The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 83

It was afternoon, and the hot sun beat down.

Raelle went to work at the Special Guard.

He had to meet Yuri and ask Ghent something.

‘The weather is still hot. This damn continent has no spring or fall.’

Summer was slowly coming to an end.

That meant a long winter was coming.

The idea of a medieval fantasy winter without a padded jacket was awful.

‘But this winter, the orphanage will be warm.’

As Raelle’s circumstances improved, the children at the orphanage no longer had to suffer from the cold.

That alone made him feel like his life had improved.

He was walking through the Special Guard headquarters, lost in thought, when.

“Whoa!”

An elf popped out next to Raelle.

“···?!”

Surprised, Raelle widened his eyes and turned his head.

Reina was standing next to him, grinning.

“Oh, come on, Reina. Are you crazy?”

Raelle blinked at Reina, who had suddenly appeared.

Where did this crazy elf come from?

“How is it? You can’t find me, can you? I completely recovered my strength under the World Tree yesterday! Now I can hide my presence by embracing the power of nature. Raelle, it’s all thanks to you! Thank you!”

“···Really? That’s great. But Reina, I think you learned how to express gratitude wrong in the elven race.”

Whose fault could it be?

Raelle wondered.

‘If I can’t even notice it… she’s definitely amazing.’

Deceiving his senses meant that Reina’s power was also top-notch.

She had been forcibly separated from the World Tree until now, but from now on, she would be able to use the true power of an elf.

Raelle looked at Reina and continued.

“Is the elven party already over?”

“Uh-huh. Oh, the elves told me to come to the forest. They left before they could properly thank you….”

“Really? I’ll visit sometime.”

“Let’s go together. Reine told me to bring you along. You are an benefactor of the elves, so they will listen to anything.”

“They know their manners.”

Raelle thought of the elves’ faces.

In fact, he should have written a contract on the spot as soon as he killed Basolord… but everyone burst into tears and clung to Reina, so he had no choice but to leave.

‘I have to go and get something to eat.’

He would have to go and ransack them later.

Raelle made up his mind and approached the Special Guard building.

“Then I’m going to get some energy from the forest!”

“Okay. Take care of yourself and rest.”

“Thank you! Raelle!”

Reina ran into the forest, saying she was going to get some energy from the forest.

Raelle watched her for a moment before approaching the garden.

“Hey, Ghent.”

“Hmm, Raelle. What’s going on?”

Raelle approached the giant, who was squatting in the garden again today.

He had something to ask Ghent.

“Can you recommend some profitable crops among the rare vegetables in your garden?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You have a lot of amazing things in your garden. Isn’t there anything you can grow and sell?”

“Raelle. My garden is not for sale.”

“Who said you were selling your garden? Just give me a few crop seeds. We’re colleagues. Are you stingy with your money?”

“···A giant warrior doesn’t care about money. But why crops all of a sudden? Are you thinking of farming?”

“I’m going to get some people I know, no, some other races I know, to farm. If I saved them, they have to earn their keep.”

Raelle nodded, thinking of the elves.

He didn’t know how to use them yet, so he was going to get them to farm for now.

Since they were a race that grew up in the forest, they would be good at farming.

“Raelle, you’re not talking about the elves, are you?”

“Am I right?”

“···Are you planning to exploit a race that barely escaped Basolord’s grasp right away?”

“Exploitation, what nonsense are you talking about? They should be grateful for being alive and work harder, right? I’m giving them a chance to get back on their feet, right? Ghent, if you provide the seeds, you’re giving the elves a chance with me.”

“···.”

Oh, really?

Ghent tilted his head for a moment and pondered.

When he thought about it, Raelle was right.

If he were an elf, he would work hard right away as a warrior to revive his clan.

“You don’t like farming? Or can you recommend something? What are the elves good at?”

“Hmm… elves.”

Ghent seriously pondered Raelle’s words.

The elves, devastated by the war with Basolord, would need money right away.

In that case, he should recommend a high-paying job.

“Raelle. How about using the elves as gardeners for the nobles? If you supply the elves to the imperial noble families one by one, you will make a lot of money.”

The Special Guard’s forest became so lush because of Reina.

If there was an elf in the noble family, it would look much better.

“Ghent. No matter what, that’s not right. Are you thinking of the elves as objects?”

“···.”

Ghent narrowed his eyes as he looked at Raelle.

It was okay to make the noble forest race, the elves, farm, but it wasn’t okay to be formally hired by a noble family?

He couldn’t understand what this human was thinking.

“Isn’t there anything else? Something healthy that can exploit the elves well.”

“Didn’t you say you were giving them a chance to get back on their feet? Hmm, there’s nothing better than the World Tree for the elves to make money.”

“World Tree?”

“Yes. Think about how Reina hugged the World Tree branches whenever she was in pain. The World Tree contains the power of purification. It is often used to purify things like magic or curses.”

“The World Tree purifies magic? But one Basolord almost destroyed the clan?”

“Basolord is a different case. His magic withers living things. It is the opposite of the elves who handle the power of nature. If it was a different demon, not Basolord, the elves could have exerted their power.”

The magic of annihilation that the demon Basolord possessed was the natural enemy of the elves.

If the elves had fought other demons, they would not have been pushed back to that extent.

“Hmm….”

Raelle thought, thinking of the elves.

‘They don’t seem very useful?’

He acted as he pleased and saved them, but they were less helpful than he thought.

‘No. If all else fails, I can just get them to farm.’

But even a dry rag can be wrung out.

Raelle was thinking of exploiting the elves no matter what.

“Raelle. Now that I think about it, I was curious.”

Then, Ghent, who was sitting in the garden, stood up and said.

“Oh. What is it?”

“I know that humans feel lust when they see elves.”

“···What the hell are you talking about all of a sudden, you crazy bastard.”

“Raelle. Do you have any romantic feelings or sexual excitement for Reina?”

“Ghent, did you eat something wrong?”

Raelle frowned at Ghent at the sudden words.

“Hmm.”

And Ghent also stared at Raelle.

Ghent was the first of the two men to break eye contact.

“Your heartbeat and breathing are constant, so I guess I was wrong.”

“You’re playing the drum and the janggu [Korean double-headed drum] by yourself.”

“But if it’s not romantic feelings, it’s even more amazing. Why are you being so nice to Reina?”

“What is it? Are you jealous? Do you like Reina?”

“That’s not it. I’m worried about her as Reina’s colleague. I think I’ve said it once, but to the giants, elves are no different from beasts. Don’t insult the giants just because there are humans with such unique tastes.”

“···Why are you so angry when you did it first?”

Ghent was angrier than usual.

It seemed that he was worried about the unique tastes of humans that he had mentioned last time.

“As your colleague, I’ll let it go this time. However, I’m curious as to why you’re being so nice to Reina. You don’t seem like such a nice human.”

“I’m nice?”

“Raelle. There is a slight difference between being good and being nice.”

“Damn it, you’re good at talking unnecessarily.”

Raelle was frustrated by the fact that he was being pushed back by the giants.

“Listen carefully. Raelle. What you’ve done for Reina is too much.”

“I didn’t do that much.”

“No, you saved a fellow tribesman who had a knife to his throat, and you cheaply gave Reina the branches of the World Tree that she couldn’t get. You also dealt with the mercenary group that was scamming her, and you said you connected her to an informant. Besides, you even killed Basolord for Reina.”

“···I did a lot.”

Only then did Raelle understand Ghent’s words.

Ghent was quite nice by this world’s standards, but even he couldn’t understand Raelle’s heart.

‘I’m just being nice because I feel sorry for her.’

The biggest reason was that he felt sorry for her for only buying the cheapest meat the day they went shopping together.

It hurt his heart to see her being taken advantage of like a pushover, and he thought that helping her out to that extent was common sense.

Raelle was frustrated with this heartless world.

“Don’t think too strangely because I feel sorry for her.”

“Can you kill Basolord just because you feel sorry for one elf?”

“That’s… that’s not why I killed him. There are complex reasons.”

Tsk.

Raelle began to think about Ghent’s words.

Well, if he had to think about it, there were many reasons.

Because Reina is a close aide to the next emperor.

Because he was annoyed by her stupidly being taken advantage of.

Or, because Raelle is her friend.

All of them were right, so it didn’t matter what reason he gave.

However, Raelle looked at Ghent with a serious expression.

Even at times like this, he had to say something cool to the giants as a human who had completed higher education.

“Ghent. There are two types of people in the world.”

“Human personalities cannot be classified into just two types. Raelle. It’s like nature. Its endless….”

“Shut up and listen, I’m trying to say something cool.”

“Okay.”

Ghent focused on Raelle’s words with a serious expression.

The atmosphere was broken, but Raelle continued.

“It’s like that everywhere. No matter how difficult the situation is, there are guys who try to take responsibility for what they’ve done, and there are guys who look for a way to escape and harm others.”

“···I see.”

“Yeah. If possible, I want to help the guy who does it right. Don’t you? Well, Reina is not human, and it’s not her fault… but her attitude of taking responsibility was okay. It’s worth helping someone like that.”

It was true that she became a little more troublesome trying to take responsibility alone… but he didn’t hate that attitude itself.

After all, it was thanks to her that the elves survived.

‘I feel embarrassed for some reason.’

He had decided to say something cool, but he was embarrassed when he actually said it.

Raelle cleared his throat and added a word.

“···Well, and if Reina has a conscience, she’ll do something for me later. Or she has no conscience. Don’t you think?”

“Hmm, Raelle. You are a good human after all.”

“I’m an ordinary person, and this world is strange. Anyway, I’m going to have a conversation with Yuri, so tell Reina to buy me a meal later.”

Raelle finished the conversation and went inside the building.

He felt strange because he was trying to show off and received a warm gaze from the giants.

“···Hmm. Raelle is a strange human after all.”

Ghent nodded, looking at the building Raelle had entered.

He was a strange human with a new side to him every time he saw him.

“Reina, is this enough?”

Ghent whispered, looking at the empty air in the quiet garden.

There was no answer, but Ghent continued.

“I can’t understand why you’re using me when you can just ask Raelle directly if he likes you romantically. Still, congratulations on being recognized by Raelle as someone who does things right. Reina.”

“I’m so embarrassed, stop it….”

Sreuk-

The elf, who had pretended to enter the forest and was hiding nearby, closed her eyes and hugged Vermeil III.

For some reason… she felt strange.

‘Hmm, was the problem on Reina’s side?’

Ghent nodded, seeing Reina’s reaction.

Later, he would have to make a soup with harmonious yin and yang to cool down her head.

*

Raelle, who entered the Special Guard building, headed straight to Yuri’s room.

“Raelle. Long time no see.”

“I know, right? Isabel, long time no see.”

“Yes. Sir Raelle.”

Isabel bowed to Raelle.

Recently, his stock price had been soaring like crazy in the Empire, so she no longer felt bad about him speaking informally.

“Anyway, why did you call me?”

Raelle said, sitting down.

The reason he came all the way here was because of Yuri’s call.

“Well, it’s not something I’ve properly revealed yet. I’m going to talk about the Blue Magic Tower Master, Ferma.”

“···The Blue Magic Tower Master?”

As soon as Raelle heard the name of the Blue Magic Tower Master, anxiety surged.

That was because he thought that old man had done something again.

“Yes. The Blue Magic Tower Master has informed me through the Grand Duke that he will support me. The Grand Duke, who is close to the Blue Magic Tower Master, also said that he doesn’t know anything, so the only point of contact I can think of is Sir Raelle.”

“···.”

Raelle pondered over Ferma’s sudden actions.

He was sure he was the reason.

However, he couldn’t understand.

‘No, did I tell him to support the Second Princess?’

He had only told him to protect the abandoned forest, but he had never said anything like that.

Why does he support the Second Princess?

‘Of course, it’s not bad….’

The Blue Magic Tower is the largest magic tower in the Empire.

If such a place supports Yuri, the possibility of Yuri becoming the emperor will increase stably.

That means Raelle’s future will be more solid.

‘Too much attention can be poison….’

First of all, that’s something to think about later.

He had to deal with what had already happened quickly.

“Ahem, I did tell the Magic Tower Master. The Magic Tower Master also agreed with the Second Princess’s thoughts. For the sake of the Empire, the people of the Empire must come first.”

Raelle naturally began to talk about his achievements.

First of all, he had to take everything he could get.

“I can’t believe it… it was really Sir Raelle.”

Isabel looked at Raelle in surprise.

He had persuaded the Blue Magic Tower Master Ferma, so she was curious as to what power he possessed.

“Ah, thank you so much, Raelle.”

Yuri was also moved and bowed her head.

It still felt like a dream.

Even just a year ago, no one agreed with her ideology.

However, now she was becoming a pillar of the Empire as a member of the imperial family.

The beginning was always Raelle.

“No. It’s something I have to do.”

Raelle grinned.

A smile naturally appeared on his face at the increasingly strong relationship of trust with the next emperor.

“Come to think of it, is Sir Raelle’s body okay? I know you’re a strong knight, but I’m worried because you’ve been in contact with magic often.”

Then, Isabel spoke.

“Isabel, what are you talking about?”

“Recently, as the invasion of demons has increased, a magic sickness (魔病) [a disease caused by the accumulation of magic within the body] is spreading in the Empire. It is spreading mainly among civilians who have absorbed magic.”

“Magic sickness?”

He had heard of it.

It is a disease in which magic dwells in the human body and merges with the body’s magic power.

Magic sickness, which steals human vitality and makes them sick and die, was a disease that could not be cured even with divine magic.

“That’s right. Recently, magic sickness has been spreading in the Empire, and the people of the Empire are suffering. Even nobles have started to get magic sickness, so… it’s a serious problem.”

Yuri was very worried.

Magic sickness, which had almost disappeared after the Great War, was now rampant again.

Many nobles also had magic sickness, but in the end, it was the people of the Empire who suffered the most.

“Magic… hmm? Magic purification?”

Didn’t he say that the World Tree had the power to purify magic?

Raelle, thinking about magic sickness, thought of the elves who were working hard to grow the World Tree in the abandoned forest.