Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Front Line

‘A demon race entered the Intelligence Bureau—.’

Galahad rolled that bitter sentence in his mouth.

Simply looking it was a demon race entering one safehouse in the North but—.

‘There is no way it will be resolved so easily.’

Always move assuming the worst—. It was a famous saying one of Galahad’s seniors had told him. The senior himself did not keep those words and met a regrettable end.

‘From when was the North’s information mixed?’

The demon race might have done something in the friction between the Grand Duke and the empire.

Because the information the empire receives is things the Intelligence Bureau produces.

To track that—.

‘I have to track by comparing the Intelligence Bureau’s North information and the reality.’

If they played tricks a tail would inevitably remain.

Tok tok, Galahad habitually tapped his fingers.

“But why are you on the coachman’s seat. It is narrow.”

“Can’t you not smoke cigarettes inside.”

“Why can’t you smoke? When coming you smoked well.”

“Now there is Damien.”

“Didn’t you smoke well in the tavern?”

“Is the tavern and a sealed carriage the same?”

Gilbert furrowed his eyebrows. He opened and closed his mouth as if to say something and then closed it.

Galahad clicked his tongue softly and shook the cigarette.

Just in time a cold wind brushed the face.

“Fucking cold.”

With this much it was beyond a knife wind to an axe wind. It was fortunate he obtained a coat before departing, if not he would have almost used all the mana to maintain body temperature.

“It is the North.”

Gilbert flicked the reins. Four horses snorted roughly. The snow piled softly under the horse hooves bounced roughly.

The surroundings were full of white and black. White was snow, and black was the ground laid under it.

“The ground is black?”

“If the blood of the demon race touches it turns black.”

“Hmm, is it related to the mana contained in the demon race’s blood?”

“What are you saying. Speak in imperial language.”

“You are quite ignorant. A good knight.”

Gilbert slightly turned his head. Galahad fell into his thoughts again.

Demon race and mana, Adrianne’s nature of burning mana—.

Both were maddeningly attractive.

“···What do you plan to do.”

At Gilbert’s question the thoughts broke.

“What do you mean how.”

“If you go to the front line the opposition will be more severe.”

“Opposition is fate for a genius.”

Gilbert fully furrowed his eyes. It seemed he thought it was a joke. Galahad smiled bitterly.

First, the first thing to do upon arriving at the front line was—.

‘I have to research Adrianne.’

Compared to the importance of Adrianne, the demon race was nothing.

The most important thing now was Adrianne.

How far had they run.

An unexpected scenery greeted Galahad.

“Didn’t you say we were going to the front line?”

“Yes, that is the front line. To be precise it is the headquarters though.”

“Where looking is that the front line. Isn’t it a city?”

Countless houses were stuck tightly. Between them tower-like things were also lined up.

Rather the scale was larger and there were more people than the Grand Duke’s castle. Where looking is that the front line.

“Because most of the troops are on the front line, people gathered following them. And as you see—.”

Gilbert turned the reins. The horses snorted again.

“It has developed.”

Tada, it was too large in scale to end with it has developed like that.

“Isn’t it dangerous around the front line?”

“Anyway if there is pushed, wherever in the North it is dangerous.”

Hmm, Galahad nodded. It was a correct statement. However, still does that actually work?

Then, a group of soldiers was visible. The attire of the guy at the very front was peculiar. The leather of the coat he wore was thick, but it was neither wolf’s nor bear’s.

“It is a coat made of magic beast leather.”

“Magic beast?”

“Yes, magic beasts are one of the demon race. Demon race in the form of beasts without intelligence, but because that leather is thick and can block even the attacks of the demon race it is used as coats or armor on the front line.”

Armor made of magic beast leather—. It was not a very welcome sound for the mage Galahad.

One soldier approached. The soldier who saw Gilbert raised a salute with a loud voice. Respect resided on that face.

“This person is···.”

The soldier turned his gaze to Galahad.

“I am Galahad. The person who will become Adrianne’s husband.”

The soldier’s face changed in an instant. Exactly like a face of having heard his own parents cursed. The soldier ran back and shouted something. The atmosphere was not good.

“Why are you loosening your fingers?”

“Having experienced it the effect of one lightning is better than a hundred words.”

“······Absolutely not.”

Around the time the fingers itched the carriage passed.

Galahad who entered the castle squinted his eyes.

All around was noisy. There were taverns here and there, and guys fist-fighting in front of them were also visible. People stood around in a circle and threw coins betting. On one side they chased while shouting pickpocket.

It seemed there was no law. Or they killed the law.

Then, the horse snorted roughly. The spit that bounced from the horse stuck to a man on the roadside.

“Which son of a bitch—!”

Gilbert kicked the man who ran over with his foot as if nothing.

The man rolled on the half-melted snow. The man who got up a short while later brushed his clothes and went his way.

“Welcome to the Northern front line.”

Gilbert laughed while shaking the boots stained with blood.

***

Galahad and Gilbert put Gwen and Damien, Tom in Gilbert’s house, and headed to the headquarters.

Unlike usual there were many soldiers and carriages at the headquarters. Even the carriages of each battalion were visible.

It was evidence that the captains of each battalion had gathered.

“It seems a grand meeting is in progress.”

“Grand meeting?”

“It is a meeting where captain-level gather. It is not the regular meeting period, it seems something happened.”

“It was late.”

At Galahad’s joke Gilbert smiled faintly.

Galahad was blocked right at the entrance.

“Those without permission cannot enter.”

A soldier with fluffy fur said while gesturing at Galahad. The reason was that there was no information about Galahad.

There was no way the headquarters had not received the report yet. It was an obvious obstruction. Coming out childishly—. Gilbert squinted his eyes.

It was an obstruction that was effective in its own way.

The problem was that the opponent was Galahad.

As expected Galahad showed no sign of stepping back. If Galahad stepped forward it was clear things would get big. At that Gilbert stepped forward first.

“This person is Captain Galahad of the Special Mission Unit. If he cannot attend the meeting like this will you take responsibility?”

“There was no name Galahad on the invitation list. From the beginning I have never even heard such a name.”

The soldier’s answer was extremely orthodox.

Gilbert who pondered for a moment stealthily grabbed the sword hilt. Galahad blocked him.

“Enough, you are an excellent knight. Use only the sword, I will use the head.”

Galahad stepped forward.

“You don’t know me? You, when you heard my name, didn’t you furrow your brow?”

The soldier tightly closed his mouth and avoided his gaze.

“Hmm, did you receive an order from above? Not to let the person named Galahad pass.”

“There was no such thing.”

“You have no talent for lying.”

Galahad tapped the cigarette. The fallen ash slightly melted the snow piled softly.

“Come here—!”

Galahad shouted loudly and held something out. It was a document stamped with the Grand Duke’s crest. Galahad’s finger was subtly covering the ‘conscription appointment letter’ part.

Soldiers startled by the loud sound ran hurriedly. Those faces were pale.

“An important meeting is in progress! Lower your voice!”

“Here, this is a document of His Grace the Grand Duke. Everyone kneel and listen.”

Galahad held out the document proudly. At the Grand Duke’s crest the soldier’s face twitched.

“Please wait a little. I will report above.”

A soldier who seemed to be the senior stepped forward. Seeing that expression it was clear he would only pretend to report.

“By any chance is there someone higher than His Grace the Grand Duke inside?”

“······Yes?”

“Seeing that you are blocking me who received an order directly from His Grace the Grand Duke, it is clear there is a higher person inside! Is His Majesty the Emperor there? It was not the time for this!”

At the sound of the emperor the startled soldier shook his head.

“Ah··· No! There is not.”

“I see, then with what kind of guts are you blocking me who received the order of His Grace the Grand Duke?”

Galahad said low. Galahad’s voice was always leisurely and calm, but there was a subtle power in that voice.

The soldiers busily exchanged gazes. When Galahad took one step the soldiers stepped aside.

Galahad walked proudly between them as if it was natural.

“Isn’t that the Special Mission Unit conscription appointment letter.”

“I also said so. They just stepped aside on their own.”

“Ah, I see.”

It was a shameless excuse, but Gilbert nodded.

“Do you know where the meeting place is?”

“It is there.”

Gilbert who was guiding the way suddenly realized that the corners of his own mouth were raised.

Gilbert hurriedly lowered the corners of his mouth.

***

“Recently a large number of magic beasts have come down near the castle wall. Four watchtowers that the 4th Battalion was in charge of were occupied. Originally magic beasts that quickly return to their own territory this time occupied around the watchtowers and did not move.”

“···It is said Galahad has arrived.”

5th Battalion Captain Mark nodded at Lumian’s report.

The surrounding captains were also receiving reports. Only the person concerned Adrianne was quiet.

Her subordinates would have blocked. Because the excessive loyalty of the 1st Battalion guys toward Adrianne was famous.

From the beginning Adrianne was a personality that did not place interest on trivial things. What she placed interest on was only the demon race.

“But why is he not coming to the meeting place?”

“The soldiers blocked him.”

“Blocked? What is that—.”

Then, the 6th Battalion Captain who held mockery was visible.

‘That stupid guy again—.’

Disgust rose at the idiot-like act. That opponent was someone sent by the imperial family. Blocking him, has he lost his mind?

Mark nervously scratched his cheek. When Mark tried to stealthily stand up, the aide Lumian caught him.

“Where are you trying to go.”

“I have to bring him. He is a person sent by the imperial family. A person who will become Adrianne’s husband.”

“Even without that the relationship with other captains is not good, are you thinking of completely falling out?”

At Lumian’s scolding Mark squinted his eyes.

“Then are you saying to just watch blocking the person sent by the imperial family at the door?”

Mark pushed away Lumian’s hand and stood up from his seat. The gazes of the captains stuck all at once.

Mark smiled faintly and headed to the door. The moment he grabbed the door handle, the meeting place door opened roughly.

‘I didn’t open it this hard?’

Then, he met eyes with the person standing on the other side of the door.

It was a young man of a refreshing impression with hair neatly brushed back. Those eyes were deep not matching the age, creating a subtle atmosphere. He looked like a youth, and also like a middle-aged man.

Pale soldiers were visible behind the man.

At that luxuriousness that did not match the North Mark realized that the man was Galahad.

“Thank you for opening the door. Will you step aside for a moment?”

At the man’s polite request Mark stepped aside with a dazed face.

“Nice to meet. I am Special Mission Unit Captain Galahad. Sorry for being late. The road was blocked on the way.”

The man who entered opening the door greeted proudly.

A sharp momentum was felt from all sides. The captains’ faces furrowed.

“A grand meeting is in progress now.”

The 6th Battalion Captain said in a voice full of flesh.

“I know, didn’t I say sorry for being late. Do not scold too much.”

Galahad’s voice was full of leisure. The informal speech was quite natural.

“Sit.”

When the atmosphere was about to sharpen, Adrianne said in a monotonous voice.

“It has been a while. Wife.”

Galahad naturally sat beside Adrianne. Adrianne only nodded her head slightly.

“······Contrary to concerns the magic beasts returned again. In the process two watchtowers were destroyed and became unusable. It is a somewhat strange phenomenon, so a detailed investigation of this is needed.”

The 4th Battalion Captain continued the report.

Galahad raised his right hand high. At that gazes focused again.

“I came late and didn’t hear, will you explain again?”

The answer came from elsewhere.

“More magic beasts than usual crossed the castle wall. They did not return to the territory right away either.”

Adrianne explained calmly. For a moment the meeting place became quiet.

Anger rose on the face of the person who had been behind Adrianne. That hand had gone up to the sword hilt.

“Staying and then returning is strange. Isn’t there a possibility they installed something around the watchtowers?”

“Magic beasts have no intelligence so that possibility is low. Still it is worth confirming.”

Because it was a quite plausible opinion, the other captains also nodded.

“The 4th Battalion currently has no spare troops for restoring the watchtowers. Support is needed for that confirmation.”

The 4th Battalion Captain said while squinting his eyes. Magic beasts were treated similarly to beasts or animals. So it was answering in a roundabout way that there was no room to investigate them.

“Don’t the other battalions have no spare capacity?”

The 6th Battalion Captain said in an annoying voice. That gaze stared at Galahad.

Telling the one who just came to the front line to investigate magic beasts—. It was clear provocation. The other captains clicked their tongues softly.

Whether he did not know that intention Galahad nodded. Rather it was a welcoming look.

“Then the Special Mission Unit will take it. However, because I have not yet grasped the work, I would like someone to support—.”

The moment Mark tried to raise his hand at Galahad’s words—.

“I will go together. Because that place is on the way back.”

Adrianne said in a monotonous voice.

That noisy meeting place became quiet to the extent breathing was heard.

***

Flash!

‘Ah··· no···.’

At the lightning that rose again Gwen tightly closed her eyes.

The broom she was holding in her hand fell as it was, and pushed the bucket containing water.

As the water spilled the floor became a mess in an instant, but Gwen did not even notice it.

Gwen’s mind was focused on one thing.

[Heavenly Punishment.]

The magic Galahad had shown kept lingering in the eyes.

It was visible even if she closed her eyes, and it kept rising even if she slept.

To the extent she could not even say words of encouragement and fun jokes to the juniors Damien and Tom on the way.

‘No, magic is cursed. It is a curse that drove my life like this—.’

It was magic that had followed and tormented her all her life. If Gwen used magic, it was clear that even the children she cherished would be in danger.

She absolutely could not use it. For the sake of those lovely children who relied on her.

But why on earth—.

‘Why does it keep being visible in the eyes!’

Even every time she recalled it the heart pounded. To the extent she worried if the heart would burst from how fast it was beating.

She was desperately ignoring it, but the more she did the more it rose.

If it is like this rather—.

‘Shall I use it and clean up?’

Gwen who made a sweet monologue shook her head.

She had to endure. Even for her children—.

She could endure.

***

Tom who came up to the upper floor to call Gwen stopped as he was.

Tom actually called Gwen senior half as a joke. Galahad also sometimes said senior like a joke, and from the beginning she was not a soldier but an ordinary maid.

However, because that heart was kind to a foolish degree, and she took care well calling junior he was following without complaint.

That Gwen was mopping while wrapping lightning around her body.

It was clearly the magic Galahad had used.

Wrapping that around the body and cleaning—? Why? She was a mage?

Separate from the question Tom’s posture was automatically corrected.

“Ah, Junior Tom, I will do the upper floor cleaning! Go down and rest!”

“······Yes! I will obey the order!”

Tom quickly prostrated.

Tom closed his eyes while coming down the stairs.

‘She said maid······.’

Murder ghost kid, mage maid, knight Gilbert, even the most questionable captain—.

Tom seriously pondered whether he could really be here.

Unfortunately Tom had no choice.