A Dark Fantasy Spy

---

Humanity’s desire to fly boasts a history spanning thousands of years.

Despite the fierce opposition from religious organizations centered around the Cult and Al-Yabd, nothing could stifle the passion of those who wished to soar freely through the vast skies.

Thus, when the first airship was developed in the Magic Tower, many were thrilled.

The day when humans would dominate the skies, long considered the realm of the gods, felt just around the corner.

However, decades later, to this day, the aerospace industry has yet to achieve remarkable growth.

The reason is simple.

There is magic here.

—

Episode 17 – The Blood-Drinking Tree

—

Alexandra Petrovna suggested I watch Camila’s magic.

It was a proposition I had no specific reason to decline.

“Sure, I’d be honored if you show me.”

There was no special reason for me to accept the Duke’s invitation.

Personally, I was curious about how far Camila’s abilities had grown and how impressive the techniques taught by Alexandra Petrovna could be.

After all, the Duke was ‘that’ Archmage.

“I’ve heard of Your Highness’s fame since childhood.”

Although my magic affinity was low, making it impossible for me to wield magic, I had received education on magic in both university and the military.

Military magic is a core weapon of the local army. From small unit tactics to divisional and corps strategies, it’s an essential component, primarily used in special operations.

This type of military magic is developed with the Defense Research Institute at its core and is also treated as significant by other public sectors and private fields.

And such cutting-edge technology often garners the favor of intelligence agencies. It’s like how the Chinese steal Samsung’s semiconductor technology, and the National Intelligence Service tries to stop it. The information warfare surrounding magic is incredibly fierce.

Even now.

“It’s an honor for someone like you to show their magic.”

While seeing the Duke’s magic might not reveal any crucial secret, my testimony could change things if it reached the Military Intelligence Agency.

After all, the agency in charge of developing military magic is the Military Intelligence Agency. If specialists in magic from the company could find a good lead from the Duke’s magic, it might be worthwhile.

“It’s no honor at all. Why would a magician find it a chore to use magic?”

Of course, Alexandra Petrovna didn’t seem particularly concerned.

Maybe she didn’t think her magic needed to be a closely guarded secret.

Perhaps she believed that since Camila was a colleague, it wouldn’t pose a problem to show it, even to a foreigner.

In any case, the Duke moved to the back garden of her mansion. She explained that this was where Camila usually practiced her magic.

Although it was a building built specifically for a single royal, the mansion was quite long and spacious.

Thanks to that, I was bombarded with various questions from the two of them for a short while.

“This is the first time you’ll see my magic properly, isn’t it?”

Camila was the first to speak.

Having just eaten her fill of snacks, she wore a beaming smile.

She seemed oddly excited about showing her magic, as if she could hardly wait.

“I saw you diving into the fountain, but I didn’t really get to see it closely.”

“Oh, come on! Stop teasing me!”

“Okay, okay.”

I chuckled at her frustration.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Apparently, my words pleased Camila, because she stopped trying to tease me further.

“Just you wait. I’ll show you an amazing spell.”

“Sure.”

The Duke, who had been walking ahead, let out a short sigh.

“Even if I’m genuinely pleased to be reunited after such a long time, must you really express it in such a frivolous manner?”

“Come on, is this really something to be scolded for, Professor?”

“……”

The Duke put her hand on her forehead at her disciple’s casual reply.

Alexandra Petrovna sighed, thinking she should have taught etiquette beforehand, but in my eyes, it was already too late.

In any case, no matter how excited she was, Camila was fundamentally a trained individual. Once she calmed down from the teasing, the Duke seemed relieved and smiled.

Without even touching it, she opened the door with magic and began speaking. The subject of the conversation had somehow shifted to me.

“I’ve heard about you already. As far as I know, you aren’t a magician. Yet you claim to know about my magic?”

“Oh, my sister is a magician.”

“You have a magician among your kin.”

As we walked past the corridor, the Duke nodded earnestly.

“Your sister is a magician, then. It seems you couldn’t help but know about me. So, what kind of person is your sister?”

I responded honestly.

“She’s an ordinary child. Talented, indeed. She majored in elemental magic at the academy and university.”

“An elemental school magician, is she?”

Seemingly intrigued by the fact that Ayla belonged to the school she established, the Duke remarked that she wished to meet her someday.

Considering the elemental school is the largest of the three schools in the Magic Tower, it was indeed quite notable. How many outstanding magicians are there in the affluent world of trade companies, much less compared to a promising candidate in an irrelevant position?

The likes of Francesca, who is friendly with the Duke, also belong to the elemental school. Many of the Oracle members hail from the same school, too.

With both pedigree and reputation, countless individuals surpass Ayla.

Yet, the Duke, who wouldn’t even meet Oracle members, specifically mentioned Ayla because she was intertwined with Camila.

“We’ve arrived.”

Having chatted along the way, we arrived at our destination before we knew it.

Crossing a calm courtyard, Alexandra Petrovna stepped onto the marble platform nestled among the grass, standing in the center.

She spoke.

“My disciple has learned many spells, but I cannot demonstrate them all here. Today, I will start with something simple.”

The Archmage turned to Camila, looking at the young magician.

“Is there a particular spell you’d like to show?”

Camila pondered at the question.

Her expression was incredibly serious, as though she were grappling with the decision between her two favorite menus.

“Hmm….”

Having crossed her arms in a contemplative pose, she suddenly lifted her head.

She glanced at me, then at the Duke, and then back at me again, alternating her gaze.

Whatever scheme she was contemplating, her blue eyes had a wicked glint shimmering within them, as if she had thought of a splendid way to mystify me.

As expected, Camila grinned mischievously and, with a beaming face, raised her hand high.

“I’ll demonstrate teleportation magic!”

—

Magic is the greatest obstacle to the development of the aerospace industry.

Among this, there is one spell notorious among scientists researching aircraft.

Space-related magic.

Initially, I, too, was curious as to why space manipulation magic hindered the growth of the aviation industry, but as I read more books and matured, I came to understand intuitively.

Space manipulation magic has tremendous versatility.

From accelerating the volume of objects to merely reducing their weight without changing their volume.

Alternatively, it can also create a separate space by partitioning the dimensions.

Most of this spatial magic was born through the wars against the Cult.

Those who were secluded in various fields joined forces to achieve victory, and in that process, diverse spells converged, among which space magic is a prime example.

These fusion spells scattered like autumn leaves right after the war’s end. Many of the ancestral legacies failed to survive the turmoil of war.

Space magic was no exception.

While the magic for reducing weight and volume was successfully restored, the greatest product of space research, the spell of spatial partitioning, was lost.

Therefore, today, it is rare to find partitioning magic outside of history books of the Magic Tower or magical tools kept in museums. One such magical tool applied with partitioning magic happens to be in the possession of the Dark Elf leading the Palm Tree Trade Guild.

Thus, the research on such crucial magic has often been neglected even within the Magic Tower for the past few decades after the loss of vital components.

But how did space magic, which lost most of its legacy, come to be positioned as a hindrance to the aerospace industry?

It’s precisely because of teleportation magic.

“Teleportation is the epitome of space magic. It is a spell that allows one to traverse vast distances freely, transcending the constraints of space.”

Research on magic that surpasses spatial limitations—commonly referred to as teleportation or teleportation magic.

The ability to move freely across dimensions opened a new renaissance for the Magic Tower, which was left in ruins due to the war.

The Duke announced, “Teleportation is particularly versatile within the domain of space. Had teleportation magic not been developed, humanity wouldn’t have been able to advance and surpass the Elves.”

“Indeed, it’s a remarkable technology,” Camila nodded, arms crossed.

“The Warp Gate that can cross continents in five minutes would not have been born without teleportation magic.”

“That’s true,” the Duke affirmed, wearing a gratifying expression.

“The discovery of teleportation magic can hardly be overstated as a revolution. It is utilized not just for travel but across various fields. The military is a prime example.”

“The military?”

With a slight tilt of her head, the young magician turned towards the archmage, who began to smile softly.

At this point, she intended for me to elaborate.

I explained in place of the Duke to aid Camila’s understanding of her puzzled expression.

“As the Duke mentioned, teleportation is utilized in various fields. It’s primarily used in transportation sectors like international mail. However, the military delves deeply into research and applications of teleportation.”

“Oh, instead of aircraft?”

“Yes.”

In a world without aircraft, teleportation magic made a notable mark in the military as it revolutionized transport and travel.

“Here, where aerial assets are absent, virtually all aerial operations rely on teleportation magic. Situations such as urgently resupplying troops isolated in enemy territory. However, the real potential of teleportation magic lies elsewhere.”

Infiltration.

The reason the Ministry of Defense adopted expensive teleportation magic is for rapid infiltration.

Instead of sending special forces by land and sea, they can be sent in behind enemy lines via teleportation. Dropping hundreds of airborne troops equipped with parachutes and gear at the landing zone’s rear.

“Teleportation magic holds significant military value. Just imagine—if airborne troops appeared over the capital the instant a declaration of war was made, what would happen?”

“We’d be defenseless!”

“It’s not merely being defenseless.”

Airborne and special forces units have a heavy proportion of combat magicians. While not all of them are magicians, at least 40% consist of them.

If 100 troops infiltrate, it means 40 of them are magicians.

By the way, the plan for the Abas army typically involves an airborne assault to the enemy capital right after the declaration of war, with a minimum of brigade-level forces. It means hundreds of magicians come descending from the skies alongside more than a thousand infantry.

Additionally, special forces striking military and national infrastructure, coupled with airborne troops securing landing zones, means the defenders would be completely overwhelmed.

I continued.

“Of course, due to cost issues, regular drops are conducted using airships, but any airborne penetration during actual operations—that is, during wartime—utilizes teleportation magic. It’s also sometimes used for training.”

“So Frederick would have experience with it?”

“Nope.”

Conducting training using teleportation magic is solely done through the Abas special forces advanced drop training program. To put it in South Korean terms, it’s similar to the Special Forces high-altitude drop course.

Although both intelligence services and the Military Intelligence Agency send personnel for high-altitude drop training through special forces, several conditions need to be met for this training.

As a side note, I didn’t meet those conditions. To be precise, not this time.

Having been severely reprimanded during high-altitude training in the intelligence agency, I intentionally avoided it. Though I underwent basic air drop training, I had an unfortunate history with parachuting.

In any case.

“While it’s commonly used in the military, it’s not something you can use at any time. The available magicians are few, and the cost to activate a magical tool is incredibly high.”

“That’s right. Teleportation is a spell that even the magicians in the Magic Tower find difficult to handle. Today, you shall practice that magic.”

The Duke instructed Camila to demonstrate teleportation magic. The intent was for her to use the magic she learned thus far to improve her proficiency while receiving feedback on any shortcomings.

“The teleportation magic used in the military is aimed at long-distance, large-scale movement. It’s a spell of such scale that one magician struggles to wield it, hence it necessitates the support of magical tools and capacitors. It also takes considerable time to prepare the magic.”

However, the magic that Camila would present today wasn’t large-scale. It would be a short-range teleportation spell where she moves solo.

“Begin.”

—Fwoosh~!

At the signal, Camila turned into flames.

Leaving behind a blackened spot, she vanished into smoke and sparks. And within approximately 2 seconds—possibly even less—a spark of flame began to blaze in the air.

“Woohoo!”

With flames swirling, Camila revealed herself in midair.

Having covered a distance of about 8 meters in an instant, she landed on the grass and bounced with glee.

“I did it!”

Camila raised her voice, delight on her face, as Alexandra Petrovna smiled warmly, watching her.

She clapped her hands, embracing Camila with her gaze.

“Excellent. You’ve come quite far since your first try. With mastery in magic, you’ll be able to teleport greater distances in the blink of an eye.”

“Hehe.”

“Of course, as much as there are advantages, there are also prominent disadvantages. Initially, your accuracy is lacking.”

The Duke’s feedback was immediate. It was a privilege granted to an Archmage.

Alexandra Petrovna pointed out the fact that Camila had appeared in midair and left a word of caution.

“In an urgent situation, teleporting into thin air wouldn’t be an issue, but in a battlefield where a momentary mistake could cost a life, teleporting into midair is dangerous. What if you fail to land correctly and injure your leg? From now on, aim to teleport to a precise location.”

Her feedback wasn’t mere words; she demonstrated it herself.

With a flick of her hand, azure flames surged forth. In an instant, Alexandra Petrovna vanished into smoke alongside the flames.

While Camila was about to turn and scan for where she teleported, the Duke had already moved behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Just like this.”

From watching the Duke’s magic, I found myself admiring her skill inwardly.

The teleportation magic employed in military applications typically sets the destination in midair. If the coordinates misalign, one could end up inside a building or underground, putting their life in jeopardy, as this magic is primarily used for airborne infiltration.

However, seasoned magicians from the special forces can set their arrival points on the ground instead of in the air. These are combat magicians who’ve spent nearly 20 years in service.

Even those elite magicians could only perform teleportation with the support of magical tools after significant preparation, yet the Duke seamlessly teleported behind Camila in the blink of an eye from a sitting position.

“Whoa.”

While effortlessly clapping my hands at the impressive display, Alexandra Petrovna returned to her original position with Camila in tow, utilizing teleportation magic.

Many magicians struggle merely to teleport themselves, yet she performed teleportation while carrying someone. Truly, an Archmage is remarkable in every sense.

“Now, try it again.”

At the Duke’s signal, Camila attempted teleportation magic once more. It was quite striking to witness someone proficiently using a high-difficulty spell that even elite magicians in the Magic Tower found challenging.

Whether it’s impressive talent or the effectiveness of the Duke’s teaching, I could hardly tear my eyes away from Camila as she turned into flames and darted around.

While I was watching her with fascination, the Duke began to ask me about Camila’s magic.

“How is it?”

“It’s amazing. I haven’t seen a magician handle teleportation that adeptly even in the military.”

“Is that so?”

Alexandra Petrovna nodded with a satisfied expression. She seemed to take quite a bit of pride in Camila’s ability to skillfully wield such advanced magic.

“Those who can execute teleportation magic are rare even in the imperial army. By the way, haven’t you experienced teleportation magic yourself?”

I nodded my head.

Teleportation magic is high-level, and the magicians who can utilize it are only a handful.

Ultimately, to execute teleportation magic, one must rely on magical tools’ power. However, this can be much more costly than one might expect. That’s why even the Abas Ministry of Defense or the Kien Empire’s Ministry of Defense conduct many of their common airborne training sessions via hot air balloon, and regular drops also utilize airships. Teleportation magic is exclusively employed for high-altitude education using relatively brief periods. Using it properly occurs only in wartime situations.

Thus, I had never experienced teleportation magic.

Of course, I had often used Warp Gates but merely traversing fixed coordinates is classified as spatial movement rather than teleportation magic. Moving to desired locations like Camila does constitutes true teleportation.

“No, I haven’t.”

The Duke seemed to understand, nodding her head.

With her arms crossed thoughtfully, the Archmage continued to watch over us.

Suddenly, she spoke bluntly.

“In that case, experiencing it today wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

—

A short while later.

With a sulky expression, I stood on the grass with Camila.

“…….”

“What’s up? You look awfully anxious.”

“…Does my face look calm at all?”

As I exchanged glances with Camila looking up at me, Alexandra Petrovna approached us after organizing the surroundings.

The magic circle spread out across the backyard. Blue mana flowed along the circuit as the Archmage began to speak.

“Teleportation magic is essentially a spell for oneself. However, not every magician utilizes magic to move themselves.”

Extending her fingers, the Duke added to her explanation.

“There are two main cases when a magician casts teleportation on an object that isn’t themselves. The first is moving inanimate objects to desired locations. The second is moving living beings to chosen places.”

“…….”

“An advanced magician can progress one step further and teleport together with another person to their chosen location. Today, we’ll practice this.”

Hearing Alexandra Petrovna’s explanation, Camila responded energetically.

“Yes!”

With a bright smile, she flicked her hair enthusiastically, while on the other hand, I, who had just fished a strand of her red hair from my mouth, responded in a quiet voice.

“…Yeah.”

Unlike Camila’s beaming smile, I had an apprehensive expression on my face. This was perfectly reasonable given that I was to participate in her teleportation magic practice.

To explain why I ended up helping Camila with her practice, I had to reflect on the Duke’s proposal.

“Hey, you’ve never experienced teleportation before, have you?”

“Yep.”

“Then do you want to give it a shot?”

“Why not? Sounds fun!”

—

The Duke asked if I wanted to experience teleportation magic. A type of magic I had never practiced—even if asking me to attempt something as wonderful as that!

Frankly speaking, teleportation magic was something I had always wanted to experience someday.

Sure, just wanting to experience teleportation magic could have led me to apply for the entrusted education sent to the special forces by Military Intelligence, but that’s training, not just a taste of magic.

Requesting a training program just to briefly sample some magic felt far too desperate.

Despite my interest in experiencing teleportation magic, I never truly wished to engage in training.

Then, suddenly, the Duke offered me this excellent chance.

How could I refuse such a generous invitation? So, I accepted it readily.

The catch, however, lay in the fact that I wasn’t merely tasting teleportation, but rather, I was to assist in Camila’s practice using it.

And that magician is none other than Camila herself.

“…….”

I glanced at Camila with a sense of trepidation. Noticing my stare, she replied with a quizzical look.

“Why are you acting like that?”

“Camila. Don’t dive into the fountain again, okay?”

“I won’t do that. No need to worry.”

Her teasing laughter as she called me a coward made me feel an overwhelming urge to smack her on the head.

How would I know whether she’d dive into a fountain or bump her head against the ground?

I wanted to bolt at that very moment, but alas, refusing the Duke’s kindness proved tricky. Besides, Camila looked absolutely ecstatic about making a fool out of me.

In the end, I had no choice but to take part in the practice, feeling akin to cattle being led to slaughter.

“Alright, if we fall, the magic might fail, so stay close to me.”

“Okay.”

Upon the Duke’s instruction, Camila gripped me tightly. She secured my arms, preventing any chance of escape.

“I’m looking forward to this.”

“…….”

“I’m going to show you some amazing magic.”

Her playful smile sent chills down my spine. Let me go, please. I want to go back.

Caught in those mischief-filled smiles, I began to feel a burning urge to escape, but it proved futile. Camila firmly grasped my arms.

Let go! Please, just let me go. You don’t know what you’re doing!

This back-and-forth tussle of escape and restraint played out, watched over by the Archmage, who bore a pleased smile.

“The way you two are interacting is quite lovely to witness.”

“Seriously, does this look lovely? You must be losing your eyesight—Ugh…!”

“Silence!”

With my mouth muffled by Camila, she nodded at the Duke.

“We’re ready, Professor!”

“Very well, without delay….”

“Ugh! Mmph!”

With my arms flailing uselessly, the Archmage continued checking the magic circle without looking at me.

“Begin.”

“We’ll be back soon!”

The cheerful magician and her unwilling accomplice vanished amidst the flames.

The swirling embers danced before my eyes.

Moments later.

Flames blossomed against the clear sky.