The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 34

Celestial Offering

Rain of the Rain Knights.

He loved attention.

Even now, having reached the entry level of Swordmaster, that thought remained unchanged.

‘This festival will be fun, too.’

Especially the Celestial Offering; it was one of his favorite events.

Because he could mingle with people under the guise of arresting suspicious individuals.

‘I heard there’s a monster in the Academy… I’m especially looking forward to meeting that friend. Will I have a chance to meet him?’

Rain especially liked new, strong individuals.

He thought the Empire needed a fresh breeze.

That was also why he accepted all promising seedlings into the Rain Knights.

“Anyone is welcome! If my sword is pushed back even a little, I will give you one Imperial gold coin!”

This kind of event was also a process of finding strong individuals.

It was also true that he wanted to receive attention, but the Rain Knights had to become stronger.

To do that, they had to bring talented individuals into the Rain Knights.

“A battle of swords…! Ah, are you a participant!”

“Yes. Please take care of me.”

“The participation fee is one copper coin. Please put it in the basket in front.”

Rain smiled as he looked at the participant who came up on stage.

He was a man wearing a strange mask, and Rain didn’t sense any particularly strong magic from him.

‘His posture isn’t good either… Is he just a passing beggar?’

Looking at his swaggering gait, he was definitely not an aristocrat.

Perhaps a beggar or commoner was wearing a mask and came up to play at the festival.

Soon, the masked man raised his sword.

Until then, Rain was not at all wary of the man in front of him.

Crack-

“Huh?”

However, when his center-of-gravity foot caused cracks to appear on the stage,

Rain instinctively tightened his grip on the wooden sword.

“Wait, you didn’t use magic…!”

Rain, seeing the sword being swung down from above, gathered his magic power.

If he were to be hit directly by that sword, his head would surely be smashed.

Rain thought that the other party had used magic first.

In his common sense, it was impossible to achieve that kind of speed without magic.

Clang-!

A thick sword aura rose from Rain’s wooden sword.

It was a sudden surprise attack, but Rain focused and blocked the wooden sword.

Fortunately, he didn’t step back even a step, but a tingling pain remained in his hand.

He hadn’t defended properly because he had drawn out his magic power in a hurry.

“Ugh!”

And the next moment, the broken upper part of the wooden sword hit Rain’s head.

He frowned and looked straight ahead.

“Damn it. If you’re going to use magic! … Where did he go?”

Rain activated his magic power and looked around.

The man who had been in front of him until just now was nowhere to be seen.

All that remained in that place was a broken wooden sword.

‘What the hell….’

Rain picked up the broken wooden sword with a dumbfounded expression.

He judged that the other party was at least a Graduate level [referring to a level of magical or combat proficiency].

If someone he knew was playing a prank, he could read the magic pattern contained in the wooden sword and catch who it was.

However, Rain’s expression crumpled as he grabbed the wooden sword.

“He didn’t infuse it with magic?”

Thinking about it, it was strange.

If the other party had used magic, it would mean a collision of the same sword aura, but only the other party’s sword broke, and Rain’s sword was fine.

“Such a ridiculous thing….”

Rain clenched and unclenched his fist. He could still feel the pain in his tingling wrist.

If he was that strong with pure physical strength alone… how strong would he be if he used magic?

“Commander. Are you alright?”

Rain, who had been standing blankly, shouted at the knights around him.

“Just now….”

“Yes, yes!”

“Find that guy from just now.”

Rain smiled brightly as he looked at his tingling wrist.

He had finally found the person who would create a new breeze in the Empire.

*

Ra-El hid in the alley in District 2, wearing a Gaksital mask [a traditional Korean mask often associated with resistance or anonymity].

As the captain of the guard patrolling District 2, he knew the places where it was difficult to be discovered.

“··· I almost screwed up.”

Tia’s magic tool was effective after all.

As soon as he infused it with magic power, stealth and concealment were activated, allowing him to escape from the stage.

It would have been difficult if Rain had continued to focus, but fortunately, he was flustered by Ra-El’s attack.

“But he’s supposed to be at the entry level of Swordmaster, so why is he so weak?”

Ra-El peeked his head out and looked at the cracked stage.

Even though Ra-El admitted that his life was screwed up, he still had some sense.

He didn’t intend to attract that much attention.

‘Should I have controlled my strength a little? No, but he’s an entry-level Swordmaster, right?’

Ra-El just wanted to test how strong he was.

He had no intention of smashing the stage.

“Find the white mask! The description is black leather clothes!”

Ra-El put the Gaksital mask in his arms as he watched the Rain Knights scattering around.

“Please give me a penny….”

Then he approached a beggar begging in a corner of the alley.

He was a guy he remembered seeing in Beggars.

“Hey. You know my face, right?”

“Yes? Ah, I know it, but….”

“Give me your clothes.”

Ra-El took the beggar’s clothes, which looked the best.

It smelled a bit, but this would be enough to avoid suspicion.

Ra-El rejoined Reina with a natural face.

She was waiting with a chicken skewer a little away from Rain’s stage.

“Hey! Where have you been! I was waiting.”

“Sorry. I saw people walking around suddenly, so I went to see what was going on.”

“Ah. Some crazy guy hit the Rain Knight Commander and ran away. The Rain Knights are in chaos. They say he’ll die if he gets caught.”

“··· What a guy. He’s not afraid.”

Ra-El shook his head as if he didn’t understand and took the chicken skewer that Reina gave him.

The chicken skewer was delicious, unlike the food he was used to.

“But why did you change your clothes?”

“··· A change of pace.”

As they walked a little further, they saw another event with a lot of people gathered.

This was an event operated by a large mercenary group in District 2, where they threw daggers to hit marks.

‘I saw this in the original work too.’

These guys cheat by raising the difficulty higher than it looks.

However, it’s a short, satisfying episode where the protagonist wins all the prizes with an absurd hit rate.

“··· Reina. I’ll give you money, so go buy another chicken skewer. You can keep the change.”

Ra-El handed Reina a silver coin.

“You definitely said I could keep the remaining money?!”

While Reina happily went to buy a chicken skewer,

Ra-El put on the Gaksital mask again.

The Rain Knights haven’t come this far yet, so he has to finish it before that.

‘Just once. Let’s test it just one more time.’

The protagonist enjoys more than 10 events at the Celestial Offering.

It wasn’t an important episode, so he didn’t think that touching about two of them would cause a butterfly effect.

‘I would never have done this a year ago, but….’

Anyway, a butterfly effect can occur anywhere as long as Ra-El is alive.

However, this is the only time he can objectively compare the protagonist’s strength with Ra-El’s strength with just one or two light events.

“Welcome! The participation fee is one copper coin….”

Ra-El threw a copper coin without even listening to the mercenary’s words.

Then, he picked up a dagger and threw it straight at the center target.

Clang-!

A sound like a bomb exploding came from the target hit by the dagger.

The target was destroyed, and even the wall behind it collapsed.

“What, what! You bastard! Hey, where did he go?”

“Hey! This bastard! He rigged the target!”

“N, no, that’s not it…!”

The people who had paid money to the mercenary approached with angry expressions.

The mercenary, whose wall had collapsed, looked around with a bewildered expression, but the masked madman had already disappeared.

*

Reina, who came with chicken skewers in both hands, tilted her head as she looked at Ra-El.

“I bought chicken skewers… Huh? You changed your clothes again?”

“··· Uh. Something got on it, so I bought a new one.”

“It smells like you bought it… Well, that’s what clothes made by humans are like.”

Ra-El received the chicken skewer that Reina gave him and thought.

‘Was I this strong?’

Of course, physical strength and combat power are different.

Without sword energy, you can’t break through sword energy, and without sword intent, you can’t break through sword intent.

There’s a reason why people desperately try to learn magic.

However, he couldn’t even imagine surpassing the protagonist in terms of simple physical abilities.

‘There was a reason why Tia was making such a fuss.’

Ra-El knew he was quite strong.

He wasn’t stupid enough to kill a mid-level demon alone and think he was weak.

He was just embarrassed that he was stronger than he thought.

“But those clothes really don’t suit you. Can’t you change back into what you were wearing?”

“···.”

Ra-El ignored Reina’s words and walked away.

He didn’t want to wear the beggar’s clothes either.

He was embarrassed for no reason and looked around, and he saw a familiar bulk.

“Hey. Reina.”

“Okay. Good choice. But apart from buying me chicken skewers, you have to buy clothes with your own money.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Isn’t that Ghent?”

“Huh?”

Reina looked at the corner at Ra-El’s words.

A giant hiding behind a large wall and looking at humans was visible.

Ghent was looking at the people on the street with a focused face.

‘Something feels bad.’

Ra-El looked at Ghent with a sullen look.

Looking at humans from behind a wall with that bulk… what should I say.

It feels like a perverted uncle.

“It feels a bit bad. Right?”

“··· Don’t say it out loud.”

Well, maybe he has that kind of hobby.

It’s not illegal, and giants have the right to like humans.

Ra-El left Ghent alone and walked back towards the Blue Magic Tower’s event.

“Make way! The Second Princess is passing by!”

At that time, a loud voice was heard from behind.

The Carmen Knights, walking in formation, were visible as he turned his head.

‘Are they protecting the imperial family and high-ranking nobles?’

He knew they were going around from the second day, but it seems like the schedule has changed.

Ra-El stared at the people the knights were protecting.

Then, he found a familiar face.

‘It’s Ms. Yuri.’

She made eye contact with Ra-El and then lowered her head as if nothing had happened.

Yuri, wearing luxurious clothes and being protected by the knights, was completely different from the 모습 [Korean word for “appearance” or “figure”] she showed in the Special Guard.

Certainly, the dignity of the imperial family was seeping out.

“R, Ra-El. Let’s go to the Blue Magic Tower you wanted to see quickly.”

Reina pulled his arm, watching Ra-El’s reaction.

It would be a big problem if he recognized Yuri.

It’s a secret that ordinary people shouldn’t know that Yuri is a member of the imperial family.

“Come on. Quickly. We’ll be late.”

Squeeze- Squeeze-

Ra-El blinked as he looked at Reina pulling on his clothes.

‘She’s really bad at acting.’

To this extent, even people who don’t know anything will suspect that something is going on.

Ra-El looked at the Carmen Knights as he was dragged away by Reina.

The Carmen Knights walked in the direction Ra-El was going, guarding the surroundings.

“Reina. The Second Princess. She’s very pretty. Don’t you think?”

“Uh, uh? Uh… Is she?”

“Yeah. I think I’ve seen her somewhere.”

“That can’t be…? It must be a mistake. Yeah, yeah. Ah, I think it’s because I’m hungry. Do you want to eat my chicken skewer too?”

“Sigh. Where was it….”

“I’m telling you to eat my chicken skewer!”

Ra-El walked away, teasing Reina, who was stabbing him with a chicken skewer.

‘But why are they going south?’

But suddenly, he became curious.

The only thing in the south is the Academy, so why would the imperial family have to go there?

‘…And what kind of bastards are announcing that the imperial family is moving like that?’

In the Empire, the bloodline of the imperial family is the same as the gods of the 교단 [Korean word for “religious order” or “church”].

No matter how many Carmen Knights there are, it doesn’t make sense to expose them to danger like that.

‘I need to keep an eye on that too.’

He can’t let go of the golden lifeline of the next emperor that he barely grabbed.

Ra-El glared at the backs of the knights and moved his steps.

“Hey, come this way-!”

Reina dragged Ra-El to the Blue Magic Tower’s event venue.

“Look at that. Ra-El. They give you money if you solve magic problems.”

Ra-El looked at the Blue Magic Tower’s event.

Originally, this place was a vacant lot used as a garbage dump.

Beggars used the beggars in Beggars to clean up the garbage and provided it to the Blue Magic Tower.

‘A vacant lot with nothing changes like this overnight.’

Ra-El looked around as if he was amazed.

There were huge tables and glittering magic tools everywhere.

From lower-level magicians to higher-level magicians, they were all in the vacant lot, holding various events.

Originally, it was a place where they gambled against commoners, but this time, it was strangely large.

‘Is it really because of me?’

Ra-El entered the Blue Magic Tower’s event venue with half doubt and half belief.

“If you’re here for the first time, please come this way! If you solve the magic problems prepared by the Blue Magic Tower, you will receive a prize!”

Ra-El walked to the information desk and spoke to Reina.

“Reina. Do that and earn some money. You know you still have money left to pay me back, right?”

“Okay…! Don’t worry. An elf can’t be pushed back by a human magician.”

“Excuse me. How do I do this?”

Ra-El, who arrived at the information desk, spoke to the male magician who was smiling at him.

“Welcome! There are a total of 3 events prepared by our Blue Magic Tower….”

He started the 안내 [Korean word for “guidance” or “information”] with a friendly smile.

“······.”

And Ra-El stopped without realizing it when he saw the male magician.

His senses worked properly for the first time in a long time.

He felt the ominousness of the cell unit [likely referring to a feeling of being trapped or threatened, or perhaps a more literal reference to magical confinement] that he felt when he encountered a strong person from the man in front of him.

He was stronger than Rain, whom he had just met.

There is only one magician in the Blue Magic Tower who is that strong.

‘This man… seems like Perma?’

Ra-El swallowed hard at the unexpected meeting.

*

The Carmen Knights are knights who protect the imperial family.

They pursue honor rather than power and are loyal to the Empire.

The most honorable position among them is naturally the commander of the knights.

The character of the commander of the Carmen Knights was also seen in his room.

His room was far from luxurious.

Only the necessary items were neatly arranged, and the proud emblem of the Carmen Knights on the wall was the only decoration.

“Spread the defenses mainly in the west of District 2.”

“Yes! I understand.”

The commander of the Carmen Knights and the strongest knight in the Empire.

Gideon Garcia.

He was looking at the Celestial Offering’s proposal with an expression that did not feel emotion.

Confidence and dignity were felt from his dignified shoulders, and he inspired fear and respect just by standing still.

‘The demons’ movements are abnormal.’

Gideon frowned and thought.

Recently, the demons beyond the forbidden zone have been increasingly active.

They are trash that threatens the Empire.

‘At this rate… a war will definitely break out before the next emperor is decided.’

They were rummaging through the Empire as if they were looking for something.

However, Gideon was the only one in the Empire who had grasped the changed movements of the demons.

The Carmen Empire has not yet prepared for war.

‘We can’t attract attention by demons invading the lower districts.’

The situation was urgent now.

The Empire cannot quickly unite by sacrificing the trash in the lower districts.

In times like this, great sacrifice is needed.

“Gilford.”

“Yes!”

“We need to place the Second Princess and a few nobles in the south. It seems safer there due to the 배치 [Korean word for “arrangement” or “deployment”] of the knights.”

Gideon recalled the lowest-ranking princess and the nobles who were uselessly occupying their positions.

They were the fuel that would make the Empire run.

“I understand.”

In order to unite the Empire, a crisis is needed.

It didn’t matter whether it was a demon or a black magician.

“Announce loudly that the princess is going to the south.”

Humans maintain order when there is a visible sacrifice, and the country unites more when there is a strong enemy.

The death of the imperial family and nobles will enrage the Empire.

The Empire will unite and be reborn as a stronger Empire.

Gideon did not doubt his thoughts.