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

45. Beast Trainer

‘The Demonic Realm······.’

Galahad muttered as he looked at the castle covered in ash.

The Demonic Realm that had opened in the 7th Battalion was the size of the area between the inner and outer walls. Its size didn’t get any bigger or smaller.

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Mana flowed from an area of low concentration to an area of high concentration. Therefore, the Demonic Realm attracted the surrounding mana.

When mana of low concentration flowed in, it mixed with the mana of high concentration. Naturally, the concentration would decrease.

Once the difference in concentration fell below a certain level, the flow would stop, and there would be differences in each region.

That was the flow of mana.

However, the Demonic Realm maintained a high concentration of mana while attracting the surrounding mana.

‘How is this even possible?’

Galahad squinted his eyes and observed it, but he couldn’t figure it out at all.

That was the biggest reason why Galahad had suggested the Demonic Realm training ground.

The Demon King would be deep within the Demonic Realm. He had to unravel the secrets of the Demonic Realm in order to approach him.

However, he had also been put in charge of the Demonic Realm training ground.

Galahad intended to make the training ground extremely difficult.

-That way, they won’t be flustered and will be able to display their skills even if they enter the real Demonic Realm in the future.-

Of course, the legion commanders wouldn’t follow him obediently, but persuasion was Galahad’s specialty.

And Galahad had earned the Grand Duke’s approval.

“Hmm, we’re lacking personnel.”

Galahad frowned.

To research the magic stones and maintain the magic stone training ground, more manpower was needed.

The personnel Galahad spoke of were wizards or those with similar intelligence.

Most of the people here were like Lord Gilburton, and they weren’t personnel. They were just muscle.

‘Should I call upon the members of the 5th Battalion Dark Magic Academy Branch?’

He was planning to properly operate the Dark Magic Academy Branch to catch the dawn.

However, placing dark wizards around the magic stones wasn’t a very good choice.

Is there no place that produces intelligent people?

‘Ah, the Intelligence Agency.’

Galahad still had his Intelligence Agency status.

It was quite high, too. He could bring a few people from the Anga agency and use them.

Of course, the Intelligence Agency would hear about it.

‘I can just sweet-talk my way through that.’

Persuasion was Galahad’s forte.

Just then, a soldier approached.

“Where should I put this?”

“Ah, put it over there.”

The soldier put the luggage down and gave a sharp salute. It was a more rigid salute than the one Gilburton had received.

‘So, this is the Grand Duke’s recognition.’

Galahad waved his hand slightly. The other soldiers also saluted. It was starting to get annoying.

“Are you really planning on managing the magic stones?”

Adrianna asked in her characteristically indifferent voice.

“That’s right.”

“It’ll be dangerous.”

Adrianna said seriously.

It was true. Leaving the magic stones within the frontline was quite dangerous.

“That’s why we need more training. How long are we going to just keep blocking? Wars don’t end by just blocking.”

“You seem certain.”

Galahad nodded. Even if it wasn’t something written in his notebook, it was something he could predict.

“And what if something like this happens again? Shouldn’t we be prepared?”

Adrianna contemplated Galahad’s question for a moment before nodding.

“You have a point. It’s still dangerous to maintain the magic stones, though. I’ll send some personnel from the 1st Battalion.”

“Thank you.”

There was no need to refuse, so he nodded.

Just then, Gilburton approached.

“Huh? When did you arrive, Lady Adrianna?”

Adrianna coughed lightly at Gilburton’s question. Galahad answered instead.

“She came with His Highness the Grand Duke.”

“Ah, is that so.”

Gilbert bowed his head.

“Why aren’t the other unit members here? Did you come without informing the battalion?”

At Gilbert’s question, Adrianna’s eyes widened slightly.

Then Galahad spoke with a smirk.

“I left a letter for them.”

Adrianna sighed in relief. Then she suddenly looked up at Galahad.

“What did you write?”

“Well, it’s a secret.”

Adrianna grew anxious.

“But, have you not seen the youngest? He’s nowhere to be found. I heard he went with the commander.”

Gilbert asked, his face creased with worry.

“Ah, you mean Lord Noad.”

“Yes, he’s not here. The silly fool, has he lost his way somewhere?”

“You truly are Sir Gilbert.”

“······What do you mean?”

“Nothing. I sent him on an errand.”

“Yes? You sent him alone?”

Gilbert sighed deeply, a very deep sigh. Adrianna’s eyebrows lowered slightly.

“The youngest, he knows nothing but the sword. He can’t even hold the reins or light a fire. Sending such a child on an errand, it’s a disaster waiting to happen.”

“······Surely it’s not that bad?”

“Yes? Do you know our youngest, Lady Adrianna?”

Adrianna opened her mouth to speak but shook her head.

“Haah, the child is diligent. He just hasn’t learned, but he’ll learn quickly if you teach him.”

Adrianna’s eyebrows raised slightly.

“However, he’s just stupid-“

And then lowered again.

Adrianna’s eyes narrowed. Gilbert didn’t notice her gaze and continued talking about the youngest.

“Ah, but the youngest has become quite famous in the 7th Battalion.”

“Famous?”

“Yes, even though he’s stupid-“

Adrianna coughed lightly.

“Are you alright? Ah, back to the story. So the youngest may be stupid, but he wields a sword well, and has defeated countless soldiers and knights.”

Adrianna’s eyebrows lowered further. Galahad chuckled softly.

Gilbert’s swordsmanship was better than he had imagined.

“But he’s quite rough. He doesn’t bother to talk and just swings his sword. A manly man among manly men, that boy.”

“A manly man?”

Adrianna shook her head slightly. Twice in a row.

“Wasn’t the situation urgent?”

Adrianna said anxiously.

“That’s right. The commander said he would do it alone, so come as quickly as possible! But that boy······.”

Gilbertton’s afterword trailed off.

“What’s that?”

“You rip the opponent’s ear off and eat it with gusto. Khuh-! You’re that much of a tough guy!”

A subtle unease crept onto Adrianna’s face. Adrianna quickly shook her head three times.

It was a common exaggeration on the front lines. Galahad chuckled quietly.

“The youngest kid, you’ll definitely have a thick beard soon.”

“······Gilbertton sir!”

“Yes? Adrianna ma’am?”

“Let’s duel.”

Knight Gilbertton laughed happily.

But that laughter didn’t last long.

****

Tom thought he had adapted to the special task force.

Like Gwen, who claimed to be a servant while wielding a thunderbolt and spewing fire from her hands. And Demian, a boy who caught monsters with a single rusty sword. Even Sir Gilbertton was part of it now. Tom was slowly adapting.

Except for the commander Galahad, who was hard to read.

Each member was an exceptional talent, but they also had their own shortcomings. They were extremely ignorant outside of combat.

Tom found his own use there. His ordinary self was able to survive among these monsters.

Tom knew how pitiful it was to be useless. That’s why he did his best.

He somehow found a role. He desperately created his own necessity.

Thanks to that, Tom thought he had adapted to the special task force.

Until Adrianna wore a strange helmet and called herself the youngest.

Her long, slender legs and nobility that couldn’t be hidden even by thick armor were unmistakably Adrianna’s.

It was strange that no one noticed Galahad taking another knight from the 1st Regiment.

Tom had to hold back his screams every time Gilbertton called him a stupid youngest.

Gilbertton had even entrusted Adrianna to Tom, saying he would teach him what the youngest should do.

Who was Adrianna?

The rising hero of the North, the only blood relative of the Grand Duke, and a potential future Grand Duke.

Teaching Adrianna like that to Tom… Even Adrianna didn’t complain once and learned with sincerity.

Fortunately, she was soon assigned to the 7th Regiment, and the period wasn’t too long.

It was a real crisis, but somehow manageable.

Tom thought he had overcome the biggest crisis.

Until just now…

“Where is he?”

The moment Tom heard the voice, he froze.

It was a deep, unforgettable voice.

“What? Why?”

Why was the Grand Duke standing in front of him?

The scene of the Grand Duke effortlessly plucking the demon’s head was still vivid in his mind.

That terrifying demon, which had felt like an overwhelming despair, was nothing but a chunk of meat to the Grand Duke.

No, not even now.

‘······He’s holding it! A demon!!’

Krrrrrrr!!

Tom desperately held back a scream as the demon, caught by the Grand Duke, thrashed about.

That was a goblin. It was smaller than other demons, but that made it all the more dangerous.

It was an intermediate demon that should be dealt with by a knight, not a soldier.

To think he was holding such a goblin like an object.

Tom couldn’t help but screamed as the goblin opened its mouth wide.

****

“Kyaah!”

At Tom’s scream, Galahad tidied up his seat and came down.

In front of the bubble-blowing, unconscious Tom, the Grand Duke was holding a grotesque demon.

‘A demon like what-.’

Galahad squinted his eyes and assessed the situation.

Even at a glance, it wasn’t a low-level demon. It was at least intermediate.

To think he was holding such a demon like a chicken bought from the market.

‘He truly is a monster.’

Galahad stuck out his tongue.

“I found it.”

The Grand Duke said softly.

The question of where he could have possibly found an intermediate demon came to the tip of his tongue, but Galahad swallowed it back with effort.

Krrrrrrr!!

The demon twisted its body violently. Upon closer inspection, there wasn’t even a scratch on the demon’s body.

‘Did he beat up a demon and bring it here?’

Galahad gulped.

“Thank you. But isn’t this an intermediate demon?”

It had been decided to fill it with low-level demons due to Adrianna’s strong insistence. Since it was a hunting ground, even low-level demons were dangerous.

But the Grand Duke had brought an intermediate demon without hesitation.

It seemed he thought the low-level demons were insufficient.

To think he had brought an intermediate demon regardless.

“Is there a problem?”

The Grand Duke’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.

“Not at all. If someone who can’t even handle an intermediate demon sits in the leader’s seat, that would be more of a problem.”

The Grand Duke raised one side of his lips. Upon closer inspection, it was a scar. A scar so deep that yellow fangs could be seen through it-.

‘Not bad.’

Galahad had been curious about it as well.

Galahad rolled up his sleeves and approached the demon.

The demon opened its snout wide and barked roughly.

“If you don’t do anything, you’ll get neutered.”

Gallahan made a light joke, but Daegong didn’t laugh. The beast growled louder.

Gallahan quietly pulled out a magic stone from Tom’s bag.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m going to inscribe the magic circle of a beast tamer.”

Beast tamer…?

Daegong’s eyes narrowed.

Thud-.

When facing a mid-level beast, the pain egg shook violently.

It trembled as if it was about to burst.

“This won’t do. This isn’t something to eat.”

The pain egg calmed down, looking somewhat dejected.

Daegong stared at Gallahan, who was holding out his hand to the beast.

He had presented a mid-level beast, but instead of being intimidated, Gallahan was smiling.

As if he had done something good.

“Ah, is there nothing more?”

The scar on Daegong’s lip deepened.

****

“······It’s too hard.”

The Information Department’s Jammit furrowed her brow at the torrent of complaints.

Across from her sat Gallahan, or rather, James.

When he first entered the Information Department, James’ sparkling eyes were now dulled by fatigue, and his golden hair was greasy.

He looked like a typical rookie in the Information Department.

“I don’t know what everyone thinks magic is. They think it’s magic, so they keep asking why it takes so long. Don’t they know it’s supposed to take a long time? You have to calculate the mana density and memorize the incantation! And they won’t even let me use my wand-.”

James continued to vent his frustrations.

“So, what’s Gallahan doing? This is ridiculous. Gallahan! Gallahan!! Ahhh! Genius of the century!”

James jumped up and shouted Gallahan’s name, having a fit.

A typical reaction from a rookie wizard in the Information Department.

“Whenever the director hears the name ‘Gallahan’, he jumps up and gets angry at me. Saying I’m always getting support! Like that!”

Jammit quietly watched James, who was complaining.

“What does this kid think I am?”

Even the feared Operations Director, who was intimidating to James, was lenient towards Jammit. So, Jammit clicked her tongue.

If Gallahan hadn’t said that the guy who looked like a carrot was okay, Jammit wouldn’t have tolerated this.

“Why do they keep comparing me to a genius like that? We’re completely different people······.”

James hung his head low.

“Was I too harsh?”

Jammit clicked her tongue again.

Of course, Gallahan was a person who deserved to be called a genius, as James said.

At the same time, he was a person who couldn’t be explained by the word “genius”.

“Do you know how Gallahan casts magic without an incantation?”

“······Because he’s a genius?”

“Half-right. You’re the academy’s top graduate, aren’t you?”

“······But I graduated six years later than him.”

James made a somewhat nervous expression for a moment before nodding.

“I asked him out of curiosity once. How could he use magic so quietly and quickly.”

Jamit paused for a moment.

James found himself leaning forward without realizing it.

“He said he used it until he could do it like that.”

Jamit shook his teacup.

“······Yes?”

“Like a knight training until he can react to a sword flying at him even with his eyes closed, he said he used magic until he could do it without thinking.”

James’s eyes opened wide at Jamit’s explanation.

“That’s ridiculous. When using magic, it’s not just mana that’s consumed. Mental strength is consumed too, so if he used such a reckless method, he would definitely go crazy.”

Jamit thought for a moment at James’s resolute words.

Was Galahad crazy?

It seemed like it.

“Believe it or not, it’s your choice. It’s also your choice to bear the weight of that name, and if you want, tell me and I’ll change it.”

Jamit snapped his fingers.

There were few cases where an agent’s name was changed, but it wasn’t unheard of.

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There were quite a few cases where an agent’s name was exposed or changed for the sake of an operation.

James’s face crumpled. Anguish surfaced amidst the deep fatigue.

Jamit quietly sipped his tea.

It was a long time later that James opened his mouth.

“It’s fine.”

Those blue eyes were clearer than before. It seemed like he had made a decision of his own.

“I will become someone who won’t shame that name.”

I heard he had only spoken to Galahad in passing, but to have that much admiration.

“Yes, I’ll look forward to it.”

Even though it would never happen-. Jamit swallowed the rest of his words.

The guy smiled brightly. He was still very much a puppy.

At that moment, the door opened roughly. A neurotic guy entered.

“Jamit! What’s this about Galahad being dispatched to the North?”

The guy shouted sharply as soon as he entered.

‘Ah, there he is.’

Jamit felt a faint sense of fatigue.

He was Agent First.

He was the guy who had always been second to Galahad since their academy days. After that, he found out somehow and followed Galahad into the Intelligence Agency.

‘He’s always been second to Galahad in the Intelligence Agency too.’

That was also impressive. He was right below Galahad.

However, that difference was too great to be just one rank apart.

“This time, I’ll finally beat that guy!”

“Calm down, it’s no use arguing with me.”

“Damn it! Who dared to send Galahad, the rival of my soul? Unforgivable-.”

“It’s an imperial order.”

First’s lips froze. His eyes darted back and forth. A brief silence followed.

“······Damn it! You received the imperial order before me!”

First’s anger burst out like jealousy, and Zabit’s eyes narrowed. Was it right to get angry at this point?

“No, you can’t escape from me until the competition is over! Zabit! I’ll go to the North too.”

“Why tell me? Shouldn’t you tell your father directly?”

“I’ll do that.”

First nodded his head vigorously.

First’s obsession with Galahad was extremely famous.

First was the son of the Minister. Ironically, he had never used his father’s power to compete with Galahad, calling it a ‘fair’ competition. He was simply a foolish guy.

Recently, a vacancy had opened up in the North, and somehow, he would take that position.

It was an unexpected blow to Zabit, who was planning to support him.

“Galahad! You think you can escape from me? Wait! I’ll follow you to the end of the North! For the unfinished victory-! Hmm? Are you a newbie?”

First, who was shouting, asked James.

“······Yes!”

“Then, what’s your name?”

James bowed his head deeply in response to First’s question.

“······I’m James.”

James lowered his head.

Zabit suddenly had a question.

Would Galahad remember First?

Hmm-

······Would he not remember?