WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Ceaseless
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Northern Grand Duke’s Mad Son-in-Law ◈
Chapter 106: Hospitalization
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Recently, the Ruler was discovered in the Sixth Battalion, making the situation grave. It was serious enough for the Grand Duke to summon every battalion commander.
The staff had been on edge because of it.
Most of all...
‘Galahad went after the Ruler.’
The Magic Stone Mine venture was the North’s hope for resolving its financial troubles. Galahad was indispensable.
Yet Galahad had gone directly to the Sixth Battalion. The thought made the heart sink.
‘What the hell are the other commanders doing?!’
It was enough to make one angry at the commanders.
“If the commanders did even half as much as Galahad, we would have defeated the Empire long ago!”
One of the staff shouted, and the others nodded.
Then a hawk flew in through the window. It was the Second Battalion commander’s hawk.
Reports were not normally delivered directly to the Grand Duke. They went to the staff first, who organized them before submitting them to the Grand Duke.
Theodore hurried to the hawk. A long strip of paper was tied to its leg.
‘Of all people, it had to be the Second Battalion commander.’
Liam, commander of the Second Battalion, always kept reports too short.
Liam maintained that reports should be concise enough to read at a glance. It was a reasonable claim, but Liam condensed them too much.
Theodore hurriedly opened the letter.
As expected, Liam’s letter was brief.
The problem was...
[Galahad caught the Ruler. Squeezed the Ruler’s blood. There was another problem underground. Galahad rode Adrianna naked. Most Sixth Battalion soldiers were saved, but the Sixth Battalion became a sea of fire and can no longer be used. This is Galahad’s achievement. Success.]
Theodore read the report again.
The report was short, yet Theodore could not understand it. So Theodore began sorting through it slowly from the start.
First, it seemed Galahad had caught the Ruler. The part about squeezing its blood was a little strange, but still...
The problem came next.
‘If Galahad caught the Ruler, why did the Sixth Battalion become a sea of fire...?’
And apparently, that sea of fire was Galahad’s achievement.
“How did it go? No, is Commander Galahad safe?!”
Another staff officer asked quietly. Theodore considered for a moment.
The Sixth Battalion had become a sea of fire, but the Ruler had been caught. If they had failed to stop a high-ranking Demonkin like the Ruler, the damage could have been far worse. It could therefore be considered successfully contained.
So...
“Commander Galahad caught the Ruler.”
“Waaah! As expected of Galahad!”
“Commander Galahad!”
The staff burst into cheers.
Then a low groan came from behind them. The Grand Duke was standing there before they knew it.
The staff hurriedly bowed their heads.
The Grand Duke gestured to Theodore. Carefully, Theodore offered him the letter.
The Grand Duke’s eyes moved swiftly over it.
‘What honor will he bestow this time?’
Galahad had caught the Ruler, a high-ranking Demonkin that had occupied the Sixth Battalion. Theodore could not help looking forward to what the Grand Duke might grant Galahad.
Then the air abruptly grew heavy.
When Theodore looked up, the Grand Duke’s deeply creased face came into view.
It was unmistakable fury.
‘...Why?’
Theodore slowly recalled the report.
[Galahad rode Adrianna naked.]
Ah.
Theodore squeezed their eyes shut.
* * *
Galahad was in quite a bad state. Galahad’s mana circuits had been torn apart from overload.
Galahad had expected it, but experiencing it firsthand was on another level.
‘My mana circuits are a mess.’
Galahad clicked their tongue softly.
Mana circuits were the virtual pathways through which mana moved, and all of Galahad’s had been torn apart.
Thanks to Gwen, they had somehow been stitched back together, but they were still a mess.
‘I expected this, but it’s worse than I thought.’
Galahad frowned at the throbbing pain.
Drinking two containers of the Ruler’s blood had been to stop the Ruler’s plan, but it had also been meant to strengthen Galahad’s mana circuits.
Torn mana circuits were extremely dangerous, but if they recovered, the results would be certain.
They would become thicker and sturdier than ever before.
Other mages would be horrified enough to call it suicide, but Galahad had Adrianna and Gwen.
In the end, Galahad had cleaned out and reconnected the mana circuits as planned. Once they recovered, they would be far sturdier than before.
On top of that, Galahad had stopped the Ruler, so the plan could be considered a complete success.
But...
‘Why am I here again?’
Galahad glanced around.
It was the room where Galahad had been imprisoned when Galahad first came to the North.
Unlike before, all sorts of things were piled throughout the room, but it was unmistakably the same room.
The difference was...
“Do you need anything?”
Adrianna, fully armed, stood inside and guarded the door.
Rather than stopping intruders from getting in, she looked like she was stopping Galahad from getting out.
‘Imprisoned.’
Galahad was partly responsible for how things had turned out.
On the carriage ride back, Galahad put a cigarette in the mouth and, out of habit, used magic.
Moving mana while Galahad’s mana circuits were torn apart was dreadful. No, utterly dreadful. Even Galahad could not endure it without groaning.
Still, the sensation of mana moving through Galahad’s torn circuits fascinated Galahad.
As Galahad savored that feeling and moved mana several times, blood sprayed violently from Galahad’s mouth.
Adrianna panicked, and...
‘Here I am.’
Galahad did not particularly mind.
Galahad’s condition was indeed too bad to use magic, so it was time to focus on recovering.
Having Adrianna watch over Galahad was quite the luxury.
There were a few problems, though.
The first was...
“Do you need a cigarette? I’ll take one out for you.”
Adrianna was going too far.
She was someone who always took the lead and naturally considered that her duty.
But this time, it was Galahad who had caught the Ruler and stopped its plan.
Adrianna already felt guilty for bringing Galahad to the North. This incident seemed to have weighed on her even more.
The second problem was...
“...I’ll take it out myself.”
“Ah! I’m sorry!”
Adrianna was terribly clumsy at nursing Galahad.
She was the Grand Duke’s only blood relative and the North’s hero. When would someone like Adrianna have ever needed to care for another person? Of course she was a mess at it.
The third problem was that Adrianna’s eyebrows kept drooping lower.
“It’s fine. If you hadn’t carried me, I would have burned to death there.”
No matter how many times Galahad said it, it did no good. Her drooping eyebrows showed no sign of rising.
‘It’s no use.’
Galahad clicked their tongue and put the cigarette between their lips.
Adrianna hurriedly struck the flint. Galahad squinted at the flint being struck in front of Galahad.
“...Would it be all right if I did it?”
“I’d appreciate it, Tom.”
Unable to watch any longer, Tom stepped in. Tom gave the fire-starting wand a small wave, and the cigarette caught flame.
Adrianna’s eyebrows drooped a little further.
‘It’s quiet now.’
Galahad glanced down. The Egg of Pain’s presence could not be felt at all. It seemed to have lost consciousness after being beaten by Adrianna.
‘This time, I’ll make sure to catch it.’
Galahad had left the Egg of Pain alone until now because it had not caused any real harm.
But this time, Galahad had confirmed that the Egg of Pain could emerge.
It had only been possible because Galahad had handed it over, but even the slightest possibility had to be dealt with.
If it rejected the collar...
‘I’ll get rid of it.’
Galahad quietly tapped ash from their cigarette.
Galahad had learned the method this time. Galahad could ask Adrianna to do it.
Then the door flew open violently. First and Pumpkin entered.
First frowned at the sight of Galahad lying down.
“To think you’re laid up like this after using a little magic. You’ve grown frail.”
“Why are you suddenly acting like such a bastard? I’m sorry!”
Pumpkin apologized for him, and First laughed heartily.
“The bet.”
First lowered his voice. His expression turned serious.
“You lured mages from the Demon Realm Training Camp into the Magic Tower.”
“So, is there a problem?”
Galahad gestured for Adrianna, who was about to step forward, to stay back. A brief silence followed, then First curled up the corner of his mouth.
“To come up with such a clever idea. You truly are my rival. Hahaha!”
First laughed heartily. He was the sort to concede defeat in a contest with needless grace.
“Here. This is the prize for our bet.”
First took out a potion and tossed it over.
A Church potion was not something one could buy simply by having money.
“Are you insane? Why are you giving Galahad mine?!”
“We’re one body.”
“What kind of fucking...”
Pumpkin’s face twisted.
First stepped forward and stared at Galahad. His eyes were filled with an uncomfortable fervor.
“Galahad, stay tense. I will win our next bet.”
“Another bet?”
“You built the Magic Tower, so I will build the Magic Sword Tower. Which of our towers rises higher...”
“Ah, stop! I’m sorry!”
Pumpkin dragged First out.
“Then just get married already.”
“What kind of crazy thing is that to say?!”
They remained noisy until the moment they left.
The closed door soon opened again.
“It’s recovery time! Here!”
Gwen strode in confidently.
Gwen used to look as if she might cry. She cried at the slightest thing and was always hunched over. She had improved somewhat lately, but she was still timid and discouraged.
Yet Gwen was now confident. Her face was full of self-assurance.
“Alright! It’s mana recovery time! Mana recovery! Gwen is here!”
She had found her knack. Since healing Galahad, Gwen’s face had been brimming with confidence.
She could even meet Galahad’s eyes now.
“...Recovery time.”
It only lasted around two seconds, but considering she used to avoid Galahad’s eyes whenever they met, it was enormous progress.
“I’d appreciate it.”
“Yes! Just trust me! I ate a lot today!”
Gwen shouted energetically and stood beside Galahad.
Adrianna stepped another pace back. Her eyebrows sank lower.
“I tried it, and it works better if I chant while doing it!”
“A chant?”
“Get well. Get well.”
“That isn’t a spell.”
“...Really?”
“No, now that I think about it, perhaps it will work. Please, Gwen.”
“Right?! Get well. Get well.”
Galahad held back the comment.
By then, Adrianna had moved all the way beside the door.
Seeing her deeply lowered eyebrows, Galahad clicked their tongue softly.
“Health! Health! Heealth! Haaalth!”
* * *
Tom was certain that Galahad was the core of the Special Operations Unit. Without Galahad, the unit would be disbanded at once.
Galahad was someone who did not so much as blink before Demonkin. Galahad’s confidence had made Tom unconsciously believe that Galahad was invincible.
Seeing that Galahad could barely stay upright and even cough up blood was a considerable shock.
Gilbert stood guard outside in silence, mouth tightly shut.
Tom requested additional funding for the Special Operations Unit and obtained plenty of things good for recovery. Tom made stew with them.
Tom distracted Gwen to keep her from cleaning, stopped Damian from eyeing Galahad’s Golden Scepter, and occasionally brought Gilbert warm liquor.
Taking care of the Special Operations Unit had become routine for Tom, so it was not particularly difficult.
The issue was the people who came looking for Galahad.
The commanders of the Fifth Battalion, Seventh Battalion, and even the Second Battalion kept visiting Galahad.
To Tom, once a rank-and-file soldier, battalion commanders were people one could barely dare look at.
It was strange to have such people constantly visiting, yet Tom also felt oddly proud.
The most notable of them was...
Adrianna, who quietly guarded the door all day.
Adrianna tried to help Galahad, but her skills were a mess.
It was not that she lacked innate talent like Gwen. She simply had never cared for someone else before.
It was only natural. Adrianna was the most noble person in the North.
Adrianna was gradually pushed aside until she eventually stood pressed close to the door in silence.
After that, Adrianna began observing Tom. Whenever Tom made stew, Adrianna would come over and watch seriously.
Being watched by Adrianna, the North’s hero, was quite burdensome for ordinary Tom.
Tom felt like there was a need to do something. But the other person was Adrianna. Tom could hardly presume to teach Adrianna anything.
Yet Tom could not ignore Adrianna’s gaze, either.
Eventually, Tom...
“When stirring stew, you have to stir slowly in one direction so it doesn’t stick!”
Tom began awkwardly talking aloud. Adrianna gave a small nod and muttered quietly, as if committing it to memory.
That was how it started.
“When sweeping, tilt the broom a little so the dust gathers better. And after you’re done cleaning, shake it out outside.”
Tom wondered why there was a need to teach the North’s hero how to sweep, but what could Tom do?
Adrianna listened intently.
Cold sweat covered Tom’s back. Tom tried to hide the nervousness and continued the strange monologue.
It was going smoothly enough.
Then Gilbert came in.
“Are you still lying down?”
“Can’t you see? That’s just like you, Knight Gilbert.”
“No, they looked like the sort who were looking for the commander, so I brought them. Come in!”
Gilbert called outside. A gloomy-looking man and woman entered.
“They looked gloomy and scrawny, so it was obvious they were looking for the commander.”
“Your reasoning is somewhat strange, but correct. Knight Gilbert, you’re not bad.”
The gloomy pair bowed deeply.
‘The Dark Magic Society?’
Tom muttered quietly.
“Could everyone give us some space? Ah, Knight Gilbert, you stay.”
At Galahad’s polite request, the others left the room.
Adrianna remained expressionless, but Tom swallowed dryly.
‘She got pushed aside by Gilbert...’
That was a devastating blow.
Adrianna’s lips twisted slightly.
Seeing that, Tom became alert. There had to be something Adrianna could do somehow.
Then Tom noticed the wand at the waist. It was a magical device used for cooking and starting fires.
Galahad could not use magic right now, so Adrianna could help by lighting Galahad’s cigarettes.
But...
‘Even so, asking Lady Adrianna to light cigarettes...’
After considering it briefly, Tom spoke anyway.
“Could I ask you to handle this? Commander Galahad can’t start a fire.”
Even so, asking her to light cigarettes. Tom regretted it too late.
“Thank you.”
Adrianna’s face brightened beyond measure.
Seeing Adrianna carefully take the wand, Tom sighed softly in relief.
Then Tom worried that someone might see Adrianna lighting Galahad’s cigarettes, but...
‘As long as she doesn’t do it in front of His Grace, it should be fine.’
Tom nodded.
* * *
Galahad read the paper in hand. It was a report brought by the people Galahad had assigned to research at the Dark Magic Society’s Fifth Battalion branch.
It contained research on Demonkin blood and human blood.
The stack was thick, but its core was simple.
‘Mage blood has mana in it too.’
To obtain this result, they had needed to research human blood.
“Did you experiment on humans?”
They shook their heads together. They looked even more haggard and hollow-eyed than before, but their eyes were clearer. Madness shimmered within them.
They had the eyes of mages.
“We did it ourselves.”
“Yourselves?”
“Yes. You said it before. Doing it directly to our own bodies was faster.”
One of them had a large scar on their forearm. It meant they had drawn their own blood for research.
“Excellent. Mage blood contains mana as well?”
“Yes. We discovered it by comparing it with Demonkin blood.”
According to the report, mage blood also contained mana. The amount was simply so small that it was difficult to notice.
At that result, Galahad let out a low groan.
In other words...
“The only difference between mages and Demonkin is the mana concentration in their blood.”
“Yes, that’s right. As the mana concentration rises, the taste and smell become dreadful. Like something rotting.”
It was not a light conversation.
It meant mages were no different from Demonkin.
But Galahad saw it a little differently.
Fox Mask had been a mage who became Demonkin. What she wielded had not been magic. It was unmistakably authority.
Magic was a revised version of authority.
If magic was a revised version of authority, then mages...
‘Are a revised version of Demonkin.’
Galahad frowned.
It was not certainty. Only a possibility.
Still, it left a strange, unpleasant taste in Galahad’s mouth.
Then...
The door shattered without a sound.
It had not opened. It had shattered. The door turned to dust. Cold alarm surged through Galahad.
A high-ranking Monster stood beyond the shattered doorway.
The high-ranking Monster stared at Galahad.
Galahad immediately shouted.
“Adrianna!!”
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