The Northern Grand Duke's Mad Son-in-Law - Chapter 26

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Ceaseless

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Northern Grand Duke’s Mad Son-in-Law ◈

Chapter 26: Invitation

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“Ha ha ha.”

Mark did not get angry but burst out laughing.

Galahad laughed with him.

Then the laughter abruptly stopped. Galahad laughed a little longer.

“You want us to join the Special Operations Unit?”

Mark’s words became curt, his tone irritated.

In contrast, Galahad smiled leisurely.

“Would I ask you to join for nothing? There are conditions.”

“Go on.”

“The Dark Magic Society wants to bring down the front line.”

“Why?”

The question burst out like a dying gasp.

It was a reasonable question. They were the sort who attached themselves to battalions, received Demonkin blood, mined Magic Stones, and amassed wealth.

Who would expect people like that to want the front line to collapse?

Still, mages always moved in ways that were hard to predict.

“There were traces of a Monster Tamer as well.”

Mark briefly held his breath. His expression soon returned to normal, and he gestured for Galahad to continue.

“I’ll handle that matter.”

“That matter?”

“The Magic Stone Mine and the Dark Magic Society. You can’t afford to give up the Magic Stone Mine anyway, can you?”

Mark narrowed his eyes, as if trying to determine whether Galahad was telling the truth.

Amid the strange tension, Galahad took a deep drag from his cigarette. Mana circulated rapidly through him.

“How do you intend to handle it?”

“Corton and I attended the same Academy.”

“You didn’t seem particularly close.”

Galahad smiled instead of answering.

“Academy alumni have fairly close ties. We exchanged favors. They will not cause trouble for a while. I asked them to.”

Galahad pulled out a Magic Stone he had kept. It was the finest among the Magic Stones Corton had given him.

Mark let out a low sound at the sight of it.

“So it’s true.”

“I don’t lie.”

“What favor did Corton ask of you?”

“...That’s a secret.”

Galahad replied with a small cough.

Suspicion deepened in Mark’s eyes, but Galahad could not reveal what Corton had asked of him.

“Are you offering to be a spy?”

“Something like that.”

“What do you want?”

“Didn’t I tell you? Join me.”

“You weren’t joking?”

“I have a fine sense of humor. If I’d been joking, you would’ve known.”

Mark’s finger came to a stop. His shoulder moved ever so slightly. The table between them seemed to stretch out.

Galahad immediately snapped his fingers with both hands. A translucent barrier rose before him.

A spear had appeared in Mark’s hand. It was a pointed spear adorned with elaborate decorations.

Mark’s spear easily tore through Galahad’s barrier. It was a fine weapon.

“Is it northern tradition to point weapons at people without warning?”

Galahad clicked his tongue as he looked at the spear that had stopped right before him.

“I’ve never seen magic like this.”

Mark admired the pointed Ice Spike aimed at his throat.

Their results were the same, but Mark’s spear had been slightly faster.

Galahad had only managed this because he had cast the Ice Spike with his left hand and the barrier with his right at the same time.

‘I’ll need to keep more distance.’

He had allowed Mark that distance because he was certain Mark would not strike.

Still, Mark’s skill was genuine.

The fact that Mark used a spear had been unexpected as well.

‘A commander, huh.’

Interesting. The corner of Galahad’s mouth rose.

“I could kill every one of them right now.”

Mark’s tone became formal again. Galahad smiled faintly and nodded.

“But they’ve hidden themselves quite well. They’ll flee before you can kill them all.”

“They probably will. Vermin.”

Mark’s spear vanished in an instant. He was tapping the table with his fingers as though nothing had happened.

It was a ghostly display of skill. Galahad silently thanked Mark for showing him his abilities.

Thanks to that, Mark’s spear would never threaten Galahad again.

“Very well. Still, joining under you would be inappropriate. The difference in our scale is too great, so people would find it strange.”

“Reasonable.”

“Let’s form an alliance.”

What a fox. Galahad clicked his tongue.

An alliance meant binding Galahad to himself, so Galahad could not betray him.

It was not a bad arrangement.

An alliance had been Galahad’s aim from the start.

Just as Mark’s problems would become Galahad’s, Galahad’s problems would become Mark’s.

Mark did not know it, but Galahad’s problems were vastly greater than Mark’s.

This was a profitable deal.

“You’ll join eventually, so wouldn’t it be better to join early? If you join now, you’ll be our first customer, so I’ll treat you well.”

“I’ll pass.”

Mark flatly refused and held out his hand. It was covered in calluses that did not suit his appearance.

Galahad lightly clasped it.

“Your hands are rough. Did you use a sword?”

“I’ve done a lot of things.”

Galahad sent mana into Mark’s hand, but it was useless.

Aura could not be discerned through mana.

Just then, the door flew open. Lumian rushed in, then stopped upon seeing the two of them shaking hands.

They released each other’s hands. Galahad rubbed his hand against his coat and put a cigarette between his lips.

“What is it?”

At Mark’s question, Lumian glanced at Galahad. Galahad casually waved.

“Don’t worry. We’re allies.”

“...Allies?”

“It’s fine. Speak.”

Mark nodded, and Lumian hesitated briefly before speaking.

“The Fourth Company has disappeared.”

A company had disappeared. They had not been attacked, they had disappeared?

“Explain in detail.”

When Galahad asked, Lumian looked at Mark as if to ask what this was about.

“Tell him.”

“They lost contact while returning after guard duty.”

‘The branch chief wasn’t there.’

Galahad had a feeling the missing company and the absent branch chief were connected.

“Deploy everyone except the minimum number of personnel to search for them. Where is the deputy commander?”

“Waiting downstairs. Ah, there’s also a chance they slipped away under the excuse of training.”

“We can reprimand them after we find them. Search for them first. Tell the deputy commander to lead the search personally.”

Mark gave his orders quickly.

Galahad raised his hand.

“We’ll help as well. What’s the point of an alliance otherwise?”

“...Lumian, tell the deputy commander.”

Lumian’s eyes widened as he looked at Mark.

Mark gave a small nod.

“Ah, leave the rooms empty, so we can use them immediately.”

After Galahad left, Lumian looked at Mark and asked,

“What does he mean by leaving the rooms empty?”

“Ah, I decided to give the third floor to the Special Operations Unit.”

“...What? Have you been drinking?”

“I quit drinking long ago.”

“Then why did you do something so insane?”

Mark clicked his tongue at Lumian’s blunt question.

Galahad’s proposal had been reasonable, but it had not been necessary.

Mark could have overcome this without it.

Yet he had accepted the proposal because...

“He was smiling.”

Galahad had smiled even when the spear was pointed at his throat.

There had only ever been one person who smiled in front of Mark’s spear.

[Pointing a spear at the Grand Duke’s throat. How amusing.]

“Come to think of it, he’s the Grand Duke’s son-in-law. Perhaps I should’ve joined under him. He said he’d treat me well.”

“Commander Mark!”

* * *

Gilbert did not particularly like Damian. He disliked Damian’s attitude toward his sword.

Dragging a sword caked in blood across the ground without even putting it in its sheath...

To a knight like Gilbert, it was no different from a nightmare.

Growing frustrated, Gilbert said he would clean it first.

“Clean my sword? Why?”

“If the blade dulls, it loses its sharpness. A sword is like a lover. Would you want a filthy lover?”

“Brother said Mister Gilbert was filthy.”

Gilbert coughed softly. That man had been telling a child pointless things.

“Watch carefully. I’ll show you.”

Gilbert slowly cleaned Damian’s sword. It was not easy, with so much dried blood stuck to it.

“Gwen, could you give me some fire?”

“Yes! Fire, fire, fire!”

When Gwen heated the sword with her fire, the impurities fell away. Gilbert slowly sharpened the sword against a whetstone.

“When sharpening a sword, don’t try to sharpen the whole thing at once. Work on it slowly, section by section. Keep it balanced and unhurried...”

As the grime fell away, the blade gradually revealed itself. Steam rose from Gilbert’s body.

Seeing all the filth that had bothered him every time finally come off was deeply satisfying.

‘It’s a good sword.’

It looked crude, but its blade was extremely sharp.

It was in good condition despite being so poorly maintained. It was far too good a sword for a soldier to carry.

“It’s a good sword. Where did you get it?”

“I found it. Want it?”

He was offering it away...

Gilbert did not like that attitude.

“Didn’t I say a sword is your lover? You should never give it to someone else or lend it out.”

“I don’t have a lover, so I don’t know. Do you?”

Gilbert silently continued sharpening the sword.

When he was finished, the blade was as sharp as a predator’s claw.

Since Damian would certainly drag it across the ground again, Gilbert wrapped the sword in cloth.

“You’re kind.”

“I just can’t stand seeing a sword treated like this. I didn’t do it for you.”

Gilbert spoke firmly.

Clang clang clang clang.

A loud alarm rang out, and the camp became noisy.

When Gilbert lifted the tent flap, numerous torches were racing through the dark night.

Something had clearly happened. Gilbert shifted his sword to a position where he could draw it easily.

“What’s going on?”

Tom had armed himself at some point and asked in a tense voice.

“Looks like trouble. It doesn’t seem to be an attack...”

Gilbert realized Galahad had not returned yet.

“Where’s the captain?”

“He hasn’t come back yet...”

Tom flinched. He looked doubtful, as though something did not sit right with him.

Galahad disappeared, and suddenly an alarm rang out...

“Don’t tell me he fried the Fifth Battalion commander with lightning?”

“...What are you talking about?”

Gilbert was serious. Ever since the incident with Hermun, Galahad had said he would strike people with lightning whenever they got a little arrogant.

Galahad was not the sort of man who would be intimidated just because his opponent was a commander.

Gilbert listened to see whether the soldiers were calling Galahad’s name.

Clang clang clang clang!

The loud bells rang out again.

Then Galahad appeared in the distance.

As usual, he was completely at ease. A cigarette hung from his mouth as he strode forward on his long legs.

“Oh, you’re awake.”

“Did you fry him?”

“Fry him? What are you talking about?”

“Then what’s that?”

Gilbert pointed outside at the commotion.

“Ah, I heard a company has gone missing. This works out well. Let’s leave right away.”

“Where are we going?”

Galahad flicked away the ash from his cigarette and pointed behind him.

“A company from our allied unit has disappeared. Naturally, we should help them.”

“Allied unit? We had allies?”

“Ah, I formed an alliance with the Fifth Battalion.”

Gilbert furrowed his brow and muttered the sentence to himself.

An alliance with the Fifth Battalion? The Fifth Battalion was a battalion that belonged to no faction. For such a Fifth Battalion to form an alliance with a Special Operations Unit of five people...

It made no sense.

In the north, an alliance was not such a simple relationship. An alliance meant remaining together to the end.

Still, the Galahad Gilbert knew did not lie.

“Why form an alliance all of a sudden? Did you threaten to fry him with lightning?”

“Why do you keep saying I fried someone? I only pointed an Ice Spike at him. Get ready. I’ll explain the details on the way.”

Galahad’s voice was kind, but it left no room for argument.

Tom, who had packed their things, and Gwen, who had gathered Damian, nodded.

‘But if he pointed an Ice Spike at him, wasn’t that a threat?’

Either way, the outcome seemed fortunate.

* * *

The northern night was especially dark. With thick snow covering the ground as well, it was easy to lose one’s way.

It was so cold that every gust of wind made Galahad feel as if his body were freezing. At least Tom had made him a coat.

Without it, Galahad likely would have spent considerable mana keeping himself warm.

‘A disappearance...’

Galahad muttered as he watched the soldiers ahead.

The absent branch chief and the disappearance of a company nearby gave him the feeling that the two were connected.

Then, someone who looked like a knight approached from among the soldiers. With a coat draped over armor, the figure looked nearly as huge as an orc.

The man carried two large axes at his waist. He appeared to use axes.

“I’m Henry, commander of the Seventh Company.”

Henry introduced himself with a nod.

It was somewhat arrogant, but it was the most gentlemanly greeting Galahad had received in the north.

“Sir Gilbert! It’s an honor to meet you!”

Henry raised his voice and offered his hand upon spotting Gilbert. He acted as though he had met a celebrity. After that, soldiers and knights alike sought out Gilbert.

Gilbert was quite popular.

“I’m from the First Battalion.”

“Yes, I know.”

Galahad chuckled and looked ahead.

Though it was the middle of the night and they were crossing snowfields, their pursuit was quite fast.

After traveling for some time...

“Something’s coming.”

Damian said this as he unwrapped the cloth around his sword.

Galahad pointed toward the sky and snapped his fingers.

A bright light rose like fireworks before bursting. Brilliant light flooded the surroundings.

Red-eyed wolves appeared between the densely packed trees. They were smaller than before. They seemed to fall somewhere between Monsters and wild beasts.

“Do Monsters appear this often here?”

“You call this frequent?”

Galahad clicked his tongue at Gilbert’s question.

Just what kind of place was the north?

Then another light appeared.

It was Gwen.

“You’re getting good at it without being told now.”

“Hehe.”

Gwen smiled awkwardly with a sphere of light floating above her head.

There were enough wolves to pose a real threat.

“Wolf meat for dinner!”

Henry raised the axes in both hands and roared heartily. A long stream of breath escaped his bearded mouth.

Henry shouted and charged forward at once. Thud, thud! Snow sprayed violently with every step. Henry kicked off the ground.

Boom!

With a heavy sound, his massive body soared into the air. His waist bent like a drawn bow, and his muscles tensed.

An axe buried itself directly in a wolf’s head. Red blood sprayed everywhere. Henry opened his mouth and drank the falling blood.

“A feast!”

The other soldiers drew their weapons, cheered, and charged in.

A brutal fight began, so rough it was difficult to tell whether it was a hunt or a battle.

Gilbert joined them with his sword drawn. Brilliant aura filled his blade.

Gilbert’s sword easily split a wolf apart. Blood gushed from its hide like a fountain. The white snow began turning red.

The northern soldiers fought incredibly well in the most brutish way possible.

One man rode a Monster’s back, grabbing its neck and choking it. Another shoved his shoulder into a wolf’s jaws because he wanted to swing his axe.

There was even someone laughing because he had cut down a wolf with one sword strike... Ah, that was Gilbert.

“Sir Gilbert seems excited.”

“Should I fight too?”

At Damian’s question, Galahad surveyed the battle.

“As expected of Sir Gilbert!”

“Follow behind me.”

Gilbert had blended perfectly into the northern barbarians.

They did not seem to need help.

“It’s fine. Sir Gilbert looks like he’ll handle our share too.”

Damian wrapped his sword in cloth. Seeing how clumsy he was, Gwen rolled up her sleeves and said she would do it. She was worse.

In the end, Tom wrapped the sword for him.

Galahad tore off a piece of the jerky Tom had made.

“This jerky tastes excellent.”

“...I’ve never had jerky this good.”

“Give me more.”

“Damian, don’t eat too much. Aren’t we working?”

Damian smacked his lips. Gwen quietly handed Damian her share of jerky. Damian did not refuse and swallowed it in one bite.

The battle was one-sided. Calling it a hunt suited it better.

Gilbert was the most outstanding among them.

If they had been ordinary beasts, they would have run away, but perhaps because they were Monsters, they continued tangling with the soldiers instead of fleeing.

Gilbert dragged over a corpse. His blood-soaked face was stiff.

He placed the corpse before Galahad.

As expected, something was inscribed on the Monster’s belly.

But the content differed from what Galahad had expected.

‘Interesting.’

It resembled a magic circle, but it was not one.

“Is it a Monster Tamer’s magic circle?”

“This is a letter. A letter sent to me.”

“A letter?”

Gilbert examined it with furrowed brows, as though that were absurd.

“What does it say?”

“It says that if I want to save the company, I should come alone.”

Galahad put a cigarette in his mouth. Gwen quickly lit it for him. A lemon scent wafted up, clearing his mind.

Then cheers erupted behind them as the soldiers celebrated their victory. They were blood-soaked, tough northern men.

They were not the kind to obediently follow just because someone threatened them. Yet someone had lured them away...

How had they done it? Magic? Was there magic like that? A deep curiosity rose within him.

More than anything...

‘They did this to target me.’

The letter specifically named Galahad.

How did they know?

He remembered the Demonkin at the Intelligence Bureau safehouse. That Demonkin had known Galahad of the Intelligence Bureau.

Galahad’s name was not something that could casually be heard at a northern safehouse. Someone at Intelligence Bureau headquarters had clearly passed along information about him.

Who would do such a thing...

‘There are many.’

He had made many enemies because he was good at his work.

He had no choice but to confirm it.

Galahad stood.

“Where are you going?”

“I received an invitation, so shouldn’t I go?”

“...An invitation? It’s a trap.”

“You say the obvious so seriously.”

Gilbert frowned at Galahad’s rebuke.

“Why go when you know it’s a trap?”

Galahad took a deep drag from his cigarette before answering.