The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 81

“Kuh, kuh-heuk…”

Bathold glared at Rael, his eyes wide open.

He emitted mana until his dying breath, but even Rael’s sword, imbued with the magic of annihilation, couldn’t stop it from severing his neck.

“This, this can’t be…”

Crack! Splatter-.

The massive head, leaving behind a wretched death cry, fell and splattered blood on the floor.

No matter how high-ranking a demon, they cannot survive decapitation.

It was the death of Bathold.

A futile end for someone who was thought to be a noble of Alheim.

“This, this can’t be…”

“Is he really dead?”

The Elves who watched the battle were still unable to move.

They couldn’t believe Bathold’s end.

They couldn’t believe that the monster who had relentlessly tormented the Elves was killed by a mere human.

“R-run away!”

“Kuaaaaak!”

The demons were the first to grasp the situation.

They were a race that struggled to survive every day in the forbidden Alheim.

As soon as they realized their leader was dead, they fled in all directions.

“Take care of them!”

“Don’t let a single one escape!”

The mages of the Blue Magic Tower began hunting the demons.

Bathold’s subordinates were fleeing, and the mages were hunting them down.

The Elves who watched the scene began to regain their senses.

“I-it’s over. Bathold is dead…!”

“The magic of annihilation is gone! We don’t have to run away anymore!”

The Elves hugged each other and shared their joy.

And the Elven warrior, Keln, quietly stared straight ahead.

‘We did something terribly wrong to Reina.’

Reina, being held by Reine, felt like she was tearing his heart apart.

If he had read her heart a little more, this wouldn’t have happened.

Keln approached her to apologize.

Thud.

However, someone grabbed his shoulder.

“Erengor?”

“Wait a moment, Keln.”

Erengor stared intently at Reina.

The hero who saved the Elves was approaching her.

“Rael!”

Reina ran to Rael and hugged him tightly.

The monster who had tormented the Elves and Reina for so long was dead.

The monster who killed her parents and blinded her sister.

Reina had dedicated her power to him for the sake of her clan, and today she was finally able to break free from that cycle.

“Rael… Rael…!”

At that fact, unbearable tears burst out.

“Thank you for keeping your promise, Mr. Rael.”

“Yes, of course.”

Rael stroked Reina’s shoulder and looked at Reine.

She still had her eyes closed, but her expression was more comfortable than ever.

“…Erengor.”

Keln bit his lip as he watched Reina crying.

He felt so pathetic that he couldn’t do anything at such an important time as an Elven warrior.

“Just stay still for a moment, Keln.”

“We did something terribly wrong to Reina. To our own kind… We committed an unforgivable wrong.”

“It’s all my fault. So, let’s not interfere right now.”

Erengor sighed.

If he had been a better leader, this wouldn’t have happened.

But if that were the case, the Elves would have been destroyed.

Erengor knew that, so he only felt sorry and grateful to Reina.

“…No. It’s all our fault.”

The Elves, who were sharing their joy, lowered their heads in solemn silence at Keln and Erengor’s words.

The reason the Elves were still alive was all thanks to Reina.

And the one who killed their enemy was a human who had nothing to do with the Elves.

“A human hero…”

Erengor looked at the human who was smiling wryly while patting Reina’s shoulder.

‘A hero who seeks justice and kills demons… I can understand if it’s him.’

Erengor looked at the human hero and prayed for the grace of the World Tree.

The favor they received from Reina and Rael would have to be repaid for a long time.

*

The headquarters of the Gaia Order.

In the sacred Papal Chamber, a woman was praying.

It was a ceremony to confirm whether Cecilia, a priestess and candidate for Sainthood, was indeed a Saint.

“Gaia-men…” [A prayer or invocation to the goddess Gaia]

As Cecilia prayed, pure white divine power began to emanate.

The divine power wrapped around her body as if seeking its master.

The tremendous wave of divine power she created was both sacred and sublime.

It was truly the reincarnation of a Saint.

“This can’t be… It really is the divine power that only a Saint possesses. Gaia-men.”

Cardinal Angelo, who was presiding over the ceremony, made the sign of the cross.

At this moment.

The Order welcomed a new Saint.

“Truly amazing. This is also the grace of Gaia.”

Cardinal Bernardo was equally moved by the Saint’s divine power.

Bernardo loved money and honor more than anything, but today he wanted to entrust himself to the blessing of the main god, Gaia.

“But we can’t just be happy. The fact that a Saint has appeared means…”

“Yes. Chaos is coming. The demons will be rampant.”

“Another great war will break out.”

A new war before the pain of the last war has even been properly washed away.

Moreover, the fact that a Saint, who had not appeared even in the last war, has appeared means that the world is truly in danger this time.

“For this to happen now, while His Holiness the Pope is away…”

“The search for a hero should proceed after His Holiness the Pope returns.”

The Pope of the Order was in a state of prolonged prayer.

A hero could not be chosen by Cardinals alone.

“Let’s first attend to the Saint. Priestess Cecilia. From this moment on, you are appointed as the Saint representing the Gaia Order. We Cardinals will also assist the Saint and spread the will of Gaia far and wide.”

“Gaia-men.”

The Cardinals made the sign of the cross simultaneously.

“Ah… Thank you.”

Cecilia had not yet grasped the reality.

She, who was only a lower-ranking priestess, was now a Saint… It was too great a change.

“Cardinal Bernardo. You just mentioned a hero?”

“Ah, yes. Now that a Saint has appeared, a hero will soon emerge. It will be one of the faithful believers who has the power to cut down demons without hesitation. Like the Saint, it is likely to be someone whose power has not yet been properly revealed.”

Cecilia blinked at Bernardo’s words.

A faithful believer who cuts down demons without hesitation.

And someone whose power has not yet been properly revealed.

‘There’s one person that comes to mind.’

If she was really a Saint, wouldn’t this be fate?

“Um… There’s someone I can think of as a hero.”

Cecilia slowly opened her mouth among the Cardinals.

*

A few days later.

Along with the story that tremendous mana had erupted around the abandoned forest, the news that a noble of Alheim had died also spread quickly.

A story spread in an information guild of the Empire that a demon had died in a fight with the Elves, but those who knew the relationship between the Elves and Bathold did not believe the rumor.

The death of a noble of Alheim meant that there was a culprit who killed him.

But how many strong people are there who are not being tracked?

Naturally, rumors began to spread about the swordsman who killed the demon.

“Brother. Is it true that you killed a demon…?”

“I don’t know anything about that. Is that what you have to say after meeting me for the first time in a while?”

Rael shook his head at Carlson’s words, whom he had met after a long time.

“But my captain says. There was no one else who could have done it besides Brother Rael…?”

“…I told you I don’t know. I was resting at home then.”

Rael sighed.

Killing Bathold was good, but it caused a lot of trouble afterward.

He tried to somehow quell the rumors with Bacchus, but it seemed that there were surprisingly many people who knew the relationship between the Elves and Bathold.

“Sir Rael!”

At that moment, one of the Cardinals with a heavy body ran from the other side.

It was a speed that didn’t match his body.

Bernardo came panting and sparkled his eyes as he looked at Rael.

“Is it true that Sir Rael killed Bathold, the noble of Alheim?!”

“No, Cardinal.”

“But there are quite a few people who saw Sir Rael heading to the abandoned forest! Moreover, Bathold was a demon who was chasing the Elves, and the Elves holding a festival in the forest are constantly praising Sir Rael’s martial prowess!”

“There seem to be many amazing coincidences in the world. Gaia-men.”

Rael made the sign of the cross with a surprised expression.

He had ordered Bacchus to control the information, so the rumors would soon quiet down.

‘Why are those crazy Elves calling my name at the party?’

The problem was the Elves… but they would quiet down soon too.

‘I wonder if Reina is doing well.’

They said they were having a party among the Elves, but Rael couldn’t join in, so he just left Reina there.

Reine was there, so she would take care of it… but he couldn’t help but worry.

“Gaia-men. You were here. Cardinal Bernardo. And Sir Rael and Sir Carlson.”

“Ah, Gaia-men! Cardinal Angelo!”

At that time, Carlson made the sign of the cross towards the man approaching, who was avoiding Bernardo’s pursuit.

When Rael turned his head, he saw a man with a benevolent face.

‘Is that Cardinal Angelo…’

Originally, for an organization to run well, there had to be some workaholics.

If Cardinal Bernardo was a cancer to the Order, Cardinal Angelo was a pillar of the Order.

He was more incorruptible than anyone else and worked hard for the Order.

“Nice to meet you, Cardinal Angelo.”

“May the blessings of Gaia be with you. Sir Rael. I was looking for you anyway.”

“…Me?”

Was this person also talking about Bathold?

He was unnecessarily nervous, but Cardinal Angelo brought up an unexpected story.

“There is a donation from the Order for Sir Rael.”

“A donation?”

“Yes. It is part of the donation made by the family of the Inquisitor. Sir Rael took revenge on the demon who killed the Inquisitor.”

Angelo said so and handed over a donation certificate.

Rael, who blankly accepted the donation certificate and lowered his head, widened his eyes.

Rael had made a lot of money selling emblems, but this was no less than that.

‘No. Let’s get a grip.’

Rael soon shook his head.

He almost lost his mind to the huge donation, but he was a human, not a beast.

Even if the Inquisitors were the bastards who tried to kill Carlson, Rael, who killed them, couldn’t just accept the money given by the parents who lost their children.

“How can this money be mine? I will donate it to the Order.”

“S-Sir Rael?!”

“…Really?”

Both Cardinal Bernardo and Cardinal Angelo were surprised.

It was because they never thought he would refuse that much money.

“Yes. I will donate the full amount. Please handle it well, Cardinal Angelo. Ah, don’t tell Cardinal Bernardo about it. Please donate mainly to the orphanages in District 4.”

Rael whispered quietly to Cardinal Angelo.

Since he was going to donate anyway, he wanted to donate to people in need, not to such a fat man.

“Don’t worry, Sir Rael.”

Cardinal Angelo looked at Rael, putting the donation certificate in his arms.

‘I heard he was close to Bernardo… I guess birds of a feather don’t always flock together.’

Angelo also knew Bernardo’s personality well.

He thought that Rael, who was close to him, would naturally reveal money and honor like Bernardo.

But his thoughts were completely wrong.

‘If it’s someone like this… I can understand what the Saint said.’

Cardinal Angelo made the sign of the cross and prayed to the main god Gaia.

If there were many knights like this in the Order, the Empire would soon be at peace.

“Sir Rael. I have something to ask you. Is it true that Sir Rael is the one who killed the demon in the abandoned forest?”

“As I said to Cardinal Bernardo, it’s not me.”

“Hmm, this is confidential, but I will tell you especially, Sir Rael.”

Angelo leaned forward and said quietly to Rael.

“I am thinking of giving the position of hero of the Order to the swordsman who killed the demon. Think carefully and tell me again.”

Angelo smiled at Rael and disappeared quietly.

Bernardo followed him, and when they were alone, Carlson approached Rael.

“Brother. What did the Cardinal say? I’ve never seen Cardinal Angelo treat me so well from the first meeting.”

Cardinal Angelo was a Cardinal like Bernardo, but he was practically the power of the Order.

Carlson was curious about Rael’s secret to capturing Cardinal Angelo’s heart from the first meeting.

“Carlson.”

“Yes?”

“Did you happen to catch a demon in the abandoned forest a few days ago?”

“…?”

Carlson blinked at Rael’s words.

*

“Keheuk, kehek…”

The demon sprinted across the ground.

He had to convey the message left by his master before he died to Alheim…!

‘The sword of the Continent’s Greatest Swordsman has reappeared! Lord Bathold died by his hand!’

For Alheim, the demon moved his feet like crazy.

Even as his companions around him died from magic, he kept running forward.

“Lightning Imprint (雷印) [A powerful lightning magic technique].”

Kwaddeudeuk-.

However, a lightning bolt struck the back of the fleeing demon.

The lightning that transcended space instantly ended the demon’s life.

“Keureuk…”

The demon eventually collapsed to the ground.

Perma, the master of the Blue Magic Tower, who was watching the scene, turned his head.

“Kairon. You didn’t miss a single one, did you?”

“Yes. That guy was the last one. The fact that Bathold died in the Empire will eventually be known… but even Alheim won’t be sure of the culprit.”

“That’s enough.”

He would assist him until he wanted to show himself.

Perma’s role was enough.

“Kairon.”

Perma, who shook his hand, began to engrave magic on the paper.

“Yes.”

“Send a letter to Eric Grace.”

Perma recalled the conversation he had with him.

Now that he needed him, Perma was ready to offer the Blue Magic Tower at any time.

Meanwhile, at the mansion of Grand Duke Eric Grace.

Eric was racking his brains while handling the piled-up work.

Recently, many nobles who supported the Second Princess were visiting him.

As Grand Duke, Eric had to meet all of them.

“Your Highness the Grand Duke. A letter has arrived from the Master of the Blue Magic Tower.”

At that time, the servant approached and placed a letter on the table.

“Perma? What’s wrong with that guy?”

He had heard that he was busy embodying enlightenment recently, so had he finally reached the realm?

Eric stopped working for a moment and checked Perma’s letter.

[Eric. It’s been a while. I know your heart well. From today, the Blue Magic Tower will also support Her Highness the Second Princess, Yuriel.]

“…?”

Eric, who had checked Perma’s letter, rubbed his eyes, wondering if he had misread it.

He hadn’t been sleeping much lately, so he was tired.

But even if he read it again, the contents of the letter were the same.

It was the news that the Blue Magic Tower, which had never jumped into the succession war, was supporting the Second Princess.

“…Why?”

Eric could only blink, not knowing anything.