Chapter 3 - Dangling

“A pleasure to meet you. I am Daniel, lord of Garseton Castle.”

Daniel was a gaunt man. Gilberton was hardly short, but Daniel stood a handspan taller.

'What a gloomy fellow.'

Galahad clicked his tongue softly and shook Daniel's hand.

“Galahad Ambertan.”

“... Ambertan, you say—oh, you must be Count Ambertan's son.”

Daniel's expression changed in an instant. As the corners of his mouth rose, sharp, yellow canine teeth showed.

'He knows Count Ambertan.'

That was unexpected. A noble from the capital might know the count, but this was the gateway to the North.

Ambertan was a fairly prominent noble, but not so illustrious that his fame would reach this far.

It had to be one of two things. Either this noble named Daniel harbored ambitions of entering the capital's circles—

'Or he's investigated Count Ambertan before.'

Warmth spread from the enormous fireplace behind Daniel. Shadows deepened and faded across his face.

“What business might Count Ambertan's son have with His Highness the Grand Duke...?”

Daniel narrowed his eyes, letting the question trail off.

“I was invited.”

“Invited?”

Instead of answering, Galahad pointed to Gilberton, who stood a short distance away. Gilberton merely dipped his head. It was an insolent gesture, but Daniel seemed unbothered.

“Ah, I see. Have you eaten?”

When Galahad shook his head, Daniel bared his yellow canines again.

“Then join me. It should be ready by now.”

* * *

'So it really was northern cooking.'

Galahad muttered under his breath as he speared a piece of meat dripping with blood.

He had suspected Gilberton of deliberately undercooking his meat to torment him, but the meat here was bloody too. If anything, Gilberton's had been better cooked.

“You don't drink?”

“I'm abstaining.”

Galahad shook his head, and Daniel grinned. There was something oddly irritating about that smile.

Just then, a maid placed roasted vegetables on Galahad's plate. He frowned at her unblinking stare. Another noble would have slapped her on the spot, yet she lowered her head only slowly.

“Aren't you eating?”

“No, thank you. I ate earlier.”

Gilberton shook his head at Galahad's question. Coupled with the bizarre things he had said before they arrived, it only heightened Galahad's unease.

“Would you happen to be a mage?”

Daniel abruptly posed the question. The dining table fell silent in an instant. The maids stopped in their tracks.

'So he has investigated Ambertan.'

Galahad stared at Daniel. Those gleaming eyes looked just like someone eyeing a delicious meal.

“I've heard rumors that Ambertan's third son is an outstanding mage.”

Daniel spoke as he sliced his meat. A little red blood spattered. Now that Galahad looked, the man was eating his meat completely raw.

It was closer to a remark to himself than a question. Suddenly, Galahad recalled Gilberton's words: [“In the North, they can't tell demons and mages apart.”]

“And if I am?”

Galahad lowered a hand beneath the table. He slowly stirred his mana, preparing to put a hole through the man's head at any moment. It was a basic requirement for a mage in an age that despised magic.

“Ah! My daughter absolutely loves magic. She even took the academy's entrance exam, but failed. She was so disappointed...”

Warmth came over Daniel's face. Unlike before, he chattered loudly, flecks of meat flying from his mouth. Galahad frowned.

“If you don't mind, may I call my daughter? She would be delighted to meet a mage.”

Had he misunderstood? Galahad kept the mana gathered in his hand.

“Fetch Emma! Quickly!”

Daniel shouted without waiting for Galahad's reply. A maid ran off at his command.

Daniel's daughter Emma appeared shortly afterward, and she was quite a beauty.

Her height was her only resemblance to Daniel. She was as tall as he was, but unlike his, her face brimmed with vitality, and her eyes were large. Hers was a rare beauty.

“Your wife must be beautiful.”

“Pardon? Ah, she was. Not anymore, though. Say hello. This is Master Galahad, a mage from the capital.”

Emma took hold of both sides of her skirt and bowed her head. It was an awkward attempt at the capital's etiquette. Her gaze clung insistently to Galahad.

'Being popular is exhausting.'

Emma sat pressed right up beside him. Beneath her pleasant fragrance, he caught a bloody tang.

“Did you really graduate at the top of your class as the youngest graduate in academy history?”

Emma asked with sparkling eyes. Galahad nodded with a wry smile.

“Wow! So it's true! A friend of mine who got into the academy told me about you! She said there was someone named Galahad!”

“The girl talked about you endlessly. I recognized you the moment I heard your surname. To become the youngest graduate of an academy that's hard enough just to get into—truly remarkable.”

'They weren't investigating Ambertan, then.'

It was Galahad they had looked into, not Ambertan. Perhaps they felt much like the parents of someone who had spent years trying to pass an entrance exam.

“I worked hard.”

“Oh, come on. Being the youngest to graduate at the top of your class is an unprecedented achievement! A genius among geniuses!”

Emma bumped his shoulder and beamed. Galahad scratched the side of his neck.

It was true that he had talent. But graduating at the top of his class had not simply been a matter of talent.

Existing in a little brat's body with an adult mind had been a truly horrific experience. Rather than run around with the other little brats, Galahad had chosen to read.

From the age of three, he had devoured magic books as though cramming for the civil service exam.

He had become the academy's youngest graduate because he had begun studying magic younger than anyone else.

The amount he studied simply could not compare to these people, who even made time for afternoon naps.

Still, there was no need to explain all that.

“Would you take a look at my magic?”

Emma asked hesitantly. Galahad nodded. He ought to earn his dinner.

Emma began reciting an elaborate incantation. She even spread her arms wide. Anyone watching would think she was casting some grand spell. Galahad fought desperately to keep his brows from furrowing.

“Show unto us! Thy wrath!”

'Why is the incantation backwards?'

Then Emma thrust both hands out with a “Hah!” A feeble flame spurted from her palms. It wasn't even strong enough to light a cigarette.

Should he praise her courage for even considering the academy with skills like that? Galahad seriously pondered the question.

“You've improved again! You'll pass next time at this rate!”

In stark contrast to Galahad's thoughts, Daniel was delighted enough to applaud.

Galahad shook his head. Emma had absolutely no chance of getting into the academy. That was more pathetic than the magic he had cast at three.

Still, there was no need to say so.

“Relax your palms a little more and push more mana into them.”

“Relax my palms? But how do I put more mana into them, then?”

“Do you have to tense your palms to move mana?”

“... Pardon?”

What a fucking idiot. Galahad struggled to suppress his irritation.

“Mana moves through willpower, not muscle. People often mistake it for using their muscles, but if you do that, you can't move mana as you intend. Separate the two.”

Galahad explained as kindly as he could. The words flowed easily; he had said them over a hundred times. There were plenty of fucking idiots among mages, too. In this world, even those who understood magic in terms of formulas were rare.

“... Really?”

Emma squinted. She did not look as though she understood.

Right. If she could understand from a single explanation, she would have figured it out herself. Being stupid wasn't a crime.

Galahad sighed softly and held out his hand. Emma's eyes widened.

“Give me your hand.”

“Pardon? Oh, yes.”

Emma's hand was cold, as though she suffered from poor circulation. Galahad fed mana into her through it.

Ordinarily, putting mana into another person was dangerous. Not for Galahad. He had done it hundreds of times already.

'She has a fair amount of mana.'

Galahad was genuinely impressed. Compared to her garbage skills, she possessed quite a reserve. Had Daniel been feeding her something good?

“My lessons are expensive, so pay attention.”

“Yes!”

“Keep your mouth shut and focus on the mana.”

Emma pressed her lips together and merely nodded. Galahad touched her mana and guided its flow. Taking her stupidity into account, he repeated the process about five times.

“... Oh!”

Emma let out an excited cry. Her hand briefly curled shut, then opened again.

“Do you understand now?”

“Yes! So that's what you meant by moving it with willpower, not muscle! Oh!”

Emma jumped for joy. The flame in her palm remained unchanged.

She hadn't understood. Fighting the urge to smack her over the head, he took her hand again.

Only after another ten repetitions or so did Emma's flame grow. Now she could at least light a cigarette. Galahad clicked his tongue softly.

“Thank you so much, Master Galahad!”

“It's nothing. Passing on knowledge is a mage's basic duty.”

Galahad shook his head at her flood of thanks.

It really had been a trivial lesson, and exploring another person's mana was useful to him as well.

'For someone so dim, she has more mana than I expected. Is it innate...?'

Or had she been taking supplements? Galahad narrowed his eyes and murmured to himself.

“Stay the night. We'll make sure you have a comfortable rest.”

“Yes! Please stay! You must!”

Daniel, now oddly composed, and Emma, her face flushed with excitement, spoke in turn.

Galahad looked at Gilberton. He still seemed to be keeping his distance, as though none of this concerned him.

It might be dangerous, but Galahad was curious. Curiosity was a basic requirement for a mage.

“Then I'll accept your hospitality.”

Galahad smiled and nodded.

“... Adultery is punishable by death in the North.”

Gilberton had sidled closer to whisper. His expression was quite serious.

“Didn't I tell you I'm not married yet?”

Gilberton chuckled at Galahad's reply.

* * *

The room was quite fine, considering this was the North. It had everything from a bed to a simple bathtub and a fireplace. Of course, it was smaller and dirtier than a shabby inn in the capital.

'It is the North.'

Galahad gave himself a quick wash with magic and sat on the bed.

'Candles, in this day and age...?'

When he lit the candle, its orange flame wavered precariously, illuminating the room.

Galahad circulated his mana out of habit, then set up a simple array of alarm spells. A basic requirement for a mage.

There were also Gilberton's unsettling remarks to consider.

'The North, huh.'

Galahad closed his eyes, merely leaning back against the bed. As a mage, a light doze was enough for him.

How much time had passed? His alarm spell went off. Galahad slowly opened his eyes.

The long candle had burned down to its base. With the windows shut, the only light came from the fireplace, its flames wavering as though about to die.

The faint crackle of the fire tickled his ears.

Galahad circulated his mana to wake himself. In the space of a single breath, his cold-stiffened muscles loosened. His drowsy mind snapped alert.

CREEEAK.

The door slowly opened. A familiar, voluminous skirt came into view.

'Emma.'

Galahad frowned. Opening an unrelated man's door in the dead of night...

Emma was certainly beautiful. She was lacking in the chest, but had long, slender legs to compensate.

Still, Galahad was on his way to marry the Grand Duke's eldest daughter. He wasn't stupid enough to let lust ruin everything.

“I taught you magic purely for its own sake. I had no other intentions. I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong impression.”

Galahad turned her down as politely as possible.

Perhaps his rejection had been too mild, because Emma strode toward him. The room was too dark to see her face.

'This damned popularity.'

As Galahad sighed, Emma stopped beside the bed. There was something in her hand. Was she the sort who used toys? That was even more off-putting...

Then Emma leaped into the air, making her skirt flutter like wings.

So aggressive... Galahad couldn't stop his eyes from moving on instinct.

Something swung. A hideous thing that had no business being beneath that skirt bobbed a vigorous greeting.

'... Swung?'

Galahad had experienced enough that very little rattled him, but the sheer unexpectedness left his mind reeling.

As the skirt fell, Emma's face came into view.

A shaggy beard and hollow eyes—

It wasn't Emma. It was Daniel.

Wearing Emma's clothes.

“They say a mage's heart works wonders! Become nourishment for my daughter! I'll repay this kindness for the rest of my life!”

With his canines extended into long fangs, Daniel lunged at Galahad.

It swung!

“This is just too much.”

Galahad's eyes screwed up in utter disgust.