WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Ceaseless

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

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

Chapter 85: Make the North Great Again

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‘Savage.’

Galahad’s neck itched for no reason. It was because of the Grand Duke, who was staring at him from before him.

The Grand Duke was simply watching him in silence, but his gaze weighed heavily on him.

His aversion to Magic Stones was apparently greater than Galahad had expected.

The North had spent its entire history fighting Demonkin amid hunger and cold. It was only natural for them to hate Demonkin. As they said, Magic Stones and Demonkin were inseparable.

To sell Magic Stones, they would also have to trade with the Empire, which they hated no less than Demonkin.

It was certainly a difficult choice for them.

Still, it was necessary.

‘Adrianna is here, so he won’t tear out my neck.’

Galahad glanced at Adrianna and nodded.

“Magic Stones aren’t just shit. They’re shit that sells for a high price.”

He spoke without avoiding the Grand Duke’s gaze. The Grand Duke’s brows lowered further. His deeply sunken eyes gleamed fiercely.

Then Adrianna stepped between the Grand Duke and Galahad.

“If we officially operate a Magic Stone Mine, outside forces will come pouring in to claim it.”

“That’s true. But haven’t plenty already come in? There was even a Demonkin City.”

“Commander Galahad.”

Adrianna’s brow tightened. Galahad briefly looked at the Grand Duke.

The Grand Duke was still staring at him. Nothing could be read from those deep eyes.

“If things continue like this, the North is finished anyway.”

Adrianna’s gauntlet urgently tapped Galahad’s thigh.

One corner of the Grand Duke’s mouth rose. Thick fangs, unmistakably those of a beast, showed beneath his lips.

“Are you confident?”

“Yes.”

“Fine.”

Galahad smiled at the easier-than-expected approval. As expected, the Grand Duke was a bold man.

“Thank you.”

“But...”

The Grand Duke’s trapezius muscles flexed. Crack. The vicious sound of shifting muscle reached Galahad’s ears.

“You’ll bear the responsibility too.”

The Grand Duke spoke in a thick voice, then turned his head. His gaze fell on a large empty space amid his collection of Monster heads.

It was a vicious threat. If something went wrong, Galahad’s head would be hung there.

Galahad nodded lightly.

“Yes, of course.”

He had expected responsibility from the moment he brought it up.

Still, an agent always dug more than one hole.

Just like now.

“We’ll take responsibility.”

Galahad declared this as he lightly pulled Adrianna closer.

“...?”

Adrianna’s eyes widened.

The Grand Duke’s brow crumpled.

* * *

“Why am I taking responsibility with you?”

Adrianna asked, struggling to remain composed. Galahad answered with a bright smile.

“Aren’t we getting married? If we share responsibility, it becomes half as much.”

“...I clearly told you I have no intention of doing that.”

“That’s how you feel now.”

No matter what she said, he refused to listen. Adrianna frowned in frustration.

‘I need to be firm.’

Just as she was about to speak again, Galahad spoke first.

“Isn’t the North’s financial situation precarious?”

Adrianna nodded with a serious expression.

“Yes. It’s quite bad, because the Empire’s support has been cut off.”

War inevitably cost a great deal of money. Even the funding they had received from the Empire had stopped. The North was barren land.

“Magic Stones will solve it.”

Galahad’s voice was as steady as always. It was the kind of voice filled with such certainty that one could not help but believe him.

“His Grace gave his approval too, didn’t he?”

“...Was that approval?”

The Grand Duke had declared that he would hold Galahad accountable if there was a problem. That was closer to a threat than approval.

Most people would have thought so, but Galahad seemed to have heard it differently.

“It was approval. Didn’t you see him nod?”

Galahad smiled broadly. Adrianna’s brow rose slightly. It was strange how someone could be so full of confidence.

“Have you ever been to the capital?”

Adrianna shook her head at Galahad’s sudden question.

“No.”

“The capital has something called sewers. Thanks to sewers powered by Magic Stones, waste flows underground and out of the city. The streets are full of pleasant scents, and Mana Lamps make it as bright as day even at night.”

Galahad snapped his fingers. A tiny light slowly rose and spun in the air. Adrianna’s eyes followed it.

“Magical devices have advanced agriculture, so people care about more than simply filling their stomachs. There are sweet cakes and fragrant candies.”

Despite Galahad’s detailed explanation, Adrianna could not imagine it.

Her world had always been the front line, red or ash-gray. Such splendor was far removed from her life.

“What about the North?”

Galahad asked while smoothing his hair. He looked so much like a noble that Adrianna took a step back.

“It’s cold and hungry, isn’t it?”

“...That’s right.”

It was true. Adrianna nodded obediently.

“Then even if it’s shit, you should burn it to warm yourselves and eat it to fill your empty stomachs.”

There was not the slightest hesitation in Galahad’s voice. Adrianna understood what he meant. She also knew he was right.

But...

“...Would you stop calling it shit?”

“Ah, because that’s what you call it.”

“It’s rude to talk about shit at the table.”

“Ah, I see. I’ll remember that.”

At his shameless answer, Adrianna turned away and coughed softly.

“Ah, where is the staff council gathered?”

“Further inside. But why are you looking for the staff council?”

“Now that I have approval, we should discuss the Magic Stone Mine business.”

He had just received something that was not quite approval, yet he already intended to see the staff council. Adrianna could barely keep up with his pace.

“The staff council is difficult to deal with.”

“Of course they are. I hear they handle everything from finances and personnel to miscellaneous work. They have every reason to be on edge. Where are they?”

“This way.”

Adrianna led him to where the staff council was gathered.

The room was busy. Staff officers moved about as they discussed matters intensely.

They were responsible for planning overall matters such as departmental transfers and finances. That was why they were always cold and prickly.

Unless it was the Grand Duke, they listened to no one. They had even treated Adrianna coolly.

Yet as the staff council held its heated meeting, Galahad walked in as though it were nothing.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Galahad, Commander of the Special Operations Unit.”

Adrianna was startled by Galahad’s loud, confident introduction. He seemed to be acting that way because he did not know how prickly the staff council was.

She was about to step in, but their reaction differed from what she expected.

Their faces brightened. Adrianna was slightly surprised to see those prickly people smile.

“Ah, Commander Galahad. This is Commander Galahad of the Special Operations Unit.”

Theodore, who approached first, beamed.

It was a reaction Adrianna had never seen before. The other staff officers rose and gathered around Galahad.

In the North, those too small and weak to fight learned to read and write. That was why every member of the staff council was small. Galahad was tall, making the contrast striking.

He stood tall amid the staff officers.

“I’ve heard a great deal about you. You’re quite a handsome man. You and Lady Adrianna suit each other very well.”

“I heard you dealt with the Demon Realm of the Seventh Battalion splendidly...”

“And there was the Demonkin City! If that had been left alone, what a headache it would have been!”

The staff council noisily welcomed Galahad. Adrianna was taken aback by their obvious goodwill.

Then Galahad casually lifted the Golden Scepter. The splendid Golden Scepter drew their attention. The noisy staff officers fell silent.

Galahad looked around at the quiet staff council and smiled.

“I heard of your hard work long ago. How difficult it must have been to run the North, this barren land. And Northerners are all so large that they eat a great deal, don’t they?”

The staff council nodded vigorously at Galahad’s gentle voice. Galahad patted each of them on the shoulder.

“Some think only those who take up weapons and fight are heroes, but isn’t money what sustains a war? Their food, their clothes, even their swords. There is nothing that doesn’t cost money. You who quietly support all of it are the true warriors and heroes.”

As Galahad spoke in a serious voice, raucous cries of agreement erupted from the staff council.

“That’s right! Do these bastards know where the money comes from? Do they think we cut budgets because we want to?”

“They grouped us all together as staff officers and dumped every complicated task on us!”

The staff officers’ complaints poured out. It was far from the cool-headed image Adrianna knew. Galahad nodded as though he was used to it.

“I know your efforts well. The North has endured this long entirely because of you.”

“At last, someone understands us...!”

The staff council was deeply moved. Their grievances seemed to have built up considerably.

Adrianna felt a little guilty as well. She had made requests concerning support a few times herself.

“Now then, I’ve brought good news for our heroes.”

“Good news?”

Their faces brightened. Galahad struck the floor with the Golden Scepter. Thump. The small sound made the staff officers flinch.

“The Magic Stone Mine business.”

“...The Magic Stone Mine business!”

The staff officers cried out.

“W-wait. Did you say a Magic Stone Mine?”

“Demonkin... Yes, those Magic Stones.”

“Did His Grace approve it? He gets furious at anything related to Demonkin...”

“I proposed it based on my merit for destroying the Demonkin City this time. There are some minor matters left to discuss, but he accepted it for now.”

“Oh, my God! Really?!”

“It’s true.”

The staff council let out a loud “Wooow.” Then one staff officer’s expression hardened, and they raised a hand.

“Could you give us a moment?”

“Take all the time you need.”

With Galahad’s permission, the staff council gathered again. They formed a circle, put their heads together, and whispered.

Adrianna, being a knight, heard every word clearly.

“Weren’t some commanders secretly selling Magic Stones already? I heard it was quite profitable.”

“It was more than profitable. The Fifth Battalion repaired its facilities with that money.”

“At the time, the estimated value of the Fifth Battalion’s...”

“Did His Grace truly approve the Magic Stone Mine business? This is...”

A brief silence followed. The staff officers nodded up and down.

“This is huge!”

The staff council shouted as one. Their voices were full of excitement.

After finishing their brief meeting, which everyone could hear, they gathered before Galahad again.

“We don’t know much about the Magic Stone Mine business. Could you explain its value precisely?”

“Of course. Let’s start simply, with the most common lower-grade Magic Stones...”

Galahad spoke without pause. He even gave examples so Northerners could understand the value of Magic Stones.

The staff council kept nodding.

Adrianna’s eyes widened at the enormous sums she had never heard before. Even she had not expected them to be worth that much.

“Oh... Those shining stones are that expensive?”

“The capital is desperate because it cannot get enough of them. Magic Stones from the North are valued even more highly.”

“Ooh.”

Amazed exclamations rose again. Then one staff officer raised a question.

“How will we trade with the Magic Tower? Because of the Empire’s northern policy, the Magic Tower will refuse to trade. They’ll have to watch the Empire’s reaction.”

“Ah, don’t worry about that. I know some capable mages. I’m thinking of capturing a few more as well.”

‘...Capturing them?’

Adrianna tilted her head at the strange wording.

“Ooh... As expected of Commander Galahad!”

The staff council cheered again. Galahad grasped each of their hands in turn and nodded. It was quite a strange sight.

“Now, let’s make a plan. First, we need to dig up the commanders’ hidden dealings. Are there any commanders living better than their assigned budgets allow? Ah, except the Fifth Battalion and Seventh Battalion.”

The staff officers rushed to give their reports.

‘What is this...?’

Adrianna was slightly flustered as Galahad seized control of the staff council in an instant.

“I’m simply teaching them an obvious truth of the world. If one person takes all the dirty money, problems arise. Now, repeat after me.”

Galahad suddenly raised the Golden Scepter high. The Golden Scepter held a strangely compelling power.

“Make the North great again!”

The staff council’s eyes widened at Galahad’s shout. It was a phrase full of strength.

They moved their mouths silently, then raised their voices.

““Make the North great again!””

‘...You’re not even from the North.’

Adrianna swallowed her question at the warm scene before her.

* * *

“Heh heh... I’ve finally reached it.”

First burst into wild laughter at the tremendous power he felt within himself.

This place called the Demon Realm was the ideal environment for First. From the moment he arrived, he had continued training without resting for even an instant.

His motivation was, as always, Galahad. Galahad had grown stronger again when they met after so long. He truly was First’s rival.

First had thought he had narrowed the gap, only for it to widen again. For some, that would have been despair, but to First, it was fuel and motivation.

First had not left the Demon Realm at all. He ate, slept, shat, and did everything else inside it.

His painstaking efforts soon bore fruit.

“Heh heh.”

First let out a sinister laugh, and Pumpkin’s face twisted.

“No, why the fuck are you naked again?”

“To face it with my entire body. Heh heh.”

First was naked, holding only a sword. It was fucking unpleasant to look at. Still, the aura surrounding his sword and the fire burning above it were twice as large as before.

“I shall call this Mana-Aura.”

“That’s an incredibly lazy name. No, put some clothes on. Everyone’s staring.”

“I’m confident. As long as it isn’t Galahad.”

“That’s not the issue... Ah, fuck. Seriously.”

“Pumpkin, it seems you lack confidence.”

“Cut the bullshit.”

Pumpkin spoke harshly, but First did not even pretend to listen.

Whatever had happened with Galahad, First had continued on with a hole in his head ever since. There was no point talking to him. It would only hurt Pumpkin.

And besides.

‘It’s gotten smaller.’

Pumpkin clicked her tongue as she looked around. The Demon Realm was smaller than before. There was only one possible reason.

“For the one recognized by the Grand Duke!”

“The one recognized by the Grand Duke!”

It was because of those people rolling around naked, just as First had said.

The training that began with the Seventh Battalion’s company commanders had spread to the soldiers, and everyone was rolling around. Perhaps they were absorbing it, because the Demon Realm had shrunk. They were absorbing and erasing the Demon Realm with their bare bodies.

Pumpkin let out a small sigh and searched her pocket.

“An order has arrived.”

“Hmm. An order?”

First took the order and read it.

The contents were easy enough to guess. Carry out your assigned mission promptly. It was surely something like that.

Pumpkin naturally expected First’s reaction as well.

“How bothersome.”

First tore up the order without hesitation. Pumpkin sighed and gathered the scattered pieces of paper.

Not even an order from above could stop First while he still had a hole in his head.

“No one can give me orders. The only one I acknowledge is Galahad.”

First said this as he picked up his sword. His face was full of resolve.

“If you get disciplined two more times, they’ll retire you.”

Pumpkin dropped her smile and spoke seriously. For an agent, retirement meant only one thing.

Death.

“Oh, there are still two left.”

First smiled brightly, and Pumpkin’s face twisted further.

“Besides, who could retire me if it isn’t Galahad?”

First spoke with overflowing confidence. He was right.

But...

“Fuck, did you forget I’ll be retired along with you?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take responsibility for you.”

Pumpkin was speechless for a moment. It sounded cool at first, but...

“Please, put some clothes on.”

Pumpkin narrowed her eyes and held out First’s armor.

Then a soldier came running over from the side. Pumpkin muttered a curse at the sight of another completely naked body.

“Someone is looking for you.”

“Looking for me?”

First turned his head and saw someone wearing a Crow Mask. They were from the Dark Magic Society.

“Um... Commander Galahad has challenged you to a contest to capture mages.”

The Crow Mask spoke in a thoroughly intimidated voice. Even as they said it, they seemed unsure whether this was right.

It was only natural. The intention behind the challenge was obvious.

‘Does he think we’re his errand boys?’

Still...

“I accept that contest.”

At First’s enthusiastic response, Pumpkin let out a small sigh.

At least errand boys got paid.

Clicking her tongue, Pumpkin held out the Monster coat.

Footnotes:

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