Ch.188Episode 10 – Turn Your Course to the North-Northwest

The languid cat lying down raised its head. Staring intently with sapphire eyes that seemed to pull one in, the creature blinked once and flicked its tongue.

“…Did the cat just speak?”

Camilla’s lips trembled in shock. Though she was addressing me, her eyes remained fixed on the cat.

Unable to tear her gaze away from the cat, Camilla muttered with a dumbfounded expression.

“This is insane…”

As if responding to her words, the cat lifted its head and meowed.

As Camilla bent down and slowly approached to pick up the cat—

“AAAAAAHHHHH!”

I screamed, hoisted Camilla over my shoulder, and started running toward the Ministry of Defense building.

“What, why are you suddenly acting like this?!”

“Monster! It’s a monster!”

“???”

Camilla flailed about while I ran away screaming. The broom dangled and swung, and snow splashed up from the slush.

We sprinted toward the Ministry of Defense building like madpeople.

After the commotion died down.

Left all alone, the cat turned its head and descended from the rock.

“Meow.”

Episode 10 – Turn Your Course to North-Northwest

After the brief commotion, the situation quickly calmed down.

I carried Camilla on my back and ran into the Ministry of Defense building, and the Kiyen Empire’s Ministry of Defense promptly sent people to investigate.

“So… you’re saying you saw a talking cat near the Ministry of Defense?”

“Yes.”

The older officer nodded while scribbling with his pen.

He was wearing a duty uniform, and judging by the rank insignia on his collar, he was a colonel. The badge attached to his chest indicated he was from the intelligence branch.

As he took notes of my statement, his expression grew serious.

“You’re certain it was a talking cat?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Could you describe the cat’s characteristics?”

I listed all the features of the cat I had just seen.

Luxurious snow-white fur and sapphire blue eyes. It was quite large. It wore a necklace that appeared to be made of jewels. I also mentioned that I first spotted it in a tree.

“Can you recall specifically how large the cat was?”

“Ah, when Camilla first picked it up by its armpits… I’d say its length was from her neck to her waist.”

The colonel wrote down everything I described without missing a single detail. Next to him, an official from the Magic Department was flipping through an encyclopedia floating in mid-air, while soldiers and officials in the corner were making various phone calls.

Though they belonged to different departments, they all shared the same grave expression.

I crossed my arms, bit my lip slightly, and waited anxiously.

“Thank you for your report. Would both of you be willing to go to the Magic Department for a brief examination? We’ll contact the embassy and your colleagues for the military attaché and, um, the hero.”

“Yes.”

“Thank you for your cooperation. As you probably understand, we’d appreciate if you kept this matter confidential for the sake of our investigation.”

“Yes, I’ll try not to discuss it with others.”

“Thank you.”

The colonel repeatedly expressed his gratitude for our report. He even bowed his head, earnestly requesting that we not disclose the fact that we had seen a talking cat.

When this man old enough to be my father bowed his head, even Camilla, who had never served in the military, seemed to sense that something unusual was happening. She had been munching on snacks while sitting on the most comfortable sofa in the office when she whispered to me.

“What’s going on here? Why are they making such a big deal about not telling anyone about a talking cat?”

I looked around and answered in a quiet voice.

“A talking cat isn’t an ordinary cat, you know. Even in this world with magicians, talking animals don’t exist.”

“Hmm…”

The practicing magician put her hand to her cheek, deep in thought.

Camilla, still inexperienced in many ways, didn’t seem to grasp how serious this was.

“If talking cats don’t exist, couldn’t it be a magician who transformed? That happens in fantasy movies all the time. Magicians who turn into animals.”

“That’s exactly the problem.”

This is a world where magic exists, but talking animals don’t. In my 28 years of living in this area, I know for certain that such animals absolutely do not exist.

Which means it wasn’t an animal. It was something else taking the form of a cat.

“In this world, transformation magic that turns someone into an animal is strictly forbidden. Such magic does exist, but it’s legally impossible to use, and anyone caught using it is punished.”

“What kind of punishment?”

“Life imprisonment without parole, and exile.”

Prison sentences usually include the possibility of parole. If criminals behave well in prison, they might get their sentences reduced by a few years, but magicians caught using transformation magic cannot receive parole.

Moreover, magicians affiliated with a magic tower may even be exiled. Exile, which is like a death sentence for magicians, is usually only imposed on those who commit unforgivable crimes. Like first-degree murder or terrorism.

When I mentioned having to rot in prison for life, Camilla was startled and asked again.

“Life imprisonment without parole? Isn’t that excessive for something that’s not even murder?”

“It’s because it’s dangerous. Very dangerous.”

Let me say it again: talking animals like that don’t exist in this world. What we just met wasn’t an animal, but a sentient being transformed into an animal. And in this world, transformation magic is prohibited.

“Transformation magic allows one to change into a non-human creature or object. The magic itself is quite difficult, requires lengthy preparation, and needs various materials.”

I took a breath and continued.

“The problem is that using this magic is inherently difficult. It’s high-level, time-consuming, and resource-intensive. That’s why magicians occasionally have accidents when attempting transformation magic.”

“Such as?”

“For instance, trying to turn into a dog but ending up with a dog’s head and a lion’s body, or successfully transforming but having your body fuse with nearby objects. There have also been cases where magicians lost consciousness during preparation or drew the magical formula incorrectly and couldn’t return to their original form.”

These are just a few examples.

Magicians who have to live as animals for the rest of their lives or become vegetative are actually among the luckier ones. There have been magicians who transformed into monsters, lost their sanity and harmed people, or got their limbs stuck in walls or ground and died.

The latter is also one of the side effects of teleportation magic, though I’ve heard things have improved somewhat these days.

Still, seeing magicians occasionally die by accidentally teleporting into the ground or underwater makes me think maybe not.

Anyway, transformation magic is strictly prohibited because of these side effects.

“But it seems useful. If you transform into an animal, even your family wouldn’t recognize you. Isn’t that perfect for disguise?”

I shook my head as I looked at Camilla.

“That’s precisely why it’s forbidden. The potential for misuse is enormous.”

Imagine a serial killer using transformation magic. Unless you station highly skilled magic investigators on every street corner, you’d never catch them.

What if terrorists or spies used transformation magic? Intelligence agencies would be completely overwhelmed. Even a hundred Clavins couldn’t stop it. In fact, during the war between the Church and the Magic Towers a hundred years ago, magicians frequently used transformation magic. The Inquisition tried everything to catch magicians transformed into animals, but they only succeeded after killing all animals indiscriminately.

The good news is that no magicians use transformation magic in modern times.

To be precise, after the war between the Church and the Magic Towers, the Magic Towers burned and purged all books related to transformation magic due to concerns about side effects and misuse. Therefore, no magicians remain who can cast transformation magic, and no specific materials about transformation magic exist.

At least, that’s true among human magicians.

After I explained this far, Camilla seemed to catch on and tilted her head.

“Since you specified human magicians, I’m guessing non-human magicians can use it?”

Correct.

“As you said, Camilla, non-human magicians can use transformation magic. They aren’t influenced by the Magic Towers. The problem is that because they’re beyond the reach of the Magic Towers, they can’t be controlled.”

Races like demons or elves. Species that reject human control and have built their own societies.

Such races use transformation magic.

And demons and elves are typical enemies of humans.

That’s why the Empire is going crazy.

“If they deliberately use transformation magic for terrorism, we can’t stop them. There aren’t many cases of other species using transformation magic, but they do exist.”

“Ah…”

The timing is also suspiciously perfect.

Just as Camilla, Lucia, and Francesca entered the country. A cat suspected of using transformation magic was discovered near the Ministry of Defense building.

Traditionally, the Ministry of Defense building is a high-value target. That’s why the Israeli Air Force, when bombing Lebanon, first struck in the direction of the presidential palace and the Ministry of Defense building.

By this point, even Camilla’s expression had grown serious. True to her Conflict Studies background, she seemed to have grasped how the situation was unfolding.

“We need to find it quickly.”

“Indeed.”

The colonel, who had been talking on the phone with someone, strode over to us.

“Thank you for cooperating with the investigation. Both of you should proceed to the Magic Department for examination and then you can return home.”

“Yes.”

“Oh, and take this.”

The colonel handed me a small piece of paper.

I took it and asked, “What is this?”

“My business card.”

I read the card the colonel had given me.

-Ministry of Defense, Counterintelligence Command, Security Information Division 4, Division Chief.

A spy catcher, huh.

*

After stopping by the Magic Department for some tests, we returned to the embassy. I thought I’d be in trouble for leaving my post without notice, but surprisingly, the embassy didn’t make an issue of it.

That’s because they had bigger problems.

“So let me get this straight. You went to the smoking area behind the Ministry of Defense, met the hero, and she was trying to get a cat down from a tree, but suddenly the cat spoke? Not a cat-person, but an actual cat?”

“Yes.”

“And then you contacted the counterintelligence unit and went to the Magic Department for physical examination without prior approval?”

“That’s correct, Ambassador.”

The embassy was in an uproar.

The guy who said he was just going out for a smoke and would be right back suddenly lost contact, then underwent investigation by a counterintelligence agency, detoured to the Magic Department, and came back.

And the reason was even more outrageous—he reported a “talking cat.”

The ambassador immediately reported this to our home country. He told them I had contact with a possibly demonic creature and was investigated by both the counterintelligence command and the Magic Department.

That’s why I was summoned before my superior.

“Unbelievable. You go out for a smoke and happen to encounter a demon near the Empire’s Ministry of Defense.”

Leoni looked at me with a dispassionate expression as she sat in her chair.

“Is it true?”

“Yes, it is.”

“This is driving me crazy.”

Her file contained an urgent message from the Abas Embassy in Kiyen.

The document from the Empire’s Magic Department confirmed that neither Camilla nor I had been affected by black magic or mental contamination.

“How do you manage to cause trouble and get recalled to the home country in less than a week?”

“I’m surprised myself.”

“That’s not a joke, so shut it.”

I immediately sealed my mouth.

Fortunately, since I hadn’t actually caused the incident, Military Intelligence didn’t impose any disciplinary measures. That’s a relief.

However, there was still a problem.

Leoni leaned back in her chair and massaged her temple.

“You received a business card from a counterintelligence colonel?”

“Yes. I’ve registered it in the database.”

“Good, you’re prompt and not dawdling.”

Leoni’s office was in the Military Intelligence building. After resigning as director of the Royal Intelligence Department, she had returned to Military Intelligence and indeed set up a desk in the main building.

The move didn’t seem to be complete yet, as her office was extremely cluttered. Cardboard boxes were piled like mountains, and unpacked belongings stretched from the entrance to right beside her desk.

I had to walk carefully through the office, which barely had room to step, lest I trip.

Leoni read through the message, closed the file, and interlaced her fingers. As she moved, the brigadier general insignia caught the bright light and gleamed.

“I see you’ve been promoted to brigadier general.”

“With the company’s reorganization, existing positions have been elevated a bit. One star isn’t enough to become the director of Military Intelligence anymore.”

The director of Military Intelligence is typically a brigadier or major general. Usually, a major general serves as the director and a brigadier general as the chief of staff.

Below them are colonels who oversee divisions, departments, and offices, and from lieutenant colonels down to sergeants who handle battalions, sections, and teams.

By the way, Leoni is the overseas director. From now on, all “overseas operations” conducted by Military Intelligence will be under her command. Naturally, military attachés dispatched to embassies also fall under her responsibility.

I thought Clavins would become the director when he was promoted to brigadier general. It’s a shame that even with a brigadier rank, he can’t become the director now.

Tap. Tap. Tap tap.

Leoni spoke in a tired voice.

“A talking cat. Definitely not a good sign.”

“They don’t seem certain whether it’s a demon or another species. If it’s another species proficient in magic, elves are likely, but the possibility of demons can’t be ruled out.”

“Why would elves use such magic in the Empire? The dark ones are welcomed wherever they go, so unless it’s one of those pale fellows, it’s more likely to be a demon.”

Tap. Tap.

Leoni seemed lost in thought as she tapped the desk, then pushed aside the file containing the examination results and began speaking.

“Our Magic Department has assessed that there are no human magicians capable of using transformation magic, and except for a few rare cases, it hasn’t been confirmed among other species. They estimate there’s more than a 50% chance it’s a demon.”

“Is that so?”

“Seeing how they’ve mobilized not only Magic Department investigators but also counterintelligence personnel, the Empire seems to be on edge too. They know better than anyone how nasty demons can be. I’ve also heard they’ve deployed special forces.”

“…Special forces?”

Thud, a file was tossed in front of me. It was an urgent intelligence report from the communications room.

The message from the Empire contained photos of soldiers in special forces combat uniforms walking around without full gear.

As soon as I saw the unit insignia on the combat uniforms, my eyes widened.

I know these guys.

“This photo just got caught in our local intelligence network. 35th Independent Special Operations Regiment. They operate under the Reconnaissance Command for counter-terrorism operations.”

I know them. I saw them when practicing analysis with Camilla.

I had wondered why they weren’t going north and were stationed in the capital—perhaps for a coup or some military operation—but I didn’t expect it to be true.

I tilted my head and asked Leoni, “Is this situation that serious?”

“What’s better than a counter-terrorism unit when dealing with sorcerers?”

“Ah, that’s certainly true.”

Counter-terrorism units in this world don’t just deal with bomb threats or mass shooters. They often experience combat against magic because magicians are sometimes involved in terrorist acts.

In fact, since special forces units themselves include combat magicians, counter-terrorism units that might face enemy special forces in wartime are trained for anti-magic combat.

Of course, this is only possible in countries with the economic power to support it (special forces units are money pits), but the Empire invests in its military even if it means pulling out support beams, so that’s not an issue for them.

“Speaking of which, you recently faced a sorcerer, didn’t you?”

“Not a magician, but people using black magic.”

“Those wasteland dregs have gone completely mad, dabbling in black magic. The world’s gone crazy. Tsk tsk…”

Leoni clicked her tongue and cursed the world. She sounds a bit like an old fogey.

Of course, if I said that out loud, her combat boots would probably come flying at my face, so I just kept quiet.

“Let’s set aside the cat story.”

Leoni closed the file and swept the message aside.

“How’s the operation going?”

“Yes, I’ve made contact with the target. The exit route investigation is complete, and I’ll explain the method at the next meeting and then execute it.”

“What about the tickets?”

“I’ve secured them, and I’ll receive payment at the next meeting. We can collect the balance when they enter Abas after paying the deposit upfront.”

“I like how straightforward you are.”

-Knock! Knock! Knock!

A cheerful knocking sound. The aide entered the office with a light knock and saluted Leoni.

“Brigadier General, the warp gate closing time is approaching.”

“Ah, I see.”

Leoni nodded at the aide’s report and turned to me.

“Return to the embassy on time through the gate. If you’re late, those counterintelligence guys might get suspicious.”

*

The Military Intelligence building I visited after a long time was more desolate than I expected.

Part of it was certainly because it was after office hours, but it also looked more desolate because it was under construction.

After the reorganization of Abas intelligence agencies was confirmed, Military Intelligence also underwent restructuring. And the restructuring involved not just organizational changes but also major construction work.

In other words, they were remodeling.

I passed by piles of paint and construction materials and left the Military Intelligence building. The external parking lot was empty except for the vehicles of a few employees working overtime.

“Leaving for the day.”

“Yes, thank you for your work. Here’s your social security card.”

I collected my social security card from the checkpoint and buttoned up my coat. Though not as severe as the Empire located in the north, the cold wave in Abas was still biting.

When am I going to get to the warp gate? It’s at least a 30-minute drive from Military Intelligence.

“Hoo.”

My white breath stretched into the air, blending with the dusky early evening sky.

I put my hands in my pockets and was carefully walking on the icy path to catch a public bus when—

-Honk!

A sudden horn sound.

Startled, I turned my head to see a black sedan parked on the shoulder.

The window rolled down smoothly, and Clavins’ face popped out.

“Where are you headed?”

“Um… I was on my way to catch the warp gate.”

“Is that so?”

Clavins, who was on his way home, smiled brightly.

“Hop in. I’ll give you a ride on my way.”

*

On the way to the immigration office.

Thanks to Clavins picking me up as he was passing by, I could travel comfortably. Much better than taking a bus in the middle of winter.

The new assistant who replaced me as the counterintelligence director’s aide was driving. It was the same person I met at the bar with Camilla the other day.

“Are you back for good?”

“No, not at all.”

Clavins smiled kindly and spoke to me. He seemed to think I was on leave or something.

Is it because it’s been a while since we met? His face seems to have aged quite a bit. When I subtly asked if he was tired these days, Clavins just smiled and told me not to ask such questions.

A single star gleamed on his shoulder.

I smiled awkwardly and returned to the original topic.

“I received a recall order and just stopped by on my way back.”

“Recall? Did you cause some trouble?”

“No. If anything, I got caught up in trouble.”

I explained to Clavins what had happened today.

How I went out for a smoke, met Camilla, scolded her for using flight magic near the Ministry of Defense to help a cat down, but then discovered that the cat was actually a magician using transformation magic.

After that, I had a 2-on-2 meeting with a counterintelligence officer from the Ministry of Defense and a Magic Department investigator, was summoned by the ambassador, received a recall order, and reported to the office.

It was quite an eventful day, with one thing after another. Even as I tell it, it’s dizzying.

Clavins seemed to have similar thoughts, as he showed a slightly incredulous reaction.

“You’ve certainly been through a lot. I don’t know how you always manage to get involved in incidents when you go abroad.”

“Haha.”

I wonder about that myself.

Nothing happened for six years, but the incidents I’ve experienced in the past six months have been far more dynamic than all the incidents in those six years combined. And more varied too.

“Demons… Come to think of it, you were recently involved with black magic. And now demons?”

“I’d prefer not to get involved with that side if possible.”

“If only that were possible.”

Indeed. Honestly, I feel like I’ll almost certainly encounter demons if I go north.

I was curious if Clavins had ever seen a demon, so I asked, but he said he hadn’t.

“How often would an ordinary person encounter demons in their lifetime? Unless you’re an exorcist priest, inquisitor, holy knight, or magician, the chances of meeting a demon are slim.”

“That’s true.”

“Dwarves smashing up shops when drunk, orcs arrested for assault, elves shooting arrows and running away during wasteland operations, beastfolk—those I might have seen.”

“Haha…”

“Oh, by the way, we’re sending new staff to the Empire.”

“Dispatching? Ah, you mean the task force.”

After being summoned to the “committee” before going to the southern resort and meeting with high-ranking officials, I was assigned to a task force.

I don’t know what kind of task force it is. It’s supposed to be an organization composed of personnel from the intelligence department, defense department, and foreign ministry, but I’m not sure what its purpose is.

There hasn’t been any specific information so far, so I had forgotten about it. But it seems the task force is finally getting started.

“They’re sending a few people as diplomatic staff.”

“To the Empire?”

“That’s right. They’re quite short-staffed at the embassy there, aren’t they?”

Due to the aftermath of the mass diplomatic expulsion triggered by the Imperial Guard’s blunder, the Abas Embassy in Kiyen is suffering from a shortage of personnel.

It’s so bad that they don’t have enough people who can drive the vehicles registered to the diplomatic mission, so the vehicles are sitting idle. The ambassador’s and minister’s dedicated vehicles are running fine, but other diplomats can hardly use vehicles. Thanks to that, I received a dedicated car.

As I gazed at the city lights filtering through the window, Clavins suddenly started a seemingly random conversation.

“Do you remember? That double agent.”

“Double agent? Ah, the Imperial Guard.”

I nodded and continued.

“I remember. You turned someone who was working at the embassy.”

“Someone who came over easily due to financial difficulties and feelings of betrayal. You remember well.”

“But why are you suddenly asking about that?”

Clavins got to the point.

“Would you like to handle him?”

“Me? The double agent?”

Clavins silently nodded, and I fell into contemplation.

Could I really handle a double agent?

Handling a double agent requires tremendous skill. Unlike ordinary informants, they operate within intelligence agencies.

They’re well-versed in the intelligence community, so they can’t be easily deceived with sweet talk, and because they work for a foreign country within an intelligence agency, they’re at extremely high risk of being caught in investigation nets. Moreover, the defection itself could be a counter-operation to deceive us.

You need to ensure the informant brings useful information without getting caught, while also preparing for possible counter-intelligence and counter-operations. In short, handling a double agent means the intelligence officer also has to put their neck on the line.

I pondered.

And after much deliberation, I reached a conclusion.

“I appreciate the offer, but I don’t think I’m up to the task.”

“Is that so?”

“There must be many more capable intelligence officers than me.”

Clavins sighed.

“If you lack ability, there wouldn’t be any employees left in the company.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment. But surely there are many people who are good at their job?”

“There are many who are good at their job, but there’s always a shortage of people you can trust. You know that, don’t you?”

I just smiled without answering.

“Well, if that’s how you feel. Let’s pretend I never mentioned it.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Let me know if you change your mind.”

Clavins nodded and looked out the window.

That was the end of the conversation.

The aide stepped on the accelerator, and the official car cut through the city’s night view.

*

After returning to the embassy, I resumed my duties. Since I had to continue in my role as a military attaché for the time being, I focused as much as possible on related tasks.

Meetings, meetings, meetings, more meetings, drinking sessions, and more meetings.

I thought I had adapted to the military attaché duties, but I was mistaken. Unlike the Church or Magic Towers, which only have quasi-military groups without regular armies, the duties of a military attaché stationed in the Kiyen Empire, which maintains millions of standing troops, were quite demanding.

I spent most of my days meeting with Imperial soldiers.

Even discussing minor issues like supply problems and communication with the embassy—rather than grand topics like the roles and command authority that our group, including myself, would have in the northern conflict zone—consumed a lot of time.

After those hellish practical meetings.

Finally, an external schedule I could enjoy was arranged.

“Wow, this is nice.”

I admired the splendid party venue.

Today’s event was a large-scale gathering attended by the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as political figures, members of parliament, foreign diplomats, and even civilians.

As a diplomat, it was natural for me to attend. Camilla, Lucia, and Francesca also received invitations and decided to participate.

I walked around the party venue with Camilla, meeting people.

As a diplomat, the people I met were somewhat predetermined, but there were many valuable encounters. I planned to familiarize myself with important figures and possibly contact them later if needed.

After walking around the party venue for hours without rest, talking to people, Camilla puffed her cheeks with a sulky expression.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing… My legs just hurt.”

“Want to take a break? I’m getting tired too.”

We sat down and ate some food while taking a short rest. My concentration was waning, and my head was starting to spin from all the conversation details I needed to remember.

To clear my head, I chatted with Camilla about various things. Nothing particularly significant, just everyday conversation.

Lucia wakes up at 4 AM every day for mass, and she seems to be so busy taking care of patients that she can’t eat properly.

I’m learning magic from combat magicians introduced by Francesca, but while they might be good at combat, their teaching skills seem inferior to Francesca’s, and so on.

While we were having this casual conversation, Camilla asked me a question.

“But are you really not going to do anything?”

“Me? I’m working right now. This is my job.”

“Not that.”

Camilla smiled brightly.

“Intelligence operations.”

She was asking when I would engage in espionage.

More precisely, she was asking when I planned to conduct the kind of secret operations seen in movies. Why would she want to do that? It’s something you do when ordered.

I didn’t bother answering her question. I just smiled faintly.

As I was pushing away Camilla, who was whining for me to tell her, someone approached and greeted me.

“Ah, here you are.”

A man in a suit who looked like he hadn’t slept much approached and greeted me as if he knew me. He was the aide to a member of the Defense Committee with whom I had exchanged business cards previously.

Beside him were a woman of similar age, presumably his wife, and a girl who looked like a high school student.

“This is my wife and daughter.”

“I see. Nice to meet you. Is your daughter attending the Academy? Or is she a university student?”

“She’s still at the Academy. In the Magic Department.”

After greeting his wife and daughter, I looked at the committee aide. Like someone whose tension had completely drained away, he smiled brightly and took my hand.

A civil servant aide to a ruling party member of parliament on the Defense Committee.

And an informant for Abas intelligence agencies.

This is the asylum seeker Leoni mentioned.