A Dark Fantasy Spy

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Just after I wrapped up my somewhat exaggerated complaint, I helped Lucia finish her meal.

“Make sure to eat your dinner. Discipline is one thing, but you need to take care of your health too.”

Quite a bit of time had passed, so the porridge I brought for dinner had cooled off. It was already tasteless, and now it was cold too. I simply couldn’t bear to look at it.

This won’t do.

“Saint Lucia, please eat this.”

“What is it?”

“An apple. There’s even some canned fruit.”

I handed over the apple and canned fruit I had brought from the kitchen. Lucia looked taken aback, wondering where I had gotten this.

“How did you get it?”

“From the kitchen.”

Truth be told, I had stolen it. But technically, I did get it from the kitchen, so…

I left that part out, and since Lucia didn’t know the details, she didn’t pry further.

Instead,

“….”

She merely smiled faintly, drawing a soft line with her lips.

“Thank you for thinking of me.”

“It’s nothing, really.”

Absentmindedly staring out the window, I noticed the sun had already set completely.

The sun was just barely peeking over the horizon as it disappeared, while the stars, densely packed below the bright moonlight, twinkled in the dark sky.

“Has it really gotten this late already?”

I stood up, hurriedly preparing to leave the room. I had to return before Veronica’s warning to come back before sunset, and I also needed dinner.

However,

As is often the case with the world,

Things don’t always go as expected.

-Swoosh.

I felt a strange sensation envelop my hand, and looking down, I saw the small, white hand covering mine.

It was Lucia’s hand.

“Saint?”

“…….”

When I called out to Lucia in a low voice, there was no response.

She seemed to have an odd expression on her face, staring at the floor, as if something was weighing heavily on her.

“Um.”

“Yes. Is there something you want to tell me…?”

“Healing.”

Lucia said.

“Would you perhaps be considering getting treated today as well?”

Episode 12 – The Mightiest Magician

When that word left Lucia’s lips, I was reminded of something else entirely instead of its literal definition.

“When you say healing… are you referring to that thing from last time?”

“Yes.”

The first memory that flashed in my mind was the unfamiliar sight of the room.

Having been transferred to the cathedral with the help of the Inquisition Officers, I was barely clinging to life. I had lost so much blood from the stab wounds that I was unconscious.

I woke up in the cathedral, and as soon as I opened my eyes, what met my gaze was a saint lying beside me, staring.

I didn’t realize it then, but in hindsight, it was an extremely embarrassing moment. Whether I had caused the incident I had only heard about, or how much of an uproar the inspection office would cause, I hadn’t the slightest clue.

Fortunately, the concerns I had anticipated didn’t materialize.

“While it’s not entirely accurate to say there have been no results from the healing, you still haven’t fully recovered from your injuries.”

As I briefly recalled what had happened a few days ago, Lucia cautiously inquired.

“It’s not good to postpone treatment. So, if you’re okay with it, perhaps you should receive treatment today….”

“…….”

“What do you think…?”

She stole glances at my reaction.

Her small, white hands were neatly clasped in her lap. Sitting in a modest posture like she was praying, Lucia kept her gaze fixed on the ground.

From that perspective, she looked merely a bit disheartened and otherwise the same as usual, but the anxious side-glances she cast, checking my reaction, and the way her fingers fidgeted in her lap were undeniably unusual.

She was restless. Could it be she was nervous?

Still, one thing was certain,

The expression on Lucia’s face was something I had never seen before.

*
Might as well receive some treatment while I’m at it.

It wasn’t a bad suggestion, but I had a few reservations.

“The knights escorting you will surely come to check on your safety, won’t they? If I’m caught here, it could lead to an awkward situation.”

“Don’t worry. The cathedral is the safest place in the northern region. Also, since I am in a state of penance, the knights shouldn’t come looking for me unless there’s a special reason.”

Lucia assured me that neither knights nor any other clergy or monks would come to check on her. She added that it’s taboo for anyone to visit someone in penance or retreat, according to the laws of the cult. I brought up a series of other questions—like whether others would come, if I was being a nuisance, and if she had the necessary tools for healing.

Some might consider my inquiries a bit pushy, but Lucia didn’t mind. She kindly replied that I didn’t need to worry at all.

“Although I’m not sure if it’s appropriate for me to stay while you’re in penance.”

“It’s fine. There’s nothing more important than saving a life. I’m sure everyone will understand.”

“…….”

Lucia spoke as if there were genuinely no issues, but there was still a fundamental concern.

“Saint Lucia.”

“Yes.”

“But, did you get permission for this?”

Permission.

The moment I uttered that word, Lucia’s expression subtly shifted.

Her face stiffened slightly. There was a brief pause in her breath. Unlike her earlier demeanor, in which she had shown no signs of worry, Lucia now hesitated to speak.

No, it’s not that she couldn’t speak; it was more that she shouldn’t.

What Lucia was doing right now had not been sanctioned.

“I was once told a story by Saint Veronica. It was about a healing technique passed down among healing priests.”

There exists a healing technique handed down among the cult’s healing priests.

It involves the healer sleeping in the same space as the patient.

Derived from tales in the scriptures, this method has theological significance and was believed to have unexpectedly good effects, often used in emergency situations.

However, it’s kept somewhat secretive due to its embarrassing nature, so it is passed down only through word of mouth.

Though effective, due to the many complications it entails, the cult has established several procedures for priests wishing to attempt this technique. These procedures could be viewed as a safety measure.

“As far as I know, to use that method, the patient’s consent and the approval of the diocesan bishop, the National Affairs Council, and the priest themselves are necessary.”

“…….”

“Saint Veronica didn’t even know who treated me.”

To use the healing technique, rigorous pre-approval is required.

If Lucia had gone through the proper procedures to treat me, Veronica would have certainly known.

She wouldn’t merely be at the level of questioning a sibling about what had happened; she’d probably storm in, yank out my hair, and create a scene, considering her protective nature towards Lucia.

Yet, Veronica didn’t know who had treated me at all. She had examined my condition and simply guessed that Lucia must have attempted some form of healing after that.

In other words,

“You haven’t received permission, have you?”

“…….”

Lucia was in a state where she hadn’t received any permission whatsoever.

There was no need to ask for an answer.

She kept her head down, unable to meet my gaze.

“When the time came, there was no opportunity to seek permission… it was an urgent situation.”

“…….”

“I’m truly sorry if I’ve put you in a difficult position because of me. I’ll take responsibility and sort it out….”

“No, you don’t need to do that.”

I waved my hands in dismissal toward Lucia, who was apologizing. I was barely hanging on to life at that moment; worrying about permission was the least of my concerns.

I had no clue what the consequences of breaking the rules might be, but if word got out, Lucia would undoubtedly find herself in a difficult situation as well. It’d be ludicrous to question her reasons for breaking the rules when she merely took a risk to save my life.

“Just let me know if any problems arise later. That would be enough.”

“…Are you sure it’s alright?”

“I’m a diplomat. They can’t punish diplomats regardless, so regulations are of little concern.”

As I was about to step out of the room, I hesitated and sat back down on the bed.

The sun had fully set now, leaving only a sliver of red at the edge of the horizon.

Swoosh. I felt Lucia’s fingers brush against my own.

A bit shyly, her hair had slipped down, covering her face, but I was still able to see her sparkling blue eyes in the dark.

“Um.”

The thought she was about to express didn’t follow.

Guessing roughly what she was about to say, I silently took her hand in mine. Lucia then lowered her head even more, maintaining her quiet silence.

“…….”

After a prolonged silence,

Lucia finally raised her head, carefully brushing her fallen hair back before speaking.

“I’ll prepare then.”

She briefly locked eyes with me, took a small breath, and stood up.

Then, the sound of buttons being undone reached my ears.

As Lucia slowly unbuttoned her clothing, her pure white robe slipped down, cascading over her shoulders.

When her neck, shoulders, and parts of her back were revealed as her garments fell,

Suddenly, Lucia turned back and whispered in a small voice.

“I know it’s a bit late to say this, but… could you please keep today’s events a secret?”

I didn’t answer. Lucia didn’t urge me for a response either.

In truth, there didn’t seem to be a need for one at all.

*

In the dining hall of the Cathedral of Saint Basil,

As the clergymen and monks finished their evening meals and exited, busy preparations continued. The monks were diligently washing an enormous amount of dishes and cooking utensils, striving to maintain a clean environment.

“Are you referring to the Colonel?”

The inquisitor, while moving dishes, tilted his head in response.

“He came by the kitchen earlier. He said he was bringing dinner for Saint Lucia.”

“When did he come?”

“I’m not sure of the exact time since dinner preparations were nearing completion… but he passed by before the priests, inquisitors, and nuns had their dinner.”

“Oh, I see.”

Veronica nodded.

“I thought I had forgotten, but it seems I can indeed trust him.”