So I'm an Agent Now (1)
Mine—commonly known as demoniacs—are the fools possessed by demons. Demons possess mana beyond what ordinary people can even imagine, so the moment even a sliver of that power is bestowed upon someone, they drown in an omnipotence they've never felt before. Edwin had been dealing with such types for twenty years now. He could gauge their level at a glance. How much power this bastard had received, and how well he could wield it.
A small-timer.
Edwin had already pegged the thug rampaging in the middle of the road as a lightweight. Rather than dispatch him immediately, though, he wanted to test one thing.
Can she show it even against a demoniac?
With the perfect stage set to prove her abilities, how could he pass it up?
Thwack!
Krunch—
But as Edwin took the hit on purpose and crashed onto his car, he thought to himself,
Damn... did she really launch me this far?
He'd figured he'd land at most in front of the car, but instead, he'd smashed it with his own body. He didn't let it show, but Edwin was seething inside.
Fine. Now I have to see this properly.
Did she really slice that escapee's throat with just that knife, as the City Hall staff claimed? How could such a tiny body unleash that kind of potential? He intended to resolve every last question.
Squeeze.
The demoniac grabbed Edwin hostage. Then he proposed to Yufir: before snapping this man's neck, try cutting me first.
Edwin watched openly now, eyes wide without a hint of hiding. The demoniac was fixated on Yufir, and Yufir was trembling, her already narrowed vision locked on him.
"Ready~"
And so the demoniac's little game began.
"Star—"
The knife had already sliced past the demoniac's throat.
What the hell...?
Edwin rarely doubted his own eyes in life. In that peak state of tension, Yufir charged. From the moment she kicked off the ground to the swing of the knife—it unleashed an explosive power impossible from that small frame. Her round eyes never left the demoniac's throat for an instant, and the hand gripping the knife stayed rock-steady, straight and true, right up to the moment it drew that single line across his neck.
Thud. Roll...
It was over in a flash. A blink, and everything was done.
Indeed, no mere escapee could stand against this. A corpse with not a scratch on the body save for the severed head. No resistance, no fight at all.
Only then did it all click for Edwin.
It's real.
Yufir Seijina. At just 145cm tall, she'd drawn another impossible cross-section.
She'd clearly used mana, but it wasn't aura.
Definitely a Gift.
For that split second, her eyes and hand brimmed with thick killing intent and utter certainty. No magic or aura in the world could make someone who'd never even touched a blade move like that.
"E-Edwiiin?!"
Seeing Edwin standing unscathed, Yufir panicked and scanned him up and down.
"A-Are you okay? Any injuries...? Huh, you're way too fine."
Edwin looked down at her calmly. That killing intent was nowhere to be seen in her now, even if you washed your eyes out looking.
"Um... why are you staring like that...? It's kinda scary..."
Her potential exceeded even his expectations, but she seemed oblivious to it.
Dangerous in more ways than one.
Which was all the more reason he couldn't just let her go. Better to keep her close.
"First, my apologies."
Edwin bowed his head.
"I tested you. I thought today was a bust due to your personal circumstances, but I couldn't hold back my curiosity."
"T-Test...? No way! You took that hit from the demoniac on purpose...?"
"Yes. I've got tough skin—half-assed types can't even scratch me."
"Whoa."
Yufir was purely impressed. There had been an insane sound, but aside from his suit being a bit torn, there wasn't a mark on him.
"I saw it with my own two eyes. You slicing that demoniac's throat with that knife."
"J-Just as I thought... you wanted to see that...!"
Her legs gave out, and Yufir hung her head.
"Damn it... that's why! I thought you were gonna die, so I mustered courage despite being scared shitless!"
Thud thud thud thud!
Yufir swung her tiny fists at Edwin. Then she blew on her now-swollen red hands, regretting it. The guy was rock-hard. Edwin chuckled as he took the hits, then turned serious.
"Will you hear my proposal?"
"Wh-What... is it?"
"Join the Central Intelligence Agency, and you can solve every problem you're carrying right now."
Yufir swallowed hard and listened quietly to Edwin's offer.
"The Agency is strictly merit-based. You get rewarded for your results. The more value you prove, the higher your salary and support. Hospital bills? Covered, of course. And access to better facilities for treatment."
"Better facilities..."
The first thing that came to mind was the Imperial Central Hospital in the capital, Hameln. Word was it was packed with the empire's top healers, befitting its imperial name.
"And we'll extend conveniences to your other family members too. Your sister at the academy, and the ones not there yet. As long as you're an agent, no more worries about tuition or child-rearing costs."
"Y-You can really... do all that?"
"In exchange, you'll have to grind that much harder. You'll face situations far scarier than now. Frightening, sticky, cruel, dangerous. But the empire guarantees all those rewards."
Edwin extended a hand to the slumped Yufir.
"The empire needs you right now, Yufir Seijina."
"Uh..."
She hesitated. Yufir doubted herself. Sure, this ability that had suddenly appeared was impressive. But that was just the power. Nothing essential had changed. She was still a coward, short, weak, someone who couldn't survive without leaning on others.
Ugh...! This is driving me crazy!
But there were people who believed in her, relied on her like this. Having been an orphan in her past life, her family in this one was utterly precious. Dad, Mom, Seira, Mira, Riki, Sizu, Tini... she wanted them all happy.
"Aaaah! I'm an idiot. I'll probably regret this forever!"
She brushed off the dust and stood.
Then she grabbed the Central Intelligence agent's outstretched hand.
"F-Fine! Let's give it a shot!"
She bit her tongue.
Word that I was quitting today drew a crowd of City Hall staff to my desk.
"Yufir, really?"
"Whoa, everything okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, Yufir. In times like these when jobs are scarce, think hard about quitting. Advice from a life senior."
They all looked worried. Huh, was I that unreliable? I thought I did good work.
"Uh, um... I found another job. Moving somewhere kinda far."
"Where to?"
To the imperial capital, Hameln. But no need to spill that. Edwin had said to keep talk about him to a minimum from now on.
"Somewhere far."
I brushed it off vaguely, and they dropped it.
"Sigh, who's gonna do announcements now."
"Yufir... fiddling with stuff was kinda healing."
"Mm, felt like working with a obedient little sister."
"Wha, you all saw me like that...?"
They vented their regrets about me, but it sounded more like they were attached to a plushie than colleagues.
"A-anyway! Thanks for everything!"
After clearing out my desk at City Hall, I headed straight home. Commuting from my place to the family home was getting tough now. One last face-to-face before leaving—I loaded up both hands with snacks.
"Sis!"
"Sis~!"
"Jackpot, sis hit the lottery! Hands full of food!"
"Ahh!"
Excluding Seira at the academy dorm, my four younger siblings came running. I knelt and spread my arms. Won't see these cuties for a while—heartbreaking, I thought.
But they didn't hug me—they lunged for the bags in my hands.
"Gonna eat well!"
"Sis, I said I hate this one!"
"Aw... I like strawberry more than chocolate!"
"Uwue!"
Even the waddling baby reached for the snacks first.
"Yeah... eat up and grow big."
These damn siblings. Annoying sometimes, but impossible not to love.
"Yufir's here?"
Dad poked his head from the kitchen.
"Yeah, came to say goodbye before leaving."
"Right, posted far away."
Dad in his apron gave me a pitying look.
"If you're pushing yourself because of family stuff..."
"It's not that."
"Really?"
"Y-yeah..."
I thought a vague excuse would work, but Dad seemed to sense something. First time playing filial daughter in secret, and parental eyes see through it, huh.
"It's fine. Really."
"Okay."
Dad hugged me tight.
"Daughter, come back anytime if it's tough."
Tears threatened, but I held it in like a man.
"Yeah, Dad."
Before coming home, anxiety gnawed at me—Can I really do this? But now it was gone. Not can I, but I want to do well. For my family.
"All farewells done?"
Edwin waited outside.
"Yeah... Dad picked up on something, though."
"Haha, can't fool parents. I'm good at BS, but never fooled Grandma."
Edwin walked ahead.
"Time's up. Let's go."
"Yes!"
We headed to the train station.
The train station teemed with people. I'd been here for work, but never boarded a train to another city. I'd been born and raised right here in Melima.
"Since you're basically family now, let's sort out how to address me first?"
"H-Huh? Am I already an agent?"
"I've sent word, but not yet. Gotta get your badge and codename first to qualify."
"C-Codename!"
The Agency was so romantic. Who hasn't fantasized about it? Another name for me—a codename! I'd envied the cool ones protagonists got in spy flicks.
"Then, Miss Yufir?"
"Y-Yes!"
"Just call me Team Leader from now on. I use casual speech with subordinates anyway—cool?"
"Y-Yes sir! Team Leader...!"
I saluted without thinking. Team Leader Edwin motioned it was too much.
I already felt the belonging, heart pounding.
I'm... really becoming an agent.
Maybe in this dark fantasy, I'd be one of the big shots!
Toot! Toooooot—!
The train barreled in at terrifying speed. Bound for the capital, Hameln.
Leaving my hometown for the first time. Whatever awaited, excitement bubbled up unknown.