WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Ceaseless
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Northern Grand Duke’s Mad Son-in-Law ◈
Chapter 87: Agent Galahad
──────
“...I’m sorry.”
Pumpkin bowed deeply and politely. Her face was so red it looked ready to burst.
The reason was...
“It isn’t just the trapezius! Pumpkin’s deltoids are bigger too!”
“Please shut up. No, bite your tongue.”
First was shouting proudly beside her. Pumpkin spoke through gritted teeth.
The two were making a racket.
Adrianna tilted her head slightly, wary. One hand was already on her sword hilt. Her puffed cheeks moved urgently.
‘She really likes sweets.’
Adrianna, who usually maintained a blank expression, had even raised her voice.
Soon, Adrianna swallowed.
Her expression relaxed for a moment before returning to normal.
“Do you know them?”
“They’re colleagues. This is First, and that’s Pumpkin. And this is Adrianna, my future wife.”
“...I am not his future wife. I am Adrianna, commander of the First Battalion.”
“Oh, so you’re Adrianna. The northern hero, the Frozen Flower, and the youngest Sword Master.”
First boldly held out his hand. Adrianna’s brows drew down slightly.
“I’m sorry, but only I may touch Adrianna.”
Galahad took First’s hand as he explained the situation.
“What happens if I do?”
First raised a brow. His competitive spirit was clear as day. Galahad clicked his tongue.
Only Galahad could hold Adrianna’s hand and endure it. Another mage might become a mindless fool if they touched her.
First probably would not suffer that badly, but there was no need to make trouble. Galahad intended to stop him.
Still, First never listened unless someone spoke firmly.
He had to be firm.
“If you touch her...”
Galahad paused to choose his words.
Then he chose an appropriate one.
“You’ll die.”
Galahad gave the warning seriously. First’s eyes widened, and Pumpkin let out a gasp.
“Wow. That’s the first time I’ve heard Galahad say something like that.”
Pumpkin exclaimed. Her eyes gleamed strangely.
“Ahem. It was a joke. That wouldn’t be fair competition, so I had no intention of doing it.”
First awkwardly stepped back.
“...”
Adrianna’s eyes went round. She looked as though someone had pressed a pause button.
Only then did Galahad realize his wording had sounded a little strange.
“Yes, you’re that Adrianna.”
First quickly recovered and stepped forward again.
“Yes. I am Adrianna, commander of the First Battalion.”
Rather than taking his hand, Adrianna gave a brief nod.
First narrowed his eyes and stared at Adrianna.
“Everyone, sit down.”
Galahad sat first. First immediately took the seat across from him, while Pumpkin sighed and sat beside First.
Lastly, Adrianna took the empty seat beside Galahad.
Galahad sorted through his thoughts for a moment. No matter how quickly he built the Magic Tower, it would take time.
The Magic Tower was a long-term plan. He needed to recruit mages immediately. That was why he had called First. Meanwhile, he had transferred the Fifth Battalion commander to the Demon Realm Training Camp under the pretext of Demon Realm training.
Then...
Thud.
First struck the table with his fist. It shook violently.
“I’m sorry,” Pumpkin apologized on his behalf.
First’s gaze was fixed on Adrianna.
“So this is the person Galahad is going to marry...”
First’s voice was rather greasy.
After looking Adrianna over, First nodded broadly.
“I have no choice but to acknowledge you! Your trapezius muscles are a little disappointing, but yes. To have Galahad, you need to be at least this...”
“Who are you to say whether you acknowledge her or not? I’m sorry.”
“...?”
Confusion crossed Adrianna’s face. Her gaze wandered for a moment.
Galahad clicked his tongue and set down his teacup. First returned to his usual expression.
“A wager over capturing mages. What are you plotting?”
First leaned forward slightly as he asked.
A familiar madness glinted in his eyes. It was a side effect of walking the paths of both mage and knight.
To wield magic and a sword at the same time, one had to be intelligent and stupid.
A knight’s stupidity and a mage’s intelligence were not opposites. Still, they clearly affected each other. First had turned out this way because of that side effect.
“Plotting? I intend to start a business.”
“A Magic Stone Mine, then.”
“Correct.”
“Did you get the Grand Duke’s permission?”
“Something like that.”
“The Empire won’t sit still.”
“Are you afraid?”
First snorted at Galahad’s question.
“Of course not. You wouldn’t be able to return otherwise.”
First said this while glancing at Adrianna.
He was right. Operating a Magic Stone Mine would put them in direct conflict with the Intelligence Bureau. They would send the Inspectorate bastards.
‘It’s been a while since I’ve seen some familiar faces.’
They would surely dispatch even more agents to the North. It would become quite troublesome.
Still...
Galahad placed a cigarette between his lips. First’s eyes hardened. His hand moved to his waist, and he subtly pushed Pumpkin behind him.
The cigarette caught, spreading a faint lemon scent. First slowed his breathing.
“Will anything really change from how things are now?”
He had already been abandoned.
First’s face twisted harshly. Then a greasy smile appeared.
“I suppose not.”
Galahad slowly relaxed his hand.
First was a capable agent. If he became an enemy, he would surely be a nuisance. If he was going to turn against Galahad, it was better to deal with him now.
Having spent a long time as an agent, Galahad knew that hesitation and decisions made from emotion were deadly poison.
The sooner one cut ties, the better.
The silence was brief. First returned to his usual smile.
“That’s unexpected. I thought you were attached to your workplace. There’s never been an agent who worked as hard and as long as you.”
“At the time, it was the most promising route.”
“Has that changed now?”
Galahad turned his gaze. Adrianna met it impassively, seated in a posture that allowed her to draw her sword at any moment.
“It has changed.”
Adrianna’s cheek moved slightly.
First frowned.
“Is this still about the Demon King?”
“It is.”
First’s lips twitched. A displeased look appeared in his eyes.
“As your rival, I respect you. But you’re wrong about the Demon King. The Demon King doesn’t exist. Why don’t you understand such an obvious truth?”
First protested fiercely. Normally, Galahad would have argued back.
Now, though, he knew it was not a matter of understanding.
No explanation would get through to him, so there was no point in arguing.
Just as Galahad was about to nod...
“The Demon King may exist. It is not certain, but there is insufficient basis to conclude that it does not.”
Adrianna rebuked him with a fierce glare.
‘Oh dear.’
Galahad felt a strange flutter in his stomach.
“It doesn’t exist. Just as there’s no need to explain why water flows downward, it is self-evident that the Demon King does not exist.”
“That is different. My opinion, having spent my whole life on the northern front line...”
Galahad lightly tapped Adrianna. She looked at him, and he shook his head. It was not something that could be solved through explanation.
Adrianna nodded.
“Enough. So, will you do it?”
First’s expression returned at Galahad’s question. His usual greasy face was back.
“A wager over capturing mages. This’ll be fun. It takes me back to when we were rookies. Don’t you think so?”
First smiled broadly. He looked full of confidence.
He was right. Mages who learned magic outside the Academy were called illegal mages. When agents were rookies, their main duty was hunting illegal mages.
It was to give them real combat experience and help them adapt to fieldwork.
Still...
“Didn’t you join later than me? Besides, I didn’t spend much time as a rookie.”
Even as a rookie, Galahad’s talent had stood out like an awl in a pocket. He was removed from rookie duties immediately. He had never overlapped with First.
First’s mouth twitched.
“I was removed from rookie duties after three months as well.”
At the Intelligence Bureau, where only elites gathered, the usual adjustment period for rookies was around a year. Three months clearly meant he was capable.
Still...
“I’m sorry, but I was removed after my first mission.”
First’s eyes spun wildly. Pumpkin openly clutched her stomach and laughed.
First opened his mouth in protest.
“That was Beatr...”
His lips moved soundlessly because Galahad was pointing at him.
“You take jokes too far.”
First slowly nodded at Galahad’s remark.
Galahad smiled leisurely.
“Now, returning to the matter at hand, let’s discuss how we’ll capture the mages...”
“Ahem. Good. It’s been a while since I cut loose.”
‘He chickened out. He chickened out.’
Pumpkin giggled.
* * *
“I’m saying this again, but I can’t acknowledge it.”
“I’m sorry. Please shut up.”
Pumpkin disappeared, dragging away the heated First.
Galahad had given First a list of commanders suspected of involvement in the Magic Stone Mine business.
The Grand Duke had ripped the Sixth Battalion commander’s head off not long ago. The commanders would likely lie low while watching their steps.
It was a good time to get hold of their dirty secrets.
“...Why does he react so strongly to the Demon King?”
Adrianna asked in a serious voice.
“It seems someone erased the very concept of the Demon King. That’s why they react so strongly whenever the Demon King is mentioned...”
Galahad answered as he flicked ash from his cigarette.
“Is that possible?”
“If no outside force were involved, why would they react that way?”
“Ah.”
“It didn’t work on you either because of your Demonkin-burning nature. That is clear proof.”
Adrianna let out a quiet sigh. Her face darkened. She seemed to be taking the Demon King seriously at last.
“Why do you know about this, Commander Galahad?”
Galahad could not answer Adrianna’s question immediately.
The reason was obvious.
‘Because I am an outsider who entered a novel...’
But he could not say that.
“Didn’t I tell you? I’m smart and capable.”
“Ah, I see.”
“The Demon King exists. And one day, it’ll soak the continent in blood and turn it into hell.”
Adrianna’s face grew serious. Her steady blue eyes deepened.
“No one believes it. Not the Magic Tower Master, not the Imperial Knights, not even the high-ranking nobles. I’d be lucky if they didn’t curse at me. It’ll be just you and me.”
Unlike usual, Galahad’s voice held neither amusement nor ease. Adrianna’s brows furrowed slightly.
“If the Demon King truly exists and can erase the concept from the entire continent... how can the two of us stop it?”
Adrianna’s voice was as firm as ever. Her blue eyes were straight and resolute.
Galahad raised the corner of his mouth at the question.
“You trust me...”
He moved his fork and poked a piece of chocolate in front of him. Adrianna’s gaze followed it.
“And I trust you.”
He held out the fork, which had pierced the chocolate deeply. Adrianna’s eyes widened slightly.
Adrianna carefully took the fork. Her cheek slowly moved.
Silence lingered for a while.
Galahad watched Adrianna eat chocolate with a serious expression and tried to predict her reaction.
Having to prepare for a Demon King who held influence over the entire continent would be difficult to accept right away.
Everyone else denied it, after all.
It would not be easy to accept.
She might feel overwhelmed. She might be afraid. No, those reactions would be natural.
Galahad considered how he could comfort her.
After a long while, the words that came from Adrianna’s mouth were not what he expected.
Adrianna did not despair, deny it, or become afraid.
Looking at Galahad with clear blue eyes...
“You must have had a hard time alone.”
Her voice was filled with sincere concern.
‘Hm.’
It was something Galahad had never heard before. He stared blankly into her eyes for a moment.
Then, sensing something strangely dangerous, he abruptly rose from his seat.
“It’s late. We’ll speak again next time. Handsome, could you pack some sweets for us?”
Adrianna tilted her head at Galahad, who looked strangely urgent.
‘This isn’t a cafe...’
Handsome grumbled as he gathered the remaining chocolates and candies.
“Ah, thank you for the meal.”
Adrianna bowed, then hurried after Galahad.
Handsome, left alone in the safehouse, let out a low sigh.
‘It’s lonely.’
It seemed he would need to request more agents.
* * *
‘This should be entertaining.’
Jamit, an Intelligence Bureau agent, frowned as she looked around.
Today was the Intelligence Bureau’s regular meeting. Agents were arriving in the conference room one after another.
Most of them did not look pleased.
‘Where did he go?’
James, the agent who had been given Galahad’s name, was nowhere to be seen. A rookie arriving late...
Then the Deputy Director entered. The Deputy Director naturally took a seat beside Jamit.
“You’re here.”
The Deputy Director only nodded. Exhaustion was written all over their face.
Then the door opened roughly. It was a familiar face, Agent James.
James entered with a small bow. His face had changed somewhat since he first joined.
He had been classically handsome, but now there was an irritable edge to him. A trace of experience had settled in.
[I can now confidently say the agent’s name is Galahad!]
Jamit recalled something James had told her not long ago.
James’s results had truly been impressive.
He was considered one of the most promising agents.
James bowed slightly when he saw Jamit. Jamit only gave him a light wave.
Then the door opened roughly again. The furious Director entered. Every agent stood and saluted.
James was caught between entering and leaving due to the Director’s abrupt arrival.
Just as James was about to greet the Director...
“How the hell are you people doing your jobs?!”
The Director’s voice rose. James’s face went pale.
‘Looks like they got chewed out from above.’
Jamit’s lips curled up at the sight of the Director trembling with rage.
“Do these results make any sense?! Are you getting paid to do nothing? If you’re taking the hard-earned money of Imperial citizens, do your jobs properly! Work!”
The Director vented their irritation and threw the papers in front of them. The thick stack of reports scattered impressively through the air.
It was the Director’s one and only talent: flinging reports around.
“Operations Division Chief! Say something if you can! Why have the results sunk this low?!”
The Operations Division Chief rose at the Director’s rebuke. His brows were furrowed.
He was a man with a temper. He had already been irritated lately, so if the Director pressed him like that...
‘He’s going to push back.’
Jamit’s smile widened.
“The current results are not low. The previous results were simply far too high.”
“What did you say?”
“I documented it in the report. The biggest reason our results visibly declined is Agent Galahad’s absence.”
Jamit gave a quiet exclamation at the Operations Division Chief’s blunt words. Several other division chiefs nodded.
The Director’s face turned red.
“Do you think it makes sense that the results can fall this much just because one agent is gone?”
For someone so worked up, the Director’s point was reasonable. But the Operations Division Chief was the one speaking.
“It is not simply one person’s absence. Agent Galahad had overwhelmingly superior results among field agents from the beginning. In the line of work that demands secrecy, I reported that Agent Galahad’s value exceeds that of an entire team.”
“Do you think that is something to say right now?”
“It is a result proven by numbers. Please refer to page thirty-five of the report.”
Jamit flipped through the report in front of her. There truly were detailed calculations of Galahad’s abilities.
‘A mere squad’s worth of combat power. They don’t understand at all.’
Jamit clicked her tongue quietly.
“Overtime was routine for Galahad, and he never took even a single vacation. Since joining the Bureau, he had never stopped working. Please refer to page eighty-nine.”
Galahad’s work log was written there. He had never rested once since joining the Intelligence Bureau.
“Since Galahad is gone, a decline in results is only natural. The calculations for this are on page one hundred and one. Thank you.”
After finishing his report, the Operations Division Chief sat back down. Murmurs broke out around the room.
The Director’s face became redder and redder. It looked ready to explode.
“So! You’re saying our results crashed like this because one agent is gone?! That every one of you is worse than Galahad alone?!”
The Director shouted, apparently trying to provoke their pride.
Nod.
Everyone nodded without the slightest hesitation.
Their opponent was Galahad.
The Director’s body trembled. A little foam gathered at their mouth.
Then the Deputy Director rose from their seat.
“The only reason we have even these results is because this period overlaps with the time Agent Galahad was here. The next quarter will likely be even worse.”
The Deputy Director spoke in a firm voice. The implication was that they needed to bring Galahad back.
The other division chiefs nodded. Quite a few of them looked frightened. They were the ones who owed Galahad favors.
The Director’s face twisted completely. It was so red that it looked ready to burst.
“Absolutely not. Never bring that up again.”
Fear appeared on the Director’s face.
Someone the Director of the Intelligence Bureau feared...
Who could it possibly be?
“Anyway, no! Raise the results somehow! If this kind of trash result comes out again, you’d better prepare yourselves.”
The Director spoke firmly and turned away.
Then the Director locked eyes with James, who was standing there awkwardly.
“Who are you?”
At the Director’s cold question...
“I’m Agent James, sir!!”
James shouted at the top of his lungs.
Footnotes:
Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried
