Imperial Guard - Chapter 99



Only Krnovel

In this world, death is like a cold.

It’s a world where it’s normal for a guy you greeted yesterday to be in a coffin the next day, and for someone to get stabbed in the stomach while wandering around at night.

That’s the medieval fantasy that is not strange to people of all ages and genders.

“There is no dark magic left in Nia and Harry’s bodies, so you don’t have to worry.”

“Thank you, Bishop Peter.”

Rael made the sign of the cross for Peter.

Even though he was talking about money, he was still a bishop, and he examined the children with divine powers.

“Haha, no, Sir Rael. Please come to our branch often. The believers really want to see you.”

“Yes, yes. Thank you for your hard work.”

Why would a branch of the alternative religion want to see me?

Rael decided not to bother wondering.

Bishop Peter must have been talking nonsense, as he was greatly influenced by Cardinal Bona Mana Bernand.

They probably made a fuss about it being the branch where the next warrior grew up.

‘I’m a warrior or something… I just live however I can.’

Up until now, I’ve been hoping that Lucas, the main character of the original work, would become a hero.

However, Rael was still weak when it came to achieving his goal of keeping the orphanage safe.

‘If Lucas is a real hero, he will be stronger than me.’

I don’t think they’ll necessarily try to take Lucas’s.

However, if something rolls towards you in the process of becoming stronger… there is no need to push it away, right?

Rael thought so.

“Brother Rael-!”

“Brother!”

“Hey, Nia! Harry! I told you to stay still and not run around. The bishop said so.”

Lael smiled bitterly as he hugged Nia and Harry who were running towards him.

It’s common sense that we could die tomorrow, but Nia and Harry were only ten years old.

It felt strange to see the children return with bright faces just one day after being kidnapped.

Should I praise these kids for being so strong-willed, or should I blame the fucking world that has turned these 10-year-old kids into this?

Rael couldn’t figure it out.

“Lael. This is your favorite honey tea. It has a lot of honey in it, so drink it slowly.”

“Thank you, Miss Sarah. But I have my hands full, so I’ll drink later. What about the others?”

Lael looked at Teacher Sarah while holding Nia and Harry in both arms.

“They’re healthy like Nia and Harry. It’s all thanks to you, Rael. The kids have brightened up thanks to you saving Nia and Harry in an instant.”

“···Of course it’s something I should do, Miss Sarah.”

“Hehe, are you worried about that? Come to think of it, it’s been quite some time. Maybe ten years?”

“That’s right. I was young back then too.”

Rael recalled the time when he thought he was the main character of this world.

If I had come to my senses from then on, the world would have been a little more comfortable.

It’s such a shame.

“I wish other children could grow up to be as strong as Rael.”

“I want to become super strong like my brother Rael!”

“Okay, okay. Harry, I’ll make you a cup of honey tea too.”

Sarah smiled and entered the orphanage building.

“Guys, just a moment, come one by one!”

And Rael walked cautiously, watching the children who had begun to cling to his legs.

We had to go to the playground to separate the kids.

“It is quite a… strange sight, Yuriel.”

“That’s right. Mr. Rael from the orphanage is really kind.”

“Yes. It’s beyond my imagination.”

Meanwhile, Isabelle and Yuri, who were sitting in a corner of the orphanage, looked at Rael with curiosity.

She had heard that he was in charge of the orphanage’s finances… but it was far from her common sense for a prosecutor who had become a fully-fledged graduate to act like that.

The powerful people she knew were either authoritarian and honor-oriented, or they pursued a life of debauchery.

Lael, who was in an ambiguous position, was a truly unusual being.

“Ghent. It seems that humans love their kind just as much as elves. ···They’ll get along well with the elves!”

Reina smiled at Rael.

It was nice to see the family-like way they took good care of their children, just like the elves.

“I can say for sure that Rael is strange.”

Gent likes humans, but this is the first time he’s seen something like that.

In particular, Rael seemed to be a person who was far from such behavior.

It was quite shocking to see that sight in person.

“Excuse me. What are you all doing here?”

After a while, Rael, who had barely managed to throw the children into the playground, approached Yuri.

I don’t know why these people were chasing me in broad daylight.

“Ms. Reina said she wanted to see Mr. Rael’s usual appearance.”

“When did I! I was just worried about you at the Yongbong branch meeting yesterday because you looked tired and I was wondering if you were sick!”

“Really? Thanks, Reina.”

“Huh, ummm···.”

Reina turned around, the corners of her lips twitching.

For some reason, I felt like I was going to let out a stupid laugh.

“Rael. I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“I know very well that humans are attached to their birthplace or hometown. But… Rael, you love your birthplace so much. It’s quite different from your usual image.”

“What about my image, you piece of shit?”

Rael frowned at Ghent’s serious expression.

How many people in this world live with such manners that you can say such nonsense?

Rael could not understand the giants’ language.

“Then tell me. Why are you so obsessed with orphanages?”

“reason?”

“Yes. Surely you wouldn’t be receiving help from the Giant Warrior and not being able to give me an answer like this?”

“···You said you were my colleague or something, but is this why you helped me?”

“This is also a negotiation technique that comes from experience. Tell them that it is the experience of the giants.”

Lael looked at Ghent in disbelief, then turned his gaze to his surroundings.

“I’m curious too, Mr. Rael.”

“It would be an honor to hear the story of Lord Rael.”

“I helped you too! Let me know!”

Yuri, Isabelle, and Reina.

Everyone wanted to hear their own story.

Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

“Well, it’s not really that great of a story.”

Rael opened his mouth with a bitter face.

*

When I first entered this world.

What Rael felt was a cold that made his nose feel like it was going to fall off.

Is this the hell we go to after we die?

I lived a good life, so why did I come to hell?

[What the heck. Why is it so cold?]

“Eve, Evelyn···.”

It was only after babbling began to come out of her mouth that she realized that her body had become difficult.

Rael flailed his arms and legs and spat out curses, but he only grew colder with each blow.

“Oh my, what is this…! Rayzel, there’s a child in front of the daycare!”

Just as I was starting to lose my mind from the crazy cold, I felt a warm embrace.

“Hello? Welcome to the daycare.”

Teacher Sarah, with a smile as bright as the sun.

She was the first person Rael had ever seen in this world.

‘···Is this a coincidence? Really?’

The situation was quickly grasped.

Kamen of the Millennium Empire.

From the moment he heard that name, Rael’s heart began to pound.

‘Fuck, this is fucking awesome!’

A novel-like experience that I had only seen in creative works.

He did this ridiculous thing himself.

‘My world has finally come!’

After first becoming aware of the possession, Rael’s emotions were joy and excitement.

I was possessed by the novel I was reading.

I never imagined something like this could actually exist.

‘You just have to go to the academy.’

Rael found this novel quite entertaining.

I knew all the events and coincidences that would happen at the academy, so once I entered the academy, everything would go smoothly.

“Academy? Huh? Rael. What are you talking about? Commoners like us can’t go to the Academy.”

“···yes?”

But Rael’s dream was shattered on his 5th birthday.

I heard a shocking truth when Teacher Sarah asked me what my dream was.

‘No, it’s not too late. I’ve been training in magical powers since I was a newborn.’

Lael did not give up even after hearing Sarah’s words.

The aftereffects of 21st century South Korea still linger.

I thought that if I studied hard, I would be able to go to a good university regardless of the family I was born into.

“Rael. Don’t push yourself too hard. People like us should live gratefully just by surviving.”

“all right.”

Lael didn’t listen to Sarah.

After all, he was a possessed person and the main character of this world.

He has been training his magical powers every day, and the results will come soon.

After I turned 10 like that.

Rael eventually pulled out the sword.

“W, this is impossible. Pulling out the sword energy···!”

“Genius! A genius of the highest order!”

From then on, Rael thought his life would be smooth sailing.

Even if he’s a commoner, if he shows this level of talent, he’ll be able to enter the academy!

“But they say you can’t get into the academy.”

“···Really?”

“Of course. Only pure-blooded nobles can enter the Imperial Academy. Even if you adopt one, you can’t.”

Sarah’s words shattered Rael’s dream once again.

‘What kind of retards are these…’

From then on, I should have realized that this world was without foundation.

But at that time, Rael did not give up yet.

Because he thought he was a genius who had extracted the black energy after 10 years.

‘If I don’t go to the academy, everything will be distorted, but there’s nothing I can do about it.’

Most of the miracles that Rael knows are in the Academy.

It was a shame to give them up, but I had to take up at least some of their space.

“Tsk. I guess there’s nothing I can do. I guess I’ll have to show my talents to the Knights.”

“The Knights…? No, Rael. If you get involved with the nobles, it could really be a big problem.”

“It’s okay. If you were able to draw out the sword at the age of 10, then you are the greatest talent in the empire.”

Despite Teacher Sarah’s warning, Rael remained confident.

I am also familiar with the famous knightly order in the Empire.

They are fair and just people, so they will treat Rael well.

“There’s a genius who pulled out his sword at the age of 10? What? A commoner?”

“It’s certainly impressive, but he’s a commoner. Hmm···.”

“Wait a minute… If it’s a commoner, wouldn’t the one who takes it first be the owner?”

“···.”

However, Rael lacked common sense about the class system that exists in medieval fantasy.

The nobles and knights who recognized Rael’s talent put pressure on the orphanage.

For the nobles and knights, the orphanages where the commoners stayed were places that could be destroyed at any time.

“We, we don’t know… Gyaaak!”

The knights who were looking for Rael also put their hands on Teacher Sarah, who was hiding Rael.

It was a world where it was not a problem for nobles to beat commoners.

‘It’s dangerous.’

At that moment, Rael thought.

Choosing one place doesn’t make you safe.

A commoner like Rael wouldn’t be able to survive in an order with guys like that.

‘I’m not a true genius… I’m just a commoner with no talent for the Knights Templar…’

The reason Rael was able to draw his sword faster than others was because he started training faster than others.

If his talent is discovered, not only the orphanage but even Rael will not be able to live a good life.

“···Teacher Sarah. I’m sorry.”

That night, Rael bowed his head as he looked at Sarah, who had been slapped in the face by the knight.

The atmosphere of the orphanage itself was completely ruined.

Why did it turn out like this?

The world was more difficult than Rael had thought, and nothing could be solved by showing talent.

I regretted so much for showing off my talents so confidently.

“It’s okay, Rael. You’re our family.”

Sarah smiled even after being slapped in the face by the Knights.

After losing her parents to the demons when she was young, Sarah’s family was raised in an orphanage.

During the day, he volunteers at a daycare center and runs a bar at night.

Although every day was difficult, her joy was seeing the children at the orphanage grow up.

“Teacher Sarah···.”

“All the children in the orphanage are family. If you have a hard time, you can always rely on them.”

Rael learned warmth from her and how to survive in this world.

A few days later, Rael decided to go into hiding.

“If the Knights come looking for you in the future, tell them I left last night.”

“Ra, Rael. It’s dangerous! You’ll be caught wherever you are.”

“No, don’t worry.”

Rael knew a place the nobles would never bother to go.

‘The beggar’s den of District 5. Nobles would ever come there.’

Rael can tell because he often sees beggars on the streets.

In medieval fantasy, treating beggars well is fine, but it is only out of pity and a sense of superiority that one is better than a beggar.

The nobles will never go as far as the beggars’ dens of District 5.

“What? Aren’t you a 10-year-old kid?”

“This kid. I’ve seen him somewhere. Who was he?”

“Ha, I said just stay quiet. These beggars···”

It wasn’t difficult to establish a hierarchy among the beggars.

Because the beggars of this world were not open beggars, but real beggars.

Rael joined an organization called Bagers among them and quietly hid himself.

As the years passed, the noisy nobles and knights became quiet.

Only then was Rael able to slowly show his face at the orphanage.

“Miss Sarah, please help us with the daycare center’s operating expenses.”

“Rael. You don’t have to bring this stuff… Thank you so much.”

“No. Please say hello to Sister Rayzel.”

Rael knew that there was a high, impassable wall between the nobility and the commoners.

He figured that if he hid in the beggars’ den, the knights would never find him, and if he returned to the orphanage when interest had waned, the nobles would not notice.

Actually, that judgment was correct.

The empire’s nobles had already lost interest in the commoners who ignored their love calls.

Since Lael suddenly disappeared, they must have thought that another knight order had secretly scouted him.

“I found him, sir. It’s Lael. It seems he’s been hiding until now.”

“Really? Bring him to headquarters somehow. Torture him to make him one of us.”

But there was something else that Rael overlooked.

The criminal organization in District 4 was not noble.

And, they were sometimes more vicious than the nobles.

“Teacher Sarah. You don’t look well. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, don’t worry, Rael.”

From one day on, Teacher Sarah’s condition gradually worsened.

Every day it seemed like something was hurting him and he looked more and more tired.

Rael, who noticed something strange, went to Sarah’s inn at night.

“I guess you still don’t understand the situation… Is it really that hard to bring that bastard Rael to our organization’s headquarters? Huh?”

When Rael arrived at the inn, he saw a man grabbing Sarah by the hair.

He was getting annoyed as he looked at Sarah, who was on her knees with her head bowed.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know that kid very well.”

“I told you, you know everything. Haa, this won’t work. Guys. Take this bitch to headquarters.”

“yes!”

The subordinates standing nearby stood up at the words of the man who appeared to be the leader.

They grabbed Sarah’s arms.

“Hey, stop it! Just a moment···!”

“I can’t talk anymore. I’ll do it first, so get it all clean and ready. Understood?”

The man looked at Sarah and raised the corners of his mouth.

“Yes! That… Hehe, Captain, can we do it next?”

“Rael. Do whatever you want until I tell you to bring him to me.”

“Yes! I understand!”

“Whoa, whaaaaaaaaa!”

Lustful men grabbed Sarah by the hair.

When Rael saw that sight, he kicked open the door to the inn without realizing it.

“These fucking kids···.”

Rael pulled out the sword he was carrying at his waist.

From his sword, a black aura burned.

I don’t remember much after that.

He killed a person for the first time, hugged Miss Sarah, and closed the door to the inn.

“Rael, Rael…! Are you okay? There’s a wound on your body…!”

Rael said angrily as he watched Teacher Sarah worrying about him even as her clothes were torn by the hands of those guys.

“Teacher Sarah! Why on earth didn’t you tell me! Those bastards…!”

Rael bit his lips, feeling miserable.

Rael also knows very well why Sarah didn’t say anything.

Dealing with those kids now won’t be the end of it.

Criminal organizations are often closely linked.

Although they are each other’s enemies, they are the ones who easily unite when they have a common enemy.

The moment Rael killed those guys, he became the target of a criminal organization.

“How could you? Rael, you’re part of our family. Family is supposed to protect each other, right?”

Sarah smiled faintly.

The orphanage was everything to her.

I hoped that all the children growing up there would be happy.

Among them, the Rael that he picked up himself was a bit more special.

Sarah didn’t want Rael to have a hard life.

“···Don’t worry, Miss Sarah.”

Rael continued, smoothing out her clothes.

“Whether it’s a teacher or a daycare center… I’ll make sure nothing happens.”

It was from then on.

Rael set one goal.

“Uncle Zenith.”

“···What’s going on?”

Zenith cringed as she looked at Rael.

The guy who was always playful and said things like “open every day” had a strange vibe today.

“Please make me just one mask.”

This fucking world.

I gave up on being the main character.

However, I decided to keep only one thing in mind.

Orphanage. Family.

It was Rael’s refuge and goal in life.

From that day on, a bounty hunter wearing a mysterious mask began to clean up District 4.

*

“Huh, huh… Heuk. Heuk… Rael… You really had a hard time!”

I get that elves love their own kind… but aren’t they just too sensitive?

Reina hugged Rael’s arms with tears streaming down her face.

“Don’t wipe your tears on my clothes.”

Rael pushed Reina’s face away and smiled bitterly.

That’s all in the past.

From then on, Rael was obsessed with protecting the orphanage.

To be exact, it was Ms. Sarah first… but now I loved this daycare center itself so much.

Because it was the only place in this fucking world that treated him warmly.

“Well, there were a lot of things that happened after that, but that was the biggest one. When I heard that the children had been kidnapped this time, my mind just stopped.”

As for Nagor’s work, if it were Rael as usual, he would have acted a little more cautiously.

But when it comes to daycares, my thoughts often stop like that.

“Mr. Rael… That’s a touching story. You’ve dealt with all the criminal organizations in District 4… But who was the Knights who harassed you back then? Just tell me. I’ll look into it right away.”

“Oh, it’s okay. It’s all in the past.”

Although I didn’t say anything because there was glass, the knight who hit Teacher Sarah in the face at that time also wore a mask and dealt with it.

After clearing out most of the underworld in District 4, as you all know, I applied for the guards.

Because I thought there was no job as good as an iron rice bowl in the Millennium Empire of Kamen.

“Ra, Brother Rael… something like that… sob.”

Rael turned his head and looked at the paladin next to him.

Carlson was sobbing when he arrived.

“What are you, when did you come?”

“I didn’t even know something like that happened…! I thought you were just a punk! Sigh…!”

“That crazy guy.”

Rael laughed in vain.

You said “brother, brother” but did you think I was some punk?

“Hey, brother…! Brother Rael! From now on, I will also use all of the salary I receive from the church for the daycare center! What use is there for a woman?”

“Okay. Do whatever you want.”

“Yes, brother. …But who are these people?”

Lael turned his head away, leaving Carlson blinking while sobbing.

A giant with his arms crossed was looking down at him.

“Ghent. Are you satisfied with this?”

“There is nothing more difficult than recognizing your own mistakes, Rael. You are quite a remarkable person.”

“Stop saying such disgusting things.”

Rael shook his head.

The reckless guy is now guarding the house.

It’s not really a big deal.

“Anyway… That’s why I want to protect the orphanage. And from now on, I really plan on becoming stronger.”

“You’ve never been weak before. Rael, you even defeated Basolod!”

“I need to get stronger.”

It was thanks to Rael’s constitution that he defeated Basolod.

He who does not accept magic can easily defeat the demons.

‘If you want to keep anyone from touching the orphanage… you’d better reach for the sky.’

Ten years ago, Rael decided that he would no longer make his name known in this world.

But now it’s different.

We need to become stronger to protect the orphanage.

Now that I’ve made up my mind, I’m willing to do anything.

“You have gained enlightenment as an inspector, Rael.”

“Enlightenment? Well, you could look at it that way. Now that I think about it, didn’t that old man say anything?”

Rael looked at Ghent and asked about the Thousand-Slayer Sword.

It’s also important to meet that old man to become stronger.

I had almost mastered the second form of the Thousand-Sal Sword, so I had to learn the next step.

“I heard you’ll be visiting the empire soon.”

“···What? Really?”

“Yes. He said he wanted to see you participate in this Yongbong branch meeting.”

“No, why is that old man telling you such important things instead of me?”

Why do I always have to do things twice?

Rael couldn’t understand the thoughts of the Thousand-Slayer Sword Master.

“That is the realization of the inspector, Rael. You too will realize it if you become stronger.”

“I really want to beat up my disciple.”

If that’s the case, then isn’t he a being far removed from Rael?

It seemed like Rael’s determination to become stronger was wavering.