Ch.583Episode 21 – Peace in Our Time

Though I’ve made a career out of dealing with people, that doesn’t mean it’s easy to do so.

That’s a fact I’ve learned while earning my keep.

As an intelligence officer, especially one handling human intelligence, facing someone was always extremely difficult for me.

If asked whether I’m used to it, the answer would invariably be yes, but that familiarity and skill didn’t necessarily guarantee success.

This was especially true when dealing with people whose true intentions were difficult to guess.

“……”

The moment I faced Francesca with her bright smile.

I could once again acutely feel the threat to my life that I’d experienced several times throughout my years.

“Where is my sister?”

A face blooming with smiles. Eyes colder than a mountain valley in Gangwon Province in December. A gentle voice that perfectly matched her slick smile. And the content of her question in stark contrast to all that.

The alchemist I hadn’t seen in a while exchanged an icy gaze with me while wearing the brightest smile I’d ever seen on her.

I deliberately lowered my eyes to avoid her gaze. However, she seemed to have no intention of allowing my escape.

Francesca slightly bent her waist and raised her violet eyes to squarely meet my face.

“…Well, Saint Veronica is very busy with official matters.”

“Ah, she must be busy then?”

“Yes, indeed. She’s a very busy person.”

“I see. So that’s why she ignored her sister’s messages and didn’t even show her face.”

“……”

“And here I thought she was avoiding me. I was quite hurt, you know?”

Though these words were clearly meant for Veronica, for some reason my conscience was being pricked.

“Hmm~”

Francesca’s eyes narrowed.

The habit of narrowing her eyes was one of her many distinctive traits, almost an identity of sorts.

But today, that reaction wasn’t particularly welcome.

She only narrowed her eyes when weighing two options.

And at this moment, what was on her scale was obvious without even looking.

“Um, Miss Francesca?”

“Yes, Officer?”

“I’m quite busy with official duties, so perhaps if we could meet again later…”

I trembled like a gazelle facing a hungry lion, desperately hoping Francesca wouldn’t decide to finish me off.

“Is that so? I was hoping to treat you to coffee after such a long time.”

“……”

Francesca put her fingertip to her lip and deliberately trailed off with a seemingly regretful tone.

I swallowed the sigh that was about to escape.

Being offered coffee by a Fatalian was no different from being invited to a Moritanian’s home.

Refusing would be a rudeness little different from outright rejection.

“Oh my goodness, look at me. I just realized I forgot to congratulate you.”

Having been racking my brains in this awkward situation, I belatedly began rubbing my palms together.

Francesca, as if finding this somewhat out of the blue, opened her eyes wide and asked:

“What congratulations?”

“Well, you know. I heard you recently succeeded in acquiring several banks and companies? The people from the Magic Tower have been praising you endlessly for expanding beyond the defense industry… It’s truly impressive.”

I poured out praise earnestly, giving it my all. To put it simply, well.

I kissed ass.

Of course, I didn’t launch into this praise offensive without context. While Francesca’s “business” beginning to succeed in the legitimate world was indeed a noteworthy achievement, my true intentions lay elsewhere.

“You’ve accomplished something difficult, so shouldn’t I be the one treating you to coffee? You must be busy enough managing the black—I mean, private markets in the northern Empire, not to mention handling your Moritanian business partners. And now you’ve added mergers and acquisitions on top of all that…”

That’s right.

I was using her busy legitimate and underground businesses as an excuse to somehow find an escape route. My pretext was simple: I would treat her to coffee instead, for her busy schedule.

Of course, no one knew when I might actually send her that invitation. Jesus wouldn’t know, Allah wouldn’t know, and Buddha probably wouldn’t know either. But that moment would definitely have to be when Francesca’s anger had subsided to some extent.

We’re both busy, so what can you do?

Any respectable member of society must consider each other’s schedules when making appointments.

“…Ah.”

That’s when it happened.

Francesca suddenly exclaimed.

“I just remembered I have something to show you. Yap.”

Without removing the smile from her face, she unwrapped the long bundle she had been carrying on her back. As she scattered the contents into the air as if throwing them, several swords began to float.

A scene straight out of a martial arts novel.

The alchemist, having suspended multiple swords in the air, smiled even more deeply and said:

“These are new swords I’ve created. I designed them when Grandmother kindly faced me in combat with monsters gathered around. I only completed them recently, but I haven’t named them yet.”

Whether proud or happy, Francesca kept smiling as she looked around at the swords.

I found it extremely unsettling.

“I see… But why are you showing these to me…?”

“Officer.”

“Ah, yes.”

With swords floating in the air like guillotines, Francesca smiled brightly and raised her finger.

“Do you hold your spoon with your right hand? Or your left?”

Episode 21 – Peace in Our Time

What followed was predictable.

I engaged in desperate evasive maneuvers against Francesca, who threatened to cut off my arms, using all manner of excuses and shameless displays of familiarity.

Francesca continued to respond with that ever-present smile and eyes colder than a mountain valley in December.

Having failed to escape, I was captured by her and ultimately reborn as a diorama of the Inquisition from the barbaric ages of old—a life-sized model, to be precise.

The glorious witch burning ceremony, no less.

Should I call it fortunate?

I managed to regain my freedom just before becoming human barbecue, thanks to the help of two passing wizards.

“…That’s what happened.”

“I see that was the situation.”

After my lengthy explanation, Grand Duchess Alexandra Petrova nodded repeatedly.

Arms crossed, eyes gently closed, nodding her head—the gesture somehow looked both elegant and dignified.

“Ranieri’s child was excessive in her methods, but she showed you mercy.”

“How is demanding my wrist showing mercy? What country’s law is that?”

“She didn’t actually cut it off, did she? If my eyes don’t deceive me, your hands are still perfectly attached.”

She pointed at both my hands with her chin, mocking me.

I was so indignant I could barely string words together.

“I don’t know what you did wrong, but if that child had been unable to contain her anger, you would already be in eight pieces. Even Eastern martial monks find it difficult to match a mage in direct combat. And you don’t even have a decent weapon or magical tool.”

I’ll set aside how threatening someone with a sword qualifies as combat.

If I think of it as the ramblings of a senile centenarian, it’s not entirely incomprehensible.

The Archmage began pouring out a storm of nagging as she sat me down, half-dead as I was.

“Whatever crime you committed, I have no way of knowing. But my advice is to grovel as soon as possible.”

“No, it’s problematic for you to say that without knowing what happened.”

“My, my. What problem between a man and a woman can’t be resolved through conversation?”

Alexandra Petrova advised me in a stern voice to go and apologize immediately. She added that if I started by bowing my head, I’d already be halfway there, and if that wasn’t enough, I should grab onto her skirt and beg.

It was a rather absurd suggestion.

I don’t mind the Grand Duchess giving advice without knowing anything, but the content wasn’t particularly helpful to me.

If this could be resolved by hanging onto her legs, I would have tried that already.

“Professor…”

Camilla, who had been silently listening to the conversation beside us, looked at the Grand Duchess with pitying eyes.

How should I put it?

It was the kind of look one gives to someone who’s a bit lacking in some area.

She sincerely told her teacher:

“Socialized humans don’t immediately pull out knives on others.”

“Child, are you implying that your teacher is worse than a beast?”

“Is that how my words came across?”

“Hmph.”

After a disbelieving chuckle, Camilla’s pitying voice rang out again.

“Professor, you’ve never been with a man your entire life, have you? Even I can see you know nothing about relationships between men and women. How can you, who has lived solely for magic, confidently give advice about Frederick and Francesca’s problem… GYAAAAK!”

“You wench.”

In an instant, a purple lightning bolt struck Camilla’s backside with a crackling sound.

The teacher’s palm, wrapped in ancient magic, had struck her disciple’s bottom.

“How dare you run your mouth so freely! You insolent thing.”

“Ah, nooo! Did I say something wrong?! This clearly isn’t a lovers’ quarrel, so what do you mean ‘between a man and a woman’?”

Camilla expressed her indignation while frantically rubbing her backside with both hands. She insisted that they weren’t even in a romantic relationship, and this seemed to be some serious issue that had soured their relationship, not some “man and woman” nonsense.

Then she added:

“You’re always dumping all your work on your disciple and locking yourself in your study to read books, so your thinking has gone in a strange direction…!”

This was truly an atrocious act of impiety.

Since ancient times, a teacher in magical society is considered a second parent. The subhuman beasts of ancient Central Plains who had three fathers might sneer, but to a mage, a teacher is regarded as no different from the parents who gave birth to them.

In fact, during the barbaric ages, tragedies were commonplace—disciples beheading their aged teachers to steal their magic and research materials, or conversely, teachers physically disposing of disciples out of fear of their greed.

But mages in civilized society rarely did such things.

In that sense, the disciple who not only exposed her heaven-like teacher’s shortcomings but also continued with shameless slander (which may or may not be true) was…

A traitor, a bastard, unfit to be human but qualified as a beast, a reactionary who should be struck down as a vanguard, no different from a communist who cries for public healthcare while ignoring the high-quality private health insurance in America.

“You haven’t been beaten enough.”

“GYA, GYAAAAAAAK-!”

It was an entirely natural and appropriate punishment for the lightning bolt to strike that crown of her head that stood up like a lightning rod.

“…Huk, hek, kuuuurgh…”

Camilla, roasted to a crisp, collapsed face-down on the floor and began to tremble.

The idiomatic expression of being unable to move a finger truly suited her—she was the very definition of being well-done.

The Grand Duchess’s gaze, full of contempt, settled on the trembling backside. Still not satisfied after punishing her disciple, the teacher slapped the raised bottom with a smack!

“When will you grow into a human who respects her teacher… Where were we? Ah, yes. Conversation.”

The Archmage, brushing back her hair, continued her advice with a rather serious attitude.

“There’s nothing between a man and a woman that can’t be resolved through conversation. If Ranieri’s child truly didn’t want to associate with you, she wouldn’t have come looking for you first. So go and apologize for whatever you did wrong.”

“……”

“Well. Considering that child’s temperament, she must be quite angry… But it’s fine. Even if something gets broken or cut off, I’ll reattach it for you. Or you could wear the Virbana I entrusted to you. A magical protective item made by my ancestors should be able to block even Francesca’s magic.”

The Grand Duchess concluded her advice seriously and confidently. As if it were the most natural thing in the world.

She was telling me to apologize first since I had nothing to lose.

It wasn’t exactly wrong, and it was reassuring in a way that she promised to heal me even if Francesca crippled me.

Nevertheless, I couldn’t shake off my disgruntled feelings.

I hesitantly opened my mouth with a sour expression.

“…Well, thank you for your advice, but.”

Isn’t wearing armor and weapons when going to apologize more like a declaration of war?

I asked the question with genuine confusion.

The Archmage then,

“…Oh.”

Raised her eyebrows as if she hadn’t thought of that.

“I forgot. I always bring weapons when I go to apologize.”

“Has Your Highness ever had reason to apologize?”

“Yes. Specifically, when Laterano was reduced to ashes by bombing. The old High Priest, the late Sagal, requested a conversation with me.”

“…Wasn’t that bombing done by you?”

“That’s why I brought weapons.”

“……”

“How could I know whether the High Priest would be waiting alone or with the Holy Knights?”

“So were the Holy Knights there?”

“No. The High Priest was waiting alone.”

“……”

“…Don’t look at me like that.”

The Grand Duchess, who had been acting confident throughout, muttered while slightly averting her gaze. They say all mages are mentally ill, and I was freshly reminded of how true that statement was.

She’s really only helpful in actual combat.

*

To cut to the conclusion, the Archmage’s advice was completely useless.

Whether forgiveness or confrontation, both require the parties involved to meet.

However, despite being the one who approached me first, Francesca was now avoiding meeting me.

It was unexpected. Given how clearly I remembered her threatening to cut off either my left or right hand, it was strange that she was now avoiding contact from her side.

What on earth was going on?

I had no idea what was happening.

-‘Failed again today?’

“Yes, that’s right.”

It was surprising. While the image of her threatening to cut off one of my hands was still vivid, suddenly she was avoiding meeting me.

What was going on here?

I had no idea how things were unfolding.

-‘My sister seems to be quite angry, doesn’t she…?’

Veronica kept snickering and making snide remarks with a mischievous smile. Despite the serious atmosphere, she was chattering away as if it were someone else’s problem.

It was truly characteristic of her, if anything.

“So, Saint, do you have any good ideas? You mentioned something before.”

-‘Hmm… I do have a plan, but…’

The snickering that came clearly through the crystal ball stirred an inexplicable anxiety like looking down a dark alley, but I had no better options at the moment.

I had to trust the master lobbyist who claimed to have a plan.

During my call with Veronica, I asked about how to contact Francesca and what the specific plan was. However, Veronica cut the conversation short with a vague “I have something in mind.”

Asking me to trust her without even showing her cards.

Her evasive attitude was quite suspicious, but unfortunately, I didn’t have time to press further.

“I need to go now. I’ll see you later.”

-‘I’ll contact you when I arrive~’

After ending the call with Veronica in her characteristic way of dragging out the end of her sentences, I gathered my equipment and hurried to join Clevins.

The urgent matter was urgent, but work was work.

After all, I had come on this business trip for work in the first place.

Veronica’s inscrutable smirking, Francesca’s inexplicable avoidance, and the unhelpful Archmage.

I spent my days diligently handling diplomatic conference-related duties, feeling like an Indian performing a rain dance.

“Are you worried, Frederick?”

“To be honest, yes.”

Camilla patted my shoulder with a bright smile, as if to encourage me.

For reference, she had been kicked out of her lodgings on the Grand Duchess’s orders, ostensibly to help with the four-party diplomatic talks and the World Union international conference.

She was told not to even dream of coming back for several days.

Anyway.

“It’s okay. Everything will work out. Francesca isn’t the type to easily part ways with us.”

“You think so?”

“Of course, of course. We’re all in the same boat, after all. Besides, how could the situation get any worse than being threatened with a sword?”

“……”

“And the person whose relationship is strained isn’t me, it’s Frederick, right? Whatever the reason, I’ll continue to maintain my relationship with her, so Frederick can keep in contact with Francesca through me.”

“…That’s tearfully kind of you.”

Camilla comforted me with a confident demeanor, and I suppressed my anxiety and tried to feel reassured.

But as someone once said.

Life doesn’t go according to plan.

And that’s what makes this world beautiful.

I could acknowledge at least that much.

However, I couldn’t possibly agree that the world was beautiful.

*

It had already been four days since news arrived that the two saints had reached Bahar. Yet there had been no contact from either Veronica or Francesca.

I was reaching my limit.

Waiting patiently has its limits too. I couldn’t wait forever. With the mindset that I had nothing to lose, I decided to face Francesca directly.

I thought hard about how to earn her forgiveness, prepared gifts with sincere apologies, and carefully made preparations whenever I had time while following Clevins around.

After about two days.

Finally, the contact I had been waiting for arrived.

“……”

In the hotel room reserved as my lodging. My plan to shower early and go to bed for the next day’s schedule was shattered the moment I stepped out of the bathroom.

“…Didn’t you say tomorrow?”

“Me? When?”

Veronica laughed as if amused, playing dumb as always.

“I only told you to prepare in advance, I don’t remember saying when we’d meet?”

“……”

“They say it’s better to get a beating over with quickly. Just think of it as ‘what’s good is good.'”

“Ah, yes. I can sympathize with that, but…”

Well.

What is this?

I wrung my brain trying to come up with something to say, but I couldn’t think of anything appropriate.

After desperately rotating my brain, I finally let out a deep sigh and began like this:

“…Saint.”

“Yes?”

“Why on earth are you dressed like that?”

“I wonder~?”

Veronica, looking like someone I’d never seen before, smiled and put her finger to her lips as if asking me to guess.

“I hope you’re not asking because you genuinely don’t know.”