Imperial Guard - Chapter 43



Only Noblemtl

Episode 43

Warlock

“Self-study?”

“···yes.”

Rael eventually confessed the truth in order to calm down the rampaging Rain.

I was afraid that he would rush at me and say he would kill me, but fortunately, Rain wasn’t that ignorant.

“So you’re saying you’ve never learned proper swordsmanship? Not even once until now?”

Rain opened his eyes wide and asked Rael.

“That’s right. I was an orphan, so I didn’t have money to learn swordsmanship.”

Of course, there were times when I made money, but usually, as soon as I had money, I put it into the daycare.

This is probably the only place in the entire imperial capital that has beds in the orphanage.

“···.”

Rain looked over Rael’s body in confusion.

As I looked at Rael’s perfectly developed body, the anger that had risen to the top of my head gradually subsided.

‘It’s surprising that there’s no teacher… but at least it’s fortunate.’

If you’ve learned even the third-rate swordsmanship you find rolling around on the street, it’ll take a long time to fix that.

Even if it is a piece of trashy swordsmanship, it still has the ‘form’ of swordsmanship.

It is not easy to break the framework of swordsmanship that has already been embedded in one’s body and rebuild it.

‘There may be familiar movements and habits, but… the concept hasn’t been established yet.’

Even if it’s the same house, demolishing a building with its frame erected is a completely different story from destroying a pile of bricks.

Lane sighed in relief and asked again.

“Lael. Then, what was that sword technique you just showed me?”

“··· I just swung it like I usually do when I fight.”

Slashing, stabbing, slamming, etc.

These are things that Rael has roughly mastered while swinging his sword.

‘Even this much is enough to get everyone behind.’

To be honest, I knew I lacked the fundamentals.

That’s natural, since I’ve never learned swordsmanship.

“Have you been fighting with such sloppy movements up until now···?”

“···.”

But Rael secretly believed in his own talent.

I didn’t know I would get cursed at this much.

“This is a situation that I absolutely cannot understand.”

Rain couldn’t believe what he saw of Rael’s swordsmanship.

He crossed swords with Rael twice.

Rain, who has reached the realm of Sword Master, can read the level of his opponent with just two sword touches.

What he felt from Rael was not this kind of cheap sword.

“This won’t work after all.”

Sling-

Rain picked up the sword he had thrown to the ground in anger.

This is the problem that arises when the inspector tries to teach the sword with his head.

“I guess I’ll have to fight it myself to find out.”

“No, if you could just teach me some basics···.”

“Draw your sword! Rael!”

“···.”

Rael had no choice but to draw his sword.

Rain was also a knight from medieval fantasy after all.

It means crazy.

“Rael! Take this!”

Boom!

Rael lowered his body, blocking the approaching sword.

In order to get proper feedback from Lane, whose eyes have already turned red, you have to do your best.

Rael breathed magic into his body, took a step forward, and boldly thrust his sword.

Kyaang!

“Oh!”

Rain stepped back, blocking Rael’s sword.

I found myself involuntarily amazed by the sharp attack that pierced the gap in the attack.

“I can’t lose either!”

As if to repay the high-level attack, Rain immediately twisted his body and swung his sword.

BAM-! KWAANG-!

Dozens of sharp slashes struck Rael, but he blocked all of them with the black rain that swayed like a reed.

“This is fun! I’m going to get to know you properly from now on!”

A blazing aura rose from Rain’s sword.

That crazy knight is now starting to use his magic powers.

“Please do it in moderation! If you get hurt in the daycare center, I won’t treat you like a manager anymore!”

Rael bit his lips and summoned his magic.

Wow-!

The swords clashed with each other, creating a loud noise.

I felt a tingling sensation in my hand as our mana flowed back and forth.

“Oh, shit. Seriously···!”

Rael’s whole body felt tense.

I don’t want to focus this much on simple sparring, but if I’m going to do it, I have to do it properly so I can learn properly.

Tadadot-

Lael charged at Lane with his sword angled at an angle.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Every time the sword energy collided with the ground, the surrounding weeds and dirt were dug up.

A sword-to-sword duel without any psychological warfare.

At first glance, it may seem like a foolish confrontation, but Lane was amazed by the situation itself.

‘It’s gradually catching up to my tempo.’

Rain was adjusting his speed to accommodate Rael.

This was just a duel after all.

“···?!”

Kyaang-!

However, Rael’s black sword began to chase after Rain more and more.

His eyes never missed Lane’s sword, and his feet kept up with Lane’s strides.

“I see, now that I’ve properly mixed swords! Rael!”

The duel between great knights is like a dance.

Just like a dance that falls apart if it gets even a little out of whack, sparring is about subduing the opponent by encroaching on each other’s territory little by little.

But Rael’s black wild horse was like that.

There is no set pattern to the sword, and sometimes it is swung in bizarre or ineffective ways.

To Rain, who has learned proper swordsmanship, this sword looks like trash.

‘But he covers it up with a monstrous body and senses.’

Swordsmanship is the art of efficiently wielding a sword.

Rael had no frame of swordsmanship.

That is, there were no limits.

‘Rael’s true value is revealed in actual combat.’

Only then was Rain able to truly understand Rael.

The sword he judged to be a piece of trash dug into the back of his neck.

Bang-!

A keen sense like that of a beast.

And a superb body that carries out ridiculous orders.

He was the most interesting inspector I’ve ever met, and he was absolutely overwhelmingly talented.

“As expected, meeting you was such a great stroke of luck!”

Rain felt great pleasure in this duel.

It was the first proper battle I felt in a long time.

“Rael…! Raise your sword! It’s been a while since I’ve had a proper time!”

Originally, causing a fight in Dalian was extremely dangerous.

Unlike the sword, even a small mistake can put your life at risk with the sword.

However, Rain perfectly understood Rael’s level.

I was confident that I would never get hurt when sparring with him.

‘Future Sword Master? How can you say such stupid things?’

Rael was equal to himself or greater.

He was already a sword master.

“Sir, I can’t get that sword to work.”

Rael took a step back as he looked at Rain, who had raised his sword.

Rain, who was crazy engrossed in the training, looked at Rael with a blank expression.

“Huh? What did you say?”

Rain, who had been smiling, suddenly stopped swinging his sword.

The excitement that had risen to the top of my head suddenly plummeted to the floor.

Rain continued speaking immediately.

“Rael. Don’t lie and breathe magic into me.”

“It’s true.”

Hwaaak-

Rael breathed magic into the sword.

Geomgang is a technique where thin sword energy is layered several times to cover a weapon with magical power.

However, Rael’s sword only produced a fog-like blackness and no sword energy was created.

“This, this… This isn’t right?”

Rain blinked at Rael’s sword.

His level of swordsmanship was also extremely excellent.

Even though it was a weak sword, the mana was clearly visible enough to be believed.

But in the end, it was a black mark.

“That’s ridiculous…”

It was clear that Rael’s power was superior to that of most knights.

Although he cannot use the sword, his physical abilities have already reached the level of a Sword Master.

It was an incomprehensible dissonance.

‘Can something like this happen?’

If I had to make a metaphor, Rael would be like a ‘toothless wooden cart pulled by four of the continent’s finest horses.’

Compared to his perfect body, his inner strength was woefully lacking.

No, it is a nonsensical entity from the beginning.

What kind of crazy person would ride in a wooden cart with no teeth and only change the horse into a fine horse?

If you drive a cart like that, it will break down because it won’t be able to withstand the speed of the horse.

That being was Rael.

“··· Rael. Are you intentionally destroying the magical power that makes up the sword?”

“Why would you do something like that? If you were going to do that, you wouldn’t have come to learn from the captain.”

“Euuuuum, yes. That’s right.”

“So, what do you think? Is there anything you can teach me? Focusing on the basics or swordsmanship.”

“Wait a minute. Let me think about it for a moment.”

Rain just thought as he reviewed the dialogue.

Rael was a genius who could move the body.

A monstrous sense and a body that perfectly digests that sense are the perfect talents for an inspector.

However, his skill in handling magical powers could not keep up with his.

“I don’t know what happened… Lael. Try raising your sword again.”

Woof-

Lael raised his sword without saying a word.

“Erase it and then raise it again.”

Woof-

“again.”

Woof-

“again.”

“··· What is this?”

Woof-

Rael asked, raising his voice.

I’m not complaining about the Sword Master’s methods, but I wish he would explain them a bit more.

“The way you generate the black energy is slightly different. You really haven’t mastered the mana cultivation method, Rael.”

“Because I studied on my own.”

“Then it’s easy. I’ll teach you the Rain Knights’ mana training method. That will be most helpful to you.”

Since I couldn’t teach Rael how to train his body, the best solution was to teach him how to train mana.

From now on, he had to focus on mana cultivation instead of physical training.

“I would like to teach you the swordsmanship of the Knights of Rain, but… I can’t imagine whether that would be a plus or a minus for you. I think it would be better to just wait and see for a little longer.”

Rael was a genius, and the best way to deal with genius is to leave him alone.

If you give him the opportunity to reach his full potential, he will soar at any time.

“Ah, you don’t have to teach me the Mana training method.”

Rael shook his head.

The Knights of Rain’s training methods were excellent, but he had already made a promise with the best swordsman on the continent.

‘Thousand-year sword master.’

I’ve decided to learn the old man’s sword, so I’ll come back when the time comes.

“Rael. Then what do you want to learn from me?”

“I came here to learn swordsmanship, but you said you wouldn’t teach me swordsmanship.”

“ah···.”

Rain nodded.

If you think about it, Rael had asked for the sword from the beginning.

“Or do you have any tips that would be helpful in real life? You’ve been around for a long time, Captain. Maybe you have some good know-how that only the knights know.”

“It’s a know-how that only knights know···.”

Rain began to worry.

As soon as I had a concrete example, something to talk about came to mind.

“Rael. Do you know what the first thing a knight learns when he joins the Order?”

“Washing the dishes? Cleaning?”

“···No, you learn to never let go of your sword. For example, let’s say your sword gets stuck in a solid rock. Rael, what would you do?”

“What should I do? I’ll give it a try and if I don’t get a good estimate, I’ll just run away.”

“Yes. But most knights try to draw their swords by applying force several times.”

“Why?”

Rael simply could not understand that foolish judgment.

Your own neck could be cut off at any moment, but you can’t run away, so why pull out your sword?

“Because I learned that a knight should never let go of his sword. It may be hard for you to understand, but chivalry is very important to a knight. I also had a hard time overcoming it in real combat. If you ever fight a knight, remember this.”

“Hmm···.”

I’ve often seen nobles fill their stomachs with useless formalities, but I never thought knights could do the same.

‘No. Most of those guys are nobles.’

When I thought about it, it was obvious.

It seems that those of noble birth were unable to correct their bad habits even after becoming knights.

Rael nodded as if he understood.

*

The next day.

Day 3 of the Celestial Festival.

Rael walked through the second section of the Celestial Empire again.

Looking at the people laughing and enjoying the festival, it seems like they have completely forgotten that the demons invaded the capital.

‘As expected, those in high positions are smart.’

You’re trying to win back the hearts of the people with just one festival.

It’s a really great ability.

“Brother Lael. Would you like to go eat chicken skewers together?”

“Don’t talk about chicken skewers. It makes me dizzy.”

Lael shook his head as he walked with Carlson.

Actually, I was annoyed when I heard the thousand-year-old ginseng from Ghent at the special guard yesterday.

He no longer wanted to know the strange things of this world.

“Rael. What’s this over here?”

“There is an event hall at the Blue Tower. It is a place where even commoners can participate in the event for free, so let’s all go there.”

Lael answered kindly to the approaching teacher Sarah.

She said with delight at the mention of the blue tower.

“Oh, really? But is it okay for us to go?”

To Sarah, a commoner, the Blue Tower was like an unreachable sky.

“Don’t worry. I checked everything.”

Lael walked confidently to the Blue Tower event venue.

There may not be a Madame Permat at the event, but his secretary will definitely be there.

‘Was your name Chiron?’

Even if they say no, you can still ask them.

Because now Rael was a friend of the Blue Tower.

“Brother Rael. This is my first time seeing a wizard. What if he torments us with a huge fire?”

“Nia. If there’s someone like that, don’t worry, Oppa will scold you.”

Rael smiled at the children.

Actually, it is not a good idea to bring them all out together, but I had no choice because from tomorrow onwards, the Celestial Festival itself will fall into disarray due to the Black Magician’s rebellion.

Today was the last day I would play with the kids.

“What are they? Where did you get all these kids from?”

“Judging from their attire, they are commoners… How undignified. This is why we need to divide the heavenly sacrificial spheres… Tsk.”

At that moment, the two fat nobles in front of me started talking loudly enough for everyone to hear.

It was an open fight over the children’s clothing.

The people around them also burst into laughter at their words.

‘You stupid kids.’

Rael raised the corners of his mouth as he looked at the nobles.

If it had been Rael alone, he would have had to do the tiresome work of dragging those guys to a place they couldn’t be seen, wearing a mask, and beating them, but not now.

“Hey you guys! Are you insulting the Knights of Rain!”

Behind the orphanage children, five Knights of the Rain were following.

Their mission is to protect the ‘Orphanage’, so they are not obligated to follow the Heavenly Emperor, but when I asked Captain Rain, he readily complied.

‘The knight’s face was not happy, but… it’s none of my business.’

Sling-

As the Knight of the Rain drew his sword slightly, the startled nobleman turned around.

“Ahem. Hmm. You got the wrong person.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

The nobles disappeared into the festival crowd like cockroaches.

When I saw people who laughed at their words and then bowed their heads, I felt like the world was finally turning properly.

“Thank you, Captain.”

Lael approached Lane with a satisfied expression on his face.

“Haha. That’s about it. If you want to join the Knights of Rain, just tell me anytime.”

“Okay, but where are the royals in District 2? I thought they were having a parade.”

Rael looked around.

It was said that the royal family was walking around to show that the royal family was strong even in the face of the invasion of the demon tribe, but not a single M-byeong was to be found.

“The parade lasts an hour a day. And the carriages pass by with their faces obscured… The royal family must be partying with the nobles right now.”

“···What kind of guys are these? Why are they holding a parade like that to announce the royal family’s continued existence?”

“Oh, Brother Rael. We’re in the middle of District 2.”

Carlson, who was next to him, looked around in surprise at Rael’s harsh words.

Fortunately, no one has been interested in this since the threat of the Knights of Rain.

“So the rest of the time you just hang out at the party?”

“That’s right. The location of the party hall is a secret, and is guarded by the Imperial Knights of Kamen. It’s the safest place in the Empire.”

The Knights of Carmen are the strongest knightly order in the Empire.

They are willing to die for their mission.

“Aha. Really?”

Lael nodded without thinking, and suddenly remembered the first day of the festival.

It was when I was walking down the street with Reina and I ran into Yuri.

[Get out of the way! The 2nd princess is passing by!]

Clearly, the Knights of Carmen had been openly showing off their passing of glass.

He didn’t even cover his face, and he even shouted loudly when the princess passed by.

‘Is that a secret in medieval fantasy?’

Lael felt puzzled and headed towards the Blue Tower event venue.

*

The capital of the empire was filled with the excitement and joy of the Celestial Emperor.

Laughter could be heard throughout the streets, and the loud voices of merchants filled the place with energy.

However, even amidst such splendid festivities, darkness existed.

Shadows that darken the festival began to gather one by one in the south of District 2, at the Academy.

“The Academy’s security has been confirmed. We will begin the raid tomorrow as soon as the Academy participates in the Celestial Festival.”

The 4th day is when the Celestial Festival becomes the loudest.

As the academy students were participating in the festival, the black magician also planned to move.

“I was told there would be no resistance in the South. Don’t worry and just enjoy yourself.”

The black magician leading the plan smiled wickedly.

Since the information came from a trustworthy source, I was able to focus on my plans with peace of mind.

“I heard that the Blue Tower event venue in the south wasn’t planned… Is that okay?”

Although there were some cautious ones among the warlocks, his words were quickly disproved.

“The Magic Tower has not been seen since it showed up on the first day. All we have to do is trample on the leftovers and turn them into undead.”

The warlocks did not imagine that their plan would fail.

The reason they knew the inside out about the festival was because they had the help of the Empire.

If the empire wanted to succeed, it could not fail.

“We will advance straight to the center. The moment we throw the festival into chaos, it will be our victory.”

It creates a huge mess at the festival.

And then eliminate the ‘target’.

The warlocks were promised the right to receive death row inmates for that alone.

They were ready to use any method.

The stench of rotting corpses rose from behind the warlocks.