Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Stone and Magic

“You look a little surprised?”

“Honestly I was surprised, I didn’t know you were a demon race.”

The woman’s tongue swayed as if mocking. The concentration of mana thickened in real time. To the extent that stickiness was felt on the skin.

‘It was a demon race. The worst.’

He pretended to be calm, but the heart beat roughly. Mana rotated quickly.

The fortunate thing was that the woman was letting her guard down.

Because the woman knew Galahad was a mage, she had no choice but to let her guard down.

It was not for nothing that the demon race was called the natural enemy of mages. The demon race had mana as the blood of the entire body. And that at a very high concentration.

With ordinary magic one could not deal damage to such a demon race. One had to contain mana of a higher concentration than the demon race’s blood. To the extent of having to smoke about two mana tobaccos—.

“Actually I expected you to be a spy of the allied nations. Those guys are quite diligent too.”

Mana rotated even faster. It was compression using rotation. At the excessive compression a creaking— sound was made. It was a mana overload symptom. The heavy Northern mana filled the inside fully.

Galahad stealthily looked behind. The stupid-looking man was not visible. He would be waiting in front of the door.

He would try to catch the one who comes out alive of the two.

Tok.

Then a small sound was heard near Galahad’s heart. It was evidence that the mana compression had reached the limit.

“So are you going to beg to be spared?”

“If I beg will you let me go?”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Then I have to beg.”

Whether she didn’t know he would really beg the woman’s eyes widened. Then the woman’s laughter deepened.

“Ahaha! Stupid guy! Did you really think I would spare you? You’re cute?”

The woman’s tongue swept Galahad’s face. The sharp protrusions on that surface scratched Galahad’s cheek.

A stinging pain rose, but Galahad smiled.

The distance was sufficiently narrowed. The woman was laughing stupidly, and the mana was in a state compressed to the limit.

‘Now.’

Formless wind flew along Galahad’s hand.

“···Huh?”

In a fleeting moment, the woman momentarily twisted her body.

A long line was drawn behind the woman, and a large wound was engraved on the wall of the safehouse.

“Oh— I aimed for the neck.”

Thud, the woman’s right arm rolled on the floor.

It was a decisive move, but only an arm— a failure.

Galahad sighed softly.

To dodge in that instant—. It seemed she was sensitive to mana because she was a demon race. Galahad put the information he had just obtained into his head.

“Aaaaak!!! How dare you of all people·········!”

“Didn’t you lie first. I also got angry.”

“Die!”

The woman roughly swung the one remaining hand. Condensed formless energy was shot along it.

‘Mana lump?’

It was a pure mana lump.

A mana lump! A different light resided in Galahad’s eyes. Galahad forcefully suppressed the excitement and spread his fingers. Mana blazed between the fingers and added its volume. He compressed as much as possible in the regrettable state.

A semi-transparent barrier formed in front.

Bang! Even though it was a barrier of quite dense concentration, the mana lump lightly broke it and struck the shoulder.

Galahad hit the wall as he was. Severe pain rose from the back.

“Keuk—.”

A groan burst from Galahad’s mouth.

‘Throwing mana as is—. Is this the demon race.’

Gulp, he swallowed the saliva that had fully gathered in the mouth.

‘Interesting.’

Then what about this.

“Ignite.”

Galahad muttered softly and flicked his finger.

An explosion occurred beside the woman’s face. Even though it exploded at close range, the woman’s head only slightly turned.

‘Basic magic does not work.’

To deal damage to the demon race one had to compress mana to the limit like earlier.

He had to smoke at least two mana tobaccos, but the woman did not look deep enough in patience to wait for him.

“Slippery guy! Die!”

The woman swung her hand in succession. Invisible heavy attacks were shot at Galahad.

The excitement that had risen to the top of the head accelerated thoughts. With mana without compression that was all of briefly blocking it.

‘I have to reduce the size.’

Galahad twisted his hand. He compressed the concentration as much as possible, and also reduced the size of the magic itself.

It was a trick, but as a result it would show a similar effect. Instead there was the disadvantage that the range was too small.

To use it one had to be precise and accurate, like a knight’s sword.

The barrier made small let the energy flow. Galahad also twisted his body at the same time.

Whoong—. The eardrums almost burst from the compressed wind.

The wall that had been behind shook fiercely. A large scar was engraved on that solid wall.

‘If I make a mistake I die.’

Galahad desperately maintained composure. Excitement was poison to a mage.

‘With this method I cannot attack. The range is too small.’

If the distance became far the mana suppression force decreased so it was impossible for attack use.

Whether she was wary of it, the woman did not move from her spot. The woman maintained distance and continuously shot formless energy.

Just deflecting that twisted the mana. A tingling spread along the fingertips.

Then, a stone fell from the ceiling. At the stone hitting the head the woman irritably furrowed her eyebrows.

Lightly overcoming magic yet getting irritated at a mere stone—. Galahad was dumbfounded as if magic was worse than a stone.

‘I see. If worse than a stone then become a stone.’

Galahad looked around.

The interior of the safehouse was surprisingly solid. Even though formless energy continuously pounded it was only cracking.

Thanks to that quite a lot of fist-sized stones were rolling around.

“Ignite.”

Galahad aimed at the side of the woman and flicked his finger. An explosion occurred under the woman.

“Stupid guy—.”

Whether she thought the magic missed, the woman held mockery.

Then, the stone that bounced from below struck the woman’s face. The woman’s head turned as if slapped on the cheek.

“This bastard—.”

Poison rose on the woman’s face.

Galahad flicked his fingers in succession. Explosions occurred continuously.

Originally it was magic that could not inflict any wound on her, but now it was different.

“Aak! This stupid mage bastard!”

Irritation rose on the woman’s face at the pile of stones pouring from all sides.

‘Interesting.’

At the new utilization of magic Galahad burst into admiration. This was the charm and attraction of magic. The utilization method was infinite. One could not help but love it.

“Eek—, stay still a bit! I am in the middle of zero-point adjustment!”

Galahad rolled on the floor and flicked his fingers.

Using magic while rolling on the floor—. It was a sight that would make other mages faint if they saw it, but for the field worker Galahad it was daily life.

The flown stone this time hit the woman’s nose. For a moment the woman’s movement stopped.

The high nose collapsed and nosebleed flowed steadily. The woman’s face furrowed like a fierce ghost. The already ugly face became even more hideous.

The moment he was about to say one word that wrinkles would form on the face—.

“I will kill! Kill—!”

The woman swung her hand. Then formless energy spewed randomly.

That momentum was fierce to an incomparable degree compared to before.

‘Oh my—.’

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Formless energy exploded from all sides. It was an invisible disaster.

The ceiling shook and the floor cracked. Thick lines were drawn all around, and everything broke.

If even slightly mixed it was the end. That was not a level that could be blocked with a barrier. The hair stood on end from the tension.

Because he concentrated too much the capillaries of the eyes burst a lot.

The woman’s hand stopped. Whether it was also somewhat excessive for the woman that breathing was rough.

The surroundings were devastated. The lovely stones had all become powder and the form was not even visible.

To break all the stones—. Truly an ignorant yet effective method.

“Now what can you do?”

The woman who had regained calm grinned. That face was full of confidence.

Galahad forcefully suppressed the despair and thought.

‘Now what can I do?’

The head spun quickly. The experience from the last pervert lord came to mind. Adrianne’s tingling hand also came to mind.

The Adrianne side he still had no sense of how to reproduce. Then the pervert lord—.

‘Ah, there was that.’

Galahad’s gaze stuck to one place.

A new method came to mind.

It seemed it would be quite interesting.

***

‘I got wounded by magic.’

The demon race Karntula chewed her lips firmly.

Losing an arm to magic, if it entered the ears of other demon race it was something one would be teased for a lifetime.

‘I almost died.’

If not for the momentary premonition the neck would have flown.

The guy was extremely tricky for a mage. Cutting the arm, and attacking by bouncing stones with bizarre magic were all unexpected.

However, the guy was a mage and the woman was a demon race.

No matter what struggle the guy made, the result was decided from the beginning.

Still Karntula did not let her guard down. He was the guy who cut her arm.

Karntula maintained distance and steadily stepped on the guy.

Soon the guy staggered. That appearance was miserable. Full of dust and mud and pierced or scratched marks in places. It was amazing that he did not collapse.

“I’m getting tired of it slowly.”

It was only that he struggled because the guy’s method was bizarre. Being cut in the arm at the beginning was also merely the product of letting the guard down.

She lightly swung her hand, but the guy could not dodge. The guy fell flat backward unsightly.

The fallen guy struggled to get up, but whether strength was insufficient he collapsed again.

At the fragrant blood smell wafting Karntula’s mind spun.

“Quite something. A mage, yet to push me this far— amazing.”

It was sincere. Even if it was a bizarre method, that a mage troubled Karntula this much was an amazing thing.

The fallen man coughed blood. He seemed about to die at any moment.

‘The end.’

Only then did Karntula slowly approach.

Karntula licked her lips while looking at the wriggling man. Where to eat this guy from. From the head? Or from the legs?

“No, how can you die with this much? Endure a little more. It tastes better when eaten while alive.”

“Sorry, but my lifespan is quite tough.”

The man raised his head with difficulty. Karntula who met eyes with the guy felt a sense of discrepancy.

‘Those eyes—.’

Even though clearly pushed into a defensive position the guy’s eyes were still calm.

The guy raised his hand. Under it a large stone was visible. A stone sharp like a knife, when did he grind it.

‘To hide this kind of move—.’

Cute.

Karntula smiled faintly and covered her face with her arm.

“Stupid guy—. How many times do you use the same move?”

Kwaaang! An explosion occurred. Hot heat tickled Karntula’s body.

Anyway it was only a stone. It would not pierce Karntula’s arm.

As long as the head did not fly it was Karntula’s victory.

Karntula who had been mocking for a while suddenly felt something strange. Only heat was felt and there was no pain at all.

Perhaps she had been unnecessarily scared by those eyes. She clicked her tongue softly and lowered her hand.

But the man was not visible. He had clearly been below, did he flee with that body—. Did he know he could flee?

Then, a cough sound was heard from behind. Karntula who turned her head doubted her own eyes.

A man was in the place where Karntula had been until a little while ago.

‘How did he move that fast with that body?’

The question was quickly resolved. The deep burn mark engraved on the man’s back was the answer.

‘······He detonated the explosion on his own back and used that recoil?’

It was using the method he used when throwing stones at Karntula on himself.

Crazy—. At the terrible viciousness Karntula muttered a curse.

The man was holding something in his hand. It was Karntula’s arm that had been cut earlier.

“I don’t have this kind of hobby though—.”

The guy raised the cut arm high, then squeezed it tightly.

The red blood that flowed from the cut cross-section soaked the guy thoroughly.

A mage drinking the blood of the demon race—.

At the bizarre appearance Karntula felt fear for the first time. It was an incomprehensible action.

The man covered in blood stared at Karntula.

Emotion rose in the eyes of the man who had been calm all along.

That was—.

Ecstasy pressed and contained firmly.

At the clear desire Karntula stepped back one step.

The face of Karntula who belatedly noticed that she had stepped back furrowed.

A demon race herself being scared of a mage—.

Then, the man swung his hand. The blood stuck on the hand was sprayed long.

For a moment the world became high.

‘······Huh?’

No, Karntula’s eye level became low.

Belatedly pain rose. Looking down the gaze it was cut cleanly below the ankle. Cleanly—.

“······What is this.”

Karntula could not understand the situation.

Why? Karntula hurriedly twisted her body and raised her head.

“Ah, as expected it works. It was the method I used last time, but because your blood concentration is high it is rather easier.”

The voice of the man who had been calm until now jagged up and down. That voice was full of deep joy.

The man approached while limping. With every step he muttered alone and burst into admiration, it was bizarre.

Karntula urgently swung her hand.

The man flicked the blood-soaked finger.

Terrible pain was felt from the left arm.

“Oh, when magic and mana of the same concentration meet, magic is superior. Amazing.”

At some point the man was standing right in front and looking down.

Those eyes were not calm unlike earlier.

“Do not give up quickly like the last guy and please endure with all your strength. Aren’t you a real demon race.”

Right?

The man’s voice was very polite.

As if sincerely requesting—.

“What is this······.”

Karntula’s words could not reach the end.

The man’s hand blocked that mouth.

“Shh, I have to concentrate. Close your mouth a bit. You talk too much.”

***

‘If one drinks the blood of the demon race the mana concentration momentarily rises. Afterward there is a reaction to that, but it is bearable enough. Recently only good things are full.’

Galahad muttered the content he had just found out and opened the door.

When he opened the door, that guy from earlier was standing holding a sword. A clear aura was dwelling on that sword. Even if clumsy he was also an Intelligence Bureau agent.

Astonishment rose on the guy’s face. It seemed he had not thought at all that Galahad would win.

It was understandable. It was a mage and a demon race.

It was only that the mage was Galahad.

The sun was faintly rising. The back was cool. No, it was cold. Refreshing.

“Will you do it?”

Worry resided on the man’s expression. A sense of guilt rose on that face. Soon the guy shook his head.

“It’s fine. Well, it is my fault.”

A good guy. He won’t live long. Galahad muttered bitterly.

“Rose died to the demon race that attacked the safehouse.”

Galahad threw the head of the demon race he had prepared.

Thud! Roll roll—. The man with a bitter face took care of the head of the demon race that had rolled in front of him.

“···Why are you helping?”

“Everyone makes mistakes. The important thing is not repeating it.”

Galahad coughed softly. Blood fully spewed from that mouth. The head was a little dizzy. Did he shed too much blood.

“I will not forget the favor.”

The guy said while putting strength in his eyes. Favor—. A stupid guy. This was a rational calculation.

“I am Handsome.”

“Is it an agent name?”

“···Yes, how did you know?”

“It looked like that. I am Galahad.”

Handsome squinted his eyes. Originally when revealing an agent name, it was etiquette to say the agent name in return. Similar to company employees exchanging business cards. Galahad forcefully ignored those eyes.

“Too much time has passed. I will go, because I came out briefly during the company dinner.”

He waved his hand to Handsome and walked slowly.

Only after Handsome was not visible did Galahad scatter the mana he had gathered in his hand.

How far did he walk, he arrived at the tavern. The door was firmly closed.

It seemed he was too late.

There was a familiar form in front. It was Damien. Damien had his mouth open and was receiving snow.

Galahad staggered and sat beside Damien. The entire body was full of pain. There was no place that did not hurt. When he leaned on the wall a small scream almost burst.

“I said I would die.”

Damien’s voice was plain. Galahad laughed as if coughing.

“I don’t die with just this much. Did you eat to your heart’s content?”

“Yes.”

“Fortunate. Who paid the bill?”

“The slit-eyed uncle.”

“Gilbert? Ha, he will grumble again.”

“He was saying son of a bitch, let’s see later.”

Galahad laughed as if coughing. Red blood spewed from that mouth.

Silence continued for a moment.

Galahad’s groan broke the silence.

“Shall I kill you?”

Damien asked in a voice without emotion.

Galahad knew that was Damien’s kindness.

“Enough, there is a lot of work to do.”

“I see. Then.”

How long had they sat like that. The door opened roughly.

“Kuaaaaak! What!”

The hook captain jumped and screamed.

“Why do you open the door so late. You are not cut out to become rich. One warm stew please.”

“Meat for me.”

The hook captain pondered for a moment and then nodded.

“Welcome!”

A big smile bloomed on the hook captain’s face.

The boy held out not a sword but a hand.

Galahad laughed as if coughing and grabbed it.

“Eat a little. Because we have to go to the North right away.”

Emotion rose on the boy’s face for the first time.

It was sadness.