Chapter 68: The Beastkin Spy’s Report

Re-written date: 7 / 17 / 2025

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Chapter 68: The Beastkin Spy's Report

Late at night, the candlelight from a second-floor room of an inn near the Rockhold manor still flickered.

Seated at the desk beneath the warm glow, a petite girl unrolled a sheet of paper and began writing.

[To my superior, this is Juno of the Darkfang, reporting from within the human empire.]

Juno was an agent of the Darkfang, a secret intelligence unit of the Beastkin Kingdom. Tensions with the human empire had been escalating in recent months, and with war looming on the horizon, the kingdom had begun deploying operatives like her to gather critical intelligence ahead of any direct confrontation.

As a member of the catfolk, Juno's beastly features were naturally subtle. With just a bit of disguise, her ears and tail could be perfectly hidden, allowing her to pass among humans without suspicion. On the outside, she looked like a frail, harmless young girl. But that impression couldn't be more wrong—Juno was one of the rarest and most dangerous anomalies born in the Beastkin Kingdom. In the event of a crisis, not even a human Sword Saint, let alone one of the Empire's highly praised Arch Mages, could easily hold her back.

So when the time came to infiltrate the Empire, it was no surprise that the kingdom chose her.

Now, finally back in her temporary safehouse after a full day of activity, she took a moment to rest before recounting the day's events.

[Following up on prior intel, I tracked Imperial General Wilhelm to the southern territory. However, instead of meeting directly with Grand Duke Viktor of the Southern Territories, the general first traveled to a city called Nosrick and attended a peculiar performance known as a 'film'.]

[Naturally, I followed him and entered the so-called 'cinema' to observe the event myself. What I witnessed far surpassed any expectation. Due to the sensitive nature of what I am about to report, I urge you to deliver this letter to the Oracle without delay. If any unauthorized personnel read this, I plead that you do not take it as nonsense. This could determine the very survival of our kingdom.]

With that solemn warning, Juno proceeded to describe the strange art form she had seen. Though she hadn't managed to secure a ticket to the same screening as General Wilhelm, she chose to watch another showing instead so her time wouldn't be wasted.

[The film I saw was titled KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World. While the name itself was bizarre enough, the content was even more baffling. It told the story of a group of adventurers undertaking a mission—a rather short narrative. Below is a summary of the plot—]

After providing a concise recap of the movie's events, Juno paused, then continued with her real concern—one that still gnawed at her even now.

[After the movie ended, my mind was flooded with questions. The main character, named Zat, appeared to be nothing more than a run-of-the-mill adventurer. Yet somehow, he managed to reach the domain of the gods—the divine realm itself—and even dragged a deity down from that plane?!]

[Has human magic progressed to such terrifying heights that even the gods can now be brought low?]

[I may not understand the finer points of arcane theory, but I've studied our kingdom's ancient legends. Only one tale comes close to what I witnessed, and even that borders on myth: the saga of Kratos, the War God. It is said that he stormed the divine realm and personally slew the previous War God to take his place. But that is folklore, nothing more. In contrast, these humans—have they really found a way to trespass upon the realm of the gods?]

[Furthermore, the deity depicted in the film behaved in ways that were… unusual—utterly unlike any god described in our legends. While the humans insist it was all merely acting, I cannot bring myself to accept that explanation. At the very least, as a Bloodborne—one of the rarest anomalies of our kind—I sensed something distinct and unsettling from that so-called 'goddess' on the screen.]

[I suspect the deity may have been subjected to some kind of advanced human sorcery that altered her mind or presence. While I'm no mage myself, we all know that humans have delved far deeper into magical research than we ever have. Is it truly possible they've developed spells that can manipulate divine entities? Honored Oracle, as the only Arch Mage of our kingdom, I humbly ask: does such a possibility truly exist?]

Juno paused, her hand trembling slightly before she continued writing with renewed urgency.

[Another point of concern—within the film, there was a young girl, clearly a mage, who looked to be barely past her teenage years. Her strength didn't appear to surpass that of a standard High Mage… and yet, with a single spell, she unleashed what the humans casually referred to as a 'quasi-sixth-tier explosion magic.' One cast—just one—and the blast was powerful enough to reshape the very battlefield.]

[True, she collapsed afterward from mana exhaustion, but that only highlights the terror within! In past wars, the humans' so-called Arch Mages used Explosion Magic to wipe out entire squads of our most hardened warriors—and even then, only a rare few flame- or storm-aligned Arch Mages could control it. But now? Now it seems they've discovered a way to compress and store mana, letting even High Mages cast such magic once per day?! Imagine a battlefield where such spells are launched not once, but ten times… or a hundred! Even our strongest Beastkin champions would stand no chance before such devastation.]

Juno's writing grew more frantic as she reached the crux of her report—what had shaken her the most.

[Lastly—and this is the most alarming part of my entire report—the film's final enemy: the Dullahan. Oracle, I know you weren't there, but let me try to convey the feeling… That creature was an abomination of power, an undead monstrosity that had clearly crossed the threshold of mortality. Its aura was suffocating, its presence more dreadful than anything I've ever encountered.]

[And yet… the humans laughed.]

[Yes. They laughed. As the Dullahan slaughtered people on-screen—humans just like them—the audience chuckled as though watching a child's puppet show. Their expressions were light, amused… They didn't see a world-ending threat. They saw a circus act.]

[Even now, hours later, I can still feel the cold sweat trickling down my back. I know what I felt in that moment. That being, that monster… I could not have lasted a single round against it, not even with all my power. I, Juno—Bloodborne of the Darkfang, on the cusp of Sword Sainthood—would have been obliterated.]

[But the characters in the film? They triumphed over the Dullahan with ease, then walked away like it was nothing more than a bothersome chore. They weren't interested in honor or fear. All they cared about was how much money the mission had earned them.]

[And the audience? They saw the entire ordeal as a joke. A monstrous undead being, stronger than anything I've ever witnessed, was treated like a clown in a traveling troupe. Does this mean that humans no longer see such creatures as threats? Or worse—do they now wield weapons so far beyond even that level that beings like the Dullahan are nothing to them?!]

[Even as I left the cinema, I couldn't shake the crawling sensation on my spine. It felt like every human around me had already seen through my disguise, and they were watching me the same way they had watched the Dullahan… as a pitiful, dancing fool.]

Juno's hand slowed as she neared the end of her report. Her heart was still thundering in her chest, but her thoughts were steady.

[In conclusion, this single viewing has made one thing painfully clear: our understanding of the human empire is woefully incomplete. Oracle, I beg you—after reading this, please reconsider the true gap between our nations. Do not let arrogance blind us. I recommend His Majesty the King himself be briefed and urged to reevaluate our diplomatic posture immediately.]

[Lastly, a new film titled Goblin Slayer is scheduled to premiere tomorrow. I've already secured a ticket. I will observe it firsthand and report back with whatever I discover.]

With the final stroke of ink, Juno quietly sealed the letter, then whistled softly into the night.

A shadow fluttered down from the rafters above. A silent owl, previously unnoticed, landed gracefully on the windowsill. With practiced hands, Juno tied the message to its leg, and with a faint gesture, released it into the sky.

Only after the bird vanished into the darkness did she exhale, her shoulders finally relaxing. She collapsed onto the desk with a quiet sigh, her thoughts drifting not to war, not to magic, not even to duty…

But to the excitement bubbling within her chest for tomorrow's movie.