Chapter 98

Chapter 98

Estimate

“Target?”

First asked while flaring his nose. An excited look was rampant on that face.

“It is a high-rank demon race called the ruler.”

“High-rank demon race? Interesting.”

“Would be different from the demon race seen in the center.”

“Different?”

“Demon races become stronger the thicker the mana density. Comparing to here······.”

Galahad flicked his finger. A transparent mana arrow rose. Gauged the density with that size.

“About four times.”

“Four times···. Hmm.”

First let out a groan. That neck creaked. Pumpkin beside was startled in advance and stepped back one step.

“It will be fun.”

First said in a hot voice. Sincerity was full in that voice. At that Galahad laughed with a keul keul.

“Demon races each possess different authorities. The ruler’s authority is ruling ones weaker than oneself.”

“Heuheu, I would not be relevant.”

First said in a voice full of confidence.

‘Could be so.’

The aura a knight possesses was the power of belief.

If raising aura, the possibility of not being pressed by the ruler’s authority was large. Because First was not an ordinary knight but an Information Bureau’s knight.

Contrary to that Galahad because a mage, more vulnerable to the ruler’s authority.

'Although not now.'

Galahad continued the explanation while tapping the cigarette.

“The ruler is occupying the 6th Battalion. Would also handle soldiers. Demon races would also be full.”

“I see. Hmm, would have to go by infiltration.”

“Agree.”

Because First was also a capable agent, the conversation was certainly fast.

Then, Adrianne cut in one step.

“A high-rank demon race’s sense is extremely sensitive. Would notice right away.”

It was a valid pointing. Galahad nodded.

“Adrianne’s words also have reason. The guy is quite quick-witted.”

“This, would have to be careful.”

Galahad and First’s words quickly continued. At that Adrianne’s eyebrows slightly went down.

“A high-rank demon race is not quick-witted degree. Would feel the presence and react. Being surrounded would rather be more dangerous.”

Adrianne’s words were orthodoxy as always.

However—.

“······Still not knowing?”

First asked while pointing at Adrianne. It was a question of whether not said about the Information Bureau. At that Galahad nodded.

“Although pushed to the North, not retirement.”

“Well the inspection room is annoying. Ah, do not worry about infiltration. Because our specialty.”

At First’s assertion Adrianne’s gaze headed to Galahad. Galahad quietly nodded.

“It will be fine. Ah. Reacts sensitively to magic and aura.”

“Is that so? I will reference.”

First nodded.

Because the two’s conversation quickly continued, Adrianne could not cut in.

First tapped the waist with a tok tok. A thick leather belt made a jinggeureong— sound.

After a short silence—.

“Then—.”

First raised the tone.

At that Galahad nodded while tapping the cigarette.

“From estimate.”

The two’s corners of the mouth rose simultaneously.

****

“······What is estimate?”

Adrianne asked Pumpkin.

“Ah, literally estimate. Before entering the mission examining the situation and movement line.”

“···Situation and movement line?”

“Yes, for example how many this side’s guards, and also grasping their state and placement, military force.”

“Ah, scouting.”

“Similar, but a bit more detailed.”

Adrianne nodded. There was also the concept of scouting in the North. Of course, the North’s scouting was ‘first engagement’.

“Wouldn’t the two be dangerous.”

Galahad headed to the 6th Battalion taking only First. Although Adrianne tried to follow, Galahad blocked saying interfering.

‘Even so interfering—.’

It was a word first heard in life. Before Adrianne said anything, Galahad disappeared with First.

“Ah, it will be fine. Because both industry best. Of course, that difference is a bit large.”

‘······Industry?’

Truly a subtle word. Adrianne’s brows softly furrowed.

Adrianne did not know what Galahad did before. Previously entangled with the imperial princess, the academy’s youngest graduate, the Amberutan Count’s third son degree was all.

At first was not curious. And now—.

“······Anyway if only Lord Galahad is inserted the eyes turn. Did you see even now abandoning me right away and going?”

At Pumpkin’s question Adrianne’s thoughts broke.

“I think appropriate competition positively influences ability improvement.”

Answering with sincerity to just a joke—. Pumpkin was slightly surprised. Pumpkin soon laughed and continued the words.

“But First’s obsession is not appropriate level. You should have seen proposing to me right after hearing Lord Galahad’s marriage story.”

Pumpkin exaggerated for nothing. Adrianne was still expressionless. There was no expression at all. Like a sculpture a god carefully carved.

“Marriage is a major matter. Would not have done marriage stories to anyone because of competitive spirit. Clear did because in the heart.”

At Adrianne’s serious answer Pumpkin softly was amazed. This was a quite awkward personality.

“Keum, we are not such a relationship. Because a state of a hole pierced in the head would have been so.”

“Doing a joke with marriage is not right. It is mocking the listener.”

Why immersing so—. Pumpkin laughed and joked to loosen the atmosphere.

“Haha, Lady Adrianne also seems quite hit.”

“······.”

Adrianne tightly closed her mouth. At the atmosphere that became more uncomfortable Pumpkin hurriedly laughed.

“It is a joke. Sorry.”

“······Yes, would not joke with marriage.”

At Adrianne seriously saying Pumpkin furrowed his eyes.

Continuously hearing such words somehow······.

‘Really First—?’

Pumpkin softly muttered. First was Pumpkin’s first shooter. Continuously stuck together after becoming an agent—. because an agent always walks the death line, never even had such a thought.

However—.

[Pumpkin— you, unmarried?]

“Bullshit.”

“······Yes?”

“Ah! No. A terrible imagination rose.”

Pumpkin hurriedly shook his head. First was a colleague. Was a shooter, and a comrade. Not the opposite sex.

A moment of silence continued. Adrianne carefully opened her mouth.

“By any chance was Captain Galahad originally—.”

At Adrianne’s careful question Pumpkin softly tensed.

Things about the Information Bureau were confidential. If chattering for nothing one might come out from the inspection room.

The continued Adrianne’s words were different from Pumpkin’s expectation.

“A thief?”

“······Yes?”

“Good at infiltration. Industry best. Does estimate—. aren’t they words a thief would use? Although Captain Galahad does not seem so, because there might be circumstances.”

Pumpkin examined Adrianne. Because no expression one could not see what thinking at all.

‘Would be a joke.’

A joke one has to receive as a joke. Pumpkin nodded.

And—.

“A thief. Did this steal even Lady Adrianne’s heart? Haha!”

Pumpkin who threw the joke immediately realized. That the joke just thrown was a joke First would do—.

‘First. This bastard······.’

Pumpkin covered his own face.

Silence continued for a long time. Pumpkin deeply bowed his head.

“A heart cannot be stolen.”

“······Yes.”

“Was not stolen.”

“Yes.”

A little later First and Galahad returned. The two’s atmosphere was subtle.

“Filled soldiers full above the castle wall. Whether controlling with authority, standing throughout without even a small movement. Reacts even to small sounds, and demon races come out right away. This degree of guard, a quite picky guy.”

First said indifferently. There was no playfulness at all in that voice.

“Right, there are also demon races in between. Because demon races are sensitive to magic, would react right away.”

“The guy’s expected power?”

“At least me and Adrianne must be there.”

“Would be impossible with infiltration.”

Galahad nodded. At that First quietly furrowed his eyes.

“If entering frontally?”

“That side’s number is too many. And even if pushing—.”

“There is a possibility of running away.”

“Already a guy who ran away from the city. The first is difficult, the second is easy.”

The two nodded simultaneously. First flicked his finger with a tok tok. Galahad quietly tapped the cigarette.

First slowly nodded and opened his mouth.

“This mission the possibility of failing is high.”

First judged indifferently.

Although First sincere in the match with Galahad, yet not one who makes wrong judgments swept by emotion.

“Agree. A pickier guy than thought.”

Galahad agreed.

“Yes? What sound is that?”

“Literally. Sir Gilbert.”

Galahad tapped the cigarette with a tok tok.

“A meticulous guy. Even put demon races between soldiers. If touching soldiers with magic the guy would notice. If becoming so—.”

Galahad pushed the snow piled below with his foot. The snow softly bunched. First received the words.

“Would have to face the whole. Even if pushing frontally—.”

“Could also run away.”

“This in professional terms—.”

“Say the sword hilt is with the opponent.”

First kicked the bunched snow Galahad. The snow long sprayed.

“Facing the entire demon races of the castle is what one must most avoid. Even if succeeding the ruler would run away, and go to another battalion. Or a village.”

“There is also a possibility of raiding patrolling soldiers. Seeing there are quite places the patrol does not reach.”

“Eventually, it is a temporary measure.”

Heavy silence descended at the two’s conversation.

“Since requested support from His Highness the Grand Duke, waiting for that—.”

“Did not even notice the 6th Battalion’s anomaly. There would be a figure who blocked ears around the Grand Duke. The moment support departs, the ruler would run away.”

“If I am the ruler I would make all the 6th Battalion’s soldiers commit suicide. Because good for erasing traces.”

“Agree.”

First nodded. At First’s atmosphere completely different from earlier everyone was softly surprised.

“This mission is impossible. Have no choice but to fail.”

First said firmly. At that everyone swallowed dry saliva.

“If there is no second tunnel.”

First raised the tone while looking at Galahad. At that shamelessness Galahad softly laughed.

Everyone’s gazes focused on Galahad. Galahad nodded.

“Right, there is one more method.”

First raised the corners of his mouth as if knowing it would be so. Galahad threw the fully burned cigarette. The butt became powder and fluttered.

“What the ruler wants is me. Precisely speaking, me and this gold rod.”

Galahad turned the gold rod with a binggeul.

“Isn’t there one invitation?”

Galahad asked while looking behind. The woman called Giselle thickly laughed and nodded.

“I will enter and bind the ruler. So the ruler cannot notice your intrusion—. when sending a signal infiltrate then.”

Galahad’s words were monotonous. Exactly as if explaining another’s operation—.

“I see, thinking of binding? Not a bad plan. No, rather good.”

First softly admired. Soon flicked his finger as if calculating.

Then, Adrianne stepped forward with a seongkeum. Those eyebrows were fully furrowed.

“···Is it the sound of entering alone?”

“Precisely speaking two.”

“Ah, I see. Understood.”

Adrianne nodded while holding the sword hilt.

However, what Galahad’s finger points is not Adrianne but—.

“Oh my, happy.”

It was Giselle.

Adrianne’s eyebrows softly furrowed. Became axe eyes.

“Is it that you will face a high-rank demon race? Reckless. Dangerous. Cannot permit.”

Adrianne quickly said. That voice was slightly raised.

“Didn’t you say. Captains do not give orders to each other. Your permission is not needed.”

At the continued Galahad’s cool words Adrianne’s mouth paused for a moment.

“And this method has the highest possibility. Isn’t it. First?”

“Certainly rational. If only you can bind the high-rank demon race. One can also infiltrate from this side—. a clever move.”

First rather praised Galahad’s plan. At that calm conversation Adrianne felt strangeness.

Really that plan is fine? Entering a high-rank demon race’s castle alone? No matter how Galahad this was not.

“Captain Galahad is a mage. Binding a high-rank demon race alone is impossible.”

The voice of Adrianne who was always calm somehow rose.

“Here is not Magic Realm. The method to face the guy is already prepared.”

Galahad’s voice was calm as always.

Galahad leisurely laughed as if this is a matter of nothing.

“So believe me.”

Adrianne tightly chewed her lips.

Truly a cheap man.

“The estimate ended.”

The corners of First’s mouth savagely rose.

****

‘Late.’

The ruler furrowed its eyes. The promised deadline was until today.

It was a strange matter. Although knew the fox mask is a bizarre guy, the ruler was a relationship entangled with the guy’s organization.

There was no way that side would discard the ruler.

‘Did some matter arise.’

That possibility was the largest. Because there was no way the fox mask would betray the ruler.

‘One has to advance the plan.’

The ruler turned its head. There was a dark hole like an abyss.

Erecting a city in Hellorb close to the 6th Battalion, eventually returning to the 6th Battalion again, that organization helping the ruler all because of this.

‘Boundary’s hole.’

Although preparation was not perfectly finished, one could no longer delay.

‘Daring chasing me out?’

The ruler twisted the corners of its mouth.

Now the area would collapse.

Then, the ruler felt the reaction of authority. It seemed some matter occurred. As concentrating on authority, the situation was seen.

There the guy was there.

The guy who dared steal the ruler’s command rod was there with a tired look. Beside that the fox mask was there—.

The ruler did not jump to conclusions. Borrowed another eye and examined the situation. The guy was the only one.

“It was not betrayal.”

The corners of the ruler’s mouth fully rose.

The ruler moved authority and opened a path.

The ruler who fell into happy pondering what punishment to give—.

Did not see the corners of the guy’s mouth rising.