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The promotion ceremony for the Major has concluded.

Rather than just being a mere promotion, this was a ceremony that emphasized the symbolism of being a companion to the Hero, so it was held in the palace, not at the Information Agency.

Many officials and politicians, including the King, graced the event, and I adorned my Major rank insignia amid cheers and applause.

Though the framing suggested it was a step towards peace for humanity and the continent, it was loaded with political undertones. The old folks, unsatisfied with their roles as mere spectators, insisted on taking a group photo with the Hero and me. News outlets, both local and foreign, were expected to cover the event, meaning my face would likely become known throughout the continent by tomorrow.

Here I was, wedged among the kingdom’s celebrities, alongside the Hero. It couldn’t get more trophy-like than this.

It was the perfect picture to leave as a record of my achievements.

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Episode 2 – Heroes of the Continent

“Wow, the photo turned out beautifully.”

Colonel Clevenz chuckled lightly while gnawing on a piece of fish.

“A promising young soldier and a Hero saving the world. Just the title alone suggests that there are no heroes on the continent quite like this one.”

He set down the newspaper to refill his drink.

The newspaper featured a massive photo of the Hero and me beaming with smiles. Beneath it were congratulatory messages from prominent figures of various governments, including the kingdom, the Cult, the Kien Empire, and even the Magic Tower. It was an overt attempt at political maneuvering, aiming to gain favor with the Hero.

Of course, such moves were worthless. The kingdom had officially announced that they summoned the Hero, and soon the Cult would openly recognize Camila Lowell as the Hero, leaving no grounds for other nations to meddle and manipulate her.

“It seems summoning the Hero is indeed a hot topic, considering all the attention from so many people.”

“Of course, it is. In times like these, which nation can afford to ignore the strength of a Hero?”

“It’s not just about needing a Hero; it’s about buying time to manage the internal situation, isn’t it?”

“That’s that.”

The image of the Hero during the Dark Ages is extraordinarily positive. It’s not every day that a hero, something right out of a fairy tale, appears in such a chaotic world, naturally drawing everyone’s attention.

Once the press starts buzzing about the Hero arriving in the country, all eyes will be on him. Consequently, any voices of criticism emerging from the internal management processes will fade away. With all eyes on the Hero, who would bother with bothersome issues?

A prime example sat right in front of me.

“Thanks to the Hero, those pencil-pushing bullies have quieted down. It’s so nice that there are no more behind-the-scenes grumbles.”

“Who’s making a fuss nowadays?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Those shouting that we don’t need a government, those whose egos are inflated, and those drumming up reforms.”

That’s the scoop about the anarchists, merchant unions, and reformists being cleaned up.

“At least our situation is somewhat better. It seems the Kien Empire is troubled with internal issues.”

“What’s going on with the Imperial Guard HQ? Aren’t they good at catching thought criminals?”

“It seems thought criminals fleeing from various countries have caused some incidents over there.”

As someone lacking a deep understanding of philosophy, I’d be lost when it came to details. However, in this tough era, those discussing idealistic philosophies are mostly just idle dreamers. In other words, educated slackers.

In this world, it’s normal for Information Agencies or Counterintelligence Departments to clash with such slackers.

If these citizens living in a 21st-century democratic state were told that soldiers should maintain political neutrality and not interfere in civilian matters, they would agree.

Unfortunately, this is a dark fantasy world. Here, generals talk politics out of boredom, and the military pokes around the elections.

Of course, there have been murmurs in the media criticizing military interference in politics lately. But no one pays attention.

Political neutrality? There are hardly any who uphold that in this place. Even religious people are known to be taking bribes and meddling in politics.

This place has indeed gone mad.

“Are your subordinates preparing well for the business trip?”

“Thanks to the seniors’ help, I’ve packed everything. It’s my first overseas trip, but I think I’m well-prepared.”

“Good. How about the Hero? I’ve read the reports, but I’d like to hear your thoughts rather than just the paper.”

“Camila Lowell is adapting quickly and has a positive outlook, so I don’t think there will be any problems for a while.”

“Make sure you look after her well. It’d be a troubling ordeal if she gets lost in a foreign land, after all. She must be feeling quite distressed having been dropped into another world.”

That was a profound remark.

Was it a word of encouragement for the Hero’s companion? Or was it advice meant for a subordinate?

Colonel Clevenz wiped the grease from his mouth and spoke.

“Let’s skip the preamble and get to the main point. Since you’re the Hero’s companion, you’ll be traveling to various countries, so I hope you can act as a diplomat.”

A diplomat? Me, the Hero’s companion?

I figured there were embassies in most nations.

“Weren’t I a spy?”

“Being open about it makes you a diplomat; being discreet makes you a spy. While there’s a difference in method, the goal of serving national interests remains the same.”

Now I understood what he meant.

Colonel Clevenz planned to remove the image of a covert agent from me and replace it with that of a diplomat.

For now, as the Hero’s companion, I was ‘officially’ just an ordinary soldier, not affiliated with the Information Agency.

Though the Colonel had put in great effort to conceal my true identity, if another Information Agency conducted in-depth research, it would only be a matter of time before the truth about my ties to the Information Agency was revealed.

After all, I was the companion of a celebrity drawing attention from the entire continent.

Especially with an emperor suspicious enough to question his own offspring. The Imperial Guard HQ would surely be dispatched to investigate the Hero and the party. There would be no absolute certainty that a Hero summoned from a kingdom known for its chilly relations with the Empire wouldn’t pose a threat.

So, the Colonel aimed to disguise me under the façade of an ‘official’ diplomatic role. I could see two main reasons for this.

“Diplomats enjoy protection under international law and diplomatic agreements, so even the Emperor wouldn’t dare touch you. As long as you possess a diplomatic status, you shouldn’t have to worry about being detained abroad.”

The first reason was my safety.

Historically, killing a diplomatic envoy or an ambassador has always carried significant political repercussions.

This is still a kind of rule that should be upheld today. Which nation would be foolish enough to establish an embassy in a country that imprisons its diplomats? They’d rather sever ties altogether, rather than provide support.

And the second reason is…

“You’ll find a plausible excuse to meet people, won’t you?”

That’s a diplomat’s privilege.

It’s common to see one or two spies from Information Agencies embedded within embassies in this world.

To outsiders, they appear as regular diplomats, but those working within the Information Agency or Ministry of Foreign Affairs can recognize them as agents.

In internet lingo, they’d be considered ‘white’ agents, while conversely, ‘black’ agents are the field agents like James Bond that people often envision.

This is regarded as a kind of etiquette in the espionage world. “Since you’ve sent a spy, I’ll send you one too. If anything comes up, you can reach out through them.”

When major problems arise, having a communication channel is essential, right? If we mobilize troops to crush some barbarians, and they mistakenly think we’re gearing up for war, that could spell disaster.

If any signs of such an issue arise, the purpose is to resolve it through dialogue first.

“What exactly do I need to do?”

“Quite a lot, actually. Check how the citizens from our kingdom living abroad are doing, meet with the esteemed folks for meals, and occasionally greet friends as well.”

Monitor subversive elements and thought criminals hiding out abroad, fend off leeches trying to get too close to the Hero, and occasionally engage in verbal confrontations with foreign Information Agents.

I was relieved to find out that I wasn’t tasked with assassinations or document theft.

“Understanding the situation of our citizens residing overseas, meeting high-ranking officials, and exchanging intelligence with Information Agencies—does that sum it up?”

“To summarize the essentials, yes. Your selection as the Hero’s companion came unexpectedly, so just know that detailed operational instructions require further internal discussions.”

“Understood. So, I’ll receive specific orders through the embassy as needed?”

“Exactly. It’s nice to see you grasp that quickly.”

Colonel Clevenz filled his glass and continued.

“Well… I think we’ve covered the gist of our discussion.”

“You seem tired, Colonel.”

“It’s the pesky magic folk stirring up trouble in the nation these days. Or rather, is the entire continent in a state of chaos?”

“If we were to determine the cause-and-effect, then perhaps.”

“Well, it’s not like the Magic Tower has been the Empire’s lackey for just a day or two. What on earth is the Tower Master thinking, pitting successors against one another? Thanks to that, there’s been a lot of chatter regarding the succession issues in both the Magic Tower and the universities.”

The succession issues in the Magic Tower. It must relate to alchemists, I thought. In games, the story of an alchemist usually revolves around them being pushed out of the succession and joining out of necessity.

I evaluated our plans multiple times, but since I feared straying from the topic, I tried to absorb as much of the Colonel’s words as I could.

“Are the Magic Tower and the Empire that close?”

“Isn’t the demon tribe locked in a standoff with the Empire on the border? Recently, the Magic Tower has sent magicians to the border multiple times. On the surface, they claim it’s to protect the university located in the northern regions, but word is that the Emperor and the Tower Master are on quite friendly terms.”

“Sounds like a cozy relationship.”

“Let them think what they want. Regardless, ever since then, they’ve been reaching for financial support or involvement in succession matters.”

That meant they were pouring money into the Magic Tower Master’s succession struggles to influence the election. The information the Colonel had was derived from dozens of analyses, giving his words significant credibility.

In the past, I may have been a passive recipient, cutting news articles out of papers, but now, I was in a position to predict stories based on intelligence reports handed to me by agents.

Looking at it this way, I was truly moving up in the world. Had I not been the Hero’s companion, would I have led a more comfortable existence until my days were done?

Of course, I wasn’t in a position to concern myself with matters that hadn’t yet come to pass, so I set aside those thoughts and refilled my glass.

“By the way, do you have any advice for me? A subordinate heading off on a long trip.”

“Well, since I’m from the Counterintelligence Department, I don’t have much to offer. Just make sure not to get caught up in anything.”

Well, the Colonel was someone who caught spies, but he wasn’t someone who’d actually specialized in espionage himself.

“…If I were to offer one piece of advice, it would be to focus solely on matters concerning the Hero. The relevant departments are already managing overseas affairs efficiently, so be cautious not to meddle unnecessarily and create trouble for yourself.”

Don’t concern yourself with anything else; just do your own job diligently.

It might be a fundamental saying, but it bore weight coming from someone who had spent his time catching spies, making it worth taking to heart.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

 

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