The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 181

Thump- thump-

Yuri stared as Simon approached.

Even Yuri, who liked people and wanted to trust them, knew she was in danger.

Yuri calmly spoke.

“Where is His Majesty… Father?”

“Haven’t you heard? He’s not feeling well and is resting, Yuri,” Simon said with a faint, insincere smile.

He continued to approach her.

Seeing this, Yuri narrowed her eyes, a decision forming.

“Why did Brother Damian… Haa. I guess there’s no need to ask,” Yuri swept her bangs back. Then, she glared at Simon, murderous intent blazing in her eyes. “It was you, Brother Simon.”

“What are you talking about, Yuri?”

“You were the culprit… the one who targeted the Imperial Family.” She had wanted to deny the possibility that her own flesh and blood was the culprit until the very end, but it was Simon. Simon, blinded by ambition for the throne, had targeted Damian and Yuriel.

“Target you…? Me? Maybe Gideon, but there’s no way,” Simon shrugged, shaking his head in feigned innocence.

“Don’t lie! How can you be so calm after seeing Brother Damian die?”

“Damian had to die. If he were around, it would be difficult to inherit the throne. But Yuriel, you’re different.” Simon’s lips stretched into a wide, unsettling grin. He seemed genuinely happy, raising both hands as if in celebration. “Yuriel, you are more precious than anyone. You are similar to me enough to accept my soul, and you inherited my blood more strongly than anyone else.”

“Inherited blood? What on earth are you talking about…?” Yuri cautiously stepped back, planning to escape and seek help.

Swish-

But at that moment, mana began to surge from behind Simon.

“…!”

Surprised, Yuri immediately ran towards the exit, but the rapidly approaching mana grabbed her ankle.

“Ugh!”

The mana rising from her ankle restrained her. Yuri’s vision, now enveloped in mana just like Isabel’s had been, instantly turned dark.

‘Why does Brother Simon have mana, kuh…?’ Yuri wondered, but she wouldn’t get an answer. The Demon King’s mana swallowed her whole.

‘It’s dark. And hot…’ In the darkness, where even pain was dulled, Yuri felt death approaching.

‘Is this how I die? Really…?’ It seemed a surprisingly futile end. At the moment of facing death, Yuri thought that the death she had always imagined wasn’t so grand after all.

Swish- swish-

Then, something pierced Yuri’s body. It wasn’t simple mana, but a new soul searching for a body to inhabit.

‘Father…?’ Yuri felt her father’s presence penetrating her, and she slowly closed her eyes, not even questioning it. It felt like a dream. With death so close, Yuri couldn’t feel anything properly.

“…”

Death wasn’t as painful as she thought. It wasn’t as scary or agonizing as people believed. It was just a feeling of her mind slowly fading away.

‘I wonder if Isabel is okay.’ Suddenly, Isabel, who had tried to protect her until the end, came to mind. She was covered in mana; would she still be alive? Images of Ghent and Reina also flashed through her mind. If they had been there, she would have been safer, but she had been too careless, thinking it was just a meeting with the Emperor.

‘Mr. Rael…’ She had once asked Rael to save her if her Heavenly Star [a unique source of power] exploded, believing he would. But she was defeated before it even had a chance to.

“…”

A question began to form in Yuri’s mind: Why do I have to die like this? Can I really end it like this? In the blurred thoughts buried in mana, Yuri’s mind began to awaken.

Thump- thump-

Yuri’s heart began to beat rapidly. The power rising from deep within her slowly pushed back the encroaching aura of death.

‘I don’t want to die. I won’t die. So…’

I don’t want to die. That simple thought slowly changed Yuri’s body, leading to a very simple conclusion.

‘I have to kill them first.’

Thud-

Yuri felt something snap in her head.

*

“Finally, my dream is coming true, Yuriel. Thank you.” Eternal life. The endless life was what Leopold had been pursuing all his life. However, simply not dying wasn’t enough. He had to maintain his position as Emperor with a healthy body. The best way to do that was to live in the body of his own child.

“Now the transfer of souls will begin soon.” The Imperial Palace was sealed off to prevent anyone from entering. Of course, if mana exploded during the transfer, the Knights would rush in, but there was enough time before that happened.

Crack-

The mana covering Yuri began to writhe.

“At this rate…”

“Hmm?”

Leopold looked at the mana, a sense of unease creeping in. The Demon King’s mana was an extreme poison that no human could withstand. That was why Leopold had taken Simon’s body; he couldn’t risk handling mana with his old and failing one.

“How can this be…?”

But Yuri was different. The Heavenly Star residing within her was consuming the Demon King’s mana.

“At this rate, I can’t die feeling wronged, Father.” Yuri began to emerge from the swirling mana.

“…Yuriel?” Leopold felt a tremendous sense of incongruity as he looked at her. She seemed like a completely different person from the Yuri who had been standing there moments before.

“Father, I don’t know why you’re in Brother Simon’s body, but…” The important thing was that he was trying to kill her. Yuri was consumed by that feeling.

‘Ah, so this is what it feels like.’ Unleashing the power that had been dormant within her, entrusting herself to the flow. With each step, a refreshing sensation washed over her. The blessings engraved on her body faded, and the Heavenly Star emerged into reality.

“…”

Yuri’s vision cleared as she completely escaped the mana. Only then did she realize. Only then did she sense it: she was born this way.

“How could I have endured this? Why was I enduring this…?”

Yuri drew a decorative sword that was nearby.

And she looked at her father, who was residing in Simon’s body.

“Yuriel…! What on earth have you done!”

Leopold bit his lip and stirred up his demonic energy.

Lucifer’s demonic energy once again began to envelop Yuri’s body.

“Ah…”

But Yuri no longer felt threatened.

Death did not approach her.

Now, it was her turn to kill.

A thick murderous aura rose from her body.

*

Kugugugung-!

The dense demonic energy crushed the space.

Amidst it, the natural mana that had bloomed pushed back the demonic energy, trembling.

“Gent! Help me! I’m going to die!”

“I’m blocking it on this side too. Reina!”

Gent and Reina pushed back the demonic energy with all their might.

While using the Giant race’s sacred relic and the power of nature to delay Lucifer’s demonic energy even a little, Lucas and Carlson rushed towards Lucifer.

Keureureuk-!

A wolf of demonic energy sprang out from Lucas’s shadow.

The wolf’s teeth dug into the gaps in his torn armor, but Lucas danced as he slashed the wolf away and approached Lucifer.

“Lucas!”

“Yes, I know!”

Waves of demonic energy surged from all directions.

However, the divine power residing in Lucas and Carlson’s swords blocked the demonic energy, allowing them to approach Lucifer.

[This can’t be… This can’t be happening…!]

Lucifer gritted his teeth and spread his demonic energy.

He had been constantly pushed back since that red-haired human awakened.

For him, one of the Four Archdemons, to be defeated by humans and other races was absurd.

Seureureung!

Lucas dashed like the wind and struck Lucifer’s demonic energy.

Each time divine power burst from his sword, Lucifer’s demonic energy was torn to shreds.

At this very moment, the talent of Lucas, the hero of the continent and the true Yongsa [hero] of the Order, had been revived.

[How dare you, a mere bug! How can a mere human cut through the demonic energy of an Archdemon…!]

Lucifer screamed as if it were unbelievable.

It was as if he was seeing that monster who had single-handedly driven out the demons.

No, perhaps even more so.

Lucas’s sword was that terrifying.

“Lucas…! Are you okay?! To wield such divine power without a holy sword, how are you doing it?”

“It just works, you know?”

“…Is that so? Just in case, let’s finish this as quickly as possible.”

Carlson nodded.

It wasn’t a big deal in this situation.

Taat-

Carlson and Lucas pressured Lucifer from both sides.

Each time divine power flashed from their swords, Lucifer’s demonic energy split apart.

One. Two. Three. Four.

Lucas began to wield his sword, completely immersed in his domain.

Lucas, shining in the unceasing domain of Cheongeuk Mugye [Limitless Heavenly Extremes], was truly like a Yongsa [hero].

“…Gent!”

Reina opened the Astral Gate once more.

Suddenly, that kid had become as strong as Raiel.

Now, there would be a chance to win.

“Well, I’ll jump in too!”

Gent also picked up Raguna and jumped towards Lucifer.

The space around Lucifer began to shake from the heavy blow of Raguna, imbued with the Giant race’s magic.

[Damn it! Damn it! If only I had a little more demonic energy!]

Lucifer frantically burst out demonic energy as he watched the approaching bugs.

However, the lack of demonic energy he had handed over to the Emperor and Reine was too great.

Wooddeuk-

In the end, Lucifer had no choice but to give Lucas an opening.

[Kuaaaaaaak!]

Lucas’s sword pierced Lucifer’s chest.

At the same time, the demonic energy that had been dominating the surroundings slowly began to lose its power.

[Bugs! You bugs! How dare you…!]

Lucifer’s demonic energy instantly returned to his main body.

The Four Archdemon Lucifer could not die to just two humans and two members of other races, not even the Empire’s legions.

[Hehe, yes. There’s no need to deal with the bugs right now.]

Badeuk- Badeuk-

Demonic energy gathered around Lucifer, forming a hard egg.

The demonic energy surrounding him would never break until Lucifer’s life was extinguished.

“…What is this? It’s a form I’ve never seen before either.”

Lucas carefully slashed at Lucifer’s demonic energy.

However, the egg of demonic energy was so hard that it even deflected Lucas’s sword.

“It’s a seal using his own life. I don’t know what he’s thinking.”

Gent tilted his head as he looked at the seal of demonic energy.

This form would only postpone the battle for a while, and nothing would change at all.

Rather, it would only increase the probability of human reinforcements discovering this place.

“He was saying something about if he only had the demonic energy from before. Those kinds of guys always make excuses after they lose.”

Carlson shook his head and tapped Lucifer with his sword.

“Archdemon, what are you planning to do by doing this?”

[The contract has already been executed. The fall of the Empire has begun. You foolish bugs. Keuheuheu.]

This was a barrier that Lucifer had invested all of his demonic energy into.

It would never break unless his life was extinguished.

‘If the Emperor’s contract is fulfilled, my demonic energy will return. Then I can escape.’

The contract with the Emperor was for his soul to reside in his son’s body.

And now, there was no one to stop the Emperor.

The Emperor, residing in the body of the young Simon, even had Lucifer’s demonic energy.

His target was the Second Princess’s body.

He would be able to subdue one weak woman alone.

“…Gent. I’ve been feeling demonic energy in the Imperial Palace since earlier.”

Reina hugged Reine, who had lost consciousness due to Lucifer’s demonic energy, and looked towards the Imperial Palace.

The thick demonic energy that had revealed itself was surrounding the Imperial Palace.

“The Imperial Palace… It seems Lucifer is plotting something. Carlson, you send a message to the Order. We’ll block this place.”

“But we don’t know when Lucifer will awaken again! It will be dangerous if Sir Carlson leaves.”

Lucas opened his mouth.

Without Carlson, it would be difficult to deal with Lucifer if he broke the seal himself.

“But we can’t just sit still and watch that demonic energy.”

“That’s…”

Lucas narrowed his eyes.

Gent was right. Even if this place became dangerous for a while, they couldn’t ignore the demonic energy in the Imperial Palace.

“The Imperial Palace? You don’t have to worry about that place. Don’t worry about that, we’re guarding Lucifer here.”

At that time, Carlson opened his mouth as if it was nothing.

He was tapping Lucifer with his sword with a carefree expression.

“Sir Carlson. What do you mean by that…?”

“Well… Raiel Hyeongnim [respected older brother] hasn’t come to help us yet, has he?”

Raiel.

Carlson had tremendous trust in him.

If he hadn’t come to a place with a strong enemy like Lucifer yet, there must be an even greater reason.

“Sir Raiel is said to be fighting Lucifer’s subordinate….”

“Lucas. Do you think he would lose to Lucifer’s subordinate, not even Lucifer? Raiel Hyeongnim [respected older brother]?”

Lucas felt a sense of relief at Carlson’s words.

As Lucas who realized the domain, he can feel it even more.

He was more certain than anyone that Sir Raiel would not lose to Lucifer’s subordinate.

“Then the reason why Raiel Gyeong [Sir] is not helping us is….”

There is no way Raiel would lose to Lucifer’s subordinates.

But if he still hasn’t arrived here, it means that there is something that important.

“Yes. That Imperial Palace… a real monster has gone there.”

Knowing that, Carlson didn’t worry at all.

Because Raiel Hyeongnim [respected older brother] would never lose, no matter who the opponent was.