Imperial Guard - Chapter 76



Only Noblemtl

“Is this the end of the report?”

Yuri focused on her work with a happy heart today too.

Things have been going well for me lately, so I couldn’t help but be happy.

[The Demon King’s Seal. No abnormalities.]

[The Thousand-Year Sword Master’s whereabouts are still unknown.]

[The dragon closes the lair and is studying it.]

The special guard’s duties were not extensive, and most of them were tasks that had to be handled as usual by the princess.

After Yuri finished reporting appropriately, she checked the following documents.

“Isabel.”

“Yes, Lady Uriel.”

“Have you heard from Simon Uncle?”

“Nothing in particular.”

“That’s strange. I don’t think my brother would be the type to just sit still.”

As Yuri got involved in the struggle for the throne, it was mostly the second prince, Simon, who lost power.

The nobles who support Prince Damian are the so-called orthodox faction. They value legitimacy, so they will support Damian unless he goes crazy and sells out the country.

However, Simon’s support base is a diverse coalition of various nobles. Since most of them are not bound by bloodline or legitimacy, their solidarity is weaker than expected.

That is, they could have withdrawn their power at any time.

Yuri also knew that, so she interviewed mainly nobles who supported the Second Prince.

‘The position has become quite solid. It’s really… a great change.’

The Archduke’s support gave her wings.

Many nobles who respected him approached Yuri, and other nobles also saw Yuri as a candidate for the throne.

This means that the perspective itself has changed from that of a less privileged royal family to a competitor in the race for the throne.

Of course, it’s not just His Highness the Duke’s fault.

She also had a knight named Rael.

‘Mr. Lael is truly an amazing person.’

In gathering the support of the nobility, Rael’s power was as great as His Highness the Archduke’s.

The Empire’s attention was drawn to him because of his inaction at the party, and as he became more active in the Empire, Yuri’s name was also heard.

“Isabel. Didn’t you say that the church would soon select a warrior?”

“Yes. The consecration ceremony for the saints will probably take place within a month, and the warriors will be selected shortly thereafter.”

“The most likely candidate would be Mr. Rael, right?”

“That is… yes. It is an undeniable fact. Since Cardinal Bernando asserts it so strongly, it will be difficult to say anything different even within the church.”

Cardinal Bernardo is the most money-hungry and prestigious figure in the religious order.

However, even Bernando would not lie in front of Gaia’s name.

“We are singing about Lord Rael in front of the headquarters day and night. I don’t think anything will go wrong.”

“Killing a high-ranking demon with a single sword… Is that really true?”

“Well, if that were not true, I don’t think Cardinal Bernand would have worked that hard. At least he would have had a similar amount of inaction.”

“Then what you showed at the party back then wasn’t sincere either···.”

Yuri nodded as if she was curious.

In fact, the existence of Rael was more mysterious than His Highness the Archduke.

‘Most people think that he was raised by His Highness the Grand Duke while he was in hiding… but that’s not the truth.’

It’s even more surprising because Yuri knows Rael’s background.

A man who was an orphan with no background defeated knights who had been formally trained at the Academy, and now, at the young age of 25, he was standing at the center of the empire.

Recently, it was even said that the Imperial Intelligence Guild could not survive without information on Rael.

‘Since someone like that came to me, I have to do my best.’

Yuri concentrated on her work while thinking about that.

After finishing work by concentrating for a few hours.

“Ugh. Phew, let’s go outside and get some fresh air.”

Yuri stretched, sweeping her hair away.

My body was so heavy that I didn’t even want to look at the paperwork anymore.

“If you’re going out, I’ll prepare.”

“Isabel. You won’t be going out for a while. Unless there’s a public event, you won’t be moving.”

Yuri still remembers the events of the Kamen Knights who attempted to take her life.

As you grow in power, there will be more people who want to target you.

For the sake of the Archduke and Rael who created this place, we must not act rashly until the very end.

“Shall we play chess for a bit?”

“Lady Reina or Lord Rael will be outside.”

“okay?”

Yuri headed outside for the first time in a long time.

There will be a chess board on the table that she puts on to cool her head.

*

Rael, who had arrived at the special guard unit, looked at the woman lying in the hammock.

She was wearing sunglasses, and in a fantasy world, an elf wearing sunglasses was quite a rare sight.

This world has always been without foundation.

“Raina. I want to use that hammock too.”

“No. Just lie down in the other hammock.”

“No, it’s because when I lie down there, I really feel like my body is recovering.”

“Of course. This is a hammock filled with the power of nature.”

Rael lifted his foot and looked at Reina, who was lying motionless.

It looks like it might fall if I kick it… I wonder how much I’ll get cursed at if I do.

It was a pretty serious concern.

“You two are really close.”

At that moment, a voice was heard from the side.

It just so happened to be glass from a building.

“Oh, it’s been a while, Yuri.”

“Yes. Oh, should I call you Sir Rael?”

“Do as you wish. I will also call you Your Majesty.”

“That’s not bad either.”

Since Yuri and Rael were both busy with work, it was difficult to see each other’s faces.

Rael greeted me with a light joke.

I looked at the table where she was sitting and saw a chessboard.

“Are we playing chess today too?”

Rael looked down at the chessboard.

“Yes. I would like Mr. Rael or Ms. Reina to join us. Or, would you two like to do it yourself?”

“Me and Reina? Hey, what do you think of me?”

Rael smiled confidently.

He was an elite high school graduate who had completed compulsory education and even higher education.

There was no way I could lose to a stupid elf.

“Rael. You are such an idiot. There is no way a human who has only lived for 25 years can defeat an elf who has lived for 150 years.”

At that moment, Reina, who had not moved at all, sat up.

It was absurd to think that a human subject could defeat an elf.

“···Didn’t they say that if an elf is 150 years old, it’s equivalent to a human being of 15 years old?”

“That’s not important. Just sit down and I’ll take care of it.”

Rael shook his head while looking at Reina.

He couldn’t imagine a future where he would lose to this stupid elf.

“Yes. It’s checkmate. Reina wins.”

“This can’t be happening···.”

The result was defeat.

Rael looked at the chessboard as if his soul had left it, but the dead pieces did not come back to life.

“Yahoo! Since I won, Rael, you are now my subordinate. Hmm, what should I order you to do?”

“What are you talking about? I didn’t make any such promise.”

“Huh? Then what are you going to do for me?”

“···I’ll do you a favor later.”

“Okay, okay. Then don’t even think about touching my hammock again.”

Reina enjoyed the joy of victory.

It was clear that elves were a superior race than humans.

“···Reina.”

Then, Rael opened his mouth.

“Huh? Why? Should I give you a chess lesson?”

“That’s fine, just let me know if you need help later.”

Rael turned his head and said.

Growing up on the streets, he wasn’t used to saying things like that.

Reina, who had been blinking at his words, suddenly smiled.

“What are you talking about all of a sudden? You’re making me cringe.”

“Just do it yourself.”

Rael sighed and shook his head.

Reina’s eyes slowly sank as she watched the sight.

*

First of all-

Rael raised his sword to the sky and whispered quietly.

The point was to stretch out one hand as if reaching for the sky.

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

Woodduck-

At the same time, Rael’s sword became even stronger.

Lael swung his sword, imbued with heavenly magic, towards Kirue.

“Kirue’s swordsmanship first… Kkaaaak!”

Kwaaaaang-!

Kirdo also tried to block Rael’s sword by raising his sword, but was pushed back by the overwhelming force.

He blinked as he lay on the floor, giving Rael a thumbs up.

“Lord Rael. You are amazing. It may be slow, but it is a sword with overwhelming power···!”

Kira looked at his sword with curiosity.

The power contained in the sword was extremely heavy, but I felt regretful inside because I thought I could have stopped it if I had been just a little bit faster.

“Kirue. Don’t be stupid. Rael intentionally swung it slowly for you.”

At that moment, Rain, who had been watching the duel, stepped forward.

Kira looked at Rael in surprise at those words.

“Yes, yes?! Really?”

“I don’t want you to get hurt during the sparring. But I didn’t mean to let you off, so don’t feel bad about it.”

“Ah… I see.”

Kira bowed her head, looking down at her sword.

Back when Rael first learned swordsmanship from Lane in the orphanage, Kirue’s sword was comparable to Rael’s.

But Rael continued to grow at an absurd rate, and before he knew it, he was clearly one step ahead of Kir.

‘I don’t know whether to say I’m happy or sad…’

The only consolation was that thanks to Sir Rael, I had gotten a feel for the second chapter of Kir’s swordsmanship.

“Rael. We might need a squadron of the Knights of Carmen to deal with you. Do you know what that means?”

“I don’t know.”

“That means you too can now be called a monster. Come to think of it, the Yongbongjihoe will be coming soon.”

“······What did you say?”

“It’s called Yongbongjihoe (Dragon and Phoenix Branch).”

“You’re talking nonsense again. Where in the world is there a competition like that? Sir Kirue. Is that real?”

That sounds like a Yongbongjihoe.

If that’s the case, there’s no way it wouldn’t be open.

“The Yongbongjihoe is a competition where young people from all over the continent gather every four years. By the way, Director Rain has also won once.”

“Haha! You don’t have to say that!”

Judging from Captain Rain’s reaction, it seems to be real.

Rael opened his mouth, feeling a headache for the first time in a long time.

“···I’m asking just in case, but among the people participating in this Yongbong branch, are there a lot of talented people?”

“Oh, how did you not know? Rael. Were you interested in it too?”

I’m not really interested.

The original protagonist generation is particularly strong.

Rael shook his head and put his sword back into its scabbard.

“No, I’m not going. You should send him out instead of me. Lucas.”

“Lucas? He’s pretty good too… but if you go out, we’ll definitely win. Rael.”

“Oh, sir. I’m not going. By the way, are you doing what I asked you to do?”

“You mean teaching Lucas? Rael. Even though I look like this, I’m the leader of the Knights of Rain, so teaching him directly is….”

“No, that’s the most important thing, you guy!”

Why on earth is this guy sticking with my sparring?

I have to raise Lucas. Lucas!

“Ahem. Okay, I see. If that’s what you’re saying, I’ll meet Lucas too.”

“Yes. And when the church is looking to select a warrior, please strongly recommend Lucas. Okay?”

“Huh? Wasn’t it already decided that you would be the warrior of the church?”

“Eww! No! No!”

Rael shook his head.

Cardinal Bernand’s cry for heroes seemed to ring in my ears.

“Everyone, have a cup of tea while you do this.”

At that time, Ms. Sarah, who came out of the daycare center, brought several teacups.

It looked like a car prepared for knights.

“Thank you, Ms. Sarah. But was there a car at the daycare?”

“Rael. You have a drink too. It’s the tea the knight gave you.”

“Aha. Really? …Huh?”

Lael blinked as he looked at the tea that Teacher Sarah had given him.

I took a bite because it smelled familiar, and it was exactly the same as the tea Gent had given me yesterday.

“Oh, as expected, the fragrance is deep.”

“Yeah. Do you know how hard it was for me to get this?”

Rael looked at Rain, who was drinking tea sparingly, and asked.

“Boss, isn’t this an expensive car? Was it Mandragora?”

“Wow. Rael. You know about Mandragora tea? That’s amazing.”

“···What’s so great about it? It’s just boiled water made from grass.”

“What are you talking about? The Mandragora tea released by the Magic Tower is so popular with the imperial nobility for its deep flavor and aroma that even I have a hard time obtaining it. This is my first time tasting it myself, but you already know about it. You seem to be quicker at understanding trends than I thought.”

“···.”

Rael burst into laughter at the truth about the Mandragora tea.

Those crazy giants know human fashion very well.

What a ridiculous guy.

‘Now that I think about it, it’s a magic tower…’

Come to think of it, I should visit Matap too at least once.

Because there’s a crazy person out there who thinks he’s a dragon.

“Captain. Come to think of it, there’s been a lot of talk about elves lately.”

“Elf? Ah, yes. I heard that they are preparing for a large-scale migration to the Empire. I don’t know if it’s true or not. Thanks to that, the price of land around the forest has gone up a lot.”

“Well, only the smart people who bought it in advance will benefit.”

Rael nodded and thought about the elves.

Even though I wanted to help Reina, I couldn’t think of how to do it.

‘Should I go on an expedition with Baggers?’

I think it would be a good idea to try to match the rhythm with Clara.

If you wear a mask and go around with her, you won’t get hurt.

“Sir Rael, finish your tea and let’s spar again. You must learn the second chapter of Kir’s swordsmanship.”

“Yes, I will help you. But what do you want?”

“This is the second chapter of Kirue’s swordsmanship.”

“ah···.”

Rael frowned at the unidentified sword technique called Kir’s swordsmanship.

It’s a beggarly swordsmanship that I’ve never heard of or seen before, and that I don’t understand every time I hear it.

‘Why are there only crazy people around me?’

Rael suddenly felt wronged.

Why are there no good people around people like me?

“Lael. Why is your expression like that? Is there something uncomfortable?”

“No. Well, I was reminded of a story about a person I know. He’s a nice guy, but strangely enough, only crazy people gather around him.”

They say that among abnormal people, normal people are abnormal, and isn’t that exactly the case?

Rael sighed at his own situation.

“Hmm. Lael. There’s a saying that butterflies gather around flowers and flies gather around poop. Maybe that guy is the problem.”

“···.”

Lael glared at Captain Rain for no reason.

This is why you shouldn’t talk about your worries to ignorant medieval fantasy guys.