A Dark Fantasy Spy

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In the Inspection Office of the Military Intelligence Agency, a rare creature is on duty.

The nymph Charnoy of the stream water.

I’ve encountered many races in Abas and Kien, where various tribes live, but the nymph race was quite unfamiliar to me.

“What do you mean calling a nymph ‘that’…? Show a bit of respect towards a nymph…!”

“…….”

Charnoy was jumping around, pointing fingers wildly.

She seemed furious, yet with her appearance and voice, there was no intimidation to be felt. It felt like watching a child throw a tantrum.

Leaving Charnoy in her fit, I turned my attention to Pippin and Jake.

“So, what happened?”

“Well….”

*

Episode 11 – No Issues on the Northern Front

Staff shortages are a chronic illness for information agencies.

Due to the nature of the work, employees are required to have at least a four-year college degree, and since you never know what task you might be assigned, having various experiences related to the job is essential.

Also, a guaranteed identity is a must.

Information agencies present numerous conditions for applicants, and only those who meet the requirements can enter.

The problem is, it’s tough to recruit individuals with such qualifications.

The Military Intelligence Agency is in a similar predicament.

Even I am in that situation. People with similar ranks as mine typically operate with at least four staff members, yet here I am with just Pippin and Jake.

Does that mean the workload is lighter? Honestly, it isn’t.

That’s why over the past few months, I’ve steadily suggested that new personnel be assigned to the Military Intelligence Agency.

The issue is,
“…that nymph was put on our team?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

I felt incredulous while observing Charnoy chewing on candy in the driver’s seat. Was it honey candy or something? Whatever it was, she had been eating it since the investigation at the Inspection Office.

“I clearly asked for an information officer….”

Why on earth did she have to be the one?

My gaze must have conveyed that sentiment, as Pippin, organizing the vehicle, spoke up.

“Before entering the Inspection Office, she was in charge of analysis in the overseas department.”

“Analysis?”

That nymph?

I pointed at her with my finger to confirm, and Pippin nodded in affirmation.

“I heard she joined as a civilian worker right after college and has been working there ever since. Some acquaintances said they spotted her a few times while passing by.”

Pippin and Jake explained that Charnoy was additional personnel sent from the Military Intelligence Agency. It felt like opening a birthday cake only to find a rice cake inside.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, so I reached out to the Military Intelligence Agency for confirmation, and they said,
-‘A nymph? Oh, I remember. She’s part of your team.’

“…Is that really true?”

Indeed, Leoni confirmed that she was sent as a team member.

-‘Am I joking? Why the young man sounding so surprised?’

“No, but isn’t it too noticeable given her different race?”

-‘Her skills are solid, so it doesn’t matter. Aside from being a nymph, she’s quite a competent analyst, you know.’

Leoni added that being a nymph was relatively noble, and her voice sounded fatigued. It seemed she was having a tough time due to issues with the Mauritania Continent.

-‘So, what? Do you believe humans are the superior race, and everyone else should be exterminated?’

“Not at all.”

-‘Then are you dissatisfied with the personnel selection?’

“No, I’m not.”

-‘Then we’re good. Report immediately upon arriving in the north.’

*

I desperately wanted to request a new personnel assignment, but unfortunately, there wasn’t any room for that.

The troops dispatched from abroad were to pause briefly in Petrogard, the capital of the Empire, before heading straight to the north.

I was going through the final procedures for the northern dispatch.

“Everyone, let’s introduce ourselves. From the left, Pippin, Jake, and then Charnoy.”

First, I introduced Pippin, Jake, and Charnoy to our group.

While Pippin and Jake had known each other for a long time and recognized each other’s faces, I needed to inform them about Charnoy, as she was a newly joined recruit.

The reaction of the group gathered in the hotel room was even better than I had expected.

“Wow! A fairy!”

Camila seemed utterly fascinated by the nymph race, handing over snacks to Charnoy.

On the other hand, Lucia and Francesca looked at Charnoy from a slightly different perspective.

“A nymph… A revered race indeed.”

Lucia viewed Charnoy from a religious point of view.

According to a book titled “The History of Nymphs” published by the Royal Interracial Society of Abas, nymphs have been serving the divine since the creation of the world. Thus, Lucia, originally a priestess, regarded Charnoy as a holy symbol.

“She is certainly a precious creature.”

Francesca looked at Charnoy from a secular standpoint.

Considering that nymphs are rare in number, it’s understandable that meeting a living one is accepted as a fresh experience for scholars.

Seeing three of the most famous figures in the world marvel at her must not have felt unpleasant for Charnoy, as she placed her small arms on her hips and smiled smugly.

“There’s no race more precious than nymphs.”

“Uh-huh… That’s a nymph-friendly perspective indeed…!”

Francesca crouched down to meet Charnoy’s gaze. Then, in a slightly glum and sticky voice, she spoke.

“Did you say your name was Charnoy? Do you perhaps need money…?”

“Money…! That sounds fantastic…!”

“Then would you like to make a deal with me…?”

“Hmm… Let’s hear the conditions first….”

The alchemist from the Magic Tower smiled brightly. Her purple eyes sparkled between her gently closed eyelids.

“If you happen to die later, I’d like to contract under the condition of acquiring your corpse.”

“…Wha…?”

“There’s nothing that has a higher magic conduction rate than a nymph’s wrist bone… So, if it’s alright, let’s make a deal…?”

“Yikes…!”

Charnoy trembled in surprise and hid behind me in the blink of an eye.

“What kind of crazy psycho magician is this…! Not even a dark magician would trade a nymph’s body… I must report this to the Magic Department at once…!”

Hiding behind me, Charnoy was making a fuss about rushing to report Francesca to the Magic Department, citing laws and precedents she had never heard of before.

I moved my gaze between Charnoy and Francesca with a bemused expression, feeling a deep sigh escape my lips.

“Enough with the teasing, Administrator.”

Francesca smiled with her eyes still squinted as she crouched.

“Was it too much?”

“Very much.”

“Ugh… Well, it can’t be helped. I’m a magician after all.”

What a nutcase. She’s just as much of a lunatic as Veronica, despite how she looks.

“Anyway, once the introductions are over, let’s get organized and get started.”

We ushered all the attendants out of the room.

The first ones to exit were Pippin, Jake, and Charnoy.

Pippin and Jake seemed eager to take their time leaving to chat with attendants from the cult or the Magic Tower, but Charnoy, who had just heard about being offered money for her corpse, hurriedly moved her short legs to flee from the room.

In the end, Pippin and Jake had no choice but to call out to Charnoy’s name as they left.

Afterward, the attendants from the cult, led by Priest Rebecca, exited. Receiving Lucia’s gentle summoning, Priest Rebecca quietly led her fellow priests out.

Once the priests had left, the mages stood up as if they had been waiting for just that moment.

The attendants from the Magic Tower Secretariat, unable to conceal their discomfort while keeping their distance from the cult, exited the room following the orders of Juan Pablo Martinez. Francesca, sitting on a chair, exchanged a small nod with Juan Pablo Martinez, the leader of the Secretariat team.

I glanced at the retreating figure of Juan Pablo Martinez and subtly asked,

“Do you know him?”

“Not quite, I’ve heard of him by name…?”

Francesca, an employee and alchemist of the Magic Tower Secretariat, leaned against the velvet cushion and trailed off.

“In this field, most people are known by just one degree of separation. I heard he’s a member of the same social club as Lord Evangelos.”

“Evangelos? …Ah, from the Rysidike family.”

“Yes, he’s the commander of the first Magic Battalion dispatched to the north.”

As I stroked my chin, I glanced at the direction where Juan Pablo Martinez had vanished. The Rysidike family, like the Ranieri family, boasts an ‘Archmage’ as their ancestor. Furthermore, Lord Evangelos Rysidike is the magician leading the Magic Tower’s advance party in the north.

For reference, from what I gathered through the Royal Intelligence Department, Evangelos Rysidike is highly regarded as the most likely candidate to become an Archmage among presently living magicians.

Considering that hardly anyone has reached the level of Archmage after the war with the cult a hundred years ago, it implies that he’s a genius rarely seen once in a century.

To think someone would socialize in the same club as such a figure.

“…Hmmm.”

As for the surname Martinez, I had never heard of it. I had heard it was of noble status, but not a person from a highly powerful family.

If Juan Pablo Martinez is indeed at the same level as Evangelos, then it stands to reason that he’s likely to be a considerable figure as well.

The world of magic operates strictly on merit, be it as a magician, scholar, or politician.

As I sat there lost in thought, Camila, who had been watching silently, suddenly whispered.

“What are you thinking about? You’re not plotting to recruit the person who just left, are you…?”

“What do you take me for?”

How did she know? Her intuition is too sharp.

I dismissed Camila’s claim and quickly stuffed a snack into her mouth before she could speak further.

Gulp! Gulp! With her limbs flailing, I turned to Francesca and Lucia and asked,

“Have you all prepared for the journey to the north?”

“Of course.”

“Yes, we’ve already prepared with the bishops.”

I carefully inquired to the two of them, “May I take a quick look at your luggage?”

*

Camila, Lucia, and Francesca were about to head to the northern part of the Empire.

If this were simply a vacation, I wouldn’t need to worry about what they packed, but the north was a completely different story.

The northern part of the Empire is currently a battlefield, not a tourist spot.

Of course, I didn’t think Lucia or Francesca would have packed carelessly. Especially Lucia, who had served three years in the north.

However, since personal circumstances can vary, I felt it necessary to check their luggage right here.

Fortunately, they readily agreed.

“Of course.”

“Shall I go first?”

“Go ahead, it’s up to you, Saint.”

Lucia and Francesca laid out their prepared luggage. I didn’t need to check Camila’s as I had packed for her myself.

First, I examined Lucia’s luggage.

“Medicines, holy water, bandages, herbs… Most of it looks medical, huh?”

“Well, there will be a lot of patients in the north, right? Since it’s a battlefield, there are bound to be many casualties, but I’ve heard that with poor hygiene, infectious diseases are spreading, causing significant damage.”

“So you packed up a lot of medical supplies.”

“It’ll take time for relief supplies to arrive. I plan to prepare as much as I can.”

Lucia had packed a considerable amount of medical items. Among us four, she was the only one who had been to the conflict zones in the Empire.

Considering her three years of experience as a healing priest, her luggage was surprisingly sparse.

Other than a few items of clothing and winter boots, she mostly had religious items like scriptures and crosses.

If I had my way, I would have advised her to prioritize some food or clothing over medical supplies, but Lucia was incredibly adamant about bringing medicines, making it hard to persuade her.

In the end, I negotiated with Lucia to include warm items and personal medications.

“Even if the medicine is important, do make sure you pack warm clothes. You might end up sleeping outside, and lying on a cold floor can be quite detrimental to your health.”

“If my health deteriorates, can’t I just heal myself with the divine power?”

“I’d be lucky if I can even sleep well.”

Next was Francesca.

“What about you, Administrator? How did you pack?”

As Francesca motioned, her items glided out from within her cape. Pippin and Lucia were amazed by the sight. It was indeed quite magical.

I slowly examined the goods Francesca had prepared. Truly, her level of preparedness was very much in line with a magician.

She seemed to have packed appropriately. Items such as warm gear enchanted with insulation spells, extra clothes, a military coat, and a rune sword she had seen during her previous visit to Abas were included.

However, a few things caught my eye.

While I stared at the baggage in silence, Francesca tilted her head with a curious voice.

“Why do you look puzzled?”

“…Why is your luggage like this?”

Potions, spellbooks, alchemical tools, magical quills, jewels, etc.

Sure. It’s normal for a magician to have magical items; that’s acceptable. Francesca is an alchemist after all, so it’s possible there might be a need for alchemical tools in the north. If she’s short on potions, she could create them on the spot.

But this seems a bit excessive.

I lifted a jewel from Francesca’s collection.

“…What’s this?”

“It’s a jewel.”

“I know it’s a jewel. But why are you bringing this to a conflict zone?”

Francesca responded in a tone that said it was obvious.

“Jewels are also one of the materials for alchemy. The price might be high, but if you know how to use them well, they can be really useful. And if worse comes to worst, you can exchange them for cash.”

“…Cash?”

“It’s much easier to sell jewels at local prices than to cart around Mina to be exchanged for Takron, don’t you think?”

Mina is the currency of the Magic Tower, and Takron is the currency of the Kien Empire.

Both currencies generally hold value in any continent one travels to. Nobody hates money, and both Mina and Takron can often be exchanged at a higher rate than regular currencies. You can think of them as being worth at least as much as euros, if not dollars.

In other words, Francesca planned to bypass the hassle of exchanging Mina for Takron and instead bring jewels that could be exchanged on-site for immediate trade.

It wasn’t a bad idea.

Information officers dispatched abroad prioritize carrying compact yet highly valuable items. I certainly recall using gems profitably during my time working in Eastern Europe.

However, this is not a standard conflict area.

“While your plan might hold merit, the north is currently a restricted area, meaning you won’t easily find an opportunity to exchange jewels.”

“That’s if we were exchanging normally. But there are always alternative methods, right?”

I paused and subtly glanced at Lucia.

Thankfully, Lucia was too busy organizing her things not to notice my gaze. After confirming that Lucia was genuinely preoccupied, I started in a soft tone.

“…You don’t mean to exchange jewels at the black market do you?”

Francesca smiled silently.

What a crazy idea. Thinking of carrying jewels into a conflict area.

Thinking back, Francesca had been someone who managed the Oracle’s slush fund within the Secretariat. She had dabbled in smuggling and black market dealings, and recently got caught securing political funding through double contracts with private enterprises.

To be precise, it was Sophia from the National Security Agency who caught her liaising with corporate executives and informed me.

“Ugh….”

There are all kinds of oddballs, but this is next level.

It’s widely accepted that magicians possess unique quirks, be they generous or downright eccentric, but I had never encountered one quite like this. Freshly bonkers.

Now I was curious about what Francesca might attempt in the northern black market. Would she end up conning refugees or selling them off?

“Even so, heading to a black market in a conflict zone with jewels is a questionable choice. Do you even know where it is?”

“Not yet. Not yet.”

“Sigh… Hold off on jewel exchanges in the north. It can be dangerous.”

“…Eh, um, okay.”

“You don’t even know where the black market is, still, do you?”

At this point, the agency itself wasn’t fully aware of the situation in the north. What could Francesca possibly know about it?

I casually expressed that sentiment.

“Hmm….”

“Why do you ask?”

“Honestly, it seems to me that you don’t trust people, Colonel… Am I wrong?”

“…….”

“Colonel, would you like to make a bet with me…?”

In the quiet hotel room, facing the blizzard outside Petrogard, Francesca smiled brightly.

“Anyway, neither of us are the types to just sit quietly doing volunteer work in the north, are we…?”