The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 161

“Looks like the fun ends here?”

Calliope gazed at the man approaching them.

Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord’s face was etched with the marks of time—wrinkled skin and white hair—yet he remained dignified and imposing.

His eyes were as sharp as ever, and his steps were firm and unwavering.

“The fact that you, who never showed yourself to us, have appeared now… your disciple must be quite precious to you.”

“I don’t want to hear that from a nightmare who grew a mass of flesh after being struck by the Thousand Slaughter Sword.”

As soon as Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord arrived at the battlefield, he surveyed his surroundings.

He had rushed over after seeing the traces of the Demon King and hearing the story from the War God Clara, but even so, quite some time had passed.

‘These five faced off against the Demon King Calliope…?’

Although they didn’t achieve victory, it was a remarkable feat just to have removed most of the disgusting mass of flesh that was the Demon King Calliope’s true power.

That mass of flesh was the sum total of the life force the nightmare had absorbed.

It was Calliope’s immense power.

“Oh, my. Can you really be so confident? I believe there’s still a restriction on your heart, isn’t there?”

Calliope smiled as she looked at Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord.

The restriction placed on him in exchange for the truce of the Great War.

That man wouldn’t want to waste such a golden opportunity in a place like this.

“I can do it anytime if necessary. Demon. Feel free to test me.”

Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord drew the Thousand Slaughter Sword.

As a fierce aura erupted from his eyes, Calliope recoiled in horror.

“No, no. You know my personality well. I don’t like such gambles.”

Calliope raised both hands as if surrendering and stepped back.

She was almost certain that Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord wouldn’t use his power here, but there was no need to stir up trouble.

After all, that monster would target the strongest Demon King, Maledrak.

“Hero Raël. And… red hair. What’s your name?”

Calliope turned her gaze.

The humans behind Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord.

They were the heroes of the human race who would soon shake the continent.

Calliope committed each of their faces to memory.

“You don’t need to know. Get lost, demon…!”

With his exhausted body, Carlson stood in front of Lucas, wielding a divine power sword.

He had no intention of letting that demon know Lucas’s name.

“So, it’s Lucas, is it? I’ll remember that.”

Then, Calliope smiled at him, raising the corner of her lips.

“H-How…!”

“A Demon King can read that much.”

Calliope, who had been about to raise her hand to cover her mouth, naturally hid her hand behind her back.

She felt her hand trembling slightly and let out a hollow laugh.

‘It’s a shame I couldn’t kill them now… it would have been dangerous even if Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord hadn’t come.’

The situation was in Calliope’s favor, but no one could predict what would have happened if they had fought to the end.

It was a battle for their lives.

To be pushed back this much by just five humans.

She never imagined she would have such an experience in Arconia, which she had visited so casually.

‘These humans are so thrilling.’

Calliope smiled.

If they were to become her slaves.

And if they accepted her demonic energy, how much stronger could they become?

“You got lucky, kids. Let’s go back.”

At Calliope’s words, the nightmares behind her instantly turned into smoke and disappeared.

“Raël. Lucas. And the rest of you humans.”

Immediately after, a massive surge of demonic energy erupted around Calliope.

Calliope, standing at the center of the demonic energy, entrusted herself to its flow and opened her mouth.

“There won’t be a next time. Be careful not to meet me.”

Whoosh-

Her body scattered into the demonic energy and disappeared.

It wasn’t that she turned into smoke; her very presence vanished.

“Phew. I guess we should be thankful.”

After Calliope disappeared, Raël sighed, looking at his trembling arms.

His body, now relieved of tension, was reacting belatedly.

He hadn’t killed Calliope, but he had to be grateful that he was alive.

Rather, Calliope was the one who should feel wronged.

Raël realized the true power of demons and Demon Kings.

He had certainly thought he had become stronger, but Raël still couldn’t reach the Demon King.

If Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord hadn’t arrived, they would have all been killed by Calliope with a high probability.

‘But… it’s worth a try.’

Raël remembered the sensation of the sword’s tip as he slashed Calliope.

He still had many ways to become stronger.

He needed to learn the other two forms of the Thousand Slaughter Sword and further develop the Hoecheon [a technique involving circulating internal energy].

The next time they met, he would be able to put up a much better fight than now.

“Thank you, Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord. You came at a good time.”

“Sorry I’m late, Raël.”

“No, it’s alright. Well… let’s talk about the details when we get back.”

“That would be best. Take care of the others for now.”

Raël bowed lightly to Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord and turned around.

He had to check on the people who had participated in the battle.

“D-Damn it… cough.”

“…Hoo.”

Carlson and Marco immediately collapsed because they had forcibly extracted divine power.

The arms of those who had infused divine power into their swords, ignoring the limits of their physical bodies, were covered in blood.

Perhaps they would have had to cut off their arms if it hadn’t been for the Saintess’s blessing.

“I’m sorry, Lord Raël. You even gave me the Holy Sword…”

Lucas was the same.

He knelt on one knee and bowed his head deeply.

If Raël hadn’t saved him, he would have been crushed by the demonic energy.

“…We got lucky. Good job, Lucas.”

Raël comforted him and turned his head.

“Saintess Cecilia. Are you alright?”

“Yes. Haa. I’m alright…”

The Saintess, who had covered the entire battlefield with divine power, was also not in good condition.

It was fortunate that Raël was recovering his magical power with Hoecheon; otherwise, everyone else would have been in terrible shape.

“I know it’s hard for everyone, but… get up. There’s still work to be done.”

Raël looked at the exit of the sacred ground where he had come from.

He was going to destroy this disgusting space for the last time.

*

As the noise outside subsided.

The battle between the two giants was also nearing its end.

Kwaaaang-!

A massive axe was embedded in Gent’s thick muscles, and a flying fist struck Gent’s face.

Gent took a step back, looking at the bloodied giant in front of him.

“Is it a talent given by God… your skill is still as good as ever, Gent Stormheart.”

“…Father. Please stop now.”

Gent frowned as he looked at Genwool, the chief of the giants.

The memory of running while looking at his broad back as a child was still vivid.

The chief who ruled the giants and a respected great warrior.

Genwool Kidsleaper.

But now, his body was on the verge of collapse.

He was already severely injured from fighting the Nightmare King.

No matter how strong Genwool was, the strongest of the giants, there was no way he could win against Gent, the great warrior of the giants who was said to have a talent given by God.

“What are you talking about? I’m not dead yet.”

Genwool raised his sharply honed axe.

A giant warrior is someone who must fight until death.

“I’ll ask you one last time. Great Warrior.”

Genwool looked at Gent with indifferent eyes.

His gaze seemed to lack any affection as a family.

“Do you really have no intention of returning to the giants’ territory with me?”

“I will never do that. Father.”

Gent tightened his grip on the axe.

“Why do you hate the giants where you were born and raised so much? Did you really fall for those humans you met back then?”

Genwool couldn’t understand Gent.

He was his proud son and the great warrior of the giants.

Gent, who had changed overnight, was Genwool’s sore spot.

“…Do you remember what you said when I asked you about the beauty of nature in the past?”

“Giants don’t remember useless pasts.”

Gent shook his head.

The foolish and instinct-driven giants can only think from their own perspective.

[Father. The outside of the giants’ territory was truly beautiful!]

Gent recalled a distant memory.

When he first saw the outside of the giants’ territory, he immediately ran to his father.

Other giants didn’t understand the beauty of nature, but he thought that Genwool, the chief and his father, would understand.

[Gent, it is the fate of the giants to trample them. We are a race born that way, and we are a race that must live that way.]

However, seeing his gaze, Genwool realized.

He was also the same as the other giants.

The giants are a race born that way, which cannot be changed even if you want to.

“You asked me why I hate the giants.”

Gent looked at Genwool.

His eyes were still indifferent then and now.

“…Because I was born that way.”

A mutant born to love nature and love humans.

That was Gent.

“I’ll ask you one last time. Can you hand over the position of chief to me and return to the territory to live like you’re dead?”

“Impossible. A warrior may break, but he never bends.”

“You’re forcing me to pick up the axe.”

No further conversation was needed.

Taat-!

Gent’s axe rushed towards Genwool like it was being shot.

The combination of the giants’ heavy bodies and fast speed created unbelievable power.

Kwarururung-!

A roar like lightning shook the sacred ground.

The two men’s axes collided wildly, and they began to inflict wounds on each other’s massive muscles.

“You haven’t been neglecting your training even outside! Great Warrior!”

“…”

Gent swung his axe without answering.

Sparks flew as the axes collided.

The ground shook every time the two giant monsters collided.

Kkang-!

At the end of the long battle, the chief’s axe began to be pushed back.

Genwool, with numerous wounds on his body, couldn’t block all of Gent’s axe strikes and eventually allowed a large wound on his chest.

“Keuk!”

Chwaak-!

The giants’ massive muscles were torn apart, and blood splattered everywhere.

Genwool felt tremendous pain and narrowed one eye.

Not missing the opportunity, Gent raised his axe to strike Genwool’s neck.

It was the moment when the winner and loser of this battle would be decided.

Tak-.

But at that moment, Gent took the power out of the axe and pushed Genwool’s body back.

Kung! – (Sound of something heavy falling)

Genwool, who had fallen to the ground, blinked and looked at his son.

Gent was looking down at Genwool with a blank expression.

“What are you doing? Gent Stormheart. It is not a warrior’s code to humiliate the loser. Cut off my head.”

“I cannot understand your thoughts, Father.”

Gent threw the axe he was holding on the ground.

Then, he approached Genwool and asked.

“Why did you take the power out at the last moment?”

As a giant warrior, Gent knows how strong his father, the chief, is.

Even if his whole body is covered in wounds, he is an opponent that should never be underestimated, and an enemy that he must risk his life against.

However, Genwool Kidsleaper did not fight properly.

From beginning to end, he was fighting while conserving his stamina.

It was as if he was deliberately trying to lose.

“…You knew.”

“You are the one who raised me as a great warrior, Father.”

Genwool lowered his head at Gent’s gaze.

He slowly opened his mouth.

“…You said you love nature. You said you were born that way, Gent.”

“…!”

Gent’s eyes widened at the nickname Gent, which he hadn’t heard since he was a child.

“I am the same. We are the same. We cannot understand each other because we were born that way.”

A disgrace to the giants.

The mutant Gent.

He loved nature, but the giants did not.

Genwool was the chief of the giants, but he was also a father.

He tried to understand Gent’s thoughts.

However, the only conclusion that he, a giant, could come to was that everything must be solved with power.

“So, you must become the chief to change the giants.”

Flames rose from Genwool’s eyes.

What the giants needed was strength.

In order to change the giants who were crazy about Ragnarok [the end of the world in Norse mythology], overwhelming power was needed.

“If you truly understood me… shouldn’t you change the giants, Father?”

“No. I didn’t understand you, Gent. I just loved you as a father.”

Genwool still didn’t understand Gent even at this moment.

He still thought that the world should be placed under the feet of the giants.

As long as Genwool is the strongest of the giants, the thoughts of the entire giants must follow him.

“You have the power to change the giants now.”

So, Genwool had to die.

Whether he died in Ragnarok or died to Gent.

Death was inevitable to change the times.

“It’s up to you from now on, Gent.”

Perhaps the giants who are reborn may change from Gent’s era.

Genwool believed in that possibility.

“Father…”

“So, take it.”

Kwaang-!

Genwool threw his axe on the ground.

The giants’ sacred object that only the chief can have. Ragna.

If he had this, the giants would also acknowledge Gent.

“You’ve become stronger, Gent. I think I can entrust the giants to you.”

Genwool could know his fate as a warrior.

This body can no longer withstand it. Soon, his life as a warrior will end.

Gent approached Genwool, whose life was fading, and hugged his body.

“Father. Why! Why did it have to be this way…!”

“I’m sorry, Gent. As a giant, this was the only way I could think of.”

Genwool Kidsleaper finally smiled faintly.

He was glad that he could apologize at the last moment.

“Father! Father!!!!”

Hearfelt tears flowed from Gent’s eyes.

It felt like his heart was being torn apart that they finally understood each other, but they couldn’t even have a proper conversation.

At that moment.

Hwaaaak-

Pure white divine power covered Gent and Genwool’s bodies.

“?”

“Hmm?”

Genwool and Gent blinked at the divine power that was seeping into their bodies.

When they turned their heads, they saw Saintess Cecilia with a flustered expression.

The divine power of the Saintess of the Gaia Order healed wounds and fatigue in an instant.

“W-Well… I gave you a blessing because it looked dangerous… Mr. Raël. Was it a situation where I shouldn’t have interfered?”

“You did well, Saintess Cecilia.”

Raël smiled and walked towards Gent.

Gent had a teary-eyed and dazed expression.

“You’ve worked hard, Gent. It looks like things have been resolved well.”

“…Hmm. Yes. Raël, you also… seem to have finished the battle.”

Gent blinked and looked around.

All five humans who had gone to chase Calliope were in this place.

Since when were they watching?

“Is the person next to you your father? Nice to meet you. I’m Raël, a friend of Gent.”

Raël, who was from the Land of Courtesy in the East, bowed.

However, there was no response from Genwool.

“Gent. Why isn’t your father opening his eyes? There are no wounds and his breathing seems stable.”

“…Don’t touch my father, Raël.”

Gent blushed and lowered his head.

“…”

Genwool still had his eyes closed.