The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 144

What the hell are the giants up to?

It wasn’t a particularly difficult question.

However, the moment he heard those words, Gent’s eyes turned cold.

“Huh? Huh? What’s with you two all of a sudden?”

Reina was the only one shaking her head from side to side between the two who were quietly facing each other.

She sensed the subtle tension between Gent and Rael.

“Rael. Did you meet another giant?”

“Yes. The Demonic Cult that appeared in the Empire a while ago. There was a giant among them.”

Rael vividly remembers that day.

The giant who was trying to take his life detonated himself with demonic energy.

He couldn’t forget the crazed look in that guy’s eyes, no matter how much he wanted to.

“…I see.”

Gent bit his lip.

So they finally made their move.

It was a flow that couldn’t be stopped no matter how much he delayed it.

“Rael, is that giant dead?”

“He self-destructed as soon as his face was revealed. His body was full of demonic energy.”

“Demonic energy…”

Gent sighed.

Finally, the giants joined hands with the demons.

Even without him, the great warrior of the giants, fate would not change.

“Gent. You know everything, don’t you? Don’t beat around the bush and answer honestly. What are the giants plotting?”

Strangely, after the appearance of the Demonic Cult, Gent was absent many days.

And there was a giant among the Demonic Cult.

If you’re not an idiot, you can’t help but find the connection between these two facts.

“…Plotting, you say. Rael. It is the fate of the giants.”

“Fate?”

“A race that must fight. It’s a problem for the giants, whose fate is determined from birth.”

Gent quietly began to explain about the giants.

The giants are born with an instinctive desire for battle.

As soon as they learn to walk, they begin to learn to fight, and most of their rituals and festivals are related to fighting.

Moreover, the giants do not hide such combat instincts and believe from birth that they are superior to other races.

The giants’ innate strength and size are God’s choice, so they feel they can rule other races.

That was the giant race.

“And I was born as the great warrior of such giants.”

“The great warrior of the giants? What’s that?”

Reina asked, listening to Gent’s words.

The answer came from Rael.

“The chief’s son. Right?”

“…Yes. I am the chief’s son, the great warrior of the giants.”

“C, chief’s son? Gent, you were an amazing guy!”

Reina was startled.

Gent, who used to tend the garden, was the chief’s son.

“The giants have been preparing for Ragnarok [a series of events leading to the end of the world], a war to put all the races of the continent under their feet. I’ve heard stories about Ragnarok since I was young, but unlike other giants, I couldn’t understand Ragnarok.”

Gent was different from other giants.

He didn’t know why he had to rule other races, and he didn’t want to fight.

Gent was more interested in the beauty of nature than in battle.

And he felt that humans living with nature were also beautiful.

He had the thick blood of the giants, but he had a peaceful mind that didn’t suit the giants.

“So… the giants joined hands with the demons for the war? Even if they are giants, they won’t be okay if they are addicted to demonic energy, right?”

“Unlike other races, giants are not easily addicted to demonic energy. That can be explained by the fact that I am in the Special Guard.”

“W, wait a minute. Gent. So you… are you on the side of the demons?”

Reina asked in embarrassment.

The demons were the elves’ enemies and the continent’s enemies.

She couldn’t imagine Gent joining hands with such guys.

“Gent. To be honest, I don’t care what you do. But if you’re thinking of joining hands with the Demonic Cult, you’d better get out of it.”

Rael said, looking at Gent.

He couldn’t feel any demonic energy from Gent yet.

It means there is still room for redemption.

“Thank you, Rael. Are you thinking of me?”

“Stop talking nonsense and answer me. Gent.”

Gent gave a self-deprecating smile at Rael’s words.

“…Rael. I already ran away.”

“Ran away?”

“Yes. I abandoned the work I had to do as the great warrior of the giants and ran away. That’s why I’m called the shame of the giants.”

Gent wanted to stop the giants.

But he couldn’t do anything alone, and he couldn’t change the giants.

So he ran away.

Because he didn’t know what to do.

“I abandoned my clan. Or maybe the clan abandoned me.”

Gent sat down in the garden with a bitter smile.

After the giants came to him directly, Gent tried to track them down somehow.

But he couldn’t track down the giants who had already joined hands with the Demonic Cult and were hiding.

“Gent, shall I tell you how to solve problems when you have a falling out with your family?”

Then, Rael said something out of the blue.

“…What are you talking about all of a sudden, Rael.”

“First, you fight like crazy. You put what you don’t like in your fists and solve it with each other. Originally, humans are no different from beasts, so they listen when they get hit. So you should hit them first and then think about it.”

“…Fight the whole clan?”

“What’s the big deal about those giants? If you don’t like it, you have to fight the world. Isn’t that right?”

Gent looked at Rael with a dumbfounded expression and opened his mouth.

“But Rael, weren’t you an orphan?”

“That’s why I’m saying this. Would I say this if I had parents?”

“…Huh.”

Gent was so dumbfounded that he let out a hollow laugh.

‘Hit your family first and then think about it’—it was truly an ignorant idea.

‘Maybe that’s what the giants need to hear.’

But it wasn’t wrong.

The giants have a way of thinking that the strong are always right.

To prove one’s righteousness, one had to prove one’s strength.

“As expected, it’s a solution worthy of a Gaia Church’s warrior. Rael. Sometimes you have to use violence.”

Only then did Gent feel his eyes brighten.

That’s right. Rael is showing it directly.

If you don’t like something, just destroy it.

There was no need to try to persuade the giants’ Ragnarok.

He just had to stop his fellow tribesmen with his own strength.

“Gent. You know there’s a sacred trial in a week, right?”

“Of course I know.”

Rael smirked.

“After the sacred trial, I’m going to hunt down the remnants of the Demonic Cult. Be prepared by then.”

“…Rael. There’s no need for that. I can handle my own work.”

Gent shook his head.

It was shameful to entrust the work of one race to another.

“You bastard. You said we were comrades, but now you’re thinking of doing it alone?”

“That’s…”

Gent pursed his lips.

He actually thought of Rael as a comrade, so it wasn’t wrong.

“Oh, oh… I’ll help too! You’re different from Rael, so you can’t get help from the elves… but if you tell Yuri, she’ll definitely help!”

Reina also raised her hand at the right timing.

“…I see.”

Gent always talked about comrades, but perhaps he himself was the one who didn’t think about comrades the most.

Gent, the shame of the giants,

He nodded without realizing it.

*

A week passed in an instant.

On the morning of the sacred trial, the church’s grand plaza was already full of people.

The nobles were sitting in good seats, looking at the center of the grand plaza, and the remaining seats were packed with citizens.

“Wow, there are so many people.”

“That’s right, Sir Carlson.”

Lucas sat down and looked around.

The grand plaza, which was already full, was still filling with people.

“I’m glad that Rael is not the type to be nervous. I wouldn’t have been able to fight properly if it were me.”

“…Yes. But I’m still worried. Do you think Sir Rael can win?”

Lucas looked at Gideon standing on the stage.

He was standing on the stage with restraints on his arms.

It’s not that he didn’t trust Rael, but Lucas knew Gideon’s strength well.

The commander of the Carmen Knights was by no means a light position.

“Don’t worry too much. Who is Rael? He’s one of the Empire’s Seven and the Warrior of Exorcism. If he receives Gaia’s revelation, there’s no way he can’t win!”

Carlson clenched his fist confidently.

“…That’s true. Ah, it’s about to start.”

“Warrior of Exorcism, Sir Rael! Show us your strength!”

Lucas nodded, listening to Carlson’s support.

He only wished that Rael would not get hurt.

“Mr. Rael. Are you really okay?”

Just before the sacred trial began.

Cecilia was praying next to Rael.

“Don’t worry. Gaia gives strength to those who believe.”

“But the revelation is…”

Rael shook his head, looking at Cecilia.

“Sigh. What does the revelation matter? If we are confident, Gaia will give us the strength worthy of our faith.”

Of course, Rael didn’t expect any help from Gaia [the Earth goddess].

All he believed in was himself and his sword.

Woong woong-

[T, this crazy warrior. Stop selling Gaia’s name!]!

The Holy Sword Saint complained, but Rael just smirked.

“You liked watching my swordsmanship training too.”

[That was just a reaction to swordsmanship as a sword…! It’s a natural physiological phenomenon…!]

The Holy Sword Saint had been complaining throughout the training, but he didn’t withdraw his divine power.

It probably meant that he finally recognized Rael as a warrior.

Rael was satisfied with that much.

“Warrior. It’s time to enter.”

“Okay. I’ll go down.”

Rael took the Holy Sword, looking at the holy knight who had brought him.

“Mr. Rael. Good luck…! I’ll be praying.”

“Thank you, Cecilia.”

Rael gave a light greeting to Cecilia and went up to the grand plaza’s arena.

It was called an arena, but there were only holy knights standing in a circle on the stage.

This was the stage for the sacred trial to judge criminals.

“I am Rael, the warrior of the Gaia Church. The criminal Gideon Garcia shall be judged.”

As soon as he stepped onto the arena, everyone’s eyes turned to him.

Rael felt the gaze and looked at Gideon.

“Sir Rael. I’m sorry, but I’m not a criminal yet.”

Gideon handed the restraints binding his arms to the holy knight and loosened his shoulders.

“You seem to be misunderstanding something, but you are a criminal. Your sins will only disappear if you win the sacred trial. You are a criminal at this moment.”

“…Then I’ll have to prove it.”

Gideon’s expression hardened.

In fact, he had been living in the church’s interrogation room for a week.

It was true that he had been treated like a criminal during that time.

His condition was not the best.

‘But this is enough.’

He was a Sword Master, so these restrictions were as good as nothing.

Besides, there was a big difference between Gideon and Rael.

No matter how talented he was, he couldn’t catch up with decades of difference in just a few months.

“Still, it’s a duel, so shall I give you a few moves?”

Rael put his hand on the Holy Sword and raised the corners of his mouth.

It was a light provocation that the nobles really liked.

“…”

However, Gideon did not react to it and slowly drew his sword.

“Well, if you don’t want to.”

Taak-

Rael immediately kicked off the ground.

He said he would give the first move, but this was not a duel.

Sacred trial.

It was a place for the holy knights of the Gaia Church to judge criminals.

‘Gideon’s swordsmanship is fast and sharp, which doesn’t match his size.’

Rael recalled his sparring with Gideon.

His domain, Chrono Break,

His domain, which confuses the nerves as if manipulating time, originated from his swordsmanship.

In other words, Gideon’s swordsmanship was also far from a fair and square strong sword.

“Thousand Slaughter Sword Form 1. Ipcheon [a powerful downward sword strike].”

Rael slammed his sword down and unleashed his magic power.

Taang-!

Gideon, who lightly bounced off Ipcheon’s sword strike, lowered his stance.

The magic power that instantly dominated the surroundings blocked Rael’s path.

‘I’m slower in speed. But I’m stronger in power.’

Thousand Slaughter Sword, which can cut off the lives of even demons in one stroke.

Gideon’s sword was weaker in destructive power than the Thousand Slaughter Sword.

Kwaaaang-!

The magic power that erupted from Gideon’s surroundings rushed towards Rael.

Rael stepped back and unleashed the Holy Sword’s divine power.

“…Tsk.”

Rael frowned.

It seemed that it was not an exaggeration to say that he was the closest person to the Thousand Slaughter Sword Master. His head was dizzy just from the magic power explosion.

“Gaia said that she gives strength to the righteous. Warrior Rael. I will judge the sin of disturbing the Empire with false revelations with my own hands.”

Gideon raised his sword.

His eyes burned with passion.

After defeating Rael.

He will once again stand at the center of the Empire.

“You’re talking nonsense.”

Rael shook his head, looking at Gideon’s crazed eyes.

As he told Gent, a beating was the best medicine for such a crazy guy.

“Hoicheon [Returning Heaven, a technique to enhance senses].”

Rael began to awaken his senses with the Holy Sword.