The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 155

After their conversation, the Celestial Slaughter Sword Master departed to safeguard the Northern Plains.

Ra-El summoned Zenith into the room.

“Ra-El, what did you discuss with the Celestial Slaughter Sword Master? And why is he even in Arconia?”

“I’ll explain later. More importantly, Zenith, about those brothels the council runs. Didn’t you report finding nothing significant?”

Ra-El was aware that the investigation into the brothels had concluded.

There were no further leads to pursue.

“Yes, nothing particularly suspicious. Prostitution is legal in Arconia, so these establishments aren’t heavily involved with criminal organizations.”

“…Seriously? You didn’t double-check? Are you trying to provoke me?”

Ra-El narrowed his eyes and stood up abruptly.

Zenith, fearing a potential beating, quickly interjected, “No, I did check! I checked everything thoroughly, but there was nothing out of the ordinary!”

“Nothing strange?”

Ra-El crossed his arms, his gaze fixed on Zenith as he awaited an explanation.

“There were no connections to criminal syndicates, and no illicit substances were being distributed. They’re legal brothels, managed by the council. What more could you possibly want me to suspect?”

“…Right? Ghent, am I mistaken here?”

Ra-El turned to Ghent, seeking confirmation after Zenith’s impassioned defense.

Ghent, who had been intently following their exchange, posed a question, “Guild Master, even if nothing seemed overtly suspicious, was there anything… unusual about the brothels?”

“Unusual? Ah… now that you mention it, there was one thing.”

Zenith reflected on his investigation of the brothels.

It hadn’t seemed like a major concern at the time, but there was a peculiar detail.

“Even though they’re legal brothels run by the council, they had an unusually large number of guards.”

“…Guards?”

Ra-El blinked, considering this new information.

It seemed like something worth investigating further.

* * *

That night, on the darkened streets of Arconia.

Three masked figures walked side by side.

“Ra-El, are we really going, just the three of us?”

“Yes, we have to. You two are the only ones I can trust.”

Ra-El led the way toward the brothel, accompanied by Carlson and Lucas.

Bagus lacked combat abilities, and Ghent was too conspicuous, making these two the most suitable choices.

“I… I’ve never been to a place like this before. I’m a paladin, after all.”

“I haven’t been here as a customer either, you idiot,” Ra-El retorted.

“Don’t lie. If someone like you hasn’t frequented such establishments, who would?”

“What do you take me for?”

Ra-El stared at Carlson, dumbfounded by his remark.

Brothels.

Ra-El had often visited them during his time as captain of the Imperial Guard.

Of course, he never paid; he usually went to extort money under the pretense of conducting raids.

‘Why would I pay to visit a brothel frequented by unhygienic patrons?’

Now, as then, Ra-El was doing his best to survive in this barbaric medieval fantasy world.

Mingling in an unsanitary environment? He wouldn’t do that even if his life depended on it.

“Sir Ra-El, what should we do if the brothel turns out to be a normal establishment?”

Lucas, trailing behind Carlson and Ra-El, asked hesitantly.

It was his first time visiting a brothel, and he was understandably nervous.

“What do you mean, what should we do? Just say you changed your mind and leave. Or, if you don’t want to waste your money, you can go through with it and then leave. But don’t come near me until you’ve washed.”

“I won’t. Sir Ra-El, we are knights, aren’t we? Right, Sir Carlson?”

“…… Ahem. That’s right. Of course. I’m a paladin of the Gaia Order,” Carlson said, clearing his throat and nodding.

It was his first time experiencing something like this, and he was also reluctant to waste money, but there were certain lines a paladin shouldn’t cross.

“You two will sense something amiss immediately. Look for cultists or demons, and cause a ruckus at that point. As I said before, if it’s just a normal brothel, we’ll leave and investigate further.”

“As you ordered, I have the Silver Cross Knights on standby throughout the streets.”

“Okay. If there’s nothing special, we can simply exit naturally and conduct some group training.”

He had called the Silver Cross Knights as a precaution, but he couldn’t bring them inside the brothel.

If he were certain, he would have crushed them with his authority as the Hero, but Ra-El wasn’t sure yet, so he intended to investigate personally.

“…Is this a brothel?”

The atmosphere of the night streets shifted, and Lucas, looking around, widened his eyes.

“Surprisingly, yes. It’s a completely different atmosphere from the Empire.”

Ra-El surveyed the glamorous street in the heart of the entertainment district.

Various races were reaching out, enticing passersby from the unique brothels lining both sides of the street.

“Come and rest tonight—”

“We can accommodate all the races you desire!”

“This is…”

Ra-El frowned as he observed the scantily clad bodies of the various races, reminiscent of those he had seen in the Demonic Cult’s erotic paintings.

Seeing them seducing both men and women, it seemed that gender equality had been fully embraced.

“…?”

The moment Ra-El turned his head, trying to suppress his disgust, he made eye contact with some of the guards.

“Carlson, Lucas, did you guys feel it too?”

Ra-El narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing them.

The burly men guarding the brothel… he sensed a faint demonic energy emanating from them.

“I’m not entirely sure yet.”

“I just feel a bit disgusted.”

“Okay, let’s split up and investigate from here.” Ra-El naturally parted ways with them, focusing on sensing the demonic energy in the air.

It was faint, but it permeated the entire area.

…A demon’s den.

The Free City of Arconia.

Ra-El began to grasp the true nature of this seemingly peaceful city.

“Welcome.”

Ra-El, feigning normalcy, entered the brothel as an ordinary customer.

He carefully observed his surroundings, paid the fee, and was led to a room by the receptionist.

‘They’re definitely cultists.’

Ra-El sighed inwardly, carefully watching the staff’s movements.

The fact that they were operating so openly and hadn’t been apprehended suggested that the council, which managed the brothel, was also complicit with the Demonic Cult.

“Please wait here. Someone will be with you shortly.”

Ra-El sat on the bed in the cramped room and extended his magic power outward.

He could vividly sense the demonic energy in each room occupied by customers.

‘The very structure of the brothel is connected to the demons. Is it a succubus-related operation?’

Finding the cultists was already a significant issue, but as he explored further, he became increasingly convinced that the brothel itself was linked to demons.

Knock, knock.

A woman opened the door and entered.

She blushed, appearing shy, and wore very little clothing.

“Hehe, I get shy when you look at me like that.”

“Hey.”

Ra-El stared at her intently, narrowing his eyes.

“Yes—?”

The woman smiled brightly and responded.

‘I’m truly disgusted.’

Ra-El’s eyes could see through her disguise.

She was a repulsive male succubus in human form.

Ra-El sighed as he looked at him.

“It must be difficult to make a living, right? Born with a dick and pretending to be a woman.”

“What, what? Who are you…?!”

Thud!

The succubus, wide-eyed, immediately tried to flee, but Ra-El’s hand moved faster.

Ra-El grabbed the succubus by the scruff of the neck.

“Got you, you bastards.”

At that moment, divine power erupted around him.

* * *

“You crazy bastards! Ra-El! These bastards sent me a man!”

“I also got a male succubus. It seems all the succubi on this street are male.”

“I know. I feel sorry for the men who came here.”

Ra-El shook his head and looked around.

As soon as Ra-El unleashed his divine power, the paladins stormed into the brothel, capturing the cultists hidden throughout the building.

“It’s not something to just end with that! Because of these crazy bastards, I was stuck with a man…!”

Carlson clenched his fists, unable to bear the injustice.

Ra-El, observing him, spoke, “Carlson, you weren’t going to do anything, were you?”

“…No. Well, I was just curious about how the brothel works and tried to experiment. Really.”

“Sir Carlson….”

Lucas looked at Carlson with a distorted expression.

Did the holy paladin of the Gaia Order really mingle with a succubus?

“D, don’t look at me like that, Lucas. Really. I only held hands! I didn’t know it was male, but I saw through that it was a succubus from the beginning, so I had no intention of doing anything more!”

“Carlson, shut up and follow me. The investigation isn’t over yet.”

“Yes! Ra-El!”

Ra-El surveyed the many succubi that the paladins had subdued, including the one he had captured.

Each and every one of them had a repulsive appearance, and most seemed to be mid-level demons.

“Hmm…”

Behind them, the cultists were also being apprehended, but no truly powerful figures were in sight.

They had likely slipped away in advance.

“In the end, I couldn’t catch the real ones. Too bad.”

Demon King Calliope.

The Demon King that the Celestial Slaughter Sword Master had mentioned was nowhere to be found.

‘Besides, the giants are nowhere to be seen either.’

Could they have already escaped from Arconia?

But if that were the case, the cultists shouldn’t have been present either.

‘The fact that they can’t be found even when searching all of Arconia… means that someone is hiding them.’

Ra-El immediately turned around.

‘The only place left is the council.’

Fortunately, it didn’t seem like he would have to endure much longer.

* * *

Thump! Thump!

Dark night.

A secretary knocked on Chairman Elian’s residence.

“C, Chairman! It’s a disaster!”

“W, what’s going on?”

Elian, who had been in a deep sleep, hurriedly opened his eyes at the secretary’s urgent visit.

Judging from his reaction and expression, it was no ordinary matter.

“The Silver Cross Knights of the Gaia Order have raided the brothel. It seems that demons and cultists were hiding there…!”

“W, why are demons there?!”

Elian’s eyes widened.

He knew that the Demonic Cult and demons were somewhere in Arconia.

It was Elian himself who had accepted the Demonic Cult into the city.

But the brothel was an area managed by the council.

Why were demons there?

“I don’t know either. But the Hero of the Order found the demons himself….”

“Wh, what? The Hero found the demons…?”

Elian smiled with delight at the secretary’s words.

He had been threatened by the demons after accepting the Demonic Cult, but it seemed he could finally escape that threat!

‘Finally, I have someone on my side!’

Elian said with relief, “Wasn’t the council member in charge of managing the brothel Lyner? Tell Lyner to explain this situation!”

“Th, that’s… Lyner has already been taken care of!”

“Huh? What do you mean? Taken care of?”

The moment Elian blinked, the body of the secretary in front of him began to writhe, and in an instant, it devoured Elian’s body.

“Ugh. Ugh. Ugh…!”

Crack— Crack—

Chairman Elian’s eyes widened as he was swallowed by the flesh that had grown out of the secretary’s body.

An unbelievable event was unfolding before his eyes.

“It means you’re next—?”

A man who emerged from the flesh flipped his hair back.

He looked exactly like Elian.

“The Hero of the Gaia Order…. Good. I guess I have to get serious now.”

Calliope, tearing the thick flesh from his body, brushed back his bangs and entered the chairman’s residence.