The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 97

< Nagore >

“Is this the place? There’s no one here.”

“Reina, be quiet.”

Rael focused his magic as he looked at the silent, abandoned building.

Judging by the massive iron gate and surrounding structures, it appeared to be a warehouse.

There was no sign of life in the building, but a revolting stench permeated the air.

“Clara, are you sure this is the place?”

“I confirmed that the captured people and desert warriors went inside, and there are no other entrances.”

*If it’s the God of Combat’s investigation, the information is reliable.*

*Then there’s only one answer.*

“Looks like the bugs are hiding well.”

Rael raised his sword, channeling his sword energy, and struck down on the iron gate without hesitation.

Kwaaaang-!

The deafening sound accompanied a cloud of dust as the gate split in two.

The warehouse was dark, completely devoid of light.

Only the faint moonlight illuminated the entrance.

Swish-.

Rael put on the Hahoe mask [a traditional Korean mask] he had in his pocket.

“I’m going in.”

Rael entered the dark warehouse.

As soon as he crossed the threshold, he tripped over something.

“…A black magician?”

Rael kicked over the corpse wearing a black robe.

The black magician, his face contorted in a final expression of pain, seemed to have died recently.

Thud. Thud.

The further Rael went into the warehouse, the more overpowering the disgusting smell became.

Inside the warehouse, thick with dark magic and demonic energy, Rael felt countless eyes on him.

“Gent.”

Rael stopped in the center of the deathly silent warehouse.

“Hmm? What is it?”

“You guys take care of the small fries.”

“…Are you sure about this, Rael?”

Gent also felt the murderous intent emanating from the surroundings.

But the real threat wasn’t those guys.

A powerful magical force was declaring its presence directly ahead.

It was clear that *he* was the center of this place.

“I have no intention of letting anyone who messes with my things get away with it.”

Rael smirked.

Behind that powerful magical force, he could sense the presence of countless people.

That was Rael’s target.

“Understood. As a giant warrior, I can’t ignore a comrade’s request.”

Thump-!

A massive axe was taken from Gent’s back.

“Was it Clara? It’s my first time working with a human. Please take care of me.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll handle it.”

Clara swallowed hard.

It was surprising that Rael had brought these different races, but if they were on his side, she could work with them.

“Reina, light, please.”

“…Okay!”

Swish-

The magic of nature flowed from Reina’s embrace.

Having recovered her strength under the protection of the World Tree, Reina no longer hid her power.

Whoosh-!

A bright light burst inside the warehouse, and the desert warriors, who had been waiting buried in the sand, widened their eyes.

“Damn it…! Attack!”

“You’ll feel the wrath of the desert!”

Dozens of desert warriors charged at Reina and Gent.

In the meantime, Rael walked straight ahead.

The massive magical power pressing down on the surroundings revealed itself in front of Rael.

“I thought it was a betrayal by the Kamen Knights [an elite group of warriors]… Who are you guys?”

Namaha narrowed his eyes as he looked at the unidentified man approaching him.

*It’s not the Kamen Knights?*

At first, he thought the Kamen Knights had broken their promise.

But the ones who came into the warehouse were strangers.

It wasn’t a coincidence either.

They didn’t run away and naturally started fighting the desert warriors.

“Hmm…”

Rael scanned the man in front of him.

The hood he wore and the light cloth clothes were the attire of the desert warriors.

Among them, the star on his shoulder revealed his position.

The opponent was Namaha, the commander of Nagore’s knights.

“You said it was a betrayal by the Kamen Knights. What’s your relationship with Gideon?”

Rael said, looking at Namaha.

He clearly said it was a betrayal by the Kamen Knights.

Rael’s prediction that there was something between Nagore and the Kamen Knights was correct.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Swish-

Namaha raised his greatsword.

It meant he had no intention of talking.

“…Tsk. Heavenly Execution Sword, First Form: Entering Heaven.”

Rael was the same.

Thick sword energy blazed on his sword.

“Impressive. Judging by your hands, you look young, but to have this kind of energy…”

Namaha looked at the masked man with a curious expression.

A refined murderous intent poured out from him.

It was like a mercenary who had rolled around on the battlefield hundreds of times.

“Then can’t you just step aside nicely? Isn’t the desert kingdom a place that values warriors?”

“You’re talking nonsense.”

Clang-!

A roar erupted from the sudden collision of swords.

Rael was the one who was pushed back first.

Namaha, the commander of Nagore’s knights, was already a strongman who had reached the early stages of Sword Master [a master swordsman].

*…Of all people, I had to meet a really strong bastard.*

A chilling sensation covered his body from his fingertips.

He could tell the difference in their levels just by crossing swords.

The opponent was a strongman on a similar level to Commander Rein.

*It’s not like I can’t fight him.*

But Rael didn’t back down.

He felt a sense of incongruity in Namaha’s reaction.

Doo-geun, doo-geun-
Rael’s heart beat rapidly, taking in the surrounding information.

The senses, sharpened by the anger filling his body, examined Namaha’s movements.

*He wants to end the fight quickly.*

His body is leaning forward, and his gaze is filled with urgency.

What is the reason?

The guy told him directly.

*I thought it was a betrayal by the Kamen Knights.*

*Namaha is afraid of the Kamen Knights. So he’s trying to run away quickly.*

After finishing his analysis, Rael raised his sword again and said.

“I’m going to have to get back the little bastards you took. They’re the kids I’m raising.”

“You’re full of confidence.”

Namaha raised his greatsword.

He looked quite strong, but he still seemed to be a graduate-level who was not yet fully mature.

He couldn’t afford to be held back by him if he wanted to take the desert warriors and escape.

“Where, shall we see if you have the skills to back up that confidence?”

Swish swish swish-!

Magic gathered on the sword, and the surrounding sand rose up.

He had used a little magic to deal with the black magicians and demons, but he still had plenty to spare.

Oong oong oong oong-!

Sand rose from the ground where there was nothing.

It looked like a simple sandstorm, but it contained tremendous murderous intent.

Rael stepped back as he looked at the giant sandstorm looking down at him.

*Is this the realm of a Sword Master…?*

This seemed closer to magic than swordsmanship.

Rael drew up his magic power and blocked the sandstorm hitting his body.

“…What’s going on?”

And Namaha felt something strange as he stared at the man in front of him.

His sandstorm doesn’t leave any enemies who enter it alone.

Every time it touches the sand, it cuts down the opponent’s magic power and gradually makes them lose control of their magic power.

*Rather, my magic power is being cut down.*

But this guy was different.

Every time the sand touched his body, his magic power was cut down.

It was like… a divine power that devoured demonic energy.

“Quite interesting. I have a lot of stories I want to share with you.”

“Interesting my ass.”

Rael lowered his stance with a nonchalant expression and poured magic power into his sword.

Commander Rein said that it’s difficult to use magic power inside the domain.

*It’s not necessarily the case, though?*

It seems that this is also due to his unique constitution.

Whatever the cause, he had to use everything he could.

“You seem to be using strange magic… I’ll destroy it along with the magic.”

Thump-!

Namaha charged towards Rael like a stream of sand.

The magic he used was unidentified, but it wasn’t impossible to win.

Kwaaaang-!

A heavy sword energy pressed down on Rael.

It was a heavy sword imbued with the magic power of a Sword Master.

Rael smiled as he looked at the sword.

“The magic power is heavy… but it’s slow?”

Rael, who had let the sword flow downwards, rotated his body and aimed for Namaha’s legs.

Ta-a-a-ang-!

At that moment, Namaha’s magic power burst out rapidly, and Rael’s body was thrown backwards.

“Cough, spit.”

Rael, who had regained his posture, spat out the sand that had entered his mouth and stared straight ahead.

His senses were still sharp.

“Heo, how could this happen…”

Namaha chuckled as he looked at his sword.

The guy was overcoming the overwhelming difference in magic power with his swordsmanship skills.

No, to be precise, it wasn’t swordsmanship.

Reaction speed, agility, the eye to read the battle, and concentration.

Namaha was pushed back by the guy’s natural talent as a warrior.

It was an act that touched the pride of the desert warriors.

*Damn it. There’s no time.*

But Namaha was in a position where he couldn’t spend a long time with his opponent.

He felt the magic circle in his arms.

*The Kamen Knights will be here soon.*

The original plan was to kill the black magicians and demons, take the magic, and the Kamen Knights would attack the warehouse as soon as dawn broke to deal with the remaining remnants.

It’s a plan where everyone gets the credit.

In other words, the time Gideon guaranteed was until morning.

He had to get his body out by then.

*It’s impossible to kill this guy.*

It might be possible if he squeezed out his magic power by force.

But Namaha had to take the other desert warriors with him.

Even now, the desert warriors were being killed by unidentified enemies.

“I have no choice. I’ll finish it quickly. Brat.”

Woo-oong-!

Magic power began to gather around Namaha once again.

Rael also frowned at the tremendous density of magic power.

“Sand World Illusion Array.”

A waterfall of sand poured out from Namaha’s sword.

The tremendous sand, condensed in the real domain unfolded by the Sword Master, instantly swallowed Rael.

“Keuk…!”

Rael squeezed his eyes shut as the sand covered him.

*Is this the real domain of a Sword Master…?!*

A strong sense of pressure that made it difficult to breathe pressed down on Rael.

Overwhelming magic power and a sense of powerlessness that swallowed the space.

Before he knew it, Rael’s surroundings were not a warehouse but a desert.

“This is bullshit…”

The sand drawing geometric patterns was densely packed around Rael.

He tried to cut through the sand with his sword, but the sand would fill the space again.

*Damn it, don’t do stupid things and focus.*

Rael ignored the sensation of the sand trying to wrap around him.

No matter how great a domain is, there is no technique in the world without weaknesses.

*There must be a gap.*

Rael focused all his senses on the sand.

To be precise, not the sand, but the flow.

Rael’s senses, recognized by the dragon, scanned the inside of the domain.

The flow of sand circulating like a river and the sea.

In the meantime, Rael read one path.

“Heavenly Execution Sword, Second Form.”

Rael raised his sword to the sky.

Swish.

Rael’s sword soared high into the sky.

The sword energy that had accepted the magic power of the sky emitted a brilliant light even in the sand that was gradually tightening around Rael’s body.

“Ascension.”

Wood-deud-deud-deuk-

In the sand that was suffocating him.

Rael struck down with his sword.

Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga-gak-!

A huge explosion erupted from Rael’s sword.

The terrifying power cut off Namaha’s magic power, which was leading the flow of sand.

“Keuek…!”

The aftermath also affected Namaha’s body, who was running away.

The domain he had unfolded was breaking, and his magic power was damaged.

“Desert warriors! Follow me!”

But Namaha was already running away with the desert warriors.

“Hey! They’re running away! Catch those guys!”

“Wait. Reina.”

Gent grabbed Reina’s shoulder, who was excited.

“We can catch them now!”

“Our goal is not them.”

Gent turned his body.

He looked at the back of the human who had held out against the Sword Master and bought time.

“…”

Rael approached the door that Namaha was guarding.

Inside, he felt a familiar presence.

*

Drip- Drip-

The sound of water dripping from the ceiling filled his ears.

Nia was trembling in the magic power that bound her body.

*It’s dark. It’s scary. It’s cold…*

Nia, the oldest sister in the orphanage, was a girl who had just turned 10 years old.

She had been captured by the black magicians to protect the children, and she was now fully aware of the danger.

Hundreds of children were tied up with black magic around her, and the magic power covering her body was gradually devouring her life.

She was being made to be used in the ritual as a sacrifice.

*I wonder if everyone is okay. What about Teacher Sarah? Ver…?*

Nia thought of Ver, the child she had protected.

And she looked at Harry’s face, who had been captured with her.

Harry, who was across from Nia, was crying his eyes out and was tied up with magic power.

The black magic sealed the children’s voices, and no sound came out even when they cried.

Nia had already given up crying.

*Is this how I’m going to die? Really…?*

Nia and Harry were in a good situation.

Some of the other children had lost their lives while being dragged away by the black magicians.

*Those kids looked hungry.*

Death was close in the medieval fantasy world.

This world did not treat children as human beings.

It was common for children to be beaten to death by drunkards on the street or to be kidnapped after meeting bad guys while begging.

Nia’s orphanage was safe because Rael was there, but it wasn’t like Nia didn’t know how other children were treated.

*Rael oppa [Korean term for older brother or male friend]. Did I do well?*

The face of Rael oppa, who always protected the orphanage, came to mind.

She hated him when she heard him say that she should give up snacks because she was the oldest sister, but now she felt like she could understand what he meant.

Nia protected the young children as Rael oppa had told her to.

She was repaying the children as he had done for them.

*Teacher Sarah, Sister Reizel, Rael oppa…*

Tears flowed from the eyes of the 10-year-old girl, who had matured too quickly.

She made one small wish: to be held in their arms one more time before she died.

Swish-

Her consciousness gradually weakened.

The black magic dug into her body.

Nia slowly began to let go of the hand that had been holding on to her consciousness.

Creak-.

And at that moment.

A man walked in as the door opened.

“…So you were here. Kids.”

A thick sword energy cut through the center of the black magic.

He carefully approached the children.

“Ugh.”

In the midst of her gradually weakening consciousness, Nia opened her eyes.

The unpleasant and painful sensation that had covered her body disappeared.

She saw the masked man standing in front of her.

His face was covered, and she couldn’t feel anything.

“Rael oppa…?”

But Nia whispered without realizing it.

Feeling the warm gaze coming towards her, she closed her eyes comfortably.