Chapter 21: New Colleagues Are Always Welcome (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 21: New Colleagues Are Always Welcome (2)
“W-Why would I be a spy for the Leon Kingdom?! I’m from the Empire!”
Violet tried to deny her new identity, but I wasn't having it.
“Why wouldn't we use an Imperial for an Imperial spy? You think we’d use someone from Leon?”
You’re already a proud spy of Leon, kid. Don’t go denying who you are.
-That’s right. So, my friend, what should your codename be? Adam suggested ‘Boradori,’ but I rejected it because it sounded too cheap. We can’t give our new recruit a name like that.
The Captain chuckled as he suggested a revision.
What’s wrong with Boradori? It suits her perfectly.
“Who’s a recruit?!” Violet shouted, her face flushing red.
“You are.”
-You.
“Aaargh!”
Now, now. We had such a heart-to-heart that day. We agreed on everything, so don’t go playing dumb now!
While that’s an excellent trait for a secret agent, it’s unnecessary between us now that we’re family.
-Really? For real? If the Leon Kingdom gives the okay, you’re taking responsibility?
To settle things, I showed her the evidence.
It was the recording magic tool containing our voices from that day. It had been edited slightly, but since it was all technically the truth, it didn't matter.
“What is this?”
As the undeniable evidence played, Violet’s eyes shook violently.
“A recorder.”
“W-Why do you even have something like that?!”
Why? To prepare for moments of injustice, of course.
-Adam nagged the mages into making it, saying it was essential. It turned out to be more useful than expected, so we’ve issued them to all field agents. Do you need one too, recruit?
“Our Royal Mages don't have much to do anyway. They should work hard on developing things like this.”
It wasn't exactly a revolutionary invention, so it hadn't been that difficult.
-Or is the salary not enough? I’m sorry to our new recruit, but the guy next to you takes up our entire budget, so this really is the best we can do.
The Captain let out a weak sigh, selling me out in the process.
Hey now, we’re in front of a new recruit. Don't make us sound so pathetic!
“The Captain hasn't been doing much lately anyway, so why don't we just take a cut from his salary?”
-You’re trying to pluck the liver out of a flea. I’m already cutting my pay to give it to you, you little brat.
“It makes all the hard work feel worth it.”
“……”
Violet just blinked as she watched the two of us bicker.
“What? What is it?”
It’s too late. If I hand this recorder over to the Empire, you’re finished there anyway.
I was prepared to threaten her, but it seemed unnecessary.
“There’s a salary?” she asked.
-It’s the most important part. Didn't he tell you?
“I told her we’d take responsibility, but we hadn't negotiated the specific amount yet.”
Actually, I just forgot.
“How much do you pay?”
-You’re a top-tier agent, so we have to take good care of you. We aren't stingy like Dale.
Regardless of our relationship with Dale, this was the truth. Unlike Dale, which required all sorts of mana stones and magical materials, we usually settled things by tossing our guys a single sword.
Thanks to that, the Royal Family’s budget for personnel was much more generous than Dale’s. Of course, if you factored in the magical materials Dale provided, it was probably similar. But to a spy from another country, cash is always more convincing than magic supplies.
-Roughly this much, plus incentives based on performance. If necessary, we can even exchange it for Imperial gold coins…
Looking at the amount he jotted down, we really must be out of budget. That’s the same amount I got five years ago…
“…I will serve with all my heart!”
It was less than a tenth of my current salary, but since she looked satisfied, I decided to keep that a secret.
On the same day the Imperial field agent and frontline operative for the Flower Arrangement Club was finalized, I arrived at a secret room hidden within the Academy for another task.
And there, I encountered a pattern I had already experienced once before.
Sigh. This crap again.
Come at me, Fire Spammer. I’ll bully you just as much as I did Boradori.
“I-I’m sorry…”
“……?”
I was hit by a sudden curveball that beaned me right in the head.
Wait, what the hell is this? This is incredibly awkward.
“And thank you. Thanks to you, the Prince is safe.”
With tears welling in her eyes, she bowed her head. She was the picture of a perfectly normal, decent person.
I mean, this is how a normal person should act, but it makes me look like the trash here…
I was prepared for a staged WWE match, but getting hit with a UFC-level sincere apology left me speechless.
“Really, thank you so much…”
They say the first to cry wins, right? Seeing the Fire Spammer turn into a Tear Spammer made me feel awkward, so I had to find another target.
“Mister, you said you’d take care of everything.”
I glared sharply to hide my flustered state. Of course, I wasn't actually worried. It was a massive incident, after all.
“Ahem.”
Fortunately, this one didn't cry. If a man who looked fifteen years older than me had started bawling like the Fire Spammer, I would have run away immediately. Or beaten him until he actually had a reason to cry.
“Look, we really did prepare well, okay? But, well, things happened.”
I’m sure they did. They wouldn't have left Silence alone on purpose. The Empire’s reputation had been dragged through the mud because of this. They were probably busy sending apologies and compensation to the kingdoms whose students were involved.
“How exactly did you prepare well?”
I kept pushing for the WWE drama.
“I can’t just tell you that! It’s classified!”
I already knew the facts. But I couldn't help it. The man knew it too.
He kept glancing over.
“Waaaaah!”
I needed someone to hit until the girl who had transitioned from Fire Spammer to Tear Spammer calmed down.
Seriously, what is Prince Arwen even doing…? Just give up on Daisy, since she’s unlikely to be the main love interest anyway, and take this Fire Spammer off my hands…
“Uh, um. Hey. Sorry.”
Prince Ellen visited my room and apologized sheepishly.
“What are you sorry for, Prince Ellen? You just prioritized your precious crush over your sturdy subordinate.”
I had been healed for a long time, but for the sake of making the Prince feel guilty, I groaned like a patient in pain.
“…I said I’m really sorry.”
Sorry, my foot.
I remember. Even though we’ve been friends for ten years, he looked for Daisy first while I was lying there unconscious. I’ve heard that when a man falls for a woman, he forgets his own family, but I thought he’d at least spare me a thought.
I didn't think he’d actually leave me there until the very end!
After the RoFan male leads took Daisy and Violet away, I was carried out by the personnel dispatched from the Academy. It would be a lie to say I wasn't a bit salty.
Not that I’m being clingy about it, of course.
“I. Am. Fine.”
“You don't look fine at all!”
I have to take this chance to make his conscience sting.
I felt a serious sense of crisis from this incident. I mean, I know she’s the RoFan heroine, but they’ve only known each other for a few months. Since their narrative hadn't fully built up yet, I didn't think he’d be that head-over-heels.
To think he’d toss aside a ten-year friendship the moment a crisis hit.
Didn't Codename Boradori tell me? Originally, Prince Ellen didn't have much of a role in the Academy arc. Even so, he’s destined to be so enchanted by the heroine that he’ll go on a date to the Demonic Realm with Daisy after graduation.
If it’s already like this during the Academy arc, I’m terrified of what’s to come.
“I’m really fine. So, Prince Ellen, you should go visit Daisy instead…”
“Oh, I’m actually here to visit…”
The moment I spoke, the door opened and a familiar voice drifted in.
“Aha.”
I narrowed my eyes at Daisy as she walked through the door.
So this is why you came to visit me?
Ellen shook his head frantically as if protesting his innocence, but I wasn't buying it.
“I’m disappointed.”
With a look of betrayal that suggested he was even using a patient for his schemes, I managed to take down the strongest swordsman in the world.
Codename: Boradori.
This girl was the real deal.
“Loreliya, the daughter of Duke Jeyka, the Empire’s greatest noble family.”
The quality of information she provided was excellent, likely because she had read the original work quite thoroughly.
“She’s the representative villainess?”
“…If you’re asking if she’s a villainess, it’s a bit complicated. But she’s in that position.”
Having received her down payment as a signing bonus, she was now standing perfectly at attention. She was currently being loyal to me, her superior. As expected, if money doesn't solve a problem, you just have to wonder if you didn't offer enough.
“Complicated?”
“She was essentially dumped by her fiancé, Prince Esid. But instead of sending assassins, she tries to win fairly through her own skills.”
“Maybe she felt politically threatened because her opponent is a Saintess?”
“That could be it, but considering Loreliya’s personality, she’s just a good person.”
From what I heard, she was the embodiment of noblesse oblige, never discriminating against commoner students. She participated in church volunteer work on weekends and secretly ran three orphanages.
“What’s with this 'good' lady?”
It makes Prince Esid, who dumped his fiancé for a new love, and Daisy, who unintentionally seduced him, look like trash.
“In the Academy graduation arc, she accepts her defeat and requests to break off the engagement first to protect the Prince’s political influence. Later, after the Demonic Realm explosion, she fights to protect the chaotic Empire…”
“Stop. Let’s skip her.”
She was too good a person to exploit. I looked for the next person.
“Marie Ekid, the Guardian of the Dale Royal Family. She’s a long-time childhood friend of Prince Arwen of Dale…”
“Pass.”
I tried to skip the Fire Spammer immediately, but...
“Later, she falls for a dark mage’s temptation and turns evil.”
“…Dammit.”
I just heard something I shouldn't have.
“Details.”
“If Lady Loreliya is someone who purely accepts her defeat, Marie is the type who can’t accept it and struggles until she finally touches something she shouldn't.”
“So what happens to her?”
“Uh, well, she was technically being mind-controlled, so she gets snapped out of it thanks to Arwen’s heroics. But she loses her title as Guardian, becomes a semi-outcast from her family, and after the Demonic Realm explosion, she spends her time fighting for atonement.”
“Ugh…”
If she had just been some crazy bitch, I would have ignored it. But hearing that the only normal person is destined to turn evil leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
“Write up a salvation arc for her.”
“Did she catch your eye, Senior?”
Is this a thing?
I gave Boradori the finger as she muttered to herself.
“The protagonist of the salvation arc is Arwen.”
“Aww…”
While there are stories where an extra seduces the heroines, I had no intention of playing house in this godforsaken RoFan world.
Fire Spammer… you’re lucky you’re a good person. Since Santa doesn't exist in this world, I should at least protect a good girl’s pure love as a gift.
Of course, I’ll only provide the effort. I won’t spoon-feed them.
Work a little harder, Fire Spammer!
“Then next is…”
As the reports continued, I couldn't help but be surprised.
“There’s a female character attached to every single male character?”
As expected of a RoFan world. Just as I was marveling at that fact...
“No, that’s only for the beginning of the first-year arc. As time passes, several senior-type characters appear, and from next year, new junior-type characters will keep showing up.”
“……Report back at the end of the year.”
“Yes, sir!”
Watching Boradori salute with her palm facing out, I could only see a dark future ahead.