Ch.325Episode 13 – There Is No Country for Wizards

[Next is international news. Today, the Kiyen Empire government has issued a mid-level alert for all regions except the northern territories. This is a highly unusual measure, as the alert status has been limited to the northern regions for the past 5 years.]

[Following reports of Inquisition forces entering the northern territories, there has been speculation about serious problems with the military situation in the north. When foreign journalists questioned this, the Imperial Defense Ministry spokesperson strongly denied any connection to the northern border conflict, stating that the northern region under martial law is being managed very stably under the control of the military government…]

[Civil war is intensifying across the Mauritani continent, centered around Mount Para’anga. General Wadimka, who recently took power in a coup, has signed an executive order authorizing military intervention by neighboring defense forces to eliminate the ‘United Tribal Independence Rebels’ occupying the Para’anga region…]

[The canonization ceremony for Saint Lucia, the 59th saint, is fast approaching. The Oracle has chosen Francesca Ranieri, descendant of the great mage Ranieri, as Saint Lucia’s companion. There is ongoing controversy in religious and magical circles regarding the participation of Tower representatives in the canonization ceremony.]

[The Abas Defense Ministry has decided to award the Cross Star Medal to Major Frederick Nostrum, the companion chosen by the Oracle. The Cross Star Medal is awarded to those who have rendered distinguished service in wartime combat missions or national security.]

[The Prime Minister of Abas personally invited Major Frederick Nostrum to the official residence and presented him with the medal and certificate. Military officials including the Defense Minister and generals, as well as diplomatic and security officials, attended the ceremony…]

Episode 13 – There Is No Country for Mages

I received a medal immediately upon returning to Abas.

The Cross Star Medal. It’s a second-class medal, the second highest among the five grades, typically awarded to soldiers who have participated in wars and combat.

The official reason for the award was “protecting civilians in a third country and conducting multiple combat operations equivalent to wartime conditions.”

But the real reason was something else.

“We present the Cross Star Medal to Major Frederick Nostrum for his distinguished service to national intelligence operations and national security through his initial response to the domestic Teresa incident, overseas counter-terrorism intelligence gathering, refugee rescue operations, and numerous foreign intelligence operations conducted in the Order, the Tower, and the Kiyen Empire.”

Clebins recited the ceremony speech verbatim with a satisfied smile.

“It’s a medal not many people in our company have received, and you got it. Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

“I made a good choice when I picked you.”

He patted my shoulder with an unusually bright expression. The silver medal pinned to my chest swayed slightly, catching the light.

“Seeing you with that medal makes me envious. Even I barely received one after breaking my back catching spies.”

The Cross Star Medal is the second most prestigious medal a soldier of Abas can receive.

Unlike the Kiyen Empire, which hands out medals liberally like the dictatorship it is, Abas is known for its strict award system.

Even Clebins, who had arrested hundreds of spies, only received a medal of valor after being promoted to colonel, which says it all.

Clebins smiled as he said this, his chest covered with medals and badges. A single star, symbolizing his general rank, gleamed on his shoulder.

I smiled slightly and responded.

“Is a young guy like me getting a medal that enviable to you, sir?”

“Feels good, doesn’t it? You’ll get a pension as a person of merit too.”

“You already have plenty of medals, sir. Don’t be so envious that you take mine.”

“Oh, how cold…”

Though I was the one who received the medal, Clebins beamed with joy as if it were his own achievement.

“I’m deeply moved.”

I grinned back at him.

“Are you that happy about me receiving a medal?”

“Of course I am. It’s a good thing for you.”

Clebins, standing with his hands behind his back and chuckling, looked around the Prime Minister’s residence.

“By the way, where’s Leoni?”

Today’s ceremony was held modestly at the Prime Minister’s residence, but the attendees were impressive.

The Defense Minister, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Senate Intelligence Committee Secretary, Foreign Minister, Royal Intelligence Director, Special Investigation Bureau Director, Military Intelligence Director, and key figures in the diplomatic-security line including Clebins and Leoni.

In essence, most of the policy makers and high-ranking officials in Abas’s diplomatic and security sectors were present.

Of course, all these dignitaries hadn’t gathered just to watch me receive a medal.

“She was called away earlier with other security officials.”

“Royal Intelligence?”

“Yes. Seems they’ve gathered overseas division personnel.”

Leoni, who had attended the ceremony like Clebins, disappeared into a separate room after being summoned by the Prime Minister.

I shrugged while looking at the tightly closed security conference room.

“They must be having some kind of meeting, I suppose?”

“Hmm, I guess so.”

Clebins, the Domestic Division Director of Military Intelligence, nodded and scratched his chin.

“It’s a busy time for intelligence lines with the new year. Let’s chat a bit before my turn comes.”

We walked to a room prepared in the residence. Clebins flopped down on the sofa and began in a light tone.

“Did you enjoy your vacation?”

I nodded and replied that I had rested well.

“I’m glad to hear that. I was quite alarmed when an incident broke out in the middle of it.”

“When have I ever spent a vacation quietly, sir?”

I’ve become half-accustomed to incidents occurring during my vacations. So I joked about it with a nonchalant expression.

Clebins immediately started chuckling.

“That’s true. You’re always getting caught up in incidents when you go out, which makes me somewhat regret sending you abroad again.”

It was a frivolous joke.

Light conversation followed this weightless banter.

Clebins was the first to speak up. He shared some foreign news with me.

“I hear the Empire and the Order are planning to award you medals.”

This was news I already knew.

“You knew?”

“I heard they were considering it, but I didn’t know it was confirmed. Is it okay for me to receive medals from foreign countries?”

“Diplomats bring back friendship medals and diplomatic medals from foreign countries all the time, so why couldn’t you?”

“Still, receiving a military medal from the Empire seems a bit…”

“Come on, man. Just accept it gratefully when it’s offered. Others would love to receive such honors but can’t. How can you refuse when food is being spoonfed to you?”

“Ah, yes. I’ll accept it gratefully…”

I was inwardly wondering if this was really okay, but since he said there was no problem, I decided to let it go.

While medals from foreign countries won’t qualify me for recognition as a person of merit, keeping one or two as mementos might make for good memories someday.

Incidentally, the award ceremony is scheduled to take place before Lucia’s canonization ceremony.

Apparently, medals will be given to Camilla, Lucia, and Francesca as well as myself. It seems the Imperial and Order governments think it would look good for us to attend the canonization ceremony wearing their medals.

I can’t help but sigh at the date selection, which reeks of political intent.

“They’re really making an effort. Must be election season soon.”

“It’s a wise choice, since the canonization ceremony will attract more attention than the Pope’s inauguration.”

The Imperial military is at odds with the government over the demon subjugation incident, and the appearance of demons remains a major point of contention within the Order.

After all, an evil being from scripture wreaked havoc in a place where demon-kind roams freely. Some clergy must be having their faith shaken, and there must be disputes between factions. The conflict is gradually winding down, so news of what the demon did in the north will soon be reported in the media.

That’s why they’re giving us medals.

People will pay attention to us, who defeated the demon.

I tapped the armrest with a displeased expression.

“I appreciate the medals, but… I’d rather they gave money instead. After living in that villa, I’d like to get a place like that for myself.”

Clebins, comfortably leaning back on the sofa, smiled slightly at my frivolous joke.

“Don’t be too pleased though. Medals aren’t given freely like complimentary fruit. You’ll likely receive more medals in the future, so remember what I’m telling you.”

He’s saying I should stay alert because I’ll face many rough situations ahead.

I took his words as well-wishing.

“You worry too much, sir.”

“How could I not worry?”

Knock, knock! Someone knocked on the door.

The person who opened the door and entered was a staff member from the Prime Minister’s office.

He told Clebins that he needed to move to the meeting room. Clebins rose from the sofa with an expression that suggested he’d been expecting this.

“I must go now. Get home safely. And don’t forget what I told you.”

“Yes. I’ll see you at the office.”

*

“Oh, there you are!”

“It’s been a while, Director. Or should I call you General now?”

“Just call me Director. Everything peaceful at Royal Intelligence?”

“Nothing but tranquility. Thank you for your concern!”

Since the Prime Minister had called in the diplomatic and security lines, the residence was bustling with officials from various departments.

But among them, Leoni stood out distinctly.

“Director, about the latest trends in the Kiyen Imperial Army I mentioned last month…”

“The final review for the rescue operation to be conducted in the eastern region…”

“The unstable political situation in the Mauritani continent is stimulating terrorist organizations…”

“Yes, yes. I understand what you’re saying.”

Having just finished her meeting, she was surrounded by personnel from intelligence agencies and the Foreign Ministry.

Leading a cloud of people, Leoni resembled a famous singer escaping a concert hall surrounded by fans.

“I trust you’ll all make wise decisions. Please make way for a moment.”

She trudged through the crowd toward me.

Leoni exited the residence and gestured for me to follow without giving any specific instructions. It was a signal to come along.

I left the residence and boarded Leoni’s official vehicle.

*

“What a mess to deal with first thing in the new year.”

Those were Leoni’s first words as soon as she got into the back seat.

“What happened?”

“There’s always plenty going on.”

Too much, in fact, is the problem.

As Leoni’s muttering ended, the secretary in the driver’s seat spoke up.

“Shall we depart, Director?”

“Oh, yes.”

The engine roared as the accelerator was pressed.

The vehicle left the Prime Minister’s residence parking lot and began racing down the black asphalt. The ride quality of the official car provided to generals by the Defense Ministry was decent enough.

As the black sedan cut through the capital city where brilliant night scenery drove away the darkness, Leoni began to speak.

“I hear there was another coup in the Mauritani continent at dawn.”

“Another one? How many does this make?”

“The sixteenth. Fortunately, the military rose up in a place where the government had already been overthrown once by a coup.”

I’m not sure if that’s fortunate or not. Leoni added:

“Tribal conflicts seem to be the cause.”

“Political reasons?”

“Yes.”

The sixteenth coup in the last five years was a civil war being fought between two factions of the government army.

Leoni explained that the coup occurred because the support base of the ousted president was from a different main ethnic group than the faction that seized power.

“This is what happens when tribes with different orientations band together to survive.”

“Their political orientations would naturally differ, and they’d live in different areas. Different religions too?”

“That’s right.”

I nodded lightly and gazed out the window.

“Soon two entire tribes will be massacred.”

“It’s already happening.”

Leoni spoke in a curt tone, clearly annoyed.

Having attended the diplomatic and security officials’ meeting, she was visibly exhausted. With civil war breaking out in one country, the political situations in neighboring countries would naturally become unstable. It was obvious that warlords and terrorist organizations would take advantage of this chaos.

But the real problem lay elsewhere.

“The thing is, the side that staged this coup follows the Order’s religion. The government forces are composed of Al-Yabd believers.”

“The Order? Has the Inquisition gotten involved?”

“We’re still confirming, but there’s intelligence that several generals recently contacted a diocesan bishop. And that bishop is from the Inquisition.”

“…What about the Empire?”

“There’s a military advisory group training special forces of the defense army in a region where you can cross the border by crossing just one bridge. Recently, the government side passed an administrative order allowing foreign troops to suppress the rebellious army.”

A faction connected to the Order staged a coup, and the government that had previously taken power through a coup authorized foreign military operations to suppress rebels within their country. And coincidentally, there’s an Imperial Defense Ministry military advisory group in the neighboring country.

This was almost reasonable suspicion.

“Weapons smuggling, military advisors, and now coup suppression. The Empire is really something. The Order too. Anyone would think they’ve already driven the demon-kind out of the north.”

“The conflict is winding down, so they’re restoring diplomatic relations with friendly nations they’ve lost touch with.”

The problem is that these so-called friendly nations happen to be dictatorships, but anyway.

Looking at the city reflected in the window, I asked a brief question.

“So, what do the higher-ups say? Do they want the company to bring back the heads of those generals?”

“For now, they just want us to monitor. Judging by the Foreign Ministry’s evacuation of citizens and consideration of closing diplomatic missions, it seems they won’t pay much attention to that issue for the time being.”

The Abas government chose to remain neutral. It was a decision made under the judgment that there was no practical benefit in supporting either the coup forces or the government forces.

Currently, the Abas government was more concerned with the situations in the Empire and the Tower than the problems in the Mauritani continent.

“We’re busy keeping an eye on the Tower situation; we can’t afford to worry about another continent.”

It’s not easy to replace the Tower’s regime using intelligence agencies. Even during the Cold War, it took the United States 1-2 years to overthrow governments in Latin American countries, so conservatively speaking, Abas wouldn’t have the capacity to pay attention to problems in other regions for the next three years.

Anyway, that’s not what’s important right now.

“What about that terrorist investigation you mentioned to me before? You even took a field team to Fatalia for an operation. Any results?”

“Wait. You’ll find out soon.”

The official car that had been racing through the city crossed a bridge, traversed winding roads, and entered a highway.

No matter how I looked at it, the Military Intelligence building wouldn’t appear in this direction. I wondered why we had driven all the way here.

As I was pondering this, Leoni, sitting next to me, began in her characteristic raspy voice of an elderly person.

“You’ll get off here.”

“What?”

I sat in the back seat of the stopped car, looking around. The vehicle had stopped at a rest area near the highway.

“Why a rest area suddenly…”

“Get out and find a car.”

Leoni instructed.

“Once you find it, drive to the destination. Staff are waiting at a certain location. Your department members are there too.”

In intelligence agencies, “department members” usually refers to team members. And the members of the team I’m in charge of are Pippin, Jake, and Charnoi, who joined a month ago.

“Take the car to the location.”

“…So you’re telling me to go to Anga?”

“Yes.”

“…”

“The answer to your question is there too.”

*

As I got out as instructed by Leoni, the official car started moving again and left the rest area.

A person wandering around a deserted rest area in uniform would look suspicious, but the magical lamps illuminating the parking lot had been broken for some time.

The streetlights, covered in cobwebs and damaged from long neglect, made the surroundings very dark. In this situation, just removing my hat would make my uniform look like a suit from a distance.

I took off my hat and began searching for the car Leoni mentioned among the parked vehicles at the rest area.

And not long after, I was able to find a parked car in a corner of the rest area near the road.

However,

What struck me as strange was…

“…What is this?”

About to get into the vehicle, I froze in shock after confirming the driver’s identity. To be precise, after confirming the driver’s species.

“Why is there a beastkin here?”

As if responding to my dazed muttering, a pair of cat ears twitched.

The beastkin holding the steering wheel stared at me blankly with an expression that seemed to say, “Why isn’t this guy getting in?”

“…Am I supposed to get in this?”

When I asked the beastkin while holding the passenger door handle, she nodded a couple of times and made a peculiar meowing sound.

“Meowng.”