Chapter 1
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Kept Man
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1. Kept Man
‘I can do this. I graduated from the Academy with top marks, and I’ve built a solid network. I can do this.’
James muttered to himself as he stared down the gloomy gray hallway.
His shirt, buttoned tightly to the top, felt prickly, but James was in no state to care.
Today was the day of his long-awaited interview with the Intelligence Bureau.
And what a place the Intelligence Bureau was. It was where only the most brilliant of the continent's geniuses gathered. It secretly moved the Empire, and its existence was known to only a select few.
One couldn't just walk into the Intelligence Bureau. An applicant needed to have graduated from the exclusive Academy with top honors or have achieved a feat renowned throughout the continent just to be considered.
And that wasn't all. One had to pass a thorough background check and a practical exam that mirrored real fieldwork. Just making it to the interview was a miracle. And James desperately wanted to seize this miracle.
“Fuck’s sake, seriously.”
A gruff curse broke the silence. He looked up to see a black-haired man sitting across from him.
With his unbuttoned uniform, slumped posture, and a face full of irritation—he was clearly a man brimming with discontent.
But all James could see was the man’s uniform.
‘…An Intelligence Bureau agent!!’
It was his first time seeing one.
The Intelligence Bureau was an organization shrouded in mystery. In fact, he hadn't encountered a single person throughout the entire process leading up to this interview.
To think this man, who looked to be around his age, was already an agent. James’s eyes sparkled.
“You need something?”
the man asked, his voice laced with annoyance.
“Ah… No, sir! I was just admiring you!”
James answered, hastily straightening into a formal posture. If he got in, this man could be his senior.
“Taking it out on a newbie… This sucks.”
The man scowled and pulled out a cigarette, placing it between his lips.
“Want one? It’s the good stuff.”
“No! I’m fine, thank you!”
The man didn’t offer again. A red flame flickered to life above his fingertip.
“…A mage!”
James’s eyes widened. A mage working as an Intelligence Bureau agent!
“First time seeing a mage?”
Instead of answering, James snapped his fingers. A small spark crackled around them.
“So you’re one of us.”
“I look forward to working with you, sir!”
The man clicked his tongue softly. Gray smoke drifted from his lips. He had a peculiar expression as he looked at James.
“Why the Bureau, when there are easier paths?”
The man’s question was valid.
Typically, a mage graduate would join the Magic Tower. If not that, they would enter the service of a noble family.
This was because mages were better suited for research and development than combat. The money and honor to be gained in those fields were overwhelmingly greater.
James had received plenty of offers from the Magic Tower himself. The reason he had turned them down and applied to the Intelligence Bureau was—
“I wish to devote my life to the glorious Empire!”
It was one of the anticipated interview questions, so James answered without hesitation. The man’s brow furrowed. Was that the wrong answer?
“…Your mana is leaking a bit. The compression is a little weak.”
“Compression, you say?”
“Like this.”
The man snapped his fingers again. A spark ignited at his fingertip. At a glance, it looked the same as James’s, but James could recognize its precision.
“You can achieve the same efficiency with less mana!”
“Right. They don’t teach you that at the Academy. The bookworms think mana efficiency is useless. But in the field, efficiency is what matters. How long does it take you to refill your mana?”
“About three days.”
“That’s way too long.”
“…Excuse me?”
James’s eyes went wide. He was actually fast compared to his peers.
“Don’t just mindlessly refill your mana. Calculate its density as you store it. You take three days because you store it thoughtlessly, like breathing.”
‘Calculate the density while storing mana?’
Just formulating the incantations to cast a spell was enough to make his head split, and now he was supposed to calculate mana density? Did that even make sense? James nodded anyway.
“If you calculate and memorize the mana density beforehand, you can use just the right amount you need. Then you can do things like this.”
The man snapped his fingers in quick succession. Sparks flew one after another. What started as one instantly multiplied, forming the shape of a small flower.
A flower made of lightning. Its intricacy left James in pure awe.
“This works wonders on the ladies. You should try it. They’ll fall for you.”
“…Ah, is that so.”
“Got a girlfriend?”
“We broke up before I came here.”
“Because of the Intelligence Bureau?”
“Yes.”
“You’re an idiot.”
“What?”
The man exhaled a long stream of smoke. A refreshing lemon scent filled the air.
“You can’t date once you’re in.”
“That’s fine! I plan on marrying the Empire!”
“Did you ask for the Empire’s opinion?”
“…Pardon?”
The man laughed, almost like a cough.
“Alright, anyway, if you get into the Bureau, just remember one thing.”
“And what is that, sir?”
“Close your eyes and shut your mouth. Just do what you’re told. You’ll move up that way.”
The man narrowed his eyes. It almost looked like he was smiling, but the corners of his mouth weren’t turned up.
Just then, the door to the side opened, and a woman stepped out. She was a beauty with a cold expression, and James instinctively sat up straighter.
“Galahad, how many times have I told you not to smoke indoors?”
“This is a mana cigarette.”
“So?”
“It smells nice.”
The woman smirked and gestured with her head toward the room. Clicking his tongue, the man rose from his seat. James stared up at him blankly.
“Try not to get divorced, kid.”
“…Huh? Yes, sir!”
The man clapped James on the shoulder before walking through the door.
James mumbled the name ‘Galahad.’ Where had he heard that name before…
‘…The youngest graduate in the Academy’s history!’
The name finally clicked, and James’s jaw dropped.
Galahad was a figure recorded in the annals of the Academy.
Most mages graduated from the Academy at the 2nd Rank, or the 3rd Rank if they were exceptional. But Galahad had not only graduated at the youngest age, he was already at the 4th Rank upon graduation.
So this is where he went after disappearing so suddenly.
‘He joined the Intelligence Bureau.’
It all made sense now. To think he had met such a legendary figure. James let out a small “Yes!” under his breath.
This was the Intelligence Bureau, after all. The place where only the most brilliant of geniuses gathered to guide the Empire.
Just then, a harsh voice came from inside the room.
“Fuck, are you telling me to be some kind of kept man?”
Galahad’s voice made James’s eyes go wide.
He quickly glanced up at the door. In large letters, it read ‘Deputy Director’s Office.’
To be swearing so crudely inside the Deputy Director’s office…
‘So cool.’
James’s eyes sparkled.
‘I have to get in!’
James clenched his fists, pumping himself up.
He wanted to work under the amazing Galahad.
***
“Galahad, how is marrying the Grand Duke’s eldest daughter the same as being a kept man?”
The Deputy Director furrowed his fleshy brow. Galahad took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
“It’s the same thing, isn’t it? You know what kind of person the Grand Duke’s daughter is.”
“I do. The youngest Sword Master, is she not? And she’s set to inherit the title of Northern Grand Duke in the future. That would make you the husband of the Northern Grand Duke. What exactly is the problem?”
The Deputy Director chuckled. His brazen attitude made Galahad’s blood boil.
Back when the Empire was founded, the Grand Duke was truly a Grand Duke. The sole Duke of the Empire, second only to the Emperor in power.
The problem, however, was his location in the North. The North bordered the territory of the Demon Race. The Grand Duke had to fend off their constant assaults, and as a result, his power was dwindling by the day.
On top of that, the ignorant northerners despised mages, considering magic a byproduct of the demons. The Grand Duke’s domain was the only territory without a Magic Tower.
Sending Galahad, a mage and an Intelligence Bureau agent, there was tantamount to a death sentence.
However, Galahad was the Deputy Director’s most prized asset. He wouldn't discard him with his own hands.
“Where did this order come from?”
The Deputy Director’s face grew grim as he pointed a finger upward. He had never acknowledged the Director of the Intelligence Bureau, seeing him as an appointee from above. For him to point up meant the order came from the very top.
“It was your father’s doing.”
“Fuck! Seriously! That son of a…”
Galahad couldn’t hold back his curses. He immediately understood how things had transpired.
Galahad was the third son of a Count.
The nobles here, to prevent the dilution of their power, passed everything down to the eldest son. In some cases, this even involved killing all other sons.
Reincarnated as a nobleman's son, Galahad had realized his predicament at a young age. And so, he had desperately studied magic.
Studying was nothing new; he’d done plenty of it in his past life.
After all, Galahad had gotten into a prestigious university back in Korea. Compared to the tedious college entrance exams and university studies, magic produced visual results as he learned. It was incomparably more fun.
Besides, the basic magic formulas were about as complex as the advanced mathematics he had learned in his past life.
Thanks to that, he graduated from the Academy at the youngest age and even joined the Intelligence Bureau. He thought he could finally kick back and relax, but—
‘It wasn’t enough to not support me, now they’re selling me off? Son of a bitch.’
It was a purely political, arranged marriage. Galahad’s sharp mind quickly concluded that there was no way out. It was a dead end.
‘This is so fucked up.’
Having finished his calculations, Galahad sat down across from the Deputy Director and put a cigarette to his lips. The Deputy Director’s eyebrows shot up, but it didn't matter. He wasn't his superior anymore.
“Galahad—”
“What?”
“Give me one too.”
Galahad scowled at the Deputy Director. Well, what fault did the old man have? He took a cigarette from his pocket and handed it over.
“A light.”
“What era are we in? You can’t even use simple magic?”
“You try getting old. See how hard it is to learn new things. A light!”
Galahad clicked his tongue and lit the Deputy Director’s cigarette.
“A man your age, smelling of lemons. Lemons, I say.”
“You sure complain a lot for someone bumming a smoke.”
The two of them sat in silence, puffing away on their cigarettes.
The Deputy Director didn’t look too pleased either. Galahad had been his key player, so now he was left with nothing.
“Why didn’t you ever get married? You’re old enough.”
“I’m married to the Empire.”
“Your hatred for the Empire is so famous even I know about it.”
“You hate your wife too, don’t you, sir?”
“You have a point.”
The two shared a small laugh.
“It won’t be for long.”
the Deputy Director said, his voice heavy with exhaustion. His hands and feet had been cut off, so to speak. There was no way he could call Galahad back.
“It’s fine. I’ll find my own way back.”
Galahad shook his head and stubbed out his cigarette.
“True, you are popular with the ladies. In fact, Jamit likes you too.”
The Deputy Director pointed to Jamit, who was standing beside him, and grinned mischievously. Jamit’s face contorted into a deep frown.
“I knew it. Sorry, Jamit, but workplace romances aren’t my thing.”
“…Give me one of those, too.”
And so the three of them sat side by side, puffing away for a good while. The silence was thick, but their minds were all racing.
“You should buy her some candy or chocolate. Women like that sort of thing. They probably don’t have any in the North.”
Jamit said, blowing a smoke ring.
“Candy, huh. I’ll remember that. Oh, the kid outside should be useful.”
“The one outside?”
“The carrot-looking rookie.”
“Carrot?”
“I think he means the interviewee.”
“Ah, right. But Jamit, why the informal speech… It’s fine, of course. How long have we worked together? Haha. So, did he seem any good?”
“Yes, said he was going to marry the Empire.”
“That’s what you said in your interview.”
Galahad smiled bitterly.
Had he said that? He might have. Everyone says things like that in an interview, don't they? How much they love the company, how they'll dedicate their lives to it. It was something along those lines.
“Anything else you want to know?”
The Deputy Director asked, leaning back in his chair. The eyes that had once shone with justice and ambition when Galahad first met him were now filled with weariness and fatigue.
Galahad watched him for a moment before speaking.
“So, is she pretty?”
This time, the Deputy Director laughed out loud. He laughed until he was out of breath, wiping tears from his eyes as he nodded.
“They say she’s the greatest beauty on the continent.”