The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 146

Clang-

Raelle took a step forward, raising the sword to the sky.

At the same time, the ground caved in, and the stage shook violently.

The Ascendant Sword, imbued with the power of the sky, the sun, and the moon, blazed in Raelle’s hand.

“Ugh, you bastard….”

“Even in this state, you’re forcing out magic? Sir Gideon Carmen is indeed impressive.”

Raelle looked at the staggering Gideon with a hint of wonder.

Even with such an overwhelming amount of magical energy forced into his body, enough to overwhelm any human, he was still trying to resist. He truly lived up to his reputation as the Empire’s strongest knight.

If Raelle hadn’t caught him off guard with Hoicheon [a surprise attack or hidden technique], winning in a head-on fight would have been quite difficult.

Swish-

Thinking that, Raelle brought down the sword.

“Kuaaaaaaack!”

Raelle wasn’t some villain who wouldn’t attack during a transformation, nor was he foolish enough to wait for Gideon to recover.

The holy sword, descending with the force to bisect Gideon, shattered the Carmen Knights’ armor and deeply pierced his chest.

Raelle grimaced at the unpleasant sensation of cutting through human flesh.

Thud.

At the same moment.

Gideon’s body fell backward.

It was an injury from which he could never recover.

Gideon’s body collapsed onto the stage with a deep wound in his chest, plunging the area into silence.

What had just happened was so unbelievable, even to those who had witnessed it directly.

“…The Hero has defeated Sir Gideon.”

The nobles swallowed hard at someone’s murmur.

The Hero, blessed by Gaia [the Earth goddess], had defeated the Carmen Knights’ commander.

This was not just a matter of traitors emerging.

Raelle was the Hero of the Gaia Order, the knight of the Second Princess, a close friend of Archduke Eric, and a knight recognized by the executives of the Soma Assembly.

From now on, the power structure of the Empire would be completely overturned.

“It is a divine judgment! Gaia has bestowed power upon the Hero!”

“Punish the traitor!”

The commoners who had been watching the divine judgment began to shout.

The Carmen Knights’ commander was, without a doubt, the Empire’s strongest knight, second only to the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord.

For the Hero Raelle, one of the Empire’s Seven Spears, to defeat such a great knight was nothing short of a miracle from Gaia.

“Silver Cross Knights.”

Raelle wiped the blood from the holy sword and sheathed it.

“Yes, y-yes.”

“Escort the criminal.”

He pointed his chin at Gideon.

Raelle had already recovered the magical energy contained in his body, but Gideon, having taken the Ascendant Sword head-on, was in no condition to rise again.

“Raelle. Good work. Gaia’s prophecy is never wrong, after all.”

“It’s only natural.”

Raelle greeted Marco, who was approaching, with a light bow.

The Silver Cross Knights, who had surrounded the stage, began to subdue Gideon under Marco’s command.

His limbs were bound, and magical tools to suppress his magic were attached to Gideon’s chest.

“Stop… stop it! I am the Carmen Knights’ commander!”

“Be quiet, Gideon.”

“Marco! Damn it! Did you really not see? The Hero Raelle used demonic energy! Heavenly Demon [the Pope]! Come down here immediately and stop this divine judgment!”

Gideon, bound by restraints, glared around.

The murderous intent in his eyes made even the paladins flinch.

“Sir Gideon, or rather, criminal Gideon. Wasn’t it you who requested the divine judgment? To now disobey Gaia’s choice means you never had faith in Gaia to begin with, does it not?”

“Don’t talk nonsense! Raelle! What tricks did you use! Are you planning to destroy the Empire by joining hands with demons!”

“Did you get hit so hard you lost your mind? That’s your story.”

Raelle scoffed in disbelief.

To hear such words from a guy who was creating a crisis by invading the Empire with demons to unify it was making his head spin.

“Did you think the world would always go your way? If you were going to kill others, you should have been prepared to die yourself.”

“Raelle! I was only working for the Empire! Your existence was unnecessary for the Empire’s perfect unification!”

“Even if your thoughts are right, I can’t just quietly die, can I? Don’t you think?”

“Everything was for the Empire!”

He’s completely lost it.

Raelle shook his head. Then, he crouched down in front of Gideon, who was bound by restraints.

“That’s why I told you. I clearly said you would regret it, that there would be no more chances.”

Raelle smiled.

It was a cheap taunt Raelle had made the day Gideon revealed his murderous intent towards him.

“…You, you bastard!”

“The Lord Gaia embraces all, but does not forgive traitors. Gaia-men [followers of Gaia].”

Raelle clasped his hands together and prayed to Gaia.

“Raelle! I lived for the Empire, and I will die for the Empire! I can’t fall in a place like this!”

“Yes. Please reflect on your love for the Empire while thinking about Gaia’s teachings in prison. Who knows? Maybe Gaia will be moved by your repentance in prison and bestow a blessing upon you.”

“I, I am indispensable! I am the only one who can unify and lead the Empire! Gideon Gar…!”

Thwack-

Just as Gideon was ranting.

A stout priest ran up and punched him in the head.

“You impious fool! The result of the divine judgment has been revealed, yet you cannot accept it!”

“Wow.”

Raelle blinked, watching the fist, heavy with the weight of his thick body.

He had thought this person was just an incompetent cardinal, but his punch was heavier than it looked.

No, maybe he was just heavy.

“Cardinal Fernando. You are as reliable as ever.”

Raelle thanked Fernando, making sure the paladins couldn’t hear.

He didn’t forget to add ‘Cardinal’ to show his gratitude.

“Haha. Cardinal, you say. How can the Hero of the Gaia Order respect a cardinal? Please, feel free to call me Fernando even in private. You can even call me ‘Ferdo’ if you wish. It’s the nickname my wife uses.”

Fernando winked at Raelle with a lewd smile.

“…Ah, yes. Cardinal Fernando.”

Raelle replied with a reluctant expression.

He had always called him Cardinal in public, but Fernando was now lowering himself even further.

Fernando, who had rushed onto the stage as soon as Gideon was defeated, had been quicker than anyone to switch his attitude.

He was indeed a master of social grace.

“Gaia-men. Take this traitor away immediately!”

At Fernando’s command, Gideon, completely restrained, was dragged off the stage.

He continued to plead his innocence until the end, but it was a futile effort since the result of the divine judgment had already been decided.

“Gaia’s justice will eventually be recognized. Hero.”

“Yes. Cardinal Fernando.”

As Fernando wore a joyful smile at his friend’s rise to prominence.

The Pope, Heavenly Demon, ascended the stage.

“I will now announce the results of the divine judgment. Gideon Garcia, the commander of the Carmen Knights, has colluded with demons to inflict irreparable damage on the Empire, denied Gaia’s prophecy, and committed the heinous crime of attempting to assassinate the Hero of the Gaia Order. All of this is the truth acknowledged by the Lord Gaia through the divine judgment.”

People nodded in what seemed like emotion at the Pope’s words.

A world where the words of the victor of a duel become the truth.

It was a very good place for Raelle.

“As a servant of Gaia, I hereby confiscate Gideon Garcia’s assets and sentence him to life imprisonment.”

As the Pope finished speaking with a solemn expression, thunderous applause erupted from the surroundings.

It was a natural consequence of losing the divine judgment.

‘He’ll rot in the Order’s prison for the rest of his life.’

The Order’s underground prison, where not a single ray of sunlight enters.

Gideon would lose all his honor and be imprisoned.

There was also the option of executing him immediately, but considering his position as the commander of the Carmen Knights, it could be seen as a very lawful judgment.

“Hero Raelle. You have worked very hard.”

“Thank you, Your Holiness.”

The Heavenly Demon, having concluded the religious trial, approached him.

Raelle made the sign of the cross and bowed lightly.

“It is embarrassing to say, but I felt a surge of anxiety throughout the duel. It seems my faith in Gaia is still lacking.”

“…That can’t be.”

The Pope patted Raelle on the shoulder, offering words of blessing, as if he was in a good mood.

They were the usual platitudes, such as the joy of the Order and the blessings of Gaia.

‘Pope Heavenly Demon….’

Raelle narrowed his eyes as he listened to his words.

He trusted and was proud of Raelle as a clergyman.

‘Next, it might be your turn.’

However, Raelle did not trust the Heavenly Demon.

He still felt an alien sensation from Marco.

Raelle recognized that the Heavenly Demon was an old monster whose true intentions he could not fathom.

“I can entrust the future of the Gaia Order to you without reservation.”

“…”

Raelle did not let his guard down until the Heavenly Demon left his side.

*

The day after the divine judgment.

Raelle spent a leisurely time for the first time in a while.

He had taken refuge in the Order under the pretext of accumulated fatigue from the continuous prophecies and divine judgment.

“Raelle oppa [older brother]! Buy me some chicken skewers!”

“Sure, sure, Nia. I can buy you as many as you want. This oppa is the famous Hero, you know.”

Raelle picked up Nia, who was approaching.

Nia, the older sister of the orphanage, was still cute.

Raelle had come to the orphanage in District 4.

He had been too busy lately to visit, so he came to see Teacher Sarah and the children.

“Nia. Don’t cling to Raelle too much. If Raelle gets hurt, our orphanage might burn down.”

“Teacher Sarah. Please don’t make strange jokes.”

“Oh my, did you hear that?”

Teacher Sarah chuckled and brought out tea.

She hadn’t changed her attitude even after Raelle became a Hero.

That small element made Raelle feel like the orphanage was his home.

“Teacher Sarah said Raelle oppa is amazing! Then, can you pick me on the test next month?”

“Test? Ah, you mean the Holy Power Aptitude Test.”

The Holy Power Aptitude Test, which determines whether children who have reached the age of 10 in the orphanage will join the Order or not.

It was the test that Raelle had failed, and Carlson had joined the Silver Cross Knights.

‘I didn’t trust Gaia since then… and now I’m the Hero of the Order.’

It felt like only yesterday that he was saddened by failing the Holy Power Aptitude Test, but the world is truly unpredictable.

Raelle smiled as he looked at Nia, who was clinging to him with expectant eyes.

“Don’t worry, Nia. Even if you don’t have a speck of divine power in your body, I’ll make sure you get into the Order.”

“Wow! Wow!”

“Hyung [term for older brother used by males]-! Include me too!”

“Raelle oppa! I want to go to the Order too!”

Raelle smiled as he looked at the approaching children.

Originally, the Gaia Order’s aptitude test was quite strict, but if he gave Cardinal Fernando a hint, he could create a soccer team of orphanage-born clergymen.

‘This is the taste of power.’

The taste of power he had never felt when he was the captain of the guard.

Raelle thought he had made the right decision to become a Hero.

“…Yuri.”

“Yes. Mr. Ghent. What’s wrong?”

“Is it okay for Raelle to be doing this? He is… the Hero of the Gaia Order, isn’t he?”

Ghent blinked as he watched Raelle playing with the children and chatting with Teacher Sarah.

The Hero of the Gaia Order was like a hero of mankind.

How long had it been since he had ousted the commander of the Carmen Knights with the divine judgment, and he was already spending such a leisurely time?

“Shall I ask him? Mr. Raelle. Is it okay for you to be at the orphanage right now?”

Yuri was also curious about Raelle’s actions.

With the downfall of the Carmen Knights’ commander, the battle for the throne had completely shaken up.

Now, there were even nobles who evaluated Yuri’s power as being greater than that of the First Prince.

Considering the influence of the conservative orthodox nobles who believed that the throne should be inherited by the eldest son, it was truly an incredible thing.

“It’s okay. Even if I go around now, I’ll only attract unnecessary people.”

Especially if he went near the Order, he would be able to properly experience what the Miracle of Moses was.

Clergymen, led by Fernando, would control the surroundings and chant prayers.

Raelle absolutely didn’t want to see that.

“Ahem. Raelle. Didn’t you say you would wipe out the remnants of the Demonic Sect after the divine judgment? I’ll adjust the time to suit you, so please let me know your schedule.”

At that moment, Ghent, who had been watching, joined the conversation.

“Ah, that? Of course, I have to do it.”

Raelle got up from his seat at Ghent’s words.

He already had a lot of things to do, such as the Order’s holy sites and the founding anniversary, so he had to quickly take care of what needed to be done.

“Ghent. Let me ask you one thing. What do you think you should be doing right now?”

“Don’t worry, Raelle. I learned the importance of comrades by watching you, and I realized what I need to do to protect my clan. You are my comrade, no, my brother. I will follow whatever you say.”

Ghent thumped his chest.

He recalled what he had to do by watching Raelle.

With the honor of a Giant Warrior, Ghent would faithfully follow Raelle’s words.

“Why are you acting like you don’t know?”

“Hmm?”

“I’ll give you a week, so go find the Demonic Sect and the giants. I’ll attach Beggars [an intelligence network] to you.”

“…Are you telling me to find them myself?”

“Then should I come find them? Don’t you know who I am? I’m Raelle, the Hero of the Gaia Order. Are giants always so selfish?”

Raelle clicked his tongue as he looked at Ghent.

It would have been enough to say he would help him fight.

Was he supposed to set the table himself?

“That’s right. Ghent. Raelle is not an ordinary human. He’s a hero of the human race. He’s expensive.”

Reina, who was sucking on a drink that Sarah had brought from next to Raelle, gave him a jab.

“Nuna [term for older sister used by males], pretty!”

“Unnie [term for older sister used by females]. How do I become as pretty as you?”

Children gathered around Reina, their eyes sparkling.

“Oh my, is it true that the children of the human race are honest!”

“…”

Ghent blinked as he watched Reina, who was laughing at the children.

“Ms. Yuri. Do you have any information about the Emperor’s health?”

“I don’t know much about my father either…”

Raelle, who had gotten up from his seat, was already having a serious discussion with Yuri about the throne.

Ghent felt a sense of alienation for some reason.

‘…Reina didn’t tell me not to help, but she didn’t fully help either.’

Although he had some complaints, Ghent quietly closed his mouth.

Every minute and second was precious to track down the Demonic Sect and the giants.

Ghent turned his body around, trudging along.