Chapter 48

Chapter 48

Fearful

‘Finally came.’

Galahad squinted his eyes while looking at the guy sitting beside Pumpkin.

The guy was one who had bothered Galahad since the Academy.

The guy’s father was the Bureau Director inserted as a parachute into the Intelligence Bureau.

If the son of such a Bureau Director he should have been arrogant or done backroom work, yet the guy did not give up and continuously challenged and surprisingly cleanly submitted to the match.

The guy rather refused the Bureau Director’s help.

For the ‘fair duel’ with Galahad.

Even when judging he could not win against Galahad because he did not know magic, he was a guy who finally learned even magic.

A knight learning magic—.

It was absurd dog behavior, but the guy excellently did magic.

Actually in the end it was to the extent difficult even for Galahad.

‘Finally followed all the way here.’

He knew the guy’s obsession regarding Galahad, but did not know he would follow even to the North.

The guy’s eyes looking at Galahad were quite hot.

If usual he would have moderately dismissed but.

‘This is not bad.’

It was a situation where manpower was needed.

Originally he was thinking of going to the Intelligence Bureau safehouse and bringing a suitable guy, yet the guy came first.

The guy was not as much as Galahad, but a usable mage and usable agent.

A much better personnel selection than bringing from the Intelligence Bureau safehouse.

It was the equivalent of drawing the best card unexpectedly.

Yet—.

‘......What was the agent name.’

Galahad muttered while examining the guy up and down.

The guy opened his mouth first.

“Stop the joke.”

“Sorry but, I am good at jokes. If it was a joke, you would have also known.”

Pumpkin coughed softly. First! First!

“Ah, it was Hurst. Changed too much so could not recognize. You, did you grow a bit taller?”

“It is not Hurst but First.”

“Ah, yes. It was that kind of name.”

“Stop pretending not to remember? While having excellent memory more than anyone.”

“My memory is quite excellent, but it is not infinite. At that I classify by importance and remember.”

“Ah, certainly effective.”

Pumpkin nodded. At that First’s face furrowed again.

“So my agent name is not important? Ha, a clumsy check.”

“Ah, originally like this.”

At Pumpkin’s explanation Galahad nodded. Yes, originally that kind of guy.

“Haha, suddenly marrying the Northern Grand Duke’s daughter. Surprised hearing the news.”

Whether intending to loosen the atmosphere Pumpkin turned the topic.

“Isn’t human affairs all like that. Like you guys becoming lovers.”

“Not lovers.”

“Pumpkin!”

“Ah, lovers. Do not put the hand on the shoulder. Really—.”

“Haha, Pumpkin still has a lot of shyness.”

“It seems closer to aversion than shyness though.”

Soon Pumpkin pretended to cough and hit First’s arm.

Then First threw another question as if nothing.

“If that person finds out a problem will occur?”

“That person?”

At the designation that person Galahad scratched his neck for nothing. Surely that was known? There is no way—.

“The princess.”

‘Ah, that was there.’

At the continued Pumpkin’s explanation Galahad was relieved.

However, the princess was also not a very welcome story.

“The princess is only a relationship intertwined by work.”

“Isn’t it you who raised that person who was not even mentioned in the succession candidates and was soon to die situation to a strong candidate? Because of that that person cherishing you viciously is already famous so do not deny.”

At First’s interrogation Galahad squinted his eyes.

It was not a very good memory.

Galahad made various efforts to block the demon race’s king.

The princess was one of those efforts.

Actually the effect was quite good.

[You are dangerous. This is our best.]

Until she made a stupid choice—.

It was a relationship that ended with her choice.

“That is only because I am capable, there was nothing else. And she is soon a married body? Do not say irreverent words.”

Galahad said firmly.

He was quite intertwined with her, but that was a past story.

[So you dare say you will leave me?]

The end was a bit dirty, but ends were originally all like that.

“Ah.”

An awkward sign rose on Pumpkin’s face. First laughed annoyingly while going keuk—.

At the subtle atmosphere Galahad squinted his eyes.

“You did not hear.”

“What?”

“Hmm—.”

First put a cigar in his mouth. A wet wood smell fully blew.

“The prince who was her marriage partner.”

The corners of the mouth of the guy who put the cigar rose.

Silence continued for a moment.

And.

“He died.”

First said while fully raising the corners of his mouth.

“Died? He was a healthy one?”

Galahad squinted his eyes and asked back.

Galahad knew best how healthy the foreign prince who was her marriage partner was. Because it was Galahad who obtained that marriage list.

Yet that prince died?

“They say sudden death, even in the imperial family they are keeping quiet.”

“Sudden death?”

“Yes, because it was a mission we recently took charge of we know well.”

Pumpkin added the words. If a mission they took charge of, it was a certain fact. Instantly Galahad’s head became complicated.

Then, First twitched his lips as if wanting to speak quickly.

“......Yet there is a very interesting rumor.”

“If an interesting rumor—.”

“Poisoning.”

First who finished the words raised the corners of his mouth as if savoring.

‘.....Poisoning?’

At the ominous word Galahad squinted his eyes.

‘Surely—.’

Galahad shook his head.

Her marriage partner was the legitimate son of the largest kingdom among the kingdom alliance.

She was crazy, but still a wise woman. There was no way she did not know what would happen if killing that.

[I will correct my mistake. Wait a little.]

Her whisper came to mind.

Galahad’s mouth dried tightly.

‘It will not be.’

That is not correcting a mistake, but the equivalent of tearing the mistake and sprinkling salt.

He knows she is crazy but—.

‘No matter how crazy she would not make a mess to that degree.’

Galahad shook his head.

But the more so unease rose.

If she did such a stupid and crazy thing—?

Tok tok, Galahad flicked his finger.

He quickly recalculated. The result was the same.

From the moment she made a bad move, the possibility of her becoming emperor was none.

A choice that did not need reconsideration.

“What does that have to do with me?”

Galahad asked while brushing the front hair back.

At that Pumpkin fully furrowed her eyes, and First grinned.

“As expected that is Galahad. Ah, then she—.”

“Only up to there. She is a taboo of the Intelligence Bureau. I do not want to kill you though.”

Galahad warned while tapping his finger.

At that First’s smile disappeared.

Pumpkin muttered softly while looking at the stiffened First.

Scared.

****

‘Became stronger.’

First instinctively felt that Galahad’s level became higher.

Originally Galahad who was a monster.

Yet becoming stronger from there.

‘This is befitting my rival.’

First raised the corners of his mouth satisfied.

First who respects the rival turned the topic.

“So why did you come to the North?”

“Why. Because told to peel so peeled.”

At Galahad’s calm answer First laughed while coughing. Smoke sprayed as if cutting at that mouth area.

According to Zamit’s words, what sent Galahad to the North was the imperial order.

However, it would not be the Emperor. Because there was no story that the Emperor woke from sleep.

Probably an order from a figure comparable to that. That was packaged as imperial order—.

Even so imperial order was imperial order.

It was natural that one could not avoid.

But Galahad was not one who bows because of imperial order.

Galahad was not the kind of human one could forcibly move. If the choice was disliked, he was a man who would have avoided even by fabricating death.

Such Galahad coming to the North was because there was a reason.

The highest possibility was still—.

“Still looking for the demon race’s king?”

The finger of Galahad who was tapping the cigarette stopped abruptly.

‘Correct.’

It was the ‘demon race’s king’ Galahad habitually said in the past.

Actually for the current empire the demon race was not a big threat.

From the beginning the demon race did not appear well in the center, and even if appearing it was not that threatening.

So much so that when the mission target was the demon race they called it ‘honey’.

Currently the empire was more annoyed by the kingdom alliance side rather than the demon race.

In such a situation even if warning that the demon race’s king appears there was no way they would listen.

The Intelligence Bureau was basically an organization that rolled with the empire’s interests and calculations.

“Saying again, the demon race’s king is an inevitable existence, if not preparing for him the demon race’s king will someday make the entire continent into ashes.”

Galahad’s voice was full of conviction.

Like when first saying, no, rather a voice more full of conviction than then.

It was a situation where all of the Intelligence Bureau denied the demon race’s king.

Yet how can one have more conviction?

When First tried to open his mouth, Galahad raised his hand. Galahad disliked being interrupted. First closed his mouth. Pumpkin clicked her tongue while looking at such First.

“You, did you receive information regarding the North?”

At Galahad’s question First’s face stiffened.

First received information of the North before coming to Galahad. Obtaining information regarding the mission was the agent’s basic.

“Received.”

“How is it?”

“Trash.”

First answered honestly.

“I agree. Even if the Intelligence Bureau’s influence in the North is small, it is an excessive level. I was also surprised at first. There is not even common information of the North.”

“Common information?”

Galahad’s sunken pupils stared at First.

“The demon race’s power changes according to the mana concentration. Like magic—.”

At the continued words First let out a groan.

He did not grasp accurately, but the North’s mana concentration was several times denser than the capital.

That is the story that the demon race is affected by mana concentration—.

“Does it mean the capital’s demon race is several times weaker than here?”

“And strong demon races do not leave their own area.”

It was the story that the demon races met in the center were all small fries.

Actually even if that is the truth as long as the capital’s mana concentration does not change it was not greatly threatening.

“Recently here black mages opened something called Magic Realm. A place that is the demon race’s territory.”

Galahad added the words as if reading such First’s thoughts.

“......Magic Realm?”

Then, the door opened roughly.

A man who looked like a knight entered.

“Captain, I heard strange guys came! What kind of guys!”

Instantly Galahad’s expression changed. Very slight, but leisure was felt.

“Just in time. Sir Gilbert, temporarily selected newbies, take them and show a bit of Magic Realm sightseeing.”

“How many people do we have to temporarily select?”

“Just go a bit.”

“Yes, hey! What are you doing blankly! Come quickly!”

At the shout of the man called Gilbert First and Pumpkin stood from the seat.

The two were already making a dumb expression like newbies at some point.

Because for them who are Intelligence Bureau agents disguise was the most basic—.

Galahad looked for a moment at the two disappearing dragged by Gilbert.

Then, a familiar face was seen through the open door.

“Ah—.”

It was Adrianne with eyebrows slightly lowered.

“If came why not knock.”

At Galahad’s scolding Adrianne gaped her mouth and soon closed.

****

‘......Damn, what kind of training is this harsh!’

Pumpkin desperately held the curse that was about to burst.

From the Magic Realm and bizarre environment it was not to her liking. Still that degree one could endure.

Not to the extent of being compared to Galahad or First, but Pumpkin was also a capable agent.

However, Gilbert’s ignorant training was the problem.

In the Magic Realm where even staying still one is out of breath when ignorant training is added, even Pumpkin was hard to endure. Yet one could not collapse.

“Cannot endure only this degree of training?!”

Because she saw the guy called Gilbert foaming and kicking the collapsed soldier—.

“It was real.”

First said in a low voice. Hardship was full on that face, but Pumpkin knew that was acting.

If really hard, that even voice could not come out.

“What... what....”

“That the mana concentration is high to a degree hard to compare and the demon race becomes stronger in proportion to the mana concentration.”

First said while supporting the shaking Pumpkin. Pumpkin leaned on that hand and caught her breath.

“Isn’t the Intelligence Bureau’s main targets the kingdom alliance and high officials, and anti-imperialist guys. From the beginning the Intelligence Bureau has no interest in the North.”

“Correct words. However, in the safehouse even if a bit insufficient there was quite a bit of information. Yet in the Intelligence Bureau headquarters the North’s information was insufficient.”

“Is it that there is a guy shaking the North information in the headquarters?”

“Do not know yet.”

“There do it straight!”

At Gilbert’s shout First let go of the hand. Pumpkin gritted her teeth and put strength in the body and endured.

“Among the missions Galahad took charge of there was a spy operation. It was a matter of shaking the strengthening kingdom alliance. Do you know how Galahad did?”

At First’s question Pumpkin furrowed her eyes. Why memorizing missions others took charge of uselessly? Because out of breath she could not take it out of the mouth.

“Normally one enters as a spy into the strongest kingdom. Because if shaking the strongest side the rest also shakes.”

First who did not know Pumpkin’s inside started chattering excitedly. Pumpkin tried to spit a curse and saliva came out.

“Yet Galahad chose the weakest kingdom. And started raising that. The opposite method from others.”

No interest—. Pumpkin exhaled an excited breath.

“As a result the build of the kingdom that had the smallest scale became large to a degree one cannot ignore. As the balance of power twisted the kingdom alliance shook. I asked him. Why he bothered to choose such a hard path. Do you know what he answered?”

Don’t know damn—. Pumpkin could only make a molhek! sound.

“Because that way the reward is large. he answered. Isn’t it funny? When everyone thinks of mission success, he considered the size of the reward after success.”

So what! Pumpkin made a kek— sound. Breath was blocked at the chin. First patted the back. Only then breath opened.

“I think his this action is also the same as then.”

“......What.”

“He—.”

First’s eyes were sharp. Now head pierced sound will come out. Pumpkin spat saliva with a ptoo—.

“Chose the North this time.”

‘Choosing the North—. Then the opponent is the empire?’

At the truly arrogant sentence Pumpkin squinted her eyes.

Pumpkin also knew that Galahad was the best among agents.

However.

“Even so isn’t he one person.”

Pumpkin answered reluctantly. No matter how amazing Galahad is he is alone.

What correlation is it that he chose the North.

“Correct words. He is alone.”

First’s nose twitched.

It was the timing for craziness to come out.

Pumpkin muttered a curse in advance.

“Still—.”

First even raised the pitch.

First who twitched his mouth for a moment continued the words.

“But if I First the eternal rival and competitor of Galahad am together? Hu—.”

First spat hot breath.

“Fearful.”

Pumpkin was also sincerely fearful.

****

“So you mean Galahad sent?”

The crow squinted his eyes while looking at the guy looking up at him.

Shiny eyes and a bowing back were typically the specimen of a powerless opportunist.

The human image the crow hated the most.

Why on earth is that person intertwined with this kind of guy—.

“Yes. Are you Cortn?”

“Yes! Correct! Aigo! The cadre came yet I could not prepare in time!! Sorry!”

At the bowing appearance the crow forcibly held the retching that rose.

“Put a letter above. That I brought the magic circle of the magic beast trainer.”

“Above you say? Yes! Understood!”

At the guy who was startled while asking back the crow clicked his tongue.

The crow disliked the guy.

However, if a report of that kind of guy the Society Head would clearly believe.

Because the Society Head liked incompetent ones the most.