Chapter 31
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Dear
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‘Our captain is cute.’
Carrot muttered quietly, watching Adrianna freeze up as she held out her hand.
It was a side of her he'd never seen before.
It was surprising that Adrianna, who always wore a blank expression, had such a side to her.
Aside from that—.
‘What a madman.’
Carrot muttered to himself as he took in the situation.
Adrianna's personal unit was as notorious as it was famous.
It was due to Adrianna’s disposition.
On the battlefield, Adrianna was a peerless hero, but off the battlefield, she was a woman who surprisingly required a lot of looking after.
This was because she had no interest in anything that wasn't the Demon Race.
Adrianna’s personal unit was comprised solely of those who had come to serve her and her alone. Some were even more skilled than the captains of other battalions.
Their excessive loyalty, combined with Adrianna's unexpectedly high-maintenance nature, had led to their protection of her growing more and more intense.
If not for the Grand Duke's orders, they would have torn the Crown Prince to shreds.
To play a prank on Adrianna in front of such a unit—. And a childish one at that, the kind only kids would pull.
He didn't need to imagine the unit's reaction. The sounds of swords being drawn and teeth grinding came from all around.
The atmosphere grew taut enough to snap, but—.
“Ah, you look fine today.”
Galahad, however, was relaxed. He was so composed it was as if the surrounding atmosphere had no effect on him.
“Ah— ah. Yes.”
Adrianna answered stiffly.
“But your subordinates are glaring at me. Did I do something wrong?”
Galahad abruptly pointed behind her. Adrianna turned to look.
The men who had been grinding their teeth flinched and bowed their heads, but it was a little too late.
Seeing this, Adrianna's eyes grew stern.
“Lord Galahad is a captain. I believe I told you to show him respect.”
At Adrianna’s reprimand, the men who had just been grinding their teeth bowed their heads.
Carrot let a faint smile slip as Galahad grinned in satisfaction.
‘What a man.’
To be so laid-back in front of her personal unit—.
It was one of two things.
Either he had nerves of steel, or he was completely insane. For some reason, it felt like the latter.
Still, this was her personal unit. They wouldn't let it go, even on Adrianna’s command.
But unlike before, they didn't act rashly. This was because of the stories about Hermun's defeat and the mage who had captured a demon.
The strange tension was broken by the mad Mardian.
“To the Captain of the Special Task Force! I demand a duel!”
Mardian, who went berserk over anything related to Adrianna, rushed out holding a long skewer.
The very fact that the madman had thought of a duel instead of just stabbing him with the skewer showed a remarkable degree of patience on his part.
In the 1st Battalion, dueling was a natural right, so even Adrianna didn't stop him.
‘What’s he going to do?’
Adrianna didn't step in. But if he carelessly refused the duel, his honor would be dragged through the mud.
He watched with a strange sense of anticipation to see how Galahad would handle the situation.
This was the mage who had incinerated a mid-tier demon and defeated Hermun in a single blow. There was also the hope of witnessing his skills firsthand.
The others seemed to share a similar expectation.
However, Galahad's response was not what Carrot had expected.
“My apologies, but I already have a duel scheduled.”
Galahad refused flatly.
“You have a duel scheduled! What do you mean—.”
“I'm scheduled to fight Sir Vandal. Sorry.”
Vandal was the youngest knight who guarded the castle gates. To have a duel scheduled with someone like Vandal—. It was a ridiculous but plausible excuse.
“There's a proper order to things, isn't there? Ah, or perhaps the 1st Battalion doesn't have one?”
“Mardian, follow the proper order.”
“But......!”
“Mardian.”
Mardian backed away, his face looking as if he were about to cry. It was a sign that Mardian was truly furious.
Realizing the emotion on Galahad’s face was not fear but annoyance, Carrot was quietly impressed.
Aside from that—.
‘Vandal is so screwed now.’
****
“What brings you here?”
Adrianna asked in a dry voice.
“I came to see you. Why else would I be here?”
Adrianna’s eyebrows rose slightly at Galahad's reply.
“Ah. Do you have some time? There's something I need to discuss.”
“Yes. I do.”
“You can go get cleaned up first.”
“No, it’s fine. Just a moment—.”
Adrianna took a step back and suddenly conjured her aura.
A brilliant, near-white aura flared up in an instant.
Galahad swallowed hard at the sight of the white aura.
He instinctively knew that the moment it touched him, he would be burned to ash. It was a nightmare for anyone who possessed mana. A deep sense of revulsion washed over him.
Even the Egg of Pain, which had been urging him on moments ago, fell silent. It shut its mouth as if it had sensed the difference in class.
‘I wonder what it would feel like to touch it. Would I be completely incinerated?’
Galahad fought to restrain the hand that was unconsciously reaching out. Touching that would truly be the end. But maybe just a little—.
As he pondered, a question arose in Galahad's mind.
‘Why the sudden aura—.’
The fiercely burning aura sent Adrianna's long hair whipping around her. At the same time, the blood and flesh clinging to her instantly turned to ash and scattered.
‘Don't tell me—.’
He realized it when he saw Adrianna become spotless in an instant.
That deadly aura was just a light tidying up for her.
‘She's a monster.’
Galahad clicked his tongue softly.
“Shall we go?”
Adrianna said, her expression as blank as ever, though she seemed oddly refreshed.
“To think you can shake off the remnants of demons with your aura. That's incredible.”
“It's just a simple trick.”
Galahad clicked his tongue again at her reply.
Aura was the state every swordsman dreamed of reaching. Using that aura to take a shower could hardly be considered nothing.
“That must be convenient.”
“It is. Demon blood is so corrosive that it quickly damages armor, but using my aura to maintain it prevents corrosion.”
Her lengthy response suggested it was indeed quite convenient.
Still, taking a shower with aura—.
‘I’d better not get on her bad side.’
Galahad unconsciously touched his neck before offering a compliment.
“Did I ever tell you that you're beautiful?”
“Pardon? I believe you have.”
Adrianna nodded. To her, being called beautiful was probably as common as a greeting.
Galahad chuckled, a sound like a dry cough.
“Are you finding the North manageable?”
This time, Adrianna asked the question.
“No, it’s too cold.”
As he grumbled, Adrianna looked him up and down.
“You’re dressed too lightly. Of course you’d be cold.”
“These are the only clothes I have.”
Adrianna took off her own coat and offered it to him. It was a clearly high-quality coat made of white fur.
“Would you like to wear this?”
“It's fine. Aren't you cold too?”
“......Pardon? Ah, yes. I understand.”
Adrianna put her coat back on, her expression strange.
‘She doesn't ask twice, does she.’
Galahad grumbled quietly.
****
“This is your castle—.”
There was an inner castle that hadn't been visible from the outside. It was too small to be called an inner castle, and when he asked, she replied that it was where she stayed.
“Demon attacks are frequent.”
“I see.”
Adrianna led him to the headquarters building. The building was on a scale incomparable to the 5th Battalion’s.
Even the soldiers walking around had a different air about them. Not a single one was unarmed. They were all in a state of readiness for immediate combat.
Sharp gazes pierced Galahad.
Some were hostile, others appraising. Among them were a few rare, sparkling eyes. Like Vandal's—.
Adrianna's office was spacious, but there were few items inside. To be precise, there was nothing but the bare essentials.
Adrianna sat with her back straight, posture perfect, and stared at Galahad.
‘Beautiful.’
His heart pounded fiercely just looking at that perfect face.
It was probably because of the Egg of Pain. It had gone quiet after Adrianna's aura shower, but now it seemed to be whispering to him again.
Adrianna's aide, Lunavirn, placed steaming teacups in front of Galahad and Adrianna.
“There's a subversive group that's recently been spreading remnants of the Great Demon War.”
“Remnants of the Great Demon War?”
Adrianna’s eyebrows rose slightly. It seemed to be the first she was hearing of it.
“We found traces of a monster tamer last time, didn't we?”
“Yes, I’ve formed a separate investigation team for that matter.”
“Good. But recently, a mind-controlling demon appeared near the 5th Battalion. An entire company vanished.”
“A mind-controlling demon capable of handling a whole company would be a tricky one, even for a mid-tier demon.”
Galahad nodded, pressing a hand to his chest.
“I’ve discovered that behind that demon is a group spreading remnants of the Great Demon War.”
Adrianna gracefully brought the teacup to her lips. No, she had simply brought it to her lips, but her otherworldly beauty made the action seem graceful.
“They call themselves Dawn.”
Adrianna's movements paused for a moment. The corner of Lunavirn's mouth, which had been fixed in a gentle smile, hardened. The Egg of Pain began its urging once more.
“You know the name?”
Her reply was slightly delayed this time.
“Yes. They are one of the groups that has attacked me.”
Adrianna's voice was still devoid of emotion.
‘One of the groups, she says—.’
It meant Dawn wasn't the only one targeting Adrianna.
Hmm, Galahad let out a small hum.
“Dawn is spreading the remnants of the Great Demon War, and subversive forces are gathering in the North.”
“Subversive forces—.”
Adrianna muttered to herself.
“And in response, demons are appearing here and there. But would demons really come up from the south?”
Seeing Adrianna’s unwavering, blank expression, Galahad anticipated this wouldn't be easy.
“It's clear the front line has been breached. It needs to be inspected.”
“You are correct. I will re-inspect the area the 1st Battalion is responsible for.”
“Shouldn't the other battalions be warned as well?”
“The protocol is to report to His Grace, the Grand Duke, and for His Grace to then issue the orders.”
Her expression was firm. It was just as Mark had predicted. However, beneath that blank facade, there was a strange feeling.
‘She's reluctant to interfere with the other captains.’
He didn't know the reason, but Adrianna seemed to be avoiding getting involved with the other captains.
He could probably force the issue, but it might sour his relationship with her.
There was no need for that.
He had another plan.
“I see. I'd like to submit a report to His Grace. Could you help me with that?”
“Yes, I will lend you my falcon.”
“Thank you. Ah, and I'll need some paper and a pen.”
“Over here.”
Adrianna pointed behind her. Galahad got up and walked to the desk.
The paper was stamped with the seal of the 1st Battalion.
Galahad thought for a moment. A normal letter wouldn't do any good.
‘It’s not like our relationship can get any worse—.’
Nodding to himself, Galahad scribbled with the pen.
He rolled up the paper and stamped it with Adrianna's seal.
*Screee—* A sharp whistle summoned a white falcon. It was enormous, nearly the size of a child. The falcon nuzzled its face against Adrianna.
Galahad handed the sealed letter to Lunavirn.
“What did you write?”
“It's a secret.”
Galahad's lips curved into a smile.
Adrianna placed the letter in a small tube and tied it to the falcon's leg. She then whispered something to the bird, and with a long cry, it disappeared through the window.
Adrianna stood still, staring at the window where the cold wind was blowing in. Galahad watched her for a moment before remembering his next objective.
“Ah, are you entering the demon's territory again tomorrow?”
“Yes, I am.”
“I'll go with you.”
His request seemed to surprise her, as her reply was slow.
“It’s dangerous.”
“It’s fine. I have a long life ahead of me.”
After a moment of consideration, Adrianna nodded.
“Yes, I understand.”
“Is this our first date, then?”
Adrianna's eyebrows shot up slightly before knitting together in a subtle frown.
“The demon’s territory is not a place to be spoken of so lightly.”
Galahad was once again reminded that Adrianna was a woman who didn't get jokes.
Galahad clicked his tongue and stood up.
“Then, would you like to stay for a meal?”
“Ah, it’s fine. I have a prior engagement.”
Adrianna's eyes widened as Galahad declined cleanly and left the room without a second thought.
“.........?”
Just a moment ago, he was talking as if he were looking forward to a date—.
......He was a difficult man to keep up with.
Adrianna fiddled with her cold teacup for a long time.
****
“Captain Galahad is said to have taken down two black mages, one demon between mid and high-tier, and sixteen mole-rats. It is predicted that if they had been left alone, the damage would have been as severe as the incident with the 7th Battalion.”
“Suspicious activity has been detected in the 4th Battalion. Judging by the opening of a mana stone field, it appears they have joined hands with black mages.”
“Mark, Captain of the 5th Battalion, has publicly announced an alliance with the Special Task Force.”
“The 5th Battalion reportedly lost an entire company due to a mind-controlling demon. Captain Galahad resolved the situation.”
The Grand Duke was known to be uninterested in politics, but the reality was different.
The Grand Duke was not an ignorant beast but a seasoned hunter. It was because he was seasoned that he only pretended to be a beast.
Everything that happened in the North reached the Grand Duke's ears.
“Hmm—.”
The Grand Duke hummed softly. Theodore, who was delivering the report, stopped talking and bowed his head.
‘Galahad—.’
His name had appeared most frequently in recent reports.
A mockery sent from the Empire, a filthy mage, Adrianna’s fiancé—. He was a man of many titles.
The Empire had likely expected the Grand Duke to kill him.
Instead, the Grand Duke had established the Special Task Force and put the man in charge.
He had given him a chance. Prove his worth and survive, or die a miserable death.
The North was a place where danger lurked at every step. It was a harsh place for a newcomer from the Empire to survive with a unit of only four mages.
In a way, it was a punishment worse than being thrown into a dungeon.
Contrary to his vassals' expectations that he would die quickly, Galahad did not die.
No, he had even distinguished himself.
It wasn't as if he hadn't faced danger. The demons Galahad had encountered were more dangerous than they had anticipated.
It was just that he had overcome them all and survived.
“Interesting.”
The Grand Duke spoke in a low voice, laced with amusement.
“So he's no ordinary man.”
The Grand Duke said softly. Theodore’s mind raced.
If the Empire hadn't sent Galahad simply as a sacrificial lamb to create a pretext—.
‘That can’t be.’
Theodore shook his head slightly.
“His achievements must be recognized. What should I give him?”
The Grand Duke's muttering was tinged with laughter.
Stopping two demon incidents that had occurred within the North was a great achievement.
Theodore, too, was curious about what kind of reward the Grand Duke would bestow.
Just then, a massive falcon flew in through the window. A smile appeared on the Grand Duke's face at the sight of the large, white bird.
There was only one falcon that flew directly into the Grand Duke's chambers. It belonged to his only blood relative, Adrianna.
The Grand Duke's face, which had been perpetually grim since Adrianna had left without even seeing him on her last visit, finally brightened.
The corners of the Grand Duke's heavy lips lifted high. He carefully untied the tube from the falcon's leg.
As he unfolded the paper and read it, the Grand Duke froze.
His deep eyes moved very slowly. He read the letter several times.
And then—.
“Hoho.”
He let out a low laugh. The suppressed laughter made Theodore’s hair stand on end.
‘He received a letter from Adrianna, so why on earth—.’
Theodore pressed his head to the floor.
The Grand Duke flicked his finger. The folded paper shot out like an arrow and embedded itself in front of Theodore. To embed paper in stone—it was an absurd display of strength.
“Read it.”
At the Grand Duke’s command, Theodore unfolded the letter.
The calligraphy was so magnificent it seemed alive. To think such a script existed—. It was a marvelous style that elicited admiration just by looking at it.
Momentarily mesmerized, Theodore quickly read on.
The letter was short.
[To my dear and respected father-in-law. This is Galahad, Captain of the Special Task Force. I did not have a falcon of my own, so I borrowed Adrianna's. I humbly regret to inform you, but it seems the front line has been breached. At first, I was confused whether this was the North or the demons' backyard. Haha. I heard the walls of the North were high and sturdy, but I suppose that's how rumors are. Still, this is my in-laws' land, so I will do my best. I am reporting my arrival at the 1st Battalion. Sincerely, Galahad, Captain of the Special Task Force.]
‘...Is he insane?’
Theodore dropped the letter.
Not even the Emperor would dare address the Grand Duke in such a way. What in the—? Did he want to die? This wasn't just mad; this was a whole other level of insanity.
“The demons' backyard, he says.”
At the Grand Duke's tightly controlled voice, Theodore hastily bowed his head to the floor.
“Send a messenger to each of the captains. In seven days, you will send another.”
“If a breach is found then—.”
“Tell them I will rip out their heads and use their spines to plug the hole.”
The vassals could only gulp.