WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Ceaseless
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Northern Grand Duke’s Mad Son-in-Law ◈
Chapter 90: Private Lessons
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‘The Void Magic Tower.’
The Void Magic Tower was the Magic Tower responsible for space among the four first founded by the First Mage.
Now, it was nothing more than legend.
To think that something he had searched for so thoroughly during his Intelligence Bureau days would appear like this...
‘Coming to the North was the right choice.’
“...How do you know Inferno magic? The Inferno Magic Tower should have burned away long ago.”
Fox Mask’s reaction was remarkably sharp. Inferno magic seemed to carry more weight than Galahad had expected.
“It was a gift.”
“That’s impossible!”
“Isn’t the Void Magic Tower, which supposedly fell into the void, right here?”
At Galahad’s remark, Fox Mask ground their teeth. Their behavior really was foxlike. Unpredictable, like a fox that could dart off anywhere...
“Tell me where you got it.”
Fox Mask spoke in a lowered voice. Galahad still could not sense anything from Fox Mask. Because of the mask, he could not even see where their gaze was directed.
Judging by the situation...
‘They’re looking at my head.’
Were they planning to blow it off? Galahad casually spun Hellfire.
“Didn’t I tell you? It was a gift.”
Galahad smiled.
[Calling it trash? How rude. Do you know how hard it was for me to find that?]
It was a strange relic carved into stone rather than a magic book. It was so badly damaged that he had initially thought it was trash.
Even Galahad had spent a long time deciphering it. If he had not been in the Intelligence Bureau, even interpreting it would have been difficult.
He had eventually learned Hellfire, but it was not particularly useful magic.
What Galahad had needed as an agent was magic that was fast and quiet.
Hellfire’s power was undeniable, but it was too slow and required considerable concentration. It was not well suited to an agent.
That was why he had not favored it during his days as an agent.
Galahad pushed Hellfire forward slightly. Fox Mask flinched and stepped back. Galahad watched that unusual reaction closely.
“You’re afraid of Hellfire.”
“Are you insane? It’d be strange not to be afraid when you’re shoving Hellfire at me!”
Fox Mask snapped. In a way, it was only natural, but Fox Mask could manipulate space at will.
Slow Hellfire like this should not have posed a threat.
Fox Mask had deliberately stepped back instead of moving through space. It was the opposite of how freely they had manipulated space until a moment ago.
That meant...
“Ah, that’s it.”
Hellfire burned everything.
Literally everything.
For example...
“It burns space too. That’s why you’re reluctant to use spatial magic around it.”
Fox Mask abruptly stopped at Galahad’s words. They showed no particular reaction.
“What nonsense.”
The area around Hellfire rippled violently. Hellfire swayed roughly as the rippling grew stronger.
“Hmm?”
Fox Mask tilted their head.
The ripples became even more violent. Hellfire shook heavily.
Hellfire shrank slightly.
Fox Mask openly clicked their tongue.
“This isn’t Hellfire.”
Fox Mask cocked their head to the other side.
“Hellfire isn’t this small. It wouldn’t be pushed back this easily to begin with... And a mage couldn’t use Hellfire in the first place, could they?”
Fox Mask spoke faster and faster. Then their head abruptly stopped.
“I created this Hellfire.”
“So you revised it yourself?”
“Restored it, rather than revised it.”
Ha! Fox Mask laughed sharply.
“That’s ridiculous. I don’t know how you obtained a trace of Inferno magic, but you made Hellfire manifest from it? You must be the First Mage.”
“Sorry, but I’m young.”
Fox Mask’s laughter abruptly stopped. Silence passed for a moment, and a chill ran down Galahad’s neck.
“What exactly are you?”
There was no amusement left in Fox Mask’s voice.
“Didn’t I tell you? I’m Galahad, commander of the Special Operations Unit. Your memory is poor.”
This time, Fox Mask did not laugh.
“So, are you a little interested now?”
“Interested? Ha!”
Fox Mask snorted loudly.
“You think Inferno magic is something as trivial as interest? You don’t know what you just did.”
“So?”
Galahad cut Fox Mask off.
“Will you trade?”
Silence lingered. Galahad calculated as he stared into the blackness beneath Fox Mask.
Hellfire burned space too. If things went wrong, he would shove Hellfire toward wherever their gaze was directed.
Then Fox Mask snorted.
“Interesting. But...”
The area around Hellfire rippled violently. Hellfire swayed precariously, and its heat faded.
Mana twisted, and a groan escaped Galahad’s lips.
Then...
“You’re a little arrogant.”
Hellfire disappeared.
The distorted mana crashed over Galahad. His body swayed heavily. He grabbed the Golden Scepter and steadied himself.
‘Impressive. Spatial magic...’
He coughed dryly several times as he studied Fox Mask.
“Well, it’s fine. You can be arrogant after doing that much. But this isn’t something you can learn just because someone teaches you. Even if you did learn it...”
Fox Mask’s voice was filled with ridicule.
“You couldn’t endure it as a human.”
Fox Mask slowly turned. They did not stop at ninety degrees, smoothly spinning in a full circle.
“You’re flexible.”
Fox Mask abruptly stopped at Galahad’s compliment.
The deep abyss where the mask’s eyes should have been stared at Galahad.
Galahad lowered his head and leaned closer. He did not avoid that deep abyss, meeting it head-on as he smiled.
“Are you afraid I might learn it? How disappointing.”
Silence followed for a brief moment.
Pfft. Fox Mask laughed softly.
“You keep making childish provocations.”
Then a searing pain struck Galahad’s shoulder. A small hole had opened in it.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The Egg of Pain shook violently. Fear spread through him.
Galahad recalled the pain from a moment ago. It had only lasted an instant, but he had clearly felt it from the surface. Space had not simply been erased.
“Ah, right. I’ll give you a chance.”
“A chance?”
“I can’t just leave the Ruler alone. I’ll give you a fair chance to fight. After the sun rises ten times.”
He had already intended to deal with the Ruler, and now Fox Mask would personally guide him there...
How kind. Galahad nodded.
“You’ll even guide me there? You’re quite kind.”
Fox Mask paused briefly before continuing.
“Hiding behind the Grand Duke or Adrianna won’t help. It’ll only become rather troublesome. It’s not like I can’t touch you just because you’re beside them.”
Fox Mask was already five steps behind him.
‘Now that Hellfire is gone, they’re using spatial magic again.’
Galahad recalled what he had just seen.
Then Fox Mask suddenly raised a hand.
“Why did you take that?”
Fox Mask pointed at Galahad’s Golden Scepter.
“A souvenir.”
Fox Mask laughed harshly at Galahad’s casual answer.
“You really are interesting.”
Fox Mask vanished just like that. There was no trace, just as when they had appeared.
Galahad scattered mana again. Fox Mask was gone.
Only after confirming that did he let out a rough breath. Strength left his legs. He leaned against the Golden Scepter to keep from collapsing.
He had forced Hellfire into being, and exhaustion flooded through him.
With trembling hands, Galahad put a cigarette in his mouth. A deep lemon scent spread through him.
Only then did his boiling mana settle somewhat. Galahad took a deep drag and recalled Fox Mask.
The one wearing the Fox Mask was clearly a mage from the Void Magic Tower.
Otherwise, they could not have used spatial magic.
The problem was...
‘They’re not a mage. They’re Demonkin.’
That ability was closer to an authority than magic. Yet it was not an authority.
It was like...
‘An authority combined with magic.’
Galahad’s eyes darkened.
They were certainly from the Void Magic Tower. Yet they were Demonkin...
That did not make much sense.
It meant a mage had become Demonkin.
A mage from a Magic Tower founded by the First Mage, humanity’s greatest traitor, had become Demonkin...
‘That doesn’t feel good.’
Galahad slowly exhaled smoke.
Their identity was not what mattered right now.
What mattered more was the spatial magic they had shown him.
Fox Mask said it was not the kind of thing one could learn simply by being taught. That was likely sincere. That was why they had shown it so openly.
Spatial magic was primordial magic, magic from the earliest days.
Current magic, as Fox Mask said, had been “revised” to suit humans.
It had been adapted from something that belonged to Demonkin, so its power had inevitably weakened. In return, it had become more stable and versatile...
It might be difficult for a modern mage to learn primordial magic.
No, it would be difficult to the point of near impossibility.
But Galahad had already restored Hellfire.
For someone like him, being shown it five times was no different from private lessons.
There were quite a few clues. The holes in his earlobe and shoulder, as well as Hellfire...
‘How kind.’
Magic left traces. Even if their spatial magic was close to an authority, it could not help but leave traces.
The traces left on his body were even more effective. That was why Galahad preferred experimenting directly on himself.
‘Hoo...’
Gritting his teeth, Galahad inserted a finger into the hole in his shoulder.
Terrible pain crashed over him. His mind sharpened further. Galahad slowly moved the mana gathered in his finger and examined the trace.
The wound was clean, as though space had truly been erased...
Galahad did not give up and focused on the wound. He recalled when Hellfire had disappeared. What the two had in common was...
‘Air.’
In magic, air served as a medium. It was difficult to imagine air possessing an attribute.
But now, there was clear proof.
Galahad’s thoughts kept turning.
‘How?’
He kept estimating. Imagining. Calculating.
And then...
He reached an answer.
‘Like this.’
Galahad snapped his fingers.
The space a short distance away twisted slightly.
It was only the tiniest crack for an instant...
But it had clearly twisted.
‘This was it.’
The corners of Galahad’s mouth rose deeply.
* * *
‘Why haven’t they contacted me?’
Eight picked anxiously at his nails.
Quite a few mages had gathered.
Mages had eccentric personalities. No, they could not help it. The mages who came all the way to the North were those pushed aside from the center. With people like that gathered together, trouble was inevitable.
The mages had also brought a considerable number of mercenaries. Combined, their numbers were substantial.
They could threaten even the Seventh Battalion.
Even so, the reason the mages remained still was simple.
‘They don’t trust the other mages.’
They were worried about being stabbed in the back. Mages were selfish creatures who cared only about themselves from the start.
Unless something unusual happened, they should be able to hold out a little longer.
‘Right. What could possibly happen?’
Then...
“Th-There’s a big problem!”
An urgent report came from his subordinate. Eight felt a strange unease.
“The mages are moving toward the Demon Realm Training Camp!”
“They’re moving? It’s not time yet.”
“That is...”
Eight narrowed his eyes at his subordinate’s hesitant response.
“Speak quickly.”
“Branch Head Corton secretly opened the Seventh Battalion’s main gate...”
“What do you mean, secretly?”
“Branch Head Corton said he couldn’t keep doing that stupid pickaxe work and headed for the Seventh Battalion with the mages. Corton was in charge of entry today, so they’ve already passed through the main gate and are heading for the Demon Realm Training Camp...”
Eight’s face twisted at the report.
‘Corton! You piece of trash! You just had to cause trouble!’
He had a chance to become Society Head, yet he gathered the mages and charged in because he did not want to swing a pickaxe...
What a complete piece of trash!
Still, something felt wrong.
No matter if Corton was in charge, the Seventh Battalion commander would not have just stood by.
Their numbers were considerable, but if they fought from the fortress, they would not be pushed back this easily.
It had happened too quickly. As though someone had opened the gate for them...
‘Ah, Galahad.’
Galahad had clearly given separate orders.
He had probably told them to open it wide like last time. The reason was obvious.
‘These bastards can’t use magic in the Demon Realm anyway, can they?’
The Demon Realm’s mana concentration was incomparably higher than the North’s.
Mana always flowed from lower concentrations to higher concentrations. If the concentration was excessively high, like in the Demon Realm, the mana used for spells would scatter instead.
Nine out of ten mages would certainly be unable to use magic in the Demon Realm.
Was there anything more useless than a mage who could not use magic?
The problem was...
‘...Corton knows that too, doesn’t he?’
Eight was sincerely impressed.
* * *
“Follow meee!”
Corton shouted at the top of his lungs. Mages filled the space behind him.
So many mages were following his command. Corton felt an indescribable thrill.
When he heard that Magic Stones would determine the Society Head, Corton had worked hard at first, swinging his pickaxe.
Then he realized something important.
What he wanted was not a fair chance...
He wanted quick and easy success!
‘I want to rise without effort!’
But the changed system made that impossible.
To become Society Head, he had to sweat and work hard. It was a truly vicious system.
Then, just as Corton cried out in suffering, an opportunity finally came. A large gathering of mages, mounting conflicts, and desires sharply clashing against each other!
‘The time has come!’
Corton bribed the soldiers and had them step aside. The soldiers who were usually so prickly backed off easily. Even the company commanders moved.
It was proof that Corton’s plan was perfect.
Soon, they reached the Demon Realm Training Camp. It was normally the most heavily guarded place, but there was not a single guard today.
“Why is this so lax? Isn’t it a trap?”
A quiet voice of doubt came from behind him. It was a mercenary brought by one of the mages. Corton paid no attention.
Once the mages saw the Demon Realm, they would not have room for such doubts.
In fact, the mages did not stop. They ran even faster.
They entered the Demon Realm Training Camp. The mages cried out in different ways. One even dropped to their knees and kissed the ground.
Corton stood proudly at the very front.
“I led you all here! If you are mages, you must feel it! The power of this place! Its potential! Trust me and follow me!”
He received none of the response he had expected. The mages were all too busy being overwhelmed.
Just as Corton was about to speak again...
“Close the gate.”
A short command rang out. The gate slammed shut.
Naked soldiers had already surrounded them. Men with only weapons hanging from their waists. Being surrounded by naked men was quite intimidating.
Especially when they were company commanders. And there was even the battalion commander behind them...
‘Why are the Seventh Battalion’s company commanders here?’
Those company commanders were perverts who rolled around naked in the Demon Realm Training Camp every day. Their skill went without saying.
Still...
“Our numbers are greater! I will show you the greatness of magic!”
Corton shouted bravely. It was the spirit of a Society Head.
The problem was...
“Huh? My mana isn’t moving...”
“Th-This concentration is too high. There’s no way we can use magic!”
“It’s a trap! A trap! Damn it! Which bastard...”
The mages could not use magic.
‘Ah! That’s right! Good heavens!’
Corton realized it too late. Magic could not be used in high mana concentrations!
Then...
“Excellent acting.”
A company commander patted Corton on the shoulder.
‘...Acting?’
Corton tilted his head for a moment, then puffed out his chest.
“Hahaha! You fools! You have all fallen for my scheme!”
Corton’s voice was filled with sincerity.
Footnotes:
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