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After a brief commotion subsided, the refugee camp returned to a state of tranquility.

The warm sunlight tickled my skin, and my eyes began to droop. I guess I hadn’t slept well for several days.

Ibrahim, sitting on a bench, continued to speak.

“By order of the Holy See, the protection of Saint Lucia has been strengthened. For a while, we should be at ease.”

The military officer of the Cult surveyed the camp.

The camp, which housed tens of thousands of refugees, was almost the size of a small town, and just looking at the sheer number of people gathered here made it evident that most of the refugees had congregated.

“Saint Lucia must be exhausted as well. While she has taken it upon herself to protect the weak, it must be quite a challenge for her to accommodate so many refugees…”

“Right now, she’s managing just the refugees here, but tomorrow, even more are expected to arrive. News of the saint’s appearance here has spread throughout the camps.”

A child playing in an open area kicked a ball with all their might.

The ball soared high, crossing over the chalk-drawn line and soon enough, a swarm of children began chasing after it.

I watched the children playing with the ball, as the information exchange was still ongoing.

“During the interrogation of Yunus, we found out about the transportation arrangements made by the cultists. It’s a long-distance passenger bus that left a nearby city three days ago. By now, it must be nearing the border.”

“There are direct routes leading to the Necropolis once you cross the border. How about we ambush them at the checkpoint? We could bribe the government army or set up an ambush nearby.”

“That’s easier said than done. Ever since we arrived, surveillance in the border areas has increased. Bribing the government army or ambushing at the checkpoint has become much harder.”

“…So what do we do?”

I replied briefly.

“If you want to catch a tiger, you have to enter its den.”

—

Episode 17 – The Tree That Drinks Blood

“So, you mean we’re going into the Necropolis.”

Ibrahim nodded knowingly.

The expert on cult purging began to share what he knew.

“The Necropolis is a vast city. At the same time, it is very dangerous. With outcasts, murderers, smugglers, and residents all mixed together, various threats abound. Finding a cultist there won’t be easy.”

When has anything ever been easy? I spat out the chewing wax and continued.

“It seems Sanya hasn’t fully trusted the cultists. They’ve taken their own precautions. We’ll use that to find them.”

“Well, that’s good to hear.”

Just then, an uninvited guest appeared from behind.

“What are you all doing over there?”

It was Camila’s voice.

Ibrahim, recognizing her with a sideways glance, stepped back. Camila approached with a bright, innocent smile, oblivious to the situation.

“What were you doing? From a distance, it looked like you were having a discussion with someone.”

“Nothing much. By the way, what brings you to the camp, Camila? Weren’t you in No Man’s Land?”

“I stopped by the peacekeeping base for supplies. I heard that Lucia was here and came over.”

Camila tapped her shoulder with her fist, letting out a weary sound. Hunting monsters in No Man’s Land must have been quite exhausting.

“You look tired.”

“Don’t even get me started… With the peacekeeping forces, the government army, the warlords, and nomads… they say it’s uninhabitable, but once you actually go there, it’s overflowing with people!”

“Nomads?”

“They’re tribes that drive livestock across the desert, and they sometimes just show up during skirmishes… Last time, while we were hunting a monster, a nomad came out, and the goats they were herding got shot!”

Camila explained how some nomads deliberately caused damage during peacekeeping operations. They earn compensation if livestock dies.

It’s a money-making scheme leveraging the fact that foreign armies are reluctant to confront local residents.

Of course, the government army was out of the question. That was the army of a dictator.

If you didn’t want to get caught and beaten up by a rogue warlord who doesn’t care about casualties, you had to tread carefully. You also had to be wary of the real warlords.

“…But the landscape is beautiful, probably because it’s an untouched area. Want to go see it together once the work is done?”

“With Lucia and Francesca? Just the four of us?”

“Of course!”

“Sure thing.”

Camila, after feeling lonely these past few days, started rambling about all the events that had taken place in No Man’s Land.

Most of it was about where she had fought or what monsters she had encountered, but just from the snippets of the stories, one could easily infer how tough it had been for her.

Thus, filled with a slight remorse, I awkwardly licked my lips and spoke.

“Camila.”

“Yes?”

“It seems my business trip might take a little longer.”

Camila’s expression darkened at the sudden news. It looked like a mix of disappointment and sympathy.

She fell silent for a moment before forcing a bright smile in response. Of course, she couldn’t quite hide her expression.

“That’s okay! Well, sightseeing can wait for later. Am I going along?”

I shook my head.

“I’ll be going with the team.”

“…Ah, the team.”

“We’ll be moving in a group. We plan to travel a bit further. I can’t say exactly how long it will take, but I’ll at least be back in a week.”

“Be careful and come back safe.”

Lucia encouraged me to return safely, assuring me she would be guarding things. Of course, the Holy Knights were responsible for her actual protection, but if she helped me, there shouldn’t be any issues.

As Camila, confidently proclaiming for me to trust her, made a grand show, I couldn’t help but chuckle and made a jest.

“Just don’t go stealing the snacks from Lucia’s infirmary. Those are meant for the refugees.”

“Wha-, what are you talking about! Do I really look like a person who would steal food from refugees?!”

“It’s a joke. Why are you getting all worked up?”

As Camila was throwing a fit (real fire this time) over a joke that could barely be called a joke, she eventually regained her composure and exhaled a sigh.

“Anyway… come back safely. I’ll be waiting.”

“Of course, I will.”

“And hopefully, you’ll bring a new companion back with you.”

Easier said than done. It should be something I could control.

Camila waved her hand as she dashed into the headquarters building to find out Lucia’s whereabouts. A moment later, she popped her head out from the main entrance, yelling with all her might.

“Bring back something delicious! We’ll call it even for the snacks last time!”

I raised my voice, cupping my hands around my mouth towards the smiling Camila.

“See you later!”

—

“See you later? What do you mean, see you later?”

“Why are you saying that again?”

“When did I ever act this way?”

A gruff voice dug into my ear. Francesca shot me a look before turning away, stomping off.

“What’s with you, Francesca? Just from a brief greeting…”

“Oh, right. Of course, you would.”

“Come on…”

I had been caught in the act of saying goodbye to Camila before my outing. Well, to be honest, it wasn’t so much being caught as it was just being too obvious to hide.

But for some reason, Francesca looked miffed at what she witnessed.

“You were pouty after just a brief greeting with Lucia last time. Now it’s with Camila?”

“Who says I’m pouty?”

“Then why are you acting like this?”

“I don’t really understand what you mean. Is Colonel Sir upset with me for not making eye contact?”

Francesca was spinning a shameless lie without hesitation.

Ever since I casually greeted Lucia after a long time, she had been looking at me with suspicious eyes. Almost like someone accusing their partner of infidelity.

Of course, that was factual. If you think about it, it was actually me who had some kind of fling with Francesca… But from her perspective, it was reasonable to suspect some flirtation.

Still, is it really fair to be so suspicious over just one greeting? I shot her a glance filled with that sentiment, but Francesca began to glare coldly in my direction.

“Just saying hello doesn’t usually lead to such heated glances between a saint and a colonel, you know? It looked like honey was going to drip!”

The response I returned made me swallow my retorts. Instead of an excuse, what came out was something that couldn’t be trusted at face value.

“…It’s a misunderstanding.”

“Oh, a misunderstanding. Everyone says that the first time.”

“I really mean it…”

I pleaded desperately for her to believe me, but it was all for naught. Francesca was already deeply miffed.

I walked behind her in silence, as she continued to stride across the hallway without even sparing me a glance.

Though our relationship was slightly awkward now, she still knew how to separate work from personal feelings. With her emotions tucked away, she switched the topic to the usual tone.

“I’ve asked around as you requested, to see if there’s any wizard connected to the Necropolis.”

On the day I made contact with Ibrahim, I approached her for help.

I inquired if she knew anyone in the Necropolis. If there were any acquaintances there, I wanted them to assist me in getting inside.

Francesca relayed the information she had gathered.

“I don’t know him very well, but I have some acquaintances. I made sure to look for those who could be of help while ensuring they are reliable and discreet.”

“So, did you find anyone?”

She handed me a business card.

I pulled the card out from between my fingers as Francesca continued to explain.

“It’s a wizard who transferred to the Ivory Tower from the Magic Tower. He belongs to the Alchemy faction. We took a few classes together when I attended university long ago.”

“Transferring to the Ivory Tower means they found their aptitude. After all, it’s a land of alchemy… But what’s this person doing in the Necropolis?”

“According to what former classmates say, he’s opened a small potion shop. Not only potions but also materials for alchemy and items required for magic. Rumors have it he also deals with illegal goods.”

In the magical society, illegal goods refer to those items that the Magic Tower and Ivory Tower have strictly forbidden trade on.

Yet, forbidden items are openly traded in the Necropolis.

Why?

Because it’s the Necropolis.

“Sounds typical of a shady Magic Tower.”

“Please don’t call it a Magic Tower. It might upset those from the Magic Tower.”

“It’s a metaphor.”

People speak of three major magical societies.

The Magic Tower, the Ivory Tower, and the Necropolis.

However, both the Magic Tower and Ivory Tower advised to use the term ‘two major magical societies’ in both official and unofficial contexts.

Because the place where the Necropolis is located was far from the rightful light.

Francesca crossed through the hallway and opened the hotel room’s door. Inside awaited two Information Officers who were on standby for the deployment to the Necropolis.

The Alchemist, standing in the center of the room, drew the attention of the guests and began to speak.

“Now, everyone gathered here will accompany me into the Necropolis starting today. Are we all present?”

I nodded, glancing around at the two Information Officers.

“Looks like familiar faces.”

In response to that, a tail waved gently side to side.

With sharp cat ears and slitted pupils.

The beastman’s body reflected the characteristics of both human and animal and was distinctly different from a typical human.

The unique cat whiskers stood out from the soft fur as the beastman curled up on a fluffy mattress and let out a long howl.

“Mrow…!”

Kair. The first Information Officer drafted for the team heading to the Necropolis.

And the second Information Officer was someone I knew well.

With ears that looked more fairy-like than elf-like, small and pointy, and the orange bobbed hair that danced around.

Even after working nights for days, her skin maintained such softness that it outshone magic itself, and her petite stature reminded one of a child, a being so mystical that it was designated a species in its own right.

Nymph, Charnoy.

“Hiieek…!”

The moment Charnoy saw me playing with Kair’s tail, she jumped up in fright. So startled was she that she almost forgot to let go of the tail she had been gripping, pulling it taut.

While the beastman, ready to cry from almost having his tail torn out, let out a long wail, the trembling nymph pointed her shaking finger at us.

“W-w-why is that person here…?”

The person Charnoy pointed out was Francesca.

I was about to ask if there was a problem between the nymph and the magician, but Francesca clapped her hands and beamed a wide smile, stealing the spotlight.

“Oh my~ I didn’t expect to see a nymph here! Have you thought about the proposal I made in the Empire last time?”

“Hiieek…! The purple-haired magician appeared again…!”

Charnoy, clutching Kair’s tail, exclaimed in a fervor that we should summon the Inquisition at once, or inform the Al-Yabd Punishment Committee. As I turned my gaze between Francesca and Charnoy, it finally dawned on me what was happening, and I couldn’t help but exclaim softly.

Ah, come to think of it, Francesca and Charnoy had met once before.

It was before the Northern dispatch when they gathered in the Empire. Francesca encountered Charnoy at the hotel, where she suggested whether Charnoy would sell her wristbone to her, causing Charnoy to jump up in shock, just like now.

“Kair…! Hurry and drive that magician away…!”

“Don’t pull my tail…!”

“I can NEVER offer Charnoy’s wristbone…!”

Instead of the tail, the nymph pulled on Charnoy’s cat ears, and the beastman burst into tears. This ridiculous combination had my mind spinning.

I pressed my temples and turned to Francesca.

“Hey, let’s stop. At this rate, I’m going to cry.”

“Hehe, it was just a joke.”

To her, it didn’t seem like a joke.

Anyway, just as Charnoy finally regained stability, we began to hear Francesca’s explanation in the hotel room.

*

Before the explanation, Francesca clapped her hands to grab our attention and started with a brief introduction.

“Now, allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Francesca Ranieri from the Magic Tower. You all are going on a journey to the Necropolis with me.”

Me, Charnoy, Kair, and Francesca.

The four of us were infiltrating the Necropolis.

The purpose of our infiltration was to track down the cultists. If possible, we aimed to reclaim Lucia’s blood, which they had abducted, and eliminate those who had escaped.

For reference, Francesca herself would be our guide through the Necropolis.

“The Necropolis is fundamentally a place intended for magicians, so unless you have special permission, at least one magician must accompany you.”

Francesca summarized the entry procedures for the Necropolis quickly.

“Of course, only magicians are allowed entry. Others must be guaranteed by the identity of their accompanying magician to enter. Here’s my plan.”

As a magician, Francesca would guarantee the identities of Charnoy, Kair, and me, and we would disguise ourselves as part of Francesca’s entourage to breach the gates of the Necropolis.

In this process, we decided to use disguises for ourselves.

Francesca would take on the identity of an exile executed by the Magic Battalion, one of the registered exiles in the Magic Tower. The rationale was that this individual had no family, sparse human connections, and had been recently exiled, thus remaining mostly inactive in the shadows.

Francesca explained confidently, adding, “Since they were executed less than a month after being exiled, the news of their death hasn’t even circulated. And since the gender, age, and physique are similar to mine, as long as I cover my face, no one will recognize me.”

“Sounds good.”

“I’ve also prepared identities for the rest of you. Let’s start with the beastman first?”

Having secured both means of infiltration into the Necropolis and our internal collaborators, Francesca had prepared our disguises as well.

She handed Kair a thin file.

“First, the beastman will act as an adventurer. As you all know, since being conquered by the nations of the Mauritania Continent, many beastmen have been wandering the world as adventurers after losing their homes.”

“Hiring beastman adventurers costs significantly more than hiring trolls or orcs, but many local officials prefer beastman adventurers. Their skills are guaranteed to be that good. Magicians are no exception.”

“Considering that the Necropolis has been home to many beastman migrants since its founding, it shouldn’t be a problem to operate there. That said, with the disguise of an adventurer, you should have no issue. So, from now on, please act as my hired adventurer.”

Next was Charnoy.

The nymph, who had been closely attached to Kair, eyed Francesca suspiciously, then quickly snatched the file she offered.

“The identity of the nymph here will be as an assistant. Since magicians are often quirky, it’s not uncommon for them to have unusual species as their assistants. Just take a look at the Magic Tower, where many professors have gnomes as assistants. Similarly, we can’t forget the orcs, goblins, and dwarves working as aides in the Ivory Tower.”

“What about dark elves?”

I directed my question toward Francesca. She, with her finger on her lips and a thoughtful look, responded.

“Dark elves… tend to serve more as benefactors rather than assistants. Unlike dwarves who sold their souls for gold, they are a wealthy race. The Magic Tower has recently been seeking investment funds from the houses of dark elves.”

Of course, the very person who acquired those investment funds was Francesca herself, but I refrained from elaborating on that point.

Francesca smiled gently at Charnoy and continued her explanation.

“You’ll act as my magical assistant. Unlike humans, the specific backgrounds of various races are less scrutinized, so at least during your activities within the Necropolis, you shouldn’t have to worry too much. Of course, it’s wise to have some background prepared in case your stay extends.”

“Magical assistant…?”

Charnoy’s eyes began to sparkle.

“That sounds nice…! I’ll get paid for being an assistant…!”

“If your stay is long, then of course you must be compensated. Anyone who doesn’t pay their assistant would raise suspicion. The same applies to the beastman adventurer as well.”

Hearing that there was a possibility of payment, Charnoy began to beam.

Previously, she jokingly mentioned filling a pool with honey candy and swimming in it if she ever came into a large sum of money. It seemed she was picturing herself purchasing honey candies for a pool with the money she would receive from Francesca.

Though, she only mentioned possibly getting paid; she never specified an exact amount. She didn’t actually promise anything.

As I watched Charnoy grinning, Francesca suddenly spoke up, as if struck by a funny thought.

“Oh, I almost forgot to mention. Among magicians, the term ‘assistant’ is often a euphemism for someone who serves as a test subject. It’s an eccentric profession… so in the Necropolis…”

“Hiieeeek…?!”

At Francesca’s joke, a horrified Charnoy leapt from her chair.

Horrified at the idea of possibly becoming a test subject, Charnoy extended a hand for help.

Like a summer cicada sticking to a friend’s body, the nymph clung onto Kair and began to wail for assistance.

“Kair…! Hurry and drive that magician away…!”

“Don’t, don’t…! Don’t pull my ears…!”

“Stop it already, geez.”

I struggled to pry Charnoy off Kair. Observing my misery seemed to amuse Francesca, who merely watched with a bright smile.

Anyways, the identities for the three of us were confirmed. Though the nymph and beastman weren’t ‘people’ in a conventional sense.

While Charnoy and Kair opened their files to memorize their identities, I sat beside Francesca, who was drinking water, staring into the air.

“Thank you for preparing the identities. It was a tough request, but it really helped lighten my load.”

“Why wouldn’t I? Who else would guide the Colonel to the Necropolis if not me?”

Thinking about it, that wasn’t an incorrect statement. Lucia was a priestess, and Camila was a magician, but she wasn’t part of the magical society. In the end, whether I liked it or not, I had no choice but to rely on Francesca’s help to reach the Necropolis.

Even amid my sulking, I owed her my thanks for fulfilling the request. Finally feeling relieved, I expressed my gratitude.

“Thanks for your hard work, Francesca.”

But then.

Something felt off about her expression.

“Hmm….”

Francesca’s gaze, tilting her water cup while staring at me, seemed a bit too intense. It felt like there was some sort of underlying scheme in her eyes.

Like those of Veronica preparing some mischief.

“…What’s up?”

Nervous from her unusual demeanor, I asked, and Francesca, still grinning, pulled a file from her bag.

“What’s this?”

“The identity you’ll be using, Colonel.”

“Oh, mine?”

I didn’t need this sort of thing.

Originally, I intended to disguise myself as an interpreter to get into the Necropolis. But it seemed Francesca had other plans.

She insisted that with a beastman posing as a local, there would be no need for an interpreter, suggesting it would be easier to use the identity she prepared instead. She even added with an intriguing tone that I might surprisingly like it.

Something I might like? What, am I going to be some kind of underground dealer?

With a puzzled expression, I opened the file. Moments later,

“…W-what is this?”

After verifying the identity, I started trembling like a leaf.

As the paper shook with my hand, Francesca came closer from behind to seize the document from my grip. Leaning her weight against me, she spoke nonchalantly.

“What’s wrong, Colonel? Is my gift not to your liking?”

“No….”

Francesca chuckled in a way that could only be described as grotesque, slipping the paper between her fingers and waving it teasingly.

“What’s wrong with being a Kano?”

Kano.

That was the identity I was meant to assume.

So to put it plainly,

“You want me to play your servant?!”

“More accurately, your family’s attendant. How rude to call them a slave! Anyone overhearing might misunderstand and think I’m abusing you, Colonel.”

“What is this… if it’s not a prank?”

Francesca smiled silently.

I stared vacantly into space.

Today marked nearly 20 years since I began working for the Information Agency.

And for the first time in my life, I had become a magician’s servant.

 

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