The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 25

Silver Cross Knights

Ra-El emerged from the alleyways of District 4.

As he stepped onto the main street, several people greeted him, but Ra-El responded with a casual nod, quickening his pace.

‘I should visit the orphanage first, then head to the Order.’

He had planned to go at night since he wouldn’t be able to visit the orphanage for a while, but it seemed better to stop by before anything troublesome happened.

Besides, Cecilia was likely to be at the orphanage.

With her help, visiting the Order would be much easier.

‘Ah, should I go see Uncle Eric first?’

He wouldn’t be seeing Uncle Eric for a while either, so he should say hello.

He could also ask about Zenon while he was there.

Swoosh-

Ra-El slipped his hand into his pocket and gripped something hard.

It was a horn he had personally extracted from a lower demon.

‘No matter how I think about it, it doesn’t make sense. Why are the Empire’s bastards so incompetent?’

He hadn’t thought about it properly while fighting the demon earlier, but the more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed.

According to Zenon’s subordinates, demons had infiltrated the capital several days ago.

They even said they were heading to District 2, which Ra-El found particularly odd.

District 2 was where the nobles lived.

Unlike Districts 3 and 4, where commoners resided, it had much tighter security.

If demons had infiltrated there, it meant the Empire’s security was already screwed.

‘…I’d rather they had been incompetent from the start. The Kamen Empire is supposed to be sturdy for another thousand years.’

Tia’s words suddenly came to mind.

If they were so incompetent that they couldn’t even stop this, they deserved to be destroyed.

Judging by their actions, it seemed more like an empire on the verge of collapse rather than a thousand-year empire.

‘There are three possibilities….’

1. The Empire is genuinely incompetent.

2. They’re just having a bad day and acting incompetent.

Lastly, 3. They deliberately allowed the demons to infiltrate.

‘I hope it’s not the third one.’

Allowing demons to infiltrate meant there was a traitor within.

He’d rather they were just incompetent than have a traitor inside.

If an incompetent empire had lasted a thousand years, it meant their opponents were even more incompetent.

‘Or are these guys actually relying on the hero?’

Come to think of it, the protagonist of this novel was still at the academy.

Until he graduates, getting beaten by demons might be a daily occurrence.

…Then who’s going to stop the damage?

“Ha, I don’t know, damn it. I don’t know.”

It felt like he was about to grasp something, but he couldn’t because he lacked information.

‘Let’s just say hello to Uncle Eric for now.’

Ra-El opened the door to the bar, which he had arrived at without realizing.

The bar was still struggling with business today.

It was a wonder how they were staying afloat.

“Uncle, I’m here.”

“What kind of trouble did you get into today?”

“I didn’t get into any trouble.”

Ra-El sat at the bar, exchanging friendly greetings with Uncle Eric.

“You wouldn’t be here to drink in the middle of the day… what’s going on? Is it about Reina?”

Eric said, wiping a glass meticulously with a cloth.

“No, I just stopped by to see your face. Oh, right. Do you know who Zenon is?”

“Zenon? You should know who Zenon is, Ra-El.”

“Huh? Who is he?”

If he was saying that much, he must be a pretty big deal, but Ra-El couldn’t recall anyone by that name.

“He’s the boss of the District 4 underworld that you beat to a pulp and ran away from.”

“…There are too many of those guys.”

Ra-El had met over ten guys who claimed to dominate District 4.

He didn’t bother remembering their names. Zenon was probably one of them.

“I heard he swallowed up District 3 and was making a fuss trying to find the Masked Phantom. I don’t know what he’s up to these days.”

“…So he was looking for the Masked Phantom.”

He wondered why the chain letter was chasing him, but it wasn’t Ra-El they were after; it was the Masked Phantom.

If the demons hadn’t noticed and weren’t after Ra-El, he could rest easy.

“Did you come to ask about Zenon?”

“That too… I came to tell you to close the bar and hide for a while since the atmosphere isn’t good these days. There are demons roaming around the Imperial capital.”

“Demons roaming around the capital…? Ra-El, did you eat something wrong again?”

“…”

Why did he always doubt his words?

It must be because he was deceived so often in the Middle Ages.

Without panicking, Ra-El took out the horn he had brought to show the Order.

Most of the demonic energy had dissipated, but the ominous aura remained.

“That’s…! Did you really encounter a demon? Where?!”

Eric’s eyes widened at the sight of the demon’s horn.

“Where else but District 4? That’s why I came to warn you. Demons roaming around the Imperial capital. It’s the end of the world.”

“Demons in District 4…?”

Eric’s pupils trembled.

Whether it was District 4 or District 3, that wasn’t the issue.

Demons shouldn’t be able to infiltrate the Imperial capital.

“Ah, and I won’t be able to come here for a while either. Someone is digging into my past.”

“…Someone is digging into your past?”

“Yes. I’ve got a crazy bastard on my tail. So I’m not going to the orphanage for a while either. I was going to hire some guards around the orphanage in my place, so please help me with that, Uncle Eric.”

Ra-El placed Imperial gold coins on the bar table.

It was the reward he received for reforming the Zaid Mercenary Group.

Until now, Ra-El had been visiting the orphanage every day and using the beggars to monitor his absence, so he could rest assured, but now he would have to hire someone separately.

“…Alright. I’ll put a good guy on it.”

Eric received the gold coins with a reluctant expression.

Somehow… he felt like he knew who the crazy bastard chasing Ra-El was.

“Thank you, Uncle Eric. I’ll come by for a drink next time.”

Ra-El bowed his head and walked out of the bar.

And Eric, left alone in the bar, put down the glass he was wiping and frowned.

‘Demons appearing in the capital… surely not. Even Gideon wouldn’t do something like this.’

Imperial Knight Commander.

Gideon Garcia.

A crazy man who genuinely believed that a great crisis was necessary for the Empire’s unity.

Eric distorted his expression, recalling unpleasant memories.

*

At the orphanage, Ra-El crouched down to meet the eyes of a little girl.

“Ber, this is making it difficult for me. I told you I can’t come for a while. Don’t you have anything to say?”

“Sorry, Oppa [Korean term for older brother used by a female]. If I don’t write this, I’ll die….”

“…”

Ra-El sighed, looking at the letter placed in his hand.

He had destroyed the place where they made the chain letters, but it had already spread to the commoners.

Was it a mistake to create a literacy education textbook to provide gifted education to the orphanage children?

Ra-El couldn’t help but feel frustrated at the sight of the young ones writing letters in crooked handwriting.

“Hyung [Korean term for older brother used by a male], mine too!”

“Oppa, I hate ghosts….”

“No, you guys… haa. Give them to me quickly. Just give them all to me and stop writing them now.”

Ra-El had no choice but to start receiving the letters.

He had planned to exchange feelings with the children while saying his final goodbyes, but they were all only interested in the letters.

Ra-El gritted his teeth as he received the letters from the children one by one.

‘These damn bastards…. I’m really going to turn things upside down.’

It didn’t matter that he couldn’t say his final goodbyes.

But to think they would do this, knowing what kind of negative impact demonic energy could have on children…!

He felt a sense of empathy for his mother from his past life, who always worried about the electromagnetic waves emitted by the microwave.

“Ra-El, you’re very popular.”

Cecilia, who had been smiling, approached as the children handed him all their letters and disappeared.

As expected of the next Saintess, she was still volunteering today.

Ra-El immediately approached Cecilia.

“Priestess Cecilia. Did you perhaps write a letter too?”

“No, I….”

Cecilia looked around and whispered cautiously to Ra-El.

“Should I say it smells disgusting…? I felt uneasy for some reason, so I threw it in the trash as soon as I received it. I’m planning to ask the Bishop about it when I go to the Order today.”

“As expected…!”

“Yes? As expected…?”

As expected of the next Saintess!

Even in this incompetent empire, the next Saintess was still amazing.

Ra-El resolved to become closer to Cecilia in the future and took out the demon’s horn from his pocket.

“Ra-El, that object is…?!”

Cecilia was startled to see the demon’s horn.

It emitted a disgusting smell that couldn’t even be compared to the letters.

“It’s a demon’s horn. Those letters are related to demons.”

“Th, that can’t be….”

“I need Priestess Cecilia’s help. Please come to the Order with me.”

“I don’t know if someone like me will be of any help, but… yes. Let’s go quickly!”

Ra-El headed to the Order with Cecilia.

The Imperial capital was so vast that there were several branches in each district.

Especially in Districts 3 and 4, where the most commoners lived, so the accommodation capacity was large.

Ra-El thought as he ran to the nearest branch.

‘Who’s in charge of this branch again…? Right, it was Octopus Head.’

Bishop Felix.

He was a famous bishop in District 4.

The Order’s positions were largely divided into five categories.

Pope, Cardinal, Archbishop, Bishop, and lower priests.

Most bishops were high-ranking priests, usually responsible for using divine magic in the field.

However, some of them went down to the commoner branches to live comfortably among the commoners.

Felix was the prime example.

He was a bishop who loved money more than merchants.

“Cecilia. We’ve arrived.”

“Ye, yes…!”

Ra-El took care of Cecilia, who was panting, and looked at the brick building.

The arched roofs and windows clearly indicated that this was the Order’s branch.

All branches of the Order, except for the main headquarters, had the same design.

According to the teachings of the God Gaia, commoners and nobles should be treated equally.

‘What a load of crap.’

They had to uphold the teachings, but they didn’t want nobles and commoners using the same hall, so they made the branch in District 2 the same design but larger.

They couldn’t be more idiotic.

Ra-El approached the priest standing in front of the branch with such thoughts.

“Welcome, brother.”

“I’ve come to see the Bishop.”

“How much will you donate?”

“…?”

These crazy bastards, they’re told that someone has come to see the Bishop, and the first thing they ask about is a donation.

Shouldn’t they at least ask what’s going on?

Even if it wasn’t Ra-El, any normal person would have no choice but to hate the Order.

“Demons have appeared, brother. Please let me see the Bishop.”

Fortunately, Cecilia intervened.

She was still a lower priest, but she was much better than nothing.

“Demons? …Is that true?”

“Yes. It’s important. Please at least tell the Bishop.”

Was it because they were fellow priests?

The priest nodded at Cecilia’s words.

“I understand. I’ll inform the Bishop, so please wait a moment.”

The priest went inside and knocked on the Bishop’s door.

Ra-El pricked up his ears as soon as he heard the sound.

[Bishop Felix.]

[Has the Silver Cross Knights finally arrived?! I’ll go out now!]

[No, it’s just a layperson and a priest.]

[What? Then tell them I’m in prayer and to come back later. Ah, and take the donation.]

[They said it’s very important. They said demons have appeared….]

[Demons, my ass! Don’t you know what day it is?! The Silver Cross Knights are coming all the way here! And they said they’d assign a Silver Cross Knight to District 4! On a day like that, commoners… no, laypersons are making the branch complicated! Throw them out immediately!]

Ra-El, who had been eavesdropping on the internal voices, blinked in disbelief.

‘What kind of crazy baldy is that?’

He thought he wasn’t normal, but he was completely insane.

After a while, the priest came out and bowed his head.

“I’m sorry. The Bishop is communicating with Gaia [the Goddess in this world].”

“I’m telling you, demons have appeared! Besides, you’re supposed to pray in the prayer room!”

“He suddenly went into prayer, so I don’t know either….”

Ra-El closed his eyes, ignoring the conversation between the priest and Cecilia.

He was having the dilemma of a lifetime.

‘It was my mistake to expect anything from these idiots. …Tsk, should I just flip everything over?’

The children at the orphanage, who had been giggling while writing letters until just now, came to mind.

He wondered if they would listen if he broke through the door with his sword energy and held a sword to Felix’s neck.

‘…No. Let’s not have such barbaric thoughts.’

In any case, to receive proper help from the Order, he would have to get support from the Order’s higher-ups.

If it was Felix, he would surely stick to the Holy Knights the moment support arrived and claim that a commoner had threatened him.

“Haa….”

Ra-El sighed.

He didn’t want to gamble, but he would have to track them down alone, hoping there weren’t any stronger demons.

‘Ah, should I ask Reina or Ghent for help?’

Reina would probably help since Ra-El had done something for her, and Ghent would probably help too since he mentioned something about being comrades.

Or he could wait a day or two since Yuri said she reported it to the higher-ups, but….

‘I don’t know how the situation will unfold.’

If it was an incident from the original story, he could afford to wait.

But Ra-El didn’t know how much the chain letter was spreading.

Moreover, they were tracking down the Demon King, so he couldn’t wait with peace of mind.

Thud- Thud-

As Ra-El was lost in thought, he heard heavy footsteps from behind.

He turned his head slightly and saw shining plate armor.

Seeing the Order’s symbol on their chests, they were Holy Knights.

‘Is that the Silver Cross Knights that were supposed to come earlier? They’re as flamboyant as in the novel.’

The Silver Cross Knights were a Holy Knight order run by the Order.

They appeared whenever the Order used its power, so they often appeared in the original story.

‘Is the one in the lead Marco?’

The leader of the Silver Cross Knights, Marco.

He was called the nemesis of demons and often appeared in the original story.

Thud- Thud-

Marco glanced at Ra-El, then opened the wooden door and entered the branch.

The other knights followed him, and the branch door closed firmly again.

‘…Wait a minute.’

Ra-El, who had made eye contact with Marco, recalled his setting.

Marco, who had lost his family to demons, became a Holy Knight to kill demons.

He achieved both faith and revenge by killing demons.

A true Holy Knight, he appeared whenever demons appeared and crushed their heads.

‘I’ve found it.’

He had an idea of how to screw over Felix.

If it was the Marco that Ra-El knew, it would definitely work.

“Priestess Cecilia. I’ve thought of a way to get help.”

“Yes? Really?”

Cecilia asked, her face brightening.

As a priest herself, she was ashamed of the Order’s behavior.

“Yes. But please bear with it for a moment, even if it’s embarrassing.”

“…?”

Cecilia tilted her head, looking at Ra-El.

And Ra-El took a deep breath and shouted at the top of his lungs.

“Demons! Demons have appeared!!”

“Ra, Ra-El?!”

The people passing by looked this way, but Ra-El didn’t care.

Instead, he raised his voice even louder.

“Demons! It’s demons! Demons have appeared!!!!”

“Believer?! You can’t do this here! This is a sacred Order!”

The priest standing in front of the branch was also at a loss, trying to stop Ra-El.

He was bewildered as to why this crazy man was suddenly acting like this.

Thud- Thud-

At that moment, the firmly closed door of the branch reopened with heavy footsteps.

“…Did you just say demons have appeared?”

The leader of the Silver Cross Knights, Marco, stared intently at Ra-El.