I Became the Servant of the Blind Wicked Woman

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Blasphemia Auditor General Salmosia felt a severe headache from the report that had just come in.

The code of the person who submitted the report was problematic: L13.

'How did the inspector who disappeared during the last chaos…?'

While fighting the monsters unleashed by the White Light Magic Tower, Blasphemia suffered significant personnel losses.

Officially confirmed dead agents numbered nearly in the triple digits, and those classified as missing in action due to lack of bodies were at least twice that.

L13 was among those declared missing in action, presumed dead.

"Secret inspectors have the authority to operate independently without reporting for extended periods… But they would still signal their survival. He had been presumed killed by the monster, as there were no traces of him for years."

Had he been alive all this time? Salmosia stroked his chin.

The sudden return and subsequent departure of the missing secret inspector was highly unusual. He had left the scene without even handing over responsibilities to other inspectors urgently dispatched to the Charlotte branch.

Without knowing the full circumstances, one might think it was a ruse by an external force to incite infighting within the Ten Towers.

But it couldn't be interpreted as a ploy by other factions within the Ten Towers or by the Cult of the Vanished Gods to weaken Blasphemia.

The report he submitted about the 'rebellion plot by the survivors of the Golden Desert operation' turned out to be real.

Moreover, a significant number of agents at the Charlotte branch had been recruited by them.

It was hard to assume L13 was an enemy after providing such high-level information. Thus, another interpretation had to be considered.

'Assuming L13 had to hide due to severe injuries. Then, why reveal himself now?'

A secret inspector who was presumed dead by the White Light Monster would spend a long time healing his wounds. What would the inspector do next?

'Naturally, they would pursue the monster. The monster's body was never confirmed despite being presumed dead. A inspector with their abilities and loyalty would likely investigate alone.'

The inspector investigating the monster suddenly reported on the insurgents within the organization colluding with extra-dimensional contaminants.

And these extra-dimensional contaminants were engaging in psychological warfare against non-contaminants, unlike their usual indiscriminate destruction.

If Salmosia couldn't sense some connection between the White Light Monster that L13 might be tracking and the unusual behavior of the contaminants, he wouldn't deserve his position as Auditor General of Blasphemia.

"So that's what happened."

It also explained why most of the elite agents who should have returned promptly from the extra-dimension vanished.

They had become contaminants and were now wielding the blade of rebellion against Blasphemia.

"The White Light Monster's ploy!"

What a terrifying being. A mage who could control the deep abyssal magic of the extra-dimension to such an extent as to corrupt even the elite agents with his will.

A dreadful monster who survived the full-force attack of Blasphemia and instead dominated the agents.

It was behind the traitors.

L13 risked exposing his identity to the rebels to hint at this fact and left a message.

'He said he was leaving the scene to continue his pursuit. Henceforth, wherever L13 appears, it will indicate clues related to the White Light Monster!'

Salmosia admired L13's wit and his own deduction despite the dangerous situation. He then carefully selected agents to share this information with.

'Even branch-level agents colluded with the contaminants. There's no guarantee there aren't collaborators within the headquarters.'

He read the detailed investigation report of the Charlotte branch incident once more. The only person who had direct contact with L13 was the trainee agent K17, who preferred to be called Niobe.

"Should I assume L13 vouched for this agent's loyalty?"

Not just loyalty, but also competence. It meant that the secret inspector found her capable enough to accompany on his mission.

"In fighting traitors, the most important thing isn't combat ability but ideological fortitude. K17's loyalty has been verified."

She could potentially grow into a special agent to capture traitors. Salmosia enrolled K17 in the accelerated training program.

At that moment, Niobe, isolated to give her statement about the Charlotte branch, suddenly felt an intense anxiety.

She was unaware that she was destined for Blasphemia's most dangerous department for trusting Orthes.

***

Reborn by the blessing of the Great One.

Once loyal to Blasphemia and the Ten Towers, Halto now served a greater cause, waiting grimly for a contact.

The time for the Charlotte branch to join was nearing. According to Nardanit's last contact, everything should wrap up within a week.

Halto should have been eagerly anticipating the new comrades. However, just moments ago, he received unbelievable information from a spy planted in Blasphemia's headquarters.

"Annihilated."

The shocking news that Nardanit was dead and the comrades who were supposed to join the cause were all captured. Halto awaited Nardanit's contact with his last hope.

But even after a long delay past the promised time, no contact came.

This confirmed the situation.

'Those who follow our cause need more time.'

He had planned to secure at least ten mobile branches like the Charlotte branch before making significant moves. But the situation had deteriorated beyond control.

'It's too premature to act without consolidating the organization properly.'

If they didn't divert Blasphemia's attention now, the stronghold of the cause could be exposed.

"We must select someone for the upcoming Magic Tower advancement review."

Halto muttered to himself. From his shadow, something slowly emerged.

A figure rose like a shadow, without distinct features. A voice flowed from the black silhouette.

"The pieces aren't sufficiently gathered yet. Isn't this too hasty?"

"Yes. But Blasphemia has already got a lead on us. We need an incident to divert their eyes."

"I will inform everyone."

The figure melded back into the shadow. Left alone, Halto reflected on the journey so far.

The monsters encountered in the desert.

No, the monsters.

The formidable magic weapon with white hair fluttering. And…

Something vague even in memory. Only blue eyes remained like a scar.

They hadn't been ejected outside the dimension and received the revelation as he had. Instead, the revelation saw them as—

"The greatest enemies of the cause."

The fact that those powerful beings who once defeated him were enemies didn't frighten or sadden Halto.

The cause had granted him new strength.

Halto was grateful that they were the enemies threatening the cause.

They were monsters who had killed countless comrades even before he awakened to the cause. He would kill them with his own hands.

***

I'm exhausted. Exhausted.

I mumbled as I trudged along the tracks.

"How could that damned branch not have any transportation available at a time like this? Seriously, no magic carpets, bikes, or even magic bicycles?"

『They didn't. Even if they did, you couldn't use them. You should wish for realistic things. Do you want to use a vehicle with Blasphemia's tracking devices?』

The message from Arabella, who was collecting audiovisual information via a drone, came through crisply.

The various diversion tactics had worked well. However, since I had to leave as few clues for Blasphemia to trace me as possible, walking was my only option.

"I need to find a city soon and clean up. The outside air is so filthy. It's been days already."

***

Arabella felt deep anger at the mention of 'days.'

It seemed Orthes hadn't noticed, but Arabella had dropped her usual formal tone and sent the message in casual language.

It was due to the stress of staying up all night monitoring Orthes's journey back to Etna.

Naturally, it wasn't something she wanted.

"…"

Someone behind Arabella was silently watching the screen transmitted by the drone. It was Carisia.

"Boss, if you're so worried, why not go meet him yourself?"

"As if. Do you think I'd worry about him?"

Carisia smoothly deflected the blunt comment. Usually, if Carisia expressed that she wasn't worried about something, it implied that the subject was too insignificant to warrant concern.

But if it involved Orthes, it was an exception. Arabella had noticed over the past few days that most of Carisia's 'exceptions' involved Orthes.

Interpreted correctly, Carisia's comment about Orthes would mean: 'He's not someone weak enough to worry about.'

Arabella really wanted to ask Carisia why she kept doing this if she wasn't worried.

Her remaining reason and survival instinct only demanded that she not question the boss's orders.

'She'd probably say something like, "I'm not worrying; I'm just reviewing the business trip records."'

From the side, it looked like worrying.

'The boss and the secretary are working me to death…'

Arabella sighed.

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To read over 200 fully translated episodes, patreon.com/Denji02