A Dark Fantasy Spy

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The magical tool developed by the Abas Information Agency looks like an ordinary briefcase at first glance, but with a little trickery involving magic stones, it can hold quite a bit of equipment.

The important thing is that if done “well,” a person can fit inside this cramped bag.

Thanks to this, I was able to sneak into the cathedral where Lucia was staying safely.

After crouching and hiding in the bag for about an hour, I stretched out my stiff body and said to Camila,

“I need to change my clothes, so keep a lookout for me.”

“Got it.”

While Camila was watching out again, I pulled on the parachute cord tied around my ankle to raise my luggage.

Inside the plastic bag connected to the cord was a neatly folded tunic worn by the monks of the Cult.

Since it was spacious clothing by nature, I managed to disguise myself by roughly stuffing my body in and pulling the hood down low. Camila, who had been watching me, looked somewhat incredulous and said,

“Is that really going to work? Wouldn’t it be better to disguise yourself as a priest?”

“If I pretend to be a priest, others will catch on right away. But there are so many inquisitors and nuns from Lateran that people are likely to overlook me.”

Besides, today happened to be the day when monks visit the cathedral where Lucia resides.

The knights guarding the cathedral, the police, the Papal Guard providing close protection for Lucia, and the clergy and monks managing the cathedral are all people. Due to the sheer amount of supplies consumed, Veronica informed me that monks come from outside to refill their dwindling supplies more than twice a week.

Above all, it’s currently a time when preparations for the canonization ceremony are in full swing.

With everyone already being busy, you’re telling me external guests are coming today?

“At this point, it’s practically a set-up for infiltration.”

“There will be plenty of eyes watching you as you make your way to Lucia.”

Camila peeked out the door and surveyed her surroundings. Then she added,

“Given your status, they’re probably controlling access so outsiders can’t get close. It might even be a secured area guarded by armed personnel.”

“That makes sense.”

But isn’t that exactly why the country pays me a salary?

As I patted Camila’s shoulder, she nodded and spoke,

“Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s get started.”

—

Episode 14 – One Religion, One Faith, Two Saints

The Cult’s cathedral is broadly classified into four types.

An ordinary parish where priests usually reside,

A Duomo where the city’s chief priest resides,

A Cathedral where the bishop of the diocese resides,

And a Basilica where the Pope or saints reside.

It seems like there are complicated criteria, but in fact, it’s simple. The basis is based on what position the clergy holds.

Globally, there are quite a number of Duomos and Cathedrals. Almost every major city or region has one.

However, there are only three Basilicas worldwide where the Pope and saints reside.

The Medius Cathedral, which houses the Pope’s seat.

The Altiora Cathedral, where the saints of the Cult have resided for generations.

And the Cathedral of Tranquille.

Among these, the place where Lucia resides is the Cathedral of Tranquille.

This was the cathedral that was elevated to a Basilica after Lucia was recognized as a saint.

“Wow.”

The first sight of the Cathedral of Tranquille after leaving the reception room was truly magnificent.

I already knew that this was one of the oldest cathedrals in Lateran, but there exists a huge difference between knowing it in your head and seeing it with your own eyes.

To start, its size was extraordinary.

“What kind of cathedral is this huge….”

The Cathedral of Tranquille was so grand that it could easily rival any cathedral I’ve seen in my life so far.

I had thought that Saint Basil’s Cathedral in the Northern Regions of the Empire was the largest in this area, but coming here made me realize I had been mistaken.

Maybe the Cathedral of Tranquille might even be larger than Saint Basil’s Cathedral.

How on earth am I supposed to find Lucia here?

Having temporarily lost my mind in the overwhelming scale of the cathedral, I snapped back to reality and started checking the map.

Veronica had provided me with a map that thoroughly outlined the layout of the Cathedral of Tranquille.

Among the various rooms outlined in it, I found one highlighted in red. At the same time, a small note right next to it in Kien language caught my eye that read, “Lucia is here.”

– Thud. Thud.

At that moment, I started to hear a priest’s footsteps coming from a distance.

Hearing that, Camila gave a small warning through the crack of the door,

“Be careful…!”

I quickly stuffed the map into my sleeve while pulling my hood down and took cover.

—

It was a sunny day, yet the sunshine felt unusually heavy.

The warm sun tickled my skin.

On a regular day, I would have happily closed my eyes and tilted my head up to soak in the sun, but today, I couldn’t gaze upon the sun with joy.

“Saint.”

Lucia turned her head.

A nun from the Cathedral of Tranquille was softly calling Lucia from beyond the door.

“Are you alright?”

“…Yes. I’m fine.”

The middle-aged nun, relieved by the saint’s voice from the chamber, couldn’t help but sigh while looking at the bowl placed at the door.

“Are you really okay?”

There are only three great cathedrals within the Cult. It has been over two weeks since the saint began residing in the historically rich Cathedral of Tranquille.

In those two weeks, the time has been significant for the clergy and monks of the cathedral.

With the blessing and praise of everyone, saints as they are, even devoted clergy might only see a saint’s face once in their lifetime—yet the cathedral now welcomes two saints.

One is Lucia, who has made the Cathedral of Tranquille her home, and the other is Veronica, who visits daily to see her.

Although there were rumors that the relationship between the two saints is not very amicable within the cathedral,

Both Lucia and Veronica are not the type to treat their inferiors poorly. Given the preparations for the canonization ceremony in full swing, and the entire Cult caught up in a festive atmosphere due to a massive religious event, the Cathedral of Tranquille was filled with a bright and lively atmosphere. Perhaps one might be able to witness the saint chosen by the oracle receiving divine revelation or performing a miracle. People eagerly awaited that moment.

The middle-aged nun lifted the tray placed right in front of the saint’s room.

Despite the abundance of food prepared with love by the monks for the saint to boost her morale and uplift her spirits, Lucia hadn’t even touched a bite.

“You’re skipping meals… What if you really harm your health at this rate, Saint….”

With a worried voice, the nun offered her concerns, while Lucia quietly closed her eyes as she gazed out the window.

She felt the sunshine tickling her nose.

The sound of the nun disappearing in the distance reached her.

The sounds of birds chirping and leaves rustling from nature seeped through the glass. As a faint warmth and throbbing headache became apparent on her forehead, Lucia suddenly wished to rest peacefully.

Of course, that was merely Lucia’s personal wish.

“…….”

In one corner of the bedroom, where her office wasn’t yet set up, there lay a mountain of paperwork preparing for the canonization ceremony on the desk.

Seeing the pile of documents, Lucia rose from the bed and began to walk.

—

Many people overlook the fact that being a saint isn’t particularly luxurious.

Finding a balance between work and life is rare, and personal privacy fades away like summer haze.

Although she isn’t as busy as the Pope, the leader of all believers, there are quite a few followers who believe in and follow Lucia, the saint. And everywhere, reporters wanted to guarantee those believers’ “right to know.”

Especially since she used her status as a non-canonized saint to sneak into the Magic Tower and re-enter the Northern conflicts she had once been part of three years ago, people’s curiosity about Lucia grew day by day.

While others might have felt burdened by the public’s attention, some might have used it as a stepping stone, and if it were Veronica, she would have reveled in it, but Lucia didn’t pay the slightest attention to the gazes directed toward her.

If anything, she would describe her feelings succinctly: she felt a sense of responsibility.

“…….”

In retrospect, Lucia had lived a life of someone else. She always had.

Praying, blessing, healing patients, and providing aid to the impoverished communities alongside the clergy. Lucia had always lived a life for others.

She certainly wasn’t seeking a reward for what she did.

Blessings and prayers are a reward given to the devout rather than a gift shared with the poor.

Giving something to the needy isn’t about sharing one’s belongings; it’s about returning what they rightfully deserve.

Born to priestly parents and having spent her life within the Cult’s fold, Lucia believed that was only natural.

Yet, at some point, Lucia realized it wasn’t something to be taken for granted.

And she came to understand that her perception of the world differs from that of others.

– Tap. Tap.

Knocking her pen softly, Lucia wiped off the excess ink and placed her hand on the documents. However, perhaps because she dipped the pen too deep into the inkwell, black ink dripped onto the white paper.

“…Ah.”

Snapping out of her trance, Lucia hurriedly tried to erase the ink that had smeared on the paper, but it was already spilled ink.

The smudged ink marked a long line as it swallowed the words written on the once pristine white sheet like a meteor shower. It seemed unimportant, but even if the obscured words weren’t particularly significant, one word can alter the meaning of a sentence drastically.

While Lucia panicked and endeavored to restore the letters, the chief priest of the Cathedral of Tranquille came to find her.

Gently knocking, he announced his presence with hands neatly clasped and cleared his throat.

“Saint. I sincerely apologize for interrupting your rest, but there is a guest here to see you.”

“A guest…?”

“Yes.”

The priest outside nodded.

“I told them I wasn’t receiving guests….”

“Yes, every person in the cathedral is carrying out your directive. However, the guest who came…”

Hearing the priest’s subsequent words, Lucia shot up from her seat.

“Did you say Camila has come?”

“Indeed.”

The chief priest informed her that her companion Camila had visited the cathedral. Noting that she brought a bag sealed with Veronica’s insignia, it appeared she had come to deliver something important.

“I was going to have someone deliver the item to you as you had instructed not to receive visitors, but the Hero insisted that couldn’t happen, so we had no choice but to lead them to the reception room. What should we do, Saint?”

Momentarily taken aback by Camila’s sudden appearance, Lucia set down her pen and rose from her chair.

“I’ll head to the reception room myself. However, I might need a bit of time to prepare, so please make sure Camila doesn’t feel uncomfortable while waiting, Father.”

“Understood, Saint.”

With the sound of the priest’s footsteps fading away, Lucia dashed to the restroom and first looked into the mirror.

Having only been in her quarters for a while, her face appeared noticeably worn from the last few days. Perhaps due to skipping meals, her skin and hair lacked vibrancy.

Thinking of Camila waiting in the reception room, Lucia decided to get hot water from the sink first.

At that moment.

– Knock. Knock. Knock.

A knocking sound pierced her ears.

From an objective standpoint, it was a soft knock that was undoubtedly small, but to an anxious Lucia, it felt as thunderous as a storm.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me, Lucia.”

At the voice coming from beyond the door, Lucia’s eyes widened.

With her brilliant golden hair swept to one side, she rushed towards the door, forgetting even to turn off the tap.

Then, with a hope that couldn’t be true, she slowly turned the doorknob.

And in mid-air,

Our gazes met.

“…….”

Lucia, slightly opening the door, froze in place as if nailed down. She was so startled that she forgot to breathe.

Watching her wide-eyed, I took off the hood I had been wearing and revealed my face.

“I was worried since I couldn’t reach you, so I came to check on you.”

“…….”

“Do you have a moment?”