Chapter 80

Chapter 80

Mountain Climbing

‘Suddenly what···.’

6th Battalion Captain Chartien furrowed his eyes at the gold rod pointing at himself.

The guy holding the gold rod was Galahad. The guy was holding a subtle smile.

‘Discovered?’

Chartien’s eyebrows softly furrowed.

No, one did not leave a trace. Because of the Grand Duke’s gaze one reduced related things to the minimum.

From the Grand Duke suddenly summoning a meeting it was strange.

‘Some matter occurred in Hellorb. Yet why pointing at me?’

Chartien glared at Galahad. Galahad was still an expression of unknown meaning.

There would be no evidence. Chartien stiffened his expression and flowed the gaze.

The Grand Duke was quietly looking this way from the upper seat. If making even a slight slip of the tongue the neck is pulled, Chartien knew.

Chartien stiffened his expression and opened his mouth.

“Isn’t Hellorb a story used for playing with new recruits? What is there there?”

“Oh, coming out in that way. Quite.”

Galahad’s ambiguous answer scratched Chartien’s mood.

The moment stepping back even a little it was the end. Chartien held the guy’s gold rod. A cool touch came over riding the hand.

“Speak straight. Seeing received the Grand Duke’s recognition you seem arrogant. I am the North’s captain. Not a target to poke recklessly.”

Several other captains nodded. From the beginning there were few captains who held good feelings toward Galahad. Conversely Chartien steadily interacted with the captains.

Who the weight would tilt between the two was clear.

If there is evidence it would be another story, but there was no way there is evidence to the guy.

The atmosphere of the meeting place sharpened in an instant. Tension fully rose.

“I see, did I misunderstand?”

Galahad’s gold rod slightly stepped back.

At the guy rolling the tail Chartien raised the corners of his mouth and firmly held the gold rod. It was the calculation of solidifying the victory.

“Speak the detailed circumstances. What happened in Hellorb? Why pointing at me and—.”

There was no way the guy entered below Hellorb. From the beginning if entered one would not be able to be alive like that.

Then—.

“There was a demon race’s city. There was also a high-rank demon race called ruler. This is the gold rod the guy cherished. Isn’t it pretty?”

Galahad shook the gold rod. Gold rod—. Chartien’s eyes moved.

Ruler—? Chartien’s head became complicated. The story about the ruler’s command rod rose. Killed the ruler? The guy? A mage? How?

Numerous questions rose.

‘There is no way.’

It was clear probing. Chartien was not shallow to the extent of going over with this degree.

Then, coolness was felt from the nape.

‘What···?’

Chartien who turned his head stiffened as is.

Because the Grand Duke was right behind Chartien—.

*

Galahad pointing at the 6th Battalion Captain was based on a few grounds.

For example Hellorb is a place where the 6th Battalion and 3rd Battalion and 5th Battalion take turns going around, yet recently the 6th Battalion voluntarily went on that patrol.

Yet there was no particular report and when bringing up the Hellorb story, the breathing momentarily tangled—. although there were quite diverse grounds, it was somewhat lacking.

At that he was thinking of lightly probing. It was the basics of persuasion.

Now it became meaningless.

Chwaaaak—.

At the blood roughly sprayed Galahad flicked his finger.

A translucent barrier formed. The barrier fully reddened.

Galahad realized one fact.

That the Grand Duke pulling heads is not only the demon race.

The Grand Duke also pulled human heads. And that pulled very well. A head pulling expert.

The body that lost the head collapsed as is.

The captains’ gazes headed to the Grand Duke. Although the captains’ faces were diverse, among them there was no fear.

A human head being pulled alive, in the North it seemed not a significant matter.

The Grand Duke put down the pulled head in front of Galahad. The long come down tongue dangled. Hot blood continuously flowed.

“The heart was beating. Like a hunted prey.”

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

The ones gathered here were captains. There was no way the heart would beat fast at Hellorb whose purpose is only playing with new recruits.

It was a quite plausible ground.

‘Even so pulling the head for the reason the heart beat fast—.’

From the beginning hearing the heart sound was speechless.

‘One has to be careful of the heart too.’

Galahad looked at Chartien’s head placed alone and sorted breath.

Pulling the head. It was a punishment the Grand Duke would do. Chartien would now be remembered as an excellent example to the captains.

However—.

‘Did he deliberately block.’

If persuading Chartien, one might have found out more. The Grand Duke closed that with a neat pull.

The Grand Duke quietly stared at Galahad. Because of the blood dripping on the face the expression was not seen.

‘Fun.’

Galahad tidied the gold rod.

Because the touch is quite good the heart became comfortable.

****

‘Ended trivially.’

Galahad muttered while putting the cigarette in his mouth.

Chartien became a public official, and the meeting proceeded quickly.

The Grand Duke raised the 6th Battalion unit leader to captain. Subsequently sent the 2nd Battalion and Adrianne’s direct unit, the 6th Battalion to Hellorb.

Saying will report the progress and summon again the meeting ended.

The appearance of armed personnel reaching a hundred moving was quite a spectacle.

“Why is the expression like that?”

Gilbert asked with an ugly face. At that Galahad clicked his tongue softly.

“Anyway nothing will come out.”

“Yes? From that large city? How can that be?”

“Although said last time, go ask the demon race.”

“······Yes?”

Galahad tapped the cigarette instead of answering.

Not being able to interrogate Chartien was regrettable, but it was the calculation of pulling the aching tooth. Not a metaphor but really pulled.

Anyway, processed a suspicious guy among the captains.

Along with that since dispatched such large-scale forces, the guys would also have no choice but to move the city. It would be quite large damage to the guys.

Although regrettable not catching the ruler—.

‘One cannot eat all at once.’

If being greedy, it was the law that trouble inevitably occurs.

This degree one could see that it went quite well.

“Fortunate that Lady Adrianne knows the way.”

“Stupid Sir Gilbert.”

“Yes? A bit prickly today? Ah, is it because of that?”

Gilbert grinned. Galahad let out a groan.

Originally Galahad would also have gone to Hellorb with them.

Adrianne also insisted on that. Since Captain Galahad discovered, Captain Galahad’s leading is needed was a reasonable claim.

Galahad’s plan was also that side.

Yet the Grand Duke rejected that.

Yes, rejection up to was fine.

The problem was the next.

[The Special Mission Unit Captain goes hunting with me.]

Hunting. A truly subtle word. Although the meaning of catching beasts, there was no way the Grand Duke would move saying catching mere beasts.

“Well isn’t it just hunting. It will be fine.”

“Sir Gilbert.”

“Yes?”

“You also go together.”

“Hey, I also want to but, didn’t His Highness say going alone with the captain.”

At Gilbert’s sinister smile Galahad fully furrowed his face.

“Isn’t it an opportunity to become close with His Highness the Grand Duke.”

“Right.”

Galahad nodded. Although alone was a bit··· no, quite bothering, it was a good opportunity.

The agreement, the reason for pulling Chartien etc···, there were many things to ask.

“Has the Grand Duke gone hunting with another before?”

“Yes. As far as I know there are two times.”

It was not the first time. Galahad softly relieved.

“Who was it?”

“Ah, it would be the former 5th Battalion Captain and the former staff chief.”

“······Both former?”

Truly a great coincidence. The moment muttering, Gilbert added an explanation.

“Yes, went hunting and went missing.”

“Missing?”

“Ah. It is nothing special. After climbing the mountain with His Highness the Grand Duke the appearance was not seen.”

“Truly nothing special.”

Galahad tidied his neck for nothing.

“Yes, well because missing. Ah, the place His Highness the Grand Duke goes hunting is the magic beast’s tomb so that would be.”

“Magic beast’s tomb?”

“Yes, the largest mountain in the North, it is a place where magic beasts that could not return to the area gathered.”

At Gilbert’s explanation Galahad let out a groan.

“The 8th Battalion is in charge, yet does not go up and only processes magic beasts coming down. An strange energy flows or something—?”

“This anyway will not do. One has to ask His Highness the Grand Duke.”

“What.”

“Saying let’s take Sir Gilbert.”

“···Yes?”

Then, a familiar figure approached. It was Theodore.

“It is a joke.”

Galahad softly coughed and stepped forward.

“Ah, if missing it will not do. If by any chance dangerous call. I will run.”

Gilbert’s voice was quite serious. He was firmly holding the sword hilt. It seemed forgetting that the opponent is the Grand Duke.

“If calling can one come?”

“Aha. Call largely.”

“Truly a wise method.”

Gilbert laughed with a kil kil. Galahad clicked his tongue and extinguished the cigarette.

“Feed Damien aura on time.”

“Yes, do not worry.”

Slightly waving his hand he headed to Theodore.

“This way.”

The steps were heavier than when entering the demon race’s city.

*

The Grand Duke’s face was fierce.

No, the expression fierce was somewhat lacking. The Grand Duke’s face was excessively fierce.

From scars carefully engraved here and there on the face, to eyes similar to a tiger and a thick jaw was a form optimized for tearing and eating.

If a high-rank magic beast eats garlic for fifty days in a den, perhaps it would become that form.

That one has to go hunting alone with such a Grand Duke was quite a burdensome matter even to Galahad.

“Let’s go.”

At a voice similar to a beast’s growling Galahad nodded.

The Grand Duke moved without even one attendant. The huge axe carried on the back was all.

‘Well packed.’

Galahad muttered while holding the thick leather bag.

It was a bag Tom busily packed at the words of going hunting. Since a bag Tom packed the necessary things would all be there.

‘When returning one has to reduce Sir Gilbert’s salary and give to Tom.’

Galahad nodded while muttering a joke. Anyway it was a situation one cannot bite.

The place the Grand Duke headed was a huge snow mountain. A pointed snow mountain as if touching the sky, snow piled here and there on bare branches and the inside was not seen at all.

There were watchtowers here and there around that. The density was denser than other battalions.

Soldiers and the 8th Battalion Captain were out to greet. Heavily armed ones raised a vigorous salute. The 8th Battalion Captain ran and welcomed the Grand Duke.

“You came.”

Although the 8th Battalion Captain deeply bowed his head, the Grand Duke did not even look at him and moved his steps.

Whether familiar with ignoring the 8th Battalion Captain gestured around. The soldiers busily moved and opened the path going up the mountain.

The pointed wooden barricades erected in several layers stepped aside. Flesh and bloodstains on the barricade drew the gaze.

The Grand Duke advanced without hesitation on the opened path. Galahad followed the Grand Duke while fastening the coat.

The mountain terrain was quite rough. Above all there was no path. Full of pure white snow and one could not even distinguish where is where.

The Grand Duke continued walking without words.

“A cool mountain.”

There was no answer. At that Galahad also closed his mouth and concentrated on following. In preparation for any case he remembered the number of steps and direction.

At least because there is the gold rod it was convenient. As expected it was clear mountain climbing use.

How far did one walk.

The Grand Duke’s steps stopped for the first time. The Grand Duke held the axe carried on the back. Seureureung—. With a cool sound the huge axe lightly moved.

It was only amazing how one can lift that large axe with one hand.

The Grand Duke lifted the axe up. It was the posture before throwing. The scream of muscles was heard. The Grand Duke exhaled breath long. Breath long spewed.

Gulp—. Galahad swallowed dry saliva and released his hands. Thump thump! The pill of pain continuously screamed. Exactly like a prey facing a hunter—.

That moment, the Grand Duke’s hand moved. The huge axe flew in an instant. The sound of air tearing was gloomy like a scream.

The axe disappeared between the trees. Peoeok—. A blunt sound was heard from a little away.

“Caught.”

The Grand Duke headed in the direction the axe disappeared.

‘A monster.’

Galahad recalled the axe just seen.

That was violence. Overwhelming violence—.

It was questionable whether such is possible without aura.

Galahad swallowed dry saliva and moved following the Grand Duke. The Grand Duke entered for a long time.

At the end there was a huge magic beast. The magic beast’s face was reptile. On the arms shells were fully risen instead of fur, and from the waist gray fur was dense.

The magic beast long burst a scream as if painful. An axe was stuck in the guy’s nape.

The guy roughly struggled. At that hand trees broke and the ground overturned. Blood was long sprayed. Pure white snow was soon dyed red.

The Grand Duke approached leisurely. It was an appearance exactly as if hunting.

‘Magic beast hunting—.’

The Grand Duke who approached the magic beast held the axe. The magic beast roughly screamed.

Although blood poured like a fountain, the Grand Duke did not close his eyes. Subsequently he struck the axe’s handle with a fist.

Kwaang! A roar not matching a fist burst. The axe disappeared into the magic beast’s nape.

Kwaang! The axe handle entered deeper.

Kwaang! Ujik. With a heavy sound the magic beast’s head bent with a tuk—.

Kwaang! The magic beast’s head rolled on the floor as is.

The magic beast’s head that rolled following the slope stopped in front of Galahad.

The magic beast’s face was fully furrowed. Fear not matching a magic beast was full seen.

‘Hmm.’

Galahad let out a groan.

Thick footsteps were heard. At some point the Grand Duke was in front of Galahad. The Grand Duke packed the magic beast’s head.

“Magic beast.”

The magic beast’s head dangled in the Grand Duke’s hand. Blood long flowed from the cleanly cut cross section.

The magic beast’s mouth opened with a jjeok. The magic beast’s opened mouth seemed whispering. Run away— this guy is a monster that catches magic beasts—.

“The head is the best.”

Ageujak. A fierce sound tormented the ears. To think of the sound of chewing something being that fierce—.

The Grand Duke held out the flesh with bite marks engraved.

“Will you eat?”

It was a childish threat. No, is it a threat? It also seemed really offering.

‘It was offering.’

At the Grand Duke’s eyes Galahad clicked his tongue softly.

“After eating a meal.”

“An empire guy.”

The corners of the Grand Duke’s mouth rose. The magic beast’s head disappeared with seongkeum seongkeum.

Then, the gaze reached the blood dropping with a tok tok.

“Ah, do you not drink blood?”

The corners of the Grand Duke’s mouth rose.

“Yes, you like blood.”

The Grand Duke took out something from his bosom. It was that usual glass.

The glass soon clinked.

Galahad received the glass and sipped. The Grand Duke tore the flesh—.

‘Quite good compatibility.’

Galahad muttered a joke inside.

It felt the atmosphere loosening a little.

“Please one more glass.”

Galahad held out the glass he finished drinking. The Grand Duke’s eyebrows rose a little.

‘Expressing with eyebrows is the same as Adrianne.’

Galahad softly relieved.

Yes, if not liking the heart, one would have pulled long ago. One would not have climbed here unnecessarily.

“Here is quiet. Because the magic beast ate all the rats and birds.”

The Grand Duke said while holding out the filled glass.

‘There is no listening ear.’

Galahad nodded. In other words, it was the meaning that there is a listening ear in the Grand Duke’s castle.

“Can’t one directly catch rats or birds? It seems you would catch well though.”

“It is not the time.”

It was the sound of catching someday. Galahad sipped the glass.

He examined the atmosphere for a moment. Half of that huge magic beast’s head had disappeared.

“Where is the rat from?”

The Grand Duke stared at Galahad. The eyes were red. It was the magic beast’s blood.

“All fishy things come from the empire.”

The Grand Duke’s mouth opened a little. Flesh dropped with a tuk— from the pointed and thick fangs.

‘Fishy things?’

It would not be a meaningless sound. At that the moment trying to ask more the Grand Duke stood from the seat.

“I will catch five more.”

Is it one question per one.

Truly a bizarre question and answer. Galahad nodded.

At that the moment trying to move—.

Ppeaeaeek. A familiar cry was heard. At that raising his head, there was a huge white hawk in the sky.

It was Adrianne’s hawk.

“Hmm.”

The Grand Duke let out a groan. The Grand Duke’s eyebrows were raised.

Galahad also knew that the Grand Duke cherishes Adrianne.

To think of that Grand Duke reacting like that just with seeing a mere hawk—.

‘A daughter fool.’

It seemed seeing a new side of the Grand Duke.

“It seems Lady Adrianne reported. Just arrived, yet reporting right away—. Lady Adrianne seems urgent.”

Galahad examined the Grand Duke’s atmosphere and slightly flattered.

“Hmm.”

The Grand Duke let out a groan again. Although pretending not, those eyebrows rose a little more. It seemed finding out the part to attack.

“Although Lady Adrianne has much shame and pretends not, in front of me how much she talked about His Highness the Grand Duke stories—. Really. This said it is a secret. Oh dear—. It is a secret.”

The Grand Duke’s eyebrows rose a little more.

‘This was it.’

Galahad’s mouth that was continuing the flattery stopped.

No, one had no choice but to stop.

Because heavy weight was felt from the right shoulder—.

Galahad felt the neck is heavy for the first time. He desperately turned the stiffened neck.

What should not be there was there with a deok.

The white hawk tuk tuk hit Galahad’s cheek with the snout and held out the foot.

As if saying take quickly—.

“Haha, this guy. Saw the person wrong! One has to go to His Highness the Grand Duke over there!”

The resentful hawk did not even budge.

The Grand Duke lifted the axe.

Chartien smiling brightly was faintly seen.