Under the Shadow of the Wall
Getting ready didn't take long.
To begin with, security officers generally traveled light when heading out on a mission. Heavy equipment that offered enough of an advantage to justify its weight and bulk was exceedingly rare.
Even for veterans, the situation was no different.
When they met again the next day at the scheduled time, Lahar was wearing a worn denim jacket. He exuded a casual air that made it hard to believe he was heading into a dangerous mission.
"Anyone would think you're going on a picnic. You could have at least wrapped yourself in duct tape," Yen remarked.
"I heard you've softened up lately, Yen. To think you'd actually worry about me."
Muzark expected Yen to fire back, but she merely clicked her tongue in annoyance. It wasn't so much that she was holding back, but rather that she had no desire to waste her breath on him.
Lahar chuckled, completely unfazed.
"Since when did we ever carry spare lives around? Grab a crowbar rolling around on the ground, and you're ready to fight. Isn't that one of the few perks of living in a dump like this?"
"..."
"Besides, with two hotshot mages by my side, there's no need for me to make a fuss. In fact, it'd be rude to you guys. Trust! Ah, isn't it beautiful?"
Even as he laid on the charm, Yen continued to ignore him. Without a hint of embarrassment, Lahar smoothly turned his attention to Muzark.
"Looks like we'll be working together, huh?"
"It seems so, Senior."
"'Senior' is so stiff. Why don't we just call each other brothers?"
"That's a bit much for a first meeting."
"We've crossed paths once or twice, haven't we? Don't you feel a certain kinship?"
Muzark almost clicked his tongue as well.
He could see exactly why Yen was so cold to him. Some people simply clashed, no matter what. He only hoped they could keep their personal feelings separate from the job.
"I wanted to break the ice before we left, but I guess I made a mistake."
Reading Muzark's discomfort, Lahar smoothly wrapped up the conversation.
"Anyway, I'll be in your care, my dear mages."
And so, the mission began on a discordant note.
The van they were assigned was in better condition than expected.
The design looked like something popular back in the eighties on Earth, the seats smelled musty, and the ride was rough, but at least it ran without any issues.
In Redline, even this is something to be grateful for.
When Redline was your baseline, everything was viewed through a filter of positivity and optimism. Muzark had barely seen any regular cars in the city, let alone supercars—unless you counted dismantled scrap metal.
Cars were also a byproduct of magic engineering. Since Redline was cut off from the blessings of advanced magic engineering, it had no car factories of its own. It only manufactured parts to supply to the upper regions.
Finished vehicles were sent down from the upper regions, but the supply was minuscule. Even the Security Bureau only had a handful. Because cars were so rare, very few people in Redline actually knew how to drive.
Which meant they couldn't dump the driving duty on the rookie.
"Damn Redline. With our difference in seniority, why am I the one behind the wheel?" Yen grumbled.
"You should lead by example, Senior."
"You only call me 'Senior' when it's convenient for you."
Yen grumbled, but she took the driver's seat anyway.
"Muzark. What do you think about those explosions the Director mentioned?"
"Honestly, I'm not sure how they're connected. But we can't rule anything out."
"True. Attach the word 'magic' to anything, and suddenly it sounds plausible."
Surprisingly, the atmosphere didn't turn hostile.
While the two of them conversed from the front seats, Lahar remained silent. He simply watched them with his arms crossed, a stark contrast to his chatty demeanor from earlier.
Conscious of Lahar's presence, Yen kept the conversation strictly to the task at hand. She didn't utter a single word about the magic she had taught Muzark just yesterday before they set off.
After a period of empty small talk, Lahar spoke up.
"How does it feel to be out here, junior?"
"Pardon? Well, I'm not sure."
At Lahar's sudden question, Muzark looked out the window.
It wasn't as impressive as he might have hoped. It was just a part of the city abandoned due to mana pollution. Traces of vagrants here and there. There was only a desolation that made him feel as if he were experiencing a post-apocalyptic world.
Soon, Muzark's gaze drifted further out.
Above the withered trees, higher than the tallest building.
Something visible from anywhere in Redline caught his eye.
"The wall is close."
The seven regions of the Empire were divided by walls. But even at the very edge of Redline, the outermost boundary, a wall existed. A wall far thicker and taller than the ones separating the cities.
The great wall that enclosed the entire Empire.
"Ah, that. It's magnificent, isn't it? It wraps around the entire territory of the Empire. Its height is one thing, but I can't even fathom its circumference. Every time I see it, I'm reminded of the greatness of magic."
It was a barrier forged not by countless laborers, but by the fingertips of mages. Never breached since the day it was built, the wall still boasted its majestic stature despite the passage of ages.
Muzark felt a sudden surge of curiosity.
"I wonder what lies beyond it."
"You sure have some strange curiosities."
Lahar let out a dry chuckle before adding, "Most people don't think about that. To us, the structure of the Empire is incredibly simple. The further in you go, the safer and more comfortable life becomes. This place is the absolute bottom."
Humans could not survive outside the wall. This was common knowledge to everyone in the Empire. It wasn't just brainwashing through education; there was clear evidence that polluted mana flowed in from the outside.
Beyond that lay the realm of superstition.
That countless demons swarmed there. That monstrous creatures born from polluted mana lurked in the shadows. That humans mutated into zombie-like creatures roamed the night.
The details varied, but the core message was the same.
"Outside is hell."
"Is that so?"
"Take my advice: don't try to find out. Most successful people ruin themselves because of pride or useless curiosity. A rookie shouldn't be acting like this already."
"For once, I agree with him," Yen chimed in, her tone slightly sarcastic. "What's wrong with living in a well? Sometimes people get obsessed with the outside world they've never even seen, but that's just because they can't even live properly inside the well."
"In short, it's just a desire to escape," she dismissed. "When you try to blame the world instead of yourself, the Empire starts to feel small."
"It is an excessively large well, though."
Muzark, who had been taking their advice in stride, suddenly tilted his head.
"Is this really necessary? I barely said a word and I'm getting a whole lecture."
"I'm not talking about you specifically, but those people really do exist. I'm just telling you not to end up like them. Isn't the fact that we're busy enough with the tasks right in front of us proof that we're living fulfilling lives?"
It was an impressively sound argument.
Before they knew it, the van arrived at their first destination. An abandoned old town. A collapsed villa stood out among the derelict buildings.
This was the site of one of the explosions.
"Alright. Let's get out and take a look first."
"When did you say the accident happened?"
"According to the Director, it was discovered about a week ago. As for the exact date, who knows? Given the location, it's hard to do a proper investigation. We don't have any specialized equipment either."
The group got out of the car and approached the rubble.
"I'll look around on my own. I don't know much about magic."
Lahar began to stroll around, whistling as he searched the area. Given that demons or vagrants could be hiding anywhere, one would expect him to be cautious, but he possessed remarkable audacity.
After watching his retreating back for a moment, Yen whispered, "Muzark. Don't take your eyes off that bastard."
"Just how much do you hate him?"
"I do hate him, but this is a different matter." Yen lowered her voice. "The Director gave me orders. Keep him close and watch him."
"...I thought you were being a bit excessive. What's the basis for the suspicion?"
"Lahar had a lot of connections even before he joined the Security Bureau. He supposedly had quite a few associations with criminals and vagrants. The chances of him being involved in some way aren't low."
Vagrants belonged to no city. Conversely, this meant they could act as liaisons between cities. There was a suspicion that he might have used them to bring in criminals from other cities.
So she's already picked a suspect and is trying to catch him in the act.
As expected, Shadia was no pushover.
Clues were not easily found. Without specialized knowledge and equipment, the investigation was bound to be superficial. The magical investigation was no different.
However, they did obtain a somewhat ambiguous lead.
"Lahar. What did you bring?"
"As you can see. It was collapsed nearby."
Lahar dragged a demon over. The demon was severely injured. It had been slashed all over with sharp blades, and it was dragged along helplessly, lacking even the strength to resist.
"Why is it so badly hurt?"
"I didn't do it. Maybe it got jumped by some vagrants. They're a tough bunch, so taking down one demon is nothing. It's barely breathing, but what should we do, Team Leader? Load it into the trunk?"
"Why bother? Just leave it."
"You really don't know the value of a demon. They're all precious resources."
When Yen rejected the idea, he seemed strangely disappointed.
Muzark, who had been watching Lahar's reaction closely, made a suggestion. "Yen. Could you check it out just once?"
"Huh? Check what?"
"That demon. There might be something on it."
"If it's just a quick look, sure."
Yen began to examine the demon without further complaint. Meanwhile, Muzark locked eyes with Lahar. His gray eyes felt exceptionally cold.
After a moment, Yen shook her head.
"I don't see anything unusual right now, but I can't say for sure. Demons are fundamentally made of mana, so even if magic is cast on them, the traces don't linger properly. They get distorted and mixed. It's not my specialty."
"It's complicated."
"Should we take it back and dissect it?"
"No. Let's finish what we came here to do first."
Only then did Lahar look away, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Wow, this is new. Since when does Yen listen to others so well?"
"Shut up and get back in the car."
"Look at the double standard. I'm starting to feel hurt."
"Feel hurt all you want."
They visited several other explosion sites after that. The locations differed, but the situation was exactly the same. There were no direct clues, and they spotted one or two severely injured demons at each site.
Once was a coincidence, but twice was a pattern. Yen wanted to load a demon into the van this time, but Muzark opposed it. He was sensing an inexplicable, ominous foreboding.
"Consecutive explosions, but zero casualties. A rehearsal away from prying eyes—that's a common story. If we keep finding something obviously strange, it's probably not a clue."
"Do you think it's a trap?"
"I can't be sure, but wouldn't it be better to proceed with caution?"
When he voiced his concerns, Yen gave it some thought and agreed. Lahar, on the other hand, offered no opinion. He merely cast persistent, unreadable glances their way.
Why is this bastard giving off such a creepy vibe?
Perhaps it was a prejudice born from Yen's warning.
But within Muzark, suspicion was steadily growing.
...After passing through several points, the van finally arrived in South Redline. The first impression of the city couldn't be called good, even as a polite lie. Not all trash heaps were created equal.
The streets were eerily quiet.
Houses had their doors locked tight and curtains drawn. Dried bloodstains marred the walls and ground. Homeless people wrapped in blankets sat in silence, their eyes rolling as they stared at the outsiders.
"I feel like we're being watched."
"Good thing we parked discreetly outside."
"Is the atmosphere usually this different?"
"Wasn't Eastred similar to this just a few years ago?"
Yen snorted as she quickened her pace.
"That's all thanks to the Director's capability. Now it at least looks like a place where people can live, but who knows what'll happen if the Security Bureau collapses. I don't always see eye-to-eye with the Director, but I give credit where credit is due."
The group headed straight for the South Redline Security Bureau. Since they had received the location from Shadia beforehand, they didn't lose their way.
The state of the Security Bureau was a spectacle.
Even though it was broad daylight, the office was completely empty. It looked like it hadn't been cleaned in ages, covered in filthy stains, with shards of broken glass scattered haphazardly.
"There's even a homeless guy inside?"
Seeing a homeless man occupying the sofa in the hallway, Yen let out a disbelieving chuckle. Sensing their presence, the man groggily sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"Huh? Who're you folks? Never seen your faces before."
"That's our line. Where are all the employees here?"
"How should I know? Don't cause trouble and get out."
"Trouble. Right."
Sighing, Yen took a step forward. As she muttered under her breath, a cluster of light gathered in her hand. She thrust forward her materialized mage license like a police badge.
She skillfully covered her name with her thumb.
"I am Naris Taien, a Third-Class Inspector from the Orangeline. I'm sure you've heard of inspectors conducting unannounced audits. It would be in your best interest to answer my questions cooperatively."
"H-Heavens! Forgive me, ma'am!"
The man turned pale and scrambled to his feet.
Meanwhile, Muzark was trying his absolute best to keep a straight face. He put on his sternest expression to play along with Yen's sudden improvisation, but it was incredibly difficult.
She really is a nutcase...
He felt like he could guess why Yen had ended up stuck in Redline without even asking.