Chapter 38
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: The New Youngest Member
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‘Hmmmm…’
The crow tilted his head as he stared at the parchment laid out before him.
Thanks to the magic stone business and the information provided by Dawn, the Black Magic Society was enjoying an unprecedented golden age.
Perhaps because of painful memories from the past, the Society spared no expense in their investment for this attack.
Even though their opponents were a unit of just five people, they weren't letting their guard down in the slightest.
‘Hmmmm… Even for him, this is… Hmm… But it’s *him*, isn’t it? Hmmmm…’
The crow naturally wished for Galahad’s death.
He was already on a leash held by that man. A leash that would only be released if either he or the man died.
The Black Magic Society, in its prime in the North, and the 7th Battalion, which had fallen to them—compared to that, the five-member Special Task Force was far too shabby.
Logically, betting on the former was the right move.
However…
‘But it’s Galahad.’
The man’s very existence weighed heavily on the crow’s mind.
If he bet on the Black Magic Society, and that man somehow survived—
‘Ughhhhh…’
The crow shivered.
He would rather die than be ‘persuaded’ again.
No, he didn’t want to die. In that case…
“They say the preparations are complete.”
“Preparations?”
Just then, he overheard a conversation next to him. It was the other executives dispatched with him.
“A Sanctuary will be established.”
“…A Sanctuary!”
A Sanctuary. The crow’s head whipped around.
Sanctuary was a term used to refer to a special space within the domain of the Demon Race.
To think they were setting one up here.
“No matter how great that man is, he won’t be able to use magic inside a Sanctuary. On top of that, with a high-ranking demon present, there’s no possibility of failure.”
“Hahaha… So they intend to announce our true beginning by killing him.”
As the two shared a sinister laugh, the crow tilted his head.
“…But then we won’t be able to use magic either, right?”
At the crow’s question, the larger of the two burst into a maniacal laugh. The crow subtly covered his ears.
“It seems you haven’t been chosen yet.”
“Chosen?”
The man sneered and rolled up his sleeve. A kind of magic circle was engraved there.
Engraving a magic circle on the body. The crow was suddenly reminded of an old legend.
“Don’t tell me…”
“That’s right. The first human mage. This is his.”
The man next to him shouted in exultation. The crow grew excited as well.
The first mage. With that magic circle, they would be able to use magic even within the Sanctuary.
With this, it was certain…
Muttering to himself, a thought suddenly struck the crow.
‘What if *he* can use magic in the Sanctuary? Wouldn’t that just be helping him? We’d just be raising the mana density for him.’
He hastily shook his head. No matter how incredible the man was, could he really use magic in a Sanctuary?
It wasn't like he was the first mage or anything.
Just then, the image of the man smiling brightly as he incinerated demons flashed through his mind.
He could picture the man seeing that magic circle and grinning as if he’d just received a gift.
‘…Should I file a report? Not everything, just a little something.’
The crow feared the Galahad of the present more than any legend of the past.
****
‘She can communicate with the Egg of Pain.’
Galahad murmured softly, looking at Gwen, who seemed to have been struck by the remark.
The fact that she could hear the Egg of Pain’s voice was a major clue.
The problem was…
“Yes, I’m your mommy. I’m your mommy.”
…that ‘mommy’ was all it was saying.
“Tell it to tell me what it is.”
“It says it doesn’t know! I think it’s a baby?”
Galahad let out a dry laugh at Gwen’s mumble.
The egg of a high-ranking demon, a baby? What a ridiculous story.
“What was that thing it gave you a moment ago?”
After eating some unknown substance, Gwen had suddenly used a demon’s power.
“Um… food? It says it’s food.”
It was an utterly incomprehensible answer. Galahad clicked his tongue softly.
“It says it’s food. Food.”
“I see. So, it gave you food. Then what is this mana it’s giving me?”
“……”
The Egg of Pain vibrated faintly. Gwen didn’t answer, her eyes darting around.
“Tell me.”
“Um… these aren’t my words. It’s what it’s saying.”
“I know, just hurry up and tell me.”
“It says it’s poop.”
Galahad’s brow furrowed instantly. The Egg of Pain thudded and vibrated. It felt like it was laughing.
“But the meaning is probably different! It’s still a baby, so it doesn’t know any better!”
“That’s enough, don’t try to console me. It’s a well-known fact that magic is the filth of the Demon Race.”
*Thump, thump.* The Egg of Pain vibrated again. The corners of Gwen’s lips twitched. She was trying to hold back a laugh.
Galahad continued his line of thought.
‘Demon blood has two elements. One is what it calls food, and the other is mana.’
Using the part it called food allowed one to use what the demons called Authority.
“Try to pass that ‘food’ to me as well.”
Galahad said, pressing firmly on his chest.
“Um… it says you won’t be able to use it anyway.”
“That is for me to judge.”
“But it says it doesn’t want to.”
“My, I’m suddenly feeling the urge to see Adrianna.”
“Huh? All of a sudden? It says okay!”
*Kwoong.* With a heavy sound, something seeped out from the vicinity of his heart. It was…
Excruciating pain.
Galahad clutched his heart, gasping for breath.
He felt the same pain that had surged through him when he drank the demon’s blood. Through it, he could feel a higher concentration of mana than before.
Galahad forced himself to regulate his breathing.
“Why was Gwen fine?”
“It says it’s because I’m dumb.”
‘Because she’s dumb.’
He briefly muttered the phrase. Being dumb also meant being pure.
It meant having no resistance to accepting something, and…
‘Does my knowing too much actually have the opposite effect?’
It was a plausible theory.
‘An interesting hypothesis.’
However, it was a foolish and hasty generalization.
It wasn't as if Galahad had been born with all his knowledge.
Coming from a family that despised magic, he’d had no one to learn it from. Thus, Galahad had been forced to learn by ramming his head against it. The speed of his calculations was proof of that.
Ramming his head into things was Galahad's specialty.
‘I suppose I’ll have to go by feel first and do the calculations later.’
He didn’t like it, but Galahad forced a nod.
“Tell it to give it to me again.”
“…It says it’s dangerous.”
“My, I really must go see Adrianna.”
After a moment’s hesitation, the Egg of Pain poured something out.
Galahad made no attempt to identify its nature. He didn’t even think of it as mana.
He simply moved as his senses dictated.
“So this is the feeling.”
Galahad’s right arm swelled as if it would burst.
The Egg of Pain vibrated softly.
“It… it says you’re a dreadful human…”
“Tell it to watch its mouth.”
Galahad shook out his hand.
Contrary to the Egg of Pain’s shock, Galahad was not pleased.
A power that could not be explained by theory.
It was rather unpleasant.
A terrible pain surged through him belatedly, a result of having become conscious of the power. It was a truly uncomfortable power.
‘At this rate, I’ll end up mimicking the demons.’
Galahad put a cigarette to his lips and clicked his tongue.
‘I’ll have to raise it more, it seems.’
It had started talking after being fed demon blood, so he needed to feed it more. Galahad patted his waterskin.
He had collected quite a bit of demon blood on his recent outing. There were eight more waterskins in the bundle next to him.
However, it seemed that low-quality demon blood wasn’t enough for it to grow.
‘I think I’ll have to hunt a high-ranking demon, at the very least.’
“That’s right!”
Gwen nodded her head.
Adrianna had said she would be locking the 1st Battalion’s gates to reinforce it from within, which meant he couldn’t go to the Miasmic Realm right away.
‘Won’t a high-ranking demon fall from the sky or something?’
*Thud.*
Just then, someone walked by and dropped a piece of parchment. The man nonchalantly went inside to place an order. Tom took it.
Galahad fiddled with the parchment. There was nothing written on it. When he circulated his mana, letters appeared.
- The Black Magic Society is targeting you, sir. Reason being you obstructed their business. The 7th Battalion’s captain is being held by the Black Magic Society. The 7th Battalion has been compromised. There is talk of a high-ranking demon.
It was a brief report, but its contents were extraordinary.
What caught Galahad’s eye was the part about the high-ranking demon.
‘A high-ranking demon.’
Galahad recalled the one he had met in the Miasmic Realm.
Though it had been killed by Adrianna in a single blow, it had not been an easy opponent. Moreover, with the 7th Battalion compromised, the situation was certainly difficult.
‘Excellent.’
The greater the difficulty, the greater the reward.
‘The Black Magic Society. Giving me magic stones and a high-ranking demon.’
What a generous bunch. Galahad chuckled and pocketed the parchment.
“Captain.”
Gilberton opened the door and entered, his expression serious. Behind him was a soldier Galahad had never seen before, wearing light armor and leather boots.
He lacked the sharp edge of the 1st Battalion’s soldiers. He wasn’t from around here. Which meant…
“7th Battalion.”
“…How did you know?”
Gilberton’s eyes widened. His reactions had been a bit muted lately, which was disappointing, but this one was distinct.
‘A trap.’
Still, he never thought they’d send an invitation so honestly.
“Are they asking me to come to the 7th Battalion and check for holes?”
“…Are you a prophet?”
“No, a mage.”
Galahad stood from his seat and buttoned his coat.
“Pardon me for a moment.”
“Yes?”
Galahad placed his fingers on the soldier’s temple. Without hesitation, he channeled mana into him. The soldier’s pupils momentarily went slack. It was a spell he had learned from a mind-affecting demon.
“Who sent you?”
“Sir Glyrock.”
“Who is Sir Glyrock?”
“Ah, he’s a company commander in the 7th Battalion.”
Gilberton answered. Galahad nodded and continued his questions.
“What is the situation in the 7th Battalion?”
“The atmosphere is not good.”
“How so?”
“The captain has disappeared.”
Just then, the soldier let out a grunt and contorted his body. Overload. Galahad clicked his tongue softly and removed his hand.
“The captain of the 7th Battalion has disappeared? What do you mean?”
“He vanished after the conference. We’re searching everywhere, but…”
Urged on by Gilberton, the soldier’s voice trembled. Galahad, putting a cigarette to his lips, waved his hand.
“You won’t get anything more out of him.”
“The captain is missing, and they were hiding it? Does this make any sense?”
Gilberton’s face was filled with anger. A knight, through and through.
‘An invitation from the 7th Battalion.’
The meaning was obvious. The 7th Battalion had fallen into the hands of the Black Magic Society.
‘The fact they’ve kept the captain alive suggests they haven’t taken complete control yet.’
The crow’s parchment said the Black Magic Society was holding the 7th Battalion’s captain. If they had complete control, there would be no reason to keep him alive.
Since they didn’t have full control, they were likely keeping him alive as a contingency.
The calculation was finished in an instant.
“We must go to the 7th Battalion. Well then, let’s depart immediately.”
Galahad said, flicking the ash from his cigarette.
“Preparations are complete.”
Tom said, wiping his hands on a cloth. An instrument was strapped to his back.
“It could be a trap.”
“Sir Gilberton, do you know the best way to destroy a trap?”
Gilberton narrowed his eyes at Galahad’s question.
“You step on it. Very hard.”
A wide grin spread across Galahad’s face.
“I should request support, just in case.”
“…Support, sir? As a rule, battalions are not permitted to leave their assigned areas. Not without an order from His Grace, the Grand Duke.”
“I’m aware.”
The wide grin on Galahad’s face made Gilberton extremely uneasy.
****
Adrianna stopped short as she was leaving her room.
“Good morning.”
It was because of the man with a cigarette in his mouth. Galahad waved his hand casually.
‘How?’
Due to the sheer number of demons that had targeted Adrianna, the castle where she resided was heavily guarded.
Even Galahad should not have been allowed in. Yet here he was, standing at ease. As if it were his own home.
Why did he look so natural? Adrianna gave a quiet nod.
“They wouldn’t let me in at the gate. So I took the liberty of coming to see you like this. Infiltrating a castle to see one’s fiancée… isn’t it romantic?”
Romantic? Adrianna pondered for a moment if that was the right word before answering.
“Infiltrating a lady’s castle is usually considered creepy.”
“It becomes romantic when the man who does it is handsome.”
“It is not right to judge an action based on appearance.”
“So you admit I’m handsome?”
Adrianna coughed softly. Whenever she spoke with this man, the conversation always veered off in a strange direction.
“I see. Are you leaving?”
“I’m thinking of going to the 7th Battalion.”
The 7th Battalion had recently suffered heavy losses to the demons. There was a high probability that it had vulnerabilities. Adrianna nodded.
“Would you like to come with me?”
Adrianna’s eyes widened slightly at the unexpected question.
“I have information that it will be full of creepy fellows. It will be a very exciting date.”
Galahad held out his hand as if inviting her to a ballroom. Adrianna stared at him silently. Her lips parted.
“I am the captain of the 1st Battalion.”
It was a gentle refusal.
Without an order from the Grand Duke, Adrianna could not leave the 1st Battalion.
That was the rule.
“I see.”
At Galahad’s light nod, Adrianna opened her mouth, then closed it again.
Galahad’s expression was unconcerned. Perhaps he had expected it. Adrianna’s lips parted again, but she ultimately kept them shut.
“May I write a letter? I feel I should file a report.”
“Yes, of course.”
Adrianna offered him the paper behind her. Galahad moved the pen with ease. There was not a hint of hesitation in his strokes. It was just like him.
‘…Father-in-law… demons are having a party… all alone and lonely… attend…’
Realizing she had been peeking, Adrianna quickly turned her head away.
Galahad rolled up the paper and held it out.
“Could you send this for me? I don’t have a hawk yet.”
“Yes. Ah, just a moment.”
Adrianna offered her hawk to Galahad. Adrianna’s hawk was extremely picky. It was a clever bird that could find its recipient and deliver a letter no matter where they were, but it was also very selective.
After a brief hesitation, the hawk rubbed its beak against Galahad’s shoulder.
“How strange. It’s rare for Whiten to take to someone like this.”
“I’ve always been rather popular.”
Adrianna held her breath for a moment at the shameless reply. Exhaling, she explained calmly.
“I will send a hawk periodically. Please contact me if you discover any anomalies.”
“Understood.”
The hawk quickly flew out through the window. Adrianna stared blankly at its free form.
“Ah, may I have your hand?”
“…Pardon?”
“Your hand.”
At Galahad’s gesture, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Adrianna blinked for a moment.
“Aren’t you leaving immediately?”
“I plan to move after receiving the Grand Duke’s reply.”
It was a bold demand, as if asking for something that was rightfully his.
Adrianna removed her thick leather glove and offered her hand.
But Galahad’s reaction was different from before.
His eyes were bloodshot and veins popped, but he did not collapse.
Galahad stood perfectly still, holding Adrianna’s hand.
He seemed to be barely enduring it, but the fact that he was enduring it at all was unbelievable.
Adrianna stared blankly.
Just then, Galahad was the one to pull his hand away.
It was the first time.
The first time Galahad had let go of her hand.
“Hm, I think I’m starting to get it now.”
Contrary to his calm voice, blood was trickling from the corner of his mouth. His eyes were red, every capillary ruptured, but Galahad nonchalantly straightened his clothes.
“It’s cold. Be careful not to catch one.”
Galahad turned without a second thought and disappeared.
He was a man who truly appeared and disappeared as he pleased.
‘Starting to get it.’
Adrianna muttered the strange phrase to herself.
She knew Galahad was interested in her constitution.
Holding her hand was just part of that.
If he were to figure it all out…
Adrianna looked down at her tingling hand for a long time.
The room was so chilly that the warmth did not last long.
****
“Didn’t you say you weren’t coming with me?”
Adrianna’s face flushed at Galahad’s blunt question.
“…It is an order from His Grace, the Grand Duke.”
“Be honest. You wanted to come, didn’t you?”
“It is an order from His Grace, the Grand Duke.”
“My, how dishonest. But I’m afraid I can’t take you with me like this.”
“Pardon?”
Adrianna’s eyes widened a little. He had just invited her, and now he was saying she couldn’t come?
“You’re far too famous. That beautiful face of yours draws too much attention. If you go as you are, they’ll all run away before we even arrive.”
“…That makes sense.”
Adrianna nodded with a serious expression.
“So, what I’m saying is…”
Adrianna’s eyes grew wide at Galahad’s whisper.
“…Are you asking me to be the Special Task Force’s youngest member?”
For the first time, Adrianna’s brow furrowed deeply.