Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Capable Failure

‘Amazing.’

The previous Black Magic Society’s security was pathetic. To the extent each branch’s information was shared with each other there was nothing to say.

Yet now it was thorough to the extent there was security over several stages.

The last door was to the extent even Galahad felt somewhat difficult.

The mana stones entered in the door were three. That grade even roughly looking was at least mid-grade. Even the Magic Tower Lord’s room did not have that kind of door. It was a luxury possible because it was the North with mana stone mines.

The design of the magic circle connecting the mana stones was familiar somewhere.

‘It is the old man’s.’

He boasted so much that he was retiring yet it seemed he could not give his habit to others.

‘Is the old man in the North?’

One could not know. If Galahad had come alone things would have almost become quite complicated.

If it was a door the old man designed even Galahad could not easily pierce it.

How much is the old man’s body price, along with that three mid-grade mana stones—. One could not even get a sense of how much money entered security.

‘Did I hit that hard.’

Galahad clicked his tongue softly.

However, there was something the guys overlooked.

Even if security was perfect the problem always occurred from people.

People could not be perfect. If it was a guy who took as many as 4 years to graduate the Academy there was nothing more to say.

“Ah, first let’s keep your name secret.”

Even keeping the name secret.

Seeing the glistening greed in Corton’s eyes, it seemed there was another scheme.

Since there was no need to refuse Galahad nodded.

“Come in.”

Corton confidently opened the door.

Contrary to the grand security the inside was unexpectedly ordinary.

The interior seemed not paid attention to and was all gray. The difference from an underground prison was only that there were no iron bars. The aesthetic sense of the mage guys there was nothing to say.

Books in places and gloomy guys wearing hoods and wandering—. Contrary to the name black mage it was unexpectedly an ordinary Magic Tower scenery.

Between them mana stones rolling like stones and clearly high-priced magic tools drew the gaze.

“The facilities are amazing.”

“Didn’t I say. We met the heyday in the North. To the extent one cannot even grasp how many mana stone mines were excavated. Even the stupid Northern guys treat mana stones as unlucky stones, so there is nothing more to say.”

Slightly poked and the beloved peer Corton immediately explained. Truly a kind guy.

‘Rather a prosperous period—.’

He caught so diligently, yet rather going well in the North was absurd.

‘This time one has to do the method differently.’

Originally he planned to find appropriate evidence, and persuade one by one to obtain information of other branches. That side was clean.

Yet the situation was different from expected.

‘Security was too strengthened.’

Even Corton who seemed quite high in status did not know the location of other branches. Even if one opened all the heads of the guys here there was a possibility no particular information would come out.

Palho would bring information, but one could not only wait for that.

An agent always had to dig two tunnels.

“To dig mana stones one needs many mages. We give the best treatment to mages. It would be an amount one cannot receive even in the capital.”

“Do mages dig mana stones directly?”

“Ah, you don’t know. Cough cough—.”

Galahad knew thoroughly about the utilization or use of mana stones, but did not know the method of digging mana stones.

No, from the beginning he had no interest.

To Galahad mana stones were just toys. Or auxiliary tools.

“Mana stones are more efficient for mages to dig. There are also many cases where ordinary people dig and the quality drops—. It is the reason Mark cannot let go of my hand.”

At the kind explanation Galahad nodded.

‘So that is why Mark showed a neutral attitude.’

Because to utilize the mana stone mine one needed mages, even if Corton showed a suspicious appearance Mark would not have been able to let go.

‘The guts are big.’

In the North where the perception of mages is not good the captain accepting mages and even doing business together—. It was not simply the level of big guts.

Three mana stone mines were worth that degree.

Strengthened security, relationship with 5th Battalion Mark, operation of the mana stone mine—. Galahad calculated them one by one.

There were many side effects just eliminating. Along with that the advantages that come out if maintained were enormous.

Even thorough in security to the extent of not knowing the location of other branches.

That meant branches were cut off from each other. It was the story that even if someone swallowed and rolled it was hard for above to notice—.

‘It would be better to maintain this branch.’

Galahad nodded.

If one maintained the branch here one could receive information of other branches. One could also hold the sword hilt in the relationship with 5th Battalion Mark.

Along with that quite large money would come out from operating the mana stone mine.

Damien’s food cost was a considerable situation.

‘Perfect.’

Galahad’s eyes sank.

Originally there were no bad swords.

There were only bad owners.

‘If one uses it in a good place it is fine.’

The corners of Galahad’s mouth rose.

Then, a sharp voice was heard.

“Lord Corton, where are you going?”

It was a man full of freckles. Caution was full in the man’s eyes.

A large mana stone was embedded in the staff the man was holding.

In the capital a staff with a mana stone embedded was a symbol of a well-going mage. Yet here it was the feeling of some hiking staff.

“Ah, Bart. I am busy so move aside.”

“I have never heard the story that there is a visitor today. The society strictly prohibits the entry of outsiders. If this fact enters above it is clear disadvantage will come down on the branch itself.”

The freckled man called Bart said while examining Galahad up and down.

The man’s words were extremely orthodox. Therefore it was tricky.

Galahad expected how Corton would resolve it.

“Shut up! Bart! You go dig mana stones! Where do you dare! Raising your voice at me the deputy branch head!”

Corton raised his voice suddenly.

Truly a groundbreaking breakthrough.

“······No, that is not it. Isn’t the entry of outsiders a sensitive matter.”

“Is my word not like a word? What do you know as a low-rank to chatter!”

“Did you talk with above?”

“Since there is no branch head I am that above! Then do I have to report to you? You, what are you?”

“That is not it—.”

“Here, then you become the deputy branch head! I will report—.”

“······No.”

At Corton’s reckless abuse of status the freckled man’s face reddened.

‘Amazing.’

Galahad sincerely admired.

Still the man did not easily step back.

“Even so outsiders are dangerous. In preparation for threats one does not know—.”

“This side is in a state without even a staff, threats one does not know?”

Galahad opened his coat. There was no sword, no staff. Just a neat shirt and pants was all.

‘He looked down easily because there was no staff.’

Galahad only then realized the reason Corton looked down on him.

Certainly the presence or absence of a staff with a mana stone attached was a big difference among mages.

It was not for nothing that mages spent their entire fortune to buy staffs.

When confirming that Galahad had no staff, the suspicion laced in the eyes of others released. It seemed the dependence on staffs was worse than the capital.

However, the man did not step back this time either.

“The mana could be high. One has to measure.”

“Ha, truly making it bothersome. So that is why you cannot escape from low-rank.”

“One does not know.”

“Ha, yes. Watch. Is it okay to check with the magic tool? It is the same as what one did at that Academy.”

Galahad nodded.

The principle of the mana measurement tool was the same as Galahad confirming by putting mana when shaking hands.

It was a method of roughly grasping the overall mana by the amount absorbed in an instant by putting high concentration mana.

“Bart, if it was unnecessarily making it bothersome it would be good to be prepared.”

Corton glared at the freckled man and teased.

The freckled man forcefully ignored and held out the mana measurement tool to Galahad.

“The usage method···.”

“I know.”

Galahad received it and wrapped it on his forearm.

Galahad recalled the mana amount of the Academy days.

‘Slightly reducing from that would be good.’

From the beginning the mana measurement tool was not a high reliability magic tool.

Even in the Intelligence Bureau the mana measurement tool was about a reference matter.

Yet the guys here seemed to blindly believe it. From holding staffs one each, to the mana measurement tool—. The dependence on magic tools seemed worse than expected.

Because mana stones overflowed it was an unavoidable phenomenon.

Even training for 1 year the efficiency was lower than holding one more mana stone was magic.

If a human one had no choice but to choose the shortcut.

However, unfortunately the right path was always the hardest path.

‘A mage depending on tools appearance.’

Galahad pressed the rising disgust and adjusted the mana concentration.

Mana confirmation was no different from a habit to Galahad. Manipulating the mana amount by operating that in reverse was nothing.

The mana measurement tool emitted a dark red light.

The mana measurement tool was black the less the mana and redder the more. It meant an ordinary mage.

An ordinary mage without even a staff so to the guys it seemed there was no threat element at all.

Mockery rose on Corton’s face. The skill of mocking was first-class.

The freckled man was a face of small relief. A true loyal subject.

However, our reliable Corton had no eyes that could see loyal subjects.

“Didn’t I clearly say! It is necessary work! Yet a low-rank topic daring to suspect me?!”

“No that—.”

“What! This bastard! Go dig mana stones! You today the quota is double!”

At Corton’s shout the freckled man’s face fully furrowed.

The freckled man disappeared back as if fleeing.

The typical end of a loyal subject.

‘Bart.’

Galahad muttered that name softly.

“A guy who is nothing special is acting up! Ha, anyway since the branch head is away from the seat, let’s look around the research first. Didn’t you like research?”

Corton laughed while acting high.

Passing even the mana check it seemed the mind was completely at ease.

Along with that there would clearly be the intention of tightly catching Galahad.

Even so showing the research—.

‘Capable.’

Truly a capable failure.

“Thank you.”

Galahad expressed thanks sincerely again.

“What is good about peers.”

Corton grinned.

Truly a reliable peer.

****

“I heard the deputy branch head brought an outsider.”

“Oh my, really—?”

Shern doubted his own ears.

The deputy branch head’s ability was pathetic, but the greed for achievements was enormous. There were also frequent cases of reporting the achievements below as his own.

Yet it was difficult to see as a completely incompetent guy.

Corton whose greed for ascension was enormous often raised absurd achievements.

The deal with the 5th Battalion Captain was also one Corton opened. Thanks to that he rose to the deputy branch head position—.

Yet to commit the act of bringing in an outsider, this was a crazy act of a different trajectory.

“Even if the deputy branch head would he have brought in an outsider without thinking? He is number one in being cautious. It means it is an important person to the extent of ignoring security.”

At Shern’s words everyone nodded.

The topic moved to the target the deputy branch head brought.

What kind of person on earth, that the deputy branch head put this kind of strong number.

“What is everyone doing gathered here!”

A familiar scolding was heard from behind. It was the deputy branch head with shoulders fully raised.

Naturally it headed to the person beside that.

It was a handsome man with hair neatly brushed back. An appearance between youth and man, and fatigue was fully buried in the deeply sunken eye area.

A man with long legs and arms and thin but feeling sturdy somewhere.

To express in one word, a neatly handsome capital noble.

However, those eyes were subtle. They were sunken to a severe degree. Exactly—.

Shern who met gazes with the man hurriedly avoided his gaze.

“Shern, show the research achievements to this friend a bit.”

“······Yes? Research?”

It was an absurd order. What Shern was in charge of was demon race research. Showing that to an outsider—.

“Anyway since we will work together from now.”

“······Yes.”

Since the branch head was out, there was no person to stop Corton. Hesitating would only hear scolding.

“Look around a bit. I will report and come.”

At Corton calling the demon race research like a spectacle Shern was small astonished.

Shern headed to the research room with the man of unknown identity.

“It is a little dirty? Because I did not know a guest would come.”

“It’s fine. A mage’s research room is about there.”

At the man’s old-fashioned speech Shern was convinced the man was a noble.

“What··· what? Shern?”

Parntal who was in the research room said nervously while furrowing his eyes. That sharp gaze stuck to the man.

Parntal who even pushed the branch head if it was research related. Shern hurriedly explained the situation.

“The deputy branch head said to show the research achievements.”

“To whom? Surely—.”

“Nice to meet, I am that whom.”

When the man cunningly waved his hand, Parntal fully furrowed his eyebrows.

“Are you crazy? Knowing what research is—.”

“You do what you were doing. I will show.”

Even at Shern’s words Parntal’s furrowed eyebrows did not straighten.

Only after Shern whispered ‘anyway even if one sees one won’t know—.’ did Parntal step back.

Anyway Shern’s research was not the kind one could know by seeing once.

“What I am in charge of is research regarding the blood of magic beasts.”

“Blood of magic beasts?”

At the man’s counter-question the corners of Shern’s mouth rose.

When hearing one researches magic beasts, it was a general reaction.

In the empire research of the demon race was absolutely prohibited.

Researching the demon race was an act no different from rebellion. Naturally one had no choice but to be scared—.

‘Laughing?’

At the man’s corners of the mouth that rose finely Shern opened his eyes wide.

Looking closely it was as is.

It was clear he saw wrong.

“It seems you receive supply from the 5th Battalion?”

“······Ah, yes. They use the leather of magic beasts, but not the blood.”

“How did you research? With the mana measurement tool one would not be able to grasp the blood of the demon race.”

“Yes, so one has to make a mana measurement tool for magic beasts separately···.”

The man knew that there was mana in the blood of the demon race, and that concentration was dense. It was clear he researched the demon race.

“Mana measurement tool for magic beasts? One would use mana stones, but because the concentration is low isn’t it impossible? Ah, it is inspecting the speed the mana escapes. Is it used one-time?”

At the man’s question Shern nodded reluctantly.

With only one word, the man was asking the principle of the mana measurement tool for magic beasts. Exactly like having leaked confidential information so it was unpleasant.

“Then isn’t the mana stone consumption too much?”

“Ha! Making an obvious point. The mana stone consumption is a lot—. Then present another solution!”

Parntal said pointedly. Because he was pointed out every time for using too many mana stones, it was a sensitive part.

However, there was no other method besides mana stones. Because the mana concentration of the demon race was too dense.

At Parntal’s question the man squinted his eyes.

As if not understanding—.

At that when Shern tried to add one word, the man asked back.

“Can’t one just drink?”

That voice was calm so the content felt like nothing special.

Shern who ruminated the man’s words was startled.

“Drinking the blood of the demon race?!”

“Why surprised? Isn’t that efficient? It reduces mana stone consumption, and would have a good effect on one’s own mana?”

Certainly the man’s words were terribly theoretical.

However—.

“Drinking the blood of the demon race what kind of barbaric···.”

Directly drinking the blood of the demon race was too ignorant and barbaric a method.

“Hmm, to research the blood of magic beasts one would use at least mid-grade or higher mana stones, is that one or two coins? And isn’t drinking more accurate and efficient?”

The man explained in a calm voice the reason one has to drink the blood of magic beasts.

“Ha! Drinking the blood of the demon race! Because one does not know how high the mana concentration of the demon race is one can say so! How many mages died or went crazy drinking the blood of the demon race!”

Parntal pointedly refuted. Shern also nodded.

How many died drinking the blood of the demon race.

Then, the man shook his head.

As if it was the wrong answer—.

“They did not die from drinking the blood of the demon race.”

The man said in his unique calm voice.

‘Died from drinking the blood of the demon race, yet not died from drinking the blood of the demon race?’

Shern’s eyes fully furrowed.

What on earth is that sound—.

“They died because they could not overcome the blood of the demon race.”

The man said firmly.

Heavy silence settled for a moment.

Shern seriously pondered whether what he heard was correct.

‘So dying from drinking the blood of the demon race is because one could not overcome that blood?’

It was a sophistry that a person who drowned died because he could not come out of the water.

However, conviction was firm in the man’s calm voice.

“The blood of magic beasts has lower concentration than the blood of the demon race so it is drinkable. Here, try drinking. As long as one gathers the mind tightly it is fine. Ah—, try.”

The man held out a bowl containing the blood of magic beasts as if recommending alcohol.

At the man’s serious voice Shern’s eyes became large as if they would tear.

That the blood of magic beasts has lower concentration than the blood of the demon race, and is drinkable—.

‘It means he drank both!!’

Shern and Parntal’s complexions became pure white.

‘Corton! This crazy guy! He really brought a real black mage?!’

Shern desperately endured the scream that was about to burst.