Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Demonkin-Beast

‘······That guy all the way here!!’

The crow chewed his lips with a crunch—.

He knew he was a vicious guy but—.

‘He followed all the way to the Northern front line?!’

He could not believe it. Even so does it mean a guy who was active in the center chased all the way to the North’s front line.

Magic had the nature of craving that invisible end once one put a hand on it. For that, a mage was one who even offered his life.

The Black Magic Society suited that nature the best. They who revered ascension did not distinguish means and methods.

The belief of the Black Magic Society was that if only one could indulge in magic and possess larger mana one would even contract with the devil.

Thanks to that the Black Magic Society grew quickly and secretly.

Until meeting the guy—.

[The Karntel Castle branch was destroyed.]

The first was a light news.

It was absurd that a branch was suddenly destroyed, but he thought it could be so. Even if it was the Black Magic Society how could one keep going well.

But things that could be so continued to happen.

[The Hermenian City branch—.]

[The Barma branch—.]

It was clear the Intelligence Bureau moved.

If not for the sourceless rumor that behind the continent’s thick matters there was the Intelligence Bureau, the Intelligence Bureau’s security was thorough to the extent even the existence would not have been known.

At that the Black Magic Society set up countermeasures. Even if it was the Intelligence Bureau it was not a Black Magic Society that would be hit defenselessly. They compressed the branches and increased the guards more.

The result that returned to that was—.

[I heard the Hermenia branch head killed Mayor Kaliton?]

[I heard the Hermenia branch was already gone.]

[That’s right. Truly strange?]

The Intelligence Bureau rather as if mocking them, began removing those who were thorns in their eyes in their name.

Because they came out like that, the Black Magic Society was helpless. Members got scared in advance and fled, and the power decreased day by day.

Still he thought they would keep the degree. Because they used the name Black Magic Society quite usefully.

Then he faced the guy.

[Hmm, is this also using as magic? I expected because you call yourself a black mage, but you are just trash with only a large mana tank.]

In his life he had never felt such helplessness.

The guy who invaded the branch alone dismantled each and every magic and pointed out and got angry.

Is this kind of trash using as magic—.

Only then did the crow realize.

That what had been tormenting the Black Magic Society all along was not the Intelligence Bureau, but the guy.

The crow prostrated his body flat.

The reason the crow could live was purely because his mouth was light.

Like that the bad relationship with the guy began.

[This is all? You, truly useless. Was the persuasion insufficient.]

The crow had never worked as hard as then in his life.

Then looking for an opportunity he fled to the North.

Yet to chase all the way here—.

‘Vicious guy! Dog-like guy!’

The crow burst into anger.

How much did he abandon to shake off the guy! He cut and came with the feeling of cutting an arm, yet to chase that after all! Where is there more to suck!

What did I do so wrong! I worked hard! I gave everything to give! Catch those guys who took the Black Magic Society’s vacancy! Truly a damn son of a bitch!

The anger that could not be taken out of the mouth rose.

“That··· I woke him for now.”

At the voice heard from behind the crow squinted his eyes.

‘No. This time it is really different. There is a demon race.’

Who is the demon race. The natural enemy of mages, and the predator that eats mages. No matter how the guy flew and crawled in the end he was a mage.

Because he fed the entire mana stone mine, there was no intelligence, but that martial power was real.

Because it was a demon race prepared to collapse the castle wall—.

‘Along with that there are also mana stones.’

Right now the crow also had high purity mana stones he just dug full.

There was no way to lose.

It was only that he was scared just from seeing the guy’s face.

‘I am not the me of then.’

He could no longer be in the guy’s shadow.

The crow straightened the bent back.

The crow steeled his mind and took out all the mana stones and released them.

They were not ordinary mana stones. They were at least top-grade mana stones.

Not only that. The crow spread the cloak. Magic circles were densely engraved on the reverse side of that cloak.

The Black Magic Society revered only ascension.

They placed no restrictions in that process. Therefore they became strong at a speed incomparable to other mages.

The crow was not the crow of then.

A thudding sound was heard from behind. At that footstep the ground trembled as if an earthquake occurred.

The crow threw the mana stones forward and stealthily stuck to the back.

Because that demon race was starved to the extent of even eating the demon race now—.

‘Probably he will try to eat the mage first.’

The crow smiled insidiously.

****

‘There were two mages.’

Galahad scratched his cheek.

Then, dense mana was felt from inside. The ground shook as if trembling in fear.

‘This is not good.’

Galahad took out the water bottle from his bosom. When he shook it the slightly hardened blood soon sloshed.

“Sir Gilbert.”

“······It will not be an ordinary guy.”

Gilbert adjusted the sword. Sweat was fully flowing on that forehead. The condition was not good.

Gilbert was at least a gentleman. Damien was lying in a big character as soon as he arrived, and Gwen had sunken cheeks and was pale. Tom was standing somehow, but twisting his body.

“Anyway it seems we two have to do it. Think of it as a captain battle.”

“······It is sufficient.”

Gilbert raised the corners of his mouth. However, those eyes were still stuck on the vibration felt from beyond.

“Yes, if one gets tired just catching moles is that a knight. Coachman.”

“Moles are also quite tricky magic beasts though.”

“Were they?”

“Enough.”

“You, are you sulking?”

Gilbert spun the sword with a whir— instead of answering. Sulking—. Galahad clicked his tongue softly.

The opponent was one demon race and two mages.

This side was a tired stupid knight and a genius mage—.

Doable.

“I will handle the two mages, so you hold the demon race. I will finish as fast as possible and help.”

“Is it possible to deal with two mages alone?”

“It is sufficient.”

“Then I will handle the demon race.”

“Confident?”

“If it is the demon race— it is my specialty.”

Galahad laughed out loud. Blood vessels were fully raised on the hand holding the sword.

“Yes, will you bet who handles faster.”

“Good. With a company dinner.”

“You should be careful. Earlier Damien said he was hungry.”

Gilbert’s face became quite serious.

Then—.

Kwaaaaang! With a fierce sound the wall of the cave broke as it was.

What popped out from there was the form of a naked huge man. It was a size half again larger than the Grand Duke. The thick muscles attached to those limbs twitched as if breathing.

The surrounding mana expanded and then stuck as if watching the guy’s mood.

‘It will not be easy.’

It was huge for a demon race, and small for a magic beast.

If said appropriately—.

“About a demonkin-beast. After saying it the pronunciation is a bit like that.”

At Gilbert’s face that subtly hardened Galahad raised the corners of his mouth.

“You, why is the expression like that. Regretting?”

“Strictly speaking, that is not a demon race.”

That pounded the ground randomly as if venting anger. Every time that huge fist collided a roar burst and the ground dug in.

If the demon race he saw last time flew formless energy, that demon race seemed to use it purely with strength.

“With that degree it is a high-rank demon race. Normally one could deal with it lightly but—.”

“So no confidence?”

“······Just that it is so.”

“If you need help, shout Captain help me! You are my one and only vice-captain.”

“No need.”

Gilbert’s face furrowed like having chewed shit.

“Please burn! Please destroy! Please crush!”

With the spell huge fireballs rose from the end of the cavity. The number was quite many.

It was a number an ordinary mage could not show.

“It is mana stones. And that top-grade,”

Mana stones and mages had quite good compatibility. It was not for nothing that the mages of the capital carried staffs with those expensive mana stones embedded.

Magic was an act of utilizing the mana in the body, gathering the mana in the atmosphere and formulating it to perform a miracle.

Mana stones replaced the process of utilizing the mana in the body to gather the mana in the atmosphere.

That is, a mage possessing mana stones could use magic just by formulating.

There were even places where there were mages practicing speaking fast to chant the spell even a little faster. Mana stones were quite fatal in battles between mages.

The demon race’s blood and mana stones had a bit different nature. The demon race’s blood was a substance possessing deep concentration mana. To use that deep concentration mana, one had to possess a quite high level of mana suppression force.

In contrast mana stones were just mana lumps of ordinary concentration. Literally the quiet Gwen. An ordinary mage could handle them.

Still if it was magic of that degree of number, it was not a guy who used mana stones once or twice. It was fine to call him a mana stone expert.

“Are you falling behind?”

“No, rather good. If not that it is too boring.”

Gilbert clicked his tongue softly. It seemed he thought it was a joke.

The demon race’s head turned this way. It was large eyes that did not match the face. Those fly-like red eyes blinked.

Galahad felt a subtle sense of incongruity. The identity of that sense of incongruity was—.

“It seems the demonkin-beast is glaring at me, is it my imagination?”

“······It seems you are quite popular with the demon race.”

The demon race kicked the ground. The distance reduced in an instant. A speed that did not match the build.

Gilbert twisted the sword diagonally and blocked.

Kwaaang! The sword and fist collided, and a large roar burst. Gilbert’s blue aura shook roughly. Gilbert stepped back one step.

‘Not good.’

At the red pupils still glaring at him Galahad clicked his tongue softly.

The demon race extended a hand toward Galahad. Gilbert swung the sword to try to block it, but because the arm was so thick it was not easy.

“Sorry, but I dislike someone touching my body.”

Galahad clicked his tongue softly and flicked his hand. The demon race’s thick finger bent upward. An ice spear was stuck below it.

He had gathered quite a bit of mana, but that depth was pathetic.

‘Not good—.’

Galahad clicked his tongue softly.

Kewooooo—! The demon race burst into a cry. Gilbert continued swinging the sword, but the gaze was still stuck on Galahad.

“Damien, I fell into danger! You, will you make a mistake again?”

“No.”

“That’s right. Then go up with Tom, and catch the mages. Among them do not kill the one wearing the crow.”

“Yes!”

“Understood!”

The condition of the two was not good, but anyway the magic was concentrated on this side. The demon race’s interest was also like that.

“As expected I am popular.”

“······Is it a time to joke now?”

“Humor is the oil of life. It softly makes even hard situations.”

Gilbert spat instead of answering. It was spit mixed with red blood.

Because damage accumulated in the process of coming the condition was not good. Galahad’s condition was similar.

However, one could not fight after coming from a nap. World affairs were naturally like that.

Galahad opened the water bottle. A disgusting blood smell fully rose. When he shook it slightly the coagulated blood soon sloshed. It seemed thanks to the mana.

“You protect me. Then I will somehow try.”

“Somehow··· isn’t it too irresponsible?”

Then, the demon race’s fist flew toward Galahad again.

Galahad did not look at it and brought the water bottle to his mouth. The taste was worse than last time.

The head spun. The mana that went over the throat spread in an instant. The body was burning beyond being hot. The mana pathway expanded. A groan naturally came out from the severe pain.

Kwaaang! A roar burst again. Gilbert twisted his shoulder and blocked the fist with the sword. A groan sound burst from that mouth.

Originally a battle protecting someone was twice as hard as just a battle.

Even more if the opponent disregarded injury, and the target to protect was standing still—.

However, Gilbert did not complain and adjusted the sword.

At some point the fireballs had come right above. The fireballs seemed to whisper. The moment one makes even a small mistake one dies—.

The thrill of the death line tickled Galahad’s neck.

Yes, this is the taste—.

Galahad did not stop the rising corners of his mouth.

When he flicked his finger, a mana arrow floated around the index finger. Galahad confirmed the concentration based on it.

That was the domain of skilled sensation not calculation. The time it took was a fleeting moment.

When he flicked the next finger a spark jumped. Moving the fingers like playing the piano, sparks occurred in chain.

To extinguish fire is as expected—.

‘Lightning.’

Sparks fully wrapped between the fingers. The mana loaded on each one was dense.

That many fireballs poured aiming at Galahad, it was exactly the feeling the whole world became a sea of fire.

‘A fight of quality and quantity.’

When he shook the hand full of sparks, the sparks were shot in an instant.

Each one the spark was just small arrow size compared to the huge fireball.

Simply looking it seemed the spark would lightly disappear but—.

Magic was quality rather than quantity.

Even if the guys poured magic with mana stones, with that fundamental skill one could not raise the quality.

The spark lightly struck the fireball. The fireball gave the middle emptily exactly like an illusion. Digging into it the appearance of the spark disappeared.

Thud. A small sound was all. The fireball split as if it entered a mixer. It collapsed. It divided into small pieces.

Fragments of the fireball pounded Galahad.

The situation was not good.

While blocking the pouring magic, one also had to deal with the magic beast.

He sent Damien, but that distance was far.

Kwaaaang! The wind generated from the collision of Gilbert and the magic beast fluttered Galahad’s hair.

With an ice spear he put quite a bit of mana into it was all that he pierced one shell. To inflict damage on that demon race with magic, one had to drink the demon race’s blood and also compress.

Yet the demon race was aiming at Galahad. On top of that a situation where magic was also pouring—.

Gilbert would be overwhelmed just by blocking the rampaging demon race.

The moment one missed even one of the two it was fatal.

Unless two heads were attached one could not simultaneously two magics—.

‘Can’t one?’

Galahad suddenly harbored a question.

It was not that there was no story of dual spells.

However, dual spells were for new mage recruits to go out to talent shows and use.

It was similar to drawing a triangle and circle with both hands. When it was easy magic one could somehow do it.

But to use high-level magic, that difficulty rose sharply.

It was harder than simultaneously drawing a portrait with the left hand and a landscape with the right hand.

However—.

‘Can’t one just draw?’

Using magic one does not need to worry about with the left hand, and compressing mana with the right hand—.

‘It seems it will work.’

Dense interest rose.

Dual spells were quite a sensitive work.

From the beginning magic always had risk burden, but dual spells the moment they failed would clearly explode from internal collision without even leaving a form.

So—.

‘If one does not make a mistake it is fine.’

At the simple conclusion Galahad nodded.

What was needed was a higher mana concentration. So that the magic flown without worrying was overwhelmingly higher in concentration than the guys’ magic—.

“A good idea came. Sir Gilbert, endure a little.”

“······Yes, understood.”

Contrary to the words Gilbert’s complexion was not good.

It looked precarious, but there was no choice.

This was the choice with the highest win rate.

Galahad poured in all the remaining blood in the water bottle.

The throat seemed to burn. It was the feeling of swallowing fire. And that dancing fire—.

The already overflowing mana began running wild as if it lost a place to go. Galahad forcibly pressed it.

The heart seemed about to burst from the repulsive force. It was the feeling of swallowing a bomb. If one made even a slight mistake the body itself seemed to annihilate.

It was thrilling.

Kwaaaaang! Something exploded in front. Hot blood hit the face. Galahad did not open his eyes and concentrated.

Then, a spell was heard from far. Galahad stealthily opened his eyes. He did not think. He concentrated all nerves on the mana compressing in the right hand.

A spark jumped from the left hand.

This was similar to a skilled knight counterattacking without being conscious. It was the manifestation of magic Galahad had accumulated in the unconscious by repeating for a long time.

‘It works.’

Galahad did not look at the result and closed his eyes again.

Because there was no way he would miss—.

Kwaaaang! An impact sound was heard from far. Stone fragments that fell like rain pounded Galahad.

Gilbert’s groan full of pain was heard. Something hard scratched the nose. It seemed the guy’s fist had approached right in front.

Galahad continued concentrating. He pressed the mana and pressed again. A creaking— sound was made from the body. It was a signal that overload came.

The body warned. If one does a little more it explodes—. He compressed more without stopping.

Breathing was not done. Because the lung capacity was excellent it was fine.

A spell was heard from far. He opened his eyes. The vision was all red. It is fine. Because it was visible. He closed his eyes again and concentrated.

He pressed the mana more. A little more—.

A little—.

“Captain!”

Then, Gilbert’s voice was heard.

It seemed if just a little more it would be fine—.

Gilbert’s groan became distant. It seemed Gilbert was pushed.

The primordial enemy felt only then—.

Galahad opened his eyes.

A demon race striking a huge fist was visible with the red vision.

It was not easy to dodge, and even if one dodged if the spell tangled it was the same dying by exploding.

What Galahad felt on that death line was—.

Dense regret.

‘If just a little more······.’

It was then.

“Biiiiiiik!”

Bright light spewed from behind. Even though it was backlight light bright to the extent the eyes were dazzled—. It was clearly Gwen.

The demon race’s movement stopped for a very short moment.

And that was the very small and fine gap Galahad wanted.

“Hellfire.”

Galahad’s right hand twisted. As if taking something out—.

Soon the surrounding space melted. A small fire was shot between the melted space.

That was a much smaller size than a fireball. Yet everything on that path melted. Starting from stones to air, even mana—.

Everything bowed its head in front of hellfire.

The demon race that had been advancing all along twisted its body for the first time. It seemed the guy also felt danger.

It seemed trying to dodge but—.

“Where!”

Gilbert who was crumpled here and there blocked with the sword.

Hellfire accurately stuck into the demon race’s chest.

The small fire blazed in an instant. As if the demon race was dry firewood it ate the guy and increased in size in an instant.

Mana flows from places of low concentration to high places.

That if higher concentration than the demon race, it meant the guy itself becomes fuel.

Kewooooooo—!

The demon race’s scream full of pain fully rang the cavity.

“Almost died.”

The corners of the mouth of Galahad who said so were fully raised.

Then, the fireballs that had been above disappeared. It seemed the mage side was also handled.

Gilbert who had been expressionless all along looked at Galahad with a face full of astonishment. It seemed there were many things he wanted to ask.

At that Galahad—.

“Didn’t I say I am a very excellent mage.”

He laughed while brushing back the messy hair.

Ah, he added one word.

“The bet you lost.”

Gilbert’s face fully furrowed.