Chapter 15
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Fart
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“The 4th Battalion Captain keeps glaring at me. Am I just imagining it?”
“No, he’s definitely glaring.”
“He must be jealous of my good looks.”
“...The 4th Battalion Captain probably thinks you’re just making a fuss over nothing. While the recent movements of the monsters were a bit unusual, it wasn't serious enough to warrant a full-scale investigation.”
Galahad scratched his cheek at Gilberton's reply.
“He wouldn't mind the Special Task Force being mobilized, but the real issue is that Lady Adrianna is accompanying us.”
Gilberton subtly gestured to one side. A large, white carriage stood there.
“Lady Adrianna doesn't make exceptions, even for other captains. With her visiting, the 4th Battalion Captain is bound to be on edge.”
“So, you're saying it's like I'm dragging a general along for a unit inspection.”
“What are you planning to do? We might not find anything.”
“If we don't have results, we'll just have to create some.”
Gilberton frowned. Galahad patted his shoulder.
“Results are something you create.”
Just then, Tom, who had gone to fetch the carriage, returned. He didn't look happy.
“Isn't this a cargo wagon? How are we supposed to get there in this thing—”
At Tom's grumbling, Galahad examined the carriage. It was certainly smaller than the one they had ridden in before, and it had no windows.
However—.
“It's still just a carriage, isn't it?”
To Galahad, they were all the same. Aren't they all just crude modes of transport with wheels, pulled by horses?
“We're a newly established unit with no achievements or roots, so this treatment is to be expected. If you don't like it, you need to build a track record. Then they'll give us a bigger carriage.”
Gilberton pointed to the 4th Battalion's carriage. Compared to theirs, it was indeed larger, with thicker wheels. Moreover, it was adorned with all sorts of decorations.
Soldiers who appeared to be from the 4th Battalion looked their way and openly sneered.
“Are they really going to ride in that? They'll be dead on their feet.”
“Looks like it's not even covered with leather. They're going to freeze to death.”
Galahad's question remained the same.
Whether it was the 4th Battalion's carriage, the 1st Battalion's, or this one, in the end—.
“It's still just a carriage, isn't it?”
Big or small, to Galahad, it was just a carriage.
It was no different from someone showing off a wooden boat just because they made it bigger and painted it.
“Yes, that's true.”
“That's right. The carriage doesn't define us.”
Tom looked somewhat moved, while Gilberton seemed unconvinced—. It seemed they had misunderstood his words.
What was there to discuss with fools who knew nothing of magic.
Galahad clicked his tongue softly and headed for the carriage.
'Warmth and comfort should do the trick.'
He planned to lay down some basic magic. The most important thing was mana—.
“Wh... why?!”
“Just looking.”
“Your gaze was weird! All sticky!”
Gwen covered herself. She was quite perceptive.
Gwen's mana pool was quite large, and since she didn't use magic anyway, he figured he could make use of it. In the process, she would also get some exposure to mana.
Galahad put a cigarette in his mouth and waved his hand. He planned to use the same principles as creating a magical tool.
Magical tools normally used mana stones. The method involved carving an incantation formula, embedding a high-density mana stone at its center, and drawing upon the mana in the atmosphere.
This time, Gwen was the mana stone. Of course, using a person like a mana stone was a rather difficult spell, but— the caster was Galahad.
A very fine, thin layer of air formed at the tip of his finger. It was magic that compressed a blade of wind. He moved it to carve magic circles in various places.
“Gwen, you sit here.”
“Okay! This feels a little weird! It tickles!”
“Endure it. Oh, and you must absolutely not fart.”
“...I don't normally fart! But now that you've said that, I feel like I have to!”
As Gwen sat down, the magic slowly began to activate.
The once-chilly interior quickly grew warm.
“Whoa… so this is magic. It feels just like sitting in front of a fireplace.”
“Nice.”
“This feels strange… Ughh…”
Damian melted into the seat.
“...Tom, do you know how to handle the reins?”
Gilberton, who never normally handed over the reins, asked in a reluctant voice. It seemed he wanted to come inside where the carriage was warm.
“There's no room for you. Your armor is too bulky.”
Galahad clicked his tongue softly at Gilberton's blatant disappointment.
“If you show me some respect, I'll install one on the driver's seat too.”
“Ah, our esteemed Captain Galahad—.”
“Excellent.”
When he drew a magic circle on the driver's seat as well, Gilberton gave a rare smile.
“So even knights of the North feel the cold.”
“I'm only human. This is really nice. My butt is so warm—.”
“In technical terms, we call that 'ass-warmth'.”
***
'Ass-warmth—.'
Gilberton grinned at the feeling of his warm backside. It was just his butt getting warm, but in this cold, it made a huge difference.
With a monster hide spread over it, he was as warm as could be.
Someone approached from the side. It was a woman on a brown horse with a white saddle, Hartna, a contemporary of his from the 1st Battalion.
“Oh, it suits you quite well.”
Hartna said, her voice laced with ridicule. She had always been unusually jealous of Gilberton. Hearing that he'd been transferred to the Special Task Force, she seemed to have come over, excited to tease him.
Normally, he would have been annoyed, but after spending time with Galahad, this barely registered.
“It suits me? That's a relief.”
Her face crumpled instantly. So this is what it feels like. Gilberton marveled quietly.
“How does it feel, falling from the 1st Battalion to the Special Attack Force? You were so full of yourself for getting into the 1st, and now you've been dropped in one go.”
“It's the Special Task Force, not the Special Attack Force. Can't even remember three syllables correctly. You haven't changed.”
“What?!”
Hartna shrieked. Gilberton felt a strange thrill. So this was why Galahad was so snarky with every word.
“Ha, you've gotten prickly since you were demoted to the Special Attack Force. The shock must have been too much for you.”
“I said, Special Task Force.”
“Fine! Special Task Force! Stop being so damn cocky over a name that's not even worth remembering!”
He had to admit, "Special Task Force" didn't exactly roll off the tongue.
“Because of your stupid decision, you're stuck playing coachman in that shabby carriage.”
'A shabby carriage, huh—. I suppose it does look that way.'
But this carriage was more comfortable than when he'd driven for Adrianna. The only difference was a warm backside, but that made more of a difference than he'd expected. He'd never driven a carriage this comfortable before.
“Anyway, I'm under orders from Lady Adrianna to collect your identification plaque.”
Gilberton stared at the white carriage ahead.
It was true he felt a little hurt, but that was just the kind of person Adrianna was.
Adrianna was a woman who held even herself to the same standard.
Clatter!
Just then, the door flew open violently.
“Damn it! Sir Gilberton! Gwen farted!”
“I didn't! It wasn't meee!”
“Actually, I was the one who farted.”
Gilberton chuckled at the boisterous noise coming from behind him.
“Here, take it.”
Gilberton tossed her his worn 1st Battalion identification plaque.
“You'll definitely regret this.”
At Hartna's taunt, Gilberton laughed out loud.
Regret? He was always feeling that.
***
It was a dark night. A night where the sound of the sharp wind continuously beat against the carriage—.
'Hmm….'
Galahad frowned, sensing something strange.
Gwen started in surprise and shook her head.
“It wasn't me this time! I really didn't do it!”
He felt a strange sensation for a moment. It was a fleeting feeling, but he had definitely perceived it.
Galahad wasn't foolish enough to doubt his own senses. He kicked the carriage door open. Bang! The door swung open violently, revealing the scenery outside.
The surroundings were a forest filled with white. Long, thin trees sped past. Cold air rushed in instantly.
“Did Gwen fart again?!”
“...I didn't! Really!”
Galahad narrowed his eyes, holding onto the carriage door while extending his other hand outside. The wind was so cold it felt like his hand would freeze.
The trees were so dense that the forest was dark enough to see nothing inside. It looked like the kind of place a monster would hide in—.
Galahad flicked his fingers lightly. A series of small flames sparked between them, combining to create a large fire. The massive flame pushed back the darkness.
And what it revealed was—.
“Monsters.”
Wolves with red eyes.
Galahad threw a fireball without hesitation. Just before the fireball struck the wolf, the wolf caught it.
'It caught it?'
Galahad realized the source of his unease.
'The wolf is walking on two legs.'
It was so natural it made him wonder if wolves normally walked on two legs.
“Ambush!!”
A long shout erupted.
“Wh-what is it!”
“Your fart must have attracted the wolves. I told you not to do it.”
“...Whaat?! I'm sorry! When you told me not to, it just made me want to more...!”
Instead of answering, Galahad moved his fingers. Fire gathered once more. It was faster than before. The corners of Galahad's mouth lifted. He had gotten stronger.
“They're Two-legged Wolves! They're weak to fire! They chew people's heads off, so watch your heads!”
shouted Tom, who had already drawn his shield. Damian was visible next to him. He looked just like a puppy right before going for a walk.
“The bad monsters are waiting! Shall we go?”
“Okay.”
Galahad grabbed Damian by the back and threw him outside. Gwen let out a long scream. The airborne Damian rolled across the ground. Pop—! A wolf that had opened its jaws toward Damian was torn apart. Damian emerged from between the pieces, smiling brightly.
“A marvelous skill, no matter how many times I see it! Sir Gilberton!”
“Yes! I'm fine!”
Gilberton was holding the reins with one hand and swinging his sword with the other. The wolves were easily split apart by his brilliant aura.
“Hey! Pick up some of the hides!”
“What?!”
“I said, grab some hides! I need to make a coat! Hey! Tom! Do you know how to make a coat?”
“What? What do you take me for! Of course I can!”
“Excellent! Gwen, don't you move from that seat! There's a barrier spell on it too!”
“Okaaaay!”
Gwen yelled, pressing her hands against the ceiling and her feet against the floor.
Galahad smiled and grabbed the roof of the carriage. He pushed off the floor, and for a moment, the world turned upside down.
Thud! Landing on the roof in one smooth motion, Galahad undid the buttons on his coat and dusted off his hands.
“Quite the acrobatic feat, sir.”
“You've got one behind you.”
“I know.”
Gilberton replied lightly and swung his sword at an angle. The wolf charging at him was split by the blue line.
Wolves were charging from all directions, but the knights and soldiers reacted capably. It seemed to be a more common occurrence than he had thought.
Just then, a pale blue light erupted from behind.
The corpses of the wolves floated into the air. There was no blood anywhere. They were like desiccated husks.
At the center of it all was Adrianna.
Bathed in the pale blue light, Adrianna looked like a goddess descended from the heavens.
Adrianna calmly drew her sword across the air.
A long line was drawn in the empty air.
For a moment, it felt as though space itself had been rent asunder.
'She burned away the mana with her sword—.'
How is that even possible?
Galahad couldn't believe what he was seeing.
The monsters couldn't even touch Adrianna.
No, they couldn't even stand before her.
It was a single sword stroke. The wolves crumbled at the line it drew.
'Unbelievable martial prowess.'
It was a move that showed why she was the greatest adversary of the Demon King.
There wasn't even a hint of exertion on her face. It was as if she had just swung her sword lightly.
He had originally been curious about how the North managed to fend off the monsters, but now his question had changed.
'How were the monsters managing to hold out against Adrianna?'
Her martial might was just that overwhelming.
'I can't get a read on her at all.'
Galahad, who had been habitually imagining how to kill Adrianna, clicked his tongue softly. No matter what method he considered, the calculations wouldn't add up.
She was the natural enemy of all things that possessed mana.
Her indifferent eyes showed no emotion.
With just two sword strokes, the wolf ambush was over.
Everyone was cleaning up as if nothing had happened.
'A rough place, this is.'
Galahad wiped the blood from his face and clicked his tongue softly.
“Two-legged Wolves. They show up whenever things get boring. Their fur is quite warm, making their hides the most popular for coats.”
Gilberton explained, shaking the blood from his sword. In contrast to Gilberton's clean state, Damian was red, as if he had rolled in blood.
'A monster attack right after I felt that subtle sensation—.'
Galahad flicked his fingers and created a mana arrow. It was a spell used for measuring concentration.
Holding it, he headed toward the direction that had felt unsettling earlier. The mana arrow wavered slightly, then shrank in size.
'The mana concentration here is thicker than elsewhere.'
Of course, mana concentration could vary, but there was no reason for it to differ so noticeably within the same area.
'There's something here.'
The corners of Galahad's mouth lifted.
“We should go this way.”
“The path is that way, sir.”
“I'm a pioneer. Follow me.”
“There will be strong opposition.”
Gilberton gestured behind them. The members of the 1st and 4th Battalions were preparing to board their carriages.
To go in the direction Galahad pointed, they would have to abandon their carriages and proceed on foot. There was no way the others would follow obediently.
“Does it matter? Our boss is His Highness the Grand Duke.”
Gilberton chuckled. He seemed to think it was a joke.
Galahad hid his trembling hands behind his back and approached Adrianna. She was sitting quietly with her eyes closed.
Was she reviewing the battle? That flawless fight just now? Galahad was astounded.
“What is it?”
Adrianna asked in an indifferent voice.
“There's something over there.”
“Over there, you mean?”
“The mana concentration is high. A high mana concentration means there's something artificial over there. And—. Could I borrow a map for a moment? Thanks.”
Galahad borrowed a map from a knight standing next to Adrianna and spread it open.
“We're roughly around here right now.”
“How did you know?”
“I have a map in my head.”
The knight next to Adrianna chuckled. He seemed to think it was a joke.
“The watchtowers attacked by monsters are here, here, here, and here. But the one in the center of them is untouched. Isn't that strange?”
“It is strange.”
“Besides, even if we go to the collapsed watchtowers, they'll already be under repair, so we won't find anything. There's bound to be something more this way.”
“There's no road that way, so we can't take the carriages. It would take half a day on foot.”
The knight next to Adrianna interjected again. She was a beauty with a gentle impression. The woman met his eyes and bowed her head.
“A valid point.”
Adrianna nodded.
“That direction is opposite to where the monsters attacked. Going there would just be a waste of time. Besides, it deviates from the original plan, doesn't it?”
Just then, the 4th Battalion Captain approached. His body was splattered with red blood. Galahad analyzed the man based on the traces. He likes to stab—.
Adrianna nodded again.
“The Special Task Force Captain's opinion is a plausible deduction, but it is not enough grounds to change our plans. I apologize, as it is a mage's reasoning and therefore something I cannot fully comprehend. However, operational command of the battalions rests with their respective captains, so if you wish to go, I cannot stop you. We will proceed to investigate the collapsed watchtowers as planned. We will join you afterward.”
Adrianna's judgment was just as he had expected.
Galahad had wanted to move separately from the start. If he went with Adrianna, all the credit would go to that radiant woman—.
The reason he had brought it up to her anyway was for the support she mentioned at the end. If there was something suspicious, Adrianna wouldn't just ignore it. She would surely come back.
If by some chance they encountered a formidable enemy, his plan was to wait for Adrianna.
An agent always digs two burrows.
“Hmph—. The Special Task Force—. They're in for a tough time, having such a foolish captain.”
Unaware of the circumstances, the 4th Battalion Captain snorted and laughed. He seemed to think Adrianna had taken his side.
Unfortunately for him, she hadn't taken anyone's side.
She had simply made a judgment.
The cleanup was over in an instant. Before he knew it, only his squad was left behind.
Galahad quietly surveyed his squad members.
Damian, licking the blood from around his lips; Tom, with a tense expression; Gilberton, looking relaxed; and even Gwen, seriously holding a mop and broom—.
Could a group be any more of a mess?
“Alright, everyone, let's move.”
Galahad smiled faintly.
“...I'm sorry! It was just a little one!! I didn't know the wolves would come!”
***
“Hey, Kal! Someone's coming!”
“Who the hell would come to a place like this! Just hurry up and work! We're almost done!”
“No, they're really coming! There are five of them!”
“Five of them?! We're almost finished with the job. We can't have any loose ends.”
“Then what should we do?”
“Kill them, you idiot!”
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