Imperial Guard - Chapter 31



Only Noblemtl

Episode 31

Heavenly Emperor

The appearance of the Demons in the capital of the Kamen Empire was not something that could be overlooked.

I don’t know about districts 3 and 4, but there have been reports of demons in district 2 where the nobles live.

It meant that the empire’s security was completely destroyed.

Even the Empire’s response was not good.

In Zone 2, the wizards of the Blue Tower moved first, and in Zones 3 and 4, the religious order led by the Knights of the Silver Cross subdued the demons.

The religious order and the magic tower that had been caught began to formally protest to the imperial family, so it was nothing short of a humiliation for the empire.

“Isabel. What happened?”

The second princess, Yuri, was facing Isabelle inside the special guard building.

She could not understand this situation in which the empire was being humiliated.

As soon as Yuri heard Rael say that the demons had appeared, she reported it to the imperial family.

At least the demons that appeared in District 3 should have been discovered and dealt with by the Empire before the religious order.

“That is···.”

Isabelle bowed her head, trailing off her words in a way that was uncharacteristic of hers.

She continued with an apologetic expression.

“I’m sorry. I tried my best to convey the severity of the situation, but… I didn’t hear anything.”

Although Isabelle reported that the demons had appeared, the royal family ignored her words.

Yuri frowned at Isabelle’s appearance.

It wasn’t her fault.

The problem was that the royal family ignored the second princess’s report.

“···Where did you disconnect?”

“I’m not sure, but… I think it’s Gideon Garcia. He’s the Commander of the Knights of Carmen.”

The Knights of Kamen, the knight order representing the imperial family, ignored reports of the appearance of the Demons.

Yuri leaned back on the sofa, questioning the truth.

‘Gideon Garcia… what on earth do you want to do?’

Gideon Garcia, Commander of the Knights of Carmen, is a man who has dedicated his life to loyalty to the Empire.

Although he advocates war with the demons in the forbidden Alheim in order to unite the empire, he would not do anything that would harm the empire.

‘Surely… You’re not really thinking of starting a war between the Empire and the Demon Tribe, are you?’

Yuri decided to keep an eye on Gideon Garcia.

Being loyal to the empire doesn’t necessarily mean it benefits the empire.

“Isabel. Will he be attending the Celestial Festival next week?”

“Yes. This time, the royal family and high-ranking nobles have also decided to participate to show the strength of the empire.”

“··· Yeah. Then, keep a close eye on Gideon Garcia.”

What would it have been like if he had been the first prince?

Would the report have been ignored and the imperial family disgraced even then?

Yuri sighed as she thought about that.

‘You have to have strength.’

A stronger force is needed.

The power to control the empire, and Yuri herself···.

*

The special guard is open to the sky and gets plenty of sunlight.

Rael had some free time at the guard post after a long time.

When I looked up at the sky, I saw a ton of birds.

“What kind of birds are flying so much?”

Rael looked at the birds flying in a V formation in the sky with wonder.

“Those birds are a species that migrates between habitats depending on the season. That is also a mystery of nature.”

“··· Ghent. Thank you for telling me, but could you please stop talking about the mysteries of nature? My ears are getting calluses.”

Ghent was looking for nature again today.

It felt like he liked nature more than Reina.

“I see. But Rael. You’ve become quite famous among humans.”

“What does that mean? Why is he famous?”

Reina, who was playing with Vermeil III at Ghent’s words, also joined the conversation.

After seeing the formation of the Jangseongjong Cartel, Rael blankly focused on watching the birds passing by.

It didn’t seem like there would be any particularly productive conversation between those two.

“I often hear that the demons that appeared in the capital have been defeated. I haven’t heard exactly how strong the demons are, though…”

“What? It was nothing. It’s just a lower class demon anyway.”

“Well, I guess the strength of each demon varies greatly. Rael, what kind of demon did you catch?”

At the sound of his name being called, Rael opened his eyes slightly and looked at Ghent.

Where on earth did this giant hear such rumors?

“I caught the lieutenant demon, but it’s nothing special, so don’t worry about it.”

“Oh. Lieutenant Demon? You somehow managed to avoid being poisoned by magic?”

Reina, who had come quickly, looked around Rael’s body and spoke.

Rael’s body, which resists magic and ghosts, was amazing no matter how many times I saw it.

“I told you. I told you that you’re a genius. But Gent, you’re surprisingly quick to catch on? Is that the kind of thing you like?”

Rael looked at Ghent and asked.

It felt strange to see someone who was usually quiet do that.

“I like the flow of the human world as much as nature.”

“It wasn’t that kind of image, but it’s interesting.”

It’s said that a guy who sits all day and looks at his garden spreads rumors quickly.

I feel like I’m spending twice as much time alone.

“I don’t necessarily seek out rumors. I just enjoy observing humans. I plan to go around observing humans during the upcoming Celestial Festival.”

“Heavenly Emperor? … Oh, is it that time already?”

Rael nodded at the familiar name.

The Celestial Emperor of the Kamen Empire.

This festival is held annually around this time, centered around districts 2 and 3.

It’s said to be a festival honoring the first emperor of the empire… Honestly, I wasn’t very interested.

Originally, festivals were mostly held in poor neighborhoods to cheer up the people.

I guess they’re just doing it to manage the public sentiment.

It was a memorable festival for Rael, who often patrolled as the captain of the guard.

‘Come to think of it, this year’s Cheonsangjemyun… is that guy finally going to be active?’

Cheon Sang Je is the first place where the original protagonist is active outside of the academy.

It was definitely this year, as it was right around the time I graduated.

‘It’s strange that the main character is only now moving…’

This world itself was strange from the beginning.

Is the fact that the security at the academy, which only caters to the children of nobles, is so poor an inevitable limitation of the academy?

With the fictitious incident breaking out, you must have been busy just dealing with internal affairs within the Academy.

“Oh, the festival! Lael. Come and see it with me.”

“··· Reina. Why am I going to play with you? And aren’t you being chased by elves? Can you just wander around?”

“It’s okay. I completely absorbed the power of the World Tree branch you gave me.”

“I’m not going. Play with Ghent or that fox.”

Rael closed his eyes and laid back in the hammock.

Rael has decided to go with the flow now, but he has no reason to go looking for the Heavenly Emperor when he knows that something is happening.

‘Oh, but I guess I won’t be able to keep the kids from the orphanage. Wait a minute. Then won’t I have to keep all the people I know from going?’

If someone you know in Heaven falls behind, you won’t have a good night’s sleep…

Once I started caring, there was no end to it.

As Rael was seriously contemplating, Gent opened his mouth.

“They say that even the royal family will come to this celestial festival.”

“Huh? Why is a heavy-assed royal coming down?”

“The demons have invaded, so they must want to show the strength of the imperial family. Thanks to this, this Celestial Festival will be the most splendid festival ever.”

“Royal family···.”

Rael began to worry about the word royalty.

There aren’t many opportunities to actually see the royal family, and if they do come, all the other important nobles will come too.

It might be helpful to actually see the faces of the characters in the original work.

“Lael. Come with me. I don’t know the way to District 2-3.”

Reina grabbed Rael’s hammock and started rocking it back and forth.

The mad elf was now making a physical protest.

“Okay. Let’s go together, Reina. Leave the hammock alone so we can go.”

Rael nodded.

If the royal family comes, it is worth stopping by the Celestial Festival.

I have to tell the people I know to run away.

“Oh, really?!”

“Yeah. But you have to just follow me quietly.”

Rael looked at the special guard building and thought about the glass inside.

‘I guess I’ll be able to see Yuri’s true appearance too.’

In the Celestial Palace, you will be able to see the second princess, Yuriel, rather than Yuri.

I also looked forward to seeing what the next emperor would look like when he was a member of the royal family.

*

The top floor of the Blue Tower.

Two men’s voices were heard from Fermat’s room.

“Invading the capital while we are in a state of armistice? Isn’t this tantamount to declaring war?”

Fermat’s trusted secretary, Chiron, spoke angrily.

He felt disgusted by the demons who suddenly invaded the empire.

“The ones we have a truce with are the Demon King’s army. If the remnants that are not part of the Demon King’s army are running wild, then we have nothing to say.”

Fermat analyzed the situation objectively.

Unless they wanted to start a new war, there was nothing humans could do to the Demons until they cut off their tails.

“Isn’t that just nonsense?! An obvious lie! And isn’t it Alheim’s fault for not managing it?”

“Humans are also prohibited from entering Alheim, but the demon hunters are still in power. If you want to find fault with them, they will do the same.”

The byproduct of the demon tribe, which is imbued with magic energy, is an irreplaceable item for sorcerers.

In addition, there are special products that are only found in Alheim, so many people make a living from them.

“That’s true, but… isn’t invading the capital a different story?”

“There’s a lot to consider over there too. The Empire has the Gaia Cult.”

In order to become a heresy judge of the Gaia Church, you must enter the forbidden Alheim alone and hunt demons.

As long as the Gaia Church is the state religion of the empire, the conflict between the demons and humans can never end.

“shit···.”

“Kairon. The problem isn’t ‘why’ the demons invaded Area 2. The problem is ‘how’ they invaded Area 2. No matter how much I think about it, I can’t understand it.”

The second district of the capital is also where the lower nobility lives.

That is why the Knights of Kamen, the representative knight order of the Imperial Family, are thoroughly defending it.

‘It’s ridiculous for a mid-level demon to invade the empire.’

The Knights of Kamen are the Empire’s greatest knightly order, and are the continent’s most powerful military force, comprised mostly of beginning and mature graduates.

Any demon tribe that steps foot on the capital’s soil will be turned to dust.

“I have formally protested to the Empire, but I have not yet received a response. It seems that the Empire is also aware of the problem.”

Someone who knew perfectly well the Knights’ weaknesses betrayed them.

Fermat saw this possibility as the most likely.

It is a somewhat realistic and logical reasoning.

“··· I guess I won’t be able to completely trust the Empire for the time being.”

“Yes. At least until the next emperor is decided, it’s best not to trust the Empire. Speaking of which, Chiron. Didn’t you say that information came from the Information Guild I mentioned last time?”

A strange security guard discovered while going to see Eric.

Fermat had asked the Information Guild to investigate him.

“The name was definitely… Baggers. It’s a place with a nice feel to it.”

“Yes. I read it once before passing it on to the Lord of the Tower… The quality of the information seems quite good.”

Kyron placed the papers he had received from Bagus on the table.

“hmm···?”

Fermat looked at the documents and was inwardly surprised.

The information about the special guard and Rael was written in great detail.

Special guards seen by civilians and outer guards.

And some detailed biographical information about a person named Rael.

Unlike other information guilds, it felt more vivid and real.

“··· Chiron. This is the first time I’ve received such detailed information from the Information Guild.”

“I thought so too.”

“And what about this important 18cm part? Did you measure it yourself?”

Fermat read down the information Bagus had provided.

After reading the information that Rael had captured the demons together with the knights, Ferma put down the documents and slowly turned his head.

He looked at Chiron and said.

“··· Chiron. Even if the information is detailed, isn’t it too detailed?”

“I think so too.”

“This is no way···”

“Yes. I think you agree with me.”

Their eyes met.

In the quiet silence, Fermat nodded.

“It’s just that it hasn’t been known yet because it’s only been active for a short time, but it must have been a place with incredible abilities.”

“That’s right. I guess we were lucky to find it before the royal family! I think we can ask Bagus for information on the Blue Tower in the future.”

Fermat and Chiron were amazed by Bagus’s tremendous information power.

It was information with a sense of realism that could not be obtained from other information guilds.

It was like asking beggars on the street.

“You can be sure that you trust this place called Baggers, right?”

“Yes. Based on my personal research, it is a new information guild that has no line.”

“Okay. Then I’ll leave it to you to take care of some of the things you were independently investigating at the Blue Tower.”

“Okay, I see. Oh, should I also ask you to investigate the Empire’s response when the Demons invade the capital?”

“I don’t think I’ll be able to figure that out… but I guess it’s okay to send it anyway.”

The Baggers are an intelligence organization operating on the outskirts.

I never expected to know what was happening in the heart of the capital.

*

After leaving the special guard, Rael met Carlson at a bar in District 4.

Since I couldn’t go to the orphanage myself, I had to meet Carlson separately.

“Ha. Brother Rael. Is it because it’s been a while? It’s not easy to make money with dice. Even Gaia-sama chose today, so why…”

“··· How can you be a knight while saying things like that?”

Rael clicked his tongue as he looked at the paladin who had lost all his money gambling on dice.

It was questionable how this little guy became a knight.

“That’s not the point, bro! My money is gone.”

“Instead of thinking negatively about losing money, think positively about filling other people’s pockets.”

“Oh, brother. You’re smart. And that too in the name of Gaia-sama···.”

Rael shook his head as he watched Carlson begin to pray.

It was such a shame that my only connection to the Paladins was with this guy.

“Carlson. You’re a Knight of the Silver Cross, aren’t you? Did you hear any strange stories while you were in District 1?”

“Huh? Suddenly? What are you talking about?”

“Anything is fine. Have you heard anything?”

The Knights of the Silver Cross appear frequently in the original story.

Anything you could pick up could help.

“Hmm… I’ve heard a lot, but there’s a story that Brother Rael would like… Oh, right. There was that story too. That the Imperial Knights did some random group training.”

“Group training?”

“Yes. It’s a top secret training exercise, so even the Knights of District 1 keep it a secret, but I happened to hear it while passing by the Knight Commander’s office. Hehe.”

Carlson lowered his voice as he spoke, fearing that others might hear.

“What is the content of the secret training? Is it perhaps training for rebellion against the Empire?”

Rael lowered his voice accordingly.

Top secret training? I had a feeling something important would come out of it.

“Huh? I don’t know the details.”

“··· You really have a knack for being vaguely helpful, Carlson.”

Rael shook his head in disbelief.

I don’t know what the significance is of simply having undergone top-secret training… but I guess I’ll just relay it to Bagus.

Rael thought so and filled his glass again.

“Carlson. It’s none of my business whether you lose money gambling or not, but are you doing a good job of keeping tabs on the daycare center?”

“Don’t worry. I’ve prepared ten battle axes and ten greatswords so that you can respond immediately if anything happens. I think there are a lot of dangerous guys in this area.”

“···So you’re the most dangerous kid in this area?”

“Huh? Is that so?”

Rael lifted his glass with a hollow laugh.

Carlson also laughed and toasted when he saw that.

‘It seems strange for me to be hanging out with a guy like this.’

Although that thought crossed his mind for a moment, Rael tried to ignore it and drank his drink.