A Dark Fantasy Spy

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The history of humanity is a history of war.

If you were to pick the five most famous wars in the history of the scholarly community in this neighborhood, they would be:

The invasion of nomadic tribes and foreign races from the East,
The crusade against heretics and cultists,
The war between clerics and magicians,
The war against monsters,
The war against the demon race.

There have been countless wars and conflicts throughout history, some of which are ongoing.

Among them, the war against the demon race is particularly well-known among the people of the continent, mainly because the Kien Empire, which shares a direct border with the demons, is a superpower.

A land where the snow does not melt. Desolate snowfields and rugged mountain ranges. The bone-chilling cold that cuts through flesh. Shouts and gunfire that pierce the ears. Screams and terror.

The demons that inhabit the ‘frozen land,’
And the knights fiercely fighting to not yield even an inch of territory.

The conflict between the Kien Empire and the demon race conjures such images.

Episode 10 – Change Course to the Northwest

Exactly one hundred years ago,
When magicians were hunted as devil worshippers or witches.

The emperors gathered clerics of the cult and knights strengthened by magic to defend the borders, and after the existence of magicians surfaced, they supported the founding of the Magic Tower in every way, driving the demons into the snowy mountains. By the way, the pope’s once-unquestioned authority was also diminished.

For the past hundred years, the empire has enjoyed a golden age. Science and magic have developed dazzlingly, and the current emperor, Nikolai VI, is expanding the empire beyond the continent and into the world, whether positively or negatively.

But the situation has changed.

“After returning from vacation, I received an analysis report on the northern front from the company.”

The demons from the frozen land began pouring into the north. Countless soldiers, magicians, and clerics have been deployed to the north, yet the empire is on a downward path.

“Over the past two months, there have been officially reported 43 battles of varying sizes. That’s about a fight every couple of days.”

Battles occurring every couple of days. The previous conflicts were almost localized skirmishes, but now it’s hard to even call them skirmishes.

The Abas Information Authority estimated the damages to the imperial forces, but they could not accurately assess civilian casualties.

To be precise, they conducted inquiries with foreign journalists and volunteers who had access to the north (those dispatched from countries friendly to the empire), but they could only gather testimonies and photos, failing to acquire concrete data, which prevented them from producing a meaningful report.

“It seems there has been significant damage, but it doesn’t appear there have been casualties severe enough to breach the front or cause the entire northern army to retreat.”

“And civilian casualties?”

“That’s still being assessed. We cannot receive real-time information, so we have no way of knowing how many casualties have occurred or what situation the civilians in the northern region are currently facing. In the rear, it might be different, but in the combat zones, only military personnel are allowed in. This information was collected with great difficulty.”

“…Can we trust the materials created by that company? The north is inaccessible.”

Camila tilted her head in a voice full of doubt.

“It’s the account of an information officer who has gone to the embassy. It’s likely something from an imperial official or government figure. Personally, I think it’s credible.”

Updated intelligence gathered by the official information officer is more trustworthy than the suggested intel. Though the information network has collapsed, the information officers dispatched to the embassy are still active.

As the information officer disguised as a diplomat heard this from a government figure, the source and the credibility of the intel are sufficient.

“More than that, it’s not easy for senior officials of a dictatorship to directly acknowledge damages to their own country. They achieved such a difficult task, so there are two possibilities.”

First, the situation is serious enough for a senior official to recognize it,
Second, they acknowledged it but downplayed the damages for the sake of their image.

“If it’s the former, at least that’s fortunate, but if it’s the latter, it’s complete chaos. The situation could be worse than we imagine.”

I spent quite a while explaining the northern situation. Although Camila probably had a general idea of what the north was like, I judged that it wasn’t enough.

After taking a sip of water, I concluded my explanation.

“Though I’ve given a lengthy introduction, our task is simple. Due to the circumstances, we will conduct specific negotiations after we arrive at the empire, but there’s no need for you to worry about that.”

“So, what exactly is it that we need to do?”

“To hunt down monsters and save people.”

I gazed at Camila.

Quick-thinking, capable of fighting, she had experience hunting, and she volunteered to serve in conflict zones alongside her sister from Médecins Sans Frontières.

“Both of those are things you’re good at.”

Camila smiled brightly.

“I’m not only good at those though.”

“I’m just saying, don’t even think about playing the spy.”

“Tch.”

After concluding my conversation with Camila, I checked on the status of the other team members.

The first place I headed was Lucia’s room.

Passing through the door guarded by two knights, a luxurious guest room came into view. Between the wide-open curtains, a vast blue sky appeared, and the room, filled with fresh flowers and bright lighting, was enveloped in a gentle fragrance.

In the center of the somewhat busy room, Lucia was being attended to by a nun and a priest.

It seemed the situation wasn’t ideal. I tried to get closer to speak to her, but a barrier made up of the nun and priest was set up.

Unbeknownst to me, Lucia was sitting in front of the mirror, and even the people attending to her didn’t recognize me.

I peeked around the room and then questioned one of the knights waiting inside.

“Is Saint Lucia very busy right now?”

“Ah, yes. The saint is currently getting ready.”

As it turned out, Lucia was having her makeup done.

I had never seen Lucia wearing makeup or dressing up. She herself wasn’t very interested in getting done up, but the cult was concerned about her appearing ‘undone’ (aka without makeup) to the public and had sent someone meticulously selected.

Considering Lucia’s appearance and demeanor, one might wonder if makeup is even necessary.

“I don’t think you need to wear makeup.”

“Haha.”

The knight explained that even such adornments carry religious meaning, but as a non-believer, those words didn’t resonate much with me.

Anyway, since it’s an internal matter of the cult, it wasn’t something I should interfere with.

While the knight was adjusting the curtains to let in a bit more sunlight, he suddenly turned to me.

“But may I ask why you’re here, Colonel?”

“Ah, right. In one hour, a meal will be prepared in the airship lounge. If it’s alright with you, could you pass that along to the saint? I have other matters to attend to.”

“Yes, understood. Please take care.”

After exchanging brief goodbyes with the knight, I left the room.

Given that it’s an airship owned by the imperial family, the rooms for Camila, Lucia, and Francesca were separated for convenience.

I found Camila and told her that the meal would be ready in an hour, then confiscated the refreshments prepared by the empire that she had been secretly enjoying.

“So, you were eating bread while I was gone for a bit. You’re really something.”

“I exercise regularly! Just let me have this once!”

“Exercise or not… just control your portion. This isn’t some white elephant. Even an elephant would bulk up if it ate like you.”

“…What did you say?”

Comparing her to an elephant caused Camila to explode in anger. And I mean literally.

I had no choice but to offer the bread I was holding as a tribute and quickly pack my bag to escape.

Escaping from Camila’s grip, I made my way to another room. I felt like I had slightly fled, but I absolutely was not running away from Camila’s flames. Anyway.

After washing my hands in the restroom and taking a moment to breathe, I sat face to face with the room’s host.

“Is everything going well for you, Administrator?”

“Thankfully, yes. Thank you for your concern.”

Francesca nodded and expressed her gratitude. As she nodded, her purple hair, resembling finely ground amethyst, flowed down past her shoulders.

Thanks to the soft lighting, the colors of her hair seemed to deepen even more. The overhead light was off, possibly because she was trying to rest, and the lamp beside the bed was lit.

However, the curtains were drawn, so the view outside was obscured.

“…….”

No matter how closely she may be watched by the Patalia government, Francesca was not an easy person to see.

Graduating from a private academy in Patalia with outstanding grades, she then entered a prestigious Magic Tower university and was selected into the Magic Tower Secretariat—a position only available to carefully chosen talents—at a young age.

Maybe that’s why Francesca always emanated an indescribable noble aura. Even without words, one could sense an aura that was hard to approach.

But today was different.

Francesca was donned in the Secretariat’s uniform, draped with a cape emblazoned with the elemental faction’s emblem. She had a brooch engraved with the Magic Tower’s symbol around her neck, and her styled hair was fixed with an unusual ornament.

“That’s the outfit you were wearing the first time we met at the Magic Tower.”

“You recognize it.”

“It suits you well.”

“Is that so?”

Francesca, dressed for the official event, smiled.

During the period when heresy interrogations were active, the determination of the magicians to carry forth the legacy of their masters and ancestors arose, which has since developed into the conservative tendencies of the magical society that seeks to preserve the old.

The Secretariat’s insistence on wearing such uncomfortable uniforms instead of simple suits is likely due to this context.

“I apologize if this seems rude, but isn’t that a bit constricting?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean your neck.”

I tapped the collar with my finger.

“It seems you’ve buttoned it a bit too tightly.”

Francesca had all the buttons of her uniform done up. Even I felt uncomfortable just looking at it.

She chuckled awkwardly at my roundabout request to please loosen her buttons.

“I’m sorry. It’s become a habit, and I inadvertently….”

“I understand.”

As someone with a job-related habit, I could empathize with her explanation.

Francesca undid about two buttons. As she slightly opened the collar, her fair neck was fully revealed.

As the constriction faded, perhaps feeling better, Francesca removed the ornament that was securing her hair.

“Is it okay to take that off? It looks like it was a hassle to set up your hair.”

“That’s not too complicated. I could just use magic to fix it again.”

“…….”

…Is it really okay to use magic for that?

Francesca tossed the ornament onto the table. While it was surprising to see her casually throw away something that looked expensive, I was quickly drawn to the pattern engraved on the ornament.

The symbol of the Ranieri family. An engraved family crest.

Usually, nobles treat their family symbols with care, but it seemed Francesca didn’t regard ornaments like that as particularly precious. I wasn’t sure whether it was the ornament or the Ranieri family itself that she found unimportant.

Once I tore my gaze away from the ornament, Francesca suggested having a cup of coffee.

I nodded in agreement, and soon two steaming cups of coffee were placed on the table. While savoring the aromatic scent, I pulled out a cigarette from my pocket and started off.

“I’m supposed to meet with the empire’s dignitaries together with the Oracle committee.”

“…….”

Francesca smiled softly. Her violet eyes, slightly slanted, were directed at me.

I held a cigarette delicately in my fingers, gesturing with my chin towards my bag.

“This is a device to prevent eavesdropping. It can do real-time eavesdropping, recording, and filming.”

Only then did Francesca let out a sigh of relief and murmured softly.

“If you had mentioned that earlier, I would have been less worried, Colonel.”

Although she said that, she didn’t seem too alarmed. She merely shrugged her shoulders in response.

“Why are the dignitaries interested?”

“I was looking over the list, and I noticed some familiar names.”

I took a puff of the cigarette and retrieved a piece of paper from my bag, placing it on the desk. Certain names and ages were marked in red on the list along with their professions and residences.

“Could you let me know in advance before you meet with anyone on this list? No, just come find me.”

“Me, Colonel?”

“Why not?”

There’s nothing wrong with that. Officially, Francesca and I are colleagues in Camila’s team and will likely be together for several years, if not decades. The same goes for Lucia and the others.

Unofficially, Francesca and I possess an information agent and information officer relationship, but officially, we are colleagues.

In other words, it wouldn’t be a problem if she suddenly came to my room at 2 AM saying it was urgent. At least that’s the appearance of it.

Sipping my coffee while considering this, Francesca parted her lips.

“I assume you’re curious about what kind of conversation we’ll have.”

“Whether as a diplomat or an information officer, being sensitive to news is a necessity.”

“In what specific way can I assist you?”

“Could you let me know what topics will be discussed, who will be present, that sort of thing? If there aren’t any discussions to be had, then details like what they ate, their hobbies, or areas of interest would suffice.”

“What will happen to the dignitaries if I convey that?”

Well, that is for the information agency to sort out.

From there, it’s not Francesca’s concern. Unless exceptional circumstances arise, neither I nor she need to worry about it at all.

Of course, I couldn’t outright say that it was none of her business, so I simply offered her a smile.

“If necessary, would you intercept their conversations?”

“I can do some eavesdropping or filming, depending on the situation on site. Although, technically, it would be more accurate to say it’s recording, but if I’m concerned for the administrator’s safety, I would avoid that.”

Francesca’s eyes narrowed slowly.

She seemed to fall into deep thought, remaining silent for a spell.

-Tap.
-Tap.

“The fact that you would avoid it…”

“…….”

Francesca, tapping her fingers against her teacup, opened her eyes slightly.

“That doesn’t mean you won’t do it…?”

“…….”

“So, does that mean I could be pushed into danger…?”

I smiled faintly.

“I will make my judgment based on the circumstances. Of course, your safety is my top priority.”

Though ‘I’ will formulate a plan considering both the circumstances and Francesca’s safety,
But if those in ‘higher’ authority do not take her safety into account, then I have no other way to proceed.

If a situation arises—whether intentionally or by accident—regardless of losing control, I can distance myself from the blame. Although I don’t know whether Francesca was genuinely neglected for her safety from above or below.

“I will never put you in danger. If we cooperate well, everyone can stay safe.”

In the pitch-black room, with the blackout curtains drawn and not a ray of light entering,
I lit a cigarette in front of Francesca, whose eyes were barely open. Time had now surpassed an hour.

“Ah, speaking of which, dinner should be ready by now.”

“…….”

“Would you like to join me?”