Chapter 54
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: The Quadruple Security Door
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"So, you're saying this is the Special Task Force headquarters?"
Gilberton asked, narrowing his eyes. Galahad nodded in response.
"Isn't it written right there? Can't you read?"
Where Galahad pointed, 'Special Task Force Headquarters' was written in large letters.
At this, two questions came to Gilberton's mind.
First—.
"Wasn't this originally the 5th Battalion headquarters?"
"It was."
"Then why is it the Special Task Force headquarters now?"
"Look beside it."
Next to the large 'Special Task Force Headquarters' sign, '5th Battalion' was written. If you didn't look closely, it read like 'Special Task Force Headquarters, 5th Battalion'.
"So why are they together?"
"There was extra space, so we decided to share. It's good for us; we don't have to manage it."
"......?"
Gilberton frowned for a moment before his second question came to mind.
"What kind of headquarters puts its name up like this? It's practically an invitation to attack—."
"It makes it easy to find, doesn't it? Besides, would an enemy capable of infiltrating this far not have already known our headquarters' location?"
Gilberton nodded at Galahad's response. Come to think of it, he had a point.
"Still, isn't it a bit much?"
"The security is fine, so don't worry."
At Galahad's assertion, Gilberton scratched his cheek.
Writing 'Headquarters' in huge letters, yet claiming there was no problem.
That question was answered the moment the headquarters door opened.
Opening the door revealed a massive desk. Amidst the piles of documents on it, a familiar face was visible.
The man, with a slightly irritable expression and wearing a formal uniform instead of armor, was undoubtedly the captain of the 5th Battalion.
*...Why is the 5th Battalion captain sitting here?*
Seeing the 5th Battalion captain right inside the door like a guard, Gilberton glanced at Galahad.
"Didn't I tell you not to worry about security?"
At Galahad's calm reply, Gilberton frowned for a moment, then nodded.
Indeed, with a captain sitting at the front door doing his work, there was nothing to worry about security-wise.
Gilberton decided not to dwell on why the captain was working at the main entrance.
"You've arrived. The expansion is complete."
"Is that so? Excellent."
Galahad naturally sat down across from the 5th Battalion captain.
"Go on up ahead. I'll talk with the captain and then join you."
"Ah, Lumian, you can guide them."
At the captain's gesture, a woman with sharp features approached. Gilberton gave a small cough and followed her.
"Originally, you were supposed to use the third floor, but our captain said he didn't need it and to give you the second floor as well."
Gilberton nodded at the woman's strangely sharp voice. He didn't quite understand, but it seemed they were getting an extra floor, right?
"Excellent."
Gilberton tilted his head at the woman's sharp glare.
Upon reaching the second floor, a lavish hallway came into view. It felt more like a nobleman's castle than a battalion headquarters.
*The 5th Battalion has a lot of money.*
Gilberton marveled inwardly.
It was always best to hide one's true thoughts.
"Wow! Is this our headquarters?!"
As Gwen gaped in admiration, the corner of Lumian's mouth curled up.
"Then I'll start preparing a meal."
Tom, who had already unpacked his things, headed toward the central fireplace.
Before long, Tom was preparing to cook.
Damian stood behind Tom, drooling, and Gwen wiped his chin.
Seeing them all gathered in front of the fireplace despite having been given an entire spacious floor, Gilberton clicked his tongue softly.
"I'll check out the third floor on my own."
"Yes, sir. Please let me know if you need anything."
Gilberton said, looking at Lumian. She nodded and withdrew.
*It's too spacious.*
Gilberton sat down a short distance away from the noisy trio.
"I'll help!"
"Miss Gwen, I noticed earlier that the inner room wasn't fully cleaned. Did you see it?"
"Really?"
"Yes, cleaning is still a bit difficult for me..."
"Well then! I have no choice!"
He glanced at Gwen triumphantly picking up a broom, then drew his sword.
The sight of the clean blade made the corners of his mouth lift on their own.
Just looking at the sword brought a smile to his face. Even with the sweet smell of cooking, he didn't feel hungry.
After admiring the sword for a moment, Gilberton began to polish it carefully and gently.
He quickly became absorbed, all stray thoughts vanishing. Only the sword remained. Gilberton polished it, sweat beading on his forehead.
Just then, he sensed a presence beside him.
Turning his head, he saw Damian crouching there. Damian's eyes were fixed on Gilberton. He was still an unreadable kid, but he seemed strangely young at that moment.
Gilberton clicked his tongue softly at the sight of Damian's once-again dirty sword.
"Hold the sword like this."
"Yes."
Gilberton slowly taught him how to care for the sword. Damian was clumsy, but he followed along well enough.
The two polished their swords in silence.
****
"You really did it."
The 5th Battalion captain, Mark, said as he held out a piece of paper.
[I will send another messenger after the sun has risen seven times. If a hole is found, I will pull out your spinal cord to fill it.]
*Pulling out his spinal cord to fill the hole...*
It was a sentence truly befitting the Grand Duke. Galahad clicked his tongue softly.
"I never imagined His Highness the Grand Duke would issue a direct order. How did you do it?"
Mark praised him, showing a rare display of emotion.
"How? I wrote a letter."
"A letter?"
Mark asked again, as if in disbelief. Galahad nodded, placing a cigarette in his mouth.
"I have excellent penmanship."
"Penmanship?"
At Mark's question, Galahad's lips curled into a smirk.
Just then, a soldier burst through the main door.
"A letter from His Highness the Grand Duke!"
The soldier's face was filled with urgency.
"Excuse me for a moment."
Mark gave Galahad a strange look as he took the letter.
His sharp eyes moved quickly. The letter must have been short, as Mark's gaze soon returned to Galahad.
Mark wasn't a very expressive person. Tapping his fingers on the table was about the extent of it.
But now, unconcealable shock flared violently in his eyes.
*This must be about me receiving the Grand Duke's acknowledgment.*
From Mark's reaction, Galahad roughly guessed the letter's contents.
Receiving the Grand Duke's acknowledgment seemed to be quite significant.
"Did you truly receive His Highness the Grand Duke's acknowledgment?"
"It's true."
"I see."
Mark looked back and forth between the letter and Galahad with narrowed eyes. Then he nodded.
"Did I mention? Renovating the second and third floors cost quite a bit of money."
"Thank you."
"We are allies, after all."
Mark emphasized the word 'allies'.
"Quite a few members of the Black Magic Society have joined the 5th Battalion recently. Since our ally, Galahad, was to handle them, I didn't interfere, but it doesn't seem like they were sent to the mana stone quarry."
Mark got straight to the point. The recent Black Magic Society members were likely the ones the crow had mentioned, those loyal to the society's head.
*Members, plural...*
"How is the mana stone quarry?"
"Ah, we're a bit short on numbers."
"I see. I'll take care of it."
Mark shook his head at Galahad's casual reply.
"Their security has become much tighter than before. It's difficult to even confirm anything."
"Don't worry about security. I have a good friend."
A good friend? Mark muttered the strange phrase.
A moment later, Galahad started to get up.
Mark continued, as if to hold him back.
"Receiving the Grand Duke's acknowledgment is a tremendous honor. However, honor in the North is a heavy burden."
"Heavy?"
"Yes. The North is a place where people even challenge His Highness the Grand Duke. Of course, not many are that bold... but if an Imperial mage from outside the North receives the Grand Duke's acknowledgment—."
"People will start causing trouble for me from all over?"
Mark nodded and corrected his phrasing.
"Receiving the Grand Duke's acknowledgment means the possibility of your marriage to Adrianna, which has been treated as a joke until now, has just increased."
Mark's eyes stared at Galahad. His pupils darted about, as if making various calculations.
Galahad nodded. The northerners were already chomping at the bit to get at him.
He had already anticipated that much.
"Challenges to duel will pour in from all sides. Defeating someone acknowledged by the Grand Duke is a very high honor."
Mark said seriously.
"I see."
As Galahad nodded nonchalantly, Mark tapped the table.
"You must be careful of the captain-level ones."
Just then, Mark's shoulder moved slightly.
It was an action so swift it was almost silent, but—.
It was the same spear he had seen before.
Galahad wasn't foolish enough to be caught twice.
*These northerners, I swear...*
He was probably trying to instill a sense of caution about the captain-level fighters.
However, he didn't appreciate the spear-first approach to a warning.
Galahad flicked his fingers.
The sharp spear shot swiftly toward Galahad.
Its speed was the same as last time.
*He can move faster.*
He seemed to be hiding his true strength.
Galahad watched him closely, calculating the situation.
*So fast.*
The spear was too fast to follow with the naked eye.
The Orb of Pain throbbed faintly, and the magic circle on his wrist flared.
It was instantaneous.
*Pang!* A small sound erupted simultaneously.
An explosion occurred near Mark's neck. Despite the shock being strong enough to shake his body, the tip of the spear didn't waver.
However, it wasn't just one explosion.
The explosion that detonated in the middle of the spear shaft was enough to deliver a shock.
The spear shaft shook violently.
*An aura barrier.*
Galahad muttered softly, looking at the deflected spear.
An aura barrier was a technique where one enveloped their body in aura, using it as a shield.
While there were many knights who could imbue their swords with aura, not many among them could use an aura barrier.
It required an exceptional understanding of aura.
Aura could cut through anything. Using such an aura as a barrier made it impenetrable to most magic.
*Impressive.*
Seeing Mark's stiff expression, Galahad's lips curled up.
Mark was more skilled than Galahad had anticipated.
So skilled that no further words were necessary.
"Is that sufficient?"
Galahad asked, gently pushing aside the spear aimed at his neck.
"Yes."
Mark nodded with a stiff face and withdrew the spear.
"I should get to work, then."
Galahad stood up, dusting off his coat.
His steps led not upstairs, but toward the door.
"Ah, tell the others I'll be late."
Galahad said casually and turned away.
The door opened roughly, and a cold wind tickled Mark's face.
Mark sat down as if pushed by the biting wind.
He touched his neck, recalling the recent exchange.
It stung.
*It stings...*
He had definitely put up his aura barrier, yet there was a small scar on his neck.
The neck was a vital point, so his aura barrier was strongest there.
Galahad had pierced through it and left a wound.
Moreover, it wasn't just one spell.
The explosion on the spear shaft had been powerful enough to make the tip of Mark's spear waver.
If that explosion had occurred at his neck, it wouldn't have ended with just a sting.
*I see I should have been more deferential.*
Mark muttered softly, his eyes fixed on the door.
Through the doorway, he could see Galahad advancing unhesitatingly into the dark night.
There was not a hint of hesitation in his steps.
***
The crow sniffed the air at the strange smell.
The scent of lemons wafted from somewhere.
As if nightmares weren't enough, now he was smelling things—.
*'...Lemon scent?'*
The crow cautiously turned his head. Someone was sitting in a corner of the dark room.
Long legs and an upright posture—. Even without seeing his face, he knew who it was.
*Tak.* Just then, the ember of a cigarette brightened. The orange glow illuminated the man's face. It was a face devoid of any emotion—Galahad.
The crow desperately suppressed a scream and shot to his feet.
He didn't even wonder how he had gotten in.
The man was Galahad, after all.
The crow adjusted his mask and prostrated himself.
"You even sleep with it on."
"......Yes, sir. It's more comfortable this way."
"A good habit."
At Galahad's calm voice, the crow bowed his head low.
A chill ran down his spine at the thought that he could have been killed in his sleep without ever noticing.
But his opponent was Galahad. He was not someone you could escape from.
"As you commanded, I sent the monster tamer's magic circle to the society head through Korton. In response, the head sent Helkartan."
"Helkartan?"
"Yes, sir. He's the head's right-hand man, skilled enough to be considered the next in line."
"I see."
The crow spoke with gravity, but Galahad's reply was simple.
A brief silence followed. The crow kept his face pressed to the floor and waited quietly.
"Helkartan would know the head's location, then."
"Yes, he would. However, the man is like a walking corpse—."
"Don't worry. Persuasion is my specialty."
The crow nodded at Galahad's response.
The crow knew better than anyone just how painful Galahad's 'persuasion' could be.
However, Helkartan was a strange one.
He was pale and reeked like a corpse freshly dug from a grave. To the crow, he was a true black magician.
A madman who would stop at nothing for advancement—.
How did he plan to get information from a man like that?
But he didn't dare voice his doubts.
There was another problem.
"He brought the Advisory Committee with him."
"The Advisory Committee?"
"Yes, sir. It's a force composed of executive-level members. Moreover, they've been granted high-grade staves and the 'Choice'. They're quite dangerous."
The crow said seriously.
He knew Galahad was good at catching mages, but this time, the opponents were formidable.
Furthermore, unlike before, they weren't letting their guard down.
They were on high alert after a series of failures.
He explained this, but—.
"Hmm, they said they were short on labor. This is perfect."
"......Sir?"
The crow couldn't help but question the unexpected remark.
"Skilled men should be good at mining mana stones, too. Wouldn't you agree?"
The crow just nodded for now.
"Good. Where are they?"
Galahad asked lightly, crushing his finished cigarette.
As if he were going to catch them right now.
"......Sir?"
"Helkartan and the Advisory Committee."
Galahad's calm voice sent the crow's mind reeling.
He's going to catch them just like that?
Right now?
The crow raised his head and realized from Galahad's eyes.
To him, this was nothing.
"Yes, sir. But the Black Magic Society has suffered consecutive losses recently, so security is tight. They're even wary of me, an executive."
"Is that so?"
At Galahad's look, the crow hurriedly shook his head.
"I did my best, but that bastard Korton suddenly betrayed me—."
The crow vented his frustration.
He couldn't understand how that guy Korton's mind worked.
Korton's betrayal had come at an unexpected moment.
It was simply to take more credit for the monster tamer's magic circle.
The crow, who hadn't expected such a baseless betrayal for such a simple reason, couldn't react in time.
In return, Korton had gained Helkartan's full trust, while the crow was now unable to even enter the branch.
Because of that, his plan to lure the society head to the Miasmic Realm training ground had also been ruined.
"Is that so? Just like Korton."
He looked up at the strange tone in Galahad's voice—.
Galahad was smiling.
****
"It was real."
Helkartan admired the monster tamer's magic circle in his hand.
The fall of the 7th Battalion's branch was a huge problem for the Black Magic Society. The only silver lining was that the sacred ground was still open.
For reasons unknown, Adrianna had left the sacred ground behind.
Now, the only ones near the sacred ground were the 7th Battalion. A 7th Battalion whose company commanders had all been eliminated.
There was still a chance.
*It's the real monster tamer's magic circle.*
With this magic circle, retaking the 7th Battalion would be no trouble at all.
It wasn't for nothing that the cautious society head had sent Helkartan.
This was an opportunity that couldn't be missed, even if they knew it was a trap.
At any other time, they would have been more cautious.
But recently, the subordinate organizations of Dawn had been growing rapidly.
After successive failures, the Black Magic Society, which had once held the top position, had been pushed back.
The Black Magic Society had fled all the way to the North to escape that dreadful organization.
Now, there was nowhere left to run.
They had to make their stand here.
Still, they needed to be as careful as possible.
For that, the 5th Battalion branch was a suitable location.
From its outstanding mana stone production to the quadruple security door—the pride of the Black Magic Society and the pinnacle of its security.
*The quadruple security door...*
A door that was impossible to enter unless someone opened it from the inside.
Here, they could plot their course safely.
A question suddenly occurred to Helkartan.
"Where did that guy go?"
"Who are you referring to, sir?"
"That dimwit. Korton, was it?"
"Ah, I'll look for him."
Helkartan thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"Never mind. He's probably off somewhere scheming to take more credit. Focus on the mission."
He was so utterly useless it was a wonder how he'd managed to get the monster tamer's magic circle.
Wasting time thinking about him was a shame.
****
"Tsk, what would you lot have done without me? Do you have any idea how tricky this quadruple security door is? If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have gotten in."
Korton clicked his tongue and swung the door wide open.
"I'm always grateful. You're a true comrade."
At Galahad's sincere thanks, Korton's chin lifted higher.
The crow's face flushed hot at the sight of the wide-open quadruple security door.