The Northern Grand Duke’s Crazy Son-in-Law

37. Mother

“It was a fun date.”

“·······It wasn’t a date.”

Adriadna, who had answered resolutely, turned around. Her white coat, which was spotless, fluttered violently.

“An anomaly has been detected in the Demon Realm. We will hold a meeting.”

With a curt order, Adrianne turned and left. The First Platoon guys who had been sending heated gazes at Galahad hurriedly followed after Adrianne.

Even when she pretended not to notice, she was quite a meticulous woman.

“Why on earth do you keep provoking them?”

Gilbert asked with a frightened face. Galahad answered as he shook off his cigarette ashes.

“When did I ever provoke them.”

“You had Lady Adrianne light your cigarette over there-.”

“Oh, that wasn’t provocation. It was relationship building.”

“······Excuse me?”

“And my hands are like this, so I couldn’t help it. Are you going to light it for me?”

“No, I will not.”

“I agree. Just imagining it makes the cigarette taste worse.”

Just then, the knights who had gone out with them came over. The guys who had been glaring at him when they left now had gentle eyes.

“We apologize.”

The guys suddenly bowed their heads. It was an unexpected apology.

“What are you talking about.”

“We thought you’d be a burden as a wizard. But it was us who were the burden instead. We apologize.”

The guys bowed their heads deeply once more.

To begin with, Galahad didn’t care how the guys saw him.

He hadn’t openly picked a fight like the others.

It would have been enough to just let it slide, but the knights were bowing and apologizing-.

It was something unimaginable in the Capital.

‘There are still knights left here.’

Galahad shook his head with a bitter smile.

“It wasn’t anything to apologize for. In reality, the probability of a wizard from the Empire not being a burden in the Demon Realm is extremely low.”

“······Excuse me?”

“It’s just that I’m an outstanding wizard.”

The knights’ expressions became subtle. They seemed heated, yet slightly disgusted.

“···Just accept it casually.”

“If I accept it casually, an innocent wizard might end up suffering for something unfair. It was only possible because it was me. If you brought another wizard, they wouldn’t even be able to use magic.”

Galahad pointed out the truth. It was to prevent any possible damage.

“Ah, yes. Th-that’s right. Y-yes. You’re a genius wizard-. Yes, I understand.”

The knights nodded. Only then did Galahad, satisfied, suddenly open his mouth because a thought came to mind.

“That’s perfect. You’ve worked hard, so you should grease your gears. I was thinking of having a Special Forces dinner, so you guys should come too. Sir Gilbert will pay for it.”

Gilbert’s face crumpled. However, Gilbert nodded without saying anything.

“Yes, if there’s time after the meeting ends, we’ll go.”

“Tell Adrianne too.”

“Yes.”

The knights walked away. They didn’t mix with the others who had left first and disappeared separately.

“Lady Adrianne won’t come.”

“I don’t know about that.”

Galahad walked with quick steps. Gilbert followed.

Galahad’s mind was working as diligently as his feet.

‘The Egg of Pain-‘

The Egg of Pain was currently the most suspicious thing. After it had eaten a considerable amount of the Demon’s blood, it felt like it had gained a sense of self.

Even so, it was only to the extent of burning with determination when it saw Adrianna, or being afraid of Adrianna when she came near it.

‘That’s because it’s a remnant of the Demon War. It’s the egg of a high-ranking Demon.’

He recalled Cordell’s words. It was something that had flowed out from the side of Dawn. They had been using it as some kind of oath tool.

Indeed, the moment he had seen Adrianna, he had felt a pressure that had shaken his mind.

However, as he fed it the Demon’s blood, the Egg of Pain changed.

The Egg of Pain, which extracted only highly concentrated mana from the Demon’s blood and gave it to him, was currently very important to Galahad.

However, since it was planted in his body, right next to his heart, he needed to make sure of its true identity.

‘You, what is your true identity?’

The Egg of Pain was quiet. It seemed that it didn’t show much of a reaction when Adrianna wasn’t around.

Just then, they arrived at the bar where they had left the members.

Only Tom was in the bar. Tom was sitting on a high chair in the center of the bar, playing an instrument that looked like a guitar. He was quite good at it.

“Ah, you’ve arrived.”

“You’re quite skilled at playing.”

“I was practicing since I happened to be in the bar.”

“Is that so? Where are the others?”

“Damian is running around in the back, and Gwen is helping people around the 1st Regiment.”

Before Tom could finish his answer, Gilbert headed to the back door. Even though he was pretending not to, there was a strange eagerness in his eyes.

‘Competing with Damian-‘

He was a hopeless knight. Galahad clicked his tongue and sat down.

“Have you eaten?”

“I haven’t yet. I’m a little hungry.”

“I’ll prepare it right away.”

Tom got up and went inside.

Galahad took out the cigarette that Adrianna had given him, put it in his mouth, and lit it. It had a deep lemon scent.

A short while later, a series of splendid dishes came out. It was delicious even for Galahad, who had only eaten fine cuisine in the Central Region.

Tom sat on a high chair and started playing the instrument again. It was so natural that he didn’t feel any sense of oddness.

It was quite some time later when Damian and Gilbert returned.

‘They’re late.’

It was later than the time Galahad had expected.

There were two possibilities.

Either Gilbert had tried to prolong the sparring, or Damian’s skills had improved.

Judging from Gilbert’s crumpled face, it seemed to be the latter.

Damian ran straight to the food. He buried his face right in the plate, making a thud! sound. Gilbert hurriedly grabbed a piece of food.

“By the way, where did the owner go, and why is Tom cooking?”

“Ah, Mr. Hetrick isn’t feeling well today, so I’m filling in for him.”

“······Hetrick is very suspicious, so he wouldn’t let just anyone do it?”

Tom smiled instead of answering and plucked the strings. Twang! It was quite a pleasant sound.

Gilbert nodded his head dubiously and looked at Galahad.

“Damian, that guy’s skills have improved.”

“Is that right? Damian, you’ve worked hard. Well done.”

“Yes.”

Gilbert squinted at Damian’s light reply.

“He just eats and runs around, so I really wonder why he’s getting stronger. Does that make sense?”

Gilbert stared at Damian with complex and subtle eyes. Damian ate his meal without a care in the world. He was as carefree as ever.

“Originally, beasts grow stronger if you feed them well and let them sleep. And you’re sparring with him.”

“Even so…”

Gilbert, who had been muttering softly, nodded reluctantly.

Gwen returned late. Her face was smudged as if she had been doing something outside.

“You’re back! You must be tired!”

“If I were to judge by your face, you seem to be more tired. What have you been doing?”

“I came to help them practice the blast crater while practicing it myself.”

A look of satisfaction appeared on Gwen’s face. Tom wiped Gwen’s face with a cloth.

“Sniffle.”

“Sniff!”

Gwen’s face returned to its usual fluffy state.

“Have you gotten used to the blast crater?”

“Yes! I’m getting the hang of it now. Blast crater.”

As she chanted the spell, a large ball of fire appeared in Gwen’s hand. It was quite large. It seemed that her mana pool was excessively large.

“Perfect.”

“Wow! Thank you!”

“Since you watched my magic and imitated it, it couldn’t be anything but perfect.”

Galahad nodded his head. Since Gwen had watched Galahad’s magic and imitated it, it couldn’t be anything but perfect.

Gwen, who had been expressing her gratitude, moved her lips.

At that moment, Gwen’s eyes widened. Her gaze was fixed on Galahad’s left chest.

“··········Excuse me?! I didn’t hear you. What did you say?”

Gwen tilted her head abruptly.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“No, you just said something just now······. Just now! You said something!”

Galahad’s eyes narrowed in the direction Gwen was pointing. Gwen was pointing precisely at Galahad’s left chest.

It was where the seed of agony was.

“What did I say?”

“Uh…”

“Uh?”

“Uhhh······.”

“Uh?”

Gwen grimaced.

“What did it say?”

Galahad urged in a hurry. Fear began to fill Gwen’s eyes. She seemed to have noticed something strange.

Galahad shook his head and looked at Gwen.

“Ignore the rest, and believe in me. Just focus. Can you still hear it?”

“···Yes?! Th-.”

“Be honest. Lying only makes your tongue heavy.”

Galahad leaned on the table and lowered his upper body. Gwen was startled as Galahad approached her.

“What’s going…”

“Sir Gilbert, please close your mouth. Now, Gwen. Can you still hear the voice?”

Galahad’s sunken eyes-. They were black, but a faint blue could be seen.

Facing him, Gwen felt as if her throat was being constricted.

She bit her lip and nodded.

Oh······ oh my···.

Gwen replied with a face as if she was about to cry.

“······It’s calling me mom? I’m not a mom!”

“Mom?”

Galahad hurriedly unbuttoned the top of his shirt. Gwen’s eyes widened at the horrible scar that was visible through it.

It was a terrible scar that looked like something had been scratched into a burnt area. It was a scar that didn’t match Galahad’s neat appearance at all.

How much must it have hurt? Gwen’s eyes welled up with tears.

“Gwen, you can cry later. Now, focus. Can you still hear it?”

The dull voice grew louder. The voice shook her head.

The impulse became stronger in an instant. Gwen’s pupils dilated.

Before she knew it, Gwen reached out her hand.

“Ugh-.”

Galahad winced. The lump of agony throbbed violently.

It was more violent than when he had seen Adrianna. Gwen let out an excited exclamation. Galahad clicked his tongue at her dilated pupils.

“Gwen, focus. Don’t get carried away.”

“···Yes? Yes!”

“What is it saying?”

Gwen lowered her head.

“Asking me to be its mom-. I’m not a mom!”

Gwen whispered softly, so that only Galahad could hear. Her eyes were full of injustice.

“Accept it.”

“···Yes?! But I’m not even married!”

“You’re going to raise orphans anyway. Technically, this one is an orphan too. It won’t be dangerous for you. If it is dangerous, there’s a way to kill it-.”

The lump of agony vibrated violently. Pity crossed Gwen’s face. Soon, Gwen nodded.

The lump of agony swelled greatly. Something moved towards Gwen from the lump of agony. It wasn’t mana. It was something of unknown identity.

Galahad felt a deep interest.

Gwen raised her head stiffly.

“Excuse me, Commander-.”

“Sir Gilbert, can you please be quiet for a moment?”

Thump. With a quick sound, Gwen’s right arm thickened slightly. It grew thicker as if her muscles had expanded, then quickly disappeared.

It was only for a moment, but Galahad, who was directly in front of her, did not miss it.

Gala had doubted his own eyes.

From noble mtl dot com

What Gwen had just done-.

‘It’s something the demons do.’

At that time, it was very similar to what he had seen from the demons in the cave when he had met Palho.

It was the ability to strengthen one’s body by getting closer to the source of mana. It was what the demons called Authority.

The throbbing of the egg of pain stopped. Gwen exhaled deeply. Her breath was quite hot.

‘Is it related to following magic? Is the source of the demons’ power the source of magic?’

Galahad’s head became complicated again. Was Gwen hiding a secret? Or was it something that female wizards could do?

“Captain.”

Gilbert called out to Galahad again.

When he turned his head-.

“······Ah, I came to deliver a letter from His Highness the Grand Duke.”

Adrienne was standing there. Her usual expressionless face. The knights behind her looked terrified.

Only then did Galahad look around at the situation.

Gwen had her hand in Galahad’s chest. She was even drooling from her mouth.

It wasn’t a very pretty sight.

“I see. Gwen, can you take your hand out?”

“Yes? Aah! Yes!”

Gwen pulled her hand out noisily. Galahad unbuttoned his shirt.

Adrienne held out an envelope right in front of Galahad. It was so close that it almost touched his nose. The distance was strange-.

“Thank you.”

“······.”

Galahad opened the envelope without hesitation.

[Special Forces Captain Galahad is to go around the battalions and take responsibility for checking the holes in the front lines.]

It was a short sentence. The bold handwriting, as if written with a fist, was obviously the Grand Duke’s.

‘Take responsibility-.’

It meant taking responsibility for the story that he had brought up. There was a mean-spirited side to it that didn’t match his size.

However-.

‘Good. Is it bait?’

The Grand Duke’s seal stamped at the bottom of the letter was quite good bait.

‘Take responsibility and check the holes in the battalions-.’

It was a crude sentence, but it was the Grand Duke giving Galahad power. It was giving Galahad the authority to interfere with other battalions.

That didn’t mean that the battalion captains would open their arms and welcome him, but it was exactly the excuse that Galahad needed.

It was a chance to find the man named Yeomyeong.

“Good.”

Galahad smiled in satisfaction and put away the letter.

“His Highness the Grand Duke has ordered all battalions to re-check the front lines. Since strange symptoms have been found in the Demon Realm as well-. The 1st Battalion will close its gates for the time being and conduct an internal inspection.”

“I understand,” Adrianna said in an indifferent voice. “While I wait for our next date, I’ll take care of the bugs that have gotten inside.”

“······It’s not a date.”

Adrianna raised an eyebrow. Adrianna was not one to go on dates more than once.

Then, Galahad quipped with a smile.

“Why are you reacting like that? Was it perhaps our first date?”

Adrianna did not answer. Her eyebrow remained raised.

Silence fell for a moment.

Galahad gave a short cough.

“Um······, thinking back on it, it wasn’t a date. Yeah, how could it have been a date.”

The corner of Adrianna’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

“I was busy. I had to stop the front lines from advancing.”

“I understand.”

“If I let my guard down for even a moment, the demons will flood in. And I am the Captain of the 1st Battalion. The first shield of the North.”

“I got it.”

Adrianna continued to insist.

****

“I heard that an executive came in person.”

“An executive moved? Is that guy really that great?”

At the noisy conversation, the old man lifted his heavy eyelids.

In the prison, where the stench of blood and filth mixed, dim lights could be seen beyond the iron bars.

‘Damn noisy bastards.’

The old man grumbled. Those sorcerer bastards who kept chanting about black magic didn’t shut their mouths for a second.

The old man spat with a ‘ptui’. It was a thick gob of phlegm mixed with blood. Clank, the shackles that bound the old man’s arms rattled.

“The business site and the Dawn are involved, so-“

“I see.”

Just then-.

“Oh! Are you here!”

“Ah, yes! I understand! Please feel free to talk!”

The sound of the bastards hurriedly moving away could be heard.

“Are you in your right mind?”

A strange voice rang out. It was a voice that sounded both like a woman and a boy. When the old man didn’t respond, the bastard knocked on the iron bars.

There was a shadow on the other side of the iron bars. The torch behind it made it difficult to see clearly.

“Captain of the 7th Battalion··· no, former Captain Bel program, is that you?”

Yeah, that was the name. It was a problem when you got old. You kept forgetting things.

“That’s right. I have a few questions for you. Is there a secret passage you can enter, or ······.”

The bastard continued to mutter. The old man, having no one else to talk to, answered him.

Just then, the sound of footsteps could be heard in the distance.

“Oh, one last thing. Do you have anything you can give me in return for saving you from this place?”

At the bastard’s strange question, the old man chuckled.

“Save them? Do you know how many of them are out there?”

“Yes, I believe I know better than you. We’re on a tight schedule, so please answer quickly.”

The old man chuckled at his impudent urging.

“Alright, if I save them, will you lick my feet?”

“Oh… That’s a bit disgusting. Ah, I’m not the one you’ll be saving. So, are you saying that if you save them, you can also become another captain’s subordinate?”

What a ridiculous question. The old man simply nodded his head lightly.

“You won’t go back on your word later? I’m very scared of that person.”

“By the way, are you a woman or a man?”

“That’s confidential.”

At that moment, footsteps approached.

The approaching torchlight revealed his appearance.

‘A crow mask.’

The old man clicked his tongue.

“Shhh.”

The crow, who had put his index finger to his lips, disappeared.