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[Next is an international news update. Today, the government of the Kien Empire has issued a medium-level alert across all regions except the North. It is a very rare action for the alert, which had been limited to the North for the past five years, to be expanded to other areas.]

[There is speculation that this may indicate serious issues in the North as the Inquisition forces of the Cult have recently entered the region. In response to questions from foreign press, the spokesperson of the Empire’s Ministry of Defense strongly denied that the situation in the North, where martial law has been declared, is anything but stable under the control of the Military Government Headquarters, asserting that the action is not directly related to the border disputes in the North.]

[The civil war on the Mauritania Continent, centered around Paraangas, is intensifying. General Wadimka, who seized power in a recent coup, has signed an executive order approving the military intervention of neighboring countries’ defense forces to eliminate the ‘Independent Tribe Union Rebels’ that have occupied the Paraangas region.]

[The canonization ceremony for Saint Lucia, the 59th saint, is just around the corner. The oracle has chosen Francesca Ranieri, descendant of Archmage Ranieri, to accompany Saint Lucia. There is a controversy in both the religious and magical communities regarding the participation of Magic Tower officials in the ceremony.]

[The Ministry of Defense of Abas has decided to award the Cross Star Medal to Colonel Frederick Nostrim, as designated by the oracle. The Cross Star Medal is awarded to individuals who have contributed significantly while participating in wartime or combat missions, or for achievements in national security.]

[The Prime Minister of Abas personally invited Colonel Frederick Nostrim to the residence and awarded him the medal along with a certificate. The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Defense, generals, and various military officials, as well as key individuals from the diplomatic and security sectors….]

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Episode 13 – A Country for Magicians Does Not Exist

As soon as I returned to Abas, I was awarded a medal.

The Cross Star Medal. It’s the second-highest medal among five ranks, primarily awarded to soldiers who have participated in wars and combat.

The stated reason for the award was my participation in civilian protection efforts and combat equivalent activities in a third country, but—

There was a different, true reason.

“Colonel Frederick Nostrim is awarded the Cross Star Medal for his remarkable contributions to national intelligence affairs and national security through his initial response to domestic terrorist incidents, overseas counter-terrorism intelligence collection, operations to rescue exiles, and numerous overseas intelligence operations conducted against the Cult, Magic Tower, and the Kien Empire.”

Clevens recited the award ceremony statement with a satisfied smile.

“Well, not many get this medal in our company. Congratulations!”

“Thank you.”

“I picked a good one, I’d say.”

He patted my shoulder with a rare bright smile. The silver medal dangling on my chest jingled and gleamed.

“Seeing you receive the medal makes me envious. I barely got my own for capturing several hundred spies, you know.”

The Cross Star Medal is the second most honorable medal a soldier in Abas can receive.

Unlike the Kien Empire, known for its excessive awards like a dictatorship, Abas’s award system is notoriously strict.

Even Clevens, who had arrested hundreds of spies, only received a service medal after being promoted to Colonel.

With that thought, I smiled back at Clevens.

“Are you really that jealous of a kid getting a medal?”

“Isn’t it a good feeling? You’re recognized as a hero and you get a pension.”

“But you’ve received your fair share of medals already. Don’t take my joy away.”

“Come on, don’t be stingy…”

I was the one who received the medal, but Clevens, with all the joy of winning the lottery, celebrated as if it were his award.

“It’s overwhelming, I must say.”

I smiled back at him.

“Is it really that great that I received an award?”

“Well, it’s a good thing for you, so naturally, it’s great.”

Clevens, folding his arms and grinning, glanced around the Prime Minister’s Residence.

“By the way, where’s Leoni?”

Today’s award ceremony was held modestly at the Prime Minister’s Residence, but the attendees were quite impressive.

The Minister of Defense, Chief of General Staff, Deputy Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Royal Information Department Chief, Special Investigation Bureau Chief, Military Intelligence Agency Chief, and key figures in the diplomatic-security line including Clevens and Leoni.

In short, a significant number of policymakers and senior officials in the field of foreign diplomacy and security of Abas were present.

Of course, not all those high-ranking individuals gathered just to watch me receive a medal.

“They were called away separately earlier for security-related discussions.”

“The Royal Intelligence Department?”

“Yes. They seemed to gather overseas section officials.”

Like Clevens, Leoni, who had also attended the award ceremony, disappeared into a separate chamber in response to the Prime Minister’s summons.

I shrugged while looking at the securely closed meeting room.

“Aren’t they just having a meeting?”

“Hm, that could be it.”

Military Intelligence Agency Domestic Chief Clevens nodded, scratching his chin.

“With the new year upon us, intelligence lines are probably quite busy. Let’s chat until it’s our turn.”

We walked to a room prepared in the residence. Clevens plopped down on a sofa and casually kicked off the conversation.

“Did you have a nice vacation?”

I nodded and replied that it was good to rest.

“I’m glad to hear that. I got quite a scare when something happened in the middle of it.”

“When have I ever had a peaceful vacation?”

Having had enough incidents during vacations, I had somewhat adapted to the chaos. So, I cracked a smile with a nonchalant expression.

At that, Clevens started grinning widely.

“Right. Considering you always end up in a mess, I somewhat regret sending you overseas again.”

It was a lighthearted joke.

A frivolous jest kicked off a light conversation.

The first to speak was Clevens. He brought me news from abroad.

“I hear the Empire and the Cult are planning to award you a medal.”

I was already aware of it.

“You knew?”

“I heard they were contemplating it, but I didn’t know it was confirmed. But is it okay to receive a medal from another country?”

“Diplomats go abroad and bring back friendship medals, diplomatic relations medals, and all sorts of things. What’s stopping you?”

“Still, receiving a military honor from the Empire feels a bit…”

“Oh, come on! If they’re giving it, just accept it with thanks. Others want it but can’t get it. What if someone feeds you but you refuse to eat? What kind of person does that?”

“Oh, yes. I’ll gratefully accept it….”

I thought maybe it’d be okay, but since they assured me it wouldn’t be a problem, I decided to let it go for now.

Even though a foreign medal wouldn’t count for formal recognition as a hero, keeping one or two as souvenirs might become a fond memory someday.

By the way, the award ceremony is supposed to be held before Lucia’s canonization ceremony.

Including myself, Camila, Lucia, and Francesca are likely to receive medals as well, suggesting that the Empire and the Cult governments think it looks good for us to wear their medals while attending the ceremony.

The selection of the date clearly drips with political intent, prompting a sigh.

“They’re acting slick. Looks like it’s election season.”

“More attention will be on the canonization ceremony than the Pope’s inauguration, so it’s a smart choice.”

Thanks to the demon subjugation issue, the Empire’s military is at odds with the government, and the appearance of demons remains a major topic of debate within the Cult.

Having a wicked being mentioned in the scriptures wreak havoc in a land where demons run wild can’t be good. There might be priests whose faith is shaken or conflicts between factions. With disputes slowly trending downwards, it won’t be long before the media reports on the deeds of the demons in the North.

Thus, they’re awarding us medals.

People will pay attention to us, the ones who took down the demons.

I tapped the armrest, frowning.

“I appreciate the medal, but wouldn’t it be better to give cash? After living in a villa, I’ve come to desire a house like that myself.”

Clevens, reclining comfortably on the sofa, smirked subtly at my ridiculous joke.

“Just don’t get too happy. Medals aren’t something you get for free like bonus fruit. You’re going to receive medals often in the future, so remember my words.”

It’s a warning to stay alert as many dangerous situations await.

I took his words as good advice.

“You sure do worry a lot.”

“Can you blame me?”

Knock! Someone tapped on the door.

A staff member from the Prime Minister’s Office entered after opening the door.

He informed Clevens that he needed to move to the meeting room. Clevens stood up, wearing the expression of a man who knew this day would come.

“I’d better go now. You take care going back. Don’t forget what I told you.”

“Yes. See you at the office.”

“Um, was this here?”

“It’s been a while, Director. Wait, should I call you General now?”

“Just call me Director. The Royal Intelligence Department isn’t up to anything, right?”

“All is peaceful. Thank you for your concern!”

The Prime Minister had called a blast meeting for the foreign and security sectors, turning the residence into a bustling hub filled with civil servants from various departments.

But standing out among them all was Leoni.

“Director, regarding the latest report on Kien Empire military movements I mentioned last month…”

“The final review of the rescue operation to be conducted in the Eastern regions…”

“The unstable political situation on the Mauritania Continent is stirring up terrorist organizations…”

“Yes, yes. I see what you mean.”

Just as she finished her meeting, a swarm of operatives from the Information Agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs surrounded her.

Trailing behind like a cloud of admirers, Leoni looked like a famous singer exiting a concert venue.

“I trust everyone will make wise judgments. Please, allow me to pass for a moment.”

Weaving through the crowd, she trudged her way toward me.

As Leoni exited the residence, she beckoned me with a gesture, without any specific instructions. It was a clear sign to follow her.

So, I left the residence and hopped into Leoni’s official vehicle.

*

“Things are already spiraling out of control on New Year’s morning.”

As soon as I got into the back seat, Leoni started off with those words.

“What happened?”

“There’s always a lot going on.”

Too much, in fact.

Before I could respond, her secretary in the driver’s seat spoke up.

“We’re ready to depart, Director.”

“Oh, right.”

As the accelerator was pressed, the engine kicked in.

The vehicle sped away from the Prime Minister’s parking lot, racing down the black asphalt. The ride in the government-issued car provided to the generals from the Ministry of Defense was decent enough.

As the black sedan crossed the luminous cityscape that chased away the darkness, Leoni began to speak.

“I heard there was another coup on the Mauritania Continent this morning.”

“Again? How many times is this now?”

“The sixteenth. Fortunately, the army rose up after the government was toppled by the coup.”

Whether that was fortunate or not was debatable. Leoni added, “It seems the conflicts among tribes are the cause.”

“Political reasons?”

“Yeah.”

This sixteenth coup in five years was an internal war between two factions of the government army. Leoni said the coup happened because the support base of the ousted president differed from that of the faction that took power.

“Desperate tribes with differing dispositions banding together is what led to this.”

“Their political tendencies would obviously differ, their residencies too. Are their religions different as well?”

“Exactly.”

I nodded lightly, casting my gaze out the window.

“Pretty soon, two tribes will be exterminated.”

“They already are.”

Leoni spoke curtly, her annoyance evident.

Having just attended the foreign and security staff meeting, she was noticeably fatigued. With a civil war erupting in one country, the political circumstances of neighboring countries naturally became unstable. It was clear that warlords and terrorist organizations would thrive amid the chaos.

But there was a bigger issue at hand.

“By the way, the side making the coup turns out to be a cult. The government forces consist of believers in Al-Yabd.”

“A cult? Is the Inquisition getting involved?”

“Not confirmed yet, but there’s intel that several generals have contacted the bishop. This bishop is from the Inquisition.”

“…What about the Empire?”

“There’s a military advisory group training special forces just across the border, and recently, the government forces passed executive orders to allow foreign troops to suppress the rebels.”

A faction related to the cult instigated a coup, and the government forces that took power through the coup approved military operations for foreign troops to suppress the rebels in their own country. And conveniently, there was a military advisory group dispatched by the Imperial Ministry of Defense in that neighboring country.

That was almost reasonable suspicion.

“With weapons smuggling, military advisory groups, and coup suppression, the Empire is really pulling all sorts of things. The cult is no different. Anyone could think they’ve already driven the demons from the north.”

“Now that the conflict is winding down, they’re probably trying to restore diplomatic relations with long-lost friendly nations.”

It’s troubling that those friendly nations happen to be dictatorships, but still.

Gazing out the window at the city, I posed a brief question.

“So, what’s the higher-ups saying? Are they ordering generals’ heads on a plate?”

“For now, they just want us to observe. Given that the Foreign Ministry is planning to evacuate citizens currently there and is even considering closing diplomatic missions, it seems they won’t be focusing on that issue for the time being.”

The Abas government chose to remain passive. It was a decision made based on the judgment that there was no practical benefit in supporting either the coup forces or the government forces.

For the Abas government, the situation in the Mauritania Continent was less important than the status of the Empire and the Magic Tower.

“It’s hard to pay attention to issues in other continents when we’re already busy monitoring the Magic Tower.”

Using the Information Agency to replace the regime at the Magic Tower isn’t an easy task. Even during the Cold War, it took the US years to topple governments in Central and South American nations, so conservatively speaking, Abas would have no capacity to focus on problems in other regions for at least the next three years.

In any case, what’s crucial right now isn’t that.

“What about that investigation into those terrorists you mentioned? You brought a field team to Patalia for the operation. Any results?”

“Just wait. You’ll find out soon enough.”

The official vehicle racing through the city crossed a bridge and merged onto the highway through winding roads.

No matter how you looked at it, we weren’t going to be arriving at the Military Intelligence Agency building by heading this way. I wondered briefly why we were brought all the way out here.

Just then, Leoni broke the silence with the kind of hoarse voice that only comes with age.

“You’ll be getting out here.”

“What?”

I looked around in the backseat of the halted official vehicle. We had stopped near a rest area close to the highway.

“Why a rest area all of a sudden….”

“Get out and find a car.”

Leoni instructed.

“Once you find the car, take it to the destination. Staff are waiting at a certain place. Your department members are there too.”

When she referred to department members, she usually meant team members from the Information Agency. The members of the team I was in charge of included Pippin, Jake, and the one who joined a month ago, Charnoy.

“Go by car to that place.”

“So you’re saying I should take a taxi there?”

“Exactly.”

“…….”

“The answer to your question is there too.”

*

Following Leoni’s order, I got out, and the official car started moving again, leaving the rest area.

It would look suspicious for someone in a military uniform to be loitering at an empty rest area, but the magical lights illuminating the parking lot had long since gone dark.

Had it been neglected for some time? With the streetlights covered in cobwebs and broken, the surroundings were quite dark. In this situation, one could easily mistake a military uniform for a suit just by removing a hat.

I took off my hat and began searching for the car Leoni mentioned from the lineup parked at the rest area.

And soon enough, I spotted a vehicle parked at the corner of the rest area, close to the road.

However,

I felt something was odd.

“…What’s this?”

As I was about to get in, I checked the driver’s identity and couldn’t hide my disbelief. More precisely, I stiffened upon confirming the driver’s species.

“Why is a Beastman here?”

As if responding to my dazed mumblings, a pair of cat ears perked up.

The Beastman at the wheel looked at me with a dumbfounded expression, as if wondering why I wasn’t getting in.

“…Do I have to take this?”

I asked the Beastman while holding onto the passenger door, and she nodded twice before emitting a strange cry.

“Meow.”

 

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