WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Ceaseless
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Northern Grand Duke’s Mad Son-in-Law ◈
Chapter 95: Purgatory
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‘Hmm.’
Galahad let out a quiet groan.
The Four-legged Demonkin, which referred to itself as “that one,” had bound the Ruler across such an immense distance. It was clearly stronger than the Ruler.
What such a Four-legged Demonkin wanted from Galahad was obvious.
The Emperor’s death.
As long as the goal was clear, it could be handled.
Of course, it would not be that simple.
‘Relentless.’
Being thrown into the depths and torn apart by sharks was not particularly pleasant. The pain was even worse than last time.
“Being burned to death really is more painful than drowning.”
The Four-legged Demonkin silently looked down at Galahad. The sharks retreated, and the abyss vanished.
Galahad lay among the bushes, soaked to the bone.
When he coughed harshly, water kept pouring from his mouth. A fish flopped onto the ground. Galahad threw the red goldfish that had come out of his mouth far away.
The Four-legged Demonkin frowned. Galahad pushed back his wet hair, placed a cigarette between his lips, and snapped his fingers.
Nothing happened.
Annoyed, he shook his fingers. After about five tries, a flame finally appeared. A deep lemon scent filled the air.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
He heard the Egg of Pain beating. It truly was a useless thing.
The Four-legged Demonkin looked down at Galahad with slit, snake-like eyes. Its eyes were fascinating. They looked like jewels, yet also like a viper’s.
[You’re laughing in Purgatory. You’re insane.]
‘Purgatory.’
It was a rather vicious name.
He had been eaten by bugs, burned to ashes, then drowned in the abyss. Since he had experienced horrific deaths one after another in mere moments, Purgatory was a fitting name.
Still...
“Are we doing more? You’re only wasting your strength.”
Galahad’s smile widened instead.
The bushes behind the Four-legged Demonkin shook violently. The trees grew thicker, and the forest expanded in an instant.
The Four-legged Demonkin looked down at Galahad. Its eyes burned with heat.
“Am I doing this for my own sake? I’m going after the Emperor, so what am I supposed to do when the Ruler gets in the way? If you think about it, this is your fault. If you’d handled your job properly, none of this would’ve happened.”
It was true that the Four-legged Demonkin’s failure to deal with the Ruler had made things troublesome for Galahad.
“If you’re telling me to kill the Emperor, the least you could do is provide support. It’s not like the Emperor is James next door. This is ridiculous.”
Galahad clicked his tongue openly.
Flames rose from beneath him. He frowned at the searing pain and waved his cigarette.
“You could’ve done that before I lit my cigarette. You really lack consideration.”
The Four-legged Demonkin stepped closer. The fresh scent of a lush forest spread through the air. Its presence swelled.
[Is that insignificant creature truly the problem?]
‘Insignificant...’
Galahad muttered under his breath. It called the Ruler, a high-ranking Demonkin, insignificant.
“If it’s so insignificant, you should’ve removed it long ago.”
[That is impossible.]
It was the answer he expected.
Binding the Ruler across that distance was already astonishing, but...
“You’re all talk.”
As soon as Galahad finished speaking, countless bugs crawled over him.
This time, they ate him alive.
Galahad examined the bugs. Even their tiny hairs and pointed teeth were vividly detailed.
Such powerful mental interference...
Galahad was impressed.
Soon, the bugs fell away.
“Hmm, this Emperor will die a good death. What a blessing for the Empire.”
Galahad brushed away the traces left by the bugs. The Four-legged Demonkin’s pressure grew stronger.
It was enough to make Galahad’s vision blur.
The pressure was tremendous, but...
“Stop showing off. You don’t have any other choice besides me either.”
The Four-legged Demonkin had come looking for Galahad after he had been driven into the North. There was a good chance it had no other option.
And when it came to killing the Emperor, there was no one more suitable than Galahad.
The Four-legged Demonkin’s pressure vanished in an instant. Galahad no longer felt its oppressive presence.
“Now we’re getting somewhere.”
[...Swear that you will kill the Emperor.]
“I will kill the Emperor.”
The Four-legged Demonkin frowned at his answer, which came without even a hint of hesitation.
“I was planning to deal with the Emperor anyway. Think of it as a partnership. We help each other out.”
The Four-legged Demonkin slowly extended a hand. Its fingers were covered in moss. Red flowers bloomed between the moss, and soon its fingers transformed into extravagant blossoms.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The Egg of Pain beat violently. Its sharp rhythm sounded almost like a hiss.
The Four-legged Demonkin’s gaze lowered. The Egg of Pain fell silent at once.
The brilliant flower tapped Galahad’s forehead.
His mind cleared. His vision opened up. Something difficult to describe settled within him.
It was not mana. It was closer to something of the mind.
A barrier?
He could not identify it, but Galahad instinctively understood.
‘A shield to face the Ruler.’
“You were going to give it to me anyway. You could’ve given it to me sooner instead of wasting both our strength.”
As Galahad raised his head, he frowned.
“You’ve gotten a little smaller.”
The Four-legged Demonkin had shrunk slightly.
[Kill the Emperor.]
The Four-legged Demonkin spoke firmly. Its voice sounded oddly irritated.
With that, it withdrew.
It seemed to think its business was finished.
Galahad had gained something to face the Ruler, so his purpose had been achieved.
Still...
There was more to receive.
“Wait.”
Galahad called after the retreating Four-legged Demonkin. Its brow furrowed deeply.
[Greed is fundamental to human nature, and also its greatest sin.]
A vicious pressure crushed down on Galahad. It seemed deeply offended that Galahad had led it around by the nose.
‘If you’re going to give it, just give it properly. Why get snippy afterward?’
Galahad clicked his tongue and looked around.
This was the strange space the Four-legged Demonkin called Purgatory. Even if he died dozens of times here, only an instant would pass outside. It was possible because this was a mental space.
He would not be able to practice magic here, but that did not make it useless.
So...
“Can I stay here for a while? It seems quite useful.”
The Four-legged Demonkin frowned.
Purgatory was a place of infinite punishment. Even Demonkin feared Purgatory. Yet Galahad called it useful...
[Madman.]
“Do you think I’m doing this for my own benefit? I need to kill the Emperor. You’re awfully stingy.”
[...Stingy?]
“How long can Purgatory last?”
The next question was even more absurd. He was asking how long Purgatory could be used.
[It is infinite.]
“Good. I’ll let you know when I’m done.”
The Four-legged Demonkin narrowed its eyes at Galahad’s bright smile.
No, this was better.
It was true that it needed him, but his spirit needed to be broken.
There was nothing better for that than Purgatory, a prison of endless punishment.
[Idiot.]
* * *
‘It’s hiding somewhere and watching me.’
Galahad clicked his tongue quietly as he looked around.
The surroundings were an empty void filled with white.
He did not have endless time. This place was connected to mental interference, after all. The longer it continued, the greater the strain on Galahad’s mind would become.
He had many things to deal with, so he needed to finish as quickly as possible.
There was only one reason Galahad had demanded Purgatory from the Four-legged Demonkin.
‘Spatial magic.’
The formulas for spatial magic were indescribably difficult.
The reason was simple.
‘Because it was the first magic.’
Modern magic had been revised over generations. Geniuses, ordinary people, and dullards alike had worked on interpreting and developing it. That was modern magic.
Its formulas could not help but be easier. They had been revised to suit humans.
Primordial magic, on the other hand, was little more than an interpreted version of the authority Demonkin used.
Calling it magic was somewhat of a stretch. It had never been magic humans could use in the first place.
‘That’s why Hellfire was so difficult.’
Galahad was a genius. He was certain of that.
Of course, there were quite a few complicated reasons behind it.
He had struggled desperately to learn magic from the age of three. His previous life had been in the sciences, so he was skilled with formulas. He had also forcibly improved his understanding through relentless repetition of magic.
There were many reasons, but in the end, he was a genius. He was certain of it.
Yet even Galahad had struggled with Hellfire for years.
He had thought it was difficult because it was such a high-order spell that it could not be ranked.
That was not the reason.
Hellfire had been, from the beginning...
‘An unsolvable problem.’
It was magic for Demonkin, not humans.
Without knowing that, Galahad had spent years racking his brain over Hellfire. How much effort had he put into it?
[Didn’t I tell you it was impossible?! This isn’t magic! Damn it! What am I, some kind of all-purpose tool?!]
‘I thought they were slacking off. I gave them a hard time for nothing.’
Galahad let out a quiet groan.
‘Well, the result was good.’
In the end, Galahad had found an answer.
No, he had created one.
It had been possible because he did not know there was no answer.
Thanks to that, he had managed to extract spatial magic from the Fox Mask. That did not mean he fully understood it.
Spatial magic was different from Hellfire. Hellfire consumed a horrifying amount of mana, but its power was certain.
Spatial magic, on the other hand...
‘It’s useless on its own.’
The spatial magic used by the Fox Mask had been extremely threatening and powerful, but that was only possible because it was a high-ranking Demonkin.
Galahad, as a mage, could not use it the same way. He might be able to imitate it by filling his blood with highly concentrated mana, but that was not something he could do right now.
It needed to be revised for his present circumstances.
He would dismantle the formula, understand every part, reassemble it, calculate it, then dismantle it again.
Until he completely understood the complicated primordial magic...
It would clearly take a great deal of time.
‘Purgatory...’
Galahad grinned widely.
[Madman.]
* * *
‘He’s late.’
Tom muttered as he looked toward the entrance to the Demon Realm Training Camp.
It had already been three days since Galahad entered the Demon Realm Training Camp alone. Had something happened inside?
He wanted to go in and check, but...
“No one may enter.”
Velogrime, the commander of the Seventh Battalion, stood guard in front of the entrance. He did not allow anyone inside.
He had stopped the shirtless company commanders and soldiers, who were twisting with impatience because they could not undergo Demon Realm training, as well as the Special Operations Unit searching for Galahad.
“I only want to confirm that the commander is safe.”
“Gilbert, I was ordered not to let anyone in.”
“But it has already been three days. If something happened inside...”
“I received orders. No one enters.”
Velogrime firmly cut Gilbert off. Gilbert persisted, but Velogrime remained resolute.
“Damn it! Fuck!”
“Watch your mouth, you bastard.”
Tom knew how horrific the Demon Realm Training Camp was. Not emerging from there for three days was quite dangerous.
Still, if Galahad needed help, he would have brought the Special Operations Unit with him. There had to be a reason he went alone.
‘It’s hard to imagine anyone harming the commander.’
Tom muttered quietly. He was somewhat concerned, but he was not worried about Galahad. Who was supposed to worry about whom, anyway?
“This is how you do magic!”
“What?”
“Like this! Like this!”
Gwen and Damian did not seem worried either. Damian was learning magic from Gwen.
Gwen clenched and opened her hand, making flames appear and disappear in her palm. Damian copied her, but nothing happened.
“Huh? Why isn’t it working? Did you clench your fist properly?”
“I did.”
“Then open it! With all your strength!”
Damian opened his fist wide. Naturally, that did not make fire appear from his hand.
“It doesn’t work.”
“You’re right. It doesn’t?”
Damian’s brows furrowed slightly. Gwen smiled gently.
“Everyone has different talents. But you’re good with a sword, Damian! You’ll become a wonderful knight!”
“I don’t want to be a knight.”
Damian’s face soured.
In the North, being a knight was every man’s dream. It was the most honorable profession. Everyone who wielded a sword wanted to become a knight, yet Damian did not want to be one...
Tom gave a bitter smile.
“Tom!”
Gwen called for Tom with a look asking for help.
“Damian, why don’t you want to be a knight?”
“Because of Gilbert.”
The answer was clear.
So Gilbert received this kind of treatment. Tom chuckled quietly.
“Sir Gilbert is famous on the front lines. He is known as a fine knight who serves Lady Adrianna.”
“But he’s still Gilbert.”
Tom gently explained, but Damian’s face remained sour.
Damian wanted to become a mage. He had even begun studying letters separately with Tom for that purpose.
The reason Damian wanted to become a mage was obvious.
‘It must be because of the commander.’
Galahad was always confident, dignified, gentlemanly, and relaxed. To a boy at an impressionable age, he was fatally cool.
He was also the one who had taken Damian in. Damian clearly wanted to become like Galahad.
Tom thought Damian was more like Gilbert than the commander, but there was no need to say that.
Instead, he began talking about Gilbert. Gilbert was famous in the first place. A quiet, taciturn knight. Many people respected him.
Of course, if one spoke with him at length, he was a little... no, quite different. Still, that did not change the fact that Gilbert was an impressive knight.
“Sir Gilbert’s courage in always standing at the front is an example to every knight. Of course, he can be a little rough, but...”
Tom spoke sincerely about Gilbert. Gilbert was always the one who took the lead. He was rough, but always sincere. Damian’s brows wavered.
“When you were in danger, he was the first to act. He might look like a brute at first glance, but that’s because he gives his all to everything.”
Damian’s expression turned strange. His furrowed brows gradually relaxed.
Just as Tom was about to continue persuading him...
“Damn it! Then let’s settle this like knights! Let’s have a fight!”
Gilbert drew his sword and pointed it at Velogrime.
The moment words failed, he immediately drew his sword...
“Good! That’s what a knight should be!”
Velogrime eagerly accepted. Shirtless company commanders preparing for Demon Realm training rushed over, and a small arena formed in an instant.
“A glorious battle between knights!”
The air heated up with excitement.
“Knight Gilbert!”
Gilbert bravely shouted and adjusted his grip on his sword.
This was an ordinary northern way of resolving disagreements, but from the outside, it was simply a mindless duel.
The situation was not good.
“Magic... Teach me magic.”
Urgency filled Damian’s face. He rarely stuttered.
‘This won’t do.’
Tom let out a small sigh.
Then he spotted a huge white hawk sitting quietly to one side.
It was the hawk of Adrianna, commander of the First Battalion. It had been sitting like that since the day Galahad entered the Demon Realm Training Camp.
It had waited in the same spot for three days.
Tom recalled how Galahad had always replied to Adrianna’s letters immediately.
‘He should be fine, right?’
Would Adrianna, the hero of the North, really be waiting for a reply?
* * *
‘Hmm.’
Adrianna’s brow furrowed slightly.
Normally, Galahad’s replies came quite quickly. Sometimes, they came so quickly that she wondered if he had read the letter and sent a response without thinking at all.
Yet this time, four days had passed without a reply.
‘Was the content strange?’
Had she written something that offended him?
Adrianna thought about it seriously. She had revised the letter five times. She had clearly stated her affiliation and purpose. It was a perfect letter, written according to protocol.
‘Is he busy?’
Galahad was always busy. Since arriving in the North, he had continued distinguishing himself. Still, not receiving a reply for four days...
‘Was it burdensome?’
Thinking about it, perhaps she had sent letters too often. That might have burdened him. Still, he was the man who took her hand without permission. Compared to that, this was nothing.
‘Or did something happen to the hawk?’
If so, should she borrow another hawk and send a new letter? One saying that she had lost her hawk.
Adrianna considered it seriously.
If none of those were the reason...
‘Has he given up now?’
That was possible. She had pushed him away.
It was something she had wanted, yet she felt strangely frustrated.
At that moment, a hawk flew in through the window. Adrianna’s brows rose sharply.
It was not Adrianna’s hawk.
It was a huge red hawk, the Grand Duke’s. Adrianna’s brows lowered again.
“Aren’t you going to open it?”
Adrianna shook her head at her aide’s question.
If it were a letter she absolutely needed to read, it would have been red.
Tap. Tap.
Adrianna stared quietly out the window.
Then a thought suddenly came to her.
“Something might’ve happened... The Ruler has not been dealt with yet. The Ruler may have targeted Commander Galahad. As a commander, I have a duty to confirm his safety.”
Adrianna abruptly rose from her seat.
‘...Who was she talking to?’
Lucienne, Adrianna’s aide, tilted her head at Adrianna’s awkward monologue.
* * *
“Just a little longer, please.”
[How many times have you said that now?]
“It really is the last time.”
[You said that last time too.]
“I mean it.”
The Four-legged Demonkin’s face contorted.
Footnotes:
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