A Dark Fantasy Spy

---

Although rough terms like house arrest or confinement have been used, the truth is that Veronica has not imprisoned me.

If I wanted to, I could go anywhere within the Cathedral of Saint Basil. I just can’t leave the cathedral grounds.

So, in essence, my freedom of movement and residence has been slightly restricted.

“Is it humane to imprison a diplomat in the cathedral? Veronica, do you think you’ll get away with this?”

“It’s fine! I’m pretty!”

“Stop with the nonsense, will you?”

It seemed that Veronica had no intention of budging from her stubbornness.

I longed to return to the hotel, but she wouldn’t allow it. Instead, she ordered me to stay in the cathedral until the injuries I sustained from the demon healed.

Well, that part was all right. They provide free accommodation and treatment, so that’s a plus for me.

But—

This is a bit much, isn’t it?

“Okay, this will be the room where you’ll be staying for a while, Colonel. Do you have any questions?”

“Uh, um, Saint Veronica?”

“Yes?”

“Everything else is fine, but why are there iron bars on the window?”

“Don’t worry about it, just focus on your treatment.”

—

Episode 12 – The Strongest Archmage in History

Unlike other priests who mutter prayers less effective than a simple wound ointment, Veronica’s healing was undeniably effective.

She erased minor wounds in the blink of an eye and even sutured torn skin with just a wave of her hand.

“Do you feel any pain, Colonel?”

“Of course I do; my skin is torn! Just give me some medicine.”

“Painkillers? Stop being a baby and just bear with it.”

I decided to obediently receive the treatment.

“Hm. It seems the healing is working well today. The wounds on your arms and back weren’t caused by the demon, were they?”

With her long lashes fluttering as she flashed a smile, Veronica closed her eyes.

The treatment didn’t take long.

It must not be difficult for her to heal someone who isn’t even a patient when she can reattach a severed finger.

For someone desperate to escape the cathedral, this was welcome news.

“Alright, could you move your arm for me?”

I moved my arm as Veronica suggested. The minor wounds had completely vanished, leaving my body just as it usually was.

“Oh.”

With a mix of satisfaction and admiration, I let out an exclamation.

Veronica chuckled and crossed her arms in a proud pose — at that moment, two hefty masses defied gravity and floated in mid-air.

“……”

It’s something I often think, but Veronica seems to have no sense of shame. She lacks any semblance of modesty, too.

“You have to admit it’s impressive, right?”

“Uh, yes… that’s true…”

“What’s with that bland reaction? It’s making me feel bad.”

“Now, the only thing left is the wound on your chest, right?”

Ignoring the sulky Veronica, I tried to take off my shirt.

“Stop right there.”

Just then, Veronica grabbed my hand, which was undoing my tie and buttons.

I looked at her as if questioning what kind of prank this was.

“What is it?”

“Colonel, what did I tell you earlier?”

“You said to stay in the cathedral until my injuries healed.”

“So, once this injury is healed, you plan to leave the cathedral, right? Isn’t that correct?”

“… I suppose so.”

“Right?”

A strange smile crept onto Veronica’s lips. It was a sly grin, as though she’d come up with a scheme to trick someone.

“Then, I’ll delay the treatment of this wound.”

“What?”

There was no need to ask what she meant by that.

She brushed my hand away, saying, “Hey! You finally made it to the Cathedral of Saint Basil, which the cult boasts about. Are you just going to leave?”

“……”

“Surely, you weren’t actually thinking you’d come just for treatment and then leave, were you?”

Veronica buttoned her shirt and, with a tender touch, tied my tie for me.

“The kids are waiting, so don’t make a foolish face and hurry along.”

I followed Veronica, who was pulling my hand, as we exited the room.

—

According to the wishes of Emperor Nikolai VI, who loves religion above all, the Kien Empire imposes a ridiculous amount of taxes related to religion.

It’s a truly cruel act that can make priests weep as their veins throb and their hands shake, but nothing can thwart the expansion of faith through imperial law.

The Cathedral of Saint Basil serves as evidence to support that truth.

This is the cathedral of the cult, proudly established in the North, ruled by the Duke of the North, the hero of the Magic Tower War, and the great Archmage, Emperor Nikolai VI of Kien.

A building that has lived for a full millennium, surpassing even the grand history of the Magic Tower, which boasts a brilliant century of existence and the Kien Empire that has stood firm for several centuries.

The grandeur of the stone architecture, embracing a millennium’s worth of history, is beyond words.

The overwhelming sense of weight from the gentle hill and the serene atmosphere felt from a distance, all wrapped in an aura of faith that surges forth.

Even though it’s the cult’s cathedral, the Imperial Foreign Affairs Department desperately registered it as a cultural heritage of the empire for a reason.

Even a mere commoner like myself could be mesmerized by the cathedral’s atmosphere, so just imagine how much more so for a believer.

Had I been a believer, I am certain my head would have burst the moment I stepped foot in the cathedral without exaggeration.

Reflecting on having shared a bed with a saint in such a place left me feeling a bit strange.

Saints are considered the beloved and closest children of God, and cathedrals are spaces of faith that connect God and humans. In retrospect, it was as if I had engaged with a woman while living in the house of my parents.

“……”

Should I be praying with gratitude even now?

Just as that foolish thought crossed my mind, Veronica, who had been in front, pushed open the restaurant door and pulled me back to reality.

“Here we are. Let’s see if our little brother and the hero are doing well, shall we?”

The restaurant was bustling with unexpected guests.

There were only two guests, but if those two happened to be companions of a saint, the story would be different.

“Make sure they aren’t wanting for anything!”

“Drinks? Got it. I’ll bring them right away.”

“Prepare Stollen for dessert. It’s the year-end and the great feast is approaching, so that’s a good choice.”

The monks were busy moving food around. For just three people, mainly Camila and Francesca, plus Lucia if we were lucky, the servings were enormously generous.

There’s no way Francesca is going to eat all of that.

Then that only leaves one person.

“……”

I could only guess where all that food would end up and covered my face with my hand.

Perhaps sensing what I was thinking, Veronica began to laugh merrily.

“It seems they are doing well. We should make an appearance too, out of courtesy, don’t you think?”

“Haah….”

“Stop sighing and let’s go! They’ll all be waiting.”

As expected, the prime culprit behind devouring the food was Camila.

Opposite the elegant Francesca, who was eating with aristocratic poise, plates were stacked high in front of her. Even though the inquisitor was carrying away empty plates like a box, the stack showed no signs of decreasing.

A mountain of plates, enough to warrant three slaps to the face from the mountain range that is me, while Camila feasted with an expression of bliss.

“… Ugh.”

I knew she was a big eater, but I nearly doubted my eyes.

What was she, some national representative from Taereung Training Center? How does that make any sense?

From what I could see, it seemed she had finished off a table’s worth of food all by herself. I couldn’t help but wonder where all those calories went.

“Are you two enjoying your meal?”

As Veronica, with a warm smile on her face, began speaking in her gentle saintly voice, both women, who had been engrossed in their meals, turned to respond.

“Oh! You’ve arrived?”

“To the warmly welcoming Camila, Veronica gently inquired, “Oh, Hero! Is the food to your liking? The food in the cathedral where the Archbishop is staying should be above reproach, but I just wanted to check in case there’s anything uncomfortable.”

“Thank you for your concern! It’s so delicious!”

“Glad to hear it. How about Miss Ranieri?”

“It was a satisfying meal.”

Francesca responded to Veronica’s question with a formal but polite demeanor, unlike the charming tone of Camila.

As someone who knew of their friendship, I found it a bit odd, but soon realized this was the cathedral.

It wouldn’t be beneficial for the church members to know that an executive from the Magic Tower Secretariat and a saint of the cult are on such friendly terms.

Especially not for Veronica, who could find herself in quite the predicament if her image reached the ears of puritanical high-ranking clergy.

Of course, I couldn’t say if Veronica, who had previously stolen holy relics to use as gambling funds and sneaks out during work hours for cigarettes in cafes, would even care about such a trivial matter.

Though the saying goes that an arm bends inward, it’s really Veronica who drives everyone mad enough to want to bend her arms outward.

But it never hurts to be cautious.

“Hmm. That’s a relief. Brother?”

At Veronica’s gentle call, a priest came scuttling over.

“Yes, Saint!”

“When the hero finishes eating, could you give him a brief tour of the cathedral? Of course, after he enjoys the dessert as well.”

“Dessert?”

Camila’s eyes lit up at the mention of dessert.

True to her nature, her love for dessert seemed unparalleled.

“Yes! The cathedral has everything you could possibly want. If you wish, you may taste everything!”

“Really? Can I just have one bite and throw it out?”

“You can have a taste and toss it out the window if you’d like! After all, I won’t be the one cleaning it up!”

“Wow!”

While Camila and Veronica laughed and chatted, the priests and monks looked on with their eyes shut. Their slumped shoulders and somber expressions expressed the mood of the room.

“I’ve finished my meal.”

In the meantime, Francesca stood from the table.

A meal that started with a grape wine made from raisined, shriveled grapes afflicted by noble rot, followed by truffle oil potato fries and roasted chicken, ending with Roquefort cheese paired with noble wine.

Francesca, wearing a satisfied expression, rose from her seat.

Veronica smiled gently at Francesca, who had said she had “something to attend to” as she left the dining hall.

“Take your time. The cathedral is vast, so you might get lost if you’re not careful.”

“Thank you for the advice.”

Before long, the only ones left at the table were Camila, Veronica, and me.

Francesca had left without a word on when she would return.

Something felt off.

As expected, Veronica began to whisper to Camila, who was absorbed in the feast.

“Hero, I just thought of a place I need to check out for a moment, but I hope you don’t mind if I leave for a bit?”

“That’s fine! I’m okay, so feel free to go!”

“How kind of you.”

Veronica smiled sweetly and insisted that Camila be seen to properly so she wouldn’t feel neglected. The priest bowed and agreed.

Having successfully diverted Camila’s attention, Veronica walked out of the dining hall with a confident stride, adding, “Oh, I’ll just borrow the Colonel!”

It was phrased as if she were simply retrieving something she had forgotten.

With a lighthearted tone, Camila replied without a second thought,

“Go right ahead!”

“……”

Was I just a thing?

I wanted to ask that, but it was too late.

With a playful smile, Veronica grabbed my arm and whispered in my ear so that Camila couldn’t hear.

“Come on, let’s finish up quickly so we can return before the hero thinks something weird is going on.”

Being pulled along by the smiling Veronica made it hard to disagree as we exited the dining hall.

Shaking my head as if to say I couldn’t believe it, I threw a glance over my shoulder.

The dining hall, which could be called a banquet hall, had Camila, sitting with an unmoving expression while holding her utensils, locked in a silent exchange with me.

“……”

“……”

That glancing look spoke volumes.

I turned my gaze away, and Camila, once again, began praising the charcuterie and Stollen that had been served for dessert.

—

Where I was dragged, still holding her arm, was an office somewhere in the cathedral. It was the temporary office that Veronica used.

Having dismissed the knights and priests in service, Veronica headed into the office with only me in tow.

There sat a very familiar face.

“You’ve arrived.”

Francesca.

Dressed in a high-end suit reminiscent of the European upper class of the 19th century, she gazed out the window and greeted us as we entered.

Upon seeing that, Veronica beamed and added, “You got here early? Were you bored?”

“Not quite.”

“Ah, come on! My little sister, come give me a hug!”

With a bright smile on her face, Veronica opened her arms wide, attempting to embrace Francesca, who was about to run out like a plush toy.

“Don’t.”

In that moment, Francesca wore a serious expression as she firmly declined.

Veronica’s spirit dropped, her arms lowered. Her shoulders slumped down, and the corners of her eyes drooped in sadness.

“When did you grow up so much? You used to have some adorable quirks back in the day.”

“……”

“I see! Well, in any case, it seems raising these girls is futile. Lucia and Francesca, both are just—”

Veronica, visibly downcast, mumbled nonsensical complaints as she trudged over to her desk. I quietly asked Francesca, “What’s going on here?” But she merely sighed and turned her head, refusing to offer any explanation.

“Hmm…”

Neither Francesca nor Veronica denied their friendship, and since Veronica tend to call Lucia and her ‘little sister’ all the time, I could have guessed they were pretty close.

So, even if Lucia was essentially a stepsister, I couldn’t fathom why Francesca would also refer to her as ‘little sister’.

Upon observing closely, it appeared the connection between the two went much further back than I had anticipated.

Stumbling over to the desk, Veronica pulled out a chair. Then she plopped down and waved her hands in the air.

“Ugh… I shouldn’t say this. Come sit. Colonel, you too, take a seat.”

I quietly pulled a chair over and sat down. Francesca, who had been standing at the window, followed suit.

“So, why the sudden call?”

I had kind of guessed there would be some contact since Francesca had left the table in the middle. Usually, she doesn’t leave the table until the person sitting with her has finished eating.

Even if there were exceptions, overhearing the conversation between Veronica and Camila made me confident of it. She was visibly intent on leaving Camila behind.

Of course, it helped that Camila had caught on to the situation and allowed it.

“What exactly do you want to talk about that requires the administrator to be involved?”

The person answering my question wasn’t Veronica. Francesca, who had been sitting quietly, sighed softly and turned her body slightly to lean back in the chair.

“I originally planned to discuss it with my sister alone, but here we are with three people.”

Though she phrased it in a roundabout way, she ultimately pointed out that she didn’t really understand what was going on either.

To summarize, it was Francesca who sought to talk to Veronica, but now, out of the blue, it had turned into a three-way conversation thanks to Veronica.

The subject of discussion was still unknown, but it was clear Veronica had intended to bring us together. Moreover, she had deliberately separated Camila from us so that we could talk privately (in fact to keep me from leaving the cathedral).

After casting a questioning glance at Veronica, who seemed to be up to something, she just snorted, appearing slightly aggrieved.

“I just called you all for a chat, that’s all. A serious discussion. Do you think I could really be gathering two people just so I could do something indecent?”

“Of course, you’re just messing around again—no, what the hell?”

“……”

Caught off guard by her overly casual language, I inadvertently let a curse slip out. Francesca stared at Veronica in a daze, thinking, “What did I just hear?”

Yet, it was Veronica, who had uttered the vulgar word, who seemed unfazed.

“Anyway.”

Veronica hastily swept the situation under the rug.

Naturally shifting topics, she pulled out a cigar box and began to fumble with it, producing a cigar. Then she busied herself with a cutter and matches as she nonchalantly spoke.

“Now, the topic we are about to discuss is quite critical. I pray that this does not leak outside, and that as few people as possible are directly involved, which is why I called you two.”

I licked my dry lips, caught between disbelief and surprise, struggling to gather my thoughts.

“Alright, let’s hear what this critical talk is about.”

Snip. The cap of the cigar fell to the desk.

After brushing off the scattered filler bits with her finger, Veronica took a few puffs to draw in the smoke before lighting it with a cigar match.

– Zzzzt!

The delicate smoke ebbing and flowing with her breath rose and fell rhythmically and repeatedly.

Confirming that the entire end of the cigar was evenly lit, Veronica tossed the match into the ashtray.

From a distance, the burn of the cigar was visibly pleasing to the eye, yet curiously, the expression on Veronica’s face was far from cheerful.

“……”

With no words, Veronica sucked in the smoke and released it. Uncharacteristically, it was at a rapid pace.

If she kept this up, she would end up merely tasting the carbon, completely losing the flavor of the cigar. Knowing that, yet she didn’t cease inhaling.

A peculiar gaze bore into the depths of her eyes, where I could sense faint anxiety and restlessness.

Suddenly, darkly anxious, Veronica opened her mouth.

Her first words were short and precise.

“The demon is still alive.”