The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 16

Alone.

‘The build is similar, but the magic pattern is different… Ah, he said he obtained a branch of the World Tree.’

Raelle had never seen Reina use magic after obtaining the World Tree branch.

That explains why the magic patterns are different.

‘Why is that crazy elf here?’

Once he recognized her, she looked completely like Reina.

She was confronting Bennett, wearing a mask and hood.

‘Did she come after hearing that Bennett was trying to get the World Tree branch? But he couldn’t have obtained the World Tree branch like this every time…’

If she had obtained the World Tree branch by fighting every time, Reina wouldn’t be in debt.

The elves who came to Reina also said that they had cut off the supply of the World Tree branch.

‘I should catch Bennett first and then ask.’

If it were an internal conflict, he would just watch, but Raelle wasn’t cold-hearted enough to stand by while an acquaintance was fighting.

Kooong-

Crack-

While Raelle was contemplating, their magic clashed.

The refined magic spreading around Reina was more powerful than he had imagined.

They said that if she regained her power with the World Tree branch, the elves wouldn’t be able to touch her, and that wasn’t an exaggeration.

“…”

“Reveal yourself! Are you a minion of the Order!”

However, Bennett, facing Reina, didn’t just stand still.

Shadow-like black magic sprang up around his body.

A deep darkness, like dropping black ink on drawing paper, swirled around Bennett.

It was the power of an unpleasant sorcery.

Kwaang-! Taang-!

Every time Bennett, surrounded by darkness, waved his arm, the power of the sorcery pressed down on Reina.

‘A curse caster… so he was using the World Tree branch for curses.’

Reina gritted her teeth and unleashed her magic.

Hwaaa-

The blue magic of the forest began to slowly devour the power of the sorcery.

Every time Reina moved, it felt like a fresh forest was moving.

“Th, this is… an elf! Damn it! You there! Help me if you want to get paid!”

An elf blessed by the forest and a curse caster were like water and oil.

Bennett, who was gradually backing away, asked Raelle for help.

Raelle hesitated for a moment, then widened his eyes and said.

“Is, is there no other support? Send a request for help to the guys you work with!”

And he answered, acting with an urgent voice.

Acting was one of Raelle’s specialties, coming from the streets.

“There’s no support! If you don’t help me right now, that elf will take the World Tree branch!”

Bennett shouted, retreating from the elf’s magic.

It was clear that the elf had come to recover the World Tree branch. If he didn’t deal with her immediately, he might be chased by the entire elven race.

“Ah… so you’re alone?”

Sreung-

After hearing Bennett’s words, Raelle was finally relieved and could draw his sword.

“You should have said so sooner.”

He tightened his grip on the hand holding the sword.

All his senses sharpened, and the acceleration of his consciousness quickened.

“I would have killed you earlier.”

Raelle, who sprang out like a beast, rushed towards Bennett.

The sword, shining in the moonlight, aimed for the opponent’s neck.

“Y, you trashy bastards!”

It was a sudden attack, but Bennett’s reaction was also quick.

Kkaaang-!

The curse, swirling like black mist, covered Bennett, and Raelle’s sword bounced off an intangible barrier like steel.

At that moment, a sharp bundle of curses, sprung from the mist, shot towards Raelle’s chest.

A curse filled with murderous intent to kill the opponent.

Raelle lightly parried the curse and dug inward.

“Predictable, predictable. Curse casters all have the same pattern.”

Pook!

He thrust his sword into the mist, which had a gap because it was shooting out curses.

“Kuaaaaaaak!”

Raelle immediately pulled out his sword and stepped back.

The unpleasant sensation remaining on his fingertips was proof that he had cut through bone and flesh.

“Ugh, that feels nasty.”

He shook off the hand that had gone deep into the curse.

His skin was tingling, so it was clear that he was using some strange trick.

“You’re unharmed even after touching my curse…! You’re not human either!”

Bennett shouted, clutching his bleeding left arm.

To break through the curse barrier, the masked guy must be a different race.

“Think what you want.”

Raelle smiled, raising the corners of his mouth at the energy pressing down on his body.

The senses sharpened by the battle made him feel a sense of exhilaration filling his whole body.

It was the second time he had met a curse caster, but as expected, the curse didn’t work properly on him.

‘Wh, what’s going on? Weren’t they on the same side?’

Meanwhile, Reina, wearing a mask, was flustered by the sudden battle unfolding before her eyes.

She was going to catch Bennett first and then deal with the remaining one, but suddenly they started fighting each other.

‘The urgent thing is Bennett.’

There’s no way a human seeking the World Tree branch is normal.

As an elf protecting the elven race, she had to catch Bennett.

Reina stirred up the magic of the forest and jumped into the battle.

“Damn it…! Damn it!”

Bennett couldn’t hide his agitation and began rummaging through his pockets.

It was clear from the beginning that they were planning to attack together. Moreover, the masked guy was hiding his strength, so he was much stronger than himself.

At this rate, he wouldn’t be able to escape alive.

Kwaduk-!

Bennett took something out of his pocket and gripped it tightly.

Black flames were burning the long object in his hand.

At the same time, the form of the curse began to strengthen.

‘A finger?’

Raelle frowned when he saw Bennett’s hand.

His momentum had become incomparably stronger than before.

“Using a human finger as a medium for curses? That’s why curse caster bastards are so unpleasant… Tsk.”

The wind of curses flowing from Bennett’s body shook the abandoned factory.

Abandoned magical tools were torn apart, and windows began to break.

Raelle also stepped back slightly from the raging small typhoon.

‘… Blood?’

A drop of blood flowed from the back of Raelle’s hand.

A piece of glass that had fallen on the floor must have bounced up and grazed his hand.

It was a phenomenon created by the curse, but if that phenomenon had physical force, it could also harm Raelle’s body.

‘I shouldn’t waste any more time…!’

Seeing Bennett’s sorcery, Reina unfolded the blessing of the forest.

She squinted one eye and spewed out magic.

She hadn’t fully accepted all the natural power coming from the World Tree branch yet, so a proper battle was a burden.

However, she couldn’t give him any more time.

A curse that uses the human body as a medium becomes stronger over time.

She had to end it before that.

Kwaang-!

The curse scattered with a roar from the front.

Reina had covered Bennett’s curse with elven magic.

The curse, colliding with the elven magic, exploded and spread an ominous energy.

Raelle, who was on the opposite side, slowly approached him, keeping a close eye on the curse until the end.

“Die! Just die!”

He had been able to stand up to the elf on equal terms by using the fingers of children he had collected so far as a medium, but he had to keep an eye on the swordsman approaching from behind.

He was skillfully avoiding the curse and getting closer and closer.

‘How is he closing the distance…!’

The more Raelle approached, avoiding the wind of curses, the more anxious Bennett became.

He had to deal with Reina and Raelle at the same time.

“Aaaaaaaak!”

And, the impatience created a mistake.

A scream that sounded like tearing filled the abandoned factory.

Raelle’s sword, which had penetrated the gap where the curse was empty, cut off Bennett’s left hand.

The fingers he was holding tightly fell to the floor, and the power of the curse noticeably weakened.

“Y, you bastard…!”

His eyes, bloodshot red, glared at Raelle.

“If I fail anyway, I’ll die…! I’ll take you with me!”

Jureureuk-

Tears of blood flowed from Bennett’s eyes.

He poured out the sorcery and curses that burned his life force onto Raelle.

“Just die quietly. You bastard.”

Of course, that curse didn’t reach Raelle.

Compared to the curse of the Ghoul King, this wasn’t even ticklish.

“N, no way. To block even the demon’s curse, what the hell is your identity…!”

Bennett widened his eyes.

He borrowed power from the demon by sacrificing his life force.

Even if the opponent wasn’t human, he shouldn’t have been able to block the demonic energy.

Seogeok-

However, Bennett had no chance to solve his question.

A quick sword that seemed to tear through space cut the black shadow in two.

*

Reina swallowed hard.

The swordsman who had cut off the curse was now looking at her.

“…”

Reina stirred up her magic as if she was nervous.

Even she, who had received the blessing of the forest by coming into contact with the World Tree branch, was an enemy she had to be wary of.

The opponent had cut down the curse caster, who had been on par with her until just now, with one sword.

He was clearly an incredibly strong person.

‘What?’

Raelle, who had cut down Bennett, turned his head and looked at Reina.

She was still exuding hostility.

It seemed that she thought it was a temporary alliance on her side.

Raelle opened his mouth before the misunderstanding got any longer.

“Reina.”

“Huh? Uh-huh?”

Reina, who hadn’t said a word while wearing a mask, made a flustered voice.

Raelle first took off his mask and revealed his face.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

“R, Raelle? No. No…! How did you know it was me?”

“How would I know? There’s no way I wouldn’t recognize you just because you covered your face.”

“Wh, what are you talking about?!”

Reina lowered her mask in embarrassment.

Only then could they see each other’s faces.

She should have been embarrassed because she didn’t expect to meet him in a place like this, but Reina somehow felt relieved and suppressed her magic.

“So, tell me now. What were you doing this night? Don’t tell me you’re hunting every night to get the World Tree branch?”

“… Because of the bounty.”

“What?”

“I heard that there was even a bounty on the guy who was looking for the World Tree branch… so I came to catch him! It’s better for me to use the World Tree branch than for it to be used for bad things!”

Raelle frowned at Reina’s words.

“Bounty… don’t tell me you’re working as a bounty hunter?”

“… I fought hard too, so you’ll share the bounty, right?”

“I didn’t come because of the bounty?”

In the first place, he has no intention of being a bounty hunter now that he doesn’t have the Gaksital mask [a Korean masked vigilante character].

It would be annoying if he got caught.

“Then why did you fight with him? …Don’t tell me you were the bad guy who raised the price of the World Tree branch?!”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Bennett tried to kill my friends. You can have all the bounty. I have no intention of picking a fight, so don’t get ready to fight.”

“Th, that’s not what I meant. Sorry…”

“It’s okay. It’s not your fault, it’s the fault of the world that made it like this.”

He could forgive her because she immediately suppressed her magic when she saw his face.

Raelle put his sword back into its scabbard and approached Bennett’s corpse.

Just before he died, his body had already begun to decompose because he had burned all his life force to control the curse.

“Reina. I’ll take care of this corpse. Don’t tell me you’re worried about humans, not even elves?”

“I have no intention of doing that!”

“That’s a relief. By the way, where do you get the bounty? Weren’t you being chased by the elven race?”

“… From the Zaid Mercenary Corps.”

“What? Why are you working with those rootless bastards? They won’t even pay you properly, will they?”

The Zaid gang.

They were the guys I educated last time at Sara’s teacher’s inn for flirting with Cecilia Priest.

Being caught by me, the ace guard captain, means that their usual behavior is not good.

“There was no other place that would accept me.”

“…”

Reina said with a look as if she had given up on everything.

Seeing her like that, he couldn’t just let it go.

“Go to the place I’ll introduce you to from now on. It’s Eric, a nice guy. I’ve already told him in advance, so if you say, ‘I’m an elf introduced by Raelle,’ he’ll understand.”

“R, really?”

“Have you only lived being scammed?”

“Why are you being so nice to me? H, are you perhaps pretending to help me and asking about the location of the World Tree Forest, or asking about rumors of treasures passed down from the elven race? I’ll never tell you?!”

Reina’s eyes welled up with tears.

Seeing her so full of life, it’s definitely a personal experience.

‘How much of a pushover has she been…’

Why is this world so heartless?

Reina, who had tasted warm K-jeong [Korean affection or kindness], looked at Raelle as if she was about to burst into tears right away.

Since the only thing the manly Raelle was weak against was a woman’s tears, Raelle had to stop his pointless thoughts and appease Reina.

“Then see you tomorrow. Raelle…”

“Don’t get it taken away. Go home quickly.”

It was only after handing over the World Tree branch, which he had obtained to trade with Bennett, to Reina that he was able to calm Reina down.

‘I have to get the money back later.’

Raelle looked at Bennett’s corpse in the quiet abandoned factory.

The sword wound that had cut the curse in two had also left traces on the floor.

‘Okay. Now it’s flowing according to the original story.’

One of the protagonist’s achievements at the academy will be reduced, but that’s not enough to tarnish his honor.

A protagonist is such an existence.

‘… I hope so.’

Of course, everything is a story of possibilities and Raelle’s wish.

He hoped that the unnecessary work would end here.

Seureuk-

Raelle took out the Order’s insignia and identification badge from Bennett’s pocket and dragged Bennett out of the abandoned factory.

And a secluded place in the abandoned factory where the presence of people had disappeared.

A red eye buried in wriggling black magic slowly closed.