A Dark Fantasy Spy

---

The coronation and canonization were the most significant festivals and ceremonies of the Cult, embodying meanings that extended far beyond the surface.

Especially in a political sense.

Following Saint Veronica, Lucia was canonized as a new saint. The selection of a successor while the previous saint was still alive raised many speculations and interpretations.

Some speculated that unlike the past when two religious leaders—the Pope and the saint—divided the religious community, the emergence of a third religious leader could lead to inevitable chaos both politically and religiously.

As the power that concentrated on Veronica dispersed to Lucia, the authority of the saint diminished, suggesting a possible rivalry between the two saints.

So, what were Lucia, who had just attained the title of saint, and Veronica, who had held the position for over ten years, doing right now?

“Ugh… what time is it, ueeergh?!”

“…What’s wrong, Veronica? Let’s get some sleep…”

“Colonel! Lucia! Everyone wake up! We’re going to be late!”

We had overslept until the morning of the coronation day.

Episode 14 – One Religion, One Faith, Two Saints

Lucia’s canonization and Raphael’s coronation were nothing short of the most splendid festival in the history of the Cult.

However, for those who were in the know, the canonization and coronation were akin to a massive bombshell.

Since the ruthless suppression by the previous Popes and the Inquisition that obliterated minor sects, the factions within the Cult had split into two major groups.

1. The Nicene Faction.

This faction comprises clergy who hold traditional values in high regard. Although they have been somewhat shaken by the emergence of science and magic revealing the veil of mystery, the Nicene Faction still receives overwhelming support.

They primarily engage in judicial and ethical matters, doctrine and regulations, internal investigations, general administration, finance and auditing, and public security. It was also the faction where Veronica officially belonged.

Although there are assessments stating that they have become somewhat softer compared to their heyday, during which they wielded the sword of the crusade and the Inquisition mercilessly, the ever-increasing special activity expenses of the Inquisition Agency and the wails of investigators from intelligence agencies across the globe suggest that they have not yet shed their true nature.

2. The Cardicyoi Faction.

This is a reformist faction. If you weren’t dozing off during world history class, you’d immediately think of the term “Ecumenical Movement,” which is synonymous with the Cardicyoi Faction.

Most clergy associated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Evangelical Society, and the Academy of Sciences belong to this group. The Cultural Exchange Council, which handles conversations with Al-Yabd and Nirvana, as well as cultural exchanges and academics, is the same. Teachers at the diplomat school that trains the Cult’s diplomats also fall under the broad category of the Cardicyoi Faction.

The Cardicyoi Faction, advocating for church unity, has garnered support from minor sects inside and outside the Cult.

In stark contrast to the Nicene Faction, they benefited from the development of science and magic and are fatigued from the relentless religious persecution.

Most officials categorized Lucia within the Cardicyoi Faction.

This is because the charity organization governed by the Holy See, responsible for love and service, has historically maintained a close relationship with the Cardicyoi Faction, and the orphanage that took her in when she was an orphan was also run by the Cardicyoi Faction. For reference, the charity organization was where Lucia was assigned as her first post after graduating from theology school. She worked there until the oracle was given.

Thus, the two saints belonged to different factions.

Of course, Lucia had never once hinted or spoken directly about her faction affiliation; thus, speculation is rampant.

But the real problem lay elsewhere.

“About Raphael. Isn’t he from the Nicene Faction, the new Pope?”

“That’s right.”

Raphael, who succeeded Pope John XVI, was a cleric of the Nicene Faction.

Having majored in ethics and laws during theology school, his first post was in the papal judiciary. Serving primarily as an inquisitor, he spent a remarkable 21 years at the Inquisition, becoming an emblematic conservative cleric.

As is customary with all intelligence agencies, the perception of the Inquisition from within and outside was far from flattering.

Internally, it was blamed for severe religious persecution and disputes with other religions, while externally, it was criticized for illegal espionage activities and the misconduct of its officers operating in their country.

And Raphael had once declared other religious leaders as heretics, leading to their expulsion from the country, and had been an information agency head overseeing both domestic and foreign branches.

That’s where the problem began.

“They mentioned that all clerics from Al-Yabd and Nirvana are absent today, right? I heard some government officials from the Mauritania Continent are also not attending.”

“Would someone who’s been persecuting religions and invading sovereignty come to congratulate him? He’s a real jerk that nobody likes. If I were him, I would have packed my bags and left.”

Veronica criticized the Pope sharply.

She wasn’t wrong.

The perspectives on Raphael were decidedly unflattering both within and outside the Cult. Though there were slight variations based on political inclinations, several government leaders had refused invitations, skipping the coronation due to concerns about Raphael’s past. Some attended Lucia’s canonization but skipped the coronation.

Given the situation, those who hoped the emergence of a new saint would signal a change in the Cult were left disappointed.

What could possibly change with a Pope even more of a jerk than his predecessor? Moreover, Veronica personally held a prominent position within the Nicene Faction.

Thus, some speculated that the two saints would engage in fierce battles during the new Pope’s reign. There were rumors that Raphael would incite conflicts between the saints.

It was truly a comedic situation to think that the values Raphael would advocate in his coronation speech would be ‘peace’ and ‘unity’.

However, it seemed that Veronica had different thoughts.

The new Pope, the rivalry with her sister—none of that mattered to her. What truly mattered to her was something else.

Specifically, to all of us.

“We’re going to be late!”

Lucia, now dressed, yelled as she checked her watch. Just as she tightened her tie and grabbed her luggage, Veronica seized both mine and Lucia’s wrists, rushing us down the cathedral’s corridor.

“Let’s get going first, quickly! Before that jerk Raphael goes off!”

*

Fortunately, we arrived before the ceremony began. Thanks to a clergy member with driving skills that could enthrall even the renowned taxi drivers of Busan, we made it in time.

The venue for the papal coronation was the Mediuse Cathedral, the oldest church at the holy site of Lateran, where the symbol of the Pope, the ‘Holy See,’ resides.

Entering the cathedral, we were welcomed by a bustling crowd. Senior officials from various countries represented the government, famous individuals invited personally, and bishops and cardinals dressed in their regalia.

As always, Camila was seated in the front row. I carefully took the seat next to her and initiated a conversation.

“Hello. Did you sleep well last night, Camila?”

“It was a comfortable night. It’s been two days, hasn’t it? Where have you been this time?”

“At the cathedral. Something came up for a bit…”

“Aha.”

With her arms crossed, Camila nodded as if she understood. The medals she received from the Empire, Cult, and Magic Tower clinked softly.

For having not seen each other for just a couple of days, she seemed genuinely pleased.

Even though I had temporarily left her side, she didn’t pry into the specifics. Perhaps she assumed I had been busy with intelligence agency matters.

After exchanging greetings with Francesca, who was chatting with the clergy, I engaged in brief conversations with government officials who recognized me, and soon enough, the coronation ceremony began.

Watching as Raphael ascended to the papal throne, Camila leaned her head slightly and broke the silence.

“I received a message from the Duke yesterday. He wants to meet three days after the festival ends.”

“Is the training starting right away?”

“Seems like it.”

Duke Alexandra Petrovna planned to start training Camila right after concluding her official schedule. I hadn’t heard the details about the training, but the first class was set for three days from now.

“Looks like he postponed the training since the Empire’s business takes precedence. The Duke is leading the Empire’s delegation now.”

It seems, given that it was starting in just three days, the Duke must be quite earnest. Is he excited to have a disciple in his old age?

As we listened to the bishops’ voices resonating through the cathedral, we continued our conversation in hushed tones.

“Oh, and one more thing. The Duke sent someone to Miss Francesca.”

“To Francesca?”

“A diplomat from the embassy came to the hotel. I overheard the police talking, and it sounded like it was a consular official.”

“A consulate official?”

If it was a consular official, it meant they were the head of the foreign branch of the intelligence agency.

Considering that Kien Empire’s state intelligence agency was the Imperial Guard HQ, it was likely someone from there.

A foreign intelligence officer contacted an information agent I supervise. While it wasn’t particularly strange given Francesca’s status, I had to check since it involved her and me.

I approached Francesca cautiously, whispering in her ear.

“I heard a representative from the Kien Embassy came by?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s have a quick chat.”

*

The official representative of the embassy is the most acknowledged of intelligence agents. The vigorous activities of officially sanctioned spies are a well-known secret in diplomacy and intelligence sectors.

Regardless of the reason, the activities of diplomats fell under regular duties, shielded by international agreements that protected their status.

However, for an intelligence agent to engage with a foreign spy, it sent shivers down the spine of the intelligence personnel. Since getting caught often meant a disaster, this principle was especially true.

Fortunately, the diplomat from the Empire’s embassy who met with Francesca seemed to harbor no malevolent intentions.

“Oh, it was someone sent by the Duke?”

“Correct. It was a diplomat sent by my grandmother.”

The overseas branch head of the Imperial Guard HQ. The consular official had come to see Francesca with a letter from Duke Alexandra Petrovna.

It wasn’t a letter containing any secretive information.

It was merely an ordinary letter inquiring about the recipient’s well-being. There was also a note mentioning that she wanted to see her face before heading back to the Empire due to urgent matters to discuss.

“Wow.”

Using a high-ranking intelligence officer as a mere messenger. The content was nothing special either.

Considering that after Emperor Nikolai VI ascended the throne, the command structure of all intelligence agencies became unified under the Emperor, having the branch head deliver a letter for a friend must have been no simple feat for even the Duke.

Yet, the act had actually occurred.

The head of the Imperial Guard HQ, who only listens to the Chancellor and the Emperor, delivering a letter with casual casualness to merely inquire about a friend’s well-being? If officials from other agencies learned of this, they would find it ridiculous.

However, I deemed this a clear indication of the power dynamics within the Imperial royalty.

Even when the Crown Prince could barely grasp military authority, utilizing a more sensitive intelligence agency for personal business suggested the Duke’s immense power. It might have seemed trivial enough to overlook, but Nikolai VI was no pushover.

He’s an Emperor who might purge his own children if it came to that.

“Hm. Understood. Was that the entire content of the letter?”

“Besides the mention of meeting again in the future, there wasn’t any other information. Given my grandmother’s nature, that was probably the main point.”

“What about the consular official?”

“Same over there. They asked typical questions and were gone, asking you to keep quiet about the northern affairs.”

I confirmed the facts through the officials of the embassy stationed at the venue. I wanted to verify if Francesca had indeed shared any special stories with the head of the Imperial Guard HQ.

The embassy personnel monitoring her hotel room confirmed that her statement was accurate. They also tipped me off about whom the consular official contacted after leaving the hotel and where they headed.

I felt relieved that the concerns I harbored did not come to fruition.

Time passed, and the coronation ceremony came to an end at last.

Raphael, donned in pure white vestments permitted to the Pope and saint, stepped onto the terrace of the cathedral to formally announce his ascension. The bishops concluded the ceremony by pouring olive oil onto his head as a symbolic act.

With the new occupant of the Holy See, Lateran erupted into a festive atmosphere.

The believers flooded into the streets to welcome the new Pope, and the leaders of all the knight orders gathered at the holy site pledged their loyalty to him. Among the throng was the face of the knight, Commander Pereyti, who had fought alongside us.

I had heard that the knight order was still stationed in the north, but it seemed only the commander had returned. He spoke about returning to the Empire right after the coronation once he had shed his armor for his uniform. His boisterous laughter from the northern fronts remained unchanged.

I spent time mingling with foreign military officials at the cathedral’s banquet hall. While many were intelligence officers dispatched from the intel brigade, there were also senior officials who had volunteered to work at the embassy from active duty or headquarters.

Before long.

At the bell tower of the cathedral, where Lateran came into view, I unexpectedly ran into two familiar figures.

“Veronica, Lucia.”

The two saints turned their heads, meeting my gaze.

“Finally made it. You’re last to arrive, Colonel.”

“Were you waiting here?”

“Of course, we were. What kind of man leaves women in the lurch like this?”

Ugh, rubbish. Veronica cupped her hands to her mouth and hurled playful insults. While her mischievous nature remained unchanged, her flushed face undoubtedly indicated she was slightly tipsy.

Spread out before the two saints at the bell tower were several bottles of alcohol. There were also snacks, which certainly did not appear to be leftovers from the banquet.

They must have discreetly packed them from the kitchen.

“You know, I looked around and didn’t see you anywhere. You were already setting up shop here. What are two saints doing when the Pope’s right over there?”

“Can’t you tell just by looking? We were having a drink. Come join us, Colonel.”

“Seriously.”

Naturally, I sat down with them, pouring drinks. Was it prepped for me too? Three glasses were already set up.

Not long after I finished my drink, Lucia awkwardly smiled and asked.

“Did you manage to wrap up your work?”

“Mostly finished up before coming.”

“Glad to hear that.”

Just then, Veronica, who had been munching on snacks, interrupted.

“Colonel’s so lucky. He’s got a woman on each side.”

“When was I…?”

“Oh, really? Then who was the guy lying between me and my sister last night?”

That remark suddenly reminded me of last night’s events. I hadn’t planned on it, but somehow ended up sleeping between the two saints.

It was an unexpected turn of events. How could I have known that Veronica would blindfold me and Lucia would pull me into bed?

The spilled water couldn’t be taken back, but the embarrassment was all mine. Lucia shyly cleared her throat and avoided my gaze, while Veronica began to speak out boldly, her tone brimming with pride.

“Well, it’s a relief, don’t you think? The elder and younger siblings fighting over just one guy would never happen, would it? As long as you’re not some pervert, this is a pretty satisfactory situation for everyone.”

“Satisfactory my foot… No, it’s not.”

I was appalled by her confident demeanor. It was surreal that the very person who initiated this situation spoke so nonchalantly.

Regardless, Veronica was chuckling.

“It’s fun to tease you, Colonel. But let me make it clear; don’t take it as a joke. We really have no intention of fighting over this. Neither do I nor my sister.”

“……”

“Then let’s raise a toast! Why the hell are we sitting around with empty glasses? My arm’s already getting tired.”

I raised my glass. Lucia filled her glass as well. Just as our glasses clinked in the air, fireworks painted the night sky.

As if celebrating the birth of a new era.

The saint gazed at the colorful night sky, grinning.

“Oh, and Colonel.”

“Yes?”

“When the day comes that tears flow from my sister’s eyes, know that I’ll have to kill. I’ll be in so much pain by then, that if I’m forced to be upset, my rage will truly know no bounds.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Now, drink up quickly and let’s move on to the next place! Today’s our last day off.”

Normally, wouldn’t one hurry home instead?

That thought crossed my mind, but I didn’t care.

As Veronica said, this would be the last day off.

Just like every revelry, the atmosphere was convivial.

Finally, truly.

Spring, the season of rebirth, had arrived.

Episode 14 – One Religion, One Faith, Two Saints -END-