The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 88

< Dragon and Phoenix Gathering >

“Carlson. Don’t even think about getting drunk today.”

“Huh? Did I do something wrong yesterday?”

“If you don’t remember, just be quiet.”

Lael was walking down the street with Carlson and Lucas again today.

They were on their way to watch the preliminary rounds of the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering held in District 2.

“Still, it’s good to be a noble. Passing the preliminaries without even trying.”

“It’s all thanks to Lord Lael. Thank you so much.”

“Forget it. With your skills, the preliminaries are a waste of time anyway. And the main competition has over 100 people, who has time for preliminaries?”

The main competition consists of a total of 128 people.

Half of those spots are predetermined, and the other half are given to those who pass the preliminaries.

When Lael first heard about it.

He shook his head in disbelief.

‘Those crazy bastards. How can they predetermine half of the spots?’

It’s unimaginable in the 21st century.

However, since Lael was benefiting from it, he didn’t bother to argue.

“Lucas. As long as you bear the name of the Grand Duke, don’t you dare do anything half-assed.”

“Don’t worry. Lord Lael!”

“Yeah. Aim for the championship if possible.”

“Ah… the championship, you say?”

Lucas’s confidence plummeted at the word ‘championship’.

Lucas, who was praised as a genius every day at the academy, was confident, but no matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t win this Dragon and Phoenix Gathering.

“Lael, brother.”

“Yeah?”

“How can I win when you’re here?”

“…I’m not that strong, I tell you. Forget the finals, I might get knocked out before then.”

Lael avoided Carlson’s gaze.

Both Lucas and Carlson seemed to have high expectations for him… It was a burden as their older brother.

Of course, Lael knew he was quite strong.

However, duels aren’t always about winning just because you’re strong.

If the opponents were talents from all over the continent, he couldn’t let his guard down.

‘If I get eliminated in the round of 128, it’ll be so embarrassing.’

Surely that won’t happen.

Lael moved his feet, feeling uneasy for no reason.

“The Three Heroes…! I must see the Empire’s Three Heroes! Please!”

Soon after, he hadn’t walked far when he heard a strange noise from the front.

“This is the Central Guard. Even if you look for them, there’s nothing I can do.”

“Why can’t you do anything when you’re a guard?! Please, just give me one chance…! Let me meet the Three Heroes!”

A man in a neat martial uniform was clinging to the guard.

Behind him, men in similar martial uniforms stood with haggard expressions.

Judging by their appearance, they didn’t seem to be imperial citizens, and they must have suffered a lot on their way to the Empire.

“Lael, brother. They’re saying ‘Three Heroes’. Aren’t they talking about us?”

“…Ignore them.”

They looked like weirdos at first glance.

Wearing those martial uniforms in a medieval fantasy… There’s nothing to gain from getting involved with those idiots.

Lael immediately turned around and headed to the preliminary arena.

“I am Namgung Jin of the Righteous Heaven Alliance! If you just let me meet the Three Heroes, I’ll do anything…!”

“…Namgung, you say?”

However, a word he couldn’t ignore was heard.

Lael turned his head at the surname he had heard somewhere.

Finally, some decent guys showed up.

*

Inside the inn where the Namgung family was staying, Lael frowned.

“Not a martial arts family, but a merchant family?”

“That’s right. Our family has been in business for five generations in the eastern part of the continent.”

“You’re not from the Namgung of the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families?”

“What are you talking about? What is the Nine Great Sects?”

Namgung Jin blinked at the words he was hearing for the first time.

Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families? He had never heard of such terms.

“…But why Namgung Jin?”

“I followed my father’s surname… Is it not allowed to use such a surname in the Empire?”

“…”

What was he supposed to say to that?

Lael turned his head, speechless.

“Ahem, esteemed guests, are you willing to help us? Please, I beg you. Just listen to my story once.”

“Well… I can listen to your story.”

He had lost interest at the mention of a merchant family, but it wasn’t difficult to listen to the story.

Carlson and Lucas seemed to think the same, as they sat quietly next to Lael.

“Our Namgung family is at odds with the desert kingdom of Nagor…”

It was a long and winding story.

In a nutshell, Nagor was chasing them, so they wanted help.

“What a pitiful story…”

“Th, thank you. Mr. Lucas. You are indeed one of the Empire’s Three Heroes. I believed that you would listen to our story…!”

Namgung Jin shed tears of emotion.

While being chased by the desert kingdom of Nagor, they had asked for help in many places, but no one had accepted.

In the end, they thought of the ‘Three Heroes who pursue justice’ in the Empire as their last hope and searched for them blindly.

“Why don’t you ask that Righteous Heaven Alliance or whatever for help?”

“The Righteous Heaven Alliance does not interfere in minor disputes. It is a burden that those who walk the righteous path must bear.”

“…What nonsense.”

Lael shook his head, unable to understand.

“I don’t know either, brother.”

Carlson was the same.

He wasn’t even paying attention to the story, but he didn’t feel the need to help these people in the first place.

Unless they were people from the Gaia Church.

Carlson wasn’t kind enough to help people he had never met before.

“I will definitely help you. Mr. Namgung Jin.”

However, there was one such guy among the Empire’s Three Heroes.

Lael was about to say something to Lucas, who was talking nonsense, but then he remembered something.

‘Wasn’t this a story I saw in the original work?’

He remembered.

It was an episode where he beat up the pigs of the desert kingdom and seduced Nagor’s princess.

At that time, the story started in the desert kingdom, but now it seemed to be the same flow as that episode.

‘Then I can just leave it to Lucas.’

He was annoyed anyway.

If he left everything to Lucas, he would take care of it according to the original work.

“Lucas.”

“Yes. Lord Lael.”

“Handle this matter alone.”

“Alone, you say?”

“This is all experience. Ah, tell us if it’s too dangerous. We’ll help you.”

Lucas nodded at Lael’s words.

This was also an opportunity for growth.

He couldn’t get stronger if he was always behind Lord Lael.

‘Lord Lael is giving me a chance.’

He would definitely finish this matter properly and prove his worth to Lord Carlson and Lord Lael.

Lucas steeled his resolve.

“I understand. Lord Lael.”

“Yeah. Good luck.”

Lael smiled at the fact that he had passed on a troublesome task.

While Lucas was listening to the details from Namgung Jin, Lael slipped out of the inn with Carlson and went to a pub.

“Brother. Is it okay to send Lucas alone?”

“He won’t die, so don’t worry.”

Unlike its image, the desert kingdom of Nagor treats strong warriors well.

If Lucas shows his strength, the matter will probably be resolved quickly.

‘Get stronger, Lucas.’

When that happens, he can also step back and rest.

Lael smiled, looking forward to that day.

“Lord Lael!”

At that moment, a group of people began to walk towards them from the other side.

“Huh?”

Looking again, they weren’t people.

They were elves.

‘What are they doing?’

Lael narrowed his eyes as he looked at the approaching elves.

They were all holding bows or releasing mana, ready for battle.

“Erengor. What are you doing?”

Lael asked Erengor, who was at the head.

“Ah, Lord Lael. There’s a human spreading false rumors that he caught Basolord [likely a powerful monster], so we’ve come to deal with him ourselves.”

“…”

Lael closed his eyes for a moment at Erengor’s words.

Then, after slowly understanding the situation, he opened his mouth.

“Don’t tell me you’re here to start a war?”

“If they continue to ignore Lord Lael… we will not hesitate to wage war.”

Erengor’s eyes burned.

Ignoring the elves’ benefactor was absolutely unforgivable.

“Elves do not stand idly by when their benefactor is ignored!”

The other elves were the same.

Elves, who love their own kind, were a race that could not tolerate their benefactor being ignored.

“…Erengor.”

Lael said with a sigh.

“Yes. Lord Lael!”

“Get the hell back to the forest right now! You sons of bitches!”

“Pardon?”

Erengor’s eyes widened.

*

Shortly after.

Reina, who had closed her eyes, lowered her head deeply.

“Lael, I’m sorry. I tried to stop them, but everyone wouldn’t listen…”

“It’s okay. Fortunately, nothing happened.”

Lael glared at the elves scattered everywhere, enjoying the festival.

As soon as Lael ordered them to disperse, they naturally joined the festival.

The order to get back to the forest was naturally ignored.

‘It’s reassuring that they’re taking my side like that… But they’re like complete bombs.’

He was grateful for their attitude of being willing to go to war for him, but what would have happened if he hadn’t met them here?

Just imagining it made his head hurt.

“Lael, brother…”

“Yeah?”

“…How did you get to know such a beautiful elf?”

Carlson stared at Reina with his mouth open.

It was a more shocking situation than when he saw Lucas playing with his girlfriends.

Even the Lael brother he trusted was hanging out with a woman.

“Ah… just somehow.”

If he talked about the elves, he would have to talk about Basolord too.

Lael had no choice but to trail off.

“As expected, you are amazing… I will definitely learn from you.”

There was still a lot to learn from Lael.

Carlson began to focus on Lael’s words.

He wanted to learn something and enjoy this festival himself.

“Lael, are you getting along well with Reina?”

“Yes. It’s similar. Now that I think about it, she seems to be avoiding me a bit… But won’t she come back soon?”

From some day on, Reina began to avoid Lael.

It wasn’t hard to understand.

A friend or colleague suddenly became the benefactor of the clan.

She must feel burdened.

“Hehe… I see. Next time I meet Reina, I’ll call Lael too. It would be nice to have a meal together.”

“I’d like that.”

Meanwhile, Carlson, who was watching the conversation between Lael and Reina, began to worry inside.

‘Why do women only flock to Lucas and Lael?’

Carlson wasn’t crazy about women, but he felt unfairly that only he wasn’t attracting women.

He admitted that Lael and Lucas were handsome.

However, Carlson thought his face was good enough too.

The priests of the church always praised him when they saw him.

‘There must be something that only Lael and Lucas have.’

The problem wasn’t the face.

There was definitely a decisive difference that he didn’t know.

‘Wait a minute, could it be…’

Back in the orphanage when he was with Lael.

Carlson remembered the Imugi [a mythical Korean serpent] he had seen in the bathroom.

‘Damn it…’

Even with Gaia’s blessing, he couldn’t imitate that monster.

Only then did Carlson realize the reason for Lael’s popularity.

“Anyway, take care of yourself. Ms. Reina.”

“Thank you. Lael. I’ll go to the elves. Please take good care of Reina.”

Reina smiled, bowed her head, and walked briskly towards the elves.

He was glad that she seemed to be getting along well with the elves too.

“Sorry. Carlson. The elves suddenly came, so time is running out. Let’s go see the preliminaries quickly… Huh?”

Lael looked at Carlson, who was making a resentful expression at him.

His gaze felt unpleasant today.

“Carlson. I think you’re thinking something rude about me?”

“Damn it…! Brother. I completely understand! But I, Carlson, will not give up!”

“What are you talking about now? I’m saying let’s go see the preliminaries?”

“I’ll find a partner soon, so don’t worry!”

Carlson immediately ran to the opposite side of Reina.

He was planning to become one step more of an adult before this Dragon and Phoenix Gathering ended.

“…Would a woman with common sense flirt with a paladin? That guy is really weird.”

The more Carlson becomes known as a paladin, the further he will get from women.

Should he call him pure or stupid?

‘That’s definitely stupid.’

Lael nodded.

*

Kyle, a warrior from the Vanessa Kingdom.

He looked around the capital with his massive body.

Kyle was one of the strongest warriors in the Vanessa Kingdom.

At the age of 20, he had a goal, having risen to the honorable position of the Twenty-Fourth Sword of the Thirty-Six Swords of the Vanessa Kingdom.

“I want to see it. The power of the Empire’s Three Heroes…!”

What was the reason Kyle came to the Empire?

The Dragon and Phoenix Gathering was important, but he had a goal.

Kyle wanted competition.

In the Vanessa Kingdom, only his seniors could cross swords with Kyle.

Of course, there were no rivals among Kyle’s peers or even those five years older.

“I hope the rumors of the Three Heroes are not lies.”

To be able to share swords with the same generation as himself.

Kyle already felt his heart pounding.

‘I will become the strongest man. I hope there is someone who can compete with me…!’

Kyle, the strongest among his peers, always had to fight older warriors.

He hated that so much.

He wanted to grow by competing with a similar generation.

“I’ve heard the appearance of those three… but I can’t tell just by their appearance. There are many people who look similar.”

Kyle frowned as he looked at the street.

It was too difficult to find people because of the tourists from all over the continent.

“Tsk, should I go back to the orphanage since there’s nothing to do?”

At that time, a man passing in front of Kyle caught his eye.

Just by looking at his face, he looked like a gigolo who would immediately answer if asked.

“Hey. You. Can I ask you something?”

“Are you talking to me?”

“Yes. It’s my first time in the Empire, so I have something to ask.”

“…”

Lael looked at the man who had approached him with a dumbfounded expression.

He was about the same height as him, but he was a big guy, and judging by the way he spoke from the first meeting, this bastard didn’t receive proper home education either.

‘He’s not from the Empire… Is he from a primitive country?’

There are many countries on the continent, so this guy could be one of them.

Lael decided to be a little patient.

He was once from the Empire’s guard.

“What are you curious about?”

“I’m looking for the Empire’s Three Heroes.”

“Haa…”

He didn’t like it from the beginning, but he couldn’t help but sigh when he heard the words Three Heroes.

Those Namgung guys too, why is that stupid title spreading even outside the Empire?

Lael couldn’t understand.

“Why are you looking for the Three Heroes? Huh? They’re not a big deal.”

“I will judge them myself. I need to know if there is someone in my generation who can really compete with me.”

“Tsk tsk.”

Lael clicked his tongue.

Seeing him acting like that even with the Three Heroes in front of him, he didn’t seem to be a smart guy, even if he was strong.

Should he listen to what he’s saying?

“I am Lael.”

“Lael? You’re Lael, the strongest of the Three Heroes?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm…”

Kyle scanned Lael’s body up and down.

Weak.

Judging by the fact that his muscles weren’t firm, he didn’t seem to be devoted to physical training, and the mana and momentum he felt weren’t that strong either.

In other words, this guy is a weak warrior.

He didn’t meet Kyle’s expectations at all.

“Hey. I hope you’re not Lael. If a weakling like you is called the Three Heroes, I’ll be disappointed in the Empire. I’ll give you a chance, so disappear from my sight right now.”

The Thousand-Year Empire, Kamen.

Recently, the power of that name has been weakening on the continent.

The great war with the demons that strengthened the Empire was over, and the Kamen Empire has been shaking recently.

The day when it will be overtaken by the Vanessa Kingdom, which is chasing behind it, is not far off.

If this weakling is called the Three Heroes, then that day must be right in front of us.

“…I was annoyed with Namgung or whatever. This is perfect. You should have just said you wanted to get beat up.”

It was a time when his hatred for this world was rising again.

He needed to educate the guy who was stimulating Lael’s street DNA [instinct for fighting].

Swish-

Lael drew his sword.

Until then, Kyle was not paying attention to Lael at all.

“Hmm. Drawing a sword means you have to risk your life…”

Thud.

However, the next moment.

Kyle’s eyes widened as he looked at the sword touching his neck.

“Hey. Pig. You’re already dead.”

Lael slightly touched his neck and then retrieved his sword.

Only then did Kyle, who had grasped the situation, begin to laugh.

“Ha, hahaha…! Is this real…!”

Kyle smiled, feeling the cold energy that had just touched his neck.

‘It’s very fast… and a wicked sword.’

Kyle didn’t see his sword moving at all.

That meant that Lael was stronger than him.

He finally found him.

A warrior of the same generation who can compete with him!

“You’re Lael, the best of the Three Heroes! I definitely know that power!”

Kooong-!

A huge two-handed sword came out of the scabbard on his back.

It wasn’t as big as Marco’s battle axe, but it looked very heavy because it was made of solid steel.

“My name is Kyle! The Twenty-Fourth Sword of the Vanessa Kingdom!”

“…A guy who’s too ambiguous to pick a fight is picking a fight.”

Not the First or Second Sword, but the Twenty-Fourth Sword?

He was a strong guy, but ambiguously so to have confidence.

“Lael! Duel me!”

“Why should I fight you?”

“Aaaah! The successors of the Righteous Heaven Alliance and the desert warriors of Nagor were no match for me! How happy I am! To meet a worthy rival of a similar age! This is truly a blessing!”

“…”

It seemed that this guy wasn’t going to listen to him.

Lael looked around.

People’s attention began to gather because Kyle was yelling.

Backing down here would be a matter of pride.

It was impossible for Lael, who had street DNA flowing through him.

“Okay. Well, I was curious about the Vanessa Kingdom anyway.”

The Vanessa Kingdom is the second largest kingdom after the Empire.

And, in the original work, it is a place that betrays humanity and joins hands with the Demon King.

‘Heretical bastards who believe in the Demon King.’

Lael raised his sword.

If he wanted to hear the story, it would be faster to beat him up a few times and then talk.