The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 77

Thud. Thud.

Rayna slowly walked towards the dim forest.

At first, the forest’s vitality filled her body, but as she went deeper, a disgusting smell stung her nose.

Nature was suffering.

“…”

With each step, her anxiety grew.

With the rustling of leaves, Rayna’s heart began to pound.

Swish-

From a certain point, the trees around her began to wither.

Rayna stopped in her tracks.

Thud. Thud.

“You’re not late, Elf.”

After a while, a demon who smelled the scent of the Elves arrived.

Rayna stood before Basolrod, wincing at the magic of annihilation piercing her body.

“B, Basolrod.”

Rayna lowered her head without realizing it.

A monster that is the natural enemy of the Elves: Basolrod.

Facing him was a huge burden for her.

“Open the gate to the Spirit Realm now, unless you want the other Elves to die.”

“…”

“You still have eyes that care for the Elves. Don’t worry. I will keep my promise not to touch the Elves.”

Basolrod gave a bitter smile.

The pitiful heart of the Elf trying to protect her people by sacrificing herself was laughable every time he saw it.

“Yes. Don’t worry about the other Elves.”

Whoosh-

Rayna squeezed out her magic and opened the gate to the Spirit Realm.

At the same time, the magic of annihilation, which was fatal to the Elves, penetrated into the Spirit Realm.

“Keuh…”

It was Basolrod’s meal.

His magic grew stronger as he devoured the pure spirits.

And the aftermath of that magic was also transmitted to Rayna, who opened the gate to the Spirit Realm.

‘I have to endure. Just a little more…’

The pain of her whole body being torn apart pressed down on Rayna.

But she didn’t give up until the end.

If she couldn’t bear this pain, this guy would set his sights on the Elves again.

Rayna didn’t want to let her fellow Elves die anymore.

‘Is this Elf also getting weaker?’

Basolrod narrowed his eyes as he looked at Rayna.

The power to maintain the Spirit Realm has become weaker than before.

This Elf is also getting weaker.

‘The demons are slowly gathering, so I should move.’

In the end, Elves are just consumables.

It is inefficient to rely on only one Elf.

Basolrod devoured the spirits with an expressionless face.

*

A morning in the Special Guard.

Rael went to work at the Special Guard today as well.

He was taking a break from monitoring the Demon King because of concerns that the Demon King’s seal would weaken, but there was nowhere else to go.

‘Going to the Order is just a headache… and the Rain Knights at the orphanage seem busy these days.’

Rael applies for sparring every day, but they also have their own work to do.

Rael, who used to be a guard, knows the difficulties, so he felt bad to keep bothering them.

“Ugh…”

“Stay still.”

Rael reached out to Rayna and stayed by her side.

“T, thank you, Rael.”

Rayna held Rael’s hand tightly as if it were a treasure.

The magic of annihilation remaining in her body slowly flowed into Rael, reducing Rayna’s pain.

Her whole body still felt like it was being torn apart, but she could endure it thanks to Rael.

“Rael.”

Gent, who was watching the scene, approached as if he was amazed.

“Why?”

“It’s quite a strange thing to see in person. Rayna’s condition seems to be improving.”

“…To be honest, I don’t understand it either.”

Rael turned his head and looked at Rayna lying under the tree.

She was in pain, holding Rael’s hand to her chest.

Once a month, she suffers from an unknown cause.

‘Is this also related to Basolrod?’

After hearing about the Elves’ situation from Reine, he became unnecessarily concerned about Rayna.

Especially if she’s in so much pain and can’t say anything, it can only be about Basolrod.

‘Basolrod’s magic of annihilation… wait, then I’m absorbing all that magic?’

I wonder if I’ll get sick later.

Rael fidgeted with his hands, feeling uneasy.

“Hmm.”

“Don’t do anything weird and put down the trowel, Gent.”

“That’s not it. Yuri and Rayna too. Rael, you’re a popular man with both men and women. Your body is really popular.”

“Please don’t say nonsense. Yuri and Rayna will feel bad if they hear that. And what do you mean by men and women? I’m not interested in men.”

“No, I like you too, Rael. There aren’t many warriors like you.”

“…Pick up an axe instead of a shovel. I’ll just kill you today.”

“Just kidding.”

“Tsk.”

Rael clicked his tongue.

He really couldn’t understand why those long-lived guys only made such useless jokes.

“More than that, a body that absorbs other powers… it’s really amazing, Rael. Aren’t you human?”

“I’m human.”

“Can you be sure? I heard you’re an orphan.”

“…Gent, are you crazy? You’re older than Rayna. Are you making a parental slur at that age?”

Medieval fantasy guys don’t have manners, not just humans but also other races.

It’s an unimaginable statement in the Eastern Land of Courtesy [a region known for its strict etiquette].

“I’m not trying to insult you. However, isn’t it possible that your parents weren’t human? That’s what I wanted to say.”

“Don’t say such useless things. It makes me nervous.”

Rael didn’t answer Gent and turned his head.

“Ughhh.”

Rayna was sweating profusely with her eyes tightly closed.

The World Tree branch was tightly held in her chest.

It was the World Tree branch that Rael had brought.

“Rayna, are you alive?”

“Yeah. I’m okay…”

“You don’t look okay.”

Seeing the Elf, who was bragging about playing chess until yesterday, wandering on the verge of death made him feel uneasy.

“Rayna, I’ll make you porridge, so wait. Rael, help me for a moment. Let’s go dig carrots for Rayna together.”

“…The carrots from the north? Are you talking about that?”

“Yes. It cools the body with the harmony of yin and yang.”

“Haa.”

That harmony of yin and yang.

Every time he heard it, he felt annoyed.

“Wait a moment.”

Nod nod.

Rael left the suffering Rayna and headed to Gent’s garden.

Gent was already picking carrots and potatoes in the garden.

“What do you need help with?”

“Rael.”

“Yeah?”

“The demons’ movements are unusual.”

“…What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

He asked for help with gardening, but he started talking about important things.

Rael squatted next to Gent and listened.

“Demons are gathering around the capital. The Blue Magic Tower also encountered a large number of demons during training.”

“Gent, I don’t know much about it, but does that make sense? The Empire is currently in a truce with the demons. How are the demons coming around the Imperial capital?”

“This incident is different from the invasions so far. Count Basolrod of Alheim has formally requested a visit to the Empire. It’s something that can be done because of the truce.”

The demons’ invasion was an individual’s deviation, and this is an official matter.

Rael laughed in disbelief at the ridiculous excuse.

“This is crazy. What do you mean by a formal request from a demon? Did this stupid Empire allow it again?”

It is a world where demons invading the Imperial capital is a daily occurrence.

What are the higher-ups thinking?

“Rael, humans don’t objectively grasp the situation they’re in as much as you think. Even though they know the demons’ movements are unusual, they don’t take any action. If they stay still, war might not happen.”

“…Sorry, but aren’t you a giant? How are you able to grasp the situation faster than human nobles?”

Giants are originally stupid and faithful to their instincts.

Where did this mutation come from?

“I am a giant warrior. I just love nature and humans.”

“That’s what’s so strange.”

Rael sighed and picked carrots and potatoes and threw them aside.

It seemed like enough to make porridge.

“Well, I’ll make porridge, so cheer up, Rael.”

“But you said you wouldn’t help Rayna, right? Isn’t telling me this helping?”

Gent clearly said that he respected his colleagues and would not help if Rayna didn’t want it.

“What are you talking about? Rael, I just gave you, my colleague, the information you needed.”

“…Yeah. Thanks, I guess.”

Is he trying to help this side by going around and getting information, even though he’s a giant?

I’m grateful, but isn’t he just a big human?

‘The Blue Magic Tower… yeah. I had to stop by anyway.’

Rael handed the carrots and potatoes to Gent and returned to Rayna.

“Rael… I feel like I’m going to die. Cough, cough.”

“Stay still, I’ll give you my hand. Porridge will be here soon.”

“T, thank you.”

Rayna took Rael’s hand and took a slow, deep breath.

Watching the scene, Rael unknowingly blurted out a word.

“Rayna, are you really okay?”

“Yeah. I’m really okay. So don’t worry.”

Rayna smiled faintly at him.

“Sigh.”

Rael leaned his back against the tree and turned his head.

*

The top floor of the Blue Magic Tower.

Magic Tower Master Perma turned over the documents with a tired face.

“The demons’ movements have been unusual recently. It seems they are preparing for battle.”

“…What the hell are those Kamen Knights doing?”

Tak- Tak-

Perma, who was throwing dice with one hand, narrowed his eyes.

No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t understand.

The Imperial family that opens the door because a demon noble requests it, or the Kamen Knights who don’t care what they’re doing.

Anyone would think they were performing a ritual to ruin the Empire.

‘Is it really that man’s idea…?’

A man who thinks a crisis is needed for the Empire’s unity.

Kamen Knights Commander Gideon Garcia.

‘But it’s strange. The current Empire is already preparing for war.’

The center of it was the Order.

They, who announced that the Saintess had appeared, are warning that war will soon break out.

The Imperial family couldn’t completely ignore the Order’s words either.

If they even elect a hero soon, what else would that be if not war preparation?

But why doesn’t Gideon stop his strange behavior?

“Magic Tower Master.”

“…Yes, Chiron. What kind of demon was it?”

Perma focused on the report again at Chiron’s words.

“It’s Count Basolrod of Alheim. The path he takes with his subordinates overlaps with the training grounds of the Blue Magic Tower’s high-ranking mages.”

“Training grounds?”

“It’s an abandoned forest near the outskirts of the capital.”

“Ah, is that the place? Hmm… well, if the Empire has allowed it, we’ll have to step back.”

“Yes. I think so too. There’s no need to stir up trouble.”

The Blue Magic Tower ultimately belongs to the Empire.

If the Imperial family has allowed it, they have no right to stop it.

‘Tsk. To be pushed back by the demons. It’s absurd.’

His pride was a little hurt, but there was nothing he could do.

“Come to think of it, I heard that the Elves will be coming to the abandoned forest soon.”

“Yes. It’s a story that’s spreading little by little… but Baggus reports that it’s almost certain. They even bought the surrounding land.”

“If Baggus says so, it must be reliable information.”

Perma nodded.

If it was an Elf migration, it had even less to do with him.

‘It was the Second Princess who led it.’

The Empire’s Magic Tower has never supported a specific royal family member.

That’s why the Magic Tower is a noble existence, and it will be the same this time.

“Then I’ll handle it by changing the training grounds.”

“Do so.”

“Yes, Magic Tower Master.”

Perma’s secretary, Chiron, bowed his head.

Recently, he was having so much fun at work.

‘It was a little strange during the Heavenly Judgment [an event of great significance]… but you have finally returned to the dignified appearance of the Magic Tower Master that I remember.’

Perhaps he grew something while gaining enlightenment at that time.

Chiron smiled pleasantly.

Knock knock.

At that time, a knock was heard from outside the door.

“Magic Tower Master, you have a guest.”

“A guest? Who is it?”

It was Chiron who answered the voice outside.

He hated being disturbed during reports.

“It’s Lord Rael.”

“Lord Rael…? What business does he have at the Magic Tower?”

However, Chiron couldn’t help but pause for a moment at the name Rael.

Rael.

A friend of the Blue Magic Tower and an honorary knight of the Silver Cross Knights.

And a rising star knight who is the exclusive knight of the Second Princess.

‘He was recognized by the Blue Magic Tower during the Heavenly Judgment… but he hasn’t visited since then.’

Chiron recalled his face.

He, who had the youthful spirit of a 25-year-old, had already become a celebrity in the Empire.

‘Come to think of it, the Magic Tower Master is also amazing.’

To give the title of friend of the Magic Tower just by seeing the talent of a commoner swordsman.

Perhaps Rael came because of that connection.

Today, Chiron was also impressed by the Magic Tower Master’s insight.

“The Magic Tower Master cannot be met without making an appointment in advance… but tell Lord Rael to wait for now. As soon as my report is finished…”

“Bring him in right now!”

“…Yes?”

Chiron blinked as he looked at Perma, who was already standing up from his seat.

His hair was soaring upwards due to the rising magic power.

“Chiron! The report is over! Go out and bring him right now!”

“M, Magic Tower Master.”

Chiron looked at the Magic Tower Master in embarrassment.

The always calm Magic Tower Master was excited and emitting magic power….

“No, I have to go! It’s something I have to go to!”

Perma ran out right away.

‘Ah, come to think of it, the Magic Tower Master started to become strange….’

Chiron finally felt the strangeness, but Perma had already disappeared.

In the empty Magic Tower Master’s office, Chiron suddenly felt sad.