The Northern Grand Duke's Mad Son-in-Law - Chapter 53

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Ceaseless

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

Chapter 53: Letter

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“Are you threatening me now?”

At the mustached Demonkin’s calm question, Galahad smiled.

“A threat? It’s persuasion. Now, what’s your name?”

“Bell Urthang of House Proxel.”

“Interesting name.”

Galahad chuckled softly and tightened his grip.

“It won’t do any good.”

Bell Urthang sneered.

One arm had been severed, while the other had been burned black. Even with Galahad’s hand around his throat, Bell Urthang’s voice remained calm. He truly was a Demonkin.

“You have a point. They won’t stop just because I’ve caught you.”

“Then why did you capture me?”

“Won’t they stop if you tell them to?”

Bell Urthang laughed aloud.

“My life means nothing to me.”

“I know that.”

Galahad clicked his tongue and continued.

“Look. Other than you, there are three Demonkin left. You’ve lost both arms, so you’re completely useless now. Do you know what kind of meat the Gourmets love most?”

Bell Urthang narrowed his eyes.

“A mage’s flesh. They believe eating a mage’s heart gives them power. It actually works, too. The meat they like second most is children’s flesh.”

Galahad grabbed Bell Urthang by the chin and turned his head. Since Galahad had dealt with several Demonkin, the Gourmets now outnumbered them.

“From now on, I’ll only go after the Demonkin. I’m a little tired, but I can still take three of them with me. Do you think they’ll stop me? Humans aren’t that loyal.”

Galahad leaned close to Bell Urthang’s ear and whispered. Bell Urthang looked at him.

“Now, here’s a question. If you’re the only one left with both arms gone, do you think they’ll give up that meat? Judging by how they stabbed their swords in without hesitation earlier, I doubt it.”

Bell Urthang’s eyes creased slightly. Galahad smiled as he watched those emotionless eyes.

“What do you think?”

Bell Urthang gave a low chuckle.

“You’re a Demonkin.”

“Sorry, but I’m not a Demonkin. I’m simply a capable mage.”

“You still don’t understand.”

Bell Urthang lifted the corner of his mouth mockingly. Galahad frowned.

“I’m normally patient, so I don’t rush people. But you should decide quickly this time.”

Galahad wiggled the finger blooming with a lightning flower. An impassive Demonkin stood in the direction it pointed.

Bell Urthang nodded.

“Stop.”

At Bell Urthang’s quiet command, the Demonkin stopped dead.

‘They’re connected.’

Galahad studied him with interest.

When the Demonkin stopped, the Gourmets stopped as well. An odd tension settled over the area once more.

The horrible stench of blood, sweat, and urine filled the air. Galahad clicked his tongue and placed a cigarette between his lips.

Then...

“Kill the Gourmets.”

Bell Urthang gave the brief command.

Without hesitation, the Demonkin swung their swords. The heads of the nearby Gourmets flew off in an instant. The Demonkin moved their swords again.

The Gourmets fell victim once more to that thoroughly Demonkin-like response.

“Damn it! You stupid Demonkin bastards! Kill these bastards first!”

At the rough command of a Gourmet wearing a large hat, the Gourmets and Demonkin clashed once more.

The smell of blood grew thicker.

“Is that enough?”

Bell Urthang looked at Galahad as he spoke.

Galahad had demanded that they stop attacking.

Of course, he had intended to force them into battle afterward...

Yet Bell Urthang had immediately ordered an attack.

He calculated quickly.

Galahad had to acknowledge that.

‘The Demonkin and I understand each other well.’

“You’re quick on the uptake. I like that.”

Galahad nodded.

Then he noticed blood flowing from Bell Urthang’s chest.

‘What a waste.’

Galahad clicked his tongue, pulled out the canteen at his waist, and opened it.

He held it beneath Bell Urthang’s chest.

“Tense up a little.”

Bell Urthang’s face stiffened for a moment.

“I said tense up. It’s leaking out, isn’t it?”

Galahad clicked his tongue and pushed the canteen closer. Bell Urthang nodded. As though he had tensed his body, blood flowed neatly into the canteen.

Flicking ash from his cigarette, Galahad spoke.

“Now, I have a few questions.”

Bell Urthang looked up at him. His eyes were still calm.

“Who are you?”

“Bell Urthang of House Proxel.”

Galahad narrowed his eyes at the answer.

‘His house matters to him.’

He let out a quiet breath.

Next was Damian.

Depending on the answer that came from Bell Urthang’s mouth...

Galahad snapped his fingers. A lightning flower flew out and wrapped around one of the Gourmets. Crack, crack, crack. With a sound like popcorn popping, the Gourmet collapsed.

“An impressive authority.”

“It’s magic.”

“That’s what humans call it.”

Galahad lightly shook his hand.

“Now for the next question. What is Damian?”

“I won’t answer.”

Bell Urthang answered firmly. There was no room for negotiation in his voice.

He had not even blinked when Galahad burned off his arm.

Ordinary persuasion would not work.

Galahad had been wanting to try a new kind of persuasion anyway.

“I see.”

Galahad nodded and grabbed Bell Urthang by the head.

With a cigarette in his mouth, he opened the canteen with his left hand.

The disgusting smell of blood filled the air.

Clicking his tongue, Galahad drank the blood in the canteen.

It had been collected only moments ago, so it was warm. That made it even more revolting.

For the first time, Bell Urthang’s gaze wavered.

The Egg of Pain throbbed violently. It reacted as though it were shouting that the taste was incredible.

‘Is this what noble blood is like?’

The Egg of Pain nodded. Excited, it continued releasing dense mana.

‘Give me a little more.’

Galahad rolled up his sleeve and spoke. The magic circle slowly began to glow. The Egg of Pain resisted briefly before offering up vitality.

The magic circle, infused with vitality, emitted light. Galahad compressed the already dense mana through the magic circle.

With his experience compressing the mana of a supreme-ranking Demonkin and the magic circle left behind by the First Mage, even this dense mana was manageable.

Galahad met Bell Urthang’s eyes. His gaze wavered.

Galahad smiled and began chanting.

“The truth will set you free. Confess...”

Bell Urthang furrowed his brow. His gaze wavered violently.

‘His resistance is considerable.’

Galahad did not panic. He calmly continued guiding the mana.

His mental magic, sharpened through his encounters with mental-type Demonkin, tore through Bell Urthang’s mind.

Before long, Bell Urthang’s eyes abruptly lost focus.

“Tell me about Damian.”

Without losing his concentration, Galahad asked.

Bell Urthang’s mouth slowly opened.

“Damian is...”

Then his gaze wavered wildly. His entire body trembled as though someone had seized him and shaken him.

‘A mental barrier.’

A mental barrier was a measure used to prevent mental magic.

They were the most troublesome things. People with dirty secrets usually implanted them as a means of silencing others, but for a Demonkin to have one...

Galahad frowned at the unexpected situation.

Why would a Demonkin have a mental barrier?

‘To block mental-type Demonkin?’

Did these noble pretenders have a poor relationship with mental-type Demonkin? Since he did not know the Demonkin’s circumstances, Galahad could not be certain. He simply remembered it as a clue.

‘It’s covered by an authority.’

Galahad moved his mana and assessed the situation.

It seemed to be a function connected to the authority of those who shared power.

‘Interesting.’

Another new authority!

Excitement rose within him. His breath grew hot on its own.

Since he did not know its nature, he had no choice but to use a rougher method.

“This might hurt.”

After the brief warning, he immediately moved his mana.

It moved through Bell Urthang’s head like a hunting dog, violently searching.

Soon, Galahad found the authority.

It was buried in the deepest part of the brain.

To lodge it somewhere so deep...

‘Cruel.’

Galahad smacked his lips.

To reach that depth...

“Ah, excuse me for a moment.”

After asking permission, Galahad drove his finger into Bell Urthang’s temple, digging it in.

Mana thrashed violently. The Egg of Pain trembled with delight. Bell Urthang’s gaze wavered violently.

“Ugh...”

“Oh, even Demonkin feel pain when their brains are touched.”

Galahad quietly marveled at the new discovery.

Bell Urthang’s body shook violently, as though he were having a seizure.

“My, you’re making quite a fuss. Stay still.”

Galahad clicked his tongue and held Bell Urthang firmly.

Before long, the authority was caught in his mana. Galahad destroyed it without hesitation.

Crunch.

With a terrible sound, Bell Urthang’s head jerked up and down.

“Ghk!”

Urthang’s body shook violently. Bloody tears streamed down from his eyes. Broken pieces of teeth spilled from his mouth.

“Now, say it again. What is Damian?”

Holding up Bell Urthang’s crumpling body, Galahad asked kindly.

Urthang’s gaze wavered as he looked at Galahad.

After hesitating briefly, Bell Urthang slowly opened his mouth.

“An illegitimate child.”

It was a short answer.

“An illegitimate child... Why are you so obsessed with an illegitimate child?”

“Because...”

At Galahad’s follow-up question, Urthang’s mouth moved soundlessly.

Then Urthang’s eyes cleared. It seemed the effect of the confession had been broken when the mental barrier was destroyed.

Confusion appeared in Urthang’s wavering eyes. It was soon replaced by resolve.

“For Proxel...”

A long stream of blood burst from Bell Urthang’s mouth and flowed down.

The mental barrier had already been removed.

He had ruptured his own heart.

‘How vicious.’

Galahad shoved his hand into Urthang’s mouth.

Ghk.

Urthang’s eyes widened as though they would split apart.

Galahad smiled as he watched those violently trembling eyes.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

He was going to die anyway. Galahad moved his mana roughly.

He tore through Urthang’s head. Soon, Urthang’s breathing grew even and calm.

“You should finish what you were saying.”

Galahad whispered softly.

Urthang’s mouth fell open. A faint voice leaked out.

“Because he is the only one...”

With those final words, his head drooped.

‘He’s dead.’

Galahad shook the blood from his hand and muttered.

‘The only illegitimate child. House Proxel?’

Then a shrill scream rang out. Galahad turned to see a Gourmet collapse with a Demonkin sword through their body.

The situation seemed settled. Only one Demonkin remained standing unsteadily among the corpses scattered all around.

‘The Gourmets were supposed to win.’

There had been more Gourmets. Galahad had expected them to win by a narrow margin.

Yet the Demonkin had won.

The reason was revealed soon enough.

“Knight! Gilbert!”

Gilbert swung a sword overflowing with aura and sent the Demonkin’s head flying.

The head floated through the air before falling, then bounced across the ground.

“Victory!”

It was because of Gilbert.

A failed knight could never defeat such an excellent knight.

“I’ll collect it.”

Galahad turned toward the voice beside him. Tom was taking canteens out of a bundle.

“Ah, I could only fill three. It was such a chaotic battle.”

Tom shook the canteens as he spoke. Galahad nodded at the clear sound of the canteens.

“That’s enough. Thank you, Tom.”

Tom humbly shook his head, crouched down, and collected Bell Urthang’s blood.

‘The only illegitimate child... House Proxel?’

With a cigarette between his lips, Galahad recalled what he had just heard.

Then the carriage door opened. Damian rushed out, nearly falling over himself.

Damian hurriedly looked around. His face twisted deeply.

It was the first time Damian had shown such an emotional reaction.

Then his eyes met Galahad’s. Seeing Damian’s crumpled expression, Galahad realized he must look terrible.

Damian ran over in a panic. He was so hurried that he nearly tripped on the way.

Galahad crushed out the cigarette he had barely smoked beneath his foot.

Damian stopped directly in front of him and looked up.

The reflection in Damian’s eyes showed Galahad in a complete mess. Galahad clicked his tongue and swept his tangled hair back.

Since his hands were covered in blood, he only made himself look worse.

Galahad clicked his tongue again.

Then Damian spoke.

“I told you. You’d be in danger if you were with me.”

His normally emotionless voice trembled slightly. As though a mask had cracked, the boy beneath Damian’s indifferent face showed through for a moment.

Galahad smiled and answered.

“Didn’t I tell you? I’ve got a long life ahead of me.”

Damian’s gaze wavered visibly. Amid the storm clouds in his eyes, there was a clearness fitting his age.

Silence followed.

Galahad coughed softly, swept his tangled hair back again, and straightened his clothes.

His eyes met Damian’s. Damian’s eyes shone, just a little.

The emotion in them was admiration.

Damian blinked and opened his mouth.

“I want to be a mage.”

There was a faint liveliness in his voice.

To a boy, mages must have seemed cool.

Galahad clicked his tongue.

“Sorry, but you have no talent for magic. You’re too simpleminded.”

He rejected the idea firmly.

“I see.”

Damian understood immediately.

“Knight! Gilbert!”

At Gilbert’s shout, Damian turned his gaze.

Gilbert held a Demonkin head and radiated the heat of battle.

He looked like an excellent knight.

Damian looked back and forth between Gilbert, who kept shouting, and Galahad.

Soon, urgency appeared on Damian’s face.

“I want to be a mage.”

Galahad said, “Sorry, but you have no talent for magic.”

He rejected him once more.

“Knight! Gilbert!”

Damian let out a small sigh.

Galahad laughed aloud.

“Damian! Are you okay?! You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?!”

Gwen, who was also in a terrible state, checked Damian over. Damian looked at Galahad and asked,

“Gwen’s a mage too, isn’t she?”

At the implication in those words, Galahad laughed as though coughing. Gwen tilted her head in confusion, then checked Damian again.

“Damn it. What are these bastards?”

Gilbert spoke with a deeply twisted expression. He held a Gourmet’s bag in his hand. A skull could be seen through its opening.

“They’re disgusting bastards who eat people.”

“Why are people like that here? The north has been strange lately. Demonkin and Monsters had always appeared here, but there had never been things like them.”

At Gilbert’s sharp mutter, Galahad let out a low groan.

The Dark Magic Society and the Gourmets had both operated in the shadows in the central region.

The Intelligence Bureau preferred controlling them to eliminating them. Because of that, Galahad had been unable to uproot them.

They had suddenly disappeared...

‘And come north.’

Everything Galahad had worked hard to chase away during his time in the Intelligence Bureau had gathered in the north.

“It almost seems as if someone deliberately drove them into the north.”

At Gilbert’s mutter, Galahad coughed softly.

“Drove them in? Why would anyone do that? They probably didn’t know.”

“If this wasn’t driving them in, then what was it? Whoever that bastard is...”

“Now, now, Sir Gilbert. They must have had their own circumstances.”

“Pardon?”

“The sun is already up. Everyone, get in the carriage! It’s time to return to headquarters! I hear the Fifth Battalion commander built quite an impressive one!”

As Galahad hurried into the carriage, Gilbert felt an odd sense of unease.

It was difficult to explain.

Even Galahad wouldn’t...

‘No. Surely not.’

Gilbert shook his head and took hold of the reins.

Little Damian sat beside him. Looking up at Gilbert, Damian spoke.

“I’m sorry.”

“Why are you sorry?”

“What?”

“I asked why you’re sorry.”

“Ah. Thank you.”

“No, I asked why you’re apologizing.”

At Gilbert’s foolish question, Damian moved his lips, then gave a small laugh.

“No, I’m asking what you’re sorry for.”

At Gilbert’s urging, Damian laughed again.

Gilbert’s face twisted deeply.

* * *

Adrianna glared at the paper in front of her.

A long message was written on it.

[This is Adrianna. I arrived safely at the First Battalion. There were no notable issues at the First Battalion. I would like to know how the Demon Realm Training Camp, entrusted to Special Operations Unit Commander Galahad, whom I trust, is proceeding.]

After staring at it for a long time, Adrianna shook her head and crumpled the paper.

Crumpled sheets of paper were scattered all around her.

“Phew.”

After taking a deep breath, Adrianna pulled out a fresh sheet of crisp paper.

Then she carefully moved her pen.

[I am Adrianna, Commander of the First Battalion. There were no notable issues at the First Battalion. I would like to know how the Demon Realm Training Camp, entrusted to Special Operations Unit Commander Galahad, whom I trust, is proceeding.]

Adrianna reread the letter and nodded.

“Ah...”

With a small sigh, Adrianna added an explanation to the end of the letter.

[Of course, the Demon Realm Training Camp is a responsibility the Grand Duke entrusted to Special Operations Unit Commander Galahad. As the Commander of the First Battalion, I have no authority to interfere. It is not that I do not trust you. I am writing in case you need help. Commander of the First Battalion, Adrianna-.]

Adrianna stared at the paper for a long time.

After reviewing it several times, she nodded.

It was an excellent letter.

She tied the letter to a hawk.

The hawk flew out through the wide-open window and into the distance.

Adrianna watched the dazzling sight of the hawk soaring freely through the vast sky for a long time.

Then something rattled in the cold wind.

It was a crude suit of armor and helmet.

They were in such poor condition that it would not have been strange to throw them away immediately.

Adrianna stared at them for a moment.

Then she carefully placed them in the wooden box in the corner.

Of course, she would probably never use them again...