The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 156

The day after the Gaia Order’s Warrior and the Silver Cross Knights raided Arconia’s red-light district…

Rahel was summoned to the Arconia Council as a representative of the Gaia Order.

“Rahel, things worked out, but a demon? What made you so sure?”

Marco, who accompanied Rahel as a representative of the Silver Cross Knights, asked cautiously.

He had lent Rahel some of the Silver Cross Knights, but he never imagined they would wipe out Arconia’s red-light district in a single night.

Thanks to that, Rahel’s reputation among the commoners in Arconia had plummeted.

“I wasn’t sure. If I had investigated and found nothing, I would have simply left.”

“You’re always one step ahead. Is that the power of the Gaia Order’s Warrior?”

“Well, maybe. But why are you asking all of a sudden?”

Rahel stared at Marco.

The Commander seemed to have a lot of questions today.

“…I’m just contemplating what choice is best for Gaia.”

Marco sighed.

His official reason for visiting Arconia was to guide the priest candidates.

However, Marco had received separate orders from Pope Chunma [likely a high-ranking religious figure].

When Archbishop Aldeb goes to the Holy Land, protect Aldeb first and foremost and follow his orders.

However, if it were truly for Gaia, shouldn’t he rather assist Rahel?

That was what was troubling Marco.

“Tch. Commander, when we return to the Order, let’s spar.”

Rahel said, looking intently at Marco.

Divine power was twitching within his body.

His strong mental strength seemed to be fighting against the brainwashing.

It seemed like he needed to get rid of that disgusting divine power quickly.

“Spar suddenly?”

“No particular reason. Wouldn’t it be good for the Order’s strong to exchange skills? It’s what Commander Marco has always wanted.”

“…That’s right. I certainly wanted to spar with you.”

Where had the competitive spirit that always filled his heart gone?

With that question in mind, Marco entered the council chamber.

The inside of the council chamber was still neat.

Many people were watching Rahel and Marco.

“As a Warrior of the Gaia Order, I formally protest to the Arconia Council.”

Rahel, who had entered the council chamber, began to speak, looking directly at the council members.

Since demons and cultists were found in the red-light district managed by the council, the blame fell entirely on the council.

“Warrior, we apologize. We have not yet properly grasped the events of last night.”

One of the human council members bowed his head.

He felt a disgusting divine power emanating from him.

“What is there to grasp? Isn’t the council hiding demons?”

“Ah, no! It’s not the council that manages the red-light district, but Councilman Lyner!”

“Whoever manages it, it’s the fault of all of you incompetent people.”

Rahel crossed his arms, dumbfounded.

They must have been pocketing all the taxes from the red-light district, but these bastards didn’t understand the meaning of responsibility?

“Ahem. Warrior of the Gaia Order, while we acknowledge that demons infiltrated the red-light district, Arconia is a free city that symbolizes harmony and peace. The Gaia Order running rampant without the council’s permission does not align with the purpose of a free city.”

At that moment, a stout otherkin [a non-human race] jumped up from his seat.

Garin, an Arconia council member and commander of the regular army.

He was short like a dwarf, but he was a steadfast protector who had defended Arconia for decades.

“If anyone is dissatisfied, come forward now. I will personally open a sacred trial for you.”

“…Ahem.”

Garin immediately backed down as soon as he saw Rahel’s hand move towards his sword hilt.

“However, it cannot be said that the Gaia Order’s influence on Arconia is small. I respect the Gaia Order.”

Garin nodded his head immediately.

The name of the Gaia Order’s Warrior and one of the Empire’s Four Strong was by no means insignificant.

Buzz-

[The Gaia Order’s Warrior is making such threats….]

As the Holy Sword Saint [likely a sentient weapon or artifact] trembled and emitted divine power, the surrounding gazes shrank even more.

Rahel continued to speak.

“So… where are Lyner, who manages the red-light district, and Chairman Elian?”

Rahel arrived at the council chamber as soon as he received the council’s call, but Chairman Elian was still nowhere to be seen.

“Oh, we looked for him as soon as this morning dawned, but he had already disappeared. Even Lyner has disappeared with all his close aides.”

“…Disappeared?”

Rahel recalled the chairman’s face that he had seen briefly.

He certainly hadn’t felt any demonic energy from him.

So he thought he had nothing to do with the demons, but was he wrong?

‘Besides, that Lyner guy didn’t just run away alone, but even his close aides disappeared….’

Rahel narrowed his eyes.

He searched all of Arconia’s night streets, but couldn’t find any traces of the giants.

So he thought they must be hiding with a powerful figure.

‘Looks like I found them properly.’

Finally, the target was starting to appear before his eyes.

Now, all he had to do was find that bastard.

Thud-!

As Rahel smirked, a paladin burst through the door.

He was so flustered that he was panting, and he shouted, looking in the direction of Marco and Rahel.

“B, big trouble! The Order’s Arconia branch has been attacked!”

*

The Gaia Order’s Arconia branch.

Standing in front of the door hidden beneath the Plaza of Unity, Aldeb desperately manipulated divine power.

“This is a big problem. If more time passes, I won’t be able to extract proper divine power.”

The Order’s Holy Land, hidden in the basement of the branch.

As the archbishop in charge of the Arconia branch, Aldeb was in charge of managing the Holy Land.

“It’s time to replace the sacrifices…. Do I have to start right away?”

The Order’s Holy Land is a place that requires perfect management.

The sacrifices that have been drained of their divine power must be discarded and new sacrifices must be投入 [replaced/invested].

Originally, he was planning to proceed leisurely and safely, but the Warrior who came to the branch a while ago was the problem.

He couldn’t stay still for a single day, and even found the demons hiding in Arconia last night.

‘If Arconia becomes chaotic, the priest candidates’ faith will also decrease.’

He had to make them sacrifices before they noticed anything strange.

Aldeb opened the door leading to the Holy Land with that thought in mind.

“Haa-. Is this the place? It takes a long time to open the door because I’m an old human.”

“…!”

At that moment.

A beautiful voice was heard from behind Aldeb.

Behind him stood a handsome man.

“This body is really uncomfortable to move. I have to walk on two legs, and I don’t have any strength because I don’t have any flesh.”

Crack- Crack-

The man yawned, taking a carefree attitude that didn’t fit the situation.

He looked like he wasn’t from this world.

Aldeb carefully looked behind him.

‘How did so many people get in here?’

Hundreds of giant otherkin stood behind the man.

Each one was a warrior with a powerful aura.

How did those guys infiltrate the Order’s branch?

“Hey. Guide me quickly-?”

“…. Ugh!”

Aldeb immediately summoned divine power as demonic energy penetrated his body.

However, as he met the man’s alluring smile, Aldeb’s eyes lost their vitality.

“Huh? That’s strange. Why is there still divine power left in your body?”

Calliope looked at Aldeb as if he was strange.

He certainly looked like an ordinary priest, but even after being exposed to his demonic energy, he still had divine power left in his body.

“Is there the Gaia Order’s power in here?”

But his worries didn’t last long.

A giant walked out from the center of the giants.

“That’s right. Humans call it the Gaia Order’s ‘gift’? It will definitely be good for you giants too.”

“If I only take the Order’s power as promised, I will burn Arconia immediately.”

The giant’s eyes burned like fire.

The free city of Arconia was too small for them.

Besides, hiding from the Empire was no longer a matter of pride.

“Do as you please-.”

Calliope smiled slyly.

Seeing the foolish giants who didn’t know the future in front of him, he couldn’t help but laugh.

*

Doo-doo-

Rahel, who had run out of the council chamber, headed straight for the Plaza of Unity, where the Order’s branch was located.

And he encountered a huge mass of flesh.

“What is this? Shit.”

Something like the skin of a living creature was wrapping around the Tower of Harmony and the entire plaza in a spherical shape.

To put it bluntly, it was like an egg or a cocoon.

“…What the hell is this? Rahel, have you ever learned about this in the Gaia Order?”

Zenith, who had immediately rushed over after hearing the beggar’s words that something strange had appeared in the Order, couldn’t hide his embarrassment either.

Even he, who had operated within the Empire for decades, had never seen anything like this.

“How would I know? More importantly, where is Sword Master Chun Sal?”

“…He’s in the northern plains. I sent the Fighting God.”

“Tch. That crazy old man. He’s always away when it’s important. Ghent, you’re old. Don’t you know what this is?”

“I know it’s a demon… but I don’t know the details.”

Ghent narrowed his eyes as he looked at the grotesque creature.

The huge mass of flesh was wriggling as if it was beating, like an egg about to hatch.

“Anyone can tell it’s a demon when it’s spewing out this much demonic energy. Tch.”

Rahel pulled out the Holy Sword and poked the egg.

Every time he did, green blood-like liquid flowed out of the egg.

It was like a living creature.

Buzz-

[This level of demonic energy… it’s definitely a Demon King level.]

The Holy Sword Saint’s voice trembled.

The sudden encounter with a Demon King was also embarrassing for the Order’s sacred object.

“Rahel, I can feel a power other than demonic energy from the inside.”

Ghent stared inside through the hole Rahel had made.

He felt a familiar magical power.

“Yeah. Demonic energy, divine power, and various magical powers are mixed in. It seems like the entire plaza has been swept away along with the Order’s headquarters.”

“…No. Most of it is the power of the giants.”

Ghent brought his hand to the deep wound of the egg.

The power of his own kind felt from the inside.

It seemed like there were definitely giants inside.

“Giants. Tch. Is it coming out from here? Ghent, now that I think about it, I don’t understand. Aren’t giants creatures that are faithful to their instincts? How were they hiding as subordinates of a council member?”

“…I don’t understand either. Was there something that giants would be tempted by?”

Poke- Poke-

While Rahel and Ghent were talking.

Arconia’s regular army also arrived.

They were all stabbing the egg with their swords, but unlike Rahel’s sword, their swords didn’t even scratch the egg.

“I’ll cut a big opening to make a passage, so step back.”

Rahel pulled out the Holy Sword, looking at them.

However, a surprised Garin ran over.

“Warrior! No! We have requested reinforcements from the Empire and the Vanessa Kingdom, so please wait a moment.”

“Reinforcements? It’ll take at least a week, no matter how fast they are. Are you saying that the people inside should all die?”

“T, that is….”

Garin lowered his head.

What could he do?

With this level of demonic energy, it wasn’t an ordinary demon, but perhaps a Demon King level.

In short, the Demon King had a grudge against the Gaia Order.

From Arconia’s point of view, it was unfair to be told to overcome a trial that they couldn’t overcome.

“Okay. I won’t bother asking for help, so don’t get in my way.”

Rahel ignored Garin’s reaction and drew out divine power.

Carlson and Lucas are inside. And even the Saintess.

Nia and Harry. There are also many other priest candidates.

Rahel could never abandon them.

“Warrior! No! If you touch something that’s still, the city will be damaged too…!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll just cut it cleanly.”

Divine power poured out from Rahel’s Holy Sword, which he raised high.

Immediately after that, the sword fell at a speed that Garin couldn’t even properly recognize.

Swaaa-

Along with the disgusting sensation of cutting flesh, a huge gap was created in the egg.

Disgusting demonic energies were felt in the dark interior.

“Commander, let’s go.”

“…I understand.”

Behind Rahel, who was leading the way, Marco and the Silver Cross Knights entered the interior of the egg.