Chapter 4
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: A Gift of a Coat
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“This is for my daughter, so you'll have to understand! A wizard's basic whatchamacallit! That thing!”
Daniel's mouth gaped open, revealing massive fangs like daggers. His bloodshot eyes and skin covered in burst capillaries were clearly not human, even at a glance.
“Are you talking about a wizard's fundamental quality? I'm sorry, but I only have one heart, so giving it away is a bit difficult.”
“But you're a wizard!”
He calmly explained his reason for refusal, but the creature didn't seem to understand.
Galahad clicked his tongue softly and manipulated his mana. A powerful spark erupted from his fingertips. Sparks flashed in succession between his fingers.
The initially small spark swelled in size as it passed through his fingers. He placed his hand, now brimming with the enlarged spark, on Daniel’s abdomen.
“Kyahhhhaaaak!”
Daniel let out a scream and contorted his body. What little hair he had stood on end. A toasty smell filled the air.
It was only for a moment. The creature charged again as if it had never been in pain.
It was a hastily cast spell and thus weak, but not so weak that he should be completely unscathed.
Galahad examined the creature’s wound. Even a knight would have been branded with a magnificent lightning tattoo from a direct hit, yet the creature was merely scorched black.
‘A demon?’
It was a well-known fact that magic wasn't very effective against the Demon Race. That was because the very roots of magic came from them.
“You liked my daughter too! A real man gives his heart for love!”
“When did I ever say I liked her? I only taught her magic because I pitied her for being stupid yet trying so hard. And frankly, I dislike Emma because she looks just like you.”
“What?! Who are you calling stupid?! Don't lie to me! I saw you peeking at her!”
Daniel shouted, brandishing his long fangs. Galahad was dumbfounded. In the first place—.
“Emma is ugly because she resembles you! That's why I confused the two of you.”
“How dare you insult my daughter! I won't stand for it! Offer up your heart as an apology!”
“Why is it my fault that Emma is ugly? It's your fault.”
He explained calmly, but the foolish demon wouldn't listen.
Galahad dispersed mana into the air. *Crackle*. Daniel's fangs stopped in mid-air. The creature's bloodshot eyes rolled around. It was hideously grotesque.
“Actually, I'm to be the Grand Duke's son-in-law. You should beg for forgiveness while you still can.”
“What son-in-law! The Grand Duke despises wizards! And you'll only die a painful death if you go to him anyway, so you might as well become nourishment for my pretty daughter! It's a much more constructive use of your life!”
Daniel yelled and moved his hands. He seemed to have found a gap in the magic, as his claws tore through the spell. The long claws aimed for Galahad's shoulder.
He could block it, but doing so would put him on the defensive. Having made his calculation, Galahad fell backward and swung his mana.
A sharp pain shot through his shoulder. His mind wavered for a moment, but his magic didn't falter. A long stream of fire erupted from Galahad's hand.
“Guaaaah! Shooting fire at a person! You crazy wizard bastard!!”
“You're the one who tried to stab me with your claws! That hurt me too!”
“Aaaaargh! Fuck!”
Daniel, now on fire, leaped about frantically.
The pain in his shoulder made his vision swim for a moment, but the spell shot straight toward Daniel.
A long gash was drawn across Daniel's chest. The pink dress tore, revealing a thick mat of chest hair.
His eyes rolling back, Daniel raised both hands. His dark claws grew longer.
Galahad quickly wrapped himself in a hard shell. It shattered easily under Daniel’s claws. *Were his claws imbued with mana?* Galahad felt a flicker of curiosity as he rolled to the side.
A searing pain flared at his waist. Daniel’s claws had scratched his side.
Fire erupted from Galahad’s hand again. Daniel let out a long scream. A disgusting, burning smell filled the air.
Galahad suddenly thought of Gilberton. He’d told him to stand guard, yet he still hadn't shown up—.
“Gilberton! The crazy lord is wearing a skirt and trying to pounce on me! Your master's husband's purity is in danger!”
“Khuhuhu... Calling for the knight? He's probably too late. I gave him some very strong wine.”
Daniel replied, touching his half-burnt face. As he scraped it with his claws, his skin returned to its pristine state.
‘He said he was a good fighter. Did he get taken down already?’
He was the Grand Duke's knight, so it seemed unlikely, but whether knight or emperor, a blade to the neck was fatal all the same.
He couldn't be sure.
In any case, help from Gilberton was a distant hope. This meant he had to solve it himself.
Anyway, keeping an incompetent person around just creates unnecessary trouble.
Galahad clicked his tongue and began to seriously manipulate his mana. Mana swirled around his fingers. He had memorized all the coefficients and formulas, so no incantation was needed.
With a gesture, a long wall of fire rose.
“Using magic is cowardly! Let's fight fair and square, wizard!”
The creature had high mana resistance. The flames wouldn't hold for long.
However, it was enough.
Galahad’s dark eyes sank deep. His mind raced.
As the mana moved, he recalled the solution to the formula. Spells were calculated one after another.
“For my genius wizard daughter, Emma!”
The flames parted, and a well-toasted Daniel leaped out.
“I'll say it again, Emma has no talent. In fact, she's closer to being an idiot.”
Galahad explained calmly and flicked his finger toward the creature's thigh.
A sharp ice arrow embedded itself in the creature’s thigh. At the same time, he detonated the compressed mana.
The ice arrow lodged in the creature's thigh instantly swelled in size. It was a brilliant combination spell that would have impressed any other wizard, but due to the creature's mana resistance, it failed to tear its skin.
“You're the idiot! Going to the Grand Duke as a wizard!”
Seeing this, Daniel grinned and charged. He seemed to think he had won.
Foolish.
The ice arrow threw the creature's center of gravity off balance. The claws that had been aimed at Galahad grazed him at an angle. A lock of Galahad's hair was cut and floated in the air.
A spark flew from Galahad's palm.
“It's useless! The filth of the Demon Race is— ugh-gyagyak!”
Daniel let out a low scream, but his gaze remained fixed on Galahad. As the creature had said, it was just a momentary pause.
However, that was enough. Galahad placed his hand near the creature's heart.
“You fool······.”
Daniel never finished his sentence.
Daniel’s bloodshot eyes widened. His mouth moved, but only formless breaths escaped.
“So for demons, mana really is their blood.”
Galahad marveled as he manipulated the mana. The mana passed through his hand, which was still on Daniel's heart.
He could feel Daniel's mana perfectly. Unlike humans, his mana was spread throughout his entire body.
It was cruder than human mana. An unrefined feeling—closer to the origin of mana, but its properties were still similar.
“Mana flows from a lower concentration to a higher one. That's the law of mana. It's why demons devour weaker demons or wizards.”
It had been a bit of a gamble. If Daniel's mana concentration had been higher, Galahad would have been the one in danger.
However, that possibility was slim.
Hearing Galahad's calm explanation, Daniel's rage boiled over, but he was powerless to resist.
Daniel's blood was moving according to Galahad's will. Like a well-behaved dog—.
It was incomprehensible. A human, controlling a demon's mana? Wizards were the filth of the Demon Race, their underlings. How dare he—.
Daniel lifted his head and froze. Galahad's eyes, looking down at him, were serene.
They were the same emotionless, observing eyes he had when he held Emma's hand and guided her mana.
“Oho, so this is how it moves.”
Daniel’s blood moved here and there. It was excruciating, but Daniel couldn't even scream.
“Can I use it? Oh, it works. The formula becomes a bit jumbled, though.”
Daniel's forearm burst, and sparks flew out. Sparks spewed out instead of blood. A calm exclamation of wonder followed.
“Just bear with me for a moment. I think I'll get the hang of it after a few more tries. I'm counting on you.”
Daniel's breath grew hot. Then, fire erupted from his mouth as if he were vomiting.
“Does it hurt? Mana exists as your blood, so why does it hurt?”
Galahad asked, looking at Daniel. His wrist had burst and he'd spewed fire, and he was asking if it hurt? What kind of question was that?
Just then, a violent spark shot from Daniel's other shoulder. A jolt of pain so intense it felt like it was splitting his bones struck Daniel.
“Hold on. Just hold on a little longer. You can do it. You've got this.”
He wanted to collapse, but Galahad's hand on his shoulder wouldn't let him go.
“Did you feed Emma other wizards' hearts? Did you feed them to her raw? Or roasted?”
Ah—. Daniel's left leg froze over. A strange vine sprouted from his right leg. A tiny flame flickered in Daniel's eyes.
He no longer felt any pain.
“Huh, he died.”
Galahad looked at the fallen Daniel and clicked his tongue.
‘The Demon Race. Definitely interesting.’
He had gotten too excited and failed to control his power. To think a demon would die so easily—. They were weaker than the rumors suggested.
To soothe his disappointment, he put a cigarette in his mouth. The refreshing lemon scent pushed away the smell of burnt meat.
‘How many hearts did he feed her?’
Galahad recalled Emma’s mana. It seemed she had eaten at least four, maybe five.
‘He fed her quite a lot.’
The people here were certainly desperate to get their hands on wizards.
Belatedly remembering Gilberton, Galahad muttered a curse and headed for the door.
‘Things will get annoying if he's dead.’
If Gilberton was dead, who would guide him now? Muttering to himself, he walked toward the door and noticed a familiar coat lying beside it.
It was the expensive-looking coat the lord had been wearing.
‘I guess I won't have to buy a coat.’
Galahad glanced at Daniel, then put on the coat. It was quite warm. This was satisfactory enough.
“Thanks for the gift. I'll make good use of it.”
Galahad expressed his gratitude to Daniel and opened the door.
“You're up early.”
Gilberton was calmly wiping his sword, but the scene in the hallway was different from before.
It was stained red everywhere, with pieces scattered about. It looked so much like hell that one could believe it was.
Just then, something next to Gilberton collapsed. Looking closely, he saw it was Emma.
“Did I not tell you? That this place was dangerous.”
“This dangerous, though... The lord came wearing Emma's skirt.”
“Oh, did it suit him well?”
“He wore it better than Emma. The lord was a demon. Though he didn't seem like a true demon.”
“Aha, so he was a bad one.”
Gilberton gave an ambiguous smile. He seemed to be trying to control his expression, but it was quite obvious.
‘So it wasn't a certainty, just a suspicion.’
Perhaps this was a place the Grand Duke had been keeping an eye on.
Of all the castles to choose, it had to be this one—.
‘I have no luck. Just no luck.’
Galahad grumbled, pulling the coat tighter. It was a relief that he'd at least gotten a nice coat out of it.
“Demons must be common in the North, seeing as one even became a lord.”
“Is it only in the North?”
Galahad chuckled as if coughing.
Just then, he saw the sun rising through the window. The bare, leafless trees and the monochrome brown land felt devoid of life.
The North wasn't called the cursed land for nothing.
Beyond it, he could see carriages bearing a familiar crest. It was the crest of the Grand Duke.
“Did the Grand Duke himself come to meet me?”
“That's highly unlikely.”
Soldiers poured out of the carriages. Among them was a handsome, aristocratic-looking man.
The handsome man saw Gilberton and bowed his head. Gilberton gave a slight nod.
‘Did I just do the Grand Duke's work for him?’
Did I earn some points?
As Galahad muttered, his eyes met Emma's. She looked so wronged that she couldn't even close her eyes. Galahad clicked his tongue and gently closed her eyelids for her. It wasn't for Emma's sake.
“You know something?”
“What is it?”
“Emma doesn't look like Daniel.”
“......Pardon?”
Just then, soldiers stormed into the inner castle.
“It's nothing. Let's go, we have a long way ahead of us.”
Galahad chuckled at Gilberton's dumbfounded expression.
***
How many days had they been traveling by carriage?
Galahad’s mind was fixated on the demon.
‘Their entire body was mana. As if mana was their blood.’
By using his own mana as a medium, he had been able to cast magic using the demon's blood.
‘This is a new discovery.’
Research on the Demon Race was nearly nonexistent and hard to find.
Studying the demons, who had once nearly destroyed the Empire, was strictly forbidden by Imperial law.
Furthermore, the wizards of the present day were trying their best to erase any records that the origin of magic was the Demon Race. The Magic Tower also forbade research on them.
With the church also standing firm, any wizard would try to distance themselves from the Demon Race as much as possible.
However, in the North, there was no Magic Tower, nor was there an Empire. The church existed, but its influence was weak.
He would be able to freely study the demons he had been so curious about.
Just then, the carriage jolted violently and came to a stop.
‘We've arrived.’
The door was flung open. Something covered in white fur abruptly stuck its face in.
‘A yeti?’
Then, the fur moved, and snowflakes fell off in a flurry.
“You Gara-had?!!”
The man shouted in broken Imperial tongue.
“It's not Gara-had, it's Galahad.”
“Right! Gara-had! Get out!”
The man gestured. His fur hat flapped wildly. As Galahad grabbed his bag and stepped out of the carriage, a biting wind cut through his coat.
The wind was so cold it felt like being stabbed with a real knife. Outside was a world of pure white. Everywhere he looked, he saw nothing but white.
Galahad circulated his mana and pulled his coat tighter.
“Nice coat!”
“Isn't it? It was a gift from a friend.”
“What?!”
“A friend! Gifted! It to me!”
“Good friend!!”
The wind was so loud that speaking normally was completely inaudible. There was a reason the man's voice was so loud.
“Congratulations on reaching the Northern Wall!”
The man bellowed. Galahad was puzzled.
There was nothing here, so what did he mean they had arrived?
The man laughed heartily and pointed behind him.
Something faint was visible through the swirling blizzard. Galahad narrowed his eyes.
What he had thought was a snowy mountain was, upon closer inspection, a massive wall. It was so tall it seemed to touch the sky, which was why he had mistaken it for a mountain.
And that colossal wall stretched out as far as the eye could see.
It was as if it divided the world.
“This is the Northern Wall.”
Gilberton, who had at some point changed into a plush coat, said.
His ambiguous smile was a little irritating, so Galahad threw a light joke.
“I'll finally get to see my wife.”
Gilberton’s face instantly hardened.
He really was fun to tease.
‘The greatest beauty on the continent, they say.’
Galahad was a man, so he couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation.