Imperial Guard - Chapter 52



Only Noblemtl

The day Rael was awarded the honorary title of Knight of the Silver Cross.

A new bishop was also assigned to the branch in District 4.

“May Gaia bless you. My name is Peter, and I will be the bishop of District 4 starting today.”

“Nice to meet you, Bishop. Gaia-men.”

“Gaia-men.”

Peter smiled piously as he greeted the priests of District 4.

Today was the first day that he, as a newly appointed bishop, would face the congregation.

‘I heard that the previous bishop was known for his money…’

Peter was different.

He intended to run the branch cleanly and honestly for the sake of Gaia, who had given him the power.

“Hmm. What should we do first for the believers in District 4?”

After greeting the lower priests, Peter sat down in the bishop’s office and began to think.

As this was his first time as a bishop, he needed help.

As this was his first branch in life, he wanted to do everything he could.

“Oh, I heard there’s a Knight of the Silver Cross in District 4···.”

I heard there was a reporter in District 4 who wanted to work in the place where he grew up.

How devout and pious must one be to throw away the rights of the Knights of the Silver Cross working in District 1 and come to District 4.

It was unimaginable to him.

He was resting on one side of the branch.

Peter approached him and made the sign of the cross.

“Huh? Are you the new bishop?”

“May Gaia bless you. My name is Bishop Peter.”

“Ah, I’m Carlson. Knights of the Silver Cross. You know?”

Carlson smiled and patted his armor.

Where he pointed was the symbol of the Knights of the Silver Cross.

“Ah, yes···.”

Peter tilted his head.

I haven’t met many Knights of the Silver Cross, but I’m sure there were some special greetings…

Surely the Knights of the Silver Cross wouldn’t break the rules, so it doesn’t seem like it’s something they have to do.

“It’s just that I don’t know much about District 4, so I’d like to ask Sir Carlson for help.”

Peter, a lower-ranking nobleman, had joined the church at a young age and was therefore unaware of life in District 4.

“Ahaha… I’m not someone who would be called Sir Carlson… but that’s nice to hear. I’m an expert in District 4. Ask me anything.”

Carlson shrugged.

Recently, I had been ignored by Rael, so I had not been able to properly recognize my own position, but after hearing the bishop’s words, my pride as a Knight of the Silver Cross rose.

He had finally found a lamb that needed his help.

“As a bishop, what kind of help can I give to the believers in District 4?”

“Um… it helps.”

Carlson thought seriously about Peter’s words.

What does the bishop of the church do for his followers?

‘···What do they do?’

The more I thought about it, the more it seemed like there was nothing for the bishop to do.

Carlson fights when the demons appear, but the bishops don’t fight.

Go to worship every week.

Get a donation.

Selling soul purification tablets.

Sometimes give blessings.

This is all the bishop does.

Among them, the only thing they do for the believers is to preach the teachings and lead prayers during worship every week.

Carlson thought of a job for the bishop whose eyes were sparkling before his eyes.

“If you have time, how about volunteering? There’s an orphanage where I grew up, so teaching the kids there about sex might be a good idea.”

“Ah. So there was a way like that.”

“Yes, Gaia-men.”

Carlson smiled.

It seems like there’s nothing to do anyway, so it might be good to use it to play with children at the daycare center.

“By the way, Sir Carlson. I heard that an honorary knight was appointed before I came.”

“That’s what Brother Rael said.”

“Yes. What kind of person is he?”

“Ah… Brother Rael is a great person. Whenever possible, listen to what he says.”

“Oh, I see. You really are a devout believer.”

“Yes. He is famous in District 4. There is a rumor that he is the captain of the guard who caught the demons alone.”

“The captain of the guards who caught the demon tribe···!”

Peko made the sign of the cross reverently, thinking of the honorable knight.

If Sir Carlson, a Knight of the Silver Cross, was praising him so highly, he must be a great person.

I’m sure we’ll have a chance to meet someday…!

*

The next day.

Rael reported to work at the Special Forces Unit in two days.

I couldn’t go to work yesterday because I had to stop by the classroom and take care of some chores, so I planned to stick to my work hours today.

“Captain Rael. Hello.”

“Yeah, it’s been a while. Ahem.”

Rael bowed to the outer guard and stuck out his chest.

The Knight’s Badge of the Order of the Silver Cross glittered on his chest.

“Good luck today too!”

“···hmm.”

Lael walked inside the special guard unit with a feeling of regret.

It seemed that a single guard did not recognize the badge of an honorary knight.

‘Is this what it means that people should live in Seoul?’

What do you do when you get the title of Honorary Knight?

Since I’m in District 4, I can’t even brag.

“Hey! Why are you so late!”

As soon as I entered the special guard unit, a loud voice struck my ears.

Just a few days ago, Reina was lying down as if she was about to die.

As soon as she saw Lael, she came running towards him.

“Reina, are you feeling better?”

“Yeah! But why didn’t you come yesterday?”

“I didn’t come because I had something to do. Do you see this? An honorary knight of the Knights of the Silver Cross. It’s a brand new badge I received yesterday.”

“Honorary Knight? What’s that?”

“···.”

Well, even humans don’t know, so how could elves know?

Rael turned his head and looked at the giant squatting in the garden.

“Ghent. Don’t you know?”

“I’ve heard of it. But you becoming an honorary knight is not as great as I thought.”

“These crazy guys···.”

Rael sighed.

The Jangseongjong cartel was still ignoring the human being today.

“Rael, stop talking nonsense and give me your hand.”

“Why the hand?”

Reina held Rael’s hand and closed her eyes.

This hand was imbued with the power of nature to reduce magic.

“Hey, why don’t I feel anything?”

However, today, Rael felt nothing in his hands.

Reina felt something strange and squeezed his hand.

“···At that time, I think I held your hand in my arms. Close to my heart.”

“Rael.”

“No, I was just saying.”

Lael hid behind Reina while looking at Ghent holding a trowel.

Elves have strong vitality, so they won’t die even if they get hit by that.

“It’s strange. When I held your hand back then, I felt so at ease… Rael. Did you eat some thousand-year-old ginseng?”

“That damn thousand-year-old ginseng… I don’t even know what it is.”

“Did you ever grow up in the forest as a child?”

“doesn’t exist.”

“So, is either of your parents an elf?”

“···Are you doing a census?”

“Did you call me a fool?”

“Ah, shit···.”

Rael, who met Reina’s bright eyes, lay down in the hammock with a headache.

Why do I only see people around me who have communication problems?

Did I commit a sin in my past life?

“I must say that when I held your hand, I felt incredibly at ease. It was like being in the forest of the World Tree.”

Reina recalled the memory from that time.

I don’t remember it clearly because I was in so much pain, but I’m sure that when I held Rael’s hand, my magic energy diminished.

The only place Reina had such an experience was in the World Tree Forest.

“I don’t know. You said you went to Tia, and she didn’t say anything?”

“I need to draw your blood to investigate further, so come by.”

“···.”

Rael turned his head.

I guess I won’t be going to the lake for a while.

“Lael. By the way, I heard that the Lord of the Thousand-Sal Sword stopped by yesterday when you were gone. He said that he had something to do and had to leave the empire for a while, but he had something to tell you.”

At that moment, Gent, who had put down the shovel, opened his mouth.

“Oh, what did that old man say before he left?”

“Well, he left a short teaching.”

Gent closed his eyes and recalled that moment.

Just hearing the teachings of the Thousand-Year Sword Lord for a moment set Gent’s warrior spirit ablaze.

“If you are equal to heaven, then ascend to heaven. And if you have reached the state of entering heaven, then you must say the word ‘enter heaven.’”

“···Gent. What do you think when you hear that? No matter how much I think about it, I can’t understand that nonsense.”

No matter how many times I listened to the words of the Thousand-Sale Sword Master who was catching clouds, I couldn’t get used to it.

I thought Ghent would agree with this.

“The warrior’s enlightenment is originally an ambiguous law. Rael. If you try a little harder, you too will be able to understand the words of the Thousand-Sale Sword Lord.”

“under···.”

Rael just closed his eyes.

It was my own fault for trying to communicate with these kids.

*

It’s been almost a week since Lael and Rain started practicing swordsmanship in the backyard of the orphanage.

Meanwhile, the Knights of Rain had become quite friendly with Rael, and Rain didn’t hide the fact that he was teaching Rael how to use a sword, so the knights would watch the duels between Rain and Rael from time to time.

It was the same today.

In the backyard of the orphanage, the swords of the two inspectors quickly crossed.

“That’s right, Rael. The party you were talking about has been rescheduled for a month. His Highness the Grand Duke will be back then.”

“What kind of party takes a month to prepare?”

Chae-Ang-!

The two continued their conversation as if they were familiar with each other while sharing swords.

It wasn’t a difficult task for Rain, who was just starting out as a Sword Master, and it was also possible for Rael, whose physical abilities were superior to Rain’s.

“Of course. I have to let people know about the party and there are a lot of things to prepare.”

Well, these days, we don’t even have smartphones.

It will take time to inform all the nobles and make preparations.

“A month is a bit too soon.”

“It’s close?”

“I want to learn swordsmanship until then···!”

Kyaang-!

A loud noise erupted from the clash of swords.

The vibrations created by the strong magical power colliding reverberated to the ground where the knights were standing.

‘I’m being pushed?’

Rain swung his sword again, impressed by the pressure he felt.

It was a sword that dug in during the short time between attacks, but Rael’s senses did not miss such a gap.

“oh···!”

Rain breathed magic into the sword.

Since Rael’s power was strong today, I thought I would test him a little more.

‘This is almost like a health check… Will I be able to endure this?’

Rain swung his sword at Rael’s side.

“Rael, you said you wanted to learn swordsmanship? Can you stop this too?”

Tadak-

Rael immediately twisted his body and stepped back at the momentum he felt.

There was no need to point a weapon at such an unbelievably strong magical power.

‘···It digs in while flowing inside.’

Tadak-

Rael’s eyes quickly found the gap, and his body displayed the ability to perform to match Rael’s senses.

Kaang-!

Rael’s body, which had shed blood, staggered.

Rain’s black sword, which had been briefly deflected, chased Rael all the way, but was ultimately unable to reach him.

‘Definitely, Captain Rain is a great help.’

Rael, who was locked in a sword fight with Rain, felt himself growing in real time.

He was passing on his know-how from numerous real-life experiences to Rael, physically and in person.

It was different from the teachings of the Thousand-Year Sword Master, which were like grasping at clouds.

‘There’s such an outrageous guy…’

Meanwhile, the Knights of the Rain looked at Rael and laughed in disbelief.

Among those who have studied swords for decades, only the most talented ones enter the Knights. Among them, those who become the Knight Commander are considered geniuses among geniuses, one step ahead of others.

Then what on earth is that guy who didn’t even learn swordsmanship properly?

How are you fighting with the Commander of the Knights?

‘If I fight with all my heart, can I win…?’

An overwhelming talent that shatters the confidence of the knights who were content and proud of their position as graduates.

The Knights of the Rain felt a chill as they watched Rael cling to Rain.

“Ha, thank you for your hard work.”

After a while, the short duel ended.

Rael stretched with his body feeling lighter.

“···Hey, you guys. If you’re going to make that kind of expression, don’t even watch the sparring.”

Rain smiled as he looked at the knights with stiff faces.

Just by being in the Knights of Rain, they are considered the most powerful men in the Empire.

Those guys are amazed, if not horrified, by Rael’s talent.

“Rael, by the way, it seems like the sword has changed?”

Rain spoke to Rael, who was loosening up.

Originally, Rael fought like a wild beast, cornering his opponents and relying on his superior senses and physical abilities.

But today was different.

Not only was the sword neatly organized in a way that was not typical of Rael, but the mystery contained within it was so deep that even Rain was impressed by it.

In addition, since he learned the Mana training method, his ability to handle magical power has also improved.

“It’s clear that the level has improved… and the sword has also become stronger.”

“···Really?”

“Yeah. Did you pick up the sword technique of the Thousand-Slayer Sword Master that is said to be hidden somewhere in the empire?”

“···.”

Lael looked down at his sword at Rain’s words.

The only reason he could become stronger in a short period of time was the Thousand-Sale Sword of the Thousand-Sale Sword Master.

‘Learning things like that really does make you stronger.’

I don’t even know what the Thousand-Sal Sword is, but it’s getting stronger.

I don’t know whether to like this or not.

“Captain Rain. Could you tell me a little more about what you felt when you saw my sword? Like, it felt like the sky?”

Rael asked Lane about the Thousand-Slayer Sword.

I thought that since Rain had experienced his own sword, he would be able to explain in a little more detail.

“Hmm, I don’t know about the sky, but···.”

Rain recalled his sword.

It was a strange sword that was light yet heavy, fast yet slow.

This is not a sword for criminals.

It is a sword of talent that only monsters like Rael can use.

“The saying, ‘One person is below ten thousand people, but ten thousand are above’ comes to mind.”

“···What?”

“One person is below ten thousand people. Putting everything under your feet except for the one who has given you, Gaia… This is truly a hegemonic swordsmanship.”

“······.”

Rael shook his shoulders and clenched his fists.

He thought it would be different, but even Rain, whom he had never expected, betrayed him.

I couldn’t understand why everyone was talking like that when they had a sword that could cut so well.

“You look great, sir.”

“As expected, Captain Rain. The brains that made you the top student at the Academy are still there.”

Clap clap clap-

The Knights of Rain who were watching the duel began to applaud.

The corners of Rain’s mouth went up to the sky at the pouring attention.

“Hahaha, you guys. That story again? It’s already been decades since then…. Niven, your skills are even better than back then….”

The Knights of Rain began to laugh and compliment each other.

The flow of conversation was so natural that it seemed like it wasn’t the first or second time they had done it.

Rael looked at the sight and turned his head away in disbelief.

‘There are no such thing as completely crazy people.’

Sling-

Lael took out his sword in frustration and breathed magic into it.

The same black energy was created as usual, but I still couldn’t feel anything.

They say that they’ve definitely gotten stronger, but they can’t feel it.

Even a dog would never do something this doggy.

“···What on earth is the entrance to heaven? What is the equivalent of the sky?”

Rael muttered without thinking.

The first form of the Thousand-Sal Sword, received from the Thousand-Sal Sword Master. Ipcheon.

He himself still did not know the swordsmanship properly.

“uh···?”

Thump-

At that moment, Rael’s whole body began to react.

Feeling his heart pounding, Rael instinctively opened his mouth.

“··· The first form of the Thousand-Slayer Sword. Entering Heaven.”

As Rael spoke, a magical power welled up from deep within my heart.

Rael looked down at his sword, accepting the form of the Thousand-Slayer Sword digging into his mind.

Only then did I begin to understand the movements of the Thousand-Sal Sword Master, one by one.

“Rael…? What is that power?”

Rain and the Knights of Rain also turned their heads at the suddenly rising, heterogeneous energy.

Lael, feeling the gaze of those around him, grabbed his sword with a feeling of emptiness.

“Fuck, did you really have to say that with your mouth?”

No matter how you look at it, this fucking world is going wrong.