Imperial Guard - Chapter 32



Only Noblemtl

Episode 32

Heavenly Emperor

A beggar’s den in the corner of District 5.

Even after a few days, the musty smell was still there.

Lael walked through the beggars’ den towards the Baggers’ stronghold.

“La, it’s Rael···!”

“Shh. Stay still! Lord Rael told me not to react!”

“Ah, I see···.”

Rael snickered as he watched the beggars tense up at the sight of him.

Why are you making such a fuss when you could just stay still?

“Hey, these beggars don’t even say hello to me anymore?”

Rael threw the joke without thinking much about it.

“Eek! Eek! Sorry!”

“This, this kid told me to stay still! Lord Rael!”

At the same time, two beggars started fighting each other.

“···No, I can’t even joke. Okay, just lie down.”

I was in a good mood after drinking with Carlson yesterday, so I tried to crack a joke, but I think I did it wrong.

Is this what it means when they say that a frog dies from a stone thrown without thinking?

I thought that from now on I would never make eye contact with those beggars.

Lael entered the Bagers’ stronghold, an abandoned building.

As I was waving my hand at the beggars and going in, I saw a familiar face.

“Uh, Caron?”

“Ugh!”

Caron. The number two man in Baggers.

It had been a long time since I saw him, so I approached him to say hello, but he gasped in surprise and covered his face with both arms.

“If someone saw me, they would think I was hitting them. Why are you doing that?

Rael was dumbfounded at the sight and asked.

Beggars tend to drive people into being psychopaths because they are uneducated.

“Um, I’m sorry. What’s wrong?”

“What’s going on? I heard the mask dance is finished.”

The reason Rael came here was because of the finally completed Gaksital.

“Oh, right. Go see the captain. I have something to do. Well, I’ll take care of it now…”

Charon watched Rael warily and then quickly ran behind him.

It’s best not to run into Rael since you never know when you might run into him again.

“Tsk tsk. Is that guy going crazy too?”

It is clear that he was hit in the head while begging.

Rael clicked his tongue and opened the door to the captain’s office.

“Open house. I’m here.”

“Stop talking nonsense and come and sit down.”

Zenith was preparing tea in a teacup.

He seemed to be getting used to the term ‘open-minded’ by now.

‘It’s not fun anymore once I get used to it. Should I stop now?’

Chewy chewy chewy-

Lael took the tea that Zenith was giving him and brought it to his mouth.

I wondered why I was eating something so bland and tasteless, but it was much better than what Tia gave me.

“Sir, where is the masked woman?”

“It’s under the table.”

Rael immediately put his hand under the table.

As he said, a familiar mask was in his hand.

“Whew, you’re finally back in my arms.”

Rael smiled as he looked at the mask.

Looking at the white mask with the red lotus flower stamped on it brought back memories of the past.

‘It seems like only yesterday I was using this to clean District 4.’

I’ll have to write this down if something bothers me in the future.

Rael thought so and put the mask in his bosom.

“Lael. I relayed your information to the Blue Tower yesterday.”

“I know it can’t be helped, but the timing is really bad. There’s a strange rumor going around that you’ve caught a demon…”

It was right after the demons of District 4 were captured, so Rael’s reputation was rising.

“Still, the response was good. Fermat seemed satisfied.”

“That’s fortunate.”

“Besides, he also asked for new information from you. It means he recognizes us as partners.”

Zenith nodded with a satisfied expression.

Bagus was growing by selling Rael’s information.

Although it was a bit regrettable, it was a welcome thing for the head of the organization.

Janice continued speaking with a smile.

“Now that we have established a proper partnership with the Blue Tower, it is only a matter of time before we are recognized by other places. However, it will be a bit difficult in places with royal connections.”

“I told you the royal family is fine.”

Anyway, once the emperor changes, the information guilds attached to him will all be screwed.

We just have to stick with the next emperor.

“Isn’t there anything else Fermat wants more than that? Like meeting you in person?”

Since I’ve sucked it up enough, it might be better to just meet it in person.

If we somehow met and induced a bet, Rael could not lose.

“It didn’t seem possible to approach you from that side.”

“···why?”

“I heard that you can’t come down to Area 4 directly.”

“Is there anyone who can stop the Blue Tower?”

Does it make sense to restrict the movements of the empire’s most powerful wizard?

Rael blinked in confusion.

“Well, I don’t know the details. But I’m sure they can’t move.”

“Hmm···.”

Rael began to think for a moment.

If Fermat doesn’t come in person, should I go myself?

But it was risky for Rael to go to Area 1.

At that moment, a good idea occurred to Rael.

“I will tell them that I am going to the Heavenly Temple.”

“Heavenly Emperor?”

“Yes. I’m going to go play this time. The Celestial Festival is held in Districts 2 and 3, so it’s okay, right? Get together some people you know and secure a good spot.”

In the Cheonsangje, there are many cases where the Magic Tower holds events.

Could it be that he resembles Fermat, who loves gambling and betting?

The wizards of the Blue Tower sometimes make bets with commoners and nobles using light magic, but if there is certain information that Rael is coming, there is a high possibility that the Magic Tower Lord will appear in person.

‘I’d like to give the protagonist a difficult puzzle from the Magic Tower, but… anything related to magic is fine.’

If you have Tia, you can win any bet.

All it takes is a little sacrifice of Rael’s blood.

“Heavenly Emperor… I’ll tell you first. The Blue Tower usually holds small-scale events, but I think they’ll be satisfied if we provide a good location.”

“Okay, let’s do that.”

“Thank you, Rael.”

Zenith was inwardly surprised as she looked at Rael’s indifferent face.

It’s a really big deal to have the attention of the Blue Tower Perma, but it’s also a huge burden.

‘If I were to receive attention from the most powerful wizard in the empire… I’d be so nervous I wouldn’t be able to sleep properly.’

Just imagining it made Zenith’s body tremble in fear.

It can’t be easy, but he takes the attention for granted and turns it to his advantage.

That guts and courage were Rael’s real strength.

“And there’s one thing that bothers me….”

Rael thought back to when he killed Kucheln a few days ago.

The words the bastard said before he died still linger in Rael’s heart.

‘I thought the Demon Tribe made a promise with the Imperial Knights… Did I hear that wrong?’

Rael trusts his senses.

The chances of mishearing are close to 0%.

‘But does that make sense?’

But no matter how much I thought about it, the only thing that came to mind was bullshit.

Because the original Kamen Knights were a sturdy shield that stopped the demons.

No matter how severe the butterfly effect was, it wouldn’t have affected the Imperial Knights.

“Just in case… Please keep an eye out for any strange movements by the Imperial Knights of Kamen.”

“··· Lael. Aren’t you overestimating Bagers? Our informants are beggars.”

“I won’t expect much, so just do it if you can.”

Rael poured the tea in front of him into his mouth and stood up.

At that moment, I suddenly remembered what Carlson had said.

“That’s right, I heard that the Kamen Knights recently conducted a top-secret training exercise in District 1.”

“Secret training? Is that important?”

“It’s better to know than not to know.”

Rael said without thinking.

“i get it.”

Zenith didn’t think this information was that great either.

*

Knock- knock-

Inside a gloomy prison cell with water dripping from the ceiling.

As soon as Rael got out of the beggars’ den, he entered the prison to work for the special guards.

‘It seems cold every time I come here.’

The atmosphere in the Ghost King’s prison was not very good.

Lael took out the chocolates he had prepared from his bosom and threw them one by one into the Demon King’s prison.

“I bought them by type this time too.”

The ghost king nodded, taking each chocolate that Rael threw at him and eating it.

“This is the best after all. Mint chocolate.”

“······.”

Perhaps because I’m locked up in prison, I’m drawn to stronger stimuli.

From now on, I’ll just buy that.

Slap- slap slap-

The ghost queen was eating the chocolate that Rael had thrown at her, and Rael was sitting in front of her, blankly staring at her.

I found this situation strangely odd.

‘Ghost King… The Demon Tribe’s goal is right before my eyes.’

Rael felt the ghost and magic of the Demon King and made a trembling expression.

This feels really strange.

I guess you could say it’s a feeling that you’ve already gotten on board the flow of this world.

Rael didn’t feel so good, as he had wanted to live his whole life in peace.

“Have you come to tell a ghost story again today?”

The demon king, who had almost finished eating the chocolate, looked at Rael.

Her eyes sparkled as if she was expecting a ghost story.

“I’ll do that later. Instead, give me some advice on my worries.”

“Counseling?”

“You said you’d listen to me last time.”

“Oh, that’s right. If you have any worries, I’ll give you advice. I know people well.”

“···.”

Rael stared at the Demon King and thought.

I’m still worried about whether it’s okay to ask this, but I can’t go on not knowing forever.

“Humans originally become close to each other by getting to know each other.”

“Hmm. That’s the law.”

“··· So, I want to know about your past. What you did in the past. And why you’re trapped here.”

They say that if you keep at it, you will lose a hundred battles.

You need to know about the demon king that the demon tribe is chasing in order to think about what to do next.

And the best way to get to know the King of Ghosts was to ask him directly.

What is your true identity? Why are you sealed here when you are so strong? You can ask them all directly.

‘It’s something I would never normally do, but···.’

In fact, if it were the usual Rael, he would never have asked.

But the current Rael is different.

Rael, who realized that he was fucked, could do anything.

And the ghost king’s answer was completely unexpected.

“I don’t know either.”

“··· Why don’t you know?”

“My memories begin with human malice. If you ask me about things before that, I can’t tell you.”

I thought the Ghost King would get angry or not answer, but I never thought he would say he didn’t remember.

‘Is it real?’

Rael’s keen senses felt that the Demon King was telling the truth.

So far, the Demon King that Rael has seen doesn’t seem to be the type to lie… but that doesn’t mean he can be trusted unconditionally.

Because the opponent is a demon king made up of human malice.

“Then, how about this? Are you on the side of the demons who are hostile to humans?”

“That’s not true.”

The ghost king immediately shook his head.

Rael felt something strange when he saw that sight.

“I’m sorry, didn’t you just say you don’t remember anything else?”

It was so strange that he had said he didn’t remember before and now he had the answer right away.

The problem is that Rael’s senses tell him that the Demon King is telling the truth.

“It’s true that you don’t remember. But… I’d like to think that you’re not on the side of the Demons.”

“···.”

A being that is full of human malice and cannot remember anything, but is not on the side of the demons.

What on earth is the true identity of the Demon King?

Lael looked at the demon king and fell into thought.

*

After the King’s surveillance mission was over.

Rael stopped by Dragon Lair.

Because I had to ask for help when making a bet with the Blue Tower.

“As long as you let me draw blood, I’ll give it to you.”

Permission was easy to obtain, and Rael was immediately strapped into what looked like a dental chair.

“···Lady Tia. Do you happen to know where the old man with the Thousand-Year Sword is?”

Rael asked, looking at Tia’s magical power binding him.

A life that’s already fucked up.

I wanted to learn swordsmanship a little later, but the old man was nowhere to be seen.

Since I asked Gent and he said he didn’t know, I had no choice but to ask Tia.

“That kid is just like that. Don’t worry, he’ll show up when you need him. Now, let’s draw some blood.”

“Eww···.”

Rael was again tied to what looked like a dental chair and began to have his blood drawn.

I’ve donated blood a few times in my past life, but having Tia draw blood feels completely different.

Every time I had my blood drawn by magic, I felt the blood inside my body disappearing.

“I’ll help you with whatever you ask me to do, so stop joking around.”

“I told you, it feels so weird. Anyway, since you gave me blood, you decided to help me. If I ask you to help me, you have to help me.”

“okay.”

Taak-

When Tia snapped her fingers, the magic needle that had been pulled out of Rael’s body disappeared.

Only then was Rael able to breathe a sigh of relief.

“I’ll take your research materials. But why are you carrying that piece of trash around?”

“Trash?”

“I’m talking about the trash inside your chest.”

“··· Could this be it?”

Rael carefully took out the mask.

Tia frowned at the sight of Gaksital.

“You brought me such a cheap magic… You have guts. Give it to me now.”

“You’re not going to break it, are you? It’s quite expensive.”

Lael looked at Tia and held the mask in his arms.

I couldn’t just let the mask I had worked so hard to make get destroyed.

“No. I’ll erase that trash magic and cast a new magic. Dispelling presence, hiding, canceling noise… These basic magics are easy.”

“Thank you, Tia.”

Rael immediately handed over the mask.

Long and short of it, it was obvious that Tia was greater than the wizard saved by the beggars.

Phew-

Tia looked at the mask as if it were dirty and breathed magic into it.

Rael, who was watching that scene, spoke to Tia.

“Lady Tia. Can I ask you something?”

“huh?”

“Don’t you know about the Ghost King’s past?”

If a dragon has lived for thousands of years, wouldn’t it know a lot about the Demon King?

Rael had such an idea.

“The past? Well, I heard that the Empire had captured that monster. Even if it’s a dragon, I don’t know everything. At the time, I was collecting other dragons after the Great War.”

Tia said as she breathed magic into the mask.

Training dragons was an important task for her as well, so she didn’t know much about the human world at the time.

“Hmm···.”

Tia also didn’t know about the Ghost King’s past.

But, no matter how busy the times were, it was strange.

If the Demon King was caught by the Empire while slaughtering humans… shouldn’t we know about it, even if it’s late?

‘··· I have a bad feeling about this.’

The more I learned about the secrets of the Ghost King, the more uncomfortable I felt inside.

*

As the special guard’s work for the day ended, it was already late at night.

Rael walked the streets at night and thought about the upcoming Celestial Festival.

A celestial festival honoring the first emperor of the empire.

It is originally held for 3-4 days, but this festival is said to be held for a week.

‘This is going to be really fucking dangerous.’

A week-long festival? It’s impossible for something to go wrong.

“I absolutely must not let children go to daycare centers.”

Rael sighed and walked towards the central guard post that was shining even at night.

The guy guarding the building had a familiar face.

“Hey, James.”

“Ah, Captain Rael!”

“Isn’t it Captain Quran today?”

Lael asked, saluting James.

“Yes, that’s right.”

As expected, it was just as I had researched in advance.

“Okay. I’ll just go inside for a bit, so don’t write down your entry and exit log.”

“Understood! Captain Rael.”

Rael entered the guard unit, committing corruption as if he were used to it.

Squeak-

As I opened the door to the duty room, I saw the first security captain, Kuran, sitting upright and doing paperwork.

“The Quran.”

“Huh? Rael. What brings you here during work hours again?”

“Please show me the plan for the Celestial Festival. I’m planning to go to the Celestial Festival and would like to use it as a reference.”

“If it’s the plan of the Heavenly Emperor, it’s attached to that side.”

Rael turned his head.

As the Qur’an says, the plan of the Heavenly Emperor was posted openly on the wall.

‘The military is really a mess.’

To think that such confidential information would be posted on the wall.

I wonder what these kids are thinking.

Rael looked at the plan, then tilted his head.

“The Quran. Is there anything more detailed? It also contains the movements of the royal family and high-ranking nobles.”

“does not exist.”

“Yes? Why?”

“You ask the obvious. The higher-ups are in charge of the Imperial Knights of Carmen, so the plan must be there.”

“··· Now that I think about it, that’s true.”

I tried to think of an escape route in advance, but it looks like the higher-ups will know how to escape on their own.

Lael regretfully checked the guard’s plan.

“··· Quran. If so. If there really were an attack on the Heavenly Emperor, where do you think it would be?”

“That won’t happen, but… if we really have to dig into it, it would be this way.”

The Quran pointed to the west of Area 2.

It is the closest place to the outskirts of the capital.

If someone was going to break in, it was most likely going to be this way.

‘If you think about it logically… that would make sense.’

Rael recalled the flow of the original work.

The enemy, the knights, and the guards all know that the west is a strategic point.

But the enemies invade from a completely different place.

‘south.’

Rael checked the southern part of District 2 where the Academy was located.

In an academy drama, the academy is always broken through.

That rule still applies at this festival.

‘It would be good to have a strong force in the South···.’

The Imperial Knights of Carmen will guard the West, and the Order will guard the festival grounds.

So then what’s left…

‘··· I guess I should give the Blue Tower a good spot.’

Rael smiled at his idea.