A Dark Fantasy Spy

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The entire region of Orventzku has turned into a battlefield, but the fiercest fighting is not taking place in the west where the demons were found, but in the east instead.

Due to the layout of the city, the first area to step into when escaping from a collapse is the eastern district.

Although the northern area is occupied by roads leading to the front lines, and the southern and western areas near the flowing river of Sevetzk and the train-trodden Pommetzk are unremarkable, the residents of Orventzku despised living in the underprivileged eastern district.

However, everything changed when tens of thousands of refugees began pouring in as the conflict erupted.

The once quiet city started to bustle, inundated with all sorts of problems never imagined before—assaults, public urination, illegal occupations, thefts, and so on.

The city was lacking in everything to handle such a large influx of people.

Ultimately, unable to endure the flood of complaints, the city government forcibly relocated the refugees with funds provided by the Military Government Headquarters.

The city government housed the refugees in the “Eastern Redevelopment Zone,” which had a relatively low population density compared to the northern, eastern, and southern areas. Despite its name, it was essentially a shabby slum built out of gathered scarce resources.

From the perspective of the refugees, being tossed into an undeveloped wasteland was the reality, but with nowhere else to go, they had no choice but to settle there with tears and resignation.

Thus, when the resurrected corpses began to attack the residents of the east first,

there was nothing available to protect those trapped in the shantytown.

—

Episode 12 – The Strongest Magician in History

“Kyahhh!!”

A grotesque figure clad in armor lunges toward its prey with sharp teeth bared.

The cleric, meeting the beast’s gaze, raises his shotgun to fend off the attack and slams the creature to the ground.

“Get lost!”

The creature that was thrown away rolls in the snow, drenched in sludgy filth trickling from a garbage bin, showing no concern.

The cleric struggles to break free from the debris of the broken garbage bin and shoves the muzzle of his gun into the wild beast’s mouth that is preparing to charge again.

And at the moment he pulls the trigger with all his might,

[Wham!]

A deafening gunshot rang out, splattering chunks of armor and flesh across the shantytown’s roof.

Veronica, having crushed the monster’s skull with her red high heels, drew out her shotgun and exhaled heavily, her silky hair flying behind her.

“Phew! I really thought I’d die there!”

“Saint!”

An elderly priest rushed in breathlessly. Behind him, knights and Inquisition officers poured out from between the shanties, surrounding the Saint to protect her.

Standing at the center of the commotion, Veronica calmly loaded her double-barrel shotgun.

“I apologize. The eastern district is quite the maze…”

The parish priest had come here to support Veronica.

To be precise, he had found her after seeing the signal raised by her escort while battling a monster during a search.

Breathing heavily from his frayed old body, he steadied his stunned heart and bowed his head before the Saint.

“I’m sorry for being late, Saint. But where is your escort…?”

“They’re lying down with a cross.”

“Ah….”

Saying they were “lying down with a cross” is a common euphemism among the cult’s faithful clerics, typically used when a cleric passes away.

The news that the elite escort entrusted with the Saint’s protection had been wiped out weighed heavily on the priest’s heart.

Yet there was no time to mourn or reflect.

Calming his troubled heart, the priest reported to the Saint in a composed voice.

“Currently, evacuation is taking place within the city. The public agencies and religious facilities present in each town are protecting the citizens.”

“And who is guarding them?”

“The Imperial Army and the knights have formed a defense line. I have confirmed that the priests and monks in this city, as well as clerics from other religions, are also attending to the casualties.”

The first report contained relatively hopeful content.

Despite being ambushed at the rear, the suppression forces acted swiftly. The police and civil servants were guiding evacuations, while the military engaged in combat to ensure civilians could safely reach safer zones. Religious figures from various faiths scrambled to save lives, despite their differing beliefs.

But the world is cruel. Veronica knew better than anyone that effort alone wouldn’t lead to the best possible outcome.

As expected, the second report that followed contained a grim message unlike the first.

“How far has the evacuation progressed?”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t assess that. As you know, Saint Veronica, the city is currently….”

The priest’s words were abruptly cut off by the distant sound of gunfire.

Tat-tat-tat! Bam-bam-bam! A furious barrage ensued, followed by the sound of grenades exploding and machine guns from armored vehicles firing. Occasionally, intertwined cries and screams, alongside the thunderous booms of heavy tanks, pierced eardrums and reminded them of the grim reality.

-Boom!!!

As a massive explosion occurred, the dark sky over the city brightened for an instant. The echoes of the blast sounded like thunder, driving away the surrounding darkness.

However, it was not enough to completely dispel the shadows.

The receding dark clouds returned, once again shrouding the sky, and the hearts of those watching were also covered in darkness.

-tat-tat. tat-tat-tat…

The clerics gazing at the northern sky suddenly became aware of one fact.

The fierce gunfire of the Imperial Army, which had been resounding vigorously, began to fade at the sound of the explosion.

While they could not pinpoint the exact details of what was happening there, they could somewhat infer the situation.

“…….”

“…….”

The resolute voice of Veronica snapped the dazed priest out of his stupor.

“So what’s the plan to evacuate the citizens?”

“…….”

The elderly priest cleared his throat and began to speak.

“I’ve ordered the knights and Inquisition officers to move the citizens who have not yet fled to safe areas.”

“Good. You’ve done well. But won’t that be insufficient?”

“What should we do then?”

“Request help from the Magic Tower. Ask the military to broadcast a message telling the citizens still hiding to climb to safety zones like rooftops. The magicians who work as firefighters do the same thing, you know?”

The priest, amazed by the Saint’s command, intended to comply. However, a sudden issue popped up in his mind, compelling him to retract his response.

“However, we can’t broadcast right now.”

“What did you say?”

Veronica’s eyes shifted dangerously.

The Saint raised her shotgun in a threatening pose, her expression tinged with profanity.

“What nonsense is that? Have you lost your mind? Need me to find a nursing home for you? Huh?”

“N-no! That’s not it!”

The old priest, taken aback, interrupted Veronica. Under normal circumstances, such irreverent behavior would warrant severe penalties, but surviving the barrel of a gun was more critical than facing a religious tribunal.

Now, lying before the young Saint, the elderly priest urgently confessed.

“I’m afraid the communication is unstable, and we can’t establish contact properly. Even the Imperial Army that entered the city is barely maintaining communication with the division headquarters and is unable to connect with the Military Government or other local units.”

“Hmm.”

Veronica lowered her gun and stroked her smooth chin, pondering.

“I already knew that the communication was faulty because I’d heard it directly from the Military Government. I wonder why the communication network suddenly went dead. Do you have any idea?”

“Well… You see, communication is generally fraught with variables. The most likely cause would be the weather, but there could be other reasons too.”

“Like?”

“It might be due to malfunctioning equipment, or someone intentionally disrupting communications. However, I don’t know the exact cause. I’m adept at theology but utterly unable to handle machines…”

He meant to say he was useless with machinery. Hearing this from an old man who seemed on the verge of passing was oddly convincing.

Whether that was a good thing or a bad one, she couldn’t tell.

“Ah.”

Veronica gazed up at the sky with a sigh of frustration. What on earth was this mess?

“Those damn demons… Why can’t they just stay in hell instead of crawling out here causing havoc.”

“The Ecclesiastes says that demons are fundamentally corrupt beings born of darkness, deceiving the hearts of humans….”

“…and causing chaos in the world, stirring famine, disease, war, and bringing death to gain victory in war with heaven. I know! Just stop with the pontificating already. I’m not some elder giving a sermon. What the heck is this now?”

“S-sorry…”

Those religious folks…

Dismissing the clergy lightly, Veronica led the way, shotgun in hand.

From experience, stalling in a shantytown only pushed them closer to death, so they had to escape as quickly as possible.

“Let’s move.”

“Where should we go?”

“First, out of here. We need to get out of this damned shantytown!”

Under the guise of redevelopment and neglect, the shabby shantytown had sprawled over the last five years.

Walls made from scavenged wood and scrap metal built clandestine shops modified from carts to avoid being shut down, and makeshift attics resembling iron towers.

If a civil servant had seen it, they would have fainted from the chaotic party of illegal extensions and constructions. Of course, this was all due to the sins of civil servants who hadn’t made an inspection in five long years.

But was this truly their problem?

If they tore down those makeshift walls, confiscated those shops, and demolished those attics, where were the refugees supposed to go?

Shoving the refugees from the city into empty wilderness, erecting barriers to prevent civilians fleeing from the north, and taking in parentless orphans of noble houses only to train them for sale overseas.

The emperor’s supposed to be the father of everyone, but is it right for parents to treat their children like this?

It’s a question that’s been asked for over twenty years, but a clear answer seems as distant as ever.

Veronica sighed deeply.

“Ugh.”

Bang! A heavy gunshot rattled the shantytown. Monsters hit by shotgun pellets collapsed, painting the walls and snow red.

As Veronica knocked one beast’s jaw with her shotgun, she nervously drew her revolver.

“Those damn emperors and gods are always screwing us! When I need an angel, they’re as silent as a grave, but they show up only when they’re in the mood!”

“Sa-Saint! That’s blasphemy…!”

“Shut up! You better hope I don’t catch you. I’ll pluck every single feather from your wings! When the day comes that I burn down the cathedral, just think to yourself, ‘Ah! The inevitable has arrived!'”

“O-ow…”

The storm of blasphemy pouring from the Saint’s lips made both the elderly priest and the knights and Inquisition officers feel dizzy with shock.

—

Veronica maneuvered her troops throughout the shantytown like a whirlwind. Due to its maze-like structure, finding a way out was no easy task.

The area was low, cramped, and complex. Illegal constructions had turned it into a hell of its own. The sheer fact that human limbs and monsters occasionally protruded added to the atmosphere, making it feel like a slice of hell.

As they crossed the vast shantytown, Veronica and her forces encountered countless foes. Veronica swept away the encroaching monsters with her shotgun and rained bullets with her revolver.

In the meantime, the knights swung their swords and spears, cutting down the creatures, while the Inquisition officers poured sanctity into the wounds and launched attacks using torn scriptures.

With each block they passed, casualties arose. Moderate injuries could be dealt with through healing, but there was nothing that could be done for severe wounds requiring major surgery. By the time they had crossed about half of the shantytown, the numbers of their forces had noticeably decreased.

Still, not a single member from their group had been lost. In fact, the number had increased significantly.

Despite casualties among the Inquisition forces, their numbers hadn’t dwindled because the refugees hidden in the shantytown had joined after being rescued by Veronica.

“Are you okay?”

“Y-yes!”

“Keep sharp, everyone! Follow closely and don’t stray from the formation. Those who are strong, help the children, the elderly, and the injured! The longer we stay here, the more time we waste!”

Not all the refugees escaped the shantytown the moment those monsters attacked. There were still disabled elderly people, families traumatized and unable to leave, and those who had witnessed the horrors outside but couldn’t muster the courage to step out, along with children crying amidst their parents’ corpses.

Veronica passed through the shantytown, searching for each and every one of them. Although there were surely refugees remaining who hadn’t escaped, there was no time to search the shantytown for them.

Thus, the Saint made a resolution. They had to save at least those who could be saved.

Following the Saint’s orders, the elderly priest opened a way for the knights and Inquisition officers to leave the shantytown. Though it felt like they were fighting in darkness, they persevered even more fiercely.

Finally breaking free from the hellish shantytown, Veronica glanced back at the road that opened up before them. Some knights who had taken it upon themselves to be guides stood there, remaining behind to hold off the wave of monsters pouring from the shantytown.

While the refugees ran without so much as a glance back, Veronica, quietly fixated on the entrance of the shantytown, eventually turned away and began to run.

Although they had emerged from a hellish place, the streets outside were overflowing with monsters.

Veronica planned to lead the refugees to the rooftops of nearby buildings as discreetly as possible, trying not to attract the monsters’ attention.

Having lost her escort when chasing the demons, stuck in the shantytown, she didn’t know where the safe zone was, but it didn’t matter.

The refugees already knew.

“They say there’s a safe place to the south! There’s an academy building where the army is holding! If we go southeast from here, we’ll find it!”

“How do you know that?”

“From the broadcast! The radio broadcast informed us! The army!”

Although the city had become a mess due to the monster attacks, not all forces were embroiled in combat. The division headquarters and a few reserve troops responsible for Orventzku remained outside the city.

The division had been broadcasting messages urging evacuations across the entire region via the transmitting station.

Hearing the explanation from the refugees made Veronica grin and look up at the sky.

“So it seems they weren’t just idling away.”

Upon arriving at the rooftop, Veronica spread her sanctity to disclose her position.

The bright light shining through the thickening darkness was visible from the air. The Imperial Army and combat magicians from the Magic Tower, surveying from above, rushed over in an instant to begin transporting the refugees.

While the Inquisition’s forces occasionally incapacitated the monsters ascending the stairs, the evacuation was nearing completion. She had safely evacuated all but a few of the clerics guarding her.

Having healed an Inquisition officer with a torn leg, she turned her gaze toward a returning combat magician who insisted, “We cannot leave the Saint behind.”

“Can we communicate right now?”

As the combat magician gulped down a military potion to restore his weak form, he nodded.

“The communication lines were just restored. While we can’t reach units at the Military Government or in other regions, that should change soon.”

“Oh, so communication within the city is fine then?”

“Indeed.”

As soon as she heard the combat magician’s answer, Veronica grabbed the radio device he was holding.

“Saint, it’s best to move to a safe location and communicate with us…”

“No. There’s something I need to know right now.”

Veronica firmly rejected the Inquisition officer’s suggestion. She worried that, should something happen, they might fail to transmit a message from a lower elevation.

Holding the radio, just as she was about to speak,

*Crackle…!

A voice mixed with static surged from the radio.

-‘To all divisions, all forces are to establish defensive positions immediately and hold the defense line at all costs. There will be no support. You must hold the line. All forces guarding the Konok-Sukonoi region connecting Sevetzk and Pommetzk City must absolutely, absolutely hold their positions.’

What the hell does this mean?

Veronica observed the radio blankly.

Just then, the soldiers on the radio added one more piece of news.

-‘The cities currently under attack include Orventzku, Sevetzk, Pommetzk…’

“……”

-‘Erham, Vestyask, Kusmaya…’

“……”

-‘And Novo Nikolayevsk.’

—

The sudden announcement from the radio left Veronica speechless. For a moment, she didn’t know what to say, and then she quickly composed herself and shouted into the radio to “Call the higher-ups!”

Not long after, a high-ranking official appeared on the communication line.

A robust voice saluted Veronica with emphasis, introducing himself as the division commander. Of course, Veronica didn’t care who was on the other end; she cut him off and straight to the point.

“No support? What does that mean?”

-‘Y-you heard right.’

“… What’s wrong with you?”

After receiving a reproach from the Saint, the division commander immediately clarified the situation in the North. The commander revealed the circumstances of the North as follows:

1. Major cities in the north are being attacked by enemies.

2. The enemies appeared not from outside but from within the cities, from underground waterways.

3. Currently, the military police stationed in each city are responding, and reserve forces are mobilizing to suppress the situation.

-‘Given the current situation in these cities, it seems difficult to receive external reinforcements. Industrial cities and those supplying munitions near the front lines are under attack, and in Nikolayevsk where the highest population resides, fighting is also taking place. Furthermore, the military government, which oversees the entire North, is also located there.’

“……”

Hearing that, Veronica felt a throbbing headache start to swell. Are all the major northern cities under attack? Right when the demons have been freed from their seals?

Calling it a coincidence sounds far too suspicious. The timing seems deliberately orchestrated for an attack.

However, uncovering that wasn’t her job. Veronica pressed her furrowed brows together and took the radio again.

“Monsters have appeared in the city. Battles are occurring all over town.”

-‘We are already aware of the situation. All forces, including the reserve forces, have been deployed into the city.’

“Is there no other support?”

-‘I’m sorry, but we no longer have available units. Combat magicians have been assigned to civil evacuation operations, and so have the reserve forces. The armored divisions are the same.’

“Then what about the artillery?”

The commander’s response came back instantly. Very quickly indeed.

-‘Artillery is always prepared.’

Immediately after that declaration, something flew overhead, dispelling the darkness of the night sky.

A bright sphere appeared in the sky, radiating a light close to orange, illuminating the darkness that hung over Orventzku.

Recognizing the illumination rounds falling slowly, Veronica turned to look at the combat magician who was still on standby to ferry her away.

“Can I make sure everyone hears what I’m saying on the radio?”

“It’s possible.”

The combat magician immediately adjusted the dial to public traffic. Among the education she received years ago from the Imperial Guard HQ, she learned how to operate radio devices. Reflecting on that memory, Veronica switched the channel and climbed atop furniture strewn across the rooftop, facing west, pressing the button firmly.

“Can you hear me? If you can hear my voice, respond!”

-‘…….’

Please.

Let it reach.

As Veronica anxiously waved her fingers and gazed intensely at the western sky, the moment of truth came.

-‘…Saint Veronica?!’

The awaited response finally echoed from the radio.

“Colonel!”

-‘…Is this really you, Veronica?’

“Who else could it be? Are you getting senile too, Colonel?”

-‘From your tone, it really is you, huh?’

The moment Veronica managed to contact Frederick, she felt overjoyed. Given her younger siblings’ voices carried through the radio, it seemed they were all safe.

With a beaming smile, indulging briefly in her happiness, Veronica snapped back to her senses and started explaining the circumstances calmly. Given the radio was supplied by the Imperial Army, the content could be eavesdropped on anytime, so she aimed to limit the chit-chat and stick to the essentials.

As Frederick listened thoughtfully on the other end, he began to speak slowly.

-‘Hmm… So it seems there really are no reinforcements.’

“Did you already know??”

-‘Seeing how the entire city is in such condition and no troops have arrived yet, I had an inkling.’

“Where are you right now? I believe Lucia’s with you, so I’ll come rescue you.”

-‘While I appreciate it, there’s no need for you to come rescue us.’

Veronica tilted her head slightly in confusion. As if she couldn’t quite comprehend the situation, she expressed her bewilderment.

“What do you mean by that?”

-‘We found the demon.’

“…Huh?”

At the news of finding the demon, Veronica’s eyes widened in surprise.

“You found it? Where?”

-‘In the southern district, we spotted it once, but it Managed to break free and escape, and we are still chasing after it.’

“Where are its coordinates?”

-‘The southern district.’

Frederick relayed the accurate location using the road signs and buildings around them. Being from a noble family, she understood the addresses without needing them interpreted.

After memorizing the address, just as she was about to express her thanks, Frederick’s voice came through again.

-‘Could you come by now? It seems we need Saint Veronica along with Saint Lucia to capture the demon.’

“Wait a moment.”

Veronica leaped down from the furniture and hurried to the magician, quickly reciting the memorized address in one breath before launching her question.

“How long until we get there?”

The magician responded without a moment’s hesitation.

“Thirty minutes.”

“Isn’t now the time to disregard traffic laws?”

“We cannot. It’s not about the traffic rules but the distance. No matter how fast we fly, thirty minutes is the limit. If the light snow turns into a snowstorm, we may not even be able to fly at all.”

The magician replied firmly. With no other option, Veronica merely nodded in understanding before saying into the radio, “Thirty minutes.”

Immediately after, there was a momentary silence on Frederick’s side.

After about ten seconds of silence,

-‘…Understood.’

Finally, a response came back.

-‘Hurry as fast as you can.’

“Alright.”

-‘And if you think you’ll be late, then don’t come at all. Don’t come back later saying you caught the demon while you were hiding away.’

In response to the light-hearted joke, Veronica chuckled.

“I’m not a child, so what for…?”

No further reply came. The radio had abruptly gone silent.

With a soft smile lingering, Veronica gazed at the lifeless radio she had been holding and prepared her double-barreled shotgun and revolver.

Then, she addressed the combat magician waiting for her.

“Twenty minutes.”

“…….”

“Make it within that time.”

The Imperial Army combat magician mounted his broom silently.

—

-‘… I’m not a child, so what for…’

Click. The radio cut off. It seems the battery had run out.

Turning the radio over, I extract the exhausted batteries and rummaged through the bag for spare ones. I had been avoiding depleting them, but this was the last one.

Packing the freshly charged radio away along with ample ammunition, I assessed my condition and quietly called out.

“Everyone heard that?”

Thirty minutes. The time Veronica promised to arrive.

“I’ve been doing this for a month. Just to catch that one demon.”

For some, it might feel short; for others, long. But to me, the last month felt incredibly drawn out.

Yet, somehow, I managed to endure. Thanks to that, I had made it to this very spot.

I lasted through thirty days, so surely I could hold out for just thirty more minutes.

“…….”

I stared silently at the front. A massive mall, presumed to be a department store. The shattered glass windows were scattered throughout, evoking an unsettling quiet, but we had to enter.

Because the demon is inside there.

As I fiddled with my pistol and glared at the department store, I turned to look at my companions.

“Just a little longer, and we will prevail.”

“…….”

“Let’s move out.”

The long journey of a month,

the final moment had finally arrived before my eyes.