A Dark Fantasy Spy

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If turning clothes upside down with a ridiculous interrogation method is a diplomat’s talent, then there’s no one in the world who could outdo Older Sister Adela in that regard.

She shoved the grand law of the wild, known as self-preservation, at me.

“What should I do…?”

“Aah, I don’t know. You figure it out.”

“Don’t say that, Sis….”

Older Sister Adela, who plugged her ears as if she couldn’t hear anything, completely ignored my desperate plea.

No matter what happens, it meant I was to handle it all myself, and the warning to act as if I were dead when I came home after a sleepless night was just an added bonus.

“This is why you shouldn’t associate with diplomats.”

“What are you babbling about, you spy? Anyway, I’m leaving. Just make sure you come home early.”

I despairingly tugged at my hair.

But what could I do?

Meeting Saint Veronica was purely my choice.

Since I chose to meet her, I had to bear that responsibility. The same went for cleaning up after it.

After my sister had coldly bolted from the scene, I sat alone at the table, grumbling like a petty person for over ten minutes.

“…Oh my?”

The returned saint gasped, covering her mouth as she looked around at the empty seats in surprise.

“Where did your sister go? I don’t think I got to say hello.”

“…She left first. She said she had something busy to do.”

“It seems I invited a busy public servant and inconvenienced them. What should I do? Should I pay a visit later?”

A smile full of feigned embarrassment hung on her lips. Her voice was intentionally apologetic, but the corners of her eyes were mischievously curled up.

That smirking look represented the saint’s true inner thoughts, which contradicted her words.

“By the way….”

Saint Veronica, seated across from me, wore a smile.

“It’s just the two of us?”

As always,

It was indeed a very alluring smile.

—

Episode 21 – The Peace of Our Era

—

Though the atmosphere seemed like something was about to go awry at any moment, Veronica’s demeanor was absolutely composed.

Just a moment ago, she had been clinging tightly, but now she had flipped her attitude as easily as turning over her palm.

“I had something urgent to discuss, so this works out well.”

“What’s that? Is it because my sister left?”

Without hesitation, Veronica agreed.

“Yes. I hoped it wouldn’t get into anyone else’s ears.”

“Why did you send my older sister away to say something? I’m the one who got the short end of the stick.”

“Sending her away is a bit off… let’s just say your sister couldn’t handle the charm of an adult.”

Who exactly is the adult here?

I could only stare at her while drinking water, utterly baffled.

“You played a prank because you wanted to talk? I can’t believe it.”

“What part is unbelievable?”

“No! What are we supposed to do in front of family like this? What about my dignity….”

It was a complaint laced with a somewhat aggrieved feeling.

Shouldn’t we only pull pranks when we’re alone?

As I lamented my unjust plight, Veronica leaned toward the table with a smile. Then she responded with a mischievous laugh.

“What’s wrong with that? It’s like you got a sneak preview of something you’ll see in the future.”

That was a remark that made me want to grab the back of my neck.

I drank the alcohol; why is that girl the one causing a ruckus? It was a mystery to me.

In the restaurant with just the two of us, Veronica, appearing relieved, continued speaking.

“Anyway, let’s get to the main point.”

With a thud, she set down her glass and locked her hands together with an indifferent look in her eyes.

“There’s a request from the National Affairs Council. An unofficial request.”

—

The National Affairs Council is the central power structure within the Cult, similar to a cabinet in a typical state.

Like any cabinet, the Cult’s National Affairs Council consists of various administrative agencies and appointed civil servants, including ministers and deputy ministers. Furthermore, everyone working in those departments, including ministers, serves as priests, holding both religious and bureaucratic roles.

In essence, it acts as the control tower governing the Cult, alongside the Mediuth Cathedral (which houses the Pope’s residence and office).

“Hmmm….”

A request has come from that National Affairs Council.

“You said it was an unofficial request.”

“Yes. To be specific, it’s kind of off the record.”

Off the record—this term means when a source asks a journalist not to use the information in a report. Although it’s commonly used in journalism, it can also appear along with terms like embargo, which prohibits reporting until a specific time.

In the realm of information officers, “off the record” often takes on a slightly different meaning. It can mean “a personal favor” or “prohibition of agency-level interference.”

To extend it further, it can also imply “designated referrals.”

In other words,

“…You want me to handle this?”

I pointed to myself and asked again, and the saint reaffirmed.

“It’s not an official request. The Holy See is formally unrelated to you, Colonel, and you’re a foreigner publicly unconnected to the Holy See. This matter is the same. The National Affairs Council wants you to keep that in mind.”

That was a message to not establish any connections. In precise terms, they wanted me not to give any hint that the Holy See had requested me.

A foreigner with Abas nationality and the National Affairs Council of the Holy Land Lateran.

Perfect strangers without any links whatsoever.

While handling the requested task, the request from the saint was for me to remain that perfect stranger at all costs.

Coincidentally, that was my area of expertise.

Creating plausible denials to cut ties with the home country was a specialty of an information officer.

“What about the company?”

“We’re not involving them. The Medius Cathedral won’t allow external interference, whether direct or indirect. Especially since the owner of the Holy See is a former Inquisition Director, we need to tread carefully here.”

“Do it solo?”

“If possible.”

The saint nodded. Having assumed the role of a messenger sent by the Cult, she added plainly.

“However, even the National Affairs Council won’t be able to provide you help at all. Convenience may be given to a certain level, but once you go beyond that line….”

It’d become impossible to remain a perfect stranger.

The National Affairs Council and the foreign individual with Abas nationality must be rigorously separated, and the Cult cannot be an exception.

So if it were merely a ‘favor’ to assist so as not to contravene the status of ‘the companion designated by the oracle,’ that would be fine.

But they could not provide assistance beyond that point.

That was the stance held by the National Affairs Council.

I began rhythmically tapping the table and bouncing my fingers.

“…….”

The fact that a high-ranking priest, rather than just any priest or monk, had come directly to deliver this was already indicative that the Cult’s ‘unofficial request’ was something serious.

It was significant that the holy maiden, not a cardinal or bishop, had come to relay this. Sending the holy maiden could be interpreted to mean they couldn’t assign just any clergy to act as a messenger.

The saint’s arrival, the unofficial request, a trustworthy messenger, confidentiality…

Combining these words, I reached one conclusion.

After my fingers stopped, I asked a question.

“Is that request related to the recent discussions regarding the resolution of past issues and the claims for compensation from the Cult?”

“…….”

The saint didn’t respond, merely wearing a strange smile.

At this, I leaned forward, shaking my fingers and spoke firmly.

“I’m just checking here, but… if this involves sabotage or propaganda, or collapsing the rival faction, that’d be a big no for me. I can’t do that, no matter what.”

“Could you please stop with those ridiculous assumptions? The National Affairs Council isn’t the type to assign that sort of mess to you.”

Veronica, crossing her arms and resting her legs, chewed on some asparagus and added her point.

“Seeing you work twice as hard when everyone else is resting makes me wonder if you’re just going to work yourself to death. But it’s not a gang of thugs, you know?”

“No, come on, you skip mass and say anything you want to the public servants—no, let’s drop that. I just made a mistake, so can we put the knife down for now…?”

At that moment, the saint couldn’t help but taunt me. She pointed that ‘shut up’ knife at me, so the public servant, not wanting to be cut up instead of steak, assumed a devout posture of humility.

“Hmph!”

Throwing the meat knife onto her plate, the saint reclined back in her chair. The public servant cautiously observed her before continuing to the main point.

“Thank goodness the request isn’t too rough. So what does the National Affairs Council want to entrust?”

“Persuasion. To be more direct, lobbying.”

Lobbying? Isn’t that Veronica’s area of expertise?

I couldn’t hide my confusion.

“If it’s to sway the opposing faction, there should be suitable candidates within the Cult.”

Even a reformist high priest would likely have connections with conservative priests, and when you put it like that, wouldn’t it be better for someone from the Cult to handle the negotiations instead of a foreigner like me?

To summarize my argument, that was how it went.

And as it turned out, Veronica nodded in agreement with a steady acknowledgment.

“That’s right. If it were about persuading the regular cardinals or bishops, it’d be a matter we can resolve internally.”

“But the person we need to persuade isn’t a regular clergy member?”

“Correct.”

The saint responded without the slightest hesitation.

The clergy member that was hard to persuade even within the Cult, a stickler for his beliefs.

At least among the clergy I knew closely, there was only one person who fit that criterion perfectly.

The first saint born in the history of the Cult.

The first saint, Lucia, was finally mentioned by Veronica.

“I believe you need to persuade our Lucia.”

—

“Persuade Lucia.”

After receiving the off-the-record request from the National Affairs Council, the first question that came to my mind was this.

Why me of all people?

The saint’s answer was simple.

‘The question is wrong. Rather than “why you?” it should be “why must it be you?” That’s the crux of the issue.’

Veronica explained that it could only be me who had the ability to persuade Lucia.

‘How can there be no one to persuade the saint, who is a saint within the Cult? This is quite an odd point, Saint.’

‘There’s no need for confusion. We tried ourselves and realized it was impossible, so we’re reaching out to you.’

‘Does “we” include you as well?’

‘Yes.’

To be frank, that didn’t inspire much confidence. It implied a lack of persuasive ability.

You’re saying Lucia, who trusts and follows her fellow clergy, couldn’t be persuaded? And that’s why the National Affairs Council is calling in a foreigner? Does that even make any sense?

However, Veronica swore it was nothing but the truth and added that it wasn’t a lie. Perhaps due to her history of stealing holy relics from the cathedral, her explanation was surprisingly convincing.

Of course, I didn’t outright distrust her explanation.

I just found it so absurd to think Veronica couldn’t persuade Lucia that I brushed it off.

‘…Ah! If you don’t believe me enough, why not just go see for yourself!’

What kind of relationship do we have that you’re treating me like a con artist? Apparently, Veronica got quite offended.

In the end, I was left without options and had no choice but to follow her into Lateran.

“What on earth are you planning to do by sulking over something like this? Ugh….”

“Who told you to treat women poorly?”

“When did I treat her poorly?”

“Hmph!”

Regardless, having accepted the request, I needed to do it right. It’s not like I was doing this for free either.

After combining the documents shared by Sophia from the National Security Agency, the Military Intelligence Agency, the Royal Intelligence Department, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and leading media outlets that reported on it,

To put it frankly, I thought it didn’t seem like a big deal.

Even if Lucia was stubborn, how serious could it be? Since the Cult’s meetings are mostly held in secrecy, both the information agencies and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs couldn’t thoroughly collect the murmurs and the details circulating within.

However, from the occasional external intel leaks, it seemed there were sharp divides in opinions, but the atmosphere among both sides didn’t appear to be too terrible. In fact, a bishop who attended the meeting testified that the atmosphere was quite peaceful.

Thus, I figured the Cult was just overreacting out of fear of massive compensation claims.

That was my conclusion.

…So,

“Esteemed brothers, bishops, and cardinals. I find it unacceptable that you have failed to reach any agreement for over a week since you gathered here.”

“Why is it that, only when I walk through this door, do you all gather here squabbling like cockroaches instead of reaching any consensus?”

“This is an innocent punishment being sent by the voiceless victims who have been aghast at the terrible morality of the clergy that our church has rationalized for the past millennium and has ignored….”

“So I, as a priest with the greatest and holiest mission, will humbly suggest that each one of you come forward and take your turns to experience this.”

“I’m asking you to ‘prostrate yourselves’ in this manner.”

—

Until I met Lucia, who was persuading the elderly priests while wielding a mace from the podium.