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“Public transportation for long-distance travel in this town consists of trains and ships.”

“There are regularly scheduled airships, but those are more exotic means of travel for nobles or wealthy individuals, much like a cruise.”

I asked Sophia a question.

“If I take the train that’s leaving now, how long will it take to get to the capital?”

“At least five hours, minimum. That’s based on the express.”

Five hours is too late. I need to get there faster.

“Is there no way to go by ship?”

“Unless you want to disembark midway and drag the ship over the mountains.”

If it were the Ottoman Navy that conducted the Constantinople raid, that might be possible.

I glanced at the expensive watch on my wrist. Whether I took a ship or a train, I would still be late. There was no way. Then suddenly, an idea popped into my head.

I lightly tapped Sophia’s shoulder as she was on the phone calling our team members. She turned her head toward me, her tousled blond hair swaying.

“Hey, Sophia.”

“What is it?”

“Where’s the Warp Gate around here?”

—

Episode 13 – A Country for Magicians

As soon as I heard that Francesca had arrived, the first place I headed was the Warp Gate station.

“What is going on here?”

“I don’t know either. Do you have the fee to use the gate? It’s a bit expensive.”

“I’m fine.”

After all, it’s not my money.

All the expenses for this trip were covered by the company. The Warp Gate and hotel reservations were also arranged by them, and Clevenz happily handed me 5,000 ducats for spending money while saying to have a good time.

Even considering the high prices of tourist spots, 5,000 ducats would last over a month. That’s nearly equivalent to 7 million won in Korean currency. And as always, domestic routes are cheaper than international ones. It’s relative, but still.

I quickly hopped into a taxi and sped off toward the Galbria Warp Gate.

When I told the taxi driver to step on it, he really floored it like a madman. For a moment, I thought I had mistakenly got into a Busan taxi.

However, despite the taxi driver’s efforts, I would not be using the Warp Gate.

To be precise, it was no longer necessary.

“Colonel?”

Just as I was about to buy a ticket for the capital-bound Warp Gate, I heard a voice.

It was a familiar voice.

“I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Francesca was just coming out of the Warp Gate.

As our eyes met, she greeted me with a playful smile.

“Long time no see.”

Her attitude was somewhat welcoming.

*

Escaping the throngs of men in the military to meet a woman is something any veteran would envy.

But if that woman is an information agent, the situation changes a bit.

“……”

After a moment of silence at our unexpected reunion, Francesca’s expression subtly shifted. Although her lips were smiling, there was a hint of disappointment.

She set down her suitcase and, still smiling, spoke up.

“You don’t seem particularly glad to see me? I thought you might at least ask how I was.”

“…I’m sorry. I’m just a bit out of my mind right now.”

“Mm….”

Her eyes, resembling violets, began to scan me up and down.

After quickly sizing me up, Francesca spoke as if she understood something.

“Given that you’ve been drinking, it makes sense.”

“How did you know?”

“The smell of alcohol is pretty noticeable. Isn’t it more strange if you didn’t catch on?”

Only then did I realize that I reeked of booze. In my rush to get here, I had forgotten to mask the smell.

As I awkwardly rubbed the back of my neck, Francesca chuckled. With beautifully arched eyes and soft eyelids, her slowly fluttering eyelashes seemed to say that the smell of alcohol was of no consequence.

“Compared to the chemicals in my workshop, the smell of alcohol is nothing. When I was in a workshop without ventilation, I had to wear a gas mask and work for hours.”

Imagining Francesca wearing a gas mask while stirring a cauldron was hard to picture.

In any case, what I wanted to know was why she came to Patalia. She must have known that the National Security Agency would be keeping an eye on her, yet she returned to her home country.

It was clear that she hadn’t come just to visit her hometown. The Ranieri family’s estate is in the east, and her family’s villa where she spent her childhood is in the north. According to my research, that villa was a significant place where Francesca spent her early years with her mother. Of course, that villa was sold to another wealthy person over a decade ago.

So why had she come to the southern region, where she had no connections? That was what I was most curious about.

But it seemed I wasn’t the only one with questions. Francesca asked me.

“By the way, Colonel, what brings you to Patalia?”

“I’m on vacation. What about you, Francesca? Shouldn’t you be getting treated at the Magic Tower by now?”

“My treatment is already finished. I brewed and drank the elixir with the Hero.”

“…An elixir?”

“It was a gift from the alchemists of the Ivory Tower. We used honey that was 180 years old, collected from the Paraangasan. I received it as a gift a few years ago, and recently the Ivory Tower announced that the elixir could be used for healing, so I decided to try it out.”

It just so happened that the person who gifted her the elixir was currently staying in Patalia.

Francesca continued.

“He’s a prestigious professor, and he’s been traveling around the universities in Patalia giving special lectures. I came to visit him in Galbria to thank him.”

Of course.

“I also have something to discuss with you, Colonel.”

“Something to discuss?”

“It’s related to business.”

So, she had information to share. I nodded in agreement.

“I see. We can talk about that slowly later, but by the way, about that elixir—did it work?”

“After taking it, the doctors said I could be discharged right away.”

Francesca claimed that on the third day of her hospital stay, she took the elixir with Camila and was discharged immediately. The doctors who witnessed it thought the two of them had resurrected as undead and cursed at them.

“I understand. Honestly, I think I would have cursed as well. If I saw someone who was groaning and bedridden just 10 minutes ago…”

“I’m suddenly up and dashing to the convenience store. Who would think I’m a perfectly sane person?”

“…That’s about Camila, isn’t it?”

“Yes. I took the medicine first, but the Hero recovered even faster. While I was finishing my recovery, the Hero was munching on snacks and drinks while waiting.”

“…In the Intensive Care Unit?”

Francesca nodded indifferently, and I pressed my forehead in despair.

After putting myself through that hardship, he actually ran to the convenience store. Should I scold him for that, or praise his mental fortitude…?

One thing’s for sure. As soon as we return to the country, I need to craft a beech wood baton. The last one I made mysteriously disappeared—Camila must have hidden it somewhere. I can’t let such a mishap happen again, so this time I’d better whip up a couple of spare bats as well.

While I sighed heavily, Francesca grabbed the handle of her suitcase and prepared to move.

“You said it’s vacation? Are you staying at a hotel?”

“Yes.”

Francesca smiled as she spoke to me.

“I need a place to stay until tomorrow morning. Could you guide me, Colonel?”

It was a sudden proposal. How should I take this?

After a long time away from vacation, I’m moving together with Francesca? The National Security Agency must be watching, right?

Staring blankly at Francesca’s face was like hearing the news of Kim Jong-il’s death when I went out for leisure. I blinked slowly.

After a long silence, I finally replied, “Me? Why?”

“…”

Francesca’s violet-like eyes blinked for a moment.

Then, her lovely face twisted into a frown.

*

“We’ve arrived.”

“….”

Even though the taxi stopped in front of the hotel, Francesca didn’t say a word.

She took out her wallet, paid the taxi driver with a few bills, waved off the change, and opened the door to get out.

The driver, grinning from the unexpected cash, nicely smiled as he collected the bills. Then, looking at me still sitting in the taxi, he offered some words of comfort.

“Hey… Sir, I don’t know what happened with your girlfriend, but don’t take it too hard. No matter how awkward it is, leaving her alone? You should rush over and grab her back.”

“….”

I awkwardly sat there before finally getting out of the taxi.

In the distance, I saw Francesca dragging her suitcase into the Meraviglia Hotel. She said something to the front desk staff, completed her check-in, and immediately pressed the elevator button.

And,

“….”

“….”

Silence filled the elevator.

January in Patalia was notably chilly, but the air inside the elevator was cold enough to smack the northern regions of the Kien Empire.

I stared blankly at the ascending numbers, while Francesca remained expressionless and silent.

Feeling like I was sitting on pins and needles, I stole a glance at her profile and quietly spoke.

“Um, Francesca. Sorry about earlier—”

“Shut up.”

I sealed my lips, and Francesca remained silent.

We kept avoiding each other’s gazes in silence.

Meanwhile, the elevator sluggishly continued its ascent towards our destination.

*

Drops of water tapped against the sink’s surface.

The interior of the curtain-drawn house was so dark that even the streetlights couldn’t penetrate it. In the dim and quiet room, the only sounds were the tapping of a keyboard and the creaking of the wooden floor.

“We’ve arrived.”

The Information Officer sitting in front of the security terminal said.

The blue light from the screen reflected in his eyes, casting a bluish glow in the darkness.

A man’s head turned at the report, which lacked a subject.

“Has he entered the immigration area?”

“He just passed through the immigration checkpoint.”

The man, who had been tidying his darkened chin with a razor due to his fresh stubble, glanced at the screen of the security terminal.

A brief memo of around 500 characters appeared on the screen. It was a report sent via encrypted radio from the field Information Officer.

After quickly scanning the contents, the man asked a question.

“What’s the target’s location?”

The screen changed, and a new report appeared, sent by the Information Officer dispatched to the northern region.

The Information Officer who received the memo started reciting his notes.

“They plan to use the Warp Gate set to operate at 0630 tomorrow. The destination is Patalia.”

“Got it.”

The man put down the razor and looked around the room. The Information Officers, buried under heaps of paperwork, were gazing at the Team Leader.

The Team Leader said, “The operation will take place in Patalia. We’ll wait for the moment the target makes contact. If successful, all personnel will move to another workshop. The vehicle team will pick up the external team and move, while the standby team will tidy up this workshop and head to the rendezvous point. Understood?”

“Yes.”

“Everyone, focus. The target and contact are highly trained Magicians. If the vehicle team and external team fail to coordinate, a confrontation could erupt on-site.”

The Team Leader turned to face the board.

A whiteboard plastered with photos and memos of individuals. There were three pictures in total.

The most noticeable were a woman with purple hair and a man with black hair. The capes and uniforms they wore indicated they were a Magician and a Soldier.

“Everyone, pay attention.”

The Team Leader clapped his hands to capture the team’s attention.

“Preparation for the abduction begins now.”

 

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