WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Ceaseless
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Northern Grand Duke’s Mad Son-in-Law ◈
Chapter 89: Fox Mask
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Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
The Egg of Pain pounded violently without pause. Each beat sent intense fear through Galahad.
The cause was Fox Mask.
The Egg of Pain feared the one wearing the Fox Mask. More violently than ever before.
Unlike the Egg of Pain, Galahad was deeply intrigued.
It was because of the magic Fox Mask had just used.
Fox Mask had appeared while distorting empty space.
That was definitely...
‘Spatial magic.’
The four Magic Towers founded by the First Mage, which had since vanished, were called the Fallen Four Magic Towers.
It was a story passed down among mages like a legend.
Galahad knew it was no mere legend.
Then Fox Mask suddenly stopped and tilted their head ninety degrees.
“Don't tell me you recognized it?”
The space around Fox Mask rippled faintly. There was no doubt. It was spatial magic.
“Did you only just recognize it?”
Fox Mask's question made Galahad realize it was a trap.
A trap he could not avoid.
It was the magic of the Fallen Four Magic Towers. How could he possibly not look at it?
“I never thought the Void Magic Tower still existed.”
“You really did recognize it! Wow, I never thought there'd be a human who could!”
“You used it so openly. How could I not?”
“Most people wouldn't.”
Fox Mask stepped forward.
“And you have the egg.”
A voice came from right beside him. Before he knew it, Fox Mask stood to Galahad's left.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The Egg of Pain trembled without pause. It screamed at him to run immediately.
Galahad casually ignored it.
“While receiving the blessing of a Forgotten One...”
Fox Mask's voice came from his right. When he turned, Fox Mask was standing upside down to his right.
‘So this is spatial magic.’
Galahad's interest deepened. His mouth watered.
“And you recognize this magic too?”
A voice came from behind him. Something poked the back of Galahad's head.
Galahad frowned and turned around.
Fox Mask was already far away.
“Be honest. Are you really the First Mage's disciple?”
Fox Mask tilted their head from side to side, like a child playing around.
Their manner was casual, which made them all the more dangerous.
‘They know the First Mage. Is the First Mage still alive? They think I might be his disciple.’
Galahad's mind raced.
“No, that can't be it. You're an Intelligence Bureau agent, aren't you?”
Galahad frowned at Fox Mask's next words. They knew his identity.
“Could you answer me? Who are you?”
Fox Mask strode forward. Before he knew it, they were standing directly in front of him.
Where their eyes should have been, there was only deep darkness. As though there was nothing beyond it, or as though there was something he should not see.
The hollow darkness stared at Galahad.
So Galahad...
“I'm Galahad, commander of the Special Operations Unit.”
He straightened his posture and braced himself.
Fox Mask abruptly stopped.
“Ah, I see.”
Fox Mask looked at Galahad.
Then a burning pain shot through his left earlobe.
‘My left earlobe is gone.’
Galahad frowned at the cool sensation running down his neck.
‘So this is spatial magic.’
Focusing on the pain, Galahad reviewed what had just happened.
He had not even sensed mana moving. His earlobe had simply vanished as though it were perfectly natural.
Magic consisted of three major stages.
Condensation, calculation, and release.
Gathering mana was condensation. Performing spell formulas and calculations was calculation. Finally, casting magic was release.
Release required a specific action that served as a trigger.
Like Galahad snapping his fingers.
It was not a process that could be omitted simply by compressing the stages.
Fox Mask had made no movement at all.
Galahad could not have missed even the slightest motion.
Then...
‘It's their gaze.’
There had to be something in that gaze hidden behind the mask.
‘Does that make any sense? Their eyes serve as the trigger?’
Fox Mask tilted their head.
“Now, let me ask again. Are you the First Mage's disciple?”
Fox Mask's voice remained relaxed.
“Who knows.”
Galahad curled his lips provocatively.
“What a shame.”
Fox Mask's head shifted slightly. The difference was minute, but Galahad saw it clearly.
He followed the direction of the mask and traced their gaze. It was fixed on his right foot. The instant he confirmed it, he moved.
The spot where his foot had just been sank deeply inward. It had been cleanly erased, as if it had never existed.
Their gaze really was the release trigger.
Galahad was genuinely impressed.
“Wow... You noticed that?”
Fox Mask exclaimed as well. Still, their voice held only mild interest.
‘The space itself disappeared.’
Galahad murmured those sweet words to himself.
Erasing space... It was completely different from burning or freezing something with magic.
‘How can that be possible?’
It was beyond anything Galahad understood.
Of course it was.
It was a technique lost alongside the Fallen Four Magic Towers.
‘I've finally found it.’
The corners of Galahad's mouth rose.
* * *
‘...What the hell is he?’
Fox Mask frowned as they watched Galahad.
They had erased his earlobe as a warning. Blood dripped from his ear, yet Galahad was smiling instead.
“This feels a little unpleasant.”
Fox Mask grumbled and stared at him again.
This time, they intended to give him a proper warning. He had two shoulders, so he could afford to lose one.
Then...
Galahad snapped his fingers first.
Fox Mask clicked their tongue. They knew Galahad's magic was fast. It might be the fastest among mages.
Still, no matter how fast he was, he was a modern mage.
‘I’ll have to make him understand the difference before we talk.’
Fox Mask leisurely waited for Galahad.
Then they sensed something strange.
Galahad had not attacked Fox Mask.
The magic he cast was...
‘Chilly Mist?’
Chilly Mist was one of the basic spells. It created a cold mist to slow enemies within its range.
It was more of a support spell than an attack.
“Wow... You're really impressive.”
Fox Mask was genuinely impressed. Chilly Mist was quite troublesome for them.
“Was I right?”
At the voice beyond the mist, Fox Mask readily nodded.
“Of the things you can do, yes.”
Mist was a straightforward countermeasure against Fox Mask. It was quite troublesome.
But...
That was all.
Fox Mask deeply erased the space in front of them. A small void formed in midair. The deep void greedily sucked in everything around it.
The mist that filled the area disappeared in an instant.
Chilly Mist was a clever choice. Since its temperature was low, it was not easy to clear away.
The gap in power was simply too vast.
What expression would he make in the face of such an overwhelming gap?
‘He'll despair. How sweet.’
Fox Mask could not hide their excitement.
Galahad's reaction was different from what Fox Mask expected.
He...
“Oh, you cleared it away like that. Interesting.”
He was smiling as though he could not bear how entertaining it was.
Fox Mask frowned.
‘He isn't the First Mage's disciple.’
The First Mage disliked people whose brains had melted.
Yet this man had a more melted brain than anyone Fox Mask had ever met.
No, his brain had not merely melted from magic. It had melted completely. The First Mage would never have accepted someone like him.
That made him an even bigger problem.
Someone who was not the First Mage's disciple had figured out Fox Mask's identity.
‘He's too big of a variable.’
He was a variable. A very clear one. Everything about him screamed that Fox Mask needed to get rid of him.
The method was simple. They only had to bring him to the Ruler. Fox Mask had tracked him down with that intention from the beginning.
But...
‘He's interesting.’
Galahad had caught Fox Mask's interest.
Very strongly.
His brain seemed so steeped in magic it had melted. He had recognized Fox Mask's authority. He used the egg like a staff. All of it was interesting.
Most of all...
‘A mage carrying that egg is Adrianna's fiancé.’
That fact properly stirred Fox Mask's interest.
Normally, they would have beaten Galahad into a pulp, handed him over to the Ruler, and covered up the situation.
It was the fastest and simplest solution.
Now, they had changed their mind.
‘This is more fun.’
“Hm...”
Fox Mask let out a low groan.
It was entertaining, but not entertaining enough to make them go through the trouble of dealing with the Ruler.
Then Galahad placed a cigarette in his mouth. The scent of lemon spread thickly through the air. This scent was...
Fox Mask tilted their head.
“Is the Ruler looking for me?”
Galahad spoke first. Fox Mask was slightly surprised.
That question meant Galahad had noticed Fox Mask's presence even when he was with the Ruler.
Fox Mask's interest tilted a little further in that direction.
‘Just a little more...’
If it became just a little more interesting, they could make up their mind.
“I'm rather busy right now.”
Galahad acted relaxed instead.
Fox Mask snorted.
“I'm sorry, but your wishes don't matter. Well, I understand the confidence of the Academy's youngest graduate, but you're still only a mage, aren't you?”
“You speak as if you aren't one yourself.”
“I was once a mage too. But...”
Then a very faint sound reached them.
‘You still don't know your place.’
Fox Mask clicked their tongue and focused their eyes.
The sharp ice that had already reached right before them vanished.
It truly was astonishingly fast. It was hard to believe he was a mage.
“Your speed is certainly impressive. That's why you were such a successful agent. But no matter how fast you are, can you be faster than my eyes?”
Fox Mask kindly explained, but the answer was an Ice Spike.
Fox Mask frowned. The Ice Spikes flying at them one after another were erased all at once.
“You're quite stubborn.”
“Call it resolve.”
His answer was still relaxed.
Then the space around Fox Mask's waist rippled faintly.
When they lowered their gaze, a large Ice Spike was lodged there.
‘When?’
Fox Mask frowned.
The only time Galahad had obstructed their sight was when he cast the mist. Did that mean he had prepared another spell during that brief moment?
More than that...
‘He thought this far ahead from the moment he cast the mist?’
Fox Mask was quietly impressed. He had skills worthy of his confidence.
He had simply met the wrong opponent.
Fox Mask lightly shook their body. The Ice Spike lodged in them scattered apart.
“See? It won't work anyway. Wait quietly. I'm deciding how to dispose of you.”
“Oh, you used spatial magic defensively?”
His best strike had not even left a scratch. He should have been despairing, but his smile only grew wider.
‘Should I just deal with him now?’
Fox Mask seriously considered it.
Then Galahad slowly opened his mouth.
Fox Mask frowned. He was surely about to beg for his life or say something similar. No matter how melted his brain was, survival was a human instinct.
‘That would be boring...’
Contrary to Fox Mask's worries, Galahad did not beg.
No, rather than begging...
“Will you tell me about the Void Magic Tower's magic?”
He boldly made a request of Fox Mask.
‘Huh...’
Fox Mask was quietly impressed. He should have been begging for his life, yet he wanted to learn spatial magic. He was insane beyond all limits.
That only made Fox Mask lose interest.
Strong resolve was entertaining, but someone who did not know their place and only put on airs was boring.
“You're an idiot who doesn't even understand its value.”
“When did I say you should give it to me for free?”
Fox Mask frowned at the unexpected response.
It would not matter how much Galahad offered. Fox Mask's authority was something that could not be assigned a value.
Then Galahad crooked a finger.
“I propose an exchange.”
“Ha!”
The absurdity of it made Fox Mask laugh. Even if Galahad emptied everything he had, it would amount to only a handful to Fox Mask.
“I only played along with you for fun, and now...”
“I'm not finished.”
Galahad abruptly cut Fox Mask off. Even after being shown the difference between them, he acted like that.
As Fox Mask was about to focus their eyes, they felt dense mana from Galahad. Brilliant light burst from the magic circle engraved on his wrist.
‘He's linking the First Magic Circle with the egg? Does that mean he altered the magic circle?’
Fox Mask admired the clever flow. It was certainly remarkable. They had no choice but to admit it. He was so clever that it was hard to believe he was a mage.
‘How did his brain melt like that...? No, can someone only reach that point because their brain melted?’
Then...
“Hellfire.”
A ball of fire appeared before him.
It was a small ball of fire, one that looked like low-tier magic at a glance because of its size.
Fox Mask was rarely flustered, but this time they could not help stammering.
The Hellfire Galahad had cast was...
“Y-You! How do you know the Inferno Magic Tower's magic?!”
It was the magic of a fallen tower...
“Are you willing to trade now?”
Galahad's smile deepened.
* * *
“Pumpkin, do you know about the Fallen Four Magic Towers?”
Pumpkin frowned at First's sudden question.
“Originally, magic was divided into four elements. Fire, water, earth, and air.”
“I'm not interested.”
“The First Mage established a Magic Tower for each, but at some point, they all disappeared. That's why they're called the Fallen Four Magic Towers.”
“I said I'm not interested.”
First continued without caring.
“Magic was derived from the Demonkin, wasn't it? They say early magic had considerable side effects. That's why the First Mage divided it among four Magic Towers. The moment elements mix, humans can't handle it...”
Pumpkin let it go in one ear and looked ahead. Figures in gloomy hoods were busily moving about.
“Unlike modern magic, which developed to suit humans, primordial magic was on another level in terms of power.”
“Be quiet.”
“If I can only obtain the Inferno Magic Tower's magic, the fire of hell, I can defeat Galahad with magic.”
First's voice was full of excitement.
In the end, he was once again imagining himself beating Galahad in a bet.
First often babbled about useless things like that.
“It's filthy. Hold your breath.”
Pumpkin grumbled, but First did not even pretend to hear her.
“Of course, I'll win this bet.”
First held a thick piece of parchment.
It summarized the information Galahad had given him and what the Intelligence Bureau had gathered.
Whenever Galahad was involved, First became someone with a hole in his brain, but his efficiency also rose several times beyond normal.
That was why First could stay so close on Galahad's heels.
Thanks to that, they had such a neat map. Even Pumpkin found it impressive.
It was so neat that she doubted First had made it.
‘Maybe he'll really win this time...’
They had already captured several mages. Galahad, on the other hand, had departed later than them. Adrianna had even headed for the front lines.
“This time will be different.”
First's voice was firm.
It was a very meaningful line, but First said it every time.
As Pumpkin got up to follow him, she felt something strange. Soon, she realized what was wrong.
There were fewer mages than expected.
“Excuse me, aren't there too few?”
“It's within the margin of error.”
“But there have consistently been fewer. Hey!”
First was already running ahead.
‘Ah, it probably isn't anything.’
First and Pumpkin had been moving without sleep.
Even Galahad would not be able to win this time.
Pumpkin shook her head and drew her sword.
‘Ah, my trapezius...’
Muttering a curse, Pumpkin relaxed her shoulders.
* * *
“They came again?”
Eight, wearing a Crow Mask, deeply furrowed his brow.
A dark mage stood before him with their head lowered.
“Yes. This time, they're disciples of a Class Two wanted criminal.”
“What does that...”
Crow hurriedly rose from his seat and went outside.
In the distance, figures in dreary hoods were approaching.
They walked confidently, as though their spirits were high.
That confidence did not last long.
Because people in dreary hoods had gathered here...
‘...Is this right?’
Mages...
No, miners were gathering on their own.
‘Do we have any spare pickaxes?’
Eight was busy amid this unexpected boom.
Footnotes:
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