A Dark Fantasy Spy

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“Yes. What brings you here?”

“Lieutenant Pippin told me that the Major has woken up.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Why did you change your clothes?”

“I got some soot on them.”

“…Shall we take a walk for a bit?”

Episode 2 – Heroes of the Continent

Suddenly, Camila Lowell led me to the rooftop of the building.

It was a place where the city’s night view and the stars in the high sky could be seen.

She was dressed neatly while I was in drab military attire. She handed me a drink, and I politely accepted it and took a seat.

Thus, a civilian and a soldier sat facing each other on a rooftop bench.

“Are you feeling any better?”

“Yes. I’m feeling a bit better now….”

Camila Lowell nodded. Her scarlet hair flowed down below her shoulders with her movements, slightly covering her face. Her expression looked quite somber.

“I’m sorry to hear that you’re troubled by this incident.”

She didn’t reply.

As the Colonel said, when someone struggles far away, it becomes uncomfortable. But how would it feel to be caught in a bombing in another world?

“Are you not angry?”

“What?”

“I said, are you not angry? Usually, after going through something like this, people go blank and suddenly get angry. It’s like feeling unjust, right?”

“You seem used to it…. Major….”

I definitely was used to it. After all, this was a place where bombs could explode at any given moment. Of course, it was my first time experiencing a terror attack directly here.

“This is my first time experiencing this today as well.”

“But how can you remain so calm?”

“I’ve probably seen bombs explode several times in my past life.”

Camila Lowell sighed as she sipped her orange drink.

Her current demeanor was in stark contrast to the buoyant image she had during the official schedule. Only minor differences were noticeable—like the intensity of her tone, the pitch of her voice, the movements of her facial muscles, and the condition of her pupils. She seemed quite troubled.

“I heard there are guns here, but I didn’t expect there to be bombs as well.”

It seemed her mind was quite complex regarding this. Now that I think about it, I remember there were occasional terror attacks in Europe too. It seemed that Camila Lowell, having lived in England, was not accustomed to such terror.

Anyway, putting those thoughts aside for now, I had to check on the hero state.

“Why did you come to see me?”

“Just… just wanted to check if you were okay….”

“Luckily, I’m not hurt. I was far from the epicenter.”

“It seems you stumbled… what happened?”

Should I tell the truth or keep it hidden?

Given the dramatic situation at that time, I felt that if I lied, I would be caught immediately. So, I decided to spill the truth.

“I was attacked by a mysterious thug. I’m not injured, just surprised and stumbled when they rushed past.”

“I see. That’s a relief….”

Camila Lowell tried to hide her true feelings, being careful with her words and actions, but I was already seeing through her emotions.

She was feeling anxious right now.

I ran some calculations in my head. The benefits I would gain from her uplifting me, the advantages of being someone liked, the information I could gain through her, and the missions I was assigned.

After contemplating various factors, it seemed that gaining her favor would be helpful. But I didn’t know exactly what to say. I was someone who read and analyzed information, not someone who empathizes and comforts others. The haphazardly learned speaking skills didn’t help in this important moment.

Suddenly, she, who had been looking down at the ground, pointed at my chest.

“What’s this medal?”

What she was pointing at was indeed the medal.

“This? I received it when I was on the front lines.”

“For what reason?”

“Because I killed a lot of people.”

Of course, saying it that way would likely get me labeled a madman, so I wrapped it up more nicely.

“Just… they said I fought well.”

“You did a good thing. It’s patriotism, right? My father was also a soldier, so we had medals at home….”

I didn’t know that. I just learned that her father was a soldier and that there were medals at home. She seemed to be concealing a lot from me. I had to find out how to extract that information. While I was thinking that, she cast a sad glance and smiled.

“My dad always said that protecting the country is a good thing….”

I wasn’t sure.

Since I wasn’t someone who loved the kingdom, it was hard to admit I was a patriot.

And since I wasn’t loyal to the king, I wasn’t a loyal subject either.

The country I had devoted my life to and loved sincerely didn’t exist in this world.

Thus, I was neither a loyal subject nor a patriot, just an ambiguous person.

In the end, because I didn’t consider myself a patriot, all that came out was an ambiguous response that was neither a yes nor a no.

“I see.”

“Major.”

She called me in a sorrowful voice.

“…Am I really a hero?”

A deep sadness and an uncontrollable tremble spilled from her lips.

It didn’t seem like a simple question. So I couldn’t just answer it straightforwardly.

As she turned to me, urging for a response, I remained silent. I could not reply.

Looking into her blue eyes visible through her scarlet hair, I found no thought in my mind.

I could only make a sound that didn’t come from my heart, as if I were merely conveying a fact.

“Yes.”

*

“So that’s how it went.”

After completing the lengthy report, I quenched my thirst with the drink that Camila Lowell had given me earlier.

—’The hero’s concerns seem greater than expected.’

“After all, a bomb went off right in front of me. I won’t be able to sleep well for a while.”

I muttered self-deprecatingly while overlooking the city’s night view. The atmosphere in the city didn’t seem great, probably because of the terror attack.

—’Major, are you alright? You weren’t caught in it, were you?’

“I’m more psychologically shaken by the attack than by the bomb I almost fainted from.”

—’That’s indeed the case. According to reports, there were no casualties. Is that right?’

The casualties the Colonel referred to were not the civilians caught in the terror.

“There are no casualties. However, considering the state of my subordinates, I think it would be best for them to be excluded from duties and take a rest for a while.”

—’That’s your judgment as the on-site commander; I will accept it.’

“Thank you, Colonel.”

—’For now, I plan to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to clear the schedule for about three days. Relay that to the agents. And you should just rest without worrying about anything.’

“Is that really okay? We still need to hunt down the terrorists, check on Lucia’s movements, and meet with foreign ambassadors. There’s a lot to do. Isn’t there my original work too?”

A sigh came through the communication device. It seemed to be quite frustrated.

—’That’s something the other agents can handle.’

“Colonel, I’m not that brainless idiot who just collapses. Just let me work.”

This stubborn bastard is starting again. After a brief sigh of frustration, the Colonel fell silent.

“There are others who have ongoing duties. I don’t want to burden them by piling on even more.”

—’Why do you care about them? And it’s not just the deployed spies; there are fixed spies too. Is there any reason for you to step up?’

“It’s better to wear myself out than to be embarrassed for causing trouble. If I throw down work and return, won’t I get chewed out by my seniors? I also have to think about my knee joints.”

—’You’re still a stubborn idiot who doesn’t listen.’

“Can a person change so easily? Anyway, just let me return to work.”

It might seem a bit rude, but considering the effort I had put in while serving the Colonel for several years, this little tantrum seemed acceptable.

—’It’s your choice, so don’t say anything later. Tomorrow morning, gather the information related to the cult and send it over to me.’

“Thank you, Colonel.”

—’The election-related information hasn’t been analyzed yet, so I’ll only be sending over materials related to this terror incident.’

“Understood. I’ll pass it on to the Inquisition tomorrow.”

The Colonel fell into deep thought, letting out a rare silence.

—’Hmm? The Inquisition, huh? Their capability is indeed trustworthy. Do you have any other plans?’

“I could go to the Inquisition to deliver the information, or if that’s inconvenient, I can also give it to a Cardinal.”

—’Find Cardinal Raphael, not Cardinal Raul. That gentleman was the one who used to catch heretics.’

I didn’t know that for the first time.

That kindly old man next door used to burn some people back in the day? How fitting for a dark fantasy.

“Oh, and could I request one more thing?”

—’Speak up.’

“I’d like to send a few people who are proficient in psychology to the embassy.”

—’Psychological warfare agents, huh? Is it because of the hero and your subordinates? There are personnel who handle psychological warfare in that area. They’ll be sent to the embassy.’

“Thank you, Colonel!”

Though no one was watching, I bowed my head in gratitude. With a sigh, the connection was cut.

For now, all the urgent issues had been resolved.

Pippin, Jake, and Camila Lowell would stay at the embassy for counseling, and I could go out and take care of work.

“Hmm.”

The city’s night view was quite bright. Perhaps among the people moving between those lights, there might be a terrorist.

It was a pointless question, but no one had an answer.

This wasn’t a warm place that would feed you when you cried out from hunger. In this world, a thirsty person had to dig their own well.

The answer had to be found directly from now on.

*

“Hey, hey. It’s fine, just go inside quickly.”

A commotion was taking place in front of the embassy. The soldiers standing guard were looking at us with strange expressions.

“Major! Please don’t do this. Why do we have to hang around in the embassy!”

“Shut it! Don’t be so loud!”

A blond tanning punk in military attire started throwing a tantrum at the embassy door, similar to a kid who got dragged to the dentist because their mom promised to buy them some tonkatsu.

The stares piercing at my face made me feel embarrassed. What an international disgrace this was.

“Hey, you idiot. Just follow quietly.”

“Ah, ah, ah. Please don’t pull Pippin’s ears.”

“Shut up, you brat.”

Pippin was swearing under her breath as she dragged Jake inside. How terrifying. Being led by someone much smaller is a horrendous reality. Even Einstein would be flabbergasted at this.

While awkwardly greeting the soldiers in front of the embassy, at that moment, Camila Lowell, who had been silently observing the entire situation, quietly approached.

“Major.”

“Oh, Camila, what’s the matter?”

“I heard that all schedules were canceled this morning and you were supposed to rest in the embassy, but aren’t you going to take a break?”

“Yes. I have some work to do. I’ll be going out for a bit, so you should head inside and rest first.”

She tilted her head as if feeling uneasy and then entered the embassy.

Through the softly closing door, I saw her scarlet hair swaying left and right, exchanging glances with some suspicious suit men who were following her.

I stood there staring blankly at the closed door, feeling the texture of the paper in my pocket, and then turned to leave.

It was time to get to work now.

“Excuse me, Sir Knight.”

“Yes, what can I do for you?”

“Where is the Inquisition located?”