A Dark Fantasy Spy

---

“…So what I just used was a newly learned technique?”

“Yes.”

Camila nodded vigorously in affirmation.

“It’s magic I learned recently.”

“When?”

“After returning home.”

Immediately after the operation ended, Camila went straight back to the Kien Empire. I stayed local for a month, keeping an eye on Asen and Sanya’s movements and assessing the situation before returning to Abas.

So,

“You mean you learned it in just a month?”

“That’s right.”

She had only been practicing the new magic for slightly over a month.

I pondered deeply as Camila sat before me. Was it really possible for someone with her magical knowledge to access such a new and intricate technique so quickly and seamlessly?

“……”

In my view, it seemed improbable.

While there were indeed instances of learning new magic in a month, they generally referred to the basic ceremonial spells taught to combat magicians in training.

And the magic she had just exhibited was clearly not something belonging to the Kien Imperial Army.

Had it been standard military magic, I would have recognized it immediately.

After sorting out my thoughts, I spoke.

“Who taught you?”

“My professor.”

“The Duke? Ah, that makes sense…”

If it was magic from the Duke, it was undoubtedly something I would be unaware of. Even if I brought in an information officer from the Military Intelligence Agency, they likely wouldn’t be familiar with it.

Her magic was beyond the capabilities of an ordinary magician to replicate.

Considering that standard military magic touts itself as “magic anyone can learn,” there was no reason for the Kien Ministry of Defense to disseminate the Duke’s magic. It was practically impossible in reality.

Only then could I nod in understanding.

“I see. But you used such an important skill just to escape into the fountain?”

“……”

Camila, who seemed about to say something, fell silent.

Dripping wet, she hesitantly glanced at me, eventually breaking into an awkward smile.

“But it was awesome, right?”

“……”

“……”

“…It’s a point of pride.”

—

Episode 17 – The Blood-Drinking Tree

—

In a moment of crisis (or not), Camila, having used her new technique to escape the scene, arrived at the fountain in the garden.

A mansion’s garden that could rival even a large square seemed endless, and naturally, the fountain was also quite grand. With her head submerged in the deep, cool water, Camila was rescued by a passing imperial magician.

“Wow, that could have been a big deal! Your head facing the ground… It’s a good thing it was a fountain; otherwise, you might have ended up in the ER.”

The magician, who rushed out of the mansion upon hearing the commotion, turned out to belong to the Imperial Court. They were not working for the Magic Department or Defense Department, but rather were elites receiving salaries directly from the palace.

There was more than one court magician. Along with the one who rescued Camila, about a dozen magicians were stationed in the mansion.

When I asked why such elites were present here instead of the palace, they explained that they had come months ago under the Duke’s orders.

“It’s because of the Hero’s training.”

“Training? Isn’t that something the Duke himself would be doing?”

“The Duke His Grace conducts the training personally. We are just here as support.”

“Huh.”

A court magician was not someone who could be ordered around by even the Minister of the Magic Department. The authority to command lay with the King, who was above the minister.

If Abas operated like this, Kien likely operated on an even larger scale. To borrow court magicians for months like this was remarkable.

Was the Duke’s authority truly that great? Or was she genuinely dedicated to teaching Camila? It seemed to be both, as they had rushed over barely ten minutes after the accident.

“I hear there was a disturbance. What are you doing here?”

“Yes, Your Grace. We were restoring the garden and assisting the Hero.”

The court magicians gave their reports as soon as the Duke appeared. Those who had been holding their heads high with their necks stiff, as if in a cast, were bending deeply now.

Alexandra Petrovna wasted no time looking for her disciple among the crowd. Spotting a drenched Camila, she gently smiled, relieved.

“I heard you had an accident. You look quite a mess. Were you unable to hold back and practiced magic while I was away?”

“Ugh….”

Camila, who met the Duke’s kind smile, began to sniffle.

It was undoubtedly emotional, but it seemed to me she had caught a cold in that brief moment.

“Waaah…. Professor…!”

Camila, wrapped in a thermal blanket from the Magic Tower, rushed towards the Duke. Bursting forth as if leaping into the skirt of a grandmother who had just seen her granddaughter, she clung on like a citizen lamenting to a local lord.

“I tried using the magic you taught me but ended up in the fountain….”

“Did I not warn you to be careful? Were you careless again? Last time, you charged into the kitchen’s cauldron, and this time, you jumped into a fountain. At this rate, you’ll either soar into the sky or sink into the ground.”

“I’m not joking…!”

“Yes, yes. Your hands and feet are cold. You should take care of your body and stop crying.”

Even the words of a great magician, who would be believed even if they claimed to have prepared tofu with beans, didn’t seem to help Camila. Despite being told to stop crying, she showed no signs of halting her weeping.

In fact, with tears glistening in her eyes, she even climbed into the Duke’s arms. It was already absurd enough, but what struck me as truly ridiculous was the Duke’s demeanor.

“Oh dear.”

Alexandra Petrovna did not try to remove Camila from her embrace. Instead, she smiled warmly and gently stroked her.

The sight was akin to a grandmother delighting in the presence of her grandchild during a festival. It looked like more than a mere metaphor.

“……”

Wait, why was she acting like that, especially towards someone who wasn’t even her grandchild? Not even a grown woman.

I looked around in astonishment, but no one seemed to find this odd.

On the contrary,

“Ah, what a beautiful sight.”

“I never thought I’d witness the Duke taking on an apprentice before I die….”

The court magicians were gushing over the scene of the Duke and Camila. It felt like a moment that could burst into tears with just a nudge. Unable to bear it any longer, I approached them to speak.

“Uhm, does she do this often…?”

“Not often, but it happens occasionally. The Duke has no children of her own, remember? The Hero is even younger than her grandchild, being her disciple. With that in mind, it’s only natural for her to cherish her.”

“……”

A magician with a bushy beard stopped crying just long enough to ask a question.

“Isn’t it a beautiful sight?”

Beautiful? What a perverted brat you are.

I had heard there was some degree of insanity among magicians, but it seemed that all magicians must be somewhat insane. As the only sane person among a bunch of those crazy, I struggled to adapt to the scene unfolding before me.

Whether others were watching or not, the two were reluctant to part from each other. Camila, who had been weeping in the Duke’s arms, finally calmed down after some time, wiping her nose.

“Sniff….”

“Have you cried it all out?”

“Yes….”

Camila nodded in response when the Duke asked with a grin. Wiping her eyes with her hand, she bowed her head humbly.

Still a noble seems to be. She apologized for her behavior. The girl wasn’t bad; she just… ahem, lacked maturity.

Just at that moment, Camila, with her head lowered, began to rummage through the Duke’s pocket. As if searching the pocket, her hand moved this way and that, and she pursed her lips as if in thought, then suddenly her expression lit up.

“I found it!”

Raising her hand high, Camila’s voice rang out. In her hand was a bag of sweets she had just retrieved from the Duke’s pocket.

Wait a minute.

Why was that coming out of the Duke’s pocket?

“Ah!”

Camila was grinning, inspecting the bag of sweets as if it were the greatest treasure ever.

Her face, which had only moments ago been damp with tears, was nowhere to be found. Enthralled by the sweets, her expression sparkled with delight.

“It’s a new candy!”

“There are sweets as well. The court chefs specially prepared them for you, so eat as much as you like.”

“Thank you, Professor!”

Camila beamed as she clutched a bounty of snacks and candies. The Duke began to smile along with her.

As the magicians watched the expressions of the two, beaming, I looked on with a frown.

“……”

Whether she was nonchalantly pulling snacks from her pocket or the Duke casually filling her pouch, or the happily smiling magicians,

There seemed to be no sane person among them.

I sighed deeply, gazing into the void. It was a sigh that escaped my lips involuntarily.

“…Sigh.”

This magical society of the Empire.

Could it really be alright to carry on like this?

—

As I continued to witness this strange scene where a foreign spy worried about the enemy nation’s future, the two who had just finished their skit finally returned to their senses.

“I just heard you arrived in the Empire. I was told you nearly suffered an accident on your way here?”

“Thank you for your concern, but everything has been resolved.”

“I’m relieved to hear that. It could have been dire if your companion was seriously injured.”

Alexandra Petrovna’s expression was extremely bright as she greeted me. We knew each other, and through Camila, there was a connection, so it made sense.

As the Duke exchanged pleasantries with me, the situation had somewhat stabilized. After the combined efforts of the internal troops, police, and the guards, the previously intense atmosphere surrounding the mansion had begun to calm down. The garden, which had been completely burned, was starting to reclaim its form thanks to the efforts of the court magicians.

Of course, Camila was just as confused.

“Mmm…”

At the very center of the ruckus, and practically causing it as well, Camila was lost in thought over her sweets. Although the treats brought by the Duke were certainly not common snacks from the store, even factoring in their premium quality, it was rather…

Watching Camila selectively nibble on the sugar-sprinkled fine sweets, I found myself mindlessly questioning,

“Is that really going down right now?”

“Yes.”

“……”

There was no hint of hesitancy in her immediate reply.

I was the fool for asking. Sigh.

I glanced with a mix of disbelief and bewilderment at Camila, who was devouring the snacks, while the expression from the teacher’s eyes, gazing at her disciple, was warm and tender.

“My dear. Is it to your taste?”

“Yes!”

“That’s truly fortunate. If you want more, I can bring plenty, so take your time eating.”

“Wow! Thank you, Professor!”

“Yes. Here, have some tea too.”

Alexandra Petrovna slid a teacup toward Camila.

When did they become this close? Did this even resemble a normal teacher-student relationship? This felt more like a grandmother and her granddaughter.

In the midst of tossing around sweets, Camila and the benevolent Duke exchanged continuous supplies, and I could only dazedly watch them alternate looks.

“……”

Camila, filling herself with snacks, wore a face of pure happiness. Seeing that smile almost made me suppress the urge to nag her.

Well… it seemed she was doing fine.

After all, what harm could there be in eating a lot of sweets? As long as it didn’t impact her health. The Duke seemed to be more than okay with it, and if Camila was happy, there was no reason to spoil the mood unnecessarily.

Marginally interrupting their sweet-and-food frenzy, having stuffed herself, Camila, smiling broadly, finally fostered a conversation.

The Duke soon began to apologize for making us wait, offering me a glance.

“I’m sorry for keeping you waiting, dear guest.”

“It’s alright.”

“I also heard the rumors circulating in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Many have been worried about the security issues in the mansion. There have been reports of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaching out to the kingdom’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You must be here for that reason, correct?”

“That is correct.”

My beautiful silver hair swayed up and down briefly.

“There’s no need to worry. This place is under the protection of barriers comparable to the Imperial Palace. Should anyone attempt to invade the mansion, the magicians would surely recognize it.”

“……”

The Imperial Palace’s barrier was a magic I also knew about.

A solid protective magic designed to shield the Emperor from assassins. It could withstand attacks from not just the mages and special forces of enemy nations but also from artillery shells and tank fire.

There were even rumors that, even in the event of a war reducing Petrograd to ashes, the palace itself would remain unharmed. At least, that was what the Abas Information Agency believed.

“I’ve heard about the palace’s protective magic. They say it was crafted by the grand magicians who pooled their wisdom during the war against the cult.”

“Indeed, you also know about that.”

“Of course. It’s the greatest heritage boasted by the Palace’s protective school.”

If such magic protected the mansion, it was easy to feel at ease. Even with the Ministry of Defense and Intelligence Agencies prepared, what mage could possibly breach such magic?

Moreover, the owner of the mansion wasn’t just any ordinary magician but a grand magician. I would sooner believe that Alexandra Petrovna lost a duel through magic than I would believe she was defeated in a magical contest.

Once I received the Duke’s affirmation, I finally felt somewhat relieved. As I took a sip of my black tea, attempting to snatch the plate away from Camila in the midst of devouring snacks, Alexandra Petrovna suddenly spoke.

“By the way, what are your plans now? Now that you’ve confirmed your disciple’s safety, do you intend to return to Abas?”

“Ah, well…”

I trailed off ambiguously.

I had come to find Camila after receiving contact from the embassy. To be honest, I hadn’t thought of what to do after confirming her safety.

“I’m not quite sure. I initially planned to stay in Petrograd for a few days to observe the situation, but given the strong defenses of the mansion, it seems I have little to check on.”

“If that’s the case, what about taking a break for a while?”

Alexandra Petrovna continued.

“There is no issue if you return like this, but wouldn’t it be wise to monitor your disciple’s condition for a longer period? Sending a guest away right away would be against etiquette. Unless there’s an urgent matter, it wouldn’t be bad to rest for now.”

—

It was an unexpected suggestion.

I stroked my chin, deep in thought.

I still had plenty of time off left, and there wasn’t exactly a pressing task. Of course, while I’d need to prepare to head off to the Mauritania Continent, discussions for that were already underway at the governmental level.

As for intelligence operations, the situation regarding Asen and Sanya had settled into a lull, and I’d have no issue monitoring developments while maintaining steady contact with Hassan. If something were to arise, the Royal Intelligence Department’s operations team sent to the field would be able to handle it.

Once I gathered my thoughts, I spoke.

“If it’s not an imposition, then I would do so.”

“You made a good decision. If you need anything, feel free to ask for it. If you want to discuss a deployment, you not only can invite your disciple but also the Saint and the descendants of Raniere.”

I responded that I would consider it.

With the conversation growing smoothly, Alexandra Petrovna began discussing the regions we would potentially be deployed in.

“The Mauritania Continent is a fine place. After all, it is the birthplace of primitive sorcery and astrology. Many mages have gone there under the watchful eyes of the Inquisition over the past few centuries, so it should prove to be a good experience for your disciple and Raniere’s child as well.”

“Oh! I’ve heard there’s a place called the Ivory Tower there, right? I’d love to visit it.”

The Duke smiled gently at Camila’s reaction.

“The Ivory Tower holds the legacy of my companion, Suleiman. It’s also a gathering place for alchemists from the Red Desert, so they would likely gather unique insights and experiences. Ah, and if time permits, do visit my dear friend.”

“Your friend, Professor?”

“Yes.”

While munching on her candies, Camila expressed her desire to stop by.

Gulping down her food, she reached for the candies again, but the space where the bowl should have been was empty.

“…Huh?”

Startled to find the candy bowl absent, Camila looked around in shock. She quickly spotted the bowl placed at the opposite end and shot me a sharp glare.

“What did you do?”

“…I moved the candy.”

“Yes.”

“…….”

As I met her gaze, wiggling my eyebrows.

What do you think you can do by glaring at me? What can you do about it?

“Tch….”

“Stop eating so many sweets. You’ll actually get fat.”

“I won’t you know?”

“What are you saying?”

“Don’t argue. Anyway….”

Alexandra Petrovna, with a kindly smile, intervened in the conversation and posed a question to me.

“According to the Archbishop, it seems the fragments of the Oracle have been interpreted. They’ve discovered clues about other companions. Do you, by chance, know where the new companion might be located?”

The inquiry was about whether we had found Camila’s fourth companion.

With a light sigh, I shook my head.

“Not yet.”

“You still haven’t found them?”

“I haven’t pinpointed their exact location.”

After the intelligence sharing from the Inquisition, various intelligence agencies had mobilized to locate Camila’s new companion. A man, somewhere on the Mauritania Continent.

However, despite the extended searches by dozens of intelligence agencies over the last five months, efforts to locate the new companion were sluggish. The Mauritania Continent was far too perilous and vast.

Nonetheless, there had been some progress.

“A representative from the Information Authority said they found the last trace in the Paradise Gesan area. Everything is consistent, from physical descriptions to gender, including unique tattoos across their body and special abilities.”

“Paradise Gesan, huh….”

Her enigmatic blue eyes narrowed as if they were shutting down.

“A place that no actual mage would be ignorant of. Until sixty years ago, it was the home of dragons. The chief of the plains smashed a dragon’s scales with his fist atop that mountain. He slew the beast and bathed in its blood, acquiring tremendous power and an immortal body.”

“…….”

“I’ve heard that since the dragons were eradicated, the area has been swarmed by monsters. Even the Ivory Tower and sorcerers operating out of the Whaleship Port avoid the vicinity. Are you saying your disciple’s companion could be in such a perilous location?”

“Yes. While we are still in the conjecture stage, it’s true.”

A sigh slipped from the grand magician’s lips. A sigh filled with concern for her disciple.

Folding her arms, Alexandra Petrovna gazed intently at Camila. The look in her eyes resembled that of an adult watching over a child playing near water.

“Your disciple should work hard, too. You’ll need to strengthen yourself to avoid getting hurt.”

“Yes, Professor.”

It seemed my answer pleased her, as the Duke nodded with satisfaction.

“It is indeed a joyous occasion to welcome a new companion. It is a good thing to have someone you can trust and rely upon. However, I have a curious question.”

Her azure gaze switched back to me. The Duke’s lips moved.

“Have you located the mysterious thug who brought demons to the North?”

“The North, demons, the mysterious thug.” As the familiar combination of words echoed, my mind began to whirl.

The terror that occurred last year at Abas’s department store. It had been attributed to stateless individuals from No Man’s Land using dark magic. However, behind those stateless individuals, there had been another terrorist.

The so-called merchant. An unidentified terror suspect referred to by the captured terrorists as “the Merchant.” This was someone who had provided the terrorists with dark magical means to bypass the Magic Department, Defense Department, and even the Inquisition.

Recent investigations indicated that this individual was involved in the conflicts of the North as well.

To be more precise—

“Are you referring to the suspect who brought the corpse spider?”

“Correct.”

The creatures that attacked the Rift in the North. The merchant who spread dark magic within Abas’s capital had sent monsters to the Northern regions.

The Imperial agencies, including the Imperial Guard HQ, had recognized this individual’s involvement in the investigation while trying to trace the origin of the corpse spider. The Abas intelligence agency shared investigation documents from the department store terror incident with the Empire. By cross-checking data from the North, they discovered this individual’s involvement in the Rift attack event.

What the purpose behind their attacks on both Abas and Kien was remained unknown.

However, one thing was certain: they were definitely not human.

“…No matter how much magic one hones, it’s biologically impossible for a person to maintain the same appearance for decades. Unless, of course, they’re an elf or a demonic race with the longevity to do so.”

“Indeed. Even the most illustrious mages from the Magic Tower and Ivory Tower cannot escape the passage of time.”

But this individual now had the appearance of an ordinary human. One who had maintained that appearance for decades.

As a biologically impossible occurrence, regrettably, recent cases indicated that it was indeed feasible.

Possessed individuals.

People possessed by demons.

“……”

With that recollection swirling in my mind, I cautiously opened my mouth. While Camila might hear me, I ensured that my voice would be inaudible to the surrounding crowd.

“I suspect it might be the actions of a possessed individual.”

“…You mean the work of a demon?”

“Yes, it’s currently the most probable hypothesis being discussed in our Defense Department.”

Upon mentioning the word “demon” once more, the Duke’s expression slightly twisted.

Demons had caused immense suffering in the North, and she was its ruler. Hence, there would be no fond feelings toward them.

“Do you have any way to track them down?”

“The organization is searching high and low. Of course, we’re offering our assistance as well.”

“It would be prudent for you to search carefully but quickly. We don’t know what malicious plans they might be devising.”

Alexandra Petrovna urged with a grave tone. It was best to find them soon to minimize any potential damage.

I nodded in understanding.

—Flame!

At that moment, flames erupted from the chair.

Sparks flew, and a figure was scattered amid the flames and smoke.

In the brief moment of confusion due to the sudden magical occurrence, I heard a sound of plates scrapping across the table right next to me.

I didn’t need to confirm who was behind it.

“Nice!”

Amidst the swirling sparks, Camila was clenching her fist. One hand was tightly clenched while she hugged the bowl of sweets with the other.

It didn’t take long for me to comprehend the situation. The scattering sparks, Camila vanishing before my eyes, and then her reappearing from the blind spot.

She had used magic again.

“……”

This grand magic learned from the Oracle Member of the Magic Tower, and what she made use of was to simply snatch the bowl of snacks when I wasn’t paying attention.

Was this really alright?

Would her teacher not manage her disciple? Just as that thought crossed my mind,

“…Hmm.”

Alexandra Petrovna crossed her arms and spoke in an authoritative tone.

“You are too slow. In battle, speed equates to life. If that’s the case for fights between magicians, then how much more so in a battlefield with streams of bullets flying about?”

“What? Wasn’t that fast enough, Professor?”

“Though it might not seem so to others, in my view, you moved like a sluggish worm.”

“……”

Wait, isn’t that the main issue right now?

I stared in disbelief, blinking as I switched my gaze between the two, yet Camila and Alexandra Petrovna remained unmoving.

“Well, I suppose sweets suit your taste. By the way, how many times did you use magic today?”

“I used it twice before, and hmm… including that, it’s been three times in total!”

“Oh? Just not long ago, you would be completely exhausted from using magic consecutively. Now you don’t even seem to lose your breath. Well done.”

“Hehe.”

“Have more treats.”

“……”

The future of the Empire, could it really be alright to continue like this? While it was beneficial to practice magic, I felt that if I left Camila here, she’d surely gain some plumpness.

If I had known it would turn out like this, I wouldn’t have sent her to the Duke. At this point, if Camila complained of hunger, it wouldn’t be surprising if they uprooted a mansion pillar to set up a feast.

Amidst the laughter between the two, the momentary sighs welled up within me. Just then, Camila was finishing up her sweets when the Duke suddenly made a suggestion.

“Ah, speaking of which, is it not true that you’re meeting your disciple after several months?”

“One month, to be precise.”

I nearly said “one month” before mentally correcting myself to respond.

“Roughly about seven months.”

“Is that so? Then you probably wouldn’t know much.”

“Excuse me?”

Just as I was about to question what she meant by that—

The grand magician smiled and continued speaking.

“Now that you’re here, why not see how much your disciple’s magic has grown?”