The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 190

Clang-!

Lael and Lucas’s swords clashed, the sound echoing with the force of their blows.

The sharp clang of metal reverberated through the training ground, the air shimmering with the collision of their magical energies.

“Lucas’s swordsmanship is truly amazing. It’s like watching a dance,” one of the Silver Cross Knights commented.

“Indeed. It’s like an artful sword in motion. But…” another added, a sigh escaping his lips.

The two knights continued their exchange, alternating between attack and defense.

However, the outcome had been decided long ago.

“Kuh-eup!”

Thang-!

Lucas, unable to withstand the Heavenly Execution Sword’s Ascend [a powerful sword technique], was once again sent crashing to the ground.

“If only his opponent wasn’t Sir Lael…”

“Isn’t that a bit much? Lucas is going to get seriously hurt.”
The Silver Cross Knights exchanged worried glances, their eyes fixed on Lucas, who was struggling to rise. They had lost count of how many times he had fallen, yet he stubbornly kept getting back up.

“…Is that truly the swordsmanship of the continent’s greatest swordsman?”

“It’s not just the difference in swordsmanship. The Hero [Lael’s title] is perfectly reading his opponent’s movements. It’s as if the sword and body have become one.”

Marco and Amadeus couldn’t hide their admiration either.

“Lucas, do you intend to continue?” Lael asked, tapping the ground with the tip of his holy sword as he regarded Lucas.

He had threatened to cut off his arm earlier, but he couldn’t actually bring himself to do it. He had been holding back, but even that was becoming increasingly difficult.

“I can still… still fight.”

“Lucas, I didn’t know you were so proud.”

“Haha, neither did I, Sir Lael.”

Lucas forced his trembling legs to support him as he resumed his stance.

“Lucas! Stop! Sir Lael, please stop too! Someone’s going to get seriously hurt!”

“He says he can fight, so let him be,” Lael said, shaking his head.

He hadn’t realized Lucas possessed such pride. Geniuses often kept their true colors hidden until pushed to their limits.
This was the first real obstacle Lucas had encountered in his life, and his hidden pride was finally surfacing.

“Haa, thank you, Sir Lael.”

Lucas slowly took a deep breath, gripping his sword tightly. He needed to rethink his approach from the ground up.

Trying to simply survive against Sir Lael had been a mistake from the start.

Even in a sparring match, he needed to approach it with the intent to win, to truly challenge him.

Only then could he stand a chance.

“Sorry, Lucas, but I don’t have time to play around anymore.”

Lael began to focus his magical power into his sword.

He had been accommodating Lucas by holding back, but he couldn’t afford to waste any more time.

“Heavenly Execution Sword, Form 3, Answer to Heaven.”

He gathered the world’s attention, focusing it to the point where divine power manifested, and poured it into the sword’s aura.

As Lael swung his sword, the sword aura, transcending space itself, hurtled towards Lucas.

Kwaaaang-!

“Celestial Extremity Unmeasurable, Supreme Sword Chapter 2: Yin-Yang Ring Sword!”

However, Lucas was also intimately familiar with Lael’s swordsmanship.

Lucas’s magic power circulated in a perfect circle.

The circulation of the Supreme Sword, now even more refined after mastering Celestial Extremity Unmeasurable [a powerful martial art], even managed to swallow the sword aura of Answer to Heaven.

The harmonious flow of magic power absorbed the incoming attack, and Lucas seized the opportunity, launching himself forward.

In an instant, he thrust his sword towards Lael’s chest.

Or so he thought.

“…”

Lucas realized that a cold blade was resting just beneath his chin.

He thought he had executed the move perfectly.

He had clearly observed Lael using Answer to Heaven until the very end and aimed his sword precisely at his chest.

Yet, Lael was nowhere to be seen.

“Hoo, that was quite dangerous, Lucas. That was a sharp move. Was that the same sword that cut Calliope’s chest?”

“…When did you get behind me?”

Lucas sighed and lowered his sword, glancing back.

Lael stood there smiling, his sword pointed at Lucas’s neck.

He wasn’t foolish enough to continue, given the vast difference in their abilities.

“That’s for you to figure out. You’ll understand as you continue to hone Celestial Extremity Unmeasurable.”

Pak-

Lael lightly tapped the holy sword against Lucas’s chest.

“Since I won, you’ll listen to me. You’re using the holy sword for the time being.”

“But Sir Lael… Are you sure? Isn’t this the Hero’s symbol?”

“What’s the problem if the Hero lends it to you?”

*Hero’s symbol or whatever…*

He couldn’t continue to work alone.

At least Lucas would be able to keep up with him.

“But… If I’m holding the holy sword, people will definitely find it strange.”

“Hey, do you think people memorize the appearance of the holy sword? Just keep it quiet between you and the paladins. Can you guys keep quiet?”

“Yes, yep!”

The Silver Cross Knights straightened their postures and answered in unison.

After witnessing that monstrous sparring match, no one was foolish enough to disregard the Hero’s words.

“Carlson, keep the kids quiet. If you can’t, you’re dead.”

“Brother, why are you doing this to me…?”

“Commander Marco, don’t make that face either. You’re not thinking anything strange, are you?”

“…I’m wondering if the Hero lending the holy sword is sacrilege or not.”

Marco crossed his arms and pondered seriously.

Was that insulting Gaia [the Goddess]?

“Don’t worry. You know the holy sword Saint is an ego sword [a sword with its own consciousness], right? I got permission for everything.”

[When did I give permission! You crazy Hero!]

Woong-woong-

Saint raged, and divine power poured out from the sword.

Lael pointed to the holy sword’s divine power without changing his expression.

“See? Saint is happy too.”

“Hmm… If it’s Gaia’s will.”

[Ugh, ugh! Please listen to me! Paladins! Can’t you hear me?!]

Saint screamed, but no one could hear the holy sword’s voice.

“Good. Now, Lucas, I’ll help you get used to the holy sword from now on. If you get stronger with the holy sword, I’ll spar with you again anytime.”

“…Yes! I understand!”

Lucas’s eyes lit up.

He would break through this wall with the holy sword, grow stronger, and challenge Sir Lael once more.

Several hours later, Lael frowned, looking down at the captain of the guard’s sword.

“Lucas…”

“Yes, Sir Lael. This holy sword is really… amazing.”

Lucas stroked the sword, marveling at its power.

It felt as if it had been made for him from the very beginning.

Especially when using divine power while wielding Celestial Extremity Unmeasurable, the sensation was even more profound.

[Is the real Hero this way…? Huh. No, wait…]

Saint was also bewildered.

He had been with Lucas a few times before due to Lael’s whims, but this was the first time for such an extended period.

And now, Saint was experiencing an identity crisis.

Because Lucas had also stepped into the realm and become much stronger than before.

“Sorry, but give me back the holy sword.”

“…Yes?”

“Using this sword after using the holy sword is impossible.”

The sword he had received when he became the captain of the guard.

Lael frowned as he looked at it.

It had definitely been a high-quality sword back then, but after using only the holy sword every day recently, he found it impossible to wield this sword again; it felt so frustrating.

The holy sword was incredibly sharp and light, befitting the church’s sacred object, but this felt like nothing more than scrap metal.

*A craftsman doesn’t discriminate against tools?*

*I haven’t met a single craftsman who actually believes that.* [Lael’s internal thought]

“Brother Lael, isn’t it a bit much to act cool and then take it back after three hours?”

“…Is it?”

Lucas was holding the holy sword as if it were the most precious thing in the world.

He felt a pang of guilt for trying to take it away after forcing it upon him.

“Just kidding, so don’t make that face.”

“…It doesn’t seem like a joke.”

Lael casually brushed off Carlson’s suspicious expression.

A man couldn’t go back on his word.

It seemed he would have to find a new sword.

*

The headquarters of Beggars [an information guild], the best information guild in the empire.

Lael visited Beggars again today without any warning.

“Uncle Zenith, I need to have a sword made.”

“…Doesn’t the Hero have the best sword, called the holy sword?” Zenith asked, bringing out tea as he looked at the uninvited guest who had suddenly appeared.

Lael coolly drank the tea and shook his head.

“I don’t have it anymore.”

Lael showed his empty waist.

“After all that tyranny, were you finally fired from being the Hero?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Introduce me to a place that makes swords well. I gave the holy sword to Lucas due to certain circumstances.”

“I can introduce you, but… Can’t you just have it done at the imperial palace or the church? There’s the Second Princess and the Gaia Church.”

“Uh-huh. Don’t you know that the person who pays is the real owner? They wouldn’t make it properly there. Don’t you have a hidden artisan that only Beggars knows about?”

When it came to items where quality was paramount, spending a lot of money in the private sector was always the best option.

Especially in a medieval fantasy setting, there was bound to be an artisan who had been hammering swords for decades.

“A hidden artisan… Ah, there is that person.”

“Yeah. I knew there was. Who is it?”

“It’s Sere.”

“Sere? …Are you talking about the First Princess? Wasn’t that person a mage who makes magical tools?”

Lael tilted his head, the name sounding familiar.

“Since she’s a magical tool artisan, she’ll be good at making magic swords too.”

“What kind of… And calling it a magic sword sounds weird.”

“Isn’t a sword with magic a magic sword?”

“That’s true, but… A sword made by the princess feels unsettling. Isn’t there a master blacksmith who has been hammering swords for decades, possessing excellent skills but refusing to make swords for just anyone due to their strong pride?”

There should be one of these blacksmiths in every fantasy world.

“…What nonsense are you talking about, Lael? If there was such a person, the imperial palace would have taken them a long time ago.”

“Tch. This neighborhood really has no romance. Is that person’s skill certain?”

“If it’s Sere, her skill is beyond question. I’ve met her several times.”

At that moment, the War God Clara [a powerful warrior] entered the room and spoke.

“Really? If it’s your guarantee, I can trust it.”

“…Lael, I’ve been active in the empire for decades and created Beggars. Can’t you trust my guarantee a little too?”

“Yes, yes. I understand. Just tell me where Sere is.”

“You can go to the Red Magic Tower. If you mention the name of Beggars or the War God, you can get access to her right away.”

“Really? Thanks, Clara.”

Lael finished the remaining tea in his teacup and left.

“……”

Zenith sighed and began to clean up the teacups.

It was just sad that he had grown accustomed to that tyranny by now.

“Zenith, it seems like the top of your head is getting emptier.”

“War God, please refrain from saying such things…”

Zenith sighed and tidied his hair.

“The Red Magic Tower is… this way.”

Lael walked around the first district of the capital, looking around.

He hadn’t come here often when he was the captain of the guard, so his memory was a bit hazy, but he was able to find the Red Magic Tower quickly thanks to its towering height.

“And here… huh?”

Knights were stationed in front of the Red Magic Tower’s main gate.

It was like when a VIP was visiting.

And Lael spotted familiar faces among the knights.

“What are you guys doing here?”

“Hmm? Lael?”

“Lael! Why are you here?”

Gent and Reina.

Lael blinked at the demi-humans [people with animal features].

“Didn’t I ask first? I came to the Red Magic Tower because I have something to do.”

“We’re the same. We’re following Yuri’s schedule.”

“Why is Yuri here?”

“Well, it’s for the emperor’s coronation ceremony. The First Princess is the last remaining member of the imperial family.”

“Ah…”

He didn’t know much about the emperor’s coronation ceremony, but if she was a member of the imperial family, she would have to participate. It wasn’t strange that Yuri came here, as she might be curious about the First Princess’s intentions as the Second Princess.

“So, can I go inside?”

“Hmm. They said not to let anyone in, but…”

“It’ll be okay if it’s Lael. Uh-huh.”

Gent and Reina exchanged glances and nodded.

“Okay. I’ll be out soon, so wait for me. Let’s have dinner later.”

Lael nodded and went inside.