The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 137

Forbidden Alheim.

In the Demon realm, pushed back by the human race that dominates the continent, a giant demon spread its wings.

Crack-

The Demon King, Maledrak.

The eyes embedded in his body awakened one by one, surveying the surroundings.

Maledrak, who had been sitting on the obsidian throne, slowly rose.

“Lord Maledrak, a warrior and a saintess from the Gaia Order have appeared in the Empire.”

“I already know. It’s not strange that the Great War is approaching.”

Maledrak gestured dismissively at the demon kneeling before him.

Since Barthold’s death, his gaze had been encompassing the entire continent.

“What should we do with the humans who worship Lord Maledrak…? Their numbers have grown more than expected.”

“The Demonic Cult, you say. Since the human race doesn’t have an absolute being like the Demon King, it’s not surprising that strange ones emerge.”

After Barthold’s death,

Maledrak further increased the amount of demonic energy he scattered to monitor the continent.

And some humans became interested in that demonic energy.

They called themselves the Demonic Cult and began to worship the Demon race.

It was a limitation of the human race, unable to unite without an overwhelming ruler like the Demon King.

“Still… it’s interesting. There’s no need to stop the insects from devouring each other.”

The preparations for the Great Plan were perfect.

Numerous demons had infiltrated the Empire.

Although the tracking of the Ghostly Energy had been cut off, finding the Ghost King Yacha was only a matter of time.

‘The Demonic Cult… I don’t have much interest in humans, but if they can cause even a little damage to the Gaia Order, it wouldn’t be meaningless.’

The saintess and warrior of the Gaia Order.

Maledrak recalled the special human who had absorbed his demonic energy.

Back then, when he had bestowed demonic energy upon a dying demon.

The irregular of the human race who had cut off his demonic energy.

The human who was expected to have killed Barthold was now being called the warrior of the Gaia Order.

“Indeed, the human race also recognizes the heroes of the era.”

A new hero had appeared in the human race since the Heavenly Executioner Sword Lord.

Maledrak recalled the human’s face and commanded the demon.

“Tell the demons to support the Demonic Cult. If they can inflict even a little damage on the Empire and the Order, it will be enough use for the insects.”

At the same time, the eyes on Maledrak’s body closed.

The clones of those eyes headed towards the Empire.

*

About a week had passed since the talks about the war with the Demon race ended.

Raelle frowned, looking at the paladins behind her.

‘Capital defense, my foot. Tch. Is it surveillance? Or an ambush?’

Raelle had been wandering around the capital for a week.

And wandering around the capital, she couldn’t help but doubt how the Demon race had infiltrated.

‘The entire 1st District is densely guarded by the Carmen Knights, and there are countless knights stationed in the 2nd and 3rd Districts as well. How on earth did the Demon race get in?’

The capital defense of the Thousand-Year Empire Carmen was so strong that Raelle wasn’t even needed.

If the Demon race broke through all of this, it was certain that there was a collaborator of the Demon race within the Empire.

“Raelle, is something bothering you? You don’t look well…”

“It’s nothing. I was just thinking the capital’s defense is quite strong.”

“Isn’t it all thanks to the grace of the Gaia Order? Hehe.”

Cecilia, walking next to Raelle, smiled and made the sign of the cross.

Always wearing a bright smile was typical of Cecilia as Raelle knew her, but Raelle knew her condition well.

“Saintess.”

“Yes, Raelle.”

“Shouldn’t we also look around below the 4th District? There are more Imperial citizens living in the 4th and 5th Districts than in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Districts combined.”

“Certainly… If commoners are dying, it’s not entirely good for the Gaia Order. Quite a few branches, excluding the main branch, are operated with donations from commoners.”

“… Yes. That’s right.”

Raelle clicked her tongue, looking at Cecilia.

Her thoughts were somewhat twisted.

“As Raelle says, we should take a look around the 4th District next time. But I don’t think there’s any need to go to the 5th District. There are no branches of the Order and the standard of living isn’t high. There’s no need for the warrior and saintess of the Gaia Order to move!”

“…”

Raelle nodded with a sullen expression.

He knew well that Cecilia’s thoughts were twisted.

‘If it weren’t for the paladins, I would have forcibly undone the brainwashing.’

Now that Raelle had even mastered the Domain, extracting the foreign divine power from Cecilia’s body wasn’t that difficult.

The problem was the paladins beside her.

‘If I don’t see an opening… it might be okay to scatter demonic energy and forcibly extract it.’

She was also considering a hard-line approach.

Perhaps if the time came when Cecilia’s brainwashing had to be undone immediately, she would have to do it that way.

“Saintess, what are you planning to do when the defense of the Imperial capital is finished?”

“As the saintess of the Gaia Order, I have things to do. His Holiness the Pope said that there is a sacred place where I can increase the divine power of the saintess.”

“…A sacred place?”

Raelle tilted her head.

A sacred place? There was no such concept in the original work.

“Yes. He said that in order to prepare for the war with the Demon race, it is necessary to quickly increase divine power.”

“Hmm…”

Has something changed within the Gaia Order as it has diverged from the original work?

It seems necessary to check it out directly.

“Then, can I also go to that sacred place? I need divine power too.”

“Of course! I will definitely tell His Holiness the Pope about Raelle too.”

Cecilia smiled and clapped her hands happily.

Buzz-

[She is truly a devout saintess, Raelle. If it weren’t for you, the Gaia Order would be perfect.]

“…”

Is this bastard a holy sword and can’t even see brainwashing?

Well, what else would you expect from a dim-witted sword.

Raelle stopped thinking about the holy sword, looking around.

She was currently near the western fountain in the 2nd District.

“This is where the Inquisitors fought against the Demon race and were martyred. Gaia-men. May they rest in peace.”

“…Ahem. Gaia-men.”

Raelle looked at the fountain after a long time and recalled the past.

It was the memory of dealing with the Inquisitors who had tried to kill Carlson back then.

‘Still, Carlson will be more helpful to the Order than you guys.’

As the warrior of the Gaia Order, she felt uneasy about killing the Inquisitors, but that feeling quickly disappeared when she thought about what they were trying to do.

Raelle lightly made the sign of the cross and looked around.

It was to check the defenses around, as she had done until now.

Tap- Tap tap-

At that time, a rhythmic metallic sound called out to Raelle.

Raelle glanced at the direction of the metallic sound and said to the paladins nearby.

“I’ll go check around for a moment, so please wait with the Saintess.”

“Yes!”

Raelle followed the beggar who was entering an alley.

After going quite far inside, Raelle widened her eyes as she looked at the beggar who revealed his face.

“Uncle Zenith? What brings you here?”

“There are so many paladins that I came myself because I was worried that something might happen if I left it to the other beggars. Tch. I’m tired to death.”

Raelle nodded, looking at Zenith.

He was stronger than he looked, so it was understandable.

“Do you have any good information? What is the Carmen Knights doing right now?”

“They are focused on creating a coalition army centered around Gideon. The commander has been confirmed as Gideon Garcia, and group training will begin soon.”

She thought they were entrusting the defense of the Empire to take her life in the meantime, but Gideon was wasting his energy on organizing the coalition army.

Raelle requested more detailed information about the coalition army and Gideon.

“From what I’ve investigated in various ways… Gideon seems to have been preparing for the coalition army for quite some time. They say it’s his dream.”

“The coalition army is his dream?”

“It was the testimony of Grand Duke and Commander Rain, and several other nobles.”

“Hmm…”

Raelle recalled the original work at those words.

There was a part in the original work where the war with the Demon race began.

‘Come to think of it, Gideon was the commander of the coalition army back then.’

At the time when the war with the Demon race broke out, Lucas was neither a warrior nor a Sword Master.

It was a natural course for Gideon, the strongest knight of the Empire, to become the commander.

Even after Lucas became a warrior, he had no interest in such a position.

‘And Gideon in the original work wasn’t a bad guy.’

Could that really be the problem?

Was he afraid that Raelle, the warrior, would covet Gideon’s position?

Raelle opened her mouth with a hopeful heart.

“Uncle Zenith, about Gideon. Could it be that he’s keeping me in check because he’s worried I’ll become the commander of the coalition army?”

“Does that make sense? He’s the commander of the Carmen Knights.”

“Humans are originally a stupid race that even starts wars over trivial things.”

“If that’s the case… wouldn’t it be enough to say that you’ll yield? Then Gideon would be satisfied too.”

Zenith was secretly relieved.

If such a simple misunderstanding was the problem, it could be resolved.

“What nonsense are you talking about, Uncle? That’s that, and we can’t just let it go.”

Even if Raelle’s guess was correct, the relationship with Gideon could not return to normal.

He tried to take her life once, what’s to stop him from doing it twice?

Raelle already knew the disgusting aspects of medieval fantasy well.

Gideon Garcia.

He is her enemy.

That fact will never change.

“If that’s what you want, I can’t help it… Be careful.”

“More than that, Uncle Zenith. Besides the fact that the Carmen Knights are training hard, don’t you have any better information?”

“Better information? They’re actually just training, what do you want me to find out?”

“Tsk. There’s no way that’s all. Why are these beggar bastards so incompetent? Should I really teach them even Kyung Gong [lightness skill, a martial art technique]?”

Was it this difficult to gather information in a fantasy where they even use magic?

Raelle narrowed her eyes, disappointed in Beggars.

“That’s the end of what the Carmen Knights said they would participate more actively in training! Even the God of War can’t find out more than that!”

“So, besides such obvious things…”

Raelle, who was about to cross her arms in frustration, suddenly became concerned about the words ‘participate more actively in training’.

“But actively? Exactly how much?”

“Most of the Carmen Knights will move. Now that the representative of the coalition army is Gideon, the Carmen Knights will also become the representative knight order of the coalition army.”

“Hmm… What about the defense of the Empire?”

Raelle recalled the defense of the Empire that she had been examining for the past week.

If the Carmen Knights left that position, there would definitely be a big hole in the defense of the Empire.

“There were many opinions that the defense of the Empire would be fine since there is a warrior.”

At Zenith’s words, Raelle could be sure.

It seems that Gideon is not directly involved.

“So, exactly where do you think it will be empty? Investigate with that information in mind.”

Raelle smiled.

It seemed that an opportunity to strike a blow had come faster than expected.

*

A season when the cold was slowly approaching.

Noon in late autumn.

The capital of the Empire was still peaceful.

Even now that the Continental Coalition Army, led by the Carmen Knights, had begun to form, the Imperial citizens did not feel threatened by the war.

“Hmm hmm -. Ah. I want to eat meat.”

Reina hummed as she walked the streets of the 2nd District.

“Reina, are you still only eating meat? You’re an adult now.”

Raine smiled wryly and followed behind her.

“But meat is delicious. Vegetables are not tasty. It’s the only downside of the Elven race.”

Reina loved the Elven race, but she didn’t love their eating habits.

“Oh, Sister. There’s chicken skewers over there. Let’s go. It’s called green onion chicken skewers, and I’ll give you the green onions.”

“Thank you, Reina.”

Raine held Reina’s hand tightly and walked the streets.

She had a sharp sense of perception, so she didn’t need to hold hands, but Reina always insisted on holding hands and walking together.

That warm heart was always a joy to Raine.

“Here, Sister. It’s green onion chicken skewers, and I’ll give the green onions to Sister especially. Take a bite!”

Reina smiled and dated Raine.

“Reina, are you giving Raine only vegetables again?”

“Eh, Ellora. What do you know? The green onion is the most delicious part of the green onion chicken skewers.”

The elves who passed by and saw the scene also gave her a reproach, but everyone’s faces were filled with smiles.

Reina loved this situation so much.

What she couldn’t have imagined even half a year ago was happening.

It was all thanks to one man.

‘Raelle… I wonder what he’s doing.’

Recently, Reina hadn’t been seeing the faces of the special guards.

Yuri was busy with the succession competition, and Ghent didn’t even show his face except when he was working.

Raelle also became a warrior of the Gaia Order and didn’t stop by the special guards, so Reina didn’t go to the special guards unless she had work.

‘It would have been nice if we could all play together.’

Just as Reina was chewing on the chicken skewers with a regretful expression,

– Long live, long live, long long live (萬歲萬歲萬萬歲) [a traditional Chinese expression of wishing someone ten thousand years of life, similar to “long live the king” in Western cultures]!

A man began to shout in the middle of the street.

“Reina, what’s that sound?”

“I wonder? Is he doing a performance?”

Reina tilted her head, looking at the man.

In addition to her, people who were passing by began to glare at the man.

– I will directly stop the faith of these ignorant people! Demon King Manifestation (魔王現身) [the Demon King appears], Ten Thousand Demons Adore (萬魔仰伏) [all demons prostrate themselves]!

The statue of the main god Gaia in the middle of the 2nd District.

A strange man with a black cloak pulled over his head began to emit an unidentified power in front of the statue.

– I will show the power of the Demonic Cult to the humans who believe in the Gaia Order!

“The Demonic Cult? That’s definitely…”

Reina recalled the religion that had recently been causing a lot of problems among humans.

And before that thought was over,

– Divine Teaching Invincible (神敎不敗) [the divine teachings are undefeated], Demonic Path Under Heaven (魔道天下) [the demonic path rules the world]!

Kwaaaaaaa -!

The man’s body exploded like a bomb, scattering demonic energy in all directions.

Demonic energy that could be extremely poisonous even if touched by a human who could not handle magic was released in the middle of the 2nd District.

“Kyaaaaaaa!”

“R, run away! Uwaaa!”

The statue of the main god Gaia, which was close to the man, collapsed and burst into a roar.

At the same time, the Demonic Cultists who had been standing around the man revealed themselves.

They all emitted terrifying demonic energy and began to take control of the surroundings.

“Kneel before the power of the Demonic Cult!”

“Uwaaa!”

The humans who were touched by the demonic energy spreading around began to fall one by one, and the peaceful street instantly turned into a scene of carnage.

“Sister! Hide behind me!”

“U, ung!”

Reina was startled and emitted the magic of nature.

First, she would protect Raine and herself, and then she would share the power of the World Tree with the humans around her as much as she could afford.

“…Huh?”

However, the moment Reina looked around.

The humans who had been feeling pain and falling were already regaining their complexion.

“H, huh…?”

“I don’t hurt… How did this happen…?”

The people felt the demonic energy that had filled their bodies disappear.

It was truly a miracle, as if the main god Gaia had descended.

Reina grasped the center of that power and turned her head.

“…Raelle?”

Reina, who was the only one in the street who was conscious, looked at a man approaching.

There was a monstrous human who was single-handedly grasping the demonic energy of this entire street.

“He’s the target! Aim for that guy’s head!”

One of the Demonic Cultists scattered demonic energy and rushed towards Raelle.

And Raelle lightly drew his sword.

Hwaaa-

The holy sword Saint enveloped the surroundings in light.

Raelle lightly swung his sword at the Demonic Cultist who was approaching with a scream.

“Kkeuaaa!”

The Demonic Cultist, whose limbs were torn apart by a single sword, died with his eyes wide open.

The Demonic Cultists, who had been confidently emitting demonic energy at the sight, trembled.

Raelle smirked.

“I will now begin the hunting of heretics.”