The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 189

Clang-!

Gaia Order’s training grounds.

Lucas was training, swords locked with Carlson.

“It’s really amazing, Lucas. You’re not even a paladin, so how can you use divine power?”

“I’m not sure either. The moment I touched the domain, I had divine power in my body.”

“Hmph. No matter how I think about it, you should have been the hero instead of Rael. Ah, is this blasphemy? Ahem, anyway, let me tell you again about the Divine Power Sword Force….”

Lucas listened to Carlson’s explanation and concentrated divine power into his sword again.

He thought he had to become a hero.

He didn’t remember exactly when that thought began.

Maybe it was when everyone praised his talents.

It seemed to have started then.

Lucas had liked people since he was young.

He was a good person who couldn’t stand by when he saw someone in need and had to help them.

But there was so much evil in this world.

After realizing his talents, Lucas thought he had to become a hero for this world.

Kwaaaang-!

The strong impact naturally stopped Lucas’s thoughts.

Lucas’s sword pushed back Carlson’s Divine Power Sword Force, and his sword was covered with Divine Power Sword Force.

“Kuh, …what? Lucas, did you really master Divine Power Sword Force in just one day?”

“So this is Divine Power Sword Force…”

Lucas looked at the divine power on his sword with wonder.

It was clearly similar in structure to Sword Force, but the power that made it was divine power. How on earth did Sir Carlson create such a sword?

“Lucas is really amazing. I heard they’re making a place for him in the Soma Assembly…”

“I know. I even want to bring him in as an Inquisitor.”

Marco and Amadeus, who were watching their training, couldn’t hide their surprise either.

The talent of a swordsman who was barely over 20 years old was too brilliant.

“If it weren’t for Rael, he would have become the hero of the era.”

“Marco. Be careful with your titles for the Hero.”

“…”

Rael.

Lucas flinched inexplicably at the name.

He couldn’t understand why.

“H-Hero! G-Gaia-men!”

“Long time no see. Oh, everyone’s gathered here?”

Just in time, Rael entered the training ground.

Rael smiled as he looked at the welcoming faces.

“Oh, Commander Marco and Sir Amadeus. You were here.”

“I was leading the Silver Cross Knights’ regular training. I felt a lot of shortcomings while fighting Lucifer.”

“Me too. Alheim will be moving soon, so we need to prepare. We also need to be careful of the Abyss.”

“The Abyss…”

Rael nodded at Amadeus’s words.

Come to think of it, those guys hadn’t moved yet.

“The Abyss? What’s that?”

Carlson expressed his doubts at the unfamiliar word.

“You don’t know the demons of the Abyss…? Ah, come to think of it, Carlson, you weren’t a paladin from the Great War era. I mistook you because you’re so strong.”

Amadeus nodded as if he understood.

Come to think of it, Rael, Carlson, and Lucas were not knights from the Great War era.

“I learned about it at the academy. It’s where the ferocious demons of the Great War era are sleeping.”

“Right. Ferocious demons and monsters who only know how to fight. There’s no way those guys would agree to a truce under the control of the Demon King.”

Even if there was a ruler called the Demon King, he couldn’t control all the demons and monsters.

Basically, demons and monsters are a race that can’t suppress their instincts.

Among them, the ferocious demons and monsters of the Great War era are all sleeping in the Abyss at the end of Forbidden Alheim.

“I can understand Lucas learning about it at the academy… but how does Rael know about it?”

“Hey, I’m a person who completed higher education.”

“Higher… ?”

Carlson tilted his head for a moment and then readily accepted it.

Most of what Rael said was useless jokes anyway.

“The weapon to fight against the demons of the Abyss is the Divine Power Sword Force. Demon Kings or strong demons have such strong demonic energy that they can ignore divine power, but if you concentrate divine power at one point with the Divine Power Sword Force, it will definitely be effective against them.”

“Divine Power Sword Force… Ha, what’s so great about Carlson that he created something like that?”

Rael was genuinely questioning it.

He lost money gambling and then mastered Divine Power Sword Force.

Rael still couldn’t understand.

“Brother. Reality doesn’t change even if you say that. The Divine Power Sword Force has already proven to be effective against Lucifer.”

“Hmph….”

Rael once again realized how great the butterfly effect was.

If he hadn’t taught Carlson, who was annoying him at the orphanage, how to handle magic power, something like Divine Power Sword Force wouldn’t exist in the world.

“That’s right. Lucas, I heard your performance was great when you caught Lucifer?”

Rael looked at Lucas standing next to him.

“You flatter me, Sir Rael. Thanks to Sir Rael weakening Lucifer, I was able to seal him.”

“No, the Allied Forces are all praising you. How much stronger have you become?”

“Actually, I’ve stepped into the domain.”

“…. Really? Seriously?”

Rael was genuinely surprised.

Honestly, he thought it would take a few more years, but he had already stepped into the domain. It was much faster than in the original story.

“Yes. All of this is thanks to Sir Rael.”

“Wow. Don’t mention it. This polite guy.”

“Haha… Thank you.”

Lucas gave a faint smile.

And Rael felt something strange looking at him.

The positive energy that he usually felt from Lucas was not there.

“Is something wrong? Did you eat too much demonic energy when you fought Lucifer?”

“Pardon? No. I’m in good condition.”

“Really? But why do you look so frustrated?”

Rael patted Lucas on the shoulder.

Lucas, who should be standing by his side in the war, couldn’t be like this.

“…Frustrated. I don’t know either.”

Lucas was feeling that way too.

However, Lucas had almost never felt this way before, so he couldn’t understand what this feeling was.

“I’ll help you if there’s anything I can do. Tell me anything. I already feel sorry for asking you for too many favors.”

“Brother! What about me!”

“Carlson, I can use you a little more.”

“Yes?! Me?”

Carlson didn’t know, but Rael had saved Carlson’s life before.

That was enough to pay him back.

“A favor….”

Lucas blankly repeated Rael’s words.

He didn’t know.

He didn’t know what to ask Rael for.

No, he didn’t want to ask him for a favor.

Only then did Lucas realize his feelings a little.

Lucas didn’t like Rael.

“Oh, Lucas. Are you thinking of using the Holy Sword a little more?”

Then, Rael looked at Lucas again and continued.

“…The Holy Sword?”

“Yeah. No matter how I think about it, it would be more efficient for you to use it than me.”

It was something he had been thinking about for a while, but Rael no longer needed to hold the Holy Sword.

To be exact, it wasn’t efficient.

Thanks to Hoicheon [Rael’s unique magic power], he had enough magic power, and his divine power was also being filled with the acquisition of divine power.

Besides, Rael already had the ability to ignore demonic energy, which was one of the Holy Sword’s abilities.

This meant that he couldn’t perfectly use the power of the Holy Sword, which possessed infinite divine power.

But Lucas was different.

If he had the Holy Sword, fighting demons would be much easier, and infinite divine power would be a great strength to him.

[Who is handing over the Order’s sacred objects as they please again!]

Saint was angry, but Rael ignored it lightly.

“But, the Holy Sword chose Sir Rael, didn’t it? Besides, Sir Rael wouldn’t be able to have that much power without the Holy Sword….”

“I’m fine. I’m already strong enough. But you’re different, Lucas. You’ll be much stronger if you have the Holy Sword.”

Sealing one of the Four Demon Kings was a great achievement, but Alheim still had plenty of power left.

If the demons and monsters of the Abyss came out, as Marco said, Rael couldn’t stop them all alone.

Even if Rael became a little weaker, it would be better to make Lucas stronger.

“Strong enough….”

Clench.

Lucas gritted his teeth without realizing it.

Why?

He felt annoyed as soon as he heard those words.

Sir Rael had clearly done nothing wrong, but he felt like he was the only strange one.

‘Ah… I understand now.’

Lucas chuckled.

Only then did he realize what this feeling that filled his heart was.

“Sir Rael. Didn’t you say you would grant me a favor?”

“Huh? Of course. Tell me anything. I hope it’s something that can be solved with money. The Order will receive quite a lot of donations.”

“I… want to confirm it.”

“Confirm?”

“Yes. I want to see if I… can reach Sir Rael now.”

As soon as he spoke the words deep in his heart, the headache that had been bothering Lucas disappeared, and his head cleared.

He was jealous.

He was burning with competitiveness.

He was feeling a kind of inferiority.

Rael, who had surpassed Lucas, who was always the best and a genius.

He wanted to become stronger than him and stand before him.

Lucas was so envious of the hero who was blocking the boy’s dream of becoming a hero.

It was a petty jealousy like a young boy.

But once he admitted it, Lucas felt more comfortable.

“…. How long has it been since I called you a polite guy.”

“Because that’s my true feeling. Will you indulge me?”

Lucas smiled.

He was sure that Rael, whom he knew, would not disappoint him.

“Lucas. Have you forgotten that you got your ass kicked at Yongbongjihwe [a martial arts competition]?”

Rael smirked.

“I am different now than I was then.”

His heart was burning.

After confessing his inferiority to Rael, the frustrating feeling disappeared, but Lucas had not yet lost his confidence.

“Well… okay. Shall we fight for the first time in a while?”

Rael sighed.

He heard that you shouldn’t take in black-haired beasts, but red-haired beasts were the same.

He had raised him with great effort, but he was only attacking him. Tch.

“Oh. Uh? Why are you two suddenly fighting? Huh?”

“Carlson. Don’t say strange things and arrange the knights in a circular formation. It’s a sparring match.”

“Yes, sir! Silver Cross Knights! Create a sparring ground!”

Carlson waved his hand and arranged the knights in a circle.

It was a custom of the Kamen Empire to have knights stand in a circle to create a temporary arena when a sudden sparring match was held.

After the temporary arena was created, Lucas and Rael faced each other and drew their swords.

“Thank you for indulging me in this sudden sparring match, Sir Rael.”

“It’s not a difficult task. Let’s do it properly.”

“… Yes.”

Lucas drew up the magic power from deep within his body.

He had to give it his all from the beginning because it was an enemy he couldn’t let his guard down on.

“Heavenly Extremity Dance Realm.”

Lucas’s domain unfolded, and the Silver Cross Knights began to retreat from the force that pressed down on the space.

“Hmph, that’s the Heavenly Extremity Dance Realm….”

“It’s amazing no matter how many times I see it. The energy I feel is like looking at Sword Dragon’s Jeongnyeokgung, but the destructive power is like watching Rain’s Illusionary Sword Dance.”

Lucas took a slow, deep breath with the Heavenly Extremity Dance Realm unfolded.

He felt an omnipotent power that made him feel like he could do anything in this domain.

“Heavenly Extremity Dance Realm… What a cool name.”

Clearly, the domain Lucas was using was not the Heavenly Extremity Dance Realm. But he had awakened a new domain.

Maybe this was also Rael’s butterfly effect.

“Okay. Let’s do it properly, Hoicheon.”

Rael slowly unfolded his domain.

Overwhelming magic power bloomed like a mirage and took over the surroundings.

Wooddeudeuk-

Immediately after, the space began to ring as the domains collided.

The Silver Cross Knights, who had created the temporary arena, fell over as they retreated.

“Kuh, Keueut!”

“Those crazy bastards…! Holy Domain Deployment!”

Marco deployed the Holy Domain and made the sign of the cross.

He was dumbfounded by the sudden sparring match, but why were they both so serious?

“…I’m going, Sir Rael.”

Lucas and Rael’s eyes met.

Their magic power overlapped and burned like a fierce flame.

Lucas carefully raised his sword.

“Lucas, don’t be too scared.”

Rael’s eyes flashed eerily.

“Because the Saintess is nearby, you won’t die even if one of your arms is cut off.”

“…!”

The next moment.

Rael’s momentum began to explode.

Lucas inhaled at the energy that pressed down on his entire body.

He was simply holding a sword, but he felt like he was being sucked into it.

That’s how perfectly Rael was dominating the surroundings.

‘Strong.’

It was a fact he already knew, but he reminded himself once again.

Rael was stronger than anyone Lucas had ever met.

Even more than Lucifer, whom he had faced with the Allied Forces, Rael was immense.

‘…I can’t back down.’

The sparring match with Rael was purely Lucas’s greed.

He would rather die than do something stupid like being pushed back by the momentum and giving up when he said he wanted to test if he could reach you.

“As expected, Lucas. You need to use the Holy Sword.”

Rael smiled with satisfaction.

Lucas’s talent was clearly better than Rael’s.

If he gave him the Holy Sword, he would definitely become as strong as Rael.

“Please say that after you beat me.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll knock you down soon.”

Lucas’s hand tightened.

The opponent was Rael.

He was the strongest swordsman right now.

‘There’s no chance of winning if we go for a war of attrition. It’s unconditionally a short-term battle. I’m going to pour everything out with the intention of ending it in three moves.’

The Heavenly Extremity Dance Realm was a domain containing the essence of swordsmanship that Lucas had realized.

Lucas could unfold any sword within this domain.

In comparison, Hoicheon was literally the power to control all the power around him.

The magic power of Rael, who had unfolded Hoicheon, was endless.

He had to attack with the thought of facing the Demon King alone.

Lucas, who had finished thinking, kicked the ground.

And Lucas’s sword dug into the space between the domains.

He put his weight on his right foot and stabbed his left arm.

It was so fast that even Marco and Amadeus, who were watching the sparring match, couldn’t see it properly.

Paak-!

But, immediately after.

Lucas’s vision was turned upside down in one blow.

“Keueup…”

He felt a headache that felt like his head was breaking.

Lucas, who had overcome the headache, realized that he had fallen.

It was a single blow.

If the Heavenly Extremity Dance Realm had not been unfolded, he might have lost consciousness from that attack.

Lucas immediately rolled on the ground and got up.

“Haa, haa….”

“Slow. Lucas. You’re not utilizing your domain properly.”

Rael was holding the Holy Sword and shaking his head, as if he had been waiting for Lucas to get up.

He was saying that, but in fact, Rael was sincerely impressed as he looked at Lucas’s domain.

It was a domain that was similar to Hoicheon but different, but the Heavenly Extremity Dance Realm clearly contained endless possibilities.

“Lucas. Swordsmanship is a fight for each other’s distance. Now that you’ve mastered the domain, you need to understand your distance again.”

Rael, who had mastered Hoicheon, had a completely different distance than before.

But Lucas had not yet realized that.

“…It’s not over yet. Put off the sermon, Sir Rael.”

“Hoo. Is your pride hurt?”

“…”

Lucas bit his lip.

And he focused all his nerves on Rael in front of him.

He felt like he wouldn’t be able to shake off this anger unless he touched Rael even once.

“Okay. I was having a hard time solving everything alone these days….”

Rael smiled with satisfaction.

It was time to raise one more hero who would work hard.