I Became the Servant of the Blind Wicked Woman

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The Blasphemia branches come in various forms.

From the ordinary type of creating a paper company to operate, to disguising as logistics warehouses where all kinds of weapons and confiscated contraband can be stored without suspicion.

In some cases, there are also traveling troupes. To easily access underground rumors, they disguise themselves as taverns, city problem solver guilds, or, in other words, mercenary unions.

Among these, I preferred the logistics warehouse type of branch.

It was easy to loot. When being pursued, tearing down a warehouse could help me survive for about a week.

However, the 'branch' Niobe guided me to was different from the branches I knew.

"Is this really the place?"

"Yes! We just need to wait here."

It had been three days since we left Etna City. I was at an abandoned station on a deserted rail line.

Trains powered by magical engines using magic cores and magic stones played a significant role in the large-scale transportation of goods in this world. The primary reason was the extra-dimensional magic.

Extra-dimensional magic erodes beings that cannot envelop themselves with fields of magic or other extraordinary abilities.

Even beings with these fields can be eroded by the extra-dimension if they exhaust their abilities. However, the resilience of a newly awakened primitive mage can last about a week outside the city.

In normal situations, it would be different in high-risk areas where the boundary with the extra-dimension is thin.

In such places, it is common to see rabid squirrels or stones eroded by the extra-dimension attacking anything they see.

To prevent such situations, magic towers are installed in cities.

Magic towers purify extra-dimensional magic and convert it into a power source while spreading a magic field to prevent contamination within the city.

Therefore, magic towers are the survival right of humanity, and moving between cities usually involves a group of mages.

The fact that most members of the Vicada Traveling Troupe were primitive mages is also in this context. Those who cannot resist the extra-dimensional magic that seeps into their bodies turn into irrational mutants.

Here lies a problem. How should non-magical industrial goods that don't have special materials or intrinsic magic be protected from contamination?

Should each item be specially packaged using magic stones? Should mages enchant them? Neither option is economically feasible.

The solution was the magic engine train. A train that uses magic cores as a power source, like those used in magic towers. Functionally, it can be seen as a moving magic tower.

If miniaturizing the magic core is difficult, then why not build a giant transport vehicle for large-scale transport from the start?

Though it was a track that wasn't supposed to be in use, the noise of an approaching train could be heard from afar.

"Look, there it is!"

Niobe was definitely pointing at the approaching magic engine train.

'These guys.'

They still have a lot of money. Despite how much I looted from them.

I felt a deep envy towards Blasphemia, who, despite being a secret organization, enjoyed a wealthy life backed by substantial resources.

***

Nardanit, the person in charge of Charlotte, Blasphemia's mobile branch train, frowned.

"A returnee."

A man beside Charlotte appeared on the train's CCTV. His image was slightly blurry, possibly due to interference caused by some artifact he wore.

K17 had sent a suspicious report after her mission. An alert about finding a lost agent from the previous generation.

A lost agent? It was absurd.

A few years ago, during Blasphemia's decisive battle with their greatest enemy, most elite agents were summoned. If someone only returned now, it meant they either lacked the ability to join the war or had cowardly hidden.

Though the current Blasphemia policy was to overlook excuses and accept those requesting to return, it was laughable.

Incompetent or cowardly. Or, by a very low chance, an unlucky one who truly experienced what the report stated.

Nardanit hoped the person wasn't the latter. Loyalists who returned after years were nothing but obstacles.

***

When I boarded the train, a green light scanned my entire body. It was a procedure to check if my muscle tissue had undergone the unique modifications of Blasphemia.

Divius' craftsmanship was perfect, and there was no alarm or red light.

'A mobile branch in the form of a train. I knew about it, but they must really have a lot of money.'

It made sense.

If it could transport large amounts of goods, it meant it could also transport a large number of people. It could quickly dispatch personnel or supply them.

Compared to the airships Carisia and I saw while wandering in the desert, the operation of a magic engine train was minor.

"It's quite a unique branch. Did you receive your training here?"

"No? After graduating from the training center, my first assignment was here. Charlotte Branch. They said it was established to facilitate tracking of the many wanderers who are superstitious followers."

I counted the number of compartments in the train. Judging by the lack of noticeable presence, most personnel seemed to be deployed outside.

"The conductor. That is, the branch head, is in the engine room!"

So he's in the front carriage. Considering communication with the Blasphemia headquarters, other storage devices like the database would also likely be there.

Suppressing my complicated feelings, I naturally followed Niobe.

Knock, knock.

"Branch head? K17, returning from a mission. With a lost agent."

"Come in."

Niobe's composed report was a stark contrast to the innocent demeanor she had shown so far.

She could be considered a trainee Blasphemia agent rather than just a hopeful.

"…Are you the lost agent Niobe brought?"

"Yes, I am Orthes."

How would he react?

Before arriving at the branch, I had two potential plans. Plan A was to use my flawless explanations and improvisations to plant Arabella's drone and leave without incident.

It was an optimistic plan, but not impossible. I had detailed knowledge of Blasphemia from our numerous clashes.

The alias I used, L13, also belonged to a real missing Blasphemia agent. Specifically, one I had dealt with, so technically he was deceased.

But since it wasn't reported to the Blasphemia headquarters, the stolen identity would be treated as missing.

Plan B was simple. If Arabella's infiltration was detected or my disguise was uncovered, engage in an all-out battle.

In that case, I'd likely have to destroy the entire branch to minimize witnesses.

How would the branch head react?

***

Nardanit coldly reprimanded Orthes.

"Indeed, a lost agent. Have you forgotten even the basics of Blasphemia? You should state your assigned serial number, not an alias."

"It should be in Niobe's report, shouldn't it?"

"You…"

Nardanit stood up. At first glance, he seemed slender and frail. His long black hair gave a somewhat androgynous impression.

But Orthes knew that his long hair wasn't just for aesthetics.

Though it looked like ordinary hair, it was actually a type of biotic fiber that integrates with the user. It was more like an assassination tool that could be manipulated freely.

"Leave, K17."

"Pardon?"

"Leave."

At his low voice, K17, Niobe, hastily bowed her head and exited the engine room. As she left, she glanced back at Orthes with a mix of fear and concern.

Orthes merely shrugged his shoulders once at the glance.

After the door closed, Nardanit growled.

"Don't you understand the situation, lost agent? I could charge you with treason right now. Answer properly."

"Hmm. As far as I know, agents with significant achievements are allowed to use their names."

It was true. Regular agents were referred to by code names because they could be replaced at any time. Agents like the branch head, who had earned their positions through achievements, were allowed to use their names.

Nardanit sneered. A cold laugh filled the engine room.

"I checked the code name L13 in the report. He wasn't an agent with accomplishments worth boasting about. Show respect to your superior, lost agent."

"It's natural that it wasn't recorded."

Orthes' calm response. Nardanit's biotic fiber hair rippled. Though he hadn't fully activated his magic, charged magic pulsed.

"If you could access the details of a secret inspector, would that still be a secret?"

"What?"

Orthes tilted his head.

"Wasn't Niobe's code name K17? Is the investigation of fanatics so easy that it's assigned to a newly graduated agent? Since when?"

For a moment, Nardanit felt as if only a cold smile remained in the air. Amidst the hazy presence, the cold smile stood out clearly.

Seeing Nardanit's bewildered expression, Orthes' smile deepened.

***

Did you think I chose any random agent to impersonate?

Upon investigating the original owner of the code name L13, I found out he was an inspector.

"This branch's task assignments and performance evaluations seem questionable. I demand access to the database."

In other words, it was the perfect identity for wreaking havoc with rank.

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