The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 142

After the sudden Hero’s Revelation, the meeting stalled.

Emperor Leopold ordered the nobles to investigate Gideon.

“Make sure no one enters.”

Leopold dismissed the knights and entered the reception room alone.

The Emperor preferred to be alone when lost in thought, so even the escort knights stayed away from the room.

“Gideon Garcia…”

Leopold murmured quietly.

The image of the Knight Commander, who had devoted decades of loyalty to the Carmen Knights and the Empire, flashed through his mind.

“Betrayal… It will probably be difficult to find evidence.”

Leopold smiled faintly.

Gideon Garcia had never betrayed the Empire.

All his actions were for the sake of the Empire.

Even if he brought demons into the Empire, it would have been an action for the Empire in his own way.

‘There’s no way any proper evidence would be left… Is the problem ultimately the Revelation?’

The Hero did prepare evidence, but Gideon’s authority could suppress that much.

However, each of those things would erode his image among the nobles, so Gideon would be on edge.

‘But Gideon, you’ll find a way out somehow.’

Leopold recalled the face of the Hero confronting Gideon.

He became more interested in Rael than in Gideon.

A storm-like figure who appeared in the quiet Empire. Rael.

He was trying to destroy what Gideon had built up over decades in a single day.

‘Rael, I don’t care what happens to Carmen… but if you interfere with me, I won’t let it go.’

Leopold placed his hand on his heart, thinking that.

Thump- Thump-

Mana began to leak from his body.

Leopold slowly controlled the power and stored it deep within his heart.

Mana.

The path he eventually reached in pursuit of eternal life.

A power closer to sorcery than magic.

He realized how to properly use this power.

‘I will soon be able to obtain eternal life.’

The founding festival of the Carmen Empire.

At that place, Leopold will regain his youth once again.

*

The investigation into Gideon was completed in less than half a day.

The every move of someone like the Carmen Knight Commander is recorded, and all the manpower of the Imperial Family was mobilized because of the serious nature of the matter.

As soon as the news broke that the investigation was over and the meeting would resume, the nobles re-entered the hall, and Rael stood among the Gaia Order.

After waiting for a while, the representative of the Imperial Family stood at the center of the hall.

“It is true that demons infiltrated through a gap created by the Carmen Knights’ surprise training, but it was impossible to know whether it was Gideon’s intentional act. Furthermore, there is no evidence that the poison of the Four Dragon that Lord Belen testified to was Gideon’s. Therefore, the Carmen Empire will not punish Carmen Knight Commander Gideon for acts of betrayal.”

As soon as the Imperial Family representative finished speaking, murmurs spread among the nobles.

Explosive news broke as soon as the meeting resumed.

“If the Empire cannot trust the evidence… does that mean Lord Gideon is not a traitor after all?”

“Then what about the Order’s Revelation?”

“In the end, the most important thing is the Revelation. There’s no way Gaia’s words could be wrong. Besides, if he were a traitor, he would have already gotten rid of the evidence!”

“T, that might be true…”

Although some favorable words about Gideon were coming out among the nobles, Gideon had already lost trust.

‘The honor of a noble never returns once it’s been damaged.’

Rael smiled as he looked at the nobles.

Except for a few nobles who seemed to have been planted by Gideon, they were still looking at Gideon with suspicious eyes.

That also meant that the Gaia Order’s Revelation was highly reliable.

Of course, evidence was necessary.

If there hadn’t been data from Belen or Baggus, the nobles wouldn’t have changed their minds so quickly.

‘Prideful nobles never go back once they change their minds.’

There’s no way nobles who risk their lives for pride and honor can change their opinions again.

Especially since there is a huge force like the Gaia Order, they will want to keep Gideon in check this time.

“The Empire has entrusted the judgment on Gideon Garcia’s act of betrayal to the Gaia Order. Therefore, we will begin a religious trial for Gideon Garcia from this moment on.”

The corners of Rael’s lips went up at Pope Chunma’s words.

It is almost impossible to escape the Gaia Order’s religious trial.

What is a religious trial?

In the end, it means judging according to the doctrines within the religion.

In other words, it is an inquisition [a period of intense religious questioning and judgment].

As long as there is Gaia’s Revelation, Gideon cannot escape this situation.

“The Gaia Order has received a Revelation that Lord Gideon is a traitor. Originally, Gaia’s Revelation is absolute law. In principle, we should immediately sentence him to execution.”

The nobles swallowed at the Pope’s words.

‘Are they really going to execute the Carmen Knight Commander?’

‘Even if it’s the Order…’

The Carmen Knight Commander is like a symbol of the Empire.

If it’s execution, not imprisonment, there will definitely be backlash.

“However… we acknowledge his dedication to the Empire as the Carmen Knight Commander. We will give him a chance to speak.”

Pope Chunma looked at Gideon.

Gideon stood in the hall with his shoulders confidently.

“Your Holiness. I do not doubt Gaia. But, with my hand on my heart, I have never committed any act of treason. So, I want to entrust the judgment to Gaia.”

Gideon closed his eyes with his hand on his chest.

“In this place, I request a sacred trial with the Hero who received the Revelation.”

Gideon’s voice echoed in the hall.

At the same time, the hall began to stir.

The nobles and priests looked at each other with surprised expressions, and Emperor Leopold also raised his eyebrows.

“Gaia will side with the righteous. Please give me a chance to prove my innocence.”

At Gideon’s words, people’s attention turned to the Gaia Order.

“Sacred trial…?! W, well… I’ve certainly heard that anyone can request it in a religious trial if they are a criminal…”

Carlson trembled at the word sacred trial.

And Rael looked at him and asked.

“Carlson. What is a sacred trial?”

“Yes? Don’t you know?”

“I’m asking because I don’t know. Why is everyone looking at me?”

“That is, brother. A sacred trial is…”

Rael nodded at Carlson’s explanation.

The word was unfamiliar, but in simple terms, it was a duel trial [a trial by combat].

A system in which right and wrong are determined by each other’s duels in ambiguous cases where the judge cannot determine good and evil.

It is a barbaric way of thinking that God will give strength to the one who speaks the truth.

‘But, it’s the perfect thing to say now.’

Rael pushed Gideon with Gaia’s Revelation.

Therefore, he could not refuse the sacred trial.

If it is such an important matter that the omniscient Gaia gave a Revelation, it is natural to give him the power to defeat him.

‘In the end, it’s a duel…’

Rael narrowed his eyes and looked at Gideon.

In medieval fantasy, a duel is a matter of honor.

Refusing a duel means being called a guy with no honor, and refusing a duel trial is the same as admitting guilt.

In particular, it is absurd for a Hero of the Gaia Order to refuse a sacred trial requested by a criminal.

‘Gideon… not bad.’

Rael smiled.

As expected, he couldn’t bring him down with just this.

“I am a Hero who serves Gaia and has received her Revelation.”

Rael stepped forward from the center of the Order.

Rael, who walked towards the center of the meeting, made a sign of the cross and placed his hand on the Holy Sword.

“If Gaia’s Revelation is not wrong, there is no way I will lose. I will accept the sacred trial.”

Rael made a sign of the cross as he looked at the Pope.

Pope Chunma lowered his gaze at his unwavering appearance.

‘To be so confident…’

Chunma pondered as he looked at him.

Did Gaia actually give Rael a Revelation?

‘There is nothing certain. If you really received Gaia’s Revelation, you must prove it with results.’

Chunma has not yet heard Gaia’s voice.

But if Rael proves the results, he will also respect Rael.

“Both sides have agreed. The sacred trial will be held in a week. We will proceed at the Gaia Order’s main headquarters.”

*

After the religious trial was settled and the meeting was over.

Carlson, who came to the training ground of the Rein Knights, clenched his fist.

“Damn it…! You’re no help! I didn’t trust that bastard Belen from the beginning. Isn’t he the one who stole brother’s career in the first place!”

“Be quiet, Carlson.”

Rael stopped Carlson, who was jumping up and down.

Belen was bowing his head behind him.

“I’m sorry. Lord Rael. …I don’t think I was helpful.”

“It’s okay. This is more than I expected.”

Belen did his part just by damaging Gideon’s reputation.

Just hearing the exposure from someone who used to be a subordinate would have damaged Gideon’s honor.

“Rael… more than that, are you really okay? I’m talking about the sacred trial.”

Rein looked at Rael and asked carefully.

“Of course, I’m okay. I received Gaia’s Revelation. I think you forget sometimes, but I’m a Hero of the Gaia Order.”

“…That’s right. I sometimes forget.”

“And, I can’t give up now. How did I get this opportunity?”

This meeting was like a stage prepared to push Gideon.

The representatives of the continent were gathered, and all the nobles and priests were in attendance.

This was the only chance to push Gideon in a place where they were all gathered.

Now that the Allied Forces have been formed earlier than in the original work,

once he takes control of the Allied Forces, he will not be able to be brought down even if he wants to.

“That’s also true… Gideon is a powerful figure who has risen to the second strongest position in the Empire. You, the seventh strongest in the Empire, are an enemy that is difficult for you to handle. Even if you are a Hero of the Gaia Order, can you narrow the gap with Gaia’s blessing?”

“…Well.”

Rael smiled bitterly at Rein’s words.

He believed that Rael’s Revelation was real.

But, Rael, whose Revelation was a lie from the beginning, had to subdue Gideon with a fair duel.

‘My current level is… about the beginning of Sword Master [a highly skilled swordsman].’

Of course, the beginning of Sword Master is just the level of proficiency in handling the domain, and the combat power itself will be stronger than that.

Rael has the Holy Sword that emits infinite divine power, and the Thousand Killing Sword and the Predator’s Sense.

He was confident that he would not lose to any ordinary knight.

‘But Gideon is the strongest of them all.’

Gideon, the best knight in the Empire.

Rael recalled the moment when he aimed for his life.

He was definitely strong.

If it were Rael at that time, he would not have been able to win even if he fought 100 times.

But Rael has continued to grow since then.

He became a Hero and obtained the Holy Sword, developed the Predator’s Sense, and materialized the domain.

‘I can overcome it now.’

One week left until the sacred trial.

Rael was confident that he could overcome the wall called Gideon.