Chapter 34 - The Demon Realm

'Hmm. You've quieted down.'

Galahad murmured inwardly to the much quieter Egg of agony. It had fallen silent after failing to harm Adrianna despite putting forth all its strength.

He had meant to take it down a peg, but now that it was so quiet, he found himself needlessly worried.

The Egg of agony, which refined Demon blood for him, was a major asset. It would hardly be ideal if it felt helpless and simply gave up.

'That only happened because she was at full strength. If we increase the mana concentration and catch her off guard, things might turn out differently. Don't give up.'

The Egg of agony remained silent.

'I'm telling you, we can do it. It won't be easy, of course, but if we work together, it isn't impossible.'

Galahad encouraged the Egg of agony. A remnant of the Imperial-Demon War, supposedly, yet one failure had left it this dejected. It was absurd.

'We have Demon blood, don't we? We can go further. It's far too early to throw in the towel.'

At his continued encouragement, the Egg of agony gave a faint tremor.

Galahad put the canteen to his lips. The Egg furtively drew in the blood, vibrating faintly as though asking whether they really could defeat that monster.

'Nothing in this world is impossible. Not if we join forces. But you must trust me more. Throwing a tantrum and failing, as you did this time, will only put her on her guard. It's a tremendous hindrance. What a Mage needs most is a cool head.'

Galahad emphasized trust several times. The Egg of agony vibrated a little harder.

Its spirits seemed to be rising again. Galahad drained the canteen in one go, and the Egg took the blood more vigorously than before.

'We can do this. I'll trust you, so you must trust me.'

As though responding, the Egg released a long stream of mana. It was more concentrated than before, and there was more of it.

There was just one thing.

'You had more than that earlier. Are you still plotting something else?'

The Egg of agony vibrated violently, as though protesting. When Galahad offered no response, another trickle of mana emerged.

It gave a faint tremor, seeming to reproach him for taking even that.

'It's called trust. Aren't we literally one body now?'

The Egg of agony stopped short. After a moment's silence, it gave a slight nod.

Galahad's lips curled upward at his successful persuasion.

Just then, Adrianna approached, having finished clearing the battlefield.

"Using me as a conduit to wipe out the Demons and demon-beasts... An excellent tactic."

Her eyebrows had lowered ever so slightly.

"A tactic made possible by my faith in you."

"You needn't worry. Unleash as much as you like."

Seeing Adrianna without so much as a tiny scar, the Egg of agony fell silent.

Galahad soothed it inwardly. 'You can do it.' The Egg vibrated vigorously. The thing was surprisingly high-maintenance.

"Ah, I need to refill the canteens."

"You've used it all already? I'll help you."

"You'll find it easier to collect from the wrist than the neck."

"Oh, you're right. Thank you."

"Don't mention it."

"Doing this together really does feel like a date."

"This is not a date."

There had been so many Demons that blood remained even after they filled every canteen they had.

"What's wrong?"

"Not enough canteens."

"Ah, would you like to borrow mine?"

Adrianna rummaged around and brought something out. It was an expensive-looking canteen, with an unidentifiable picture embossed on the front.

He examined it closely, but still had trouble making out what it was.

"They're cats."

"It has eight legs."

"There are two of them."

With that explanation, a closer look revealed the very faint suggestion of cats.

"I don't know who made it, but their workmanship is appalling."

"..."

Adrianna's eyebrows lowered slightly.

"Did you emboss it?"

"... I did it as a child."

"Aha. I see."

Galahad gave the canteen a little shake. It contained milk. It seemed a shame to waste it, so he drank it before collecting the blood.

By then, Adrianna was some distance away, giving orders.

"Why do you keep drinking Demon blood?"

"Try some yourself. It's good for you."

"Really?"

Galahad handed over the canteen. Drinking with his mouth against the opening... Galahad frowned at the utter lack of manners.

"Bleeergh! This tastes like shit!"

"Things that are good for you generally taste bad. If they tasted good as well, they'd all have been consumed long ago."

"... Huh? Isn't that Lady Adrianna's canteen? That one's fairly new."

Adrianna's claim that she had embossed it as a child appeared to be a lie.

'It seems she has no other talents.'

Murmuring to himself, Galahad filled the canteen.

"We'll help too."

The other knights approached, each holding a canteen.

"Oh, thank you. Press here and the blood comes out readily. I'll leave it to you."

The knights nodded with peculiar expressions.

Retching could be heard here and there.

"Such weak stomachs."

Galahad clicked his tongue softly.

Gilberton, who had tried once more, vomited up everything he had eaten.

* * *

Perhaps because Adrianna had broken its spirit, the Egg of agony no longer resisted even when he stored more blood than before. It went no further than making his heart pound violently whenever he saw her.

Thanks to that, he could store mana that was much more docile despite being similarly concentrated.

Galahad's already rapid spellcasting became a little faster still.

'What a gold mine.'

Galahad was genuinely marveling at Demon territory.

How much farther had they walked?

The smoke, which had yielded easily to Galahad's magic, began to resist.

A little way ahead, it stood densely packed, like a wall made of smoke. It looked as though a boundary had been drawn, marking the beginning of another domain.

"What is this place?"

"Demon territory proper. The Demon Realm. High-ranking Demons appear from here onward. Beginning at that rank, they form colonies."

Adrianna answered. Her eyes remained impassive, yet something seemed to stir in them.

"Colonies?"

"Demons generally don't band together. Ten at most. But high-ranking Demons keep lesser Demons as their underlings. We call those colonies."

Apparently, they began forming organized groups at the higher ranks.

"A Demon that has formed a colony is called a high-ranking Demon."

"Are there ranks above that?"

"Yes. A Demon with high-ranking Demons beneath it is called an upper-echelon Demon. Their strength varies enormously, but we don't divide them into separate ranks."

Galahad considered her explanation. So Demons operated in independent cells, with the scale of their organizations increasing as their rank rose?

"Then do they have a king?"

Galahad casually posed the question that interested him most.

Adrianna's brows stiffened. It was a tiny movement, lasting only an instant, but he did not miss it.

"There is no king. The upper-echelon Demons are at odds with one another."

"I see."

A brief silence settled over them.

"Normally, we only enter the Demon Realm with twenty members of my personal unit. But with you here, Commander Galahad, I believe we have enough."

Adrianna spoke as she looked straight at him.

"No. We don't have enough people. Remember what happened."

The objection came from Gilberton. Gilberton, contradicting Adrianna? Galahad looked at him in a new light.

"What happened?"

"Lady Adrianna was once cut off after pushing too far into the Demon Realm."

Gilberton answered with a frown.

"We're safer now than we would be at any other time. The greatest threat is the smoke obscuring our vision, and Commander Galahad clears it for us. Neither high-ranking nor upper-echelon Demons appear on the outskirts of the Demon Realm. We will go no farther than that, and only to see how well his abilities work."

Her reasoning was sound, but Adrianna's voice was unusually raised.

'She's excited.'

The other knights nodded at her words.

"It's true that Demons of high rank or above don't appear on the outskirts, but..."

Gilberton yielded a little. Adrianna apparently wasn't being unreasonable.

"It is dangerous, that much is true. I won't force you."

Adrianna's gaze returned to Galahad, her eyes filled with a peculiar yearning.

Considering that she had shown little expression beyond moving her eyebrows up and down until now, she was clearly quite excited.

Galahad waggled his fingers. Wind battered the wall of smoke, but it barely budged. It was heavier than any of the smoke they had encountered so far.

Only when he compressed his mana and sent it out did the smoke retreat.

'This won't be easy.'

Looking at the wall of smoke stirred a strange feeling in him. Not a sense of danger, but...

'For some reason, it feels like coming home.'

Galahad swallowed the dry murmur.

Forcing the feeling down, he slowly assessed the situation.

'The smoke is heavy, but not so heavy I can't push it away. There's no need to rush.'

Even when it came to the Demon Realm, there was no hurry.

He had already demonstrated his abilities, and Adrianna seemed to acknowledge them. From now on, he would likely be able to accompany her into Demon territory whenever he wished.

Still...

'Demons lay traps, too. Going in now would be safer than leaving and coming back.'

Demons weren't creatures that would simply sit there and take it. There was no telling what defenses they might have prepared by their next visit.

Besides, their party was in good condition. No one was injured. Galahad himself was in better shape than before they had entered.

Returning wouldn't yield any more information about the Demon Realm, either.

Their enemies were unprepared, and they themselves were in good shape. Considering all that, now was the ideal time.

It was a little disappointing that they would only be touring the outskirts, where no high-ranking Demons appeared, but...

"We should go in."

Galahad nodded.

"Thank you."

"There's no need for thanks between us."

"What are we to each other?"

"Aren't we to be married? You really are a tease."

"... No."

Unlike before, Adrianna's reply was brief. Her gaze was already fixed on the Demon Realm.

"The Demon Realm is dangerous. One moment's carelessness can make even a seasoned knight disappear. We mustn't go beyond the outskirts."

Gilberton pressed close to his side.

"Back off. I can't stand men."

"Do you think I'm enjoying this?"

"We can see everything anyway, can't we?"

"You never know."

Just then, Adrianna looked back.

"You must be careful."

"What have I to worry about with you here?"

Looking slightly surprised, Adrianna nodded.

"We're going in."

Tension appeared on Adrianna's previously expressionless face. The other knights breathed heavily.

'The concentration has increased again.'

Galahad murmured inwardly.

With every breath, the Egg of agony throbbed, expressing its delight.

This much mana...

It couldn't even be compared to outside. Mana overflowed everywhere.

An inexplicable sense of welcome made his lips rise of their own accord. He felt a warmth and comfort like returning to his mother's womb.

Galahad flexed his hands, working through the stiffness. Wind whirled along his fingers. Soon, the smoke filling their surroundings slowly receded.

"The smoke is heavy. This is the best I can do."

A distance of about seven paces was his limit.

"This is more than enough. Remarkable."

Adrianna adjusted her grip on her sword as she spoke. The surrounding knights' gazes grew more intense. There was something rather discomfiting about them.

"Commander Galahad's safety takes priority. If any Demons appear, I will deal with them. Do not leave his side."

Adrianna gave her orders in a firm voice.

The knights nodded. Having them move another step closer was distinctly uncomfortable.

"Did something happen in the Demon Realm?"

At Galahad's question, Gilberton turned his head slightly.

Adrianna was walking a little farther ahead, apparently focused on watching their front.

"The previous commander of the First Battalion went missing in the Demon Realm. I hear Lady Adrianna looked up to that commander as a parent."

"Surely they're dead by now?"

"She probably wants to find the body, at least."

"She has quite a sentimental streak."

"In any case, even the outskirts of the Demon Realm are dangerous."

Gilberton's face was tense. Sweat trickled through his greasy, unwashed hair.

"Nowhere is safe."

Galahad chuckled.

"Now, to test my abilities—"

Just then, a strangely familiar sensation brushed past him.

'This is—'

His eyes closed.

* * *

'I mustn't get carried away. Just a little. Only a little...'

Adrianna murmured to herself as she flicked her sword clean.

Excitement was welling up inside her, but she was desperately maintaining her composure.

She hadn't entered the Demon Realm simply because she was excited.

The biggest reason was Galahad, of course. Thanks to him, they had visibility. As long as she could see, there was no chance Adrianna would lose to a Demon.

Besides, the outskirts weren't all that threatening.

She only intended to verify, at the outskirts, whether Galahad's abilities worked within the Demon Realm as well.

Focused entirely on what lay ahead, Adrianna suddenly sensed something strange.

"Pardon? Why do you want to know my taste in women? Are you going to introduce me to someone?"

"Ah, my name is Robert!"

The conversation behind her was all over the place. The knights kept giving answers. Adrianna turned her head and froze.

Where Galahad should have been, a red-eyed Demon was laughing shrilly.

The surrounding knights were talking to it as though it were Galahad.

The Demon's head whipped around.

Meeting Adrianna's eyes, it stretched its lips into a broad grin. Only its mouth smiled, not its eyes.

"Caught me."

It grabbed its own neck and tore its head off.

CRUNCH.

Its spinal cord dangled. Red blood spilled out, drenching Gilberton beside it.

Even then, the Demon's mouth remained stretched into a grin.

With the Demon having torn off its own head, Adrianna's sword lost its target and stopped.

"Ah..."

Adrianna's voice cracked.

A familiar cigarette rolled across the ground.

Galahad was nowhere to be seen.

* * *

"Hmm."

Galahad gave a faint sigh as he looked around.

He had closed his eyes and opened them to find himself in an aristocratic banquet hall that looked as though it had been abandoned for a hundred years. Dust covered everything, and the furnishings were so old they were falling apart.

Galahad was surprised that such a place existed in the Demon Realm.

Didn't this look exactly like a trace of human habitation?

Just then...

"A pleasure to meet you."

A woman suddenly appeared before him. Or had she been there all along?

'Mental interference. Damn—'

Galahad hurriedly moved his mana, guiding it into his head as naturally as brushing back his hair.

"Oh, I've already withdrawn my authority."

The woman spoke politely. Not believing her, Galahad circulated his mana once. Just as she had said, not a trace remained.

She used mental interference, and she felt stronger than any Demon he had seen so far...

"So, are you that master of hers?"

"You did meet Amanda, then. Ah, no, I'm not that person. That person cannot come out this far. Oh my..."

She covered her mouth as though she had made a mistake. Galahad frowned at the revolting gesture.

'Cannot come out this far...'

Was it a lie? The truth? His thoughts grew complicated.

"Normally, I'd simply take you away using my authority, but that always ends up breaking people, you know? And we can't have you broken."

The woman shrugged, an exaggerated movement, almost calculated.

Her voice was sweet, as though it were tickling his ears. Galahad nodded and slipped his fingers into his pocket.

"Hey, don't try anything funny, all right?"

"May I not?"

Galahad gave a cigarette a little wave. The woman tipped her head in assent.

He placed it between his lips and lit it, releasing a rich lemon scent.

The Demon had seated him here instead of killing him. Galahad expected her to make him an offer.

Something that required his mind intact, presumably. They knew of Galahad from the Intelligence Bureau, so it might be connected to that.

"I'm Marlie. I hadn't intended to bring you here like this, but that crazy bitch was there. I had no choice."

"A crazy bitch, you say."

She was clearly referring to Adrianna. A crazy bitch... It was a remarkably ill-fitting nickname for her.

"Anyway! You're Galahad of the Intelligence Bureau, correct? Your agent name is—"

"That's enough. Sorry, but I've discarded that name."

Knowing his agent name meant someone deep within the Intelligence Bureau was involved. A Demon or a traitor. In that moment, conjecture became certainty.

Galahad's eyes darkened.

"Anyway, I'm going to make you an offer. Don't get angry; hear me out. Humans get angry at the slightest thing."

The woman frowned as she spoke. Galahad nodded.

"To get straight to the point..."

She worked her lips for a moment, seemingly choosing her words. Or perhaps she was imitating that human mannerism.

"Would you kill the Emperor for us? Ah, I suppose you'd call it retirement. Please retire him."

Galahad gave a low laugh at the wholly unexpected proposal.

"Ah, wait. Let me explain. First of all, you're a Mage, aren't you? Ultimately, that means you're on our side. No matter how long you worked for the Intelligence Bureau—"

As Galahad exhaled a long stream of smoke, his face set, the Demon gave a faint sigh. This was the problem with humans...

A Mage, yet still trying to side with humanity. Could anything be more foolish?

"I'm warning you now: don't get angry. I might kill you."

The Demon's warning was serious.

Then Galahad opened his mouth.

"You want me to kill the Emperor..."

The Demon discreetly readied her authority.

If he grew angry, she intended to silence him at once.

But then...

"What's the reward?"

His lips spread into a broad smile as he continued.

The Demon tilted her head.