A Dark Fantasy Spy

---

A cold gaze settled on the woman’s figure.

With narrowed eyes, Hormoz slowly scanned the crowd with his chilling golden irises.

“…Dark magic. Dark magic.”

“…”

“…Might I ask why the guest insists on asking me such twisted information?”

Francesca pulled the corners of her mouth upward. Her lips smiled, but her eyes told a different story.

“Looks like merchants do ask questions when selling their goods.”

“Of course… It is a merchant’s duty to simply receive payment. I’ve always done so in regular matters, but…”

The dark elf’s gaze fell to the window. A cat that had been yawning as if ready to fall asleep now lay on the windowsill, belly up, staring at Hormoz.

His once vibrant voice lost its vigor. The gravity-laden tone of Hormoz echoed in my ears.

“Today, I cannot help but ask why.”

Violet eyes intertwined with golden ones.

“You need to tell me the reason behind your search for such information. If you cannot, then I have no other choice.”

“…”

“…”

As I observed the situation, I withdrew my hand from my pocket. The chill of the trigger felt especially vivid today.

I exchanged anxious glances with Camila. Just in case, I subtly signaled her to be ready to flee at the slightest hint of trouble.

In that brief moment, numerous thoughts and glances were exchanged. Francesca and Hormoz glared at each other, while Camila and I prepared to break free at any moment. It felt as if a bomb could go off at any second.

Then,

“Wait a moment.”

Pereyti, breaking the heavy silence, stepped between Francesca and Hormoz.

“I shall explain the circumstances.”

—

Episode 11 – Northern Front, No Issues

—

“…Hmm.”

About halfway through the newly filled teacup, Pereyti finally concluded his explanation.

Francesca and Pereyti awaited responses with stone-faced expressions, while Hormoz placed his interlaced fingers on the desk and muttered.

“I never expected there to be such circumstances surrounding the terror incident in Abas. A barrier that smells of dark magic…”

Pereyti added.

“A cleric of the cult verified the scene with their own eyes. There’s no room for doubt.”

“Ah, it’s not that I didn’t understand that. No matter how different our tribes’ and humans’ religious views are, I have never doubted the cult’s capabilities even slightly.”

Hormoz tapped gently on the table with his intertwined fingers to lighten the mood and continued.

“I understand that the guests require information concerning the dark magical items used in the terror attack and those who handled them for the investigation.”

“Can you find that information?”

“Of course, I can provide it. As long as you pay a fitting price.”

“…”

How curious. This money-driven behavior truly resembles dwarves possessed by gold, willing to sell their souls.

As I cast an indifferent glance at the dark elf, he began to smile with a soft gaze.

“Feel free to think of me as a mercenary. Perhaps our kind is destined to be blinded by shiny stones, just like those dwarves shackled in chains given by an alchemist.”

“…Actually, that alchemist is right beside you.”

“…Ah.”

As I scratched my head, Hormoz suddenly wore a surprised expression, glancing at Francesca.

Though she is a magician of the Magic Tower, Francesca is undeniably an alchemist. Mentioning the atrocities committed by alchemists from other continents before her could easily be taken as an offense, and it wouldn’t be strange at all if she decided to hurl toxic magical reagents in his face.

However.

“Hmm…”

Francesca simply snorted dismissively, waving her hand.

“Don’t mind it. We’re not so close-knit that we have to worry about the actions of the alchemists from the Red Desert…”

“I beg your pardon. Please forgive my rudeness.”

“Then, I shall forgive you.”

“I appreciate your broad-mindedness. Now, returning to the main point. I understand what information you seek and why it’s needed. However, I’m curious about one thing…”

Hormoz narrowed his eyes.

“Where do you come from to seek such information?”

The answer came from Francesca and Pereyti.

“From the Magic Tower.”

“From the Cult.”

Seeing them reveal their affiliations as if there was nothing left to hide, Hormoz’s eyes widened slightly. When Francesca also presented her identification from the Magic Tower, Hormoz displayed a look of someone who had just witnessed an unexpected twist.

After a brief commotion, his gleaming golden eyes sparkled between the delicately formed folds of his eyelids.

“Magic Tower and Cult… An impressive combination. I don’t know if I’m slow to pick up on news or if I simply can’t keep up with the swiftly changing world. Hahaha.”

“…”

“Thank you for revealing your affiliations. It’s information vital not to fall into the hands of the wicked… Even as a dark elf, I am, after all, still an elf, and how could I not fear the blades of the Inquisition?”

Though he said that, his eyes told an entirely different story.

To an outside observer, he might appear to be lamenting his inability to keep up with the times, but his dark elf’s characteristic golden eyes were gleaming with insatiable greed.

If one listened closely, they could almost hear the sound of a calculating device ticking away in Hormoz’s head.

“May I ask your name?”

“Francesca.”

“…Francesca… Francesca… Now that I think about it, I’ve heard of a person from the Magic Tower sent to the north with that name. Could it be…?”

Despite Hormoz’s inquiry, Francesca remained silent. The silence was confirmation.

That alone seemed to suffice as an answer for Hormoz, who stood up from his seat and bowed toward Francesca and Pereyti.

“It is an honor to meet the seekers of knowledge and truth, as well as the warriors who fight like dragons. I am Hormoz of the Saria Tribe, hailing from the Northern Regions. I apologize for not recognizing you earlier.”

“Saria…?”

Camila muttered softly, seemingly bewildered. Observing Hormoz conversing with the two, she leaned in closer to whisper in my ear.

“In the language of the Mauritania Continent, ‘Saria’ means ‘night traveler’ or ‘cloud of the dawn night.’ That’s the name of that dark elf tribe. Interestingly, there’s a word with the same pronunciation and meaning in Arabic, though the characters themselves are different.”

“How fascinating…”

After Hormoz bowed again towards the magician and the knight, he lifted his head. Pereyti simply scratched an eyebrow, maintaining an expressionless face.

“Why are you greeting me in such a manner, when I am merely a priest?”

“…”

A moment of silence fell over the office. Who would dare think of that over-two-meter giant as merely a priest?

Regardless, Hormoz’s gaze promptly shifted from Pereyti back to us. The avarice still lingered in his eyes as he regarded Camila and me, who had been quietly sitting behind.

“Then those people are… the ones I heard about last time…”

Just then, Francesca intervened.

As if having peered into the dark elf’s mind designing an abacus, she returned to her seat and locked eyes with Hormoz with just a hint of arrogance. She seemed like someone who no longer wished to squander any more time.

“So, when can we expect to receive the information?”

Hormoz slowly closed his eyes before opening them leisurely. Then, with a relaxed tone, he began to speak.

“Hmm… I can’t give you an exact deadline, but I believe it would be difficult to obtain information within a short period of time. The North is vast, and shadows grow thicker with each passing day. I suspect it may take about a month to find a clue.”

“If that’s the case…”

“One!”

Hormoz cut off Francesca’s words with a strange smile.

“Even if I manage to find the information you desire, I can’t say for certain whether I’ll be able to sell it to you.”

“…What?”

Pereyti, who had been quietly listening, rose from his chair. A sinister aura befitting a knight seeped out.

“What did you just say?”

“As you heard. It’s our guild’s position that it would be difficult to trade information directly.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Just as Pereyti was about to raise his voice, Francesca, who had been seated in front of him, raised her hand to stop him. She rolled her eyes and sent me a glance, prompting me to calm Pereyti down.

Hormoz, seeing the exchange, smiled pleasantly, maintaining an overly polite demeanor.

“Please do not misunderstand. It’s just that before conducting any trade for information, we need to check if it relates to the guild’s business.”

Hormoz’s reply made my head involuntarily snap around. This could easily be interpreted to mean that if the identity of the merchant dealing with the items used in the terror attack was revealed, the Palm Tree Trade Guild could itself be in danger.

Even if the dark elf hadn’t intended it that way, a knight from the Inquisition was present in this very room.

A knight from the Inquisition at that.

“That certainly sounds like the guild is linked to the dark magician.”

Not surprisingly, the moment Pereyti’s nerves were barely stilled, he turned to glare fiercely at Hormoz.

Yet despite the intensity of the knight’s gaze, Hormoz continued to wear a smile.

“Not at all. Our Palm Tree Trade Guild is in no way associated with dark magic. If we were, the elders of the tribe would have come to punish me themselves, not the Inquisition. In the first place, the benefactor allowing us to stay in the North would never tolerate us trading such items.”

“…”

“However, there is always the possibility of exceptions lurking in the shadows, isn’t there? If the information you request turns out to be detrimental to our guild, the Palm Tree Trade Guild will not be able to sell it, of course. Naturally, all payments will be refunded.”

“Do you think I’m doing this for the money?”

You could tell he was merely urging them to sell him information, demanding that they shut up and fork it over instead. At the same time, the threat that could result from them withholding information was an unmistakable warning.

If an ordinary person had encountered this situation, they might have instantly prostrated themselves and spilled every last detail they knew. Yet, regrettably, it seemed this dark elf was impervious to such straightforward tactics. Hormoz simply regarded Pereyti with a grin on his face.

“Of course, it’s clear that this information isn’t particularly valuable to you. But I am a merchant. I take pride in being a merchant. Would I call myself a merchant if I conducted business at a loss? A merchant is one who can relinquish their life for a single coin.”

“This…”

“There have been unfortunate incidents, and since you are esteemed guests who have just arrived, I will not ask for a deposit. As soon as the information comes through, I will get in touch with you immediately.”

The cat, which had been lounging near the window, leapt down. It trotted across the office on its short legs, climbing onto the desk.

It appeared to survey each face before finally settling down in a poised manner, observing Hormoz.

Hormoz then glanced at the clock on the wall. He let out a sigh of resignation as if acknowledging the inevitable and spoke in a sympathetic voice.

“Time has passed so quickly. Dawn is approaching. It is now time to close the door.”

“…”

“Our vice guild master will personally guide you out. He’ll ensure you get safely out of the city and help you avoid any inspections.”

The guild master of the Palm Tree Trade Guild, Hormoz, softly issued his farewell.

“Make sure to take care.”

He left a parting remark as we exited the office.

“May you not face any losses.”

—

Exiting the black market was less difficult than I’d imagined. Guided by the vice guild master, the goblin, we crossed through the underground water passageway and left the city.

When we emerged by the frozen river and climbed a small hill, a distant view of the crumbling city unfolded before us. The sun, hanging on the horizon, shone warmly upon the damaged city, as if embracing its wounds.

We exchanged words while gazing at the brightening dawn.

“…What now?”

“…Indeed.”

Originally, our purpose for visiting the black market was to gather information and resources. Unlike Camila, who had just come to sightsee, or me, who was dragged along after losing a bet, Francesca and Pereyti had entered with clear intentions.

We had achieved only half of our initial goal. Pereyti had found what he was looking for, and Francesca had exchanged currency, but we ultimately failed to obtain the critical information we had prioritized.

“Isn’t it difficult to call this a failure? Honestly, even if things had gone smoothly, we wouldn’t have retrieved the information immediately.”

“Camila, we agreed to call it ‘screwed up.’”

“…”

Camila’s lips protruded, resembling a duck’s bill.

Of course, her statement wasn’t entirely wrong. Technically, we hadn’t failed to receive anything; it was just that the other side wavered, pondering whether or not to provide it. I, on the other hand, couldn’t have cared less whether that dark elf handed over information or not.

But that was my perspective.

Francesca and Pereyti’s views were quite different.

“What are you two planning to do? Are you going to wait here indefinitely?”

“Well… I don’t think the guild master’s very cautious nature would make things easy.”

Francesca wore a peculiar smile. Though she trailed her words, her expression suggested she had more complex thoughts brewing beneath the surface.

“First off, the conditions the guild master laid out are twofold. One is the risk of the information, and the other is the time.”

Hormoz had declared that if the information regarding the dark magical items and the merchants who handled them posed a risk to the Palm Tree Trade Guild, they wouldn’t sell it.

Moreover, he stated that to uncover any clues regarding the information we requested in the vast North would take about a month.

Francesca extended her slender fingers, indicating that very point.

“The guild master declared that if the information was detrimental to them, they wouldn’t sell it, regardless of desire. Furthermore, he said we would need to wait a month. With the Northern situation changing constantly, no one can guarantee the information’s value will remain a month from now.”

“The value of that information could dissipate?”

“Exactly. I assume even the colonel understands that better than I do, right?”

I nodded.

The term ‘dark magician’ served as an eternal scarlet letter upon the Magic Tower.

Not every magician is a dark magician, but every dark magician is a magician. There are countless magicians who have been expelled from magical society for committing acts ranging from experimenting with human lives, reanimating corpses, or indiscriminately casting spells in cities to engage in mass murder.

Hence, the Magic Tower must ensure it avoids any implication that they bear responsibility for the ‘terror incident.’

“We cannot just sit here waiting idly.”

“In that case, what about the Magic Tower conducting an investigation themselves? Dark magic is still magic, after all…”

“The cargo discovered in the department store is already under investigation by the Magic Tower. The magic battalion dispatched to the North is looking into it, but…”

“And?”

“There are limitations to this, too. You know? The relationship between the Magic Tower and the Empire.”

“Ah…”

Francesca sighed softly, faintly audible. This was the first time I had witnessed her sigh.

“I’ve heard that for police to investigate crimes abroad, they must gain the cooperation of local officers. While the magic battalion isn’t exactly the police… The Imperial Family would never allow the Magic Tower’s magicians to hunt down dark magicians within the Empire’s territory, right?”

“Indeed.”

“The Imperial Ministry of Magic won’t mobilize either, I’d wager…”

“Then, the sole entities with the power to investigate directly in the North are either the Ministry of Magic or the Inquisition…”

I cast a cursory glance toward Pereyti. His stationary presence, with his back turned to us, gave the impression he was quite heated.

The magic battalion, trained in the art of magic, lacks investigatory authority, while the notorious Inquisition for exterminating dark magicians suffers from a shortage of personnel. That leaves us reliant on the Imperial Ministry of Magic, which raises concerns over whether they can even conduct a proper investigation.

Nevertheless, pursuing information that might not even be offered by that dark elf is far from a sound plan. If we wait a month only to find that we’ve gained nothing or that they refuse to sell us valuable information, it’s conceivable we’d have wasted precious time.

Then, could I take it upon myself to collect information in the North or even interrogate that elf for details? Clearly not.

Engaging in actions not instructed by the Military Intelligence Agency could lead to repercussions far worse than reprimands or salary deductions. Most importantly, the North is under the watchful eyes of counterintelligence operatives.

Of course, I could understand the elf’s position as well.

In a conflict-ridden region, how could a smuggler in the black market conduct business neatly as a matter of course?

To smuggle, one must bribe civil servants and negotiate with the organized crime groups controlling the area. The military government strives to maintain order in the North, but there undoubtedly exist elements beyond their reach.

If any of the individuals the Palm Tree Trade Guild dealt with were linked to the recent terror attack, it could spell disaster for them. The Inquisition would not tolerate even the slightest connection to dark magic. Besides, among the terror victims was a saint from the Cult. Though not publicly declared, both Camila and Francesca stood in solidarity with Lucia.

As for the Military Intelligence Agency, their stance is ambiguous. While they’re tracking down the masterminds behind the terror attack, their ability to act freely in the North is obstructed by concerns for my safety given the precarious situation. With an Imperial branch recently dismantled, they’ve resorted to indirect intel gathering through foundations established in other nations.

Hence, neither the Magic Tower, the Cult, nor the Palm Tree Trade Guild can simply withdraw from this imbroglio. And typically, confrontation occurs at the limits of tensions.

Pausing to gather my thoughts, I exhaled a heavy sigh.

There seems to be no answer.

What was I expecting to gain in this black market, anyway…?

“What’s got you so worried?”

“…Huh?”

Camila, appearing from nowhere, regarded me with her unblinking eyes.

“Can’t we just find out for ourselves?”

“…Does that make sense? It’s difficult enough for professionals to track down dark magicians.”

“No, that’s not what I mean.”

Camila reiterated.

“What I’m saying is, isn’t it likely that the guild master—or any elf for that matter—isn’t going to collect the information themselves but will acquire it from someone else? Whether it’s dark magic or something else, I’m not sure. But if it were genuinely dangerous, wouldn’t they just say they didn’t know? Rather than agreeing to search for the information while giving a timeframe of a month?”

“…So, what are you suggesting? That before the information goes to the elves, we should intercept it somehow? By locating those who inquire for information?”

“Yup.”

“…Hmm.”

At face value, it sounded plausible. Just plausible.

“I doubt it would work.”

“Why?”

“How are we supposed to find someone dealing with the guild and sift through to pinpoint those with dark magic associations?”

Camila blinked with a bewildered look. Her confused gaze poked at my face.

“What… You can’t do that?”

“No.”

“Why can’t you?”

As if casting a quizzical expression, she pressed me for an answer. If the question had come from Camila, I would’ve sighed and patiently explained, but unfortunately, that was Francesca asking.

I suppressed the rising urge to weep and deliberately opened my mouth slowly.

“Well, information doesn’t just fall from the sky. How do you expect to gather such intel from the North? Please think reasonably, Administrator.”

“Are you saying you lack the ability to collect information?”

“No, it’s just the situation…”

“Powerless.”

“It seems the colonel has a sharp tongue for someone with a reputation.”

“…”

I looked up at the splendidly blue winter sky, holding back the tears threatening to spill. This was the first time I had ever been called powerless by a civilian.

Touch me the wrong way, and I’d be a leaking faucet; yet, neither Camila nor Francesca continued to taunt me. Camila excused herself to find a restroom, while Francesca settled beside me, gazing at the scenery. At least I was grateful not to have to reveal my ugly state.

Francesca, having had her fun at my expense, smiled as she watched the dawn emerge. Thanks to the blizzard that had raged overnight, the morning sky sparkled clearer than ever.

“Still, your words aren’t entirely unfounded, Hero.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“Think about it, Colonel. How many smugglers come from outside to North Dominion?”

At that question, I fell into thought for a moment.

“There are probably few, right? The North has no nearby seas and is quite far from borders. The cost involved in bringing things in generates little return. There are goods worth aiming for, but…”

There are many valuable items to be found in the North.

Strategic resources like magic stones, monster byproducts, materials used by the imperial army, and so on.

However, the rifts where magic stones are found are strictly monitored by the military government. Likewise, to retrieve monster byproducts used in crafting potions or magical items, one must approach the Naroda Mountain range where battles occur. Stepping here might cost even an imperial citizen their life.

The same goes for items from the demon realm. Collectors who seek unique items, true demon worshippers, and scholars hunting for forbidden knowledge may pay exorbitant sums, but one would have to slip past the watchful eyes of the Inquisition active in the North.

The only items one might acquire easily are the various equipment used by the Imperial Army, but even that wouldn’t attract the attention of anyone other than warlords or foreign intelligence agencies. Unlike warlords in need of weapons, intelligence agencies targeting military secrets would sooner acquire army gear donated by a dictatorship than crawl into the North for thievery.

Therefore, the North is hardly a fruitful market for smugglers.

“That’s odd, isn’t it? Why are they here?”

“That I can’t say, but what matters is that there aren’t too many foreign smugglers operating in this area…”

“Let’s cut to the chase and get to the point.”

“Hmm… Should I?”

When I glared at her, Francesca’s eyes narrowed like a crescent moon. With a mischievous smile, she finally laid her cards on the table.

“Why don’t we take over the North’s black market?”

“Who would do that?”

“We would.”

“…”

Francesca began to hum softly.

“After all, the North’s black market has its limitations, and the foreign smugglers here are few and far between… While I don’t know who operates the Palm Tree Trade Guild, those without proper backing can’t do business here.”

“…That’s true.”

“But if suddenly unknown foreign traders appeared and began doing business… wouldn’t those who had been trading with the Palm Tree Guild be curious enough to come looking? And who knows, perhaps even the benefactor, who supposedly cannot be touched by the Emperor, might come forth… That person might know something about the dark magician…”

Despite the roundabout manner of expression, the conclusion was clear—there was still no certainty.

Even if we stirred up the black market in the North, it’s possible we wouldn’t uncover any information. If, in the end, we obtained nothing, we would bear all the risks.

That wasn’t an option.

However.

“For you, Colonel, I know you have certain limitations since your hands are tied, but I simply cannot abide sitting idly doing nothing…”

“…”

“Shall we make another bet…?”

I eased myself down onto the ground, tilting my head backward. Slowly, dark clouds began to creep into the once-bright blue sky.

After a moment of silence, I posed a question to Francesca.

“Do you have contacts for trading within the Empire?”

“Hmm… embarrassing as it is, I don’t…”

“Ah, man…”

Francesca offered a playful, sad smile as she feigned concern. Though her expression was sorrowful, it was laced with mischief.

“I can’t help it if the Empire and I don’t see eye to eye…”

“Gosh, Administrator, your tongue is long.”

“That was a phrase I overheard…”

“Anyway, you’re saying you have no way to smuggle goods into the Empire, right?”

“Yes.”

After briefly locking eyes with Francesca, I looked up again at the sky and sighed deeply.

Grim. The chilly fabric of my pants was padded with undershelling, enabling me to carry hefty items. I slid my hand into my pocket, retrieving an object intended for colder climes.

It was a phone.

“…You want to use that?”

“If there’s no path, then I must find one.”

“Eh…?”

As she looked at me as if to say, “What do you intend to do?” I waved the phone in front of Francesca.

“I’ll scout out a route for smuggling the items. I’ve got a few contacts who could facilitate things we need.”

“…”

“I’ve repaid you for the loss in our last bet.”

A smile played at the corner of Francesca’s mouth.

“Of course, if you fail, you’ll be responsible for the outcome, right?”

“Come on…”

With confidence, I brought the phone to my ear. The ringtone pierced through the harsh December wind.

“Do you know what my experience holds? I assure you this’ll go smoothly.”