.

Leopold von Grandia, the Emperor of the Thousand-Year Empire, Kamen.

He glanced around with a bored expression and then began to speak.

“We will now commence the conference on the war with the demons. We have gathered to discuss the greatest threat to humanity: the demonic invasion.”

The conference proceeded swiftly, reflecting the Emperor’s personality, without even a customary greeting.

Starting with the Emperor’s opening remarks, opinions began to be voiced by the delegations of each country.

“The appointment of the Saintess and the Champion in the Gaia Church signifies that the demonic invasion is imminent. I believe preparations are essential.”

“But isn’t it too premature? A reckless war will result in numerous casualties…”

Raelle watched the conference with a disinterested expression.

He didn’t anticipate that this conference would proceed smoothly anyway.

Since the demons weren’t currently in an offensive posture, it was natural for countries far from Alheim [the demon-infested region] to be passive.

‘Humans can’t truly unite until the fire is at their doorstep.’

Humans only recognize danger when they’re in dire straits.

Raelle was well aware of this fact, so he didn’t expect any significant outcomes from this conference.

‘It’s about time for it to begin.’

The important thing was to identify the individual acting suspiciously at this conference.

“The demonic threat is imminent. We must form a united army immediately.”

‘Is it starting already?’

Raelle looked towards Gideon, the Kamen Knight Commander, who had risen from his seat.

“Sir Gideon. I understand your concerns. But if we create a united army now, before the demons beyond the forbidden zone [the border between the human and demon realms] even move, does that imply we’re declaring war on our own initiative?”

It was Edmund of the Vanessa Kingdom who addressed Gideon.

He responded as if he had been anticipating Gideon’s words.

“The demons continue to provoke the continent. Even if the Demon Kings don’t make a move, they’ve targeted the Empire with numerous acts of terrorism. You can consider that they’ve already declared war.”

“So, are you suggesting we initiate a war with the demons right now?”

At Edmund’s words, the nobles attending the conference focused their attention on Gideon.

Raelle smiled as he observed the scene.

‘This is a setup.’

The seemingly natural exchange between the two lent weight to Gideon’s words.

Perhaps what he was expressing now was what he genuinely desired to say.

“It wouldn’t hurt to prepare in advance. I, Gideon Garcia, Kamen Knight Commander and the Empire’s strongest knight, will personally oversee the training of the united army.”

Gideon placed his hand on his chest and bowed to the Emperor.

It was a gesture indicating that he would seek permission from the ruler of the Thousand-Year Empire, Kamen.

“Gaia-men [followers of the Gaia Church]. I cannot disregard those words.”

However, Gideon’s plan was thwarted from the outset.

A man with a massive build stepped forward from the Gaia Church’s side.

“My name is Vernando, and as someone who represents Gaia’s will, I cannot tolerate that the Champion and the Saintess are not at the forefront of the war with the demons.”

Vernando glared.

Raelle, the next Champion he had invested in, was being relegated to the background in the war with the demons.

That was utterly unacceptable.

“Of course, there are also matters we need to entrust to the Church’s Champion and Saintess. The defense of the Imperial Capital. I recently heard that the Champion, who received Gaia’s revelation, apprehended a member of the Demonic Sect. I was already concerned that the Kamen Knights alone couldn’t prevent the demons and heretics from invading the Empire. It would be beneficial if the two of you could take charge of the Empire’s defense.”

Gideon said, bowing his head slightly.

He spoke politely, but ultimately, he was suggesting that he would entrust the Empire’s defense to the Champion and Saintess.

At his words, Vernando raised his voice even louder.

“What are you implying! To utilize the Church’s Champion and Saintess for the Empire’s defense!”

“The citizens of the Empire are also beings we must protect. Until the united army is formed, their protection is also one of the important tasks. Isn’t that right?”

“Uh, uh…”

“If a united army is formed, we should naturally place the Champion at the forefront. But until then… it would be more efficient for me, as the leader of the united army, to take charge of the training. I am the Kamen Knight Commander, so I am confident in training soldiers.”

Vernando blinked and tilted his head.

Upon reflection, his words weren’t entirely wrong.

Gaia’s teachings consistently emphasized equality, so the citizens of the Empire were also subjects of protection.

“Sir Gideon. I disagree. Even if the Empire’s defense is important, there’s no need to deploy the Champion and Saintess together. The Kamen Knights alone are sufficient.”

“I also concur with Princess Yuri’s words. It’s like using a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken. There’s no need to use a sword for killing a chicken [an idiom meaning using excessive force for a simple task].”

At that moment, Second Princess Yuri and Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader Mucheon spoke up.

At their words, Vernando nodded quickly.

“That’s right! Our Gaia Church absolutely does not agree…”

“I don’t mind.”

At that moment, a voice echoed from the center of the Gaia Church.

The voice, imbued with potent magical power, resonated through the magic and filled the interior of the conference hall.

“Gaia’s teachings have always championed equality. Protecting the citizens of the Empire is also something a Champion should do. Let’s proceed as Sir Gideon suggests.”

“…That’s right. Yes. That’s right. The Champion’s words are correct.”

Vernando tilted his head and echoed Raelle’s words.

He couldn’t comprehend why Raelle was suddenly adopting this stance.

The Raelle that Vernando knew was a bold individual who confronted issues head-on if he disapproved of them.

‘Well, let’s see what he’s planning.’

Raelle, in a fleeting moment, examined the reactions of the Vanessa Kingdom and Gideon.

The two didn’t make eye contact, but they displayed a flustered demeanor.

Besides them, there were a few others.

Among the nobles, there were individuals who exhibited a different reaction from the rest.

They weren’t curious about Raelle’s sudden words, but they were attempting to discern his intentions as if they were disconcerted.

‘It seems they’ve coordinated their statements to support Gideon.’

It was evident that Gideon had orchestrated something.

Perhaps he had also coordinated with the Vanessa Kingdom delegation.

‘I’m sorry, but this will be an opportunity.’

Regardless of how influential Raelle was as the Gaia Church’s Champion, he couldn’t forcibly depose the Kamen Knight Commander.

So, he was going to align with his intentions and dismantle whatever scheme he had devised.

Raelle smiled faintly.

*

Kamen Knight Commander’s Office.

In a pristine room that seemed incongruous with the position of the Empire’s strongest knight, Gideon frowned as if he was dissatisfied with something.

“The strongest knight in the Empire is me. It’s only natural that I should represent the Empire,” Gideon muttered to himself as if he was reiterating it to himself.

Everything was unfolding according to plan.

The conference would establish a united army to prepare for the demonic war.

The leader of the united army was, of course, Gideon Garcia.

With that alone, Gideon’s objective was half-accomplished.

‘Raelle… what is he plotting?’

The problem was Raelle.

He was Gideon’s sole source of anxiety and an entity he had to oppose.

[If you can’t eliminate him now, there won’t be another opportunity.]

The words he had heard from Raelle at the Duke’s mansion that day still lingered in Gideon’s mind.

Crack.

Gideon gritted his teeth.

He could never erase the humiliation of that day from his memory.

‘That individual knows I harbored murderous intent. Yet he readily agreed to my opinion.’

Raelle, the Gaia Church’s Champion and the Second Princess’s knight.

He wasn’t a fool.

He would never act according to his expectations.

Gideon recalled Raelle’s appearance, feeling uneasy.

Raelle was not merely a troublesome presence for him.

“His growth is too rapid.”

Raelle defied the conventional wisdom that Gideon held.

He grew stronger at an unbelievable pace, as if negating the swordsmanship that Gideon had cultivated over decades.

The brat had evolved into someone he couldn’t disregard from a certain point onward, and before he realized it, he had ascended to the same level as himself.

The Empire was yet unaware, but Gideon considered it a certainty that he had attained the rank of Sword Master [a high-level swordsman].

He was no longer an existence that could be ignored.

‘The Second Princess. The Duke. The Gaia Church. And the Righteous Heaven Alliance… perhaps there are more hidden forces besides them.’

Moreover, the power that Raelle possessed could not be overlooked.

The political influence he wielded also posed a threat to Gideon.

If he was allowed to develop any further, he would become so formidable that he couldn’t control him.

“I am the only one who represents the Empire. No, I am the only one who can assume responsibility for the Empire. It must be only me.”

Gideon chewed his lips.

It was he who had managed the chaotic Empire during the period when the Emperor had neglected state affairs.

It must also be he who would be at the forefront when the great war with the demons commenced.

The Kamen Knight Commander and the Empire’s foremost knight.

Only he could represent the Empire.

“Therefore… you must not live.”

Raelle.

He was no longer just an ordinary knight.

He was evolving into a figure who could represent not only the Gaia Church but also the Empire.

Therefore, he could no longer be permitted to live.

He had to be eliminated before he became so powerful that Gideon couldn’t handle him.

“Everything is for the Empire.”

Gideon firmly believed in his convictions.