The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 55

In medieval fantasy, trends spread faster than you might think.

You might scoff and say, “What nonsense is this in a world without social media or smartphones?” But medieval fantasy is a place that craves entertainment.

In other words, people rush towards anything even remotely interesting.

The emblems of the Order spread like that at first.

“…What is that?”

A nobleman of the Empire frowned, looking at the massive emblem of the Order attached to a carriage.

“Don’t you know about the Order’s donation emblems yet?”

“Yes, I know about the Order’s donation emblems. I have one at my house too. But I’ve never seen one this big before?”

As a nobleman, he had made quite a few donations, but he had never seen such a large emblem.

“It’s a special emblem that can only be obtained from the 4th District branch. The Rain Knights, the Grand Duke’s personal knights, are taking the lead in using them.”

“The Rain Knights…? Doesn’t that mean it’s related to the Grand Duke?”

The strongest knight order on the continent is the Carmen Knights, but the Rain Knights are the largest in the Grand Duke’s territory.

In particular, their leader, Rain, was a role model for knights, so he could be trusted.

“You need to keep up with the trends in the Imperial Capital these days. That’s how you stay young.”

“Trends… It’s not easy. What’s so cool about that thing?”

The man couldn’t understand it at all.

If it were lying on the street, he wouldn’t have given it a second glance.

But the carriage with that bizarre emblem belonged to the Samuel family.

Seeing the great nobles taking the lead in using it, there must have been something he couldn’t understand.

“Tsk tsk. How foolish. Do you know how much that one emblem is worth?”

“…How much? About 300 gold coins?”

“You can’t even buy an emblem to put on your cloak for that much. The more you donate, the bigger the emblem gets. The ones you can put on a carriage are top-tier. They cost over five thousand gold coins.”

“What? What did you say?! Five thousand?”

Five thousand gold coins was enough to run a small knight order.

It wasn’t a small amount of money even for a nobleman.

To spend it on such an emblem…

‘A five thousand gold coin decoration…?’

The man stared intently at the Samuel family’s carriage and swallowed.

For some reason… the emblem on the carriage looked very cool.

“…Did you say the 4th District?”

A trend spread quickly among the nobles.

*

The beggars’ organization, Beggars.

They had been steadily expanding their territory recently.

More and more people were recognizing them, and their reputation as an information guild was also very good.

“What is this?”

Zenith, the leader of Beggars, looked at an emblem she had never seen before in her room.

It was clearly the same shape as the Order’s emblem, but it was several times larger than the original palm-sized emblem.

“Ah, it’s the Order’s emblem that’s been trending in the capital recently,” Karon, Zenith’s second-in-command, continued.

“…Isn’t it a cheap fake? There’s no way the Order would make such a ridiculously large emblem.”

Zenith frowned as she looked at the emblem.

Her aesthetic sense wasn’t great, but emblems were just proof of donation in the first place.

What was the point of an emblem that was just big?

“It’s very popular among the nobles in the 2nd District. It’s only distributed by a specific branch in the 4th District… and the size varies depending on the donation amount. Commoners with money are slowly becoming interested because they can use the same thing as the nobles.”

“…The nobles are using it?”

Zenith looked at the emblem again at Karon’s words.

Only then did she notice the subtle details and beauty of the emblem.

“Now that I look at it again, it’s pretty cool? It feels kind of sacred. How much do you have to donate to get this size? 10 gold coins?”

Zenith continued, looking at the emblem.

Since the nobles were using it, it suddenly looked sacred and cool.

“No. It’s over 100 gold coins.”

“…What?! How did you get something so expensive?”

Zenith was startled.

100 gold coins was more than a knight’s monthly salary.

Beggars didn’t earn a small amount of money, but they weren’t quite at the point where they could casually spend 100 gold coins.

“Well… the size of the emblem has become a matter of pride among the nobles, so they threw away the emblem they got at first because they didn’t need it anymore.”

“Heh, a 100 gold coin piece of trash…”

Zenith thought, looking at the emblem.

After hearing the price, the emblem looked like gold coins to her.

‘It would look pretty cool hanging in my room.’

Zenith raised the corners of her mouth.

That’s how people’s minds work.

It was similar to how even bad alcohol tastes better when you hear a high price and try it again.

As it became known that the nobles were using them, the evaluation of the Order’s emblems gradually improved.

By the time the emblem became known to Beggars’ information network, nobles were visiting the 4th District branch every day.

“…Is this the place the Count mentioned?”

“That’s right. Seeing the great nobles putting them on their carriages, there’s even talk that it’s a ticket to the Grand Duke’s party.”

“If it’s the Grand Duke’s return party, I have to attend.”

At Rael’s suggestion, the Grand Duke had simply told Rain and a few other nobles to wear them… but the nobles who saw it began to interpret it differently.

It was the first party in years where the Grand Duke would show his face.

There was no way the emblem worn by his close aides had no meaning.

From being a ticket to the upcoming party to being a requirement to enter the Grand Duke’s ranks.

The Order’s massive emblem became a source of interest for idle nobles.

In just two weeks, an absurd amount of donations began to pour in.

“I, I can’t believe it. This is more than the combined donations of three branches in the 2nd District. As expected of the Honorary Knight. Amazing.”

Bishop Peter stared at the donations with his mouth wide open.

Far more donations had been collected than when he was a lower-ranking priest in the 2nd District.

Even more, the donations were increasing as time went on.

“…Ah, haha. Well, I knew this would happen. Who do you think I am? I’m an Honorary Knight.”

Rael put his hands behind his back and turned his head.

The Grand Duke’s connections were truly amazing.

When he told a few nobles to use the emblem, the other nobles thought there was something to it and began donating for the emblem.

‘…More money has been collected than I thought. I hope I don’t tarnish the Grand Duke’s reputation.’

He was slightly worried about the unexpectedly large amount of donations.

The nobles were donating with some expectations, but the Order’s emblem had no meaning at all.

He was worried that the nobles might cause trouble later.

‘I can always slip away then.’

Fortunately, Rael also had insurance.

It was a perfect plan to put the innocent Bishop Peter at the forefront if the nobles started causing trouble.

“But… but, Honorary Knight. I feel uneasy. It feels like we’re turning the faith of the believers into money…”

“Don’t worry. This is also Gaia’s guidance.”

Rael smiled kindly and took his allowance.

He had already expected a diligent bishop like Peter to react like that.

But that would be over soon.

The Order’s donations were all reported to the headquarters.

There was no way the money-grubbing Order would let this incident pass.

Rael was sure that Peter’s mind would change soon.

The next day.

Peter’s worries became reality.

The Order’s headquarters sent someone to the branch.

“Y-Yes?! A Cardinal?!”

Peter, who thought he would be scolded by the Archbishop, widened his eyes.

What was a Cardinal? [A high-ranking official in the Order, second only to the Pope.]

One of the three highest-ranking clerics in the Order, and second only to His Holiness the Pope.

Even Cardinal Fernando, who was said to have brought the Order to where it was today, had personally visited the 4th District.

‘The Cardinal is coming in person… He must be angry that I did things my way with the Order’s affairs.’

He might even have to give up the bishop’s position he had just risen to.

Peter took a deep breath and gathered all the donations.

‘Let’s make sure no harm comes to Lord Rael and Lord Carlson….’

Lord Rael had led the work, but in the end, it was he, the bishop, who had allowed it.

He had no intention of harming them.

Step- Step-

A few Silver Cross Knights and a man with a bulging belly entered the 4th District branch.

Peter immediately made the sign of the cross when he saw the Cardinal’s emblem on his chest.

“May Gaia’s blessings be with you. I am Bishop Peter.”

Peter greeted the Cardinal nervously.

He was prepared to accept whatever punishment the Cardinal handed down.

However, Cardinal Fernando’s reaction was slightly different from what he had expected.

“Bishop Peter!!! It was you! You’re doing a great job! Your faith has spread beyond the 4th District and reached the nobles! If you keep going like this, you’ll be an Archbishop in no time! Haha!”

Fernando licked his lips as he looked at the donations Peter had collected.

It had been a very long time since he had seen so much cash.

It seemed to be more than the donations he received from the Carmen Knights.

“Ah… T-Thank you, Cardinal!”

“What Cardinal between us! You can call me Brother Fernando! …So, Peter. Can you tell me how to make this emblem?”

“Ah, I understand…!”

Bishop Peter shed tears of emotion at Cardinal Fernando’s touch on his shoulder.

What bishop would be able to talk so closely with a Cardinal?

This was all Gaia’s guidance and blessing.

‘Ah, I was walking the same path as the Lord God Gaia.’

Peter smiled with joy.

He was being recognized.

He was recognized by the two Silver Cross Knights and by the Cardinal.

“I will continue to be a faithful follower of Gaia. Gaia-men.”

“Huh? Hahaha. Bishop Peter. I like you after all. Gaia-men!”

Only then did Peter realize what a bishop should do.

*

“Finally, the world is turning properly.”

Rael walked through the streets of the 3rd District, smiling brightly.

The massive donation emblems visible everywhere came into view.

Don’t be surprised.

2% of that became Rael’s money.

Some might say it’s only 2%, but… 2% of the donations collected over two weeks was an amount Rael had never seen before.

Rael had achieved the economic freedom he couldn’t achieve in the modern world in medieval fantasy…!

‘Bishop Peter has become a little strange… but, well, it’ll be okay.’

A Cardinal from the Order’s headquarters came and congratulated him…

Fortunately, he didn’t mention Rael’s name.

Did he want to take all the credit for himself?

‘Just looking at how he suddenly greets the nobles himself… Hmm.’

Rael was also wary of the Cardinal’s eyes, so it was quite difficult to take more of the donation allowance.

He had already taken as much as he could, so he had no complaints, but one pure bishop had finally fallen.

That’s how scary money is.

‘My money is safe with Uncle Zenith….’

Rael took all of his allowance before Peter could say anything else.

He entrusted all the money to Beggars. After all, Uncle Zenith had nowhere to run, so he could trust him.

‘The world is fun when you have money.’

Rael realized that this world was quite a good place to live if you had money.

He stopped by a confectionery in the 3rd District with a happy face.

“You really like this stuff.”

“Ah, yes. My friend likes it.”

“You’re the only one who buys this at our confectionery. Thank you always.”

“…Then why don’t you just stop making it from the beginning.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

“It’s nothing. Have a good day.”

Rael bought a basket of mint chocolate at the confectionery.

Even in a rootless medieval fantasy, it was fortunate that not many people liked this stuff.

Today was the day to monitor the Demon King.

Rael bought her favorite sweet mint chocolate and headed to the Special Guard in the 5th District.

‘I wonder if any demons will pass by.’

Rael’s body had been itching lately.

He had been focusing on handling the Thousand Slaughter Sword while sparring with Rain for the past two weeks, and he had made quite a bit of progress.

But in the end, the Thousand Slaughter Sword was a sword for catching demons.

He wanted to test this power on a demon.

‘…I’m starting to think about things like this because I’m getting more relaxed.’

He wanted to fight a demon.

It was a change he couldn’t have imagined a year ago.

Rael smiled bitterly at the fact that his mindset had changed quite a bit.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Yeah. Take care.”

Rael greeted the outer guards and entered the Special Guard.

Today, he didn’t go to the building in the center, but went straight to the prison where the Demon King was being held.

Recently, the crazy elf Reina had been chasing Rael, saying that she wanted to go to Tia together.

If he got caught by her, Tia would definitely suck his blood.

Thud- Thud-

The stairs of the underground prison where the Demon King was imprisoned.

Rael walked, stepping on the alloy of Ten Thousand Year Iron and Adamantium.

He could still feel the cold yin energy inside.

‘I feel the demonic energy and ghostly energy more clearly these days.’

At first, he thought it was a mistake, but it wasn’t.

After learning the Thousand Slaughter Sword, he could feel the demonic energy and ghostly energy of the Special Guard more vividly.

It seemed to be the influence of the Thousand Slaughter Sword, which used the surrounding magic power.

Drip- Drip-

Water dripped from the ceiling.

Rael opened the prison door and went inside.

The countless prayers of the Order written on the wall greeted him.

“It’s been a while.”

“You’ve come, Rael.”

Rael looked at the Demon King, who was bound by dozens of chains.

The Demon King, who looked like a girl, had horns on her head, which was not a visual he could get used to no matter how many times he saw it.

That terribly pale skin also seemed to be the aftermath of not seeing sunlight.

“Here. It’s your favorite chocolate.”

Rael rolled the mint chocolate through the bars of the Demon King’s prison, lost in thought.

Giving mint chocolate to a bomb that could explode at any moment… It was a strange reality.

Chomp- Chomp-.

“Is it good?”

The Demon King diligently put the mint chocolate in her mouth, unaware of Rael’s thoughts.

She must have been very bored, since he was the only one she could talk to.

“Yes. It’s very sweet. Can’t you eat it?”

“I’m okay.”

Rael threw the mint chocolate through the bars of the prison and wondered how he would spend the remaining 8 hours.

First, he would tell her scary stories for about 2 hours to pass the time, and for the remaining 6 hours…

“…?”

At that moment, a chilling sensation swirled throughout Rael’s body.

It was a coincidence.

Rael’s hand, which was throwing mint chocolate while pondering, went inside the bars, and the Demon King’s hand, which was trying to receive the mint chocolate quickly, came out to meet it, and their hands touched.

‘What was that just now?’

In a brief moment, Rael felt ghostly energy and demonic energy penetrate his body.

The senses that had become sharper after learning the Thousand Slaughter Sword had grasped that subtle flow.

“…?”

Rael raised his head and looked at the Demon King.

She was tilting her head at the mint chocolate that wasn’t falling.