Imperial Guard - Chapter 45



Only Noblemtl

“Reveal your identity and step down.”

Gilbert, captain of the 3rd division of the Kamen Knights, looked at the unidentified masked man with caution.

The man who had blocked his surprise attack was standing guard with his sword drawn.

‘You’re not a warlock… or a knight. What on earth is your true identity?’

Whoever the opponent was, the moment his surprise attack was blocked, he was not an enemy to be ignored.

Gilbert signaled to another knight.

Sling-

The 3rd division of the Kamen Knights, Andrew and Douglas also slowly drew their swords while looking at their opponents.

The 3rd Division was a group of knights who received a special mission from Knight Commander Kamen.

‘An unexpected interruption has come.’

The mission they were given was to confirm the princess’s death.

It was the command of the Knight Commander for the Empire.

Gilbert was able to secure the position of captain of the 3rd Division through this incident, and Andrew and Douglas were also promised bright futures.

“Those kids who ask about my identity are the ones who thrust the sword first?”

Rael glared at the knights.

The fierce murderous aura they exuded stimulated Rael’s senses.

It was the murderous aura of those who would cut people down without hesitation.

“I’ll say it again. Show your face and get away from the princess. We appreciate that you killed the undead and saved the princess, but if you disobey our orders, we won’t be able to stay still.”

Gilbert frowned.

The masked man stood there protecting the princess from the Knights of Kamen.

It was as if he knew the purpose of the Knights of Carmen.

“Thank you while you’re full of life, that’s ridiculous.”

Rael sharpened his senses and checked his opponent’s strength.

The condition for joining the Knights of Kamen was to be a graduate, so at least three graduates were required.

But the one in the middle seemed to have a bit more momentum.

‘One mature graduate. Two graduate beginners.’

Graduate is the level at which you can use the sword.

It was absurd to expect a guy rolling around on the street to take on a graduate set.

‘I have to try both the long and short ones.’

Rael smiled.

I didn’t come this far without any insurance.

“···You don’t seem to have any intention of talking. Do you think you can beat us?”

Gilbert looked at the test in front of him with a puzzled look.

Instead of swordsmanship, he was pulling out sword energy.

You’re going to fight the three Kamen Knights with the level of a sword expert who can’t even pull out a sword.

Do you even have two lives?

“well.”

Rael trusted his senses.

His senses were excited at the sight of the enemies before his eyes.

Rael glanced to the side.

A rotten smell and magical energy flowed out from the corpses of the dead undead.

Under these conditions, Rael also had something to say.

“I don’t think it will work.”

Lael chuckled and put down his sword.

A pleasant tension enveloped my body.

“··· Tsk. What an idiot.”

Gilbert felt confidence in the man before him.

Sword Expert confident against the Knights of Kamen.

I was annoyed by the arrogance that was so out of proportion.

“A pyramid that can’t even use a sword is attacking the Kamen Knights. Andrew. Douglas. The opponent is a sword expert. Deal with it quickly and protect the princess.”

“Yes, Captain Gilbert!”

“Before I kill you, I’ll take off your mask first. I really need to see if you can still complain while you’re dying.”

A sword blast occurred in each of the three swords.

It was evidence of a graduate, a level that could only be reached after devoting oneself to swordsmanship for at least several decades.

Swish-

Rael raised his sword.

He burned his magic power and warmed his body.

‘··· This is fun.’

It feels like it’s been a long time since I’ve been immersed in a battle.

Rael gave himself over to his senses.

The tension filling my body speaks.

The knights before your eyes are different from the sloppy guys you’ve dealt with so far.

Thump- thump-

Rael’s senses became sharper as his heart beat faster.

‘There is a gap.’

Rael read the knights’ gazes and movements.

The knights were not particularly nervous about being hostile to Rael.

He instinctively views Rael, who cannot pull out his sword, as inferior to him.

If you dig into that point, you can definitely win.

“Knights of Carmen! What are you doing now!”

At that moment, Yuri’s panicked voice was heard.

She asked for an explanation, as she had no understanding of the situation in which the Knights of Carmen and Rael were fighting.

But the Knights of Carmen did not respond to her voice.

“You crazy kids. Can’t you hear the princess’s voice?”

The Knights of Carmen are part of the Imperial Family.

They had to obey the princess’s orders first and foremost.

“….”

Gilbert ignored the princess’s voice and looked at the masked man, while the other two followed Gilbert’s movements.

‘They are blatantly committing treason.’

Rael slowly stepped back, examining the formation of knights.

Thud. Thud.

The knights came closer, surrounding Rael.

However, the knights were still off guard.

The movements they were taking were not in formation to deal with a strong enemy.

Rather, it was closer to preventing the opponent from running away.

This is a move to deal with the witnesses in a mission to kill the princess without leaving them behind.

In some ways, it’s a natural thing, but it’s an opportunity for Rael.

‘First, the one closest to you.’

Lael took advantage of that gap.

Percussion-

I injected magical power into the muscles of my entire body.

Rael instantly jumped towards the nearest knight.

Rael is acknowledged to be close to a sword master in terms of physical ability alone.

His movements were at a speed that was difficult for individual knights to react to.

“Ugh···!”

Douglas raised his sword belatedly.

Although my posture was unstable, I was barely able to cross swords.

Kwajijijijik-

A clash of swordsmanship and sword energy.

Douglas had no doubt that his sword would crush the sword’s energy.

Woodduck-

However, it was he who was pushed out.

“···?!”

Douglas’ feet lifted off the ground and he was thrown backwards.

Although he was not pushed back in terms of magical power, his posture collapsed due to the overwhelming force.

“this···!”

Douglas, who was a skilled knight, immediately corrected his posture.

However, in that short gap, Rael’s sword was already directed at Douglas’ arm.

Kkarddd …

The sword energy that penetrated the steel armor erupted with a loud noise.

Douglas saw a future where his body was torn in two, and he twisted his body with the last of his strength.

However, he did not miss the black prey that had already dug into his armor.

‘Oh, that’s ridiculous…!’

Paaaaang-!

Finally, Rael’s sword energy cut through the steel armor.

Even after ripping through his armor, Rael’s black sword blew off Douglas’ entire shoulder.

“······!”

Choaaaak-!

Red blood splatters on the floor.

Douglas sank back, unable to even groan in excruciating pain.

‘Wh, what···.’

Douglas’s mind seemed to stop at the incomprehensible phenomenon.

I clearly pushed away the sword energy with my sword, but my posture collapsed as I was pushed back by simple force.

“Tsk. I should’ve killed him in one go.”

grasp-!

Without hesitation, Rael trampled on the bastard’s wound.

“Kuaaaak···!”

Douglas wrapped his arms around the belated pain.

‘Can’t we finish it?’

It’s a shame, but he’s already lost his fighting power.

widely-

Rael immediately turned around.

And then he met the bewildered eyes of the two knights who were rushing at him.

The men were looking at Rael with astonishment.

“Those little bastards are as big as a tree.”

Rael smiled at the guys who had been so confident until just now.

The feeling of being sharpened in real combat and the thrill of battle welling up in my body were quite satisfying.

As much as he hated to admit it, Rael liked this feeling.

‘What the heck?’

Gilbert swallowed as he looked at the man’s sword.

The sword that had struck down Douglas in the blink of an eye was never forgotten.

He played with his black Douglas as if he were a child.

‘The flow of magical power was entangled because of the magic, but it must be the same for the opponent.’

Pushing away the sword with the sword energy and cutting down the opponent.

Was that possible?

“···.”

Gilbert began to sweat without realizing it.

The fear he felt from the unknown enemy tested his chivalry.

‘One guy was reduced.’

Rael looked at the two knights with his sword raised.

Andrew was weaker than the Douglas he had just cut down, and Gilbert was the strongest of the three.

‘Next time I’ll have to go after the weaker one first.’

Even though we reduced one person by surprise, the Kamen Knights are weak, but they are graduate level.

If you allow an attack even once, Rael will also suffer significant damage.

It’s best to keep the number of people as small as possible.

“···Andrew. Never let your guard down.”

“Yes, yes···!”

Gilbert and Andrew approached Rael cautiously.

The opponent’s force was beyond imagination.

There was no more complacency.

Taat-

Lael’s sword tore through the air and rushed towards Andrew.

Andrew tensed up and immediately raised his sword, but Rael was able to read the bastard’s movements from beginning to end.

‘Weak. And slow.’

It’s slow.

The corners of Rael’s mouth went up at the fact that these guys called Graduates were at this level.

The magic covering your body? Or the embarrassment of having your comrades struck by a single sword?

Those are all just excuses.

‘I am strong.’

You can tell just by moving the sword.

Andrew couldn’t keep up with Rael’s sword.

“Ugh!”

Andrew desperately followed Rael’s sword, but he was unable to stop it from piercing through his armor.

If you try to hit the sword with your sword energy, it will easily deflect your blows, and if there is even a moment of opening, it will immediately strike at your weak point.

Besides, each and every sword was so heavy.

‘What kind of power is this!’

Andrew unconsciously scanned the other person’s body.

His body was solid and well-proportioned, like a knight’s.

However, it wasn’t that different from myself.

So then what is the true nature of that power?

“Andrew!”

At that moment, Gilbert ran over and brought down his sword.

Kyaang-!

Lael stepped aside, blocking Gilbert’s sword, and Gilbert stood immediately in front of Andrew.

Andrew’s body was engraved with numerous wounds over a short period of time.

“Ugh!”

“Andrew! Move your sword! You are the Knights of Kamen! The Empire stands behind you!”

“Yes…! I’m still okay!”

Andrew placed his hand on the symbol of the Knights of Carmen.

His chivalry will never stop there.

“You crazy kids. Even the devil would be more honest than you.”

Those bastards who wanted to kill the princess were talking about the empire, and their conscience was completely gone.

“Hey you! I’ll kill you!”

Gilbert stood in front of Andrew, sword in hand.

The ripened Graduate’s sword engulfed the sword like a blazing fire.

‘You can’t hit that. You have to spill it all.’

Gilbert’s strength was incomparable to that of Andrew or Douglas.

The mature graduate was definitely strong.

‘But… it’s definitely weaker than before.’

The undead’s magic had already spread throughout the party, and they were less familiar with magic than Rael.

Time was on Rael’s side.

“Kill the enemies of the Knights of Carmen!”

Gilbert charged forward without hesitation.

He didn’t just sit back and watch Douglas and Andrew suffer either.

‘His sword is fast and flashy, but… his magic power is not up to par.’

Although Douglas’s sword was pushed, if it had been a real sword, it would have torn through the steel armor much more easily, and Andrew would have been killed before Gilbert could help.

‘He could be a mercenary who is used to combat. We must deal with him properly.’

His identity will be revealed soon.

The important thing is that what he uses is a sword.

If we fight fairly, the chances of losing are slim.

Kwaaang-!

Gilbert pushed Rael away, spreading his sword.

‘Damn… time is running out.’

The magic flowing out from the surrounding undead ate away at his body.

Plus, I had to finish it quickly because I had to add more time to deal with the princess.

“Your health is getting weaker. Are you feeling burdened by your magic?”

“···Hey you!”

Gilbert swung his sword, his eyes bloodshot.

As he said, the magic gradually ate away at Gilbert’s magical power.

But that guy radiated the same magic from beginning to end.

It was as if he was not affected by magic.

“This can’t be happening! I’m Gilbert, captain of the 3rd division of the Carmen Knights!”

Gilbert shouted to himself.

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

Their swordsmanship and mana training methods were always the best on the continent, and the name Kamen Knights was a sign that they were the strongest knights.

‘But why···!’

Gilbert swung his sword indignantly as he watched Rael skillfully dodge his sword.

The three Knights of Carmen are being pushed around by a man they have never seen or heard of.

This is ridiculous.

Gilbert’s mind was growing increasingly anxious.

If I don’t handle this properly, the Commander of the Knights will be disappointed in me.

The position of 3rd Division Captain that I have finally received could be lost.

Choaaaak-

“Eww!”

“Hey, Andrew!”

At that moment, Andrew’s heart, which had been supporting Gilbert, was deeply cut.

Gilbert, who was getting impatient, allowed a moment of respite, and during that moment, Lael dug into Andrew.

‘Still available!’

Gilbert saw Rael’s sword once more about to cut down Andrew.

If you draw your sword now, you can save Andrew.

but···!

‘I’m sorry, Andrew!’

As Andrew’s body crumbled under Rael’s sword, Gilbert gritted his teeth and infused his sword with magic power.

I had to finish him off right now.

Only then can we turn this situation around.

‘I can see it…!’

Before the bastard could retrieve the sword he had swung at Andrew, his exposed stomach was visible.

Gilbert took advantage of the gap and thrust his sword straight in.

“Dieeeeeeeeeee···!”

Push-

Gilbert’s sword dug into the masked man’s stomach.

His sword slashed through the thin leather armor and soon reached the creature’s abdomen.

Soon, I could clearly feel the sensation of my flesh being cut.

‘it’s okay!’

Gilbert immediately put strength into his hand holding the sword and raised it upward.

I was thinking of cutting the body in two like this.

Wooduk-

“···Ugh?!”

However, the sword stuck in the bastard’s stomach did not move.

Gilbert looked up in confusion without realizing it.

“Why, is this the first time you’ve seen someone with such a strong body?”

Rael focused his magical power on his muscles and deliberately showed his weakness.

His body, which had absorbed magical power throughout his life, was like a dragon.

Of course, it wouldn’t have the durability of a real dragon, but I believed Tia’s words that it could withstand the sword for a short while.

“Wow, that’s ridiculous···.”

Gilbert looked terrified.

A strange mask was looking at him.

Even though I couldn’t see his face, I could feel him smiling.

Gilbert should have thrown away his sword right then and there.

After stepping back, he should have grabbed Douglas’ sword while he was down and continued the fight.

“Huhhhh!”

But Gilbert couldn’t accept that the human body could withstand the sword.

I thought the problem was that I was unable to properly generate the sword due to my long exposure to magic.

He once again made the mistake of trusting his own judgment.

Wooduk-

However, the sword did not move this time either.

“The haircut hurts.”

Concentrating magic power on the body did not reduce the pain.

Rael raised his sword, squinting one eye.

“This, this can’t be happening···.”

“There you go, kid.”

Gilbert, who saw the fierce sword approaching his neck, belatedly let go of the sword.

Survival was more important than chivalry.

‘Avoid···.’

Gilbert’s eyes widened in fear.

However, Rael’s black sword was faster than Gilbert’s escape speed.

Crunch-

Before he could even finish his thought, Gilbert’s head fell to the ground.

“··· Haa. Shit, you said you could hold out. This crazy dragon, can it hold out like this?”

Lael looked at Gilbert’s body, gritting his teeth.

My stomach hurts so much it feels like it’s going to burst open after being stabbed by that guy.

‘I guess they’ll hold out as long as they don’t die.’

It seemed like I had been fooled again by the standards of dragons that were different from those of humans.

“Still… I won. This fucking world.”

Rael wiped the blood off his sword.

It’s not over yet, so it’s too early to laugh.

He walked towards the groaning knights behind him.