༺ Umbra ༻

“It is time…to wake up.”

A split second before the alarm rang, Abbey instinctively snapped her eyes open. Swiftly getting up, she pushed aside the fluffy blankets, rising before the alarm could even sound and turned it off.

It was a skill one could only develop after a lifetime of waking up on time: awakening just before the alarm rang.

Abbey had already reached such a realm.

“Acceptable. No signs of poor condition can be seen.”

Despite having gone to bed relatively late last night, her body felt exceptionally refreshed. Unless she was tired from injuries or fatigue, a slight lack of sleep was not a problem for Abbey, who went to bed and woke up on time every day.

“….”

Of course, attributing her ability to maintain her condition solely to her diligence would be ignoring the influence of her environment.

The cozy blankets and warm room, the smell of the sun-dried, yet still fresh air. The clothes cleaned and dried, and the kettle that was always boiling.

Everything in this room gently enveloped Abbey, and though she was not accustomed to this strange comfort, she often found herself buried in its embrace when she regained her senses.

Looking around the room, Abbey gazed at him, asleep on the sofa. He seemed completely at peace in his sleep and showed no signs of waking up on his own.

“Get u….”

As Abbey was about to wake him up, she suddenly halted her hands.

Last night, he had disappeared somewhere and returned with a doctor. Thanks to him, Anna received proper treatment and was now resting at her residence.

Additionally, he had arranged for a nurse to take care of Anna, allowing Abbey to sleep with a calm conscience.

Abbey had been busy last night, but he must have been even busier.

“…Sleep well.”

Instead of touching his shoulders, Abbey pulled the blanket up to them. He stirred like a baby, mumbling something. Seeing this, a gentle smile appeared on Abbey’s lips.

Abbey had other things to do anyway. There was no need to wake him up unnecessarily.

“I’ll be back.”

After changing into her uniform, Abbey left the room with her hat on.

Was it because it wasn’t time to go to work yet? The streets, still not fully lit by the sun, were much quieter than yesterday. Abbey, who had left early, walked these quiet streets in her uniform.

Her destination was District 10. It was not a distance to be walked.

While heading to the main road to catch an automaton carriage, Abbey noticed the corridor-type residence she had seen yesterday. The door that the two young men had been knocking on incessantly was now wide open.

Just as Abbey wondered if they hadn’t woken up late today…

From inside that door…the two young men who were knocking on the door yesterday walked out. They looked extremely distressed and sorrowful.

People who had mastered Synchronous Magic often had excessive empathic abilities. Abbey’s heart tightened for a moment before instinctively moving closer to listen.

“Phillip…you damn bastard, if you were going to leave, you should have at least said something…. No wonder he even said he was going to treat us….”

The first young man muttered, covering his face with his hands. The other, following him, asked cautiously.

“…What are we going to do? If we don’t pay, Philip, no, Phillip’s body will be sent to the crematorium.”

“….Damn it, even if we want to at least hold a pretense of a funeral, we still need to gather a week’s worth of wages. How are we supposed to live until then? We have no choice. It’s all on him. It’s his fate.”

People often lashed out in anger to avoid feeling guilty. The young man, shouting at no one in particular, quickly walked away from the house. The other followed him in a hurry.

After they left, the wide-open door remained eerily in place, looking even more chilly than when it was tightly shut yesterday.

Abbey couldn’t take her eyes off the door until the automaton carriage driver mustered the courage to urge her.

‘Shelter’. It was an organization Abbey was well acquainted with.

There were many soldiers in the Military State, and thus, many veterans. Among them, many had served since the kingdom era and retired due to injuries or old age.

As much as they were former soldiers, their bodies were robust. With money left over, filled with pride for having toppled the kingdom, and having experience in an organization, it was easy for them to form a new group.

Thus, the veterans gathered and formed Shelter, a sort of self-defense force while simultaneously adopting the appearance of a charity organization that protected and aided orphans.

“…Please understand I cannot reveal my rank and name. I am currently on a confidential mission.”

District 10. The headquarters of Shelter, located on the border of the city center and the back alleys,

The former Major General of the Military State and current head of Shelter, Frontaine, twitched his eyes and responded.

“Alright. That’s the principle, after all. I may be a former Major General, but I can’t possibly ask a current officer for their rank and name.”

“Affirmative. Moreover, you are a former soldier and also a civilian, so you are obliged to cooperate with me. I request your sincere cooperation.”

Even though those who had mastered Qi Arts had robust bodies, even they couldn’t escape the depletion in physical strength due to aging. No matter how high-ranking they were, it was both a duty and virtue for soldiers to retire when they became too old to fight at full strength.

Frontaine, who had been a soldier since the old kingdom, had retired precisely for that reason.

Fraontaine narrowed his wrinkled eyes and spoke.

“Hah? Look, Captain. I was still a Major General in the past. But, what? Cooperate? Ha! You’re not even a field officer, just a company officer at best, but you dare…. What is your affiliation?”

“It is confidential. Additionally, I am not obliged to answer you under the regulations.”

“Hah! Hiding behind confidentiality and regulations, huh. If you’re a soldier, act more boldly!”

“I am acting boldly. Moreover, your statement has no relevance to the current situation.”

Despite Abbey’s response, Frontaine snorted and jeered.

“Still, it seems you know to be afraid since you’re hiding your affiliation, huh? I’m sure you are. After all, even among the general officers, there are two whom I have personally trained! You think you’re something special, being just a Captain? With one word from me, your military career can end as a Captain!”

It was a childish but potentially lethal threat to a military officer thirsty for promotion.

However, it didn’t apply to Abbey. The identity of a signaller was confidential and in the first place, Abbey didn’t even aspire to live, let alone for a promotion.

“Question. Are you expecting special treatment as a former officer?”

Abbey asked without a hint of perturbation, causing Frontaine to flinch and mumble.

“…Ehem. Well, it’s not exactly that.”

“If you have no intention to cooperate, please say so. I will confirm that fact and consider other options.”

“When did I say I won’t cooperate! I was just pointing out your rigid attitude!”

Of course, anyone even slightly familiar with how the State worked would know that Frontaine’s threat was baseless. After all, the Military State wasn’t affluent enough to afford special treatment for former officers.

Frontaine cleared his throat loudly and asked with an even more displeased face.

“So, Captain. What do you want to know?”

“I am investigating a series of incidents occurring in District 10 of the State. Are you aware of anything about the ‘Shadow of the Military State’?”

The veteran made a complex expression. It seemed as if he was either surprised that the authorities were finally showing interest in the back alleys or that such interest existed at all.

“Huh. So the authorities have started to take an interest in the back alleys now? Then why would you not bring the Military Police and turn the place upside down? That would make things definitive, though.”

The Military State was not interested. This was entirely Abbey’s personal investigation.

However, as a signaller, Abbey could directly convey information. This was a privilege only available to signallers and had to be used cautiously.

Of course, she couldn’t reveal this fact.

“It is confidential.”

“Ha. Of course it is. You can’t tell anything to an old relic like me!”

Frontaine’s snort was filled with a mixture of self-assertion and resignation, as if to say that even a scoff was a form of laughter.

“Tell me, Captain. Do you know what they call themselves?”

“The Shadow of the Military State.”

“Alright then. And do you know where they got that name from?”

Abbey, who was recalling the information from her mind, replied half a beat late.

“The Shadow of the Kingdom, isn’t it?”

“Exactly. Or no, did you anticipate that from the beginning?”

Frontaine narrowed his eyes and scrutinized Abbey. She nodded to indicate affirmation.

She was a signaller, specializing in handling and remembering all kinds of information. Although she couldn’t say it was confidential, she knew more than a retired Major General could.

The reason she had come to inquire was merely to confirm.

“Your assumption is probably correct. Their methods are similar.”

The old retired soldier didn’t bother to save time. Even though he knew Abbey was already aware of the information, he began to explain.

“In the past, there was an organization in the kingdom that called itself the ‘Shadow of the Kingdom’. They were hyenas that did the dirty work for the so-called knights. Murders, looting, blackmail… Things that knights couldn’t do openly. They were a kind of clean-up squad, infamous among both civilians and even soldiers.”

After the Sunderspear and rebel forces toppled the kingdom, the Shadow of the Kingdom surfaced. It was a natural course of action for the Military State to capture these remnants of old evil.

“The head of that organization, ‘Umbra’ Wolfen. He has returned after being imprisoned in Tantalus for a long time…is what I’m convinced of.”

Just as expected.

Abbey nodded gravely.

Wolfen Fenshtein. The Umbra behind the Shadow of the Kingdom in the past.

The deepest darkness of the old kingdom’s most disgusting aspects.

After being trapped deep in Tantalus, he escaped during the recent prison break and returned to his base.

The city that was once the capital of the old kingdom, now buried under concrete as a form of insult.

The most populous land of the entire Military State.

Amitengrad.

“The Military State chose to imprison him in Tantalus instead of killing him. Tch, they should’ve just killed him. Why do something unnecessary like imprisoning him….”

Abbey knew the reason and that information was not confidential. She spoke in a clear and precise manner.

“‘Umbra’ had magically altered his own heart. If his heart stops, the ‘Penumbras’ scattered throughout the Military State will simultaneously cause uprisings. Therefore, the State decided to imprison him in Tantalus instead of killing him.”

Frontaine’s eyes widened at the smoothly delivered information.

“What the. You know well. Why come to ask me if you’re already aware of all this?”

“It is confidential.”

“Hmph. How rude…. Do officers not have any respect these days?”

Even in front of a former general officer, Abbey showed no fear or deference. She simply adhered to her principles and conviction.

Frontaine clicked his tongue, visibly dissatisfied with her attitude.

“What is the true purpose of the Shadow of the Military State?”

“What do you think?”

Abbey closed her eyes for a moment, sorting through the information.

Indiscriminate robbery. Movements to attack even the Military State’s officers. And organized crime.

Outlaws who seemed to deliberately choose actions that shouldn’t be taken unless they wished to call the Military Police.

Therefore, their purpose could be seen. Abbey answered.

“Calling the Military Police. I believe that in itself is their goal.”

“…You’ve got guts and brains, but just no manners…? My oh my, look here. A real soldier has arrived, indeed.”

Frontaine nodded with a tone dripping with sarcasm.

“Correct. They’re luring the Military Police to clean the back alleys once and for all! It’s the only explanation that makes sense.”

“Question. Why would they call the Military Police? The Military Police wouldn’t just ignore them and let only their crimes go unpunished.”

“How am I supposed to know? Maybe they have connections with high-ranking people of the State. Anyway, it’s certain that they’re trying to plan for a cleanup. The severity of the crimes is escalating day by day. At this rate, they might even attack an officer.”

Abbey, too, agreed with this. After all, she, of all people, had almost been a victim of such an attack.

“Agreed. I, too, was assaulted.”

“You were attacked? You?”

Frontaine’s eyes widened intensely, before nervously fiddling with something in his hand.

Abbey then realized the fact that Frontaine was holding a small cross.

“Then it seems the preparations are almost complete. Oh no, already….To think it went that far….”

Frontaine, now visibly anxious, changed his tone and spoke more humbly.

“Captain. I have a favor to ask.”