Imperial Guard - Chapter 65



Only Noblemtl

“Haha. Have a nice trip, Sir Rael.”

“Yes. Please take good care of District 4.”

“Hold on to your worries. Bishop Peter will spread the truth of the Church to the little lambs.”

“Oh, yes.”

Rael blinked as he looked at Bishop Peter, who had matured in a short period of time.

It had been about a month since he had arrived in District 4, and the bright eyes I had seen at first had disappeared, and his eyes were starting to resemble those of Bishop Felice.

‘At least Bishop Peter extorts money from the nobles… so he’s better than Felice.’

And on top of that, he treats himself so badly.

Rael would be satisfied with just that much.

“Oh, when you go to the main office, be sure to see Cardinal Bernardo.”

“Cardinal Bernand? Why him?”

“I told you a lot about Sir Rael. Haha.”

“···.”

Rael nodded, feeling something strange.

Haha, the smiling face was similar to Carlson’s face while gambling.

I guess I’ll have to have Carlson do some background checks on Peter later.

“La, Mr. Rael. Are you sure it’s okay? A priest like me taking the archbishop exam….”

“It’s okay. Don’t worry, everything will be fine.”

On the way to the church headquarters.

Rael smiled as he watched Cecilia stomping her feet.

It was absurd that the next saint was so scared of the archbishop exam.

“Brother, brother.”

Knock knock.

At that moment, Carlson tapped Rael on the shoulder.

“why?”

“Brother Rael. Didn’t you say that you two aren’t lovers?”

“I said no, you crazy bastard.”

I don’t know why this kid is so obsessed with relationships.

On the topic of knights, are you hungry for a woman?

“No, but why doesn’t Father Cecilia call him Sir Rael? Wasn’t your brother sensitive to such things? Shouldn’t he at least be called Brother Rael?”

“···Just leave me alone, Inma.”

Rael shook his head and patted Carlson on the shoulder.

I don’t know what the hell a paladin is talking about to the next saintess.

‘It’s strange. I always call Carlson Sir Carlson···.’

Does that mean you feel that close to Rael?

I felt good thinking that the golden rope I had given to the next saint was strong.

“Brother Rael. By the way, what do you think of my divine power sword? I reported it to the church, but… I still don’t have a sense of how great it is.”

“That? I hate to admit it, but… it’s amazing.”

The power used by knights is divine power.

Divine power is an unidentified power bestowed by the God Gaia, and only those born with it can use it.

The reason talent is important in the Holy Law is because the strength varies depending on the amount of divine power.

“It’s common for knights to only wear light swords because they use divine powers.”

“That’s right. There are some paladins who use magic to sharpen their swords, but the previous paladins have proven with their own bodies that focusing on one of the two is more powerful.”

“Yeah. But you did something crazy like using both divine power and sword power… Ha, I don’t understand. What’s so great about this kid?”

“Haha, this is the teachings of Gaia-sama.”

Lael looked Carlson up and down in disbelief.

Carlson was laughing, but his face looked angry for some reason.

‘A world where people wake up from gambling like idiots.’

Rael sighed.

Actually, it makes me mad that this guy has talent… but the world is inherently unfair.

While good and upright prosecutors like yourself may be born with talent, the world also has people like Carlson.

‘The question is why this guy didn’t appear in the original…’

I can admit it now.

Carlson has the talent to shake up the church.

Even if he’s not at the level of hero Lucas, he’s good enough to take on a supporting role below that level.

Even with Rael’s help, with that level of talent, he would have blazed a trail in less than 10 years even without Rael.

Although he likes gambling, he is a fairly honest guy… He would have stood out in the Knights of the Silver Cross and appeared in the original work.

But Carlson’s name never appeared in the original.

Maybe his teachings were really helpful?

Rael walked forward with that thought in his mind.

“Sir Carlson. The Divine Power Sword Reinforcement, you are truly amazing.”

“Haha, thank you, Father Cecilia.”

“Carlson. Is that headquarters?”

“Oh, that’s right, brother.”

The headquarters of the religious order.

I had seen Rael a few times during my time in the guard.

Unlike other branches, it was huge from the entrance, and its splendid exterior with a tall spire and sparkling crystals made it hard to believe it was a religious order.

“First, I plan to go to the Knights of the Silver Cross and meet the Commander. Would you like to come with me, brother and priest?”

“Oh, yes. I’ll say hello too.”

“Okay, take the lead, Carlson.”

While Carlson is talking to the priest guarding the main altar.

Rael looked around.

“···.”

I felt eyes looking at me from inside the classroom.

When Rael turned his head in that direction, he saw men looking at Carlson.

The hammer and cross tattooed on their chests indicated their affiliation with the sect.

“It smells like pig shit.”

Then, one of the guys opened his mouth.

“Hey, do you think those lowly people would go around washing?”

“You should be ashamed before Gaia, who gave you life.”

They were looking this way and giggling.

No, to be exact, I was looking at Carlson.

“They said it was okay for me to go in. Let’s go, brother.”

“Carlson. Who are they? Do you know them?”

Rael asked Carlson, who had finished talking to the priest.

Carlson answered with a sheepish smile.

“Um… they are the heretic judges.”

“Inquisitor?”

“Yes. They are similar to the Knights of the Silver Cross, combatants who fight against heretics.”

“But why is it like that?”

“Haha, maybe he’s doing that on purpose. To insult me.”

“···Are you doing that on purpose?”

“Um, recently the role of the Inquisitors has been taken over by the Knights of the Silver Cross. Since the Inquisitors are all made up of nobles, they tend to be jealous of the Knights of the Silver Cross. I was treated even worse because I was an orphan from a lower district.”

“Those little bastards···.”

Rael frowned and took a step forward.

However, Carlson grabbed her shoulder and smiled.

“Oh, brother. Please be patient. Is there really a need to fight among people from the same sect?”

“···Tsk.”

Rael clicked his tongue when he saw Carlson’s face.

He didn’t want to cause trouble in the church.

Carlson was there, so there was no need for him to step forward.

“Chief Marco, would you just sit there and watch something like that? He wasn’t that kind of person.”

“They don’t act like that around other people. People of noble birth are very strict.”

“What a bunch of fucking idiots.”

Rael glanced at the inquisitors as he passed them by.

‘No matter how I look at these kids, they’re suspicious.’

When their gaze fell on Carlson.

For a moment, Rael felt truly alive.

They really hated Carlson.

‘Wait a minute, the reason Carlson wasn’t in the original…’

Surely not.

If that happens, I won’t let those bastards off easy.

Rael went inside, glaring at them.

*

As soon as I entered the headquarters of the religious order, I headed to the Knights of the Silver Cross.

Rael followed Carlson, amazed by the majesty of the main body.

“How is it, brother? I used to work in a place like this and then came to District 4.”

“Wow, that’s great, Sir Carlson.”

“This building is filled with the blood and sweat of common people.”

“···If you say that, what will happen to the people in the church?”

“I’m kidding.”

Rael pointed to a large man wielding a battle axe at the Knights’ headquarters.

“Carlson, the captain is over there.”

“Oh, Captain! It’s Carlson!”

The man who had been swinging his Battle Axe in the air only then turned his head.

Marco slung the Battle Axe on his back and looked at the approaching Rael.

“May the peace of Gaia be with you, Rael. How did you become so strong again?”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

The first thing I noticed was Rael.

He was noticeably stronger than when he was awarded the Knighthood.

I was so curious as to how it changed every time I looked at it.

“It’s been a while, Father Cecilia. I tried to send people from the church over there, but they were so heavy that they couldn’t move. I’m sorry.”

“Sir Marco. Oh, no. I appreciate it even more than that.”

After exchanging a quick greeting with Cecilia, Marco looked at Carlson.

He was originally a talented guy, but after going to District 4, he broke through the wall.

“And Carlson.”

“Yes, sir.”

“First of all, congratulations on breaking new ground. Today, you will have the opportunity to prove your skills in front of the major figures of the church.”

“I will do my best.”

“But before that, show me your skills first. I’ll check for myself whether your achievements are outstanding enough to prove it.”

“All right.”

Sling-

Carlson drew his sword with a serious expression.

A bright light slowly appeared on his sword.

Hwaaak-.

The sword of divine power that was finally created.

Although he was slightly shaken by his awakening just yesterday, Geomgang soon settled down calmly on the sword.

“Huh. Is that really true···.”

Marco opened his eyes wide in response.

Even with his common sense, it would be impossible to wrap several layers of pure divine power without magic power around it like a sword.

Having achieved this level, it is worthy of being the pride of the church.

“Two hours later. Come to the main auditorium of the church.”

“All right.”

Marco patted Carlson on the shoulder and turned around.

We had to move quickly to gather the people of the church right away.

“Father Cecilia. What do you think?”

After Marco disappeared, Carlson showed off his chest to Cecilia.

“You are truly amazing, Sir Carlson.”

“Haha, if you try hard, you too can become like me someday.”

“···.”

Rael chuckled as he watched Carlson boast about his accomplishments to the next saint.

He later vowed to himself that he would definitely make fun of this incident.

*

Two hours later.

Rael stood in front of the church’s main auditorium.

“Mr. Lael, there are so many people.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

As Cecilia said, the main auditorium of the church was filled with people.

First stood the Knights of the Silver Cross and the Inquisitors, followed by a number of priests and archbishops.

It was a solemn occasion, with even two cardinals present.

That’s how great Carlson’s accomplishments were.

As a knight of honor, Rael was a natural fit for the procession of the Knights of the Silver Cross.

“From now on, Carlson of the Knights of the Silver Cross will demonstrate the power of the Holy Sword. His opponent will be the Knights of the Silver Cross…”

“I will do it, Sir Marco.”

Thud, thud.

At that moment, one of the heretic judges walked out.

It was the guy who was laughing at Carlson earlier.

“I am Inquisitor Garhard Elgar. I believe that sparring with me will give you a better chance to demonstrate your skills than sparring with fellow Knights of the Silver Cross.”

“Hmm, good. Garhardt, stand in front of Carlson. You are stronger than Carlson, so adjust your strength.”

“Understood, Sir Marco.”

He smiled faintly and lifted the hammer.

After a while, the hammer that Garhardt lifted was imbued with divine power.

He looked pretty strong, even to Rael.

“i look forward to.”

Sling-!

Carlson also drew his sword.

Soon, the divine power that was accumulating on his sword began to emit an enormous light.

The priests and archbishops were amazed by the strong light, and the knights were amazed by the mysteries it contained.

“Phew.”

Carlson, who had caught his breath, looked at Garhardt and swung his sword.

Boom-!

A clash of swords and maces.

Surprisingly, it was the sledgehammer that was pushed back.

“Ugh, ugh···!”

Garhardt stepped back without realizing it.

His mace could withstand even the sharpness of a Graduate’s sword, but Carlson’s sword was anything but simple.

‘On the topic of a knight of commoner origin…!’

Garhardt strongly infused the hammer with divine power.

A commoner like him could not possibly bring shame upon himself.

“Hey you!”

“That’s it! The demonstration ends here.”

However, Carlson’s demonstration of power was already over.

Marco stepped forward and grabbed Garhard’s hammer.

“Oh, Sir Marco···!”

“The demonstration is over. Return to your seats. Garhardt.”

“···Tsk!”

Garhardt recovered his divine power and returned to his seat.

I couldn’t fight that monster for the sake of a common knight.

‘Carlson… You’re getting more and more popular for being a commoner.’

Instead, Garhardt’s inferiority complex grew even stronger.

He looked at Carlson and pursed his lips.

“Wow, Carlson.”

Marco looked at Carlson with a smile.

The realm he achieved was noble and beautiful.

“Thank you. It is all a blessing from Gaia.”

“Let me take this opportunity to tell you the teachings Gaia gave me.”

Carlson hesitated for a moment after hearing Marco’s words, then opened his mouth.

“···I am angry.”

“anger?”

“Before I got to this point, I felt a lot of anger. Sometimes it was anger toward the world, sometimes it was anger toward myself. All of that fueled me to break new ground.”

The Knights of the Silver Cross seemed moved by Carlson’s words and made the sign of the cross.

Some of them nodded in understanding.

They were still lacking beings.

“Anger… Is it anger at the evils of this world?”

“He is of commoner origin, so it could be his anger at the injustice of the empire.”

The same was true of the archbishops.

They all prayed to Gaia who had given them everything.

Some of them even shed tears.

“Gaia’s blessing has come down. Gaia-men.”

“Gaia-men!”

Divine power flowed from the Knights of the Silver Cross and the priests.

Cecilia also began to pray, feeling the waves of divine power surge towards her.

“Mr. Rael. I am truly touched. Gaia-men···.”

“···Gaia-men.”

Rael closed his eyes in a hall filled with divine power.

‘This is really fucked up.’

Do they know that their anger came from gambling on dice?

Rael lamented the sad fact that a group that finds enlightenment through dice gambling is the state religion of the empire.