Chapter 4 - A Coat as a Gift

“It's for my daughter, so please understand! That basic Mage thing! That!”

Daniel opened his mouth wide, revealing fangs as large as daggers. His bloodshot eyes and the veins bulging all over his skin were plainly inhuman.

“Do you mean a Mage's basic virtues? Sorry, but I only have one heart. Giving it away would be rather inconvenient.”

“But you're a Mage!”

Galahad had calmly explained his reasons for refusing, but Daniel didn't seem to understand.

Clicking his tongue softly, he moved his mana. A powerful spark leaped from his fingertips, followed by a succession of sparks between his fingers. Small at first, they swelled in an instant as they passed through his fingers. He pressed his hand, now charged with the enlarged sparks, against Daniel's abdomen.

“Kyaaaagh!”

Daniel screamed and writhed. What little hair he had stood on end, and the smell of roasting meat filled the air.

It lasted only a moment. He lunged again as though he'd never felt a thing.

The hastily cast spell had been weak, but not so weak that he should have been this unscathed. Galahad examined the spot he'd struck. Even a knight hit directly would have acquired an impressive lightning tattoo, yet Daniel had only been blackened with soot.

'A Demon?'

It was fairly common knowledge that magic didn't work properly on Demons. After all, magic had originated with them.

“You liked my daughter too! A real man would give up a mere heart for love!”

“When did I ever say I liked her? I only taught her magic because I felt sorry for her, working so hard despite being stupid. And frankly, I don't like Emma because she looks like you.”

“What?! Who are you calling stupid?! Don't lie to me! I saw you stealing looks!”

Daniel shouted, thrusting his long fangs forward. Galahad was dumbfounded. For starters—

“Emma is ugly because she looks like you! That's why I mistook you for her.”

“You dare mock my daughter! I won't stand for it! Give me your heart as an apology!”

“Why is it my fault that Emma is ugly? That's your doing.”

He explained calmly, but the stupid Demon wouldn't listen.

Galahad scattered mana into the air.

GRIND!

Daniel's fangs stopped in midair. His bloodshot eyes rolled wildly. It was a hideous sight.

“Actually, I'm to become the Grand Duke's son-in-law. You can still beg forgiveness.”

“What son-in-law?! The Grand Duke loathes Mages! Besides, you'll only die painfully if you go to him anyway. Just be a good fellow and become nourishment for my beautiful daughter! That would be more productive!”

Daniel shouted and moved his hands. Apparently finding a gap in the spell, he tore through it with his nails. His long claws shot toward Galahad's shoulder.

Galahad could block them, but that would only put him on the defensive. Having finished his calculations, he fell backward and swept his mana out.

A sharp pain pierced his shoulder. His concentration wavered for an instant, but his magic held steady. A long jet of flame erupted from his hand.

“Aaaaagh! Shooting fire at a person! You crazy fucking Mage!”

“You stabbed me with your nails first! That hurt me too!”

“Aaaaagh! Fuck!”

Daniel leaped into the air, ablaze.

Pain from his shoulder briefly made Galahad's vision swim, but his spell shot straight at Daniel. It scored a long line across his chest, tearing open the pink dress to expose thick chest hair.

His eyes wild, Daniel threw up both hands. His dark nails grew longer.

Galahad quickly formed a hard shell around himself, but Daniel's claws shattered it easily. Did those nails contain mana? Curious, he rolled sideways.

A burning pain ran along his waist. Daniel's claws had raked his side.

Fire poured from Galahad's hand again. Daniel let out a long scream, and a nauseating smell of burning filled the room.

Galahad suddenly remembered Gilberton. He'd told the man to protect him, yet he still hadn't shown up.

“Gilberton! The mad lord is wearing a skirt and trying to force himself on me! Your liege's husband's chastity is in danger!”

“Heh heh... Calling your knight? It's too late for him by now. I gave him some very strong wine.”

Daniel answered while stroking his half-burned face. As he scraped it with his nails, smooth skin reappeared.

'He said he could fight. Has he been taken out already?'

Surely a knight of the Grand Duke wouldn't have fallen so easily, but knight or Emperor, anyone died with a blade in their throat.

There were no guarantees.

In any case, help from Gilberton was a distant prospect. Galahad would have to handle this himself.

This was what happened when you kept incompetent people around. Nothing but unnecessary trouble.

Clicking his tongue, Galahad began moving his mana in earnest. It spun along his fingers. Having memorized every coefficient and formula, he needed no incantation.

With a gesture, he raised a long wall of fire.

“Using magic, you coward! Fight fair, Mage!”

Daniel had high mana resistance. The flames wouldn't hold him back for long.

But that was enough.

Galahad's black eyes grew still and intent. His mind raced. As his mana moved, the answers to the formulas came to him. One spell after another was calculated.

“For my daughter Emma, the genius Mage!”

The flames parted, and a thoroughly roasted Daniel burst through.

“As I've already told you, Emma has no talent. If anything, she's rather stupid.”

Calmly explaining, Galahad flicked a finger toward his thigh.

A pointed arrow of ice embedded itself in Daniel's thigh. At the same time, Galahad released the mana he'd compressed.

The ice arrow swelled instantly. It was a combination of spells fine enough to impress another Mage, but Daniel's mana resistance kept it from tearing his skin.

“You're the stupid one! A Mage going to the Grand Duke!”

Seeing this, Daniel lunged with a broad grin. He seemed to think he'd won.

Idiot.

The ice arrow threw him off balance. The claws aimed at Galahad swept past at an angle, slicing through his bangs and sending the strands drifting into the air.

Sparks leaped from Galahad's palm.

“Useless! Mere Demon filth—Gyaaaagh!”

Daniel let out a low scream, but his gaze remained fixed on Galahad. As he'd claimed, it did no more than stop him for a brief moment.

But that was enough. Galahad placed a hand over his heart.

“Stupid...”

Daniel never finished.

His bloodshot eyes widened. His mouth opened and closed, but only formless breaths escaped.

“So mana really is a Demon's blood.”

Marveling, Galahad moved his mana. It flowed through the hand resting over Daniel's heart and into him.

He could sense all of Daniel's mana. Unlike a human's, it permeated his entire body. It was somewhat rougher than human mana, with an unprocessed feel. Closer to mana's original source, but its properties were similar nonetheless.

“Mana flows from lower concentrations to higher ones. That's the law of mana. It's why Demons devour Mages and other Demons weaker than themselves.”

It had been something of a gamble. If Daniel's mana concentration had been higher, Galahad would have been the one in danger.

But that had been unlikely.

Daniel was furious at Galahad's calm explanation, but he could offer no resistance.

His blood was moving at Galahad's command, like an obedient dog.

He couldn't understand it. A human controlling a Demon's mana? Mages were Demons' filth, their lackeys. How dare he—

Daniel lifted his head and froze. Galahad's eyes were tranquil as he looked down at him.

They were the same dispassionate, observing eyes he'd had while holding Emma's hand and guiding her mana.

“Oh, so that's how it moves.”

Daniel's blood shifted this way and that. The pain was horrific, but he couldn't even scream.

“Can I use it? Oh, it does work. Though it makes a terrible mess of the formulas.”

Daniel's forearm burst with sparks. Instead of blood, sparks poured out. A calm exclamation of wonder followed.

“Bear with me a moment. I think I'll get the hang of it after a few more tries. Please.”

Daniel's breath grew hot. Then fire came out as though he were vomiting it.

“Does it hurt? Why would it hurt when your mana exists as blood?”

Galahad looked at Daniel as he asked. His wrist had burst and he'd vomited fire, and this man was asking whether it hurt? What kind of question was that?

Then violent sparks flew from Daniel's other shoulder. Electrifying pain struck him, aching deep into his bones.

“Just a moment. Hold on a little longer. You can do it. Stay strong.”

He wanted to collapse, but Galahad's hand on his shoulder wouldn't let him.

“Did you feed Emma other Mages' hearts and such? Raw? Or cooked?”

Ahh... Daniel's left leg froze. A strange stalk burst from his right leg. Tiny flames kindled in his eyes.

He no longer felt any pain.

“Oh dear. He's dead.”

Galahad clicked his tongue at the fallen Daniel.

'Demons. Fascinating indeed.'

He'd gotten too excited and lost control. To think a Demon would die from so little. They were far less impressive than the rumors suggested.

Consoling himself over the disappointment, he put a cigarette between his lips. Its fresh lemon scent displaced the smell of roasted meat.

'How many hearts did he feed her?'

Galahad recalled Emma's mana. At least four, perhaps five.

'He certainly fed her plenty.'

Everyone here was desperate to devour Mages.

Belatedly remembering Gilberton, Galahad headed for the door, muttering curses.

'It'll be a nuisance if he's dead.'

Who would guide him now if Gilberton died? Muttering to himself, he approached the door and noticed a familiar coat lying beside it.

It was the expensive-looking coat the lord had been wearing.

'No need to buy a coat, then.'

Galahad glanced at Daniel, then put it on. Quite warm. This would do nicely.

“Thank you for the gift. I'll put it to good use.”

Having thanked Daniel, Galahad opened the door.

“You're up early.”

Gilberton was calmly cleaning his sword, but the corridor looked different now.

Red stains covered it, with pieces scattered everywhere. It could easily have passed for hell.

Just then, something beside Gilberton collapsed. On closer inspection, it was Emma.

“Didn't I tell you this was a dangerous place?”

“Hardly that dangerous. The lord came to me in Emma's skirt.”

“Oh, did it suit him?”

“He wore it better than Emma. The lord was a Demon. Though I don't think he was a true one.”

“Aha. A villain, then.”

Gilberton gave an inscrutable smile. He seemed to be trying to control his expression, but it was quite apparent.

'So he wasn't certain. Just suspicious.'

Perhaps this had been a place the Grand Duke was watching.

Of all the castles he could have chosen, it had to be this one.

'Unlucky. Just unlucky.'

Galahad grumbled as he pulled his coat closed. At least he'd gotten a good coat out of it.

“Demons must be common in the North, if they can even become lords.”

“Why only the North?”

Galahad gave a laugh that sounded like a cough.

Just then, he saw the sun rising through the window. The bare, leafless trees and the uniformly brown earth showed no sign of life.

The North wasn't called the cursed land for nothing.

Beyond them, he spotted carriages bearing a familiar crest: the Grand Duke's.

“Has the Grand Duke come to meet me in person?”

“Of course not.”

Soldiers poured out of the carriages. Among them stood a handsome man who looked like a noble.

The handsome man bowed to Gilberton, who gave him a brief nod.

'Did I do the Grand Duke's work for him?'

Had he earned himself a few points?

Muttering, Galahad met Emma's eyes. Whatever grievance she harbored, she hadn't even closed them. He clicked his tongue softly and lowered her eyelids. It wasn't for her sake.

“You know something?”

“What?”

“Emma doesn't look like Daniel.”

“... Pardon?”

Just then, soldiers flooded into the inner castle.

“Nothing. Let's go. We have a long way ahead.”

Galahad chuckled at Gilberton's dumbfounded expression.

* * *

How many days had they been traveling by carriage?

Galahad's thoughts were fixed on Demons.

'His whole body was mana. As though mana were their blood.'

Using his own mana as a medium, he'd been able to cast magic with a Demon's blood.

'That's a new discovery.'

Research on Demons was scarce and difficult to find. Imperial law strictly prohibited studying the beings that had once nearly destroyed the Empire.

Moreover, today's Mages were doing everything they could to erase records of magic's Demonic origins. The Mage Towers also forbade research on Demons.

With the Church looming over them as well, Mages did everything possible to distance themselves from Demons.

But in the North, there were no Mage Towers and no Empire. The Church was present, but its influence was weak.

He would be able to study the Demons he'd long been curious about to his heart's content.

Just then, the carriage jolted violently to a stop.

'We've arrived.'

The door was flung open, and something covered in white fur thrust its face inside.

'A yeti?'

Then the fur moved, shedding a shower of snowflakes.

“Are you Garahad?!”

The man bellowed in halting Imperial.

“It's Galahad, not Garahad.”

“Right! Garahad! Get out!”

The man gestured, his fur hat whipping wildly in the wind. Galahad gathered his bag and stepped out of the carriage. A cutting wind tore through his coat.

It was so cold that it felt like an actual knife stabbing him. Outside lay a world of pure white. Everywhere he looked, there was nothing but white.

He circulated his mana and pulled his coat closed.

“Nice coat!”

“Isn't it? A friend gave it to me.”

“What?!”

“A friend! Gave it! To me!”

“A good friend!!”

The wind was so loud that ordinary speech was utterly inaudible. No wonder the man shouted.

“Congratulations on reaching the Northern Wall!”

The man bellowed, leaving Galahad puzzled.

What did he mean, they'd arrived? There was nothing here.

Laughing heartily, the man pointed behind him.

Something was faintly visible through the swirling blizzard. Galahad narrowed his eyes.

Looking closer, he realized that what he'd taken for a snowy mountain was an enormous wall. It rose so high it seemed to touch the sky, which was why he'd mistaken it for a mountain.

That colossal wall stretched as far as he could see.

It seemed to divide the world itself.

“This is the Northern Wall.”

Gilberton spoke, having changed into a plush coat at some point.

That ambiguous smile irritated Galahad a little, so he tossed out a joke.

“At last, I'll get to see my wife.”

Gilberton's face instantly stiffened.

He really was fun to tease.

'The greatest beauty on the continent, eh?'

Galahad was a man too. He couldn't help looking forward to it.