The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 163

Right after Rael destroyed the holy site’s crystal pillars,

Reinforcements arrived from the Empire and the Vanessa Kingdom.

“Rael! Are you okay! Are you alive?!”

“…Commander Rein?”

The vanguard of the reinforcements was a face well-known to Rael.

Rein entrusted the investigation of the Plaza of Unity to the Rein Knights and other reinforcements, then approached Rael.

“I can feel tremendous magic and divine power. Rael, did you really encounter the Demon King Calliope?”

“Yes, I did. Though I couldn’t kill her.”

“It’s a miracle you’re alive after facing the Demon King Calliope. I heard Calliope fled when a tremendous divine power erupted. I’m glad.”

“Yes, well, that’s right. I’ll tell you the details later.”

Rael nodded vaguely.

The reason Calliope fled was because of the Heavenly Executioner Sword Master, but there was no need to correct everyone’s misunderstanding.

“More importantly, why did Commander Rein come in person?”

“Since the chairman of Arconia was attacked by Calliope, I had to come in person to assess the state of the Free City of Arconia.”

The reason the Rein Knights came instead of the Kamen Knights was simple.

With Kamen Knight Commander Gideon imprisoned, the Rein Knights rose to become the strongest knight order in the Empire.

Thanks to this, Rein enjoyed an unexpected boom [period of great prosperity or success].

“A-Aren’t you Commander Rein, a senior executive of the Soma Assembly? I am Garin, in charge of Arconia’s regular army!”

Garin, who was in charge of commanding Arconia’s regular army, bowed to Rein.

“…”

Rael narrowed his eyes at the sight.

‘No matter how I think about it, aren’t I, a warrior of the Gaia Church, more impressive than Commander Rein? He was so cocky with me.’

He felt slightly wronged, but Rael quickly turned his head.

Being greeted by Garin or Girin wasn’t particularly important.

“Commander, can we leave the rest to the Rein Knights?”

“I can’t let the heroes who fought Calliope suffer. Just tell me the story about Calliope in detail later. Oh, what are you planning to do about what happened in the Arconia branch?”

“You don’t have to worry about the internal affairs of the Church. I am a warrior of the Gaia Church, after all. I have to handle it myself.”

“I heard it was the Archbishop’s misconduct who was in charge of the Arconia branch… I hope it doesn’t harm the Church.”

Rumors of inhumane experiments within the Church had been circulating.

Of course, Rein had only heard about it vaguely from the Silver Cross Knights and didn’t know the details.

“…I’ll try my best. Thank you, Commander.”

The incident at the Church’s holy site will be known as Archbishop Aldeb’s personal misconduct.

In his heart, he wanted to tie the holy site to the Pope and send the Heavenly Demon after them, but that would ruin the entire Gaia Church.

‘How did I get the position of warrior… I should use it a little more.’

Rael said something that suddenly came to mind while thinking that.

“Come to think of it, there must be guys in the council who are in league with Aldeb. We have to catch them all too. I’ll let you know later through Begguss.”

“I understand. I’ll make sure to investigate the council thoroughly.”

Rael exchanged a few words with Rein and turned around.

Cecilia, who was standing behind him, slightly avoided eye contact when she met Rael’s eyes as he turned around.

Rael smiled at the sight and opened his mouth.

“Lady Cecilia.”

“Y-Yes, Mr. Rael. What’s wrong?”

“If you’re going to avoid me like that, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear what you said back then.”

“…T-That won’t do. I’ll definitely help you!”

Cecilia clenched her fists with both hands.

Then, she made eye contact with Rael, but soon turned her head again.

“Reina is going to have a harder time….”

Gent shook his head as he watched Cecilia blushing.

Buzz-

[Why does the Church’s saintess have such a girlish face? I-Is this Gaia’s love?]

“…Shut up.”

Thwack-

Rael flicked the Holy Sword Saint on the forehead.

“Rael, what should we do now?”

“What do you mean, what should we do? Everything’s done. We caught the Demonic Cultists, and we’ve taken care of the Church’s affairs, so we have to go back to the capital. Take good care of Nia and Harry.”

Rael sighed and answered Carlson.

He spent more time in Arconia than he thought.

The National Foundation Festival was less than a month away, so he would have a lot to do when he returned to the capital.

More than anything, Rael didn’t want to stay in this damn city for even a day longer.

*

It was the next day evening when they returned to the capital.

Rael, who had walked for a whole day, headed straight for the Special Guard.

There was no time to rest.

He wanted to ask Bestia about the Enlightenment of 회천 [Hoicheon, likely a martial arts technique or concept] and the feeling of facing a strong enemy right away.

Rael headed straight for Tia’s Dragon Lair.

“Bestia went back to the territory of the Beastmen?”

Tia said without even looking at Rael, focusing on her research.

“…Suddenly?”

“It’s hardly sudden. It’s already late enough. I took the time to take her back while you were away in Arconia.”

“Ah… then there’s nothing I can do.”

He was going to ask about 회천, but it was a shame.

Well, it doesn’t matter.

Now Rael has a better teacher.

After saying goodbye to Tia and heading to the center of the Special Guard, he saw some familiar faces.

An elf lying in a hammock and a giant who had started to cultivate the neglected garden again.

“Rael! You’re alive!”

Reina, lying in a hammock, lifted her sunglasses and waved at Rael.

“Of course I’m alive. Did you think I’d die?”

“I heard there was a commotion in Arconia and they were sending reinforcements, so I thought something big had happened. Haha. I’m glad!”

Reina sat on the hammock and smiled at Rael.

She couldn’t help but smile at the thought of getting a meal from Rael, whom she hadn’t seen in a week.

“Reina. This is no time to be smiling like that.”

Then, Gent, who was cultivating the garden next to her, opened his mouth.

He put down the huge trowel and warned Reina.

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I didn’t think there would be more female entities interested in such a human.”

“Gent. Please stop saying weird things. Please.”

Rael sighed.

The saintess and he were just colleagues, but he was saying things that would make people misunderstand.

“Well, if it’s your request, Rael, I’ll stop anytime.”

“Tsk. Gent. Do you know where Yuri is? I wanted to say hello, but I can’t see her.”

“Yuri will be in the Imperial Palace for the time being to prepare for the National Foundation Festival. If you want to say hello, you’ll have to go there yourself.”

The National Foundation Festival was less than a month away.

It was the biggest event in the Empire, so they must be preparing thoroughly.

“Is that so? Then I’ll visit Yuri next time… What about the Heavenly Executioner Sword Master?”

“He’ll be here soon. Don’t worry, I’ve kept him from going anywhere else as you asked.”

“I’m glad he didn’t run away.”

An old man who wanders around all day hunting demons.

Fortunately, he was able to bring him back this time.

“Come to think of it, did you have dinner with your father?”

“Well, Yuri introduced me to a good restaurant. He’s resting at the accommodation now.”

Gent smiled as he thought of Genwool.

The giants, who are true to their instincts, are weak to delicious food and alcohol.

Now that he has eased his mind, he will be able to talk to him slowly.

“That’s good. You’ve been through a lot, so take care of it.”

“Rael.”

“Yeah?”

“Aren’t you curious about the story of me and the giants? I can tell you everything.”

“No, if you want to tell me, you’ll tell me.”

Rael shook his head.

It’s not that he’s not interested in his past, but he doesn’t want to pry.

“It’s an obvious story.”

“Yeah. So you don’t have to tell me.”

I understand everything.

That’s how family is.

It’s an ambivalent existence that you can’t get away from even if you want to.

“I was born as the son of the giant tribe’s chief.”

“…. Are you going to tell me now? Weren’t you not going to tell me?”

Gent continued without paying attention to Rael’s reaction.

It was a story about his life.

“I see. Uh-huh.”

Rael nodded as he listened to him.

It may have been a life of great ups and downs for Gent, but it was actually an obvious story.

It was the story of Gent, who was born as the son of the chief, running away because he couldn’t live up to the expectations of those around him.

“What? It’s not interesting.”

Reina, who had been concentrating on the story, quickly lost interest and closed her eyes while lying in the hammock.

However, Gent continued to speak, absorbed in his own story.

“…That’s what happened. In the end, my father and I had no choice but to fight.”

“Ah, I see. I’m glad it worked out. Gent.”

“Rael. If you’ve heard my story, you’ll know that I’m really grateful to you.”

Thump, thump-

Gent tapped his chest.

It was a vow of greeting passed down among the giants.

“You are no longer my colleague. You are my brother.”

“…Okay. Thank you.”

To summarize the long story in one line, it seems that he has evolved from a colleague to a brother.

I don’t know what it is, but it must be a good story.

Step. Step.

“That’s touching.”

Then, the Heavenly Executioner Sword Master walked out of the forest.

“Heavenly Executioner Sword Master. Have you finally arrived?”

Rael approached the Heavenly Executioner Sword Master and bowed lightly.

“Rael. As you asked, I’m going to stay here for a while.”

“You’ve made a good decision. You have to teach your only disciple the sword, but before that….”

Rael recalled the time when he faced Calliope.

The words Calliope said at the same time as the Heavenly Executioner Sword Master appeared.

Rael remembered everything.

“Don’t hide it any longer.”

“…”

“What exactly is the restriction on the Heavenly Executioner Sword Master?”

Rael asked carefully.

The Heavenly Executioner Sword Master, hearing his words, swallowed and opened his mouth.

“Rael. I can only use my power once more in the future.”

“…Excuse me?”

Rael’s eyes widened at the Heavenly Executioner Sword Master’s shocking words.

*

The Second Princess Yuri’s room in the Imperial Palace.

The Second Princess Yuri was focusing on her work in preparation for the upcoming National Foundation Festival.

However, she couldn’t concentrate on her work completely.

Her nerves were focused on the reinforcements that had left for Arconia yesterday.

“Your Highness Yuri.”

“Isabel, what’s wrong? Did you get a call from Arconia?”

“Yes. A message has arrived from Arconia.”

“There’s no way… Huh? Really? Did it arrive in one day?”

Yuri put down the documents she was working on and looked at Isabel.

She looked like a puppy waiting for a snack.

‘Such blasphemous thoughts….’

Isabel shook her head for a moment and began her report.

“When the reinforcements arrived in Arconia, the battle was already over. The Demon King Calliope, who attacked Arconia, fled, and Mr. Rael has returned to the capital with a communication network.”

“That’s a relief…! Whew.”

Yuri breathed a sigh of relief at the news that Rael had returned safely.

She thought her heart was going to drop when she heard that the Demon King had appeared in Arconia, but it seems that he survived after all.

“I heard that he is fine and will come to greet you soon.”

“I heard that he faced the Demon King… I’m worried that he might be burdened.”

“He’ll be fine. He’s Sir Rael, after all.”

“I guess so. Sir Rael always surprises me.”

A warrior who faced the Demon King and survived.

Rael was already becoming a legend in the Gaia Church and the Empire.

It was even said that the wave of divine power that erupted in Arconia was enough to cover the entire city.

Most of it may be an exaggeration, but that’s how much Rael’s name is being known.

Of course, Yuri, who is close to him, was also becoming more advantageous in the succession race.

“The National Foundation Festival is less than a month away. Now you have to really focus on the National Foundation Festival. Sir Rael would want that too.”

“Yeah. I have to.”

Rumors are spreading in society that the next emperor will be decided at this National Foundation Festival.

The emperor, who is suffering from an illness, will soon die, so they must decide who will succeed him.

‘My only opponent is the First Prince Damian.’

The First Prince faction, which values tradition.

They were Yuri’s opponents.

Unfortunately, the Second Prince Simon was no longer Yuri’s competitor.

Even now that nobles who support Yuri are coming out of the First Prince, who values tradition, the Second Prince’s power has become so small that it is difficult to maintain.

“I must become the emperor.”

For the people of the Empire.

She must become the emperor.

Yuri’s heart remained unchanged even as her power grew.

“Isabel. Is there anything special?”

“There is news that the Second Prince is meeting with His Majesty the Emperor frequently.”

“Simon…?”

Yuri tilted her head.

The Second Prince Simon has already moved away from the succession race.

There’s nothing that will change even if he meets the emperor now.

“I’ll keep it in mind for now. But the one we need to worry about is Damian.”

“Yes. I don’t think we need to worry about it too much either.”

Isabel also nodded.

She also thought that Simon was not someone to worry about.