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A throng of people filled the area near the checkpoint on the outskirts of the city.

Priests kneeling in the muddy ground, earnestly praying, while wizards cast spells to maintain their body temperature against the wind.

Imperial soldiers curiously observed the crowd, and executives puffed out smoke from atop concrete blocks. Various groups gathered, each passing their time in distinctly different ways.

However, without a doubt, the most unique way to pass the time could be found in a seemingly ordinary red-haired civilian girl, not a priest, wizard, or soldier.

“Hmm….”

Camila perched herself on the roof of the vehicle, gazing at the city.

“What do you see, Hero?”

Francesca, who had just finished conversing with someone from the Magic Tower Secretariat, asked Camila sitting on the roof.

Camila seemed about to say something but sighed and reluctantly opened her mouth.

“No! I can’t see a single ant!”

“You can’t even see it through a telescope, can you?”

“Not as much as I thought.”

Camila set down the telescope she held and sighed heavily.

“I bought this at Petrogard thinking it would be decent, but it doesn’t seem to see very far.”

The civilian telescope indeed had its limitations. It was a product used to catch glimpses of villages from long distances while traveling between Africa and the Middle East.

The telescopes purchased back then were all a bust. Even if she wanted to see something far away, it proved utterly impossible.

Upon lamenting this, a senior who landed a job at a ‘company’ after graduation advised her to buy a telescope sight for long-distance viewing.

Not only that, she even called up an acquaintance serving in the military to help her secure a 56mm sight at a reasonable price.

That second-hand sight she bought back then always occupied a corner of Camila’s suitcase as she traveled abroad.

Suddenly wondering if she still had that sight, Camila rubbed her eyes, which had grown stiff and dry from the cold.

Francesca, seeing this, smiled gently and draped a warm magical blanket over Camila’s shoulders.

“Did the Colonel safely enter the city?”

“Yes. They went in with the priests and wizards on the highway fifteen minutes ago.”

With another sigh, Camila added in a weak voice.

“But I can’t see where they are now.”

“They should be fine, so don’t worry too much. How about a cup of coffee?”

“I’d appreciate it if you offered. But….”

Camila held the binoculars in her hand and tilted her head, muttering.

“I really don’t know how they can move wearing those.”

—

Episode 12 – The Strongest Mage of All Time

Everyone who has worn a military uniform can agree that most experiences in the army are nightmarish.

However, there are particularly dreadful instances among those experiences.

The day after serving night watch, just when I had returned to the quarters, I’d receive a phone call from the operations manager.

A swarm of administrative supply officers barging in with a weed whacker on a sweltering summer day, without prior notice.

Wild raccoons that gnawed at the communication wires I buried with great difficulty.

Being told to pack my bags for a business trip the week after I returned home.

And…

“Whoosh… Hoo…”

The suffocating feeling that arises just from looking at that damned protective suit for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense.

Yeah. That’s what I’m wearing right now.

“Whoosh-.”

After persistent persuasion from foreign governments, Lucia, and Francesca, the Military Government Headquarters allowed a select few officials to enter for humanitarian reasons, but conditions were attached.

“All personnel entering the quarantine zone must be equipped with means to protect themselves from external contaminants.”

Though explained at length, in essence, they meant to bring your hygiene supplies if you want to enter the city.

In my case, my gas mask and protective suit are those hygiene supplies.

“Whoosh-.”

Though I received no specific instructions whether my hygiene supplies would be masks or gas masks, I had no real choice other than the gas mask and protective suit.

To be honest, I wanted to toss all of it aside, but the company sent me the gas mask and protective suit with the message, “If you die, it’s your loss, so wear what we give you.”

Damn company.

They just throw whatever at me since they won’t be the ones wearing it.

“……”

Of course, I wasn’t the only one in protective gear. The Imperial Army leading the way was also fully suited with gas masks and protective suits, and the same went for the cult and tower personnel.

As I exhaled from the purification canister, I turned to look back at the cult and tower folks trailing behind.

A priest clad in a bright white full-body suit and a wizard whose face was obscured by a gas mask silently stared at me.

The protective gear sent by the cult and tower was designed quite differently from the military’s, making it distinctly clear at a glance that they were not soldiers.

If I had to compare, it looked somewhat like a mix of a KKK rally and some weeb dressing up as a plague doctor. Quite a unique sight indeed.

“Is everyone alright?”

“……”

“Yes, you’re not alright, then.”

Deciding to shut up and just keep walking, I began moving my feet briskly.

“We will arrive at the site soon! Everyone prepare yourselves!”

The shout from the executive guiding the group echoed.

As everyone silently walked ahead, chaos erupted among them just then.

The priests set down a long, rectangular box and began to unpack their backpacks, while the wizards opened their storage and started rummaging for something. I figured we were nearly there, so I shoved my hose into my gas mask and slurped up some ion drink.

“Colonel.”

One of the executives approached me to speak.

“We only have thirty minutes.”

“Is that all the time we get to work?”

“I’m sorry. It’s a directive from the commander. If we haven’t finished in thirty minutes, we have to leave the equipment in place and return to the rendezvous point to report.”

“Nothing we can do about that.”

I straightened up with all the clutter I was wearing and looked around at the cult and tower officials.

“Let’s finish up and get out within thirty minutes.”

—

After several days, the collapsed site exuded a bleak atmosphere.

Heavy machinery used for clearing debris once lay scattered alongside bags full of waste dredged from the underground waterway.

The temporary shelters that had housed patients briefly fluttered about in the wind, with some even collapsed under the weight of the snow from the previous night.

The area left behind by the military’s retreat resembled something from a disaster movie.

If there were a reality version of a zombie apocalypse movie, this might be how it would look.

But life must continue, and tasks cannot be postponed.

Putting my sentiments aside for the time being, I unfolded the military map I had neatly folded over an abandoned box.

“We will proceed with the setup as planned. Priests, you will install the silver stakes at the predetermined points, and wizards, please weave the barriers around the collapse area.”

The Inquisition had found several ancient documents from the vault, which had been meticulously managed over the centuries.

These were parchments that contained the knowledge crafted by exorcists from centuries ago at the cost of countless sacrifices.

It seemed the documents had suffered quite a bit due to poor preservation, but the exorcists in the Inquisition locked themselves in the office day and night, working on restoration.

And this morning, they finally unearthed the clues that would resolve the situation from the restored documents.

The Binding Ritual.

A ritual presumed to have been used by exorcists centuries ago to seal a demon. According to the descriptions in the documents, it was said to be exceptionally effective in suppressing malicious energies.

“I’m fixing stake number one now.”

“Hold it tight. If you slip, your fingers will be toast.”

As two Inquisition officers held a silver stake as tall as an adult male, another officer swung a hammer down.

-Clang!

A crisp metallic sound echoed as the silver stake drove into the frozen ground.

The Inquisition officers continued hammering. Next to them, other officers integrated holy artifacts, oak pieces, laurel leaves, and holy water as they assembled the silver stake.

The other officers were doing the same. With the sound of hammering resounding from multiple locations, numerous silver stakes sank into the frozen earth.

“Breath, breath. Those working on stake number sixteen, the spacing between you and stake seventeen is too close. If you drive it there, the balance will be off. Could you move three steps to the left?”

I was overseeing the formation through the radio with an officer from the Inquisition up high.

“Stake number twenty-two needs to go under the tarp. Can we remove it?”

“It’s a large tent, so it might be hard to remove quickly. If we ask the Imperial Army, maybe they can help with that.”

The Imperial Army was busy protecting the cult and tower personnel working in the site while searching the area around.

The reason for searching the site they abandoned in retreat was to locate anyone who had come in to steal resources from the abandoned tents.

Just then, the radio crackled from the common channel with an Imperial Army search team’s report.

-“We’ve discovered unidentified male corpses in barrack 32 in the eastern area. Two elderly men. Cause of death is presumed to be… exposure, but honestly, we’re not sure.”

Shortly after, the voice of an exasperated Imperial Army squad leader came through, cursing to switch the channel.

“They seem to be quite busy over there.”

“Hmm….”

I squatted on a high point and surveyed the surroundings.

Considering that the nature of the collapsed area left in the aftermath of fierce battles was barely high enough to be called a high ground, I could only do so atop the remnants of collapsed buildings.

No way was I going to crawl up there, so I resorted to using an abandoned forklift left on site.

So right now, I’m perched atop the bucket of a forklift, floating in the air.

“Let’s just push through with the forklift.”

“Let’s do it right now.”

I promptly drove the forklift and smashed through the tent.

With the obstacles removed, the half-KKK group (Inquisition officers) rushed over, hammer in hand, to start working.

Though their faces were unrecognizable thanks to the gas masks and protective suits, I still clearly recognized at least one.

“Mr. Martinez.”

The plague doctor, who was vigorously recording updates on his clipboard, turned his head.

“It’s you, Colonel.”

Juan Pablo Martinez. The planning and coordination officer of the Magic Tower Secretariat and team leader assigned to the Northern Bureau.

Also, a person of high suspicion to the Military Intelligence Agency.

Through the haze of the fogged-up lens, he blinked.

“The people from the cult have completed about 30% of their work. How are the people from the tower doing?”

“We’re working at a similar pace.”

While the Inquisition officers worked on the silver stakes for the Binding Ritual, the mages from the Magic Tower were setting up magical tools and barriers at the site.

The one leading that effort was none other than Martinez.

Unfortunately for the Inquisition officers hammering away in their suits, the Binding Ritual proposed by the cult is not perfect.

Even if we assume it was flawless, there could still be issues with the spell…

A second plan was suggested within the Cult for when the need arises.

Therefore, the Military Government Headquarters decided to set up barriers and magical tools around the area to prevent the escape of demons from the Magic Tower. I know Francesca has been putting in a lot of effort here and there.

“I heard from the Administrator. The Totems of the Sorcery School, the Rune Stones of the Alchemy School, the barriers of the Protection School… The folks from the Magic Tower have really been toiling hard.”

“That seems likely.”

I attempted a friendly approach, but the reaction I got was rather lukewarm. It seemed he wasn’t the sociable type.

Martinez meticulously checked the barriers and magical tools set up by the magicians, jotting something down on a piece of paper with great diligence.

The paper detailed not only the barriers and magical tools installed in the area but also the position of the demon’s sealing zone set up by the Inquisition. Martinez seemed to be keeping a thorough record of the work status as if it were a map and checklist combined.

He’s stricter than he looks. Just as Francesca reported.

I crossed my arms and nodded in agreement.

“I’ve heard Mr. Martinez’s skills are quite impressive, especially regarding the protective barriers.”

“Who’s said such a thing?”

“Well, naturally, it was Administrator Lanieri.”

Suddenly, I couldn’t help but chuckle and added briefly.

“Of course, I’ve seen it myself. You were there during the Rift, weren’t you?”

“Mm.”

As Martinez was fervently moving his pen, he made a subtle expression.

“Indeed. Lady Lanieri was there as well.”

“You exhibited remarkable skill.”

“Not something worth boasting about. Protection magic is my strongest suit, but I’m quite adept in other areas too.”

“Lady Lanieri mentioned the same. And magic is inherently interconnected among disciplines, isn’t it? While some mages excel in just one field, most actually have a decent command over multiple kinds.”

“You have a more profound understanding of magic than I expected.”

“I have a mage among my family. The youngest, that is.”

“Oh, is that so? That’s a fact I learned today.”

Appropriately nodding while smiling, I combined the information passing through my mind.

He’s the stoic and unsociable type. He’s more meticulous than he appears. He seems somewhat interested when the topic is magic but shows little concern for anything else. If I throw in some bait related to Francesca or topics associated with magic, he’s likely to bite.

He doesn’t seem like a particularly challenging person to deal with. Compared to the inflexible General Mikhail, he is far easier to handle.

“How has it been with Lady Lanieri lately? I’ve heard you two have been seen together often.”

“With so much work, it can’t be helped. We’re busy but managing just fine. By the way, I heard Administrator Lanieri’s birthday is in the spring next year. Do you happen to know what Mr. Martinez might be aware of regarding her tastes?”

“Well, I’m not entirely sure about that, but I’ve connections with Secretariat employees who might know Lady Lanieri’s preferences. They worked in the same department. I’ll reach out, and I’ll keep you posted as soon as I hear back.”

“Thank you! Oh, and I have a query regarding the barriers and magical tools being installed. Since you’re an expert in this field, perhaps you could enlighten me…”

“Feel free to ask. I’ll do my best to answer within the scope of my knowledge.”

Just as he suggested, I casually asked.

“I’m just curious, but can we be certain that the barriers and magical tools will function perfectly without any malfunctions?”

“Hm. I cannot guarantee there won’t be any malfunctions. After all, the barriers and magical tools are human-made. But as the final check falls to me, I will adjust them to ensure they function as smoothly as possible.”

“Thank you, Mr. Martinez.”

As I engaged in a continuous dialogue about Francesca and magic, I was gradually extracting details about Martinez.

“Five minutes until end time! This is a reminder, five minutes left!”

The Imperial Army executive in charge shouted through a megaphone. The prearranged thirty minutes were nearly up.

“Oh no.”

“Oh…”

Hearing the announcement from the Imperial Army executive, Martinez hurriedly surveyed the area. Then, he alternated glancing between his clipboard and the surroundings and spoke in a somewhat urgent tone.

“I still have a lot to record. I must take my leave.”

…Darn.

“Oh, alright. Thank you for your efforts.”

I sighed regretfully, preparing to head back to the checkpoint.

*

The sealing of the demons and the suppression of their foul energy with the demon’s sealing zone and barriers were completed to about half after a half-day battle.

Some might wonder why it was so slow, but the truth is the work progressed at quite a rapid pace.

Considering that all workers were armed with protective gear and masks, the fact that the work time was less than 30 minutes, and the time consumed to shake off the residual foul energy from the outside through prayers and magic after returning to the checkpoint, not to mention the massive task requiring spells to be completed over several kilometers, it was hard to express the speed of work as anything but fast.

“Well, although we speak grandly, the Cult and the Magic Tower mostly resolved it by putting in people, right?”

Veronica chuckled and waved the hose she was holding.

“Here, have some water.”

Splash!

With a refreshing sound, the water hit me all over. The splashed water trickled down the surface of my protective suit and mask.

“…Veronica.”

“What?”

“This is Holy Water, right?”

“Yep.”

As I stood there showering with Holy Water still clad in my protective gear, I found myself staring blankly into space. For a moment, I pondered why on earth I was doing this.

Officially, the Inquisition pointed to the pollutants as the cause of the recent outbreak of large-scale patients. However, they couldn’t accurately explain how that energy harmed humans or what specific effects it had on the body inside and out.

Therefore, the Military Government Headquarters decided to adopt the same methods they used during the large-scale infection caused by the demon race a few years ago.

Just with a few modifications, of course.

“Alright, that’s it! The shower’s over, so step out.”

Having finished my Holy Water shower, I trudged out the door.

To prevent any contaminants from leaking outside, the Military Government Headquarters dispatched chemical troops to the checkpoint. Anyone entering the city today had to go through the chemical troop decontamination, then take a short break before being sent back for further work. We repeated this for nearly half a day.

Finally emerging after passing through the plastic tunnel, I removed my gas mask and inhaled the fresh air deeply.

“Ugh- Ah.”

“What’s wrong? You sound like an old man after a hike.”

“You’d understand if you wore a gas mask and ran around for half a day.”

Veronica chuckled and stretched her arms, then looked up at the sunset sky with a relieved expression.

“Have the barriers been completed?”

“About half of them are done. If we eat dinner and work through the night, we might finish just as dawn breaks.”

The sealing spells and the methods to suppress the foul energy were set to be completed by today.

While I wasn’t entirely sure if they would effectively stop the demons, I was positive they would suppress the foul energy. We had double-checked this numerous times with the Inquisition staff who had gone on-site.

Would the sealing zone and barriers perhaps suppress the demons a little? I had no way to express it, but I felt a sense of hopeful anticipation.

In any case, the barriers were expected to be completed before the New Year. If no special issues arose, they would certainly keep the demons at bay.

Yes, as long as no particular issues arise.

I let out a faint sigh.

“I hope the spells hold until we’re ready to slay the demons.”

“They will definitely hold. What do you take the Cult for?”

“What’s the status of the patients, Veronica?”

Veronica, walking alongside me, finally parted her lips to explain.

“They’re being treated in the containment facility. Mild cases are at a temporary camp on the city’s outskirts, while the more severe patients are isolated in designated hospitals equipped with specialized facilities.”

The Military Government Headquarters had initially separated the patients into mild and severe cases for their containment.

Those whose symptoms were mild or deemed able to endure were sent to camps set up on the outskirts of the quarantined city, while those needing professional treatment were moved to hospitals with strict barriers.

“What is this nonsense, and it’s not even a pandemic…”

“Hm? What’s ‘pandemic’?”

“Never mind.”

“Oh, you’re pulling that ‘I know something and you don’t’ trick again. Colonel, why not share a bit?”

“Don’t poke me in the side.”

While dealing with the annoying Veronica’s playful banter, I caught sight of some approaching figures in the distance. Camila was the first to spot me and waved enthusiastically.

Behind her was Lucia, shyly waving her hand, and Francesca, walking slowly with a relaxed demeanor.

Bouncing over, Camila greeted me cheerfully.

“Did it go safely?”

I spread my arms wide in a gesture of no problems at all.

“As you can see. I’ve finished the work, so I won’t be going in anymore. I’ll likely come by tomorrow morning for a check.”

“That’s nice.”

“What about you, Camila? What did you do all day?”

“Me? I’ve been going around collecting the belongings of people all day long on the outskirts.”

“Belongings?”

“Well, when patients die from an infectious disease, they burn their belongings, right? So it’s a similar case.”

So she was carrying out tasks similar to handling Ebola patients post-mortem all day long.

From what Lucia and Francesca explained, shortly after I entered the city, a request came from the Military Government Headquarters to assist with processing the belongings of patients housed in the outskirts and the basic treatment for mild cases.

Well, this wasn’t surprising, as the Military Government had previously given us a heads up about it.

“…….”

Gazing at the setting sun, I pondered deeply. I had so much to do starting tomorrow.

There were the final inspections of the sealing zone, plotting out routes for Lucia’s safety while she traveled between the city and they provided care for the patients, and on top of that, preparation to hunt down the demons. The paperwork I needed to send out was piling up, and the tasks were overwhelming.

Well, that isn’t exactly unexpected. It’s not out of the ordinary.

So I casually said,

“Let’s go have dinner. It’s the end of the year and all; we have a lot to tackle starting tomorrow.”

“Where are we going?”

Veronica teased with a mischievous grin as she swept her hair back.

“We need to prepare to sever the demon’s neck.”

 

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