The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 204

Alheim ascended into the sky.

Rael couldn’t immediately process the meaning of those words.

What was Alheim?

A land saturated with mana, inhabited by demons and magical beasts.

It was a term used to describe the entire forbidden zone beyond the northern reaches of the Empire.

So, Alheim ascending into the sky was akin to saying, ‘The Kamen Empire ascended into the sky.’

What kind of absurdity was that?

Therefore, Rael couldn’t readily accept the knight’s statement.

“What the hell…? What is that?”

However, upon stepping onto the plains outside the capital and gazing north, Rael finally understood the Rain Knight’s words.

Beyond the Empire’s border, a colossal landmass was suspended in the sky above the forbidden Alheim.

“There were absolutely no warning signs. It was undeniably the same Alheim as always, but suddenly… the land rose.”

A massive landmass had abruptly soared into the sky.

And at its heart was the Demon King’s castle.

The entirety of Alheim was airborne.

“…Even though this world is already a mess, this is the first time I’ve ever seen land flying.”

Rael stared blankly at Alheim, utterly dumbfounded.

Even for the Demon King, was something like that even possible?

If one were to erect dozens of statues across the continent and accumulate divine power, could Rael also make the Kamen Empire fly?

‘That doesn’t seem feasible…’

If so, just how immense was the Demon King’s power?

Rael gazed at Alheim with a mixture of bewilderment and apprehension.

“Damn it. I can feel an immense surge of mana. I’m trembling. We need to deploy priests and alert the Allied Forces.”

Rain, who had followed Rael, shivered.

“Indeed.”

“I wonder what’s going on… We need to bolster our defenses.”

“Yes. We should also relocate the Allied Forces’ base. I’ll visit more frequently as well.”

Rael narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Alheim.

He couldn’t afford to lower his guard.

He had no idea what that concentrated mass of mana was capable of.

Thus, three days passed.

Alheim remained suspended in the sky, emitting a massive amount of mana, without any discernible movement.

The Allied Forces grew increasingly anxious.

*

A new Emperor was crowned in the Kamen Empire.

The Empire’s administrative system underwent significant changes and reorganization.

Naturally, those who received stipends from the Empire found themselves busier than ever.

And the person who bore the brunt of this increased workload was, of course, the Emperor, Yuri.

“There are so many things that need to be changed within the Kamen Empire. First… we need to establish commercial roads. We need to restore the markets and promote trade to revitalize the economy.”

Yuri was acutely aware that the Kamen Empire was decaying from within.

However, the Empire she encountered after ascending to the throne was in even worse shape than she had anticipated.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“There are also numerous issues with the selection of public officials. Public officials should be selected through open exams and evaluations. Rewards should be given based on experience and performance. The crisis response system is also woefully inadequate. We need a system in place to prepare for crises such as epidemics and natural disasters. There’s a lot for the Grand Duke to oversee.”

“Hahaha, Your Majesty. You’re entrusting me with far too much work for someone as old as I am.”

“…I’m sorry, Grand Duke. But I can’t trust anyone else to do it.”

Yuri bowed her head apologetically.

The only person she could rely on to get the job done right now was the Grand Duke.

“Your Majesty, an Emperor does not bow their head. It is Your Majesty’s prerogative to command your subjects.”

“Thank you, Grand Duke.”

Eric offered a faint smile.

The Kamen Empire would undoubtedly change under the reign of the new Emperor.

He departed the inner chamber with a sense of conviction.

“Isabelle.”
Yuri addressed Isabelle, who was standing behind her.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“When it’s just the two of us, please refrain from calling me Your Majesty… Haa, never mind. Inform the chef that I’ll be having my meal in my room.”

“Understood.”

After Isabelle had also left the room,

Yuri sighed and relaxed her posture.

She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes languidly.

“…Hoo.”

In the quiet room, Yuri gazed out the window.

Near the Empire’s border, Alheim was still floating.

That unsettling sight had persisted for days.

Initially, a state of emergency had been declared throughout the Empire.

However, the massive landmass had remained motionless for three days.

Instead, the sight instilled fear and unease in the Empire’s citizens.

Knock, knock-

At that moment, a polite knock echoed through the room.

Although there was a knock, there were only a select few who would dare to knock on the Emperor’s door in the first place.

And Yuri’s keen senses could easily discern who was outside.

“Come in, Rael.”

At Yuri’s invitation, Rael cautiously entered the room.

“It’s been a while. There’s no one else here. I don’t see Isabelle either.”

“I gave her a task to attend to for a moment. What brings you here, Rael?”

Rael settled into the chair opposite Yuri.

“I didn’t get a chance to see you after the coronation ceremony. The imperial palace was off-limits for three days for the mourning of the imperial family, and we’ve both been incredibly busy since Alheim rose.”

“Ah… that’s right.”
Yuri nodded absently.

She had been so preoccupied that she hadn’t even been able to keep track of time properly.

“You don’t look well. Is something the matter?”

“…There’s a lot of work. Too much, in fact.”
Yuri offered a faint smile.

Rael nodded as he observed her.

“Well, the position of Emperor isn’t an easy one. Of course, I haven’t experienced it firsthand, but there must be a lot of annoying things to deal with.”

“Alheim soared into the sky as soon as I became Emperor. Some people are even suggesting that it’s a curse for choosing the wrong Emperor, a sign that war is about to erupt.”

“What? Who the hell is saying that? Just tell me. I’ll round them all up.”
Rael narrowed his eyes.

If anyone dared to insult his golden lifeline, he would personally apprehend them.

“It was a baron of the Empire, but he’s already been beheaded for insulting the Emperor. I didn’t think it was necessary to execute him, but all the nobles in the imperial palace vehemently opposed it, so I couldn’t prevent it.”
Yuri gave a bitter smile.

She hadn’t wanted to take his life, but she had been powerless to stop it due to the nobles’ strong opposition.

This must also be the burden that comes with the position of Emperor.

“Ahem. Anyway, don’t pay any attention to what those idiots say, Yuri.”

“Idiots? Even after I became Emperor, your manner of speaking [formal/informal speech level] is still the same, Rael.”

“Oh… I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

“Hehe. I’m just kidding.”
Yuri smiled as she looked at Rael, who was blinking in surprise.

It was the most comfortable moment she had experienced in the past few days.

“I heard about the Ghoul King too. You really went through a lot, Rael. I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more assistance.”

“Well, everyone has their own role to play. You just need to excel as the Emperor, Yuri.”

In fact, that would be more beneficial to Rael.

To live comfortably after everything is over, he needed a reliable backer.

Yuri would undoubtedly become the best backer on the continent.

“Then, can I trust you to take care of the Ghoul King?”

“Yes. He’ll be fine now.”

He had checked on him at the orphanage just yesterday, and there were no issues whatsoever.

Rael slowly recalled the memories.

[Don’t run too fast. It’s tiring.]

[Yacha. Why are you so weak when you’re a noble?]

[I’ve never run before. I’ve been sitting all the time.]

[…Huh? Did you study a lot because you’re a noble?]

“Hmm…”

Well, he’s doing pretty well.

He seemed to be getting along well with the children.

It would be perfect if he didn’t ask for chocolate so often.

“Rael, war will break out soon.”

At that moment, Yuri’s serious voice broke Rael’s train of thought.

Rael raised his head and looked at Yuri.

“Yes. It will. Because Alheim is in that state.”

It was still quiet now, but he couldn’t predict when Alheim would move.

The Allied Forces were still diligently guarding the plains in preparation for that moment.

“Rael, I’m scared.”
Yuri looked visibly frightened.

Rael didn’t interrupt and waited for Yuri to continue.

“Many people will die. Some will give their lives for me, and some will die because of my orders.”

That’s the harsh reality of war.

Yuri had witnessed the deaths of countless soldiers during the last Great War as well.

She had been striving to become Emperor her whole life, but now that she was in a position to order those deaths,

Yuri was experiencing an unfamiliar sense of fear.

“I’m so scared, Rael.”

“…”

Emperor, huh.

In reality, it was a position that Rael could never imagine himself in, and certainly didn’t aspire to be in.

Rael couldn’t possibly withstand that kind of pressure.

But Yuri was different.

She would eventually endure it.

She would overcome all the trials and tribulations and transform the Kamen Empire into a prosperous, enduring empire.

He simply had to lend a helping hand in that endeavor.

“I’m scared too.”

“Rael…?”

“Every time I face the Demon King, I can’t help but think that if I lose here, it’s all over. All my precious people will die, and I won’t be able to protect what I hold dear. …Um, I don’t want to say ‘I’m having a harder time than you.’ I’m simply saying that everyone, including me, is standing with you, by your side. Because I’m Yuri’s knight.”

He didn’t know the proper way for her to act as an Emperor.

But it would be enough to walk alongside her, offering his support.

“Knight… that’s right. Rael is my knight.”

“Isabelle is there too, besides me.”

“Hehe, that’s right. Isabelle is there too. There’s also the Grand Duke, and Commander Rain.”
Yuri nodded slowly.

There were many people she could trust and rely on.

There were people who would walk this difficult path with her.

“Come to think of it, Rael. Did we ever have a knight appointment ceremony?”

“Knight appointment ceremony? We didn’t have one specifically.”

What was the reason Rael became Yuri’s knight?

It was to protect Yuri at the party so that she wouldn’t be overlooked or ignored.

At least he was a better choice than Ghent.

There had been no formal knight appointment ceremony in that process.

“If it’s not too much trouble, could we have a knight appointment ceremony now…?”

“Huh?”

“Even a simple ceremony would be fine! Ah. Is it not possible?”

“No. There’s no reason why not.”

It wasn’t a particularly difficult request.

If it would bring Yuri some comfort and satisfaction, he was willing to do it.

Rael rose from his chair and knelt on one knee in front of Yuri.

“U-Um. Rael…”

“Who addresses a knight with ‘Mr.’?”

“T-That’s right. Um… Rae, Rael.”
Yuri stuttered nervously.

She felt even more nervous now than she had at the Emperor’s coronation ceremony.

She couldn’t quite understand why.

“Rael. I’m going to reform the Kamen Empire. Very slowly, I’m going to excise the rotten elements and create a new empire. I… I want to make everyone who lives in the Empire happy.”
Yuri’s eyes shone with determination.

The girl who had dreamed of becoming Emperor had finally achieved her ambition, and all that remained was to realize her ideals.

Fortunately, she was surrounded by people who could help her achieve those ideals.

And it all stemmed from the knight kneeling before her, Rael.

“Rael. Will you be my knight?”

“That’s a given.”
Rael smiled and drew Flash [his sword], offering it to Yuri.

Yuri took the sword and gently tapped Rael’s shoulder.

“Are you satisfied with this?”

“Yes. Rael, thank you so much. Now… I think I can do it.”

Although there was no grand, elaborate procedure, Yuri gained a surge of courage from this simple appointment ceremony.

“Yuri, you would have accomplished it even on your own.”

“…Maybe. But now I feel even more confident that I can do it well.”
Yuri offered a faint smile and placed Flash back into Rael’s scabbard.

She vowed to herself and to the knight before her that she would become the strongest and most steadfast Emperor.

*

On the plains of the Empire’s border,

Rael stood with his arms crossed, gazing at Alheim floating in the distance.

“Rael. Do you know what Sword and Soul Unification is?”

“…Why are you suddenly bringing up Sword and Soul Unification?”

At that moment, the Jeongcheon Alliance Leader began to preach from beside him.

The Jeongcheon Alliance Leader still harbored the delusion that he was Rael’s mentor.

“I am the sword, and the sword is me. That is Sword and Soul Unification. It is a realm that even I, who have reached the realm of Hyeon Gyeong [a high level in martial arts], have not experienced. But Rael, the greatest talent in Murim [the martial arts world], you can achieve it.”

“Ah, yes. Is that so…”
Rael nodded politely at the Jeongcheon Alliance Leader’s words and slowly edged away.

He wanted to tell him to stop spouting nonsense, but surprisingly, this man was one of the few remaining Sword Masters on the continent.

Moreover, he was inexplicably popular within the Jeongcheon Alliance, so he couldn’t be treated dismissively. He was a frustrating presence.

“Rael. You were here.”

At that moment, a proper Sword Master, in stark contrast to the Jeongcheon Alliance Leader, approached Rael.

It was the Sword Dragon, who served as the commander-in-chief of the Allied Forces.

Of course, considering the Jeongryeok Palace [a martial arts sect], the Sword Dragon wasn’t entirely normal either, but compared to the Jeongcheon Alliance Leader, this man was practically a saint.

“Yes. I’m here to monitor Alheim’s movements.”

“The Allied Forces are taking turns guarding it 24 hours a day, but… I’m also checking it frequently. I’m worried.”

“…I wonder what they’re planning. It’s eerily quiet.”
Rael raised his head and looked at the sky.

Alheim, suspended beneath the clouds, was an unsettling sight no matter how you looked at it.

“What are the mages saying?”

“They claim they can’t comprehend the phenomenon caused by mana. Most of them are simply amazed, stating that it’s absolutely impossible with magic. They say they’re eager to study it.”

“How useless.”
Rael shook his head.

The mages of the Magic Tower were so obsessed with magic research that they seemed to be bursting with a desire to study even after witnessing something like that.

“How’s the morale of the Allied Forces?”

“To be honest, it’s at its lowest.”

“…I figured as much.”

Even Sword Masters like Rael and the Sword Dragon felt fear upon seeing the massive Alheim floating in the sky.

What about ordinary soldiers?

Even if they were elite soldiers who were at least Sword Experts, they couldn’t hope to cut through Alheim’s mana with their sword energy alone.

The same held true for Graduates [those who have reached a certain level in swordsmanship] who wielded Sword Force. Sword Force was simply overwhelmed in the face of that massive concentration of mana.

It might be easier to face a large army on the plains.

At least then, you could know how many opponents there were, and you could see the expressions on the enemy soldiers’ faces.

But it was different now.

What kind of enemy was Alheim floating in the sky? When would it attack? What kind of attacks would it even launch?

No one knew.

All they knew was one thing.

Mana was extremely poisonous to humans, and the mana that Alheim was emitting was denser and darker than it had been during the Great War.

“I’d be terrified even if I were a soldier.”

“The unknown is a more potent source of fear than anything else. Moreover, these are people who are well aware of the dangers of mana. This situation can’t continue for much longer.”
The fear of Alheim was spreading rapidly among the Allied Forces.

The Sword Dragon, as the commander, was desperately searching for a way to resolve this situation.

“Thanks to you showing your face on the battlefield frequently, the soldiers are at least gaining some hope. The Saintess is also visiting and offering blessings. But still, the situation remains precarious.”

“…”

“In the worst-case scenario, we could launch a preemptive strike. After all, war is inevitable. It would be better to declare war on our terms and advance towards Alheim. But the problem is how to attack Alheim, which is floating so high… Perhaps all of this is precisely what Alheim wants us to do.”

“…”

“Rael? Are you listening?”

The Sword Dragon turned his head to look at Rael.

Rael raised his hand and pointed to the sky.

“Sword Dragon. I don’t think you need to worry about that anymore.”

“…Damn it.”
The Sword Dragon bit his lip.

A massive storm of mana erupted from Alheim floating in the sky.

Mana masses, like a cataclysmic event, were descending from Alheim.