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“I’m fine with any form. However, I wish to have a quiet conversation with the Red-haired Child.”

The Duke said.

“If I, a complete stranger, were to suddenly approach and initiate a conversation, not only would the child be taken aback, but so would everyone else. I also want to avoid causing any unnecessary misunderstandings, so I would appreciate it if you, my colleague, could take charge and arrange a meeting.”

The Archmage said.

“Is that possible?”

—

Episode 14 – One Religion, One Faith, Two Saints

—

I remained silent for quite some time.

“……”

I had no way of understanding why the Duke was showing interest in Camila, but I could guess when he might have started taking an interest.

A long time ago. When I first set foot on the land of the Kien Empire as a Defense Attaché.

Back in a back alley behind the Imperial Ministry of Defense, Camila and I encountered a cat.

With fur as white as a marten, delicate lips and nose, whiskers befitting a cat, and deep blue eyes.

The precarious cat was perched on a branch, watching as Camila, passing by, decided to rescue it, while the cat gazed back at her.

And the moment Camila used her powers to ignite a fire—

The cat spoke to us.

“You shouldn’t use fire like that.”

That cat was likely the Duke in disguise. Though there’s no hard evidence, my intuition is overflowing.

Francesca mentioned that only mages from the wartime could practically handle transformation magic, and the Duke was one of the founders of the elemental school, a mage who wielded azure flames, and most crucially,

“How is that child doing?”

The Duke was mentioning Camila as if he knew her well.

As if they had met several times.

“She has a slight allergy to fur, but she’s doing fine.”

“There was such a condition?”

“She herself didn’t know, but thanks to someone, she found out. She tends to sneeze a lot in places where fur is everywhere.”

The Duke acknowledged it calmly without flinching.

“What a perceptive one.”

In response to the roundabout question, the Duke neither confirmed nor denied that he had transformed into a cat.

And that was her answer.

I thought for a moment about where I might have encountered a cat with white fur and blue eyes, aside from the Ministry of Defense.

The first place that came to mind was the Palm Tree Trade Guild.

The guild of the Dark Elf Hormoz who came over from the Mauritania Continent. Hormoz was slowly devouring the northern black market using substantial funds and connections.

To track the black magic terror incident that happened in the department store, I visited him along with Francesca, Camila, and the Knights Order leader, Pereyti.

And it was right there that I had met the cat.

There were many other puzzling details upon reflection.

For instance, about the teacups.

Hormoz always welcomed us in an empty room alone. While it varied, often there were two teacups placed in front of Hormoz, as if suggesting that there had been a guest, complete with cushions for guests.

Whether in his office or his tent, the only person occupying the place was Hormoz, yet there was always a cat lingering by his side.

A cat with shiny white fur and blue eyes.

Somehow, it seemed that a Dark Elf with no ties to the Empire was making waves in the martial law zone. It appears the Duke was backing Hormoz.

I had already known that one of the high-ups was behind things. But could it really be the Duke?

“……”

The Duke offered a teacup. It contained the same fragrant tea I had been served by Hormoz, who claimed it was from the East.

I lifted the teacup and quenched my thirst.

There was no need to speak unnecessarily. There was no point in provoking a fight either.

No matter how powerful the Duke was—being the Emperor’s aunt and a key player in the magical society—I was still a diplomat representing the Abas government. Diplomatic immunity would cover my misdeeds, even if I dabbled in smuggling.

So even if the Duke reported me to the Imperial government, I, under the protection of the Abas government, would bear no responsibility. At most, I would get a charge but it would likely stop at a ban on re-entry. Likewise, if I blabbed about the relationship between the Palm Tree Trade Guild and the Duke, he would also suffer no repercussions.

The question was why he was telling me this….

The reason was obvious.

“So, have you received an answer to my question?”

Will you help facilitate a meeting with Camila? Alexandra had thrown out a vague request that could be seen as either a favor or a threat. As I pondered various responses to that question,

I realized I had only one answer.

“I’m sorry.”

“……”

“I don’t think that will be possible.”

—

“Are you saying it’s impossible?”

“To be precise, I mean that it would be difficult for me to arrange a meeting between Your Grace the Duke and Miss Camila.”

“Why is that?”

In response to the question asking for reasons, I extended my index and middle fingers.

The first reason was status.

“I am a diplomat. As a representative of the Abas government, it would be inappropriate for me to facilitate a meeting between Miss Camila and dignitaries from another country.”

The second reason was Miss Camila’s will.

“I also have to consider Miss Camila’s feelings. As Your Grace well knows, you and Miss Camila are complete strangers. If I were to suddenly suggest a meeting with you, just imagine how taken aback Miss Camila would be!”

With the reasons of my status as a diplomat and Miss Camila’s own will, I politely declined the Duke’s suggestion.

However, it seemed I did not convince the Duke adequately. She regarded me with a look that indicated her inability to understand.

“Do you believe you truly represent the Abas government?”

“Because that’s what a diplomat does.”

Diplomats serve as representatives of their home countries and are responsible for promoting national interests while residing in the host country. This ranges from minor civilian exchanges to significant matters like trade, military cooperation, and foreign policy.

The duties of a diplomat are varied and carry considerable weight. Thus, a single misstep can escalate an issue from personal to an inter-state matter.

If I were to facilitate a meeting between the Duke and Camila, other diplomats stationed with the Cult would look at me with suspicion. They might suspect, “Is the Abas government attempting to leverage Camila to improve foreign relations with the Kien Empire?”

Not to mention, when the northern regions of the Empire were selected as Miss Camila’s first area of activity, similar rumors swirled in the diplomatic circles.

Since my older sister Adela is currently a diplomat and being a Defense Attaché, I frequently found opportunities to participate in events hosted by the embassy, allowing me to naturally catch wind of gossip among diplomats.

Of course, neither I nor the Abas Ministry of Foreign Affairs needed to deny the rumors. After all, they were mere baseless speculations with neither substantial evidence nor foundations.

But if I got caught trying to facilitate a meeting between the Duke and Camila as a current military officer? That wouldn’t end with mere rumors. It could lead to the possible scenario where the esteemed Foreign Minister Yamaga might summon me for an inquiry.

Therefore, arranging the meeting is practically difficult.

That was my argument.

The Duke replied.

“If that is your line of thought, then it may very well appear suspicious to others that someone representing the Abas government is with the Red-haired Child.”

Then why are you, a diplomat, sticking so close to the Hero?

That question came straight from the Duke’s mouth. Quite a direct way of speaking.

I smiled and shot back.

“There’s no issue.”

“What makes you think there’s no issue?”

“Because I’m here to ensure smooth operations for my group and handle negotiations and cooperation with the local government.”

Officially, I am a companion chosen by the Oracle for Camila, yet unofficially, I am an information officer under the orders of the Abas Information Agency.

The problem is, there aren’t many ways to maintain two different identities as I had thought.

What needs to be done as Camila’s ally versus what needs to be done as an information officer. The goals that Camila and her comrades pursue versus those that the Abas Information Authority aims for.

The two identities can intertwine but often have discrepancies. Just like operating as a corporate executive during the day and throwing on a bat mask by night to become a villain…

Like someone who brings down a hammer.

Right now, I’m managing to control myself and maintain both identities, but there’s a chance problems might arise someday. Leoni and Clevenz are concerned about that part.

However, there’s always a silver lining, even if the sky were to fall. Over the past few months, I’ve learned how to keep both identities simultaneously while traveling between various regions like the Cult, the Magic Tower, and the Empire.

“I’m working as an assistant to Miss Camila, Miss Lucia, and Miss Francesca, who are companions designated by the Oracle. But to cooperate more closely with the local government, it’s essential to maintain my identity as a diplomat.”

The group, including Camila, moves between several countries. So far, we’ve only approached nations where cooperation has been smooth, like the Cult, the Magic Tower, and the Empire, but no one knows which regions we might visit next.

The next destination could be a country where the government only holds power in the capital while warlords occupy local areas, or it might be a nation embroiled in a civil war divided among various tribes and parties, or perhaps a place where the government itself is paralyzed, marking the dawn of a chaotic era reminiscent of the Three Kingdoms.

Unfortunately, that’s the reality.

Whether it’s humanitarian aid, war, or ‘business,’ in such a disarrayed community, cooperation from the government or organizations is crucial. Regrettably, none among our group can handle negotiations or cooperation.

Lucia has lived her whole life as a priest, and while Francesca knows how to negotiate, she’s been lurking in the shadows under the guise of managing slush funds, effectively leaving her without real power. Besides, Camila is from entirely another world.

That leaves me, who bears the title of diplomat, in a position to do something. I can converse with government officials or negotiate with local warlords. After all, that’s precisely what diplomats are meant to do—coordinate the schedules between my group and the local government.

Of course, this doesn’t come without murmurs; everyone knows I’m the only one they can trust with negotiation tasks in practice. Diplomatic affairs aren’t a child’s play, and when military operations get involved, the paperwork piled up like a mountain has to be managed by someone. Who else could handle that?

Thus, the majority of countries implicitly overlook my identity.

Even the Imperial Ministry of Defense, which is hostile towards Abas.

“Of course, as you mentioned, there are those who raise issues about my identity. Since I’m a diplomat representing the government, I often hear rumors tinged with concern that the Abas government might intervene in the affairs of other nations under the pretext of a coup. But assisting my companions in their endeavors publicly as an official and facilitating personal meetings with Duke and Miss Camila is entirely different.”

It’s acceptable for me to negotiate using my identity as a diplomat, but arranging personal meetings is a no-go. It sounds contradictory, but that’s how it is.

In diplomacy, I take the glory while others bear the burden.

For example, bombing civilians in the name of catching terrorists and then offering apologies later, or devouring local politicians while economically plundering former colonies only for a coup to occur, and the rebels taking over.

The principle of “do as I say, not as I do” applies not only to mistresses but also to diplomats.

I argued that it wouldn’t be advisable for Camila to meet with the Duke, but the old man was stubborn as ever, refusing to budge.

“Are you really confident that you can handle everything impartially without being swayed by personal feelings?”

“No, but at least I’m trying to work towards that.”

“I’ve never seen someone who claims to treat everyone equally truly do so. What’s your take on that?”

“How can a person be perfect every time? Where there’s light, there’s darkness; where the sun rises, the moon appears somewhere. Even a coin has two sides; how can a person be solely good or solely bad?”

The conversation looped endlessly.

I kept shifting the topic to stall for time, hoping the Duke would tire of the discussion and leave.

But, true to his nature, the Duke showed no signs of giving up on meeting Camila. He stubbornly pursued the idea.

Then suddenly, the Duke made a proposal.

“Then, instead of assisting me personally, could you facilitate a public meeting with me on behalf of your companion, the Red-haired Child?”

There were no additional words, but I instinctively recognized that this was the Duke’s final offer. At that moment, I quickly ran the calculations in my head.

Was accepting this proposal the right move?

Part of me wanted to refuse, but upon reflection, it wasn’t a bad proposition. After all, the Duke was also attending Lucia’s canonization ceremony as a representative of the Empire.

In an official setting, there would be many eyes watching, so the Duke wouldn’t be able to act recklessly, and I could naturally facilitate the meeting. At least the diplomats wouldn’t cast suspicious glances at Camila and me.

Feigning a look of displeasure, I began to nod. After considerable contemplation, I accepted it, albeit reluctantly.

Of course, I didn’t forget to add a caveat.

I made sure to dodge giving a definite answer too.

“…I’ll consult with Miss Camila first and get back to you.”

*

With everything to say said, I had no reason to linger any longer.

I promptly turned and walked towards the door. I’d left my bag neatly placed in the lobby, so I just needed to leave.

Just before I grasped the doorknob to exit the room.

“Tell that child,”

The Duke spoke as he stood by the window.

“Think carefully but decide quickly.”

The door closed behind me.

I crossed the corridor and hopped onto the elevator, exiting at the top floor.

*

“Here’s your bag, Colonel.”

As soon as I stepped into the hotel lobby, a police officer politely handed my bag back to me.

After receiving the document bag I had checked in, I thanked him and began to move, while the suit men with in-ear devices stared at me, whispering among themselves.

“Are you heading to your accommodation? Shall I call a taxi for you?”

“Oh, no, that’s alright. The embassy arranged for a vehicle. Just the thought counts.”

I quietly bypassed the Empire’s diplomats and hopped into a car parked in the back entrance.

The vehicle, adorned with Abas diplomatic plates, started moving immediately. The driver smoothly pressed the accelerator, and we glided out of the hotel onto the road.

With notably tinted windows, I gazed at the glittering night view of Lateran reflected in the dark glass, tossing my document bag between the passenger and driver’s seat.

The man sitting in the passenger seat quietly took the bag and placed it on his lap.

Then, he pulled out an oddly shaped device and, clutching a wire in his hand, pushed the loop on the bag’s handle twice to the left and five times to the right before turning a dial to pop it open.

Inside the bulky document bag was a significant electronic device.

The man connected a wire to the device. For a moment, green text scrolled across the screen of the oddly shaped gadget.

The counselor from the Abas Kingdom embassy, representing the Cult, nodded and organized the wire.

“Yes, I’ve confirmed it. Signals are coming in from within.”

“Is there anything good in there?”

“Well, that’s something the relevant department will have to check, but seeing how hefty it feels, it seems we’ve got a decent haul.”

“Glad to hear that.”

I leaned back against the seat, addressing the information officer in the driver’s seat.

“Let’s head home.”

The engine revved, and speed increased. Beyond the window, a panorama of yellow lights flowed like a canvas.

The black diplomatic vehicle disappeared into the city of lights.

 

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