A Dark Fantasy Spy

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Living in an 18th-century building with no electricity while preparing for the upcoming new millennium was no different from living completely disconnected from civilization.

However, despite the exterior of the quaint mansion, the interior had undergone modern renovations.

As I pulled ice cream from the fridge, I muttered to myself, “It’s Lappin.”

Jerry, my older brother who was making sandwiches, asked, “Ice cream? Or a magazine?”

“Of course it’s ice cream. You think I’d pull out a magazine from the fridge?”

Lappin is a specialized ice cream company based in Frangia that borders Patalia.

The reason Jerry brought up magazines is that Lappin produces ice cream while also publishing a men’s magazine. Just for reference, there was that time when Jerry got caught looking at Lappin magazines in the dorm while attending the academy.

While I searched for a spoon, I casually tossed, “Brother, be honest. Do you still watch that stuff?”

“Do I look like I would?”

I answered without much thought, “Yeah.”

“That little brat…”

Just as I was headed to the dining room with a spoon in one hand and the ice cream tub in the other, I spotted someone unfamiliar sprawled on the living room sofa.

With long hair that looked feminine, but it wasn’t our mother or older sister Adela.

Thinking it could be a relative, I slowly approached the sofa.

But—

The longer I looked, the more familiar that nape of the neck seemed—

“Uh?”

There lay someone on the sofa, propped against a cushion, fast asleep. She looked exhausted, with dark circles under her eyes.

I carefully set the spoon and the ice cream tub on the table.

Then I called out, “Hey, you—”

“……”

“You little brat!”

“Hyiiiii…!”

I flipped the sofa over.

—

Episode 10 – Adjust Course Northwest

—

The tranquil, vintage mansion of the western region faced ruthless violence.

The sofa, which could easily accommodate three or four people, was flipped over, and the person who had been aimlessly traveling in dreamland was now rolling on the floor.

With long ebony hair reminiscent of Veronica, a striking appearance that stood out with her exceptional height and bright features.

Unlike the people of the Nostrim family, her blue eyes distinctly set her apart.

Ayla.

I rushed toward my little sister, who was just getting up from the sofa.

“Jetkick!”

“Ugh…!”

Forcefully yanked from her warm dreamland and thrown into the cold reality, Ayla trembled as she tried to get up, collapsing onto the floor.

A slap to her back made her gasp in surprise.

Seeing the twenty-something kid rolling on the floor tugged at my heart, yet sadly, I prided myself on being a feminist.

So, with utmost confidence, I stated, “Stand up straight, Ayla.”

“Ah, uh, uh….”

“Ayla, get up. You’re my little sister.”

Thwack!

As my palm smacked the back of her head, Ayla snapped to attention. It seemed she was fully awake now.

She rubbed her tiny head with both hands, tousling her hair, then shot me an accusing glare.

“Ow…!”

I hit her again.

—

“After going abroad, you took money from my account without telling me? Are you even human?”

“Ugh….”

Ayla, brushing herself off while supporting herself on the sofa, pouted like an old man, her face filled with humiliation and shame as she lowered her head, starting to tidy her messy hair.

Just a few months ago, she was a swan.

After graduating from the university but unable to find a job, she had loitered around the house for years—quite the opposite of her appearance.

Thinking she wouldn’t settle down until she turned thirty, the lady of the Nostrim family kicked Ayla out. With help from her three siblings, she had survived for a while, alternating between the townhouse in the capital and my official residence.

For reference, the money she wasted was the allowance I had given her. More precisely, it was the card I had given her to buy meals. There’s nothing more bitter than watching someone starve.

But this brat managed to get a suit while I was away. With the money I gave her to buy meals.

It seemed strange to complain about this blatant lack of conscience.

Maybe she did have a conscience, but all she could do was mumble in frustration.

“That just happened…”

“Oh! Our sister just happened to get a suit made?”

“……”

Ayla hesitated, attempting to say something before tripping over her words. I curiously waited for what she might say.

About a minute later, after deliberating with a conflicted expression, Ayla cautiously opened her mouth.

“…It’s because the company has a casual dress code, and I didn’t have anything suitable to wear to work.”

“So you got a suit with my money?”

“Yeah.”

“What did you spend the pocket money I gave you on? You seemed to be saving a bit.”

“…On gambling.”

“Congratulations, you brat.”

I gently patted my lovely sister’s head. Hearing that she spent all her allowance on gambling made me genuinely want to throw her to the floor, but since it wasn’t my money, I held back for now.

But still, what could I do? I couldn’t kill her since she was family.

I ruminated while rhythmically tapping on Ayla’s head with the spoon.

How much could I squeeze out of her?

Up until now, Ayla has probably swindled around ten million won from me.

First, she fleeced me when I started saving a little for a used car, and recently she pilfered again for that suit.

Ayla is a magician.

Though it’s a short history, magicians traditionally make a lot of money, and they are preferred skilled manpower in the job market, proving there’s always a level below the bottom.

In other words, once Ayla gains some experience, she will earn far more than I do.

With a keen sense for money that could rival those in Yongsan, I smiled brightly at my little sister.

“Ayla, our sister.”

“Uh, uh, why, Brother…?”

“You’ve surely had a tough time job hunting, right?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Before I say anything else, pay back the money you borrowed. Out of the kindness I have shown you, I’ll offer a lower interest rate than the major banks, excluding meal expenses.”

“……”

“Answer me.”

“Okay….”

I smiled and made a promise with Ayla. It felt like I had acquired a goose that lays golden eggs.

Seeing the scene, Jerry couldn’t help but ask, “Are you human or a dark elf?” but added that if I didn’t write a loan receipt, the National Tax Service could deem it a gift, so I should get a lawyer to notarize it before leaving for the dining room.

—

After establishing a very satisfying contract with my sister, I arrived at the dining room. I planned to take the loan receipt to the lawyer later.

When entering a contract like this with a magician, it’s usually quickest and most effective to make an oath, but that’s typically reserved for enemies or for people aiming for a life-or-death score.

Anyway.

Today, I had gotten a lamp that would summon a fairy when rubbed.

Actually, it was a lamp that dispensed money instead of a bluish fairy, but in a capitalist society, as long as you have money, there’s nothing you can’t do, so it hardly made a difference.

If there’s something that can’t be bought with money, you should consider whether you might be short on cash.

Upon expressing that thought, Adela responded, “That’s garbage.”

As I ate my ice cream, I raised my middle finger.

“This brat is calling my sister garbage.”

“Is it normal for a sister to call her brother garbage?”

“Don’t hit me with facts.”

Adela, also extending her middle finger, picked up a cookie. A crispy treat baked in the oven. The size of a palm, filled with nuts, and incredibly delicious.

“Ayla, eat this. The chef made it especially for you coming.”

As Ayla accepted the treat from Adela, Jerry raised an eyebrow.

“But isn’t that a bit garbage-like thinking?”

“What do you mean?”

“The idea that you can do anything as long as you have money is a bit….”

“Materialistic?”

“Exactly.”

It wasn’t something a money handler would say.

Not everyone who works at the Ministry of Finance directly handles money, but saying something like that after being the top student in an economics program at a prestigious university wasn’t very fitting.

I clicked my tongue at Jerry, who was indirectly critiquing my sister for being materialistic.

“Just how did my sister become such a materialist? Where on earth did she learn that?”

“From the company.”

“…….”

When I said it must have been a habit learned at the information agency, Jerry shut his mouth. Adela also paused. It seemed everyone had a sensitive spot.

Mmm. Ice cream is delicious. I checked the flavor and saw it read “Siren Milk Flavor” in Frangia.

What on earth does that taste like? As I furrowed my brows, Jerry awkwardly attempted to change the subject after finishing his sandwich.

“Mm. It’s good to see everyone gathered together after a while. Fred and Ayla, haven’t had any major incidents?”

Nodding, Ayla, who was slicing up a walnut pie, replied.

“Ayla said she’s working at a trading company. Wasn’t it Pax?”

“…Yeah, it’s Pax.”

Surprised by the youngest finally finding a place, Jerry and Adela, who didn’t act their age, began to ask Ayla various questions.

“What kind of work do you do there?”

“Is there anything difficult?”

“Are you living alone? Have you found a place?”

“In which area are you working?”

“How much are you earning?”

The last question was mine.

I was initially planning to gauge how much I could squeeze out of her after hearing her salary, but it seemed Jerry and Adela didn’t think that was appropriate.

“Ow.”

I pretended to be hurt when Adela kicked my knee from across the table.

While I rubbed my knee and scooped ice cream with the spoon, Ayla, wedged between Jerry and Adela, began to ramble on.

“I’m in charge of overseas sales. Since it’s my first time, there’s nothing particularly difficult, and I’ll probably stay in the townhouse in the capital for the time being.”

Ayla was an overseas sales representative for a trading company. She mentioned she was still in her probationary period and learning the ropes.

Just hearing the title of an overseas sales representative brought back memories. That’s what I was called when I went to Japan on assignment. I had probably used that title due to issues related to Chochoryun involvement.

Jerry, smiling with pride, praised Ayla with a carefree laugh.

“Yeah, it will be tough at first, and it might be hard to adapt, but it’ll get better as you go on.”

Adela, who was resting her chin on her hand, tilted her head.

“But Ayla, didn’t you major in magic? I haven’t seen you take any economics, management, or trade-related courses.”

“I was hired because I’m good at foreign languages.”

“You? Oh right, you were good at foreign languages since you were little.”

Adela remarked with a tone of acknowledgment.

Like a worm can roll, even the idle Ayla seemed to have her own unique talent. A good magician, a good student.

Since her academy days, Ayla had always been among the top ranks, and surprisingly, her foreign language skills were remarkable. That was largely due to our mother. There was a distant noble relative from the Kien Empire in her family.

Of course, since it was such a distantly related branch, it was essentially like they were strangers.

If that family and ours had maintained close relations, I might have failed the background check even before entering the Military Intelligence Agency.

“Your Kien language was really good even back then. The academy teachers always encouraged students without interest in magic to go to foreign studies or at least take it as an elective.”

“Yeah.”

“Does the headquarters have a base in the capital? So, you’ve been away all this time?”

“That’s right.”

“Where were you?”

“A friend is living alone in the capital… I stayed with her.”

Ayla trailed off. With such a lackluster response, Adela narrowed her eyes and leaned in closer.

“Hey, Ayla.”

“What is it, sister?”

“Be honest. That friend—did you meet during a protest?”

Protest.

The atmosphere in the dining room instantly cooled. Jerry, who had been smoothing his toast, paused his knife work and shot a glance at me.

After exchanging glances with Jerry, I subtly nodded instead of saying it was all right.

“Sis, don’t bring that up.”

“Why not?”

Adela shot a questioning look my way, her response oddly sharply tinged.

Ayla had participated in student movements during her university days.

It wasn’t that she suddenly read Marx’s Kapital and the Communist Manifesto to join the communist side and denounce capitalism; she simply took part in movements related to the abolition of social class and human rights.

The reason it was labeled with the dire term ‘leftist’ is purely because Abas is a constitutional monarchy that legally recognizes social class.

Thus, in Abas, groups with tendencies other than royalists are categorized as progressive. By the way, the ruling party at this moment is conservative.

Fortunately, the Abas government officially claims not to discriminate regardless of ideology.

The problem is that Ayla comes from a noble family.

“That was all in the past; why bring it up again?”

“I’m just worried she might do something strange. What if she gets caught by the police again for protesting like last time? Are you going to call and bail her out again?”

“…….”

Once, Ayla got caught during a protest. Back then, I had just joined the Military Intelligence Agency and was practically thrown into the field.

One day, I received a call to report immediately to the embassy, and the head at the time, Leoni, informed me that my sister had been arrested during a protest.

Thankfully, there was no issue.

I found an old business card and called Colonel Clevenz, who was working in the Counterintelligence Department, and thanks to his help, Ayla was released in half a day without much inquiry.

To be fair, the atmosphere at home became tense for a short while after, but I remember it was brushed off since getting arrested during protests was relatively commonplace for students at the time.

It’s fortunate that Abas is a constitutional monarchy. If it were an absolute monarchy like Saudi Arabia, Jordan, or Thailand, I might have been whisked off to prison without anyone knowing.

I absentmindedly averted my gaze, feeling a craving for a cigarette.

“Just because you made a little mistake, you don’t need to be harsh… Where’s mother?”

“She went to inspect the mansion. She’s checking around with the steward and the head maid.”

For reference, our father is leaving tomorrow morning, Jerry added.

To break the tense atmosphere, Jerry quickly shifted the topic.

“Oh, right. Let’s hear about you.”

“Me?”

“Yeah.”

I nodded lightly.

Although working at the Military Intelligence Agency wasn’t inherently a comfortable job, it was a decent place to work.

Back when I was a low-ranking officer, I got pushed around a lot, but those days were long gone. Those who reached the position of captain in the agency were treated similarly to mid-level managers.

Additionally, I held a sanctioned position recognized by the cult.

With Camila, Lucia, and Francesca as colleagues, who would dare look down on me?

Thus, life at work had been quite pleasant recently.

My salary increased, working at the embassy seemed to fit me well, and the overseas assignments I had taken in years also felt quite doable.

I slowly unraveled my experiences, filtered for appropriateness.

“I’ve been busy with embassy work, but I’ve managed to adapt over time, so it’s good.”

“Really?”

Jerry, who listened intently, asked. Of course, he knew I was an information officer, so he didn’t inquire about what duties I was handling.

“Are you having any difficulties? When you go abroad, things can get tough; is the food to your liking?”

“No problems. If the only downside I can think of is being so busy that I can’t get enough sleep, then that’s alright.”

“Then among the people you work with, have you gotten close or found anyone you click with?”

He meant to ask if I had a romantic interest.

Over the years, Jerry had developed the habit of phrasing questions about romantic relationships in this ambiguous manner.

I shook my head firmly and clearly replied, “No.”

“Really?”

Adela grinned widely.

“Well, if you say so, it’s probably fine, but…”

“What kind of weird thing are you about to say?”

“Rumor has it among the diplomats that you’re dating someone?”

“What? Who am I dating? I’m not that sort of person. If I get caught seeing a coworker, the embassy would be chaos. That’s nonsense.”

“No, that’s not it.”

Adela glanced at Jerry and Ayla before whispering into my ear.

“They say you’re really close with the Hero and that you’ve been going into the guest room in the evenings and coming out in the middle of the night.”

“Uh.”

“Also, they say you’re very chummy with the Saint and the Embassy Administrator. Especially the Saint. No matter how much you claim to be colleagues, isn’t it odd for a diplomat to skip events for volunteer work every day?”

“Damn it.”

“…….”

“What on earth are you doing outside?”