Imperial Guard - Chapter 98



Only Krnovel

The dawn of dawn.

Belen, captain of the 1st division of the Kamen Knights, looked at the capital city that was slowly becoming brighter.

In one corner of my vision, I could see a procession of knights walking towards District 4.

As dawn broke, the Knights of Carmen set out according to imperial command.

They will deal with the remnants of the warlocks and demons and rescue the victims.

‘Is this something that the Knights of Carmen do?’

Belen looked at the sight and thought.

What is the Knights of Carmen?

They are the best knights in the empire who are loyal to the empire and firmly uphold its promises.

The reason so many knights knock on the doors of the Knights of Kamen is because of the honor that the Knights of Kamen have brought through their sacrifice and devotion to the Empire.

‘And is it true that your Majesty… is loyal to the Empire?’

Belen is a knight who is more loyal to the Empire than anyone else.

Since ascending to the position of captain of the 1st Division, he has never once tarnished the name of the Empire.

It was he who did not back down even in front of the leader of the Rain Knights and the Blue Tower Master.

But the current Belen was different.

He had to boast about accomplishments he did not accomplish, and turn a blind eye to the suffering suffered by ordinary people.

The name of the Knights of Carmen was a stain on his reputation.

“You have a worried face.”

“···No, sir.”

Belen looked up at the man standing next to him.

Captain Kamen.

Gideon Garcia.

Belen was currently waiting to take his orders.

“Didn’t I tell you? It’s all for the Empire.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Hmm, if not that, is it something related to the Yongbong branch? It seems like you’re worried about keeping that guy in check.”

“···I don’t doubt you, Captain, but I want to prove myself through my own abilities.”

Belen was proud of the name he wore, the Knight of Kamen.

That is why I did not want the false honor of having defeated Basolod.

“You will soon find out why I am aware of him.”

Gideon thought of the man who had inherited the Sword of the Thousand Slayers.

He will one day stand in his way.

“What you are doing now, Commander… is this something that His Majesty the Emperor approves?”

Belen asked a question he would never normally ask.

Creating chaos within the empire, restraining the best knights, and causing other nations to run wild.

He couldn’t understand it at all.

“Don’t worry. It’s all His will. Don’t have any doubts. Belen.”

“I’m sorry, sir.”

Belen bowed his head.

To carry out the Emperor’s orders. That is the Knights of Kamen.

When the Emperor orders something dishonorable, it is no longer dishonorable.

“If you are a knight, you must do whatever it takes.”

Gideon thought of the emperor’s face.

Others don’t know.

The emperor that only Gideon can face, he has no interest in the empire at the moment.

What I want is a life of pleasure and debauchery. And… to continue that life forever.

Gideon acts only as a knight for the Empire, instead of the Emperor who has no interest in the Empire.

“Tsk, you ended up coming this way.”

Sreung-.

Gideon drew his sword.

Now the distracting thoughts are over.

As expected, the desert people didn’t go beyond their own thoughts.

“Get ready, Belen.”

“yes.”

Thud. Thud.

Belen also looked ahead as he heard the footsteps getting louder.

I saw a man approaching from the front.

I did it.

‘Fuck, fuck···.’

Namaha walked, biting her lip.

Eventually, time was running out.

The situation became increasingly frustrating as the Knights of Carmen moved.

‘I might have to hide my body.’

The plan was ruined by one barely mature graduate-level inspector.

But it’s still okay.

Namaha checked the magic circle in his arms.

The mountain offerings are scattered everywhere.

If we can strike even one blow to the Imperial Family before all the offerings are discovered…

“···?!”

Namaha looked at the two men standing in front of her.

Gideon Garcia, Commander of the Knights of Carmen.

Namaha saw Gideon holding a sword and immediately drew his sword.

“Gideon! Are you betraying Nagor?”

“You brought a lot of magic items with you, but you’re talking nonsense. Weren’t you the one who betrayed me first?”

The movements of the Nagor Kingdom, which has an inferiority complex toward the continent, are obvious.

I had expected that much from the moment I entrusted the job to Nagor.

“If you hadn’t come this way, I would have sent you away nicely… but those from the desert never change.”

If Nagor had headed towards the Kingdom of Vanessa and the Zhengtian Alliance, Gideon would not have stopped them.

Because it was a good thing for the Empire that the Kingdom of Vanessa and the Jeongcheon Alliance fought against Nagor.

It is a huge advantage to harm them at the expense of a few common children of the Empire.

But Nagor’s warriors had their sights set on the empire, and Gideon had prepared for even their betrayal.

“It’s a shame that I couldn’t harm the Vanessa Kingdom and the Jeongcheon Alliance, but if I just deal with you, this matter will end cleanly.”

This was Gideon’s plan.

The task is to deal with all the black magicians, demons, and Nagor who are targeting the empire.

The Kingdom of Vanessa and the Jeongcheon Alliance were only bonuses.

This whole thing is the work of the Knights of Kamen.

And it becomes his own ball.

“Who cares! Gideon. You will die a miserable death at the wrath of the desert!”

Hwaaaaaaaah-!

Namaha immediately generated magical power.

As his domain, the Four Seasons Hwanokjin, unfolded, sandstorms began to blow around him.

‘Wow. That’s the realm of the realm···.’

Belen swallowed as he looked at him.

Namaha’s momentum changed along with the area created by the concentration of tremendous magical power.

It was a realm that Belen had to reach soon.

“Look carefully, Belen. The difference between a beginner sword master and a true sword master.”

At that moment, an eerie magic rose from Gideon’s sword.

“···!”

Belen opened his eyes wide and examined the magic.

As the seemingly weak magical power took over the surroundings, the fierce sandstorm did not reach Gideon.

Choaaaaaaah-!

Gideon’s sword cut through the air.

With a huge bang, the sandstorm blew away like a sheet of paper, and silence descended on the noisy surroundings.

dump-

That was the end of it.

Namaha’s burning magic was cut off, and his body collapsed.

The Sword Master’s domain collapsed in a single stroke of the sword.

“Let’s go back. Belen.”

Gideon turned around, watching the traitor’s futile end.

Once the Knights of Carmen collected the victims, this was the end of the matter.

‘Was it difficult to deal with the black magicians and demons even with Namaha’s power? You have wounds on your body.’

Gideon felt curious.

It probably wasn’t a wound sustained while dealing with a warlock or a demon.

So then who hurt him?

‘no way···.’

Gideon frowned at the one face he remembered.

*

Lael walked outside, holding Nia and Harry in both his arms.

Those two, like the other children, were losing their minds.

As dawn began to break, sunlight streamed in through the warehouse windows, and I could feel all the eyes on me.

“Thank you, everyone.”

Rael said as he looked at the two interracial people looking at him.

Now that I think about it, it was really reckless.

Because I rushed in without even knowing who my opponent was.

If Ghent and Reina weren’t there, it could have been dangerous.

“It’s okay! Rael, you helped me too!”

“It’s only natural if we’re colleagues.”

Gent nodded at Rael.

Rael’s appearance as he rushed towards the enemy to save his fellow human was truly heroic.

As a Gent who loves the human race, I couldn’t just sit still.

‘And on top of that… you can withstand a sword fight with the Sword Master.’

Rael was getting stronger and stronger.

Now, even Gent has difficulty properly assessing his strength.

“···okay.”

Rael smiled faintly as he looked at Reyna and Ghent.

I don’t really like hearing things like “colleague” or anything, but I think I can like it today.

“Rael.”

Then Clara walked in.

She was observing the situation outside while Rael rescued the children.

“The Knights of Carmen are approaching.”

“···.”

Rael nodded, looking outside at the dawn.

It really started to move because it was dawn.

“Let’s go too.”

It seems clear that there was a pact between the Knights of Carmen and Nagor.

They will collect people.

Rael came out of the warehouse.

The destination, of course, was a daycare center.

*

A few hours later.

Lael left Nia and Harry at the daycare and walked to the Yongbongjihoe convention hall.

“Mr. Lael. Are you okay?! I was so surprised…”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t help you···.”

“Don’t worry. I took care of it. The Knights of Carmen came and cleaned up everything.”

Rael smiled as he listened to Yuri’s worries.

I felt good because things went well.

“Lael. After you disappeared, I also had a lot to think about. Next time, don’t try to handle it alone. Tell us. We will help you no matter what.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“Are you sure you’re okay? You don’t look well.”

“This is okay.”

Rael smiled.

It felt pretty good that everyone was worried.

“···Rael. Your eyes are strange. It’s not your usual gruff expression. What happened?”

Rain asked, blinking.

No matter how I looked at Rael today, something seemed strange.

“I just knew I was stupid.”

Rael chuckled.

I met Namaha and felt it.

He is a supporting character who appears once or twice in the original work.

However, Rael could not even defeat Namaha.

If he hadn’t run away, it would have been Rael who ended up dying.

‘This isn’t the time to brag about being strong…’

Rael was weak.

Called one of the three heroes of the empire and all, I gained a false sense of confidence after beating up trash nobles, but this is not enough.

Guarding the daycare in District 4.

It was Rael’s humble goal.

But, this world was not that easy.

It’s a world where just protecting a daycare center is problematic.

To achieve that goal… you have to become much stronger.

“No matter how I look at it, your eyes are strange. Lael. There is a professional counselor in the Knights of Rain, so why don’t you talk to him…”

“I have a game coming up soon, so I’ll be back soon.”

Lael ignored Rain’s words and stood up.

The reason I couldn’t sleep and was sitting here was because there was a Yongbong branch game.

Thud. Thud.

My body aches every time I walk.

Because I moved too much last night.

‘This is the realm… How can one reach such a level?’

Namaha’s domain was truly great.

Although he managed to escape during that gap, he would have been helpless if Namaha had attacked Rael during that time.

‘I should go look for that old man, the Thousand-Year Sword Master.’

It was about time for the old man to come and see me in person.

Lael stood on the field with that thought in his mind.

“I am the Recada of the Soman Counts! You, you! Do you remember me?”

And then, right away, I heard a shout.

“···Who are you?”

“Are you planning to knock me down with a sudden surprise attack and then pretend to forget about me! It’s Reka! Reka of the Soman Counts!”

“Ah, it’s that guy from back then.”

He is the guy who was at the forefront of discriminating against commoners at the get-togethers for those who advanced to the finals.

Rael belatedly remembered that face.

I had forgotten about him because he had such little presence.

“I will avenge you back then!”

“I was already a little annoyed that I couldn’t beat that desert guy… Fortunately.”

Rael raised his sword as he looked at Reka, who was screaming loudly.

“I only hit you once that time because I had no reason to, but this time I’ll hit you hard.”

Rael raised the corners of his mouth.

The reason he joined the Yongbongjihoe was to defeat the nobles.

*

“Church! Call the people of the church!”

“Damn it! You’re bleeding so much, are you still alive?!”

Rael shook his head as he watched several nobles and healers from the sect run by.

“It’ll just bleed a little. You won’t die, so why are you making such a fuss?”

“That’s how nobles are originally. I don’t know because I haven’t tried it.”

Carlson also shook his head.

He was also in a good mood because he had just beaten up someone.

“Carlson, by the way. I didn’t see you in the audience. Where have you been?”

“Oh, I went to the square. I heard that the desert warriors of the Kingdom of Nagor fled last night?”

“Who said that?”

“The Knights of Kamen just announced in the square. They say that the Knights of Kamen stopped the kidnapping of commoners by black magicians and demons.”

“···okay?”

Rael nodded moderately.

Those Kamen Knights really had no conscience, even though they did nothing.

‘The black magician and the demons… Nagor must have taken care of them.’

When Rael arrived, all the warlocks and demons were dead.

The Nagor and Kamen Knights were involved, it seems like it was planned from the beginning.

It would be a chance for the Empire to deal with the warlocks and demons without raising a hand, and Nagor would be a chance to strike at the continental bastards.

‘If I hadn’t wasted time… I would have taken on the Vanessa Kingdom and the Jeongcheon Alliance.’

The Knights of Carmen would not have moved without gain either.

Perhaps the terror would have been carried out without any damage to the Empire, and only civilian children would have been sacrificed.

To the nobles, the lives of commoners are worth less than those of ants.

Rael clicked his tongue at that fact.

“And Princess Scaria has been caught as the culprit, and Lucas is said to be defending her.”

“for a moment.”

Lael frowned as he listened to Carlson.

“Lucas? Why is he involved in that?”

“I don’t know either. I heard she was claiming that she couldn’t be that kind of person, even though we only met for a short time.”

“Oh, you’re expanding your harem, Carlson. You can come and help out later.”

“Yes? Me?”

“Yes. Even though Princess Scaria looks like that, she’s quite capable.”

She later abandons the desert kingdom and comes to Lucas, who also uses excellent sand magic.

It’s better to respect the original story.

“Ah… I understand.”

Carlson slumped his shoulders sullenly.

For some reason I had a feeling that Lucas would increase his girlfriend number.

“You two! You’re here!”

At that moment, a man came running from the other side.

He looked this way and waved his hands wildly.

“You don’t know how much trouble I had finding it. Phew.”

Namgung Jin.

He was the man who received help from Lucas at Jeongcheonmaeng.

“Isn’t that Namgung Jin?”

“Yes. This time, with the disappearance of the Nagor guys, the pursuit of Namgungga has also been cut off. This is all thanks to the Three Heroes!”

“It’s not us, it’s Lucas.”

Rael thought as he looked at Namgung Jin who was relieved.

The Namaha of Nagor were powerful people who used the territory.

If he had tried to chase after Namgung Ga, Namgung Jin would have died a long time ago.

It is most likely a trick to collude with the warlock.

“Those of you who are the Three Heroes, just say the word at any time! We will let you taste our Namgung family’s specialty products first!”

“Special products? Where does your Namgung family live?”

“It’s a volcano!”

“Volcano? Are plum blossoms by any chance a local specialty?”

When you think of Mt. Hwasan, you think of plum blossoms.

When you think of plum blossoms, you think of a volcano.

“Yes? No. Our specialty is pork roasted in lava.”

“···Oh, is that a volcano?”

Rael shook his head.

This world was still unfamiliar to him.

“Brother Rael. Now that I think about it, the round of 16 is coming up soon.”

“It’s already like that?”

“Yes. I’m really happy that all three of our empire’s three heroes are in the round of 16.”

“Please don’t use that term.”

Carlson seemed to like the title of Three Heroes, but Rael got angry every time he heard it.

“What are you going to do now, brother?”

“What about me?”

“I think you might start to get annoyed by this, hyung. Don’t you think so?”

“Hmm···.”

Rael thought seriously.

So far, all he wanted was a little power and a little attention.

I just wanted to live a life without any inconveniences.

But… I realized that it wasn’t enough.

If you want to get what you want in this fucked up world, you have to be a lot stronger.

‘The original plan was to naturally give up the warrior position by losing to Lucas in the finals···.’

As this Yongbong branch grew, the trend was for the winner to take the place of the warrior.

Rael was thinking of going with the flow and giving up the warrior position to Lucas.

‘But is it really necessary to do that?’

Suddenly, that thought occurred to me.

Does it make sense that Lucas is weaker than you?

‘Where can you find a shaman with as much conscience as I do?’

Rael has seen countless creations, but none have had as much conscience as he has.

Have you recruited anyone who will become Lucas’s future partner?

no.

Did you take any chance or items to go to Lucas?

no.

Did you intercept a connection that would be of great help to Lucas?

no.

Rael wasn’t some stupid possessed person who took everything the protagonist should have and then complained about why the protagonist was so weak.

He did nothing to hinder Lucas’ growth.

Instead, she helped him by giving him rain and inviting him to parties.

But you say you’re weaker than me?

‘···In that case, wouldn’t it be better for me to just be a warrior?’

The kidnapping of children from an orphanage brought about a major change in Rael’s thinking.