The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 194

“Hey! Focus more! Do you even know who you’re making this for?”

“Yes! I understand!”

Clatter – Thud – Thud –

Next to the fountain in District 2, workers were setting up a huge tent and doing construction.

Raelle glanced at them and moved on.

“Madam, what’s with the sudden construction?”

“I heard the Gaia Order is making a sacred object. I don’t really know.”

Eavesdropping on the nearby conversations, it seemed to be something the Gaia Order was doing.

Raelle nodded and focused on her path.

“Tsk tsk. More of our precious donations being wasted.”

It wasn’t uncommon for the Gaia Order to suddenly start making something.

Up until 10 years ago, they frequently established branches, but now the capital had enough.

‘They’re probably going to sell spirit purification charms and give blessings to collect donations for a temporary branch.’

For reference, some unscrupulous priests would just shine light on commoners who didn’t know much about holy magic.

Raelle had educated all the priests doing that kind of crap in District 4, but there might still be some left when you go down to District 3.

‘Unless they’re crazy, priests wouldn’t do that in District 2 where the nobles are. They’ll probably just give blessings or sell spirit purification charms to the nobles.’

Either way, it wasn’t a topic Raelle was interested in.

Raelle passed through District 2 and entered District 1, heading towards the Red Magic Tower.

She had received a message from Serenade through Bager [Raelle’s intelligence network] to pick up the magic sword.

Knock knock-

Having arrived at the Red Magic Tower, Raelle knocked on the door of what looked like a warehouse.

Anyone could tell that this place, which looked like the Magic Tower’s warehouse, was where the Empire’s best magic tool maker was.

“Hero, were you waiting eagerly for the magic sword? You came as soon as I sent the message.”

“Yes. It’s a magic sword from Serenade, the Empire’s best magic tool artisan, so of course I was waiting.”

“Look at how you talk. I can’t even joke around.”

Serenade smiled and took out the sword that she had carefully kept in her workshop.

It was a work she had spent several sleepless nights creating.

“It seems like you wanted a holy sword, so I tried to imitate it as much as possible. Check it out yourself.”

Raelle carefully grasped the magic sword.

The surface of the blade, which shone faintly like moonlight, had delicate patterns that looked like flowing water.

“It’s a path made so that magic power and divine power can be well transmitted to the blade. I put in as many of your requests as possible.”

Raelle slowly swung the magic sword in the air.

The magic sword was as light as the Holy Sword Saint’s [a legendary figure], but it fit perfectly in her hand as if it had been made for Raelle.

“Come to think of it, did you ever measure my hand size?”

“An artisan can do it all just by looking.”

Raelle listened to Serenade’s confident words and ran her finger down the blade.

The sword, as smooth as a mirror, was so elastic that it would bend even if Raelle pressed it lightly.

“I know you’re not even 30 years old yet, Serenade, but to create a sword like this, you’re amazing.”

“…I know you’re 25 years old, Hero, but aren’t you already stronger than all the Sword Masters on the continent? It feels strange to hear those words from you.”

Serenade was dumbfounded and let out a hollow laugh.

It was funny that the Hero, who was already writing legends at the age of 25, was giving her such a compliment.

“That’s not true. I still can’t compare to my master, the Thousand Slaughter Sword Master.”

“Don’t try to get away with saying you’re weaker than the Thousand Slaughter Sword Master. You’re enough of a monster yourself.”

Raelle smiled at Serenade’s compliment and grabbed the sword.

Indeed, it was worthy of being called the Empire’s best artisan.

It was a fine sword that was as good as the Holy Sword Saint’s.

“I focused a lot on making it strong against demons because that’s the most important thing, so make sure to check it out when you get the chance.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I mixed ten thousand year ice iron and Adamantium [an extremely rare and strong metal] to make it strong against demonic energy.”

“That sounds promising.”

Raelle drew out demonic energy from her fingertips and infused it into the blade.

Buzz-

The magic sword, receiving the demonic energy, trembled lightly and released it.

Indeed, as Serenade had said, it had a strong resistance to demonic energy.

“Nice. If I coat it with my divine power, it will withstand most demonic energy.”

Raelle smiled contentedly.

And, Serenade’s eyes widened as she watched Raelle emit demonic energy.

“…What? Hero. How are you handling demonic energy?”

“Because I’m the Hero.”

“…Is that so?”

Serenade blinked and looked at Raelle.

Since she was meeting a Hero for the first time, it didn’t seem strange that she could handle demonic energy.

Extremes meet, after all.

“Anyway, do you like it?”

“Yes. It’s much better than I expected.”

Serenade smiled without realizing it.

Being recognized by the Hero somehow made her feel excited.

“The sword’s name is T, right?”

“I’d like you to name it yourself.”

“Me?”

“It’s a sword made for you, so you should name it, not me.”

Raelle nodded at Serenade’s words and looked down at the sword.

Actually, she didn’t have a talent for naming… but if it was a sword she was going to use in the future, it would be convenient to have a name.

“Let’s go with Flash (閃光) [Shinkou, literally “lightning flash”]. The Holy Sword Saint was a holy light, so Flash will be a light that pierces the enemy.”

After staring at the sword for a moment, Raelle opened her mouth.

If divine power poured out from the blade that shone faintly like moonlight, it would become a sword worthy of the name Flash.

“Thank you. Hero. Thanks to you, I can add another line to my career.”

“Serenade. You don’t have to call me Hero. Call me Raelle.”

“I’d like to, but Yuria would get angry if I did.”

“…”

Raelle decided to close her mouth because she didn’t know what to say.

“Hero, how are you going to break it in?”

Breaking in is the process for a knight to harmonize with a new sword when they receive it.

Usually, it involves taking on a new mission or subjugating a strong enemy.

It was a pretty important process in the martial-loving Kamen Empire, and the importance of breaking in increases with a famous sword.

Of course, Raelle, who hated tradition, had never done it even once, but since she had such a famous sword, it would be okay to do it once.

“Well, it’s my first time commissioning such a famous sword, so I’d like to try it. …I wonder if there are any demons nearby.”

“I don’t want you saying such ominous things in my workshop.”

“Just kidding.”

Raelle smiled and sheathed the sword.

*

Nobles from the continent gathered in the Empire for the Emperor’s coronation ceremony.

Thanks to this, the Kamen Knights and the Central Guard had to spend busy days.

“Gaden. Are there any problems in District 3?”

“Yes, Sir Kuran.”

“I’ll patrol District 4, so I’ll leave District 3 to you.”

“Understood!”

The 1st Guard Captain Kuran entrusted District 3 to the 3rd Guard Captain Gaden and walked to District 4.

For reference, Gaden was originally the 4th Guard Captain, but he was lucky enough to be promoted when Raelle was transferred to the Special Guard.

“Captain Kuran, you’re working hard!”

“Hamson, are there any special circumstances?”

“No! Nothing!”

“Okay. Keep up the good work.”

Kuran never made any mistakes in his work as a guard captain.

Sometimes he received glares from other guard captains, but that was his pride in his job as a guard captain.

“Hmm?”

That was why he didn’t just pass by the unidentified object in the corner of the alley.

Kuran approached something that was swaying while covered in a black cloth.

“Who are you! Reveal yourself!”

Kuran shouted, but the black object didn’t seem to care about Kuran and looked around the alley.

“Humans are so strange. Why do humans with lower ranks know more than those with higher ranks…? It’s really hard to understand.”

The black object finally noticed Kuran and turned around.

“I am Kaiman. Human, can you even know my name if I tell you?”

“…. There will be no more warnings!”

Kuran drew the sword from his waist.

It was his beloved sword that he received when he became a guard captain.

Slash-

“Kuh ?!”

But the next moment.

Kuran’s vision was completely turned upside down.

He looked at his standing lower body and his torn upper body, and soon lost consciousness.

“According to the memories of humans, a place called the Special Guard is suspicious… I need to find out more.”

Crack- Crunch-

A demon covered in demonic energy, Kaiman, devoured the human corpse.

After a while, the shape of the black demonic energy increased in size a little more.

*

Raelle would take time out to visit the orphanage in District 4 even when she was busy.

Today was no different.

She had a lot of work to do, but she spent time coming to the orphanage and playing with the children.

“Damn it. Thousand Slaughter Sword Master. Where is that old man?”

After her time with the children was over.

Raelle grabbed Zenith by the collar as she looked at some of Bager’s executives whom she had called to the orphanage to make it easier to handle work.

He was currently looking for the Thousand Slaughter Sword Master.

He had asked Ghent, the giant he cherished, but Ghent said he didn’t know, and just in case, he had also gone to Tia’s Dragon Lair, but Tia also said she didn’t know.

Every minute and every second was important to learn the Thousand Slaughter Sword Fifth Form, but that crazy old man had hidden himself again.

“Ho, How would I know! You crazy bastard!”

“You let beggars loose throughout the Empire and you’re saying you don’t know? Does that make sense?”

“If we could chase after a Sword Master, we wouldn’t be Bager, we’d be the Sword Master Association!”

Zenith grabbed Raelle’s arm and spoke with resentment.

He wanted to listen to Raelle, but what could he do about the impossible?

“Tsk. Frustrating, frustrating. What’s the point of raising you all? You can’t earn your keep.”

“Ba, Bager is an organization I raised by dedicating my life to it!”

“Okay, okay.”

Raelle sighed and put Zenith down on the sofa.

Zenith, who was trembling, clenched his fist as he looked at Raelle.

“Yo, You crazy bastard. I have to reveal the reality of the Gaia Order’s Hero in the Empire….”

“Zenith. You’ll die if you do that. And isn’t it true that Raelle raised our Bager?”

“…”

And at the words of Caron, Bager’s second-in-command, who had approached at some point, Zenith closed his mouth.

“Uncle. Do you have any information about the Emperor’s coronation ceremony?”

“Ahem, nobles from the continent are gathering in the capital. The official announcement about the Emperor’s coronation ceremony will probably be delivered throughout the Empire in a few days. It is expected to be held within a week.”

After the Emperor of the Empire is crowned.

The information guilds predicted that a war with Alheim could start soon.

“Okay. Let me know as soon as you know the detailed schedule. Report any special circumstances in the Imperial Palace immediately.”

“Raelle. We’ll try our best, but it would be faster to ask Her Highness Yuria directly about any special circumstances in the Imperial Palace.”

“…There are circumstances.”

“Well, Her Highness Yuria must be busy, so she can’t meet you often.”

Zenith nodded.

From the beginning, it was strange that this brat was close to the next Emperor.

“That’s not the feeling. Should I say that if I call, she comes too quickly and delays the progress of the work….”

“What does that mean?”

“Hey, don’t ask unnecessary questions and do as I say.”

“…Okay.”

Zenith lowered his shoulders with a sullen look.

He was also a man recognized in the Empire as the leader of Bager, but he was always like this in front of Raelle.

“Cheer up. Boss.”

The second-in-command Caron patted him on the shoulder and comforted him.

“To think that beggar bastards are discouraged just because they got cursed at… you’ve completely become nobles. That’s why you have to live in District 5.”

Raelle sighed and turned her head.

Beggars without a hungry spirit. Their minds are rotten from the start.

“Yes. It’s a light investigation. Don’t worry.”

At that time, Central Guard members were seen in front of the orphanage.

They were walking around District 4 as if investigating something.

“Zenith, what are those guys?”

“Ah, the Central Guard. They’re investigating the streets for the upcoming coronation ceremony. They’ve been running around the entire lower district for the past few days.”

“…Investigating the streets?”

Raelle narrowed her eyes and looked at the guard member.

And, she clicked her tongue at the disgusting energy she felt from him.

“Tsk. Bugs keep appearing every time we leave our seats.”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

“It’s nothing.”

Raelle sighed and stared at the Central Guard member.

It seemed like she would be able to break in Flash(閃光) soon.