The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 2

Imperial Guard’s Thug Swordmaster – Episode 2 (2/105)

Imperial Special Guard

“Fucking bastards…”

Thud-. Thud-.

I walked down the street powerlessly.

The paper in my hand was still the same, no matter how many times I read it.

——————————

[Order for Department Transfer]

Ra-El, the 3rd Guard Captain, is transferred to the Imperial Special Guard.

——————————

Imperial Special Guard.

A place of fear for the Guards and hell where you have to come out crippled once you’re dragged in.

A good Guard Captain like me being transferred to the Special Guard.

I recalled the night a few days ago that created this situation.

‘It doesn’t make sense. How is that pig a noble?’

In this world, nobles respect power, and handling weapons is common sense.

A noble’s self-management is essential.

A fat pig was causing trouble, so I thought he was the son of a rich merchant and beat him up a few times, but I was completely wrong.

He was just a good-for-nothing bastard the Count’s family had thrown away.

‘And if you’re a noble, you should say something. Ha… I knew something was fishy.’

The bastard was drunk and didn’t say anything until he was beaten and ran away.

If he had said something then, I wouldn’t have hit him.

‘I can’t quit the Guard, damn it.’

The Imperial Guard is similar to knighthood.

You swear allegiance to the Empire, not to a specific person.

In other words, you can’t just quit whenever you want.

There is a price to pay for being a secure job.

“The Empire is betraying me after all.”

Was it that realizing the redistribution of wealth didn’t sit well with the higher-ups?

Maybe that beggar who took the fairy tale was a noble’s stooge [a person used by someone else to gain an advantage].

I opened the door of the inn, seriously contemplating the future of the Empire.

“Ra-El! You’re here?”

As soon as I entered the inn, Sarah, with her hair tied back, approached me as if welcoming her husband home from work.

She was quite a beauty when she was young, but lately, wrinkles have started to appear around her eyes.

This person is my wife… no, she’s a teacher from the orphanage in my childhood.

She runs an inn and bar at night and volunteers at the orphanage during the day. She is a true woman of this era.

I was staying at this inn long-term because of that connection.

“Yes. Sarah Teacher…”

“Why the long face? Did something bad happen during patrol? I’ll warm up some stew, so wait a moment.”

“Thank you. Please put a lot of meat in it.”

I plopped down in the corner seat.

Honestly, it’s not a great or outstanding inn, but the atmosphere is good, and I can see the Teacher.

The orphanage and this inn are the only places where I feel comfortable in this dog-eat-dog world.

‘And the kids come often too.’

I grew up in an orphanage.

I was so strong since I was young, so I took on the role of the orphanage leader, and thanks to that, many children liked me.

Tuk-.

A warm, steaming stew came out.

I immediately picked up a spoon.

I liked that there was more meat than what they sell at other inns. At this rate, I can eat a piece of meat in one bite.

“Ra-El, so what’s wrong?”

“I beat up a guy who was drunk and causing trouble a few days ago, and it turns out he’s a noble’s son.”

“What? Then isn’t that a big problem?”

“Yes. So I got transferred.”

I handed the department transfer order to Sarah Teacher.

Sarah read the department transfer order diligently but put it down again, seemingly not understanding it properly.

It was the literacy level of an ordinary citizen in a medieval fantasy setting.

“Transferred to the Special Guard, I don’t really understand what that means. I’ll get you a cool drink.”

“Yes. With ice floating in it.”

I watched Sarah Teacher’s back as she went into the kitchen and turned my head.

There were many customers on the first floor today.

Honestly, it’s not a particularly good inn compared to other places, and the customers are mostly mercenaries who come to flirt with Sarah Teacher, so it was quite unusual.

‘They’re mercenaries after all. Are those guys from Zaid’s gang?’

The captain of the capital’s guard and the mercenaries are inseparable.

These bastards make a living day by day, so they cause a lot of accidents.

Looking at the pattern on the scabbard, they seem to be Zaid’s gang, and I often dealt with those guys.

I looked at the mercenaries who were laughing out loud.

“Sister. I want to try believing in God. I haven’t learned anything, so it’s hard to believe. So I want to learn how- that’s what I mean.”

“God is always with us. You can practice your faith in your own way.”

A woman with beautiful looks was sitting among the rough mercenaries.

Like me, she is friends with Sarah Teacher, so she makes a point of coming to this inn.

“Here. Ra-El, it’s your favorite honey tea. There’s not much, so you have to drink it slowly.”

Tuk-.

At that time, Sarah Teacher brought out the tea.

I held the teacup while fixing my gaze on the mercenaries.

The bastards were still giggling and continuing their conversation.

“That’s true, but I wish you could come to our hideout and give us some detailed examples… Like the posture for praying. Or the feeling when you receive God. Huh?”

“Ah, then shall we do that? When would be a good time for you?”

Anyone who sees it would think they’re hitting on her, but there’s no such thing as hitting on someone in this world.

If I had to say it, it would be kidnapping or abduction.

You can’t expect common sense from the guys here.

“The trash keeps coming out no matter how much you clean it up.”

“Huh?”

“Look over there. Zaid’s gang is flirting with the priest.”

I said, sipping the tea that the Teacher gave me.

It’s called honey tea, but it’s basically sugar water, and there’s hardly any honey in it.

Well, the honey-something snacks I ate in my past life were just lumps of sugar.

“E, eeeh? Ra-El. Ra-El! This is not the time to leisurely drink tea! Go and save her quickly!”

“I should.”

I emptied the tea in one gulp and got up from my seat.

Fortunately, as an elite guard captain, I know how to deal with those guys.

“I clearly told Zaid to be quiet, at least in this inn… Are you uneducated and have a bad memory?”

I sighed and slowly walked among the mercenaries.

The gazes of the guys who were laughing while looking at the woman were focused on me.

Some ill-tempered mercenaries jumped up from their seats.

“What? This bastard…!”

Whether it’s because they’re heavily drunk.

Or it’s the unique male pride that only comes out in front of women.

The bastards who usually lowered their eyes are putting their hands on their scabbards as if they’re about to pounce on me right away.

“Draw it. You bastards.”

“This bastard! Who do you think can’t draw it?!”

Among the mercenaries who were about to draw their swords at any moment, I slowly raised my hand to the sword hilt.

At the same time, the mercenaries’ bodies stopped abruptly.

“W, what is this…”

“Aura, the aura is… Keueup.”

The mercenaries’ shoulders began to tremble.

Soon after, the guy closest to me knelt down on one knee on the floor.

Looking at that sight, I felt like my level was also dropping by associating with these guys.

“Tsk tsk. Make a fuss. Make a fuss. Anyone would think you met a dragon.”

I chuckled and tapped the heads of the mercenaries who were trembling.

“Aagh!”

The mercenaries then collapsed to the floor as if they were relieved of the tension.

Some were belatedly embarrassed and drew their swords, but a mercenary who was staring at my face from behind grabbed their shoulders.

“Hey, hey. Are you crazy?! Don’t mess with the crazy guard captain…!”

“Damn it! If the inn that the crazy guard captain occupies was here, you should have said something sooner!”

“Are you perhaps thinking of monopolizing the women in this inn? Keuek. I’ll have to inform the mercenary guild right away!”

I let out a hollow laugh and glared at the bastard who just opened his mouth.

“So you guys are the ones spreading the rumors?”

I wondered why a good guard captain like me was being called crazy, but it was clear that these bastards were the problem.

‘That’s why you can’t talk to bastards who haven’t even received compulsory education.’

From my perspective, with an overwhelming high school diploma, the medieval guys were too uncivilized.

I’ve already been dropped into the Special Guard, so I have nothing to lose now.

I immediately swung my fist at the face of the guy who said he was going to the mercenary guild.

“Kuaaaak…!”

The guy couldn’t even make an excuse and fainted with his eyes rolled back.

I gestured at the fallen mercenary and waved my hand.

“Take that bastard and get out of here right now. I remembered your face, so if I run into you near here next time, you’re dead. Oh, and pay before you go.”

The noisy mercenaries took out their wallets, put them on the table, and slowly left the inn, watching my every move.

As expected, beasts only listen when they are beaten.

“Ra-El. Thank you for saving me.”

“It’s nothing. Cecilia Priest.”

I belatedly paid my respects and bowed to Cecilia, who was among the mercenaries.

She was smiling without batting an eye at the violence that had taken place before her eyes.

Cecilia. She is a lower priest of the Gaia Order, the national religion of the Empire and the largest religion on the continent.

I became friends with her when she came to volunteer at the orphanage.

‘And she’s a character of importance level 1 in the original work.’

The only reason I treat even a common lower priest with respect.

That’s because she is a character in the original novel.

She, a mere lower priest, will soon receive a divine revelation and be revered as a saint.

‘This is the medieval fantasy version of Bitcoin.’

Knowing the soaring future, I’m making friends from now on.

I continued, maintaining a faint smile.

“Doesn’t it say in Chapter 10, Section 2 of the teachings of the Order? A believer should not turn a blind eye to a sheep in need.”

This is a phrase I memorized to create a good impression as soon as I saw the saint of importance level 1 visiting the orphanage.

I don’t know the other phrases.

I carefully looked around the quiet first-floor inn and said.

“… And don’t mingle with those guys. You know they’re not interested in God anyway.”

“No. There are many who treat others falsely in the world, but I believe in a glimmer of hope that my help may be needed.”

Looking at her upright faith and warm smile, I feel like I’m becoming a bad guy by making friends while watching the soaring future.

“Come to think of it, I unintentionally heard the story you were sharing with Sarah. You were transferred to the Special Guard.”

“… Yes. That’s how it is.”

A guard captain who was demoted to the Special Guard for beating up a noble.

It’s not something to be proud of, so I smiled awkwardly.

“I’m sure you can do it, Ra-El. Because you’re the kindest guard captain I know. If you’re having a hard time, you can come to me for counseling.”

“Thank you. I’ll come if I have suicidal thoughts.”

I don’t intend to give up right away.

I can’t run away right now anyway, and if I run away, the orphanage and Sarah Teacher will be the first to be screwed.

“If you’re so worried, I’ll give you a light blessing. I heard that people who come out of that place have a lot of mental problems.”

“No. There’s no need to go that far…”

“It’s okay. It’s not a difficult task.”

Cecilia didn’t even listen to me until the end and poured a blessing into my body.

I opened my eyes wide as soon as I received the light that settled in my body.

“Oh, I feel refreshed. Thank you. Cecilia.”

“Oh? It seems like the blessing wasn’t properly given…”

“So this is the blessing of the Order. Wow. You’re amazing after all. I’ll have to increase the amount of donations I make to the Order in the future.”

I exaggeratedly moved my body and showed off my muscles.

Cecilia blinked at the sight.

“No. Ra-El. That’s a placebo…”

“Leave him alone. Priest. Ra-El is happy.”

“… . Ah, I see. I understand. If the lamb is happy, then that’s fine.”

I thanked Sarah Teacher, who intervened at the right time, and laughed generously.

“Hahaha. I feel good because my head is refreshed! I’m going to go to bed first. Have a good night, both of you.”

I turned my body before Cecilia noticed anything strange.

I hoped she wouldn’t notice the specialness of my body.

“It’s strange that the blessing didn’t settle in the soul… Should I pray more.”

I ignored Cecilia’s muttering coming from behind and went up to the second floor.

*

The next morning.

I came out of the inn and walked wearily.

The location of the Special Guard marked on the map was a place I had never seen before in my life.

‘From District 2 to District 5. An unbelievable plummet.’

I usually patrolled Districts 2 and 3, so it’s an absurd demotion.

Unlike Districts 2 and 3, where low-ranking nobles or wealthy commoners live, most of the residents of District 5 are beggars and outcasts.

District 5 will have a high crime rate, so guard life will be even more difficult.

“The noble gift of the Lord Gaia. This book is the Soul Purification Amulet that purifies the soul that has been defiled by the sins you have committed. If you want to atone for your sins and purify your soul, donate to this Soul Purification Amulet right now…”

The voice of a lower priest coming from the street.

Anyone who sees it would think they’re doing business, but that’s strictly a product sold by the Order [religious organization].

Soul Purification Amulet.

I don’t know why they use Chinese characters instead of English.

This world itself has no foundation.

When I first heard it was called a Soul Purification Amulet, I wondered what nonsense it was, but to put it simply, it’s like an indulgence [a pardon for sins].

‘Scamming religious people exist in every era.’

Looking at the Soul Purification Amulet, I suddenly remembered the blessing I received from Cecilia last night.

She said the blessing didn’t settle in the soul.

‘I almost got branded as a heretic by the next saint.’

Soul.

From the perspective of a modern person like me, it’s an abstract and conceptual word, but it’s common sense in this world.

All living things in this world have a soul.

Being born and living is the grace of the Lord Gaia, and in the process, the soul dwells in the body.

But not me. Unlike the humans of this world, I didn’t have a soul in my body.

I learned about this body’s constitution a few years ago when I accidentally encountered a sorcerer.

A sorcerer who casts a curse that contaminates the soul and rots the body.

In order to kill him, I needed the protection of a high priest, but I cut off his head without any resistance.

‘Something was strange since then.’

Everyone else was groaning with their flesh rotting, but I was the only one who was okay, so I went to a cheap priest.

There may be an incubation period for the curse.

However, seeing that the priest’s blessing didn’t work, I realized that something was wrong with my body.

‘Well, it’s not a big deal. It’s not like there are many sorcerers who curse the soul instead of the body.’

I heard that demons and devils beyond the Demon Realm eat away at the soul just by encountering them, but that has nothing to do with me, a mere guard captain.

I passed the priest selling the Soul Purification Amulet and put my face on the map.

“Damn it, why is the road so complicated?”

The destination on the map is tucked away in the corner of District 5.

I’m already going crazy from going to the Special Guard, but the road is complicated, so I started to get annoyed.

‘… No. Let’s think positively.’

I sighed and recalled the story about the Special Guard.

It’s a place where rumors say that most of the transferred guards go crazy, but I heard that not everyone goes crazy.

The founding members of the Special Guard are still there, and only the newly transferred soldiers go crazy.

‘Chris was taken away a while ago, but… I heard there are still people left.’

I heard that the two most recently transferred soldiers have been holding out for over half a year.

If I get close to those two, I can learn anything.

As I was thinking that, two soldiers on stretchers passed by me.

“Damn it! Emergency patient! Find the priest!”

“He was at the place distributing the Soul Purification Amulets earlier! If you say that two people came from the Special Guard, he’ll understand right away!”

“Their condition is the worst I’ve ever seen?”

“They came out after half a year this time. Maybe it’s because they held on forcibly?”

I scanned the faces of the men being carried on stretchers.

The appearance of their eyes turned over with their mouths open blankly looked like they had seen a ghost.

Maybe… they are the two soldiers I was going to find.

‘… This fucking shit.’

How can you destroy my hope in 1 second?

What a shitty world.

“Still, seeing them running from that side means I’m finding the road well…”

Sigh.

I can’t run away now, so I have no choice but to go.

I headed to the Special Guard with the most positive thoughts possible.