WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Ceaseless
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◈ The Northern Grand Duke’s Mad Son-in-Law ◈
Chapter 102: Sorry
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In the North, high-ranking Demonkin were rare. Demonkin of a higher rank did not leave the Demon Realm.
The fact that Demonkin were strong in the Demon Realm also meant they weakened outside it. That was why high-ranking Demonkin did not descend into the North, which lay beyond the Demon Realm.
Whenever such a high-ranking Demonkin appeared, it inevitably caused enormous damage.
This time, the high-ranking Demonkin even had a city under its control. The Grand Duke had not summoned every commander for no reason.
‘Unpleasant.’
Mark, commander of the Fifth Battalion, frowned at the red mist and gripped a spear.
The other commanders stood in a circle around the mist, weapons in hand.
Adrianna stood at the front.
‘Even Galahad can’t handle a high-ranking Demonkin...’
Mark swallowed the mutter.
Mark knew Galahad was capable, but the opponent was a high-ranking Demonkin.
Even for Galahad, that was too much.
Still...
‘But it is Galahad...’
Mark’s brow furrowed. It took someone of commander caliber to kill a high-ranking Demonkin.
Mark looked around. Every commander had gathered, along with a considerable number of troops.
If Galahad killed a high-ranking Demonkin before this entire force and all these commanders...
‘The balance will change again.’
Galahad had earned the Grand Duke’s recognition, but that was an honor.
Killing a high-ranking Demonkin would prove Galahad’s ability.
If Galahad, already recognized by the Grand Duke, proved their martial strength as well...
‘Maybe I should've entered Galahad's service.’
Mark muttered the joke for no reason.
The red mist vanished completely. What it revealed was horrific.
Corpses lay piled everywhere, along with monsters that appeared to have been made from corpses. It was gruesome enough to make even Northern soldiers, who had seen their share of horrors, vomit.
Galahad stood at the center of the carnage. In Galahad's hand was unmistakably a high-ranking Demonkin.
‘Galahad really caught one...’
Mark’s eyes widened.
It was an astonishing achievement. The problem was...
“Press a little harder.”
Galahad was collecting the high-ranking Demonkin’s blood.
A legend about the Grand Duke came to mind. At the front, the Grand Duke had filled his stomach with Monster flesh and quenched his thirst with blood.
That had been an expression of his rage against Demonkin.
But Galahad...
‘...Is Galahad smiling?’
Galahad was beaming while filling canteens with blood, as though truly enjoying the situation.
There was no anger in that expression.
Watching Galahad smile as they collected blood somehow felt more terrifying than the Grand Duke tearing into Demonkin flesh.
‘Hmm...’
The commanders wore strange expressions.
‘Has Galahad... proven it?’
Galahad had certainly killed the high-ranking Demonkin.
It was undeniable proof.
But...
“You’ve already filled two canteens. There’s nothing left!”
“Even dried jerky gives water when you squeeze it.”
‘Galahad proved it a little too well...’
At that moment, Adrianna strode forward.
* * *
“This isn’t according to plan.”
‘She’s angry.’
Galahad clicked their tongue at Adrianna’s sharp glare.
“Did I not take down the Ruler?”
“That isn’t the issue. Contrary to the plan, you faced it alone. The original plan was for you to hold the Ruler in place until we joined you.”
Adrianna stepped forward and rebuked Galahad.
“Plans always change. The result is what matters.”
“There is no result without a process. Results are built from accumulated steps. Commander Galahad could have been in danger.”
Following Adrianna’s gaze, Galahad looked down and saw the coat in tatters. Blood had dried between the rips.
‘What a mess.’
It was torn in many places, with several holes punched through it. Galahad was seriously injured, but felt no pain.
Ever since drinking the high-ranking Demonkin’s blood, Galahad's insides had burned so hot that there had been no time to feel pain.
Still...
“I didn’t die.”
Galahad spread both arms as they answered. Adrianna’s glare only intensified.
Wrong answer, Galahad muttered quietly.
“You could have died. Even outside the Demon Realm, a high-ranking Demonkin is still a high-ranking Demonkin. Facing one alone was unreasonable from the start.”
Adrianna spoke quickly.
In the end, Galahad had taken down the Ruler. Galahad had been severely injured in the process, but that was Galahad’s burden to bear.
Since the outcome had been good, most people would have let it slide. After all, they were not the ones injured.
Most people Galahad had known until now were like that.
But Adrianna was even angrier.
“Did you ask us to trust you? Trust is the fruit of actions built up between people. How could I simply give you trust?”
Adrianna was right.
Regardless of the circumstances, Galahad had acted differently from the plan.
“I’m sorry.”
“No matter how exceptional your abilities may be... What?”
“I said I’m sorry.”
Adrianna’s brows loosened for an instant. Then she cleared her throat awkwardly.
“...I wasn’t saying that just to hear an apology.”
She took a step back.
“Oh, is that so? Actually, that was a lie. I’m not sorry.”
Her glare sharpened again. Galahad chuckled and put a cigarette between their lips.
“I originally intended to keep it contained, but the Ruler looked weaker than I expected. It also seemed to be plotting something else. I thought this was the best course.”
“Yes, I understand. You did well.”
Galahad wondered if she was being sarcastic, but Adrianna’s expression was serious.
“You are wise, so your judgment will usually be right. But you are still human. You will inevitably make mistakes. And those mistakes will prove fatal.”
Galahad nodded at Adrianna’s serious advice.
“I’ll keep it in mind.”
“Yes. I will handle the rest.”
Adrianna slightly lowered her head and stepped away.
‘That’s it?’
Usually, there would have been more to say afterward, but Adrianna withdrew immediately. She certainly had a bold nature. Perhaps some of the Grand Duke’s blood truly ran through her.
‘...What did it say it would open?’
Galahad recalled what Fox Mask had been wary of.
That was why Galahad had dealt with the Ruler in one go. Galahad had arranged things so it could not try anything strange.
The Ruler had certainly been troublesome. It did not lower its guard until the very end.
But persistence was Galahad’s strength.
Fox Mask was suddenly standing beside Galahad. With the mask removed, Fox Mask looked greatly excited.
“What was that? I’ve never heard of anyone using void magic like that. Did you really copy my authority just by seeing it? Then revise it for humans? In that short time?”
Fox Mask’s rapid questions were full of disbelief.
It was a natural question. Fox Mask did not know how long Galahad had spent inside the Four-legged Demonkin.
To Fox Mask, Galahad would look like a genius of the century.
“You can’t properly use the power of the void, so you cast it as dual magic? You used void magic and another spell at the same time? What is inside your head? Can I open it? Let me open it for a moment.”
“Wait. Why are you here?”
“Because I want to be.”
Fox Mask’s answer was confident.
“What about what the Ruler said it would open? Did you stop it?”
“Ah, that? It opened.”
Galahad’s eyes narrowed at the calm answer.
“Did I not tell you not to open it earlier?”
“The situation changed.”
Fox Mask pointed at Galahad. Galahad's eyes narrowed further.
“What exactly opened?”
“Wouldn’t it be boring if I told you? Still, you’ll like it. You’re a mage, aren’t you?”
“I’ll like it?”
Fox Mask wrinkled her nose.
“You can’t stop the sun from rising and setting. Nor can you stop snow from melting. Oh my, I’ve said too much. It’s because you’re adorable.”
Fox Mask’s vivid eyes curved into crescents.
Galahad hurriedly snapped their fingers, but Fox Mask had already disappeared.
‘You can’t stop the sun from rising and setting...’
The most likely thing related to the sun was Dawn.
The words afterward were strange.
‘Snow melting?’
It was an odd phrase. It could not mean only that.
Galahad felt uneasy, but that was not what mattered now.
‘What opened?’
Galahad had a bad feeling. Galahad moved mana.
‘The mana concentration is growing thicker.’
Soon, Galahad found where the mana concentration was increasing.
Thump! Thump! Thump! The Egg of Pain pounded fiercely. Its pounding was louder than before because Galahad had drunk the high-ranking Demonkin’s blood.
Unlike elsewhere, countless corpses were piled together there in an unnatural way.
“Are you all right? Good grief, aren’t you scraped up everywhere?”
Gilbert grumbled. Behind them stood the Special Operations Unit, all of them in miserable condition.
Still, they seemed oddly relieved. The other soldiers and commanders behind them wore similar expressions. They looked as though they were savoring victory after the battle.
“Knight Gilbert, perfect timing. Clear this out.”
“Yes? Yes.”
Without complaint, Gilbert pushed the corpses aside. Blood and flesh stuck to their hands, but they did not grumble.
“Shall I do this for you?”
“Yes. Gwen, thank you.”
Gwen hurried over and supplied Galahad with mana.
Galahad focused entirely on the place Gilbert was clearing.
‘The mana concentration is thick...’
As the corpses were removed, a shabby wooden door appeared. It looked like an ordinary cellar door.
“Isn’t this just a cellar door?”
“Treasure is usually hidden in ordinary places. Ah, Gwen. That’s enough now.”
“I’m not done yet...”
Galahad pushed Gwen’s hand away and stepped forward. At a glance, it was an ordinary cellar door. Even its handle was old enough to make Galahad reluctant to touch it.
But...
‘Mana keeps pouring out from here.’
The concentration was growing thicker. A hole had been opened. Galahad combined the available clues.
The most likely possibility was...
‘Does it connect to Demonkin Territory?’
It was a plausible assumption. Galahad took the Leather Notebook from a pocket and looked at it.
[The Northern Wall will collapse.]
The Northern Wall Galahad had seen was sturdy and solid. Its border was strictly guarded as well. A wall that thick could not be destroyed from outside.
‘You would have to dig from the inside.’
Was that why they needed a Demonkin city?
“What is it?”
First approached. After forcibly shaking off the Ruler’s authority and fighting with his sword, First was in terrible condition.
Galahad clicked their tongue and pointed at the door.
“There’s something here.”
“...What do you mean, something?”
Adrianna asked as she shook dust from her sword.
Everyone’s attention had gathered on them at some point. Unlike before, their gazes no longer held hostility. A few even seemed to avoid looking at Galahad.
“We should check first.”
When Galahad gave the handle a tap, tap, the door crumbled away.
Below lay a deep darkness where nothing could be seen.
The space was narrow. At best, it was wide enough for two people to pass through.
“Let’s go.”
First approached while spinning his sword. His face was still serious.
“You are not in good condition. I will go this time.”
Adrianna stepped forward. Her eyes were resolute.
First pointed at Adrianna.
“I work best with Galahad. Didn’t you see us deal with the high-ranking Demonkin? You would only get in the way.”
First said it with a smirk.
Adrianna’s brows lowered. Then she took a step back.
As a former agent, First worked well with Galahad. They did not need many words, so it was naturally more convenient.
But that was not what they needed right now.
“Adrianna. Let’s go.”
“Yes? Yes.”
Galahad threw the cigarette they had been smoking inside. The drop was so deep that its end could not be seen.
“The two of us will go.”
With that, Galahad jumped inside.
“That’s dangerous!”
Startled, Adrianna hurriedly jumped after Galahad.
After the two vanished, silence lingered for a moment.
Pumpkin peered into the hole for no reason.
“Pumpkin.”
“...What is it this time?”
First let out a hot breath. Pumpkin muttered a quiet curse, sensing that he was about to say something ridiculous again.
“Did you see Adrianna raise the corner of her mouth just now?”
“...Why would Adrianna raise the corner of her mouth? Her face was blank.”
“No, she definitely raised one corner of her mouth while looking at me. It was mockery. Definitely...”
“You imagined it. You imagined it.”
Pumpkin firmly cut off First’s grumbling.
“I definitely saw it...”
* * *
‘It’s quite deep.’
Galahad adjusted the collar and looked around.
Thud.
A heavy sound came from behind Galahad.
“Jumping from such a height is dangerous.”
“I’m a mage. I’m fine.”
“Next time, I will jump first.”
“Will you catch me from below?”
“Yes.”
“You’re rather lecherous, aren’t you?”
“...What?”
Galahad laughed and snapped their fingers.
A small flame lit the surroundings. It was an artificial cave. What was strange was that the walls were red.
The entire cave was drenched in blood.
“Demonkin blood.”
After tasting it, Galahad let out a low sound.
“Why did they smear Demonkin blood on the walls?”
“...A gate once guarded by the Second Battalion was attacked.”
Adrianna spoke carefully, her brows furrowed.
“The attack came from inside rather than outside. When we investigated, we found that a small part of the wall had been bored through.”
“Was it heavily stained with Demonkin blood?”
“...Yes.”
Adrianna nodded. Galahad quietly flicked ash from their cigarette while looking ahead.
A tunnel stretching endlessly ahead, coated in Demonkin blood.
Galahad could roughly see the outline of it now.
“Mana flows from places of low concentration to places of high concentration.”
“Yes, I know.”
Galahad silently looked at Adrianna.
“...Haven’t I heard that several times already? I’m not Gilbert.”
“Indeed. But there is a threshold, so places of high concentration remain high, while places of low concentration remain low. You can see it in Demonkin Territory. Isn’t the mana concentration completely different on opposite sides of a single city wall?”
“...Hmm.”
After a moment, Adrianna nodded.
“I understand.”
“Yes. Demonkin grow stronger in places where mana concentration is high and weaker where it is low.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Galahad flicked ash from their cigarette at Adrianna’s nod.
“Then tell me. What must Demonkin do if they wish to attack the North?”
Adrianna thought seriously.
“They must raise the concentration.”
“Correct. But manipulating the flow of mana in the atmosphere is not easy. Only someone like a Magic Tower Master could attempt it, so it is not something Demonkin would do.”
Adrianna looked at Galahad with wide eyes. Galahad quietly flicked ash again.
“Instead, they have blood with a high concentration.”
Galahad pointed at the wall with their cigarette.
The entirely red cave was a passage. A passage made to guide mana’s flow with Demonkin blood.
“It is crude, but all the more certain for it.”
To think they had made mana channels by painting Demonkin blood everywhere. Galahad had no choice but to acknowledge it.
“Very interesting.”
Galahad ran a hand over the wall. Demonkin blood stuck to Galahad's palm.
Demonkin blood coagulated more slowly than human blood, but not to this extent. It seemed to have received some other treatment.
“...Will the North become Demonkin Territory?”
Adrianna’s brows crumpled deeply. Her blank expression broke, revealing her unease.
“That is correct.”
Galahad snapped their fingers and smiled brightly.
“Isn’t it interesting? Creating mana channels with blood. It is something a mage would never think of. It is certainly rational.”
Adrianna’s gaze hardened at Galahad’s excited voice.
She already knew that Galahad was obsessively devoted to magic.
Still, she could not understand how Galahad could find it interesting even with the North in danger of collapse.
‘...Is it because Galahad is not from the North?’
Adrianna quietly shook her head. Galahad had taken the foremost role in resolving the North’s problems. Galahad was not that kind of person.
Even so, she could not understand Galahad’s excitement.
“If Demonkin Territory expands, it will be a serious problem.”
“That’s right, a very serious problem. Demonkin will become stronger, and they will appear more often. The North will become a playground for Demonkin. The joke I made to the Grand Duke is coming back to me like this.”
Adrianna frowned at Galahad’s chuckle.
“Then why are you laughing? The North may collapse...”
“Why would the North collapse?”
“...What?”
Adrianna could not respond to Galahad’s question.
Was that not what they had just been discussing?
“We will block the channels.”
Galahad’s face was, as always, full of confidence.
‘...We?’
Adrianna muttered quietly.
Then Galahad snapped their fingers.
“Ah, if there’s no other way, we can just station you here. Mana won’t be able to pass. Hmm, would you stretch out your arms?”
Adrianna gave a small cough at Galahad’s words.
What sort of strange joke was that?
“What are you waiting for? Stretch them out to both sides. Let’s see whether they reach.”
Adrianna’s brows shook sharply.
“Stretch them out.”
After hesitating for a moment, Adrianna stretched out her arms.
Galahad coughed roughly and laughed. Adrianna hurriedly lowered her arms.
“You seemed a little too stiff.”
At the teasing voice, Adrianna bit down hard on her lip.
“I will take the lead.”
Adrianna tightened her grip on her sword and walked ahead.
“Reassuring.”
A refreshing lemon scent pushed back the nauseating stench of blood.
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