Chapter 424 - A Tale of Hope for the Future
After examining the fallen Gulgandi's body, we collected all the equipment and magic items that caught our eye.
Many of the magic items were of uncertain use, and considering the risks and unknown dangers involved in handling them, there was little I wanted to keep for myself. So, I decided to hand everything over to the Berliza Intelligence Department.
These items and equipment in the enemy's possession could reveal a lot of useful information. If there’s an Undead Control Magic Item, that would be a huge find. A major nation’s intelligence department would surely conduct thorough investigations and put everything to good use.
Still, the spoils of this battle are significant.
We not only defeated Gulgandi’s elite forces but also thwarted their plans, secured their tools, and took control of their underground facility. This kind of victory is as good as it gets.
However, the magnitude of our success, especially coming from newcomers like us, is almost suspicious. Success on this scale makes me wary. There’s bound to be jealousy from some fools who will think, ‘Who do these uppity women think they are?’ I can’t control idiots, so this is a troublesome factor.
On the bright side, Anastasia Union's involvement at the end of the mission will prevent us from taking all the credit and might soften the feelings of those who might harbor resentment.
What truly matters is the impression we leave. Few will delve into the details, and as long as the right people are satisfied, that’s all we need.
Our Kikyo Society will benefit from the agreed-upon rewards while allowing Anastasia Union to take the spotlight. I’m content to remain a hidden powerhouse, known only to those in the know. Connections with such individuals are invaluable, and I couldn’t care less about the opinions of the unwashed masses.
Moving forward, I’m positive about collaborating to maintain Beltria’s peace and our own interests. Striking a balance by staying close to power without overexposing ourselves is ideal. Embracing the dirty work that comes our way and reaping the rewards will keep us in a favorable position.
I have a feeling that my future roles will often be behind the scenes, different from my overt position in Exembra, but this kind of work has its own appeal.
In any case, saving the Royal Palace from a crisis is a huge favor we’ve done not just for the Intelligence Department but for the entire country of Beltria. The future of our Kikyo Society looks very bright.
“Hey, Kikyo Society. What are you even doing here?”
It’s the Young Master. Given the upcoming report, it’s important he knows our side of the story.
He seemed to be waiting for the right moment to speak to me while I was deep in thought. I’ll give him props for not complaining about our somewhat thieving behavior, stripping the bodies of their gear.
“Why don’t we just have a chat? You can leave the scavenging to the others.”
“We were after these Gulgandi. We followed them from the underground passage and ended up here. I didn’t expect it to lead under the Royal Palace, though.”
“Really? Where does it lead to?”
“The warehouse district by the port.”
“...The port? That’s quite a distance.”
The port is at least a couple of kilometers from the Royal Palace, a distance that’s hard to imagine for an underground passage. It’s certainly a surprise.
“Why are you here? I heard Anastasia Union was targeting an Imperial organization.”
Anastasia Union is typically responsible for protecting VIPs, so their presence at the Royal Palace isn’t unusual. However, the Young Master seems more suited to storming enemy strongholds than guarding someone.
“Damn it, it’s none of your business—”
“Huh?”
I’ll tolerate a bit of attitude, but he needs to answer my questions honestly. If he doesn’t, I’ll just have to beat it out of him.
He must be well aware of the gap in our abilities. His glare and intimidation tactics are just bluffs.
“...I’m basically under house arrest. I was left out of the raid and assigned to guard the Royal Palace.”
He answered reluctantly, clearly not happy with the situation. This must be a form of punishment for his sister and his own reckless actions. From his demeanor, it’s clear that guarding the Royal Palace is not a role he relishes.
The Royal Palace has specialized units for defense. While guarding VIPs is a different matter, being assigned to defend the palace in an offensive situation is a form of punishment for a young, hot-blooded warrior. It’s no wonder he’s unhappy.
“Well, that’s quite the turn of events. You helped prevent an attack on the Royal Palace. Good job on noticing the threat.”
“It was just that one of my companions is sensitive to magic. When magic is used deeper than the palace’s lowest level, it stands out. Tell me more about those Undead.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I don’t believe you. Gulgandi was controlling Undead. What’s going on?”
“I have no idea.”
I have no intention of explaining the complicated situation. Whether they need to know or not is another question. If they’re in a position to find out, they will. It’s better to be cautious.
“Onee-sama, we’re ready to go. Let’s hurry.”
Our team had loaded the collected items onto what appeared to be Gulgandi’s vehicle. Returning through the underground passage is a pain, but there’s no shortcut from under the Royal Palace. I’m also concerned about Gradena’s situation, so we need to move quickly.
I’ll ask about the possible Undead control magic item during our travel. Ignoring the Young Master’s lingering desire to talk, I began to move.
Valeria led the way as we boarded a large vehicle. Roberta took the wheel, with Violante in the passenger seat. Emary and Jinna were in the other vehicle, which carried most of the collected items.
Once we were all in, the vehicles started moving.
“So, how did it go?”
I’m particularly interested in the Undead control magic item. I need to know if we got it.
“We found a suspicious item. Here it is.”
“Did you try using it?”
“No, of course not. We don’t know what might happen. I also instructed everyone not to channel any magic power into the other items.”
Violante held out a fist-sized, somewhat spherical object. It had a reddish color. Examining it, it appeared to be made from a gem-like mineral. The stone had several holes and intricate mechanisms embedded within. The interior seemed mostly hollow.
The overall impression was that of a flute, given the hollow interior and the holes.
“...A type of ocarina, I suppose. I heard a flute-like sound, so this might be it.”
“It’s the only item that looks like it could produce sound. It’s also built in a very complex way.”
Indeed, it’s not just a simple ocarina. The gem-like surface is intricately engraved, and the interior contains small, intricate mechanisms. It might work by channeling magic power rather than being blown into.
I’m tempted to try it, but there could be unknown magic authentication requirements. Given its importance, I can’t risk damaging it. Better to err on the side of caution.
“Once we hand this over and finish the report, we’ll be off the hook.”
“We need to stay alert until then. Roberta, drive carefully.”
“I know. Violante and Valeria will be on lookout. Besides, we can’t afford to let our guard down in this underground passage anyway.”
“Please rest, Onee-sama.”
“I will. Wake me when we meet up with Gradena. I’ll contact the Intelligence Department afterward.”
I closed my eyes. We didn’t engage in intense combat, but I used several powerful spells and am quite drained from the curse. The long ordeal has left me exhausted.
---
After dispatching all the enemies, we returned to the warehouse without incident. We successfully reunited with Gradena and completed our mission. The Undead control magic item is a valuable addition, but it remains to be seen if it will be a blessing or a new set of troubles.
We were summoned to the Closed City by Moore from the Berliza Intelligence Department, who insisted on an in-person report since we couldn’t discuss everything via communication.
In the secure environment of the Closed City, we completed the handover of the collected items and our report. Despite his poker face, Moore seemed visibly tired.
Beltria still faces numerous challenges. Even though we thwarted Gulgandi’s plans, the threat of Undead still looms. The Medek-Legisamo Empire remains a concern, and Anastasia Union is handling that. The current workload won’t ease up anytime soon, and the last thing anyone needs is more trouble.
However, the Undead control magic item could be a powerful asset if used correctly. It’s a tricky situation, but with the right people, it can be managed.
For now, everything’s settled except for my condition. I’ll avoid taking on more trouble. Even if the reward is good, I’ll let the others handle it and focus on my own recovery.
By the time we returned from the Closed City, it was almost noon. Exhausted, I decided to rest at Gradena’s base instead of returning to the Academy. The next couple of days were strictly off-limits, and everyone spent them mostly in bed.
The next day, some took the opportunity to rest more, while others explored the city. I sat up in bed, frowning at the persistent discomfort.
“Damn... Did I overuse magic? It’s not getting better.”
The disruption in my magic flow is causing severe discomfort. While I hoped it was temporary, the lack of significant improvement after resting is concerning.
Summer break isn’t over yet, and the Academy still has a few days before reopening. I’m hoping for some improvement by then, but I’m not optimistic.
If it doesn’t get better, I’ll need a more powerful talisman or, in the worst case, seek help from an exorcist priest in the Holy City. I can’t leave Beltria during an active mission, so a trip to the Holy City is unlikely. The lack of positive options is frustrating.
Sigh, thinking about it is depressing, but I can’t afford to ignore it. It’s really troublesome.
For now, I focused on resting.
---
With the major task behind us, and our immediate roles as the Kikyo Society fulfilled, it was time to regroup and discuss the future.
We gathered in Gradena’s base in the evening, with only myself and Layla from the Academy group attending.
“We’ve settled in for the semester, but what do the rest of you plan to do?”
Moore and I agreed that there’s no immediate new work for us. Anastasia Union and other Beltrian forces will handle the ongoing threats from Undead, the Empire, and Gulgandi remnants.
“If there’s no work, we’re heading back to Exembra. There’s no point in staying if there’s nothing to do, and Siegrune would be upset if we did. The establishment of a Beltria branch is still a ways off, right?”
“True. Neither the specific details nor the timing are set yet.”
Our initial mission was to protect the Young Master’s sister, and in return, the Leader promised us land in Beltria. The exact location isn’t known, and the arrangement will happen after the sister’s studies end.
Once we know the location, we’ll negotiate and take possession of the land and buildings as our new base. For now, nothing is definite.
“Will the Intelligence Department suddenly need us for something once you all leave?”
“I understand Heidi’s concern, but waiting around for potential work isn’t practical. What about the Secretariat?”
We came to Beltria to protect the Young Master’s sister, and due to the series of troubles, Roberta and the combat team joined as reinforcements. Since they were here temporarily, it makes sense to return when the need is over.
“Layla and I discussed this. The two of us will return to Exembra to provide detailed reports. The four of us staying here will continue gathering information in Beltria.”
“Hmm, so should we all go back or leave a few here? Even if things are quiet, we might need a quick response. Yuki, what do you think? The leader’s decision will be respected by Siegrune.”
Hmm, what should we do?
Leaving some here would be helpful in case of emergencies, but it could also be boring if nothing happens. Sending our members to linger in another territory might raise concerns with other organizations, including Anastasia Union.
There’s always the risk of creating unnecessary conflicts. Our members tend to stand out and can be troublemakers.
However, the Academy will resume soon, and the students won’t be as free to act. Delegating extra tasks to Heidi and the others doesn’t seem ideal, and my condition isn’t great. Having a quick-response team here is still necessary.
“...Yeah, it’s best to leave a few. Beltria is still volatile. We can also call in members for a preliminary inspection before officially setting up our banner here.”
“Good point. We can use this hideout for a while. We can bring in a few members at a time for inspections and sightseeing. Two of us can stay as tour guides and handle emergencies.”
“Leader, there was also talk about leveraging new privileges we negotiated. We should bring in personnel to manage that.”
That’s true. Even without a formal branch, it would be helpful to have members for negotiations and coordination. Administrative staff from the Secretariat would be suitable for this role.
“Let’s send members interested in establishing the Beltria branch. Inform Siegrune and the others about the plan.”
“Understood. I’ll update the report with the details. Third Seat will be returning to Exembra, so it would be helpful if you could provide additional context.”
“Sure thing, Layla. Oh, and can we use the captured ship to return? The large vessel could carry Delta, and it might be faster by sea.”
“That’s a possibility, but we need to consider the crew. The Commercial Guild can help, I’m sure.”
Ideally, this is a job for administrative staff, but they’re not here.
“Expenses are no issue. Building strong ties with the Commercial Guild is beneficial. Let’s start with a generous approach and have Layla manage it before the Academy reopens.”
“With a generous budget, they’ll be happy to cooperate. I’ll report the necessary costs and time frame.”
“Thanks.”
After settling on a plan, Layla and I returned to the Academy. Midway, we received a comm request from Moore of the Berliza Intelligence Department. Despite there being no immediate work, it could be something important.
“Leader, a summons?”
“Head to the city center now. It’s not important enough for the Closed City, so it shouldn’t be too critical... Still, it’s a bother.”
“I can handle it if it’s work. Shall we head to the city center?”
“Let’s just hear them out.”
Sigh, what a hassle, but the unexpected news from Moore turns out to be promising. There’s a chance my curse might be resolved.
---
After a long and tumultuous mission, the Kikyo Society has wrapped up the cleanup efficiently. Yuki, despite her fatigue, might finally see a glimmer of hope.
Stay tuned for the next chapter: “A Visit to the Beltoria Central Church!”