Ch.276Episode 12 – The Strongest Mage in History

There are three types of high-ranking clergy in the Church.

Bishops who oversee dioceses in various countries as appointed by the Papal Office.

Cardinals who serve as the backbone of the Church, assisting the Pope.

Clergy of the State Council, equivalent to an administrative branch, who handle political and practical affairs under the Pope’s orders.

These individuals are classified as key figures within the Church.

Bishops and Cardinals legally have the authority to elect the Pope. Thus, they are treated as dignitaries by international custom, and this applies to the clergy of the State Council as well.

However, even those with such immense power dare not treat the Pope and Saints disrespectfully.

The Pope is considered God’s representative, and Saints are regarded as God’s beloved descendants who perform miracles.

Therefore, clergy cannot dare disrespect them unless under “special circumstances.”

No matter how nicely one puts it, clergy are merely human. Conflicts can only occur between equals.

In other words,

“Who ordered Lucia to be confined?”

“I did.”

This means that in the Empire, Veronica is the only one who can punish Lucia, who holds the status of a Saint.

Episode 12 – The Strongest Mage in History

The news of Lucia being confined came as a bit of a shock.

“Confinement…?”

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem, Major?”

“No matter how I think about it, it doesn’t seem to suit Lucia.”

Even setting aside her status as the Church’s Saint, Lucia is far from the type to face confinement or punishment.

She’s upright and pure in character, so it’s hard to believe she caused trouble warranting confinement.

Veronica added coldly.

“If someone does wrong, they should be punished.”

“That doesn’t seem like something you should be saying.”

“Major. Are you going to keep doing this to me? Teasing people isn’t a good habit.”

“I’m not teasing, it’s just the truth…”

“Tsk!”

Despite stating facts, the response was far from satisfactory.

I shrugged as if to say “Did I say something wrong?”, but Veronica continued to lie with a shameless face.

“If those old fogies were even half like me, the Church wouldn’t be in this state. Understand?”

“Is that why you sold sacred artifacts from St. Sophia Cathedral as stolen goods, Saint?”

Veronica, who had been sipping wine, banged the table. The cigar on the ashtray jumped, and she shouted angrily.

“Ah! I didn’t sell them!”

“Then what did you do?”

“I needed quick cash, so I pawned them temporarily, but the money got drained. What was I supposed to do about that?!”

“…”

Quick cash? Pawn shop? Money drained?

This sounds suspiciously like gambling. I narrowed my eyes.

“Veronica. Don’t tell me you lost money gambling and pawned the Church’s sacred artifacts to borrow betting money?”

“Ugh…”

Her angry demeanor vanished. Veronica avoided my gaze and spoke in a small voice.

“It just happened that way…”

“…”

“It’s not like… I wanted to lose, you know?”

Throughout my life, I’ve seen many people ruin their lives through gambling—an Arab civil servant who died without repaying money borrowed from Jews using the allowance I gave him, a Chongryon official who was butchered after borrowing money from yakuza, a London branch colleague who got beaten by his manager after blowing his salary on EPL bets…

But Veronica was on another level.

How could she think of pawning sacred artifacts of the Papal Office? And she’s a Saint, no less.

Whoever marries Veronica must have accumulated a lot of bad karma in their previous life. Otherwise, there’s no way anyone could live with such a person.

The Saint, who had been avoiding my gaze awkwardly, licked her lips and offered an excuse that wasn’t really an excuse.

“But don’t worry. I got the artifacts back later.”

“How did you get them back? You said you lost all the money.”

“The loan shark was operating without a license, so I reported him to the Papal Guard. They confiscated everything—the sacred artifacts, stolen goods, and all the money he had stashed away.”

“…”

She was saying she robbed a loan shark.

Is she insane?

“…I’m not even surprised anymore.”

I barely managed to hold onto my sanity. Talking with Veronica always feels like having my energy drained.

Shouldn’t Veronica be the one confined instead of Lucia? Suddenly, Camilla who burned down a cornfield and Francesca who makes money through smuggling started to look like angels in comparison.

Pressing my throbbing temples, I decided to change the subject.

“So, why is Lucia confined?”

“Don’t you know that well, Major?”

At her pointed question, I nodded slowly.

“Is it because she went after the demon without permission?”

“Yes. She performed an exorcism without prior authorization and involved a civilian in it.”

Veronica pointed at me as she spoke.

Although I’m not well-versed in church law, it was clearly unusual for me to be involved in an exorcism. But I had something to say, so I sighed and defended Lucia.

“Originally, I had no intention of joining the exorcism. Lucia also asked me to hide in the safest place possible before the ritual began. Things went wrong when the demon discovered us in the middle of it.”

“I know.”

Veronica said. Her voice continued with a hint of melancholy.

“I’ve known my sister for almost 10 years now. Do you think I don’t know her character? She would have tried to take on all the danger herself to keep you safe. Because you weren’t supposed to be involved in this matter.”

“So…”

“But in the end, you became involved in the exorcism. It wasn’t intentional, but that’s what happened. You know very well that you were in an extremely dangerous situation, right?”

I do know.

If Veronica hadn’t arrived in time with the Inquisition forces, if Lucia hadn’t requested backup, we might have died there. While everything turned out well in the end, that’s just hindsight.

Falling into a trap and involving a civilian in a dangerous situation was clearly Lucia’s mistake.

Veronica addressed precisely this point.

“It’s fortunate that my sister is a Blessed One who’s only awaiting her canonization ceremony to become a Saint. In a normal situation, she would have received a severe punishment. She knows she did wrong, which is why she told me she would enter confinement.”

“Lucia decided to confine herself?”

“Yes. Formally, I issued the punishment, but she decided to accept it herself. More precisely, she asked me to punish her.”

The sound of a glass being set down echoed through the quiet restaurant.

After putting down her utensils, Veronica took a puff from her nearly burnt-out cigar, then exhaled deeply—whether a sigh or something else was unclear.

Gray smoke rose. The thick haze obscured her face and expression, but couldn’t hide the bitter smile on her lips.

“Major. I’m curious about something. May I ask you one question?”

“Go ahead.”

“I wonder if you have any idea why my sister involved you in this matter.”

Veronica asked me while exhaling smoke. In a voice quite different from her usual tone—subdued and tinged with complexity—she continued.

“If it was about exorcism, my sister would surely know better than me… I don’t understand why she would bring along someone like you, who isn’t even a theology student and has no prior knowledge.”

“…”

I sat quietly, maintaining silence. And I pondered whether it was alright for me to say this.

The deliberation wasn’t long.

My judgment was cautious, but my decision was swift.

Taking a sip of water from the table, I wiped my mouth and slowly began.

“Actually…”

*

“That’s what happened.”

By the time we finished dinner and moved to another location, I had disclosed the full details of the incident.

“Hmm…”

Veronica, seated on an elegant sofa, nodded repeatedly.

“So that’s why you were moving with Lucia.”

She continued nodding thoughtfully as she carefully opened a cigar box on the table.

The cigar box, from who knows where, had a three-tier structure.

When she unfastened the latch and opened the lid, a charm that maintained temperature and humidity was revealed. The cedar cigar box was filled with cigars, numbering well over 100 sticks by rough estimate.

Veronica took out a tan-colored cigar and cut off the cap using a cutter. Then she took out a special cigar match from the box and lit it.

From the cold draw to toasting and lighting—the entire process flowed naturally.

Each time she drew in oxygen, the flame intensified. After evenly lighting the cigar, Veronica tossed the match into the ashtray and leaned back comfortably on the sofa.

“I’ve heard about the mastermind behind the terrorist attacks in a State Council meeting. It’s related to demons or demonic tribes, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“You were tracking the mastermind of the terrorism in the north when you obtained intelligence about a demi-demon. After contacting the demi-demon, you provided information to the joint investigation team through a diocesan clergyman. Lucia happened to see those documents and asked for your help.”

“Precisely.”

The front of the cigar glowed red.

As soon as she removed it from her mouth, a stream of smoke rose from the back of the cigar. After savoring the mild spiciness, Veronica continued while exhaling smoke.

“Let’s say my sister saw the documents by chance. Who did you pass those documents to, Major?”

“Archbishop Theodosius, who oversees the northern diocese.”

“Theodosius? You gave the documents to that old fogey?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Ah.”

A small exclamation escaped Veronica’s lips.

She ruffled her hair with her hand and muttered a small curse.

“Of all people, that old fogey…”

“Do you know the Archbishop?”

“Somewhat? He was a professor at the theological university. Even if not for that, I’ve crossed paths with him several times on official business.”

Veronica boldly disparaged Archbishop Theodosius.

It wasn’t surprising that she called the Archbishop an “old fogey” since she referred to the Church’s bishops and cardinals the same way, but it was somewhat fresh to hear her curse him for giving her low grades.

“Ah- just thinking about it still irritates me. He gave me such low grades for doing poorly on exams that I had to retake them several times. I almost had to spend an extra year at the theological university because of that.”

“Isn’t that just because you didn’t study?”

“It’s not that I didn’t study, I just couldn’t take the exam properly. I was too hungover from partying the night before.”

“…Are you bragging?”

Theological universities typically enforce abstinence from alcohol and tobacco. Since self-restraint is considered a virtue for clergy, such rules are established to educate students in advance.

But what kind of mentality is it to proudly admit drinking the night before an exam while being a theology student? At this point, I’m starting to doubt whether Veronica is actually a member of the clergy.

Anyway, I needed to set aside the argument about Veronica’s character. That wasn’t important right now.

“I passed the documents to Archbishop Theodosius, and Lucia read them. She noticed that I was providing information to the Archbishop and asked me to help track the demi-demon.”

“I see. I was wondering why she would cause such trouble—it’s not like her—but now I understand why she involved you.”

Veronica covered her eyes with her hand and sighed deeply.

“You mentioned you fought with Brother Agato who was possessed by a demon, right?”

I nodded.

“Then you’re not completely unrelated to this.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s a complicated story that I can’t explain in detail… but simply put, you’re no longer an ordinary person, Major. You’ve encountered a demon and been wounded by one, so whether you like it or not, you would have been involved in this matter eventually.”

Veronica explained that I would have encountered demons sooner or later. She took a puff of her cigar and began asking questions in a serious tone.

“Have you experienced anything strange lately? Like rats suddenly crossing your path, or insects hiding in walls and furniture when you turn on the lights after opening a door?”

“I’m not sure about that… but crows have occasionally appeared near me.”

“Ah. Then there’s no need to look further.”

I looked at Veronica with slightly anxious eyes.

“Is there a problem?”

“Of course. Did you think there wouldn’t be a problem after what happened?”

“…”

Honestly, I had suspected it. I didn’t know the details, but I thought something ominous was happening after my encounter with the demon.

To this, the Church’s Saint, who had defeated two demons, spoke in a calm tone.

“Crows are not that bad yet. You should be cautious, though. Major, could you hold out your hand for a moment?”

“My hand? Sure.”

When I extended my hand, Veronica put down her cigar and took my outstretched hand.

With her eyes closed, she remained silent as if concentrating, then after a while, she opened her eyes and put down my hand.

“You have a prayer of protection on you, though it’s weak.”

“A prayer of protection?”

“It’s a prayer that protects you from evil things. It comes from a biblical story where an archangel bestowed favor upon a crusader going into battle. It’s a prayer often used by exorcist priests, and just by looking at it, I can tell the prayer is quite solid. I think my sister secretly placed it on you.”

Lucia had placed a prayer on me without my knowledge.

I thought she was just reciting prayers out of habit, but apparently not. When did she put this on me?

As I looked at my hand with a puzzled expression, Veronica leaned against the armrest and continued.

“The prayer seems to have been quite effective, given its solidity. That’s why you only had a few crows circling around you.”

“What would have happened to me if this prayer wasn’t there?”

“Well, I’m not an exorcist priest, so I don’t know for sure, but if you were unlucky, you might have had to live in a mental hospital for the rest of your life, unable to speak. There are quite a few civilians who ended up in long-term psychiatric care after getting wrongly entangled with demons.”

“…”

I shifted my gaze from my hand. The thought that I might have suffered from mental illness for the rest of my life if things had gone wrong made me lose my appetite.

Perhaps to comfort me, Veronica reassured me that everything was fine since nothing had happened.

I took out a cigarette from my inner pocket and quietly lit it.

“Oh?”

Seeing this, Veronica tilted her head. It was a reaction of surprise.

“Major, you’re a smoker?”

“Yes.”

“I didn’t know.”

I casually tossed the cigarette pack and lighter onto the table. The strong taste characteristic of Imperial cigarettes stuck to the roof of my mouth, and I scratched my forehead as I exhaled smoke.

“How does Lucia know about such prayers? I noticed she had prepared everything needed for the exorcism on her own.”

“Ah, that? She’s always been knowledgeable in that field. She took many lectures on exorcism and totemism at the theological university, and she’s learned and observed these things since childhood. My sister probably knows much more about exorcism than I do.”

“More than you?”

“Yes. Her talent is so outstanding that if she hadn’t become a Saint, she would probably be working as an exorcist priest by now.”

“Hmm.”

I recalled Veronica fighting in the cavern.

The image of her blowing off monsters’ heads with a double-barrel shotgun, grabbing a white sphere, and raining bombardment on the ground flashed quickly through my mind.

“Somehow I find that hard to believe…”

“Don’t speak if you don’t know. My sister lacks experience, not skill. In a few years, she might be tearing demons apart with her bare hands.”

Veronica highly praised Lucia’s abilities. Although some of her usual playfulness remained, the atmosphere was quite serious.

Normally, I would have dismissed it as a joke, but given the skills Veronica had demonstrated, I couldn’t simply ignore her words. I listened attentively to her, and she gradually revealed things about Lucia that I didn’t know.

“According to the original plan, I was supposed to take the role of the exorcist priest, and Lucia would be the assistant priest. If things hadn’t gone wrong, the two of us would have sent the demon possessing Brother Agato back to hell.”

Veronica had come to the north with Lucia to perform an exorcism. For this, she had received the Pope’s approval and consultation from the Inquisition, and had reached agreements with the Empire’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Magic to resolve legal issues related to the exorcism.

However, due to the involvement of multiple agencies, the process was delayed, and she couldn’t inform Lucia in time, which led to their paths diverging.

“If I had just called my sister before leaving the country, this wouldn’t have happened. This is partly my mistake.”

“What’s done is done.”

Unlike Veronica, who spoke self-deprecatingly, everything had turned out well in the end.

There were injuries, but most were minor, and there were no fatalities. Lucia and I survived, the necromancer who helped the demon died, the monsters from hell fell to the Inquisition’s blades, and the demon was buried under a pile of stones.

Whether the demon was definitely dead or barely alive and escaped was uncertain, but even if it had managed to flee, it wouldn’t have gone far.

Because it killed the necromancer who was helping it with its own hands.

“Don’t worry too much. Everything turned out well in the end, didn’t it?”

I reassured Veronica and slowly organized the information she had shared.

The fact that she had chosen Lucia as an assistant priest over the Inquisition’s exorcist priests,

The fact that Lucia had prepared everything needed for the exorcism on her own without anyone’s help,

The fact that she had observed and learned about exorcism since childhood and was knowledgeable in that field,

The fact that Veronica assessed Lucia’s talent as surpassing her own, and so on.

While detailed information about Lucia’s past and background remained veiled, I instinctively sensed that there was something in Lucia’s past.

Above all, the words the demon had spoken:

‘So stop this futile act, young daughter. Just as your mother and father did.’

The words were meaningless to me, but seeing Lucia’s reaction, there was clearly something there. Perhaps it was related to the identity of Lucia’s parents. It might even be connected to why she grew up as an orphan.

“Veronica.”

“Yes, Major.”

“Do you know who Lucia’s parents were?”

“…”

For a brief moment, Veronica’s movement as she raised her cigar froze.

After pausing briefly, she naturally put the cigar in her mouth and inhaled smoke as if nothing had happened, but I didn’t miss her momentary flinch.

After exhaling thick smoke, Veronica put the cigar back in her mouth and looked at me directly.

“I’m not sure.”

“I see.”

I nodded and put the cigarette in my mouth.

And in a low voice, I replied.

“Let’s leave it at that, then.”

*

The conversation that began after dinner continued longer than expected.

Veronica and I discussed how to handle what had happened in the underground waterway yesterday and how to respond.

“Since the joint investigation team’s forces have moved, both the investigation team and the military government headquarters must be aware of the situation. The report will probably reach the central government by this evening.”

“This won’t become a diplomatic issue, will it?”

“No, it won’t. The Grand Duke has given permission.”

Fortunately, the events of last night posed no legal problems.

To be precise, foreigners engaging in combat in a martial law area would normally be a major legal and diplomatic issue, but thanks to the protection of the Grand Duke—a member of the Kiyen Imperial family who had ruled the north for a hundred years—it was likely to be overlooked.

The Kiyen Empire is not a constitutional state but a dictatorship, after all.

If the Emperor’s aunt says to cooperate with these people, who would dare oppose? In Imperial territory, no one would dare challenge the authority of the Grand Duke and the Imperial family.

Of course, there are exceptions to this.

“I don’t know what that old hag is thinking. How can she not clean up a monster living in the sewers of her own territory?”

“Veronica. Please watch your language…”

“Why? It’s not like I need to be mindful of that old woman.”

After backstabbing the Imperial Guard, Veronica began acting like a horse with its reins loosened.

She had at least attached the honorific “Your Majesty” to the Emperor, but now she was lumping the Emperor, the Grand Duke, and everyone else together as “old hags” and “old fogeys.”

Well, she’s the kind of human trash who casually uses the term “old fogey” for bishops, cardinals, and even the Pope who are like father figures to her, so why would she give special treatment to the Emperor?

“I have no reason to bow to a mere Emperor. Even if I cursed the Emperor in front of the Imperial Palace, the Imperial police and guards would pretend not to hear.”

“Is being a Saint everything? Is it some kind of official position?”

“Of course! If it’s not a position, what else would it be? If you’re jealous, you should have treated me better when you had the chance.”

Watching Veronica suggest we go curse the Emperor in front of the Imperial Palace made my head spin.

To stop her from spewing nonsense non-stop, I had to personally cut her cigar, light it, and put it in her mouth.

Only then did I regain some peace of mind, and Veronica finally stopped her nonsense, grinning.

“Anyway, if a report has gone up to the military, orders will soon come down from the Imperial family. Today at the earliest, or by tomorrow at the latest, they’ll dig up the collapsed underground waterway to confirm the demon’s death.”

Veronica confidently declared that the military government would soon excavate the underground waterway to check on the demon sleeping there.

She swung her crossed legs lightly, like someone in a good mood, and continued.

“The corpses of the Muspels should be sufficient evidence. Once the mages from the Magic Tower see those bodies, they’ll shut up.”

Since the joint investigation began, the mages from the Magic Tower had been showing small signs of resistance.

The first reason for their resistance was that the Inquisition’s forces were conducting investigations openly, and the second reason was that the Grand Duke, a Grand Mage, had permitted it.

“I do understand the mages’ position. The Inquisition has killed so many of them for being black mages. The mages probably think we’re lying to avoid responsibility. But when the Muspel corpses are found in the north, they’ll have nothing to say.”

“Because no matter how crazy a clergyman is, they wouldn’t summon monsters from hell?”

“To be precise, summoning monsters from hell is impossible without a necromancer or a demon. And necromancers can only emerge from among mages.”

Veronica predicted what would happen next.

I couldn’t tell if it was a prediction or a declaration that she would make such a situation happen one way or another, but in my opinion, it was closer to the latter.

“How much resistance are the Magic Tower mages in the north showing?”

“I don’t know the exact number, but it’s quite significant. Commander Evangelos Risidike of the Magic Battalion and Francesca from the Secretariat are working to calm the situation. Currently, the Secretariat line is monitoring the public opinion among mages.”

“Hmm. Our sisters are working hard. Do you know what’s going on where you are?”

“If Muspels are found in the underground waterway, will that be enough to change the mages’ opinion?”

“Yes. It’s the most definitive evidence. Oh, and the body of the necromancer whose soul was eaten is also there. That could be evidence too.”

Veronica judged that public opinion could be swayed the moment monsters and the necromancer were discovered in the underground waterway.

She believed that with this evidence, they could suppress the Magic Tower’s resistance and strengthen the Inquisition’s investigation.

“Of course, we can’t stop there.”

“I understand what you’re saying. You want me to support the administrator, right?”

“Yes. Very accurate.”

Veronica asked me to support Francesca. She wanted me to help spread rumors to punish the resistant mages and to support her from behind so that Francesca could exert strong influence over the mages dispatched to the north.

In other words, Veronica was instigating me to engage in political machinations. She was asking me to use a foreign intelligence agency to intervene in the Magic Tower.

I took a drag of my cigarette and expressed my concern.

“Veronica. You know we’re both finished if this gets discovered, right?”

“But if we succeed, it will help my sister, won’t it?”

“The Fatalia intelligence agencies won’t look kindly on this. Perhaps the Imperial intelligence agencies won’t either.”

Francesca is one of the public security offenders. In fact, her entire Ranieri family is essentially marked as public security offenders.

The reason she was able to study abroad at the Magic Tower was because she pledged not to incite the Fatalia magical community and divide national opinion under any circumstances, and that’s why Francesca, despite being a descendant of a talented Grand Mage, couldn’t enter Magic Tower politics.

I heard this directly from an acquaintance at the National Security Bureau—Sofia, an intelligence officer who was monitoring Francesca.

The Imperial intelligence agencies are no different. Francesca emerging as a mage with powerful influence within the Empire, especially in a martial law area, would be enough to cause the Imperial Guard to have a seizure.

Human butchers who can dismember several people with a single gesture forming a group is something the Abas intelligence agencies dislike. Naturally, the Empire dislikes it too.

To this, the Church’s Saint rested her chin on her hand.

“I don’t understand what you’re worried about. Weren’t you always someone who enjoyed adventure, Major?”

“There’s a difference between being reckless and adventurous.”

“Is there?”

Veronica, sitting comfortably with her legs crossed, rested her chin on her hand and smiled.

“For someone who claims to dislike danger, you sure managed to escape with me from the Imperial Guard.”

“…”

“Come on, help my sister just this once. There’s nothing bad in it for you, is there? The same goes for Abas.”

I looked at the face of Veronica, who sat across from me, smiling brightly.

I bit the filter with my teeth and exhaled the inhaled smoke with a whoosh. After silently smoking for a while, I stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray and leaned back on the sofa.

“Well, it’s not a difficult task, but aren’t you worried?”

“About what?”

“The demon. We’re not certain yet whether it’s alive or dead.”

“Exactly. Why should that be a worry?”

Veronica exhaled smoke without erasing her smile.

In the hazy smoke that hung like a curtain, she smiled seductively.

“That thing will die by my or Lucia’s hand anyway.”

*

After exchanging a few pieces of information, I prepared to leave the room.

According to Veronica, Lucia, who was in confinement, was staying in a secluded room in St. Basil’s Cathedral. In principle, she couldn’t have contact with outsiders during confinement, but since it was before dinner time, I thought I’d bring her a meal and see her face briefly.

“Bring her rice porridge for her meal.”

“Rice porridge? Why give her that instead of a proper meal?”

“What, should we prepare a lavish feast for someone being punished? She’s accepting this punishment willingly, so don’t worry about it.”

I didn’t know much about the Church’s penal system, but confinement apparently wasn’t just about being comfortably holed up at home.

She mentioned that some people repeatedly transcribe thick bibles for days, fast, or even self-flagellate. Particularly, the last one was banned after people died during confinement.

“I don’t understand why they live like that.”

“Religious people sometimes seem crazy, don’t they?”

“No, you shouldn’t be saying that as a Saint yourself…”

I learned from Veronica how to get rice porridge from the dining hall and how to find the room where Lucia was confined.

She said I could also ask passing priests or monks, but since the cathedral was so large, it would be better to memorize the directions in advance.

As I was gathering my things and about to leave the room.

“Ah, wait a moment, Major.”

Veronica’s hand was placed on the doorknob I was about to grab.

She suddenly jumped out, covered the doorknob with her hand, and blocked my way. She completely blocked the door with her body, preventing me from going outside.

Momentarily confused by her sudden action, I couldn’t contain my curiosity and spoke up.

“What is it? Why are you doing this?”

“There’s one thing I’m curious about. If you answer that, I’ll let you go.”

Veronica said this with a big smile. She would let me go if I answered her question.

Her demeanor was so playful that I sighed deeply, thinking she was playing another prank.

“What’s so important that you’re blocking my way…”

“Major.”

Veronica interrupted me.

“You said you were injured when you first encountered the demi-demon? Cut by the staff-sword that combat priests carry.”

“Yes.”

“Was it the demon that directly wounded you?”

“Yes.”

“Major.”

Veronica smiled.

“If you don’t answer my question truthfully, you might regret it a little.”

An unexpected threat followed. It was sudden.

I looked at her with a skewed posture, thinking it was another prank, but Veronica didn’t move a muscle.

Rather, she was serious.

“So please answer sincerely and truthfully.”

Her face was smiling, but her voice was strangely serious.

I nodded in bewilderment.

“Major.”

Veronica asked.

“Did something happen between you and Lucia?”