EP.165 The Main Shadow
"Time to wake up."
Half a beat before the alarm rang, Abby opened her eyes wide instinctively. Rising in a single motion, Abby threw off the soft blanket and got up, turning off the alarm clock before it could even ring.
Waking before the alarm rings is a skill only those who have risen on time their entire lives can master.
Abby had already reached that level.
"Satisfactory. No signs of poor condition."
Despite going to bed relatively late last night, her body felt incredibly refreshed. It would be a different story if she were exhausted and fatigued from injuries, but for Abby, who went to bed and woke up on time every day, a slight lack of sleep was no problem at all.
"..."
Of course, claiming that the credit for maintaining her condition belonged entirely to her diligence would be an act of ignoring the influence of her environment far too much.
Cozy blankets and a warm room, a dry yet fresh scent as if dried in the sun. Cleanly washed and dried clothes, and a kettle that was always bubbling and boiling.
Everything in this room gently enveloped Abby, and while she was unaccustomed to the unfamiliar comfort, she would find herself buried in it before she realized it.
Looking around the room, Abby gazed at him sleeping on the sofa. Sleeping in the most comfortable posture in the world, he still didn't seem to have any intention of waking up on his own.
"Please wake..."
Abby, who was about to wake him, suddenly stopped her hand.
Yesterday evening, he had disappeared somewhere and returned with a doctor. Thanks to that, Anna received appropriate treatment and was resting at her residence.
Moreover, since he had even found someone to nurse Anna, Abby was able to fall asleep with a much more relieved mind.
He must have been even busier than Abby was last night.
"...Please sleep well."
Abby, who was about to touch his shoulder, instead pulled the blanket up to his shoulders. He tossed and turned, mumbling at his mouth like a baby. Seeing that, a gentle smile appeared on Abby's lips.
Anyway, Abby had things she needed to do separately. There was no need to wake him.
"I will be back."
Changing into her uniform, Abby put on her hat and left the room.
Perhaps because it was not yet time to go to work. The streets, where the sun had not fully risen, were much quieter than yesterday. Having woken up early and departed, Abby walked the quiet streets in her uniform.
Her destination was District 10. It was not a walking distance.
As she headed to the main road to catch an automated carriage, Abby happened to see the corridor-type residence she had seen yesterday. The door that the two young men had knocked on repeatedly yesterday was wide open today.
Did they wake up on time today? As Abby was thinking that,
From inside that door... the two young men who had been knocking yesterday morning walked out. They had extremely grievous and sorrowful expressions.
Those who learned Sympathy Magic were people with excessive empathetic abilities. Abby's chest tightened for a moment. Abby instinctively moved closer below them and listened.
"Philip... you bastard, if you were going to leave, you should have at least said something... He said he was going to treat us, for some reason..."
The young man who came out first covered his face with his hands and muttered. The other young man following behind him asked cautiously.
"...What are we going to do? If we don't pay, Philip—no, Philip's corpse goes to the crematorium."
"...Damn it, to even pretend to hold a funeral, we need to save up about a week's worth of wages. What are we going to eat and live on in the meantime? It can't be helped. It's his fate."
People often get angry to turn away from their guilt. The young man who yelled, not knowing who it was directed at, strode away from the house. The other young man hurriedly followed behind him.
In the place they left, only the wide-open door remained bleakly. The dark inside looked even colder than yesterday when it was firmly shut.
Abby couldn't take her eyes off that door until the automated carriage driver mustered the courage to urge her on.
'Shelter'. That was an organization Abby knew well.
The Military Nation had countless soldiers, and just as many veterans. Among them, there were many who had served since the Kingdom era and retired due to injuries or old age.
As former soldiers, their bodies were robust. They had money left over, were filled with the pride of having brought down the Kingdom, and thanks to their experience of belonging to an organization, it was easy to create a new one.
The Shelter, an organization created by veterans who had gathered like that, became a kind of vigilante group while also taking on the appearance of a charitable organization that protected and relieved orphans.
"...Please understand that I cannot state my rank and name. I am currently executing a classified operation."
District 10. The headquarters of the Shelter, located on the border between the city center and the back alleys.
Frontain, the former Military Nation Major General and current Shelter Director, answered with a twitch around his eyes.
"Right. In principle, that's true. Even if I am a former Major General, I cannot demand a rank and name from an active soldier."
"Affirmative. Also, while you are a former soldier, you are simultaneously a civilian, so you have an obligation to cooperate with me. I request your sincere cooperation."
The bodies of those who learned Qigong were stronger than ordinary people, but exhaustion of stamina due to aging was unavoidable. No matter how high-ranking a soldier was, retiring when they became too old to fight at full strength was both a duty and a virtue.
Frontain, who had been a soldier since the old Kingdom era, had retired for exactly that reason.
Frontain narrowed his wrinkled eyes even more and spoke.
"Hah? Listen here, Captain. I was still a Major General. And yet, cooperate? Hah! You're not even a field officer, barely a company officer grade... Where is your unit?"
"Classified. Also, according to regulations, I have no obligation to answer you."
"Hah! Always hiding behind classified this and regulations that. If you're a soldier, act a bit more dignified!"
"I am dignified. Also, such remarks are completely irrelevant to the current situation."
Even at Abby's words, Frontain sneered and scoffed.
"At least you know to hide your unit because you're scared of me, right? Of course. There are two generals that I raised myself! A mere captain thinks she's something? If I say just one word, you might have to end your military career as a captain!"
It was a childish but quite fatal threat to officers thirsty for promotion.
However, that did not apply to Abby. The identity of a Signal Soldier was classified and thus not revealed, and to begin with, Abby's greed was merely to survive, let alone get promoted.
"Question. Are you expecting retired official courtesy from me right now?"
When Abby asked without a single inch of hesitation, Frontain flinched and mumbled, intimidated.
"...Ahem. Not exactly."
"If you have no intention of cooperating, please say so. I will confirm that fact and seek other measures."
"When did I say I wouldn't cooperate! I was just pointing out your stiff attitude!"
Of course, if one knew even a little about how the Military Nation worked, they would know that Frontain's threat was utterly baseless. Because the Military Nation was not a country relaxed enough to afford retired official courtesy.
Frontain coughed loudly and asked with an even more dissatisfied face.
"So, Captain. What are you curious about?"
"I am investigating a series of incidents occurring in District 10 of the Military Nation. Do you have any information regarding the 'Shadow of the Military Nation'?"
The old veteran made a subtle expression. It revealed a complex state of mind, as if asking if they were only now taking an interest, or if they had ever been interested in such matters.
"Hah. So the authorities are finally starting to take an interest in the back alleys? Then why didn't you bring the Military Police and turn everything upside down? That would be certain."
The Military Nation hasn't taken an interest. This is entirely Abby's personal investigation.
However, Abby, as a Signal Soldier, can directly relay the information she possesses. This was an authority only Signal Soldiers could have, and precisely because of that, it was an authority that must be used with caution.
Of course, she couldn't say this fact.
"It is classified."
"Hah. Sure. You can't tell a has-been like me anything!"
As if a scoff was a kind of laugh asserting itself, Frontain's scoff was filled with a sense of dismay.
"I'll tell you. Captain, do you know what they call themselves?"
"The Shadow of the Military Nation."
"Good. Then do you know where they took that name from?"
Recalling the information in her head, Abby answered half a beat late.
"The Shadow of the Kingdom, isn't it?"
"Accurate. No, were you expecting it from the start?"
Frontain raised his eyes slightly and examined Abby. Abby nodded in affirmation.
She was a Signal Soldier, a special branch that handled and remembered all kinds of information. She couldn't say it because it was classified, but she inevitably knew more than a retired Major General.
She came to ask merely because confirmation was needed.
"Your thought will be right. Their methods are similar."
The old veteran didn't bother saving time. He began explaining even while knowing it was information Abby already knew.
"In the past, there was an organization in the Kingdom that called themselves the 'Shadow of the Kingdom.' They were hyenas who took care of the aftermath for the guys who swaggered around calling themselves knights. Murder, looting, threats that were hard for knights to do openly... they were a kind of clean-up crew that took charge of such things. They were notorious not only to the citizens but also to the soldiers."
After the Absolute Singer and the Rebel Army brought down the Kingdom, naturally the Shadow of the Kingdom also surfaced. It was a natural course for the Military Nation to round up those who were the evil of the old era.
"The 'Main Shadow' Ulfen, who was the leader of that organization. I am convinced... that he, who had been locked up in Tantalus for a long time, has returned."
As expected.
Abby nodded heavily.
Ulfen Penstein. The Main Shadow who once led the Shadow of the Kingdom.
The deepest darkness among the ugly parts of the old Kingdom.
Locked deep within Tantalus, he escaped using the recent prison break incident as an opportunity and returned to his base.
The city that was the capital of the old Kingdom, and at the same time, the city that desecrated it by burying it under concrete.
The land where the most people lived in the Military Nation.
To Amitengrad.
"The Military Nation locked him in Tantalus instead of killing him. Tsk, they should have just killed him, why lock him up uselessly..."
Abby knew the reason, and that information was not classified. Abby spoke clearly.
"He, as the 'Main Shadow,' applied a magical treatment to his own heart. The moment his heart stops, the 'Half Shadows' scattered across the Military Nation will simultaneously cause riots. Therefore, the Military Nation decided to just lock him up in Tantalus instead of going out of their way to kill him."
At the information flowing out smoothly, Frontain opened his eyes wide.
"What. You know quite well. Why did you come to ask me when you already know everything?"
"It is classified."
"Hah. So insolent... Do officers these days have no respect?"
Even in front of the former general, Abby was not intimidated or bothered at all. She just kept her principles and convictions.
Frontain clicked his tongue, seemingly dissatisfied with her attitude.
"What is the true purpose of the Shadow of the Military Nation?"
"What do you think it is?"
Abby closed her eyes for a moment and organized the information.
Indiscriminate robbery. Movements to even attack officers of the Military Nation, and organized crime.
Outlaws who only chose to commit acts that should absolutely not be done if one didn't want to call the Military Police.
Therefore, the purpose was visible. Abby answered.
"Calling the Military Police. I believe that itself is the purpose."
"...You have guts, and you have brains. But no manners...? You're a true soldier, a true soldier indeed."
Frontain, who had been sarcastic to the fullest, nodded.
"That is the correct answer. They are luring the Military Police to come and plan to thoroughly clean up the back alleys at once! Otherwise, it doesn't make sense."
"Question. One, why would they want to call the Military Police? The Military Police wouldn't just turn a blind eye to them, would they?"
"Who knows. They must have some connections with the higher-ups of the Military Nation. Anyway, it's certain that those guys are planning a clean-up. The level of crimes is rising day by day. At this rate, they might even attack an officer."
Abby also agreed with that. Because it was no one other than her who had almost actually suffered that.
"Agreed. I was also attacked."
"You were attacked? You?"
Frontain widened his eyes and fiddled with something in his hand as if anxious.
Only then did Abby realize that the object Frontain was holding was a small cross.
"Then it seems their preparations are almost finished. Oh my, already... Don't tell me it's already reached that point..."
Frontain, who had become extremely anxious, changed his complexion and said in a low posture.
"Captain. I have a request."