Chapter 38 - The New Rookie

'Hmmmm...'

Crow tilted their head at the parchment lying before them.

Thanks to the business generated by the magic-stone deposits and the information Dawn supplied, the Black Magic Society was enjoying unprecedented prosperity. Perhaps because of its painful past experience, the Society had spared no expense on this attack. Even against a unit of just five people, it was taking no chances.

'Hmmmm... Even he couldn't handle this... Hmm... But it is him, after all. Hmmm...'

Naturally, Crow wanted Galahad dead. He already held Crow's leash, and that leash would only come off when one of them died.

The Black Magic Society, at the height of its power in the North, and the Seventh Battalion, which had fallen into its hands. Compared with them, the five-member Special Operations Unit looked pitifully small. Logically, betting on the former was the right choice.

Except...

'But it's Galahad.'

His very existence weighed heavily on Crow's mind. If Crow backed the Black Magic Society and he survived...

'Ughhhh...'

Crow shuddered. Better to die than undergo his "persuasion" again.

No, dying wasn't appealing either. In that case...

"They say preparations are complete."

"Preparations?"

Just then, Crow heard a conversation nearby. It was the executives dispatched here alongside them.

"They're setting up a sanctuary."

"... A sanctuary!"

A sanctuary. Crow's head whipped around. The word referred to a special space within Demon territory.

They were setting one up here?

"However remarkable he might be, he won't be able to use magic inside a sanctuary. With a high-ranking Demon there as well, there's no possibility of failure."

"Heh heh heh... So his death will mark our true beginning."

Crow tilted their head at the pair's sinister laughter.

"... But then we won't be able to use magic either, will we?"

The larger man burst into raucous laughter at Crow's question. Crow discreetly covered their ears.

"It seems you haven't been chosen yet."

"Chosen?"

With a sneer, he rolled up his sleeve. Something resembling a magic circle was inscribed there.

A magic circle inscribed on the body. An ancient legend suddenly came to Crow's mind.

"Don't tell me..."

"Yes. The first human Mage. This was his."

The man beside him cheered aloud. Crow, too, grew excited. The first Mage! With that magic circle, they would be able to cast magic even inside a sanctuary.

With this, surely...

As Crow murmured to themself, a thought suddenly occurred.

'What if he can use magic inside the sanctuary? Wouldn't we just be helping him? All we'd be doing is raising the mana concentration.'

Crow hastily shook their head. However incredible he was, how could he cast magic inside a sanctuary?

It wasn't as if he were the first Mage.

Then, unbidden, came the memory of his beaming smile as he burned a Demon alive. Crow could picture him looking at that magic circle and smiling as though he'd been given a present.

'... Perhaps I should send a report first? Not everything. Just enough.'

Crow feared the Galahad of the present more than a legend from the past.

* * *

'She can communicate with the Egg of agony.'

Galahad murmured softly as he watched Gwen, who looked vaguely guilty. Her ability to hear the Egg of agony's voice was a major clue.

The problem was...

"Yes, it's Mommy. I'm your mommy."

All it ever said was "Mom."

"Ask it what it is."

"It says it doesn't know! I think it's a baby."

Galahad gave a disbelieving chuckle at Gwen's mutter. It belonged to an upper-echelon Demon, yet it was a baby? What an absurd notion.

"What was it you gave Gwen a little while ago?"

After consuming that unidentified something, Gwen had suddenly used a Demon's authority.

"Um... Food? It says it was food."

The answer made little sense. Galahad clicked his tongue softly.

"Food, it says. Food."

"I understand. Yes, you gave her food. Then what is the mana you give me?"

"..."

The Egg of agony vibrated faintly. Instead of answering, Gwen's eyes darted about.

"Tell me."

"Um... These aren't my words. It's the one saying this."

"I understand. Now hurry up and tell me."

"It says it's poop."

Galahad's brow furrowed at once. The Egg of agony thumped and vibrated. It felt as though it were laughing.

"But it probably means something different! It's still a baby, so it doesn't know any better!"

"Enough. Don't try to comfort me. The saying that magic is Demon filth is well known."

The Egg of agony thumped again. The corners of Gwen's mouth twitched as she fought back laughter.

Galahad continued his train of thought.

'Demon blood contains two components. One is what it calls food, and the other is mana.'

Using the part it called food allowed one to wield what Demons called authority.

"Try giving me some of that food as well," Galahad said, pressing firmly against his chest.

"Um... It says you wouldn't be able to use it anyway."

"That's for me to decide."

"It says it doesn't want to—"

"Oh dear. I suddenly find myself missing Adrianna."

"Huh? All of a sudden? It says all right!"

THUMP.

With a heavy sound, something seeped out from near his heart.

It was excruciating pain.

Galahad clutched at his heart, gasping for breath. It was exactly the same pain he'd felt when drinking Demon blood. Amid it, he sensed mana more concentrated than before. He struggled to steady his breathing.

"Why was Gwen fine?"

"It says because I'm stupid."

'Because she's stupid.'

He briefly murmured the phrase. Stupid also meant pure: having no resistance to accepting something.

'Does knowing too much actually work against me?'

It sounded plausible.

'An interesting hypothesis.'

But it was a foolish, hasty generalization. Galahad hadn't possessed all his knowledge from the beginning, either. His family despised magic, so he'd had no one to teach him. He'd been forced to learn by throwing himself at the problem. His speed with formulas was proof of that.

Throwing himself at problems was his specialty.

'I'll have to try it by feel first and do the calculations afterward.'

He didn't like it, but forced himself to nod.

"Tell it to give me more."

"... It says it's dangerous."

"Oh dear. I'd better go see Adrianna."

After a moment's hesitation, the Egg of agony poured something out. Galahad made no attempt to identify it. He didn't think of it as mana, either. He simply moved as his senses guided him.

"So this is how it feels."

His right arm swelled until it looked ready to burst.

The Egg of agony vibrated faintly.

"It says you're a r-relentless human..."

"Tell it to watch its language."

Galahad shook out his hand.

Unlike the astonished Egg of agony, Galahad was unimpressed. A power that couldn't be explained by theory? He found it unpleasant instead.

Excruciating pain belatedly surged through him because he'd become conscious of the power. It was a thoroughly unsettling force.

'At this rate, I'll be imitating Demons.'

Galahad put a cigarette between his lips and clicked his tongue.

'I'll have to make it grow some more.'

It had begun speaking after being fed Demon blood, so he needed to feed it more. He ran a hand over his canteen.

He'd collected quite a lot of Demon blood on this expedition. There were another eight canteens in the bundle beside him. Still, it felt as though low-quality Demon blood wasn't helping it grow.

'I think I'll need to catch at least a high-ranking Demon.'

"It says you're right!"

Gwen nodded.

Adrianna had said she would close the First Battalion's gates and put its internal affairs in order, so he couldn't head to the Demon Realm right away.

'Couldn't a high-ranking Demon just drop into my lap?'

TAP.

Just then, someone passing by dropped a piece of parchment. The man continued casually inside and placed an order, which Tom took.

Galahad ran his fingers over the parchment. Nothing was written on it. When he circulated mana through it, letters appeared.

- The Black Magic Society is targeting you, Handler, for interfering with its business. The Seventh Battalion commander is being held by the Society. The Seventh Battalion has fallen into its hands. There is talk of a high-ranking Demon being present.

The report was brief, but its contents were far from ordinary. What caught Galahad's attention was the part about a high-ranking Demon.

'A high-ranking Demon.'

He recalled the one he'd met in the Demon Realm. Adrianna had killed it with a single stroke, but it hadn't been an easy opponent. With the Seventh Battalion compromised as well, the situation was certainly difficult.

'Excellent.'

The greater the difficulty, the greater the reward.

'The Black Magic Society. First mana stones, and now a high-ranking Demon.'

What generous fellows. Chuckling, Galahad tucked away the parchment.

"Commander."

Gilberton opened the door and entered, looking rather serious. Behind him stood an unfamiliar soldier in light armor and leather boots. He lacked some of the sharpness of the First Battalion's soldiers. He wasn't from here. Which meant...

"The Seventh Battalion."

"... How did you know?"

Gilberton's eyes went round. His reactions had been a little subdued lately, much to Galahad's disappointment, but this one was unmistakable.

'A trap.'

Even so, he hadn't expected them to send such a straightforward invitation.

"Are they asking me to visit the Seventh Battalion and inspect it for gaps?"

"... Are you a prophet?"

"No, a Mage."

Galahad rose and fastened his coat.

"Pardon me for a moment."

"Sir?"

Galahad placed his fingers against the soldier's temple and sent mana into him without hesitation. The soldier's eyes briefly went unfocused. It was magic he'd learned from a Demon with mental abilities.

"Who sent you?"

"Sir Glyrock—"

"Who is Sir Glyrock?"

"Ah, a company commander in the Seventh Battalion," Gilberton answered.

Galahad nodded and continued his questions.

"What's the situation in the Seventh Battalion?"

"The atmosphere is bad."

"Bad in what way?"

"The commander has disappeared—"

The soldier suddenly cried, "Urgh!" and writhed. Overload. Clicking his tongue softly, Galahad withdrew his hand.

"The Seventh Battalion commander has disappeared? What do you mean?"

"He vanished after the grand conference. We've been searching everywhere, but..."

The soldier's voice trembled under Gilberton's questioning. Galahad put a cigarette between his lips and waved a hand.

"Questioning him further won't get us anything."

"Their commander disappeared, and they've been hiding it? How is that acceptable?"

Gilberton's face was full of anger. A knight through and through.

'An invitation from the Seventh Battalion.'

Its meaning was clear: the Seventh Battalion was in the Black Magic Society's clutches.

'If they've kept the commander alive, they probably haven't taken over all of it.'

Crow's parchment had said the Society was holding the Seventh Battalion commander captive. If it had complete control, there would be no reason to keep him alive. Since it didn't, it had presumably kept him alive as insurance against unforeseen circumstances.

The calculations were quickly complete.

"We must go to the Seventh Battalion. Come, let's leave at once," Galahad said, tapping the ash from his cigarette.

"Everything is ready," Tom said, wiping his hands on a cloth. An instrument hung from his back.

"It could be a trap."

"Sir Gilberton, do you know the best way to destroy a trap?"

Gilberton narrowed his eyes at the question.

"Step on it. Very hard."

Galahad's lips curved into a broad smile.

"We should request reinforcements, just in case."

"... Reinforcements? As a rule, battalions cannot leave their assigned regions without orders from His Highness the Grand Duke."

"I know."

Galahad's broad smile made Gilberton deeply uneasy.

* * *

Adrianna stopped dead as she stepped out of her room.

"Good morning."

The reason was the man standing there with a cigarette between his lips. Galahad waved as though nothing were amiss.

'How?'

So many Demons had targeted Adrianna that security in the castle where she lived was exceptionally strict. They wouldn't have let even Galahad inside. Yet there he stood, perfectly at ease, as though he owned the place.

Why did he look so natural there? Adrianna nodded silently.

"They wouldn't let me in, so I took the liberty of visiting this way. Sneaking into a castle to see one's fiancée. Romantic, isn't it?"

Romantic? Adrianna considered whether that was the right word before answering.

"Sneaking into a lady's castle is generally considered underhanded."

"When the man doing the sneaking is handsome, it becomes romantic."

"It isn't right to judge an action by someone's appearance."

"So you admit I'm handsome?"

Adrianna coughed softly. Whenever she spoke to this man, the conversation kept veering in strange directions.

"I see. Will you be leaving?"

"I intend to go to the Seventh Battalion."

The Seventh Battalion had recently suffered heavy losses to Demons. There was certainly a strong possibility of gaps there. Adrianna nodded.

"Would you like to come?"

Adrianna's eyes widened briefly at the unexpected question.

"I've received information that the place will be full of sinister fellows. It should make for a very exciting date."

Galahad offered his hand as though inviting her to a banquet. Adrianna gazed at him, her lips parting.

"I am the commander of the First Battalion."

It was a tactful refusal. Without the Grand Duke's orders, she could not leave the First Battalion. Those were the regulations.

"I see."

At Galahad's casual nod, Adrianna opened her mouth, then closed it. He looked untroubled. Perhaps he'd expected her answer. Her lips moved again before falling shut.

"Might I write a letter? I believe I should send a report."

"Yes, of course."

Adrianna handed him a sheet of paper from behind her. Galahad's pen moved lightly, without the slightest hesitation. It was just like him.

'... Father-in-law... Demons are holding a banquet... lonely, all alone... attend...'

Realizing she'd been peeking, Adrianna hastily turned away. Galahad rolled up the paper and held it out.

"Would you send this for me? I don't have a hawk yet."

"Yes. Ah, one moment—"

Adrianna held out her hawk to Galahad. It was exceedingly particular. Clever enough to find a recipient wherever they might be and deliver a letter, it was also very selective.

After a brief hesitation, the hawk rubbed its beak against Galahad's shoulder.

"How curious. Whiten rarely takes to anyone so readily."

"I've always been rather popular."

Adrianna briefly held her breath at his shameless reply. After exhaling, she explained calmly.

"I'll send the hawk regularly. Please contact me if you discover anything unusual."

"Understood."

The hawk soon flew out through the window. Adrianna gazed absently after its unfettered form.

"Ah, may I have your hand?"

"... Pardon?"

"Your hand."

Adrianna blinked as Galahad held out his own as though this were perfectly natural.

"Aren't you leaving right away?"

"I intend to wait for the Grand Duke's reply before moving."

His request was as confident as a demand for something that belonged to him. Adrianna removed her thick leather glove and offered her hand.

But Galahad's reaction was different this time. His eyes grew bloodshot and his tendons stood out, but he didn't collapse. He stood still, holding Adrianna's hand.

He seemed barely able to endure it, but the fact that he could endure it at all was impossible. Adrianna stared blankly.

Then Galahad withdrew his hand first.

It was the first time he'd ever been the one to let go.

"Hmm. I think I'm beginning to understand."

Despite his calm voice, blood trickled from his mouth. His eyes were red from ruptured capillaries, but he straightened his clothes as though nothing were wrong.

"It's cold. Take care not to catch a chill."

Without lingering, Galahad turned and vanished. He truly was a man who appeared and disappeared entirely as he pleased.

'Beginning to understand.'

Adrianna murmured those peculiar words. She knew Galahad was interested in her unusual nature. Holding hands was merely part of that investigation.

If he came to understand everything...

Adrianna looked down at her tingling hand for a long time. The room was so cold that its warmth didn't last very long.

* * *

"Didn't you say you weren't coming?"

Adrianna's face grew hot at Galahad's blunt question.

"... It is His Highness the Grand Duke's order."

"Be honest. You wanted to come, didn't you?"

"It is His Highness the Grand Duke's order."

"Oh dear, you aren't being honest. But I'm afraid you can't come with us like this."

"Pardon?"

Adrianna's eyes widened a little. He'd been the one to invite her, and now he was saying she couldn't come?

"You're far too famous. Your beautiful face draws too much attention. If we go as we are, they'll all run away before we even arrive."

"... You have a point."

Adrianna nodded seriously.

"So, here's what I propose..."

Adrianna's eyes widened at Galahad's whisper.

"... Are you telling me to be the Special Operations Unit's rookie?"

For the first time, Adrianna's eyes narrowed into a deep scowl.