The Northern Grand Duke's Mad Son-in-Law - Chapter 34

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Ceaseless

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

Chapter 34: Demon Realm

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‘Hm, it’s gotten quiet.’

Galahad muttered to the Egg of Pain, which had grown much calmer.

After exhausting itself without managing to hurt Adrianna, the Egg of Pain had fallen silent.

He had meant to take the wind out of it a little, but now that it had gone so quiet, Galahad found himself oddly concerned.

The Egg of Pain, which refined Demonkin blood, was one of Galahad’s greatest assets. It would not be good if it felt powerless and gave up like this.

‘It was only because she was in perfect condition this time. Increase the mana concentration and catch her off guard, and who knows? Don’t give up.’

The Egg of Pain remained quiet.

‘I’m telling you, you can do it. It won’t be easy, of course, but if we work together, nothing is impossible.’

Galahad encouraged the Egg of Pain. It was supposed to be a remnant of the Jema War, yet it had become so dispirited after a single failure. Ridiculous.

‘We have Demonkin blood. We can grow stronger. It’s far too early to sit down and give up.’

At his continued encouragement, the Egg of Pain trembled faintly.

Galahad put the canteen to his lips. The Egg of Pain discreetly took some blood from it.

As it vibrated faintly, it seemed to be asking whether it could really hurt that monster.

‘Nothing in this world is impossible. If we join forces... But you must trust me more. If you throw a fit and fail again like this time, you’ll only make her more wary. That would be a serious setback. The most important thing for a mage is a cool head.’

Galahad emphasized “trust” several times. The Egg of Pain vibrated more strongly.

It seemed to be regaining its spirit. Galahad drained the canteen in one go. The Egg of Pain took the blood more vigorously than before.

‘We can do this. I’ll trust you, so trust me.’

As if answering him, the Egg of Pain released mana in a long stream. Its concentration was higher, and there was more of it than before.

Still...

‘I saw more coming out earlier. Are you still hiding something?’

The Egg of Pain vibrated violently, as if protesting. When Galahad did not respond, another tiny trickle of mana emerged.

The Egg of Pain trembled slightly, as though complaining that it had to give him even this.

‘It’s called trust. We’re literally one body now, aren’t we?’

The Egg of Pain stopped abruptly.

After a brief silence, it gave a slight nod.

Galahad smiled at his successful persuasion.

Just then, Adrianna approached after finishing up.

“Using me as the medium to wipe out the Demonkin and Monsters... It was an excellent tactic.”

Adrianna’s brows had lowered ever so slightly.

“It was only possible because I trust you.”

“Please don’t worry. You may unleash as much as you like.”

The Egg of Pain fell quiet at the sight of Adrianna, who did not have even the smallest scar.

Galahad soothed the Egg of Pain inwardly. You can do it. The Egg of Pain vibrated boldly. It was surprisingly high-maintenance.

“Ah, I need to refill the canteens.”

“You’ve used them all already? I’ll help.”

“It’ll be easier to collect from the wrist than the neck.”

“Oh, I see. Thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

“This really does feel like a date.”

“It isn’t a date.”

There had been so many Demonkin that even after filling every canteen they had brought, blood still remained.

“What is it?”

“We don’t have enough canteens.”

“Ah, shall I lend you mine?”

Adrianna rummaged through her things and pulled something out. It was an elegant-looking canteen, with an unidentifiable image embossed on its front.

He examined it closely, but could not figure out what it was.

“It’s a cat.”

“It has eight legs.”

“There are two of them.”

After hearing the explanation and looking more closely, he could vaguely make out the cats’ shapes.

“I don’t know who made it, but they were terrible at it.”

“...”

Adrianna’s brows lowered slightly.

“Did you emboss it yourself?”

“...I did it when I was young.”

“Ah, I see.”

Galahad gave the canteen a light shake. It was filled with milk. It seemed a waste to throw it away, so he drank it and collected blood.

Before he knew it, Adrianna was issuing orders in the distance.

“Why do you keep drinking Demonkin blood?”

“You should try it. It’s good for you.”

“Really?”

Galahad handed over the canteen. He actually drank directly from it. Galahad frowned at the complete lack of manners.

“Bleegh! It tastes awful!”

“Things that are good for you always taste bad. If they tasted good and were good for you, they’d have disappeared long ago.”

“...Uh, isn’t that Lady Adrianna’s canteen? She hasn’t had that canteen for long.”

It seemed Adrianna had lied when she said she had embossed it as a child.

‘Looks like she has no other talents.’

Galahad murmured as he filled the canteen.

“We’ll help as well.”

The other knights approached, each carrying their own canteen.

“Oh, thank you. Press here and the blood will come out easily, so I’m counting on you.”

The knights nodded with strange expressions.

Retching could be heard from all around.

“They have weak stomachs.”

Galahad clicked his tongue softly.

Gilbert, who tried once more, threw up everything he had eaten.

* * *

Perhaps because it had been defeated by Adrianna, the Egg of Pain did not resist even when he stored more blood than before.

Whenever it saw Adrianna, its heart only pounded violently.

Thanks to that, he could store mana that had a similar concentration but was much gentler.

Galahad’s spellcasting speed, already fast, became even faster.

‘This is a gold mine.’

Galahad sincerely admired the Demonkin Territory.

How much farther had they walked?

The smoke, which Galahad’s magic had easily pushed aside, began to resist.

Smoke densely filled the distance ahead, like a wall made of smoke.

It looked as though a boundary had been drawn to mark the start of another territory.

“What is this place?”

“This is the Demon Realm, the true Demonkin Territory. Upper-ranking Demonkin begin appearing from here. From that rank onward, they form broods.”

Adrianna answered. Her eyes remained indifferent, but something seemed to flicker within them.

“Broods?”

“Demonkin do not normally travel in groups. Even when there are many, there are no more than ten. But upper-ranking Demonkin keep lesser Demonkin beneath them as servants. That is called a brood.”

It seemed that from the upper ranks onward, they formed groups.

“Demonkin that form broods are called upper-ranking Demonkin.”

“Is there anything above them?”

“Yes. Demonkin that keep upper-ranking Demonkin beneath them are called high-ranking Demonkin. Their strength varies greatly even among high-ranking Demonkin, but they are not divided into separate ranks.”

Galahad considered Adrianna’s explanation. In other words, Demonkin were each structured like separate cells, and the size of their organization increased as their rank rose.

“Then is there a king as well?”

Galahad casually asked the question he had been most curious about.

Adrianna’s brows stiffened. It was an instant, barely noticeable movement, but Galahad did not miss it.

“There is no king. High-ranking Demonkin are hostile toward one another.”

“I see.”

A brief silence settled over them.

“Normally, we need twenty direct-unit members before entering the Demon Realm. But with Captain Galahad here, I believe we have enough.”

Adrianna spoke while staring at Galahad.

“No. We’re short on people. Remember what happened.”

The objection came from Gilbert. Gilbert was arguing with Adrianna. Galahad looked at him anew.

“What happened?”

“Lady Adrianna was once isolated after recklessly entering the Demon Realm.”

Gilbert answered with a grimace.

“Now is safer than any other time. The smoke that blocks our sight is the greatest threat, and Captain Galahad is clearing it away. Upper-ranking Demonkin and above do not appear at the entrance to the Demon Realm. We will only go as far as the entrance and see how effective Captain Galahad’s abilities are.”

It was reasonable, but Adrianna’s voice was unusually raised.

‘She’s excited.’

The other knights nodded at that.

“It is true that upper-ranking Demonkin and above do not appear at the entrance, but...”

Gilbert took a step back. Adrianna did not seem to be making an unreasonable demand.

“It is dangerous. I am not forcing you.”

Adrianna’s gaze turned to Galahad once more. Her eyes were filled with an unusual longing.

Considering that only her brows had moved up and down until now, she was clearly quite excited.

Galahad flicked his fingers. Wind struck the wall of smoke, but it barely moved. It was heavier than the smoke they had encountered so far.

Only after he compressed mana and released it did the smoke begin to move back.

‘It won’t be easy.’

As he watched the wall of smoke, a strange feeling came over him. It was not danger...

‘It feels like I’ve come home somehow.’

Galahad swallowed the dry murmur.

Suppressing the feeling, he slowly assessed the situation.

‘The smoke is heavy, but not so heavy that I can’t push it aside. There’s no need to rush.’

Even if this was the Demon Realm, there was no need to hurry.

Galahad had already shown his abilities. Adrianna seemed to acknowledge them as well. If Galahad wanted, he would be able to accompany them into the Demonkin Territory whenever he wished.

Still...

‘Demonkin set traps too. It may be safer to enter now than to return and come back later.’

Demonkin were not the kind to simply take a beating. There was no way to know what defenses they might prepare by the next time they came.

Their condition was good, too. There were no injured people.

Galahad was actually in better condition than before they entered.

They would not gain more information about the Demon Realm simply by going back.

The enemy was unprepared, and they were in good shape.

Considering that, now was the best opportunity.

It was a little disappointing that they would only explore the entrance, where upper-ranking Demonkin did not appear...

“It would be best to go in.”

Galahad nodded.

“Thank you.”

“There’s no need for thanks between us.”

“What are we to each other?”

“We’re going to be married. You’re quite teasing.”

“...No, we are not.”

Unlike before, Adrianna’s answer was short. Her gaze was already fixed on the Demon Realm.

“The Demon Realm is dangerous. One careless moment, and even an experienced knight can disappear. We must not go beyond the entrance.”

Gilbert moved close beside him.

“Move away. I hate men.”

“You think I’m doing this because I enjoy it?”

“Can’t you see everything anyway?”

“You never know.”

At that moment, Adrianna looked back.

“You must be careful.”

“With you here, what is there to worry about?”

Adrianna looked slightly surprised, then nodded.

“We are entering.”

Tension appeared on Adrianna’s formerly expressionless face. The other knights breathed heavily.

‘The concentration has become even higher.’

Galahad murmured softly.

Every time he breathed, the Egg of Pain pulsed. It expressed its delight.

Mana of this level...

It could not even be compared to outside. Mana overflowed everywhere.

For some reason, a sense of welcome filled him, and the corners of his mouth rose on their own. It felt warm, as though he had entered his mother’s womb.

Galahad shook off the stiffness and loosened his hand. Wind flowed along his fingers. Soon, the smoke surrounding them slowly retreated.

“The smoke is heavy. This is the best I can do.”

A distance of about seven steps was Galahad’s limit.

“This is enough. You are incredible.”

Adrianna said as she readjusted her grip on her sword. The knights around them looked at him with more intense gazes. Their attention felt somewhat burdensome.

“Captain Galahad’s safety takes priority. If any Demonkin appear, I will deal with them, so do not leave Galahad’s side.”

Adrianna issued the command in a firm voice.

The knights nodded. The knights who had moved a step closer made him rather uncomfortable.

“Did something happen in the Demon Realm?”

At Galahad’s question, Gilbert turned his head slightly.

Adrianna was walking a little farther ahead. She appeared focused on watching the front.

“The former First Battalion commander disappeared in the Demon Realm. I heard Lady Adrianna looked up to that person as a parent.”

“Isn’t that person already dead?”

“She must be trying to find the body, at least.”

“She has a rather sentimental side.”

“Either way, even the entrance to the Demon Realm is dangerous.”

Tension filled Gilbert’s face. Sweat ran down his greasy, unwashed hair.

“There’s nowhere that isn’t dangerous.”

Galahad chuckled.

“Then, let us confirm your abilities...”

At that moment, something strangely familiar brushed past him.

‘This is...’

His eyes closed.

* * *

‘Don’t get excited. Just a little farther. Just a little...’

Adrianna muttered as she shook her sword.

Excitement surged within her, but Adrianna desperately maintained her calm.

She had not entered the Demon Realm simply because she was excited.

The greatest reason was Galahad. Thanks to him, they could secure their field of vision. As long as she could see, Adrianna would never lose to a Demonkin.

Besides, the entrance to the Demon Realm was not particularly threatening.

So she had only intended to confirm whether Galahad’s abilities worked in the Demon Realm as well.

Adrianna, who had been focused solely ahead, suddenly sensed something strange.

“Pardon? Why are you curious about my taste in women? Are you going to introduce someone to me?”

“Ah, my name is Robert!”

The conversation behind her was incoherent. The knights’ replies continued one after another. Adrianna turned her head, then froze.

Where Galahad should have been, a red-eyed Demonkin was giggling.

The knights around it were speaking to the Demonkin as though it were Galahad.

The Demonkin sharply turned its head.

The Demonkin met Adrianna’s gaze and pulled its lips into a broad smile.

Its eyes did not smile. Only its mouth did.

“I’ve been found out.”

It grabbed its own neck and tore it free.

Crack.

Its spinal cord dangled. A spray of red blood drenched Gilbert, who stood nearby.

The Demonkin’s mouth remained stretched in that smile until the very end.

Adrianna’s sword lost its target and stopped before the Demonkin that had torn off its own head.

“Ah...”

Adrianna’s voice cracked.

A familiar cigarette rolled across the floor.

Galahad was nowhere to be seen.

* * *

“Hm.”

Galahad looked around and gave a soft exclamation of wonder.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a noble banquet hall that looked as though it had been abandoned for a hundred years. Dust covered every corner, and the furnishings had decayed to the point of crumbling.

Galahad was surprised that such a place existed in the Demon Realm.

It looked exactly like a trace left by humans.

Then...

“Nice to meet you.”

A woman suddenly appeared before him. Or had she been there all along?

‘A mental type. Damn it...’

Galahad hurriedly moved his mana. As naturally as brushing back his bangs, he sent mana into his head.

“Ah, I already erased my power.”

The woman spoke politely. Galahad did not believe her and circulated mana through himself once. As she said, there was not even a trace left.

She had used mental interference, and she felt stronger than any Demonkin he had seen so far.

“So, are you the one?”

“You met Amanda, I see. Ah, I am not the one. That person cannot come out this far. Oh my.”

The woman covered her mouth as though she had made a mistake. Galahad frowned at the affected gesture.

‘Cannot come out this far...’

Was it a lie? Or the truth? Galahad’s thoughts became complicated.

“Normally, I would simply bring you here with my power, but everyone ends up broken that way, you see? And you cannot be broken.”

The woman shrugged in an exaggerated motion, as though every movement had been calculated.

Her voice was sweet enough to tickle his ears. Galahad nodded and slipped his fingers into his pocket.

“Ah, don’t do anything strange.”

“Can’t I?”

Galahad lightly shook a cigarette. The woman tilted her head.

When he put the cigarette in his mouth and lit it, a rich lemon scent spread through the air.

The Demonkin had seated Galahad here rather than killing him. He expected the woman to make some kind of proposal.

It had to be something that required his mind intact. They knew Galahad of the Intelligence Bureau, so it was likely related to that.

“My name is Marly. I did not plan to bring you here like this, but that crazy bitch was there. I had no choice.”

“Crazy bitch?”

She was clearly referring to Adrianna. Crazy bitch. It was a nickname that suited Adrianna very poorly.

“Anyway! You’re Galahad of the Intelligence Bureau, right? Your agent name is...”

“That’s far enough. Sorry, but it’s a name I discarded.”

If she knew his agent name, someone in the deepest parts of the Intelligence Bureau was involved. Either a Demonkin or a traitor.

His assumption had become certainty.

Galahad’s eyes darkened.

“Anyway, I’m going to make you an offer. Don’t get angry, and hear me out to the end. Humans get angry at the smallest things.”

The woman frowned as she spoke. Galahad nodded.

“To get to the point...”

The woman moved her lips for a moment. She seemed to be choosing her words.

Or perhaps imitating the mannerisms of humans.

“Will you kill the Emperor? Ah, for someone like you, that would be retirement, right? Make that one retire.”

Galahad laughed quietly at the unexpected proposal.

“Ah, wait a moment. I’ll explain in detail. First, you’re a mage, right? That means you’re on our side. No matter how long you’ve worked for the Intelligence Bureau...”

Marly let out a small sigh at Galahad, who exhaled smoke with a hardened expression. Humans, honestly...

Even though he was a mage, he still intended to stand on the humans’ side. Could anything be more foolish?

“I’m telling you in advance, don’t get angry. I might kill you.”

Marly gave a serious warning.

Then Galahad opened his mouth.

“You want me to kill the Emperor...”

Marly subtly prepared her power.

If he became angry, she intended to silence that mouth at once.

But then...

“What is the reward?”

He continued, his lips pulling into a broad smile.

Marly tilted her head.