Chapter 60

Chapter 60

Gift

“Where did you go?”

Gilbert asked in a slightly excited voice. Steam was rising with a morak morak piercing the thick armor.

It was dawn when the sun was rising now, yet training that hard. As expected an excellent knight.

“I went for a night walk.”

“What walk do you do all night?”

“You, have a lot of interest in me. I am a body with a woman to marry. Even if not that a man is disgusting.”

When Galahad said firmly, Gilbert tilted his head.

Leaving Gilbert with a stupid expression he entered inside.

The 5th Battalion Captain was sitting as if natural. Galahad sat opposite that and explained the rough situation.

Roughly lumping he explained that the Black Magic Society changed to a mana stone mine miner gathering.

“Good. Then I will put more force into the mana stone mine side.”

Mark had fast brain rotation unlike a Northern guy.

Then, a rough scream was heard from outside. Subsequently the door opened roughly and Gilbert entered.

“Damn!”

At Gilbert’s rough appearance Mark’s eyes became round. Gilbert bowed his head to Mark with a bob, and said to Galahad again.

“I like that woman!”

“This was a lecher.”

“······Yes?”

“Captain Mark, Sir Gilbert likes women very much.”

“Sir Gilbert, how is Lumian? These days the nervousness increased more.”

“Oh, good. Let’s connect our alliance to a blood alliance. Sir Gilbert.”

“That··· Lumian is a bit······.”

“This, ugly yet also picky a lot.”

At Gilbert’s fully furrowed face Galahad laughed and put the cigarette in his mouth.

“I am not ugly.”

“No, you are certainly ugly. Although fortunate that it is likable, ugly.”

“I agree.”

“By majority your ugliness is notarized.”

“Yes? What is notarization?”

Galahad tapped the cigarette, and Mark organized the documents. A moment later, Gilbert urgently opened his mouth.

“No, that is Lumian’s temper is too sharp. Also freckles······.”

Gilbert chattered the reason he dislikes Lumian.

“Sir Gilbert.”

“There is more. And also how fierce the eyes···.”

“Sir Gilbert?”

“Why do you keep calling. There is more left.”

At Gilbert answering confidently Galahad clicked his tongue softly.

“If Captain Mark is sitting, usually aide Lumian is also nearby.”

“Yes?”

Gilbert turned his head.

There was Lumian who became axe eyes more than Gilbert’s description. Gilbert’s face became haggard.

“I also dislike Sir Gilbert. Ugly.”

“This three out of four agreed.”

Gilbert tried to make an excuse, but Lumian left the place first.

At that Gilbert tightly— closed his mouth.

“The reaction was not bad?”

“I see. Didn’t Lumian not curse.”

“This, Sir Gilbert was a man with many sins.”

Exchanging conversation with Mark and poking Gilbert with a poke poke—.

Gilbert carefully opened his mouth.

“······Really?”

“You are a knight by heaven.”

At Galahad’s words Mark nodded.

Around that time a fragrant smell blew from somewhere. Galahad tapped the cigarette and stood from the seat.

Going up, Tom stirring the pot hard was seen. Beside that Gwen was emitting fire while sweating with a peol peol.

“Ah, you came. Almost finished.”

“Buuuuul!”

“Gwen, if chanting the formula once after that one does not need to chant.”

“This way concentration is better!”

At Gwen’s answer Galahad nodded.

The path of magic was different for each mage. There were tens of thousands of paths.

Galahad was certain his method was the orthodox, but did not particularly point that out.

Because that kind of stubbornness was evidence of becoming a mage.

A moment later Tom took out the finished stew pot and put it in bowls.

“Put two more. There are diligent ones below so.”

“Ah, I prepared.”

Galahad ordered Gilbert to take the stew below.

Gilbert who slightly tidied his hair made a bizarre expression and packed the bowl and went down.

Tom who finished the distribution put down the remaining pot. Then Damien plunged his head into the pot with a napda.

When Galahad clicked his tongue, Damien raised his head again.

“One has to use a spoon.”

“Uncomfortable.”

“Ahem.”

Damien scooped the pot with a spoon and ate.

The taste of the stew was always the best. Galahad sincerely admired.

Tom who saw Galahad’s coat torn stood from the seat saying he would make a new coat.

At Tom who eats the least and sleeps, and works the most Galahad nodded satisfied.

“It says it is also hungry?”

“Who.”

“There—.”

Gwen pointed at Galahad’s chest.

“Became more fluent than before?!”

“Is that so? What is it saying.”

“That······. What? Secret? It says secret!”

At Gwen startled and covering her own mouth Galahad squinted his eyes.

“It is an order.”

“Or··· order!”

“Disobeying an order is death penalty and pay cut.”

“······Pay cut! I will say!”

Gwen stiffened her expression. Gwen who became a serious face said low.

“Huhu······. This degree of power, even I am afraid.”

Thump! Thump! Thump!

It was quite grand words for an egg that became low-rank now.

Thump! Thump!

Whether because meeting Gwen who communicates, the guy continuously thumped.

“We are invincible. If together—.”

“Enough, one can stop.”

“Ah! Yes! It says regrettable!”

“Tell it to be quiet.”

“Be quiet!”

Around the time the meal ended Tom returned. What Tom brought was a black sleek coat.

The quality and form were better than last time. It seemed made from the leather of the huge magic beast caught in the 7th Battalion.

Organizing the leather in that chaotic meantime—. Galahad softly admired.

“Because the heat dissipation effect is not good, I added mole cricket leather inside.”

“Good.”

Galahad took off the coat that became a rag. Tom put the coat on like a tailor.

“If only caring about the neck part and sleeve finish it would be better.”

“Ah, is that so—. Is there any other uncomfortable place?”

At Tom rather asking more Galahad informed the parts to fix. Tom wrote carefully.

Gilbert who returned belatedly emptied the stew as if drinking.

When even Gilbert finished the meal, Galahad stood from the seat.

“Everyone prepare. Next is the 6th Battalion. We will continue the front line hole inspection received from His Grace the Grand Duke.”

“Yes! Finished preparing!”

As always Tom answered vigorously.

“Didn’t you just enter?”

Gilbert asked while looking at Galahad with subtle eyes.

“That was so.”

“Don’t you have to sleep?”

“Fine, originally I am the type without sleep.”

At Galahad’s answer Gilbert squinted his eyes.

A moment of silence continued. Galahad thought of the things he had to do.

Starting from the Proxel family to high-rank demon race, Dawn, Adrianne—. Fully piled.

Then, Gilbert’s mouth opened.

“The captain seems exactly chased by something.”

Gilbert said roughly.

At that familiar question various voices rose.

[There is no king of the demon race.]

[Why are you so urgent?]

[Bizarre obsession.]

It was a story often heard.

No matter how Galahad spoke, there was no one who understood the king of the demon race.

Everyone denied the king of the demon race.

They stupidly chattered that such a thing does not exist.

However. Just because everyone denies the truth does not become false.

Galahad was certain that he was right.

“Chased—. In the middle of chasing. Stupid sound.”

Galahad clicked his tongue softly at Gilbert’s twitching face. Without knowing his own voice came out sharp.

However, because he would not understand anyway he did not particularly explain.

Just in time Tom came out.

“Let’s depart.”

Galahad said while putting the cigarette in his mouth.

Then, the window broke roughly. Gilbert urgently drew the sword.

What entered was a red hawk.

No, is it a magic beast.

“It is His Grace the Grand Duke’s hawk.”

Even without Gilbert’s explanation one could know it was the Grand Duke’s.

If not the Grand Duke who would raise a hawk no different from that magic beast.

The hawk left the paper as if throwing and disappeared right away.

Damien picked that up and held it out to Galahad.

“Thank you, Damien.”

Galahad quietly examined the paper.

“Hmm.”

Galahad let out a small groan.

Then—.

Gilbert saw Galahad’s face without a smile for the first time.

That face was truly cool.

****

‘Why the demon race’s blood······.’

Adrianne’s aide Lunavine squinted his eyes while looking at the piled water bottles.

The demon race’s blood had a smell vicious to the extent hard to compare with human blood.

If putting in a water bottle and sealing it is a bit okay, but still gathering the demon race’s blood was not understood.

It was Adrianne’s order.

‘Special Mission Unit Captain Galahad’s request—.’

At the story of drinking the demon race’s blood Lunavine stuck out his tongue softly.

The mage kind could not be understood.

At first he thought just a guy who would disappear soon.

Yet the guy did not disappear and rather established credit.

Even inside the 1st Battalion good stories about the guy were circulating.

Now one could no longer ignore.

On top of that—,

‘Lady Adrianne became somehow brighter.’

Lunavine glanced at Adrianne confirming the number of water bottles.

Still an indifferent face, but Lunavine who served Adrianne for a long time could know that change.

Before it was Adrianne who concentrated only on the demon race and did not put interest in other things.

Adrianne putting even a little interest in other things was a very big change.

Change was not always good.

Lunavine recalled Galahad.

A man who looked noble no matter who saw. The handsome man full of confidence and leisure in that action always looked experienced just looking.

Adrianne was the North’s hero, but pure white on the romance side. Because of the nature of burning mana Adrianne was clumsy in relationships with others let alone romance.

Innocent Adrianne could be hit by the guy.

Of course, there would be no such matter but—.

Then, a white hawk flew and sat on Adrianne’s shoulder. Adrianne carefully unfolded the paper hanging on the hawk’s leg.

Adrianne indifferently examined the letter. Lunavine quietly watched that appearance.

Somehow the reading time was quite long.

Adrianne who looked at the paper for a long time looked at Lunavine.

Usually when looking at Lunavine, Adrianne’s face relaxed a little. It was Lunavine’s greatest pride.

Yet now Adrianne’s face was more serious than anything.

It was clear some big matter occurred—.

Did the front line the 2nd Battalion is in charge of collapse? Or are empire guys pushing up? Various worries passed Lunavine.

Then, Adrianne’s mouth opened.

“Am I cute?”

At Adrianne’s serious question Lunavine’s thoughts stopped.

Adrianne asking if she is cute with a serious face—.

Rather the empire invading would be a more realistic story.

Above all—.

Adrianne asking seriously felt a little cute.

However, there was no way one could dare say cute.

“Not cute at all. Lady Adrianne is noble and flashy and beautiful.”

“As expected it would be a joke. This—.”

Adrianne’s eyebrows shook up and down a little.

Then, a huge red bird flew. A size closer to a magic beast than a bird. It was the Grand Duke’s hawk.

The red bird sat on Adrianne’s opposite shoulder. The hawks cried while looking at each other.

Adrianne unfolded the thick paper on the red hawk’s leg.

Adrianne’s face stiffened harder than before.

“What is it?”

“The empire’s princess requested a friendship exchange duel. His Grace the Grand Duke accepted that.”

······Friendship exchange?

Long ago they deepened friendship with duels, but now it was a tradition that became obsolete.

Even the connection with the empire was cut long ago.

To think of suddenly bringing out such an obsolete tradition now—.

“His Grace the Grand Duke nominated me and the 2nd Battalion Captain, Special Mission Unit Captain. I will depart right away.”

The personnel of that duel was somewhat strange.

One could understand Adrianne and the 2nd Battalion Captain.

Because the two were the North’s skilled ones.

Yet—.

‘···Why the Special Mission Unit Captain?’

“First going to the 7th Battalion. Let’s join with Captain Galahad.”

“Why the Special Mission Unit Captain···. Ah, is it His Grace the Grand Duke’s order?”

Adrianne did not answer.

‘Princess? Suddenly a princess—.’

It was a too unexpected name.

****

Princess Lucienne was a wise figure.

In a situation where even surviving was impossible Lucienne did not stop at simply surviving and even rose in the succession order.

Her knight Devan knew that the reason she survived was not simply because wise.

‘Galahad—.’

If Lucienne was the most beautiful among the women Devan saw, the most capable one was Galahad.

He was capable. To the extent no other explanation was needed besides that.

He excellently protected Lucienne hanging on the edge of a cliff in the imperial family where several died silently each day.

Insufficient with that he even raised the succession order.

He thought anything would be possible if together with that.

Until that matter—.

Galahad disappeared without any words like when he first came.

The story heard next was ‘marriage with the Northern Grand Duke’s daughter’.

Devan, and the princess also did not believe.

He was not one with the leeway to marry someone.

It was Galahad who even refused the princess’s temptation. Devan was certain he would be impotent.

Anyway, suddenly such a rumor was heard.

At first he naturally thought it was a mission.

Yet that rumor continued continuously.

The princess created a pretext to meet Galahad.

However, the princess’s fiance the prince of the Kingdom Alliance died recently, and a rumor of poisoning was circulating.

In this situation leaving the imperial family empty was quite a difficult and fatal matter.

At that the princess thought of an amazing excuse.

It was a friendship exchange duel with the Grand Duke.

My god—.

Devan tightly closed his eyes.

Friendship with the Grand Duke would clearly be a big help.

The problem was that that method was a duel.

The princess proposed three matches. There was no choice but for the loser and winner to divide.

The already precarious princess. If losing in the duel, it was giving something to be torn.

Even if winning it was a problem. The Grand Duke’s antipathy toward the empire was famous.

It was clear he would not let them who won go alive.

Whether winning, or losing it was a proposal that would bring fatal results.

The reason the princess placed such a number was one.

‘She would have believed Galahad.’

It was the princess who thinks even Galahad going to the North was for herself.

Devan’s thought was a bit different, but he was a knight not a staff.

Then, the curtain was drawn. The princess came out.

The large pupils red like blood were like jewels a craftsman carefully carved, and the long hair exceeding the waist looked softer than high-class silk.

The rumor that the reason she survived in the imperial family was because the most beautiful flower was not for nothing.

“Is the preparation finished?”

She asked while raising the red corners of her mouth.

It was a smile as if a bright flower fully bloomed.

There was no flaw anywhere in conduct and smile, action.

However, Devan knew.

That the most beautiful rose has the sharpest thorns—.

“Yes, as expected Sir Paul Berian received the proposal. However, the Twilight Magic Tower Lord expressed the intention to refuse. The reason is research is not finished.”

“Yes?”

Gulp—. Devan swallowed dry saliva.

“Instead upper mage Bunch of the White Magic Tower expressed the intention to participate. He is Galahad’s Academy senior, and boasted victory saying Galahad learned from him.”

“Yes. Anyway it is Galahad—.”

Lucienne rolled ‘Galahad’ softly in her mouth.

Exactly like eating candy—.

A moment later Lucienne asked as if remembered.

“Sir Devan.”

“Yes.”

“How am I?”

Lucienne asked while smiling brightly.

The princess’s question—. It was a famous story in the imperial family.

Unless eyes are blind, one would naturally answer pretty to her question.

However, as always there existed crazy guys.

There were three who answered no to her question.

All three died.

Of course, there is one more who answered no. He is living fine but that is a secret history.

“You are the most beautiful in the world.”

Devan’s answer was sincere.

There was no way one more beautiful than her would exist.

The princess smiled brightly.

For a moment it was to the extent of the illusion that a flower scent blows.

“Fortunate. I was worried because I could not sleep well.”

At that whisper Devan just bowed his head.

“Ah, did you pack the gift well?”

At the sudden honorific Devan nodded.

“Yes.”

“Open it.”

Devan carefully opened the box.

What was inside the small box was a cleanly wiped finger.

It was the finger of the prince the Kingdom Alliance is looking for.

A large ring was worn on that finger.

“He would like it?”

At the princess’s question Devan had no choice but to nod.

The princess really smiled brightly.

Unlike before it was a pure smile without decoration.