Illusion Sword Master

＜The Inspector Watches Over (4)﹥

Inside the 8th Regiment. Now, my former middle-grade officer, Belmont’s office.

I sent my accompanying inspectors away, telling them to take a break, and spent some quality time with my old comrades.

“Here. I heard you’re coming to the western front, so I prepared this.”

Belmont placed thick documents on the table, detailing the corruption and malpractice within the 6th Corps.

As an inspector, I felt a dark power in my hands, like a death sentence. Belmont seemed a bit intimidated.

“Wow… You’ve recorded everything in detail. Did you really investigate other commanders?”

“I was stuck in the background, and my promotion was delayed… But I didn’t need to investigate much. The officers here are rotten to the core, and the corruption is rampant.”

As the saying goes, a soldier’s smoking habits are proportional to their rank. Belmont lit a cigarette and spoke.

“The commander-in-chief is good at fighting, but terrible at managing people and politics. While he’s busy dealing with the visible problems, the internal corruption festers.”

I nodded in agreement. That’s why they assigned me to this inspector duty.

“I can’t just leave the military like this. With corrupt commanders like these, I need to take care of them before I can leave peacefully. So…”

Belmont’s nervous tone changed to a sly smile as he grasped my hand.

“Please, take care of it. Get rid of all the rotten officers, and I’ll make sure to take care of the Jeffer family connections. We’ll rise to the top together, won’t we?”

I sensed the desperation of an officer who had been ostracized and overlooked for promotion due to his family background.

“I’ll do what I can. But when did you connect with the Jeffer family?”

“I was introduced to Sara, and we became acquaintances, but I haven’t established a strong connection yet. So, please help me out. You’re not exactly on bad terms with the Jeffer family’s young lady, are you?”

“…Why do you think that?”

“Sara said she’d help you, and rumors are spreading that she jumped into the fray on your behalf. You’re lucky. You have a good family background, a pretty face, and you’re skilled in magic. You’re even devoted…”

Belmont genuinely envied me, but I felt uneasy.

“What’s wrong? Your expression… Did something happen again? Ah, it’s no wonder. You’re going to be a difficult person to deal with.”

I sighed in response.

To be honest, I didn’t have romantic feelings for Sara, but I did develop strong camaraderie with her during the previous incident.

The problem was the aftermath.

After the fierce battle in the 13th Regiment, Sara left for the Jeffer family before I woke up. To be exact, she was taken away by people sent by the Jeffer Duke.

The fact that his daughter almost died trying to help an outsider was a huge trigger for the power-hungry, sociopathic Duke.

[You were told not to put Sara in danger, but you ignored my warning. You almost made me lose one of my most valuable assets.]

[Sara also disobeyed my orders and went to save you. She’s forgotten what she owes me.]

[I’ve locked her up in the family’s punishment room. If you want to appease my anger, bring me something that will benefit the Jeffer family.]

I had to endure the Jeffer Duke’s relentless threats even before I fully recovered from my injuries.

Not only was the Duke one of the highest-ranking officials in the empire and a renowned magician, but my concern for Sara’s safety also made me uncomfortable.

She’s the one who has been trying to gain a foothold within the family by studying magic and living a life of luxury.

Not only did Father’s disapproval fall upon her, but her freedom was also restricted, so it’s no wonder she’s feeling suffocated.

“It’s as if it’s all my fault, and my heart is uneasy.”

Is this the kind of worry a noble daughter should have?

My nose is twitching.

“The Empire’s glory! We’ve completed the 8th Division’s inspection and returned.”

Before long, Bellam and Olek returned with the special task force members.

“You must have had a hard time. How was it when you looked back?”

“Yes. We were told to take it easy, so we did, but it seemed unnecessary. This is the first time I’ve seen a unit managed so well.”

Bellam, who had been poking fun at other units’ weaknesses, revealed a subtle sense of disappointment.

“People like me, without a solid backing, need to be extra cautious.”

Bellmont responded with a smirk. In reality, his capabilities were something I could vouch for.

“Then, let’s wrap up the inspection work here.”

We’ve received reports from other unit commanders, and there’s nothing more to do in the 8th Division.

“Huh? Are you leaving already?”

I smiled wryly at Bellmont, who looked disappointed.

“No. I’ll rest for half a day and then leave. The 8th Division won’t just let us off the hook, so I need to make a show of being thorough, or there might be consequences later.”

“Hey, what kind of guy would dare to question Inspector Edan’s judgment? If our inspector does something, there must be a reason, even if it’s just scattering trash on the street.”

“Hehe. That’s right. Our inspector’s authority is unmatched.”

Bellam’s joke made Bellam burst out laughing.

Unlike the two, who got along well, Olek chimed in with a puzzled expression.

“Why are you laughing? Inspector Edan really calculates everything and takes action. Of course, Inspector Edan wouldn’t do that, but if you see something strange on the street, it must be part of a ‘defecation operation’.”

No, that’s not it.

“Hehe. Edan, you’re really good at this. Haha!”

“I… I can’t keep up with that friend’s loyalty. How can you say something like that so nonchalantly?”

Bellmont almost lost it looking at Olek’s serious face, and Bellam responded with a grave expression.

“Huh? Why are you guys like that… Inspector Edan, did I make a mistake?”

I avoided Olek’s gaze.

It was burdensome to accept the excessive loyalty of a subordinate.

#

[By the way, let’s show off our friendship with the wizard who was sent to our unit. He’s a stubborn guy, so it’s better to flaunt our connections beforehand.]

With Bellmont’s plaintive request, I agreed to meet the wizard working in the 8th Division.

The wizard’s workshop was located in a remote area where few people passed by.

“Inspector Edan.”

“…Nice to meet you, Inspector. I’m Wizard Edgar.”

Edgar was a man who, like Bellmont said, was difficult to get close to. He wore his robe’s hood low over his face, avoiding eye contact, and seemed to want to end this meeting quickly.

“Ha ha ha. Edgar, there’s no need to be nervous. As I said before, Inspector Edan and I are close friends.”

“Ah… Yes.”

Even though Bellmont tried to show off our friendship and ease the tension, the response was lukewarm.

There’s no meaning in this awkward conversation. I tried to end it by making a subtle suggestion.

“It seems you’ve come at a bad time. You must be busy, so I’ll take my leave.”

“Yes, please do. Thank you.”

Edgar accepted my words without any hesitation.

It was a pointless walk back.

“I’m sorry to have made you take a useless trip.”

Belmont, who had arranged the meeting, said with a sheepish grin.

“Well, that’s just how it is with mages.”

I’ve learned through experience that many mages are eccentric.

Just looking at the mages I’m acquainted with, there’s the axe-wielding maniac, the reckless one, the pyromaniac, and the otaku who’s obsessed with demonic powers.

“Still, this is strange. He’s not usually this socially awkward.”

Edgar’s reaction was unusual, to say the least.

Was it due to my publicly known achievements?

Or was it because of my unintentionally acquired connections?

Or maybe it was because of his academic curiosity about magic swords?

In any case, other mages would at least try to make small talk.

‘I was extremely nervous, like someone trying to hide something.’

─ Whoosh.

As I was thinking about Edgar’s suspicious behavior, a round object was flying towards me.

“Ah!”

I reflexively drew my sword.

─ Puuk!

The four swords I summoned pierced the object flying towards me.

“What?”

It was an orc’s skull filled with cotton and covered in leather.

Following that, soldiers in their underwear rushed towards me.

“Are you okay? We got too excited… Ah, Inspector! Long live the Empire!”

The soldiers’ faces turned pale when they saw my face.

It was a natural reaction, considering they had almost hit an inspector with a stray ball.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s not like I’ll get upset over a little mistake.”

After calming the soldiers down, I looked at Belmont.

“Has the football craze spread this far?”

“It’s great, isn’t it? The kids are having fun, and it’s good for their physical training too.”

It was a new experience.

During my difficult days as a low-ranking officer in the Imperial Army, I had introduced football as a high-class entertainment to maintain my mental health in this barbaric fantasy world.

I patted the soldiers, who were standing at attention, on the back and said.

“I’m reminded of old times. I’ll join in too. I’ll show you the true essence of combat football.”

#

There’s no good thing about being an inspector. But I finally found one advantage.

That is, I can play ‘Inspector Football’.

The ball came flying towards me as I moved.

As the ball flew, the opposing players on the path dropped like autumn leaves.

Of course, every shot I took led to a score.

“As expected, Inspector! That was a tactical shot!”

“Inspector’s movements are too fast! It’s like the lightning of the Zephyr family!”

Every time I scored, the soldiers cheered and threw their hats in the air, performing an exaggerated bow.

This was Inspector’s futsal.

I, who had scored 121 goals in a set, was planning to show off my impressive individual skills as the founder of futsal.

Marseille turn, volley shot.

A beautiful combination unfolded with my well-trained body.

But, perhaps it was too much.

The oak goalpost I kicked with all my might flew far beyond the goal and disappeared from sight.

“Wow! Inspector! What a great shot!”

The soldiers playing futsal with me reflexively cheered.

And…

─ Crash!

─ Ahh!

The sound of breaking glass and screams echoed from afar.

It was the magic shop of Edgar, the magician I had just seen.

#

I, Belmont, and Bellam, who were watching the futsal game, rushed to Edgar’s magic shop.

The interior of his shop, with curtains drawn, was dark and dimly lit, without a single candle lit.

I pulled out a dagger and cast a fire magic spell.

─ Whoosh.

As the light illuminated the interior, I saw Edgar lying on the floor, bleeding from his head. It seemed he had taken a direct hit.

“Ah, I’m so sorry about this.”

Luckily, he was still breathing. As I turned to check on his condition…

“There, are you okay…?”

Thud. A book fell from his arms.

Shit. A familiar and unpleasant sensation flowed through my body.

I pushed Edgar aside and picked up the book.

“What the…?”

The book was written in a language I couldn’t read, so I couldn’t understand the contents, but the illustrations and strange patterns depicted were familiar to me.

“Why is this? What’s with this book?”

Belmont, sensing unease, asked anxiously.

“It’s a black magic book.”

“What? Why is it here?”

“Why are you asking me?”

I sighed.

Things never go smoothly, after all.

“Indeed, Inspector! You’ve caught an impure element with your surprise inspection, disguising it as a futsal game. That’s a truly excellent futsal strategy.”

Ollecki slipped in unnoticed.

＜The Inspector is Watching (4)﹥ End