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

40. Ghost

‘······Are the Six really here?’

Crow knocked on the mask.

He was doubtful, but he only brought special forces. Crow confirmed it himself.

There were seven battalions of knights and soldiers surrounding the building he entered. In addition, there were even executives from the Dark Magic Society.

‘Even for him, this is impossible.’

It was the moment when the balance was tilting towards the Dark Magic Society.

Then-.

“You, your skills seem rusty.”

A quiet voice came from behind. It was a leisurely voice that did not match the noisy surroundings. Crow doubted his own ears.

How did he get out of there? No, Crow erased the word ‘how’. The opponent was him.

“Sir, I’ve been waiting for you.”

Crow immediately bowed his head. Familiar black shoes stopped in front of Crow.

“Your report is poor. Are you really rusty?”

There was no emotion in his voice. It was just bland. That’s why it was scarier. It seemed like he would dispose of Crow as easily as throwing away a rusty tool.

“Haha, that’s not it-. The Dark Magic Society bastards are so secretive…”

“Is that so?”

Crow’s thoughts didn’t continue as the shoes stopped right in front of him.

He quietly grabbed Crow’s mask. It was a vow not to take off the mask in front of him. Showing his face meant the end.

“I··· It’s true! It took me a while to find out the location of the 7th Battalion Commander and the route! And also··· that they are in the sanctuary!”

Crow’s mask slightly lifted. The cold air coming in between froze Crow’s face. The cold air was as cold as a knife.

Knock, knock, he knocked on the mask.

“You said sanctuary?”

“···Yes!”

“Oh, that’s interesting.”

Crow desperately explained like a drowning man taking a breath at the slightest sign of interest.

“I see. Guide me.”

He took a step back. Crow sincerely thanked him.

Deceived by his appearance in the special forces, he had forgotten this coldness. This was his true nature.

Stupid-. Crow bit his lip.

“The 7th Battalion Commander is in the basement of the Dark Magic Society’s branch building. There are two checkpoints with magic circles on the way, and thirteen wizards guarding them. All of them are armed with high-level wands.”

Crow reported quickly. It was an absurd force. Compared to that, Galahad was all alone. Objectively speaking, it was crazy-.

“I see.”

He answered shortly.

The castle was quiet. A silent, tense atmosphere filled the air. The torch moved diligently to one side.

The direction Crow was heading was the opposite.

‘I’ve drawn all the attention.’

All eyes in the castle were on the building where he had gone to wash himself and the inner part of the castle.

On the other hand, the building of the Dark Magic Society was rather empty.

Who could have predicted that he would move to rescue the 7th Battalion Commander right after he arrived?

“Two soldiers as guards at the main gate-.”

The soldiers collapsed before the crow finished speaking.

There was a hole in each of their necks. It was an elaborate ice awl. When time passed, the ice awl would melt, leaving no trace.

Just like a ghost-.

“Don’t stop. Keep walking, since you’re busy.”

He whispered. Despite having just killed the two, there was not a hint of emotion in his voice.

“Yes.”

The crow tried hard to suppress his eerie fear and moved his steps.

He opened the door. The disgusting smell of blood tickled the crow’s nose.

“···Hmm? What is an executive doing here at this hour-.”

Thud. The one who was speaking collapsed. He didn’t even notice it. Red blood flowed out from the hole in his neck, spreading like a rash.

Click, that was all it took to flick his fingers. To kill a wizard by just flicking his fingers without even a wand-.

‘I was about to talk back to such a monster? F*ck. I’m crazy.’

The crow bit his lips and moved his steps.

“Hey, you’re here-.”

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Someone who recognized the crow opened his mouth. He collapsed. Hot blood wet the crow’s feet. It was repeated like a simple task. Emotionless-.

‘···Crazy f*ck.’

His feet were heavy, but he had to endure it. The moment he stopped, the monster would point at the crow.

His plan was simple. He would send the crow in first and pierce the necks of those who reacted.

The sound of finger flicking was all it took.

The crow’s steps stopped in front of the door with magical security.

“T···This···I don’t have the authority for this! The one who originally managed the 7th Battalion branch didn’t give it to me!”

The crow desperately protested.

His footsteps approached. He was clearly walking on the hard floor, yet there was no sound from his shoes. Like a ghost-.

He silently put his hand on the door. The crow gulped.

This was a security device that the Dark Magic Society, who had fled to the north, had put their heart and soul into. No matter how strong he was-.

Click.

The door opened before the crow’s monologue could finish.

He knew that he was incredibly skilled at catching wizards. It was because of his unusually fast magic and unhesitant judgment.

However, this door was a different story.

The crow also knew how complicated the magical security on the door was.

He opened the door with just a knock, as if he knew it well-.

“Are you not going?”

The crow was startled by his question and walked.

He felt a cold breath on the back of his neck.

Just like-.

“This is trespass…”

It felt like there was a grim reaper behind him.

Gulp.

Raven walked desperately on.

****

“Captain, the emperor has deceived us. He wants to make the North fight against the Mazoku so he can take over. The real enemy isn’t the Mazoku, it’s the emperor.”

The old man, the captain of the 7th Battalion, blinked his weary eyes. One of the company commanders was talking nonsense.

Was he getting senile and hearing things? That was quite possible. Even so, would a warrior from the North join hands with the Mazoku?

Yes, that’s right.

“You foolish old man, you don’t even know you’re being deceived. With an old man like you as captain, there’s no progress. Always hungry and cold-. It’s all your fault.”

The old man couldn’t help but reply.

“The North has always been cold. You fool.”

“No, it’s not cold anymore. We-.”

The man rolled up his sleeve. There was an intricate design carved into it that he had never seen before.

“We were chosen.”

The old man’s eyes went wide.

“Your mind has rotted. You still haven’t been enlightened. The empire is just using us to fatten themselves. This is a fabricated grudge-.”

His confident tone, his more polished armor than before, and his oily face-.

The old man let out a hollow laugh.

“I’m sorry, but the Mazoku really are your enemy.”

Just then, a leisurely voice was heard.

It was a man with slicked-back hair and skintight clothing. A noble-? He had a luxurious and polished appearance that was out of place in the North.

“Who are you.”

“Can’t you tell by looking. I’m an intruder.”

“······An intruder?”

“Yes, I may be handsome and confusing, but right now I’m an intruder.”

“This guy is messing with us-.”

The knight’s eyes widened. He stood up roughly and drew his sword. A fierce aura emanated from the sword, but its color was-.

“Oh, it’s ashen. Ashen aura-. Did you receive this power from the Mazoku?”

“You fool, coming down here without a weapon? I don’t know what tricks you used, but this is as far as you go.”

“Hmm, that’s too bad. I don’t have time right now.”

The man clicked his tongue and snapped his fingers.

The knight moved. His movements were incredibly fast. They weren’t the speed of a company commander.

His fast movements and the fierce aura-.

He looked threatening at first glance.

“How foolish.”

The old man’s eyes went wide. The man had said what he was about to say.

“Aura is the power of conviction. That’s why it’s hard to realize and doesn’t grow easily.”

The knight swung his sword fiercely. The ashen aura rippled, looking like a demon’s gaping maw.

The man didn’t budge, even though he was facing him head-on.

“That’s why you cut the thick leather of the approaching demons and break their magic. But-“

Snap, the man flicked his hand.

The knight’s sword was right before the man’s neck, but the man didn’t even blink. Rather, he clicked his tongue while looking at the sword.

“You can’t even break through this simple barrier?”

The knight’s ashen sword was blocked by a translucent wall. The knight’s face turned ashen.

The knight tried desperately, but the sword didn’t move as if it was stuck.

The demon can’t cut magic-.

Only then did the knight’s face turn anxious, as if he had realized something was wrong.

“You’ve stained yourself with noble beliefs-. Because of that, your beliefs have lost their light.”

The knight tilted. The knight’s chest was cut horizontally. The knight, cut in half, collapsed in vain.

The old man exclaimed shortly. The man was right. The demon was the power of belief. That’s why it could cut anything.

But that fool added foreign substances to that belief.

What mattered in belief wasn’t the size, but the root.

Still, it was clear that he had gotten stronger right away.

To have finished such a guy off in one blow-.

“Amazing.”

“A smart knight isn’t that difficult of an opponent.”

“A smart knight···. That’s right.”

The old man nodded.

A knight should be foolish.

‘Because foolish beliefs are the strongest laws.’

At that moment, the man put his hand on the iron bars. The thick iron bars collapsed without a sound.

“I’ve come to save you. Let’s go.”

The man took out the flask from his waist and put it in his mouth. A familiar smell of blood filled the air. It wasn’t human.

“You drink the blood of the demons?”

“It tastes surprisingly good.”

The old man chuckled at the man’s answer. The blood of the demon tastes good, this crazy bastard.

“He was an opponent you couldn’t defeat. How could someone who received the power of the demons be defeated by a hunter who eats the demons?”

The old man coughed roughly. A magician who drinks the blood of the demon-. As expected, one lives long enough to see everything.

The man stood before the old man. His clothes were neat, and his hair was combed back, but his face was full of exhaustion.

The old man exclaimed shortly. Eyes without an inch of hesitation, those were eyes that only the arrogant who believed in themselves could have.

Like a Grand Duke-.

‘No, it’s a bit different.’

“Aren’t you going to get up?”

The man asked while looking at the old man.

Before he knew it, all the restraints were gone, but the old man’s body was still heavy.

He thought of the things he had to do once he got out of here. He had to kill all the bastards who had joined forces with the demons. They were bastards he had spent quite a long time with.

The old man was too old to do such a thing.

However, what could he do?

This was also the old man’s fault.

The old man raised his wrinkled body.

“Where’s the weapon?”

At the man’s question, the old man chuckled and grabbed the staff standing in the corner.

“An old man’s staff is the best.”

After a long time, the staff creaked and opened.

****

Bang, bang!!

Someone banged on the door roughly.

When Tom opened the door, a sharp gaze poured in.

“The lieutenant colonel and the company commander are all waiting on standby. How long are you going to make them wait?”

A fierce-looking knight asked roughly. Behind him, soldiers stood in a long line.

Tom’s back became damp from the sharp energy pouring in. Sweat dripped from his palms. Tom desperately laughed.

“Ahahaha, it’s because our commander is someone who washes very thoroughly. He thinks that’s manners. I guess it’s because the reputation of the 7th Battalion is so high that he’s being more polite.”

The knight’s face relaxed slightly at the compliment.

“Ahem, even imperial bastards are clean. Tell him to finish quickly.”

“Yes, sir, I understand.”

Tom bowed and closed the door.

Only after closing the door did Tom take a deep breath. His back and hands were covered in sweat. He felt like a handful of his lifespan had been shaved off.

“We don’t have much time left.”

Tom said, looking at his members.

They had already turned them away several times. Each time, their knocks became rougher.

“We can’t help it.”

Gilbert drew his sword.

“When the door opens, I’ll cut the knight’s neck. Damian will run out in the meantime, and Gwen will throw fire.”

“Fireball?”

“Yes, fire. The youngest will be in charge of the rear.”

Nod.

Gilbert’s orders were clear. Tom was terrified by the sight of everyone nodding.

“Do you mean to break through that?”

There were dozens of soldiers stationed outside. And the catapult in between them. How were they supposed to break through that?

Just then-.

Bang, bang, bang!

The door shook as if it was going to break.

Gilbert gestured. Adrianna grabbed the hilt of her sword. They were ready for battle.

“What are you doing in there! Come out now!”

As if their patience had reached its limit, they knocked even more roughly than before. The door shook as if it was going to break at any moment.

“I’ll hold them off.”

Tom hurriedly headed towards the door.

Holding the door handle, he desperately thought. What would Commander Galahad have done?

“We are here on the orders of His Highness the Grand Duke! Opening it by force is an act of rebellion against His Highness the Grand Duke!”

“Open the door, and stop barking! How dare you sully the Grand Duke’s name?!”

The violent outburst caused the knocking to pause momentarily.

However, that was only for a brief moment.

“Open the door, or else! Do you dare slander the Grand Duke’s name?!”

It was of no use.

Gilbert gave a signal, and everyone finished their preparations.

‘He really intends to fight…’ Tom screamed inwardly.

“Open up now! We can’t wait any longer!”

Slam! The door was slightly ajar. Tom bit his lip.

He had claimed he was taking a bath, so he needed to confirm that.

“Everyone, please turn around.”

At Tom’s request, everyone turned their heads.

Without hesitation, Tom took off his armor, meticulously and cleanly.

Tom pulled the doorknob slightly. The rattling door opened roughly.

Countless gazes were fixed on him simultaneously. Tom let out an unadorned scream.

The knights, who had been clamoring, were taken aback by Tom’s naked body.

“Didn’t you say you were washing yourself?!

“Ahem, hurry up and get ready. We can’t wait any longer. We have received orders from above.”

The knight took a step back.

Tom realized that this was the end.

Tom quickly put on his armor, readjusted his shield, and blocked the door. Gilbert stood next to him. Damian prepared to jump out.

“You bastards!!”

Just then, the knight pushed his way in. Tom desperately resisted, but he was no match for the knight. Tom was kicked and rolled on the floor. Gilbert gasped.

In that split second—

“The 7th Battalion has quite the temper.”

A leisurely voice was heard. Everyone’s heads turned simultaneously.

Galahad leisurely tossed his head. His neat attire and clean face made it obvious to anyone that he had just finished washing himself.

Even Tom was confused.

The knight seemed flustered and took a step back.

“Show us the way.”

As he spoke, Galahad’s forehead was completely dry.

****

Armed men and those wearing black hoods sat around the banquet hall.

The table was laden with unfamiliar meats and alcohol. They tore at the dripping meat and ate.

“How much longer do we have to wait?”

The Devilish, an executive of the Black Mage Society, scowled.

His voice was laced not with anxiety, but with irritation.

Now that he was getting full, he was starting to think about his original purpose for coming.

“I heard he’s taking a bath to show his respect before coming.”

A mocking voice came from the side.

“A bath, huh?”

Laughter erupted here and there.

“Do you have any other hidden intentions?

At that moment, someone raised a question.

Silence continued for a moment before laughter broke out. The one who spoke laughed first.

The number of troops deployed around him exceeded one hundred. If there were an anomaly, a report would have come up already.

Even if he were to sneakily break through that-.

“What can he do? This is already our territory.”

Devrian chuckled.

No matter what he did, the outcome was set. It would only be a meaningless struggle.

That was the reason they were leisurely eating their meal without rushing.

“The sanctuary will open soon.”

At Devrian’s declaration, cheers erupted here and there.

“We will open a new era.”

The deputy commander spoke up. His voice was filled with confidence. Everyone nodded their heads.

In the darkness, red eyes gleamed ominously.

‘It’s almost here. The full-scale launch of the academy.’

Devrian muttered quietly.

All the circumstances were perfect.

He had summoned the northern water-clouding Galahad for seven generations.

He would kill him and twist the relationship between the North and the Empire.

With that, he would open the door to-.

‘The era of black magic.’

It would no longer be hidden.

“But aren’t we a bit late? I don’t see any executives wearing crow masks.”

At that moment, another executive muttered nervously. He was the one who always made weak remarks.

Tsk, mood-killer-.

“Why does that matter when the sanctuary is opening?”

Devrian said with conviction.

“Adrianna? It doesn’t matter even if he comes in person. Because the sanctuary is a graveyard for those who were not chosen. Aren’t there plenty of chosen knights here? Adrianna alone won’t be enough!”

Everyone burst into laughter at Devrian’s words. Shh! Devrian put his index finger to his lips. Everyone waited for him to continue speaking.

“He should at least bring an Archduke!”

An Archduke-!

The laughter grew even louder.

Just then, the door was roughly opened.

A neat and handsome noble, who seemed to be from the capital, entered.

“Oh, you’re all gathered here. Sorry I’m late. Things took longer than I thought.”

Cold gazes poured onto the man.

The man met each of them head-on.

As if examining something, very meticulously-.

“I see it’s a banquet.”

The man strides towards the empty seat, muttering under his breath.

The center of attention shifts to the man in an instant.

He gives off the air of being the star of the party.

“Hm, raw meat. What a savage taste.”

The man clicks his tongue and pours the wine in his glass onto the floor. Then he takes out a water jug and fills the glass.

The red liquid fills the glass. The smell wafting from it is awfully familiar. A cursed, dreadful smell that stings the nose—

The blood of a demon.

The man swirls the glass around, spreading the smell.

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The knights on either side of him recoil in horror. The others grimace.

The man leisurely brings the glass to his lips. He savors it like he’s drinking fine wine and empties the glass.

‘We’re the savages?’

The man wipes his lips with a cloth after setting down the glass.

“Now then, since it’s getting late, let’s get down to business.”

Business? He acts as if he’s the one who called us here.

‘What the—’

Deblian frowns in strange displeasure.

Then, the man picks up a fork and knife.

It looks like he’s preparing to eat.

And then—

“So, where’s the high-ranking demon?”

The man raises the corners of his mouth as if waiting for a fancy dish.

A heavy silence falls over the banquet hall.