WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Ceaseless
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Northern Grand Duke’s Mad Son-in-Law ◈
Chapter 91: Teach
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‘Hmm...’
Galahad flicked the ash from his cigarette and let out a low murmur.
Magic was the act of using one’s mana to move the mana in the air, give it an attribute, and perform miracles.
Spatial magic worked differently. It did not use the mana in the air.
‘It wasn’t moving space itself, but using mana to push space.’
Mana flowed from areas of low concentration to areas of high concentration. Spatial magic worked by moving highly concentrated mana to wherever one’s gaze was directed.
That was why Galahad’s Ice Spike had been so easily blocked. Fox Mask had spatial magic wrapped around their body.
It resembled magical targeting. It was similar to choosing where lightning would strike when using Divine Retribution.
‘No, this must be the origin of targeting.’
“Oh.”
Galahad quietly marveled at it. It was endlessly fascinating.
Still, the problem returned to the beginning.
‘Highly concentrated mana is essential.’
He thought he understood why Fox Mask had been certain Galahad would be unable to use it.
This was not magic for mages.
It was magic for Demonkin.
‘What a joke.’
Hadn’t Demonkin been the origin of magic in the first place? Magic meant for Demonkin, of all things.
“What are you doing out here?”
Gilbert’s voice broke through his thoughts.
“No, where did your earlobe go this time? And what’s with that hole?”
“Tuition.”
“What? Put this on first.”
“What is it?”
“Bone Splinter Monster dung. It’s good for healing wounds.”
Gilbert held out a white, sticky liquid.
“It smells terrible. Take it away.”
“Stop complaining and put it on.”
“That’s enough.”
Galahad took a small bottle from his inner pocket. It was a potion the Princess had given him.
“What’s that?”
“It’s called a potion.”
“Oh, is this one of those? The ones that cost a fortune?”
“Very expensive. More expensive than melted gold.”
“It’s only an earlobe. Isn’t it a waste to use such an expensive potion?”
“Only?”
Clicking his tongue, Galahad dabbed some potion onto his hand. He applied it to his earlobe first, then poured the rest into the hole in his shoulder.
Potions were the reason the Church existed. Their effectiveness was unquestionable for the price.
There was one drawback, though.
They hurt like hell. It felt as if someone had poured salt into his wounds and seared them with fire.
“Mm.”
His body trembled slightly from the pain. Galahad clenched his teeth and circulated mana. It further accelerated his recovery.
The pain, which had lasted only a moment yet felt eternal, slowly faded. He exhaled deeply and straightened up. Sweeping back his disheveled bangs, he adjusted his collar.
Fresh flesh had already formed over his wounds.
“Wow. Is that even possible?”
“There’s a reason it costs so much. Since I’m a mage, I recover faster.”
“Mages recover quickly?”
“Because we use mana.”
“Ah, mana.”
“You don’t have to pretend you understand, Sir Gilbert.”
Gilbert’s lips twitched. Galahad checked his body.
His insides were a mess from overusing mana, but it was not the worst possible state. That was enough.
‘Ten days.’
Fox Mask had given him ten days. It was both a long time and a short one.
‘I’ll have to get busy.’
Galahad quickened his pace, with Gilbert attending him from behind.
“Ah, go fetch Gwen.”
Gilbert seemed curious why he suddenly wanted Gwen, but simply nodded without asking.
* * *
“I am a mage! I will not bow to violence!”
“Damn it! It was a trap! You shameless bastards!”
At the commands of the Seventh Battalion company commanders, the mages rolled around in a ridiculous manner.
‘This won’t work.’
Eight narrowed his eyes.
Mages had strong egos. They were not the sort to submit easily to physical pain.
Forcing them around physically was only a short-term solution.
“There are quite a few.”
A relaxed voice sounded at that moment. It was a dry observation, as if looking at fish caught in a trap.
Eight hurriedly adjusted his Crow Mask and lowered his head.
Galahad casually passed him by.
“One acknowledged by the Grand Duke!”
The company commanders gave sharp salutes. The mages who had been rolling around turned toward Galahad.
“Pleasure to meet you. I’m Galahad, commander of the Special Operations Unit.”
Galahad greeted them casually.
“Galahad?”
“That Galahad?”
The mages spoke in skeptical voices. They all seemed to know him.
Naturally. Galahad was the hottest name in the North, especially among mages.
“I am the Galahad you know. Now, everyone, get up.”
At Galahad’s command, the mages rose as though possessed.
Their gazes varied. Longing, resistance, jealousy, all sorts of emotions filled their eyes.
“My name is Galahad. I was the Academy’s youngest entrant and youngest graduate. In short, I’m an incredibly impressive mage.”
A small commotion arose at his confident introduction, but Galahad continued without caring.
“I am currently the Northern Grand Duke’s son-in-law. I have received the Grand Duke’s recognition, and I serve as commander of the Special Operations Unit.”
This time, they could not hold back their cheers.
These were mages who had toiled in the North. They knew how poorly mages were treated here, so the Grand Duke’s recognition seemed to strike them deeply.
“How difficult it must have been in the North, where no one understands the greatness of magic. I know your hardships. You only pursued magic, yet how much persecution and contempt have you endured?”
Galahad continued smoothly, and the mages were visibly shaken.
“The North is a land of opportunity. No, I will make it one.”
Strength filled Galahad’s voice. Combined with his confident attitude, upright posture, and the name Galahad, his words carried weight.
‘He’s right.’
The North was a barren land for magic. Galahad was the only mage connected to the Grand Duke in such a place.
In other words, Galahad was the strongest and most reliable connection they could have.
Only then did the mages realize the situation, and their expressions became complicated.
Galahad silently flicked ash from his cigarette. He seemed completely at ease.
Silence lingered for a moment.
It had been a sufficient explanation, but mages were twisted people. One of them even pushed back.
“There’s been no news of you since you graduated from the Academy! Didn’t the Grand Duke recognize you for political reasons?!”
It was a fairly reasonable objection. The other mages nodded.
Galahad had truly worked as an Intelligence Bureau agent, but outwardly, he had done nothing.
The convincing objection prompted other mages to rise as well.
“You’re right. Doubt is a mage’s virtue. Mages do not need to speak at length. Here, use magic.”
Galahad pointed at the man. The man’s face twisted.
“You trapped us and now tell us to use magic! Are you mocking us?”
“A trap? Don’t tell me you can’t use Mana Compression?”
The man hesitated as Galahad openly clicked his tongue.
“No matter how much I compress it, there is no way I can use magic at a mana concentration like this!”
It was a reasonable point. Unless it was a magic circle laid down by the First Mage, it was impossible to use magic in the Demon Realm, where mana concentration was so high.
“Really? Then what is this?”
Galahad’s response was simple. He snapped his fingers.
A thick spear appeared before him. It was an Ice Spike.
Heavy silence fell at the clear evidence.
“Ah, is it too far away to see? Take a closer look.”
Galahad spoke leisurely and waved his hand. With that casual gesture, the Ice Spike shot swiftly toward the mage.
“Argh! You crazy bastard!”
The mage who had been putting on airs screamed and fell backward. Those around him also cried out and retreated.
The Ice Spike stopped directly before the mage’s face. It was only a finger joint away, and the mage’s mouth hung open.
The fact that he could use magic here already showed an overwhelming difference. On top of that, he possessed the skill to stop it right before someone’s face.
No mage resisted any further.
Instead, their eyes filled with desire. Mages would sell even their souls for magic. Heated gazes poured onto Galahad.
The faint ember of his cigarette illuminated Galahad’s face.
“Let me introduce myself once again. I am that Galahad.”
Heavy silence followed.
Galahad casually flicked ash from his cigarette as he continued.
“Ah, and...”
The corners of his mouth curved deeply upward.
“I will be the master of the Magic Tower that will be built in the North.”
A Magic Tower in the North.
It was shocking news. Despite its groundbreaking nature, his voice remained flat, as if it were nothing of note.
“A Magic Tower in the North? How...?”
“Was that what it meant to receive the Grand Duke’s recognition?!”
An uproar broke out. The weight of a Magic Tower was never light.
Considering the North’s nature, it would surely become the only Magic Tower there.
The only Magic Tower in a North rich with high-quality Magic Stones.
No one here failed to understand its value.
“Will you seize this opportunity?”
Everyone fell silent at Galahad’s dry question.
The eyes of the mages, who had not broken even under that harsh training, softened.
Of course they would.
What Galahad had offered was not a threat.
This was...
A perfect temptation they could not refuse.
Heavy silence settled over them. It was as though the sound of their thoughts turning could be heard.
The one who broke that strange standoff was...
“I... I’ll take it! I’m Corton! We’re fellow Academy alumni!”
Corton stood there with a pickaxe in each hand.
At Corton’s desperate dash, the mages hurriedly began moving.
* * *
“Unlike the rotten Magic Towers in the central region, my Magic Tower will be run transparently. Ranks will be determined by the amount of Magic Stones you bring in. You will be judged by the weight of your sweat. And if you bring in mages from outside...”
The conversation continued smoothly. There was no need to explain how good an opportunity this was for the mages.
Most of them were mages who had failed to enter a Magic Tower. Galahad targeted that point precisely.
They could enter a Magic Tower established by the Academy’s youngest graduate.
For those who had struggled in the North, it was a desperately needed opportunity.
There was one problem, though.
“Doesn’t the Emperor have to approve the establishment of a Magic Tower?”
The Emperor’s permission was required to establish a Magic Tower. Otherwise, Magic Towers would have sprung up everywhere.
“Ah, don’t worry about that. It’s as good as approved.”
It was an odd answer, but his voice was full of certainty. Everyone nodded.
“Could you perhaps teach us something?”
At that moment, one mage suddenly raised their voice. The mages around them openly clicked their tongues.
Most mages treasured and concealed their knowledge as if it were treasure. That was why mages without Academy backgrounds resented the Academy. Academy mages did not share knowledge.
“You said it was a Magic Tower! Of course we can ask for instruction!”
Everyone clicked their tongues at the shameless remark, but Galahad nodded.
“Oh, that sounds interesting. If there are a hundred people, there are a hundred flavors of magic.”
When Galahad agreed, another uproar broke out among the mages.
That Galahad would teach them personally.
It was priceless.
“Then let’s go outside. Would you open the gate?”
“Yes, one acknowledged by the Grand Duke!”
Galahad gave the soldiers an order, and they noisily opened the gate.
With his long legs, Galahad strode out through the castle gate. The mages rushed after him, their eyes sparkling brightly.
When he reached a suitable clearing, Galahad turned around.
Not knowing what awaited them, the mages began scrambling over each other to be taught first.
“I asked first, you bastards!”
“First come, first served!”
Mages were always thirsty for learning. These people had even been driven out of the central region, so they had no choice but to be even more desperate.
And that Galahad had said he would teach them.
Of course they would cause a commotion.
“Calm down. I’ll assess all of you.”
He would assess all of them.
The mages were genuinely moved. Eight stepped back.
A bald mage came forward first.
“I am Hamur, disciple of Belze.”
“I’m Galahad. Show me the magic you are most confident in.”
“Against you? My specialty is fire magic, and its power is considerable.”
“Ah, it’s fine. Do your best.”
Galahad nodded lightly. Hamur furrowed his brow. His pride seemed wounded.
No matter how low its rank, magic was still magic. Its power could not help but be formidable.
That was why mages usually set up a target when teaching magic and discussed the result.
Yet Galahad was telling him to cast magic directly at him.
It was excessive arrogance.
Hamur bit his lip and adjusted his grip on his staff. His loose robe fluttered.
“Fire risen from hell, fire that burns all things...”
“Wait, is that a chant?”
“...It is?”
“Chants should use words that are easy to associate with. What magic were you planning to use?”
“Flickering Flame.”
“You recite such a grand chant for a mere fourth-tier spell?”
Hamur’s expression became complicated at the harsh criticism.
“Are chants not a matter of freedom?”
Hamur answered with his lips pressed tight. His pride seemed badly hurt.
“What you just did was not freedom. It was sloppiness. Fine, go ahead.”
Hamur’s face reddened as he recited the chant again.
“Fire risen from hell, fire that burns all things...”
His voice was quieter than before.
“Flickering Flame!”
A massive flame rose from Hamur’s hand. The spreading heat was considerable. Even to Eight, it seemed like decent magic.
The watching mages murmured in admiration. Hamur’s shoulders rose slightly.
Galahad only clicked his tongue.
“It must be warm. It would be nice to keep in an inner pocket.”
At Galahad’s strange assessment, Hamur swung his hand.
The massive flame rode the wind and flew forward. It was a splendid spell, like a wildfire breaking out. The swelling flames seemed ready to swallow Galahad whole.
“No, I was wrong. You couldn’t even use this as a hot pack.”
Galahad clicked his tongue and snapped his fingers.
The flying fire stopped in place. A breeze from Galahad gently pushed it away.
The flames returned toward Hamur.
“W-What is this...?!”
Hamur fell backward in shock. The flames barely passed over him, and the scorching heat warmed the surrounding area.
“No matter how cold the North is, do you really use magic this warm? You must get cold easily.”
Hamur’s face turned pale at Galahad’s biting words. Hamur ground his teeth and gripped his staff.
“From hell...”
“You really love hell.”
“...Stone gathered in hell.”
Hamur’s face grew redder by the second.
“Explosive Fireball!”
Explosive Fireball.
It was a rather troublesome spell, because blocking it with a barrier would cause an explosion and secondary damage.
The mages murmured in admiration.
Galahad’s reaction remained biting.
“Explosive Fireball at this distance? Are we playing catch?”
Galahad clicked his tongue and snapped his fingers. An Ice Arrow shot forward.
Ice Arrow was a lower-tier spell than Explosive Fireball. Yet when the Ice Arrow struck the Explosive Fireball precisely, the situation changed.
The Explosive Fireball detonated in front of Hamur. Hit head-on, Hamur rolled backward across the ground.
“You recite flashy chants, so the spell’s concentration is terrible. That thing is exploding trash.”
Explosive Fireball might have been slow, but hitting a flying spell with another spell was a feat close to divine skill.
Galahad, the one who had done it, looked dissatisfied.
“You have developed a very bad and strange habit, but since the one teaching you is capable, it will be fine. You are Grade 3. Bring one hundred Magic Stones and three new members... no, three new mages, and you will become useful.”
Galahad said something strange. Hamur, blackened with soot, bowed his head deeply.
“Next.”
No one stepped forward.
It was only natural. After watching that harsh display, how could anyone volunteer?
Galahad did not seek their agreement.
“You are all so shy. Then, starting from the left.”
“On second thought, I’m fine...”
“Oh, are you planning to show us defensive magic?”
“No, I said I’m fine... Argh!”
“Here, a light Ice Spike.”
“How is Ice Spike light...?! Aaaah!”
“Hmm, you are Grade 3 as well. Bring one hundred Magic Stones and three new mages.”
The mage blankly nodded.
“Next member... no, next mage!”
For some reason, Galahad’s smile looked chilling.
Footnotes:
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