The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 186

Having dressed in the elf’s treatment center, Yuri belatedly arrived at the platform and approached Rael as soon as she saw him.

“Rael? What are you trying to do here?”

Yuri trembled, looking at the nobles and reporters below the platform.

She hadn’t been up from her sickbed long, and she already had to meet so many people.

She worried that the Heavenly Killing Star [a dormant, potentially destructive power within her] dormant in her heart might awaken.

“Stand tall. It’s nothing much, so be confident. You’re just talking to the nobles and reporters. It’s not difficult, is it? Would you be like this even as Emperor?”

“W, well, that’s not it….”

Yuri looked around.

Isabelle, who always held her hand in these situations, was nowhere to be seen.

She was receiving treatment at the Order for mana poisoning.

“…I’m nervous. And I feel a chill.”

Yuri carefully looked up at Rael.

Dressed in a neat suit, not the comfortable clothes she wore in the Elven healing center, Rael checked his attire and smirked.

“It’s just cold because it’s winter. I’ll take the lead, so don’t worry.”

“R, Rael. Before going on stage, could you grant me a favor?”

“Of course, speak freely.”

“Could you… hold my hand for a moment?”

“ …? ”

Rael looked at Yuri, surprised by her sudden request.

He wondered if she was playing another strange prank, but she had a rather serious expression.

Even then, her face was turning red, so she seemed embarrassed, but it seemed like a necessary request.

“That much… isn’t difficult.”

Rael slowly reached out his hand.

“Ah…”

Yuri held his hand tightly.

Back when the Blessing of the Heavenly Killing Star was engraved all over her body.

Whenever Isabelle held Yuri’s hand, the blessings on her body would awaken.

Even though the blessing had disappeared, Yuri felt stability in Rael’s hand.

“Thank you, Rael.”

“It’s nothing difficult. Well, let’s go, Yuri.”

“ … Yes.”

Yuri carefully went up to the platform.

Eric was standing on the platform, and he bowed lightly to Yuri.

“You’ve arrived, Your Highness Yuriell. Are you feeling well?”

“Yes, I’m fine, Grand Duke.”

“Your face looks red… if you’re not feeling well, you should rest for a while.”

“I, I’m okay!”

“Ah, it was unnecessary meddling. I apologize, Your Highness.”

Eric bowed his head at Yuri’s raised voice.

“You don’t have to apologize… ugh, haaa.”

Yuri shook her head and took a deep breath.

She inhaled the cold air before strange thoughts filled her head.

“Grand Duke, may I speak first?”

Rael looked at the nobles murmuring below the platform.

In a medieval fantasy without smartphones, it was easy to identify factions.

Those guys who were gathered together, sticking out their lips saying, ‘We have complaints!’ were probably the problem.

“Speak freely. I have nothing to say but to affirm Your Highness’s coronation.”

“Then I will speak first.”

Rael approached the microphone installed on the platform.

It was called a microphone, but it was actually a magic tool with voice magic installed.

“Ahem, ahem.”

Rael, who tested the voice magic, scanned the nobles.

Seeing the bottom of the platform, which had become even noisier with the appearance of the Hero, Rael opened his mouth lightly.

“Quiet.”

“…Huh?”

Yuri blinked at Rael’s words.

The nobles below the platform had the same reaction.

They had expressions that showed they couldn’t believe what the Hero had just said.

“I said, be quiet.”

Rael spread his mana around him, unfolding the Rotation [a technique or ability].

And, he emitted a light killing intent towards the nobles who were still talking.

“H, হিiiiik….”

“Ugh, ugh….”

Eric’s eyes widened as he watched the scene from behind.

“…Rael?”

Hadn’t he said he would maintain his dignity until he got on stage?

Just as Eric, flustered, was about to approach Rael, Rael spoke again.

“Every word you utter sounds like hundreds or thousands of words in my ears. I already have a lot to say, so I can’t waste my energy on unnecessary things. From now on, I will prohibit unnecessary words.”

Rael quietly looked down.

The night raven reporters seemed calm.

They were commoners or lower nobles, so they were quite used to this attitude.

But the high-ranking nobles were different.

Several emotions flashed across their faces.

Surprise, suspicion, confusion, absurdity, etc.

Most of them seemed embarrassed or unable to grasp the situation.

Perhaps this was the first time they had been treated like this in an official setting.

‘The times have changed.’

The golden lifeline that Rael had been holding onto tightly had become the Emperor.

Now he had to let the nobles know who was in charge.

That was the ‘dignity’ that Rael knew.

“H, have I misheard something?”

“Ahem… Even if the Hero is from a commoner background….”

“Shh, shhh! Baron Jane! Be quiet!”

But no one could openly express their dissatisfaction.

Even the noble who had cautiously opened his mouth lowered his head slightly when Rael turned his head.

Rael, the Hero of the Gaia Order [a powerful religious organization].

He was not simply a warrior representing the Order.

He was a Sword Master close to the strongest on the continent, who had faced the Demon King twice after the Great War and survived, and he was a Hero supported by the Pope of the Gaia Order, the state religion of the Empire.

He was also an aide to the next Emperor, Yuriell, and a disciple of the Heavenly Killing Star Sword Master, the greatest swordsman on the continent.

Even a fairly powerful noble could not directly express his dissatisfaction with him.

“Those of you gathered here must be wondering what happened in the Imperial Palace. To get to the point, the Demon King Maledrakas appeared in the Imperial Palace that day.”

“M, Maledrakas… gasp!”

A noble who was startled by the name Maledrakas opened his mouth, then immediately covered his mouth.

He was worried that the Hero would get angry, but Rael didn’t care about conversations related to his words.

“I wanted to deal with it right away, but the Carmen Knights, who were guarding the banquet hall, were possessed by the Demon King and blocked my path. And when I arrived at the Imperial Palace, the late Emperor and the Princes had already passed away.”

The nobles sighed at Rael’s words.

“The Carmen Knights… After Gideon disappeared, they now block the Hero’s path. We can no longer call them the Knights representing the Empire.”

“Not just any demon, but Maledrakas appeared… Then I understand.”

Rael frowned as he listened to the nobles’ words.

He was in a position to use Maledrakas’s name to his advantage, but he didn’t like the mentality of the nobles who were convinced just by hearing that name.

“Even if Maledrakas appeared, this is not an incident to be taken lightly. The Imperial Family died in the heart of the Empire. The prestige of the Empire has fallen to the ground.”

“Ahem. Rael, you’re too emotional. Lower your voice a little.”

Eric, who had approached, calmed him down.

However, Rael did not stop talking.

“…Grand Duke, isn’t it strange? Even though the Demon King appeared in the Imperial Palace, no one felt anything strange. There were countless Sword Masters in the banquet hall, not just me.”

“That is….”

Eric also knew that the situation was strange.

He had heard in advance that Maledrakas had appeared, but not a single person noticed anything strange about the Imperial Palace.

“That is certainly… There must be countless magic circles installed in the Imperial Palace.”

“It is strange. Didn’t the Soma Association also officially participate?”

The Imperial Palace is literally the heart of the Empire.

If the place where the Emperor and the Imperial Family live is neutralized by just one Demon King, there is no way humanity can fight the demons.

“When I arrived at the Imperial Palace in a hurry, I saw it. The ugly traitor in the Imperial Palace.”

At that time, Rael continued to speak.

The nobles were startled by Rael’s words and widened their eyes.

“Weren’t there only the late Emperor and the Princes in the Imperial Palace?”

“The traitor, could it be….”

“The 1st Prince, no. Damian von Grandia. He was the traitor. The late Emperor was going to make Yuriell the successor to the next throne. But Damian, blinded by greed, joined hands with the Demon King to become Emperor. That Demon King is Lucifer, the Demon of the Contract that the Allied Forces subjugated.”

Rael spat out lies without changing his expression.

In fact, it was not Damian who made a contract with Lucifer, but the late Emperor Leopold.

If you had to pick, Damian was closer to the victim.

‘But so what.’

Anyway, Leopold, Damian, and Simon are all dead.

If they were also members of the Imperial Family, they would want the stabilization of the Empire.

And for the stabilization of the Empire, Yuriell’s imperial power must be strengthened.

‘When the war with Alheim is over… I will restore your honor with the words that you were captured by the devil. Damian.’

Rael thought so and continued to speak.

“The 2nd Princess is the legitimate successor recognized by the late Emperor’s will, and she is the rightful heir to the throne. Maledrakas, who knew everything, appeared in the Imperial Palace to help Lucifer and planned to massacre the Imperial Family!”

Rael drew his holy sword as if he were angry.

The divine power bursting from the holy sword became a pillar of light and soared into the sky.

“When I arrived at the Imperial Palace, Yuriell was confronting Maledrakas alone, and I immediately joined Yuriell and drove out Maledrakas. I swear in the name of Gaia that everything I said is true.”

Rael naturally used Gaia’s name as well.

Woong-

Then there was a reaction from his holy sword.

[Stop! I will turn a blind eye to you lying, but don’t use Gaia’s name!]

‘I’m sorry, Saint.’

Rael sheathed his holy sword again and continued to speak.

Now it was the final stage.

“Having seen Damian’s betrayal firsthand, I could no longer trust anyone except Yuriell. But now that Alheim is making a show of force, the Empire must become one. From now on, I will also give my trust to the nobles who support Yuriell and agree to the coronation.”

“…”

“…”

There was no noble in this place who did not understand Rael’s words.

In short, it meant that if they didn’t recognize Yuriell as the next Emperor and acted up, they didn’t know what he would do.

Of course, no one opened their mouth.

“…Ahem.”

Earl Samuel, who had been crossing his arms as if dissatisfied among the nobles, had already unfolded his arms.

The moment the 1st Prince joined hands with the devil and his legitimacy collapsed, the nobles who supported Damian naturally had to disperse.

Otherwise, you don’t know what the angry Hero will do.

“Rael? I understand what you’re saying… but wouldn’t you need a more detailed explanation about Yuriell? What does it mean that Her Highness fought against Maledrakas….”

Eric, who was standing behind Rael, still didn’t understand the situation.

He understood that Maledrakas had appeared and that Damian had betrayed him.

But what does it mean that Her Highness Yuriell fought against Maledrakas?

Eric thought it was just a small help, but Rael spoke of Yuri as if she were a warrior.

“Ah. That’s right. It’s the most important thing.”

Rael looked around.

Just in time, he saw the Rain Knights, who were camping right below the platform.

“Commander Rain.”

Rael called out a Sword Master who was easy to deal with.

“Huh? Are you talking to me?”

Rain, who was burning with anger while listening to Rael’s speech, tilted his head.

“Please come up to the platform for a moment and cross swords with Her Highness Yuriell.”

“…Are you serious?”

“Yes. It’s meaningless if I do it. I’ll bet my position as an executive of the Soma Association, please do it sincerely.”

“…”

Rain stared at Rael.

He couldn’t understand Rael’s intentions either.

However, as a Sword Master, he could read the sincerity and pride in his eyes.

“R, Rael, you can’t ask me to draw my sword… I just entrusted my body to the Heavenly Killing Star at that time….”

Yuri, who had approached, whispered to Rael.

But Rael shook his head lightly.

“No. You can do it.”

“Rael! It’s not something you can do just by saying you can… ugh?”

Sreureuk.

At that time, a thick killing intent leaked from Rael’s hand.

Yuri’s eyes widened as she saw that familiar power.

“This killing intent is Yuri’s power. You may not be able to handle it all yet, but… very slowly. I will give you this power only as much as you can endure. As you get more and more used to it, this killing intent will become Yuri’s power.”

Yuri looked at the killing intent of the Heavenly Killing Star dwelling in Rael.

That killing intent was a frightening yet familiar power.

“…Yes. I’ll try.”

Yuri, who had been nervous, nodded her head as she looked into Rael’s eyes.

She couldn’t just keep getting help from Rael.

At least she had to prove her own strength.

“This is the sword I used to use. Show off your strength lightly.”

“Thank you, Rael.”

Yuri took Rael’s sword and stood in front of Rain.

Rain, who had come up to the platform, carefully opened his mouth with his sword in hand.

“…Your Highness Yuriell, are you really okay?”

“…”

Yuri did not answer Rain’s words.

Instead, she accepted the power Rael had given her and recalled the memories of that time.

Thump- Thump-

The killing intent spreading from Yuri’s heart began to engulf her body.

But it was different from then.

Yuri’s mind was not distracted.

The killing intent she could control was closer to awakening than rampage.

“ …! ”

Rain, who was standing with his sword, took a step back without realizing it.

The killing intent that could only be experienced in the Great War was being felt from Yuri.

“What is this….”

“I’m going, Sir Rain.”

Killing intent rose from Yuri’s sword.

Kwaaaang-!

Yuri’s sword, wrapped in mana, collided with Rain’s sword on the platform.

*

The continent’s forbidden zone, Alheim.

At the end of the area full of mana, a giant demon spread its wings.

Crack-

Maledrakas, the strongest Demon King in Alheim.

The eyes embedded in his body awakened one by one and looked down on the entire continent.

Maledrakas, who was sitting on the obsidian throne, got up and looked at the approaching demon.

“Has the recovery of the body finally finished? Mistra.”

“Yes, Maledrakas.”

Mistra, one of the Four Great Demon Kings.

She had acted secretly even during the Great War, and even now, when the other Demon Kings were about to end the truce, she finally revealed herself.

“You must have heard the news? Lucifer has been sealed by the Gaia Order.”

“I heard. That idiot was always likely to get caught.”

Lucifer had many subordinates because he had the special characteristic of contracts.

However, the force he possessed was the weakest among the Demon Kings.

In a way, it was natural for him to go around making contracts with that kind of subject.

“Wasn’t Lucifer and you the center of the plan to make the Ghost King rampage? What are you going to do?”

“Lucifer was never needed in the first place. I’ll do it even if I’m alone.”

Mistra, the most secretive Demon King.

Even during the Great War, humans could not read Mistra’s movements.

Now that countless Sword Masters have died, there was no way humans could catch Mistra.

“They are still an inferior human race, but it would be good to be careful of one person.”

“One person?”

“The Hero of the Gaia Order.”

Maledrakas was reading the atmosphere of the entire continent through the eyes spread across the continent.

And, he discovered that humans were uniting faster than he thought.

‘The preparations for war are too fast.’

It was as if… someone who was sure of the war was manipulating the humans.

It was not like the actions of the human race, who only think of their own greed even when the war is right in front of them.

‘It’s bad timing since Lucifer was even sealed.’

Lucifer may be the weakest Demon King, but he was definitely a great force.

It was not a good story for the demons who had to attack while the human race was in chaos.

“Hero… I just heard his story. Maledrakas, did you go to the Empire and meet him in person?”

“No. I saw it with my eyes. But Lucifer was defeated by his trick.”

The only reason why the human race, which is inferior in every way, dominates the continent is one.

Irregulars appear one by one from that huge number of people.

The hero of this era was that Hero.

Since Lucifer was defeated, Maledrakas was going to pay close attention to him.

“Really? According to the story I heard in the Empire, you were defeated by the Hero.”

“…What are you talking about?”

Maledrakas narrowed his eyes and opened his eyes spread across the Empire.

He had not properly grasped the news inside the Empire because he was examining the emotions of the entire continent, but if Mistra had heard it, it would not be a baseless story.

“…”

It did not take long to collect information inside the Empire.

After organizing his thoughts for a while, Maledrakas opened his mouth as if in doubt.

“…I attacked the Imperial Palace and killed the Emperor and the Princes?”

His eyes blinked slowly.