WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Ceaseless
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Northern Grand Duke’s Mad Son-in-Law ◈
Chapter 28: Amanda
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Demonkin were a mage’s natural enemy.
Demonkin alone were bad enough, but one capable of mental interference...
Magic was an exceptionally delicate and demanding task, requiring the calculation of complex formulas.
And now there was a Demonkin capable of mental interference...
‘The worst.’
Galahad drew deeply on his cigarette. His hazy mind stirred, and his blurred vision cleared.
The laughing, dancing people became soldiers with their skulls opened.
‘An area effect?’
Judging from the palisade, its range likely covered the entire village.
It had worsened when Amanda came close.
For a moment, he had forgotten magic even existed.
‘Contact.’
The more Amanda had rubbed against him, the stronger the sense of familiarity had become.
‘I should’ve listened to Sir Gilbert.’
Muttering a joke, Galahad assessed the situation.
‘Is it easier to control them when their skulls are open?’
With their skulls opened, it seemed easier to interfere with their minds.
Their movements were far from ordinary.
They were already well-trained soldiers, and their desperate fury only made them fiercer.
“Entertain me.”
Amanda stepped back and whispered.
His vision blurred. The pleasant festival returned. People smiled warmly and held out their hands.
Galahad took another deep drag. The open-skulled soldiers cursed viciously and charged at him.
He took out the flask hidden inside his clothes and put it to his lips.
The familiar taste filled his insides and tried to set them ablaze.
It would have, if not for the strange thing in the middle moving first.
‘The Egg of Pain?’
It greedily devoured the Demonkin blood. Galahad had no time to stop it. The mana vanished in an instant.
The thing growled as if demanding more. Its presence had grown slightly stronger than before.
‘...This is unexpected.’
The Egg of Pain had drunk the Demonkin blood in his place.
It was quite interesting, but also a fatal variable.
He had to face a Demonkin without Demonkin blood. It was like having his weapon taken away.
Then the soldiers began closing in.
“Woof!”
Galahad turned his head. A puppy with a blood-red mouth stood there. It was Damian.
“Damian, can you buy me some time?”
“Yes.”
Damian kicked off the ground.
Galahad drew deeply on his cigarette. Damian rolled between the open-skulled soldiers.
Damian evaded a slashing blade and swung a sword in a reverse grip. The movement was nearly acrobatic. A sword thrust through the gap.
Damian twisted aside, using the spine of the sword that had thrust at them as support.
Damian quickly stabbed at a soldier heading toward Galahad. In the opening that created, Damian’s back was slashed.
Damian did not scream. Damian’s expression remained calm.
‘Mental interference is magic that affects the brain.’
Amanda had clearly planted something in him the moment they made contact.
Galahad placed his left hand against his temple.
He condensed mana. Or rather, he tried to. The mana would not obey him.
What was mana in the first place?
‘What a fucking pain.’
Galahad shoved a finger into the scar on his shoulder. The burn wound tore open, and agonizing pain surged through him.
His mind cleared. Without pulling out his finger, he condensed mana.
Only then did the mana compress.
Fortunately, the Egg of Pain did not covet Galahad’s mana.
He reviewed the cards he still held.
“What are you trying to do?”
Amanda whispered.
She was right beside him. Her nearly bare body drew Galahad’s gaze. It was clearly an illusion.
“I’m calibrating.”
With a slight smile, Galahad moved the compressed mana to his temple.
If he created a virtual skullcap with highly concentrated mana, he could weaken the mental interference.
No matter how powerful a Demonkin was, controlling this many people would inevitably spread its power thin.
“It’ll explode if you make a mistake.”
“Then I won’t make one.”
The head was delicate. One small mistake could cause something to go wrong.
Still, to gain something, he had to risk something.
The moment he pressed his mana-compressed finger to his temple, his surroundings came into focus.
The burning village, Damian rolling among the open-skulled soldiers as they rushed forward spewing curses...
Galahad slightly lifted his finger.
His vision immediately twisted.
‘Oh, so that’s how it works.’
He let out a quiet sound of admiration.
“Wow, you really are amazing.”
“I’m tired of the praise.”
Galahad flicked a finger from his other hand toward Amanda.
The spell flew in another direction.
“Do you think a mage like you can defy your master?”
Amanda laughed like a bat.
Even after recognizing the mental interference and surrounding his head with condensed mana, he could not block it.
This was not simple mental interference. It was something on an entirely different level. He followed the clues.
If not for Damian, the village’s composition would have been perfect.
Because Galahad’s subconscious had built it.
“You’re stimulating my subconscious.”
Amanda’s laughter abruptly stopped.
“What changes if you know that? You’re getting in your own way.”
“Oh, I was right. Thank you.”
“Your composure is just an act.”
If his opponent was his subconscious, then he had to fight himself.
His opponent was himself.
‘Interesting.’
Galahad glared at Amanda while aiming a finger elsewhere.
The spell flew directly at Amanda.
There had been nothing in that spot.
“How?”
Amanda tilted her head from a short distance away.
“I cannot tolerate an incorrect formula.”
No matter how subconscious it was, it was still Galahad.
No, it was even more Galahad.
He could deliberately distort a correct formula, but he could never stand to see one that was wrong.
Absurdly enough, his subconscious was helping him.
“You’re really interesting.”
“I agree.”
A headache rose as though his head were splitting in two.
His vision twisted again. He felt as if he was beginning to understand something.
“Are you experimenting on yourself?”
Amanda asked, looking slightly sick of him.
It was a stupid question.
“Of course. Isn’t that the most efficient method?”
What he had said at the Dark Magic Society had not been a lie.
No matter the experiment, performing it on himself was the most efficient. Testing others came afterward, during cross-verification.
“Interesting.”
Amanda raised one corner of her mouth.
His vision flashed.
Several soldiers fell like kites with their strings cut. Amanda seemed to have focused her authority on Galahad.
“Bask in your lowliness.”
Amanda’s whisper tickled his ear.
A familiar man walked through Amanda and toward Galahad.
He wore a neat uniform and had a cigarette in his mouth.
[I taught you everything, and then you stabbed me in the back?]
A rough curse burst out.
There was a small hole near the man’s heart. Whoever had done it had been remarkably precise.
[Precise? You lunatic.]
The man’s face twisted like a ghost’s.
To meet him in a place like this...
Galahad clicked his tongue.
“Wasn’t that your mistake, Senior?”
[For one little mistake, you blew up my heart from behind? I raised you with such care from when you were the youngest member...]
“Burning ten innocent people to death is not a little mistake.”
[Do you know how many lives I saved? Why the fuck are you making such a fuss over ten people? You got stronger at magic because of that too.]
“I am grateful for that.”
[Then...]
“What you did for me is one matter. Private matters are another.”
Galahad snapped his fingers without hesitation. The hole in the man’s chest widened further.
[You son of a bitch.]
The man glared at Galahad with blood streaming from his eyes before collapsing. Galahad did not look away.
Amanda laughed like a bat.
“Are you trying to stir up my guilt? Let me warn you now, it’s pointless.”
“Is that really so?”
“I guarantee it.”
[Senior, you said you’d marry me.]
Trembling, anxious eyes. Arms shaking violently. A massive axe in those hands...
It was Galahad’s first junior.
“Sorry, but I never made that promise. Besides, you’re already dead.”
[You killed me!]
“So you are dead, aren’t you? Stop clinging to me and die again.”
The hole in the junior’s chest grew wider. Curses and resentful words poured out, but Galahad did not stop.
When the figure disappeared, Amanda appeared again. Unlike before, her smile had frozen.
“Didn’t I tell you? It’s pointless.”
“Are you really human?”
“Entirely human.”
Something rolled over to Galahad’s feet.
It was Damian, covered in blood. Damian’s mouth was moving, and Damian’s cheeks were puffed out.
“What are you eating?”
“Food.”
“That isn’t food. Spit it out.”
Damian stared blankly at Galahad. Reflected in Damian’s eyes was Galahad, his mouth stained red.
“I didn’t eat it. I drank it.”
Damian opened their mouth. Rotten food spilled out.
“You’ve worked hard. I’ll take it from here, so get some rest.”
Damian’s head dropped. Snoring soon followed.
‘Remarkably carefree.’
Then the front grew noisy.
[You want to become a mage? Such a lowly profession?]
[There was poison in your breakfast soup? Little brother, surely you don’t suspect me?]
[Become my mistress. Consider it an honor.]
[Repeat after me! For the Empire’s eternal glory!]
Familiar people approached with sinister expressions.
‘Hmm, strange.’
The most important one was missing.
‘Saving her for later?’
That had to be it.
She would bring her out at the critical moment.
Would it work?
He did not know.
As always, he simply chose the option with the highest chance of success.
Galahad put a cigarette in his mouth and snapped his fingers.
* * *
Hans was the fourth child among four sons and five daughters.
His eldest brother had died from a cold, and his second brother had enlisted before becoming an adult. Hans had done the same.
Like any northern man, Hans was brave. He did not hesitate to throw himself into a Monster’s jaws.
He and his comrades walked the line between life and death. Every day, they beat Monsters to death.
On days when a comrade was eaten by a Monster, Hans drank himself senseless. He did not cry. His tears had frozen long ago.
It had been an ordinary day.
On the way back after sentry duty, he encountered a woman.
She was truly beautiful. The moment he saw her, it felt as though his heart had dropped out of his chest.
Even the company commander, who never made exceptions, stopped walking.
The woman held out her hand, saying she was looking for a man to carry on the tradition.
She said they would know when their hands touched.
They all rushed to offer their hands. Hans was one of them.
The Fifth Battalion was covered in corpses. There was no life anywhere.
The Demonkin that had caused such a horrific slaughter stood before them.
The company commander gave the order.
“We have to catch it even if we die! Otherwise, the world will end!”
Hans nodded. No northern man would avoid the moment when he had to burn his life away.
The comrade in front of him fell with a scream. That comrade’s life became a step for the next advance.
Hans advanced on that comrade’s life.
When he finally faced the Demonkin, Hans exhaled hot breath.
The Demonkin watched him with a relaxed expression. One hand rested against its own temple as it smiled.
To smile in a situation like this...
It was a truly terrible Demonkin.
Hans bit his lip and readjusted his grip on his weapon. He could not retreat. That vicious Demonkin...
Huh?
His vision suddenly twisted.
The terrible Demonkin became a neat-looking man.
Then agony surged through him. His forehead felt hot.
“It works. Are you coming to?”
The neat-looking man spoke in a voice thick with exhaustion.
Hans opened and closed his mouth at the question’s politeness, which did not suit the situation.
Only then did he see his surroundings.
His fellow unit members, twisted into horrific shapes, were rushing at the man while screaming curses. The woman was laughing behind them.
They had been attacking and cursing at an unrelated man, not the Demonkin.
The man dealt with them one at a time without complaint. He was as solemn as someone conducting funerals.
Hans realized it.
He had been played by the Demonkin.
The man looked at him and asked, “What’s your name?”
“...Hans.”
“Yes, Hans. Unfortunately, you will die soon. That vicious Demonkin opened your head. Ah, don’t touch it. It’ll sting. May I borrow your head for a moment? I plan to put it to use for a little trick. In return, I’ll call your name while twisting that Demonkin’s neck.”
With his last remaining strength, Hans nodded.
“Don’t worry. It won’t hurt.”
The man’s face was full of exhaustion as he spoke.
“Thank you, Hans.”
Without wiping the blood from his hand, Galahad put a cigarette in his mouth.
Amanda stood among the five remaining soldiers.
She was still smiling.
‘Good.’
There was no longer any need to dig into his scar.
* * *
‘Interesting.’
Amanda tilted her head happily.
That person had personally given the order, so she had wondered. As expected, this was why.
The man and his beast were both interesting.
Especially the beast. Her authority had no effect on it.
‘It smells like someone else.’
Amanda frowned. Another Demonkin’s scent clung to the beast.
It was an incredibly strong scent.
The scent of a Demonkin far above Amanda.
It was a territorial mark that openly said not to touch it.
That made things complicated.
She had to remove the violently rampaging beast without killing it.
Still, there was nothing she could do.
If Amanda became involved with a high-ranking Demonkin, she alone would lose.
That was why things had dragged on.
Of course, the result would be the same.
One mage and one beast could not defeat an Amanda who had come prepared.
The more they reduced the number of soldiers, the stronger Amanda became.
The man struggling after putting mana into his own head was somewhat chilling, but he was still just a mage.
When three soldiers remained, the man collapsed.
Amanda stopped the soldier about to drive a sword into him.
“That person told me to bring him back alive.”
Amanda said it to herself as she rose.
“Honestly, you’re amazing. I didn’t expect this to be so difficult. Fighting while enduring my authority... I can’t believe it.”
The admiration in her voice was sincere.
Amanda was endlessly weak before those stronger than her, but she exercised absolute influence over the weak.
Yet this man had held out quite well despite being a mage.
He had collapsed in the end, but even that was impressive.
There was a reason that person had given the order personally.
“Thank you. I really had fun. It’s been so long since I had this much fun that I can’t even remember when it was...”
Amanda expressed her gratitude sincerely.
“That person will be very pleased. Will I get a reward? Ah, I’m so happy.”
“That person?”
“Huh? You still have your senses? You’re tenacious. Really.”
The fallen man looked up at Amanda.
She sneered at the foolishness of him still snapping his fingers without giving up.
“Yes, that person. You’ll like them too. They aren’t someone you can meet casually. That person took an interest in a human, so I wondered if... As expected, you’re the best.”
“What is that person’s name?”
“Their name? You’re asking for that person’s name? You’ll really die if you do that.”
Amanda warned him sincerely.
To ask that person’s name...
He truly was strange.
Even in a situation like this...
‘...A situation like this?’
The slightest sense of familiarity surfaced.
It was a sensation she had never felt before.
Something was wrong...
“Oh dear, I’ve been found out.”
A calm voice came from directly behind her.
The man stood there, his finger aimed at Amanda’s neck.
Blood streamed from the hole in his shoulder, and scars covered him, but his calm eyes were as clear as ever.
“How... Did you use authority on me?”
Amanda stammered in shock. A mage had deceived her?
“So you call it authority. I’m sorry, but this is magic. If you don’t even suspect it, you’re easier to fool. You understand that too, don’t you?”
His answer was carefree.
He had exploited Amanda’s confidence in her authority.
No, it had not been confidence.
How could she have expected a mage to recreate her authority with magic?
Still, she had no choice but to admit it.
Amanda had been fooled.
“Hmm, this is boring.”
Amanda focused her authority on him.
“Beatrice?”
A dying murmur escaped the man’s vacant mouth.
After pushing her authority to its limit, Amanda had shown him someone he could never kill.
Her head spun from the strain. To struggle against a mere mage...
If she had known it would come to this, she would have dealt with him cleanly from the start.
She had wanted some fun, only to waste more strength.
“Honestly, it’s good to see you face-to-face. Don’t call me a fool.”
Then the man spoke in a dry murmur. Unlike before, his voice shook.
Even when a sword had pierced his shoulder, his voice had been steady. Now it was shaking.
Amanda smiled mockingly.
“Yes, I made a promise.”
The man raised one corner of his mouth and snapped his fingers.
A spark leaped between his fingers.
The spark bounced between his fingers, swelling in size.
Amanda watched in a daze at how beautiful it was.
The spark bouncing between his fingers took shape.
It looked like a flower carved from lightning by a god.
In full bloom...
That was the last thing Amanda saw.
* * *
“What a fucking awful Demonkin.”
Galahad shoved the charred Demonkin aside and muttered.
He had expected it from the moment Beatrice’s name had not come up.
Amanda would bring her out at the final moment.
He had used that instead.
He had promised to give Beatrice a magnificent lightning flower if they met again.
Without that, he could not have dealt Amanda such a blow.
Bringing Beatrice out had been the Demonkin’s fatal mistake.
The course of events had been expected, but it left a bitter taste.
‘Come to think of it, she must have heard about me by now.’
Galahad frowned and put a cigarette in his mouth.
“Ah, this one’s for Hans.”
Galahad crushed the charred head under his foot until it became ash.
Then he tapped his cigarette ash over it.
Footnotes:
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