A Dark Fantasy Spy

---

I tried calling Lucia and Francesca, but there’s no signal. We’re out of range.

I stared at the screen in silence. My mouth was shut, but my mind was racing faster than ever.

The situation where signals from communication devices fail is more common than you’d think.

It could be disrupted by solar flares, or the area might be surrounded by mountains and rivers causing the waves to scatter. Or maybe it’s a remote mountainous area or an uninhabited island where the nearest cell tower is miles away. It’s remarkably tough to get a signal in such places.

However, we’re not in a remote area; we’re in the city.

A large department store located in the heart of Abas. Just a five-minute walk from the subway station in the midst of the bustling downtown. It made no sense to lose signal here.

So, the situation is one of two possibilities. First, the nearby cell tower has malfunctioned, preventing the service from being provided.

Or second…

“Hey. Why did you suddenly stop talking? Hello? Hello?”

“Brother, my phone isn’t working.”

“Team Leader, the radio isn’t working right now. Could it be broken?”

Someone is intentionally jamming the signal.

“……”

It seems the latter is true.

—

A feeling of unease crawled up my spine. It felt like someone was tugging at my hair, making my nerves tense as if my consciousness was slipping away.

It was a familiar sensation. The feeling I always had just before a bomb exploded or gunfire erupted.

I instinctively sensed that something was very wrong and looked around.

The department store had nine floors. Seven above ground and two below.

The center was hollowed out like a donut, forming an atrium. At the very bottom was the main lobby with the main entrance leading outside. The ceiling was made of glass, allowing sunlight to pour into the interior. It had a floating style.

I tried to memorize the locations of the emergency stairs and exits, also checking to see if Lucia or Francesca were nearby.

Then it happened.

“Over there.”

Camila gently tugged at my arm.

She was looking at me with a slightly pale, uncomfortable expression.

“What’s wrong?”

“Something… something feels off… like I shouldn’t be here…”

Her grip on my arm tightened.

I glanced around at the main entrance and placed a hand on Camila’s shoulder.

“Calm down, Camila. Don’t panic, just breathe.”

“No, it’s not that… I feel sick…”

“I told you not to eat anything before coming here.”

I tried to lighten the mood, but Camila’s complexion showed no signs of improving. She really seemed unwell.

I took her hand and slowly started moving, beginning to speak.

“It seems we’re having communication issues right now. It could be temporary, but I’m not sure of the cause.”

“Issues…?”

I sat Camila in a chair and briefly explained the communication system in the area.

“Here, communication doesn’t just use radio waves. There’s magic involved. They’ve commercialized communication using magic waves, and this technology is somewhat sensitive to environmental changes.”

“Changes…?”

“I’m not sure since I’m not a wizard, but it’s something like how communication fails during solar flares. Just a natural phenomenon, really. It happens often. Soon, there will be an announcement, and communication should be restored, so just remain calm—”

– Boom!

“I guess I can’t wait anymore.”

At the sudden loud noise, both Camila and I instinctively turned our heads. I gestured for Camila to sit tight as I approached the direction where the sound came from.

“Don’t go anywhere, stay here.”

“Is it… dangerous?”

“It’s fine. Surely, nothing serious will happen.”

Despite my slow walk, a deep-seated sense of unease was steadily rising in my chest.

Please, let nothing happen.

I fervently prayed as I surveyed the department store lobby.

And.

As always, the world gleefully betrayed my expectations.

“…Ah, damn it.”

In the lobby stood a group of suspicious-looking individuals brandishing guns.

It was a terrorist attack.

—

A terrorist attack had occurred. In a department store. In a public facility.

The motives are unknown, the perpetrators are unknown, and I don’t know how many terrorists there are. I’m no fortune-teller; how would I know that?

I quickly racked my brain. I needed to think carefully but decide quickly.

“It’s a terrorist attack.”

“…What?”

“I said, it’s a terrorist attack.”

I grabbed Camila’s hand and stood her up hurriedly. She looked up at me, stunned.

In any case, what must be done is clear.

Run like the wind.

“Let’s go!”

I held onto Camila’s hand and dashed away. The terrorists had entered through the main entrance and taken over the lobby, so we had to flee in the opposite direction.

“Where are we going…?!”

“We have to find a hiding spot! Stick to the walls and follow me!”

Camila pressed herself against the wall as I instructed.

Usually, when a terrorist attack or fire occurs, people tend to move towards the center of the corridor.

The problem is, when too many people flock together, it becomes uncontrollable.

If one isn’t careful, they could be trampled while trying to escape. Or caught by the terrorists while moving slowly amidst the crowd.

I navigated through the confused crowd, gripping Camila’s hand tightly as we ran along the wall.

-Bang!

The sound of gunfire rang out. Even considering the indoors, it was way too close.

Camila looked at the direction from which the gunfire came, quickly turning back to meet my gaze.

“Uh… what do we do…? What about Lucia and Francesca…?”

“Where are they now?”

“Oh, they said they were going to the third floor…”

The third floor is where the women’s clothing stores are. And right now, we are on the first floor.

Damn it.

I locked eyes with Camila and spoke firmly, unintentionally gripping her hand tightly.

“I can’t go looking for those two while bringing you along.”

“……”

“Let’s do what we can for now.”

I hurried across the corridor, observing how the decor was gradually changing.

In large department stores, customer facilities and employee facilities are typically separated. Employees shouldn’t be visible as soon as they leave their stores. So employees use different restrooms and elevators, and facilities like offices or lounges are usually located in out-of-the-way areas.

Typically, customers don’t know where employee facilities are, nor do they realize such facilities even exist. Thus, it’s likely the terrorists don’t know about them either.

We need to head there.

Immediately.

“I’ll take you to a safe place. Wait there. I’ll find those two and bring them back.”

“Wh-what are you going to do alone…? They just fired a gun…”

“Wait a sec.”

Turning the corner, I quickly shifted my body, pushing Camila against the wall.

And covered her mouth with my hand.

“What are you—!”

“Shh.”

Camila, who was about to speak, seemed to realize something. She looked at me with a pale face. I could sense her trembling eyes and the short, shaky breaths indicating her anxiety.

With her mouth still covered, I quietly peered around the corner.

There were terrorists threatening the employees.

“……”

There were two of them.

They didn’t wear matching outfits. One had a baseball cap pulled down low, while the other covered their face with a scarf. I couldn’t tell their race, but one thing was certain; one of the terrorists was definitely not human. They had a bushy tail growing from their backside. A beastman, it seemed.

They were armed with firearms and knives. A hunting shotgun and a large knife.

I fiddled with the handle in my pocket, maintaining eye contact with Camila.

“Camila, you said you like James Bond, right?”

“…Y-yeah?”

Camila nodded with a confused expression.

“Could you lend me your body for a moment?”

—

I draped a shabby strap over my shoulder and pulled a pack of cigarettes from my pocket. Using a flick of my wrist, I popped the pack open, and a white filter sprung up like a salmon leaping from the water.

When I held a cigarette in my hand, the fox turned to glare at me with a twisted frown.

“Hey. I told you it stinks, go smoke outside. If you’re gonna smoke, don’t come within 50 meters of me.”

“What’s with you, sensitive about smells? You’re a beastman, not a dog.”

“Foxes are canids, you ignorant fool. And I told you, if you call me a rodent one more time, I’ll kill you, right?”

“Oh please, spare me from your nonsense…”

The fox aimed a knife at the hostages. The frightened individuals crouched down, shrinking away as much as possible.

The fox said, “I’ll take these guys first, so you better finish smoking. If you end up reeking, don’t come back within my range. Got it?”

“Fine, fine. I’ve got no obligation to listen to you, you know.”

“Just wash up properly or you’re dead. Use soap, scrub until it’s clean.”

I waved as if to say I understood. The fox then led the hostages away, disappearing towards the center like a piper leading children.

I bit the end of the cigarette and opened the matchbox. The last remaining match was rolling around inside the cardboard box.

These days, matches have been scarce because freight trains haven’t been running. I needed to grab a lot on my way back, assuming I could make it back at all.

I struck the last match against the box and lit up.

Under the shadowy palm, the damp, moldy tobacco smoldered red. As the thick smoke filled my lungs, I started feeling something.

In the corner of my eye, I sensed a movement down the distant corridor.

“Who’s there? Come out.”

“……”

My grip tightened around the shotgun as I pulled the trigger.

Click. The chilling sound of a bullet chambering made my hair stand on end.

“Come out!”

I was poised and focused, straining my ears for any sound.

Someone stepped out from the end of the corridor with their hands raised.

“Ah, hello…?”

It was a girl.

A young girl with a somewhat pale complexion. She hesitantly emerged from the corner of the corridor, slowly raising her hand. Whether it was from discomfort or tension, she seemed to huddle like a small animal soaked by rain.

I lowered the gun a bit and approached slowly, raising one hand to calm her.

“Keep your hands up. Place them on your head.”

“…Um.”

“It’s okay. I won’t hurt you. If you follow quietly with your hands up, nothing will happen.”

As I got closer, the girl started stepping backward, but her legs seemed stiff and she didn’t run away.

Just as I was about to grab her arm—

A sudden impact sent my body staggering sideways. It felt like someone had kicked me in the right knee. To keep from falling, I let the gun drop and leaned against the wall. It was instinct. Just as I braced myself against the wall, a rough force lifted me up, levitating me.

– Whump!

My stomach burned. It felt painful and hot, like I’d been punched.

My head didn’t seem to work right. I couldn’t comprehend what was happening.

Something lodged in my abdomen slipped out only to forcibly push back in. I wanted to look up and see what was going on, but a hand grabbed my chin, turning my head sideways.

Just before my eyes closed.

What reflected in my retina was a figure with swirling red hair. A hand covering a mouth. Wide, terrified blue eyes.

And a suit man holding a blade to my throat.

– Shh!

Crimson flowers bloomed against the wall.