The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 154

“…You were staying in a place like this?”

Ra-El narrowed his eyes as he looked at the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord’s residence.

No, could this even be called a residence?

A single tent standing alone in the northern plains was the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord’s residence.

Moreover, there were piles of corpses of numerous demons and magical beasts behind it, making it a truly incomprehensible sight.

“It’s cramped for three, but have a seat.”

Whether Ra-El was surprised or not.

The Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord naturally entered the tent and settled down.

Seeing this, Ra-El poked Gent, who was standing next to him, in the side.

“Gent, you can’t come in anyway. Just sit outside.”

Ra-El entered the tent and sat facing the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord.

There certainly didn’t seem to be any room for Gent inside.

“…Understood.”

Gent slumped down at the entrance of the tent with a sulky face.

The Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord opened his mouth only after the two of them were seated.

“It’s been a while, Ra-El, and Gent. You both look healthy. And Gent, your expression has improved.”

“Thank you, Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord. It’s all thanks to Ra-El.”

“That’s what a hero of the era is like.”

Anyone near him would be influenced.

That is the hero of the era.

The Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord nodded satisfactorily.

“Mr. Master Wannabe. Stop talking nonsense and tell me why you’re here.”

Ra-El sighed as he looked at the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.

Since he was such a hard person to see, he had to extract information when he caught him.

“To kill demons. That’s all I can do.”

“Why Arconia of all places?”

“Because that’s where the most demons gather.”

“Ra-El. The Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord has been hunting demons targeting various parts of the continent since long ago. The reason why there hasn’t been a direct war between humans and demons is all thanks to the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord.”

“…If you’re doing such great things, you should at least tell your disciple.”

Ra-El said regretfully.

If the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord had been around, he would have been a great help, both politically and physically.

“A swordsman speaks with his sword. So even if I had been in the Empire, nothing would have changed.”

“That’s all well and good, but you should have at least told me about the Thousand Slaughter Sword techniques, Master.”

“Thousand Slaughter Sword Fourth Form, Shattering Heaven. It’s a sword that can only be used by manipulating the Domain [a swordsman’s personal space where they have enhanced control]. Ra-El, I was going to find you when the situation in Arconia stabilized, but you awakened the Domain faster than I thought.”

“Yes. Your disciple did it again without your help.”

He had received advice from the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord about the Domain, but in the end, Ra-El himself had realized the Returning Heaven.

“Can you show me properly?”

“It’s not difficult.”

Ra-El came out of the tent and drew his Holy Sword.

At the same time, he moved the magic power in his body.

“Returning Heaven.”

Along with the divine power of the Holy Sword, the surrounding power began to be sucked into Ra-El’s body.

“…Amazing. Ra-El, to be able to handle such strong power with a human body, not a member of another race.”

Gent admired as he looked at the Returning Heaven.

The magic power and method of forming the Domain were refined, but Ra-El, who endured it, seemed even more amazing.

“Pearls before swine.”

“Pardon?”

However, the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord shook his head as he looked at Ra-El.

He came out of the tent and took up his sword.

“Ra-El. Do you know why the Thousand Slaughter Sword has forms?”

“Isn’t it just to look cool?”

“…Ra-El. What kind of language is that?”

Gent sighed between the two Sword Masters facing each other.

How could such a strong human be so rude?

“Thousand Slaughter Sword First Form. Rising Heaven.”

The Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord didn’t care about Ra-El’s language.

Thousand Slaughter Sword First Form, Rising Heaven.

A sharp sword aura enveloped the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord’s sword.

He unfolded his sword as if to show Ra-El.

“The most important thing in the Thousand Slaughter Sword is the basic Rising Heaven. In fact, the Thousand Slaughter Sword can be said to be completed with just the sword aura of Rising Heaven. The forms that make up the Thousand Slaughter Sword are just a convenient way to classify how to concentrate power.”

The Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord slowly demonstrated his swordsmanship.

Rising Heaven, where the power of the sky dwells. And Answering Heaven, where the gaze of the world dwells.

Each one seemed like a completely different swordsmanship, but in the end, it was a sword derived from the sword aura of Rising Heaven.

“By distinguishing the forms of the Thousand Slaughter Sword, a swordsman can use the swordsmanship needed in the right place. You can deal with sudden situations much more easily.”

“…Certainly, I think I understand.”

Ra-El was feeling a bit of frustration in his Domain.

Returning Heaven.

A Domain that can absorb and use surrounding power.

It was definitely a strong power, and he was able to defeat Gideon using it.

But Ra-El didn’t think he had achieved overwhelming growth using this Domain.

Perhaps the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord’s words had pierced through that.

“If you grow a little more, you’ll be able to use Returning Heaven much more easily. I’ll help you.”

“Yes. Thank you, Master.”

Ra-El nodded.

Finally, he felt something.

“Is this the conversation of two Sword Masters…”

Gent was also impressed and clapped his hands.

The high-level conversation between the two swordsmen was still an interesting experience for him.

“Ra-El, what do you think a Sword Master is?”

“Isn’t it someone who perfectly manipulates their magic power with a sword?”

“You know it well. If you have truly reached the level of Sword Master, you will be able to use the Thousand Slaughter Sword without saying its name anymore.”

As soon as Ra-El heard the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord’s words, he poured magic power into his Holy Sword.

At the same time, the sword aura of Rising Heaven surrounded the Holy Sword.

“…It’s true.”

Finally, I don’t have to say this stupid skill name.

Ra-El was moved by that fact.

And, one question arose.

“Huh? But Master, you were a Sword Master from the first time I met you. Why do you say Rising Heaven or Answering Heaven?”

“…”

At Ra-El’s words, the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord turned his head.

He stared at the blue sky for a moment, then opened his mouth after a while.

“Ra-El.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s talk about the demons hiding in Arconia.”

“…”

He’s blatantly changing the subject.

But he was curious about the demons hiding in Arconia.

It was absurd, but he decided to play along.

*

Before the real story began, Ra-El first moved the location.

Living in this kind of tent would definitely cause illnesses he didn’t even have before.

“A true Sword Master doesn’t care about anything other than the sword.”

“Stop talking nonsense and follow me.”

Ra-El returned to Arconia.

And took the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord and Gent to Bacchus’s residence.

“Th, Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord…?! Why is someone who hasn’t appeared since the Dragon Phoenix Convention here?”

Zenith trembled as she looked at the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord, but it wasn’t a very important matter.

“Well, this place should be fine.”

Ra-El took one of Bacchus’s rooms and sat on a chair.

However, the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord still shook his head as if he didn’t like it.

“Ra-El. Demons may appear on the northern plains at any time.”

“No, we just annihilated that great army, will they come again? It’ll take at least a few days.”

“That’s not wrong, but…”

“Let’s talk about the important things first, and then go or not. Please understand the heart of a disciple who has a master who runs away every day.”

“Hmm, I can’t deny that. I understand. Ra-El.”

Only then did the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord nod.

He had to make time, even if it was to see the disciple who had honed his swordsmanship without a master.

“So, who is the demon hiding in Arconia?”

“There are several possibilities… but I think it’s Calliope. All the demons and magical beasts that came to support were combat personnel, and I didn’t feel any strong magic power inside Arconia.”

“Calliope? Are you talking about Calliope, one of the Four Demon Kings? Isn’t he a nightmare demon?”

“That’s right. Unless it’s a Demon King, so many demons couldn’t have been mobilized. And there’s only one Demon King who doesn’t reveal his power.”

“Nightmare Demon Calliope? Ah…”

Ra-El nodded.

He definitely seemed to have heard of it.

Calliope.

One of the Four Demon Kings who rule Alheim.

His name also appears in the original work.

“If he’s a nightmare demon, isn’t that the succubus who sucks human energy? I know roughly about it too.”

A beautiful succubus who invades the dreams of the human race.

Fortunately, Lucas overcomes it with the power of love with the heroines… but I remember that the Allied Forces suffered enormous damage.

“What are you talking about, Ra-El? Nightmare demons are basically male.”

At that time, Gent tilted his head and said.

Ra-El blinked at his words.

“…?”

“Besides, the nightmare demons of Alheim are very ugly and hideous.”

“Gent. Isn’t it common sense that nightmare demons are all sexy?”

“That’s just human imagination. Most real nightmare demons are ugly and hideous. Think about it. If their true forms were really beautiful, why would they use the medium of dreams?”

“…”

Eh?

It’s very common sense and logical.

Ra-El couldn’t find any words to refute Gent’s words.

“He must be hiding in Arconia with the power of a nightmare demon. If we track that magic power, we can find him quickly.”

“Is the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord also good at searching?”

“If I have the power of the Thousand Slaughter Sword, I can track him down in a month.”

“…A month is too long.”

Ra-El shook his head at the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord’s words.

He can’t stay in Arconia for a month.

The Empire’s Founding Day is less than a month away, and after dealing with the matters of the Demonic Cult and the Holy Land, he has to worry about what to do with the Ghost King.

“Tch. Should I mobilize Bacchus and investigate again from the beginning?”

It would take about a week, but this might be the fastest way.

Originally, at that moment when you think you’re screwed, giving up quickly and starting from the beginning might be the fastest way.

“No. Ra-El… Could it be that place? The place that Bacchus investigated and stopped.”

“Where is that?”

“The legal brothel run by the council.”

“Legal brothel…?”

Ra-El narrowed his eyes at Gent’s words.

*

Inside a dim room, a huge mass of flesh was stretched out as if it would swallow the chair.

The face protruding above the layers of flesh was glistening with oil, and his breathing was rough and heavy.

His room was always dark and stuffy, filled with strong smells of spices and perfume.

This was to hide his body odor.

Nightmare Demon Calliope.

He was one of the Four Demon Kings who ruled Alheim.

“Hehe. What did you just say?”

However, in contrast to Calliope’s disgusting appearance, his voice was surprisingly enchanting.

Each of his words contained powerful magic power, captivating and bewitching the listener.

“Y, yes. Lord Calliope. The chairman of Arconia is said to have contacted the warrior of the Gaia Order. He is even trying to contact the Saintess, wondering what he saw in him. Perhaps he is thinking of reporting the demons or the Demonic Cult to the Gaia Order…”

Calliope’s subordinate demon said in a trembling voice with his head bowed.

Just being in this space felt like being sucked into Calliope’s magic power.

Even if he made eye contact with Calliope’s true form, he would surely lose his reason immediately.

“So?”

“We are worried that it might be a threat to the Demonic Cult we are supporting…”

Calliope shook his head at his subordinate’s words and slowly waved his hand.

The Gaia Order? What’s so scary about that?

The human mind is so fragile that it can be broken just by showing it a dream.

Now that he has absorbed so much energy in Arconia, even a warrior wouldn’t be able to withstand his power.

“My dear. I am invincible in dreams. Humans are just sandcastles in front of our power.”

Calliope smiled slyly.

At the same time, the demon shuddered.

Just encountering his smile, his mind began to collapse.

“A human who has received the attention of Maledrak… how interesting.”

A human who has received the attention of the Four Demon Kings, Maledrak.

Calliope was feeling interested in him.

If he could control him, the ruling structure of Alheim could be completely overturned.

‘I hope you come anytime, human.’

Calliope’s mass of flesh twitched.