A Dark Fantasy Spy

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As I placed my hand against the brick house, stained with moss and water, the world turned upside down. Amid the shaking and swirling vision, the landscape of the Necropolis flashed before me.

-Rumble!

The bricks started to squirm and engulf my entire body, but strangely, I felt no pain. Everything was peaceful, except for the nausea twisting in my stomach.

“Uuugh…”

“Whoa!”

Joaquin caught me as I staggered, nearly collapsing. He asked if I was alright.

I shook my head vigorously and muttered inwardly, Please don’t say it smells like cannabis coming from my mouth…

“Yikes…!”

“Ahhh-!”

From behind, a nymph and a beastman sprang out.

The walls that writhed like they were alive spat out the nymph and beastman. No, did they vomit them out?

Kair, who had flopped down onto the floor, was flailing his four legs and grunting, while Charnoy seemed to be dizzy from the spinning world and had yet to regain her composure.

At that moment, Francesca, who had joined us late, asked,

“…What is happening?”

As the walls parted like curtains, Francesca walked out calmly, contrasting sharply with the nymph-beastman duo that had emerged as if the walls had spat them out.

I waved my hand towards Joaquin, gesturing for him to explain what was going on.

He grinned widely.

“You guys. You know Necropolis is just a nickname, right? There’s a real name for it.”

“Yes.”

“Follow me, friends! I’m about to show you the true face of Necropolis!”

—

Episode 17 – The Blood-Drinking Tree

The gentle glow of a lamp illuminated the area, with the sound of drops falling in rhythm — plop, plop.

While two humans, a beastman, and a nymph moved along, Joaquin lifted the lamp to shine ahead.

The light did not chase the darkness away. The darkness of the alley was far too thick for a single lamp to handle.

But suddenly, as the light illuminating the alley whooshed away with a whisper of wind—

-Swooosh…

It was light.

In the pitch-black darkness, light materialized.

Like the moonlight sweeping aside clouds to reveal the vast world, the soft glow stretched along the alley, leading somewhere.

Joaquin quietly extinguished the lamp and waved his hand towards us.

“This way. Just keep going straight.”

He was guiding us into the alley lit by the gentle light. The extinguished lamp dangled from his waist, jingling as he moved.

“Where on earth are we going? Where is this place?”

I asked.

Joaquin slightly turned his head—no, he completely turned around and began to walk backward. Then he answered my question.

“I told you before! The Abyssal Devourer. We’re going to meet them! And also catch some fun sights!”

The race of magicians must be a little off-kilter. In that sense, Joaquin was the most magician-like person I had ever met.

He was a lunatic.

Joaquin continued backing up, adding this in a very casual manner.

“I had a landmark I wanted to show you guys since you’re first-time visitors to the city, right?”

“And what landmark are you planning to show us?”

The resident of Necropolis grinned.

“Need I say more? It’s obviously the ‘port’!”

I knew the ‘port’ as well. To be precise, I had heard rumors about it several times.

Glancing around, it seemed everyone was aware of what the port was. Kair was an information officer who had originally operated in the Mauritania Continent, and Francesca was the administrator of the Magic Tower Secretariat, so the only one clueless about the port was Charnoy, who had worked in the Inspection Office.

“What is the port…? It seems different from what Charnoy knows….”

“Well….”

– ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶̶ …!!

Just as Joaquin’s response was about to continue, an enormous noise surged.

Both Kair and I turned our heads almost simultaneously. Since beastmen have sharper hearing than humans, it seemed right to follow Kair’s focus. Francesca turned her gaze toward the sound at a similar moment, as if she had faintly sensed something magical.

“Wha, what…!”

A stunned Charnoy could barely speak.

As the atmosphere vibrated, the sound of a brass instrument echoed from afar. It was quite a long howl.

Joaquin, who had halted in mid-sentence, lifted his gaze toward the sky. With a smirk, he appeared to be waiting for some amusing spectacle.

At that moment, I suddenly had the illusion that my surroundings were growing dark.

Feeling something strange, I lifted my head.

And saw it.

Shimmering crystals. The gentle curve of a galaxy. Densely packed lights seeped through the gaps in the buildings and the mouseholes of the alley, illuminating the underground city.

A giant silver-bodied whale was flying through the air, letting out a long, mournful wail.

“…What is that?”

Kair and I stared blankly at the whale, and Francesca, arms crossed, seemed intrigued, while Charnoy was too stunned to process the scene.

It was the kind of scene you’d only see in a fantasy movie.

An underground city with a whale soaring through the sky.

“…Oh, it’s already starting!”

The ecstatic magician grinned brightly.

“Let’s go to the port! Before it gets too late!”

—

The names for the underground city founded by the exiled magician are many.

The most widely known name is indeed Necropolis. However, the true name of this underground city is,

“…the port!”

As we turned the corner, an endless expanse of sea unfolded before us.

The narrow gap between the cliff and the surface of the water, where light breaking through reflects off the gentle waves, intertwined with every corner of the city.

Beyond the boundary of underground and wave, there, indeed was a large, rolling sea.

“Let me introduce you, guys! ‘The Port of the Dead Whale!'”

Pointing with both arms, Joaquin raised his voice.

It resembled coastal caves seen off the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The calm waters rolled in between the cliffs, and far away, fishing boats stretched across the horizon, with giant whales entering the city.

The port of Necropolis and its official name, ‘The Port of the Dead Whale,’ revealed itself before us.

“I seem to remember it being called that above ground too, right? But in Necropolis, we always call it just the port, so I can’t remember… Hmm…. Ah, I don’t care! Ever since I came in here, I haven’t heard a thing from above….”

Scratching his head, Joaquin waved his hand dismissively and got back to the point.

“Anyway, where is this place? It’s the lifeline of Necropolis, the biggest trading port flowing with milk and honey!”

“Honey…? Does it really flow with honey…?”

Charnoy, who clung to the word ‘honey,’ began looking around. The beastman, observing the nymph, blushed and folded his ears back.

“Uhm…. I wish it was really flowing with milk and honey, but sadly, it’s just a metaphor.”

“Ahh…!”

Seeing Charnoy’s deflated expression, Joaquin chuckled. The now-focused magician wiped the tears that dangled from his eyes and, soon after, began to rub his hands together as he stared at the port.

No, rubbing hands is fine, but why the heck is your tongue flicking out, you maniac? Seriously, are you a lunatic…?

The four of us, along with the residents, stepped into the Port of the Dead Whale.

The moment we took a step, the scenery began to ripple, and the salty scent unique to the seaside mixed with the pungent smell of fish engulfed us.

“This is the fish market! A market dealing with fish, clams, shrimp, and such.”

Various-colored stalls lined up in rows. Bronze-skinned locals, appearing as merchants and customers, exchanged heated words with expressive gestures.

It seemed we had come during a prime time. The fish market was bustling with people.

The stench of fish assaulted our noses, surrounded by the clamor of voices. Hundreds of people were chattering away, each trying to get a word in.

“Keep going straight ahead, and you’ll see the port! That’s our destination!”

“With all these people, can’t we just go another way and meet up?!”

“There is!”

“Then let’s go over there! When are we going to get through this crowd just to reach the port!”

“No way! The pasta sold at the port on the delivery days is the cheapest!”

“…Why are you looking for your pasta here, you lunatic!”

Shouting at Joaquin, the realization struck me: Oh right, he followed us to go shopping.

Recalling Joaquin’s reason for venturing out, I cast a resentful glance towards Francesca. If only I had shot him earlier, we wouldn’t have to go through this ordeal. Of course, the pitiful gaze of a ‘temporary’ slave wouldn’t matter to a ‘not’ master. She coolly ignored me by pulling her cape down.

Making our way through the throngs, my eyes landed on the fish laid out at the stands. One was a common fish lying lifeless on a rusted iron plate, mouth agape as it died, while the other was an unusual fish entombed in ice inside a tank with a lock.

“That’s a Zaratan.”

Francesca murmured, staring at the fish in the tank.

“Huh? What’s a Zaratan?”

“A Zaratan. A whale that has algae growing on its body.”

A whale with algae growing on its body? It was such a fascinating creature, and as I observed it with interest, a shocking explanation followed.

“It’s a representative harmful creature that eats people.”

“Harmful creature? How could such a small whale be dangerous?”

“An adult Zaratan boasts the size of an island. It’s so massive that waves can’t cover its back. The Zaratan uses its size as a weapon, and there have been frequent reports of it mistaking vessels for prey and attacking them. By the way, that one is just a juvenile, so it’s small.”

Francesca spoke, taking a step ahead, while I stayed closely behind her.

By the way, I had to stay behind her in any situation, as it wouldn’t be polite for a slave to walk ahead of a magician. Those damned bourgeoisie…

“Wow… amazing. It’s astonishing that such a small thing can grow to be island-sized and eat people.”

“That’s not strange in the marine ecosystem. Still, the algae growing on them are used as high-grade potion ingredients, so there’s demand. But… from the looks of it, the algae has already been cut off, so it seems someone bought it.”

“Are there any other parts that can be traded?”

“Of course. Hearts, brains, organs, and bones. The heart of a sea creature is a necessary material for golems used at sea. If a necromancer wanted, they could study souls using the brain of a whale.”

So, everything boils down to money.

Perhaps because it was a region where the port was established, the scale of the fish market was enormous. No matter how I looked around, there were either people or seafood, and the road seemed endless.

“Kair…! Stop drooling and hurry up already!”

“Meow…!!”

As Kair, who was licking his tongue in front of the stalls, was pulled along by Charnoy, a local with money appeared, rushing toward the merchant.

With an incredibly urgent expression, he gestured as if he were a customer ready to make a purchase. Out of nowhere, he dashed in like a deer on a highway.

“Eh…?”

Just as I nearly collided with the young customer appearing right in front, Joaquin spun around, starting to twirl in one place. Moving swiftly, he avoided the customer with the grace of water, smiling widely while beseeching everyone for dizziness.

“Oh dear, I’m dying…! The world is spinning round and round….”

“Wow, there are so many people, Joaquín. Is it like this every day?”

Francesca, stepping out of the market, posed the question to Joaquín. Unlike the locals, who wore shabby casual clothes, she was dressed in quality fabric with a cape, making it clear she was a mage.

Perhaps because of this, although Joaquin frequently bumped into people, nobody approached Francesca. Thanks to that, I was able to walk comfortably.

“No! It’s not usually like this.”

“But why is it so crowded today?”

“Because goods are coming in.”

As Joaquin snapped back to his senses, he wiped his brow.

Rolling up his sleeves and brushing his forehead, his eyes sparkled with a slight hint of sharpness. It was a completely different demeanor from the one where he had been stoned in a small room.

“The Port of the Dead Whale is the only transportation network connecting Necropolis with the outside world. Small items are brought in by peddlers, but to bring in goods in container units, you have no choice but to use the shipping routes!”

And today was the day the goods were coming into the port.

“Do you see that whale?”

He pointed toward the sea. Right on cue, various whales of different sizes and types came swelling into the port. I could even spot the whale that had just flown up into the sky.

I intended to look for which whale he was referring to, but it was unnecessary.

The whale that Joaquin pointed out referred to all the whales that were currently entering.

“Those whales are raised by the Abyssal Devourer. They’re for cargo transport!”

“…Is that all?”

“Yep, all of them!”

Nodding, the magician seemed amused, crossing his arms.

“They say fortune always shines on the day of arrival. How is it that I came to meet those guys right when they appeared? And paradoxically, it also happens to fall on a day of arrivals. There’s even a festival going on.”

“…A festival?”

A festival in a city where exiled mages, cultists, smugglers, slaves, mercenaries, and others gather? That sounded like an odd combination of words.

Could it be human sacrifices, collective self-harm, witch hunts, orgies? Honestly, maybe not the last one, but human sacrifices sounded very plausible. After all, cultists were involved.

Even if the deity they believed in was different, those who draw Lucia’s blood could be considered cultists too.

If it’s a festival roamed by such beings…

“…….”

Noticing my suspicious gaze, Joaquin sheepishly chuckled and scratched the back of his head. With a casual wave of his hand, he began to offer excuses that weren’t really excuses.

“Just in case you’re thinking something strange, I’m telling you beforehand—it’s nothing weird! It’s just a festival! Think of it as a commemorative event. Like a harvest festival or something.”

“Who’s hosting it?”

“Huh? Last year it was the Draufnip Trading Company handling it. This year, it’s the Abyssal Devourer who’s taking charge.”

“So, the cultists are holding the festival?”

“Yep, you could say that.”

“…….”

“Hey- don’t worry. They are fine folks! Relax, relax.”

…Ah, yeah. Sure, I believe you.

—

Three humans, one beastman, and one nymph began walking down toward the port.

The queue leading to the port and the crowded throngs. Joaquin’s shoulders drooped as he saw the densely packed crowd.

“It’s a busy day since the whales are coming in. I probably should have come tomorrow?”

“…….”

Honestly, if it’s this crowded, wouldn’t it be okay to just fire a shot? Just let those stoners come back to their senses with some physical shots.

I whispered quietly in Francesca’s ear.

“Should we shoot, Mage?”

“Hold it.”

Whether it be injections or bullets, being gently shot wouldn’t hurt.

Joaquin explained that from here on, they would be personally seeking out the Abyssal Devourer. He mentioned having friends in the cult organization to buy items cheaply, alongside looking for people.

But this jerk was planning to shop even after receiving money.

I pondered whether I should snatch Kair’s rifle and hit this idiot across the head, but unfortunately, good opportunities always vanish just before they come.

“Here, here! Just come this way!”

As Joaquin illuminated the surroundings with a lamp, he spotted something.

Following that stoner magician, we arrived next to some storage buildings adjacent to the port. Seeing goblins with ropes tied around their waists hauling boxes into the whale’s mouth, Joaquin noticed a man and stopped humming to wave.

“Friend!”

“Goodman, you back?”

It was the Abyssal Devourer.

“It’s been a while! Did you finish your voyage and come back? If you’ve got some interesting stories, let’s hear them.”

“Of course. But who are these people?”

“Ah, my friends! They just recently came into the city.”

As Joaquin joyfully interacted with the cultist, he quickly transformed us into his friends. To be precise, he pointed to Francesca as a ‘friend from the Magic Tower’ and referred to me, Charnoy, and Kair as ‘people backed by that friend.’

It was an incredibly natural introduction.

“Our friend was recently exiled and had no place to go, so they ended up in Necropolis. I had told him to come visit anytime he was bored! But it seems he’s searching for someone.”

“Who is that someone?”

“Cultist.”

Francesca interrupted the conversation between the two. She aimed to speak with the Abyssal Devourer directly, replacing Joaquin.

However, the Abyssal Devourer seemed unresponsive to Francesca’s dialogue. Instead, he looked at her with an expression that seemed to say ‘What’s up with this chick?’

Even under the influence, Joaquin could still pick up on the feeling of the cultist and playfully grinned.

“Ah, sorry. She just arrived yesterday, and she’s not yet aware of the rules.”

Joaquin started to explain to Francesca that ‘among the cultists in Necropolis, there’s a rule against casually talking with strangers.’

Judging by the aggressive stares, it was likely because of the Inquisition or the Punishment Committee.

When Francesca promptly apologized and nodded her head slightly, the tense eyebrow of the cultist softened a bit.

“It’s not that she doesn’t know the rules. It’s just that you forgot to tell her.”

The cultist, easing up, playfully nudged Joaquin. Joaquin grinned and asked if he could help find the person.

A positive response came back.

“That’s possible. However, there’s a condition.”

‘What condition?’ Joaquin asked back.

Before revealing the person he was looking for, the Abyssal Devourer laid down one condition: he wanted to verify the identity of the magician.

“Identity verification? Where’s that coming from?”

Though Joaquin displayed a grimace, the cultist firmly shook his head. It was possibly due to fears of becoming entangled with the religious police.

Of course, the Abyssal Devourer didn’t actually suspect Francesca; it was simply a safety check against possible impostors trying to sneak into the city.

“Identity verification is nothing major. You just show your name and identification to compare faces.”

“Is that all?”

“Do you think we’ll just capture you and lock you up? Well, don’t take it too harshly. It’s just a precaution, considering that some worthless vermin try to sneak into this city disguised as exiles….”

It was definitely a level of identity verification that wouldn’t be hard to comply with. Francesca, tucked in as an exile, was well-prepared for it.

She had a genuine identification made with her true name, not through an illegal means. A proper ID issued by the Magic Tower.

Moreover, her appearance had been slightly modified using a magical tool, so the chances of her being exposed were almost nonexistent.

“I’ll go for it.”

Francesca readily agreed to the identity verification.

Joaquin tried to stop her, and I did too, but it was in vain. Her determination was steadfast. She felt she would never be found out.

However.

“…Oh?”

As is always the case with plans, something was bound to go awry and the word ‘never’ existed nowhere in this world.

“Isn’t that Lanieri over there?”