Chapter 14
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: A Healing Hand
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“Quite the intimidating bunch.”
Galahad clicked his tongue softly as he observed the captains.
As befitting their titles, none of them looked like pushovers. Each seemed formidable in their own right.
Given his profession, Galahad could get a rough sense of someone's capabilities just by looking at them. Of course, he couldn't know their exact skill level, but he had a subtle intuition for it.
All the captains here were skilled.
Especially—
“What’s that one’s name?”
“That is Liam, captain of the 2nd Battalion. He is a man of excellent character, with the most followers after Lady Adrianna,” Gilberton answered in a hushed whisper.
Liam. Galahad muttered the name to himself.
“He doesn’t look like he has an excellent character.”
“What do you see?”
“Just a feeling.”
“...”
“You don’t believe me. A feeling is just information sent by the subconscious.”
Galahad memorized the captains' faces, their features, and their weapons. It didn't take long.
Among them, one man was glaring at him.
“And who’s that pig-like fellow?”
“...That is Chartien, captain of the 6th Battalion. He was the last to be promoted to captain.”
Just then, Liam, captain of the 2nd Battalion, concluded the meeting.
“That will be all. Thank you all for attending despite your busy schedules.”
The man from the 6th Battalion shot up from his seat.
“Here comes the pig. Must’ve smelled the candy on me. This could be trouble.”
Gilberton turned his head to the side, the corner of his mouth twitching upward slightly.
The portly man looked down at Galahad with a crooked sneer.
“A pleasure. I’m Galahad, Captain of the Special Task Force.”
He offered his hand in greeting, but the man just snorted and ignored it.
Galahad smoothly redirected his hand toward Gilberton, who reluctantly shook it.
“So in the Empire, they call you a captain even if you only lead a five-man squad.”
“That’s right. How many does it take to be called a captain in the North?”
In response, Galahad glanced slightly over the stout man's shoulder.
“You foolish...”
“If you command a unit, you are a captain.”
The reply came from behind the stout man. It was Adrianna, her voice devoid of emotion.
*Is there a line?*
It seemed they were waiting for the conversation to end. There was even another man standing behind Adrianna.
Spotting Adrianna, the portly man let out a bizarre squawk.
“Are you finished with your conversation?”
“Y-Yes! All finished!”
The man startled and scrambled out of the way.
After offering a nod of thanks, Adrianna fixed her gaze on Galahad.
“Do you have a moment?”
***
*A tough one.*
Galahad murmured to himself as he looked at the expressionless Adrianna.
Her flawless features combined with a stoic expression completely masked her inner thoughts. He had no idea what she was thinking.
“Why did you come to the front? If it’s because of His Grace the Grand Duke, I can send word on your behalf.”
Her voice was remarkably dry, as if she were a person completely devoid of emotion.
“I came because of you.”
Adrianna’s lips, which had been about to form a word, froze.
“Last time, I only heard your side of the story. I never got to state my own terms, did I?”
“Ah, you’re right.”
Adrianna nodded. She straightened her back and met Galahad’s gaze.
“...As you said, it’s true that I’m the reason you were dragged all the way to the North.”
“Yes, I am truly sorry.”
Adrianna bowed her head. The lush crown of her hair briefly caught his eye.
Only after Galahad cleared his throat did Adrianna raise her head.
“I understand you had no choice. I’m not refusing your request to maintain our relationship.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Galahad paused for a moment. Adrianna waited patiently, her posture perfect.
“Just as I’ve agreed to your request, I hope you’ll agree to one of mine.”
Adrianna nodded at once. She was surprisingly quick to consent.
“That is a reasonable demand. I will help you with anything, as long as it is within my power.”
The answer he wanted came quickly.
Galahad stared at Adrianna for a moment. *Beautiful.* He hastily suppressed the admiration. She was a dangerous woman in many ways.
There was only one thing Galahad needed.
“Will you give me your hand when I ask for it?”
“...Pardon?”
For the first time, an emotion surfaced on Adrianna's perpetually blank face.
It was bewilderment.
It was just a slight raise of her eyebrows, but for the ever-expressionless Adrianna, it was a significant display.
“When I ask for it, lend me your hand.”
Galahad desperately suppressed his inner thoughts and spoke as casually as he could.
Unlike before, her answer didn't come immediately.
After a moment's hesitation, Adrianna opened her mouth.
“...It will be painful.”
“I know. I can bear it.”
His sincerity was palpable in his response.
Adrianna’s eyebrows arched a little higher.
Her already large eyes grew even wider. *A person’s eyes can be that big,* he marveled quietly.
“...You could die.”
To say he could die from holding a hand seemed an exaggeration, but the pain from last time had been too intense to dismiss.
However—
“It’s worth the risk.”
At Galahad’s earnest reply, Adrianna’s eyebrows lowered again.
Her eyes, blue as the sky, blinked slowly.
She seemed to be contemplating whether she had heard him correctly.
“I’m serious.”
It was the truth, so there was no need to act. His sincerity filled his voice on its own.
Adrianna’s eyebrows twitched minutely up and down. She appeared to be weighing her options.
*She expresses her emotions with her eyebrows.*
Galahad waited without rushing her.
After a short while, Adrianna slowly nodded.
“Very well. If you need it—”
“I need it now.”
Galahad quickly extended his hand. He had been holding back the urge to do so for a while. He wanted to study that property of hers as soon as possible.
Adrianna’s eyebrows shot up again, as if she hadn’t expected him to ask right away.
“You promised, did you not?”
At his firm tone, Adrianna let out a small breath.
She cautiously extended her hand. If anything, she seemed even more careful than Galahad.
Galahad swiftly grasped it. A faint warmth touched him, followed by an excruciating pain that shot up from his fingertips.
It felt as if every single one of his blood vessels was on fire—a pain that was truly hard to describe.
A pained groan escaped his lips, even though he was someone who had passed the Intelligence Bureau’s torture training with ease.
Adrianna tried to pull her hand away.
“Stay still!”
“...Ah.”
Adrianna’s eyes widened at Galahad’s shout. He paid her no mind and focused on the sensation.
*Where is the mana disappearing to? Is it burning away? If so, by what principle—*
Muttering, Galahad’s head suddenly slumped to the side.
Adrianna cautiously observed the unconscious Galahad.
The blood vessels in his eyes had burst, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. His body was trembling from the pain, and yet—
His face was smiling in utter satisfaction.
When Gilberton entered a moment later, Adrianna hastily hid her hand, which was throbbing from being held too tightly.
“Did this man do something to you?”
“...No.”
“But why is your face—”
“Nothing happened.”
“Ah, yes. Understood.”
Slightly startled, Gilberton tended to Galahad.
***
“As I lifted my heavy eyelids, I was greeted by an ugly face. Hmm, not a pleasant feeling.”
“...You said that out loud.”
“A joke. You’re not so bad-looking yourself.”
Galahad shook his numb hand and sat up. A groan escaped his lips.
*I just can’t get used to the pain of my mana burning.*
He had passed the Intelligence Bureau's torture training with a perfect score, but he simply couldn't endure the pain of his mana being incinerated.
The only improvement was that he hadn't screamed this time, having experienced it once before.
*Passing out every time I hold her hand. People would laugh if they heard.*
Galahad muttered as he shook his tingling hand.
He felt like he was close to grasping it, but it remained just out of reach.
The concept of burning mana was simply too foreign. On top of that, the extreme pain made it difficult to concentrate fully.
“I think I’ll need to hold it about ten more times to get a feel for it.”
“You’ll die if you do that.”
“Everyone dies when their time comes. It’s a matter of whether that death has value or not.”
“And this has value?”
“What could be more valuable than this?”
“...”
Gilberton wore a look of utter exasperation.
Galahad clicked his tongue and checked his condition.
*Still, it’s better than last time.*
Last time, all his mana had burned away, making it difficult to even lift a finger. But now, though faint, a small amount of mana remained.
Galahad flicked his finger. A flame erupted above it, the same size as usual.
At that moment, Galahad felt a very slight discrepancy.
It was so subtle that it would be hard for most to notice, but Galahad, who managed his mana with an almost obsessive sensitivity, could tell.
*The compression speed has increased slightly.*
If mana were a hose, then mana control was the finger pinching it.
The stronger the compression, the higher the density of the mana, which in turn increased the power of the resulting magic.
Ever so slightly, the strength of the finger holding the hose had increased.
*Is it because it was emptied and refilled?*
Facing the demons, the thing he had felt the most desperate need for was mana density.
An increase in mana control meant he could compress it faster.
The cause was undoubtedly Adrianna.
A woman who could increase his mana control and allow him to research a new property of mana every time he held her hand—
*A woman of many talents.*
Could there be a more lovely woman in the world? Galahad felt his heart pound. Was this love?
“Ahem.”
An awkward cough sounded nearby. It was the man who had been standing behind Adrianna at the meeting.
He had dark circles under his eyes and a weary look about him, giving him a perpetually irritable impression.
“I am Mark, captain of the 5th Battalion.”
“A pleasure. I’m Galahad, Captain of the Special Task Force.”
“When this investigation is over, if you have the time, please pay a visit to the 5th Battalion.”
The man named Mark got straight to the point. He seemed like a man who wasted no time.
He then added in a low whisper.
“I have an interest in magic.”
It was a simple statement, but considering he was a captain on the Northern front, it was a rather radical remark.
“We can speak in more detail then.”
With that, Mark said he had other business and rose from his seat. It seemed he had truly come just to introduce himself. A very practical man.
“Mark, what kind of person is he?”
“As captain of the 5th, he’s known for doing whatever it takes. He was once disciplined for trying to tame a monster. He’s a man who generates a lot of talk.”
Gilberton explained with a reluctant tone. It seemed Gilberton didn't like Mark. Then again, Gilberton was far from a practical man himself.
“Dinner is ready.”
Tom opened the door and announced. His face looked somewhat haggard.
“I’d rather not eat what Gwen has cooked.”
“How old are you, being picky about your food?”
“Have you ever eaten Gwen’s cooking? I thought not. That’s why you can make such a reckless statement.”
Galahad clicked his tongue and got up. Still, he couldn’t refuse a meal that had been prepared for him.
When he went downstairs, everyone was seated at the table. Damian had his face buried in his bowl, and Gwen was sitting there in a daze.
Galahad let out a small sigh and sat down. Tom ladled some stew for him. Steeling himself, he took a large spoonful.
As he braced for the impending agony—
“...This is delicious?”
The completely unexpected taste made Galahad’s eyes go wide.
“Ah, is it to your liking? That’s a relief.”
“Tom, did you make this?”
“Yes, Senior Gwen wasn’t feeling well, so—”
“Thank goodness.”
Turning his head, Galahad could tell at a glance that Gwen was not well.
Gwen's hair was sticking up all over. As if she'd been struck by lightning—
He could piece together what had happened. She must have struggled on her own until she couldn't take it anymore and used it once. She might not even be aware of it herself.
*Did she try to imitate Heaven's Punishment?*
Galahad was genuinely impressed.
The formula for Heaven's Punishment was twice as difficult as other spells. The key was to throw a core form and gather the surrounding mana.
Judging by the state of her hair, it wasn't the full spell, but it seemed she had used the basic concept.
*A genius.*
To use a spell after seeing it just once... and without even being conscious of it—
He desperately wanted to cram magic into that adorable head of hers right away, but he forced himself to hold back.
Yank the line too soon, and the fish will get away.
You had to wait until the hook was set.
“Come to think of it, the house is clean. It used to be like a pigsty.”
“...It wasn't quite that bad.”
“Ah, Senior Gwen and I cleaned it together. She taught me a lot...”
“Hehe.”
It was blatant flattery, but Gwen immediately broke into a wide grin. She looked just like a puppy chewing on grass.
“Damian, would you like some more?”
“Yeah.”
Tom refilled Damian’s bowl with stew. He did it quite naturally.
“Listen while you eat. We’re heading out on our first mission tomorrow.”
Gwen began to cough violently. Tom patted her on the back. Galahad waited for her coughing to subside before continuing.
“It’s a mission to investigate the abnormal behavior of the monsters that attacked the 4th Battalion. It shouldn't be particularly dangerous, but it’s best to be careful. This is the front line, after all.”
Gwen’s coughing grew even louder. Damian shot his hand into the air.
“Yes, Damian?”
“Do we have to go?”
Damian asked with the same expression he wore when told he could only have one bowl of stew. Gwen nodded her head vigorously.
Galahad smiled wryly and shook his head.
“If you don’t walk, you get buried in the snow.”
Damian buried his face in his bowl.
Gwen shot her hand into the air.
“If we stay inside, we won’t get buried, right?”
Gwen’s face was full of confidence as she answered, like a dog that had just brought back a bone.
“Then the house will get buried in the snow.”
At Galahad’s reply, Gwen tilted her head.
“Even for the North, I don’t think it snows that much, does it?”
Galahad coughed lightly at Gwen’s question.
“I suppose I spoke too cryptically. I didn’t consider my audience. My apologies.”
“Oh... uh, yes! It’s okay! It happens! You haven’t been in the North for long, after all!”
Gwen accepted his apology cheerfully.
“Anyway, everyone get to bed early. We leave for the 4th Battalion’s area first thing tomorrow. We'll be traveling with Adrianna's people, so don't be late.”
***
“Are you sure we should be doing this on our own? Shouldn’t we get more support from above?”
At the worried voice from his side, Kal scowled.
He was already on edge with this being such a critical time, and the constant stream of ominous chatter was starting to get on his nerves.
“Shut it, Bern. We already got mole-dogs from the master. You want me to ask for more? I might as well ask him to wring my neck.”
“But...”
“What the hell are you so worried about? Did you forget how much effort we poured into this? We ran around the entire front pulling that crap! All that damn crap!”
Kal couldn't hold back his stream of curses. Bern flinched.
He couldn't understand why Bern was being so timid. To lull them into a false sense of security, they had operated using only the mole-dogs, which their enemies looked down on the most.
The two of them, both mages, hadn't even used magic. It was all to make it look like a simple case of bizarre monster behavior.
They had even dug their intended tunnel and then deliberately retreated. The enemy had probably forgotten all about it by now.
Even if something seemed suspicious, searching that vast expanse of land was impossible. Besides, they had concealed it with their own magic.
There was no way the enemy would ever realize it was one step back for ten steps forward.
“Have you forgotten who’s behind us?”
Kal gestured vaguely behind him. The cave, where nothing was visible, seemed especially dark. A shiver ran down Kal's spine.
“At most, they’ll send a search party. You really think a captain-level officer would come all the way out here for a single mole-dog? And even if they did, they wouldn’t be able to find us without a skilled mage. So what’s the problem? What skilled mage would be in this godforsaken North anyway?”
Bern clamped his mouth shut at Kal’s sharp question.
“As long as a captain doesn’t show up with a mage in tow, there's no way we can fail. Now get to work. We don’t have much time left.”
Bern nodded at Kal's sharp glare.
*Nah, that’s impossible.*
The North was short on mages to begin with.
Why would any skilled mage be in the North?
They’d be in the central region, running errands for nobles.
*I was worrying for nothing.*
Bern grinned and readjusted his grip on his staff.
“Once we finish this job, let’s take all the magic stones we’ve saved up, go back to the Magic Tower, and live like kings!”
The two of them laughed brightly, dreaming of their happy future.