Chapter 115: Juno's Second Letter
After pondering at the desk for a while, Juno collected her thoughts and began to write.
[It's been a while since our last communication, Prophet. As you wished, I've successfully infiltrated the headquarters of the humans who make the movies. This place appears to be an ordinary tavern, but I've already confirmed through whispers that the actors from the films frequently visit here. Hence, I came to apply as soon as I heard they were hiring new staff and successfully got in.]
[It wasn't until I joined this seemingly ordinary tavern that I realized how terrifying this place is. Firstly, the tavern owner looks like an average woman, but my beastman instincts constantly remind me she's a lich who has transcended death. What's most peculiar is that liches usually exhibit signs of decay, revealing their non-human nature. However, this owner shows no signs of decay at all, appearing just like an ordinary human. I can't imagine what kind of power could preserve a dead body in such a way.]
[Secondly, the tavern staff. Honestly, if someone had told me beforehand that the staff here were such terrifying beings, I would never have stepped foot in this place. Whether it's the headless horseman acting as the bartender or the other staff who clearly aren't normal humans, they all make me want to flee immediately. Yet, the customers who come to the tavern seem completely unaware of this, or perhaps they are aware but have simply accepted it without question.]
[Of course, as a spy for the Black Blade, I possess the utmost professional competence. Even in such an environment, I am confident that I have successfully evaded the scrutiny of these extraordinary beings and blended in among them. The only thing that continues to unsettle me is the secret of this tavern itself.]
[Because you instructed me to gather as much information about the film as possible, I made numerous inquiries and finally learned that the filmmaker reside on the second floor of the tavern. Therefore, on my first day here, I tried to observe the second floor as much as possible.
However, so far, the only person I've seen come down from there is an ordinary human. No one else has moved between the first and second floors. While this human possesses considerable magical power, he clearly isn't exceptionally strong. From that distance, I am confident I could eliminate him swiftly. This clearly doesn't align with the image of powerful and mysterious filmmaker.]
[Just when I thought I would come up empty-handed, it seems the saying "perseverance pays off" holds true. Thanks to my persistence, I managed to uncover some clues. Although my current role as an ordinary staff member prevents me from venturing upstairs, my keen senses as a beastman allowed me to detect an anomaly: there appears to be an undead presence on the second floor, even more terrifying than the headless horseman!
At first, I thought I had made a mistake when I sensed the undead aura. However, last night, I specifically went to the highest point in Norsrick to observe the second floor. I saw a mysterious figure in a black robe. Although it didn't notice me, just seeing it almost triggered an instinctual panic. This reaction, even stronger than my response to the headless horseman, made me realize how terrifying this being is and how dangerous this tavern truly is.
Of course, since I had anticipated such scenarios in advance, I did not abandon my mission in panic. Instead, I stayed at the tavern, upholding the honor of a Dark Blade agent. I believe that one day, the mysterious black-robed figure will slip up, and I will uncover the truth about the filmmaker.]
With a sigh of relief, Juno finished writing about her recent experiences. What she had just documented were the daily activities and work summary she had to report, as it was her duty as a spy to ensure that all the information she reported was accurate.
The credo of the Dark Blade is to report the truth. Only by conveying the truth can the country and the army avoid missing critical opportunities due to erroneous information. Reporting false information could have disastrous consequences for the nation, which is absolutely unacceptable.
Since this report was not addressed to her usual superior but to the Orc Prophet, Juno knew she had to go beyond merely stating facts. She needed to express her thoughts and interpretations to help the Prophet better understand the situation and make informed decisions.
Thus, she took out a new piece of paper and began writing about something even more important: the newly released movie, Fate Zero, which had premiered in the southern regions a few days ago.
As a dedicated spy, Juno did not slack off. She had camped out in front of the cinema the night before tickets went on sale. While other humans brought bedding to sleep on the sidewalk, she made do with a patch of grass. Despite the discomfort and the resulting back pain, she succeeded in securing a ticket on the first day.
Now, having obtained valuable information with great effort, Juno meticulously wrote down the entire story of Fate Zero, filling over a dozen pages to describe its fantastical plot.
Although the story of Fate Zero could have been summarized more concisely, Juno included every noteworthy detail to ensure the Prophet could grasp the full picture. Some details might seem insignificant to her, but they could provide critical insights for the Prophet, who was the most knowledgeable in magic within the Orc Kingdom.
Therefore, Juno diligently transcribed the entire first chapter of Fate Zero and continued with her report.
Here is the story of *Fate Zero*. Watching the entire film in the theater left me cold with sweat. I could hardly believe what I saw was real. However, given your previous speculations, Prophet, I must acknowledge the level of power the human empire has reached today.
[Firstly, the protagonists of Fate Zero are magicians participating in the Holy Grail War for their own purposes. Undoubtedly, these magicians are essentially mages. These mages can summon heroic spirits from human history to fight for them. Although these spirits seem to have their own consciousness and do not always follow their summoners' commands completely, the mere potential of such a feat is terrifying, not to mention the immense power each spirit displays. The King of Conquerors can even summon his army from his lifetime. What kind of magic could achieve such feats?]
[The story intentionally pairs each magician with a heroic spirit in battle. I believe this is not a coincidence. The human empire has long upheld the tradition of guardian knights. Every powerful magician is almost always accompanied by an equally strong knight, making it nearly impossible for even the mightiest orc warrior to assassinate a grand mages on the battlefield. This protection is even more formidable if the guardian knight is one of the greatest heroic spirits in human history.]
[Thus, I suspect this Holy Grail War is more than just internecine strife; it resembles a form of training. By using the guise of the Holy Grail War, the empire is honing the synergy between mages and warriors, preparing them as future weapons for wars against surrounding nations.]
[This conjecture stems from the historical unity of the human empire. Despite their eagerness to fight each other in peacetime, humans exhibit remarkable discipline and unity against external threats. Whether it's the four border dukes, minor nobles, or common folk, they all respond to the royal family's call to defend against invaders.]
[On this continent, with countless races, the human empire's survival hinges on their unified stance against external foes, never allowing any other race to invade their territory lightly.]
[This unity is reflected in the Holy Grail War. Though the participants initially fight each other, they unanimously target any creature that threatens their towns, just like the giant sea monster that appears at the film's end. This further supports the theory that the magicians' summoned spirits are a new experimental weapon developed by the human empire.]
[To be honest, Prophet, without seeing the film yourself, you cannot imagine the terrifying potential of these combinations. Powerful heroic spirits paired with magicians possessing unique abilities can unleash unimaginable power in small-scale battles. Some of these heroic spirits display extraordinary strength. Although a few did not seem particularly formidable, I suspect this was intentional. If the film is indeed a front for the human empire, they would not reveal all their secrets.]
[I cannot even estimate the odds of a well-equipped orc squad against such a pair. Moreover, it appears these heroic warriors can be mass-produced.]
[Regarding the Holy Grail War itself, I doubt it is merely a fictional plot device. While I do not believe a wish-granting machine exists, I suspect this "Holy Grail" holds significant importance for mages. Otherwise, the participants would not be so fervent. The fact that the Holy Grail War has occurred multiple times suggests it is some kind of experiment conducted by human mages, refined over several iterations. Its potential is terrifying, making me uneasy about staying in such a dangerous land.]
[As for the film's many magical elements, such as unique spells and "Bounded Field"—terms I do not fully understand but recognize as potent—I cannot adequately assess them. I have described them as best as I could in my previous letters, leaving the final judgment to you. Since only the first chapter of the film has been released, with the next chapter due in winter, I have proposed to my Dark Blade superiors that I remain here until then. This is entirely for the kingdom's future and not because I want to see the film's continuation. No, my willingness to stay in this perilous place is solely to watch the film and report back to you promptly.]
[Incidentally, on the film's release day, I noticed the Imperial General arriving at the cinema with two strangers, disguising their identities. Although my limited experience prevented me from identifying these individuals, their demeanor suggested they were high-ranking nobles. They might be connected to the film in some way. I will continue to monitor them closely.]
[I will conclude this letter here. I promise to investigate the secrets of this tavern and uncover the identity of the film's creators. I will trace these films to their source and report back to the kingdom and you as soon as possible.]
[Yours faithfully,
Juno of the Dark Blade.]
After writing the final word, the girl let out a long breath, tucked the letter into the envelope, and immediately slipped out through the tavern's back door. Unbeknownst to her, her every move was being observed from the second floor by a certain individual.
"Do you think there's anything suspicious about that beastgirl?" Durin asked, glancing at the lich seated in the corner of the room. The lich had been almost constantly residing there for a while. Even though Durin had offered to send it back to the Chaotic Domain, it had shown no interest in leaving. Being a lich, it couldn't even step outside the door, so it had no choice but to stay here.
Reflecting on it, the last time someone had acted like this was Daphne. Durin had promised to teach her magic, but after a few days, she had disappeared without a trace. Later, he heard she had returned to the Duke's mansion, possibly because something had happened there.
"No, nothing suspicious," Laetitia replied decisively. It was clear she genuinely believed that a little beastgirl couldn't stir up any trouble. Satisfied with her response, Durin dismissed any lingering concerns and turned his attention back to the planning for the "Fate/Zero" film shoot.
---------
If you want to read 10 advance chapters ahead.
Visit my patreon: patreon.com/EggZy