A Dark Fantasy Spy

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The gray sky poured down rain. The drizzles that moistened the ground soon transformed into thick streams of rain.

The sentinel, having stepped beneath the eaves, scanned the desolate land. The gaze observing the renowned red desert, filled with wondrous mysteries, felt utterly indifferent.

As the pouring rain loudly pounded against the sand-colored bricks, his dull eyes focused on the end of the street.

“Private, you okay?”

In response to the sentinel’s inquiry, the machine gunner answered in a trembling voice.

“N-no problem.”

He was perched atop the roof of a vehicle. The old tactical vehicle served both as a mode of transportation to the checkpoint monitoring the road leading straight to the border and as a defensive measure guarding this location.

Drenched in rain while keeping watch over the vehicle stationed on the road, the gunner shivered, tightly huddled even as raindrops fell from the edge of his bulletproof helmet.

“Just hold on a bit longer. The switch will be here soon.”

“Understood….”

His reply, lacking energy, came through his raincoat.

As if to comfort the sentinel, a gust of wind swept past the building. The Peacekeeping Force flag resting atop the sand-colored bricks was caught by the gust and soared upward.

Seeing the flag fluttering precariously, the sentinel lowered his gaze to the desert. Casually scanning the horizon, he pulled out the radio attached to his bulletproof vest.

“Something is approaching from 1.5 km away. Can you see it?”

“Yes, I see it.”

A voice flowed from the radio.

“It’s a vehicle.”

“Were any vehicles scheduled to come today?”

“No, there was no scheduled visit.”

“…….”

Peacekeepers guarding the borders of the Mauritania Continent. The soldier lifted the binoculars resting beside his rifle, anxiety etched across his face.

In the distance, a city appeared at the edge of the desert. Bright headlights pierced through the dense mist created by the heavy rain.

The vehicle arrived at the checkpoint just as the soldiers armed with rifles were fully prepared.

As the Peacekeeping Force soldier adjusted his rifle, he approached the vehicle through the downpour and knocked on the window.

“Where are you coming from?”

The window slid down smoothly.

A woman with red hair answered from the passenger seat.

“From headquarters.”

—

Episode 17 – The Blood-Drinking Tree

The Peacekeeping Force soldiers stationed at checkpoint number 31 near the border began their journey back to the forward base after finishing their shift.

A subtle silence enveloped the interior of the vehicle. As the driver steered towards the forward base, the lookout glanced at the back seat through the rear-view mirror. A woman, reportedly sent by the headquarters, was sitting there.

The lookout carefully tried to guess the woman’s identity based on what he observed in the back seat.

A scarf to shield against the sandstorm and withering sun, casual clothing that favored mobility over formality. Her eyes, gazing out the window, looked peaceful, and she seemed quite comfortable sitting in the seat, though there was an unsettling vibration beneath her.

She appeared to be an ordinary person. Nothing particularly special about her. However, what caught attention was the robe she wore.

It was easy to infer she might be a magician just from that alone. Perhaps she could be a shaman, but that didn’t matter.

Everyone knew that magicians or shamans could be as threatening as people armed with guns. Quite possibly, even more dangerous.

Despite having a dangerously powerful person on board, the expression on the faces of the Peacekeeping Force soldiers showed no signs of concern. Instead, they glanced at the magician with a hint of eager anticipation.

The lookout, peering into the rear-view mirror, began asking questions directed at the magician.

“Are you a magician?”

“Ah, yes. I am a magician.”

“Uh-huh. I see.”

The lookout’s prediction had been confirmed, and a broad smile appeared on his face. Turning his body, he looked back at the rear seat, his voice filled with faint hope.

“Welcome. It’s rare to see a magician in this area these days. You said you came from headquarters? Are you affiliated with the Alliance or the Peacekeeping Force?”

The magician nodded. Her red hair followed in a delayed motion.

“You don’t appear to be from around here. Where is your hometown?”

“Um….”

The magician began to smile mysteriously in response to the question. Then she spoke a somewhat cryptic reply that was hard to grasp.

“You probably wouldn’t know even if I told you.”

At a glance, it sounded like a rude response, but the lookout didn’t mind. Magicians often had peculiar traits, sometimes behaving in ways that ordinary people couldn’t comprehend.

She likely came from a small country whose name was completely unfamiliar. Deciding not to pry further about her origins, the lookout halted his inquiries.

The scenery outside flowed past the bulletproof glass. The city viewed from the vehicle bore the scars of war.

The long walls and outer structures bore clear traces of lengthy civil conflict. Even in a city that had suffered from internal strife just a few years ago, signs of conflict could still be seen everywhere.

Marks left by bullets and shells, abandoned ruins that had crumbled, and people robbed of their vitality. The armored vehicle of the Peacekeeping Force silently traversed the dreary gray city.

The magician maintained her silence, gazing at the scene reflected in the window. A subtle tension manifested across her face. Sensing the mood, the soldier tried to ease the tension with a cheerful smile.

“It’s a bit gloomy, isn’t it?”

“…Ah, yes.”

“Since we’re near the border, skirmishes break out here and there. This place has always been like this, though.”

As the soldier cracked a joke with a grin, the magician managed a smile with an expression of indifference.

“It seems quite dangerous, doesn’t it?”

“Don’t even mention it. It’s chaos with rebels and militias running amok. They say monsters are even creeping into the city now? Just a while ago, they were only lurking near the border, but suddenly they’ve appeared out of nowhere….”

“Still, don’t worry. The monsters won’t come this far. We’re quite a distance from the border.”

On the road back to the forward base, the magician was now chatting with the soldiers, discussing various topics. From the situation and conditions in the operational area to heartfelt discussions about hometowns, food, and hobbies—the atmosphere of their conversation felt cozy and at ease.

“My hometown gets a lot of rain, and I used to think I’d like coming to the desert, but here, the rain is just relentless.”

“Just because it’s a desert doesn’t mean it doesn’t rain. There are rainy seasons everywhere.”

“It’s not only uncomfortable, it’s unbearable. The food doesn’t suit my palate, there’s nothing to do, and due to religious reasons, they don’t sell alcohol here.”

With faces lit with interest, the soldiers began firing off questions. Where did she come from? How many people came with her? Was she perhaps someone from the Magic Tower?

A flurry of questions ensued, but the magician remained unfazed. With a calm voice and a gentle smile, she responded to their inquiries.

“First off, I set off from Abas. I was supposed to meet with my scattered colleagues, but I left first, so I haven’t encountered them yet. As soon as I arrive at the forward base, I plan to send word.”

“Abas? Is that really true?”

“Yes, but I’m not actually from Abas. It’s just the place I departed from.”

“Oh!” A small exclamation slipped from someone’s lips. A reaction of disappointment.

“I thought an army would be coming from Abas, but it seems that’s not the case… How many colleagues do you have?”

“About five, including myself.”

“…….”

Silence fell over the vehicle. An uncomfortable silence.

The awkward atmosphere was unmistakable, palpable enough that even the one being questioned could sense it. The questioner felt the same.

“Um, five. Five, you say….”

The soldiers nodded with vague expressions. They tried to manage their emotions, but the magician could discern a deep disappointment in their eyes.

“I see. Welcome. But what brings you to this place, Magician?”

In response to a soldier’s question, the woman smiled brightly.

“To help people.”

“Ooh—”

Expressions of awe erupted from various corners of the vehicle simultaneously. In a place where survival had become a grim joke due to civil war and the threat of monsters, it was rare to encounter someone with such a pure purpose.

Meanwhile, the lookout’s eyes narrowed. He glanced at the magician, starting to speak in a tone that questioned her sincerity.

“You came here just for that?”

Charmed faces turned to the superior in surprise. Though the soldiers looked visibly startled, sending silent signals of dismay, the superior would not relent.

With a sigh of incredulity, he spoke in a concerned voice.

“I’ve deployed three times now, and everyone with that mindset has run away in fear.”

The Alliance sends wizards to conflict areas worldwide each year, but the return of peace was a distant dream.

No matter how much funding powerful governments offered, the strongest armies were reluctant to send forces into conflict zones. What was sent to war instead were the armed forces of developing nations caught in between.

“What peace….”

This time was no exception.

The powerful governments, represented by the Kingdom of Abas and the Kien Empire, promised they would send their armies to Mauritania. Claiming they would contribute to global peace and security as members of the international community. Yet tens of thousands of expeditionary troops remained confined within their home ports, unable to deploy.

Instead, they spoke of supplies. Providing humanitarian aid by setting up refugee camps, they told of logistical support and substantial relief supplies—provided their own congress approved it.

In plain terms, they were saying they wouldn’t offer immediate assistance.

Given the circumstances, it was natural for the citizens of the Mauritania Continent to curse the international community.

With hundreds dying daily and tens of thousands of refugees surging, it was practically impossible to believe in assistance that might never arrive.

The same went for the Peacekeeping Force, caught in the middle of the international community and Mauritania.

“Just go back. There’s no need to struggle for nothing. Romanticism and whatnot are pointless. You need to stay alive to enjoy any romance, right?”

With that, the lookout fell silent.

As a heavy silence lingered, an experienced soldier, having sensed the situation, leaned down to whisper in the magician’s ear.

“I’m sorry. There’s no bad intent behind that. The superior had some bad experiences during operations with adventurers before, and… I’ll apologize on his behalf.”

“It’s alright. I understand completely.”

The magician beamed with a smile.

“I’ve had similar experiences, you know?”

“…Ah.”

“But someone has to remain here to protect the citizens, right? It’s something that needs doing.”

The magician accepted the apology as if it were nothing. An eerie silence settled as the rain against the glass grew even heavier.

– rumble…!!

A colossal tremor shook the ground.

As the quaking sensation began to disrupt the city, chaos erupted around. Citizens, unsure of what to do, sought refuge inside buildings, while soldiers gripped objects tightly in the shaking vehicle, gritting their teeth.

“What is this? An earthquake?”

“Do you think it’s an earthquake?!”

Thick raindrops relentlessly hammered against the bulletproof glass as the lookout quickly regained his focus, casting a glance outside.

“This place doesn’t get earthquakes. There’s no reason the ground should shake all of a sudden…!”

If it weren’t nature’s wrath, some culprit must be behind it.

In the midst of surveillance, the lookout’s gaze caught sight of that very culprit.

-coming up from the ground…!!

A pillar surged upwards from beneath. No, it wasn’t a pillar; it was a monster.

A creature that appeared to blend a leech and a worm had pierced its way through the earth and emerged above ground. Its long tentacles resembled nothing as it buried its mouth, filled with sharp, hundreds of teeth, into a building.

Boom! The shockwave rattled the area, and agonizing screams followed. Gulping, a mass resembling a tumor trailed behind the creature’s mouth as it surged upward.

It’s best not to know what that grotesque mass had just consumed. I didn’t want to know, and I assumed it was best not to find out.

As the machine gunner squeezed the trigger, the heavy machine gun roared to life.

Amidst the cacophony of gunfire and radio chatter, the lookout shook the driver awake.

“Request backup at the base and get out of here!”

“We can’t escape in the vehicle! The road is completely blocked!”

The road was jammed with vehicles trying to flee from the monster. Seeing the clogged road, the lookout issued another command.

“We’re abandoning the vehicle! Everyone out and move— Hold on! What are you doing?!”

“Yes?”

The magician tilted her head in confusion.

“What do you mean?”

She was moving toward the monstrous creature, the gigantic beast that was smashing through the road and buildings.

Anyone could tell she was preparing to hunt it down.

“Stop!”

The lookout shouted.

“Facing that thing right now would be insane! What are you thinking?!”

“I have to catch it.”

The Peacekeeping Force suggested retreating.

The soldiers abandoning the vehicle were aiding others in their retreat. Attacking the monster without any fire support or a magician was realistically impossible.

Admittedly, there was a magician present. But it would be futile.

What could one magician achieve? Even the portion that had emerged above ground was comparable to a five-story building, and if it escaped underground again after not being killed instantly, what could they do?

Thus, the Peacekeeping Force urged retreat.

“Get back! There’s nothing you can do!”

“We won’t know until we try.”

“You’ll lose!”

The voices of the Peacekeeping Force came across as desperate whispers.

Having thrown aside her robe, the magician spoke.

“We’ll win.”

With a voice filled with conviction,

Red flames began to flicker in the air.