The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 76

“Is that the end of the report?”

Yuri focused on her work with a joyful heart today as well.

She couldn’t help but be happy since things had been going well lately.

[Seal of the Demon King: No abnormalities.]

[Heavenly Executioner Sword Master: Still whereabouts unknown.]

[The Dragon has closed its lair and is conducting research.]

The Special Guard didn’t have much work, and most of it was what she had to handle as a princess.

Yuri finished the report appropriately and checked the next document.

“Isabelle.”

“Yes, Lady Yuriel.”

“No word from my brother Simon?”

“Not particularly.”

“That’s strange. I didn’t think my brother would stay still, given his personality.”

As Yuri properly entered the battle for the throne, most of the forces that were whittled away belonged to the Second Prince, Simon.

The nobles who supported the First Prince, Damian, were so-called traditionalists. Because they valued legitimacy, they would support Damian unless he went crazy and sold the country.

However, Simon’s support base was a coalition of various nobles mixed together. Since most of them were not bound by blood or legitimacy, their solidarity was weaker than expected.

In other words, it was possible to take away their power.

Yuri knew this, so she mainly had interviews with nobles who supported the Second Prince.

‘My position has become quite solid. It’s truly… a remarkable change.’

The Grand Duke’s support gave her wings.

Nobles who respected him approached Yuri a lot, and other nobles were also seeing Yuri as a candidate for the throne.

It meant that the perception of her had changed from a foolish royal to a competitor in the battle for the throne.

Of course, it wasn’t just thanks to the Grand Duke.

She also had the knight, Rael.

‘Mr. Rael is truly an amazing person.’

Rael’s power was as great as the Grand Duke’s in gathering the support of the nobles.

Thanks to the martial prowess he showed at the party, the empire’s attention was focused on her, and as he became more active in the empire, Yuri’s name was also heard.

“Isabelle, didn’t you say that the Order would be choosing a hero soon?”

“Yes. The Saintess appointment ceremony will probably take place within a month, and the hero will be chosen soon after.”

“The most likely candidate is still Mr. Rael, right?”

“That… yes. It’s an undeniable fact. Cardinal Bernard is arguing so strongly that it won’t be easy for anyone within the Order to say otherwise.”

Cardinal Bernard was the most money and fame-hungry person in the Order.

However, no matter how much of a Bernard he was, he wouldn’t lie in the name of Gaia [the goddess of the earth, often invoked for oaths].

“They are singing songs about Sir Rael in front of the headquarters day and night. There will probably be no change.”

“To kill a high-ranking demon with a single sword… is that really true?”

“Well, if it weren’t true, I don’t think Cardinal Bernard would be working this hard. At least he has similar martial prowess.”

“So, what he showed at the party back then wasn’t his true strength…”

Yuri nodded, as if amazed.

In fact, Rael was even more mysterious than the Grand Duke.

‘Most people think he was raised by the Grand Duke while he was in seclusion… but that’s not the truth.’

Yuri knows Rael’s background, which makes it even more surprising.

A man from an orphanage with no background knocked down knights who had received formal education at the academy, and before she knew it, he was standing at the center of the empire at the young age of 25.

Recently, the empire’s information guild was saying that you couldn’t survive without information about Rael.

‘Since such a person has come to me, I must do my best.’

Yuri focused on her work with that thought in mind.

After focusing on work for a few hours.

“Ugh… Haa, should I go outside for some air?”

Yuri swept back her hair and stretched.

Her body felt stiff, and she didn’t want to see any more documents.

“If you’re going out, I’ll prepare for it.”

“Isabelle, I can’t go out for the time being. I won’t move unless there’s an official event.”

Yuri still remembered the incident with the Carmen Knights, who had been aiming for her life.

The more she grew her power, the more people would try to harm her.

For the sake of the Grand Duke and Rael, who created this position for her, she must not act rashly until the end.

“Shall we play chess for a while?”

“Lady Reina or Sir Rael might be outside.”

“Is that so?”

Yuri headed outside after a long time.

There would be a chessboard on the table where she had left it to clear her head.

*

Rael, who had come to work at the Special Guard, stared at the woman lying in the hammock.

She was wearing sunglasses, and an elf wearing sunglasses in a fantasy world was quite a sight to see.

This world was always full of surprises.

“Reina, let me use that hammock too.”

“No. Just lie in another hammock.”

“No, I really feel like my body recovers when I lie there.”

“Of course. This is a hammock imbued with the power of nature.”

Rael looked at Reina, who was lying motionless, and raised his foot.

It seemed like she would fall if he kicked her… but how much would he get cursed if he kicked her?

It was quite a serious concern.

“You two are very close.”

At that moment, a voice was heard from the side.

It was Yuri, who had just come out of the building.

“Ah, it’s been a while, Miss Yuri.”

“Yes. Ah, should I call you Sir Rael?”

“Whatever you’re comfortable with. I’ll call you Your Highness too.”

“That’s not bad either.”

Both Yuri and Rael were busy with work, so it was difficult to see each other’s faces.

Rael greeted her with a light joke.

Looking at the table where she was sitting, he saw a chessboard.

“Chess again today?”

Rael looked down at the chessboard.

“Yes. I wish Mr. Rael or Lady Reina would join me. Or, would you two like to play?”

“Me and Reina? Hey, what do you take me for?”

Rael smiled confidently.

He was an elite high school graduate who had completed compulsory education and even higher education.

There was no way he would lose to a stupid elf.

“Rael, you’re really underestimating me. There’s no way a human who’s only lived for 25 years can beat an elf who’s lived for 150 years.”

At that moment, Reina, who had been motionless, raised her body.

She couldn’t believe that a human would think they could beat an elf.

“…Didn’t you say before that if an elf is 150 years old, it’s like a human being 15 years old?”

“That’s not important. I’ll play with you, so sit down.”

Rael shook his head as he looked at Reina.

He couldn’t even imagine a future where he would lose to this elf.

“Yes. Checkmate. Lady Reina wins.”

“No way…”

The result was defeat.

Rael stared at the chessboard as if his soul had left his body, but that didn’t revive the dead pieces.

“Yay! I won, so Rael, you’re my subordinate from now on. Hmm, what should I make you do?”

“What are you talking about? I didn’t make any such promise.”

“Huh? Then what will you do for me?”

“…I’ll grant you a favor later.”

“Okay, okay. Then don’t even think about touching my hammock in the future.”

Reina reveled in the joy of victory.

As expected, elves were definitely a superior race to humans.

“…Reina.”

At that moment, Rael opened his mouth.

“Yeah? Why? Are you going to ask me for chess lessons?”

“That’s okay, just let me know if you need help later.”

Rael turned his head and said.

He, who had grown up on the streets, was not used to saying such things.

Reina blinked at his words, then suddenly smiled.

“What are you talking about all of a sudden? It’s cheesy.”

“Just do whatever you want.”

Rael sighed and shook his head.

Reina’s eyes softened as she watched him.

*

Swoosh-

Rael raised his sword to the sky and whispered quietly.

The point was to stretch out one hand as if it would reach the sky.

“Heavenly Executioner Sword, Form 2. Ascension.”

Crack-

At the same time, Rael’s sword energy became even stronger.

Rael swung his sword, imbued with the magic of the sky, towards Kirie.

“Kirie Swordsmanship, Form 1… Kuaaaak!”

Clang-!

Kirie also raised his sword energy and blocked Rael’s sword, but he was pushed back by the overwhelming power.

He blinked as he fell to the ground and gave Rael a thumbs up.

“Sir Rael. You are amazing. The speed is slow, but the sword contains overwhelming power…!”

Kirie looked at his sword as if it were amazing.

The power contained in the sword was very heavy, but he was a little disappointed because he felt like he could have blocked it if he had been a little faster.

“Kirie. Don’t be foolish. Rael deliberately swung slowly for you.”

At that moment, Rain, who had been watching the sparring, walked forward.

Kirie was startled by those words and looked at Rael.

“Yes, yes?! Is that true?”

“I didn’t want you to get hurt during sparring. But don’t feel bad because I wasn’t planning on going easy on you.”

“Ah… I see.”

Kirie looked down at his sword and lowered his head.

When Rael first learned the sword from Rain at the orphanage, Kirie’s sword could match Rael’s.

However, Rael continued to grow at an absurd rate, and before he knew it, he was definitely one step ahead of Kirie.

‘Should I be happy or sad….’

The only consolation was that he had grasped the feeling for Kirie Swordsmanship Form 2 thanks to Sir Rael.

“Rael. You might need a squad of Carmen Knights to face you. Do you know what that means?”

“I have no idea.”

“It means you’re worthy of being called a monster now. Come to think of it, the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering is coming up soon.”