Ch.161Episode 9 – Old Fashioned

# Abbas is a large country.

Though not quite on the level of the Kiyen Empire, which acts as a godfather to dictatorial governments worldwide with its natural resources from a continent-sized territory, or the Church that commits all sorts of atrocities backed by religious authority. Still, Abbas ranks among the so-called “great powers.”

Economic power,

Diplomatic influence,

Military strength,

Intelligence capabilities,

Advanced science and technology, magical engineering, academics, politics, and so on.

There are many reasons why Abbas is a great power, and its vast territory is one of them.

With fertile soil and developed chemical industries, it boasts excellent agricultural production. It’s rich in natural resources like iron and coal, and geographically, it can expand to other continents via sea routes without going through Fatalia or Lushan.

The land itself is enormous—larger than France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium combined.

Anyway.

The region we’ve come to is a coastal city in southeastern Abbas.

In Earth terms, it’s influenced by a Mediterranean climate, mild year-round, with developed arboriculture famous for olives and grapes. For centuries, it’s been home to many wealthy residents for various reasons. It’s also renowned for tourism and recreation.

This was common knowledge even in the military intelligence bureau. There was a naval base and military resort in the area, so intelligence officers could occasionally visit on vacation. They said it was a great place to visit alone or with family.

Right.

It would be a wonderful area to visit alone…

“I simply cannot understand why we have to move around as a group in such a nice place—”

“Be quiet!”

## Episode 9 – Old-Fashioned

A port city in southeastern Abbas. The view of the sea from the sandy beach was breathtaking.

The vast blue sea washed ashore with gentle murmurs, and sunlight settled on the white sandbar where waves broke into countless pieces.

The distant sound of ship horns and waves. Vessels busily carrying people and goods could be seen. People who arrived on the continent, chasing opportunities across the sea, stepped onto land carrying their swollen dreams, worries, passion, and poverty.

As the tears shed by immigrants who left their homeland for foreign shores seeped into the sand and flowed to the sea…

I was reminded of a coastal city in southern France that I once boasted to my colleagues I would visit after discharge, while flipping through an old, worn-out French textbook I bought from a used bookstore after graduating university and being commissioned as an ROTC officer.

“……”

The sky and clouds, the sea and waves.

The sand between my toes and the scent of the sea carried by the waves.

While I was staring blankly at the sea, lost in nostalgia, I frowned at the smell of cigarette smoke carried by the wind.

“Saint, could you please put out that cigarette? Why are you smoking even at the beach?”

“How about asking me to stop eating instead? I could do that.”

Veronica, wearing light clothing, turned to me with a smirk. Whitish smoke veiled her face like cotton thread.

“Don’t smoke in public. It’s inconsiderate.”

“But there’s no one around here? We’re the only ones using this place.”

“I see you don’t even consider that you’re causing me discomfort.”

At my mild rebuke, Veronica’s lips twitched.

“It’s just the two of us, why are you making such a fuss?”

She placed her half-smoked cigar on a portable ashtray, and I shook my head, turning my gaze back to the sea.

Camilla, Lucia, and Francesca were walking along the beach. The sight of the three of them walking against the backdrop of the mild southeastern coastal region of Abbas, warm year-round, was like a painting.

As I watched them strolling and frolicking on the beach, Veronica stretched and turned to me with languid eyes.

“So what is this place anyway?”

“A military base.”

“A military facility? Here?”

“More precisely, it’s a military resort.”

This was a resort managed by the Abbas military.

It could be used by active-duty and reserve soldiers, as well as employees of the Advanced Military Magic Research Institute and civilian military workers, and was operated by the Ministry of Defense.

The Abbas government had opened this military resort to the four visitors who came for rest.

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t providing protocol for state guests but rather confining them to prevent any further incidents. But since they were satisfied and the government was treating them well, no one saw it as imprisonment.

Except for me, who had to attend to foreigners during my vacation.

“If it’s a military resort, shouldn’t we not be allowed to use it?”

“It can’t be helped because of security concerns. It’s fortunate that this is a military facility where we can control who comes and goes.”

“Ah!”

Veronica nodded and smiled brightly.

Just then, the three people huddled together in the distance screamed “Kyaa!” in surprise as a wave rushed in.

“Although there’s no one here but us, this is quite a nice place. It’s famous within the military for its scenery and facilities, and there are many things to enjoy nearby. That’s why many generals use it, and occasionally even royalty visits.”

“You don’t look very happy to be in such a nice place?”

“Whose fault is that?”

I waved my hand dismissively.

We walked along the white sand beach together, chatting about various things. It wasn’t particularly substantive conversation.

“How are you feeling? Is your finger better now?”

“Ah, my finger? Well…”

I held up my thumb and smiled awkwardly.

Although a week had passed, the regrown thumb still felt strange.

“It still feels a bit odd. And I can’t bend it well.”

“Hmm… It seems you need more treatment. You said you got a month’s leave, right? I’ll help with whatever I can, so take your time to heal.”

Veronica said she and Lucia would help treat my injury for a month. There was no reason to refuse her offer, so I agreed.

“The three of them seem to have become friends quickly. Is the Hero particularly sociable?”

“It seems so.”

To be honest, neither Lucia nor Francesca is the type to approach others first and try to make friends. It’s not so much shyness as their upbringing making it difficult for them to easily befriend others.

In contrast, Camilla was the most sociable person among us.

She never hesitated to speak to strangers, always wore a smile, and approached everyone with an energetic attitude. Camilla was like that.

That’s why it was easier to train her in those areas. She had talent, and she seemed to be on the same wavelength as Lucia and Francesca.

So the three of them becoming friends wasn’t strange at all—it was natural.

“What about you?” Veronica asked.

“Have you become friends with my sisters? Last time I saw, you seemed very close with the Hero. I saw you hugging in the hallway.”

“If someone heard that, they might think we’re dating.”

“Oh my. Aren’t you?”

I really wanted to smack her one, but I decided to hold back. With these things, it’s best to save up and unleash it all at once. I’ll pick a day and get her back properly.

“We’re not like that. And I’m not particularly close with the other two yet.”

“Then how about becoming friends with them now?”

Veronica smiled gently. She had taken off her sandals and was walking barefoot on the sandy beach.

“You’ve been through a lot these past few months. Since we’re here to relax, wouldn’t it be nice to rest together?”

I glanced over to where the three were.

Camilla, Lucia, and Francesca, who had been running around on the white sand beach, had now entered the sea and were splashing water enthusiastically.

Looking at the sea reminded me of naval commando training, giving me goosebumps.

The unpleasant memory made me shudder, and Veronica, startled as if I was having a seizure, anxiously checked my complexion.

“I’d rather rest alone…”

Veronica, who had somehow stuck close to examine me, suggested in a subtle voice.

“Come on, don’t be like that. Let’s have fun together. Wouldn’t it be nice to become friends with my sisters?”

“Is there really a need for that…?”

“Are you going to keep your distance forever? Like now?”

I shrugged, avoiding an answer. At that moment, Veronica’s black eyebrows twitched.

“Major, what did I ask of you before?”

“You asked me to treat your sisters well.”

“That’s right. So why are you reacting like this? Are you ignoring my words?”

Veronica thumped her chest in frustration. Her breasts swayed beneath her thin clothes.

It was such a shocking sight that I couldn’t take my eyes off it, but her next words snapped me back to reality.

“Be honest. When you were at the academy, you couldn’t even make eye contact with women, right?”

“Where’s that barking coming from…?”

I rubbed my ear with my finger.

Living all these years, and now being mocked as a virgin by an intelligence officer. I might be the first person to be ridiculed as a virgin by a saint.

It was absurd, but I couldn’t refute it because it was true.

“Saint, instead of unfairly using facts, why not compete fairly with propaganda and fabrication?”

“There you go with your nonsense again. Ah, stop acting like a loner and get in there!”

*

Veronica dragged me toward the sea. It was a sudden acceleration.

By the time the seawater was lapping around our ankles, Veronica and I were pushing and shoving each other.

She was trying her hardest to push me into the water, while I was resisting with all my might.

“Are you going to keep resisting…?!”

“No! Why are you suddenly trying to dunk me in the sea?!”

But Veronica wouldn’t back down. As if to prove she hadn’t eaten her central political experience in vain, she began political maneuvering to get me into the sea.

Someone responded to Veronica’s playfulness.

Surprisingly, it was Lucia.

“Saint Lucia…? What are you doing…?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Uh, uhh…”

Lucia, who appeared behind me, lifted me up and threw me toward the sea.

And so I flew through the air and plunged into the water. It felt like I’d been thrown several meters.

-Splash!

“…Pfft-! …Cough, cough…!”

The December sea wasn’t as cold as I expected.

But being suddenly thrown into the sea caused seawater to enter my nose.

When I finally managed to raise my head above the surface, I saw the others looking at me.

Camilla had her eyes wide open, Lucia was smiling apologetically as if she felt bad, Francesca wore an amused smile, and Veronica was laughing hysterically, apparently finding my predicament hilarious.

Finding it so vexing, I threw both Veronica and Lucia into the sea.

“Kyaaah!”

“Aook…!”

Of course, I didn’t throw them far, so they got up quickly.

Veronica, spitting out seawater, stuck out her tongue slightly and grumbled.

“What if I haven’t changed my clothes yet?”

“Then why did you throw me in?”

“Because it’s fun?”

Damn it. Annoyed, I pretended to help her up but tripped her, making her fall face-first.

A splash of water rose as Veronica plunged into the sea.

I was snickering at the sight when Veronica suddenly emerged and wrapped her arms around my neck, dunking me back into the water.

We ended up hugging each other and rolling in the sea, and when we surfaced, we were both hit in the face by an incoming wave.

Seeing this, Camilla, Lucia, and Francesca burst into laughter. Without a word, we exchanged glances and then threw all three of them into the sea.

And so we played for a long time, losing track of time.

It was a moment of fleeting happiness.

*

Time passed, and evening came. The sun was setting beyond the horizon, and the shy moon peeked out to illuminate the night sky.

We trudged up to the shore like survivors of a shipwreck.

After hours in and out of the water, our hands and feet had turned pale and wrinkled. Our body temperature had dropped so much that even a slight breeze made us shiver, and having skipped meals, our stomachs were growling.

“Whew, it’s cold…”

“Everyone go in and wash up. All necessary items have been prepared in advance, so you can enter your rooms with the keys I’ve distributed. I’ll call you when dinner is ready.”

“Okay…”

After sending everyone to their rooms, I returned to my own quarters and took a shower.

After showering, I made calls to the Ministry of Defense officials managing the resort, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the embassy, and the delegation. By the time I finished, everyone else had also completed their showers, and we were able to have dinner together.

“Now it feels like we’re here to rest. Don’t you think, Major?”

“Indeed.”

I finally felt like I was truly on vacation.

But just because I was resting didn’t mean problems wouldn’t arise.

Camilla, Lucia, Francesca, and Veronica were distinguished figures wherever they went. In particular, Lucia, Veronica, and Francesca were influential figures in the Church’s central politics, the Oracle of the Magic Tower, and the secretariat connecting administrative departments, respectively.

Perhaps anxious about having such figures gathered in one place, Church and Magic Tower diplomats dispatched to Abbas insisted on coming all the way here.

But even diplomats couldn’t order saints and administrative officials around.

In the end, I, being the most approachable, was the one to receive them.

“Welcome, Minister.”

“Pleased to meet you, Frederick Nostrum, Military Attaché.”

“You’re from the delegation, correct? It’s an honor to meet you.”

“Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

The minister from the Church embassy, the deputy representative from the Magic Tower delegation, and their entourage.

I had to deal with Church diplomats who came to meet Veronica and Lucia, Magic Tower diplomats who came to meet Francesca, and all the attendants they brought. Being already tired, I felt like I needed ten bodies.

“Where is the Administrative Officer?”

“She’s preparing upstairs. Would you like me to call her down now?”

“No, that’s fine. By the way… I’ve been briefed about the unfortunate incident that occurred recently.”

“Yes, please go ahead, Deputy Representative.”

“If necessary, we would be happy to provide as much assistance as possible in resolving the matter. If you need any help, please don’t hesitate…”

The Magic Tower diplomat was a career diplomat. It was obvious he had come simply to meet Francesca rather than with any particular agenda. After exchanging some perfunctory conversation with me, he spoke with Francesca at a distance.

In contrast, the Church diplomat was an intelligence officer. He didn’t explicitly reveal his identity to me, but I could tell just from exchanging a few words.

“I’ve heard about the terrorist attack. I understand you responded directly at the scene.”

“Yes, that’s correct. Is that why you’ve come?”

“Something like that. It must have been shocking, but if you recall any circumstances, could you contact me separately? This is my personal number.”

He’s definitely an intelligence officer with an official cover. Considering that counselors or consuls typically hold senior positions in overseas branches, this man is likely the chief or senior officer of the Abbas branch. He might even be the branch director.

The fact that someone of his rank personally came forward and gave me his personal number suggested that Abbas intelligence agencies weren’t properly sharing information with the Inquisition.

I’ll just take his card and hold off for now.

“I understand. I’ll contact you right away if anything comes to mind.”

“Thank you. And this is a gift from the Church to you, Military Attaché. Please don’t feel burdened—it’s a gift wishing for your speedy recovery.”

The Church’s minister handed me a gift package. I heard it contained items that would help with recovery. It seemed to be compensation for my hardship at the department store. Lucia was there too, after all.

While the gift was appreciated, it was unfortunately given with an expectation of something in return. More precisely, it was a medium to approach me and establish a relationship. He would probably approach me before my memory faded and ask how the gift was, if I used it well. A predictable tactic.

So I decided to take it and run.

Whatever the Inquisition wanted wasn’t my concern.

While I was laughing and chatting with the minister, Lucia, Veronica, and Camilla came down after finishing their preparations and joined the group. The Church diplomats checked on the saints’ safety, and some subtly approached Camilla. I stood at a distance, trying to memorize the faces of the diplomats who spoke with Camilla.

After about two hours of reception, it was finally 10:30 PM.

At last, the time had come when I could rest easy.

“Ah, finally over…”

“Good job.”

After the reception ended, everyone returned to their rooms, saying they were tired, so only Camilla and I remained awake.

Camilla, who had come with hands full of tea, smiled brightly and offered me a cup.

“Thank you.”

“It’s hot, so drink it slowly. You might burn yourself.”

“Yes.”

I received the steaming cup. After carefully blowing on it to cool it down, I savored the now lukewarm tea.

The tea was excellent.

“This is good. Where did you get it?”

“I made it myself.”

“You made it yourself, Camilla?”

“Yes!”

“Well…”

She has some surprising skills. I hadn’t seen Camilla make tea before, but the tea she brewed was very good.

I leaned back on the sofa and sipped the tea Camilla had made.

“It’s really good.”

Camilla smiled brightly.

“Thank you. Hehe.”

“Were you okay today? You fell into the sea several times.”

“Who fell in more than me? You were hit by waves and couldn’t even come to your senses.”

Camilla teased me with a mischievous smile. It was typical behavior for her playful nature.

“So there’s no health issue?”

“No. I’m a bit tired, but I think I’ll be fine by tomorrow morning.”

“Re~ally?”

I nodded slightly and then grinned.

“Then we can start tomorrow.”

“Huh? Start what?”

“Training.”

For a moment, Camilla’s smile cracked. As if buffering, she blinked for a while before her eyelids began to tremble.

“…What?”

“We need to train. Train. You’ve been resting plenty, but if we stop here, nothing will come of it.”

“Weren’t we here to relax? It’s a vacation!”

“I’m the one on vacation. You just snuck into the country.”

Camilla made a whining sound and looked dejected. Instead of trying to argue or make lame excuses, she quickly accepted reality.

Tapping her teacup with a cookie, Camilla rested her chin on her hand with a sulky expression.

“What kind of training will we do tomorrow?”

“Many things. Rhetoric, analysis, intelligence gathering, how to identify handlers… Oh, and basic physical conditioning too.”

“Ugh…”

At the mention of physical conditioning, Camilla made a sound like an undead and grimaced.

“You’re not going to make me run on the beach, are you…?”

“Huh? How did you understand with just half a sentence? Amazing… Have you done this somewhere before?”

“Gyaaaah!”

Camilla wailed louder and writhed. Seeing her already in agony, I smiled brightly.

Seeing that she might start crawling on the floor if left like this, I had to comfort her.

“It’s okay. We’ll do other things too.”

“What else…! What now…!”

“Marksmanship.”

At the mention of shooting, Camilla, who had been half-lying on the sofa, sat up straight. The dull, dark look in her eyes was gone, replaced by bright blue eyes staring intently at me.

“Shooting?”

“You need to learn how to shoot a gun too. How can an intelligence officer not know how to shoot?”

“Really…?”

“Of course.”

I nodded in response rather than giving a lengthy explanation.

I would have had to teach Camilla how to shoot eventually. Given the state of the world, and considering that Camilla’s physical condition was still not ideal for relying solely on magic in combat.

So it would be good for her to learn in advance while we had time.

“Basic military training can be completed in a month. If we skip all the complicated stuff like specialties, drill commands, and mental education, and focus purely on shooting, it would be useful.”

“Do you really think so?”

“You said you have a gun license and have shot before. That makes it even easier.”

However,

“But you must use firearms only for defensive purposes. It’s best not to create situations where you need to shoot at all. Promise me this one thing.”

“Yes!”

Camilla answered with a bright smile. She’s always good at answering, at least.

I shook my head gently and drank my tea, while Camilla smiled incessantly, clearly pleased about something.

“Is that all we’ll learn starting tomorrow?”

“Actually, there is one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“Upper-class culture.”

Upper-class culture?

Camilla tilted her head curiously, lost in thought.

“Do I… really need to learn that?”

Can’t I be an intelligence officer without knowing that? Do I absolutely have to learn it? Camilla conveyed that sentiment in her question.

I put down my teacup and looked directly at Camilla.

“Camilla, do you know about cultural capital?”

“Cultural capital? Is that the concept from sociology?”

“Yes.”

‘Cultural capital’ is a concept proposed by French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu.

To explain it simply without complicated details:

“The hobbies and tastes a person enjoys are inherited from their parents’ generation—that is, influenced by their social background.”

If a mother listens to classical music, her child will too; if a father enjoys wine, so will his child.

A child who attended opera with their grandmother in childhood will continue to watch opera as they grow up, and a child who visited special exhibitions holding their grandfather’s hand will develop a deep appreciation for art as an adult.

In other words, “they live in completely different worlds.”

That’s why in England, the upper class enjoys cricket and horseback riding, and even though they speak the same English, their pronunciation and vocabulary differ. This can be easily observed in India, France, and even across the American continent and Asia.

“Of course, such concepts have been diluted in the 21st century. Anyone with money can learn golf, and chess can be easily accessed from childhood. But there are still many areas where this isn’t the case. For example, hobbies like opera or horseback riding.”

“Ah… I understand what you mean. But can’t I perform my duties without learning these things?”

“Camilla, do you remember what I explained at the very beginning? The conditions an intelligence officer should consider when recruiting an informant. What were they?”

“What their vulnerabilities are, whether they can access the required intelligence…”

“The people that intelligence agencies and officers would target for information—people who might know such information or have access to it—are they more likely to be in the upper class or the lower class?”

“…The upper class, I suppose.”

I nodded.

“That’s why I’m telling you to learn. That’s why intelligence agencies provide opera tickets to officers dispatched overseas and have them learn golf, horseback riding, or chess. Of course, some people do well without knowing these things, but it doesn’t hurt to know. They’re not harmful hobbies, after all.”

Well, they are harmful to your bank balance, but anyway.

“Lower-class culture isn’t completely useless either. It has its own applications.”

“…What kind of culture?”

“For example, criminal organizations or drug cartels. If you’re going to handle low-level informants, you need to know about those cultures too.”

Camilla seemed to understand my explanation, nodding vigorously and saying she got it. She’s really good at responding.

I tilted my cup to finish the remaining tea. Meanwhile, Camilla, who had been pondering deeply beside me, groaned and asked:

“But where do you learn such hobbies?”

“I know a few simple upper-class hobbies, so I can teach you. Though things like horseback riding would be difficult…”

“Oh, I know how to ride horses.”

“…Pardon?”

Why would you know how to do that?

I’m a member of a riding club.

…

I had vaguely suspected it, but it seems Camilla really was born into a wealthy family. A member of a riding club? Such a bourgeois, exploiting the blood and sweat of workers.

I felt momentarily dizzy, but I was relieved that there was one less thing to teach. Just then,

Camilla, who was personally clearing the teacups, blurted out:

“Have you ever met upper-class people?”

“Me? I’m nobility here.”

“No, that’s not what I meant. You keep talking about it, and you seem familiar with Earth’s upper-class culture.”

Oh, that’s what she meant.

I handed the empty teacup to Camilla and sighed, falling into thought for a moment. When did I meet upper-class people?

“Hmm… It was so long ago that I don’t remember having a conversation, but I’ve seen them from a distance.”

“Who was it?”

“Well, I don’t remember the name… Probably a deputy minister from the Foreign Ministry. The location was Caracas. The conversation partner was the North Korean ambassador.”

“Caracas? You mean Venezuela?”

Yes. I nodded, confirming she was right.

“It was a short-term assignment, but I didn’t stay in Venezuela. I mainly stayed in Bogotá and crossed the border when needed.”

“Hmm… Bogotá is in Colombia…”

Camilla closed her eyes gently in thought, then suddenly opened them wide.

“Wait a minute. Colombia and Venezuela? You were there?”

“Yes.”

“Those aren’t civil war zones, and there’s no foreign military stationed there. They’re even in South America, far from Asia…”

“……”

“Weren’t you from a special forces unit…?”

“I never said I was from special forces. I said it was a similar unit.”

“Then where were you from? Are you even really a soldier?”

“Yes, I’m a soldier. I served as an officer. I was commissioned through ROTC. Of course, initially I joined to pay for tuition, not planning to make a career out of the military.”

“Which unit were you with?”

“……”

I pondered for a long time whether I should say this. It had been decades since I had uttered the name of my unit aloud, so I needed some time. I was also not used to revealing my identity.

But the deliberation wasn’t long.

“Camilla.”

“…Yes.”

“Have you ever heard of the Defense Intelligence Command?”