Imperial Guard - Chapter 75



Only Noblemtl

The elves live in the forest of the World Tree, receiving the energy of nature.

But the power of nature was so pure that it was easy to become polluted or defiled.

Count Basolod of Alheim.

It was natural for the elves to fall into his sights, possessed of the magic of death.

“Count Basolrod of Alheim attacked the World Tree Forest where the elves lived. It was a surprise attack.”

“Count Basolod···.”

Rael is also a name we saw in the original.

His magic power was so powerful that it could cause fatal damage to living beings just by touching them, making him a difficult and dangerous opponent to deal with.

If it weren’t for the Holy Sword, the protagonist wouldn’t have been able to defeat him easily.

“He wanted the power of the elves, especially the magic of the spirits.”

“Spiritualism?”

“Yes. His magical powers become stronger as he consumes pure spirits.”

“Hmm···.”

Somehow, in the original, he was incredibly strong for a count.

Did you destroy the elves and absorb all their power?

“But what does Barsolod have to do with Reina becoming a traitor to the elves?”

“···Reina had great talent for spirit magic.”

“To Reina?”

“Yes. Reina is the only elf who can open the Astral Gate of the Spirit World alone. Basolod knows this, which is why he has been targeting Reina.”

Led by Basolod, countless demons flocked to the World Tree Forest.

They tried to take Reyna away, but the elves never abandon their own kind.

Even if the entire clan was destroyed because of a single elf, the elven clan was one that fought until the end and was destroyed.

“Eventually, a great war broke out, and many elves died. My parents also died in that war. My eyes… were affected by Basolod’s magic at that time.”

The elves could not resist the magic of death that Basolod possessed.

The magic of death that causes the surroundings to wither just by existing was the natural enemy of the elves who manipulated nature.

[Oh, Mom! Dad! Oh, Sister. My eyes···!]

[···It’s okay. Reina. I will never let you go.]

[Oh, no. Stop! Everyone stop! Please! No more deaths!]

But even so, the elves did not give up the war.

The fate of the clan was put on the line to protect just one elf.

“After the war that had caused great damage to the elves had come to an end, Reina suddenly disappeared. It was a month later that she reappeared before the elves. At that time, Reina’s body was filled with the magic of death. It was as if she was… his subordinate.”

Reine bit her lip as she recalled that day.

The elves were surprised to see Reyna covered in the magic of death and approached her.

[Reina! You’re safe…! But your body…?!]

[I… decided to join hands with Basolod. He gave me great strength. Now you don’t have to fight because of me anymore. The demons won’t come either.]

[Wh, what are you talking about! Reina! Are you mentally contaminated? Take me to the World Tree! And prepare for war!]

[Stop talking nonsense!]

[Reina···?]

[How can a weak elf defeat a demon? I can’t live weak like you any longer!]

[Re, Reina! Don’t you know how many elves Basolod killed? What do you think the elves sacrificed themselves for you!]

As Reina spread her magic of death, the elves fled back to the World Tree’s forest.

And only Reyne could not believe the reality and approached Reyna.

[Reina. You, you, how could you do that!]

[Sister. Oh, sister… sigh.]

[Re, Reina? Reina!]

As soon as the elves disappeared, Reina collapsed, vomiting blood.

It was a side effect of the elf using the magic of death.

“Reina was holding back. She deceived the elves by forcibly using the magic of death that was eating away at her body. She thought that if she sacrificed herself, the elves would survive.”

“After that, you ran away, being chased by the elves.”

“Yes. From that day on, Reina became a traitor to the elves. Elves, who were born under the same world tree, love their own kind too much. That’s why they never understood Reina. Maybe she’s the most mature one.”

“···.”

After hearing Reyne’s story, Rael closed his eyes without realizing it.

I felt like my chest was being squeezed by the suffocating situation.

“I heard that the elves are moving near the Empire this time. What if we ask the Empire for help then?”

“The Demons are in a state of truce with humans. They cannot receive any official assistance from the Empire.”

Rael also belatedly recalled the ceasefire.

It is Yuri who leads the migration of the elves.

It would be okay for the Elves to simply migrate, but it would be a completely different story for the Empire to fight the Demons for them.

There will probably be enormous opposition, including from the nobles who support Yuri.

“···Tsk.”

Rael clicked his tongue.

I think I know why the elves were destroyed in the original.

Perhaps Basolrod was not satisfied with just Reyna, and was targeting other elven tribes.

“Mr. Lael.”

“Yes, Miss Reyne.”

“Please. Can you help Reina?”

“···.”

“That kid is trying to take on too much responsibility on his own. He needs help. There’s nothing I can do for him.”

“ha.”

Rael suddenly remembered.

Although he has changed quite a bit so far by causing a butterfly effect, he has gone too far in saving the elf race itself.

Besides, saving the elves means killing Bartholod, the Count of Alheim.

What impact will that action have on the world?

‘···What a fucking worry.’

Rael shook his head.

It was nauseating to even think about this for a moment.

Have I really become a cripple after living in such a cripple-like world?

“If I could…”

“Huh? Sister. Rael. What are you doing?”

At that moment, Reina, who had gone out for a moment, came into the room.

Reina smiled and sat down, looking at the awkward atmosphere between Reyne and Rael.

“Lael, you. You’ve been picking on my sister. It’s obvious.”

“···Yes. You were so beautiful, so I wanted to talk to you for a bit.”

“Haha. Of course. My older sister is one of the most beautiful people among the elves. Oh, and of course that includes me.”

Rael turned his head without answering.

If I looked at Reina now, I had a feeling she would make a strange expression.

“Anyway, since we’ve already eaten, I’ll probably go now. I have something to do. Reina. You should spend some time alone with Reine too.”

Rael decided to just get up from his seat.

Even if I were here now, I didn’t think anything good would come out of it.

“Bye. See you later, Lael!”

“Okay, Mr. Rael. It was a really fun time.”

After Rael left.

Reina smiled as she sat next to Reyne.

“Sister. Did you talk to Rael? How was it? Was he nice?”

“Yeah, I guess so. I’m glad I have good friends.”

“How are the elves doing these days? Are you preparing for migration?”

“Yeah. It’s going well.”

“Is there anyone among the elves who is bullying you? If you do, just tell me. I will beat you up.”

Rayne felt Rayna’s bright energy and smiled bitterly.

I could feel Reina’s emotions vividly as she hid her difficult feelings behind a mask called a smile.

Even though I couldn’t see, I could feel it because it was Reyne, an elf like me.

“···Reina. I’m sorry.”

“Sister? Why are you suddenly like this?”

Reyne bowed her head.

Reina’s talent for spirit magic has temporarily stopped Basolrod, but he will never be stopped.

They will invade the elves again, and countless elves will die.

To be honest, Reyne wanted to tell the truth to the elves right away.

But that’s not what Reina wants.

“There must be someone who can help. I’m sure···.”

“Huh, are you talking about Rael? Sister. He can’t be. He’s too kind.”

Reina liked people like Yurina and Rael.

They were good people who helped me unconditionally.

When Lael was surrounded by elves, he let them live without any worries, and when he was unable to obtain a branch of the World Tree, he gave it to them at a cheap price.

When I was scammed by debt collectors, I beat them up pretty good, and I also connected them with a bar owner who I haven’t seen in a while because he’s busy, but he never rips me off.

If Reina asked for help, she would probably say no but try.

“I hate that so much.”

Knowing that, Reina didn’t ask for help from either Yuri or Rael.

Because I didn’t want to see others die because of me anymore.

*

I felt strange in many ways.

When I first met Rayne, I had no idea this would happen.

I thought she was just a stupid elf who lived without thinking… but she was carrying the fate of her clan on her own.

The truth about Reina was more annoying than Rael thought.

“···Wasn’t he a foolish elf?”

How should I explain this strange feeling I have right now?

Rael sighed and walked away.

Even though he’s not a good person, you can’t help but be moved when you hear stories like that.

‘Can the Knights of Rain help? No. They won’t be of any help unless they’re at the level of Captain Rain, and if the Captain moves, there’s no way they won’t be caught.’

Rael thought about someone who could help the elves.

The empire or the church is obviously not allowed, and the Knights of Rain are not allowed either.

Baggers? Clara is there, but other than that, their fighting power is just like that of beggars.

‘The only connections I have left are Tia and Cheon-sal-geom-ju···.’

Tia says she has made a contract with the Empire and is concentrating on her research, so she cannot enter Dragon Lair.

The only one who’s easy is the Thousand-Year Sword Master… But if you think about it, isn’t that person also part of the Empire?

‘That’s right. You said that the one who made the truce with the demon tribe was the Thousand-Sal Sword Master.’

How is it that there is no one around me who can help?

Rael sighed and approached the giants he hadn’t seen in a long time.

“Hey. Ghent.”

“Huh? Rael. What’s going on?”

“Where is that old man, the Thousand-Year Sword Master? He’s close to you.”

The place Lael walked to was a special guard unit.

I had work coming up soon, and since I had reached the level of Ipcheon, I planned to meet the Cheon-sal Geomju to learn what’s next.

Rael approached the giant who was tending the garden.

“Is that the Thousand-Sal Sword Lord? He hasn’t been visiting the Empire often lately because he’s been busy with personal matters. Come to think of it, he said a few days ago that he had something to tell you.”

“No, why doesn’t that gentleman come to me directly and always relays it to you?”

“I don’t know either. But the minds of high-level warriors are inherently difficult to read. Rael.”

“Shit. He’s just pretending to be cool.”

Rael had a gut feeling.

From the beginning, the old man was not normal because he created a sword that could only be used by shouting ‘Cheonsalgeom, Type 1, Ipcheon’.

“···Tsk. Just tell me first.”

“Hmm… I will tell you without making a single mistake. ‘Disciple. You have ascended to the heavens. The state of ascension is both near and far. Prove your sword as if whispering to the sky, the sun, and the moon. And ascend to the heavens and cut.’”

Rael frowned as soon as he heard Gent’s words.

“Gent. What do you think? Is that really advice?”

“Well, a warrior must realize his own sword. Rael.”

“ha.”

Is it wrong to ask an ignorant giant for advice?

Rael sighed and drew his sword.

“The second form of the Thousand-Slayer Sword. Ascension.”

And then, as if it were a given, he spoke of ascension with his mouth.

But this time, nothing happened.

“···This isn’t it?”

Rael raised his sword and looked up at the sky.

The hot sun shone on my face.

‘Ascension… Are you telling me to raise the sword to the sky?’

Rael thought.

What should I do if I feel frustrated with this stupid world?

The answer must be stronger.

Once you have power, your choices expand.

My head was already hurting, so I wanted to forget about it by swinging my sword.

“Yeah. Well, if you swing it around until it falls off, something will come to mind.”

Rael thought back to when he was learning to drink.

It was the same back then.

As I swung my sword like crazy, I got the feel for it, and while sparring with the Knights of Rain, I gained enlightenment from the Heavenly Entry.

Eventually, something will happen no matter what you do.

Hwaaak-

A slash rose from Rael’s sword.

It is the Sword of Heaven that has grown to be incredibly large by absorbing the magical power of its surroundings.

‘Wow… that’s amazing.’

Gent, who was tending to the garden, was amazed when he saw Rael start swinging his sword.

It had been less than half a year since I met him, and Rael was growing stronger by the minute.

‘Certainly, he is a talent worthy of being taken as a disciple by the Thousand-Year Sword Master.’

Strangely enough, the person who was least aware of Rael’s talent was Rael himself.

Gent, the giant warrior, also felt his heart race whenever he saw him.

It was always nice to see a great warrior.

‘You created the sword with the first type of entrance… so are you going to cut it with the second type of ascension?’

How many times did he swing his sword?

Rael recalled the movements of the Thousand-Slayer Sword Master he had seen before.

As I reached the level of Ipcheon, my understanding of the swordsmanship I had seen then also increased.

He had clearly delivered a powerful blow from above and below.

‘The posture is at the top. Put strength into the foot you step forward with, and the sword you strike down with···.’

Containing the magic of heaven.

Boom-!

Rael opened his eyes and lowered his sword.

As expected, I felt like I was getting a little bit of a feel for swinging the sword.

It’s not perfect, but I feel like I can improve more next time.

“Ha, I guess I’ll have a hard time.”

Rael wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked around.

The bright day became dark and the moon was high in the sky.

“Rael. It was a great sword.”

“Huh? What? Ghent. You weren’t going?”

“Well, I feel warm after seeing the training of such a great warrior. It’s been a while since I swung an axe myself.”

Rael chuckled as he looked at the giant axe behind Gent.

I thought the battle axe that Captain Marco carried was huge, but compared to Gent’s axe, it was like a child’s toy.

“Ghent. Do you know everything about Reina’s situation?”

Rael, who was looking at Ghent, muttered without thinking much.

“No, I only know as much as I told you. Giants don’t suspect their comrades.”

“···If I tell you in detail, would you be willing to help Reina?”

Ghent.

He was said to be the son of the giant chieftain and a great warrior of the giants.

It’s definitely going to be pretty strong.

“I’m sorry, Rael. I have no intention of helping Reyna.”

“Why? You said we were colleagues.”

“Because Reina doesn’t want that. Giants respect their comrades.”

“···.”

That was certainly true.

Reina doesn’t want help.

But, that was only Reina’s situation.

“Ghent. I’m your colleague too, right?”

“Of course. Rael. You are my colleague.”

“Then, you won’t stop me from doing anything?”

“Well, I can’t interfere until then.”

“Okay, that’s fine.”

Rael clicked his tongue as he looked at the sky.

Everyone has their own circumstances.

If you want to do whatever you want, you have to be strong.

Rael looked up at the dark night sky once again.

The moon floating in the sky was still bright.

Looking at the bright moon, the advice of the Thousand-Sal Sword Master suddenly came to mind.

“Prove your sword as if whispering to the sky, the sun, and the moon. And cut it…”

Swish.

Rael looked up at the sky and held out his sword.

It was such a crappy piece of advice, but somehow I felt like it was getting to something.

Isn’t it literally what it means to whisper to the sky, the sun, and the moon?

Rael raised his sword high and pointed it at the sky.

“The second form of the Thousand-Slayer Sword. Ascension.”

Hwaaak-.

At the same time, the sword was imbued with new power.

“I knew this would happen.”

Rael swung his sword without hesitation.

Kwaaang-!

I heard the ground bursting open.

Rael looked at the land that was devastated as if a bomb had exploded.

A sword that kills with one blow, containing the strength of the Ipcheon Sword.

Rael now seemed to be beginning to understand what the Thousand-Slayer Sword Master was saying.

Of course, it wasn’t that pleasant.

“It’s a new sword… Rael. What is it?”

“I don’t know. I have to feel it while using it.”

Swish-

Rael put his sword into its scabbard.

Even the Thousand-Year Sword is ultimately a swordsmanship.

It doesn’t get easier with just one try.

You’ll have to learn it later by defeating the Knights of Rain.

“It’s too bad I can’t see you anymore. It’s getting late. How about having some tea and resting here for today? We’ll have some high-quality mandragora tea.”

“···If it’s expensive, buy me a drink.”

“It’s quite expensive.”

Rael liked free food, but he also liked getting expensive cars.

Once you eat something expensive, it naturally tastes good.

‘It tastes so bad.’

Rael sat on the hammock, drinking his tasteless tea sparingly.

End