7. Imperial Bastard
‘I hope it won’t be another weird incident.’
Gilbert looked at the annex where Adrianna had entered and suddenly felt worried.
“Hmm, should I cut off the neck or dig out the heart?”
At that moment, a small woman with her hair in two pigtails shook her head nervously. It was Mardian, who was pathologically obsessed with Adrianna.
“No, I will break your head.”
Hermun, a huge man with a bear-like build, hummed softly. The air around him seemed to grow heavy.
“Get out, I’m going to dig out your guts and spread them on bread and eat them.”
“You should get out. It’s my job to deal with those who insulted Adrianna.”
Gilbutton clicked his tongue slightly at the meaningless fight.
“Galahad, what kind of person is he?”
Lunabern asked in a calm voice. Her gaze was focused on Gilverton.
“Yes! Gilbutton! I told you to kill him on the way home! Just say that bandits or wolves ate him!”
Mardian scolded with a sharp voice. Mardian’s obsession with Adrianna was famous. He wasn’t called ‘crazy’ Mardian for nothing.
“What kind of guy is he?”
What kind of person is Galahad?
“fraud.”
Galahad made idle jokes and boasted about how great a wizard he was.
But, seeing that he was defeated by a lord with only a little bit of demon blood, he was clearly a swindler and a fraud.
“I have to kill him! He must have deceived innocent Lady Adrianna with his evil tongue! I have to pull him out!”
“He’s a conman. He’s a worthless guy.”
Once again, a bloody conversation poured out.
‘It felt like there was something there.’
He was a man who made her feel uncomfortable every time she saw him, as if there was a thorn stuck in her throat. Gilverton swallowed his words.
The door to the annex opened and Adrianna came out. Mardian flinched like a dog that needed to poop.
“What did he do? I’ll cut off his head right now. Or at least his arm-.”
Adrianna hid one hand behind her back. Madrian’s face hardened at that subtle reaction.
“They held hands.”
Adrianna made a strange expression for a moment, but then quickly returned to her usual expressionless face as if nothing had happened.
The atmosphere suddenly became tense, but Adrianna didn’t seem to care.
Adrianna wasn’t interested in anything other than the front line in the first place.
“But weren’t you a wizard? Then it would have been more painful-.”
Adrianna nodded to Lunabern’s question.
It was common knowledge to everyone here that Adrianna was burning mana.
Even non-magicians would often faint from excruciating pain the moment they made even the slightest contact with Adrianna.
And the pain got worse the more mana I had. And then the wizard took my hand-.
“You must have screamed in so much pain! Ahaha! Idiot! So why did you dare touch Lady Adrianna!”
“You must have sh*t and peed yourself! You idiot! It’s a shame I didn’t see you do that.”
Everyone raised their voices and laughed at the stupid wizard.
Knowing the pain, no one questioned it.
As the story grew more and more exaggerated, and the wizard died of agony, with his tongue bit off, Adrianna opened her mouth.
“He was wondering about the principle.”
Adrianna’s calm voice caused those who had been chattering noisily until just now to become quiet.
Even the crazy Mardian only had a very light hold on it.
But the wizard is wearing a hat-.
A different expression appeared on everyone’s face. Anger, annoyance, disbelief – the expressions were different, but the underlying feeling was shock.
Even Madrian just gaped.
‘He’s really crazy.’
Even when he killed the lord, there was a strange atmosphere, but this time he was curious about the principle and was holding back.
Gilbert laughed out loud without realizing it.
Adrianna’s gaze turned to Gilbert.
“Gilverton, you stay here and protect him.”
It was an unexpected order.
Adrianna always put the front line first. She herself never left the front line. But to deploy Gilverton, the main force, as an escort – it was an uncharacteristic arrangement for her.
“······Yes, I understand.”
Although he had doubts, Gilbert nodded without asking.
“The rest will return right away.”
“Are you leaving without seeing the Grand Duke?”
“We have received reports that the Demons are moving suspiciously. We will return immediately.”
Adrianna shook her head at Lunabern’s question.
“Isn’t Lady Adrianna’s energy weakening? She can’t possibly endure that pain!”
At that moment, Mardian shouted with eyes full of disbelief.
Adrianna shook her head, but it was no use to Mardian, whose eyes had rolled back. Mardian’s hand was already placed on the back of Adrianna’s hand.
Everyone had similar thoughts. How could a person endure such pain? And a wizard at that-. It was credible that Adriana had become weak.
“I’ll show you that my love is greater than that guy······.”
Whew! Madrian screamed sharply and fainted. His eyes rolled back and drool flowed from his mouth.
Lunabern sighed and took care of Madrian.
‘How crazy is that guy?’
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Gilbutton stuck out his tongue slightly.
“I haven’t fully recovered yet, so I’ll go a little later.”
At that moment, Hermun spoke with a fierce expression that made it obvious to anyone that he was about to commit some act. His face was filled with anger.
Hermun, who is as strong as a demon, has not recovered well. It was clearly an excuse. It seemed like he had no intention of hiding it.
However, Adrianna, as always, didn’t care.
Hermun was not important to her.
“Okay, I understand. Make a full recovery and come back. Your health comes first.”
‘This is going to be annoying.’
Gilbert clicked his tongue as he watched Hermun fix his grip on the axe.
Then suddenly it occurred to me that it might be nice to see Galahad get hit.
I think one would be okay.
Well, it seemed okay.
***
‘···Mana is burning.’
Galahad sighed, looking at his numb hands.
The burning of mana was truly indescribably horrifying. It felt like each and every blood vessel was being carefully burned with a torch.
‘It burns mana just by touching it. Does that make sense?’
It wasn’t a description, it was really mana.
It was the first time Galahad, who had gone from the Academy to the Information Agency, had heard of this story.
If you brought this story up to the wizard in the capital, you would most likely get beaten with a cane.
In magic, mana was something unchangeable. Magic was not about transforming mana itself, but rather humans adding to its properties through spells or incantations.
Because pure mana was noble, precious, and unchanging.
But Adrianna literally burned pure mana.
This was a historic discovery. The wizard Galahad had no choice but to take Adrianna’s hand.
‘There’s something.’
With trembling hands, I took out the cigarette and put it in my mouth. I habitually snapped my fingers, but there was no reaction.
‘There’s no mana left. If I had held on a little longer, I might have died.’
Galahad laughed bitterly.
“Who’s there?”
“What do you need?”
The answer came from behind. When I raised my head, Gilbutton was looking down at me with a pitiful look.
Since when has it been there? The alarm magic didn’t work-. Oh, I don’t have mana.
“Don’t you know how to knock?”
“I did it.”
He seemed too absorbed in the magic to hear.
It was Galahad’s chronic illness. He could hardly take control when magic was involved. It was his weakness, but at the same time, it was the driving force that allowed Galahad to come this far.
“Do you have any lights?”
“Isn’t there fire coming out of your fingers?”
“I’ve run out of mana.”
Gilbutton clicked his tongue slightly and took something out. It was a small flint.
“How ignorant. Don’t you have a lighter or matches?”
“This is the North.”
How ignorant. Gilverton clicked his tongue slightly at Galahad’s answer. Gilverton struck the flint in front of Galahad.
Knock knock, it was a little dangerous, but the fire caught on fire beautifully. A refreshing lemon scent filled the air.
“There are a lot of new beginnings.”
“Because it’s the beginning of the year.”
Although he seemed not to understand, Galahad did not bother to explain. It was a difficult concept to explain to someone who was not a magician. There was no need to. Gilverton did not ask any more questions.
“How was it?”
“What are you talking about?”
“That’s what Lady Adrianna said.”
At Gilverton’s question, Galahad’s thoughts turned back to Adrianna. The nature of burning mana-. Ahh···. His thoughts accelerated again.
“I asked how it was.”
Gilbert’s trembling voice broke his thoughts. The cigarette had been cut off mid-burner. Galahad clicked his tongue and took out another cigarette, putting it in his mouth.
Gilbert thrust the flint again. Galahad shook his head and snapped his fingers. A faint fire lit up at the tips of his fingers.
“Didn’t you say there was no mana?”
“That’s why I lit the Mana cigarette.”
Gilbert squinted his eyes. Galahad took a deep sip of his tobacco.
“So how was it?”
“You’re urging me on,” Galahad replied, clicking his tongue.
“She’s so damn pretty.”
“I said it was the best on the continent.”
“Yeah, she’s prettier than the princess.”
“······Have you met the princess?”
“I see. You’re a crazy woman who avoids the princess whenever you meet her.”
“That’s a bluff-.”
Gilbutton clicked his tongue slightly. He seemed to disbelieve it. Galahad didn’t bother explaining.
“So that’s it?”
Gilbert asked again if there was an answer he wanted.
Galahad thought for a moment. Adrianna was definitely the most beautiful woman on the continent, but it wasn’t her looks that interested Galahad.
It had the property of burning mana.
“I want to touch her again. This time, a little longer-.”
“······.”
Gilverton’s face immediately crumpled. The disgust on Gilverton’s face made Galahad realize that his words were a little strange.
However, I didn’t edit it because Gilbutton’s reaction was funny.
Galahad slowly exhaled the smoke from his cigarette. His dizzy mind gradually calmed down.
‘Burning mana-.’
Galahad took out a leather notebook and checked its contents. Gilverton poked his head out, but it didn’t matter.
“What language is that?”
“It’s the language we used back home.”
“Wasn’t your hometown the capital?”
“The capital city.”
“······?”
I gave a vague answer and checked my notebook.
[The king of the demon tribe was engulfed in flames and staggered violently.]
‘This was Adrianna.’
Of the three crises the Demon King experienced, this one was the most emphasized. Perhaps-. It wasn’t exactly true.
There was a time when the king of the demon tribe was thought to be weak to fire, so he devoted himself to fire magic. Even now, Galahad’s main magic is fire magic.
‘Welcome to the North.’
I had been rolling around in the information bureau without finding anything, but I got such a big clue as soon as I came to the North. I chuckled as if a toothache that had been bothering me for a long time had finally disappeared.
Adriana was the key. I had to somehow stick by Adriana’s side to study him-.
‘What’s the problem? He’s your fiancé.’
Galahad laughed and clapped his hands slightly.
“I want to touch my fiancé, can you show me how?”
“···?”
“Oh, I was going to say that I missed you. My words slipped out.”
Galahad changed his words at the disgust on Gilbert’s face.
“······Lady Adrianna has returned to the front lines.”
You’re already back? Is this a secret meeting?
Galahad jumped up from his seat.
“Good! Then let’s go to the front line. I was wondering about the front line.”
“Do you know what the front line is? And aren’t you currently being held captive by order of the Grand Duke?”
“Was it confinement?”
“Don’t pretend you didn’t know.”
“Hmm, then in order to lift the curfew, I’ll have to meet the Archduke first. I’ll guide you to the Archduke.”
“······Your Highness is busy. If we make an appointment now, we will be able to meet in about a year.”
Gilbert looked at Galahad with eyes that said, ‘Is this kid an idiot?’
It didn’t seem like a joke. A year is too long.
‘Should I turn it over?’
I looked at the wall next to me and thought seriously. I had already seen the route on my way here. There were about five ways to turn over. Turning over was Galahad’s specialty.
smart.
There was a knock on the door. It wasn’t Gwen, judging by the politeness. Gilbert opened the door.
The person who knocked on the door was a middle-aged man with a stylish goatee.
“Imperial bastard! The Grand Duke is calling!”
The goatee man spoke in his rough Imperial language.
At that, Galahad looked at Gilverton and smirked.
“Oh, actually, I made a reservation a year ago.”
Gilbert’s face crumpled.
As expected, he was a guy who had a knack for teasing.
“Oh, but I’m not an imperial, I’m Galahad.”
“Imperial bastard! Follow me!”
This time Gilbutton chuckled.
***
‘Why did the Archduke call me?’
Galahad looked in the mirror and adjusted his appearance. The bags under his eyes were heavy from lack of sleep. He tried to wake up his hazy mind by smoking a cigarette, but the goat man hurriedly stopped him.
“Cigarettes! Imperial bastard! Are you out of your mind?!”
It was an imperial language close to a translation.
“It’s not a cigarette, it’s a mana cigarette. It has a very fragrant lemon scent, so even Your Highness would like it. No one dislikes the scent of lemon.”
“No! That! Please bear with it!”
In response to the stubborn refusal, Galahad sucked on the remaining cigarette in one go and extinguished it.
The Archduke’s call was unexpected. He had been locked up all this time, and now he suddenly called. The most likely reason was Adriana’s visit.
‘You said you visited secretly, but you know everything.’
Despite his perfect and cold appearance, he seems to be a little bit lacking in intelligence.
“Imperial bastard! Hand over your head!”
“Not the Empire. Galahad-.”
He clicked his tongue at the shout of the goatee and put oil on his head and pushed it back. His handsome face was revealed refreshingly.
I winked one eye while looking in the mirror. Gilbutton behind me made a small squeak. It was ugly jealousy.
He followed the goatee towards the Archduke.
The Grand Duke’s mansion was so huge that it was impossible to walk around it. It was understandable that he was nicknamed the King of the North.
The interior of the mansion was filled with soldiers and knights. It was difficult to tell whether this was a mansion or a military training camp.
Wherever I went, I was followed by harsh stares. There were even people who hurled insults at me.
“Gilbert, those guys are just cussing me out. Go beat them up.”
“pup.”
“Not to me, but to them.”
“A punk with no words.”
“Well, that’s fine. It seems like they are reflecting on your merciless insults.”
“You touchy little shit.”
The power was higher than what the intelligence agency had reported. This was not the front line, but the Archduke’s mansion. There must have been far more troops on the front line.
There are holes in the information agency, too. Galahad exclaimed quietly.
Soon we reached a huge door. In front of it were two armed knights.
“for a moment.”
A man with sharp eyes like an eagle blocked my way. He had a white beard and a fierce build and spirit. He was an old man.
The goat man explained, but the white-haired knight did not listen and motioned to Galahad.
“Do you have a weapon?”
Galahad chuckled at that question. Asking if a wizard had a weapon? Those northerners certainly don’t know anything about wizards.
But I felt embarrassed if I just let it go, so I held out the cigarette butt that was in my arms. The knight’s face crumpled.
The knight held out a pair of thick handcuffs. The handcuffs were familiar. They were mana suppression handcuffs.
‘You have this?’
The mana suppression handcuffs were items that had the property of hindering the flow of mana. They were made by applying the properties of high-ranking demons, and were something I had only seen when I was a rookie at the Information Agency.
Seeing it here gave me a new feeling.
“Empire! Wizard! Get rid of me! Handcuffs!”
Galahad was handcuffed by the crude translation of Goatbeard.
‘It’s been a while.’
Suddenly, I remembered my days as a rookie at the Information Agency. It wasn’t a particularly fond memory. Knock, knock, my fingers tapped the handcuffs.
“From here! Alone! Go! Imperial!”
“That… It’s not the Empire, it’s Galahad. It’s already closed.”
I clicked my tongue slightly at the roughly closed door.
The room was large and ornate, but its ornateness was not due to luxuries such as jewels.
There were swords and spears everywhere, and the corpses of horrible monsters were displayed on the walls. If there was a museum of taxidermy, it would be here.
‘So this is what the demon tribe looks like.’
Since there were few demons in the empire, there were few opportunities to see them.
In the first place, the intelligence agency’s main targets were humans.
Although the demons would occasionally pop up, their handling was handled by another department. Galahad’s department was-.
My thoughts were broken by a sound. At the end of the street in front of me was a man sitting as if reclining on a huge chair.
It was clear from the atmosphere that it was going to be a public event. If not, wouldn’t it be a bit strange?
It was a coat made of the skin of a demon, and on each shoulder stood a large head with sharp teeth showing. It looked quite warm.
He seemed like a very famous demon hunter, not a noble. Even though he was wearing a thick coat, you could feel the solid muscles underneath.
Plus, he has thick facial features and sharp eyes just like a tiger.
He was the ruler of the North, the Grand Duke.
‘You don’t look busy?’
Galahad hid his true feelings and showed courtesy.
“Behold the Eternal Shield of the Empire.”
The Archduke was heard getting up. The heavy footsteps mixed with the clanking of metal sounded just like the executioner’s.
Galahad fought to keep himself from scratching his neck.
There was no reason for the Archduke to cut off Galahad’s head.
It was not because Galahad’s neck was heavy. On the contrary, it was too light.
Galahad’s neck was infinitely light compared to the political problems that had entangled him to the point of becoming engaged to Adrianna.
If the Grand Duke had been an incompetent person who didn’t even know that much, the northern front would have collapsed long ago. Either eaten by the Empire or invaded by the Demons.
Galahad, having finished his calculations, slowly raised his head.
His blue eyes were looking down at Galahad. It felt like his eyes were burning as he faced him.
‘You don’t look like your father at all.’
If that grim face had been mixed in even a little, that appearance would not have been possible.
Galahad forced the corners of his lips to rise.
At that moment, the Archduke’s shoulder moved. The moment he saw him, the calculations in his head disappeared and Galahad was moved by his trained instincts.
Galahad’s wrist turned gently. Their hands brushed against each other as if crossing each other.
The Archduke’s massive hand stopped beside Galahad’s head. A warm chill tickled his temples.
“This guy is like this.”
The Archduke chuckled as he looked at Galahad’s hand aimed at his neck. In that hand, he was now holding a sword of condensed ice.
“It’s an occupational disease.”
Galahad answered, trying to suppress his tension.
Thud, the mana restraining handcuffs rolled across the floor.
“They say most wizards become crippled. He was trash.”
The Archduke clicked his tongue as he looked at the broken handcuffs.
“Because I’m not just any magician.”
The Archduke’s smile deepened at Galahad’s answer.
“How cheeky.”
I said this as humbly as I could.
Galahad tried to swallow his words.
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