Imperial Guard - Chapter 44



Only Noblemtl

Episode 44

Test [Free episodes up to this point.]

The morning of the fourth day of the Celestial Festival.

Lael stood in the front yard of the orphanage and felt the cool morning air.

I felt a strange sense of tension as I thought about the warlocks’ rebellion today.

‘I don’t know the exact time of the attack… so let’s take Carlson for now.’

Carlson was off duty today, and he ran out early in the morning to eat some chicken skewers.

Rael had planned to naturally take Carlson to the south of Sector 2 when he returned.

I need to kill at least one more black magician, even if it means putting my hand on a fernbrake.

“Ra, Brother Rael!”

“Carlson. Are you here?”

Just then Carlson returned.

Lael looked at Carlson who was running towards him urgently.

The guy who said he was going to eat chicken skewers didn’t actually have any skewers in his hand.

“Brother! We’re in trouble! They say there are warlocks in District 2! We have to go quickly!”

“···What? Tell that to Captain Rain right now!”

“Ah! Yep!”

Lael frowned as he watched Carlson running towards Lane.

‘It’s already an attack. It’s faster than I thought.’

Although the original doesn’t properly describe the time, I would have guessed it would be after lunch at least.

That’s because that’s when a lot of people gather and the festival is lively.

Knock- knock knock-

As Carlson ran to Lane,

A few beggars approached Rael and knocked on his bowl.

It was a signal of urgency.

Lael walked towards the beggars.

“La, Lael.”

“Huh? Is this a warlock attack?”

“That’s right! How about that···.”

“Hey. It’s late. What if those guys who just get information from the street all day are later than my friend who went to buy chicken skewers?”

Lael squatted down in front of the beggars, banging his bowl and shaking his head.

If it was the opening of the Wuxia world, they would have come running with lightness techniques a long time ago… These guys were 2% short.

“Sorry, sorry. Have you heard that the Blue Tower Lord Perma has started killing black magicians?”

“···What are you talking about? Tell me more.”

Rael looked at the beggars belatedly.

*

In the middle of a festival filled with lively music, happy laughter, and applause.

Kuung-!

A sudden loud noise filled the festival grounds.

The surprised people looked around for a moment.

Squeak-

Suddenly, the main gate of the Imperial Academy opened.

People’s eyes were drawn to the sudden movement.

Thud. Thud.

Inside the academy, people wearing black robes pulled all the way up to their heads slowly walked out.

The knights around them were the first to react to the ominous aura and weak magic they felt.

“S, raid! It’s a raid!”

“It’s a warlock! Prepare for battle!”

Sling-!

The knights guarding District 2 drew their swords without hesitation.

The Knights of Geronimo.

A small knightly order based in the capital, guarding the south, which was considered the safest area among the Celestial Guards.

“Magi, I can feel the magic!”

“Damn it! You’re bringing the undead with you! Evacuate the nobles first!”

Cedric, the leader of the Knights of Geronimo, stepped forward, drawing his sword.

In an emergency, the first ones to be evacuated were the nobles.

“Kuuuuu.”

A sinister laugh escaped the warlock’s mouth.

This raid was a long-planned attack.

It was not a force that could be stopped by knights like that.

“Trampl it.”

Corpses began to walk out from behind the warlock.

Hundreds of warlocks and the undead following them were a truly terrifying sight.

People who had been enjoying the festival scattered in all directions in confusion.

Although some people collapsed in pain from the magic of the warlocks and the undead, most were able to escape.

“Let them run away. The goal is confusion.”

The reason the warlocks exposed their bodies like this was to make people run away.

The rumors and confusion they spread as they flee will hide their true objectives.

Hwaaaaak-!

As the warlocks raised their hands, a black light burst out above their heads.

The magical power that darkened the sky spread into the sky of District 2, centered around the black magicians.

“Damn it…! Attack! Hold out until support arrives!”

Cedric, the Commander of the Knights of Geronimo, glared at the warlocks and pursed his lips.

The difference in power was clear, and this was an opponent that the troops present could never stop.

Woof-

Cedric raised his sword even though he knew it.

He had to die for the empire.

That was chivalry.

“We will help you too.”

At that moment, a group of Academy students who had come out to watch the Celestial Festival approached Cedric.

Cedric shook his head and pointed behind him.

“You guys, help the nobles evacuate from behind! We don’t need the help of kids who haven’t even graduated from the academy yet!”

Cedric gritted his teeth and refused the children’s help.

The future of the empire could not be left to die in a place like this.

And, in reality, their powers were likely to be of no help.

“no.”

Hwaaak-

At that moment, a gleam of sword energy rose from the sword of the red-haired inspector in the lead.

“Hey, what’s wrong?!”

Cedric opened his eyes wide.

Going to the academy means you’re still in your early twenties.

But it’s not a sword, it’s a sword?

The knight could not understand the situation before his eyes.

“My name is Lucas. Together, we can stop it. Commander. Trust me.”

“···.”

Cedric turned his eyes to the cadets behind Lucas.

They all had eyes that were not like those of cadets, but eyes that said they could fight.

‘···I might be able to do it.’

Cedric gulped after seeing Lucas’s power.

A war to stop hundreds of black magicians who attacked the Celestial Emperor.

Perhaps, he is standing in the middle of history.

“The Knights of Geronimo take the lead. Follow, you children!”

“Wow!”

Cedric and the Knights of Geronimo, prepared to die, rushed forward.

Even if they die, the future of the empire will shine brighter.

And then, at that moment.

Kkarddd …

With a nasty sound like a knife scraping an iron plate, the dark sky began to split open.

“uh?”

Cedric raised his head and looked at the sky.

The dark magic unleashed by hundreds of dark magicians at the same time was being torn apart with ease.

It was a phenomenon that was beyond his common sense.

“Huh, black magic…”

The warlocks were also surprised.

They opened their eyes wide as they saw the torn magic.

“The scum have set foot in the empire.”

Thud. Thud.

A man walked leisurely through the festival grounds filled with silence, looking at the split sky.

A robe of starlight and overwhelming magical power that only those representing the Blue Tower can wear.

Anyone living in the imperial capital would know his name.

The strongest wizard on the continent.

It was the Blue Tower’s Magic Tower Master, Perma.

“The sin of hindering my enlightenment will not be light.”

He glared at the warlocks with a distorted expression.

It took three days just to see the dragon’s magic and establish the realization. It had just been sorted out, and now it was on the verge of being embodied.

But the unpleasant dark magic he felt from outside made it impossible for him to concentrate.

Fermat suppressed his anger and summoned his magical power.

Enlightenment does not come easily to a great wizard like Fermat.

That is why we must maintain the space where we met ‘him’.

“I’ll kill you in 10 minutes.”

The Empire’s most powerful wizard stands before the army of warlocks.

*

“Brother! I’ll go with you!”

“Follow me quickly!”

Lael ran south of Area 2 without paying any attention to Carlson.

The heavenly realm was completely in ruins.

At the news of the appearance of the warlocks, the commoners had already disappeared, and several nobles were observing the situation with their knights.

“Damn it. I didn’t think the south would be breached… How on earth did they break through the Academy’s tight security?!”

“···.”

Lael bowed his head to Rain, who was following him closely.

No matter how strong the Academy’s security is, it can still be breached… because this world is an Academy novel.

It was the truth of the world that only he knew.

“How does that guy run at the same speed as you, Captain?”

“Haha. My brother is really amazing.”

Rael ran all the way to the southern part of Area 2, ignoring the conversation he heard behind him.

Contrary to Rael’s expectations, there were fewer signs of battle in Area 2.

“What a great magic. … Is this Fermat? It’s typical of his personality that he went back as soon as the battle was over.”

“···That’s right.”

Rael swept his arm, feeling Fermat’s magic.

The aftertaste of the magic left on the scene was so strong that it made my skin tingle.

‘It ended much more neatly with the Blue Tower involved.’

In the original, there was a huge loss of life for the common people, an entire knighthood was wiped out, and even the Academy cadets died.

However, the damage was noticeably reduced thanks to Rael placing the Blue Tower in the south.

Rael looked around with a satisfied face.

“···What are they?”

In the corner of the scene, cadets in academy uniforms could be seen wandering around.

The cadets who were supposed to be the heroes who protected the city were diligently helping with the cleanup.

“Was that redhead the one who was expected to be the next rider? His name was Lucas.”

“Yes. I haven’t even graduated from the academy yet, but I’m told that I’m already in the beginning stages of graduate school.”

“There are certainly a lot of talented people in this class.”

Rain nodded.

Just a week ago, I would have done anything to recruit someone like that, but now I feel at ease.

He had Rael.

“···Chief Rain. This is the beginning of Graduate School. Don’t you think it’s amazing?”

Rael overheard the conversation between Rain and the Knight and spoke to Rain.

Because the treatment of the main character didn’t seem very good.

“Rael. You shouldn’t say such things. Not to mention you, even Carlson can use his divine powers to that extent. It means that you, who have grown stronger without even receiving training from the Academy, are more talented.”

“······.”

Oh, my.

From this incident onwards, the main character should really be in the spotlight···.

I feel a bit confused.

‘Graduate entrance… Well, it’s definitely strong.’

The protagonist encounters numerous coincidences in the future.

He meets the spirit of a dead dragon and learns magic, is recognized by the church and awakens as a warrior, receives the holy sword, and discovers the swordsmanship of the Thousand-Slayer Sword Master in a dungeon he accidentally visits.

There are only 10 years left until the protagonist becomes the strongest on the continent.

‘···There are still 10 years left?’

When I read it in a novel, it seemed like it passed quickly, but now that I am in this world, 10 years seems so far away.

‘But he’s the main character, so he’ll do well.’

Anyway, it’s only a few years before the demons break the truce.

If you’re the main character, you can definitely do it.

“Brother, I will go to the Knights.”

“Okay. Go to Gaia.”

Carlson joined the Knights of the Silver Cross, and Lane joined the Knights of Rain.

The Knights had a lot to do, like taking care of the nobles and imprisoning the warlocks that Fermat had kept alive.

Meanwhile, Rael looked around alone.

Just to check if he missed anything.

Rael looked at the traces of the warlocks that Fermat had dealt with in less than ten minutes.

Most of them were killed, but some were reportedly captured alive.

‘···It seems like there are too few undead.’

Suddenly, Rael felt something strange on the battlefield.

There weren’t that many undead compared to the corpses of the warlocks that Ferma had killed.

At most, about 100.

The number was even smaller than the number of corpses dug up from the Second Cemetery.

Assuming that other cemeteries were dug up as well, the number should have been several times more.

‘Undead are the most important attack for warlocks, why?’

Undead are monsters that have overcome death by being infused with magic.

It is a troublesome enemy that cannot be killed with a normal sword and must be beheaded with a sword.

Even in the original work, the most annoying thing depicted was the undead attacks.

Even if Fermat had personally stepped in, the damage would have been enormous if hundreds of undead had spread out in all directions.

‘It’s different from the original I know.’

Rael looked around, feeling a strange sense of foreboding.

Also, somewhere the original was twisted.

‘Where on earth did it all go wrong?’

No, actually there is no need to find the cause.

Anyway, the cause of the butterfly effect is probably Rael.

The real question is where the undead are.

‘Since the corpses in the cemetery have disappeared, the undead definitely exist.’

Rael’s heart began to pound.

He struggled to find the cause of the ominous feeling his senses were crying out for.

‘Is the warlock’s attack not over yet?’

Additional attacks may occur, but are unlikely.

The southern part of District 2 was attacked because it had the unique characteristic of being an academy, while the other areas were heavily defended by the Knights Templar.

If an attack was coming, the signal would have already arrived.

‘Then… were you trying to attack somewhere else?’

Undead is the most powerful offensive tool a warlock has.

In the original, the undead were used to attack the center of the Celestial Emperor.

It is the most important place in the heavenly kingdom.

‘A place more important than the center of the Celestial Empire…?’

At that moment, information flashed through Rael’s mind.

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

The place where nobles and royalty enjoy the celestial festival is the party hall guarded by the Knights of Kamen.

It must be kept completely hidden.

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

However, the second princess, who was heading south, insisted on calling out her name as she walked.

The blood of the royal family is like gods.

Even if you are under the escort of the Knights of Carmen, it is absurd to reveal your location.

‘And… the undead disappeared to attack a place more important than the festival.’

Problems that had been overlooked, thinking that the princess would never be attacked, began to fall into place one by one.

Only then did Rael remember the party in the south.

If there is a place more important than the Heavenly Emperor, it is the imperial family.

“···Ah. Shit.”

The golden rope that had been held on with great difficulty was in danger of snapping.

*

2nd Princess. Uriel von Grandia.

She looked down at the party with a blank face.

This boring party was already on its fourth day, and today no one came looking for her.

It’s a boring repetition of daily life, sitting still without any conversation and then going back home.

“Undead! The undead are in the party…! Aaaah!”

“···Undead?”

However, the boring party ended in an ending she could not have imagined.

“Ugh, eww! Shit! Run away!”

“Knights of Carmen! Where are the Knights of Carmen!”

The music of the orchestra and the laughter of the nobles that filled the party hall disappeared, and terrible screams were heard.

It was a sudden attack by undead and warlocks.

– Giggigigigigig

– Crack – Heheheehe

The undead, who had been injected with magic and were forced to move, began to attack the Kamen Knights guarding the party venue.

The Knight of Carmen shouted as he slashed at the nearby undead.

“Keep the formation going!”

“Fuck…! Push harder!”

The party venue was instantly thrown into chaos.

The nobles tried to escape during the chaos, but there was nowhere to run as they were surrounded by the undead on all sides.

Despite the Knights of Kamen’s efforts, the nobles could not escape the reach of the undead.

“You, Lady Uriel. You must run away quickly.”

Isabelle, who was next to Yuri, stamped her feet and nagged Yuri.

The Knights of Kamen were holding back the undead, but there were so many of them that it seemed impossible to stop the damage to the nobles.

“···Isabel. Where should I run to?”

“That, that··· If I open the way···.”

Isabelle, the exclusive maid, looked around the party hall, unable to hide her embarrassment.

The four sides were filled with undead, and the magical energy and ghostly aura coming from them made it difficult to breathe.

Although Isabelle and Yuri had become accustomed to the special guard, the others were not at all like that.

“Keuk, ugh···. Save me, save me···.”

“You know who I am! Baron Rayhan of the Kamen Empire!”

“Knights of Carmen! Kyaaaaak!”

Ten undead attack one noble.

It bites the skin and drains the life out of you.

Yuri squinted her eyes at the horrifying sight.

“Isabel. Where is the Knights of Carmen?”

Yuri said, taking in the surroundings.

The place where she is is higher than the other party halls, but now even the groans of the nobles can hardly be heard.

It wasn’t long before the undead reached Yuri.

“···It seems like we’re fighting the undead.”

“Then, how can we escape?”

Yuri and Isabelle were on the stage at the party.

There was no place to escape the undead surrounding the stage.

“It’s dangerous, but we have to run away. If we stay still like this, we’ll just die.”

“··· okay.”

Yuri turned her body and looked down.

The Kamen Knights who had been fighting the undead were nowhere to be seen, and more than 100 undead still remained, eating the nobles.

“I will escape when I see an opening. Uriel, please follow me.”

Isabelle wore a scabbard in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

She was a high-ranking noble before becoming a maid, so she had basic swordsmanship skills.

– Knock knock. Knock knock.

– Ugh. Ugh···.

Soon, the undead began to ascend the platform.

“···.”

Isabelle’s hands trembled as she saw the undead ascending the platform.

A body with pale skin and signs of decay.

A disgusting being slowly approached, chasing human life from the decaying corpse.

“Gaia, please grant Uriel your grace…”

Isabelle’s powers were not enough to kill the undead.

It didn’t matter if she died.

However, I was so upset that I wasn’t of much help to the Second Princess.

‘···There is no gap.’

Yuri narrowed her eyes at the undead.

Isabelle lacks the skills to clear the way, and neither does Yuri.

‘Have the Knights of Carmen already been annihilated…?’

The nobles and their knight escorts who were attacked by the undead are already long dead.

If even the Knights of Carmen had died to them, it would have been impossible for Yuri to survive.

“···.”

Yuri narrowed her eyes at the undead.

With death so close to my nose, I felt more emptiness than fear.

In the end, it was a life like that of a piece of trash, dying without doing anything for the empire.

“Oh, die! die! Gyaaaah!”

Isabelle gritted her teeth and swung her sword, but the undead paid her no heed and continued to advance.

She eventually started to be surrounded by the undead.

“Isabel. I’m sorry for being a handmaiden to a princess like me.”

– Krrrrrr-

– Ugh.

Yuri closed her eyes as she watched the approaching undead.

Thump- thump-

I felt a headache.

It was a pain that felt like all the blessings hanging on Yuri’s body were being ripped away.

‘Can I kill them all before Isabelle dies…?’

Thump- thump-

Yuri squeezed her eyes shut, feeling her pulse quickening.

“You, Yuriel…! No!”

“···!”

Yuri opened her eyes in surprise at Isabelle’s hand grabbing hers.

She, who was covered in undead, had already approached Yuri.

Tadot-

Yuri looked at the man holding back the undead in front of them.

With each stroke of his sword, the undead visibly diminished.

“Who is it···?”

Yuri tilted her head as she looked at the man’s face.

It was a man wearing a strange mask with red dots on a white background.

*

The next emperor, Yuri, is also an important figure in the original work.

Without her immense ruling power, this sizable empire might collapse at any moment.

In a small sense, it means the disappearance of a daycare center, and in a broader sense, it means the disappearance of a huge umbrella that protects the human species.

‘Fortunately, it’s not too late.’

After hearing about the party the 2nd princess was heading to from the beggars of Bagus.

Rael ran like crazy.

He didn’t forget to wear a mask in case people thought he looked strange.

And, he was able to save Yuri just before she died.

“I don’t know who you are, but thank you for saving me.”

Rael looked at the woman thanking him.

She seems to be a dedicated maid.

She was blocking Yuri’s path while expressing her gratitude.

“Run away immediately. This place is dangerous.”

Rael answered without caring.

It is natural for her to protect the princess.

“If you don’t mind, could you show me your face? The person you saved is the Second Princess. The Empire will give you a great reward.”

“···.”

At Isabelle’s words, Rael looked around quietly.

Actually, it’s not difficult to show your face.

It was a chance to properly imprint one’s face on the golden rope.

‘But it’s more important not to show your face to the enemy.’

Rael trusted his senses.

Even though all the undead were killed, I still felt that the danger was not completely gone.

‘Where are the Knights of Kamen who killed the warlocks?’

The corpses of the Knights of Carmen were visible throughout the party venue.

However, it was awkward to think that all of the knights were allied with the warlock.

“···.”

To begin with, the situation in which Yuri and the maid are separated from the knights is too heterogeneous.

The mission of the Kamen Knights is to protect the princess and nobles at the party venue.

‘But all the nobles died… and only the princess barely survived?’

The Knights of Kamen are those who complete their missions even at the risk of death.

Even if the warlocks appear, the knights will not abandon their mission and leave their posts.

They had to protect the royal family and nobles with the utmost priority.

It means that even if he died, he had to stop the undead right in front of Yuri’s eyes and die.

‘···Isn’t that protecting the glass?’

At that moment, a hypothesis flashed in Rael’s head.

Maybe I was wrong from the beginning.

What if the deaths of the Knights of Carmen were fake and they were carrying out their mission well?

What if it was simply a matter of hiding for a moment to deal with a sudden emergency?

Thump-

My heart beats faster.

Rael instinctively drew his sword.

Chae-Ang-!

Rael’s body reacted to the approaching sword before his head.

“···What the fuck.”

Rael spat out a curse as he blocked the sword aimed at his neck.

It was a surprise attack.

Knock- knock-

Three knights surrounded Rael.

The knights who breathed life into themselves had the symbol of the Knights of Carmen engraved on their chests.

Rael looked at them and laughed vainly.

‘I thought something was strange.’

As he expected.

The goal of the Knights of Carmen was not to protect Yuri.

···It was to confirm that Yuri was definitely dead.

“Yeah, let’s win.”

Rael actually laughed.

The Knights of Kamen are trying to kill the royal family. I have no idea how and where this world has gone wrong.

In order to survive, I couldn’t sit still any longer.

Rael breathed magic into the sword.

A sharp aura enveloped his sword.

“I can finally test how much of a jerk I am.”

What is Rael’s position in this world?

I wonder if he really has talent.

It’s a day when you can truly understand.