Imperial Guard - Chapter 17



Only Noblemtl

Episode 17

Magic

Rael walked along the quiet street, surrendering himself to the darkness of the night.

The task of dealing with Bennett, who had been dragging his feet, was left to the beggar.

The wild dogs beyond the walls of District 5 can chew on anything.

This is a method of disposing of corpses that you will come to know even if you don’t want to know it if you live on the streets.

“No matter how much I think about it, it’s still strange···.”

Jerk- Jerk-

The cool night air stirred Rael’s hair.

After dealing with Bennett, there was something I didn’t think about while talking to Reina.

‘Why does a guy who works alone say that if he fails, he’ll die?’

At the last moment, Bennett fired the curse, burning his own life force.

And then one word he heard was getting on Rael’s nerves.

[If I fail anyway, I’ll die…! I’ll take you with me!]

If I fail, I die anyway?

It means that you are carrying out someone’s orders and if you fail, you will be punished.

This is in stark contrast to Bennett’s statement that he operates alone.

Rael took a step forward to relieve the anxiety in his heart.

Whatever you do, you must make sure to clean up after yourself.

‘I hope you still don’t know that I was fired from the captain’s post…’

I headed to the Central Guard Station for the first time in a while. It was late at night, but the guard station’s lights were still bright.

Rael approached the guard guarding the guardhouse building.

“Long time no see, James.”

“Huh! Aren’t you Captain Rael!?”

“Yeah. Who’s working today?”

“Captain Kuran is on duty.”

That’s fortunate.

It looks like the person on duty today is a familiar Quran.

If it were someone else, you might have had to raise your fist to convince them, but if it was the Quran, it could be easily overcome.

“I’ll be back in a bit, so don’t write down your entry and exit log. Okay?”

“Yes! I understand!”

As expected, security in medieval fantasy is a mess.

Rael went to the duty room inside the guardhouse as usual.

Squeak-

As I opened the door, which seemed familiar, I saw the first guard captain, Kuran, sitting upright and working on paperwork.

He seemed to still love the Empire, even though he couldn’t tell left from right.

“It’s been a while. Quran.”

“Rael? What brings you here?”

“Quran. Please invest just one hour with your beloved junior.”

Rael entered the duty room as if it were nothing special.

It was to use magic tools that only employees can use.

“Can’t you see I’m on duty?”

“I’ve worked before, too. I don’t have much time to do these days anyway.”

“You have nothing to do? You have to be alert so that you can respond immediately no matter when, where, or what happens.”

“···.”

How is that any different from having nothing to do?

Rael sighed and sat down next to Quran.

“This. Please check if it’s counterfeit.”

He placed the identity card and the believer’s badge from Bennett’s arms on the table.

“Where did you come from?”

“I dealt with criminals.”

“Rael. If you find a criminal, the rule is to capture him and bring him to the Central Guard.”

Rael stared at the Quran.

Although the Quran is obsessed with FM, there are ways to persuade it.

Just appeal to their emotions.

“Ha. Kuran. Actually, this guy visited our orphanage once. He’s suspected of being a pedophile. We dealt with him on the spot, but there might be something strange in his house.”

“······ hmm.”

First Guard Captain Kuran was troubled after hearing Rael’s words.

‘If it’s not someone else but Rael…’

The Qur’an held Rael in very high esteem.

He was not discouraged even when he was demoted to a special guard unit called Hell of the Imperial Guard.

He still helps out at the orphanage where he grew up, and even takes the lead in public safety management even though he doesn’t have to.

Rael’s actions serve as an example not only to the civilian guards, but to all other guards as well.

‘Once in a while would be okay.’

Imperial law forbids us from examining the identity cards of Imperial citizens for personal reasons, but maybe we can get away with it this once.

Quran looked at Rael and then nodded.

“Understood. I’ll bring you the magic tool if you so please. However, if an emergency arises, I’ll prioritize the situation.”

“Thank you, Quran.”

With a satisfied expression, Kuran took out the magic tool from behind the duty room.

This is an identity check tool that can only be used by employees on the day.

When I put the identification card into the magic tool, a red light leaked out.

“The identity card is fake. The person in question died ten years ago.”

“Tsk. Of course, right?”

Even if Bennett were a real person, there’s no way he’d be carrying around his own ID badge.

But the next moment, a blue light came out of the magic tool.

“Rael. The sect’s insignia is real. It even shows the residence.”

“Really? Wow, as expected from a religious group. They never betray their trust.”

Rael smiled, clenching his fist.

Those bastards don’t even investigate criminals and just hand out punishment badges.

I have never been more grateful to the church than I am today.

“Can you tell me where the guy’s house is that’s on the school sign?”

“Even if you are a criminal, you cannot freely reveal information about the citizens of the empire… but as a member of the special guards, you must share some information to deal with the situation immediately.”

“Yes. Thank you, but…”

Why do this person’s eyes look like this?

At one point, Quran was looking at Rael with the eyes of a father who is amazed at his grown child.

“I wish you could always stay the same, Rael.”

“···Ah, yes. Take care. I’m going.”

Although it felt strange, Rael easily found out Bennett’s address.

*

A slum located deeper than the orphanage in District 4.

Rael frowned at the stench that stung his nose and walked away.

It was a good decision to wear a mask just in case.

It’s still disgusting, but it seems to smell less now.

“What is this… I’m jealous of Reina’s house.”

At the address the Quran gave, there was a house that was almost falling down.

I think it would be more accurate to call this a collection of rocks rather than a house.

Squeak-

Rael pushed open the door slightly and looked inside.

After making sure no one was there, Rael cautiously went inside.

Tsutsutsutsu-

And then, in surprise, I took a step back.

A curse was placed throughout the house, attacking any intruders.

If it weren’t for Rael, I would have been cursed to death the moment I set foot in the house.

“Oh my. I’m surprised.”

The curse buzzed and covered the door, warning of intruders.

Rael, who had briefly touched the curse, went inside without paying any attention.

“The house is a mess too.”

The house was full of all kinds of trash, as if it was intended to be a place to live for a short time and then run away.

In particular, many ominous magical items were seen.

“uh?”

Among the magical paraphernalia, a familiar tree branch was visible.

It was a branch of the World Tree that Bennett had obtained from the black market.

“You said you embezzled money from the academy… How much did you embezzle?”

Rael picked up the four branches of the world tree that were lying around and put them in his bosom.

I got it for free from Uncle Eric, so I don’t know the price range.

How much does it cost for 4?

‘I guess I’ll have to sell it to Reina at black market price.’

Even though I feel bad for Reina, I can’t give her away for free.

The law is that monetary transactions should be done cleanly.

Rael looked around with a satisfied smile.

The World Tree’s branches were a good harvest, but the reason I bothered to search Bennett’s house was because of what the bastard said at the end.

I had to check to see if there were any leftovers.

“What is that?”

Rael frowned at the unidentifiable magic circle on the table.

I didn’t want to touch it because it looked suspicious at first glance, but I remembered seeing the pattern drawn on it.

It is the seal of the Demon Tribe.

After the great war, why is the seal of the Demon Race, which should have been confined to the forbidden land of Alheim, visible here?

“Bennett was connected to the Demons?”

Rael sighed as he saw the truth he didn’t want to know.

The smell of dust from the mask that came in with my breath made me feel even worse.

“··· It was said that magic eats away at the soul.”

Rael lightly placed his hand on the magic circle from which magic energy was flowing out.

Srrrrrrrr-

The magic that was said to devour the human soul disappeared like vapor as soon as it touched Rael’s hand.

Rael clenched and unclenched his fist, remembering the sensation he had just felt.

“Is this how it feels? The demonic energy that the Demon King sheds is a little different from that of the Demon Tribe.”

The reason why it is difficult for humans to deal with demons is because of magic.

The demon eats away at the soul of anyone it comes into contact with and takes away their life force.

An ordinary human would writhe in pain just from being touched by magic.

But Rael was different.

The magic that touched him simply dispersed like smoke.

‘The feeling of the demon tribe… I remembered it clearly.’

It’s a new sensation that I’ve never felt before because I’ve never met a demon before.

It was a magical feeling, like the first time I felt magic.

“···!”

At the same time, Rael’s senses picked up on something.

Chook-

In an instant, Rael pulled out his sword and cut down something that was stuck to the ceiling.

The strange creature that fell to the ground looked like a bat, but had one eye like a cyclops.

“··· Are you a demon?”

– Krrrrrrrrrr.

The bat’s huge pupils met Rael’s eyes.

The pupils moved up and down as if trying to capture as much of Rael’s appearance as possible.

“What the heck.”

Woodduck-

Rael, whose back was covered with goosebumps, instinctively rubbed his eyeballs.

Judging from the way it was shattered with a single kick, it seemed like a servant horse rather than a demon.

The purpose of those huge eyes is probably to convey what they see to the main body.

widely-

Rael raised his hand and caressed his face.

The feel of cheap fabric has never been more welcome than now.

“··· Wow, I would have been screwed if I hadn’t worn the mask.”

Even if they are demons, they won’t be able to harm Rael in the imperial capital, but it would be useless to show their faces.

‘I guess I should be thankful… But if the bastard is behind the demons, there won’t be any threat to the orphanage.’

There are still ten years left before the Demons attack the Empire.

Even though I killed the servant horse, it is common for such weak servant horses to die even from blind attacks.

In the original work, the protagonist killed the Demon’s subordinates several times, but the Demon did not appear.

Perhaps Bennett was one of the many castaways of the Demon Tribe.

Lael left Bennett’s house, his shoulders shaking.

*

Imperial Forbidden, Alheim.

At the end of the realm filled with magic, malice and chaos were intertwined.

“··· Hmm.”

The demon, Malledlax, who was sitting on the obsidian throne, let out a groan of annoyance.

A twisted horn sprouted from his head, and huge wings covered his body.

Finally, Malledlax’s wings spread wide, revealing countless eyes covering his entire body.

Gulp-

Bloody tears flowed from two of their eyes.

It was attached to one human being.

“You died to a human even though you used magic?”

Recently, the number of humans flowing into Alheim has increased.

I tried breathing magic into some of them as a test, but none of them produced proper results.

‘Humans are still weak.’

If I had died with my own magic, my life would have been a waste anyway.

However, it was a little concerning that the magic energy disappeared from the magic circle containing Malladlax’s magic energy.

The amount of magic given to humans was very small, but it did not return to him.

‘Have I been purified? No, it doesn’t feel like that. It feels more like I’ve been absorbed···.’

Mallardax thought deeply for a moment at the first sign of this phenomenon.

Swish-

While Malladlax was lost in thought, a lesser demon emerged from the darkness.

The demon bowed respectfully to his master and then opened his mouth.

“Mr. Maledrax… I have found the flow of your spirit.”

“A ghost? Are you saying you found something that even I couldn’t find with my own eyes?”

“Yes. It is the capital of the Kamen Empire. The flow there has changed.”

“The Kamen Empire···.”

Only then did Maledrax rise from his throne.

This is not the time to be thinking about trivial things like work horses.

Now is the time to discuss the grand plan.

“Listen, you demons of Alheim. In the name of Maledrax, I command you.”

The many eyes of Malladlax emitted an ominous light.

The agonized cries of the damned souls echoed, and evil shadows danced across Alheim.

Maledrax, one of the demon lords representing Alheim.

He declared to the demons in his own name.

“Find the ghost hidden by the empire.”

A being who will bring back the glory of the Demon Race.

A monster that transforms human malice into evil and magic.

Demon King Yasha.

I had to find her faster than anyone else.

*

Knock knock- Knock knock-

The sunlight of medieval fantasy is really hot.

It feels three times hotter than in my previous life.

In a past life, there were people who intentionally burned their skin to become pretty, but in this world, your skin gets burned even if you don’t want to.

Slap- slap-

‘If I stay here every day, I won’t get skin trouble.’

Rael ended his rambling thoughts as he felt the cold air of the basement.

In front of him sat the Demon King with his eyes wide open.

A girl with horns growing out of her head, bound by dozens of iron chains, is a sight that always makes me feel uneasy.

“Okay, I bought everything on the stand, so eat whatever you like.”

Of course, the strangest thing was the sight of Lael throwing chocolate at the tied up demon king.

I even bought them by type just in case I didn’t like them.

“···What is this? It has a strange taste.”

“Hey. Hey! That’s paper!”

“I didn’t know there was such a gorgeous piece of paper. It had a somewhat soft texture.”

Phew.

The chewed paper that came out of the Demon King’s mouth was engulfed in black flames and burned.

“···.”

What is this… It’s scary.

The actions were exactly the same as those of the orphanage children, but the results were terrifying.

“What is this?”

“That’s mint chocolate, it’s chocolate with grass flakes mixed in it···.”

“Oh, this tastes good. Next time, just buy this.”

“Ughh …

Rael swallowed his frustration.

Why do you like that kind of thing?

Next time I should buy pineapple pizza.

Let’s see who wins.

Slap- slap-

The ghost king concentrated on eating the chocolate regardless.

It was so striking that the sight was so similar to the children at the orphanage that Rael bought them snacks for.

“···.”

The difference is that… the demon king in front of you exudes a ghostly aura instead of cuteness, and if you’re not careful, he’s a bomb that could destroy the empire.

“ha···.”

Could it be because of the demonic energy and magic coming out of the Ghost King’s body?

Rael’s head started to get complicated.

‘Is this right?’

Is it really right to buy chocolate for a demon king who was created from the malice of humans?

Should I pretend not to hear like everyone else?

‘No, I thought you were talking from the beginning.’

I should have figured it out when Reina started making a fuss about how she couldn’t have seen the Ghost King’s face from day one.

My life is already so twisted and tangled.

“What’s wrong? You look like you’re worried.”

“··· It’s nothing.”

“Thanks to you, my boring time has been reduced, so if you have any worries, I will consult you. I know people well.”

“Okay. If I have any concerns, I’ll definitely tell you.”

Humans are animals of adaptation.

It has become easier to speak informally to the Ghost King, and the ghosts and magicians have become more bearable now.

The scariest thing is that even this conversation is becoming more and more interesting.

‘Fuck. It’ll work out somehow, right?’

If you think positively, you can see the King of Demons becoming strange right next to you.

Wouldn’t it be okay to just run away when you see signs of recklessness?

“Tell me the story you were telling me last time. The story about the ghosts from my hometown.”

The soft voice of the Demon King broke Rael’s worries.

The demon king, who had finished eating the chocolate, sat upright and stared at Rael.

“Well, what other ghost stories are there?”

“Anything is fine, just try it.”

“Oh, I remember. This is a really scary story. When you’re walking down the street alone in the dark of night, a woman wearing a red mask approaches you…”

Rael focused on the story, looking into the Demon King’s sparkling eyes.

She loved telling scary stories.

I don’t know what the relationship between the Ghost King and ghosts is, but… I’m glad I read a lot of scary stories when I was young.