Imperial Guard - Chapter 1



Only Noblemtl

Episode 1

3rd Guard Captain Lael

“I’ll go to the left. Rael, you take the left.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Tadadot-

After confirming that the First Guard Captain was running to the left, I muttered quietly.

“Why does that tall guy keep calling the right side the left side?”

I went into the alley on the right, shielding myself from the hot sunlight that was burning my face.

It’s a wonderful world where even such an idiot can become a captain of the guard if he just fills up his military service years.

Thud, thud.

Even inside the alley, the sunlight was still hot. Unlike my previous life, this world had few tall buildings that could block the sunlight.

‘At times like this, I need to have a cold beer.’

I leaned back against the shady alley and sighed.

On a hot day like this, it might be okay to take a break.

“I don’t understand it in the first place. I’ve even been promoted to captain of the guard, so why do I have to go on regular patrols?”

Suddenly, I remember the time before I was reincarnated into this world.

One day, I was possessed by a novel I was reading with great interest.

I have never written a malicious comment, and it is not a novel that I read alone, so I do not know why I was possessed.

The only fortunate thing was that I was an avid reader of this novel, so I had a good grasp of the story···.

‘M-Bing. It’s an academy thing, so knowing the content doesn’t help.’

The academy that trains warriors for the empire is the exclusive domain of the nobility.

Since I was an orphan, I couldn’t even step foot on the academy’s doorstep.

This means that it is a location where you cannot even make eye contact with the characters at the academy as seen in the novel.

The only thing I know is that the Kamen Empire, the setting of the novel, will easily survive for another thousand years.

‘Then it’s a rice bowl after all.’

That’s why I volunteered for the civil service, the Imperial Guard.

It was a second-best option since I couldn’t go to the academy.

If I cling to an empire that will never fall, my safety will be protected.

Of course, it’s not easy to get into the guard.

Once the guards enter, they are never cut off unless they cause a major accident.

The benefits were so great in medieval fantasy that most commoners, as well as children of lesser noble families, coveted them.

The reason I, an orphan, was able to enter such a great place was because I pretended to be a genius when I was young.

As a newborn, as soon as I realized I had the power of magic, I concentrated 24 hours a day to gain it.

While other kids were crying and whining about shitting and peeing, I was designing the future.

‘Even now, thinking about it, I’m glad I worked hard back then.’

Unlike the people of this world who have been exposed to magic since birth, I have lived in a world without magic for several decades.

Thanks to that, I was able to sense the unidentified power and magic in the air of this world faster than others.

While other people start training in magical powers at the age of seven at most, I started training when I was a newborn.

Even the most untalented person can do anything if he starts seven years earlier than others.

I began training in magical powers as soon as I was born, and eventually unleashed my sword energy shortly after I turned ten.

‘Wow, that’s ridiculous! It’s amazing that a 10-year-old can sense magic, and you’re saying that’s a sword?!’

‘Genius. A talent from heaven has appeared!’

From then on, things were smooth sailing.

Anyway, I knew my limits well.

It took 10 years for an adult male to develop the ability to draw sword energy, but other geniuses develop sword energy at the age of 12 or 13.

I wasn’t a genius. I was just an average person who worked harder than others when I was young.

‘But the guards are a free pass.’

I quickly volunteered for the guard before the real geniuses caught up to me.

There is no need to say anything after rolling over and defeating the 3rd Guard Captain with the tricks he has learned.

There was nothing more comfortable than being a government official with power.

If you see someone drinking and causing trouble while walking around the capital, you beat them up, and if you see someone stealing, you twist their wrists.

It was an easy job compared to the decent position of captain.

“Should we start moving slowly?”

If you get caught doing this by the 1st Guard Captain, you’ll get scolded.

Kuran is a fool, but he is a man with great loyalty to the empire.

“Gyaaaaaaah! It’s a pickpocket!”

Not even a minute after I started walking again, a sharp, ear-piercing voice echoed through the alley.

pickpocket.

It’s common in fantasy settings where there is no CCTV.

When I turned my head, I saw a woman standing there, screaming.

I also saw a fierce looking man running towards me. Judging from the pink handbag in his hand, I thought he was a pickpocket.

‘At that time, I’d rather run myself.’

Standing still and yelling won’t solve the situation.

I made eye contact with the guy approaching me with that thought in mind.

“If you run away, you’ll get hit. I told you clearly.”

“If you don’t want to get left behind, get out of the way! Khak!”

The man whose forehead was hit by my fist fell to the floor in an ugly manner and started to writhe.

I crouched down in front of the writhing man on the floor and took the silver medal out of my pocket.

“Put your head back in place and look at this.”

The man opened his eyes wide only after seeing the silver medal.

‘As expected, the hat is effective.’

The silver shield is the symbol of the captain of the imperial guard.

Even the most pickpocketed person on the street can’t help but be surprised when he sees the captain of the guard.

The man looked back and forth between the silver plate and my face a few times, then said in surprise.

“Again, Captain Torai···!”

“Who the hell is this crazy kid calling me that?”

There are some people who call me that sometimes, but where on earth did that nickname come from?

I was so shocked that I twisted the man’s wrist.

“Ahhh! I’m sorry! Aaaahhh! I have a family, so please don’t spare my life…!”

“I remembered your face. If you call me that one more time, you’ll find out for yourself what happened to those bastards who called me that.”

The man nods his head like crazy.

I was moved by my own recognition and relaxed my hands.

Where can you find a captain of the guards who is so kind as to let you off without getting punched right away?

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

“Okay, just give me your bag.”

I snatched the pink bag away and placed it on the floor.

I winked at the woman who had come closer to me, and she quietly approached me and picked up my bag.

Then he dusted off the bag and disappeared without even saying thank you.

‘And then…’

I remember that woman’s face too.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry···.”

When I turned my head, the pickpocket was still shaking.

I said with a snicker.

“Follow me. Even if he’s a petty criminal, he must be handed over to the Central Guard.”

Criminals are dealt with by the Central Guard.

Pickpockets are petty criminals, but those who are caught frequently will receive a heavier punishment.

“No, I won’t do this again. I have rabbit-like children at home. Please, just this once…”

“If it’s going to end with an apology, then why are there guards? How are you going to live with such an ignorant attitude?”

“···. ah.”

Only then did the man put his hands into his pockets.

Then he took out some money one by one and handed it over to me.

Just a fairy tale.

I frowned after receiving the fairy tale.

“Who does this kid know by name?”

Just as there are tolls on highways, there are also rates for bribes given to security guards.

If you are caught by the Central Guard, you can be released for a single silver coin if you are a petty criminal.

But a fairy tale? Are you ignoring me as a street guard?

“I took out the wrong one! Sorry···!”

When I opened my eyes wide and looked at the man, only then did the silver coin appear.

“Okay. Let’s make things easier for each other. They say machines only listen when you hit them, but you’re a human.”

“Hey, I gave you silver, so you get copper….”

“You want to go to the Central Guard?”

“···.”

The man had a dissatisfied expression, but eventually lowered his head and disappeared.

He probably doesn’t want to get his silver coin ripped off twice.

I packed the silver and copper coins into my pocket and walked down the alley again.

Today, I protected the security of Imperial Alley.

In the process, the side income was a bonus.

‘It’s money that will be paid to the Central Guard anyway, so I’d better take it.’

Those Central Guard guys are the kind of guys who can sit still and still have their pockets filled.

It is legal to take this much.

“Please give me a penny…. There you are, handsome knight. Please give me a penny….”

At the end of the alley, there was a beggar, so I threw him a fairy tale.

Returning the money stolen from a thief to the weak – this is Hong Gil-dong.

I, who practiced wealth redistribution, was the mainstay of the imperial economy.

“Lael. You’ve worked hard.”

“Thank you for your hard work, Captain.”

Outside the alley, the first guard captain, Kuran, was waiting.

Kuran has been a senior to me since I first came to the guard unit.

He’s a perfect person, except he’s a little stupid.

“I heard that Chris, who was taken away by the special guard last time, never regained consciousness. He became a complete wreck.”

We returned to the guard post and chatted as usual.

When two captains of the guard walk down the street, civilians passing by naturally make way for them.

At first, I felt good because I felt like Moses, but now I’m used to it and I don’t even care.

“Really? That kid really took a lot of money. Tsk tsk. What a pitiful guy.”

“What a pity. He was taken away by the special guards because he did something wrong.”

“That’s true. It’s not a story that has anything to do with commoners like us.”

Imperial Special Guard.

This is where guards get demoted when they make a big mistake.

The work there is not really known, except through rumors, but it is said that no one has ever lasted more than a week.

The Imperial Special Guard was a terror to its officers, as they were said to be mentally disabled and trembled at the mere question of what had happened.

“Thank you for your hard work, Quran and Rael.”

As I was returning to the guard post and changing my clothes, the 4th Guard Captain Gaden approached me.

This guy is also a good guy.

“Garden, what’s going on?”

“The commander is looking for Rael.”

“You called me? What’s going on?”

Why did you call me instead of the person in charge of reporting, Quran?

Is something going on?

“Well, I think you’ll understand once you go there.”

The way Garden looked at me made me feel uneasy for some reason.

It was as if I was watching a soldier go on an overnight shift.

*

When I was reincarnated into this world, I didn’t fall naked.

The so-called ‘other world privilege’.

I had a special privilege.

It’s a sharp sense.

‘… I don’t know if it’s a privilege or something you’re born with.’

If you think about it as falling with your bare body, you might feel resentful and throw up, so it’s better to just think of it as a special privilege.

That feeling was what made it possible for me to have a snack right away without having to go to the cafeteria whenever the food at the daycare center was not tasty.

‘If you go in here, you’ll be screwed.’

I’ve never felt anything like this, not even in a life-threatening situation.

This was my first time feeling this way, and I was wondering what to do, when the door to the battalion commander’s office suddenly opened.

“What are you doing instead of coming in?”

“… I was just getting ready. I just got back from patrol.”

I raised my hand and took a salute.

While I was thinking outside the door, the battalion commander came out to greet me in person.

Now I can’t take it out or put it in.

“What kind of grooming is that guy who doesn’t even shave his beard? Come inside.”

I swallowed hard and went inside.

The battalion commander, who had been frowning with a serious expression, opened his mouth after a while.

“Rael. You know I trust you, right?”

“Yes. Thanks to the battalion commander, I was promoted to captain of the guard.”

The battalion commander nodded and continued.

“Then tell me honestly. Didn’t you hit a guy at a bar a few days ago?”

“··· Yes. I once hit a guy who was causing trouble.”

“He is the son of Count Samuel.”

What the fuck.

My eyes became dizzy at the commander’s words.

It’s hard to believe that the piglet who was causing trouble in the bar was a nobleman, but more importantly, I hit a nobleman.

‘Assault on a nobleman?’

The nobility of the Empire is protected by Imperial law.

Even if he was the captain of the guard, it was an illegal act that could result in his death for a commoner to hit a noble.

“The only good thing is that… the Count showed mercy. He said that since he was almost an abandoned child, and the fact that the Count’s own son was beaten by the guards after causing trouble in a bar was nothing to brag about, let’s handle it as quietly as possible.”

The battalion commander said that and pushed a piece of paper towards me.

“At least I managed to save my life. Rael.”

——————————

[Command for department transfer]

Third Guard Captain Rael is transferred to the Imperial Special Guard.

——————————

The worst unit to be demoted when the Imperial Guard misbehaves.

Imperial Special Guard.

I was demoted there.

*

News of Rael’s transfer, a famous figure in the Central Guard, spread quickly through the guard.

The First Guard Captain, Kuran, lit a cigarette in a corner of the training ground.

Next to him stood Jayden of the 1st Guard with a bitter expression on his face.

“Kuran-nim. Have you heard the news about the 3rd Guard Captain? I heard he was transferred to the Special Guard?”

“Yeah. You beat the Count’s son. It’s just lucky his neck didn’t fall off.”

“Even if he’s the captain of the guard, he’s not kind to nobles. The youngest captain of the guard in the empire was kicked out in an instant just because he was an orphan.”

Rael was the object of envy for the common guards.

Because he was a self-made man who rose to the position of captain of the guard by proving his own abilities without any connections or seniority.

He is a person that everyone likes because he treats people around him well.

“The youngest captain of the guard is nothing special. Don’t you know the rumors about Rael? He’s a genius who started the sword at the age of 10.”

“Huh? Was that how it was, Lord Rael? … But why are you in the Guard and not the Knights?”

Jaden’s eyes opened wide.

He was 20 years old when he became black.

They say that the genius of the century at the academy developed a kendo at the age of 13, so it’s unimaginable that he did it at the age of 10.

“He said it was like someone who liked sports when they were young and became a fast runner. That’s ridiculous.”

He also stood out in Rael’s Black Guard.

Kurando, a mid-level Sword Expert, was considered strong within the Guard, but he was unable to block the sword swing lightly from Rael, who was ten years younger than him.

“He seems like a kind person. He visits the daycare center almost every day. He must be strong and have free time.”

“He donates part of his salary to the orphanage where he grew up. He’s a nicer guy than he looks.”

“Wow, really? He looks like a woman, but he’s surprisingly kind. Come to think of it, he used to buy me drinks whenever I ran into him on the street. He was especially kind to the guards who were commoners.”

“Yeah. You too, pray that Rael doesn’t become a cripple.”

Smoke from the Quran’s mouth flowed out.

Jaden, seeing that sight, asked cautiously.

“I… But what does the Special Guard do? I’ve only heard about it, but I don’t know what they do. Have you heard anything about it while serving in the guard?”

“Well. Rumor has it that there is a monster there.”

Unlike the guards that protect the empire, the special guards protect special things.

However, since no one had returned, all Quran could do was pray for his safety.

“A monster…? Then, isn’t that a big problem?”

“It would have been the same if another guy had been taken away.”

The Quran shook out the tobacco and threw it on the floor.

‘Strangely, I’m not worried.’

The sense of Quran, who had served in the guard for a long time, was speaking.

Lael.

I had a baseless feeling that he would do something about it.