The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 9

Betrayer Elf

Clang- Clang-

Standing awkwardly in front of the counter, Rael lowered his gaze.

A mountain of northern wild boar meat was piled up in front of Reina.

“Sir, you’re three dongs short.”

“Hmm. Just a moment. I’m sure I have some dongs.”

Flapping- Flapping-

Reina was rummaging through her worn-out wallet, trying to pull out coins.

But no matter how much she emptied her wallet, no coins would come out.

As time passed, the gazes of the customers behind them grew increasingly fierce, and eventually, the employee, reaching the limit of their patience, spoke with a trembling smile.

“The customers behind you are waiting, so please step aside for a moment…”

“Ah, damn it. Did I get the amount wrong? Ugh. Just a moment. Uh, what should I take out…?”

Reina looked at the pile of meat with a face as if she had lost the world.

She had to buy a lot of meat when it was on sale like this… Having to take out meat that she could eat for several days if she rationed it made her want to cry.

“Haa…”

Rael sighed deeply.

He knew she didn’t have money, but he didn’t expect her to live this hard.

It was beyond pitiful; it was just sad.

‘Why is she living so hard?’

Cheap meat like this should be affordable with her guard salary, but it seemed like there was some reason.

“I’m sorry. How much is missing? Is it just three dongs?”

Rael ended up taking out his own wallet.

Seeing the situation, it seemed like she would be treated like a troublemaker if he left her alone.

“Yes, sir. If you give me three dongs, that will be enough.”

The employee looked at me as if they had found salvation, and I took out my wallet from my pocket and handed over three dongs [currency of the Empire].

It was such a small amount of money that I could throw it to a beggar, so I could easily pay this much to avoid the hassle and embarrassment.

However, to Reina, that small gesture was like divine salvation.

“You. You…! Rael! I knew you were a good person. I’ll admit you’re the second nicest person after Yuri.”

“Please be quiet and let’s get out of here. I’m embarrassed.”

This isn’t District 5; it’s District 2.

It’s a place where nobles roam, and I have an image that I’ve built up as the captain of the guard.

I can’t let my hard-earned, reliable image be tarnished because of a crazy elf.

Rael covered his face with his hand and hurried out of the store.

Waiting outside for a moment, he saw Reina coming out, struggling with a huge basket in both hands.

Rael approached her as he saw her.

“Ugh, ugh. Save me…”

“Reina, don’t you have a magic pouch?”

“I sold it last month because I didn’t have enough money to buy meat…”

“…”

A magic pouch would cost at most a month’s salary for a guard.

What kind of life is she living?

“Oh, right. Thanks for paying. I usually buy exactly the right amount with the money I have, but I guess I miscalculated today because it was on sale. I’ll definitely pay you back later.”

“It’s okay. That can happen between colleagues. Just pay me back later.”

“Yeah. So, Rael, as a colleague, help me carry this to my house.”

“This crazy elf…”

I saved her from drowning, and now she’s asking me to give her my belongings.

Is there such a robber?

“Since the meat is on sale, I’ll grill some for you too. Please help me. Okay?”

“…If you’re giving me free food. But is your house clean? Judging by your personality, I bet your house is dirty too.”

Rael was from an orphanage, so he was sensitive to free things.

He instinctively nodded at the mention of free food.

“It’s okay. My house is newly built. I take good care of it.”

“Really? Then I’ll lend you my magic pouch. Let’s go together.”

Well, elves usually have a clean image.

Since she grew up in the forest, she probably keeps her house clean.

“Meat, meat. A feast of wild boar meat-”

“Shouldn’t that song be sung by an orc, not an elf?”

Rael glanced at Reina, who was humming next to him.

She looked like any other elf, but he couldn’t understand why she acted like this.

“By the way, what’s that bottle of alcohol? Don’t tell me you bought alcohol when you don’t have money?”

“No. I got expired alcohol for free. If you sprinkle it on the meat before grilling it, it reduces the gamey smell.”

“Oh, there was such a method?”

Rael smelled a familiar beggar’s scent from Reina.

As they chatted and walked down the street, a familiar building came into view.

It was the Imperial Academy.

“…The Imperial Academy.”

“Why the Academy?”

“The Academy is the most heavily guarded place in the Imperial Capital. Actually, I wanted to be a guard at the Academy.”

Once again, this novel was an academy story.

Being attached to the Academy meant that crumbs would fall [opportunities for advancement or reward].

‘I might catch the eye of the heroine by chance… or the protagonist might notice my talent…’

I even thought about such a happy story for a moment.

But I heard that the Academy’s guards only accept nobles. Those crazy discriminators.

In the end, there was no chance to receive crumbs, and Rael shed tears and took the iron rice bowl exam [civil service exam, guaranteeing stable employment].

“People always want what they don’t have. It’s not a strange dream.”

“…”

Rael glared at Reina and quickened his pace.

There was no way a socially underdeveloped elf could understand a human’s dream.

‘The protagonist will be graduating from the Academy soon.’

The protagonist is revered as a hero and commands the Empire as soon as he graduates from the Academy.

Of course, it has nothing to do with Rael. Rael’s youth was devoted to the guard.

Thanks to that, he still hasn’t seen the protagonist’s face.

‘Well, they’ll figure it out. I just need to think about how to deal with the Demon King before he goes berserk.’

Rael deliberately did not interfere with the story line of the novel.

He knew a lot about the protagonist’s opportunities, but he didn’t touch any of them.

He finally became a guard, so he couldn’t let the Empire be destroyed by the butterfly effect.

“Oh, right. Reina. Are you having a hard time these days? How do you not have a penny in your wallet?”

“Ah… I spend my salary as soon as it comes in.”

“Do you have any debts?”

Reina’s face turned pale at the word debt.

She was reminded of her father’s face, who was worried about living expenses because the house loan was immediately deducted.

“…Just a little? Not much.”

“You really have debts? What happened?”

“It’s just personal. Don’t pry too much because it’s embarrassing!”

Tsk.

Rael closed his mouth.

Even in this medieval fantasy world without a concept, it was rude to pry any further.

“Reina. I’m sorry, but I have to ask this. Did you borrow with compound interest?”

But he couldn’t resist this question.

The magic of compound interest must be avoided in this world as well.

“Compound interest? What’s that?”

“Ha, I’m screwed.”

Rael covered his face with his hand.

What should I do with this stupid elf who borrows money without even knowing about compound interest…?

Reina opened her mouth, unaware of Rael’s feelings.

“Why? What’s compound interest? Is it like pufferfish? Pufferfish poison?”

“…I don’t have the confidence to make you understand even if I explain it. Let’s just go to the lenders with me tomorrow. How scary is the world these days? Tsk.”

There’s no way there would be regulations on usury in a medieval fantasy that doesn’t care about human rights.

If Reina is left alone like this, her debt will snowball.

‘How scary were those guys in my past life…’ Cute characters promote loans while singing, and I used to sing along happily when I was young, but when I got older, I would tremble while looking at the interest rates written below.

I guess that’s what it means to be an adult.

Rael has to help the bratty elf as an adult.

“Really? You’re such a good person. I’ll grill all the meat for you. It’s my first time grilling meat for someone else, so you can be happy.”

“Yeah. Thank you.”

It’s a relief that she’s not a completely shameless elf.

There are many people in this world who repay kindness with enmity.

It’s hard to believe, but Reina, who gives free food, can be seen as an angel.

How long had they been walking?

Reina stopped in a residential area in District 2.

“The house isn’t bad. The vines on the wall are naturally nice too.”

Rael nodded as he looked at the neat building.

The vines that naturally climbed up the walls of the building were elflike.

It’s not a good house, but it’s not bad.

“What are you talking about? My house is a little further in.”

Reina struggled into a narrow alley between the buildings.

Rael followed her with an uneasy expression.

At the end of the alley, a dilapidated house stood precariously.

“What is this?”

“It’s a house. Have you never seen a house before because you’re an orphan?”

Ignoring Reina, who was criticizing his weakness with a pure face, he carefully observed the house.

Rael, who grew up on the streets, knew better.

This house is trash. The more he looked at it, the more he could smell the stench from the materials used to the finishing method.

‘How did she get this kind of house in District 2?’

If a new building is of this quality, you can only think that it was deliberately made into trash.

Did she get scammed?

“This kind of building is newly built?”

“Huh? Of course, it’s newly built. It hasn’t even been 100 years since it was built. I’m lucky. In the Elven Forest, the basics were 3000 years.”

“…Haa.”

I felt a headache as I looked at Reina, who was laughing softly, and closed my eyes tightly.

Oh, God.

Why are you giving me this trial…?

How am I supposed to get along with this idiot elf in the future?

“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming in?”

“…Let’s go in. I have to eat the free food.”

No matter how trashy the house is, I have to eat the free food.

I wouldn’t have come to a place like this if it wasn’t for the free food.

‘It’s amazing that there’s a place like this in District 2.’

It was amazing that she bought such a house for money, even though there was a large open space in front of the house.

While Reina was rummaging through her pockets to find the key, Rael looked around.

‘No one would come to a corner like this.’

As he looked around the open space without much thought, he suddenly felt strangely conscious of his surroundings.

He felt uneasy, and as he sharpened his senses, he was soon able to identify the source of what was irritating Rael.

‘…Footprints?’

Footprints were visible all over the open space.

The directions of the multiple footprints were chaotic, as if they were dancing.

However, Rael’s senses knew that the owners of the footprints were not one person.

‘This is… erasing traces.’

It was such a sophisticated concealment that he wouldn’t have been able to figure it out without Rael’s senses.

Rael, who was staring at the footprints, found the place that the scattered footprints were targeting.

It was Reina’s house.

“Wait! Reina! Don’t open the door!”

“Huh?”

Creak-!

The door to Reina’s house opened.

At the same time, Rael’s spine chilled.

Rael’s senses screamed danger.

“This fucking…!

Rael’s hands moved faster than his head.

He immediately grabbed Reina’s nape and pulled her back hard.

“Kyaaak!”

Crack-!

At the same time as Reina fell to the ground, a sword popped out from inside the house.

The sword, filled with strong murderous intent, crushed the place where Reina had been standing until just now.

And, one by one, the elves hiding in Reina’s house came out.

“I was tired of waiting in a trashy place, but you’ve finally come.”

“It’s the perfect house for a traitor who has abandoned the pride of the elves.”

“Heh. But that ends today.”

They glared at Rael and Reina, emitting a fierce aura.

It was clear to anyone that it wasn’t a surprise party.

“The whore who spread her legs to the devil has finally shown her face. Huh?”

The elf who appeared to be the leader walked up to Reina and gave a bitter smile.

It was a scathing insult that would turn the scoundrel Reina into a polite elf.

It seems that the elves generally have no manners.

“…You better disappear from my sight right now. I’m in a good mood today, so I don’t want to use my strength on trash.”

Reina frowned and unleashed her magic.

Her sharp murderous intent was about to cut even Rael’s neck.

However, the elves who were hit by the murderous intent only gave a bitter smile.

“You’re bluffing. Reina. Do you think I don’t know that you haven’t been in contact with the World Tree’s branch for half a year?”

“…What the hell are you talking about?”

“You’re the only elf who gets the World Tree’s branch through illegal routes. It’s not difficult to cut off the supply. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have shown ourselves in front of you, would we? You traitor.”

“You trashy bastards…”

Reina bit her lip.

As he said, Reina, who was banned from entering the Elven Forest, had not been in contact with the World Tree’s branch for a long time.

Naturally, the blessing of nature that was imbued in her body was also weakened.

‘I could have received the World Tree’s branch if I paid the price tomorrow…!’

It was just one day.

She was in danger due to a moment of carelessness.

“The pointy-ears all have rough mouths.”

At that time, Rael, who was behind him, opened his mouth.

Reina belatedly realized his presence and stood in front of him.

“…Rael. Run away right now. This is not something you should get involved in.”

“I’m sorry. Reina. I thought you were a different kind of elf, but it was just a characteristic of the elf race. Since only those kinds of guys gathered, you only learned those things. I understand. I grew up among beggars, so my mouth got rough too.”

“Rael! I told you to get lost!”

Rael still doesn’t understand the situation.

He knows that he is quite strong, but the elves in front of him are honorable warriors of the elf race.

Now that Reina has lost her strength, they can kill a human as easily as twisting a child’s wrist.

“Who is that human? Reina. Are you even spreading your legs to humans now? It’s good to see you clinging to such an incompetent, short-lived species.”

“…Keln!”

Reina bit her lip.

It ate away at her pride that she had shown this side of herself when Rael was there.

“Incompetent, short-lived species… Well, I roughly understand the situation.”

At that time, Rael, who was watching the situation from behind, walked forward as Reina glared at the elf.

He knew that Reina was a traitor to the elf race, but he heard about the World Tree’s branch for the first time.

Rael approached the elves who were cackling, giving them a friendly smile.

“Keln? You’re Keln?”

“Who are you?”

“Don’t you know me? It’s Rael. Not long ago, your mother asked me to take care of her son who is active in the Empire, and she did it for free to me, the captain of the Imperial Guard. The hot memories of that night are still there, so I’ll spare you now.”

“What nonsense… This, this bastard!”

Keln, who belatedly understood Rael’s words, blushed and drew his sword.

I thought only Reina was stupid, but it seems that the elf race is all stupid.

“I am Rael, the 3rd Captain of the Imperial Guard. Being hostile to me means being hostile to the Empire. Can a few pointy-ears handle that?”

“Hmm, that’s right. If you were going to listen to me, you wouldn’t have drawn your sword. Beasts only listen when they are hit.”

There are beasts who have not been properly socialized, whether they are elves or humans.

Fortunately, Rael was an excellent trainer. It would be lucky for the elves in front of him.

“You’re bluffing. Human. Did you get caught up in Reina’s appearance? Heh heh.”

“Don’t worry. I’m a specialist in turning beastly bastards into people. They’ll come to their senses if they get hit.”

Rael turned his shoulder and glanced back.

Reina was looking at him with an uneasy expression that he had never seen before.

“Wait a minute. Rael. This is my job. I appreciate you helping me, but…”

“You’re wasting your time! Kill him!”

Sreung-!

The elves around Keln drew their swords at the same time.

They already had no intention of letting Rael go.

‘I have to get out of here somehow.’

Reina forcibly raised the small amount of magic remaining in her body.

She couldn’t let Rael get caught up in the battle.

But at that moment.

“Hide behind me. Don’t get hit by a stray sword while acting up.”

The magic that was blooming in Reina’s body was forcibly scattered.

Because Rael grabbed her wrist.

“You, you…”

Reina was surprised and swallowed her breath.

It is a very difficult magic manipulation to scatter the magic inside the body just by grabbing the wrist.

It is difficult for Rael, who is just over 20 years old, to use.

But what was more incomprehensible was Rael’s actions.

Reina couldn’t understand.

Why Rael was doing this for her, she couldn’t read his mind.

‘Yeah. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Reina, this year. You didn’t bring me here on purpose, did you?’

Meanwhile, Rael, who was standing in front of Reina, was suspicious of Reina.

Free food meant that to him.

‘Still, I have to stick to the aide of the next emperor rather than a no-name elf.’

The murderous aura of the elves was rising fiercely.

I wished they were scrubs, but it seems they’re pretty good.

Well, should I have expected it from the fact that they came to catch Reina?

‘There’s nothing more embarrassing than pretending to be strong and losing…’ If they hadn’t picked a fight with me while I was standing still, I would have put Reina on my waist and ran away before anything troublesome happened.

But if I run away at the moment I’ve been insulted, I’ll become a loser.

That’s the rule of the street and life.

‘Seven elven warriors… it’ll be a good warm-up.’

That’s why men have to learn to bend their pride.

Of course, it’s already too late for me, so I have no choice but to win.