Imperial Guard - Chapter 61



Only Noblemtl

‘Fuck, fuck…! Uriel, this bitch…’

Second Prince Simon sat among the nobles, chewing his lip.

The surrounding nobles also felt the momentum and sipped their drinks in silence.

“My little brother has grown a lot more than I thought. Don’t you think so? Simon.”

In the meantime, the only one who was at peace was the first prince, Damian.

“···Brother. Why did you just stay still? Did you really want to see me embarrassed?”

Simon’s competitive spirit flared as he watched Damien speaking with a calm face.

Obviously he wanted to embarrass himself.

So I guess he just stayed still.

“What are you talking about? Didn’t I tell you not to interrupt while you were talking to Uriel?”

“···Tsk.”

Simon clicked his tongue.

As expected, Damien was a guy I didn’t like.

‘That’s interesting. Uriel’s head has grown quite a bit, but… his knights seem quite capable.’

Damian turned his attention away from his grumbling brother and thought of Uriel’s article.

He was not someone to be ignored just because he was from a commoner background.

He had a clear eye for reading situations.

‘It must be Uriel’s ability to bring someone like that along.’

Damien looked at Uriel with a little more interest.

I felt like I could have paid a little more attention to her.

“···Did His Highness Uriel just corner His Highness Simon?”

“No. His knights were the ones who crushed His Highness Simon’s knights.”

“Isn’t that what it means! A knight is the pride of his lord!”

Meanwhile, the nobles who were far away from the second prince began to focus on the second princess in the corner.

It was interesting to see her show a new side of herself that she had never shown before, and I was also curious about his articles.

“An Honorary Knight of the Silver Cross? Who are they?”

“He is the one who killed the demons that invaded District 4 and became a knight. He is quite famous in the religious order.”

“I heard that he was personally recommended by Sir Marco.”

“Huh, isn’t Sir Marco the kind of person who doesn’t care about anything other than hunting demons?”

There were nobles who liked the Gaia Cult who knew about Rael.

The story about the Second Princess and Rael spread throughout the party centering around them.

As the nobles were confused, the host’s words were heard once again.

[His Highness the Grand Duke enters.]

Thud, thud.

The Knights of Rain, who were maintaining their formation, opened the door to the party hall.

As the door opened, a middle-aged man dressed in a neat suit entered the party hall.

The only duke of the empire.

It was Archduke Eric Grace.

“His Majesty the Grand Duke looks so well even after ten years.”

“Have you cured all your chronic illnesses?”

“So, you’re going back to work, right?”

The nobles admired and praised the Grand Duke.

Some of them were watching each other while talking like this.

Because the incident that just happened was so great.

“I was really surprised that all the nobility of the empire gathered for an old man like me’s party. Even the future royal family members of the empire graced the occasion.”

Eric turned his gaze to the royal family and smiled.

“I would like to greet each and every one of the princes and princesses, but… there is something I would like to tell you before that.”

Originally, if a member of the imperial family attended a party, it was polite to greet them as the host.

But Eric continued with a faint smile.

“I heard there were knights arguing in good seats.”

“···!”

The nobles were surprised by the Archduke’s direct attack.

They say it’s just a knight’s quarrel, but the nobles knew the truth.

It was a fight between the prince and the princess.

‘You mention that directly, are you trying to cause trouble?’

The nobles waited for the Archduke’s next words.

“As the Grand Duke of the Empire, I cannot bury the troubles that occurred at my party. I intend to clean it up so that there will be no more trouble.”

The Archduke looked around and asked for agreement.

He was an old tiger who had been living in the imperial palace for decades.

I didn’t feel burdened at all by the gazes of the nobles I hadn’t seen in ten years.

“Since it is a fight between knights, I think it would be better to end it cleanly with a duel. What do you all think?”

The nobles nodded at the Archduke’s words.

It was the safest and most imperially noble solution.

“Your Highness the Grand Duke remains the same.”

“You still retain the spirit you had as a general of the empire.”

“Just like a knight, you decide who is right with your sword.”

“But isn’t Sir Lauren a veteran of the Knights of Carmen? I heard that the honorary knight Sir Lael is still in his twenties.”

“If you don’t have that much confidence, you can’t call yourself the princess’s knight.”

Some of the nobles raised the issue of fairness, but it was not accepted.

The nobles simply wanted to see a duel between knights.

Moreover, the fact that there was no one to take the side of the disadvantaged second princess was also a big factor.

“Thank you, Archduke. Lauren. Come out here.”

Second Prince Simon stepped forward, holding back laughter.

Lauren.

As befitting a knight of the royal family, he was an excellent swordsman.

Because he was a mature graduate from the Knights of Carmen.

There is no chance that he will lose to a commoner knight.

“I am grateful that Your Highness has given me this opportunity. I will prove the dignity of the Second Prince.”

Lauren walked out with her chest puffed out proudly.

The opponent is a rookie knight in his 20s.

There was no reason for him to run away.

“···Mr. Rael. Are you okay?”

Yuri, who was in the corner of the party hall, looked at Rael cautiously.

I know he’s strong. However, the position of a knight of the royal family is held by only the best among the Knights of Kamen.

Lauren is much stronger than the Knights of Carmen she faced back then.

“Since His Highness the Grand Duke has laid the groundwork, I must step forward.”

Rael smiled.

Uncle Eric must have heard about Lael’s strength from Captain Lane.

That’s why he sets the stage so confidently.

“Your Highness Uriel.”

“If it’s a burden, I can refuse it···.”

Rael shook his head, looking at Yuri who was giving him a worried look.

I know why Yuri is worried.

She doesn’t know Rael’s true strength.

It’s natural to be worried.

‘It’s good to worry, but your heart is too soft.’

Rael shook his head.

She lacked the aura of the next emperor that we saw in the original.

Now that you have caught the golden rope, this is something you must do too.

“Shoulders up, confidence up. This is an important party. I’ll prove it, Yuri, just follow me.”

“···.”

Only then did Yuri look around.

This is not a special guard.

She is not Yuri, but the second princess, Uriel von Grandia.

You must display the appropriate dignity in front of the imperial nobles.

Yuri has made up her mind as a princess.

And then he said, shrugging his shoulders.

“Rael. Prove to me who you are as a knight.”

“Yes, Your Majesty Uriel.”

Rael took an example and walked out.

In the center of the party hall, where there were no nobles, the Knights of Carmen and the Knights of Rain stood in a circle.

Since it was an impromptu duel, the knights created an arena with their bodies to prevent any harm to the nobles.

“This will be interesting. A duel with Sir Lauren.”

“I’m a bit worried that it might end too quickly.”

“If he has been granted the title of honorary knight, he must have at least one hidden trick.”

The nobles present at the party also watched the duel.

Although a knight’s duel is a fight based on chivalry and respect for each other’s honor, the nobles watching it did not think that way.

These are nobles of high status who each hold a position in the empire.

If one side’s article collapses in front of them, it would be a huge humiliation for the loser.

This was a battle of pride between the Second Prince and the Second Princess.

‘His Highness the Grand Duke will definitely support the Second Prince. If not, there would be no way this opportunity would have been created.’

Now was the time to prove his worth as the Second Prince.

Lauren slowly entered the arena.

Lael stood in front of him.

‘On the topic of commoners···.’

Lauren looked up and down Rael’s body.

There is a method of measuring fighting power that has been passed down to knights.

This is to check how worn the opponent’s sword handle is compared to the scabbard.

If the handle is clean compared to the old scabbard, it means that the sword has not been properly trained.

If the handle is more worn than the scabbard, then you are crazy about training, so you need to be careful.

‘You’re weak.’

By that standard, Rael was a jerk.

Compared to the sword handle, which was not very worn, the scabbard was completely worn.

He doesn’t seem to practice much and doesn’t seem to have much interest in swordsmanship.

Besides, he is young.

At best, he is about the same age as the princess.

There is no way he could defeat someone who has wielded a sword for decades.

Lauren looked at Rael, smiling confidently.

“I will teach the sword to Aesongi.”

“···.”

“If you had knelt before sparring, I might have turned a blind eye to you. You’re a commoner with strong pride.”

“Oh, you talk a lot.”

Rael scratched his ear as if he was annoyed.

“···what?”

“Pull out your sword, brat. You have no respect for elders.”

Rael, as expected from a country of courtesy in the East, tends to treat people according to their age, but he had no intention of treating someone like that well.

“You really are a ridiculous guy. I’ll show you what a real knight is.”

Sling-!

Lauren drew her sword.

A distinct sword flame rose above his sword.

It was the sword of a knight who had risen to the rank of a fully-fledged graduate.

“Your gums are really clean.”

“That is the sword of the Knights of Kamen, which only the knights of the Imperial Order can learn···.”

The nobles also looked at Lauren’s sword with admiration.

He was a knight of that high standard.

“You pulled it out first. Don’t blame me later.”

“Huh. I wonder how long you can show that kind of confidence.”

Lauren couldn’t understand the confidence of the knight before her.

He is a knight who has reached the level of a mature graduate with decades of experience in the sword.

It means that you can’t lose to a commoner knight.

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

“···?”

However, it didn’t even take 5 seconds for that confidence to be shattered.

Hwaaak-

With a strange spell, a blazing sword energy rose up from Rael’s sword.

The nobles who saw his sword shouted in surprise.

“That, Graduate Eight?!”

“That’s ridiculous! Pulling out the gum at that age!”

Rael almost laughed at that reaction.

It was the same reaction as when I pulled out the sword.

I was really curious to see how he would react if he found out that Rael’s power was above Graduate level.

‘Mr. Rael···?’

Uriel was also surprised.

I never thought he could pull out a sword.

Even when he saved Yuri’s life, Rael used his sword.

It was ridiculous that I could get my gums extracted in just one month.

‘But why are you talking about technology…?’

Yuri tilted her head and watched his duel.

“This, this is···.”

Lauren gripped her sword tightly as she watched Rael’s swordsmanship.

As if he wasn’t being rude for no reason, he had a plan.

His sword was obviously stronger than Lauren’s.

‘··· But I can win in swordsmanship. No, I will definitely win.’

Lauren looked straight ahead and thought.

Magic is a field in which talent is strong.

But swordsmanship is different.

The decades of hard work you’ve put in will never betray you.

Lauren had firm faith in her sword.

“If both knights are ready, the duel will begin.”

The person who will be in attendance for the duel is Rain, the leader of the Rain Knights.

He raised his sword into the air and then swung it down.

It was the signal to start the duel.

“Whoaaaa!”

Lauren swung her sword confidently.

Since my opponent would lack experience, I planned to take the initiative from the start.

‘I still haven’t come to my senses.’

Rael lightly clashed his swords.

The fighting spirit still burns in his eyes.

I wondered how long that passion would last.

Chaeng-! Kaang-!

“This, this···!”

After dividing the sum by three.

Lauren’s expression became distorted as she was pushed back.

The sword, strangely light and fast, struck his vital point, and even a simple counterattack reduced his sword strength significantly.

‘Not only is his output excellent, but his swordsmanship is also excellent?’

I can’t believe there’s such a strong inspector among the commoners.

Lauren stepped back, sweating profusely.

“How far are you running away to?”

Lael followed him leisurely and swung his sword.

Kyaang-!

Lauren quickly dodged, but his armor was already cut.

Blood gushed out from his thinly sliced ​​chest.

“Ugh···!”

Lauren coughed in pain and felt fear as she took up her position.

This was my first time dealing with an opponent like this.

Since the sword contains such strong power, each and every one of its movements had to be heavy.

But his sword was different.

It was so fast that it was hard to follow with the eyes, but the power contained in the sword was so heavy.

It is said that there are two swords that cannot coexist.

bang-.

“···!”

Every time they exchanged swords, Lauren’s back, which had been retreating, touched the knights.

‘I, I lost?’

In these simple duels, the one who retreats far enough to reach the knights, for the safety of the spectators, is the loser.

It was a truly absurd defeat that did not befit the title of the Second Prince’s exclusive knight.

“What are you doing, Sir Lauren? You should attack me again. Are you really going to run away after losing to that extent?”

At that moment, Rael, who was in front, smiled and flicked his sword.

Rael didn’t want the duel to end like this.

“···!”

Lauren bit her lip as she watched Rael crush her pride.

“Hey you…! I’ll make you regret it!”

Lauren pulled out her sword again.

It was a much thicker and darker sword than before.

Lauren decided not to let her guard down any longer.

It was certainly true that I had underestimated my opponent’s strength.

But from now on, it’s different.

Lauren focused all her senses on the knight before her.

It was the moment when his sword, built up over decades, blossomed.

however.

The wall between Rael and Loren was thicker than he thought.

The moment Loren swung her sword while looking at Rael.

“Type 1. Ipcheon.”

Chook-

“Ugh···!”

Rael’s sword cut through his chest.

It was a swift sword that his eyes could not follow.

‘Oh, where did that monster come from…’

Lauren realized.

The opponent is someone you can’t beat.

I can’t understand it at all… but it was touching that bastard’s black sword master.

Kyaang-!

Lauren, who was hit by Rael, was lifted off the ground and flew backwards.

dump-

Lauren, unconscious, fell to the ground.

A huge wound was visible between his split breastplate.

“Priest, call the priest!”

“That’s ridiculous. Sir Lauren was defeated in a fight between Gum Gang and Gum Gang?”

While the knights were busy calling for priests, the nobles were surprised.

Sling-

Lael looked at Rain while sheathing his sword, the corners of his mouth raised.

‘Wow, you’re doing a great job.’

Rain nodded after seeing that face.

“It looks like the match has been decided. The winner is His Highness Uriel’s knight, Sir Lael.”

Immediately after the winner was announced, the nobles looked at Rael with surprised eyes.

Most nobles of the Kamen Empire, who worship strength, wield swords, even as a hobby.

That’s why I could now see how great a job Rael had done.

“To think that at that age, he could defeat Sir Lauren···.”

“It even looked relaxed. The power was more than that.”

“Does it make sense to treat a fever at that age?”

“Where on earth did Prince Uriel find such an article…?”

The nobles all showed interest in Uriel’s knight, Rael.

That interest will gradually be passed on to the Second Princess, and will become one of Yuriel’s powers.

‘If His Highness the Grand Duke reveals that he supports Yuri in this state…’

Game over.

From then on, the second princess’s time will come.

“This was truly a beautiful couplet.”

But at that moment, a knight who had been motionless in a corner of the party hall stood up.

‘···what?’

Rael swallowed as he watched the approaching man.

The Empire’s strongest knight.

Gideon Garcia, Commander of the Knights of Carmen.

He was walking towards Rael.