A Dark Fantasy Spy

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The hero appointment ceremony has concluded.

Camila Lowell has become the hero recognized by the continent’s largest religion.

Now, she has shed her trophy status and is able to engage in normal activities.

In an age where swords and bows are declining and bullets fly through the air, what exactly can a hero, magician, or shaman do?

– Kaaakkk-!

A monster with a bullet lodged in its eye began to thrash about. Its tough skin meant the pistol bullets barely even dented it. Seeing it still intact after taking a shot to the eye, it was clear it had a giant head, like a damn monster itself.

At three o’clock, a monster with dark blue skin charged forward with a hefty physique.

“Hey! Three o’clock! Three o’clock!”

As I directed fire while indicating the position, a bright red flame erupted from Camila Lowell’s hand.

– Fwooosh~!

“That’s awesome!”

“Whoa, it’s burning like crazy!”

Looking at the monster transformed into firewood, Camila Lowell and I high-fived.

Even at this moment, where an emotionless machine dominates the battlefield, the reason people of this kind can still shine is because they are all useful.

—

Episode 3 – A Fantastic Holiday

“Thank you for your hard work!”

“You too, hero.”

“Thanks!”

As Camila Lowell bowed and expressed her gratitude to the knights in armor, the stoic expressions of the armored men softened.

“Colonel, shall we just mark the location?”

“Uh, the cult will handle the bodies.”

“Got it.”

Jake installed a beacon near the thoroughly cooked monster. It’s a sort of GPS based on magical waves. To put it simply, it’s just a beacon to indicate location. It has no other function whatsoever.

“Alright! Let’s move to the next location!”

Just after finishing the installation of the signal, a priest began leading the way. So we slowly moved forward in line, leaving the corpses behind.

—

Camila Lowell was officially recognized as a hero.

Today, we began her journey by hunting monsters alongside her.

It’s a kind of debut match, an event to showcase the hero’s abilities.

The location was a no man’s land situated between the cult and the kingdom. It was held in an area occupied by outcasts and monsters—an aptly described lawless zone, where the state’s administrative power does not reach.

Shortly after summoning her as a hero, confidential information regarding Camila Lowell, such as detailed personal information and abilities, was classified and conveyed only to the heads of each nation.

Now, as long as one can check the news or newspapers, they could roughly know what abilities she possesses.

“In other words, the secrets have been lifted.”

“Still, not everything is disclosed, right?”

Of course, not all information was made public. As is the case with all confidential matters, only fragmented information is released.

“As her colleague, I didn’t know anything about her abilities either.”

“National secrets aren’t that easily divulged.”

“True.”

The reason Camila Lowell’s information regarding her abilities is classified is to protect her from the demon tribes and terrorists.

Many would wonder what can be done with mere information on her powers, but—

“If you know her abilities, it’s easier to counter her.”

The mere leak of such information could be fatal.

It’s similar to how modern states tightly conceal the precise capabilities of their missiles, tanks, and aircraft. If tank armor specifications leaked, it would be obvious for enemy states to develop new ammunition against it.

That’s why sometimes the news reports of defense research institutes being hacked or military secrets leaking occur.

Information is national power; knowledge is strength.

There’s a reason why information agencies receive funding.

“Hey, did you see that fire earlier? Its performance was killer.”

“It took down three monsters the size of a house all at once.”

“Exactly, it was amazing.”

Camila Lowell has been identified as a fire user.

Pyromancer, fire manipulation, flame sorceress, any label would fit.

Witnessing the flame that instantly incinerated a dog the size of a small car, several priests were taken aback.

“Hero’s skills are definitely impressive. It’s on par with skilled wizards.”

“Definitely, her growth rate is exceptional for a beginner.”

“Most heroes grow quickly.”

The term hero carries significant meaning.

To put it bluntly, it’s akin to a rookie in their first day of weapon handling showcasing shooting skills comparable to an elite sergeant trained in the army.

The abilities, as well as their growth rates and potential limits, are entirely different.

However, there’s one big issue.

“Camila Lowell, is she back to her senses?”

“No, not yet.”

“Ugh.”

She tends to faint while using her abilities.

—

In a world where swords and arrows have become obsolete, there’s a reason why wizards still operate in the battlefield.

To compare, just as tanks remain active despite anti-tank missiles and attack helicopters, here, wizards respond as wizards.

It’s not as if these soldiers are simple-minded; they’ve established military systems based on their combat experiences.

After all, magic is incredibly convenient and effective.

Immediately, countries spending on defense have research institutes that specialize in military magic.

They are similar to the Defense Science Research Institute, the U.S. Army Advanced Research Projects Agency, or the U.S. Defense Science Research Institute.

The fact is, research and development tend to be very costly, so even if a research institute exists, it often struggles to function well.

Technology leaks and researcher poaching are not optional but standard, and document theft happens often at military research institutes. One of the duties of information agencies is to manage such confidential facilities and human resources.

Smart people generally don’t work as civil servants; they work as researchers in corporations.

In any case, magic is a remarkably useful discipline. And the place that monopolizes it is the Magic Tower.

Given that several wizards sent by the Imperial Guard HQ were dishonored by the Magic Tower last time, it shows that they take security very seriously.

“Is anyone there?”

Upon entering, I saw Camila Lowell on a sick bed and Lucia, who was nursing her.

“Welcome, Colonel.”

“How long have you been here?”

“I think it’s been about an hour.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

I pulled a chair and sat next to the sickbed.

Camila Lowell lost consciousness intermittently while using her powers, and she collapsed during the eighth attempt.

Even after a cardinal-ranked healing priest poured spells over her in case of an emergency, she didn’t awaken. After being transported to the hospital for a thorough examination, they concluded that there was no issue with her health, but the cause of her fainting remains unknown.

What on earth could this situation mean?

“Lucia, do you know anything about it?”

“About fainting?”

“Yes.”

Lucia has experience as a healing priest. Having roamed the battlefield for two years, she may have had similar experiences.

With her blonde hair cascading down, she pondered thoughtfully.

“I’m not sure, but it’s not uncommon for wizards to exhaust themselves and faint.”

“Exhaustion? Ah, from expending all their magic power.”

“Yes.”

In games, using skills only depletes a set amount of magic. But this is reality.

It’s akin to getting a cramp while running or dropping something heavy after tiring out.

Sometimes, inexperienced mages push themselves too hard and succumb in battle.

Even seasoned wizards occasionally make mistakes; after all, everyone has off days.

“Then should we consider it magic exhaustion?”

Upon my question, Lucia slightly frowned.

“That’s something I can’t say for sure as I’m not a wizard.”

“I see.”

As a note, the cult and the Magic Tower do not have a good relationship.

Historically, in times when magic wasn’t systematically organized, many were executed as witches or demons.

So there were instances of conflicts with disgruntled wizards, and eventually, as magic became a formal discipline, the Magic Tower was established. Coincidentally, during this time, public servant jobs related to magic also emerged.

In any case, this seems like something to consult with a wizard about.

Her abilities seem closely related to magic.

Lost in thought in silence, Lucia’s voice broke the stillness.

“I hear you are returning to the kingdom soon?”

“Yes. Being a soldier, I need to report back and also get a check-up.”

“Is your health okay?”

“I’m fine after receiving a heal.”

After being tested for poisoning, they found no issues. I was worried if anything had gone wrong, but since Veronica is a healing priest above the cardinal rank, my health was confirmed to be fine.

Just as I grabbed the doorknob to leave after saying to contact me when Camila Lowell wakes up, Lucia spoke up.

“By the way, what will happen to the monster corpses?”

“I heard the byproducts were purchased by businesspeople.”

“Oh, I kind of wanted to take some blood.”

Here, monster blood is often used in remedies.

Not just regular antibiotics or cold medicine, but something processed with magic. Should it be called a potion?

The byproducts from monsters are so diverse in application that it’s hard to pinpoint specific uses. There’s everything from useless bits to aphrodisiacs, paint, and even tonics.

I’m not well-versed in the scientific aspect.

I encountered a few monsters during military operations in the no man’s land, and capturing them is extremely difficult. The resilience is overwhelming, not to mention the numbers. Just where do they breed?

With a minuscule chance, some manage to breach boundaries and reach towns or cities, and then it’s disaster.

It would be like a buffet exclusively for monsters. Meanwhile, the unit that failed to maintain guards gets engulfed in bloodshed.

If it’s a city where a wizard is present, then everyone should simply call for military support and flee.

To prevent such disasters, there are frequent bounties, outsourcing to freelance wizards or adventurers. Despite the term “adventurer,” most are essentially daily workers scraping a living with swords.

Thus, for various reasons, the military forcibly recruits individuals with high magical aptitude. Most enter as sergeants. As a note, our mandatory service period is around five years.

Naturally, there are plenty of those who try to avoid military service filling the barracks. The military police are always patrolling to catch them. I’ve seen them running through entertainment districts with clubs in hand; it’s quite a sight.

Often, they haven’t been trained systematically in magic, leading to cases where magic erupts during resistance. In such cases, casualties are inevitable, and the magic users are executed.

Even so, those on the run are essentially walking bombs.

“I’m off now.”

“Take care.”

—

After a few days, I returned to the embassy and took a rest.

While packing my belongings and tidying up my room for my return, I heard a knock.

“Are you packing your things?”

“Information Analyst?”

The information analyst has arrived.

So, an analyst.

“Why are you here?”

“I’m here to convey a simple message.”

“Ah, yes. Please go ahead.”

I offered a chair, but he declined and got straight to the point.

“Upon your return, your subordinates, specifically Lieutenant Pippin and Lieutenant Jake, will be granted an overall leave.”

“Oh, that’s great news. How long will it be?”

“I believe it’s for a week.”

That’s surprisingly generous.

Jake has a home near the capital, and Pippin was planning to hang out with friends in the capital.

I mentioned it to the Colonel, and it’s being handled swiftly.

“And the hero will also be taking a brief rest.”

“Oh, is it because of her fainting?”

“Please maintain security.”

“I’m sorry.”

The incident where Camila Lowell fainted while using her powers has been classified.

Though the Colonel briefly mentioned it, he seemed to lack insight into why she fainted.

Word has been submitted to the research institute; have they produced results in just two months?

“For now, the hero must undergo a formal examination upon returning. Approximately two days should be expected.”

“Then am I in charge of protection?”

“No, the Colonel has other engagements planned.”

What could this mean?

As I was cocking my head in confusion, the information analyst spoke in a low voice.

“You have to attend a debriefing.”

“Oh.”

I had completely forgotten about the report.

Now understanding, I nodded.

“Is there anything else on the agenda?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Pardon?”

“They say they will convey it directly upon your return.”

It seems the Colonel has tasks lined up for me.