Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Academy Connection

“I have decided!”

At Gwen who suddenly shouted Galahad squinted his eyes.

“Private! Tom!”

“It is nothing, sleep again.”

“Yes! Understood!”

Tom fell asleep again. Gwen held Tom and apologized. She shook saying sorry for waking the sleep.

‘······Vicious?’

Galahad laughed softly.

“What on earth did you decide.”

“I will become a very strong mage.”

That Gwen learned magic was a good thing. That was also the reason he put Gwen in the Special Mission Unit.

However—.

“Becoming a very strong mage is a quite abstract goal. It is better for the goal to be certain.”

“······Uh? Is that so?”

“First try setting an accurate goal,”

Gwen who blinked suddenly pointed with a finger.

Galahad squinted his eyes at the calloused finger pointing at himself.

“You mean you want to become me?”

“Yes! I want to become a powerful mage like Lord Galahad!”

Gwen’s answer was loud. Tom stood up abruptly and then sat again.

“That is impossible.”

“Why!”

“It is a difference in nature. I prefer a fast and efficient method. A clean method of bursting the head or piercing a hole in the heart.”

“A clean- method?”

Gwen’s eyes became large.

“For that your nature is too kind.”

“Thank··· you?”

“It is not a compliment. It means you cannot become an efficient mage like me. Can you pierce a hole in the head?”

“Nooo!”

“I thought so. You with a weak heart have to completely annihilate so that the opponent’s form does not remain with huge magic.”

“······Yeees?! Annihilate?!”

Tom seemed to have given up on sleep, and pulled the leather placed beside. Then he began sewing the leather with thick thread. It seemed he was making a coat.

“Remember the fact that to protect someone one has to kill someone.”

Galahad said in a voice without laughter.

Tom nodded. The form of the coat was taking shape.

Then, Damien got up. Tom held out the meat prepared beside. Damien began eating again.

“······I also know.”

Gwen deeply bowed her head. Galahad did not particularly urge.

He slightly opened the window beside. It was a hole for smoking cigarettes made at Tom’s suggestion. The cold air of dawn that slightly held moisture circulated.

The scenery visible beyond it was the same. Tightly dry long trees and the white snow between them—. Boring to death. Galahad grumbled softly.

“······Then! I will become a mage who turns only the bad guys into porridge!”

“Porridge. Contrary to your innocent appearance there is a cruel corner.”

“Yes?! No—.”

“So you want to learn magic?”

“Yes!”

Gwen nodded with a face like a squire beside a knight.

“You have extremely good talent as a mage. That huge mana tank and excellent mana sensitivity is to the extent one can call a genius.”

“Hehe.”

Gwen scratched the back of her head and smiled shyly. It seemed she was weak to praise.

“Here, let’s start from a simple thing. This is just fire. A very simple magic belonging to the 1st Circle. Follow.”

Gwen’s eyes slightly became hazy. Then fire floated as is on Gwen’s finger.

‘Amazing.’

Galahad purely admired. Following just by seeing was not an easy thing.

‘As expected a genius.’

Excluding the guy in the twilight Magic Tower it was the first genius Galahad acknowledged.

“Here, next is concentrating on that fire. Try compressing the mana while thinking of pressing.”

“Compress?”

“Think of pressing firmly.”

Gwen opened her eyes wide. She concentrated to the extent her finger trembled, but surprisingly no reaction occurred.

“I don’t know well?”

“Try thinking of pressing firmly. There is an invisible muscle, think of pulling that.”

“There is no invisible muscle so I don’t know!”

“···If it really doesn’t work first try bending the finger.”

Galahad who extremely hated compressing with the body, but because she could not get the hang at all there was no choice.

The problem was that even so it was useless.

If one caused magic one had no choice but to feel mana. If one felt mana, most quickly realized the principle of compression.

To not be able to do that basic thing—.

‘Ah.’

At the innocent eyes Galahad sighed softly.

“There is one problem.”

“Problem?”

“You are stupid.”

“······Yes?”

“You are stupid.”

“I know!”

Gwen nodded. The acknowledgment was fast.

“So is there a problem?”

At the question of what problem being stupid was Galahad shook his head. There was nothing particularly problematic.

“I see, there is no need for you to pursue the truth of magic. Just look at my magic and follow.”

“Ah! Yes! Fortunate!”

Galahad lit fire again. Fire floated on Gwen’s finger.

“This time try alone.”

Gwen looked down at her own finger. She furrowed her eyebrows as if concentrating, but unfortunately there was no reaction at all.

“Didn’t you do well alone against the demon race?”

“At that time it was urgent—. Now I don’t know well.”

The cause was roughly guessed. It seemed the repulsion toward magic settled in the unconscious was the problem.

The method to overcome this was simple.

Repeated learning.

There was no problem that was not solved with that.

“Here, concentrate.”

Fire blazed on Galahad’s finger. Fire also settled on Gwen’s finger. That size became smaller. It followed and became smaller.

“Here, well done. Then again—.”

Fire was lit. It became smaller and then larger. It went out.

“This time also well done. Here, then again—.”

“Again—.”

“Again.”

Even though quite a lot was repeated, Gwen did not complain and followed well.

How much was repeated.

Around the time Tom completed the coat, and Damien patted his belly and closed his eyes again—.

“Blaze! Fire! Done··· done!! It’s done!”

Fire blazed on Gwen’s finger.

‘It takes about forty times to be equipped.’

Comparing to the time of learning mana and memorizing the principle and formula of magic and even analyzing concentration to learn and use magic—.

‘Overwhelmingly fast.’

It was an incomparable speed.

“Good.”

Gwen made a subtle smile.

Born as the child of a gambler, suffered a lifetime from the parents’ gambling, it was like the face when realizing one had innate talent for gambling.

“It’s fine, because one can take even the parents’.”

“······Yes?”

“Here, next is the 4th Circle magic explosive fireball.”

“Just now it was 1st Circle! Isn’t it suddenly going up too much?!”

“It’s fine, anyway you cannot understand the principle. Rather learning higher Circle magic is more advantageous.”

Gwen who pondered for a moment nodded.

Gilbert looked at Damien who came to the coachman’s seat.

The two went for a long time without words.

****

“Each battalion of the Northern front line has its own base.”

Gilbert said while pointing in front. There soldiers were gathered in threes and fives warming by the fire. It seemed a checkpoint.

“Like nobles.”

“Yes, similar. The power would be stronger than nobles. Anyway because it is the army.”

“The word duchy coming out was not for nothing.”

White snow was piled on the shoulder. To think so much snow falls in the North—. Galahad muttered softly while brushing his shoulder.

“Stop!”

One soldier shouted looking this way. They variously drew spears.

“The 5th Battalion Captain is in a slightly floating situation among the captains.”

“Is he being ostracized?”

“Yes, originally the actions were different, but recently even the rumor of raising mages is circulating and he is being ostracized.”

Then, the soldiers approached right in front.

The spears the soldiers held had quite large tips. It was an appearance like a harpoon for catching whales.

“Please reveal the affiliation.”

The soldier brought that spear to Galahad as if a microphone.

“I am Special Mission Unit Captain Galahad.”

The soldier furrowed his thick eyebrows.

“Special Mission Unit? Have you heard?”

“No, first time hearing.”

The soldiers’ conversation flowed in a direction different from expected.

“Please show the identity plate.”

At the soldier’s question Galahad looked at Gilbert. He had never received something like an identity plate?

“Identity plates use magic beast bones so production takes time.”

It was not something one could not understand. From the beginning even the capital was a world of slow processing. How much more the North.

“First show your identity plate. Don’t you still have the 1st Battalion identity plate?”

“None.”

“Why none? Until a while ago you were the 1st Battalion.”

“Because I am not the 1st Battalion.”

“More honest than expected. What were you going to do if checked.”

“The 1st Battalion originally is not checked.”

“Now you are not the 1st Battalion.”

“Identity plate!”

The soldier shouted. At that Galahad clicked his tongue softly and rummaged the inner pocket.

“Here, this is the appointment letter of His Grace the Grand Duke.”

Galahad took out the usual appointment letter. It was a document that worked even in the captains’ meeting.

The problem was—.

“I don’t know letters!”

“I don’t either!”

“Showing letters is suspicious!”

The soldiers were illiterate.

The atmosphere became ominous in an instant. The reason was showing letters. How on earth does one read the identity plate?

Gilbert grabbed the sword hilt.

“It would be fine to moderately beat and enter. Anyway isn’t it promised with the captain?”

When Gilbert proposed a Northern-style negotiation, the carriage door opened wide.

“Ah, just in case I made a temporary identity plate.”

Tom held out a crude wooden plate. The soldiers who confirmed it let them pass. It seemed they only confirmed the pattern of the identity plate.

“Tom, you are truly capable.”

“Haha, thank you just for the words.”

Tom smiled awkwardly and took care of the wooden plate. At that humble appearance Galahad stared at Gilbert.

“Why are you looking?”

“······No.”

At Gilbert’s grumbling question Galahad slightly turned his gaze.

The 5th Battalion base had scale more than expected. A wooden fence of thick trees was erected long, and there were pointed wooden barricades in places on the road between them.

Rotten flesh of unknown form was stuck thickly on the barricades. Snow piled softly on it and it had quite a charm.

The wooden fence was thicker and higher than seen from afar. To the extent it felt like a castle. There were even crossbows between them.

Entering inside a musty smell greeted.

‘Truly the army.’

Galahad put a cigarette in his mouth. Lemon scent pushed away the musty smell.

“The unit is better than expected.”

“Is that good?”

“Yes, the soldiers’ health condition is also okay, and that armament degree is also good. The 5th Battalion’s finances seem better than expected.”

Hearing that story and turning it was finely different from the headquarters. The soldiers were clean. Of course by Northern standards.

Along with that there were quite a few wearing empire attire. Among them there were also those who seemed merchants, and soldiers taking care of carts.

‘It is the feeling of being on the border line between the empire and the North.’

In some sense it was more active than the headquarters. The smell of magic was in places.

Then, a young woman greeted Galahad. It was a woman he had seen in the meeting place.

“I am Lumian, aide to 5th Battalion Captain Mark.”

The building the woman took Galahad to was a large building between the barracks. The security was strict.

Galahad habitually paid attention to that structure and personnel placement. It was an occupational disease.

Knock knock knock.

“Come in.”

Lumian opened the door and stepped aside.

5th Battalion Captain Mark was a man full of tired signs. Mark who saw Galahad stood up from his seat and held out his hand.

“You came even earlier than expected. Did you discover something?”

Mark who briefly greeted immediately raised a question.

“Why do you think so?”

“Adrianne is a principled person. Probably she would only end after going around all the watchtowers, but the time is too short for that. For example if not discovering something and catching that and concluding the incident there is no way you would come so quickly.”

A man whose head rotation was faster than expected. Perhaps because of that the words were also fast.

“Correct, on the way I caught one mid-rank demon race and two mages, sixteen moles. It was delayed because Adrianne came late.”

Mark slightly narrowed his eyes for a moment. It seemed he was trying to grasp the true intention.

“Since there is no reason to lie it would be the truth.”

Mark believed surprisingly quickly.

“There is a reason His Grace the Grand Duke entrusted the unit. Hmm—.”

Mark tapped the table with his finger.

“Are you thinking of establishing a headquarters at my battalion base?”

The topic changed again.

“Because it is in the center of the 1st Battalion where Adrianne is and the headquarters, it would be suitable in location. Isn’t the reason for visiting right away also that? Of course, somewhat mixed with a leap—.”

Galahad obediently nodded.

“I see. Giving a place is not that difficult a thing, but there are a few problems.”

Knock.

At the same time as the knock the door opened. It was a person wearing a robe. A man with a goat beard.

There was no weapon. It meant he was not a soldier.

“It worked out well. This side is Corton, external advisor of our unit.”

Mark raised the corners of his mouth and greeted.

The goat beard named Corton made a merchant-like smile and held out his hand.

“Nice to meet.”

Galahad clasped the hand and habitually flowed mana in.

‘The mana is considerable—,’

It was typical evidence of the Black Magic Society. Because the guys did not hesitate at any act if to increase mana the mana amount was large.

“If there is a guest I can come next time.”

“No, it is Captain Galahad you were curious about.”

Corton sat in a place close to Mark.

‘Things are flowing interestingly.’

The method of catching black mages was not that difficult. It was a problem solved by grasping the residence and piercing a hole in the head and reporting.

Galahad expected it would be solved that way this time as well.

Yet the incident flowed in a different aspect.

“Corton is a very thankful person who improves the poor environment of the 5th Battalion.”

Mark introduced the bald man, and that voice was quite warm.

‘It seems the problem Mark said is that.’

The relationship between the two looked quite good.

Probably because the mage had already settled and it was difficult to accept another.

“By any chance are you that Galahad?”

Corton said while opening his eyes wide. An unpleasant flush rose on that face.

‘That Galahad—.’

It was a title heard after a long time.

“It is that Galahad.”

“That Galahad?”

“Ah, a person famous among mages for graduating the capital Academy as the youngest valedictorian.”

Corton said in a voice pressing sincerity. Mark’s eyes became a little larger.

“Is he from the Academy?”

“Yes, actually I have seen at the Academy.”

“Really?”

The guy’s reaction was slightly subtle. It was a feeling of something unpleasant.

“Yes, you entered when I was in the graduating class, and graduated faster than me.”

“You, were you in the graduating class for as many as 4 years?”

Galahad took exactly 3 years from Academy entrance to graduation. Then that man was the story of being in the graduating class for at least 4 years.

At the guy’s crumpled face Galahad realized his guess was correct.

“Usually everyone is about that degree.”

The guy’s eyes changed uneasily.

‘Inferiority complex.’

It was a gaze familiar to Galahad.

It was eyes that followed from the time he entered the Academy as the youngest.

Guys with that kind of gaze produced something if scratched.

“I was only half a year in the graduating class so I don’t know that kind of thing. Sorry.”

The guy’s eyes narrowed. Galahad raised the corners of his mouth.

“Ah, by any chance did it take more than 4 years?”

As if that was a reverse scale, the guy’s face became red.

“I did not know Lord Galahad was such a famous person. There is a reason the empire sent Lord Galahad.”

Mark sided with a subtle gaze. Mark’s eyes seemed to be calculating something.

Who would be more beneficial to himself—. A clever man.

When Mark praised the reaction burst right away.

“What is important about when one graduated. What one did after graduating is important. That Galahad no story circulated after graduation. What on earth did you do?”

That no story was heard was evidence of how excellent an agent Galahad was.

Praise in front of the face—. Galahad unnecessarily scratched his cheek and answered.

“I lived busily with this and that things.”

“Oho, you were busy.”

Mark sided again. Then Corton held mockery.

“Ah, I heard the news. You survived well.”

If one heard the rumor of marrying the third son of a count to the eldest daughter of the Grand Duke, that kind of reaction would naturally come out.

One would think sent to die for justification.

Originally the Grand Duke also planned to put Galahad in the underground prison, so it was not a wrong story.

“Corton, why.”

“Seeing a peer from the Academy here, I am glad so.”

At Mark’s mediation the guy grinned. Mark seemed to have taken the role of the sister-in-law stopping.

“Seeing a peer in this far North I am also glad.”

At Galahad’s answer containing meaning the guy ground his teeth.

“Unlike you I came for business. Rather the North is a land of opportunity for me.”

“Oh, business in the North which is a barren land of magic—. Amazing.”

At Galahad’s voice the guy’s eyebrows furrowed more.

“Ha! Just the mana stone mines discovered recently are three places. You would also know that value.”

Just slightly pressed, the guy who could not overcome the inferiority complex boasted.

He was a guy who even entered the Black Magic Society. Because he was a twisted guy even among mages that fierce reaction was not strange.

“It is a business together with Captain Mark. It would be good if you also joined—. Aren’t you a very capable person? You would not be able to work under an inferior student like me. This is regrettable!”

The guy held mockery.

‘Inferior student.’

It seemed words he had said. During the Academy days he was quite sensitive.

“There is no way the proud of the Academy, our excellent Lord Galahad who graduated the Academy as the youngest would work under me an inferior student. Isn’t that so?”

The guy said so and held out his hand. It was a look of being sure Galahad would not accept the proposal.

That was clear mockery the guy was sending.

He met eyes with Mark. Those terribly calculating eyes seemed to ask. Which of the two would be more beneficial to himself—.

Galahad grinned.

“Good, this is a peer.”

When he promptly clasped the hand, the guy’s eyes became large as if they would tear.

Mark slightly raised the corners of his mouth as if seeing something interesting.

Corton belatedly tried to pull his hand away, but Galahad did not let go.

Three mana stone mines—. Even with one it was a mana stone mine that earned as much as the lord of an ordinary castle.

It was not simply a problem of money. If there were many mana stones, teaching Gwen also became easier. If mana was insufficient one could use mana stones.

On top of that if only there were mana stones when constructing the Special Mission Unit headquarters one could add this and that options.

That is—.

“Yes, where should I go to work?”

It was a gold mine.

Giving as many as three mana stone mines—.

The Academy connection was this important.