The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 99

In this world, death is as common as catching a cold.

The person you cheerfully greeted yesterday might be in a coffin the next, and getting stabbed in the gut while wandering around at night is a frequent occurrence.

That’s medieval fantasy for you, where it’s not unusual for anyone, young or old, to die at any moment.

“There’s no lingering dark magic on Nia and Harry’s bodies, so you don’t need to worry,” Bishop Peter said.

“Thank you, Bishop Peter,” Rael replied, making the sign of the cross.

Even though he was known to be greedy, Bishop Peter genuinely seemed to radiate divine power as he examined the children.

“Haha, it’s nothing, Sir Rael. Please visit our branch often. The believers are eager to see you.”

“Yes, yes. Thank you for your hard work.”

‘Why on earth would the Order’s branch be so interested in me?’ Rael wondered.

He decided not to dwell on it too much.

It was clear that Bishop Peter, heavily influenced by Cardinal Fernando, was likely spreading some exaggerated stories.

He probably made a fuss, claiming this was the branch where the next hero grew up.

‘Hero or whatever… I’ll just live as things come,’ Rael thought.

Until recently, he had hoped that Lucas, the protagonist of the original story, would become a hero.

However, Rael was still too weak to ensure the orphanage’s safety.

‘If Lucas is a true hero, he’ll become stronger than me.’

He wouldn’t actively try to take Lucas’s opportunities.

But if something beneficial happened to come his way as Lucas grew stronger… there was no reason to refuse it, right?

Rael reasoned.

“Rael, Oppa [Older brother]!”

“Hyung [Older brother]!”

“Hey, Nia! Harry! Don’t run around; you need to rest. The Bishop told you,” Rael said, hugging Nia and Harry as they ran toward him, offering a wry smile.

Even though it was common knowledge in this world that anyone could die tomorrow, Nia and Harry were only ten years old.

Seeing the children return to their cheerful selves just a day after being kidnapped made him feel a strange mix of emotions.

Should he praise them for being resilient, or condemn this awful world for forcing ten-year-olds to be this way?

Rael didn’t know.

“Rael, this is your favorite honey tea. I put a lot of honey in it, so drink it slowly.”

“Thank you, Teacher Sarah. But my hands are full right now, so I’ll drink it later. How are the other kids doing?”

Rael looked at Teacher Sarah, still holding Nia and Harry in his arms.

“They’re as healthy as Nia and Harry. It’s all thanks to you, Rael. The children have cheered up so much since you rescued Nia and Harry so quickly.”

“…Of course, it’s my job, Teacher Sarah.”

“Huhu, are you still worried about that? Come to think of it, it’s been quite a while. Has it been about 10 years?”

“That’s right. I was young back then, too.”

Rael recalled the days when he thought he was the protagonist of this world.

If he had come to his senses sooner, the world would have been a little easier.

It was a shame.

“How wonderful would it be if the other children grew up to be as reliable as Rael.”

“I want to become super strong like Rael Hyung!”

“Okay, okay. Harry, I’ll get you a cup of honey tea too,” Sarah said with a smile, heading back inside the orphanage.

“Kids, wait a minute, come one at a time!”

Rael carefully moved his feet, trying to avoid the children who were now clinging to his legs.

He had to get to the playground to shake them off.

“Quite a… strange sight, Yriel,” Isabel commented.

“I know. Rael from the orphanage is very kind,” Yuri agreed.

“Yes. It’s beyond my imagination.”

Meanwhile, Isabel and Yuri, who were standing in the corner of the orphanage, looked at Rael with a sense of wonder.

She had heard that he was responsible for the orphanage’s finances, but seeing a swordsman who had reached the level of a graduate [A swordsman who has reached a high level of skill] showing such a 모습 [Korean word for appearance or behavior] was far from her understanding.

The strong people she knew were either authoritarian and obsessed with honor, or they pursued a dissolute life.

Rael, who seemed to occupy an intermediate position, was a very unusual individual.

“Gent. Do humans love their own kind as much as elves do? …He’d get along well with the elves!” Reina exclaimed, smiling as she watched Rael.

She found it very heartwarming to see him taking care of the children like an elf.

“I can say with certainty that Rael is strange,” Gent stated.

Gent liked humans, but he had never witnessed such a scene.

In particular, Rael seemed to be the type of human who was least likely to act this way.

Seeing it firsthand was quite shocking.

“Hey. What are you all doing here?”

Soon after, Rael, having finally managed to deposit the children in the playground, approached Yuri.

He didn’t understand why these people had been following him since broad daylight.

“Reina said she wanted to see Rael’s usual 모습 [Korean word for appearance or behavior].”

“When did I! I was just worried that you looked tired at the Yongbong Assembly yesterday, and I was just concerned that you might be sick!”

“Is that so? Thanks, Reina.”

“Heu, euum….” Reina turned away, twitching her lips.

She felt like a silly smile was about to break out for some reason.

“Rael. I have a question,” Yuri said.

“What is it?”

“I know that humans are often attached to their hometowns or places they have strong connections to. But… Rael, for you to care so deeply about the place you were born in like this… It’s quite different from your usual image.”

“What’s wrong with my image, you tall fool?” Rael frowned at Gent’s serious expression.

How many people in this world behaved as properly as he did, to warrant such nonsense?

Rael couldn’t comprehend the giant’s words.

“Then tell me. What’s the reason you’re so attached to the orphanage?”

“Reason?”

“Yes. Surely you can at least answer this much after receiving help from a giant warrior, right?”

“…So you helped me just so you could ask me this, huh?”

“This is also a negotiation tactic that comes from experience. Call it the experience of the giants.”

Rael was dumbfounded and stared at Gent, then turned his gaze around.

“I’m curious too, Rael,” Yuri said.

“It would be an honor to hear Sir Rael’s story,” Isabel added.

“I helped too! Tell me!” Reina chimed in.

They all wanted to hear his story.

Their eyes were sparkling with anticipation.

“Well, it’s not a very exciting story,” Rael began with a wry expression.

*

When he first possessed this world.

What Rael felt was a cold so intense it felt like his nose would fall off.

‘Is this the hell you go to after you die?’

‘I lived a pretty good life, so why did I end up in hell?’

[Damn it. Why is it so cold?]

“Ebeh, ebeub….”

It was only after he started babbling that he realized his body had become younger.

Rael cursed and flailed his arms and legs, but it only made him colder.

“Oh my, what is this…! Reizel, there’s a child in front of the orphanage!”

Just as he was losing his mind from the unbearable cold, he felt a warm embrace.

“Hello? Welcome to the orphanage,” Teacher Sarah said, smiling like the sun.

She was the first person Rael saw in this world.

‘…Possession? Really?’

He quickly grasped the situation.

The Karmen Empire of a Thousand Years.

Rael’s heart began to pound when he heard that name.

‘Damn, this is awesome, right?’

Novel possession, something he had only encountered in fiction.

He had actually experienced the impossible.

‘All I have to do is get into the academy.’

Rael had enjoyed reading this novel quite a bit.

He knew all the key events and opportunities that would arise at the academy, so all he had to do was enter the academy, and everything would go smoothly.

“Academy? Huh? Rael. What are you talking about? Commoners like us can’t go to the academy,” Teacher Sarah said.

“…Pardon?”

But Rael’s dream was shattered on his 5th birthday.

He heard the shocking truth in response to Teacher Sarah’s question about what his dream was.

‘No, it’s not too late yet. I’ve been training my magic power since I was a newborn,’ Rael thought.

Rael didn’t give up even after hearing Sarah’s words.

The mindset he developed in 21st century Korea was still with him.

He believed that if he studied hard, he could get into a good university regardless of his family background.

“Rael. Don’t overdo it. People like us should just be grateful to be alive,” Sarah cautioned.

“Okay.”

Rael didn’t listen to Sarah’s words.

Because he was a possessor, and he was the protagonist of this world.

He trained his magic power every day, confident that results would come soon.

After turning 10 years old.

Rael finally manifested his sword energy.

“T, this can’t be. To manifest sword energy…!”

“Genius! A genius of the century!”

Rael believed that his life would be smooth sailing from then on.

Even if he was a commoner, he would be able to enter the academy if he demonstrated this much talent!

“But you still can’t enter the academy,” Sarah said.

“…Really?”

“Of course. Only pure-blooded nobles can enter the Imperial Academy. Even if you’re adopted, you can’t.”

Rael’s dream was shattered once again by Sarah’s words.

‘What kind of fucked up bastards are these….’

He should have realized that this world was fundamentally flawed from that point on.

But at the time, Rael hadn’t given up yet.

He still believed he was a possessor, and a genius who manifested sword energy at the age of 10.

‘If I can’t go to the academy, everything will be distorted, but I can’t help it.’

Most of the opportunities Rael knew about were at the academy.

It was a shame to give them up, but he had to find a position equivalent to them.

“Tsk. I can’t help it. I’ll have to show my talent to the Knights Order,” Rael decided.

“Knights Order…? No. Rael. Something really bad could happen if you get involved with nobles,” Sarah warned.

“It’s okay. If I manifested sword energy at the age of 10, I’m the best talent in the Empire.”

Despite Teacher Sarah’s warning, Rael was confident.

He knew the famous Knights Orders in the Empire well.

They were fair and just, so they would treat Rael well.

“There’s a genius who manifested sword energy at the age of 10? What? A commoner?”

“It’s definitely amazing, but a commoner. Hmm….”

“Wait a minute… If he’s a commoner, doesn’t the person who takes him first become his owner?”

“….”

However, Rael lacked common sense about the caste system that existed in medieval fantasy.

The nobles and Knights Orders who recognized Rael’s talent began to pressure the orphanage.

The orphanage, where commoners lived, was a place that nobles and Knights Orders could destroy at any time.

“W, we don’t know anything… Kyaaak!”

The knights who were looking for Rael even laid hands on Teacher Sarah, who had been hiding him.

It was a world where it was perfectly acceptable for a noble to strike a commoner.

‘Dangerous.’

At that moment, Rael realized.

He wouldn’t be safe just by choosing one side.

Rael wouldn’t be able to survive in a Knights Order full of those kinds of bastards.

‘I’m not really a genius… and if a commoner like me doesn’t have talent in the Knights Order…’

The reason Rael manifested sword energy faster than others was because he started training faster than others.

If his talent were exposed, not only the orphanage but Rael himself wouldn’t be able to live a good life.

“…Teacher Sarah. I’m sorry.”

That night, Rael bowed his head as he looked at Sarah, who had been slapped by a knight.

The atmosphere of the orphanage itself was completely ruined.

Why did it turn out like this?

The world was more difficult than Rael thought, and showing talent didn’t solve anything.

He regretted showing off his talent so confidently.

“It’s okay, Rael. You’re our family.”

Sarah smiled even after being slapped by the Knights Order.

After losing her parents to the demons when she was young, Sarah’s family was the orphanage.

She volunteered at the orphanage during the day and ran a bar at night.

Every day was hard, but her joy was watching the children of the orphanage grow up.

“Teacher Sarah…”

“All the children in the orphanage are family. You can always lean on us if you’re having a hard time.”

Rael learned warmth from her and how to live in this world.

A few days later, Rael decided to hide himself.

“In the future, if those Knights Order guys come looking, tell them I left last night.”

“Rael, it’s dangerous! You’ll be found no matter where you are.”

“No. Don’t worry.”

Rael knew a place that nobles would never care about.

‘The slums of District 5. Nobles would never come there.’

Rael knew this because he often saw beggars on the streets.

In medieval fantasy, the treatment of beggars is good, but that’s only because of pity and the sense of superiority that they are better than beggars.

The nobles would never search the slums of District 5.

“What? Isn’t that a 10-year-old kid?”

“This bastard. I think I’ve seen him somewhere. Who was he?”

“Ha, just stay quiet. These beggar bastards…”

It wasn’t difficult to organize the hierarchy among the beggars.

The beggars in this world were real beggars, not just pretending.

Rael joined an organization called Beggars among them and quietly hid himself.

After a few years, the noisy nobles and Knights Order became quiet.

Only then could Rael slowly show his face at the orphanage.

“Teacher Sarah. Use this for the orphanage’s operating expenses.”

“Rael. You don’t have to bring things like this… Thank you so much.”

“It’s nothing. Please say hello to Sister Rayzel for me too.”

Rael knew that there was a high, insurmountable wall between nobles and commoners.

He thought that if he hid in the slums, the Knights Order would never find him, and if he visited the orphanage again when the interest died down, the nobles wouldn’t notice.

In fact, that judgment was correct.

The nobles of the Empire had already lost interest in the commoner who had ignored their love calls.

Since Rael had suddenly disappeared, they must have thought that another Knights Order had secretly scouted him.

“I found him, Captain. It’s Rael. It seems he’s been hiding until now.”

“Is that so? Bring him to headquarters no matter what. Even if we have to torture him to make him one of us.”

But there was something else Rael had overlooked.

The crime organization in District 4 was not noble.

And they were sometimes more vicious than nobles.

“Teacher Sarah. You don’t look good. Are you okay?”

“Yes, don’t worry, Rael.”

From one day on, Teacher Sarah’s condition gradually worsened.

She seemed to be in pain every day and looked more and more tired.

Rael, who noticed something strange, went to Sarah’s inn at night.

“I guess you still don’t understand the situation… Is it that difficult to bring that bastard Rael to our organization’s headquarters? Huh?”

What Rael saw when he arrived at the inn was a man grabbing Sarah by the hair.

He was annoyed as he looked at Sarah, who was kneeling and bowing her head.

“I, I’m sorry. I don’t know that child well.”

“You’re saying you know everything? Haa, I guess it can’t be helped. Guys. Take this bitch to headquarters.”

“Yes!”

At the words of the man who seemed to be the boss, the subordinates next to him stood up.

They grabbed Sarah’s arms.

“S, stop it! Just a moment…!”

“Words are no longer enough. I’ll be the first, so strip her clean and get her ready. Got it?”

The man scanned Sarah and raised the corner of his mouth.

“Yes! Th, then can we do it after the Captain?”

“Do whatever you want until you bring Rael, that bastard.”

“Yes! I understand!”

“Kyaa, Kyaaaaak!”

The men full of lust grabbed Sarah’s hair.

Seeing that, Rael unknowingly kicked open the door of the inn.

“You fucking bastards…”

Rael drew the sword he was wearing on his waist.

Sword energy [a manifestation of inner power, enhancing the sword’s capabilities] blazed from his sword.

He doesn’t remember well after that.

He killed someone for the first time, hugged Teacher Sarah, and closed the door of the inn.

“Rael, Rael…! Are you okay? Your body is hurt…!”

Seeing Teacher Sarah worrying about him even though her clothes were torn by those bastards, Rael spoke angrily.

“Teacher Sarah! Why didn’t you say anything! Those bastards…!”

Rael bit his lip, feeling miserable.

Rael knew why Sarah didn’t say anything.

It won’t end just by dealing with those bastards now.

Criminal organizations are often closely connected.

They are enemies of each other, but they easily unite when there is a common enemy.

The moment Rael killed those bastards, Rael became the target of the criminal organization.

“How could I? Rael, you’re our family. Family should protect each other. Right?”

Sarah smiled faintly.

The orphanage was everything to her.

She wanted all the children growing up there to be happy.

Among them, Rael, whom she had picked up herself, was a little more special.

Sarah didn’t want Rael to live a hard life.

“…Don’t worry, Teacher Sarah.”

Rael straightened her clothes and continued.

“I’ll make sure nothing happens to you or the orphanage.”

That’s when it started.

Rael set one goal.

“Uncle Dennis.”

“…What’s wrong?”

Dennis flinched as he looked at Rael.

The guy who was always joking around every day had a strange atmosphere today.

“Make me a mask.”

This shitty world.

He gave up on becoming the protagonist.

However, he decided to protect just one thing.

The orphanage. Family.

It was Rael’s haven and goal in life.

From that day on, a bounty hunter wearing a mysterious Gaksital mask [a traditional Korean mask, often associated with heroism and social justice] began to clean up District 4.

*

“Hwaaa… sob. Sob sob… Rael… you must have had a hard time!”

I know that elves love their own kind… but still, aren’t you too emotional?

Rayna hugged Rael’s arm, shedding tears.

“Don’t wipe your tears on my clothes.”

Rael pushed Rayna’s face away and smiled bitterly.

It’s all in the past.

Since then, Rael has been obsessed with protecting the orphanage.

To be exact, Teacher Sarah came first… but now he loved this orphanage itself so much.

Because it was the only place in this crazy world that treated him warmly.

“Well, there were many things that happened after that, but that was the biggest. Even this time, when I heard that the children were kidnapped, my thoughts stopped.”

If it was the usual Rael, he would have moved more carefully with Nagore’s case.

But if the orphanage is involved, his thoughts stop like that time.

“Mr. Rael… That’s a touching story. You’ve dealt with all the crime organizations in District 4… but who was the Knights Order that harassed Mr. Rael back then? Just tell me. I’ll look into it right away.”

“Well, it’s okay. It’s all in the past.”

Because Yuri was there, he didn’t say it, but the knight who slapped Teacher Sarah back then was also dealt with wearing a Gaksital mask.

After dealing with most of the underworld in District 4, as everyone knows, he applied to the guard.

He thought that there was no better job than a secure job in the Thousand-Year Empire of Kamen.

“R, Rael hyungnim [Korean honorific for older brother or respected male]… such a thing… sob.”

Rael turned his head and looked at the paladin next to him.

Carlson was sniffling, not knowing when he had come.

“What are you, when did you come?”

“I didn’t even know there was such a thing…! I just thought hyungnim was just a gangster! Sob…!”

“Crazy bastard.”

Rael laughed in vain.

He called him hyungnim, but he thought he was a gangster?

“Sob, hyungnim…! Rael hyungnim! I’ll use all the salary I receive from the Order for the orphanage from now on! What’s the point of women!”

“Okay. Do as you please.”

“Yes. Hyungnim. …But who are these people?”

Rael turned his head, leaving Carlson, who was sobbing and blinking his eyes.

The giant with his arms crossed was looking down at him.

“Gent. Are you satisfied with this?”

“There’s nothing more difficult than recognizing one’s mistakes. Rael. You’re quite an amazing human.”

“Don’t say such cheesy things.”

Rael shook his head.

A reckless guy is just protecting his home now.

It’s not a big deal.

“Anyway… that’s why I want to protect the orphanage. And from now on, I’m really going to get stronger.”

“You weren’t weak until now. Rael, you even beat Baslord!”

“I have to get stronger.”

The reason Rael beat Baslord was thanks to Rael’s constitution.

He can easily defeat demons because he doesn’t accept demonic energy.

‘To prevent anyone from touching the orphanage… I’d rather reach the sky.’

10 years ago, Rael decided not to make his name known in this world anymore.

But it’s different now.

To protect the orphanage, he has to get stronger.

Now that he’s made up his mind, he was going to do anything.

“You’ve gained enlightenment as a swordsman, Rael.”

“Enlightenment? Well, you can see it that way. Come to think of it, is there any word from that old man?”

Rael looked at Gent and asked about the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord.

Meeting that old man is also important to get stronger.

He had almost mastered the Second Form of the Thousand Slaughter Sword, Ascension, so he had to learn the next stage.

“He said he’ll be visiting the Empire soon.”

“…What? Really?”

“Yes. He said he wants to see you participate in this Dragon Phoenix Competition, Rael.”

“No, why does that old man tell you such important things and not me?”

Why does he always do things twice?

Rael couldn’t understand the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord’s thoughts at all.

“That is the enlightenment of a swordsman. Rael. You’ll be able to realize it if you get stronger.”

“I really want to quit being a disciple.”

If that’s what a swordsman is, Rael might be far from it.

It seemed like Rael’s desire to get stronger was wavering.