A Dark Fantasy Spy

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The battle dragged on longer than expected, but there were no significant issues.

Thanks to the enhanced vigilance prepared for the demon assault, the unit guarding the Rift possessed incredible firepower, while hordes of Corpse Spiders that attacked the Rift experienced that firepower firsthand as they took shell and bullet hits with their own bodies.

– Rat-a-tat-tat-tat! Rat-a-tat! Boom! Rat-a-tat-tat! Boom!

– ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶!

From rifles to mortars, grenade launchers, tanks’ main cannons, and armored vehicle machine guns.

The Imperial Army poured an astonishing amount of firepower into defending the Rift, resulting in the advancing hordes of Corpse Spiders getting wrecked and shredded in the process.

As I observed the firing barrage tearing through the fog, I splashed some water on my head.

“Whoo….”

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine, Camila. Just go inside and rest for a bit. I saw you stumbling earlier.”

After telling Camila to take some food and water, I sent her into an empty building. It didn’t matter if I went days without food or sleep, but for Camila and Francesca, who weren’t used to combat, they needed a break.

I watched Camila shuffle away awkwardly, feeling a twinge of guilt for leaving her alone, and leaned against the wall, taking in the defense lines. The Imperial Army continued to cut down the Corpse Spiders attempting to breach the defenses, steadfastly supported by potent firepower.

If we could just hold out like this, reinforcements would soon reach the defense lines. Then it would all be over.

Once the Imperial Army that pushed through the monsters opened a retreat, the casualties would be sent down the mountain first. We could blend in during the descent alongside them, bringing along the trembling Academy kids hiding in those barracks.

So, if we just hold on, everything would resolve itself. We only needed to maintain the lines until the reinforcements arrived.

At least, that was what I thought.

But I was wrong.

“The defense line is surrounded.”

“Oh, damn it.”

—

Episode 11 – No Issues on the Northern Front

—

Life is full of unforeseen changes, and fortune and misfortune coexist.

Suddenly, I recalled a story told to me by the Director of Information Command who had come to recruit me long ago.

According to the old saying, the fortunes and misfortunes that approach cannot be predicted easily, and indeed, it seems there isn’t a single falsehood in that saying.

“What do you mean the defense is surrounded?”

“Just as you’ve heard.”

It hadn’t been long since the Imperial bastards were alternately struggling to fend off the spider swarms while recovering the casualties and returning to the Rift, now, we were apparently surrounded by monsters here.

What on earth is this nonsense?

When I gave a glance filled with that sort of meaning to the Imperial Army executive, perhaps feeling burdened by my stare, the executive nudged Senior Lyudmila, who was translating.

She spoke.

“As the executive mentioned, the monsters have surrounded the Rift, Colonel.”

“What do you mean surrounded when we have tanks in the unit?”

“Uh, um, well….”

Senior Lyudmila hesitated for a moment before trailing off.

“The attacking monsters pulled back and encircled the defense line, judging it too difficult to break through.”

“The Corpse Spiders that were attacking the defense line suddenly retreated to form a siege, huh?”

“Yes.”

My dazed gaze turned towards the defense line.

There was indeed something odd about it. The ones who had previously been unleashing fierce firepower had suddenly ceased fire as if they had run out of bullets.

I took a moment to lean my head against the wall and think.

“Just to be sure, has the ammunition prepared by our unit already run out? The defense line has been eerily quiet since earlier.”

The Imperial Army executive, having heard Senior Lyudmila’s translation, shook his head firmly.

“No, we still have plenty of supplies.”

“Is that so….”

If that statement is true, it means the forces on the defense line should have bullets left. In other words, it’s not that they are conserving their ammunition, but rather that the Corpse Spiders to shoot at are nowhere in sight.

“The monsters that were charging toward the defense line have suddenly spread out in a confident manner. Reports have come in from the squad stationed to the east.”

“Seems the Northern monsters are clever.”

“I can’t say for sure, but we’ve seen a few instances of this before. Any executives who’ve served long in the North would have encountered monsters like these from time to time.”

“Geez….”

It’s not uncommon for monsters to bypass or escape surveillance. If the creatures were that dull, nations would have cleared out No Man’s Land with their armies long ago.

The fact that the armies of Abas or Kien couldn’t do so means the monsters have a substantial level of intelligence.

This isn’t extraordinary or surprising. Just like a stray cat adapting to urban environments, the monsters in the rear districts have consistently evolved to survive.

However,

“…Hmm.”

For some reason, it feels like there’s something troublesome about what I just heard.

“Are there no reinforcements on the way? We have howitzers nearby, and if they come firing while advancing, it seems we could easily subdue them.”

“The fog is too thick, restricting troop deployments. The terrain is so difficult that infantry can hardly move, making immediate reinforcement unlikely.”

“What about fire support?”

“That can always be secured, but it’s hard to maintain visibility, making it difficult to operate the observation units. However, combat magicians are expected to arrive soon.”

“Um….”

I glanced around, noticing the thickening fog definitely obscured our units’ ability to traverse the mountains or call in fire from far away.

With a quiet sigh, I gathered my rifle, still leaning against the wall, and entered the building.

—

“…And that’s how it is.”

By the time the story concluded, Camila and Francesca were sitting around the table with peculiar expressions.

After meeting with Senior Lyudmila, I immediately began to explain the current situation to Camila and Francesca. The two, who had been resting in the makeshift room, listened intently with serious faces.

“The monsters that attacked the Rift suddenly receded and formed an encirclement….”

Francesca was the first to respond.

“While it’s common to hear about monsters either surrounding people or bypassing defenses endlessly from the Adventurers Guild, this is not something to be dismissed lightly.”

“No ordinary monster would do this.”

“Exactly.”

She nodded in agreement, her arms folded.

“A small-type monster, the Corpse Spider, normally wouldn’t attack a human and would charge into a defense line knowing full well it could die, yet now it has pulled back…. It’s certainly a bizarre phenomenon. This hasn’t ever been reported by the Adventurers Guild or the academic community.”

“…….”

“Why on earth is this happening?”

As we shared our thoughts, Camila raised her hand excitedly.

“Could it be that there’s a villain controlling the monsters? Like sending them signals with pheromones or magic!”

“Um… There are certainly individuals who specialize in managing and breeding monsters. But such people are typically well-known or under governmental supervision, Hero.”

“Huh… So, what if there’s a magician here who’s not known to the government?”

Camila cautiously suggested her hypothesis.

Taking a quick glance outside, I interrupted the conversation of the two who were pondering together.

“Such speculation is meaningless. We’re currently isolated here, and it’s been less than a month since we arrived in the Empire. How can we know anything?”

“You’re right, Colonel. Groundless conjecture leads us nowhere.”

There’s nothing certain. Even having served for three years in the Empire, I couldn’t make heads or tails of this, so how could Camila and Francesca know?

We need to focus on what we can do.

I pulled a chair and sat facing both of them.

“One thing’s clear: we’re isolated at the Rift, and it’s going to be difficult to receive external support right away.”

While combat magicians from the adjacent units are on their way, it might not be enough.

To drive back the monsters attacking the Rift, we need to have at least a substantial force come to our aid.

For now, it might be okay that the Corpse Spiders aren’t mounting an attack, but we cannot predict what might happen next.

In fact, I hadn’t even anticipated that the Rift would come under attack while we were stuck here.

“For now, let’s leave the Imperial Army, which we can’t do anything about, aside. The unit has already reported and requested support. Administrator, do you know someone nearby who could help us?”

“Hmm….”

Francesca paused for a moment, rolling her eyes in thought.

“There are magicians from the Magic Tower who are active near the Rift. Though they’re few in number, getting here would take a considerable amount of time.”

“Alright. If possible, please request support now.”

“I already did that as soon as we got inside the defense line.”

“Oh, really?”

I looked at Francesca in surprise.

I had assumed she would be too busy dealing with the Corpse Spiders to think of that, yet she had already taken action before I even asked.

Francesca, with a calm demeanor, sat down and began explaining.

“Also, I reached out to everyone else.”

“Who else did you contact?”

“I called everyone I could reach. Sir Evangelos, Señor Martinez, as well as magicians from the North who are acquainted with the mages of the Magic Tower.”

Francesca had reached out to nearly all her connections.

This included Sir Evangelos Rysidike, head of the Magic Battalion, Juan Pablo Martinez, head of the Secretariat, the mages repairing the railway and roads, and the Imperial mages.

In essence, she had exhausted her social network.

“Good job.”

“Oh, and one more person. Sir Pereyti.”

“Pereyti?”

The head of the Knights Order?

“Do you have contact with someone like that?”

“Connections are important. It wouldn’t hurt to know each other, especially as we have a chance to help each other out.”

“…Ah, about the investigation of the dark magic artifacts.”

I let out a small sigh.

Had we not been stuck here, I would’ve already taken Francesca to Petrogard to scout smuggling routes.

“What a stroke of bad luck….”

“Don’t think too negatively. The demon tribe hasn’t attacked yet.”

“They might target us here.”

“Then we’d better hope the Knights Order arrives quickly.”

I shot a defeated glance at Francesca, who made a joke about whom a wizard, having been a heretic for hundreds of years, ought to pray to.

“By the way, Camila, what have you been staring at all by yourself? Is there something outside?”

“Ah….”

Turning to look out the window, Camila’s countenance shifted slightly darker.

“Are you okay? If it’s really uncomfortable, don’t just stand there, come over here.”

“It’s not that. I just remembered something from the department store….”

“The department store?”

Why bring that up all of a sudden?

I gazed at Camila with a puzzled expression, but she shook her head, as if to say it was nothing, and spoke again.

“It’s nothing serious, so don’t worry about it. I just have a bad feeling about this… Anyway, I’ve been contemplating something.”

“What are you contemplating?”

“A method to eliminate the monsters surrounding us.”

Camila looked out the window again.

Then she turned to face me, looking insightful.

“What if we gathered the monsters all at once—”

Just then, the outside world suddenly plunged into darkness.

Facing away from the window, Camila continued speaking obliviously, while Francesca scrambled to her feet to shout.

“Get down!”

“Uh…?”

Only then did Camila realize the situation as she turned to the window.

I pulled Camila and Francesca inside the room, enveloping them both in my embrace.

– ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶!

And a thunderous sound accompanied a cloud of dust rising to envelop us.

—

When I came to, the first thing I thought was that I was bleeding.

Through my hazy consciousness, there was a burning sensation in my forehead. My temples and cheekbones seemed to tingle with warmth.

After wiping my trembling cheeks, I found blood on my palm.

“…….”

Staring blankly at my palm soaked in blood, I couldn’t discern if this was a dream or reality.

What snapped me back to reality was a coughing sound coming from below.

Camila, her face covered in dust, was coughing violently.

“Ugh…! Cough cough…!”

“…Camila.”

“I’m fi— cough…!”

Amid the coughing, a familiar voice pierced my ear. It was Francesca.

“Colonel….”

“Uh, Francesca….”

Francesca was no better than Camila. She was covered in dust, pressing one of her sleeves against her mouth and nose while shaking my shoulder.

“Don’t move….”

“No,”

“Don’t move, I said.”

Her firm voice held me in place.

Francesca grasped my shoulders with both hands, seating me on the ground, while she rummaged through her pockets for a potion.

“Drink this.”

“Right now… this….”

“You’ve got a concussion. You could really die, so drink it immediately.”

I didn’t have the energy to respond.

As I repeatedly pushed away the vial she offered without understanding what was happening, she didn’t seem to mind and forced the vial to my lips.

After draining a bottle of potion, I could feel my foggy mind gradually sharpening.

Only then did I begin to see the things once obscured.

Camila, disheveled and covered in dust, and Francesca, handing a potion to her.

The walls and curtains were ablaze, apparently due to the explosion;

The half-destroyed exterior wall and the thick fog starting to seep into what used to be the interior space.

And,

“What’s that….”

In the distance, beyond the thick fog, a massive shadow of a spider began to approach.

Dozens of bright red eyes glowed ominously as they drew closer to this place.

“…….”

By the way, we were on the third floor of the building.