Chapter 68

Chapter 68

Almost Touched

Galahad realized a new fact.

When Adrianne is there, the Grand Duke becomes very slightly but soft.

If placing Adrianne beside, it seemed there would be no matter of the neck being pulled by the Grand Duke.

Galahad softly relieved and examined the surroundings.

How long a table that seemed twenty people could also sit there were only three dangling.

Yet because the Grand Duke’s size was quite large no insufficiency was felt.

Meals were fully set on the table.

The Grand Duke tore meat with his hands. Whether not grilled at all, red blood long bounced from the meat. The fierce sound of flesh tearing tormented the ears.

It was an eating habit closer to a barbarian chieftain than the Grand Duke.

“Please eat this a bit. Delicious.”

Then, Adrianne packed food. The Grand Duke’s eyes sharpened.

At the Grand Duke tearing meat while glaring at Galahad the neck tingled for nothing.

“Didn’t I say fine. You eat.”

“I came after eating.”

Although stopped several times, Adrianne continuously put things to eat on Galahad’s plate.

“Mixing this and this one has to eat to be delicious.”

It seemed she wanted to inform the Northern meal method to Galahad.

Although the heart was admirable, from the beginning the North’s meal was mostly aversion food.

Even if putting fragrant herbs, there was no way meat where juice overflows to the extent blood drops with a tok tok looks delicious.

Every time Adrianne took care of Galahad, the corners of the Grand Duke’s mouth gradually rose.

It was amazing that the impression can become fiercer the more one laughs.

The demon race whose neck was pulled in the Grand Duke’s hand rose for nothing. Galahad’s neck was itchy.

“Please try this too.”

‘···Is it revenge?’

Galahad muttered softly while looking at Adrianne.

“Why.”

“It seems the stomach will burst.”

“Yes? This degree you say?”

At Adrianne’s question Galahad squinted his eyes.

He emptied the plate five times. Yet this degree—. Ridiculous.

Then, the Grand Duke put down the meat with only bones remaining.

“You did a fun act.”

The Grand Duke’s fierce eyes stared at Galahad.

Galahad quickly retraced the situation. He deliberately hung half of the earned money on his own victory.

Along with that the mana exhaustion was real.

It was a perfect calculation with no place to pick a flaw.

‘There is no element to catch.’

At that Galahad confidently looked up at the Grand Duke and countered.

“What act are you saying?”

The Grand Duke laughed low. The table trembled a little. To think this huge table shakes saying laughing—. Galahad stuck out his tongue.

“Saying draw.”

The main point came out from the Grand Duke’s mouth.

The answer was done by Adrianne.

“As ordered I finished the investigation regarding the match. Adding circumstantial evidence and magical interpretation and analyzing the result, no suspicion.”

Adrianne pointed at the document bundle beside the Grand Duke.

Looking at the documents being thick, it seemed she busily went around.

The Grand Duke stared at Galahad instead of the documents. Those eyes were exactly as if digging the inside.

“As a result of investigating the mage, I received a definite answer that a draw is not something one can fabricate. Along with that it was also confirmed that Captain Galahad hung a large sum on his own victory.”

Adrianne calmly continued the explanation.

“I see.”

The Grand Duke obediently nodded. While still staring at Galahad piercingly.

‘As expected weak to Adrianne.’

Galahad muttered softly.

After a moment of silence continued the Grand Duke opened his mouth.

The Grand Duke’s words that followed were quite outside expectation.

“I will do the engagement ceremony.”

The meat Adrianne was handing dropped with a tok—.

Hmm—.

Before Galahad could even answer something Adrianne stood up with a flash.

Those eyebrows were fully furrowed.

“I dislike.”

Adrianne who shortly refused left the room.

Galahad who was left with the Grand Duke alone coughed softly.

The corners of the Grand Duke’s mouth were still raised.

‘He did it on purpose.’

Galahad squinted his eyes.

The Grand Duke continued the words in a voice like a beast’s howl.

“In three months I will progress the engagement ceremony. If Adrianne refuses—.”

The Grand Duke pointed at the empty place among the displayed magic beasts and demon races.

“One would have to do even a funeral.”

At the fierce words Galahad coughed softly.

Engagement ceremony and funeral—.

Truly a malicious joke.

However, on the Grand Duke’s face there was not even a small laughter.

‘Hmm, it was not a joke.’

Galahad let out a groan.

The Grand Duke did not seek agreement.

Galahad also had no thought of refusing.

Rather—.

“Three months. Isn’t it too late?”

The corners of the Grand Duke’s mouth rose fiercely.

*

“Sorry. Flustered and just—.”

When leaving the Grand Duke’s room while confirming whether the neck is properly attached, Adrianne was a little away.

Adrianne who discovered Galahad deeply bowed her head. Adrianne’s eyebrows were deeply lowered.

“Fine, I was also flustered.”

At Galahad’s answer Adrianne exhaled a small breath.

“Ah. You were. To think of suddenly bringing up such a story without even giving a hint—. I will speak to His Grace.”

Adrianne’s voice was somehow fast.

At that Galahad nodded.

“Even three months later. Not even a wedding ceremony, isn’t doing the engagement ceremony too generously?”

“······Yes?”

Adrianne’s eyebrows shook up and down. At that Galahad felt a question.

“Why flustered.”

“I have no thought of doing the engagement ceremony—.”

“Who said let’s marry? Marriage will also be someday, but this is just an engagement ceremony.”

“Just engagement··· ceremony?”

Adrianne’s eyebrows lowered. Gradually the sign of becoming axe eyes was seen.

“We are already an officially engaged relationship. What would change by doing an engagement ceremony there.”

Hwik— as the eyebrows rose it became axe eyes.

“Different.”

“How different. Present the basis.”

“······Different. I have no thought of going to the engagement ceremony.”

At Adrianne’s firm answer Galahad squinted his eyes.

If not the engagement ceremony it was the situation of becoming a funeral. If telling Adrianne she might solve it.

However, he did not particularly want to.

“I will speak well. You do not have to worry about His Grace the Grand Duke.”

There was no way the Grand Duke would listen just because Adrianne speaks.

Rather the possibility of pulling the neck and mouth together saying the mouth is light was large.

Galahad nodded.

“Yes, I will only believe you.”

“Yes.”

At Adrianne’s short answer Galahad laughed bitterly.

“Shall we take a walk a bit together? After eating it is bloated.”

“Yes?”

“I am a patient. Support is needed.”

Adrianne’s eyebrows shook.

“Then I will ask a bit.”

“Ah—.”

“Ugh, mana exhaustion—.”

Galahad slightly linked arms. Adrianne’s eyebrows vibrated.

Adrianne did not pull the arm.

The Grand Duke’s castle was not good for walking. Wherever one went there were soldiers or knights, and gazes poured.

Avoiding that he walked toward the side without people. Adrianne creaked as if broken.

“You, walking is a bit strange.”

“······.”

Adrianne did not answer.

Walking like that, at some point it was the top of the castle.

The dull iron smell of a large bell tickled the nose.

A knife wind that ached the bones raged from all around.

“Ah—.”

Adrianne sighed softly. Adrianne’s long blonde hair roughly fluttered.

Although Adrianne was the usual expressionless, somehow vitality was felt.

‘Likes high places.’

Galahad remembered that.

“Isn’t it beautiful.”

Adrianne asked in a slightly excited voice.

At that he looked around. Pure white snow was endlessly spread.

The scenery covered with snow all around was like a very cool picture. Certainly beautiful.

To Galahad who weighs value it was just a barren and cold land but—.

Galahad nodded.

“Beautiful.”

In the wind Adrianne’s hair roughly fluttered. Between that Adrianne laughed softly.

Adrianne’s smile was slightly awkward. As if not having laughed much—. However, beautiful.

“The words you said then.”

“The words that you are beautiful?”

“Yes? Ah, not that—.”

Adrianne twitched her mouth for a moment. Faint worry rose on that face.

Galahad did not urge. He shook the hand that was habitually trying to take out the cigarette.

After the time of smoking the cigarette about twice passed Adrianne’s mouth opened.

“The question of whether there is a king to the demon race—.”

At the words Adrianne carefully brought out Galahad’s eyes became large.

The king of the demon race. At that word the heart roughly thumped. Blood ping— and turned in the head. Blood violently turned to the extent the vision shook momentarily.

Galahad searched for the king of the demon race from long ago.

To prepare for that he spoke to people several times, but the returning answer was always negative.

Even explaining with logic everyone shook their heads.

Even the successor who believed in Galahad, even First clicked their tongues when talking about the king of the demon race.

They criticized that he chases a bizarre goal.

There was one who listened, but even she advanced in another direction.

Yet Adrianne brought up the story first.

“Too close.”

“Sorry, because you are too beautiful.”

“Yes, still close.”

Galahad stepped back one step.

Adrianne who coughed softly opened her mouth.

“After receiving the question from Captain Galahad I seriously considered. Since there are demon races acting as nobles there can also be a demon race called king.”

“Right. If there is a noble there is naturally also a king! The words communicate! Finally!”

At Galahad’s excitement who usually did not reveal emotion at all Adrianne was softly flustered.

Then, Galahad approached with a seongkeum.

“The king of the demon race exists. And someday he will drive the continent into the abyss of destruction.”

“Too close···.”

“Stupid guys no matter how I speak do not listen. How stuffy.”

“Close···.”

“Yet you understand! Finally found—.”

“······Dangerous!”

Adrianne urgently pushed.

Galahad fell as is. The eyes of Galahad seen between the disheveled hair were excessively clear.

“Ah, sorry.”

Adrianne hurriedly apologized and went down the stairs.

In the cool wind Galahad regained composure.

Raising his head, Adrianne was already after disappeared.

‘Adrianne mentioned the king of the demon race.’

Galahad rolled that sentence in his mouth like candy.

‘Finally—.’

The reaction to the king of the demon race was two types.

Ignore and sneer—. Even explaining logically the returning result was the same.

Because of that Galahad did not bring up the story about the king of the demon race.

‘It would clearly have been so—.’

Adrianne first put ‘the king of the demon race’ in her mouth.

Even showed a positive reaction.

It was a reaction first seen.

‘Why only Adrianne?’

Everything had cause and reason.

Galahad retraced the reactions that occurred in the meantime.

Even if not understanding the king of the demon race one can pretend to listen, but everyone first denied.

Exactly as if brainwashed—.

‘Brainwash? Then Adrianne?’

Adrianne showed a positive reaction.

The difference between the two was clear.

‘Adrianne’s nature of burning mana! Oh, that was it.’

It was clear Adrianne’s nature acted.

If the nature of burning mana blocked, that opponent would clearly be mana or authority.

‘Impossible with magic. From the beginning since it is about the king of the demon race it would be the demon race’s power, authority.’

Galahad’s thoughts quickly continued.

‘Blocking thoughts about the king of the demon race? Can one block with the entire continent? Even if a high-rank demon race is that possible?’

An ability one could not understand.

It was clear not just a high-rank demon race.

If that is possible, it would clearly be authority.

Anyway, the important thing—.

‘The king of the demon race exists. And······.’

Galahad brushed the disheveled hair.

Those eyes were fully laughing.

****

“Are you okay?”

Tom looked at Gilbert worriedly.

Gilbert who hung the salary on the bet two times consecutively following Galahad really touched large money.

Gilbert who tasted the bet hung the entire fortune on the bet.

And lost all.

Tom who knew that worried about Gilbert, but unexpectedly Gilbert was calm.

“A knight is sufficient with one sword.”

To the extent too calm that one worries more.

“The sword became lighter. What made my hand slow was not the armor.”

Gilbert laughed refreshingly and pounded the sword.

Gilbert said he would show and drew the sword.

“Look well.”

Gilbert who said seriously started moving the sword.

In Tom’s thought, although Gilbert’s head was a bit crude, that skill was real.

Gilbert was a famous knight to the extent even Tom who is a low-rank soldier knows.

Gilbert’s sword moved heavily. Even looking at Tom who does not know well it was clean swordsmanship.

‘It seems really faster—.’

Soon at Gilbert who stopped the sword Tom clapped hard.

“Certainly the sword became faster! Sharper than before! As expected Sir Gilbert!”

“I forgot that a knight is all about the sword.”

When Gilbert said so as Tom there was nothing particular to say.

“I did not lose money. I bought a valuable realization.”

Gilbert’s face was quite serious.

‘Isn’t it losing?’

Although a question rose, Tom first nodded.

Then, Gwen returned.

Contrary to Gilbert laughter was full on Gwen’s face.

“Lady Gwen, is there something good?”

“Ah, ahem!”

Gwen shook the pocket in her hand. A jingling sound was largely heard.

It was a heavy pocket not matching Gwen who sends the salary to the children she takes care of.

“They were betting over there! I also did!”

“Yes? Did you hang on the draw?”

“Yes! Because it gives the most!”

“Yes?”

“One has to hang on the place with high odds, to receive a lot! Isn’t it natural?”

At the reaction as if why asking the natural Tom reluctantly nodded.

Since the draw’s odds were the largest, earning the largest money was natural.

However, odds were soon risk.

‘Hanging on the draw because not understanding the concept of odds—.’

Tom admired at Gwen’s gambler temperament.

Keuk—. A choking sound was heard. Gilbert was looking at Gwen with wide open eyes.

Tom hurriedly intervened.

“Then you became rich now!”

“Right! Now the kids do not have to starve! Huhu—.”

Gwen laughed and tidied the pocket. That Gwen takes care of orphans was already a famous story.

At Gwen’s transparent joy Gilbert coughed softly. It was a somehow awkward face.

“If children have money it is dangerous. I will introduce a reliable person.”

It was a quite suspicious proposal, Tom urgently looked at Gilbert.

“Yes? A reliable person?”

“It is a soldier here called Burtman, if saying the circumstances he will accept. Since a guy who likes children, he won’t receive a fee either.”

“Wow! Good!”

Tom softly relieved. Then a question suddenly rose.

Gwen’s pocket was smaller than thought.

“The amount is less than thought. The hung money was quite a lot.”

“His Grace the Grand Duke also hung on the draw! A lot!”

To think His Grace the Grand Duke hung on the draw—. Did he predict this? Tom muttered softly.

Then, Gwen handed the pocket to Gilbert. Gilbert who received the pocket chewed his lips for a moment.

And slightly opened his mouth.

“Ahem ahem, there is a thing called cut in bets.”

“Yes? Dog? Cute!”

“No, cut—. ···Done.”

Gilbert exhaled a small sigh and shook his head.

At that Tom laughed suppressing the sound.

Then he suddenly felt something strange.

Slightly looking around Tom urgently asked.

“Where is Damien?”

Damien was not seen—.