Chapter 39 - Noad

"... Must we really go this far?" Adrianna asked reluctantly.

"Our opponent this time is the Black Magic Society. They have traces of the demon-beast tamer, and they are our link to Dawn. We must catch them."

"..."

"They never hesitate to run. What do you suppose will happen if you, the hero of the North, appear? They will flee at once."

"Do you know much about them?"

Galahad nodded at Adrianna's question.

"No one will think you are Adrianna now."

Galahad looked her up and down. Adrianna was quite tall for a woman. Dressed in armor he had picked up at the supply depot, however, she looked like a slightly undersized, inept knight. With the addition of a stupid-looking helmet, the disguise was perfect.

After a moment's consideration, Adrianna nodded.

"And this is a secret from the rest of the unit, too."

"... Pardon?"

"Do you think Sir Gilberton would sit quietly if he knew it was you?"

Adrianna groaned at his question.

"He would make a tremendous fuss. To deceive the enemy, you must first deceive your allies."

"... You have a point."

"Conceal your strength as much as possible. No aura, then. You are to act at the decisive moment."

Galahad reminded her again. If they noticed Adrianna's presence, they would certainly flee. She was his trump card. She had to act at the decisive moment.

"... Understood."

Adrianna nodded, holding the stupid helmet in place. Galahad clicked his tongue softly and tightened her chin strap.

"Keeping your identity hidden is the key. I am counting on you."

With that final reminder, Galahad headed for the carriage. Everything was ready for departure.

"What were you doing that took so long?"

Galahad's lips curved into a broad smile at Gilberton's grumbling.

"I have recruited a new member. The name is Noad. A few things to note: Noad cannot speak, and cannot remove that helmet because of terrible burns. Do not touch the helmet under any circumstances. Now, give our newcomer a warm welcome. A round of applause!"

Gwen looked at Adrianna with pity.

"Pardon? A new member?"

Gilberton scrutinized Adrianna from head to toe. His already narrow eyes narrowed further. He looked thoroughly displeased.

"A knight?"

Galahad was quietly impressed by how quickly Gilberton had become rude. Just as expected of him.

Adrianna looked at Galahad. The stupid helmet made her look rather stupid herself. When he gave her a slight nod, she nodded in turn.

"First Battalion?"

She nodded twice.

"Never seen you before. New recruit?"

A hesitant... nod.

"Tsk. We've picked up a real dimwit."

Gilberton clicked his tongue without bothering to hide it.

Adrianna looked at Galahad. He could sense her urgency through that stupid helmet. He coughed softly and shook his head.

"You get to learn under me. Count yourself lucky. I'm only giving you special treatment because you're a fellow First Battalion knight."

Perhaps it was because this was the first junior knight to join them. Gilberton was even offering to look after her.

"Um... Sir Gilberton?"

"Tom, are the preparations finished?"

Galahad cut Tom off. Tom gave Gilberton a pitying look, then nodded.

"Yes, everything's ready!"

"Then let us leave at once. The Seventh Battalion is quite some distance away."

Galahad looked up at the thick fortress walls. It was still dark before sunrise. They would have to keep up a brisk pace to arrive before sunset.

"I'll take responsibility for training the recruit."

"Good. I am counting on you, Sir Gilberton."

Ignoring the pleading gaze he could feel from behind the stupid helmet, Galahad climbed into the carriage. Damian was sleeping with his head on Gwen's lap, even drooling.

"... Is it really all right to leave them like that?" Tom asked stiffly.

"That's not how you hold the reins. Hah... you're hopeless."

Hearing Gilberton's scolding outside, Galahad could not help laughing.

"Leave them be. I wonder when he will notice."

"... I don't think he will."

Galahad considered that for a moment. Surely even Gilberton would notice?

'Perhaps not.'

He had expressly warned Adrianna, so she would not reveal herself first. That left Gilberton to figure it out on his own.

'He might never notice.'

Galahad nodded gravely. Gilberton was astonishingly oblivious. He might remain clueless to the very end.

"Well, it will be a new experience."

Galahad chuckled.

Tom looked anxiously toward the front. Gilberton was always grumbling, but he was a good man. An excellent swordsman, too.

But he was so damn oblivious.

"Hah! You're a hopeless one, aren't you!"

He really was.

* * *

"What kind of knight doesn't even know how to hold the reins?"

Gilberton clicked his tongue in frustration.

"Use your words—oh, right. You can't speak."

He concentrated on the fellow's gestures. They seemed to mean...

"You've never driven a carriage before?"

A nod.

"Hah. Bragging about your pampered upbringing?"

Adrianna's head went still. Gilberton clicked his tongue openly.

He had scolded her so often that she could no longer remember it all. Still, none of what he said was wrong. Adrianna took his advice to heart rather than dismissing it.

"Tsk. Well, anything you want to ask?"

Gilberton looked somewhat uncomfortable as he asked. After a moment's thought, Adrianna gestured.

"What's the Special Operations Unit like?"

A nod.

"Hmm..."

Gilberton pondered aloud for a long moment. Adrianna waited, pulling on the reins.

"A mess. A complete mess," he answered bluntly.

"The first member he brought in was a maid. Next came a beast of a boy soldier. Have you ever heard of anything so absurd? Thank goodness we at least have Tom. We'd have fallen apart long ago otherwise."

Despite his words, Gilberton was smiling in bemused disbelief. She had never seen him look like that in her personal unit.

"And our luck is bloody awful. We've fought Demons, fought demon-beasts, even gone into the Demon Realm and back."

Gilberton laughed aloud. It was an unfamiliar sight. Adrianna watched him quietly.

"And that bastard of a commander gets under my skin so much I've lost a fistful of hair."

His hair did seem thinner than it had been when he served under her. Adrianna nodded gravely.

"Hmm? What sort of man is the commander?"

A nod.

Gilberton considered the question seriously, his brow deeply furrowed.

"... A competent lunatic?"

He nodded gravely.

"Yes, a competent lunatic. At first I thought he was just stubborn, but that's not it. He has an unshakable conviction."

"Conviction..." Adrianna murmured softly. Gilberton glanced behind him and continued.

"The conviction that he's right and everyone else is wrong. I guarantee it. Even if the whole world pointed at him and called him wrong, you know what he'd say?"

Gilberton paused for effect.

"Sorry, but I am right, and you are all wrong."

His imitation of Galahad's voice was quite good.

Gilberton laughed out loud. He looked as though he was thoroughly enjoying himself. Adrianna felt something strange that she could not quite put into words.

Just then, the carriage door burst open. Gripping the roof, Galahad leaned out.

"An ambush! What a spectacular welcome!"

Fire spouted from his hand. The dark forest lit up, revealing enormous demon-beasts. A fireball struck one and sent it flying.

"Now, time to show them how fearsome the Special Operations Unit is! Damian!"

"Yes, big brother."

Damian leaped out beside Galahad. Sword in hand, he rolled across the ground.

THUMP!

As he bounced up, a demon-beast's foot came off.

"Your turn next, Gwen!"

"A... aaaah!"

Galahad pulled Gwen out as though retrieving a piece of luggage. Dangling by the scruff of her neck, she let out a long scream.

"Aaaaaah!"

"Come now, Gwen. Show us what you have been practicing!"

Galahad shook her. Still screaming, Gwen launched an enormous fireball.

"Aaaaah! E-Explosive Fireball!!"

The fireball hit a demon-beast. The explosion drove it backward, but did no meaningful damage. Then Damian latched onto the retreating beast, his sword tearing a long gash through its muzzle.

"Excellent, Gwen! Do it again!"

"A... aaah..."

Galahad praised Gwen as he shook her. She fired another fireball.

"Watch closely. This is what a knight is."

Gilberton swung his sword, sending out a long stream of aura. An approaching demon-beast split apart.

As its carcass flew up, a familiar design was visible on its belly.

"Commander! The demon-beast tamer's mark!"

"My! It seems the Seventh Battalion is preparing quite a banquet!"

Galahad swept his hand through the air. Sparks struck a demon-beast, then lashed out to the side. One beast burst into flames.

"Rookie, just hold the reins!"

Gilberton shouted the instant Adrianna gripped her sword hilt.

"Haha! Sir Gilberton says to just hold the reins!"

Faced with Galahad's mischievous smile, Adrianna hesitated, then took a firm grip on the reins.

It was a truly unfamiliar feeling.

* * *

After the demon-beasts failed to inflict any real damage, there were no further attacks.

'They have grown considerably more cautious.'

The Black Magic Society of old would have kept throwing itself at them. This time, however, they stopped after failing to do any damage, as though they had merely intended to gauge the unit's strength. They were being more meticulous than before.

'What have they prepared?'

Galahad murmured, giving his canteen a slight shake.

'Are they counting on the high-ranking Demon?'

That was likely. A high-ranking Demon was no easy opponent. Still, this was not Demon territory.

'I have a feeling there is more.'

Number Eight was a sly one. There was every possibility the report had been abridged. Better to assume they had prepared something beyond a high-ranking Demon.

Of course, whatever they had prepared, it did not matter.

He had Adrianna.

"Hah. That rookie, Noad, was it? Needs far too much looking after. What kind of knight can't do a single thing?"

Gilberton grumbled openly. Galahad barely managed to suppress his laughter.

Just then, fortress walls began to appear in the distance. The Seventh Battalion.

Whether because the sun had set or because of the gathering storm clouds, the Seventh Battalion was shrouded in darkness. Crows wheeled everywhere, cawing incessantly. The fortress itself looked like an enormous demon-beast, the torches set into its walls like the beast's red eyes.

'Definitely the right place.'

Galahad murmured as he put a cigarette between his lips.

The carriage slowly approached the fortress. Despite the immense scale of its walls, there was no traffic at all. They were alone on the deserted road.

As they drew closer, piercing gazes settled on them. Figures with black hoods pulled low stood atop the walls, watching them as though on guard.

Galahad casually waved his cigarette at them. The figures shifted slightly.

Near the walls, a figure who appeared to be a knight approached with several soldiers. Their hands rested on their sword hilts, ready to draw at any moment. Crossbows atop the walls aimed at the carriage. Troops crowded the battlements and the area around the gate.

From knights to soldiers, everyone looked ready to wage war on them. It felt as though they were about to lay siege to an entire fortress. The pressure was considerable.

"Quite the lavish welcome."

Galahad took a deep drag on his cigarette. The scent of lemon filled the air.

Would they show their hostility immediately? Galahad shook his head. Had that been their intention, they would have attacked on the way here. They must have laid a trap inside—one they believed he could never escape.

"I am Sherpa, commander of the Seventh Battalion's Third Company. Our deputy commander is waiting for you."

A mere company commander had come to greet him, not even the deputy commander. Galahad smiled at the sinister air of the men behind Sherpa.

"Galahad, commander of the Special Operations Unit."

"Ah, could you disembark from the carriage? There has been an unfortunate incident recently..."

Galahad nodded calmly at Sherpa's request.

The carriage door opened. Out came Gwen, Damian, Tom, and the stupid helmet. At the sight, a smile appeared on Sherpa's face. It was unmistakably mocking.

"Who is this? I was told the Special Operations Unit had five members in total."

"A new recruit. That face is covered in burns, so I have our newcomer wear a helmet. Do not remove it. You will lose your appetite."

"Come inside. Our deputy commander is waiting."

Perhaps he had only been asking out of curiosity. Sherpa led them inside with a broad smile. He exuded confidence.

Getting Adrianna inside undetected. The most important part of the plan had succeeded.

"Ah, could I wash up before we go?"

"... Pardon? He is waiting for you."

"I feel rather grimy. Besides, would it not be polite to wash first?"

After a moment's consideration, Sherpa nodded. Galahad waved a hand.

"Ah, I am here under orders from His Highness the Grand Duke. This is urgent, so would you gather everyone of importance?"

Galahad drew a letter from his coat. It bore the Grand Duke's crest. At the sight of it, Sherpa's face rapidly stiffened. Apparently, he feared the Grand Duke.

"Everyone?"

"It is urgent, you see. Thank you."

Galahad smiled broadly.

Feeling a piercing stare, he turned his head. The stupid helmet was staring at him.

* * *

'A lot of troops.'

Galahad mentally retraced the route they had taken. Tainted mana stirring here and there, armed soldiers everywhere...

'This will not be easy.'

Tension rose in him until his fingertips tingled.

"Where are you going?" Gilberton asked, tilting his head.

"To work. Keep their attention here for me."

"... What work?"

"Apparently, the Seventh Battalion's commander is being held in prison."

"Do you know where?"

"That is what I must find out."

Gilberton blinked blankly. Galahad pulled a cord at his shirt sleeve, making the shirt fit snugly against his body.

"Didn't you just call a meeting?"

"Yes. That should leave some posts empty."

"Didn't you see all the soldiers surrounding us? They're everywhere. Everywhere."

As Gilberton said, soldiers surrounded the building. Sherpa had claimed it was to prevent any unfortunate incidents, but the soldiers were facing inward, toward them, not outward. More important were the sinister figures behind those soldiers.

"It is quite all right. This is my specialty."

"But—"

"Shh. Your voice is too loud."

"But... didn't you see on the way in? The Seventh Battalion has a considerable force. Some of those men looked like mercenaries or Mages, too."

"As I keep telling you, Sir Gilberton, you have a habit of making the obvious sound terribly grand."

Galahad clicked his tongue softly, rubbed oil onto his hands, and slicked his hair back tight. "Handsome indeed." He nodded at his reflection in the mirror.

"They'll come looking for you soon. You're saying you'll rescue the Seventh Battalion commander in that time, when you don't even know where he's being held?"

"Correct. You have grown clever, Sir Gilberton."

Footsteps sounded just outside, and Gilberton clamped his mouth shut.

"Sir Gilberton, do you know when people let their guard down the most?"

Galahad circulated his mana. The Egg of agony thumped as though signaling its readiness. It certainly seemed a little better behaved since Gwen had soothed it. Like having a nanny, perhaps.

"Let their guard down?"

"Yes. They are most off guard when they believe their opponent has fallen completely into their trap."

Ready now, Galahad looked up. Above him was nothing more than a shabby wooden ceiling. He clicked his tongue softly.

"So you showed them His Highness the Grand Duke's seal and summoned everyone, and now you're going to use the time you bought by asking to bathe to break through the troops outside and rescue the Seventh Battalion commander?"

"Oh, exactly right."

Galahad nodded as he loosened up his hands.

Gilberton hummed, then let out a quiet sigh. It was not as though Galahad would listen if he tried to stop him.

"They're impatient men. Even for a bath, they'll only give you enough time for the moon to sink a little."

"Enough time for the moon to sink a little..." Galahad murmured.

"Quite enough. Ah, take this opportunity to try washing yourself, too."

With a casual farewell, Galahad vanished. Gilberton stared after him for a moment, then shook his head. There was no need to try to understand him.

"Right. Let's try this bathing business."

Gilberton finished removing his armor.

* * *

"... His Highness the Grand Duke has disappeared?"

Theodore, the Grand Duke's vassal, desperately covered his mouth. He did not think he could hold back a scream.

"Wh... when did he disappear?"

"Um... after receiving Lady Adrianna's letter."

Theodore's mind whirled. The Grand Duke never moved lightly. Above all, if he left the fortress...

'The agreement with the Emperor...'

Theodore pressed hard against his temples.

There was no way the Grand Duke was unaware of that. He would know better than anyone. Yet he had acted anyway, which meant...

'Has the time finally come?'

Theodore sighed softly. Then a question suddenly occurred to him. What could that letter possibly have said to make His Highness move?

'... That bastard again?'

Theodore shook his head.

No. Surely he was not that insane.