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

18. Demon Water

‘······That bastard came all the way here!!’

The crow gnashed his teeth.

I knew he was a terrible guy, but-.

‘He followed me all the way to the northern front?!’

It was unbelievable. Even so, was he saying that a guy who used to operate in the central region had chased him to the northern front?

Once you start using magic, you crave its unseen end. That’s why a magician would even sacrifice their own life for it.

The Black Mage Society was the group that understood that nature the best. They idolized advancement and did not care about the means or methods.

The Black Mage Society believed that as long as they could indulge in magic and possess greater mana, they would even make a contract with the devil.

Thanks to that, the Black Mage Society grew rapidly and secretly.

Until I met that bastard.

[The Kartel Castle branch has been destroyed.]

At first, it was just a minor incident.

It was absurd that the branch had been destroyed out of the blue, but I thought it was possible. Even the Black Mage Society couldn’t keep doing well forever.

However, such possible incidents continued to happen.

[The Hermenian City branch-.]

[The Barma branch-.]

It was clear that the Intelligence Agency was moving.

There was an unfounded rumor that the Intelligence Agency was behind every major incident on the continent. Their security was so thorough that their existence wouldn’t have been known if it weren’t for that rumor.

The Black Mage Society came up with a plan to deal with them. Even if it was the Intelligence Agency, they weren’t the defenseless Black Mage Society. They consolidated their branches and increased their security.

The result that came back was-.

[The Hermenia branch manager killed the Calilton mayor?]

[The Hermenia branch was already destroyed.]

[So, you see. Isn’t it strange?]

The Intelligence Agency began to use their name to get rid of their thorns in their side, as if mocking them.

The Black Mage Society was helpless when they acted like that. Their members ran away in fear, and their power dwindled day by day.

Still, I thought they would keep it under control. After all, they had been using the name of the Black Mage Society quite effectively.

Then I ran into that bastard.

[Hmm, do you also call this magic? I had high expectations because you called yourself a black magician, but you’re just trash with a lot of mana.]

I had never felt such a sense of powerlessness in my life.

The bastard who had infiltrated the branch alone criticized and scolded each magic while destroying it.

He asked if we were calling such trash magic-.

That’s when the crow realized.

It wasn’t the Intelligence Agency that had been tormenting the Black Mage Society all along, but that bastard.

The crow promoted himself.

The only reason the crow was able to survive was because he was loose-lipped.

That’s how the grudge with that bastard started.

[Is that all? You’re really useless. Was the persuasion lacking?]

The Raven had never worked so hard in his entire life as he did then.

Then, he seized the opportunity and escaped to the north.

But that bastard chased him all the way here-.

‘That vicious bastard! That dog!’

The Raven exploded with indignation.

How much had he given up to shake off that bastard! He had cut himself off like cutting off an arm, and yet that bastard had chased after him! What more did he want to take!

What had he done so wrong! He had worked hard! He had given everything he had! Those bastards who had taken his place in the Necromancer’s Guild, and the magazine! They were real sons of b*tches!

The anger he couldn’t utter boiled over.

“Well… I’ve woken him up for now.”

The Raven squinted at the voice from behind.

‘No. It’s really different this time. There’s a demon.’

Demons. The natural enemies of mages, the predators that ate mages. No matter how much that bastard flew or crawled, he was still a mage.

He had eaten a whole quarry of magic stones, so he didn’t have much intelligence, but his power was real.

He was a demon prepared to tear down the castle walls-.

‘And there’s the magic stone, too.’

Right now, the Raven had a pocketful of pure magic stones that he had just drained.

He was sick of it.

He was simply afraid of seeing that bastard’s face.

‘I’m not the same as I was then.’

He couldn’t stay in that bastard’s shadow any longer.

The Raven straightened his hunched back.

The Raven steeled himself and took out all the magic stones and scattered them.

They weren’t ordinary magic stones. They were the highest quality goods.

That wasn’t all. The Raven spread out his cloak. The inside of the cloak was covered with intricate magic circles.

The Necromancer’s Guild worshipped only advancement.

They placed no limits on the process. That’s why they grew stronger at an unparalleled rate compared to other mages.

The Raven was not the Raven he had been then.

There was a loud thumping sound from behind. The earth shook as if an earthquake had struck.

The Raven threw the magic stones forward and quickly retreated.

That demon was so hungry that it would even eat other demons-.

‘It’ll probably try to eat the mages first.’

The Raven smiled sinisterly.

****

‘So there were two mages.’

Galahad scratched his cheek.

At that moment, he felt a surge of dense mana from within. The earth shook as if trembling in fear.

‘This isn’t good.’

Galahad took out a flask from his pocket. When he shook it, the slightly congealed blood inside sloshed.

“Sir Gilbert.”

“······He’s not an ordinary man.”

Gilbert adjusted his grip on his sword. Sweat was pouring down his forehead. He was not in good shape.

Gilbert was a knight. Damian was lying on a stretcher as soon as he arrived, and Gwen was pale with sunken eyes. Tom was somehow standing, but he was staggering.

“It seems that you and I should do it. Let us think of this as a great battle.”

“······That’s enough.”

Gilbert raised the corners of his mouth. However, his eyes were still fixed on the vibrations that could be felt beyond.

“So, are you tired after catching some mongrels? You stable boy.”

“Mongrels are quite tricky creatures.”

“Are they?”

“Never mind.”

“Are you sulking?”

Gilbert turned his sword around instead of answering. Sulking, huh-. Galahad clicked his tongue slightly.

Their opponents were one demon and two wizards.

They were an exhausted, foolish knight and a genius wizard-.

This will do.

“I’ll take care of the two wizards, so you hold off the demon. I’ll finish them off as quickly as possible and come help you.”

“Is it possible to take on two wizards alone?”

“It’s enough.”

“Then I’ll take care of the demon.”

“Are you confident?”

“When it comes to demons, it’s my specialty.”

Galahad laughed out loud. The veins on his sword hand were bulging.

“Okay, shall we bet on who finishes faster?”

“Fine. On a meal.”

“You should be careful. Demian said he was hungry earlier.”

Gilbert’s face turned quite serious.

Just then-.

Kwaang! With a violent sound, the wall of the cave was broken.

What emerged from it was a naked giant in the shape of a man. It was more than half the size of a troll. The thick muscles on its limbs twitched as if they were breathing.

The surrounding mana expanded and contracted as if watching the creature.

‘This will not be easy.’

It was too big to be a demon and too small to be a monster.

If we were to put it moderately-.

“It seems to be a demon beast. Come to think of it, its pronunciation is a bit off.”

Galahad raised the corners of his mouth at Gilbert’s slightly stiff face.

“What’s with that expression? Do you regret it?”

“Strictly speaking, that’s not a demon.”

As if spitting out anger, it pounded the ground indiscriminately. Every time that giant fist hit, the ground would cave in with a loud noise.

If the demon they saw last time had fired an invisible energy, this demon seemed to use pure strength.

“That’s an upper-level demon. I could normally take care of it easily, but-“

“So you’re not confident?”

“······Let’s just say that.”

“If you need help, just yell, ‘Help me, Captain!’ Aren’t you my one and only vice-captain?”

“No need.”

Gilbert’s face crumpled as if he had bitten into something sour.

“Burn it! Destroy it! Crush it!”

Along with the incantation, gigantic fireballs rose from the end of the alleyway. There were quite a few of them.

This was a number that an ordinary wizard could not display.

“Magic stones. They’re a commodity too.”

Magic stones and wizards had quite the compatibility. It wasn’t for nothing that the wizards of the capital carried around expensive magic stone-embedded staffs.

Magic was the act of using the mana within one’s body to gather the mana in the atmosphere, formulate it, and perform miracles.

Magic stones replaced the process of using the mana within one’s body to gather the mana in the atmosphere.

In other words, a wizard with a magic stone could cast magic simply by formulating it.

There were even wizards who practiced speaking quickly in order to cast spells even a little faster. Magic stones were quite deadly in battles between wizards.

Demon blood and magic stones had slightly different properties. Demon blood was a substance containing highly concentrated mana. In order to use that highly concentrated mana, one had to possess a fairly high level of mana suppression ability.

In contrast, magic stones were simply lumps of mana with an ordinary concentration. They were quiet and gentle, so to speak. Most wizards could handle them.

However, to be able to cast that level of magic, one would have to be more than just a novice at using magic stones. They could even be called a magic stone expert.

“Are you going to run away?”

“No, on the contrary, it’s good. It would be too easy otherwise.”

Gilbert clicked his tongue softly. He seemed to think it was a joke.

The demon’s head turned towards them. It had large eyes that didn’t match its face. Those fly-like red eyes blinked.

Galahad felt a strange sense of dissonance. The identity of that sense of discongruity was-.

“Is it just me, or is the demoness staring at me?”

“······It seems that you are quite popular with the demons.”

The demon stamped on the ground. In an instant, the distance between them was closed. It was a speed that belied its size.

Gilbert blocked it by swinging his sword diagonally.

Kwaang! With a loud bang, the sword and fist collided. Gilbert’s blue aura shook violently. Gilbert took a step back.

‘This isn’t good.’

Galahad clicked his tongue slightly at the red eyes that were still glaring at him.

The demon reached out towards Galahad. Gilbert tried to block him by swinging his sword, but it wasn’t easy because his arms were so thick.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t like people touching my body.”

Galahad clicked his tongue softly and flicked his hand. The demon’s thick fingers were bent upwards. An ice spear was embedded beneath it.

Although he had gathered quite a bit of mana, the depth was not good enough.

‘This isn’t good-‘

Galahad clicked his tongue softly.

Kkeueueueue-! The demon let out a cry. Gilbert continued to swing his sword, but his gaze was still fixed on Galahad.

“Damian, I’m in danger! Are you going to make another mistake?”

“No.”

“Good. Then go up with Tom and take care of the wizards. Don’t kill the one using the crows.”

“Yes!”

“Understood!”

Their condition was not good, but the magic was on their side anyway. The attention of the demons was on them.

“As expected, I’m popular.”

“······Is this the time for jokes?”

“Humor is the oil of life. It smooths out difficult situations.”

Gilbert spat instead of answering. It was a bloody spit.

His condition was bad because of the damage he had accumulated on the way. Galahad’s condition was similar.

However, they couldn’t take a nap and then fight. That was the way of the world.

Galahad opened his water bottle. The disgusting smell of blood filled the air. When he shook it slightly, the coagulated blood quickly rattled. It seemed to be due to mana.

“You protect me. Then I’ll find a way.”

“Find a way…Isn’t that irresponsible?”

At that moment, the demon’s fist flew towards Galahad again.

Galahad brought the water bottle to his mouth without looking at him. It tasted even worse than before.

His head spun. The mana that flowed through his throat spread in an instant. His body was burning hot. His mana channels expanded. He groaned in pain.

Kwang! Another loud noise erupted. Gilbert twisted his shoulder and blocked the fist with his sword. A grunt burst from his mouth.

Originally, a battle to protect someone was harder to endure than a normal battle.

Even more so when the opponent ignored their own injuries and the one to be protected stood still.

However, Gilbert did not complain and gripped his sword again.

Before they knew it, the fireballs were right above them. The fireballs seemed to whisper. If they made the slightest mistake, they would die.

The thrill of being on the verge of death tickled Galahad’s neck.

Yes, this is the taste.

Galahad did not stop the corners of his mouth from rising.

As he flicked his finger, mana arrows floated around his index finger. Galahad checked their concentration with him as the center.

It was not a matter of calculation, but of a mastered sense. The time it took was a mere moment.

As he flicked his next finger, sparks flew. As he moved his fingers like playing the piano, sparks erupted in a chain reaction.

Putting out fire is also.

‘Lightning Rod.’

Sparks swirled between his fingers. The mana contained in each one was thick.

As the many fireballs poured down at Galahad, it felt as if the whole world had turned into a sea of fire.

‘A battle of quality versus quantity.’

As he shook his hand full of sparks, the sparks shot out in an instant.

Compared to the huge fireballs, each spark was only as big as a small arrow.

If you just looked at it, it seemed like the sparks would easily crumble, but.

Magic was about quality, not quantity.

Even if they poured magic from the magic stones, they couldn’t improve the quality with their fundamental skills.

The spark lightly tapped the fireball. The fireball gave way in the middle like an illusion. The spark disappeared as it entered it.

Thud. That was all the sound there was. The fireball was cut up as if it had entered a blender. It crumbled. It broke into small pieces.

The fragments of the fireball hit Galahad.

The situation was not good.

While blocking the outpouring of magic, he had to deal with the monster as well.

He sent Damian, but the distance was too far.

Kwaang! The wind generated by the clash between Gilbert and the monster whipped around Galahad’s head.

All he had managed to do was pierce one of its shells with an ice spear that had taken a considerable amount of mana. In order to inflict magical damage on that monster, he had to drink its blood and compress it.

But the monster was targeting Galahad. And on top of that, magic was pouring out.

Gilbert would have his hands full just trying to stop the rampaging monster.

Losing either one of them would be fatal.

Unless he had two heads, he couldn’t cast two spells at the same time-.

‘Is it impossible?’

Galahad suddenly wondered.

It wasn’t unheard of to cast two spells at once.

However, double casting was something that novice mages did to show off.

It was similar to drawing a triangle with one hand and a circle with the other. It was somehow possible when the magic was easy.

But when trying to cast high-level magic, the difficulty increased exponentially.

It was harder than drawing a portrait with his left hand and a landscape with his right hand at the same time.

However-.

‘I just need to draw it, right?’

If he used his left hand to cast a spell that didn’t require much attention, and used his right hand to compress mana-.

‘It might work.’

A deep interest welled up within him.

Double casting was an extremely delicate task.

Magic itself always carried a risk, but with double casting, if he failed, he was sure to explode without leaving a trace due to the internal collision.

So-.

‘I just need to not make a mistake.’

Galahad nodded at the simple conclusion.

What he needed was a higher concentration of mana. So that the spell he cast without much thought would have a much higher concentration than the monsters’ magic-.

“I’ve got a good idea. Sir Gilbert, just hang on for a bit.”

“······Yes, I understand.”

Unlike his words, Gilbert’s complexion was not good.

He looked precarious, but there was no other choice.

This was the option with the highest chance of success.

Galahad poured all the remaining blood in the flask into his mouth.

His throat felt like it was burning. It felt like he had swallowed fire. And not just any fire, but a fire that was dancing wildly-.

The mana that was already overflowing began to rampage as if it had lost its place. Galahad forcibly suppressed it.

His heart felt like it was going to burst from the recoil. It felt like he had swallowed a bomb. If he made even the slightest mistake, it felt like his entire body would be annihilated.

It was exhilarating.

Kwaang! Something exploded in front of him. Hot blood splattered across his face. Galahad kept his eyes closed and concentrated.

Just then, he heard an incantation from afar. Galahad opened his eyes slightly. He didn’t think. He focused all his attention on the mana compressing in his right hand.

Sparks flew from his left hand.

It was similar to a skilled knight counterattacking without thinking. It was the manifestation of magic that Galahad had accumulated in his subconscious through countless repetitions.

‘I got it.’

Galahad closed his eyes again without looking at the result.

He wouldn’t have missed it.

Kwaang! A crashing sound was heard from afar. Stone fragments that poured down like rain struck Galahad.

Gilbert’s groan of pain was heard. Something hard scratched his nose. It seemed like the bastard’s fist had come right up to him.

Galahad remained focused. He pressed and pressed the mana. A popping sound came from his body. It was a sign that he was overloaded.

His body warned him. He would burst if he went on for a little longer. He continued to compress it without stopping.

He couldn’t breathe. It was okay because his lung capacity was excellent.

A spell was heard from afar. He opened his eyes. His vision was completely red. It was okay. He could see. He closed his eyes again and concentrated.

He pressed the mana further. Just a little more.

Just a little.

“Captain!”

At that moment, Gilbert’s voice was heard.

It seemed like a little more would do.

Gilbert’s groan grew distant. It seemed like Gilbert had been pushed back.

Only then did he feel the primal hostility.

Galahad opened his eyes.

Through his red vision, he could see a demon grinding its huge fist.

It wasn’t easy to avoid, and even if he did, if the spell was twisted, he would die by bursting.

What Galahad felt in that crisis was.

A deep regret.

‘Just a little more······.’

That was when.

“Beeep!”

A bright light burst forth from behind. It was so bright that it dazzled his eyes even though it was a backlight. It was clearly Gwen.

The demon’s movement stopped for a very brief moment.

And that was the very small and subtle gap that Galahad wanted.

“Hellfire.”

Galahad’s right hand twisted. As if he was pulling something out.

Soon, the surrounding space melted away. A tiny fire shot out between the melted space.

It was much smaller than a fireball. However, everything in its path melted away. Starting with stones, the air, and even mana.

Everything bowed its head before the hellfire.

The demon, who had been advancing all along, twisted its body for the first time. It seemed that it also sensed danger.

It seemed like it was trying to dodge, but.

“Where!”

Gilbert, who was crumpled here and there, blocked it with his sword.

The hellfire hit the demon’s chest exactly.

The small fire flared up in an instant. As if the demon was dry firewood, it devoured it and grew in size in an instant.

Mana flows from an area of low concentration to an area of high concentration.

That meant that if it was a higher concentration than the demon, the demon itself would become fuel.

Kuaa-!

The Devil’s agonizing scream filled the cave.

“That was close.”

As he spoke, Galahad’s lips were curled up in satisfaction.

At that moment, the fireballs above them disappeared. It seemed that the magician had taken care of them as well.

Gilbert, who had been expressionless the whole time, looked at Galahad with a face full of astonishment. It seemed that he had a lot of questions.

Galahad replied,

“Didn’t I tell you that he was an excellent magician?”

He laughed, running his hand through his disheveled hair.

Oh, and he added one more thing.

“You owe me a bet.”

Gilbert’s face crumpled.