A Dark Fantasy Spy

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Veronica lightly spun the revolver and opened the cylinder.

Distinct silver cartridges, unlike ordinary bullets, clinked as they fell.

She reached out toward the priest holding a shotgun, receiving six shells and loading them into the chamber.

“Must be the sacred ammunition. Its effectiveness is remarkable.”

Having loaded the revolver, she glanced back at the priest with a smirk.

“If you waste them like this, won’t His Grace scold you?”

“No matter how many shots Saint Veronica takes, the relics of the Great Cathedral of Sophia will never fall into disrepair—unless, of course, our saint sells the cult’s relics and turns them to trash.”

Veronica’s attacks were nothing short of incredible.

In the blink of an eye, she dispatched dozens of monsters, using only six bullets in the process. To be precise, four shots—the remaining two were fired at a demon and a necromancer.

The conditions of the demon and the necromancer were nothing ordinary, even to an outsider like me.

The demon glared at her, bleeding dark red from its legs, while the necromancer clutched its abdomen, blood gushing from the shotgun and revolver wounds.

“Hm.”

Veronica surveyed the remnants of the Muspel, the demon, and the necromancer with ease.

Grinning, she pointed the revolver at her foes.

“Performance is guaranteed.”

Episode 12 – The Most Powerful Magician

The knight swung his sword at the approaching Muspel.

Shwaak! A clear sound slicing through the air, followed by the Muspel’s horn and part of its head being severed.

The knight twisted the blade and decapitated the Muspel. As the priest tore a scripture, a divine aura enveloped the mace, which he then brought down on the monster’s skull, crushing it to pulp.

The Inquisition troops who had come to support Lucia’s request swiftly dealt with the monsters on site.

The remaining Muspel quickly knelt under the blades of the Inquisition.

The commander guiding the knights and priests approached us lightly, having single-handedly defeated dozens of Muspel.

“No homesick tales this time, just hardship, right? A few days till the New Year, and what is this?!”

Veronica grumbled as she scratched her head.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“…As you can see, I’m safe today.”

I replied in a weary voice, spreading my arms. Veronica, still scratching her head, glanced at me with an incredulous look.

“You’ll be safe today, too.”

“Same difference.”

“Still, boasting, huh… At least you’re unhurt. I’m grateful you made it here on time, right?”

“Of course, I am.”

“Just empty words?”

Her teasing question stung. Wiping the blood from my blade on my sleeve, I retorted with a brusque tone.

“Grateful, yes, but don’t expect any debts to be paid, Saint.”

“You mean to say Colonel isn’t capable of paying debts?”

“I can pay debts, sure. It’s just a matter of whether I choose to.”

“What happens if you don’t repay them?”

Well…

I silently pointed to the ground. Veronica followed my gesture and, understanding my implication, opened her mouth in disbelief.

“You didn’t bury someone just because you didn’t want to repay the debt, did you?”

With her legs crossed, Veronica placed a hand on her hip.

On her waist, a vintage silver revolver sparkled under the starlight.

“It’s best not to know such things.”

“Sigh… How did I end up wrapped up with a guy like you?”

“Should have built up some merits in your previous life, I guess.”

“I’m certainly enough of a virtuous person. After all, there are only two saints in this world.”

“Quit smoking and then say that.”

As if she had heard a funny joke, Veronica laughed.

The revolver she held began spinning in her hand. Due to the safety being off, the risk of an accidental discharge was negligible, not to mention her adeptness at handling it.

I sighed deeply while watching her revolver.

“If you had something like that, you could’ve used it long ago. No need to deal with those pesky Inquisition spies.”

“Oh, I couldn’t use it back then.”

Veronica smiled as she glanced at her revolver. Then, planting a kiss on it, she added playfully,

“This isn’t for shooting people.”

“Then what’s it for?”

“For shooting those sorts.”

The spinning revolver suddenly stopped.

Precisely, Veronica grabbed the grip and pointed her revolver at the distant demon and necromancer.

“That’s what it’s for.”

*

Performing her trick, Veronica moved ahead, twirling the gun.

She passed by the knights and priests slaughtering the hellish monsters, murmuring in intrigue.

“I melted down the cathedral’s relics, mixed in holy water with the bullets, and infused them with the power of the Holy Spirit for one good shot.”

Thwack! Her heel struck a stone brick covered in dust, producing a dull sound.

“They’ve managed to survive, haven’t they?”

“…….”

“Considering Lucia’s personality, she would have pounded them flat a long time ago, so their survival must mean she went easy on them.”

Veronica smiled at the demon and necromancer.

“Seems like they weren’t pathetic demons after all?”

The demon, shot in the thigh, glared at Veronica while dragging its leg.

“Veronica! Saint of the Cult!”

“Oh.”

A smile appeared on Veronica’s lips as she twirled the revolver.

“You know me?”

“Baseborn gunman! Silver bullet marksman! Herald of Angels!”

The demon shouted like it was possessed. It was a title I’d never heard before, but I realized it was referring to Veronica.

The demon continued, “You’ve actually hit two people with that gun! Even as a child who hadn’t even become a saint!”

I glanced at the frenzied demon before looking back at Veronica. She tilted her head in confusion.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Have you ever killed a demon? Why is that guy acting like this all of a sudden?”

“Oh—”

Veronica gasped as if struck by a revelation. So that’s what you were curious about.

“I once sent two demons back to hell. One was a demon bound to a possessed person, and the other was contracted with a necromancer. That’s the two.”

“Were you an exorcist?”

“Umm… not quite. I merely met them while passing by and helped them out a bit. It was a close call, though.”

Veronica grinned as she looked at the demon.

The demon, glaring at Veronica with bloodshot eyes, spat out curses difficult to even utter.

“A slut dares to aim her gun? I might just hang you on a cross to die in sunlight!”

“I’m a virgin.”

“That fucking bitch…!”

Despite being bombarded with crude insults, Veronica remained completely unfazed.

“Can’t move now, can you? How about a little run for it, like before?”

“Dare to mock me?!”

“Mock?”

Veronica smiled.

“Look at your state. You can barely move thanks to the bullet lodged in your leg, much less run away.”

“…….”

“All the minions you summoned are dead, and the lackey you called in to help you is about to die too, I wager?”

Just as she said, the demon was in a dire situation.

The muspel summoned by sacrificing a human met their end at the hands of Veronica and the Inquisition.

Suddenly, the necromancer who had rushed in to assist the demon began to cough blood again.

“…Cough!”

The necromancer spat another mouthful of blood, doubling over.

With one knee on the ground and struggling to raise its head, anyone would be left in that state after taking a heavy lead and silver bullet to the gut.

The demon scowled at the necromancer’s pitiful defeat, while Veronica leaned in, her smile defiant.

“Demons and necromancers. This should please even the old-timers in the cult. Now, enough of the games.”

“……”

“It’s time for you to return from whence you came.”

Click! The hammer cocked.

The long silver barrel sparkled under the starlight, with the loaded bullet aimed at the demon. As Veronica narrowed her eyes, she prepared to pull the trigger.

At that moment, just as her eyes narrowed and pressure built in her finger—

– Taaang!

The heavy gunshot reverberated through the cavern.

The powder burst and propelled the bullet forward. Flames and smoke erupted from the muzzle, and the spinning round shot straight for the demon.

Just as the demon was about to receive its ticket back to hell—

– Pooork!

The necromancer dove in, taking the bullet intended for the demon.

“What the?”

Veronica, holding the revolver, wore a baffled expression.

“Why did that crazy guy suddenly jump in? Is he even smart?”

“…Wait a second, Veronica.”

I interrupted her. Something felt off.

Seeing someone take a bullet for another is rare enough, but the necromancer’s actions had an air of something peculiar about them.

“…Huh.”

The necromancer, eyes bulging, stared dumbfoundedly at the bullet wound in his chest.

Blood gushed forth, and trembling hands clutched its torso. The necromancer, hands blocking his gaping wound, turned its shaking eyes towards the demon behind it.

There stood the demon, having used the necromancer as a meat shield against the incoming bullet.

“What the… Why…?”

“Seems like the useless chunk of meat is curious about many things.”

The demon grinned, baring its blackened teeth.

“This isn’t supposed to happen….”

“Why should I protect someone who can’t even run away?”

“This is different from what I heard…!”

The necromancer, caught by the demon, screamed in anguish. Its voice carried a pang of injustice and anger.

But the demon paid it no heed. Grabbing the necromancer with one hand, it leaned in, as if to kiss.

A smile spread across the demon’s lips.

Its blackened teeth appeared as the demon’s mouth opened wide. The necromancer, gripped by the throat, writhed in terror, flailing its limbs.

“Oh, no…!”

The agonized screams filled the air just as a strange phenomenon took place.

Pale smoke began rising from the necromancer’s body. From its face, neck, chest, arms, to its legs—every part of the necromancer was enveloped in the smoke.

The smoke flowed over the necromancer’s skin, gradually rising, tracing a path upwards, and then vanished into the demon’s mouth.

“…What the?”

Veronica’s eyes widened as she loaded another round.

“The demon is absorbing his soul.”

“Pardon?”

“The demon is absorbing the necromancer’s soul.”

*

Calmly, Veronica explained the bizarre scene unfolding before us.

“What demons crave most is human souls. You know how succubi hunt for human essence, correct?”

“Yes.”

“It works on the same principle.”

Just like how people need money for living, she clarified that for demons, human souls functioned like resources or currency.

Just as people save money to buy better homes and cars, demons collect human souls for trades or to attempt ‘ascension.’

“Of course, the relationship between a necromancer and a demon is quite special, making soul collection rare.”

“……”

“Well, what matters right now isn’t that,” Veronica said while aiming at the demon devouring the necromancer’s soul. She softly murmured a prayer, preparing for her strike to send the demon back to hell.

Just then, I sensed something flying through the air behind us.

– Whoosh!

Turning my head, I saw a fast-moving object zip past nearby.

The object flew past me, piercing through both the necromancer and the demon’s bodies in a straight line.

“Gahhh!”

A horrific scream shook the cavern.

The silvery blade embedded deep in the necromancer’s back was the staff sword wielded by only one person here.

I turned my head back, spotting Lucia, who had just thrown something.

“…Shoot!”

Lucia yelled.

“Right now!”

Lucia, having thrown the staff sword used by Inquisitor Agato, gasped for breath. Her staggering form was quickly supported by the surrounding priests.

The weapon Lucia threw had impaled both the demon and the necromancer like a skewered shish kebab. The demon, let out a wretched howl, struggled to free itself from the blade embedded in its body, but the blade was too deep for any chance of escape.

“Saint Lucia!”

“…Quickly!”

“……”

Veronica glanced back at Lucia and then turned her attention back to the demon. Finally, her finger pressed down on the trigger.

As the demon’s eyes widened at the sight of the silver round aimed its way, it viciously bit its lip, slamming its fist against the blade to shatter it.

– Pooork!

Freed from its restraints, the demon twisted its body, dodging the bullet.

Veronica aimed for its head, but the bullet ended up striking its shoulder instead.

“Damn it!”

Veronica cocked the revolver’s hammer and pulled the trigger in rapid succession.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Three shots echoed, yet the demon evaded every one, twisting and contorting its limbs to avoid each bullet.

Ultimately, the creature rolled around ugly on the ground, abandoning the poise it once had. Before it stood a filthy monster draped in dirt and dust, fighting for survival.

Even after firing her last bullet, Veronica couldn’t hit the demon.

Having absorbed the necromancer’s soul using the latter as a meat shield, the demon seemed to have regained its strength, smirking devilishly.

“Foolish girl!”

“That bastard.”

Veronica clenched her teeth and emptied her pocket. The six bullets she’d received from the priest spilled onto the ground, and she quickly reloaded before aiming again.

However—

“Too late!”

The demon withdrew the blade embedded in its body, wielding the blade without a hilt in all directions.

– Kwang-gagagak!

Debris and dust fell from the brick wall supporting the cavern. The previously sturdy bricks began to collapse under the demon’s blade.

– Kurlrulrlung!

As bricks tumbled down, the priests and knights scrambled in panic, and as Veronica stumbled backward, the demon unleashed a victorious laugh, having shattered the cavern.

“You’re nothing but monkeys! No matter how hard you try, you can never win against us. Today, this place will become your tomb.”

Just as the demon’s triumphant laughter filled the air, a bullet plunged straight into its mouth.

With the bullet lodged deep, I raised my middle finger, sending a mocking gesture to the demon.

“A little gift from my heart, you bastard.”

The demon howled, catching a bullet in its mouth, only to be buried beneath the falling debris.

The demon was buried under the collapsing bricks.

While I couldn’t be certain whether it was dead or alive, one thing was sure—I couldn’t chase after it right now.

– Crash!

The bricks began collapsing more rapidly. The decay was accelerating.

If I stood still, I’d surely meet my end like the demon had claimed, so I tucked my gun away and rushed forward.

My destination was the collapsed necromancer. The one who had lost its soul lay shriveled like a mummy.

After yanking the staff sword embedded in the necromancer’s back, I swiftly used the remaining blade to sever its wrist.

– Scrape!

The severed wrist was shoved hastily into my pocket. With that done, I took Veronica’s hand and led her away from the crumbling bricks. A few knights and priests were leading Lucia away to safety, while several of our troops flanked us, defending against the falling debris.

Veronica, leaning heavily on me, looked over and broke into a smile.

“If I knew it would turn out like this, I would have handed the revolver to you instead…”

Thus, we left the collapsing cavern behind, escaping into the sewer tunnel and emerging into the above ground.

Leaving behind the necromancer’s withered corpse and the buried demon.

“Let’s go. Home.”

“Yes.”

I held tight to Veronica’s arm, replying.

“Let’s go. Home.”

The battle against the demon, necromancer, and monsters that rose from hell finally came to an end.