WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Ceaseless
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Northern Grand Duke’s Mad Son-in-Law ◈
Chapter 23: Competent Failure
──────
‘Impressive.’
The Dark Magic Society’s security had been terrible in the past. Information was shared between branches so freely that it hardly needed saying.
Now, however, their security was thorough, with several layers in place.
Even Galahad found the final door somewhat difficult to breach.
Three Magic Stones were set into it. At a glance, each was at least mid-grade. Not even the Magic Tower Master’s room had a door like that. Such extravagance was only possible in the north, where Magic Stone Mines were plentiful.
The design of the magic circle linking the Magic Stones looked oddly familiar.
‘The elder’s work.’
The elder had made such a fuss about retiring, yet they seemed unable to break the habit.
‘Is the elder in the north?’
There was no way to know. If Galahad had come alone, matters might have become quite complicated.
If the elder had designed the door, even Galahad would not have been able to get through it easily.
The elder’s fee alone must have been enormous, and they had used three mid-grade Magic Stones on top of that. Galahad could not begin to guess how much they had spent on security.
‘Did I hit them that hard?’
Galahad clicked his tongue.
Still, they had overlooked one thing.
Even with perfect security, trouble always began with people.
People could not be perfect. That went double for someone who had taken four years to graduate from the Academy.
“Ah, I’ll keep your name confidential for now.”
He was even keeping Galahad’s name secret.
The greed gleaming in Corton’s eyes suggested he had some other scheme in mind.
There was no reason to refuse, so Galahad nodded.
“Come in.”
Corton opened the door with confidence.
Despite the elaborate security, the interior was surprisingly ordinary.
Everything was gray, as though nobody had bothered with decoration. The only difference between this place and an underground prison was the lack of iron bars. Mages’ sense of aesthetics was hardly worth discussing.
Books lay scattered everywhere, while gloomy figures in hoods wandered about. Despite its name, the Dark Magic Society looked much like an ordinary Magic Tower.
The Magic Stones strewn about like rocks and the obviously expensive magical devices were what truly caught Galahad’s attention.
“The equipment is impressive.”
“Didn’t I tell you? We’ve reached the height of our prosperity in the north. We’ve uncovered so many Magic Stone Mines that we’ve lost count. And those foolish northerners treat Magic Stones like unlucky rocks, so there’s no need to say more.”
A little prodding was all it took for his dear fellow alumnus, Corton, to explain everything. What a helpful man.
‘So they’re prospering instead.’
Galahad had worked so hard to hunt them down, only for them to thrive in the north. It was absurd.
‘This time, I’ll need a different approach.’
Originally, he had planned to find enough evidence, persuade them one at a time, and extract information about the other branches. It would have been cleaner that way.
But the situation was different from what he had expected.
‘Their security is too tight.’
Even Corton, who appeared to hold a fairly high position, did not know where the other branches were located. Galahad could crack open every skull here and still find nothing useful.
Eight would bring him information, but he could not simply wait for that.
An agent always had to dig two holes.
“We need plenty of mages to mine Magic Stones. We give mages the best treatment. The pay is more than they could get even in the capital.”
“Do mages mine Magic Stones themselves?”
“Ah, you didn’t know. Ahem.”
Galahad knew all about the applications and uses of Magic Stones, but he did not know how they were mined.
No, he had never cared in the first place.
To Galahad, Magic Stones were merely toys. Or supplementary tools.
“It’s more efficient for mages to mine them. When ordinary people do it, the quality often drops. That’s why Mark can’t let go of me.”
Galahad nodded at the helpful explanation.
‘That’s why Mark remained neutral.’
Mages were needed to make use of Magic Stone Mines, so even if Corton appeared suspicious, Mark could not afford to let him go.
‘He has nerve.’
In the north where mages were poorly regarded, a battalion commander had accepted mages and even gone into business with them. That was more than simple nerve.
Three Magic Stone Mines were worth that much.
The strengthened security, Corton’s relationship with Mark of the Fifth Battalion, and the operation of the Magic Stone Mines. Galahad weighed each factor.
Eliminating the branch outright would bring too many complications. Keeping it, on the other hand, offered enormous advantages.
They were so meticulous about security that Corton did not even know the other branches’ locations.
That meant the branches were cut off from one another. If someone swallowed this branch whole and kept it running, those above would have a hard time noticing.
‘It would be better to keep this branch intact.’
Galahad nodded.
Maintaining this branch would allow him to obtain information about the other branches. It could also give him leverage over Mark of the Fifth Battalion.
The Magic Stone Mines would bring in a considerable sum as well.
Damian’s food expenses were substantial.
‘Perfect.’
Galahad’s gaze darkened.
There was no such thing as a bad blade.
There were only bad owners.
‘All I need to do is put it to good use.’
The corners of Galahad’s mouth rose.
Then a sharp voice called out.
“Deputy Branch Head Corton, where are you going?”
The man was covered in freckles, and his eyes were full of wariness.
A large Magic Stone was embedded in the staff he carried.
In the capital, a staff set with a Magic Stone was a symbol of a successful mage. Here, though, it looked more like a hiking stick.
“Ah, Bart. I’m busy, so move aside.”
“I have not heard that we were expecting a visitor today. The Society strictly prohibits outsiders from entering. If word of this reaches those above, the entire branch will certainly face consequences.”
Bart looked Galahad up and down as he spoke.
His words were entirely reasonable. That made him troublesome.
Galahad waited to see how Corton would handle it.
“Shut up, Bart! Go mine Magic Stones! How dare you raise your voice at me, the Deputy Branch Head?”
Corton abruptly raised his voice.
It was a truly groundbreaking solution.
“...No, that isn’t what I meant. Letting outsiders in is a sensitive matter.”
“Does what I say mean nothing to you? What does a low-ranking nobody like you know?”
“Have you spoken with those above?”
“The Branch Head is absent, so I am those above! Should I be reporting to you instead? Are you someone important?”
“That isn’t what I meant...”
“Fine, then you become the Deputy Branch Head! I’ll report to you instead.”
“...No.”
Bart’s face reddened at Corton’s shameless abuse of authority.
‘Impressive.’
Galahad was sincerely impressed.
Even so, Bart did not back down easily.
“Outsiders are dangerous regardless. We need to prepare for any possible threat...”
“This one doesn’t even have a staff. What possible threat could he pose?”
Galahad swept aside his coat. He had neither a sword nor a staff, only a neat shirt and trousers.
‘So that’s why he underestimated me.’
Only then did Galahad understand why Corton had thought him easy to handle.
Among mages, having a staff with a Magic Stone made a significant difference.
Mages did not spend their entire fortunes on staffs for no reason.
Once they confirmed Galahad had no staff, the suspicion in the others’ eyes faded. They seemed even more dependent on staffs than mages in the capital.
Bart still refused to back down.
“His mana could be high. We need to measure it.”
“Ha, you’re truly tiresome. That’s why you’ll never rise above the bottom rank.”
“But we can’t know for certain.”
“Ha, fine. Can we test you with a magical device? It’s the same thing they used at the Academy.”
Galahad nodded.
The principle behind a mana-measuring device was the same as the method Galahad used when he shook hands with someone and sent mana into them.
It injected highly concentrated mana, then roughly determined a person’s total mana by measuring how much was absorbed in that instant.
“Bart, you’d better be prepared if you’ve troubled us for nothing.”
Corton sneered as he glared at Bart.
Bart tried to ignore him and held out the mana-measuring device to Galahad.
“The method of use is...”
“I know.”
Galahad took it and fastened it around his forearm.
He recalled the amount of mana he had possessed during his Academy days.
‘A little lower than that would be best.’
Mana-measuring devices had never been especially reliable magical devices to begin with.
Even the Intelligence Bureau treated their readings as little more than a reference.
Yet these people seemed to trust them blindly. Between every mage carrying a staff and their reliance on mana-measuring devices, their dependence on magical devices appeared worse than Galahad had expected.
With Magic Stones in abundance, it was unavoidable.
Even after a year of training, magic was less efficient than simply carrying one more Magic Stone.
People could not help choosing the shortcut.
Unfortunately, the right path was always the hardest.
‘A mage relying on tools.’
Suppressing the disgust rising within him, Galahad adjusted his mana concentration.
Checking mana was second nature to Galahad. Manipulating it in reverse to control the amount was no challenge at all.
The mana-measuring device emitted a dark red glow.
The less mana it detected, the blacker it became. The more it detected, the redder it became. The result indicated an ordinary mage.
An ordinary mage without even a staff did not appear to be a threat to them at all.
A sneer spread across Corton’s face. He was exceptionally skilled at sneering.
Bart looked faintly relieved. He was a genuinely loyal subordinate.
Their dependable Corton, however, had no eye for recognizing loyalty.
“Didn’t I tell you? He’s here for necessary business! Yet a low-ranking nobody like you dared doubt me?”
“No, that isn’t...”
“What? You bastard! Go mine Magic Stones! Your quota is doubled today!”
Bart’s face twisted at Corton’s shout.
He disappeared as though fleeing.
It was the typical end for a loyal subordinate.
‘Bart.’
Galahad quietly repeated the name.
“That insignificant fool is getting ahead of himself. Ha, since the Branch Head is away anyway, let’s look at the research first. You liked research, didn’t you?”
Corton smiled smugly.
Passing the mana test seemed to have put him completely at ease.
He clearly intended to keep Galahad firmly under his control as well.
Showing him their research, no less.
‘Capable.’
He truly was a competent failure.
“Thank you.”
Galahad thanked him sincerely once more.
“What are fellow alumni for?”
Corton grinned.
He was such a dependable fellow alumnus.
* * *
“I heard the Deputy Branch Head brought in an outsider.”
“My god, really?”
Shern doubted their ears.
The Deputy Branch Head was incompetent, but his hunger for achievement was tremendous. It was common for him to report his subordinates’ accomplishments as his own.
Still, it was difficult to dismiss him as completely useless.
Corton’s desire to rise was immense, and he occasionally produced absurd results.
Corton was the one who had arranged the deal with the Fifth Battalion commander. That was how he had risen to Deputy Branch Head.
But bringing in an outsider was madness of an entirely different kind.
“No matter how incompetent the Deputy Branch Head is, would he bring in an outsider without thinking? He’s second to none when it comes to protecting himself. That means this person must be important enough to ignore security.”
At Shern’s words, everyone nodded.
Their conversation shifted to the person the Deputy Branch Head had brought in.
Who could possibly be important enough for the Deputy Branch Head to take such a drastic measure?
“What are you all gathered here for?”
A familiar yell came from behind them. The Deputy Branch Head stood there with his shoulders thrown back.
Their attention naturally shifted to the person beside him.
He was a handsome man with his hair neatly swept back. He looked somewhere between a youth and a grown man, though exhaustion was plainly visible around his eyes.
His arms and legs were long and lean, yet there was a certain firmness to him.
In short, he looked like a clean-cut, handsome noble from the capital.
But there was something strange about his eyes. They were disturbingly subdued. As though...
Shern met his gaze and quickly looked away.
“Shern, show this friend some of our research results.”
“...What? The research?”
It was an absurd order. Shern was in charge of Demonkin research. Shern was being told to show it to an outsider.
“You’ll be working together from now on anyway.”
“...Yes.”
The Branch Head was out, so nobody could stop Corton. If Shern hesitated, they would only be yelled at.
“Show him around for a while. I’ll go make my report and come back.”
Shern was quietly horrified by Corton treating Demonkin research like a spectacle.
Shern headed to the laboratory with the unidentified man.
“It’s a little messy, isn’t it? We didn’t expect a guest.”
“It’s fine. One mage’s laboratory is much like another.”
The man’s old-fashioned manner of speaking convinced Shern that he was a noble.
“What... what is this, Shern?”
Parntal, who was in the laboratory, scrunched their eyes and spoke irritably. Parntal’s sharp gaze fixed on the man.
Parntal would stand up to even the Branch Head if it concerned research. Shern hurriedly explained the situation.
“The Deputy Branch Head told me to show him our research results.”
“To whom? Don’t tell me...”
“Nice to meet you. I’m that person.”
The man casually waved, and Parntal’s brows drew tightly together.
“Has he gone mad? Does he even know what research is...”
“Keep doing what you were doing. I’ll show him.”
Parntal’s furrowed brow did not relax at Shern’s words.
Only after Shern whispered, “He won’t understand even if he sees it anyway,” did Parntal step back.
In any case, Shern’s research was not something someone could understand at a glance.
“My research concerns Monster blood.”
“Monster blood?”
Shern’s lips curled at the man’s question.
It was the usual reaction when someone learned Shern studied Monsters.
Researching Demonkin was absolutely forbidden in the Empire.
Studying Demonkin was practically an act of rebellion. Naturally, people would be frightened.
‘Did he smile?’
Shern’s eyes widened at the faint lift of the man’s lips.
Looking again, his expression was unchanged.
Shern must have been mistaken.
“So you receive it from the Fifth Battalion?”
“...Ah, yes. They use Monster hides, but not their blood.”
“How did you research it? A mana-measuring device wouldn’t be able to analyze Demonkin blood.”
“Yes, which is why we had to create a mana-measuring device specifically for Monsters...”
The man knew that Demonkin blood contained mana and that its mana concentration was high. He had clearly researched Demonkin before.
“A Monster mana-measuring device? You’d use Magic Stones, but wouldn’t that be impossible because the concentration is too low? Ah, you’re measuring the rate at which mana escapes. Is it single-use?”
Shern nodded reluctantly at the man’s questions.
Shern had barely begun to explain, yet the man had already inferred the principle behind their Monster mana-measuring device. Shern felt uneasy, as though they had revealed classified information.
“Wouldn’t that consume too many Magic Stones?”
“Ha! What an obvious criticism. Too many Magic Stones are consumed? Then suggest another solution!”
Parntal snapped. People constantly criticized Parntal for using too many Magic Stones, making it a sensitive issue.
But there was no other method besides Magic Stones. The mana concentration of Demonkin was simply too high.
The man frowned at Parntal’s question.
As if he did not understand.
Just as Shern was about to add something, the man asked,
“Why not drink it?”
His voice was calm, making it sound as though he had said nothing unusual.
Shern replayed the man’s words, then jolted in shock.
“You mean drink Demonkin blood?!”
“Why are you surprised? Wouldn’t that be efficient? It would reduce Magic Stone consumption and have a beneficial effect on one’s mana as well.”
The man’s argument was purely theoretical.
But...
“Drinking Demonkin blood is such a barbaric...”
Drinking Demonkin blood directly was a crude, barbaric method.
“Hmm. You would need at least mid-grade Magic Stones to research Monster blood. Are those cheap? And wouldn’t drinking it be more accurate and efficient?”
In a calm voice, the man explained why they should drink Monster blood.
“Ha! Drink Demonkin blood? You can say that only because you don’t know how high the mana concentration of Demonkin is! How many mages have died or gone mad after drinking Demonkin blood?”
Parntal sharply refuted him. Shern nodded as well.
How many people had died from drinking Demonkin blood?
Then the man shook his head.
As if that answer were wrong.
“They did not die because they drank Demonkin blood.”
The man spoke in his usual calm voice.
‘They died after drinking Demonkin blood, but they did not die because they drank Demonkin blood?’
Shern’s brow furrowed deeply.
What on earth was he talking about?
“They died because they could not withstand the Demonkin blood.”
The man spoke firmly.
A heavy silence descended.
Shern seriously wondered whether they had heard correctly.
‘So they died after drinking Demonkin blood because they could not withstand the blood?’
It was like claiming that someone who drowned did not die from water, but because they could not get out of it.
Still, there was solid conviction in the man’s calm voice.
“Monster blood has a lower mana concentration than Demonkin blood, so it’s drinkable. Here, try it. You only need to keep your wits about you. Ah, go on.”
As if offering alcohol, the man held out a bowl filled with Monster blood.
At the man’s serious tone, Shern’s eyes widened as though they would split apart.
Saying Monster blood was drinkable because it had a lower mana concentration than Demonkin blood meant...
‘He has drunk both of them!!’
Shern and Parntal went pale.
‘Corton! That mad bastard! Did he really bring in a Dark Mage?!’
Shern desperately held back the scream threatening to burst out.
Footnotes:
Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried
