Imperial Guard - Chapter 57



Only Noblemtl

Time passed in an instant.

Now, His Highness the Grand Duke’s return party is just around the corner.

Lael lay in his special guard hammock, thinking about the coming party.

‘Hmm… The party is in a few days, should I start joining the Knights of Rain?’

If you want to join the party, that’s the most convenient way.

If you are a knight of His Highness the Grand Duke, you will have no trouble moving around the party venue.

“Hey, Lael. Get out of the way.”

At that moment, a voice was heard that interrupted Rael’s worries.

It was the crazy elf Reyna.

She interrupted her meditation again today.

Rael sighed and looked at Reyna.

“Reina. Do you know what the four-leaf clover means?”

“Four-leaf clover? Isn’t it lucky?”

“Yes. A four-leaf clover means good luck. However, the three-leaf clover next to it means happiness. People miss out on a lot of happiness in search of small fortunes.”

“···Is that so? Three-leaf clovers and four-leaf clovers are the same species.”

Reyna, an elf from the nature race, tilted her head.

A four-leaf clover is merely a deformity of a three-leaf clover. Since the two are the same species, their flower meanings cannot be different.

But instead of pointing out such a trivial thing, she asked something else.

“But Rael.”

“huh.”

“What does that have to do with you lying in my hammock? The hammock is filled with the power of nature, so I have to lie down in it. You can lie down somewhere else.”

“···It’s about prioritizing everyday happiness over momentary luck. Just give in to me today.”

“What the hell are you talking about!”

Reina rocked the hammock back and forth.

However, Rael, who had a hammock full of nature, did not want to give up.

I’m going to have a nice nap if I lie down here.

Lael closed his eyes and laid back in the hammock, ignoring Reina’s complaints.

Jerk- Jerk-

“Are you guys fighting again? You two are really close.”

“Ghent! Lael is lying in my hammock!”

“Rael. Did you steal Reina’s hammock again?”

At that time, Gent, a member of the Jangseongjong Cartel, came to help Reina.

Rael opened his eyes, saddened by the reality that he had no one on his side.

“Hey. Ghent. The flower language of the four-leaf clover is… Huh?”

Rael blinked as he looked at Ghent.

He was wearing a neat suit, rather than his usual light Giant garb.

Even her hair was neatly slicked back.

It was quite odd to see him holding a trowel in such a neat outfit… but Rael looked at Ghent as if he was curious.

“Am I dreaming?”

“You are looking at it correctly.”

“Ghent. Are you going on a blind date? Are you planning on continuing the family line?”

Rael looked up and down Ghent.

I’m not sure about the standards of beauty for giants, but I think Ghent wouldn’t be so bad.

“···That’s not it. Yuri will be attending the party soon, and I plan to attend as well. Today is the day Yuri will be checking my outfit.”

“Party? …Why you?”

The party that Yuri will be attending is, of course, the Archduke’s return party.

This party is a celebration of His Highness the Grand Duke’s return, attended by imperial nobles.

In other words, it is a party in which only humans participate.

Even though he was Yuri’s confidant, I couldn’t understand why Gent, a member of a different race, would participate.

“They said they needed someone like a dedicated knight for the party. Since Reina is a woman and can’t play the role of a knight, they decided to take on me.”

“···.”

A siren rang in the head of medieval fantasy expert Rael.

If that big guy went to a noble party, Yuri’s image would definitely fall to the bottom.

The nobility of the empire, already mired in discrimination and inequality, would not leave the giants alone.

This was not an expectation, it was a certainty.

‘Did you take Ghent with you in the original? … No. I led this party, so it wasn’t in the original.’

The golden rope glass was in danger of being ignored by the nobles.

But that’s okay.

Because there happens to be an honorary knight of the Knights of the Silver Cross here.

Rael can take on the role of the knight.

“I’m sorry, Ghent. You should wear that suit when you get married.”

Lael climbed down from the hammock, stood on the chair next to him, and tapped Gent on the shoulder.

“Yahoo. The hammock is mine.”

Reina took the hammock in the meantime, but that was no use.

“···What does that mean?”

“I can take on the role of the knight. Why didn’t you tell me in the first place? Aren’t I better suited for the job than you?”

“···.”

Are you asking because you don’t know that?

Ghent was amazed by Rael’s confidence.

I was wondering where such baseless confidence came from.

“Anyway, I’ll go talk to Yuri and come back, so wait.”

Rael confidently entered the guard building.

It’s time to grab the golden rope again.

*

Inside the special guard building.

Yuri’s exclusive maid, Isabelle, showed up again today.

“Miss Yuriel, you don’t have to worry too much.”

“··· Yeah. I guess so. I’m sorry. Isabelle.”

Yuri took a deep breath and thought about the upcoming party.

This party was not part of the royal family’s schedule, but a party I was attending as a second princess.

There has never been a nobleman who personally invited the weakest of the two princesses.

That is, it was my first personal schedule.

Of course, I couldn’t help but feel nervous.

“It’s just a shame that I didn’t get to meet His Highness the Grand Duke first.”

“···Hmm. I guess His Highness has a chronic illness.”

After checking, it was true that His Highness the Grand Duke and the Knights of Rain supported Yuri.

However, it was a shame that I couldn’t see His Highness the Grand Duke’s face before the party.

“I’m a little disappointed with the exclusive knight. Mr. Ghent said he would help, but it would be nice to have just one proper knight from the Knights of Rain.”

“Let’s ask Mr. Rael. Isabelle.”

“I’ve thought about that too… but the memories of the mercenary group keep coming back to me.”

Isabelle remembered Yuri’s outing two months ago.

The day when Rael took Ms. Reina and destroyed a mercenary group…

If something similar had happened at the party, it would have been a disaster.

“That, that… Mr. Rael must be someone who knows how to distinguish between time and place.”

“I wish I could do that too···.”

Knock knock-

At that moment, a knock on the door interrupted their conversation.

Reina opens the door without knocking, and Ghent knocks as if the door will break.

Only Rael knocks so politely.

‘When I see something like that, I think he seems like a nice guy.’

Isabelle looked troubled with a trembling expression.

Of course, he’s a good man because he saved Uriel’s life and his own.

But… I’m just afraid of the slight possibility of an accident remaining.

“Come in, Mr. Rael.”

“Good morning, Yuri. Hello, Isabelle.”

“······Yes, Lord Rael.”

“Hmm.”

When Rael heard Isabelle’s title, he touched the knight’s badge on his chest.

Isabelle, seeing that sight, lowered her head and spoke again.

“Good morning, Sir Rael.”

“Haha, Isabelle. You too.”

“···.”

Isabelle shook her head as she saw Rael’s proud expression.

This guy just doesn’t seem right. He’s too light, even if he’s light.

Although he is a lifesaver, one must strictly separate public and private life.

“Mr. Lael. What’s going on?”

“I heard you’re bringing Ghent as your exclusive chauffeur to this party.”

“Oh, yes, it’s not set in stone, but I’ll test it···.”

“Does it make sense to bring a giant to a party of imperial nobles? Yuri-ssi. If you need a knight, you should have told me.”

“Ah… Yes! I wanted to tell Mr. Rael too… but I have no way to contact His Highness the Duke or the Knights of Rain.”

Yuri smiled apologetically.

Because of Isabelle’s persuasion and the memories from that time, Yuri hesitated for a moment… but in fact, Yuri was in favor of taking Rael with her.

He was a trustworthy enough man.

“Don’t worry. I’m not your guy. I’m just an honorary knight. Trust me and leave it to me.”

Rael proudly puffed out his chest.

The Knight of Honor badge sparkled and showed off its appearance.

“···Miss Yuriel.”

Isabelle spoke to Yuri cautiously.

But Yuri shook her head.

“It’s okay. I can trust Mr. Rael. The important thing for a knight is his ability to protect his monarch.”

“That can’t be denied, but···.”

In the end, it was Yuri who made the decision.

Isabelle bowed her head and followed Yuri’s words.

‘Yeah. Maybe I was too narrow-minded.’

Yuri was right.

Maybe he was not angry at Rael himself, but at Rael’s informal speech?

Only then did Isabelle truly understand her own heart.

“Sir Rael. Then, may I ask you to assist Uriel?”

Isabelle bowed her head politely.

“It’s possible, Yuri. Please take care of it.”

“Yes, Mr. Rael.”

Yuri shook hands with Rael with a faint smile.

If he was there, I thought I could get through the upcoming party without any problems.

‘I hope you don’t have any accidents, Sir Rael. I will believe you···.’

The maid Isabelle prayed to Gaia, who had given her life, while looking at the two.

*

The backyard of the District 4 daycare center.

Rael focused on training for the Archduke’s upcoming return party.

It’s a party, not a war, but when people gather together, you never know when you’ll have to use your strength.

“i look forward to.”

Sling-

Rael smiled and drew his sword.

Rain had to go to Area 1 soon and couldn’t spar with Rael, but luckily, there were knights other than Captain Rain in the backyard of the orphanage.

They were members of the Rain Knights who had become quite close.

“Cheonsal Sword. Type 1. Entering Heaven.”

Rael infused his sword with magic power and rushed at the knight in front of him.

It took a lot of practice to embody the realm of Ipcheon.

“Ugh···!”

Kyaang-!

The face of the Knight of the Rain who received Rael’s sword turned bright red.

Because I used too much force, blood rushed to my head.

“Eww!”

However, even then, I couldn’t receive Rael’s sword.

He fell to the floor in an awkward manner, rubbing his sore back.

Chook-!

At that moment, a sword dug into Rael’s back.

Rael, who saw the stab aimed at his side, turned his body and struck the side of the blade with his fist.

The knight’s eyes widened as he watched the sword twist into a fist.

“Hey, a sword with a fist?”

“I have a good sense.”

Taang-!

Rael smiled and slapped the knight’s armor.

“···This is really. My pride is hurt.”

Rain, who was watching the duel between Rael and the Knights, smiled bitterly.

Even a month ago, the difference wasn’t that big… In just one month, he was able to play with three members of the Rain Knights.

‘I didn’t even give it my all… so the difference must be quite big.’

If you’re at the level of sparring with the beginner set of Graduates… it’s safe to say that you’ve already surpassed the mature Graduates.

He has already faced the Sword Master’s wall.

It was after the age of 40 that Rain, who was called a genius, glimpsed the realm of the Sword Master, so there was no need to say anything about Rael’s talent.

“Master. What is that sword of Lord Rael? Is it the sword of the Knights of the Silver Cross?”

Kir, the adjutant of the Knights of the Rain Order, looked at Rael’s sword and asked.

He had been a knight his entire life, but he had never seen a sword like that.

“It’s not the sword of the Knights of the Silver Cross. To begin with, I’ve never seen that sword before. Perhaps… it’s a sword technique he created himself.”

Rain knows every swordsmanship in the empire.

It’s a really sad story, but… there is no such excellent swordsmanship in the empire.

“Huh… You created swordsmanship in your twenties. I’m worried that the knights will lose their confidence.”

Swordsmanship is the result of teachings and enlightenment accumulated over generations.

To be able to make a sword like that yourself, you’d be worthy of fighting while shouting out the name of the technique.

“It is not the thousand steps of an ordinary person that advances the world, but the one step of a genius. It is the inevitable law of the world. You too, do not have strange thoughts. Rael is a genius who goes beyond me.”

“···.”

Kira nodded, looking at Rael.

If seeing someone like that makes you lose confidence in your swordsmanship, most swordsmen in the empire should put down their swords.

“Type 1. Enter!”

“Kwaaaaak!”

Kira felt a sense of wonder when she saw Rael’s sword.

The combination of heavy swordsmanship and light swordsmanship strangely blended well.

It was truly a genius swordsmanship.

‘This is a genius swordsmanship that surpasses even the captain···.’

And Kir… eventually reached a point where he thought he shouldn’t do it.

They say that the captain also fought while saying skill names like that when he was young.

By any chance… is that something that talented people have in common?

“Captain, I would also like to participate in the training.”

“Okay. I should probably head to District 1. I’ll leave the management of this area to you.”

Rain tapped Adjutant Kirue on the shoulder and walked out of the orphanage.

And Kir… pulled out his sword while looking at Rael.

“Lord Rael! I will join too!”

“Yes, Sir Kir. Come in.”

Rael looked at his adjutant with a smile.

Since there was no rain, today was the time to play with the knights.

“···Kirue Swordsmanship Chapter 1!!”

Kira held back her blush and ran towards Rael.

It was a sacrifice to become stronger.

And then, after a while, he fell to the floor.

Sadly, there was no significant change in his swordsmanship.