The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 195

“It’s been a while since I’ve been here.”

The Central Guard, protectors of the Imperial Capital.

Rael strolled along, feeling a wave of nostalgia for his former workplace.

Seeing the guards bustling about even in broad daylight, he sensed the Imperial Enthronement Ceremony was indeed drawing near.

‘By the way, how is it these Imperial bastards get robbed every single day with this level of security?’

He could understand why the Empire’s security had been so terrible until now.

After all, the commander of the Carmen Knights, who were supposed to protect the Empire, was an idiot.

But now, the Carmen Knights had seemingly come to their senses and were working diligently.

Although the invaluable Gideon was missing, the Knights, not Gideon, were primarily responsible for protecting the Empire’s borders.

‘The most likely possibility is… someone has sided with the demons. Or maybe a demon is masquerading as a noble.’

Rael walked towards the Central Guard, mulling over these thoughts.

It was wise to entrust information gathering to Vegus, but the mana within the Guard needed to be investigated personally.

“Ah, Commander Rael, ah, no! Hero!”

The guard at the entrance of the Guard building was a familiar face.

Rael lightly tapped James on the shoulder and replied.

“What do you mean, Hero? Just treat me like you always do. Is Curran inside?”

“Yes! Commander Curran is here!”

James saluted Rael, visibly trembling.

Before him stood the legendary figure who had risen from Commander of the Guard to Hero of the Gaia Order in a single year.

“You’re working hard. Don’t worry about the entry log.”

“Understood!”

When Rael first started making a name for himself by winning the Yongbong Tournament, he didn’t receive this kind of treatment even in the lower districts, but now there was no one in the lower districts who didn’t know Rael’s fame.

Rael skipped the entry log as if it were routine and entered the Guard.

Creak-

Opening the door to the duty room, he saw the 1st Guard Commander Curran diligently doing paperwork in a formal posture.

Rael stared at Curran for a moment before entering.

“Curran.”

“Hmm? Hero. What brings you here during duty hours?”

Curran stood up from his seat and saluted as soon as he saw Rael.

“Are you calling me Hero now? I told you to call me Rael, no need to be so formal.”

“I cannot comfortably address the Honorary Knight of the Silver Cross Knights and the Hero of the Gaia Order by his given name.”

“Yeah, yeah. Do as you please. How are things these days? I saw the guards running around the lower districts.”

Rael pulled up a nearby chair and sat down, looking around the inside of the Guard building.

It had been a while since he had been here, but nothing had changed.

Even the password written in the corner of the wall was still there.

He could only wonder how effective that was as a password.

“There are no special circumstances. Count Samuel is leading the effort to ensure the safety of the lower districts.”

“Count Samuel… why does that name sound so familiar… Ah, right.”

He had heard the name Samuel a few times.

He was a central figure among the nobles who supported the 1st Prince recently.

‘He couldn’t have been compromised by a demon, could he?’

While Rael was pondering about Samuel with his arms crossed, Curran continued.

“Yes. Didn’t you beat up Count Samuel’s youngest son and get transferred to the Special Guard, Hero?”

“…That bastard? What a terrible coincidence.”

No wonder. He felt a sense of unease every time he heard the name.

The noble family that had made Rael’s life difficult was the Samuel family.

“But why is that person concerned about the safety of the lower districts? He’s a noble who lives in the upper district anyway.”

“It is said to be at the request of a VIP. Currently, VIPs from the desert kingdom of Nagore are staying at the Count’s residence for the Imperial Enthronement Ceremony.”

“Hmm… VIPs from Nagore.”

Rael nodded.

He had gathered enough information at this point.

It seemed clear that there was a suspicious individual in Count Samuel’s residence.

“The Information Guild would likely know this much, so why did you come here?”

“Because there’s something I need to handle personally. And to say my last goodbyes.”

Rael unfolded his arms and stood up from his seat, walking towards Curran.

“…Hero?”

Crack-

In a swift motion.

Rael’s hand snapped Curran’s neck.

“Hero, my ass. How long are you going to keep up that friendly facade with that face? You son of a bitch.”

Rael frowned and shook off his hand.

Rael had been analyzing the mana attached to the guards since he entered the Guard building.

And the source of the mana, where it all converged, was Curran.

To put it bluntly, Curran was acting as a host.

Mana was extremely poisonous to humans.

There was no way a human could serve as a host for mana.

In other words, the Curran in front of him was no longer human.

Whoosh-

As proof, mana erupted from Curran’s body as he died.

The mana, now without a host, scattered into the air in an instant.

“A demon that burrows into people’s minds… it seems a little different from Lucifer’s contract.”

Rael caught some of the scattering mana with 회천(Hoicheon) [Hoicheon is a technique to absorb and manipulate mana].

It was definitely a demon’s mana, but it was slightly different from the mana Rael was familiar with.

“Is this the Abyss Demon? I need to see the main body to get a proper sense of it.”

Although he absorbed some of it with 회천(Hoicheon), the flow of mana disappeared as soon as Curran’s life was extinguished.

They would likely realize Curran’s death soon.

“…Tch. Curran, you bastard. You said we’d have a drink, how could you unilaterally break our promise like this.”

Rael sighed and looked at Curran’s body.

It wasn’t the first time he had seen a colleague die while in the Guard, but having a conversation with a dead colleague was a particularly unpleasant experience.

It was especially frustrating to see Curran’s death like this, someone he had known since the beginning of his Guard life.

“Rest in peace. Commander Curran.”

Rael closed Curran’s eyes and stood up from his seat.

“Count Samuel’s residence, huh.”

That was the only place connected to the Central Guard.

Now that he knew where the bastard was, he couldn’t give him time to escape.

“…I need to summon the Silver Cross Knights for the first time in a while. I have a feeling that a revelation is imminent.”

Fortunately, Rael now had the authority to do so.

*

“Special Guard… is there a place that only people living in the lower districts know about? I didn’t know they would hide the Demon King Yacha in a place like this.”

Inside a quiet mansion.

A man sat in a chair with his arms crossed as if deep in thought.

“The surveillance around here is strict. Mistra could infiltrate, but I need to gather more information. For now, I’ll gather more information through the host for a few more days….”

Tap-

At that moment, Baron Gadiel of the desert kingdom of Nagore felt something snap in his mind.

It was the connection of mana that was linked to the host.

Since the distance between the lower district and this place was quite far, the host probably died a few tens of minutes ago.

“…The host is dead. What’s the reason?”

Murders were frequent in the lower districts, but the host he had created was not weak enough to die on the street.

‘The possibility of being discovered is low… but I should avoid the body. I’ll discard this body too.’

Kaiman’s mana began to surge from within Baron Gadiel’s body.

He was contemplating abandoning the shell of this body and fleeing.

Perhaps he didn’t even need to do this.

The Abyss Mana he wielded was perfect, and no one would have noticed that the mana had infiltrated the host.

But the grand plan that Kaiman was in charge of must never fail.

Even with a low probability, he had to abandon the body first.

‘My role ends here.’

The moment Kaiman decided to escape from Baron Gadiel’s body.

Kwaaaang-!

A deafening roar erupted from outside.

“W, what’s going on?!”

“Is it an attack? What in the center of the Carmen Empire…!”

The surrounding nobles were also startled and rushed out of their rooms.

‘…I can’t abandon the body now.’

Kaiman had no choice but to remain in Baron Gadiel’s body and go outside with the other nobles.

He saw the nobles gathered in front of the main gate.

[I have received a revelation that a demon is hiding here. Open the door immediately, Count Samuel.]

“W, wait a minute, what is going on?! Hero!”

Many paladins were gathered outside the main gate.

And at the forefront was the Hero of the Gaia Order.

He knocked on the door as if he didn’t care about the flustered Count Samuel.

‘…No way. How can he be this fast?’

Kaiman looked at the Hero of the Gaia Order with a nervous expression.

The Hero, who had received a revelation that a demon was hiding, came here with unwavering certainty.

‘Is it related to the death of the host? No, that’s too fast. Did he really receive a revelation from Gaia…?’

Kaiman cautiously stepped back.

Whatever the truth, it didn’t matter. That human’s ability was extremely dangerous.

He had to inform Alheim of this fact.

Kwaaaang-!

Just as Kaiman was about to abandon his body.

The paladins, led by the Hero, stormed into the mansion, breaking down the main gate.

“H, Hero!”

“I told you to open the door immediately. Get out of the way.”

Rael waved his hand dismissively at Count Samuel, who was approaching with a troubled expression.

“B, but there are many VIPs here.”

VIPs from Nagore were staying at Count Samuel’s residence.

It was Count Samuel’s duty to provide them with a comfortable stay.

No matter how much of a Hero of the Gaia Order he was, it didn’t make sense to break down the main gate and enter the mansion with paladins.

“This person still hasn’t come to his senses. From now on, I will control the entry and exit of the mansion. No one here can take a step outside. From now on, anyone who moves is a demon. Do you understand?”

“Hero! What are you doing now!”

Among the VIPs from the desert kingdom of Nagore, there were also people who did not believe in the Gaia Order.

But Rael didn’t care.

“Silver Cross Knights, prevent anyone from leaving the mansion.”

Rael didn’t just bring the paladins after listening to Curran’s words.

Immediately after Curran’s death, he sensed the flow of mana from this mansion.

Not to mention after entering the mansion.

He was convinced that a demon was hiding inside.

It would take longer than last time, but he would definitely be able to catch it if he searched thoroughly.

‘…Can I escape?’

Meanwhile, Kaiman scanned the paladins surrounding the mansion.

But there was no opening at all.

‘I have no choice. I have to break through and escape.’

The weakest point he could see.

He could see a path guarded by only one paladin.

Even if he couldn’t face the Hero, he could break through that position.

Tap-

At that moment.

Kaiman jumped up from his seat without hesitation.

“B, Baron Gadiel?!”

The nobles around him were surprised to see Baron Gadiel running out.

Kaiman approached the paladin at an incredible speed.

Whoosh-

Mana spewed out from Kaiman’s hand and stretched out like a massive claw.

The paladin who saw the sight carefully raised his sword.

“…Don’t tell me my brother predicted this too.”

Carlson, who was guarding the most vulnerable path, drew a divine power sword.

It was surprising that a demon was hiding there as his brother said, but how could that demon come to him.

Carlson thrust his sword towards the approaching mana claw.

His divine power sword was effective in dealing with demons.

Therefore, he could block that much mana.

Clang-!

“Ugh?!”

Carlson widened his eyes at the feeling of the sword being pushed back.

Just as mana was extremely poisonous to humans, divine power was also a force that countered mana.

But the demon in front of him was different.

His divine power sword was hardly effective.

“Get out of here!”

Whoosh-

Mana condensed in Kaiman’s hand, and a huge claw engulfed Carlson’s body.

Carlson focused divine power on his sword and quickly twisted his body, but he could not maintain his stance due to the overwhelming destructive power of mana.

“Keugh!”

Eventually, Carlson was thrown to the side along with the huge claw.

The pain felt throughout his body was so intense that even divine power could not alleviate it.

“Damn it…. Am I too late.”

Kaiman, who lowered his posture to push away the paladin and escape, bit his lip and drew out mana once again.

There was already a human standing in front of him.

“You’ve done well, Carlson. You’ve engaged a pretty strong opponent. It would have been hard to hold on without you.”

“Brother. That guy is weird. Divine power doesn’t work. Keuh, is that what the Commander was talking about….”

“I know everything, so rest quietly.”

Rael drew 섬광(Seomgwang) [Seomgwang is a sword name], looking at the demon.

The Abyss Demons who were dormant in the sea of Abyss filled with mana had bodies strong enough to resist divine power.

[But divine power is different! Even that kind of demon can be cut down in one blow!]

If Saint were here, wouldn’t he have said that?

Rael smiled and held 섬광(Seomgwang).

“This is the first time I’ve encountered this kind of mana, so you must be a demon from the Abyss?”

“…”

Kaiman carefully looked around.

Should he consider himself fortunate?

The other paladins, except for the Hero, did not approach him while guarding the nobles.

He still had a chance.

“Yeah. Well, you don’t have to answer.”

Divine power bloomed on the blade of 섬광(Seomgwang).

Following the pattern of the sword, a 입천(Ipcheon) [Ipcheon is a sword technique] sword aura was created like a flame.

“Because I was going to kill you anyway.”