WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Ceaseless
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Northern Grand Duke’s Mad Son-in-Law ◈
Chapter 30: Handshake Trouble
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‘Hmm...’
Galahad frowned as he opened the door to Fifth Battalion headquarters.
The moment he entered, he found a huge desk in the lobby, with Mark, the Fifth Battalion commander, seated behind it.
Lumian, his adjutant, looked thoroughly displeased.
‘Is this his way of protesting because I told him to clear out the third floor?’
Clicking his tongue, Galahad walked over to Mark.
“Why are you here?”
“When I considered moving, this was the most efficient place. I can receive reports right away, and it’s close to the main gate.”
Galahad frowned at Mark’s answer.
It was the shortest route from the main gate. That much was true.
Still...
‘Isn’t it strange for a battalion commander to be sitting right inside the entrance?’
Of course, it was better for Galahad, who used the third floor. It meant the commander was guarding the main gate.
“I see.”
“I received the report. The Fourth Company fell for the Demonkin’s trick, but thanks to Commander Galahad’s quick thinking, they barely came to their senses and fought the Demonkin.”
Galahad nodded at Mark’s calm voice.
“I see. I’ll submit the report as it is. First, allow me to express my gratitude. If not for Commander Galahad, we wouldn’t have recovered even the bodies.”
“Call it repayment for the alliance.”
“I’ll remember that.”
Mark nodded and turned a page.
“Monster appearances are common enough, but the frequency of Demonkin sightings has risen noticeably lately. Something must be wrong at the front line.”
Galahad quietly nodded.
“His Grace the Grand Duke is here, but he hardly steps forward anymore, so each battalion is practically a separate organization. Those factional bas...”
Mark cleared his throat. He seemed to have swallowed a curse that had nearly reached his lips.
“Even if I propose inspecting the front line, nobody will listen. It would be best if His Grace stepped forward, but that won’t happen. The next best person would be...”
“Adrianna.”
“Yes. As His Grace’s only heir and a hero of the front line, the other commanders won’t be able to ignore her words.”
“Why not ask Adrianna?”
Mark shook his head.
“Adrianna is a fine hero, but she isn’t someone who leads others.”
“Not someone who leads...”
Galahad murmured softly.
“She respects every commander. If I ask, she’ll refuse, saying each battalion commander has authority over their own battalion.”
“So you want me to persuade her?”
“Yes.”
Galahad burst out laughing at the firm answer.
“She doesn’t listen to you. Will she listen to me?”
“You’re her fiancé. And...”
Mark swallowed the rest of his words. After hesitating, he furrowed his brow as though forcing himself to say something unpleasant.
“I have a feeling you’ll find some way to make it happen.”
“Some way...”
Galahad smiled faintly at a phrase he had not heard in a long time.
“Right, finding some way is my specialty. I have a condition, though.”
“What condition?”
“Make the Special Operations Unit headquarters look impressive.”
Mark nodded. His eyes moved busily, as though calculating the cost.
Galahad put a cigarette between his lips and stood.
“Do you know why I came to find Commander Galahad at the meeting?”
Galahad lit his cigarette and shook his head.
“Normally, every commander is tied to their assigned battalion. Except in special cases, they can’t leave. Whether they like it or not, that place becomes their grave.”
Mark tapped the desk.
“But now, an exception has appeared.”
Mark’s clear eyes fixed on Galahad.
They were the eyes of someone who wanted something desperately.
“Have you finally decided you want to come under me?”
Mark smiled faintly at Galahad’s question.
After Galahad left, Lumian glared at Mark.
“Why are you accommodating him that much?”
“Accommodating him?”
“He’s a commander with only four members. Talking about exceptions and all that...”
Mark frowned at the foolish question.
“Do you truly think the soldiers who fell under the Demonkin’s control woke up and helped Galahad fight? Demonkin aren’t that naive.”
“...Then what happened?”
“According to the report, the situation was already over by the time the company commander arrived with Gilbert. That means Galahad handled it alone. The Demonkin and more than forty soldiers enthralled by it, all by himself.”
Lumian’s mouth fell open.
“...That’s a stretch. Why would he lie to downplay his own achievement?”
Mark considered the question, then shook his head.
“Go decorate the Special Operations Unit headquarters. We have a fair amount of budget after this adjustment to Magic Stone prices, don’t we?”
“You’re going to spend all of it?”
“We need to make a good impression.”
Lumian nodded reluctantly at Mark’s firm voice.
“Should I go under him even now? No, I should watch a little longer.”
“If you’re going to join him, do it quickly. If you wait too long, there won’t even be scraps left!”
Lumian shouted back, then hurriedly waved at the now-thoughtful Mark.
“I’m joking! Just joking!”
* * *
Rattle...
“Sir Gilbert, you look happy.”
“Ah, I was hoping to treat you properly.”
Galahad clicked his tongue at Gilbert’s grin as he held the reins. Snow scattered wildly beneath the carriage.
“The First Battalion must have better taverns.”
“I have a regular tavern there. But why are we going to the First Battalion?”
“Because I miss my fiancée so much I can’t bear it.”
“...”
“That expression you just made was insubordination.”
Gilbert snickered as the carriage jolted roughly.
“Commander Mark wants Adrianna to send an official notice to each commander concerning an inspection of the front line.”
“An official notice to the other commanders... She won’t do it.”
“If it comes to that, I can just borrow her seal for a moment.”
“...What? That’s quite a joke.”
Gilbert narrowed his eyes as though trying to figure Galahad out. Galahad did not avoid his gaze.
“No.”
“I’ll use it for a moment and give it back.”
“That isn’t the problem. She’ll definitely get angry.”
“Adrianna gets angry? I’m curious.”
“It’s truly frightening.”
“Have you seen it?”
Rather than answer, Gilbert flicked the reins. The horses snorted loudly, their breath pouring out in long clouds.
“Either way, absolutely not.”
“Then I’ll have to ask her to send an official notice for the sake of her poor fiancé, dragged all the way to the north.”
“Well...”
Gilbert’s eyes narrowed, then widened.
“Isn’t that a little pathetic?”
“Is it?”
“Yes. A man should have that thing where he goes all in, then sweeps everything aside.”
“You don’t have a lover.”
“...You little brat with the loose mouth.”
Gilbert twisted the innocent reins for no reason.
“I’m popular.”
“Then why haven’t you had a lover?”
“Does anyone know when they’ll die?”
“Does anyone know when they’ll die? It’s an excuse.”
Gilbert could not answer. Galahad did not press him and put a cigarette between his lips.
The closer they got to the First Battalion, the colder it became. Every breath made it feel as though his nostrils were freezing shut. How did anyone live in a place like this? Galahad grumbled under his breath.
After traveling for some time, Gilbert pointed ahead.
“There it is.”
First Battalion Castle stood halfway up a barren mountain. It was not ornate, only solid and immense. It looked as though it had been built for defense alone.
‘How would I get through that?’
Out of habit, Galahad imagined ways to infiltrate the castle.
The inspection of the long line of supply wagons at the gate was no ordinary matter. Soldiers carefully stabbed their spears into every wagon. Hiding in one would be difficult.
Climbing the walls would be troublesome too. Sharp iron spikes had been driven into every part of them, and soldiers stood guard above. There was no visible opening.
Stealing a uniform and identification tag to get inside...
‘Difficult.’
Even the soldiers entering through the gate were checked one by one.
It was quite a troublesome fortress.
That did not mean there was no way through, of course.
The soldiers who recognized Gilbert saluted loudly. Their reaction was as though they had spotted a celebrity.
“I’m Gilbert.”
Gilbert said it with an irritatingly smug face.
When they reached the gate, a young knight saluted.
“Sir Gilbert, it’s been a long time.”
“Vandal. It has been a while.”
“I heard the news.”
The knight’s gaze turned to Galahad.
“I am Galahad, commander of the Special Operations Unit.”
“Ah, the Special Operations Unit!”
The knight let out a quiet exclamation. The response made it seem as though Vandal knew of the unit, so Galahad asked in return.
“You know the Special Operations Unit?”
“Yes. I heard you killed a mid-ranking Demonkin and dozens of mole crickets. They say you’re the mage who burns Demonkin...”
The knight’s eyes burned with excitement. Galahad nodded at the heated look.
“The Special Operations Unit’s reputation is spreading.”
“Ah, my senior, Carrot, was at the scene.”
“Is that so?”
“When the chance comes, I would like to have a life-or-death duel with you.”
Galahad looked at Gilbert after the sudden declaration of murder.
“The First Battalion acts like that when they meet someone strong. It’s tradition.”
Galahad nodded.
“Hmm, thank you. I came to see Adrianna. Is she inside?”
“Lady Adrianna is beyond the front line.”
“Beyond the front line?”
Gilbert answered instead.
“Lady Adrianna crosses the front line into Demonkin Territory before the sun rises. She returns around sunset. She goes to kill even one more Demonkin and find a way to end the war.”
Rather than hold the line, she entered Demonkin Territory and attacked.
Even if she possessed an attribute that burned mana, it was an incredibly reckless thing to do.
“Impressive.”
The knight and Gilbert watched Galahad with strange expressions.
“What is it?”
“Even within the First Battalion, many oppose Lady Adrianna going into Demonkin Territory. It’s extremely dangerous...”
“Is it not dangerous here?”
Gilbert closed his mouth at Galahad’s question. The knight made an odd expression.
“I am Vandal.”
“Yes, Sir Vandal. It’s good to meet you.”
“Then the duel...”
“Let’s have it when the weather is warmer.”
Vandal followed for a little longer and asked for a specific date. Galahad casually waved a hand.
The inside of the First Battalion base resembled the outside. Crude buildings stood packed together, and armed soldiers moved busily between them.
“She’ll be back soon.”
Galahad muttered as he looked at the sun hanging over the walls.
At that moment, the carriage door flew open with a bang.
“Ah! Why are you biting me, Damian? I’m not meat!”
“Commander, I think we need to feed Damian something.”
Galahad chuckled at Tom’s urgent report.
“Before Damian devours them, we should drop them off at a tavern. Then we’ll go welcome Adrianna.”
Gilbert turned the reins with practiced ease.
* * *
The front line was still a long way beyond the main gate of the First Battalion base.
Security was so strict that they were stopped for inspection three more times along the way.
Galahad could only admire the wall before them.
It was even larger than the wall he had seen when he first came to the north. It was so high that he had to tilt his head back to see the top.
“Other units also border the front line. Why is this place called the foremost front?”
“Because most Demonkin and Monster attacks happen here. We don’t know why, but those Demonkin bastards usually target this gate. That is why the gate is called the Demon Pit.”
“I see.”
Then a horn rang out from atop the wall.
“She’s coming.”
Gilbert spoke briefly.
‘Adrianna.’
Figures who looked like knights stood around the gate with swords in hand. Blue aura gathered thickly around their blades.
A figure who looked like a company commander shouted. Soldiers turned enormous crossbows toward the gate. Several stepped forward with shields raised.
Tension hung heavily in the air.
Bwooo...
The horn sounded again.
“Raise it!”
A knight shouted.
A soldier struck the back of an ox tied to a pulley with a whip. The ox bellowed and moved. Metal scraped loudly as the nearest iron grate rose.
Bwooo...
The horn sounded again.
The ox bellowed as the next pulley turned. The second iron grate rose.
Bwooo...
The horn sounded once more. Only after the third iron grate rose did the gate come into view.
It was a black gate that looked sturdy at a glance.
That had to be manteel. To use something so expensive in such a crude fashion... Galahad shook his head in amazement.
Boom, boom. Heavy drums began to pound. At the broad rhythm, the soldiers moved busily.
At last, the thick gate slowly opened.
‘Demonkin Territory...’
Galahad flexed his fingers and focused.
The gate opened so slowly it was maddening. Iron scraped across the ground with a grotesque shriek.
Dense smoke crept through the opening like reaching hands. The acrid smell that followed revealed it was ash.
Beyond the gate, everything was gray. Ash, not snow, filled the air. The ground glimpsed through it was black as though it had burned.
‘Hell...’
The blackened earth and drifting ash naturally brought hell to Galahad’s mind.
Ash blew through the air instead of the damned northern snow, but the sight was even more chilling.
...!
An unknown scream erupted in the distance. A dreadful sound that was difficult to describe shook the ground.
Then the fog of ash scattered as though pushed away. No, looking closer, the ash itself was disappearing.
Adrianna emerged through the dissipating smoke.
Her armor was drenched in dark red blood, with grotesque flesh and shells lodged between its gaps. She looked as though she had just been pulled from hell itself.
A long trail of smoke stretched behind her. The view through it was stark.
The barren ash-covered ground was filled with neatly severed Demonkin and Monster corpses. So much blood had flowed that it clumped the ash into mounds.
Corpses that looked formidable even at a glance, and blood flowing among them...
‘What a waste.’
Galahad unconsciously smacked his lips.
Even as she walked through hell, Adrianna remained as expressionless as ever.
Knights appeared behind Adrianna. They looked as though they had returned from hell, but their presence was sharp.
They were no ordinary knights.
“That is Lady Adrianna’s direct unit. Only the strongest among the First Battalion can join it. You could call them the elite of the north.”
Gilbert explained in a subdued voice. Judging by his expression, he seemed to have originally belonged there.
“They are especially devoted to Lady Adrianna. If you provoke them for no reason, there will be trouble.”
Gilbert warned him seriously.
“I mean it. They are dangerous people.”
Gilbert emphasized it several times.
“You worry too much. When have I ever caused trouble?”
Gilbert’s narrow eyes widened. Just as he was about to say something...
Adrianna stepped through the gate. Fierce cheers erupted from every direction. Everyone shouted Adrianna’s name.
It was a welcome so overwhelming that even the Emperor could not receive it, but Adrianna’s face remained expressionless. A trace of exhaustion showed through it.
Then Adrianna looked at Galahad.
Her eyes widened slightly. Galahad gave her a small wave.
Adrianna’s previously stiff brows lifted a little.
She walked toward Galahad. Her steps were strangely quick.
“Lady Adrianna?!”
The knights following Adrianna looked sharply at him. Their gazes were so sharp that they stung his skin.
“Ah.”
When she reached Galahad, Adrianna removed the gauntlet stained with blood. Then she carefully wiped her hand with a bright handkerchief.
Seeing Adrianna prepare for a handshake, Galahad unconsciously held out his hand.
At that moment, a fierce impulse rose inside him.
His heart pounded wildly. Pain gripped his chest as though someone had seized it. The Egg of Pain urged him to kill Adrianna. It stung quite sharply.
‘Stupid thing. What you’re doing is getting in the way of the oath. Do you think I can kill Adrianna right now?’
Galahad cursed inwardly.
Even if Adrianna was defenseless, there was no way he could kill her immediately.
No matter how many times he repeated the calculation, it led only to failure. Calculations were what Galahad did best.
The Egg of Pain vibrated. Galahad calculated once again. When it again produced the result of failure, the Egg of Pain fell silent.
‘It works.’
Of course, it was only a temporary measure.
He planned to prepare a separate solution.
‘Still, shaking hands feels a little risky.’
Adrianna’s temper mattered, but the Egg of Pain was currently his means of increasing his strength.
If he held her hand, the Egg of Pain might disappear for no reason.
Until he figured out the principle behind it or found another method, it was better to be careful.
Having finished his calculations, Galahad withdrew his hand.
The problem was...
“...?”
He failed to notice Adrianna’s hand.
Adrianna quietly stared at her hand, left hanging alone in the air.
It was the first time she had ever experienced such a situation, so Adrianna could not understand what was happening.
Why was her hand left hanging there by itself...?
“...?”
Adrianna could not understand.
Adrianna froze with her hand still extended, as though she had malfunctioned.
“Good heavens.”
Gilbert covered his face with one hand.
Footnotes:
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