The Northern Grand Duke's Mad Son-in-Law - Chapter 55

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Ceaseless

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

Chapter 55: Capable Corton

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“You should count yourself lucky. You wouldn’t have gotten in if it weren’t for me. Do you know how tight security has been lately?”

Corton puffed out his chest as he looked at Galahad.

What Corton said was true.

The security they encountered on the way had been stricter than before. The Fourfold Security Gate had been troublesome as well.

That did not mean Galahad could not have broken through, but there was no reason to make things needlessly complicated.

If he carelessly let something slip away, the plan would unravel.

More importantly, there was no need to refuse when someone was willing to let him in.

“I see. It seems I was fortunate to have a fellow alumnus like you.”

“Hmph. More importantly, how is the job going?”

Corton spoke with his chin raised.

“Adrianna? Ah, it’s underway.”

“Good. It would be best to finish it as quickly as possible.”

Corton nodded meaningfully as he looked at Galahad. His gaze was fixed on Galahad’s chest.

The Egg of Pain throbbed violently.

‘Does it have influence over the person the oath was made to?’

Galahad murmured softly to the rampaging Egg of Pain.

The moment he faced Corton, Galahad instinctively realized that he could not nullify this oath by using mental interference on him.

He had not planned to resolve it with mental interference in the first place, so it was not much of a problem.

“I heard someone new arrived?”

Galahad smoothly changed the subject.

Corton glared at Eight.

“I said it was confidential, and you already blabbed? People like you are why security is always a problem.”

“That worthless bastard...”

Eight muttered so quietly that only Galahad could hear.

“Well, the Society Head sent them. They say they’re taking me to the Central Society.”

“The Central Society?”

“It’s a meeting overseen by the Society Head. An extremely important meeting that even executives cannot attend freely.”

Corton swaggered proudly.

“Then will I be able to see the Society Head?”

“I’m not sure. They say we’ll go once things here are finished... but there’s no sign this work will end anytime soon. So...”

Corton trailed off. Galahad quietly nodded.

“Weren’t you top of the Academy at interpreting magic circles?”

“Not just magic circles. I was first in everything.”

When Galahad corrected him, Corton’s brows briefly furrowed before relaxing.

“I obtained a Monster Tamer’s magic circle, but the fools here cannot interpret it at all. They’re nothing but book-smart fools.”

Eight cursed softly at Corton for claiming he had obtained it himself.

It was not a bad situation for Galahad.

No, it was better than that.

Corton was exceptionally incompetent. No amount of caution could account for a liability this useless.

“Of course.”

“If you see the magic circle, can you interpret it? It’s from the Jema War, you see...”

Listening to Corton’s boastful voice, Galahad understood why Corton had welcomed him.

‘He intends to claim credit for interpreting the Monster Tamer’s magic circle too.’

It went beyond simple greed.

At that point, it would not be wrong to say greed had consumed him.

It was a good option for Galahad.

As expected of Corton.

“Hm, there is no magic circle I cannot interpret. If there is, the person who drew it drew it wrong.”

At Galahad’s firm declaration, Corton looked slightly sickened.

“Could you tell me your findings first? Everyone here is a thief. They’ll probably try to steal the credit. Trust only me. We’re fellow alumni, after all. Fellow alumni...”

Galahad smiled at Corton’s question.

“Of course.”

Corton smiled in satisfaction.

What a transparent fool.

Galahad smiled as he flexed his fingers.

Corton’s expectations were shattered before long.

Pheeeeeee!

A dark mage who spotted Galahad immediately blew a whistle.

They must have known Corton’s face, yet there was not even the slightest hesitation. It showed how Corton was treated here.

Just as Galahad was about to deal with them, Corton stepped forward, saying he would handle it.

Soon, the area grew noisy. Dark mages poured out from every direction, bristling with menace.

There were quite a few of them.

‘Hm. Good.’

Galahad’s lips curled up.

They said the Magic Stone Mine was not operating, but they had all been loafing around here.

His purpose differed from last time. Every one of them was valuable manpower. He needed a peaceful approach.

Then the inner door opened, and a lanky man walked out.

With only a few strands of hair, a gaunt body, pale skin, and age spots scattered across him, he looked like a corpse.

“You let an outsider in. Have you lost your mind?”

The corpse-like man spoke in a low voice when he spotted Galahad.

His eyes moved quickly. The gaze that swept over Galahad was sharp.

He was someone hardened by battle.

The mages around him were no ordinary people either.

They were certainly more skilled than the ones Galahad had encountered so far.

‘This should be interesting.’

Galahad smiled.

Corton’s body trembled slightly. Sweat poured down the back of his neck.

He did not seem to have expected such a harsh reaction.

Corton’s eyes, buried in fat, rolled around. Galahad flexed his fingers.

Capturing people alive was harder than killing them. If he intended to put them to work, their limbs needed to remain intact. It was quite troublesome.

He wanted to employ them as peacefully as possible, but...

‘It may be difficult.’

He might have to give up on a few of them.

Still, if he got greedy, he could ruin everything.

‘If I deal with the leader and take out two of the stronger ones...’

Galahad calculated the approach that would cause the least damage.

Then...

“Kill him.”

The corpse-like man gave the order in a low voice.

Eight quietly hid behind Galahad.

Galahad calmly snapped his fingers.

Even though they were armed with high-quality staves, their magic posed no threat to him.

Mana concentration was absolute in magic. Even Galahad had to exert himself to kill lower-ranking Demonkin.

Their magic could not affect Galahad in the same way.

It would only make the cleanup troublesome.

“Wait!”

Corton suddenly shouted as if having a seizure.

Everyone stopped and turned their attention to him.

What came out of Corton’s mouth made Galahad admire him.

It was an unexpectedly clever move.

“This person is from Dawn!!”

Corton shouted while respectfully pointing at Galahad with both hands.

A heavy silence fell at the shocking declaration.

The spells that seemed ready to explode vanished in an instant.

Dawn, here of all places...

‘It sounds plausible.’

Galahad nodded.

* * *

‘...From Dawn?’

Helcarton’s eyes narrowed deeply.

Corton was so incompetent that it was hard to understand how he had become a deputy branch head.

As an Academy graduate, he was better at theory than the others, but that was all.

Corton had a horrifying lack of practical sense.

Yet he was greedy.

He was the kind of man who would be devoured by his own greed.

That was why Helcarton had been suspicious when Corton submitted an improved Monster Tamer’s magic circle, supposedly better than what the Dark Magic Society had received from Dawn.

Corton insisted he had improved it himself, but that was impossible.

But if it had come from Dawn...

‘That makes sense.’

It was a hundred times more believable than Corton having figured it out himself.

Dawn had always been that kind of organization.

They appeared at unexpected moments. There was no way to contact them first.

Dawn was extremely cautious, as if wary of something.

It was entirely possible.

Then there was the man Corton introduced as Dawn.

‘He is no ordinary person.’

His refined appearance and straight posture clearly belonged to someone important.

Then their eyes met.

Even though he was surrounded on all sides, there was not the slightest tension in the man’s eyes.

Rather...

‘...Interest?’

He looked expectant.

There were only two kinds of people who could look like that in this situation.

Those who were confident, or those who were truly insane.

‘The Society Head did not tell me anything.’

Helcarton had doubts, but there was no reason to make a bigger issue of it.

The man was alone, after all.

After finishing his calculations, Helcarton bowed his head.

“We greet Dawn.”

The other dark mages hurriedly bowed as well.

While keeping his head lowered, Helcarton moved only his eyes to observe the man.

With everyone bowing before him, the man was...

...smacking his lips as he looked at Helcarton.

“Hmph! Bow lower, all of you!”

Corton barked.

* * *

Helcarton did not fully believe the man was from Dawn.

He was only being cautious because it was possible.

If they carelessly touched someone sent by Dawn, the Dark Magic Society itself might disappear.

Furthermore, Helcarton desperately needed a connection to Dawn if he wanted the position of Society Head.

That was why he was playing along for now.

“Why is this difficult?”

The man pointed at the Monster Tamer’s magic circle and asked as if he genuinely could not understand.

Helcarton wanted to ask him in return.

The Monster Tamer’s magic circle was a remnant of the Jema War.

How could it not be difficult?

“You just copy it exactly as drawn.”

“Exactly.”

Corton nodded at the man’s scolding.

Helcarton’s eyes narrowed at the triumphant Corton.

The man clicked his tongue and waved a hand.

“Listen carefully. I’ll explain it only once.”

“Yes.”

Helcarton’s eyes narrowed at the man’s confident manner.

It was an unavoidable instinct of mages.

These were people who had followed that instinct more faithfully than anyone else, to the point of becoming dark mages.

They could not hide their curiosity.

“I trust you know that there are three broad components to a magic circle. It would be truly dreadful for someone to boast of being a mage without even knowing that.”

Everyone nodded at the man’s biting words.

The three elements of a magic circle were such basic concepts that it was strange to even mention them.

“First is the input section that draws in mana. It is like fuel. Magic Stones are commonly used. Second is formula processing. It usually guides the flow of mana. Third is output. I trust you understand at least that much.”

There was not the slightest pause in the man’s explanation. Still, everyone nodded because it was basic knowledge.

The problem was...

“Now, taming Monsters naturally concerns the mind. To draw a magic circle using Monster blood with a high mana concentration...”

No one could understand a word he was saying.

They wanted to ask, but they did not even know which part they failed to understand.

Still, the smartest of Helcarton’s subordinates boldly asked a question.

“You do not understand? Did I not explain it just now? Are you really a mage? Calling yourself a mage when you do not understand even this... I would recommend picking up a sword instead of a staff. You would make an excellent knight. It seems Sir Gilbert has found a worthy rival.”

The bizarre suggestion that they become a knight silenced everyone again.

The man’s unimpeded explanation continued.

“Therefore, the Monster Tamer applied a twelve-layered formula to draw a magic circle capable of taming Monsters. It is a rather remarkable method. Ah, we are short on time, so I will omit the explanation for that.”

Why omit it...?

‘Is he just spouting nonsense?’

Helcarton’s eyes narrowed.

Unless that man was a Monster Tamer, how could he possibly interpret that magic circle?

‘No, he must know this magic circle already.’

Helcarton leaned further toward believing the man was from Dawn.

Then the man beckoned to a somewhat plump subordinate.

“Ah, you there. Come here for a moment.”

The subordinate who had been singled out looked at Helcarton in alarm. When Helcarton nodded, they cautiously stepped forward.

“Show me your stomach.”

“...My stomach?”

“Are your ears bad?”

Helcarton nodded at the subordinate’s gaze. The subordinate reluctantly lifted their robe.

“Your belly protrudes more than I expected. You would receive an excellent welcome if you went to the capital.”

As he made a strange joke, the man soaked his hands in Demonkin blood.

Red blood dripped from his hands. The subordinate grimaced.

“Do not worry. I am only inscribing the Monster Tamer’s magic circle.”

“...What? Why are you inscribing that on me?”

“Hmph. How can you be a dark mage with so little courage?”

At the subordinate’s gaze, Helcarton stepped forward.

“There is a test subject prepared.”

“It is more efficient to do it to a mage. You are at least somewhat similar to Monsters.”

...Efficient?

It was an excessively dry word.

“Don’t you people often conduct human experiments too? Do not tell me you are afraid to do it to your own body.”

“If it is so efficient, why not do it on your own body?”

In theory, it was most effective to perform it on the caster’s body.

The man lightly shook his head and lifted his shirt slightly.

“I’m afraid I don’t have suitable canvas.”

After seeing the bare skin beneath his shirt, Helcarton had no choice but to agree.

His body was covered in vicious scars without a single gap.

They were traces of such horrific torture that even Helcarton frowned.

A magic circle could not be inscribed on skin that uneven.

In the heavy silence, the man patted the subordinate’s shoulder.

“Do not worry. There is no chance my magic circle is wrong. Well, even if it is wrong, the worst that can happen is that you explode. Your stomach is nice and thick, so you should be fine.”

“C-Crazy...”

Helcarton nodded. The subordinate tightly closed their mouth.

The man moved his hand without hesitation. A red magic circle was quickly inscribed on the subordinate’s stomach.

It looked roughly drawn, yet its form was intricate.

“Now, punch the face of the person you dislike most.”

The man patted the subordinate’s back.

‘What is that...?’

Helcarton frowned at the man’s strange behavior.

Then...

The subordinate suddenly charged straight at Helcarton. They threw a punch with force behind it.

Of course, the people nearby stopped them before it reached him.

Held down, the subordinate howled at Helcarton like a beast.

Red blood burst from their eyes, nose, and mouth. The howling, the blood dripping down...

It was quite a chilling sight.

‘What is this...?’

Helcarton stared at the man with narrowed eyes.

“It seems you have not been managing your subordinates properly.”

The man spoke leisurely and smiled.

Then he put a cigarette in his mouth.

“Ah, have you heard that Dawn has been short on Magic Stones lately?”

He looked Helcarton up and down as he asked.

There was something strangely cold in his eyes.

* * *

The Grand Duke was standing there, as if he had never disappeared at all.

‘He acknowledged Galahad...’

Theodore lowered his head deeply.

The Grand Duke had announced that Galahad had received his recognition.

The Grand Duke’s recognition was the highest honor, but...

‘It is also a great danger.’

Now that the rumored marriage between Adrianna and Galahad would become a serious topic of discussion, even the commanders who had ignored it until now would no longer be able to disregard it.

As always, the Grand Duke had given Galahad an opportunity.

An opportunity so harsh it seemed like a trial, but one that offered a fitting reward if overcome.

‘If he overcomes this as well...’

Theodore shuddered faintly.

Then a commotion broke out behind him. When he turned his head, he saw a man in splendid clothing.

‘...An imperial messenger?’

The messenger stood there with a pale face. He seemed to be forcing himself not to bow immediately.

He must have heard the rumors about the Grand Duke.

‘An imperial messenger? Is it the agreement?’

Theodore’s thoughts grew complicated.

The Grand Duke had moved, but he was still acting within the north.

Theodore had expected that the agreement would not be brought up so soon.