NOVEL WEB Chapter 536
The first experience is accompanied by tension and excitement.
What if I mess things up, or become a burden to the team?
Even as various worries creep in, the moment I recall the results and achievements, and that I’ve been entrusted with a proper mission—
My heart lifts as if I’ve coated a rusting, squeaky machine with oil.
[Passengers, we… We are currently entering the airspace of …]
The brief announcement jolts my drowsy mind awake.
As I roll my bleary eyes, fluttering fabrics of various colors fill the hazy world around me.
An Arab woman, who had been blissfully immersed in movies for six hours with her AirPods in, glances at me momentarily before impassively adjusting her hijab.
Seeing such an exotic yet familiar sight finally makes it feel real.
I have finally arrived.
In the dawn before the sun even rises, the Emirates flight touches down on the runway.
“…….”
A modest suitcase and dozing airport staff. In my rush to depart, I didn’t even have time to pick up the one-month tourist visa graciously offered by a kind employee.
After placing the passport with the clear entry stamp safely away, I swap out the SIM card and start dialing the number.
-‘Hello?’
“I’ve arrived. I’m at Khomeini International Airport now.”
Already?
The colleague from the Tehran branch seems a bit surprised and returns the inquiry.
“I just left Abu Dhabi. I had some business there.”
I take a drag from my cigarette to relax.
Gray smoke curls into the calm of early dawn in this foreign world, a land bearing a vague fear due to nuclear development and international isolation.
Of course, that’s just the image; it wasn’t as underdeveloped as I had imagined.
Ordering an Uber through the smartphone that the company provided, I search for the subway to the branch office while asking my colleague.
“It’ll probably take about two hours to the address. How’s it going there?”
-‘Don’t even mention it…’
My colleague lets out a bitter laugh.
-‘Do you know how many people left the branch? Everyone from senior staff to the lower agents has been completely replaced.’
“So I came here to fill the gaps.”
-‘Thanks for that, but no matter how I think about it, it feels like pouring water into a bottomless pit. No matter how many teams come, it won’t be solved.’
Thump. Just like that, the topic shifts.
After crushing the cigarette butt underfoot, I mutter my question—what is it I need to do?
“So, what’s the conclusion?”
—
Side Episode – Normalization
—
I’m living the life of a state-employed first-class agent (or as the locals would say, Information Officer, Information Agent, Spy) for the second time, but I still think this is ridiculous.
No matter how much of a civil servant I am, I’m still human. I have my own hobbies and tastes, so it’s only natural I’d have preferences.
But this is just too far.
“Why on earth are you wearing such a sulky expression?”
“Why do I have to go there…?”
Just then, while I was dawdling with a sullen look, the bewildered gaze of Camila passing by landed on me.
She seemed to have indulged in every dessert the Duke had provided at the hotel, her cheeks now adorably round—though I think ‘chubby’ is more accurate. The moment I voice that thought, even the Duke might find it hard to guarantee my safety.
“Oh my. Are you a person who works in the Information Agency complaining about not being able to travel abroad?”
Complaining? How can you say something so hurtful?
“No, the place we’re going to isn’t just your average spot.”
“That’s true. If you think about it, Iran? That area competes with strict Middle Eastern countries, doesn’t it?”
“Exactly!”
Frustrated, I hissed, feeling vindicated as I raised my voice.
“Why does your master suggest going to such a place at his ripe old age? It’s infuriating!”
Right after our train trip went awry, the Duke, helping maintain order in the Jamria Federation and neighboring nations, rushed over upon hearing about Camila.
Even gulping down expensive long-range teleportation magic that the Kien Empire army only uses during large-scale training exercises, no less.
Originally, long-distance teleportation magic is only utilized in wartime, and the number of armies deployed during training, including the imperial army, counts on one hand—one can see just how devoted Duke Alexandra Petrovna is to her disciples.
Though she has tormented the Imperial Navy’s pride, the airship, claiming it was a ‘flying cruise ship’ to play along with Francesca and other descendants of Archmages.
It’s not too bizarre that she uses excessive teleportation magic just to meet Camila.
Maybe.
(??? : No! Our fleet’s flagship…! / ??? : That was magic we planned to use for training next year, and now it’s ruined;;;)
Anyway, the Duke’s affection for Camila runs deep.
The problem lies in the country she plans to visit us with.
“It’s a place known for strictly enforcing the law, where the religious police crack down on foreign tourists. Plus, it’s the homeland of Al-Yabd—taking Lucia there seems completely absurd!”
The country the Duke intended to take us to was a version of Iran in this neck of the woods.
The problem isn’t that it’s a lesser version of Iran; it’s the superior model.
In other words—
The Iran of the 2020s, where bullets rain down on anti-government protesters,
The Iran battling Iraq in the 1980s,
And the Iran of the 2000s, where nuclear development accusations swirled amid insults tossed back and forth concerning the “Axis of Evil” and the “Great Satan.”
This is the ‘real deal.’
Because of these issues, I firmly opposed going there, yet the Duke remained adamant that there would be no problem.
“The professor assures safety? Apparently, it’s possible because Kien Empire has good diplomatic relations with them.”
“Yeah, but you know how many countries are friendly with their local government, right?”
“Well, I know that, but…”
Camila, twisting her hair with her fingers, dropped her gaze.
“It’s true I’m worried, but at least it’s not as closed-off as North Korea or Eritrea. It doesn’t seem like there’s much to worry about. Especially since the professor will be accompanying us. You know how capable our professor is, right?”
“Do you really think the Duke can ensure safety?”
“Yes, I think so, and the experts share the same opinion.”
“Which experts?”
“Diplomats. I’ve consulted multiple embassies, and they said that’s probably sufficient. Although I worry about Lucia, as long as the professor guarantees her identity, they mentioned that as long as she’s not a citizen of an enemy nation, there wouldn’t be any significant issues during a short stay.”
That was truly relieving news. At least I knew our group would be safe.
However,
“But I’m a citizen of that enemy country, and a civil servant.”
“…Ah.”
In that moment, Camila’s expression twisted into one of realization.
She became flustered, pondering for a while on what to do. After some time of fretting, her blue eyes brightened as if a good idea struck her. Camila raised her finger with a clear gaze.
Then she began presenting the solution she had thought up in a cheerful voice.
“Let’s look at this positively! After all, I was a spy who would end up in prison if found out; just visiting an enemy country shouldn’t be too catastrophic, should it?”
“…….”
“Let’s just think of it as work normalization. The important thing is that my career gets a boost, right?”
As soon as her words finished, I shrugged off my stiff shoulders and got into position.
Moments later.
“…Kyaaaaah—! Help! Is anyone there?! Help!”
The sight that the Archmage, rushing in response to her disciple’s scream, encountered was of the disciple sprawled on the floor while the civil servant twisted her leg behind her.
A surreal scene that spoke to the insanity of the situation.
—
To avoid going to a country so much like Iran, I twisted my body with all my might.
Of course, as Camila said, I wasn’t simply terrified into opposing the trip; I had my rational reservations.
Setting aside the fact that it’s an enemy country, I haven’t been the luckiest lately.
It seems like the moment I arrive in a new area, trouble just follows. What kind of storm might I get caught in if I head to an enemy nation where incidents happen with even greater frequency?
With that resolve, I was determined to spend my vacation safely. To be precise, I asked the Military Intelligence Agency for support.
The response I received was exceedingly simple.
[Normal Approval.]
“Ah….”
I slumped over the communications desk at the embassy, despairing.
The crumpled document didn’t even need to be fed through the shredder; it was ripped to shreds and tossed into the trash bin.
Tears or sweat flowed down my cheeks indistinguishably. After tearing up a resignation letter with the words “Fire me you bastards,” I secretly celebrated with illicit spirits.
“Normalization my ass….”
—
Side Episode – Normalization – END –