Chapter 79

Chapter 79

Gold Rod

“Escaped.”

Galahad said while desperately pressing the rough breath.

Refreshing dawn air mixed with moisture tickled the nose.

Coming outside the sun was faintly rising. What was a gloomy ruin when dark now looked quite stylish.

No, after being in a place crawling with demon races and coming out would anything not look pretty.

“Are you okay.”

Adrianne asked in a small voice. Because Adrianne’s legs released Galahad was supporting.

“You are heavier than thought.”

“······Yes?”

“Let’s go a bit more.”

Galahad urged the members trying to scatter. One could not know when the ruler would come up. One had to distance as much as possible.

Galahad only caught breath after arriving at the carriage.

Gilbert held the reins and the rest rode the carriage.

“Irya!”

Gilbert shouted long. The carriage roughly shook and departed. Galahad burst the held breath.

The carriage was full of heat. Tom opened the window. Cool dawn air covered the carriage.

Galahad recalled the things seen in the city.

From sharpening mana sharply, to the ruler’s subtle authority and the four-legged demon race’s identity—.

What obtained was quite many. Realized Damien’s nature, and also found out the method of honing mana sharply.

Above all—.

‘High-rank demon race’s blood.’

When shaking the water bottle, a clinking sound was heard.

Thump! Thump! The pill of pain that was quiet continuously jumped. It panted as if saying feed right now.

Although even drinking right now would see an amazing effect, drinking at the necessary moment was more efficient. For example when having to fight a high-rank demon race—.

Thump! Thump!

‘Shut up.’

······Thump, the pill of pain became quiet. It seemed the habit was caught a little.

Galahad clicked his tongue and examined the body.

‘A mess.’

Using magic without covering, the inside was a complete mess. Because the opponent is the demon race, there was no choice.

Galahad hung the water bottle on the waist, and took out another water bottle from inside.

It was a water bottle containing lowest-rank demon race’s blood. When sipping that, the pill of pain trembled softly.

Kkorreuk!

“Hungry.”

At Damien’s grumbling Tom took out jerky and handed. Damien swallowed without even chewing.

‘It was not the hunger of the flesh.’

Galahad muttered while looking at Damien tearing jerky.

Damien’s staple was not meat or bread.

It was a knight’s aura.

‘Eating a knight’s aura—. Interesting.’

Damien even ate Adrianne’s aura. It would be power originating from that origin. Even considering the risk the value of raising overflowed.

‘One has to tell Sir Gilbert to periodically feed aura.’

It was Gilbert whose aura is outstanding because stupid.

Kok kok. At the hand poking beside turning his head there was a stupid helmet. It was Adrianne. It seemed the look of having something to say.

The blue pupils seen through the stupid helmet were serious.

At that Galahad gauged what words Adrianne would say.

It was a situation where Adrianne could have suspicion. Because the demon race came out following Galahad, two demon races coveted Galahad, and even said killing the emperor.

‘This is quite not good.’

It was Adrianne who is on the front line for life to catch the demon race. Her antipathy about the demon race needed no explanation.

At that when recalling an appropriate excuse, Adrianne dalkkeuraked the helmet.

“The armor is heavy.”

“······Hmm?”

At Adrianne’s serious voice Galahad furrowed his eyes. Then Adrianne pointed at her own armor.

“This armor. Because cheap iron the weight comes out a lot. Along with that because lining magic beast leather inside and wearing it has no choice but to be heavy. Therefore that Captain Galahad felt heavy is because of this armor.”

Adrianne’s voice was quite serious.

Only after Galahad nodded Adrianne stopped the explanation about ‘why is the armor heavy’.

Adrianne took out paper from inside. There were phrases written in advance. Things like ‘fell into danger’. It seemed the reason to report to the Grand Duke.

“Paper and pen would be with Tom.”

“Why does a soldier carry paper and pen?”

Adrianne’s question was reasonable. It was a world where ones who know writing are not even one out of ten. There was no reason for a soldier to carry paper and pen.

Galahad also had a similar thought, but somehow if Tom it seemed he would have.

“Ah, separately obtained to record the ledger and Special Mission Unit diary. It is cheap parchment dried leather is it fine?”

“···Why do you write a diary?”

“It is a hobby.”

At Tom’s firm answer Adrianne’s helmet shook for a moment.

“The Special Mission Unit is quite a peculiar unit.”

“You speak exactly as if not.”

“I am a disguise identity. Now not even that.”

Adrianne said while taking off the helmet. Tom hurriedly turned his head. It was an appearance as if facing something one must not see.

The stupid helmet was taken off and Adrianne’s face came out. Instantly an illusion of becoming bright was felt.

At that Galahad smacked his lips.

‘Regrettable. It was quite fun.’

It was Gilbert who extremely served usual Adrianne. He was curious what reaction he would show if knowing that the youngest he teased is Adrianne.

Adrianne wrote on the parchment Tom handed. When opening the door and extending the hand a white hawk appeared. The white hawk fluttered and flew.

Then—.

“Youngest! Do I have to hold the reins!”

Gilbert’s scolding was heard.

Adrianne’s eyebrows shook a little. Adrianne looked at Galahad. Fluster was seen in that gaze.

‘Didn’t notice?’

Although Gilbert lost consciousness, on the way out Adrianne did not hide the sword.

‘It was the opposite position though.’

Even so to think of not noticing—.

‘Ah, denial of reality.’

It seemed choosing the side of ignoring rather because of too large a shock. Like a kind of self-defense mechanism.

Anyway—.

“Youngest!!”

“Calling you.”

Galahad put the helmet on Adrianne who is looking at himself with flustered eyes. A gaze was felt beyond the stupid helmet.

“You also know that this method is quite useful.”

Dalkkeurak.

Adrianne who exhaled breath softly opened the carriage door and went out.

Galahad leaned his back on the backrest, and closed his eyes.

From the demon race city, the pit, the four-legged demon race, the ruler, the First Mage is a traitor—. etc various things rose.

“Do you have to come out only if calling? I am unit leader Gilbert. Do I have to hold the reins at this seniority?”

Galahad laughed softly.

****

‘To think of Galahad coming out from here—.’

The fox mask knew Galahad.

Although a natural story because a man hot in full swing in the North, to the fox mask the time in the Information Bureau was more familiar.

‘Did not know one would actually see.’

There were quite many stories about Galahad.

Among them the most impressive was the story of a magic expert.

Not a mage but a magic expert—. although a funny title, that reality was not funny at all.

In magic expert there were two meanings of ‘professionally killing mages very well’ and ‘professionally knowing well about magic’.

However, what drew the fox mask’s gaze was the existence inside the guy.

‘Holding an egg.’

Even using the egg. Of course, although a crude method, the guy clearly used the egg.

That stimulated the fox mask’s interest.

When the ruler showed interest to the guy, to the extent the fox mask thought of accepting overtime.

Then, an anomaly occurred.

Another high-rank demon race appeared behind the guy.

That—.

‘Was a forgotten existence.’

Without the need for the fox mask to step forward the guy escaped taking Adrianne.

One could see that the matter went well.

The problem—.

“This dog-like guy! Daring my command rod!”

It was the point that Galahad took the ruler’s command rod.

The ruler continuously burst anger. The heads of the humans who are the ruler’s subordinates burst instead.

Yet there was no way the ruler’s anger would be resolved.

The ruler’s obsession about things was tremendous. If a thing one likes one has to put in the collection to be satisfied was the ruler.

This city was also a matter that started from the ruler’s bizarre obsession.

What such a ruler particularly cherishes was the crown and the command rod.

It was taking that command rod.

Because the momentum of chasing if leaving still, the fox mask stepped forward.

“Please up to there.”

“Are you daring to order me?”

“Are you going out? Outside that?”

The fox mask pointed at the gate. The ruler’s face fully furrowed.

If not Magic Realm, the demon race’s power drops pathetically. It was the reason high demon races do not come out from deep in Magic Realm.

“Daring took my thing, do you think I will stay still? Even if pushing the North—.”

“The Grand Duke too?”

The ruler’s eyes furrowed. The ruler who hesitated for a moment raised the corners of his mouth.

That thought was obvious.

“I will pull the plan.”

Eventually crossing the line—. the fox mask softly exhaled a sigh.

‘Shall I remove?’

The fox mask shook its head. Already the matter occurred. Cleaning that up was also busy.

“I will bring the command rod. Please prepare to move the city. Because the Grand Duke might move.”

“Bring the guy too.”

Emotion dripped from the ruler’s voice.

“Alive.”

Subsequently the ruler said while raising the corners of his mouth.

From the beginning that was the thought.

“Yes, well. Understood.”

The ruler’s obsession was not something one cannot understand. Because that command rod the guy took is a quite valuable thing.

However, there was no way a guy who is not a high-rank demon race would have noticed that value.

‘Why on earth did he take it?’

The fox mask furrowed its eyes.

****

‘Would be good to use when mountain climbing.’

Galahad tidied the gold rod here and there.

It was a rod brought first. At that examined but one could not know the use somehow. Even if putting mana there was no reaction.

The only clue was the letters engraved on that surface. Because letters Galahad also first sees, now there was no way to find out.

‘Still the hand feel is good.’

Every time gripping it stuck to the hand. That appearance being antique also pleased.

Because the length is also appropriate, it seemed good to use as a staff use or as a self-defense item instead of a sword.

This time when supporting Adrianne it also thoroughly did the value.

The Grand Duke’s castle was noisy unlike before. There were carriages here and there, and various numbers were written on those carriages.

‘All the captains gathered.’

It seemed the Grand Duke summoned.

The North’s captains wielded tremendous power within the assigned area. On top of that since there is even military force, naturally strength had no choice but to enter the neck.

Looking at such stiff captains gathering this quickly, it seemed the Grand Duke is scary.

“By the way where did the youngest go?”

At Gilbert’s question Galahad looked at Gilbert.

“Why looking so.”

“Sir Gilbert, you do not disappoint me.”

“Yes?”

“No.”

Galahad shook his head and moved his steps.

“A demon race city—. These damn demon race guys. One has to sweep all this opportunity.”

Gilbert followed while doing his unique crude curse.

“Already disappeared.”

“Yes?”

“Discovered, would the guys be there. They would even move.”

“How does a city move?”

“Why asking me that. Ask the demon races.”

“······Yes?”

Galahad clicked his tongue softly and headed inside. The soldiers’ stinging gazes stuck at the same time.

‘Will the Grand Duke move—.’

The Grand Duke did not come out of the castle if possible. Coming out last time was also because of Adrianne.

Now it was not a situation where Adrianne fell into danger, so the Grand Duke would not step forward.

It was an action not matching the Grand Duke’s temperament Galahad saw.

‘Was it called agreement.’

Galahad recalled the word heard in the conversation of the imperial princess and the Grand Duke.

The possibility of some constraint on the Grand Duke was large. How many figures who can put a constraint on the Grand Duke. It was clear it would be the emperor.

‘The Grand Duke is bound by the agreement and cannot move recklessly.’

Is it only the Grand Duke bound by the agreement? Galahad shook his head.

On the continent there were quite many capable ones. Among them figures showing vigorous activity were markedly few.

If that cause is the agreement—.

‘Quite plausible.’

Galahad’s thoughts continued.

The four-legged demon race wanted the emperor’s death. That reason was ‘because the emperor does nothing’.

If capable ones are bound because of the emperor’s agreement, and that is why wanting the emperor’s death—?

‘Quite plausible.’

Galahad’s eyes deepened.

****

‘Suddenly a summons—.’

5th Battalion Captain Mark narrowed his eyes.

The Grand Duke had never summoned the captains even once.

It was clear some matter occurred.

Then, the door opened and Adrianne appeared. Blonde exactly as if melting the sun dangled and the dark room became bright.

Adrianne headed inside. It was a place where the seat beside was empty.

“Is the Special Mission Unit Captain not yet?”

“Because the protagonist. It seems deliberately late.”

Crooked conversations were heard here and there.

Originally the captains had not much interest in Galahad. ‘Soon will die like that—.’ was the common theory.

However, Galahad did not die. Far from dying he continuously established merits and eventually even received the Grand Duke’s recognition.

Galahad now became an existence one can no longer ignore.

Adrianne was the North’s hero, and pride. Due to the anecdote of the crown prince and Adrianne the antipathy toward the empire was at its peak.

The guy was the pair of Adrianne the empire put forward. Empire origin and even a noble and even a mage.

What condensed what the North dislikes was Galahad.

Antipathy was natural.

Particularly worry was not felt. Because that opponent was Galahad. The 7th Battalion Captain also seemed thinking similarly and did not say particular words.

Then, an unexpected figure stood from the seat.

“There would be a reason worth that.”

It was Adrianne.

Adrianne originally did not intervene in other captains’ matters. Because of the principle that each captain only listens to His Highness the Grand Duke’s order.

As such Adrianne stepped forward defending, the atmosphere became subtle. Rather it was a reverse effect.

Then, the door softly opened. It was Galahad. Galahad was a neat appearance as usual. What changed was the gold rod held in the hand.

The captains’ sharp gazes focused. A sharp momentum to the extent even Mark feels pressed Galahad.

At that Galahad—.

“Oh, arrived just in time. Nice to meet, Special Mission Unit Captain Galahad.”

Greeted while laughing.

‘Saying arrived just in time—.’

The sound of clicking the tongue and grinding teeth was heard from here and there. Galahad passed as if nothing.

And naturally sat beside Adrianne.

‘How can one scratch a person’s inside like that?’

Mark sincerely admired. Galahad was a man with quick sense. There was no way he would not know this atmosphere.

Galahad far from bowing rather scratched the captains’ mood more.

‘Amazing in another meaning too.’

Then, the door roughly opened.

A rough momentum fully filled the room. It was pressure to the extent breath is blocked with a teok—.

The North’s hegemon, the Grand Duke.

At the Grand Duke’s appearance the captains urgently stood. At that fierce presence Mark swallowed dry saliva.

The Grand Duke headed to the upper seat without even giving one glance.

As the Grand Duke sat in the upper seat the captains busily sat in their seats.

The captains carefully even making breath sound and watched the Grand Duke’s atmosphere.

Then, the Grand Duke gestured to Galahad.

‘The Grand Duke’s recognition—.’

Galahad stood from the seat. Galahad quietly stood and looked around the captains.

“Dear North captains. I well know your efforts. How hard it would be protecting this cold and barren land from the demon race.”

Galahad softly started the words.

At the out of the blue words the captains’ expressions became subtle. The Grand Duke leaned back as if no interest.

‘What on earth is this situation?’

Even Mark could not grasp the situation.

“I also coming to the North how cold it was. If not a magic beast coat I would have frozen to death long ago. Haha. Fighting the demon race in this degree of cold! I sincerely respect.”

Galahad said while making a faint smile.

Although a story whose intention one cannot know, at the content of praising the captains the atmosphere slightly loosened.

‘What thought.’

Mark narrowed his eyes.

Galahad’s fluent words continued without stopping. Galahad subsequently praised ‘the snow mountain of dawn’ and ‘the snow-covered lake when the sun sets’.

“The empire’s snow even if falling is all falling as much as a rat’s tail, yet how heavily the North’s snow falls! It seems coming as much as the size of ambition! Haha!”

An empire guy cursing the empire while praising the North, there was no way one would dislike.

Several captains laughed following.

The captains were focusing on Galahad at some point.

Galahad continued the words as if nothing.

“This time I went to a place called Hellorb, and it was quite a cool place.”

Hellorb—? At the out of the blue word Mark furrowed his eyes.

Then, Galahad turned his hand with a binggeul.

The gold rod that moved fluently pointed at someone.

Exactly like a sword—.

“Hellorb is a very cool place. You seem to know. Isn’t that so? 6th Battalion Captain Chartien?”

The corners of Galahad’s mouth fully rose.