Chapter 87

Chapter 87

Agent Galahad

“······Sorry.”

Pumpkin deeply bowed his head politely. That face was red as if about to burst.

That reason—.

“Not only the trapezius! The deltoid is also larger for Pumpkin!”

“Please, shut up. No, bite the tongue.”

Because of First shouting vigorously beside. Pumpkin tightly clenched his molars and said.

The two chattered noisily.

Adrianne gestured with a slightly wary attitude. That hand was already on the sword hilt. The bulging cheeks urgently moved.

‘Really likes sweet things.’

To the extent Adrianne who usually maintains an expressionless face rarely raises her voice.

Soon Adrianne gulped—. That expression briefly loosened and soon returned to expressionless.

“Are they ones you know?”“They are workplace colleagues. This side is First, there is Pumpkin. Come, here is my prospective wife Adrianne.”

“······Not a prospective wife. I am 1st Battalion Captain Adrianne.”

“Oh, you are the North’s hero, the Frozen Flower, the youngest Sword Master Adrianne.”

First boldly held out his hand. At that Adrianne’s eyebrows slightly went down.

“Sorry but, only I can touch Adrianne.”

Galahad held First’s hand and explained the situation.

“If touching—?”

First twitched his eyebrows. Unique competitive spirit was clear. Galahad clicked his tongue softly.

Enduring even holding Adrianne’s hand was a matter possible because Galahad. If another mage touched Adrianne one might become an idiot.

Although First would not be to that degree, because there was no need to particularly make a matter he was thinking of stopping.

However, First was a guy who does not listen unless saying strongly.

There was a need to say strongly.

“If touching···.”

Galahad chose words for a moment.

Soon selected an appropriate word.

“One will die.”

Galahad seriously advised. First’s eyes became large. Pumpkin burst an exclamation.

“Wow—. It is the first time seeing Lord Galahad saying so.”

Pumpkin admired out loud. Those eyes somehow sparkled.

“Keum, it is a joke. Because that is not a fair competition. I had no such thought.”

First slightly stepped back with a shy face.

“······.”

Adrianne’s eyes became round. It was an appearance as if someone pressed a stop button.

Only then Galahad realized that the nuance was a little strange.

“Yes, you are that Adrianne.”

First who recovered energy soon stepped forward again.

“Yes, I am 1st Battalion Captain Adrianne.”

Adrianne short bowed instead of holding out her hand.

Then First put strength in his eyes and glared at Adrianne.

“First, everyone sit.”

When Galahad sat in the seat first, First sat right opposite, and Pumpkin exhaled a sigh and sat beside First.

Finally Adrianne sat in the empty seat beside Galahad.

Galahad organized his thoughts for a moment. No matter how quickly building a magic tower time had no choice but to take.

A magic tower was a mid-to-long-term plan. Right now one needed to catch and bring mages. For that he called First. Instead moved the 5th Battalion Captain to the Magic Realm training site side under the pretext of Magic Realm training.

Then—.

Kung. First pounded the table with a fist. The table roughly shook. Sorry. Pumpkin apologized instead.

First’s eyes were stuck on Adrianne.

“When wondering who the opponent that Galahad marries is—.”

The voice of First saying so was quite sticky.

Soon First who examined Adrianne largely nodded.

“One has no choice but to acknowledge! Although the trapezius is a little regrettable! Yes, to have Galahad one has to be this degree—.”

“No, who are you to acknowledge or not. Sorry.”

“······?”

Fluster rose on Adrianne’s face. That gaze briefly wandered.

Galahad clicked his tongue and put down the teacup. At that First returned to the usual expression.

“A mage catching bet. What scheme?”

First asked while slightly tilting his upper body.

First’s eyes overflowed with glossy madness. It was the aftereffect of walking the path of magic and knight at the same time.

To catch magic and sword at the same time, one had to be smart while stupid.

A knight’s stupidity and a mage’s smartness were not opposites. However, it was clear they influence each other. First becoming like that was a side effect about that.

“Scheme. It is trying to do one business.”

“Business? It would be a mana stone mine.”

“Correct.”

“Did one receive the Grand Duke’s permission?”

“Similar.”

“The empire would not stay still though?”

“Afraid?”

At Galahad’s question First softly snorted.

“No way. Then one would not be able to return though?”

First said while slightly glancing at Adrianne.

Correct words. If operating a mana stone mine, one would formally oppose the Information Bureau. One would send inspection room guys.

‘One would meet nostalgic faces after a long time.’

Along with that it was clear one would dispatch more agents to the North. It would become quite troublesome.

However—.

Galahad slightly put the cigarette in his mouth. First’s eyes stiffened. First’s hand went down to the waist. First slightly pushed Pumpkin back.

Fire attached to the cigarette, lemon scent softly spread. First slowed his breath.

“Is there something different from now?”

Anyway it was a discarded position.

First’s face roughly furrowed. Subsequently a greasy smile rose.

“There would be none.”

Galahad slightly released his hands.

First was a capable agent. If turning into an enemy it was clear it would become quite annoying. If going awry, processing now was correct.

Galahad who did agent life for quite long knew that momentary hesitation and judgment by emotion is poison.

Cutting was better the faster.

The silence was short. First made the usual smile.

“Unexpected. Although I thought there is attachment to the workplace. Because there was no agent who worked hard and long like you.”

“Because at that time that was the most powerful method.”

“Did it change now?”

At that Galahad turned his gaze. Adrianne indifferently received the gaze. It was a posture one can draw the sword anytime.

“Changed.”

Adrianne’s cheeks moved slightly.

First furrowed his eyes.

“Still that demon race’s king story?”

“Right.”

First moved his mouth. A sullen look perched in those eyes.

“As a competitor I respect you. However, the story about the demon race’s king you are wrong. The demon race’s king does not exist. Why not knowing that obvious principle?”

First intensely opposed. Originally Galahad would have refuted.

However, now he knew that it is not a problem of understanding.

Since even if explaining it would not work, there was no value to refute.

At that when Galahad tried to nod—.

“The demon race’s king can exist. Although not certain, the grounds to conclude there is none are insufficient.”

Adrianne who opened axe eyes refuted.

‘This.’

Galahad felt a subtle surge.

“None. Like there is no need to explain that water flows from above to below, the demon race’s king not existing is a natural matter.”

“It is different from that. My opinion who spent life on the North’s front line—.”

Galahad slightly tapped Adrianne. Adrianne looked at Galahad. Galahad shook his head. It was not a problem that becomes by explaining.

Adrianne nodded.

“Enough. Come, so will you do?”

At Galahad’s question First’s expression returned. It was the usual greasy face.

“A mage catching bet. It will be fun. Also reminds of the youngest time. Isn’t it?”

First asked while smiling with a binggeul. It was an appearance full of confidence.

Correct words. One calls a mage who learned magic outside the academy an illegal mage, when an agent youngest catching illegal mages was the main task.

It was to make experience actual combat and adapt to the field.

However—.

“You, didn’t you enter later than me? And I did not do youngest life much.”

Like an awl in a pocket Galahad revealed his head even when youngest. Immediately excluded from youngest missions. There was no time overlapping with First.

First twitched the corners of his mouth.

“I also was excluded from youngest in three months though.”

In the Information Bureau where only elites gathered the youngest adaptation period was usually about 1 year. If three months it was clear one is capable.

However—.

“Sorry but, I was excluded in the first mission.”

First’s pupils turned with a binggeureureu—. Pumpkin openly held his stomach and laughed.

At that First opened his mouth as if opposing.

“That is Beart···.”

First gaped his lips. Because Galahad’s finger was pointing at First.

“The prank is severe.”

At Galahad’s pointing First slowly nodded.

At that Galahad leisurely laughed.

“Come, then returning to the main point again, let’s discuss about the method of catching mages—.”

“Keum. Good. After a long time one will loosen the body a bit.”

‘Scared— scared.’

Pumpkin laughed with a kideuk kideuk.

*

“Saying again, I cannot acknowledge.”

“Sorry. Please, shut up.”

Pumpkin pushed the heating First with a jil jil— and disappeared.

Gave First the list of captains suspected of the mana stone mine business.

It was not long since the Grand Duke pulled the 6th Battalion Captain’s head. The possibility of the captains watching the atmosphere and being careful of the body was large.

It was a good time to catch and bring the guys’ back pockets.

“···Why reacting like that to the demon race’s king?”

Adrianne asked in a serious voice.

“It seems someone erased the concept itself about the demon race’s king. Because of that if asking about the demon race’s king opposition rises like that—.”

Galahad answered while tapping the cigarette.

“Is that a possible matter?”

“If not external power acting would such a reaction come out?”

“Ah—.”

“You too—. because of the nature of burning horses it did not work on you. Clear evidence.”

Adrianne softly sighed. That face darkened. It seemed finally seriously thinking of the demon race’s king.

“Why does Captain Galahad know?”

Galahad could not answer right away to Adrianne’s question.

The reason was clear.

‘Because I am an outsider who entered the novel—.’

However, there was no way one could say that.

“Didn’t I say. I am smart and capable.”

“Ah, I see.”

“The demon race’s king exists. And someday will dye the continent with blood and make it hell.”

Adrianne’s face became serious. Those unshaking blue eyes deepened one more layer.

“No one believes. Magic tower lords, imperial palace knights, high nobles—. rather if not cursing it is fortunate. It would be only you and me.”

Galahad’s voice unlike usual had no laughter or leisure. At that Adrianne’s eyebrows softly furrowed.

“If the demon race’s king really exists, and to the extent of erasing the concept on the entire continent—. how do we two block?”

Adrianne’s voice was firm as always. Those blue eyes were also straight.

At that question Galahad raised the corners of his mouth.

“You believing me—.”

Galahad moved the fork. Poked the chocolate in front with the fork with a kuk. Adrianne’s gaze moved following.

“I believe you.”

Held out the fork that deeply stabbed the chocolate. Adrianne’s pupils slightly became large.

Adrianne carefully received the fork. Adrianne’s cheeks slowly moved.

Silence briefly continued.

Galahad looked at Adrianne eating chocolate with a serious face and predicted her reaction.

That one has to prepare for the demon race’s king who exercises influence on the entire continent, it would be hard to accept right away.

Even others were all denying.

It would not be easy to accept.

One might be burdened, one might be afraid. No, such a reaction was natural.

At that Galahad pondered how to soothe.

The words that came out of Adrianne’s mouth that opened long after were not in Galahad’s prediction.

Adrianne neither despaired, nor denied, nor feared.

Looking at Galahad with straight blue eyes—.

“It must have been hard alone.”

Worried in a voice full of sincerity.

‘Hmm.’

At words first heard Galahad blankly looked at those eyes for a moment.

At a somehow dangerous feeling he stood from the seat with a flash.

“Time is late. Let’s talk again next time. Handsome, will you pack something sweet a bit?”

At Galahad who somehow looks urgent Adrianne tilted her head.

‘This is not some cafe—.’

Handsome grumbled and packed the remaining chocolate and candy.

“Ah, ate well.”

Adrianne bowed with a bob and hurriedly followed Galahad.

Handsome left alone in the safe house exhaled a low sigh.

‘Lonely.’

Anyway it seemed one has to request agent replenishment.

****

‘It will be worth seeing.’

Jamit of the Information Bureau furrowed his eyes and looked around.

Today was the day the Information Bureau’s regular meeting is held. Personnel arrived one after another at the meeting place.

Most expressions were not good.

‘Where did this guy go?’

The agent who received Galahad’s name, James was not seen. To think of the youngest guy arriving late—.

Then, the deputy director entered. The deputy director naturally sat beside Jamit.

“You came.”

The deputy director only nodded. Fatigue was thickly on that face.

Then, the door roughly opened. A familiar face, agent James.

James entered while bowing his head with a bob. That face was a bit different from when entering.

Although an honestly handsome man, now a neurotic appearance was on here and there. A little skillfulness took place.

[Now I can confidently say the agent name is Galahad!]

Jamit recalled the story heard from James a while ago.

Actually James’s performance was quite good.

To the extent of being counted as the most promising agent.

James who saw Jamit bowed his head with a bob. Jamit only lightly waved his hand.

Then, the door roughly opened. The director full of anger entered. All agents stood and saluted.

At the director’s rough appearance James could neither enter nor leave.

The moment James tried to greet the director—.

“How on earth are you doing the work!”

The director raised his voice. James became pale.

‘It seems heard a sound from above.’

At the director who is puffing the corners of Jamit’s mouth fully rose.

“Does this performance make sense?! Receiving salary for free? If received the people’s blood and sweat money do the work properly! Work!”

The director poured irritation and threw the paper placed in front. The fully piled reports fluttered coolly. It was the director’s only specialty. Report scattering—.

“Operations chief! If you have a mouth you speak. Why the performance is this buried!”

At the director’s pointing the operations chief stood from the seat. The operations chief’s eyebrows were furrowed.

It was a temperamental operations chief. Anyway irritation was rising recently, if pressing like that—.

‘One will charge.’

The corners of Jamit’s mouth rose.

“It is not that the performance is low now. It is only that the previous performance was excessively high.”

“What—?”

“I wrote in the report, the reason the performance visibly dropped is large the absence of agent Galahad.”

At the frank operations chief’s words Jamit softly admired. Several other chiefs nodded.

The director’s face became bright red.

“Do you think it makes sense that the performance is this buried just because one agent is missing?”

Although excited full the director’s pointing was valid. However, the opponent was the operations chief.

“It is not simply one absence. From the beginning agent Galahad is an agent with overwhelming work performance among field agents. In the agent’s mission requiring secrecy agent Galahad’s value is superior to team unit I reported.”

“Are you saying that now?”

“It is a result proven with numbers. If looking at the thirty-fifth page of the report it does.”

Jamit turned the report placed in front. There a detailed calculation about Galahad’s ability was really written.

‘A squad’s military force. One does not know properly.’

Jamit clicked his tongue softly.

“Galahad overtime is basic, and did not take even one common vacation. After joining worked without resting even once. If looking at the eighty-ninth page it does.”

There Galahad’s work log was written. Galahad did not rest even once after joining.

“Since such Galahad disappeared the performance dropping is a natural matter. The calculation about this is on the one hundred first page. Thank you.”

The operations chief who finished the report sat in the seat as is. Murmurs here and there.

The director’s face gradually reddened. It seemed about to burst soon.

“So! Is it that the performance is this buried because one agent is none?! You all are guys inferior to Galahad alone?!”

The director shouted loudly. Although seeming trying to stimulate pride—.

Nod.

Everyone nodded as if nothing. Because the opponent was Galahad.

The director’s body trembled with a budeul budeul. Foam softly flowed around that mouth.

Then, the deputy director stood from the seat.

“Even the performance that came out now is because overlapping with the period agent Galahad was there. Probably next quarter will be more pathetic.”

The deputy director said in a firm voice. It was the story of having to call Galahad again.

Other chiefs nodded. Among them there were quite ones frightened. They were guys who owed a favor to Galahad.

At that the director’s face fully furrowed. How red it seemed about to burst soon.

“Absolutely no. Do not bring up that story again.”

What rose on the director’s face was fear.

The Information Bureau’s director being frightened by the opponent—. who on earth?

“Anyway no! Raise the performance somehow! If such trash-like performance comes out again it would be good to be prepared.”

The director said firmly and turned.

At that eyes met with James who was awkwardly with the director.

“What are you?”

At the director’s cool question—.

“Agent James!!”

James shouted raising his voice,