WeTried Translations

Translator: Botanica

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◈ I Became the Slit-Eyed Henchman of the Evil Boss

Chapter 27

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Business Trip and Aftermath (1)

Salmosia, the head of the Blasphemia Audit Office, felt a severe headache from the report that had just come in.

The very code of the person who filed the report was the problem. L13.

'How could an inspector who went missing during the last chaotic period suddenly appear?'

Blasphemia had suffered massive personnel losses while fighting the monster the White Light Tower had thrown into the world.

Officially confirmed deaths among named agents alone numbered close to three digits, and those whose bodies could not be confirmed and were treated as missing in action would easily be double that.

L13 was also one of those nominal missing, effectively presumed dead.

"Secret inspectors have the authority to act independently for long periods without reporting, but... still, you'd file a survival report. It's already been years without any trace, so I assumed he'd been killed by that monster."

So he was actually alive? Salmosia stroked his chin.

The sudden survival and departure of the vanished secret inspector had many highly unnatural aspects. After all, he had left the scene without even a handover with the other inspectors urgently dispatched to the Charlotte branch.

If I hadn't known the background, I would have thought it was a deception by an external force to incite internal strife within the Ten Towers.

But this couldn't be interpreted as a scheme attempted by other factions within the Ten Towers or the cults of the vanished gods to weaken Blasphemia.

Because the 'rebellion plot by survivors of the Golden Desert Operation' written in his report had been confirmed to exist.

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

Given that he provided such high-level intelligence, it is unreasonable to assume L13 is an enemy. Then we must think of it in another way.

'Assume that the reason L13 had to go into hiding was due to a critical injury. Then why has he revealed himself again now?'

A secret inspector who was struck by the White Light monster while performing his duties spends a long time healing his wounds. What is the next action the inspector will take?

'Naturally, tracking the monster. It's merely treated as killed, no one has confirmed the monster's corpse. Given the inspector's ability and loyalty, it's plausible he would launch an independent investigation.'

The inspector, who was investigating the monster, inexplicably reported the stirring of reactionary elements within the organization colluding with extradimensional eroded ones.

And those extradimensional eroded ones, unlike the indiscriminate destructive activities of ordinary eroded ones, are conducting psychological operations targeting non-eroded individuals.

The White Light monster that L13 is tracking. The abnormal behavior of the eroded ones. If I cannot sense some connection between the two, I myself am unqualified to sit in the position of Blasphemia Audit Office Head.

"So that's how it is."

The fact that most of the elite agents who should have been rapidly returned from the extradimensional simply disappeared.

The fact that they became eroded ones and raised the blade of rebellion against Blasphemia.

"Could it be a scheme prepared by the White Light monster!"

What a terrifying existence this is. A mage who can control extradimensional mana and such profound abyssal mana capable of corrupting even elite agents, according to his own will.

A fearsome monster that survived despite Blasphemia's full-force assault and instead dominated the agents.

That is behind the rebels.

L13 accepted the risk of exposing his identity to the rebel faction and left a message to imply this fact.

'He said he was leaving the scene for pursuit. From now on, wherever L13 reveals himself, it means there is a clue related to the White Light monster!'

Salmosia admired L13's resourcefulness in conveying the truth even under dangerous circumstances, as well as his own reasoning. And he carefully selected the agents with whom to share this information.

'Even branch-chief-level agents have joined hands with the eroded ones. There is no guarantee there are no informants inside headquarters.'

He once again carefully read the detailed investigation report of the Charlotte branch incident. The only person who had direct contact with L13 was the salvage agent K17, requested name Niobe.

"Should I assume L13 recognized this agent's loyalty?"

No. Not just loyalty, but also capability. The fact that the secret inspector brought her along on the mission means that.

'In fighting rebels, the most important thing is not combat ability but ideological fortification. K17's loyalty has been verified.'

She has the potential to grow into a special agent who can capture the rebels. Salmosia registered K17 on the selection list for the accelerated training program.

At that moment, Niobe, who was staying in a quarantine facility to give a statement about the Charlotte branch, felt a sudden sense of unease.

She did not yet know that she was destined to be assigned to Blasphemia's most dangerous department for the crime of believing Ortes's words.

***

One reborn by the blessing of the Great One.

Haltos, who once served Blasphemia and the Ten Towers but now serves a greater cause, waited with a stiff expression for contact.

The time for the Charlotte branch to join was approaching. According to Nardanit's last communication, everything should have been wrapped up within a week at most.

Haltos should have been waiting for his new comrades with a joyful heart. But just a moment ago, an incredible piece of information came from an agent planted inside Blasphemia headquarters.

"Annihilated, you say."

The shocking news that Nardanit was dead and the comrades who would have joined the cause were all captured. Haltos placed his last hope on waiting for Nardanit's contact.

But even though the promised time had long passed, no contact came.

With this, the situation became clear.

'Those who follow our cause still need more time.'

He had planned to move in earnest only after securing at least ten mobile branches like the Charlotte branch. But there was no helping i. the situation had worsened.

'It's a premature choice when the organization's internal foundation hasn't been solidified, but.'

If Blasphemia's attention was not diverted immediately, the cause faction's base camp could be exposed.

"I must select those who will go to the upcoming Magic Tower Listing Review."

Haltos muttered as if talking to himself. Then, something slowly rose from beneath Haltos's shadow.

A shape as if the shadow itself had risen, without distinct facial features. A voice flowed from the black silhouette.

"We still do not have enough pieces gathered. Is this not too hasty?"

"Yes. But Blasphemia has already caught a clue about us. We need an incident to blind their eyes."

"I will inform everyone."

It melted back into the shadow. Left alone again, Haltos reflected on his journey so far.

The monster he had encountered in the desert.

No. Monster's.

The fearsome magical weapon that fluttered white hair. And...

Something that had become blurred even in his memory. Only the blue eyes remain like scars.

They were not flung out of the dimension themselves to receive the truth. Rather, the revelation flung to them-

"So they are the greatest enemy obstructing the cause."

That those with such powerful strength, those who had once knocked Haltos down, were his enemies neither frightened nor disappointed him.

Because the cause had granted him new power.

Haltos was rather grateful that they were evil enemies threatening the cause.

Monsters who had killed countless comrades even from the time before he had awakened to the cause. He would surely kill them with his own hands.

***

I'm tired. So tired.

I trudged along the tracks, muttering.

"How can that damn branch not have a single mode of transport to ride at a time like this. Wasn't there even a magic carpet or a magic bike or a magic bicycle?"

『There wasn't. And there shouldn't be. You should wish for what's realistic. You want to use a vehicle equipped with Blasphemia's tracking devices?』

The message that arrived sharply was from Arabel, who was collecting audiovisual information from the surroundings via drone.

It was good that I had carried out various diversionary operations. But since I had to avoid leaving any clues for Blasphemia to track me, my only means of escape in the end was on foot.

"Whenever I find a city, I need to go in and wash up. The wind outside the city is so filthy. And it's already been how many days of this."

***

At the words 'how many days of this,' Arabel felt deep anger.

Ortes didn't seem to have noticed, but Arabel had dropped her usual polite speech and sent messages in casual speech.

It was because of the stress from watching Ortes's journey back to Etna City without getting proper sleep.

This was certainly not what she had hoped for.

"‥‥‥."

The person silently watching the screen sent by the drone from behind Arabel now. It was Karisia's order.

"President. If you're worried, why don't you go out to meet him yourself?"

"Surely not. Why would I worry about him?"

Karisia smoothly deflected the prickly remark. Normally, when Karisia says she is not worried about something, it amounts to an evaluation of 'a being not worth worrying about.'

But when said about Ortes, it is an exception. Arabel had felt, to the point of nausea over the past few days, that most of what Karisia considers 'exceptions' within her are connected to Ortes.

If I interpret Karisia's meaning according to the target, it would be about this: 'He is not someone weak enough to worry about.'

Arabel really wanted to ask Karisia that if she wasn't worried, then why was she still doing this.

Only her remaining reason and survival instinct demanded she not nitpick the president's work orders.

'If I asked, she'd probably say something like, "What I'm doing is not worrying, it's merely reviewing the business trip work records."'

If you look from the side, it was worry.

'The president and the secretary are both working people to death...'

Arabel sighed.

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