Chapter 34
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: The Miasmic Realm
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‘Hmm, it’s quieted down.’
Galahad muttered softly to the now much calmer Egg of Pain.
Having failed to harm Adrianna despite using all its power, the Egg of Pain had fallen silent.
He had intended to put it in its place, but now that it was too quiet, Galahad felt a pang of worry.
The Egg of Pain, which refined the blood of the Demon Race, was a major asset to Galahad's power. It wouldn't do for it to feel helpless and give up.
‘That was only because she was at her best. If we increase the mana's density and wait for her to let her guard down, things could be different. Don't give up.’
The Egg of Pain remained silent.
‘I'm telling you, we can do it. It'll be difficult, of course, but not impossible if we work together.’
Galahad encouraged the Egg of Pain. To think a remnant of the Great Demon War would get so disheartened by a single failure—it was absurd.
‘We have the blood of the Demon Race, don't we? We can go further. It's too soon to give up.’
At his continued encouragement, the Egg of Pain trembled faintly.
Galahad brought the flask to his lips. The Egg of Pain stealthily drew some of his blood.
As it did, its faint vibrations seemed to ask a question. Could they really defeat that monster?
‘Nothing in this world is impossible. Not if we join forces. In return, you'll have to trust me more. If you throw a tantrum like this time and fail, you'll only put her on higher alert. That's a huge hindrance. The most important thing for a mage is a cool head.’
Galahad emphasized the word ‘trust’ several times. The Egg of Pain vibrated a little more strongly.
Its fighting spirit seemed to be returning. Galahad drained the flask in one go. The Egg of Pain drew his blood more vigorously than before.
‘We can do this. I will trust you, so you must trust me.’
The Egg of Pain responded by emitting a long stream of mana. Its density was thicker, and the volume was greater than before.
However…
‘I saw you produce more than this earlier. Are you still holding something back?’
The Egg of Pain vibrated violently, as if in protest. When Galahad didn't respond, a trickle more of mana emerged.
The Egg of Pain trembled slightly, as if grumbling about having to give this up too.
‘It's about trust. We're literally one body now, aren't we?’
The Egg of Pain stopped dead. After a moment of silence, it gave a slight nod.
His successful persuasion brought a smirk to Galahad's lips.
Just then, Adrianna, having finished cleaning up, approached him.
“Using me as a conduit to exterminate the demons and fiends… It was a brilliant tactic.”
Adrianna's eyebrows were lowered ever so slightly.
“A tactic only possible because I trusted you.”
“Don’t worry. You can unleash as much as you want.”
Seeing Adrianna without so much as a scratch, the Egg of Pain fell silent again.
Galahad inwardly soothed the Egg of Pain. You can do it… The Egg of Pain vibrated with renewed vigor. It was a surprisingly high-maintenance creature.
“Ah, I need to refill my flask.”
“You’ve used it all already? I’ll help you.”
“It’ll be easier to draw from the wrist than the neck.”
“Oh, I see. Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“Being like this, it really feels like a date.”
“This is not a date.”
Due to the sheer number of demons, there was leftover blood even after filling all his flasks.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m short on flasks.”
“Ah, would you like to borrow mine?”
Adrianna rummaged around and pulled something out. It was a high-quality flask, with an unidentifiable image embossed on the front.
He examined it closely, but he couldn't make out what it was supposed to be.
“It’s a cat.”
“It has eight legs.”
“There are two of them.”
After her explanation, he looked closer and could just barely make out the feline shape.
“I don’t know who made it, but their skill is atrocious.”
“……”
Adrianna's eyebrows dipped slightly.
“Did you emboss this?”
“…I did it when I was young.”
“Aha, I see.”
Galahad gave the flask a little shake. It was filled with milk. Not wanting to waste it, he drank it before filling it with blood.
By the time he was done, Adrianna was already far off, giving orders.
“Why do you keep drinking demon blood?”
“You should try some. It’s good for you.”
“Really?”
Galahad handed her the flask. She put it directly to her lips and drank. Galahad winced at the complete lack of decorum.
“Blech—! This tastes awful!”
“Things that are good for you usually taste bad. If it tasted good and was good for you, it would have been gone long ago.”
“…Hey, isn’t that Lady Adrianna’s flask? That one’s not very old.”
It seemed Adrianna’s claim about making it as a child was a lie.
‘She must not have any other talents.’
Galahad muttered to himself as he filled the flask.
“We’ll help too.”
The other knights approached, each holding their own flask.
“Oh, thank you. Press here, the blood comes out well. I’m counting on you.”
The knights nodded with strange expressions on their faces.
The sound of retching could be heard from here and there.
“Such weak stomachs.”
Galahad clicked his tongue softly.
Gilberton, who had tried a second time, threw up everything he had eaten.
****
Perhaps because it had been bested by Adrianna, the Egg of Pain no longer resisted, even when he stored more blood than before.
It merely settled for having his heart pound violently whenever he saw Adrianna.
Thanks to this, he was able to store mana that was much purer, even if the density was similar.
Galahad's already fast casting speed became a little faster.
‘This is a gold mine.’
Galahad was genuinely marveling at the demonic territory.
How much further did they walk?
The smoke, which had easily yielded to Galahad's magic, now resisted.
A short distance away, the smoke was dense. Like a wall made of smoke.
It was as if a line had been drawn, marking this as a different territory.
“What is this place?”
“This is the true domain of the demons, the Miasmic Realm. From here on, high-rank demons will appear. High-rankers and above form colonies.”
Adrianna answered. Her eyes were still indifferent, but he could sense a strange flicker within them.
“Colonies?”
“Demons don’t typically gather in groups. Ten at most. But high-rank demons keep lesser demons as their minions. We call that a colony.”
It seemed that from the high-rankers onward, they formed groups.
“A demon that forms a colony is called a high-ranker.”
“Are there ranks above that?”
“Yes, a demon that has high-rankers under its command is called a superior demon. Their strength varies greatly even among themselves, but they aren’t classified into separate tiers.”
Galahad mulled over Adrianna's explanation. So, the demons were structured like individual cells, and the higher the rank, the larger the organization.
“Is there a king, then?”
Galahad casually threw out the question he was most curious about.
Adrianna's brow hardened. It was for a fleeting moment, a minuscule movement, but Galahad didn't miss it.
“There is no king. The superior demons are hostile toward one another.”
“I see.”
A brief silence fell.
“Normally, we would need twenty members of the Direct Response Unit to enter the Miasmic Realm. However, with you here, Captain Galahad, I believe it will be sufficient.”
Adrianna said, staring at Galahad.
“We can’t. We don’t have enough people. Remember what happened.”
The objection came from Gilberton. Gilberton, contradicting Adrianna. Galahad looked at him with fresh eyes.
“What happened?”
“Lady Adrianna was once isolated after forcing an entry into the Miasmic Realm.”
Gilberton replied, his eyes narrowing.
“On the contrary, it’s safer now than any other time. The greatest threat is the smoke that obstructs our vision, and Captain Galahad can clear it for us. High-rank and superior demons do not appear at the entrance of the Miasmic Realm. We will only go as far as the entrance to confirm the extent of Captain Galahad’s abilities.”
Though her reasoning was sound, Adrianna's voice was unusually high-pitched.
‘She’s excited.’
The other knights nodded in agreement.
“It’s true that demons of high-rank and above don’t appear at the entrance, but—”
Gilberton took a step back. It seemed Adrianna wasn't just being stubborn.
“It is still dangerous. I am not forcing you.”
Adrianna’s gaze returned to Galahad. Her eyes were filled with a strange desire.
Considering she had only ever moved her eyebrows up and down until now, she was clearly quite excited.
Galahad wiggled a finger. The wind battered the wall of smoke, but it barely budged. It was heavier than the smoke they had encountered so far.
Only when he compressed his mana and unleashed it did the smoke finally recede.
‘This won’t be easy.’
Looking at the wall of smoke gave him a strange feeling. It wasn't danger, but…
‘It feels… strangely like coming home.’
Galahad swallowed a dry murmur.
Forcibly suppressing the feeling, he slowly calculated the situation.
‘The smoke is heavy, but not impossible to push back. There’s no need to be hasty.’
Even in the Miasmic Realm, there was no need to rush.
Galahad had already proven his abilities. Adrianna seemed to acknowledge that. From now on, he could likely accompany them into the demonic territories whenever he wished.
However…
‘Demons set traps. It’s safer to enter now than to turn back and come again.’
Demons weren't the type to just take a beating. There was no telling what kind of defenses they would have prepared for their next visit.
Besides, their current condition was good. There were no injuries.
In fact, Galahad was in better shape than before they entered.
And it wasn't as if they could gain more information about the Miasmic Realm by turning back.
The enemy was unprepared, and their side was in peak condition.
Considering all that, now was the perfect time.
Though it was a bit of a shame they would only be exploring the entrance where high-rank demons didn't appear.
“We should go in.”
Galahad nodded.
“Thank you.”
“What’s with the thanks between us?”
“What are we to each other?”
“We’re getting married, aren’t we? You’re quite the tease.”
“…We are not.”
Unlike before, Adrianna's reply was curt. Her gaze was already fixed on the Miasmic Realm.
“The Miasmic Realm is dangerous. One wrong move and even a seasoned knight can disappear. We must not go beyond the entrance.”
Gilberton moved to stand right beside him.
“Step back. I despise men.”
“You think I’m enjoying this?”
“You can see everything anyway.”
“You never know.”
Just then, Adrianna looked back.
“You must be careful.”
“With you here, what is there to worry about?”
A slightly surprised look crossed Adrianna’s face before she nodded.
“We’re going in.”
Tension appeared on Adrianna’s previously expressionless face. The other knights breathed heavily.
‘The density has increased.’
Galahad muttered under his breath.
With every breath, the Egg of Pain throbbed. It was exulting in pure bliss.
Mana of this concentration…
It was incomparable to the outside. Mana overflowed from all directions.
An inexplicable sense of welcome made the corners of his mouth turn up on their own. He felt a comfort akin to being back in a mother's womb.
Galahad stretched his hands, shaking off the stiffness. The wind danced around his fingers. Soon, the thick smoke that surrounded them began to slowly recede.
“The smoke is heavy. This is the best I can do.”
A distance of about seven paces was the most Galahad could manage.
“This is more than enough. You are incredible.”
Adrianna said, readjusting her grip on her sword. The gazes of the surrounding knights deepened. It was a somewhat burdensome stare.
“Captain Galahad’s safety is the top priority. If a demon appears, I will handle it, so do not leave his side.”
Adrianna commanded in a firm voice.
The knights nodded. They moved a step closer, making him quite uncomfortable.
“Did something happen in the Miasmic Realm?”
At Galahad's question, Gilberton subtly turned his head away.
Adrianna was walking slightly ahead, her focus on guarding their front.
“The former captain of the 1st Battalion went missing in the Miasmic Realm. I heard Lady Adrianna looked up to him like a parent.”
“Isn't he already dead?”
“She’s probably trying to find his body.”
“She has a sentimental side, I see.”
“In any case, even the entrance to the Miasmic Realm is dangerous.”
Gilberton’s face was taut with tension. A bead of sweat trickled down his unwashed, greasy hair.
“There’s no such thing as a place without danger.”
Galahad chuckled.
“Then, to confirm my ability—”
At that moment, a strangely familiar sensation washed over him.
‘This is—’
His eyes closed.
****
‘Don’t get excited. Just a little. Just a little…’
Adrianna muttered, flicking her sword clean.
Excitement was rising within her, but Adrianna was desperately trying to maintain her composure.
She hadn't entered the Miasmic Realm on a simple whim.
The biggest reason, of course, was Galahad. Thanks to him, they had a clear line of sight. As long as her vision was clear, there was no way Adrianna would lose to a demon.
On top of that, the entrance to the Miasmic Realm wasn't particularly threatening.
So, her plan was simply to confirm if Galahad’s abilities worked in the Miasmic Realm, just at the entrance.
Adrianna, who had been focused solely on the front, suddenly felt something was off.
“Huh? Why are you curious about my taste in women? Are you going to introduce me to someone?”
“Ah, my name is Robert!”
The conversation behind her was a mess. The knights were rambling on and on. Turning her head, Adrianna froze.
Where Galahad should have been, a red-eyed demon was cackling.
The surrounding knights were speaking to the demon as if it were Galahad.
The demon’s head snapped around.
Its eyes met Adrianna’s, and a wide grin spread across its face.
Its eyes weren't smiling, only its mouth.
“Busted.”
It grabbed its own neck and ripped it off.
*Crr-ack.*
The spinal cord dangled. A torrent of red blood gushed out, drenching Gilberton who stood right beside it.
Even in that moment, the wide grin remained on the demon’s face.
As the demon tore its own head off, Adrianna’s sword lost its target and stopped mid-air.
“Ah—”
Adrianna’s voice cracked.
A familiar cigarette was rolling on the ground.
Galahad was nowhere to be found.
****
“Hmm.”
Galahad let out a small sigh as he looked around.
He had closed his eyes and opened them to find himself in what looked like a nobleman's banquet hall, abandoned for a hundred years. Dust covered everything, and the furniture was so old it was crumbling away.
Galahad was surprised that such a place existed in the Miasmic Realm.
Didn't this look like a trace of human civilization?
Just then…
“Welcome.”
A woman suddenly appeared before him. Or had she been there all along?
‘A mental attack. Dammit.’
Galahad hastily moved his mana. As naturally as brushing back his bangs, he infused mana into his head.
“Oh, I’ve already removed the authority.”
The woman said politely. Galahad didn't believe her and circulated his mana one more time. As she’d said, there was no trace of it.
Using a mental attack, and feeling stronger than any demon he'd met so far…
“So, are you the one?”
“I see you’ve met Amanda. Oh, I’m not her. She can’t come this far out, you see. Oh my.”
The woman covered her mouth as if she had made a slip. Galahad scowled at the pretentious gesture.
‘Can’t come this far out.’
Was it a lie? Or the truth? Galahad’s mind raced.
“Normally, I would have just brought you here with my authority, but then everyone ends up broken, you know? And we can't have you broken.”
The woman shrugged. It was an exaggerated motion. As if it were calculated.
The woman's voice was sweet, like a tickle in the ear. Galahad nodded and subtly slipped a hand into his pocket.
“Hey, no funny business, okay?”
“I can’t?”
Galahad casually waved a cigarette. The woman tilted her head in permission.
As he placed the cigarette in his mouth and lit it, the deep aroma of lemon filled the air.
The demon hadn't killed Galahad, but had sat him down. Galahad predicted the woman was about to make some kind of proposal.
It must be something that required his mind to be intact. They knew he was Galahad from the Intelligence Bureau, so it was likely related to that.
“I’m Marlily. I didn’t mean to bring you here like this, but that crazy bitch was around. I had no choice.”
“Crazy bitch, you say.”
She was clearly referring to Adrianna. A crazy bitch… It was a nickname that didn’t suit Adrianna at all.
“Anyway! You’re Galahad from the Intelligence Bureau, right? Your agent name is—”
“That’s enough. Sorry, but I’ve discarded that name.”
The fact that she knew his agent name meant there was an associate deep within the Intelligence Bureau. A demon, or a traitor. His suspicion was now a certainty.
Galahad’s eyes darkened.
“Anyway, I’m about to make you an offer, so don’t get angry and hear me out. Humans get angry at the drop of a hat.”
The woman said with a frown. Galahad nodded.
“To get straight to the point…”
The woman pursed her lips for a moment, as if choosing her words. Or perhaps she was mimicking a human mannerism.
“Could you kill the emperor for us? Oh, for you, it would be retirement, wouldn't it? Please, retire him.”
At the unexpected proposal, Galahad let out a low laugh.
“Ah, wait a moment. Let me explain in detail. First, you’re a mage, right? That means you’re ultimately on our side. No matter how long you worked for the Intelligence Bureau—”
Seeing Galahad’s hardened face as he took a long drag from his cigarette, the demon let out a small sigh. This is why she hated dealing with humans.
To think he was a mage, yet still tried to side with humans. Could there be anything more foolish?
“I’m telling you in advance, don’t get angry. I might have to kill you.”
The demon warned him seriously.
Just then, Galahad’s mouth opened.
“Kill the emperor, you say…”
The demon subtly prepared its authority.
If he got angry, she planned to shut his mouth immediately.
But then.
“What’s the reward?”
He continued, a wide grin spreading across his face.
The demon tilted her head.
What did that guy just say?
“I asked what you can give me in return.”
After blinking for a moment, the demon broke into a bright smile.
“You know, you talk just like a demon.”