The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 87

< Dragon Phoenix Assembly >

The backyard of the District 4 orphanage.

Rain nodded, looking at the two swordsmen in front of him.

“To have two of the Empire’s Three Heroes gathered here, it’s quite an honor.”

As a knight himself, he admired strong swordsmen.

To be teaching the most promising knights in the Empire was truly an honor.

‘These monsters will definitely become Sword Masters.’

The thought of gaining the prestigious title of Sword Master’s teacher in the future brought a smile to his face.

Rain was a natural attention seeker, so he was already looking forward to the day he could tell stories about Rael and Lucas.

“Commander Rain.”

“Hmm? Rael, what’s the matter?”

“Could you please not use the term ‘Three Heroes’ in front of me?”

Rael’s fists trembled.

He absolutely refused to acknowledge such ridiculous nonsense as the Three Heroes.

“You don’t like that? Well, a different title will be created after this Dragon Phoenix Assembly anyway.”

“I don’t need any other titles either…”

Rael sighed.

Unfortunately, titles and nicknames weren’t something he could control.

“Rael, is it okay for Carlson not to train with us?”

“Carlson? He’ll be fine on his own. I heard he’s doing special training with Commander Marco at the Order.”

In fact, Rael was the one who trained the least among Rael, Lucas, and Carlson.

Carlson and Lucas devoted themselves to training every day, while Rael didn’t specifically schedule training times.

He sparred with Rain whenever he had the chance, but he often missed training due to his schedule.

“Lucas, work hard for my share too.”

“Yes, sir! Understood, Sir Rael!”

Rael still made sure not to miss training with Lucas.

The reason for taking care of Lucas was simple.

He needed to be at the forefront in the war against the demons.

‘Meat shield… no, no, a hero should be strong.’

He didn’t die and eventually defeated the Demon King in the original story, so he would do the same in reality.

Rael sat heavily on a nearby chair, thinking that.

‘Sir Rael has created this opportunity for me… I need to work harder too.’

Lucas recalled his duel with Rain just now.

He felt he could have done better, but there were many minor issues.

“Commander Rain, there’s something I don’t understand.”

“Yes, Lucas, what is it?”

“When I swung my sword just now, I felt a stuffy feeling in my footwork. What’s my problem?”

“Humans are so used to walking on the ground that they don’t pay attention to it. Lower your gaze a little more, and release your power at the moment your feet touch the ground.”

“Understood!”

Rain couldn’t hide his admiration as he watched Lucas immediately absorb his advice and swing his sword.

The more he taught him, the more he felt it.

Lucas’s talent was immense.

He could understand why Rael was pushing him.

‘Choosing Lucas over the other graduates of the academy was definitely the right thing to do.’

When Rael first told him to teach Lucas swordsmanship, he wondered what he was talking about… but Lucas’s talent was real.

In fact, many other knight orders coveted Lucas’s talent.

If it weren’t for Rael, Lucas would have made a name for himself as the Empire’s greatest swordsman in just a few years.

‘Does a monster recognize another monster…? Rael is truly amazing.’

Rain was also impressed as he looked at Rael.

Carlson or Lucas.

Second Princess Yuriel or the Elves.

Everything related to Rael was soaring in status.

It was time for Rael to soar to greater heights as well.

‘Rael, Carlson, and Lucas… and Belen is participating too, so this Dragon Phoenix Assembly will be really interesting.’

Rain thought this Dragon Phoenix Assembly was Rael’s chance to take off.

You never know until you try, but it would be even more amazing if more monsters like them appeared.

“Speaking of which, Rael, did you hear about it?”

“About what?”

“The story about Belen of the Carmen Knights killing Baslord.”

“Why are you even mentioning that nonsense? You know everything, Commander.”

Even at this moment, Eric was being guided by the Elves and healing his body with the power of the World Tree.

He couldn’t hide the truth from Commander Rain about such a significant event.

“That’s what’s so strange. Belen isn’t the type to steal someone else’s credit.”

“I felt that way too… so he’s just that kind of guy after all.”

So people are different on the inside and out?

Rael was disappointed in the Empire once again.

“He’s just the captain of the 1st Division, yet he was lecturing about the Empire’s laws in front of the Blue Magic Tower Master and the commander of the Rain Knights. I thought he would be the embodiment of fairness if he were human. Hmm…”

Rael also felt strange at Rain’s words.

In fact, if the credit for catching Baslord had gone to someone else, it would have been a good thing.

Rael had always wanted to hide that fact.

‘I feel annoyed for some reason.’

But it’s a different story if someone else takes the credit.

It was annoying that he was claiming to have done something he didn’t do.

“Belen, huh…”

Should I just beat him up first and then think about it?

Rael seriously considered it.

*

Two weeks passed.

With the Dragon Phoenix Assembly just around the corner, the Imperial Capital was more vibrant than ever.

Tourists from all over the continent had come to visit.

The Imperial Family seemed eager to erase the fact that the Heavenly Ritual had been suspended, pouring in a huge budget.

Thanks to this, even though the Dragon Phoenix Assembly was still two weeks away, the streets were already filled with a festive atmosphere.

“A martial arts tournament honoring the founding emperor, the continent’s talents will gather.”

“Of course! Haven’t you heard? The Jeongcheon Alliance from the East and the warriors from the desert kingdom of Nagore have already arrived in the Imperial Capital.”

In a medieval fantasy world with a severe lack of entertainment, such a large-scale tournament received tremendous attention.

People talked about the Dragon Phoenix Assembly every night.

Moreover, this Dragon Phoenix Assembly was a tournament directly participated in by the Imperial Family.

The Carmen Empire, known as the Thousand-Year Empire.

As they were directly involved, a prestigious and high-level duel would take place.

“The most famous in the Empire is, of course… the Three Heroes?”

A bar in District 3.

Two men were talking about the Dragon Phoenix Assembly.

They were lower nobles who had come from a neighboring country to see the Dragon Phoenix Assembly.

As they were regulars at the bar, they had heard many stories.

“The Three Heroes? They’re not even proper knights yet. Can they fight against those who have been trained in real combat? I don’t think so.”

“What are you talking about? They caught a high-ranking demon, didn’t they?”

“No. The people of the Empire are talking about what happened inside the Empire, how can you believe that?”

The man had a negative perception of the Empire.

He didn’t like the fuss about the Three Heroes when they couldn’t even properly stop the demon invasion.

“Besides, this tournament is large in scale and pride is at stake, so the real gems that each country has been hiding will pour out. The real gems are always kept hidden.”

“Pride is at stake? Isn’t it just a friendly tournament?”

“Tsk tsk. You’re talking nonsense. Everyone who comes to this Dragon Phoenix Assembly is responsible for the future of their respective groups. What if they are disgraced in the tournament?”

“Oh, is that so? Thinking about it, there have been few opportunities like this.”

“Yes. If you don’t believe me, look at the faces of those participating in the Dragon Phoenix Assembly. You can already see how nervous they are about the weight on their shoulders.”

If the Carmen Empire hadn’t held a grand tournament to honor the founding emperor, the young warriors of each group would never have dueled.

This tournament was not just a friendly tournament, but was turning into a battle of pride.

“Besides, the reason I underestimate the Three Heroes is… because of their humble origins.”

“Origins? Aren’t they nobles, of course?”

“You don’t seem to know. One is a fallen noble, and two are commoners. The fact that such guys are called the Empire’s Three Heroes shows the level of the Empire. They are all overrated. I’d rather trust Sir Belen.”

The man shook his head.

He didn’t like the fallen noble, but commoners?

It was absurd.

“Sir Belen, the captain of the 1st Division of the Carmen Knights? Well, it would be stranger if Sir Belen wasn’t mentioned.”

“Sir Belen is the one who deserves the title of hero. You know the rumor, right?”

“The rumor that he caught the nobles of Alheim?”

“Yes! When you tell Sir Belen that story, he smiles wryly and acts modestly. Not denying it is the same as admitting that he caught the demon!”

“That’s certainly true…”

The person sitting across from him nodded at the man’s passionate voice.

“The Three Heroes is just a trivial title that is popular among the people of the Empire. I guarantee it! When you enter the tournament, only the descendants of noble families will remain. No matter how talented you are, you can’t bloom without the environment to support you. A Sword Master comes from the streets? Who would believe such nonsense!”

The man gulped down his alcohol and spoke passionately.

It was a discriminatory remark that could only be made in a medieval fantasy.

‘Is that so important?’

And Carlson, who was in the corner of the bar, shook his head at the men’s conversation.

What does the performance of the Dragon Phoenix Assembly have to do with the pride of the Order?

“Tsk tsk.”

Carlson clicked his tongue and drank his alcohol.

The only reason those guys were underrating Rael was his origin.

They thought that nobles could never lose to Rael, who had a humble background.

It was such a stupid and simple way of thinking.

‘It’s not even worth going to Rael. If I hit those pig-like guys who would squeal…’

Carlson decided not to mess with Rael, at least.

Why?

Because he remembered Rael cutting down the demon that Carlson and Lucas were struggling with at the fountain with a single strike.

‘That brother is a bit of a jerk, but he’s really strong.’

Originally, personality and skill are separate.

Carlson drank his alcohol while thinking of Rael.

“Sir Carlson, should I say something to them?”

At that time, Lucas, who was listening to the men’s conversation, frowned.

Lucas had a good personality, but he hated guys who casually belittled others.

“Leave them alone. We have nothing to gain from fighting those guys.”

Lucas was representing the Academy, and Carlson was representing the Order.

They would only lose if they caused a ruckus in the bar.

“Anyway, in the end, what matters is the foundation and origin. A tree with shallow roots will fall in the wind and rain no matter how big it is. In the end, knights from commoner backgrounds have their limits…”

Squeak-.

At that time, a man walked into the bar.

The eyes of the people in the bar were focused on his relaxed but heavy gait.

“How loud you are, I can hear you outside the bar.”

And the two noisy men closed their mouths at the same time.

That gangster-like face was one of the most famous knights in the Empire right now.

Rael slowly walked towards the men.

“Hey, old men.”

“Ye, yes?!”

“Do you want to get hit once really painfully? Or just twice?”

And he immediately raised his fist.

He had become quite famous, but his street DNA was still there.

“Brother! Brother Rael! Please calm down!”

“You crazy bastards…! If a honorary knight, I’m also a quasi-noble. You sons of bitches!”

“Y, you two. Run away quickly.”

While Carlson was stopping Rael, Lucas approached the two men.

“H, hiiiiik. Please save me. Please…!”

“I, I didn’t do anything. This guy did it all!”

The two were trembling as they felt Rael’s magic power head-on.

There was a slightly disgusting smell, it seemed like they had peed a little.

‘Really… pathetic people.’

These guys were belittling Sir Rael and Sir Carlson?

Lucas sighed and kicked the men out of the bar.

They ran away without looking back.

“Tsk. I should have crushed those bastards’ heads bit by bit.”

Rael sat down and clicked his tongue.

He had spent the last two weeks quite busy.

He sparred with Lucas and Carlson, and tried to perfectly recreate the realm of ascension he had reached when he killed Baslord.

[Gang Leader! Say you’re the Gang Leader right now! How can there be no Gang when there’s the Jeongcheon Alliance!]

[Why, why are you doing this to me! Beggars is the organization I dedicated my youth to!]

He sometimes provoked Zenith.

He seemed to be slowly admitting that he was the Gang Leader, but it wasn’t easy.

And in his spare time, he went around the Dragon Phoenix Assembly with Lucas and Carlson.

All three of them had decided to participate in the Dragon Phoenix Assembly.

“Carlson. You crazy bastard. Why do you keep wanting to meet at the bar for days?”

“If you know yourself and your enemy, you have nothing to fear. Brother. If you know the enemy, there is no danger.”

“What does that have to do with drinking?”

“The investigation is originally done in the bar. And the Order doesn’t allow it. Hehe.”

Carlson liked this atmosphere.

A festive atmosphere with many people.

“It’s amazing. The atmosphere seems more heated than the Heavenly Ritual.”

“That’s because tourists have come from other countries.”

Rael was also quite amazed as it was his first time seeing so many people from other countries.

“Carlson. Next time, let’s go to Teacher Sarah’s inn. It’s too noisy here.”

“Oh, that’s a good idea too. Brother. Well, let’s have a drink first.”

Rael took the drink that Carlson gave him.

Carlson was paying today, so he was going to drink free alcohol until he got drunk.

“Ugh…”

Lucas frowned as he drank the alcohol.

He was old enough to drink, but he still wasn’t used to it.

“Lucas. Is the alcohol bitter?”

“Yes. Cough cough. Why do you drink this?”

“Hoo, alcohol is sweet to me.”

Carlson emptied the alcohol in one gulp and smiled.

“Yes?! Really?”

“I grew up struggling since I was young. I lived a life bitter than alcohol, so now alcohol isn’t even bitter.”

“Th, that’s cool. Sir Carlson. Then why do guys like me drink alcohol?”

“We drink alcohol to find out. Well, have another drink… Aack!”

Before Carlson could finish his words.

Rael hit him on the back of the head.

“Shut up. Shut up. Stop talking nonsense. Carlson, please! I’m embarrassed.”

Where is this?

It is the heart of the Empire where the Dragon Phoenix Assembly is held.

Of course, masters from all over the continent have come.

But what would you think if a Dragon Phoenix Assembly participant who hasn’t even dried the blood on his head was acting like that?

In fact, the sound of laughter could be heard from around here looking at this side.

“Brother! This is all education! We who have lived longer than Lucas must teach him the lessons of life!”

“Please shut up and drink.”

Rael shook his head and drank his alcohol.

And slowly looked around.

‘One on the left… two outside the door.’

It seems that the Empire’s Three Heroes really exist.

Strong people from all over the continent were looking at them.

‘It was true that the investigation was done in the bar.’

Rael smiled and raised his glass.

A really strong guy hasn’t stuck yet, so he was going to drink a little more today.

“Ugh. Cough. Huk. Euh…”

And an hour later.

Carlson was throwing up in an alley outside the bar.

“Lucas.”

“Yes. Sir Rael.”

“You must not become a guy like this when you grow up. Got it?”

“…”

Lucas patted Carlson on the back and nodded blankly.

As Sir Rael said, he thought he should not become a knight like this.