Bad Born Blood - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

The life of a cadet in the Imperial Guard ended after four years. We were reaching the end of our second year. By now, a new class had come in below us, and most of the instructors who had trained us had moved over to them, making themselves scarce around us.

“You two are capable of aiming for the Centurion rank. Strive forward for His Imperial Majesty and the citizens of the Empire.”

Our head instructor, who had overseen us for the past two years, said this before he transferred to the new class. By “you two,” he was referring to me and Ilray.

By the second year, the hierarchy among classmates was also fully set. Any talent that might blossom had already done so. We had learned all the fundamental combat techniques. All that was left was to apply them through practical experience.

‘Centurion…’

The organization of the Imperial Guard was straightforward. There were a thousand Imperial Guardsmen, with the Commander at the very top. The Commander was both the “Chiliarch” and the First Centurion.

The remaining nine Centuries were divided according to service length and role. For a cadet like me, who had completed full-body mechanization, the first post was in the Tenth Century, the lowest-ranking unit of rookies.

After gaining experience in the Tenth Century, one could advance up to the Fifth Century, and beyond that, each would be assigned to one of the First to Fifth Upper Centuries based on specialty and role.

‘If I became the Tenth Centurion, promotion would come fast. It’d mean being recognized as outstanding among new Imperial Guardsmen.’

The position was one that any cadet with high training scores aimed for.

“I’m not particularly ambitious about becoming a Centurion. Luka, do you want to be a Centurion?”

When we were alone, Ilray spoke with his usual carefree tone.

“Unlike you, I have nowhere to return to. If I don’t rise, I’ll only sink.”

“With an Imperial Guard record, you’ll be treated as an elite wherever you go. You’re now in a place that doesn’t care about where you come from. Try to relax a little.”

Ilray tapped his fist lightly against my chest as he spoke.

Ilray was right. I had risen to a position where I could afford to take it easy. But my anxiety was also what drove me. The ever-present sense of standing precariously on a tightrope… I didn’t want to lose that.

Suddenly, a question about Ilray arose.

‘Why does Ilray want to become an Imperial Guardsman?’

Ilray was incredibly talented. Honestly, I thought he was better than me. The reason was… Ilray didn’t exert himself as desperately as I did. He seemed to take everything lightly, yet his results were similar to mine.

Swish.

I leaned my arms and back against the railing. The privileged young master jumped up onto the railing with a bound.

Whoosh.

Ilray stood on the railing, facing the wind. At a glance, it looked precarious, but to us, it was as steady as standing on level ground.

“…Our family, the Kartika family, is a renowned house that has produced many generals of the Empire.”

Ilray spoke as if he had read my thoughts. I was already accustomed to this sort of presumptive way of speaking from him.

Ilray Kartika.

As someone from an orphanage, I couldn’t grasp the full scope of the Kartika family’s influence. All I understood was that they were a prestigious household.

“So, you’re saying that the path to success is open to you even if you only do the bare minimum.”

I spoke with a sneer. Half of it was a joke, but the other half was genuine.

Ilray chuckled, then leapt up, performing a flip on the narrow railing. His feet traced a clean arc in the air.

“I originally wanted to be a scholar. An archaeologist who delves into the mysteries of ancient civilizations.”

“An archaeologist?”

It was the first time I’d heard of such a job. At my question, Ilray smiled a light, almost whimsical smile.

“In Bellato or Cora, it’s a somewhat promising career. The arcane civilizations have endless secrets to uncover.”

I fell silent for a moment.

Just as Ilray had shielded my naive act of mercy, I, too, refrained from reporting his subversive words to the higher-ups.

“If that’s what you want, then just go for it.”

After extending my senses to confirm there was no one nearby, I spoke.

“In the Empire, studying arcane civilizations without permission is forbidden. And besides, my family wouldn’t allow me to do anything other than serve as a soldier. A noble house earns its reputation by consistently producing talent in a particular field.”

Ilray spoke as if he bore the weight of the world’s sorrows, his eyes filled with melancholy.

“Are you saying it’s sad you can’t do what you want? What a pampered complaint.”

I was angry. This time, I meant it.

The city’s underbelly was filled with people who didn’t even have the guarantee of surviving each day. Wanting to do something was a luxury. For them, work that kept them alive was what mattered.

“You’re right. To you, my words probably sound like a spoiled complaint. But for me, it’s real.”

Ilray stood there, unruffled.

“…You need to go hungry and suffer a bit more.”

I spoke with contempt. Even at my harsh words, Ilray didn’t flinch.

“My family doesn’t know about my dream. You’re the only one I’ve told, Luka.”

“If I reported what you just told me, you’d be finished.”

“But you won’t do that—just like I kept your secret. That time, you showed mercy to a Coran.”

Ilray squatted down on the railing. He lowered his gaze to match my eye level.

I frowned as I looked at Ilray’s face.

“I only hesitated because they were non-combatants. Even if you hadn’t acted, I would’ve killed them in the end.”

“The commander ordered us to kill all the Corans there. The fact that you hesitated at all means you’re someone who could defy orders from the top.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. I’m loyal to the Empire and His Imperial Majesty. They recognized my abilities. The Empire’s enemies are my enemies.”

Ilray looked at me, then moved his lips.

“Even if that enemy is me?”

“Whoever it may be.”

I spoke with hostility. It was now clear. Ilray Kartika was dangerous. There was a possibility he could become an enemy of the Empire.

“Luka, if you truly went beyond loyalty to pure obedience, you’d be trying to kill me right now.”

I didn’t respond to Ilray’s words. I only glared at him sharply.

Ilray nodded, as if taking my silence as his answer. He then leaned backward and jumped off the railing.

Looking down, I saw Ilray land effortlessly from the height of the third floor.

“That reckless bastard…”

I muttered as I watched Ilray’s retreating figure.

Ilray lacked nothing—status, talent, everything one could envy—yet he was chasing after something strange.

“…You’ll end up dead that way, idiot.”

I sighed involuntarily.

* * *

For cadets in their third year, after basic training, it was a continuous cycle of live operations. It was also a period when casualties increased.

Rattle, rattle!

Rain poured down relentlessly. Ilray, three other cadets, and I pressed our waterproof hoods down tightly as we pushed through the dense forest.

Five cadets walked in silence through the rain.

Our mission was reconnaissance. As cadets, we had to take on all sorts of minor missions to build diverse experiences. Someone without field experience would, in the future, only spout unrealistic theories from behind a desk when put in charge.

For soldiers, and especially for commanders, incompetence and ignorance were the greatest sins and failings.

Swish.

I raised my hand to signal a break.

We gathered under a tree to shelter from the rain. One of the cadets, who lacked sleep, closed his eyes and quickly fell into a deep sleep. Sleep control was also one of the combat techniques we had learned.

Crunch, crunch.

As I chewed on a ration bar, I scanned the surroundings. With the rain falling at night, visibility was poor. The forest, battered by the wind and rain, swayed as if it would swallow us whole.

‘Somewhere out there, a Legion-clad Imperial Guard is surely watching over us.’

Even though it was a real operation, it was still part of our training. If we encountered enemies beyond our capability, the Imperial Guard would step in.

‘The Force user last time—command must have deemed them manageable for us. And that turned out to be the case.’

Had Ilray not been injured first, he and I would have been enough to handle that opponent. If we had coordinated our attacks, we would have dealt with them easily.

‘This mission is a reconnaissance mission.’

I closed my eyes, reviewing the mission in my mind.

The place we were stepping into was an uncharted neutral zone. It wasn’t yet under anyone’s territory. Anyone we encountered here could be considered an enemy.

‘Ilray isn’t his usual self.’

I shifted my gaze, observing Ilray as he drank water. His face didn’t show any signs of fatigue; rather, he seemed visibly excited.

‘Is he really that thrilled just to see an Arcane ruin?’

The Arcane ruins were the target of this reconnaissance mission. The site was surrounded by waves that interfered with monitoring, so we had to conduct an on-site inspection.

Swish.

I stood up, patting Ilray’s shoulder. It was our turn to stand watch.

“Isn’t it amazing? That a civilization existed that traversed the universe even before humans were around.”

Ilray chattered excitedly. I couldn’t share his fascination and merely shrugged.

The ancient Arcane civilization.

I knew only the basics. I’d heard it was a civilization that spanned the entire universe in the distant past. Traces of it remained wherever one went in space.

“I don’t care about the Arcane or whatever. They’re just people who died ages ago.”

Despite my negative reaction, Ilray neither looked disappointed nor offended.

“Luka, it’s because of the past that we have the present. And we can even predict the future.”

Even though Ilray explained it like it was profound, it didn’t resonate with me. He didn’t seem intent on making me understand, either.

After resting and recovering, we prepared to move again. Just before setting out, one of the cadets approached me.

‘Claude Lamones.’

Lamones wasn’t as influential as the Kartika family, but it was still a notable household. Even as someone from the lowest ranks, my cadet life among noble heirs had taught me about the subtle balances and power structures within noble families.

“Luka, I have a younger sister.”

Claude Lamones brought this up out of nowhere. I tilted my head, puzzled.

“So?”

“If you’re not involved with anyone, I’d like to introduce you to my sister.”

“I’m an orphanage kid.”

There wasn’t a single cadet who didn’t know my background.

“Whether you’re from an orphanage or a noble family, we’ll end up as Imperial Guards all the same. Who knows? You might even be my superior one day.”

I looked at Claude’s face. He wasn’t teasing, nor was he speaking casually.

‘He’s serious.’

It was a sudden proposal, yet in a way, I understood it.

Coming from an orphanage, I had no ties to complex political affairs. Ilray once mentioned that some families might appreciate my unburdened background.

“I don’t think it’s a bad offer. I know you’re close with Ilray, but there aren’t any women left in the Kartika family.”

“…I haven’t thought about anything like this before. Besides, we’re on a mission.”

I paused before replying.

“I’m not asking you to answer right now. Just think about it.”

Claude nodded and stepped back.

Ilray, who had overheard my conversation with Claude, nudged my arm with his elbow.

“Quite popular, Luka.”

“Shut up.”

We continued moving toward the ruins. As we neared the center of the forest, remnants of partially destroyed metal structures began to emerge.

“So this is… Arcane…”

Ilray scanned the surroundings, moving closer to one of the shattered pillars.

Vmm.

When Ilray’s hand touched the silvery metal pillar, a faint blue light rippled from the point of contact before dissipating.

“This structure is millions of years old, yet it still has an energy response.”

Ilray couldn’t hide his awe.

“…Ilray, we’re on a mission here.”

I frowned.

“Oh, sorry.”

For a moment, it seemed like Ilray had forgotten the mission entirely. His face was filled with wonder, open and unguarded like that of a child.

It was the first time I’d seen this side of him.

Whoosh.

I signaled to reorganize the formation. We planned to examine the structure and scale of the Arcane ruins and then head back.

And if there happened to be any artifacts to recover, we were to collect them immediately.

Silently, we moved between the covers provided by broken walls. The silvery roads branched out in all directions, converging at what appeared to be the center of the ruins.

‘Claude, over here.’

I gestured to Claude. Normally, I would have partnered with Ilray as the lead scout, but he seemed too distracted today to be reliable.

The other cadets were in position behind pillars and walls, rifles at the ready. Under their cover, Claude and I approached the ruins.

Viiing.

I activated my cybernetic eye on the right, attempting to analyze the surroundings. However, the unique energy waves from the ruins deflected the analysis attempt. My eyelid throbbed as heat began to spread from my forehead.

Crackle.

A strange noise came from up ahead. Claude and I held our breath, moving slowly and cautiously.

‘There’s something in front of us.’

Inside the ruins stood six massive pillars. At the center of them was a pedestal that looked almost like an altar.

I opened my eyes wide.

Creak, crackle.

Above the pedestal, a cube was hovering, rotating in midair. It was about the size of a human head, and with each rotation, the color of its sides changed. A continuous sound of gears seemed to echo from within, as if machinery inside was interlocking.

And beneath that cube stood someone. The moment I identified them, my face froze and then twisted.

‘Damn…’

Every nerve in my body was on edge. My instincts and reason were both screaming danger.

If the Empire had the Imperial Guard… then the Holy Nation of Cora had the Order of the Holy Knights. One of those Holy Knights was standing right in front of us. I recognized it instantly just from the armor.

The elaborate armor, adorned with fine detail, was a mix of blue and white. Melee weapons like a spear and sword were strapped to his back and waist. His face was hidden beneath a helmet pulled low.

Vmm.

The Coran Holy Knight turned his head. A blue light flickered from within his helmet. His gaze was fixed directly on us.

Whoosh!

The Holy Knight made a gesture. The spear on his back glowed with a blue light, lifting into the air by itself. The spear shone brightly as if the light was engulfing it.

The brilliant light was paradoxically chilling. We knew instinctively that it was dangerous. Coran Holy Knights were masters of Force abilities.

“Cla—…”

I couldn’t finish my sentence. Everything happened in an instant. Just as the spear disappeared, it whizzed past me.

Crunch!

The spearhead pierced straight through Claude’s temple. The spear continued through his body, impaling him, before embedding itself into a pillar.

Claude was dead.

…And I was next.