The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 192

A training ground vast enough to accommodate all the knights in the Empire stretched before him.

Standing in the center, Rael slowly drew the Holy Sword.

He had received it from Lucas specifically for this day.

The Holy Sword, which he had been holding for several days now, still felt surprisingly light and perfectly balanced in his hand.

[What are you doing! Return me to the Hero Lucas! …Huh? Hero? Ah, it’s really Hero Rael!]

‘It’s been a while, and *that’s* what you’re saying, Saint?’

[R-Rael. It was you. Ahem. I was momentarily confused.]

He only lent it out for three days; what on earth did Lucas do to it?

Rael chuckled at Saint’s familiar nonsense and circulated mana throughout his body.

Dugun. Dugun.

His heart beat faster, filled with a sincerity he hadn’t been able to express while meticulously managing his health and physique.

“Hoicheon [Returning Heaven].”

A massive heat haze rose around Rael.

Rael, guiding the mana through his body, embraced the surrounding power and accelerated his thoughts.

The sensation of swimming through fleeting time instantly released the mana within his body, and the unmixable power resonated with Rael’s mana, unfolding a domain [a localized area where the user has absolute control].

Within it, Rael slowly injected mana into his sword.

Cheonsal Sword Form 1, Ipcheon (Entering Heaven).

Mana began to gather on Rael’s sword.

Unlike ordinary sword auras, Ipcheon’s sword aura, layered multiple times, possessed a powerful force capable of slicing through any demon in a single strike.

‘As expected, Ipcheon’s sword is heavy.’

Using the Cheonsal Sword while deploying Hoicheon is quite a burden, even for Rael, who is overflowing with mana.

Hwaaaah-

Therefore, Rael didn’t stop absorbing the surrounding mana with Hoicheon.

If his concentration weakened even for a moment, he wouldn’t be able to maintain the Cheonsal Sword, but fortunately, Rael had a natural talent for mana manipulation.

Cheonsal Sword Form 2, Seungcheon (Ascending Heaven).

Rael raised his sword to the sky as soon as he unleashed Ipcheon’s sword aura.

A refreshing sword technique that whispers to the heavens and strikes down with the power of Ipcheon’s sword aura in a single blow.

Rael immediately swung his sword into the air.

Kwaaaang-!

The sword, imbued with Seungcheon’s power, spread through the air, and the floor of the training ground trembled.

If he had struck that sword down on the ground, it would have caused considerable damage to the surroundings.

Cheonsal Sword Form 3, Dapcheon (Stepping on Heaven).

Rael immediately unfolded the next swordsmanship.

The Cheonsal Sword, accepting the attention of the world, wailed and burned mana.

‘Certainly, Dapcheon has become stronger after obtaining divine power.’

Dapcheon and divine power are both forces related to the world’s attention.

Divine power is a special power from the start, so it makes sense, but I’m amazed at how that old man, the Cheonsal Sword Master, implemented such a phenomenon with swordsmanship.

The mana-laden sword glowed faintly.

The gazes of the world pouring down on Rael became power and were engraved on the sword.

Chwaaaaaak-!

An arrogant sword that places the world under its feet.

Dapcheon split the sky and shattered the wall of the training ground.

The wall, dozens of meters away, was completely reduced to dust as if it had been hit by a bomb.

“…Ahem, I thought it would be worse to shoot this at the sky.”

Rael muttered, as if making an excuse for anyone who might be listening, and lowered his sword.

“Swaecheon [Withering Heaven]… I don’t think I need to do it.”

Rael slowly relaxed his body and released the tense mana.

The fourth sword of the Cheonsal Sword, Swaecheon, which he could barely reach even after perfectly mastering Hoicheon.

To reach Swaecheon, one must push their body to the limit while controlling Hoicheon to the extreme.

There’s no need to use it in the training ground.

“Ah, but still, this much.”

Rael raised his sword and pointed it toward the scarecrows at the end of the training ground.

Hoicheon, Explosion.

Kwaaaang-!

Within Hoicheon, mana that couldn’t originally be mixed is combined through Rael’s mana.

Conversely, it’s also possible to compress and collide mana that couldn’t originally be mixed through Rael’s mana to create an explosion.

That was Hoicheon, Explosion.

“Okay. This is enough.”

Rael, having roughly finished showing off his strength, put the Holy Sword back into his belt.

He had put his full strength into it, but for some reason, he still felt a sense of disappointment.

‘This is not enough…’

Rael recalled the demonic energy of Calliope and Lucifer that he had directly witnessed.

Lucifer was successfully sealed by the combined forces of the allied armies, but Calliope was ultimately not killed.

Perhaps she will become even stronger the next time they meet, meaning it will be even more difficult to kill her.

‘Moreover, if the demons of the abyss are released and a war breaks out on the continent… this is not enough.’

The war with the demons will likely proceed faster than in the original story.

Unlike the original story, humans have not yet become strong enough, so the key to narrowing that gap rests solely on Rael.

‘The demons may not be that strong, but that’s too optimistic a thought.’

At least he is pushing Lucas to become stronger by giving him the Holy Sword, but ultimately, Rael himself must become stronger.

“Ahem, anyway. That’s all.”

Rael stopped his stray thoughts and shook his head.

Unfortunately, he had no intention of dwelling on such worries now.

Clap clap clap clap-

After Rael’s demonstration, thunderous applause erupted from the allied forces, who were positioned on one side of the training ground.

“U-Unbelievable martial prowess.”

“To think that such a person is on the side of the allied forces… Gaia-men [a common expression of awe or surprise].”

Today, Rael finally visited the allied forces, something he had been putting off.

And as soon as he arrived, he had to give a swordsmanship demonstration.

“Rael. You’ve worked hard.”

“Sword Dragon. I told you I don’t do things like this. The knights are looking at me with fear.”

“…That’s respect. And seeing your martial prowess, it seems right that you should be the commander.”

“I can’t do things like that. I’m busy, and the commander’s position should be held by someone older and more experienced.”

“…You’re not like the people of the Kamen Empire. The Kamen Empire doesn’t care about age or experience as long as you have the skill. Isn’t Belen of the Kamen Knights a prime example?”

“I don’t know. I can’t do things like that.”

Rael shook his head.

Based on his experience of completely finishing higher education and completing his military service as a sergeant, such high positions were not to be held.

Especially the commander of the allied forces.

Such a position that doesn’t bring money and only brings honor should never be held.

“You’ve worked hard, Mr. Rael.”

“Ah, Ms. Yuri.”

Rael raised his hand lightly as he saw Yuri and Isabel approaching.

And the Sword Dragon next to them immediately knelt on one knee.

“I greet Her Highness.”

“Please rise, Sword Dragon. I’m not the Emperor yet.”

Yuri, who had been watching Rael’s demonstration, smiled and helped the Sword Dragon up.

“Ms. Yuri, you were watching. Isabel, you seem to be doing better.”

“Yes, I was able to recover thanks to resting at the Order.”

Isabel bowed lightly.

“Your Highness Yuriel, what brings you to the allied forces? I heard that the Imperial Palace is busy preparing for the coronation ceremony.”

“The training of the allied forces is as important as the coronation ceremony.”

In fact, Yuri being in the Imperial Palace doesn’t greatly help with the coronation ceremony.

It would be more helpful to leave the position vacant by wandering around like this.

“I heard that the First Princess is also returning to the Imperial Palace. Congratulations.”

“Sister… Yes. That’s right. Thank you.”

Yuri smiled bitterly at the mention of the First Princess Serena.

Seeing that, Rael subtly asked Isabel.

“Isabel, why is Ms. Yuri like that?”

“Don’t you know? She heard the story that the First Princess is coveting Sir Rael…”

“Isabel! That’s a secret!”

Yuri was surprised and covered Isabel’s mouth, but Rael and the Sword Dragon had already heard Isabel’s words.

“Hoo… I see. Such a thing…”

The Sword Dragon nodded.

He also knew well the hot passion of that age group.

He had a lingering regret that he had not burned his youth, the best time, because he had mastered the Virgin Boy Kung Fu [a martial art that requires the practitioner to remain a virgin].

Besides, it was good timing.

He also had something to say to Rael as an adult.

“Rael, when are you planning to get married?”

“…Yes? What nonsense are you suddenly spouting? Did you eat something wrong?”

“I’m saying it sincerely.”

Rael narrowed his eyes as he looked at the Sword Dragon’s serious face.

The Sword Dragon made eye contact with Rael and continued.

“Rael, war is dangerous.”

“Who doesn’t know that war is dangerous?”

“I mean it’s beyond your imagination. Don’t you feel it’s strange too? Despite the existence of the Soma Association [a powerful organization of sword masters], the number of Sword Masters currently on the continent is so small that you can count them on your fingers. In fact, excluding the executives of the Soma Association, there are less than five ordinary members.”

“…That’s true.”

Rael also thought it was strange.

In that vast Kamen Empire, the only official Sword Masters were Gideon and Rain, just the two of them.

Other countries were the same.

Usually, they had at most one Sword Master.

Despite that, there was a Soma Association that encompassed the continent; Rael was dumbfounded by that point.

“The Great War with the demons. That is the cause. In the last Great War, the Soma Association lost 80% of its members. It takes at least 50 years for one Sword Master to be born. There’s no way it can recover as before in just 10 years. That’s why you, including the Empire’s Three Heroes, are called monsters.”

“…Sword Dragon, I understand. I understand why there are so few Sword Masters on the continent. But how is that connected to my marriage?”

I understand that the Great War is dangerous. I also understand that the Soma Association has become smaller because of it.

But how does that lead to Rael’s marriage?

Rael sighed at the Sword Dragon’s logical leap.

“Didn’t I say it? Rael, war is dangerous. I know your strength well, but the strength of the Sword Masters who died in the last Great War could not be ignored either.”

“…”

“So, you must leave descendants, Rael. If you die during the war… it will be a huge loss for humanity. You must spread your genes widely and have as many children as possible so that humanity can become prosperous…”

The Sword Dragon earnestly preached his theory.

The reason why he created the Jeongryeok Palace by entering the extreme of the Virgin Boy Kung Fu was also because he thought it would be a huge loss not to leave his descendants to the world.

“Stop. Stop. Stop!”

What nonsense is this crazy old man spouting?

Rael felt a headache for the first time in a while and frowned.

“Rael, I’m not kidding. If the First Princess says she likes you, it’s a good opportunity. The blood of the Imperial Family. The blood of the Hero. Wouldn’t it be a good story to tell the public?”

“Aish. What story. I’ll take care of my marriage myself. Worry about Kyle’s marriage instead. It’ll be hard for him to get married because of the Virgin Boy Kung Fu anyway.”

“Reaching the extreme of the Virgin Boy Kung Fu doesn’t make procreation difficult.”

“The extreme of the Virgin Boy Kung Fu? Is that easy? Isn’t the Sword Dragon the only one who succeeded in the Vanessa Kingdom? Kyle’s talent is okay, but… if you leave him alone like this, you won’t even see your grandchildren’s faces?”

“…Hmm. You’re right. I should train Kyle instead of worrying about you. Thank you, Rael.”

The Sword Dragon nodded with a serious face and headed to the training ground.

Rael apologized to Kyle, who would be harmed for no reason, and shook his head.

He didn’t expect that old man to be so nosy.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Rael. You heard unnecessary things because of me.”

“I’m sorry, Hero.”

Yuri bowed her head as if she was ashamed.

Isabel also bowed her head next to her.

“It’s okay. Sigh, I was about to leave anyway, so it’s good. Let’s go together.”

“Yes? Where to?”

Yuri’s eyes sparkled as if she were a child who had heard that they were going to an amusement park on the weekend.

Rael looked at her and said lightly.

“Where else? The Special Guard. I have something to do.”

“Ah… Yes.”

Yuri nodded, looking slightly disappointed.