A Dark Fantasy Spy

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Even if you’re bitten by a tiger, as long as you keep your wits about you, you’ll survive.

It means that no matter what crisis arises, if you remain calm and handle the situation, you can surely overcome it.

In short, it’s a reminder to stay sharp and keep living.

“Colonel, did something happen with Lucia?”

“……”

My mind went blank for a moment, yet I quickly answered Veronica’s sudden inquiry.

“Nothing happened.”

—

The door closes.

A soft click echoes as the door fully shuts, and a faint sigh escapes my lips.

I recalled Veronica peeking covertly outside, reminiscing about the conversation we had just moments ago.

‘Is it true? Did nothing really happen?’

‘Of course it did.’

‘Colonel, I know you’re not religious, but lying is a serious sin, you know?’

Veronica’s questioning was relentless. She pressed on with a stubbornness that bordered on being worryingly obsessive.

Was she desperately seeking reassurance to quell her growing concerns and anxieties?

‘Why would I not know that? But now that you’ve brought it up, it’s a bit…’

‘I’m not joking. I’m asking seriously right now.’

Veronica looked at me like a student who bombed her college entrance exam yet hoped all her guesses were correct while tallying her results.

There was a trace of desperation in her voice.

‘Even without seeing the wounds on your body, I can tell roughly how badly you’ve been hurt. I already know you’re not the kind of person who treats women poorly, and I know better than anyone that Lucia, despite sometimes causing trouble, is a good girl. But I’m worried, so I’m asking.’

‘So, are you asking me as a saint?’

‘No, as an older sister. As your sister.’

In that brief moment when she confirmed her protective prayer, she explained that she had checked the condition of my body, wounded by a demon. Knowing the context, it wasn’t hard to guess what had happened afterward.

Veronica had scanned the wounds I received. Since they were injuries from a demon, much like Lucia, she added that my condition wasn’t exactly fine.

‘Given the situation, she wouldn’t have just sat back and done nothing. She’s not the type to turn her back on someone in need. Plus, it involves a demon after all.’

Knowing Lucia’s character, she definitely wouldn’t have left a patient in distress behind; she must have taken some action. I imagined she would have tried everything she could, and if anything was needed, she would’ve sent a letter to the Cult.

Indeed, Lucia had once gone so far as to transport the High Priest’s bed, treated as a relic and deeply hidden within the vault, all the way to Abas to tend to my injuries sustained during a department store terror attack.

And therein lay the problem.

‘But, this seems a bit strange. The report from the diocese clearly stated that ordinary healing arts cannot treat wounds inflicted by demons. The Inquisition recognized the severity of the situation there. Yet, there are traces of someone constantly trying to heal your body.’

‘…Yes, Lucia attempted to heal me a few times. The effects were minimal, though.’

‘I knew it would be like that. Colonel, I’m going to ask just once more. If I report this to the National Affairs Council or lodge a complaint with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, you won’t, right? Just once. Please, genuinely tell me the truth.’

‘Ask away.’

‘Nothing really happened… did it?’

Veronica didn’t use phrases like ‘Is that right?’ or ‘Am I wrong?’ Moreover, I could somewhat guess why she chose to ask ‘did it’ instead of ‘is it?’

To put it mildly, she was suspecting that Lucia and I were in some sort of relationship. Meaning, somehow, we might have found ourselves in an intimate position.

In that instant, numerous thoughts flooded my mind.

Things I shouldn’t do while dispatched overseas, the absolute taboos of having relations with a local partner, and the staff members punished for violating these rules—all the way back to when I inquired about the rumors involving Lucia during my inspection days with Charnoy…

And I truly felt sorry for Lucia, but…

I recalled the moment from earlier when while attempting to heal me, she had accidentally laid beside me, her bare skin brushing against mine, leading to a rather surprising situation for both of us. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t bewildered, having fainted and then awakened to find it pitch black, only to discover that Lucia happened to be lying there beside me. A poor excuse, but that was the reality of it.

I had intended to apologize swiftly once I returned, yet when the moment came to apologize, I found myself at a loss for words. Moreover, Lucia had entered a period of solitude without my knowledge.

Many thoughts whirled in my mind, but…

The only thing I could say at this moment was just one thing.

‘Of course. There was absolutely nothing to worry about.’

‘……’

The questioning ceased there. Even with the lack of a clarifying answer, Veronica didn’t show any significant reaction.

She didn’t demand I swear to God or stake my family’s honor with any of those tedious and pedantic expressions. Veronica merely raised her brows thoughtfully and then, in a matter-of-fact tone, replied.

‘…I understand. Since you say so, I’ll trust you.’

‘Thank you for trusting me, Veronica.’

‘If you’re lying, I’ll kill you. Seriously.’

Yes, nothing happened. I couldn’t tell you what exactly that “thing” was according to anyone’s standards, but it was true.

For some reason, ever since coming here, I felt like I had told more lies in the last few months than in my five-year career as an information officer.

With a deep sigh, I crossed the corridor of the Cathedral.

—

It’s already been half a day since the two saints and the Inquisition staff fought monsters, necromancers, and demons in the underground sewers.

In reality, it had long surpassed half a day. The last time I had lunch with Veronica was around 2 PM.

As I stepped into the corridor, the sun was already nearing the finish line. Watching the sun sinking into the west, I tried to gauge when dusk might arrive.

“Let’s see…”

Checking the sunrise/sunset schedule from the Military Government Headquarters for the northern region, it appeared I had about an hour and a half left until sunset.

Calculating the distance between my strides and the spaces between Veronica’s room and the dining hall, plus the distance to where Lucia was, it seemed that right around the time Lucia finished her meal would be when the sun was setting.

Veronica had asked me to return before sunset after providing me with dinner.

To be precise….

‘According to the papal decree announced by the National Affairs Council in 1431, no one, regardless of their status, should be in the same room as a confined priest after sunset.’

She stated.

That came off as a rather old-fashioned rule from Veronica, who would usually throw shade at bishops and cardinals, and considering her rebellious nature towards old laws, it was absurd for her to enforce such a dusty cult regulation.

‘So, am I supposed to free the confined Lucia? Have you forgotten? She’s grounded right now.’

‘But she is still your little sister. Not that she’s your biological sister or anything.’

‘Who’s gonna care if I enforce some rotting parchment rules? Besides, I’m not even the one to be punished here.’

Veronica, having had enough of my mocking, urged me to quickly deliver dinner for her hungry little sister.

To treat a grown adult like a child who couldn’t even manage to eat her dinner—what did Veronica think of Lucia?

I couldn’t help but tilt my head, pondering her overly protective behavior.

“Sometimes, I just can’t… understand her…”

Curiosity filled me about how far Veronica’s antics would lead, but regrettably, I didn’t have time to dwell on that thought right now. I sprinted to the dining hall to gather Lucia’s dinner.

“Sister, where’s the meal for Saint Lucia?”

“Oh, if it’s the provisions for Saint Lucia, they are right here.”

The meal the nun handed over to Lucia looked precisely like something a practicing cleric would eat.

The thin, indistinguishable soup could easily be mistaken for a bland porridge. Beside it lay a simple wooden spoon.

That was all there was. No other side dishes or foods to be found.

“Is this it?”

“Ah… Well, you see, brother, Saint Veronica instructed this morning that all meals for Saint Lucia should consist solely of this porridge.”

“So she’s going to have to eat just this bland stuff all day?”

“Yes. We would like to help, but… it’s unavoidable.”

The nun repeatedly bowed her head, expressing her apologies.

Lucia’s meal consisted solely of porridge, lacking any other food or even fruit. Not even the meager bread portion we had been distributing to the refugees as clerics.

It seemed like Veronica’s order was a punishment imposed on Lucia for entering a period of solitude on her own.

“Well, I guess it can’t be helped. If Saint Veronica said so.”

“Honestly, it doesn’t sit well with me.”

“I understand.”

She had nothing to apologize to me for.

Waving my hand to dismiss her concerns, the visibly troubled nun excused herself from the scene. In the meantime, I quickly ducked into the kitchen to retrieve food.

Having pilfered sweet potatoes and kimchi from civilian homes during training before, it wasn’t too challenging. Perhaps it was after the training that my superior, who had already been a captain when I returned, had rewarded us with some treats.

With dinnertime approaching, it seemed everyone was busily preparing. No one paid me any mind, so I rummaged through the fridge and pantry, pulling out bread, canned goods, and a few pieces of fruit, confidently slipped them into my pockets, and exited the kitchen.

I then casually crossed the corridor, my pockets noticeably bulging with goodies.

And then…

Knock! Knock!

“Who’s there?”

“It’s me. Please open the door.”

Click, the door opens.

The door creaks open slowly, like a chick breaking out of its shell.

Lucia stood there, hesitating with a confused expression as she paused with her hand on the doorknob, and I smiled warmly at her from just outside.

“I heard you hadn’t had dinner, so I brought you some.”

The expression she sported at that moment, while grounded, was one I had never seen before since I became acquainted with her.

“Ah…”