Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Beloved

‘Our captain is cute.’

Carrot muttered softly while looking at Adrianne who was creaking with her hand held out.

It was an appearance never seen until now.

It was surprising that such an appearance existed on Adrianne who only made expressionless faces.

Separate from that—.

‘A crazy human.’

Carrot muttered softly while looking at the situation.

Adrianne’s direct unit had high notoriety as much as that lofty fame.

It was because of Adrianne’s disposition.

Adrianne on the battlefield was truly an unprecedented hero, but once leaving the battlefield she was a woman who unexpectedly required a lot of hands.

Because Adrianne did not put any interest in things that were not the demon race.

Adrianne’s direct unit was a place that entered looking only at Adrianne. To the extent there were even those more excellent than captains of other battalions.

Excessive loyalty and Adrianne’s disposition that unexpectedly required a lot of hands added and the protection gradually became fierce.

If not the Grand Duke’s order, even the crown prince would have been torn by them.

To play a prank on Adrianne in front of such a direct unit—. And that a childish prank as if children would do.

The reaction of the direct unit could be known without particularly imagining. The sound of drawing swords and grinding teeth was heard from all sides.

The atmosphere became taut as if it would burst but—.

“Ah, today is fine.”

Galahad was rather leisurely. Calm as if the surrounding atmosphere did not affect at all.

“Ah—. Ah. Yes.”

Adrianne answered as if creaking.

“But your subordinates are glaring at me. Did I do something wrong?”

Galahad suddenly pointed behind. At that Adrianne turned.

Those who were grinding teeth were startled and bowed their heads, but there was a somewhat late feeling.

Adrianne’s eyes who saw that became strict.

“Lord Galahad is a captain. I would have told you to have manners.”

At Adrianne’s scolding the guys who were grinding teeth until just now bowed their heads.

At Galahad who laughed satisfied Carrot slightly blurred the laughter.

‘An amazing man.’

To be so leisurely in front of the direct unit—.

It was one of two.

Either the guts were absurdly large, or properly crazy. Somehow it seemed the latter.

However, it was that direct unit. Even if Adrianne’s order there was no way they would just let it pass.

Still unlike before they did not step forward recklessly. Because of the story of Hermun being hit and the mage who caught the demon race.

What broke the subtle tension was Crazy Mardian.

“To the Special Mission Unit Captain! I will propose a duel!”

Mardian whose eyes overturned if it was a matter related to Adrianne jumped out holding a long skewer.

That Crazy Mardian not stabbing with the skewer first, and thinking of a duel was exerting her own patience.

Because in the 1st Battalion duel was a natural right even Adrianne did not stop it.

‘What will he do?’

Adrianne also did not step forward. Yet if one carelessly refuses the duel the honor will fall to the ground.

He watched with subtle expectation of how to resolve this situation.

It was a mage who burned a mid-rank demon race, and beat Hermun in one go. There was also the expectation of wanting to watch that skill.

Others also seemed to have similar expectations.

However, Galahad’s response was outside Carrot’s expectation.

“Sorry, because a duel promise is already set.”

Galahad firmly refused.

“A duel promise is set! What is that—.”

“A promise is set with Sir Half-moon. Sorry.”

If Half-moon it was the youngest knight guarding the castle gate. A duel promise set with such Half-moon—. Funny but a quite plausible excuse.

“There is something called order. Ah, by any chance is there none in the 1st Battalion?”

“Mardian, keep the order.”

“But······!”

“Mardian.”

Mardian stepped back. It was a face about to cry soon. It was the signal that Mardian was really angry.

Carrot who realized the emotion that rose on Galahad’s face was not fear but annoyance admired softly.

Separate from that—.

‘Half-moon is now fucked.’

****

“What business did you come here for?”

Adrianne asked in a dry voice.

“I came to see you, why would I come.”

At Galahad’s answer Adrianne’s eyebrows slightly rose.

“Ah. Do you have some time? There is something to say.”

“Yes. It’s fine.”

“You can go and prepare.”

“No. Just a moment—.”

Adrianne who stepped back one step suddenly raised aura.

Brilliant aura close to white fully blazed in an instant.

At that white aura Galahad gulped saliva.

He instinctively intuited that the moment it touched it would burn and become ash. That was the nightmare of those with mana. Dense repulsion fully rose.

Even the pill of pain that was urging until just now was quiet. It tightly closed its mouth as if feeling the difference in level.

‘What would it feel like if it touches. Would it all burn?’

Galahad forcibly held back the hand that was unconsciously going out. That was really the end the moment it touched. Still just a little—.

Galahad who was pondering suddenly had a question.

‘Why suddenly aura—.’

Adrianne’s long hair fluttered in the roughly blazing aura. At the same time the blood and flesh pieces stuck on Adrianne became ash and scattered in an instant.

‘Surely—.’

He realized at the appearance of Adrianne who became fluffy in an instant.

That the bloody aura just now was light maintenance for Adrianne—.

‘A monster.’

Galahad clicked his tongue softly.

“Let’s go.”

Adrianne who was expressionless as usual, but looked subtly refreshed said.

“Amazing to shake off the remnants of the demon race with aura.”

“It is just a residual skill.”

At Adrianne’s answer Galahad clicked his tongue softly.

Aura was the realm a person holding a sword dreams of. Using that aura to shower, there was no way it was nothing.

“That would be convenient.”

“It is convenient. The blood of the demon race is so poisonous that it quickly damages the armor, but if one manages the armor using aura one can prevent corrosion.”

Seeing the answer was long it seemed quite convenient.

Even so showering with aura—.

‘If one unnecessarily offends a big problem will occur.’

Galahad unnecessarily touched his neck and threw a compliment.

“You, did I say you are beautiful?”

“Yes? Probably you did.”

Adrianne nodded. The word beautiful seemed natural like a greeting to Adrianne.

Galahad laughed softly as if coughing.

“Is the North livable?”

This time Adrianne asked.

“No, it is too cold.”

When he grumbled softly Adrianne examined Galahad up and down.

“Because you go around dressed coldly it has no choice but to be cold.”

“This is the only clothes.”

Adrianne took off her own coat and held it out. It was a coat made of white fur that looked very high-class just by looking.

“Will you wear even this?”

“Enough, aren’t you also cold.”

“······Yes? Ah, yes. Understood.”

Adrianne who became a subtle expression put on the coat again.

‘She does not ask twice.’

Galahad grumbled softly.

****

“This is your castle—.”

There was an inner castle not visible inside. Asking because the scale was small for an inner castle, the answer came that it was the place Adrianne stayed.

“Because the raids of the demon race are frequent.”

“I see.”

Adrianne guided to the headquarters building. The headquarters building was large to the extent one could not compare with the 5th Battalion.

Even the soldiers wandering around had unusual momentum. There was not a single person not armed. It was a posture ready to fight right away.

Sharp gazes stuck to Galahad.

Some were impure eyes, and some others were eyes as if measuring. Among them there were also very rarely sparkling eyes. Like Half-moon—.

Adrianne’s office was wide, but there were only a few items. Exactly only necessary things.

Adrianne straightened her waist and sat in a formal posture and stared at Galahad.

‘Beautiful.’

Looking at that perfect face the heart beat fiercely.

Probably because of the pill of pain. It became quiet at Adrianne’s aura shower, and now it seemed to whisper again slowly.

Adrianne’s aide Lunavern placed steaming tea cups in front of Galahad and Adrianne.

“Recently there is a restless force spreading the remnants of the Demon War.”

“The remnants of the Demon War?”

Adrianne’s eyebrows slightly rose. It seemed a story heard for the first time.

“Last time didn’t traces of a magic beast trainer come out.”

“Yes, regarding that I separately organized an investigation team.”

“Well done, but recently one mental type demon race appeared around the 5th Battalion. One company disappeared.”

“If a mental type demon race that can handle one company it is a tricky demon race even among mid-rank.”

Galahad nodded while pressing his chest firmly.

“I found out that there is an organization spreading the remnants of the Demon War behind that demon race.”

Adrianne brought the tea cup to her mouth old-fashionedly. No, it was just bringing to the mouth but because of that unrealistic appearance it seemed to look old-fashioned.

“It was guys called Dawn.”

Adrianne’s movement slightly stopped. The corners of the mouth of Lunavern who had been making a soft smile all along hardened. The pill of pain urged again.

“Do you know the name.”

This time the answer was a little slow.

“Yes. It is one of the organizations that attacked me.”

Adrianne’s voice was still dry.

‘One of the organizations—.’

It meant that aiming at Adrianne was not only Dawn.

Hmm, Galahad let out a groan sound softly.

“Dawn is spreading the remnants of the Demon War and restless forces are gathering in the North.”

“Restless forces—.”

Adrianne muttered softly.

“Responding to that the demon races are appearing here and there. But would the demon race come up from below?”

At Adrianne’s still solid expressionless face Galahad expected it would not be easy.

“It is clear a hole was pierced in the front line. There is a need to inspect.”

“It is a correct statement. I will inspect again the area the 1st Battalion is in charge of.”

“Shouldn’t one also warn other battalions?”

“Reporting to His Grace the Grand Duke, and His Grace the Grand Duke issuing an order is the principle.”

The expression was firm. It was as Mark expected. However, under that expressionless face there was a subtle feeling.

‘She is reluctant to intervene with other captains.’

One could not know the cause, but Adrianne seemed to avoid intervening with other captains.

If one pushed one could somehow do it, but the relationship with Adrianne could go wrong.

There was no particular need to do so.

There was one more plan.

“I see. I want to report to His Grace the Grand Duke, can you help?”

“Yes, I will lend my hawk.”

“Thank you. Ah, please also paper and pen.”

“It is this side.”

Adrianne pointed behind. At that Galahad stood up and headed to the desk.

The seal of the 1st Battalion was stamped on the paper.

Galahad pondered for a moment. If written ordinarily it would be useless.

‘Anyway there is no relationship to worsen—.’

Galahad who nodded scribbled the pen.

He rolled the paper and stamped Adrianne’s seal.

Peeik—. At the sharp whistle sound a white hawk flew in. It was a huge size almost as big as a child. The hawk rubbed its face on Adrianne.

Galahad handed the sealed letter to Lunavern.

“What did you write?”

“It is a secret.”

Galahad raised the corners of his mouth.

Adrianne put the letter in a bottle and tied it to the hawk’s leg. Subsequently when Adrianne whispered something, the hawk cried long and disappeared through the window.

Adrianne quietly looked at the window where cold wind entered. Galahad watched that and then thought of the next purpose.

“Ah, do you also enter the demon race’s territory tomorrow?”

“Yes, I do.”

“I will also go together.”

Whether unexpected Adrianne’s answer was slow.

“It is dangerous.”

“It’s fine, because my lifespan is long.”

Adrianne who pondered for a moment nodded.

“Yes, understood.”

“Then is it the first date?”

Adrianne’s eyebrows slightly rose and then finely furrowed.

“The demon race’s territory is not a place to speak so lightly.”

Galahad realized again. That Adrianne was a woman jokes did not work on—.

Galahad clicked his tongue and stood up.

“Then, will you eat and go?”

“Ah it’s fine, because there is a prior appointment.”

At Galahad who cleanly refused and left the room without lingering Adrianne’s eyes became round.

“·········?”

Just now he talked as if expecting a date—.

······A man quite hard to follow.

Adrianne touched the cold tea cup for a long time.

****

“They say Captain Galahad caught two black mages and one demon race between mid-rank and high-rank, sixteen moles. If left as is it is predicted large damage would have occurred like the time of the 7th Battalion.”

“Restless movement was discovered in the 4th Battalion. Seeing they opened a mana stone mine, it seems they held hands with black mages.”

“5th Battalion Captain Mark publicly announced an alliance with the Special Mission Unit.”

“They say one company was lost in the 5th Battalion due to a mental type demon race. Captain Galahad resolved that.”

It was known that the Grand Duke had no interest in the situation, but the reality was different.

The Grand Duke was not an ignorant beast but a skilled hunter. Because skilled he only acted as a beast.

All matters in the North entered the Grand Duke’s ears.

“Hmm—.”

The Grand Duke let out a low groan sound. Theodore who was reporting stopped the words and bowed his head.

‘Galahad—.’

It was the name that came up the most in recent reports.

The mockery sent from the empire, dirty mage, Adrianne’s fiancé—. A person with really various modifiers.

The empire would have expected the Grand Duke would kill the guy.

The Grand Duke rather newly established the Special Mission Unit and entrusted it to the guy.

He gave the guy an opportunity. Either show ability and survive, or die shabbily.

The North was a place where danger settled with every step. A place harsh for a guy just risen from the empire, and that a mage to survive with a unit of only four people.

That was in some sense a harsher treatment than locking in the underground prison.

Contrary to the vassals’ expectation that he would die soon Galahad did not die.

No, rather he established merits.

It was not that the guy did not face danger either. The demon races Galahad faced were more dangerous than they assumed.

Only the guy overcame all and survived.

“Interesting.”

The Grand Duke said in a low voice. Laughter was full in that voice.

“It is not an ordinary guy.”

The Grand Duke said low. At that Theodore’s head became busy.

If the empire did not simply send Galahad as a sacrifice for an excuse—.

‘There is no way.’

Theodore shook his head softly.

“One has to acknowledge the merit. What should one give.”

Laughter was mixed in the Grand Duke’s muttering.

Blocking the demon race that occurred inside the North twice was a big merit.

Theodore was also curious what reward the Grand Duke would give.

Then, a huge hawk flew in from the window. A smile rose on the Grand Duke’s face who saw the white and huge hawk.

There was only one hawk that flew directly into the Grand Duke’s room. It was the only blood relative the Grand Duke’s Adrianne’s.

After the last visit, when Adrianne returned without even looking at the face the Grand Duke’s face that had been crumpled continuously bloomed widely after a long time.

The Grand Duke’s heavy corners of the mouth fully rose. The Grand Duke carefully untied the bottle bound to the hawk’s foot.

The Grand Duke who unfolded the paper and read hardened with a thud—.

Those deep pupils moved very slowly. He read the letter several times.

And then—.

“Hehe.”

He burst into low laughter. At that laughter pressed and contained Theodore’s fur stood up.

‘Received Adrianne’s letter why on earth—.’

Theodore tightly put his head to the ground.

The Grand Duke slightly waved his finger. The slightly folded paper flew like an arrow and stuck in front of Theodore. Sticking paper into stone—. Absurd monstrous power.

“Read.”

At the Grand Duke’s order Theodore unfolded the letter.

The writing was flashy as if living and breathing. To think there is this kind of handwriting—. An amazing handwriting that admiration naturally comes out just by looking.

Theodore who was briefly enchanted hurriedly read down.

The letter was short.

[To the beloved and respected father-in-law. I am Special Mission Unit Captain Galahad. Because there is no separate hawk I borrowed Adrianne’s hawk. It is presumptuous to report but it seems a hole was pierced in the front line. At first I was confused whether this place was the North, or the demon race’s yard. Haha. I heard the Northern Wall is high and solid, but well rumors are all like that. Still because it is the in-law’s land I will do well. I report that I arrived at the 1st Battalion. Special Mission Unit Captain Galahad.]

‘···Is he a crazy guy?’

Theodore dropped the letter as is.

Even the emperor would not treat the Grand Duke like that, what—. Does he want to die? Even if crazy this was not ordinary crazy.

“The demon race’s yard.”

At the Grand Duke’s voice pressed and contained Theodore hurriedly buried his head.

“Send messengers to each captain. After the sun rises seven times I will send messengers again.”

“At that time, if a hole is discovered—.”

“I will pull out the neck and fill the hole with that spinal cord.”

The vassals just said eub—.