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“…It’s fine.”

The listening device and fixing band were stuck firmly in the palm of my hand.

The band retained a slight warmth, just a bit warmer than my body temperature.

Francesca, returning the equipment, closed the bathroom door with a sulky expression.

“As you mentioned, the recording came out well. The conversation is clear, so the sound quality seems fine, and there are no interruptions or missing parts in the content.”

“…….”

“It seems the Oracle has reached a tentative conclusion to issue a general statement and cooperate with the investigation. They plan to support the Military Government Headquarters with expert mages to search for the necromancer’s body in the collapsed sewer. While massive support from the Magic Tower won’t arrive immediately, the news brought by Sir Martinez is positive at least. And um… next…”

Francesca continued the report with a serious demeanor.

However, even while speaking, she was nervously glancing around.

“…….”

I rubbed my cheek with the crystal glass where she had slapped me earlier.

The crunching sound of ice accompanied the pain as the flesh inside my swollen cheek brushed against my teeth.

“Don’t worry about it.”

(Translation: Don’t mind it.)

“…….”

“I’m sorry for forgetting to mention that fixing the listening device to the inside of my thigh was my fault.”

(Translation: It was my fault for not mentioning that I was going to fix the listening device to the inside of my thigh.)

Francesca, who was about to say something, avoided eye contact and looked away.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Me.”

—

Episode 12 – The Strongest Magician Ever

—

“…Wow. Is something wrong?”

Camila greeted me while leaning against a marble pillar. The intricately crafted glass bowl was filled with vividly colored ice cream soaked in syrup.

She waved her hand with a smile as we crossed paths in the cathedral’s corridor.

With her beaming, cheerful face, it was as if she owned the world.

Camila, sporting an extraordinarily bright expression, looked at me and suddenly widened her eyes.

“You look a mess. Your hair is a mess, and your collar is wrinkled… Did you get into a fight?”

“…Ah, not really… Do I look that weird?”

“You look just like someone who got punched in a pub.”

While the exact details differed, the overarching narrative of me getting hit was spot on.

I had been slapped while trying to attach the listening device to Francesca’s body. The reason was surprisingly that I had explained it rather haphazardly.

Inside the cathedral, it was tough to manage tapping and eavesdropping assets, so Francesca had planned to take the listening device herself to record the conversation.

It was a bit odd to carry an unusual handbag indoors, so I had proposed fixing the listening device to a less noticeable area of her body.

But instead of delicately explaining, I bluntly told her to take her pants off, so how do you think she took that?

In any case, the misunderstanding was cleared up later, and the eavesdropping was successful, but before I could even attempt an explanation, I had to offer one side of my face to the furious Francesca.

Still, as an apology, I received a potion made by Francesca herself, so I decided to shake off any lingering emotions about it.

I moved my swollen lips to speak.

“Sometimes, you have days like these.”

“That’s a positive mindset.”

With a smile on her delicate face, Camila brought the syrup-smeared spoon to her lips while leaning against the railing.

“By the way, something’s definitely going on, right?”

“What do you mean?”

“Come on, don’t play dumb. Just looking at the atmosphere among the civil servants tells me everything! The vibe in the cathedral feels a bit strange too.”

With the spoon in her mouth, Camila smiled innocently, like a child holding a lollipop.

“Of course, Saint Lucia and Saint Veronica are like that too. Even during our last meal, I could feel that everyone was hiding something from me.”

Those instincts…

I leaned against the railing next to Camila. Then, I looked around briefly and lowered my voice.

“I can’t go into detail because of security, but I think a terrorist has appeared here.”

A terrorist?

Camila tilted her head in confusion.

“Is it a religiously affiliated terrorist like ISIS or the Taliban? Organized on a large scale?”

“Actually, it’s a terrorist related to magic more than religion. I don’t know the details like motivation, cause, or scale yet. It’s an ongoing investigation.”

“Are you investigating alone?”

“It’s an international collaboration.”

“Hmm… I suppose collaborating internationally is natural if it involves terrorism.”

Putting her bowl down for a moment, Camila continued in a serious tone.

“If you need help, let me know. I’m always here to assist you.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at her confident demeanor, as if she were telling me to rely solely on her.

“Camila.”

“Yes?”

“Just wipe the syrup off your mouth and then speak.”

“Ah…!”

Watching Camila frantically wipe her mouth with a handkerchief, I stepped away from the railing.

“Leave the work to me for a while and stay in the cathedral. I hope the situation resolves smoothly, but just in case, practice some magic in advance. The administrator will help you.”

Having given that brief request, I quickly distanced myself.

Before long, I could hear Camila grumbling that she had tricked herself into getting syrup on her face, but fortunately, I wasn’t caught.

—

Preparations for capturing the demon were diligently underway.

“How can we fight and defeat a necromancer and a demon?”

“Hmm… As I mentioned to the Colonel before, the best method is to borrow the power of religion. I’m not undermining magic or science, but honestly, religious symbols are the most effective against the wicked.”

To completely choke off the life of the demon believed to be alive, the Empire’s military decided to invoke the power of religion. Though the events in the Northern Regions had not been officially reported due to social chaos, the conclusions had already been made internally.

What people commonly refer to as demon hunting or extermination.

In that sense, the protagonist tasked with sending the demon that crawled up from hell back to where it belonged had long been decided.

“I’ll face the demon myself.”

Saint Veronica, the saint of the cult.

“Of course, I won’t be facing it alone. Lucia will participate as a support role and move alongside me.”

Lucia, also a saint of the cult. So there were these two.

Perched on the edge of the desk, Veronica gently closed her eyes and waved her fingers like an orchestra conductor, her arms crossed tightly around her ribs, looked quite poetic.

I nodded with a serious expression.

“Are we proceeding with a Grand Exorcism? Or is there another method?”

“Whether we do a Grand Exorcism or just beat it up doesn’t matter. Whatever we do, we just need to send the demon back to hell.”

There wasn’t any specific method to follow. Veronica claimed that she and Lucia alone could handle the demon. She spoke with unwavering assurance.

With that bold ambition of thrashing the demon even if it turned into a brawl, I could only admire her and be left speechless.

“That’s tough. Is this your original personality?”

“Maybe?”

“You’ve managed to hide it all this time…”

“Hide it? Colonel, it’s just that I never had the chance to express it. Do you know how hard it is to please those old fogies in the Cult or the Empire?”

“I really wish those people would be called back. Veronica, you seem to need some regulation.”

Honestly, with Veronica’s personality, it seems like she needs more than regulation—perhaps a shackle, but anyway.

Determined to resolve this, Veronica threw herself into preparation for demon suppression. She meticulously checked the holy relics for the Grand Exorcism that she secured from the Cult and gradually tightened the encirclement by going back and forth between the Imperial Ministry of Magic and the Inquisition.

Of course, preparations didn’t stop there.

“I think I’ll be busy for a while, so I hope someone else can take care of things for you, Colonel.”

“Who am I supposed to take care of?”

“Of course, our little siblings and the Hero.”

Lucia, who had been released from her confinement, and Camila and Francesca, who were staying in the Cathedral. Veronica entrusted me with the three of them, meaning I was to help them get ready to fight before the demon was spotted.

Veronica agreed to cover all costs and resources involved in this process.

“The Cathedral will provide the food and lodging, so that shouldn’t be a problem. If there’s anything you might need for training or suppression, just put it on my tab. Sure, the priests can get you most things, but if it seems a bit tough to find, go see Francesca. She’ll handle it.”

“How much budget should I allocate?”

“Use as much as you like. Feel free to buy an island for a vacation, or a castle to hide away in.”

“Looks like the Cult is collecting quite a bit in donations these days.”

Just like that, a card that could rival a black card was created.

“But why are you leaving Camila and Francesca with me? I get that Lucia is a priest, but Camila and Francesca are closer to being magicians, right?”

“What, do you think only priests can defeat evil beings?”

The Empire turned to the Cult not because the Imperial Ministry of Magic or the Ministry of Defense couldn’t defeat the demon, but simply because the power of religion was more effective against demons than magic or science.

So, as long as Camila and Francesca prepared well, Veronica added, they could surely fight against demons.

“Of course, once everything is wrapped up, neither our little siblings nor the Hero will have to face demons. If the operation goes smoothly, that is.”

“Well, saying that makes me a bit uneasy.”

“Do things always go exactly as planned? That’s what makes life interesting.”

Anyway, just be prepared.

Thus, Veronica assigned me the role of caretaker for the group. With a card that had almost no limit.

Originally, I thought I would use the dukedom’s funds to procure what the party needed, but I never expected money to appear like this. It’s a bit sudden, but I’m truly grateful.

However, as always, everything has a price.

Veronica, who proclaimed herself a lamp that spits out money when rubbed, suddenly asked me for a favor.

“Take this.”

“What is it?”

I received the box Veronica handed me. An elegant-looking case. The heavy sensation resting on my arm was distinct.

As soon as I opened the box, there were a shotgun and a revolver—the double-barrel shotgun and silver revolver Veronica had used in the sewer last time.

“Here, manage these firearms, Colonel.”

“…Why should I manage these?”

“Because you’re a soldier. Haven’t you handled them often?”

“No, to start with, these are your guns.”

“Shooting, swordsmanship, and horseback riding are essential skills for the nobility! But I can’t be the one to clean them off with sweat and oil. So, can you manage these firearms for me instead?”

“…….”

“Just kidding, just kidding. Why are you glaring at me like I’m about to kill someone?”

With a teasing laugh, Veronica grinned. I stared at her and, unable to contain my anger, lightly tapped her forehead.

It was indeed an irreverent act, but I couldn’t help it.

Leaving Veronica, who was pouting with tears welling up in her eyes from the light tap, I gathered the firearms she entrusted to me and turned my head away.

But given the bond we’ve built so far, I could at least clean a gun or two. It’s not a big deal.

But have these been shot and cleaned?

As I felt a peculiar anxiety looking at the case containing suspiciously maintained firearms, she stopped me.

“Oh, wait! Stop!”

Veronica grabbed my arm just as I was about to leave the room.

“What are you doing just leaving?”

“What?”

“You need to listen to what people have to say to the end. Ugh… it hurts so much…”

Rubbing her forehead vigorously, Veronica wiped the moisture from her eyes and glared at me. I seriously considered giving her another light tap, but unfortunately, Veronica was quicker.

With an air of confidence, she crossed her arms.

“The firearms thing was just a side note. What I really want you to do is something different.”

“Go on, tell me.”

With a serious tone devoid of playfulness, Veronica conveyed her real request.

“While you’re at the Cathedral, I’d like you to get close to a person I’ll mention.”

“You mean befriend them?”

“Well, that’s not exactly the point… let’s just say I’d like you to have an open conversation.”

“…Is it an Information Agent?”

Veronica shook her head. That meant it wasn’t someone I’d recruit as an Information Agent.

So who could it be?

Veronica’s question was simple.

*

“…….”

“…….”

On the way to the room guided by Veronica, I encountered someone in the Cathedral’s corridor.

The dimly lit corridor had no one around. Just the two of us. No one to listen or watch except for us.

In the corridor of the Cathedral, where it felt like time had stopped and even breathing was silent, I looked at the person who stopped in surprise.

With an awkward smile, I greeted them.

“…Nice to meet you.”

A brilliant golden hair that seemed to be melted from gold, and blue eyes reminiscent of the sea of Jerusalem. Skin as white and soft as the sands of a beach.

The very person Veronica asked me to watch over, and one of the first two saints to live in the same era.

The Saint of the Cult, Lucia.

“…….”

The Lucia I met again was just staring at me, motionless, as if she had forgotten how to breathe.

 

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