The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 50

< Heavenly Executioner Sword >

The split blue sky returned to normal.

Looking at the sky, Rael, still gripping his sword, stared at the Heavenly Executioner Sword Master.

“Did you feel anything while looking at the Heavenly Executioner Sword?”

Rael pondered the Heavenly Executioner Sword Master’s sudden question for a moment before answering.

“…It’s an inefficient sword for dealing with humans.”

“Oh, to recognize that at a glance. You have quite the eye.”

“I have a knack for these things.”

In fact, it had bothered him from the start.

Aside from mutants like Rael, the human body is inherently fragile.

A body not imbued with mana is sliced apart not just by Sword Force, but even by Sword Qi.

No, to be honest, it’s easily sliced apart by just a sword.

Therefore, to kill a human, there’s no need to split the sky.

A mere blade is enough to cut through a human body.

The Heavenly Executioner Sword was, in that sense, an inefficient sword.

“The Heavenly Executioner Sword is a sword to cut down the monsters that are constantly seeking opportunities beyond the Forbidden Alheim.”

“Are you referring to the Demonic race?”

Rael recalled the Lieutenant-class demon, Kuheln, who had died by his hand.

The Demonic race, covered in demonic energy, had far greater vitality than other races.

If a mere Lieutenant-class demon was that strong, the vitality of High-ranking demons would be even greater.

Not to mention the Four Great Demon Kings who ruled over the High-ranking demons.

They would likely be too strong to be cut down by most swords.

“That’s right. The Heavenly Executioner Sword is a sword that can cut through their strong demonic energy and vitality in one strike.”

Rael nodded, focusing on the Heavenly Executioner Sword Master’s words.

It was his first time learning the sword, but he was sure that each of his words contained tremendous enlightenment.

It was often the case in martial arts novels.

“To wield the Heavenly Executioner Sword, one must enter the ‘Ipcheon’ [‘Reaching the Sky’]. ‘Ipcheon’ means standing in a place like the sky.”

Swish-

The Heavenly Executioner Sword Master drew his sword again.

Seeing once is better than hearing a thousand times [a common proverb meaning experience is the best teacher].

Since he had obtained a disciple after a long time, he intended to properly teach the Heavenly Executioner Sword.

“This is ‘Ipcheon.’ You can see it as the entry level of the Heavenly Executioner Sword.”

A Sword Force that seemed to be burning blazed from the Heavenly Executioner Sword Master’s sword.

The mana emanating from his sword was so vivid that it seemed to fill the entire world.

‘Sword Force…’

The symbol of a graduate, Sword Force.

The entry level of the Heavenly Executioner Sword he spoke of was none other than Sword Force.

Sword Force, which could be a lifelong goal for others, was his first step.

That enormous difference meant that the path Rael would walk would be that much more arduous.

“Is ‘Ipcheon’ Sword Force?”

“It’s not just simple Sword Force. Call it Heavenly Executioner Sword First Form, ‘Ipcheon’.”

“…Did you perhaps name the Heavenly Executioner Sword yourself?”

“Since it’s a sword containing my enlightenment, you could say so.”

“…”

It seemed the Heavenly Executioner Sword Master had pride in the Heavenly Executioner Sword and the names of each form.

Rael forced himself to ignore the unfamiliar names and examined the Heavenly Executioner Sword Master’s sword.

“What’s important isn’t the Sword Force. Try to follow the movements of ‘Ipcheon’.”

Whoosh-

Vivid mana dyed the world with the movement of the sword.

The Heavenly Executioner Sword Master’s sword was fast yet powerful, and although it seemed simple, it was daunting to imitate.

‘How on earth do you do something like that?’

Rael imagined wielding his sword, watching the Heavenly Executioner Sword Master’s sword.

However, he couldn’t grasp the feeling without moving himself.

Clack-

The Heavenly Executioner Sword Master, having finished his sword dance, sensed Rael’s gaze.

He needed to respond to his disciple’s curious eyes.

He said with a faint smile.

“Rael. Swordsmanship is a battle of time and distance.”

“…Yes.”

“Maintain distance from the opponent, and bring them into your own range. And use time faster than the opponent. That is swordsmanship.”

“…”

Rael slowly mulled over the Heavenly Executioner Sword Master’s words.

Although it seemed difficult, it was ultimately explaining how to quickly cut down the opponent within one’s range.

‘It’s not difficult.’

It was complicated, but he could understand it.

He was an elite who graduated from high school, so it was only natural.

“The realm of ‘Ipcheon’ is a step further from that state. Measure the distance with the opponent, and entrust yourself to time.”

“Yes.”

“Then, cut as if you have become the sky.”

“Pardon?”

However, even a high school graduate like Rael couldn’t help but be taken aback when suddenly presented with a doctoral course.

At Rael’s reaction, the Heavenly Executioner Sword Master added a slightly more detailed explanation.

“Think of yourself as being on par with the sky, and cut down the opponent.”

“…?”

What kind of nonsense is this?

Rael couldn’t understand the Heavenly Executioner Sword Master’s words at all.

He needed to hear a more detailed explanation.

“Could you explain in more detail?”

“Embrace the enlightenment in your heart and wield it. That suits you.”

“…”

Rael drew his sword without complaint.

That’s right. He was a swordsman recognized by the best swordsman on the continent.

Actually wielding the sword might be the fastest way.

“Hoo.”

Rael took a deep breath and began to swing his sword.

According to Rain, Rael’s sword was a sword without roots [lacking a solid foundation].

But now, after seeing the Heavenly Executioner Sword Master’s movements, it was different.

‘…It feels even weaker.’

It was better when it had no roots.

Now, he didn’t even know where the sword was moving.

‘This is freaking hard.’

No, this shouldn’t be expressed with the word ‘difficult.’

Difficult means challenging and strenuous, but still doable.

However, he couldn’t even grasp the feeling of ‘Ipcheon.’

It meant that he couldn’t understand a single word that old man was saying.

Rael recalled the Heavenly Executioner Sword Master’s movements and swung his sword a few more times.

However, he couldn’t implement the nonsense of cutting while thinking of himself as being on par with the sky.

“How strange.”

“…”

“I was sure that a prepared swordsman would reach ‘Ipcheon’ in a day…”

“Master. It is because this unworthy disciple is lacking. I will try harder.”

Rael, seeing the Heavenly Executioner Sword Master’s displeased face, immediately began to call him master.

It was a matter of becoming the disciple of the Heavenly Executioner Sword Master. There would be absolutely no refunds.

No matter what, he would milk him dry.

“Hmm, it’s alright. There’s still plenty of time, so practice until you awaken on your own.”

“…Could you explain a little more?”

“The Heavenly Executioner Sword has no meaning unless you awaken to it on your own.”

The Heavenly Executioner Sword Master left those words behind and began to walk away.

And he really disappeared.

‘What kind of master is that?’

Rael narrowed his eyes, watching his retreating figure.

If you’re going to fill me with hope, you should take responsibility.

“Sigh… I feel like I might get somewhere.”

Rael licked his lips, looking down at his sword.

He didn’t understand the crap about ‘cutting as if you have become the sky,’ but the Heavenly Executioner Sword Master’s movements remained clearly in Rael’s memory.

Rael slowly began to imitate those movements.

‘Bring the opponent into my range… and cut them down faster.’

It was a simple if simple teaching.

Even if swordsmanship seems complicated, it’s ultimately a technique to kill the opponent using a sword.

The Heavenly Executioner Sword is no different.

Rael moved his body endlessly to imitate the Heavenly Executioner Sword Master’s movements.

At first, he didn’t get any feeling at all, but as time passed, he began to feel something.

‘What’s missing?’

The Heavenly Executioner Sword Master’s movements and his own movements were different in some way.

Rael continued to swing his sword, searching for what was lacking.

“Alright, damn it. I just have to awaken on my own.”

Rael gripped the sword hilt tightly.

He recalled his movements and swung his sword.

Only after the warm sunlight disappeared and the sun set was he able to understand his movements.

His slightly slow feet matched his speed, and the narrow gap widened.

The realm of ‘Ipcheon’ that the Heavenly Executioner Sword Master showed was gradually beginning to be felt.

Rael ignored the passage of time and swung his sword.

Swish-

And after a single strike, he regained his senses.

Feeling the sweat that soaked his entire body and the breath that reached the tip of his chin, Rael looked down at his sword.

“…Ha.”

Finally, he was able to follow the Heavenly Executioner Sword Master’s sword even a little.

Rael realized the meaning contained in his words.

“Being on par with the sky, my ass. He just grandiosely said to cut down with gusto…”

Rael sighed, looking at the setting sun.

*

On the streets of District 4, under the moonlight.

Rael trudged towards the orphanage.

He had decided to stay in the orphanage’s guest room for the time being.

It was to learn swordsmanship from Rain.

He had met the Heavenly Executioner Sword Master today, but seeing how he taught, it seemed best to only listen to the core aspects of the Heavenly Executioner Sword from that old man.

‘I didn’t get to see Tia and Reina after all.’

He couldn’t visit Reina because he was swinging his sword until night.

He should go visit them in person tomorrow or the day after.

“Hoo.”

Rael walked through the streets of District 4, taking in the night air.

Rael didn’t dislike this smell, which was filled with the lives of commoners.

[Yeah! Flip it over! No, damn it!]

[Kuhaha. I told you! It’s a pair!]

At that moment, a boisterous sound came from a tavern with its door half-open.

Peeking inside, he saw men gathered at each table, shouting.

‘Dice gambling, huh.’

This tavern was a famous gambling den in District 4.

The gambling den wasn’t open every day, but it opened on days when the security forces were absent.

‘If I had caught them when I was the security captain, they would have been fired without exception.’

Even taking just one silver coin from each person would have been a decent side income.

However, he was currently sick and didn’t want to bother, so he was just going to pass by.

“Hey, brothers. Don’t you know me? The Silver Cross Knights!”

At that moment, a voice that shouldn’t be heard in a gambling den was heard.

“Come on, let’s all shout Gaia-Men [a religious exclamation] once! If you don’t want to be punished by heaven, give me some extra…”

“Holy Knight! You can’t do this! If you’ve lost money, you should quietly go back!”

“No, when did I say I wouldn’t give it? Just give me a little bit…”

He hoped it wasn’t, but a familiar face was seen inside the gambling den.

Rael sighed, watching Carlson, a Silver Cross Knight, causing a ruckus in the gambling den.

“…Why is that bastard doing that?”

It seemed he had lost all his money and was causing a scene.

A guy like that was the worst of the worst, and he was his friend.

It was a frustrating situation.

Creak-

“You bastards… I told you not to gather!”

Rael eventually opened the door of the gambling den and presented his silver badge.

He wasn’t the security captain, but the guys in District 4 would hand over silver coins just by seeing Rael’s face anyway.

Rael broke up the game for his unfortunate friend and collected one silver coin from everyone there.

It was a decent side income.

“Ha, I lived thanks to you, brother. These bastards must have cheated with the dice! I read the dice with the eyes of a Sword Expert at the highest level, but it’s ridiculous that I was wrong, right?”

Carlson smiled brightly and walked next to Rael.

As expected, there was no better brother than Rael.

“…Carlson. There’s been a lot of talk recently about a Holy Knight gambling in District 4. If you get fired from the Silver Cross Knights, I don’t know you, so behave yourself.”

Rael shook his head and said.

Carlson’s reason for existence was only the Silver Cross Knights.

It was just like Reina, who had a pretty face.

Otherwise, there was no reason to be close to this crazy guy.

“Brother. I’m also frustrated. When I work for the Order and catch demons, they don’t call me ‘the Holy Knight who caught demons,’ but when I gamble a few times, they call me ‘the gambling Holy Knight.'”

“No, sigh… I don’t know anymore.”

Rael gave up on persuading this crazy Holy Knight.

His whole body was already aching, and talking to Carlson made his head hurt.

Carlson continued to say what he wanted, regardless.

“Brother, where did you go on the fourth day of the Heavenly War? I was shocked, thinking you had died at the hands of the black mages.”

“…I just wandered around a bit.”

As he walked through the quiet night streets, chatting with Carlson, he saw the orphanage.

Just as he arrived at the orphanage, Carlson spoke again.

“Brother. Now that I think about it, there’s something I wanted to tell you. I heard that a new bishop will be coming to the District 4 branch tomorrow instead of Pelius.”

“Is that so?”

It seemed that the money-grubbing bald bishop Pelius had finally given up his position.

“Yes. And I heard that the Order will be giving you and Priest Cecilia awards. This is a secret, so only you know about it, brother.”

“Thanks. So, I just have to go to the branch tomorrow?”

“Yep! I’ll see you at the branch tomorrow.”

Carlson made the sign of the cross and ran off in the other direction.

The sound of his thick plate armor told him that he was getting farther away.

‘He definitely wasn’t like that when he was young… Is the Order the problem?’

Rael sighed, watching his retreating figure.

*

At the top floor of the Blue Magic Tower.

Kairon, the secretary of Magic Tower Lord Perma, tilted his head, looking at the documents.

“Magic Tower Lord. What kind of bet did you make with that man…”

Contact had come from the Second Princess’s side.

It was a question about the relationship between a person named Rael and the Blue Magic Tower.

Perma had affirmed everything Rael had said, answering that the Blue Magic Tower and he were on equal footing.

In a way, it was a statement that could damage the authority of the Blue Magic Tower.

“To bestow the title of ‘friend of the Blue Magic Tower’ to a commoner swordsman… There has never been such treatment before.”

Kairon trusted Perma, but the only thing he couldn’t trust was his personality.

Could it be that Perma’s personality, which loved bets and gambling, had finally made its first mistake?

Kairon came to Perma with that thought.

“Kairon.”

Perma smiled, looking at his faithful secretary, Kairon.

He knew that he was saying these things because he cared about the Blue Magic Tower.

“Yes. Magic Tower Lord.”

“I don’t make wrong judgments. Don’t doubt me on this matter.”

“…I understand.”

Kairon bowed his head, seeing the Magic Tower Lord’s expression.

If he was so certain, there was nothing he could do.

“Did you bring all the information about Rael as I said?”

“Yes. It’s here.”

“Thank you. You may leave now.”

Bowing.

Kairon paid his respects and left the Magic Tower Lord’s room.

“…I’m sorry, Kairon. I can’t tell anyone about that person’s identity.”

Perma swallowed his regret, watching his secretary who had left the room.

As a magician, facing a dragon was an incredible event.

He wanted to announce this amazing fact, but that would be disrespectful to that person.

“It would be better to get rid of this.”

Perma held the documents containing Rael’s personal information.

The information about that person that Begguss had brought. They were no longer needed.

Whoosh-

Perma began to burn the documents one by one.

It was a vow that the Blue Magic Tower would show him unconditional trust.

Even if that person didn’t know, this was a pledge to Perma himself.

‘How can I make his life easier?’

Perma scanned the documents one last time before they burned.

It was to check if there were any elements that could harm him.

At that moment, a sentence caught his eye.

It was information he couldn’t understand, but now he could understand it.

[Important part: 18cm]

“As expected… a dragon.”

Perma bowed his head with a respectful look.