WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Ceaseless
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Northern Grand Duke’s Mad Son-in-Law ◈
Chapter 94: Grandchild
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‘Gulp.’
Venesis swallowed dryly. For some reason, his throat felt scratchy.
“Are you nervous?”
The deeply hooded figure beside him asked in a voice full of aged wisdom.
“Yes, of course I’m nervous. How could I not be when I’m meeting the Grand Duke? Isn’t he the man who fills his belly by chewing Demonkin meat and snapped an imperial envoy in half because the envoy stood too stiffly?”
“Ha ha. He must have had a reason. He’s not such a bad person.”
“...That was true?”
“Hmm.”
At the hum, Venesis quickly checked his posture. He straightened his back as much as possible. The figure beside him chuckled softly.
“Don’t worry. As long as you aren’t from the Empire, a Demonkin, or a mage, he won’t tear off your head.”
“That’s a relief. I’m a human knight of the Kingdom Alliance.”
Only then did Venesis let out a sigh of relief. At that moment, a cold, blade-like wind brushed against him. Venesis pulled his coat tighter.
“The North really is cold. How do people live in a place like this...?”
“Do you think the cold is the problem?”
Just then, the castle gates opened with a harsh groan. Snow sprayed out in a long stream as the massive gates swung open. Soldiers appeared all along the walls, and their presence was overwhelming.
‘What an incredible force.’
The soldiers carried themselves differently from those elsewhere. Their eyes burned as though fire might burst from them, and they looked ready to swing their swords at any moment.
‘So this is the North, the Shield of the Continent.’
To avoid the Empire’s eyes, they had traveled in merchant carriages and reduced their guards and servants to a minimum.
They followed a soldier inside. Along the way, they changed clothes twice. By the end, they even had to wear armor like soldiers.
It was incredibly troublesome, but no one complained.
After all, the person they were about to meet was the Grand Duke.
“Show respect for the Shield of the Continent, but do not fear him.”
“Yes, I understand. I’m Venesis, an agent of the Kingdom Alliance.”
Venesis thumped his chest. It was a playful boast, but not a joke. The Grand Duke might be powerful, but Venesis was capable in his own right. There was no reason to be intimidated.
“If only he were here...”
Venesis let out a low hum at the quiet murmur. It was a story he had heard often.
There had once been a man who suddenly appeared in a kingdom. He was so capable that the once-weak kingdom had risen to become the core of the Kingdom Alliance.
But then...
‘He vanished without warning.’
It had been serious enough for an emergency to be declared throughout the kingdom. They had searched for him ever since, yet had not even learned his name.
Just as quietly as he had appeared, he disappeared.
Recently, though, they had obtained one piece of information.
That he had come from the Intelligence Bureau.
They eventually learned that it had been an imperial operation, but they were still searching for him.
“We’ll find him soon.”
At that moment, the door burst open with a bang.
A clammy darkness filled the room beyond.
‘What an atmosphere.’
Venesis stepped inside first. Before him appeared the head of a massive Monster. Its horrific face was twisted in agony.
‘The Grand Duke displays the heads of Monsters and Demonkin in his room...’
He had heard it several times before coming here, but seeing it in person was different. There were not one or two heads. The room was full of them.
The pressure was immense, but...
‘I am the face of the Kingdom Alliance.’
Venesis raised the corners of his mouth instead.
Was this meant to intimidate him? Childish.
Then he heard a strange sound beside him. It was the cry of a beast, and it echoed heavily through the room. When he turned his head...
A gigantic Monster stood there.
It had four legs like a horse, but each of those legs was wrapped in flames.
It also had five eyes. They were so vicious that Venesis’s heart dropped just from meeting their gaze. Blood dripped from the corners of its mouth.
It was unmistakably a Monster.
A living one.
The real problem was what sat atop it.
The rider’s bare upper body was covered in thick muscles that looked harder than iron armor. Rough scars covered them.
The figure was so enormous that Venesis had to tilt his head back. Faced with that crushing presence, he instinctively gripped the hilt of his sword.
Yet he could not draw it.
“Hmm.”
A low hum, like the breathing of a savage beast, escaped.
The Monster’s gaze turned toward Venesis. Its large eyes made him feel as though it were about to tear him apart and devour him.
“It has been a long time, Grand Duke.”
‘...Grand Duke?’
Only then did Venesis realize that it was a person.
It did have the shape of a person. Two legs and two arms.
But how could a person possibly be that huge?
And...
‘Why is he riding a Monster inside his room?’
Looking closer, Venesis saw that the entire ceiling had been torn down.
As if it had been demolished solely so the Grand Duke could ride that Monster.
“I didn’t expect a king to come in person.”
At the Grand Duke’s mocking voice, the figure beside Venesis removed his hood.
He was a man with pure white hair and a thick beard, one of the kings of the Kingdom Alliance.
“The East is too hot, you see. I’ve become more sensitive to heat in my old age.”
Farhansta laughed heartily. The Grand Duke raised the corners of his mouth. His massive fangs were chilling.
Venesis swallowed dryly.
“Get to the point.”
The Grand Duke’s words were brief.
Farhansta was a king, no matter how great the Grand Duke was. Yet he acted like this...
Farhansta’s expression stiffened slightly.
Still, he quickly regained his smile.
“I heard there will be an engagement ceremony.”
The Grand Duke nodded once.
‘So it was true.’
Farhansta was mildly surprised. It was well known that the Grand Duke cherished his daughter.
“If it is because of pressure from the Empire, the Kingdom Alliance will help you.”
The Grand Duke furrowed his brow. He had only furrowed his brow, yet the air rapidly grew colder.
“Pressure from the Empire.”
The Grand Duke gently stroked the Monster’s head. The Monster let out a long scream. Flames poured from its mouth.
It was not the reaction Farhansta had expected. He frowned.
The Grand Duke’s daughter was engaged to an imperial noble and mage.
The man possessed every trait the Grand Duke hated. Since the Grand Duke’s daughter was holding an engagement ceremony with such a man, Farhansta had assumed there must have been pressure from the Empire.
The North normally never moved.
Thinking this was an opportunity, Farhansta had come in person.
Yet that reaction...
Farhansta continued, frowning.
“It has been decades since the Emperor disappeared. The Empire has lost its head. The Kingdom Alliance, on the other hand, has grown even more solid. We are no longer the Kingdom Alliance of old.”
Farhansta spoke firmly. The Grand Duke stared at him. Farhansta did not look away.
He had to show the Kingdom Alliance’s strength.
For example...
“Recently, the Empire ordered us to marry the Princess. We refused.”
Refusing the Empire’s marriage proposal meant their side was united enough to do so. At the same time, it meant they had the power to refuse an imperial order.
Of course, there were various political reasons behind it, but there was no need to explain them.
‘That should be enough of an explanation.’
Just as Farhansta was about to smile...
The Grand Duke’s eyes narrowed further.
As though he disliked that the Princess’s engagement had been called off.
‘He dislikes that the Princess’s engagement was broken off? Why?’
The unexpected reaction made Farhansta anxious.
“I heard the Grand Duke’s daughter is engaged to a mage. She possesses a nature that burns mana, so isn’t that an excessive match? Recently, someone with remarkably little mana appeared on our side.”
Growing impatient, Farhansta quickly revealed the cards he had.
The Grand Duke’s eyes narrowed.
“You should at least see your grandchild.”
A heavy silence fell.
Farhansta swallowed as he watched the Grand Duke.
The Grand Duke’s face remained indifferent. His thick skin revealed none of his thoughts.
Then the Grand Duke slowly opened his mouth.
“She chooses her own partner. I only give her the opportunity.”
His voice was firm.
There was no room to press further.
“If she has chosen them, I do not care whether they are a slave, someone from the Empire, or a mage. Even if they are Demonkin.”
The words that followed were quite shocking.
Marriage was an important matter. There was no alliance tighter than one bound by blood.
An alliance was marriage’s most valuable use.
Yet he was leaving such a marriage entirely to his daughter.
Farhansta could not understand it.
The Grand Duke closed his mouth.
It was a clear dismissal.
“I will return for the engagement ceremony. With the one without mana.”
Farhansta quietly withdrew.
* * *
‘Fool. To accept such treatment.’
The Grand Duke frowned as he watched the king of the Kingdom Alliance leave.
The words he had just heard came back to him.
‘A grandchild.’
A grandchild who resembled Adrianna would be very lovely...
The Grand Duke gently closed his eyes.
Then a thought suddenly occurred to him.
For there to be a grandchild...
[Ha ha, Father-in-law.]
The Grand Duke furrowed his brow deeply.
* * *
“This should be enough.”
Galahad smiled faintly at the ripple gathered in his hand. It could not be called perfect, but it was a satisfying result.
He shook his hand and erased the ripple.
He had used magic all day, yet he felt better than ever. He was refreshed.
It was thanks to Gwen.
Gwen’s mana replenishment was quite... no, shockingly useful.
It made him want to dock Gilbert’s pay and give it to Gwen instead.
But...
“You are my joy~ You are my blue flower~.”
It was rather embarrassing to have her sing like a nightingale against his chest.
“Gwen, what are you doing right now?”
“They say it’s good to sing like this when you’re carrying a child!”
Gwen’s eyes sparkled as Galahad let out a low hum.
“Hmm, this is not a child. And I am an adult man.”
“Yes? So what?”
Galahad was briefly speechless.
“...Your values are quite open-minded.”
“Hehe.”
He had no idea where to begin correcting her. Galahad clicked his tongue and tapped out his cigarette.
Then hunger rose within him. His body felt good thanks to Gwen, but he could not ignore his hunger.
As he entered the tavern, a savory scent filled the air.
“Ah. Please sit.”
A bowl of steaming stew was placed before him.
It was Tom.
Galahad had thought Tom was learning swordsmanship with Gilbert and Damian earlier, but he had cooked as well.
“Tom, you are the best.”
“I’m grateful just to hear you say that.”
“I mean it.”
Tom smiled awkwardly and stepped away. Galahad picked up his spoon.
Just as he was about to eat the stew, the door burst open.
It was Damian, filthy as though he had rolled around in the dirt.
Damian hurried over and reached for the bowl first. Then his eyes met Galahad’s, and he froze.
“Sit down and eat with a spoon.”
“Yes, Brother.”
“Wash your hands too.”
Damian swallowed and sat down. Gwen went over, rolled up his sleeves, and poured water over his hands.
The door opened again, and Gilbert entered.
Unlike Damian, he was only slightly disheveled.
Even so, there was a faint trace of fatigue on his face. It was different from when he had faced Damian before.
“You damn brat. Did you throw your sword aside and leave? Your sword is your lover.”
“I’m going to date women. Swords are pathetic.”
“What?”
“I’m handsome, after all.”
“...‘I’m’? What do you mean by that?”
Gilbert’s already narrow eyes became even narrower.
“Sir Gilbert, why are you fighting with a child?”
“No, this damn brat...”
“I’m not a brat. I’m Damian.”
Gilbert’s body trembled. Damian focused on his meal.
“Damian has been talking so much more lately!”
Gwen said excitedly.
“As if he has...”
Gilbert frowned. Tom placed a mug of beer in front of him. Gilbert cleared his throat and picked up the mug.
“That one has gotten cheeky.”
Gilbert complained to Galahad, making him chuckle.
“He is still a child.”
“Do you know how polite I was at his age? I polished boots ahead of time and took full responsibility for maintaining swords.”
Damian had already buried his face in the bowl. He still held a spoon, perhaps because he had some sense left. It was nearly useless, though.
“Why are you scolding a child who is doing such a good job?”
“I’m just saying. Just saying...”
By then, Galahad had cleanly emptied his bowl.
Looking at it, he snapped his fingers.
A small stream of water washed the bowl clean. Damian’s eyes sparkled.
“Why bother doing that?”
“A great person leaves even the place he stayed in beautiful.”
“...The only person who calls himself great is you, Commander.”
“Because it’s true. That was good, Tom. As always, excellent.”
Galahad straightened his collar and stood.
“Are you going to use magic again?”
Gilbert asked, sounding a little fed up.
Galahad shook his head.
“No. I’m going to visit the Demon Realm Training Camp.”
“Why are you going there?”
“There’s something I need to collect.”
“...Something to collect? Is someone there?”
“It’s a secret.”
Gilbert’s face crumpled at Galahad’s answer.
Then Damian jumped to his feet.
“I want to come too.”
There was still stew left in his bowl, yet he wanted to follow.
It was unlike Damian.
Galahad raised the corners of his mouth.
“I’m sorry, but I intend to go alone.”
Damian immediately looked dejected at Galahad’s refusal.
“Finish eating. I’ll be back soon.”
Galahad left the tavern and headed for the Demon Realm Training Camp.
The nearby soldiers saluted with loud, spirited shouts. Galahad returned each salute as he walked.
Before long, he arrived at the Demon Realm Training Camp, where the elderly commander of the Seventh Battalion waited.
“Have you cleared out everyone inside?”
The Seventh Battalion commander quietly nodded.
“Thank you. Do not let anyone enter.”
Galahad stared at the open door for a moment.
The Demon Realm Training Camp’s range was noticeably smaller than before. Even the concentration of ash seemed thinner than last time.
‘Did he really drink it all away?’
Galahad clicked his tongue at First’s barbaric training method. Then he quietly tapped out his cigarette.
Fox Mask had said that in ten days, Fox Mask would take Galahad to the Ruler.
That meant Fox Mask was confident.
Of course, Galahad had no intention of refusing.
Why would he refuse an opportunity to catch a high-ranking Demonkin?
That did not mean he intended to report it.
There would be no point in reporting it in the first place.
Fox Mask had confidently said that even Adrianna and the Grand Duke would not matter.
It was probably not a lie. Galahad knew spatial magic, so he could be certain.
Fox Mask would not be able to capture those two, but killing Galahad near them was possible.
That was spatial magic.
Still, Galahad had not withheld the report because he feared Fox Mask.
‘That bastard is mine.’
Galahad’s eyes darkened.
Even if the Ruler was a high-ranking Demonkin, Galahad had faced this one before. He was certain he had a chance of winning.
The Ruler had vanished without leaving a trace last time as well. If he reported this for no reason, the Ruler might flee.
That did not mean Galahad planned to go in recklessly.
‘Ten days, was it?’
Did Fox Mask think Galahad would wait quietly?
What a joke.
‘I will find the Ruler’s location first.’
Support would come after that.
It was the cleanest and most efficient method.
As always, Galahad simply chose the best option.
Even if his own life was at stake.
And if he did this...
“They’ll have to give me something.”
Galahad stepped into the Demon Realm.
A deep darkness enveloped him. Galahad put his cigarette between his lips.
Then, taking a deep drag...
“Well, this is troublesome. I want to catch the Emperor, but a huge problem has come up. A vicious bastard called the Ruler is targeting me. At this rate, I might not be able to catch the Emperor. Ah, what a difficult situation.”
He smiled broadly.
As Galahad raised both hands and complained...
The ash-filled place changed into verdant thickets.
[What the hell do you think I am?]
Footnotes:
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