Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Invitation

“Hahaha—.”

Mark burst into laughter without getting angry.

Galahad also laughed together.

Soon the laughter stopped abruptly. Galahad laughed a little more.

“Are you saying to enter under the Special Mission Unit?”

Mark’s words became short. It was a nervous tone.

In contrast Galahad laughed leisurely.

“Would I just say come in. There are conditions.”

“Speak.”

“The Black Magic Society is trying to collapse the front line.”

“Why—.”

A terminal-like question burst.

It was a rational question. They were guys who attached to the battalion and received the blood of the demon race, and accumulated wealth while digging mana stones.

How does one expect such guys would want to collapse the front line.

However, the mage race always moved in a direction hard to expect.

“Traces of a magic beast trainer also came out.”

At the continued words Mark stopped his breath for a moment. Soon Mark whose expression returned flicked as if telling to continue.

“I will take that part.”

“That part?”

“The mana stone mine and the Black Magic Society. Anyway you cannot abandon the mana stone mine, right?”

Mark’s eyes narrowed. It was a gaze as if trying to grasp the truth.

At the subtle tension Galahad deeply inhaled the cigarette. Mana circulated quickly.

“How do you mean you will take it?”

“I am a peer with Corton, right?”

“It did not look that close.”

Galahad laughed instead of answering.

“Academy peers are quite sticky. We exchanged requests. That side will not cause trouble for a while. Because it is my request.”

Galahad took out the mana stone he had prepared. It was the best quality mana stone among those received as a gift from Corton.

Mark who saw it let out a groan sound.

“It is the truth.”

“I do not speak lies.”

“What was the request Corton made to that side?”

“······It is a secret.”

Galahad answered while coughing softly.

Suspicion deepened in Mark’s eyes, but he could not reveal the identity of the request.

“Are you volunteering to be a spy?”

“Similar.”

“What do you want?”

“Didn’t I say. Enter under me.”

“Wasn’t it a joke?”

“I am on the side with excellent sense of humor. If it was a joke, you would have known.”

Thud, Mark’s finger stopped. Mark’s shoulder moved very slightly. The table stretched long—.

Galahad immediately flicked fingers on both sides. A semi-transparent barrier floated in front of Galahad.

At some point a spear was held in Mark’s hand. It was a sharp spear with ornate decorations carved.

Mark’s spear lightly tore Galahad’s barrier. It was a good spear.

“Is it tradition in the North to thrust weapons suddenly.”

Galahad clicked his tongue while looking at the spear that stopped right in front.

“This kind of magic is the first time seeing.”

Mark admired while looking at the sharp ice awl aimed at his own neck.

The results of the two were the same, but Mark’s spear was a little faster.

Because Galahad ordered the ice awl with the left and the barrier with the right at the same time it was only this degree.

‘One has to put more distance.’

It was a distance given because he was sure Mark would not thrust.

However, Mark’s skill was real.

That the weapon was a spear was also unexpected.

‘Captain—.’

Interesting, the corners of Galahad’s mouth rose.

“I can kill all the guys right away.”

Mark’s tone became formal again. Galahad nodded while laughing softly.

“However, the guys hid quite well. They would flee before you kill all.”

“They would. Bug-like guys.”

Mark’s spear disappeared in an instant. Mark was tapping the table with his finger as if when had he done that.

It was ghost-like skill. Galahad expressed thanks inwardly to Mark who unnecessarily showed his skill.

Thanks to that now the situation of Mark’s spear threatening Galahad would not happen again.

“Good. However, entering under is not correct. The difference in scale is too large so rather they will see strangely.”

“Rational.”

“Let’s do it as an alliance relationship.”

A fox-like guy. Galahad stuck out his tongue.

Saying to go as alliance meant the intention of binding with himself. So that one cannot betray—.

There was nothing bad.

From the beginning what Galahad aimed for was also alliance.

Like the guy’s problem becomes Galahad’s, it was the law that Galahad’s problem becomes the guy’s.

Mark does not know, but Galahad’s problem was large to the extent hard to compare with Mark.

It was a trade that gains.

“Someday one will enter, isn’t it better to enter quickly? If one enters now because an opening guest I will treat better.”

“It’s fine.”

Mark cutly refused and held out his hand. It was a hand full of calluses that did not match the appearance.

Galahad lightly clasped.

“The hand is rough. Did you use a sword?”

“I did this and that a lot.”

He tried putting mana, but it was not particularly useful.

Aura could not be grasped with mana.

Then, the door opened roughly. Lumian who entered urgently stopped at the two clasping hands.

They released the clasped hands. Galahad rubbed his hand on the coat and wiped and put the cigarette in his mouth.

“What is it.”

At Mark’s question Lumian glanced at Galahad. Galahad leisurely waved his hand.

“Do not worry. Because it is alliance.”

“······Alliance?”

“It’s fine so speak.”

When Mark nodded, Lumian who hesitated for a moment opened his mouth.

“The 4th Company disappeared.”

A company disappeared—. Not even attacked but disappeared?

“Speak in detail.”

When Galahad asked, Lumian looked at Mark with a gaze as if what is it.

“Tell.”

“While returning after finishing the boundary duty contact was cut.”

‘There was no branch head—.’

The feeling that the disappeared company and the branch head who was not in place were related arose.

“Except the minimum personnel turn all to search. The vice-captain?”

“Waiting below. Ah, there is also the possibility of skipping with training as an excuse.”

“That is a matter to reprimand after finding, first find. Tell the vice-captain to lead directly.”

Mark quickly gave orders.

Galahad raised his hand.

“We will also help. What is good about alliance.”

“······Lumian, tell the vice-captain.”

Lumian opened his eyes wide and looked at Mark.

Mark lightly nodded.

“Ah, leave the place empty. So that one can use right away.”

When Galahad went out, Lumian looked at Mark and asked.

“Leave the place empty—. What sound is that?”

“Ah, I decided to give the 3rd floor to the Special Mission Unit.”

“······Yes? By any chance did you drink?”

“I quit alcohol long ago.”

“Then why did you do such a crazy act?”

At Lumian’s rough question Mark clicked his tongue softly.

Galahad’s proposal was rational, but it was not necessarily a necessary proposal.

Even without that Mark could overcome.

Yet the reason he accepted the proposal was—.

“He was laughing.”

Even with the spear aimed at the neck Galahad laughed.

There was only one person who laughed in front of Mark’s spear.

[Aiming a spear at the Grand Duke’s neck. Interesting.]

“Thinking about it he was the Grand Duke’s son-in-law. Should I have entered under. He said he would treat well—.”

“Captain Mark!”

****

Gilbert did not like Damien that much. Because the attitude toward the sword did not please him.

Dragging a sword with blood stuck thickly on the ground without even putting it in the scabbard—. To Gilbert who was a knight it was no different from a nightmare.

Gilbert who became frustrated at that first said he would wipe it.

“Wipe the sword? Why?”

“If the edge of the sword dulls the sharpness drops. The sword is no different from a lover, do you like a dirty lover?”

“Brother said Gilbert uncle is dirty though.”

Gilbert coughed softly. That human, he said useless things to the kid.

“Watch well, I will teach.”

Gilbert slowly wiped Damien’s sword. Blood was stuck a lot so it was not easy.

“Gwen, will you give some fire.”

“Yes! Fire, fire, fire!”

When he supported the sword with Gwen’s fire the impurities fell. Gilbert slowly ground the sword on the whetstone.

“When grinding the sword do not try to grind all at once but slowly divide the parts and grind. Balanced and leisurely—.”

As the dirty things fell the edge gradually revealed its appearance. Steam rose from Gilbert’s body.

The dirty things that bothered every time he looked fell away so the inside was all refreshed.

‘A good sword.’

It was a crude appearance, but the sword edge was extremely sharp.

Even though not managed like this the state was good. It was a sword too good for a soldier to hold.

“A good sword. Where did you get it?”

“I picked it up. Shall I give?”

Giving—. That attitude did not please.

“Didn’t I say the sword is your lover. Giving or lending to others is absolutely not allowed.”

“Because there is no lover I don’t know. Do you have?”

Gilbert silently ground the sword again.

Soon the finished maintained sword was sharp like a beast’s claw.

Because it was clear he would drag it on the floor again Gilbert rolled the sword with cloth and gave it.

“You are kind.”

“I just cannot see the appearance of the sword receiving this kind of treatment. It is not something I did for you.”

Gilbert said firmly.

Ding ding ding ding—.

Then, a noisy sound was heard and it became noisy.

Opening the barracks cloth there were many torches running around the dark night.

It was clear something happened. Gilbert turned to a position good for drawing the sword.

“What is it?”

At some point armed Tom asked in a tense voice.

“It seems an incident occurred. It does not seem an attack—.”

Gilbert realized that Galahad had not returned yet.

“The captain?”

“He has not come yet but—.”

Tom made a flinching expression. It was an expression somehow not clear.

Galahad disappeared and suddenly the alarm rang—.

“Surely did he fry the 5th Battalion Captain with lightning?”

“······What sound is that.”

Gilbert was serious. Since Hermun Galahad said if the opponent was a little arrogant he would drop lightning.

Galahad was not a man who would be intimidated because the opponent was a captain.

Gilbert confirmed whether the soldiers were shouting Galahad’s name.

Ding ding ding ding!

The noisy bell sound rang out again.

Then, Galahad was seen from afar.

Galahad was leisurely as usual. He put the cigarette in his mouth and walked with long legs in large strides.

“Oh, you were up.”

“Did you fry?”

“Fry. What sound is that.”

“Then what is that.”

Gilbert asked while pointing at the noisy outside.

“Ah, they said a company went missing. It worked out well, let’s depart right away.”

“Where are you saying?”

Galahad pointed to the back while shaking the cigarette.

“They said the company of the alliance unit disappeared, of course one has to help, right?”

“Alliance unit? Did we have an alliance?”

“Ah, I formed an alliance with the 5th Battalion.”

Gilbert furrowed his eyes and muttered the sentence softly.

Alliance with the 5th Battalion? The 5th Battalion was a battalion that did not enter any faction. Such a 5th Battalion alliance with the Special Mission Unit of five people—. It did not make sense.

In the North alliance was not such a simple relationship. Alliance was that one would be together to the end.

However, the Galahad Gilbert saw did not speak lies.

“Why suddenly alliance—. Did you threaten to fry with lightning?”

“What are you repeatedly saying fry. I just aimed an ice awl. Prepare. I will tell the details while going.”

Galahad’s voice was kind, but there was no gap.

Tom who prepared the luggage and Gwen who took care of Damien nodded.

‘But if awl isn’t it threatening?’

Anyway, the result was good so it seemed fortunate.

****

The night of the North was unusually dark. Below it snow was thickly spread, so it was easy to lose the way.

Along with that how cold it was every time the wind blew once it was the feeling the body slightly froze. Fortunately there was the coat Tom made.

If not that, it seemed he would have used quite a lot of mana to warm the body,

‘Missing—.’

Galahad muttered softly while looking at the soldiers in front.

The branch head not in place and the missing of the company that occurred nearby, the premonition that there was a connection between the two arose.

Then, a person who seemed a knight approached between the soldiers. With a coat on top of the armor he was almost huge like an orc.

The man was carrying two large axes at the waist. It seemed he used axes.

“I am Henry, captain of the 7th Company.”

The man who introduced himself as Henry nodded his head.

It was a little arrogant attitude, but it was the most gentlemanly among the greetings Galahad received in the North.

“Sir Gilbert! To meet like this! Truly an honor!”

Henry who discovered Gilbert raised his voice and held out his hand. It was an attitude as if meeting a celebrity. After that soldiers and knights looked for Gilbert.

Gilbert was quite popular.

“I am from the 1st Battalion.”

“Yes, I know.”

Galahad laughed and examined the front.

Even though it was a snow field at night, the pursuit speed was considerable.

How far did they go like that—.

“Something is coming.”

Damien said while untying the cloth rolled on the sword.

Galahad pointed to the sky and flicked his finger.

A bright light went up like a firework and burst. The flashy light fully illuminated the surroundings.

Between the dense trees red-eyed wolves were seen. The builds were smaller than before. It seemed guys somewhere between magic beasts and beasts.

“Do magic beasts usually come out this often?”

“Is this coming out often?”

At Gilbert’s counter-question Galahad clicked his tongue softly.

What kind of place is the North on earth.

Then, one more light floated.

It was Gwen.

“Now even without saying you do well.”

“Hehe—.”

Gwen who raised a light mass on the crown smiled awkwardly.

Because the number was large it was quite threatening.

“Dinner is wolf meat!”

Henry raised the axes held in both hands high and shouted heartily. Steam blew long from the mouth full of beard.

Henry shouted and suddenly ran forward. Thud thud! Snowflakes bounced roughly with every step. Henry kicked the ground.

Boom! With a heavy sound the huge build floated into the air. The waist bent like a bowstring and the muscles were pulled taut.

The axe embedded as is in the wolf’s head. Red blood was fully sprayed. Henry opened his mouth and drank the spraying blood.

“It is a banquet—!”

The other soldiers also drew weapons and cheered and ran.

A rough fight began to the extent hard to distinguish whether hunting or battle.

Gilbert who drew the sword joined. Brilliant aura was full on Gilbert’s sword.

Gilbert’s sword lightly cut the wolf. Blood poured like a fountain between that leather. The white snow began to dye red.

The Northern soldiers really fought ignorantly well.

There was a guy who rode on the magic beast’s back and grabbed the neck and strangled, and a guy who put even the shoulder into the snout saying he would axe.

Even a guy who laughed saying he cut the wolf with one sword—. Ah, that is Gilbert.

“Sir Gilbert seems excited.”

“Shall I also fight?”

At Damien’s question Galahad examined the battle situation.

“As expected Sir Gilbert!”

“Follow my back.”

Gilbert was perfectly melted among the Northern barbarians.

It seemed no help was needed.

“It’s fine, it seems Sir Gilbert will do our share.”

Damien wrapped the sword with cloth. At that sloppy appearance Gwen said she would do it, and rolled up her sleeves. She could not do better.

In the end, Tom wrapped the sword.

Galahad tore the jerky Tom had made.

“The jerky taste is considerable.”

“······This is the first time I eat such delicious jerky.”

“Give more.”

“Damien, eat moderately. Aren’t you working.”

Damien licked his lips. Gwen stealthily gave her share of jerky to Damien. Damien did not refuse and swallowed at once.

The battle was overwhelming. To the extent calling it hunting suited more.

Among them the outstanding one was Gilbert.

If a beast it would flee, but because it was a magic beast it entangled to the end without fleeing.

Gilbert dragged one corpse. Gilbert’s face full of blood was hardened.

Gilbert placed the corpse in front of Galahad.

As expected something was carved on the magic beast’s belly.

However, that content was different from Galahad’s expectation.

‘Interesting.’

It was the shape of a magic circle, but it was not a magic circle.

“Is it a magic beast trainer magic circle?”

“This is a letter. A letter sent to me.”

“Letter?”

Gilbert examined with furrowed eyes as if it did not make sense.

“What is the content?”

“If you want to save the company, come alone.”

Galahad put the cigarette in his mouth. Gwen promptly lit the fire. Lemon scent wafted. The head became clear.

Then, from behind the soldiers’ cheers celebrating victory burst. It was the Northern men full of blood.

They were not guys who would obediently follow because threatened. To lure such guys—. How on earth did they do it. Is it magic? Is there such magic? Dense curiosity rose.

Above all—.

‘It is an act aimed at me.’

The letter was accurately pointing at Galahad.

How did they know?

The demon race of the Intelligence Bureau safehouse came to mind. That demon race knew Galahad of the Intelligence Bureau.

Galahad’s name was not light to the extent one could hear at the Northern safehouse. It was clear they handed over Galahad’s information from the Intelligence Bureau headquarters.

The guys worth punishing that···.

‘There are many.’

Because he did the work well, there were many enemies.

One had no choice but to confirm.

Galahad stood up from his seat.

“Where are you going?”

“Since I received an invitation, shouldn’t I go.”

“···Invitation? It is a trap.”

“You speak the obvious seriously.”

At Galahad’s scolding Gilbert squinted his eyes.

“Knowing it is a trap why are you going.”

Galahad answered while deeply drinking the cigarette.

“Because it is a trap.”

Gilbert did not understand that short answer.

Then Galahad added words.

“A hunter is always around the trap.”

Gilbert’s eyes who understood the meaning furrowed.

“Are you saying you will get caught in the trap yourself saying you will catch the hunter?”

Galahad raised the corners of his mouth as if it was the correct answer.

“Crazy.”

“You, the words became short.”

“I will go together.”

Gilbert said while adjusting the sword.

“The heart is thankful, but aren’t you Gilbert. They said come alone, if I take you they will flee.”

Galahad was excessively rational.

When one’s life is at stake one usually shrinks or becomes intimidated, but Galahad was always leisurely and cool-headed as usual.

A subtle sense of distance was felt.

“Then are you thinking of going alone?”

“No, I am thinking of going with Damien. Because Damien looks like a boy they will overlook. Damien, will you help?”

“Yes, brother.”

Damien stood up while holding the sword crookedly.

“Wouldn’t it be better if I go?”

“It’s fine, Sir Gilbert stay here and relieve the old feelings. Earlier looking the relationship was good.”

At Galahad’s sunken eyes Gilbert had no choice but to step back.

“I will hold the sword.”

“They say do not give because it is a lover.”

“That is Sir Gilbert’s personal preference.”

At the appearance of the two disappearing into the darkness while chatting warmly—.

Gilbert felt an inexplicable disappointment.