The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 148

The reception room in the Duke’s mansion.

Raël sat down, sipping tea while looking at Ghent.

“Ghent, you came faster than I expected. Did you find the right place for sure?”

“Don’t worry. There’s a saying passed down among the giants: ‘Look even at a fire that has gone out.’ I’ve checked several times.”

“…Giants have very straightforward proverbs.”

Raël looked at Ghent with a curious expression.

Honestly, he didn’t expect much from Ghent.

Finding the hidden Demonic Cult in this vast empire is never an easy task.

‘Still, I thought Bagger and Clara would find them someday… but it was faster than I thought.’

Raël continued, thinking that.

“So, where are the Demonic Cult and the giants located?”

“The free city of Arconia. It’s a city of various races located on the border between the Empire and the Vanessa Kingdom.”

“Arconia?”

Raël narrowed his eyes, retracing his memories.

The free city of Arconia, a place that appeared several times in the original story.

‘A place created as a symbol of peace between different races and humans, with the common enemy being the demons.’

It is an independent city-state under the influence of the Empire, but the various races have autonomy.

Raël belatedly recalled the original setting and tilted his head.

“Ghent, I know that giants don’t live in Arconia. Why did they hide there?”

The free city of Arconia is a symbol of peace between different races and humans.

However, not all races live in Arconia.

Some races, like the nature-loving elves or the beastmen with their wild nature, still live in their own territories.

As far as Raël knew, the giants were one of them.

“I’ll have to go and investigate to know for sure. But all those who contacted the Demonic Cult or the giants mentioned Arconia.”

“Maybe those bastards lied. Or maybe they were deceived from the beginning.”

To deceive the enemy, you must first deceive your allies.

There is a possibility that they knew the wrong information from the start.

“Don’t worry. I used the confession tea to gather only reliable information.”

“Confession tea? What’s that?”

“Tea leaves harvested from the Special Guard.”

“…?”

Raël tilted his head at the name of the tea he heard for the first time.

However, he wasn’t very suspicious.

“Did Bagger go to Arconia first?”

“Yes. I stayed in the Empire to deliver the investigation results to you.”

“Then the reliability of the information is certain.”

If there was a real problem, Clara or Zenis wouldn’t have stayed still.

They must be somewhat confident in the results as well.

“Good. If the Demonic Cult is in Arconia, then of course I have to move too.”

Raël nodded and continued.

To help Ghent. And as a hero, to cleanly deal with the Demonic Cult.

Raël also had a reason to go to Arconia.

“But, I don’t think it’ll be easy to mobilize the Order [The Gaia Order]. I think it’s better to go quietly and wipe them out… Ghent, what do you want to do? Should I find the giants and help you turn things upside down together?”

If he mobilized the Order, he could get a lot of help, but the possibility of the enemy noticing becomes too high.

It would be better to move with a small number of people.

“No. It’s enough just to find the giants.”

Ghent took out the axe from his back.

“I will stop them myself.”

As a giant warrior, he couldn’t entrust even the most important thing to his comrades.

*

After receiving information from Ghent.

Raël headed straight to the Gaia Order.

He couldn’t mobilize the paladins of the Silver Cross Knights, but Raël had many forces he could mobilize personally.

“Carlson, you’ll have to go to the free city of Arconia with me next week. There’s something important…”

“I refuse.”

“…I haven’t even explained the reason yet?”

“Every time I accept your request, I end up in a life-threatening situation. I’m not stupid, who would follow you?”

Carlson shook his head firmly.

Carlson respects Raël, but every time he listens to Raël’s request, he ends up in a life-threatening situation.

As the future of the Silver Cross Paladins, he couldn’t be fooled anymore.

“Lucas, do you think the same way?”

“I can help you as much as you want, but I want to hear the reason first. Sir Raël.”

“At least you’re normal.”

Raël was relieved by Lucas’s personality and explained about the Demonic Cult and the giants.

As soon as he heard the name of the Demonic Cult, Lucas’s eyes sharpened.

“If we’ve found the place where the Demonic Cult is, there’s no reason to stay still. I will follow you, Sir Raël.”

“Thank you, Lucas. The Holy Sword is also moved by your heart for the citizens. I’ll lend you the Holy Sword again later.”

Buzz buzz-

[Don’t treat the Order’s sacred object like a dog toy!]

Raël smiled and patted Lucas on the shoulder.

As expected, my brother Lucas. He’s better than Carlson.

“Thank you, Sir Raël. But it’s not just for the citizens. If it’s your request, Sir Raël, I’ll rush to you anytime, even for personal matters.”

“No, Lucas. What does that make me sound like!”

“Sir Carlson, please rest. Sir Raël and I will take care of the Demonic Cult.”

“Yeah. Carlson, you stay in the Empire like a scared dog. You have to take responsibility for the future of the Silver Cross Knights.”

“…I’ll go. I’m going. I said I’m going! But you must report to the Empire and the Order after the work is done! So that my hard work doesn’t go to waste!”

“Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of you.”

Raël smiled.

Not to mention Lucas, Carlson is stronger than he looks, so he got quite a good force.

“Tsk. Sir Raël. Come to think of it, the Saintess [Cecilia] was looking for you, why don’t you stop by.”

“The Saintess?”

“Yes. She’s been looking for you ever since the Holy Judgment ended, but you haven’t come to the Order once.”

“…I had something busy to do.”

“Busy with what? I heard you were playing in the orphanage.”

“Carlson. You’re getting more talkative these days because I haven’t hit you?”

“…”

Carlson quietly turned his head.

He didn’t want to get hit by Raël, no matter what.

Because it would hurt too much.

“Tsk. Anyway, both of you take good care of yourselves.”

“Yes, Sir Raël!”

“I understand. Sir Raël.”

Raël waved his hand at them and turned around.

And went to the room where Saintess Cecilia was staying.

“Saintess. I heard you were looking for me.”

“Ah, Raël! I was about to go find you when I heard you came to the Order.”

Cecilia, who was preparing to leave the room after finishing her prayers, greeted Raël with a bright smile.

“What’s the matter?”

“The Gaia Order has decided to visit the Holy Land next week. I remembered that you wanted to go last time, so I told Cardinal Angelo. I heard that you can go with us too! I really wanted to tell you this!”

“Ah… the Holy Land. They’re moving faster than I thought.”

Raël frowned at the Order’s schedule.

‘Why now of all times.’

Now that he has found traces of the Demonic Cult and the giants.

Raël had to move as quickly as possible before they escaped elsewhere.

“Um, Saintess. What is the exact schedule? Where is the Holy Land located?”

Raël looked at Cecilia and asked.

Fortunately, Bagger is still doing preliminary investigations, and it has not been decided when Raël will move.

First, he needs to know the details to adjust his schedule to go to Arconia.

“Ah ah. Hmm, Cardinal Angelo told me not to leak any information about the Holy Land…”

Cecilia avoided her eyes as if she was worried about Raël’s words.

Seeing the possibility in her gesture, Raël approached her and made eye contact.

“Oh ho. Saintess. What kind of relationship do we have? Hero and Saintess. We are practically one body. Aren’t we like family? You have to tell me about the schedule.”

“Family… Ah ah. Yes. Maybe we are.”

Cecilia smiled shyly.

And then she came closer to Raël, tiptoed, and whispered in his ear.

“I heard that the Order’s Holy Land is in the free city of Arconia.”

“… Arconia?”

Raël narrowed his eyes at Cecilia’s words.

‘Is this… a coincidence?’

The Demonic Cult and the giants. And even the Order’s Holy Land.

All of Raël’s goals were in Arconia.

“Is it too far after all…? You’re a busy person, Raël.”

Cecilia looked at Raël’s face and shrugged her shoulders with a disappointed expression.

“No, no. I think it’ll be okay. I can definitely go that far. I’ll clear my schedule.”

“Really? That’s a relief!”

“Saintess. But is the Holy Land visit an official schedule? I’ve never heard of a Holy Land visit schedule from the Order until now.”

“Ah ah. Because the Order’s Holy Land is not known to the public. Officially, I heard that it’s not a Holy Land visit, but a replenishment of priests to the Arconia branch.”

“Replenishment of priests?”

“Yes. The Holy Law aptitude test will be held soon. I heard that they will take the 10-year-old priest candidates to Arconia.”

“Holy Law aptitude test… That’s right. I heard it’s coming up soon.”

The 10-year-old children of the Empire take the Holy Law aptitude test.

Among them, children with outstanding talents are assigned to the Order’s headquarters like Carlson and become priests or paladins.

Nia and Harry from the orphanage will probably participate in the upcoming test as well.

‘…That’s right. I’ve heard that children with a little lack of talent go to other branches.’

The children Raël knew often left for other branches, but he had never thought about it in detail.

If they are priests of the Gaia Order, they will enjoy a more prosperous life than most children.

“Hehe. If I’m with Raël, the schedule to Arconia won’t be boring.”

While Cecilia was happy with the schedule with Raël.

‘The Order’s Holy Land…’

Raël felt a strange sense of foreboding.

*

Step. Step.

The underground prison of the Order’s headquarters.

A place where those who betrayed Gaia are imprisoned.

A man came to a solitary cell in a prison where not a single ray of light entered.

“Gideon. Is this place livable?”

Gideon, who was kneeling on the cold stone floor of the underground prison, raised his head and looked at the visitor who had come to see him.

“You put a ban on me so that I can’t say anything to the paladins, but you’re good at talking.”

“It’s only natural, since we don’t know what a person who betrayed Gaia will do to the paladins.”

“Ha, if you really think so, shouldn’t you have executed me?”

Gideon had a question.

He may be the commander of the Carmen Knights, but now that he has lost in the Holy Judgment, the Pope could have executed Gideon.

The Gaia Order, the state religion of the Empire, had that much power.

“The main god Gaia gives everyone a chance. Even if you have been rejected by Gaia once, there is always an opportunity open.”

The Heavenly Demon [The Pope] brought the torch in his hand to Gideon.

Gideon’s face, illuminated by the light, was calm, unlike someone imprisoned in a prison.

The Heavenly Demon opened his mouth with a peaceful smile.

“Gideon. Become an Inquisitor. This is the last chance I’m giving you.”

“Are you talking about the Malleficarum [The Pope’s secret guard]?”

Gideon smiled bitterly when he saw the Heavenly Demon nodding.

Crazy people in the Order among the Inquisitors.

The sword that protects the Pope who cannot reveal himself.

That was the Malleficarum.

“There will be a light ban, but it’s better than rotting on this cold stone floor.”

The Heavenly Demon was sincerely thinking of Gideon.

Gaia would not want such a strong knight to be executed.

“Heavenly Demon.”

“Yes. Gideon.”

“Get out of my sight right now.”

Thwack.

The spit that Gideon spat stopped in front of the Heavenly Demon’s eyes.

Disappointment flashed in the Heavenly Demon’s eyes.

He burned the filth with divine power and shook his head as if he didn’t understand.

“Gideon. I thought you would understand Gaia’s last touch… Why are you refusing?

“I live for the Empire, and I die for the Empire. I would rather die than live protecting you, not the Empire.”

“You’re really a madman.”

A madman who has gone crazy with loyalty to the Empire.

That was the word that defined Gideon Garcia.

“…The madman is you. Heavenly Demon. Raël used demonic energy. Don’t tell me you didn’t see it?”

Gideon chuckled.

Pope Heavenly Demon.

He is not revealing himself, but his power is more than that of a Sword Master.

Moreover, there is no way that someone who handles divine power would not have noticed the demonic energy.

But that crazy bastard is pushing Raël as the Order’s hero.

“Demonic energy? What’s the problem with that? The important thing is that Sir Raël uses the power of the Holy Sword, and the main god Gaia did not choose you. Gideon.”

Gaia’s choice is never wrong.

Therefore, the Heavenly Demon trusted Raël.

“Yeah. Heavenly Demon. You’re a fanatic. I guarantee it. The hero chosen by Gaia, whom you trust, will stab you in the back.”

“Gaia’s words are never wrong. The hero always makes the right choice.”

The Heavenly Demon smiled.

Gaia’s words are truth and justice.

The hero and Saintess chosen by that person will become even stronger in the Holy Land and will illuminate the name of the Gaia Order.

“I’ll come back in a month. Gideon. I hope the cold prison air will break your stubbornness.”

The Heavenly Demon turned around without hearing an answer.

As the faint torchlight disappeared, darkness filled the prison again.

Gideon Garcia lowered his head and closed his eyes.

His lips moved slowly.

“For the Empire….”