Meanwhile, in the Black Magic Tower…
Vrooom!
A massive storm was raging here as well.
“Black Tower Master~ What on earth are you thinking?”
The one openly criticizing the Black Tower Master was none other than her secretary, Teddy Divine. She hugged her teddy bear tightly as usual, looking like a girl.
The Black Tower Master concealed her discomfort but was clearly unsettled.
What’s wrong with her?
The hierarchy here was different from a typical Magic Tower.
It was natural; there were demons among their ranks, and they upheld various customs from the Demon Realm. No other Magic Tower placed as much importance on order as this one.
Of course. Bloodlines, kinship, race… The Demon Realm maintained its society by strictly adhering to these layers of ranks.
Therefore, insubordination was something one could only dream of.
Yet, Teddy Divine was openly scolding the Black Tower Master. Simply because she was a secretary.
One of the other executives shouted,
“You’re against blowing up the bridge until the end, yet you suggest bringing them here! Black Tower Master, what are you thinking?!”
Voices joined in from all sides.
“Indeed! Are you planning to hand over the entire Black Tower?”
The criticism and rudeness were out of hand.
The Black Tower Master, with her witch-like appearance under a large pointed hat, opened her lips to reprimand them but was quickly silenced by another figure.
“Alright, everyone, calm down! Let’s hear her out first!”
“But… Teddy, you know it as well!”
“This is the Black Tower. We have to respect the hierarchy, right?”
It was strange how everyone followed Teddy’s words so readily. The Black Tower Master looked on with a somewhat complicated expression.
Thanks to Teddy, the uproar temporarily settled, and she directly asked the Black Tower Master,
“So, Black Tower Master~ What are you really thinking?”
“Anyway, the Imperial Tower is the highest authority amongst all towers.”
Teddy burst into laughter.
Haha! How strange!
She held her teddy bear tight and exclaimed, “It’s not like you suddenly went senile. Why is the Black Tower Master acting like a toothless beast all of a sudden? Or are you…?”
All of a sudden, Teddy brought the teddy bear’s mouth close to her ear. Her eyes widened.
“Whaaat…?! Are you saying the Black Tower Master is in cahoots with the Imperial Magic Tower?! No way! You shouldn’t say that!”
With an exaggerated slap to the teddy bear’s head, her sarcasm was evident, but the Black Tower Master maintained her calm.
“Kids, the situation at the Imperial Tower isn’t normal these days.”
Ribbit—
A frog croaked from the Black Tower Master’s pointed hat.
“The 2nd Princess from the Celestial Realm just returned suddenly, and the Inspector seems to be visiting the Imperial Family quite frequently. Recently, she has been active in Ruiple as well. So…”
The Black Tower Master nodded slightly.
“Understand. This is not the time for careless actions.”
“We waited for several years!”
“Did you suddenly get scared right before execution?”
“Coward! The Black Tower Master is a coward!”
The meeting hall erupted in chaos.
This space had already divided itself into two sides.
One side was the Black Tower Master, and the other was everyone else.
“Let’s calm down, everyone~”
Teddy calmed the others down.
“Okay, being cautious can be understood. It’s like ‘knock twice before crossing a bridge.’”
“Agreed.”
“However, you opposed bringing the Demonic Sword to the altar. Why?”
Teddy shrugged.
“Only the Black Tower Master opposed it~ You know that, right?”
“…Yeah. I know.”
The Black Tower Master nodded calmly.
“I allowed Teddy’s antics at first, but I never imagined it would go this far. If the Demonic Sword is placed on the altar, we know exactly what will happen.”
If the Demonic Sword is placed on the altar, purification begins.
Purification.
While it may seem like a good word, in reality, it is not at all like that. When the Demonic Sword starts to purify, it releases all the pent-up fear.
In simple terms, the personnel from the Imperial Tower nearby will undoubtedly find themselves in trouble.
Teddy looked up with pure eyes.
“Hm, Black Tower Master~ If you say it that way, it makes it sound like I only play pranks for fun and vengeance~ But that’s not true at all!”
“Isn’t it?”
“Of course not! I just want to see the Imperial Tower that oppressed the Black Tower punished while we rise above it! Right?”
The Black Tower Master silently sighed.
This is troublesome. They’re all consumed by anger.
The Black Tower Master didn’t reject that they wanted to benefit the Black Tower. However, the problem was that their anger had twisted that desire.
Because they wield black magic and have demons among them.
Those who have suffered for so long wanted to make others experience this pain too. Even if tremendous disasters were to occur.
Teddy Divine spoke again.
“So, why do you want to serve the Imperial Tower so earnestly?”
“To ensure the participation of the Imperial Magic Tower is essential for the exchange meeting’s purpose.”
“The purpose of the exchange meeting?”
“Exactly.”
The Black Tower Master nodded.
“First, we make them participate, and then based on the magic we prepared, we gain recognition at the exchange meeting. It’s a very ideal way to elevate our position.”
“You still have such childish thoughts~”
Teddy Divine openly laughed.
“Then, if the Imperial Tower changes its mind, will you accept them right away and obediently follow their orders like a faithful dog?”
“…When you put it that way, it doesn’t seem so unreasonable. It’s true we dabble in black magic, which is taboo on the continent. Research on corpses crossed the line.”
“Don’t you get it? Just thinking that way is proof you’ve become a dog of the Imperial Family~ Why should we watch out for anyone while researching black magic!”
Teddy’s grip on her teddy bear tightened.
What a loser.
Despite the Imperial Magic Tower clearly losing its substance and delaying everything, the Black Tower Master had obediently followed for over ten years.
Everyone except the Black Tower Master was exhausted by this charade. The time had finally come for action.
“Black Tower Master, haven’t we waited long enough?!”
The Black Tower Master shook her head.
“This isn’t about waiting. We need time until the Empire can trust our Black Tower.”
“What on earth…”
“In the past, I would have thrown myself into such reckless actions. But you all know.”
The Black Tower Master continued slowly.
“Now, the story is different. The completion of the Black Tower’s Vision Technique is imminent, and since there’s something to protect, I cannot recklessly engage in perilous acts. Denied.”
“Oh! That Vision Technique you haven’t shared with us~”
Teddy sneered, furrowing her brow.
“…Yeah.”
“You only say you’re developing it but never share it with us. Haven’t we seen this kind of behavior before? Oh? It’s exactly like the Imperial Magic Tower!”
The Black Tower Master quietly fiddled with her pointed hat.
I can’t reveal it to you now that you’re so angry.
What would happen if she shared it only for them to use it to vent their anger? The best course was to quietly focus on completion.
“It’s just nearing completion. Once it’s done, I’ll pass it on, so don’t rush…”
“Ugh, I don’t care about that!”
Teddy grinned.
“The first principle of the Black Tower. The one most supported takes the position of the tower master. That still holds true, right?”
“…That’s true, but…”
“Oh~ Then~!”
Teddy grinned widely.
“Before long, the Black Tower Master might change~ It seems everyone thinks so except one person!”
The Black Tower Master’s eyebrow twitched.
Teddy’s remark was a clear challenge.
However, it was difficult to confront her head-on.
If she recovered all her strength and faced Teddy, the Black Tower Master would easily win; however, she was completely drained from pouring all her strength into the completion of the Vision Technique.
“Currently, the Black Tower Master is hesitating, fearing the Imperial Tower, but the Black Tower lacks such cowards! There are many brave souls like me!”
“I do not fear the Imperial Tower. However, the actions of the newly appointed Inspector of the Imperial Tower are concerning…”
“Inspector? Right! So it was the Inspector!”
Clap!
Teddy clapped her hands dramatically.
“Good! Then let’s use that Inspector as our benchmark~ A mage who can defeat the trembling Inspector is stronger than the Black Tower Master! This will earn you support!”
“Hah…”
The Black Tower Master chuckled ruefully.
At this point, logic was irrelevant.
Everyone was consumed by anger, only thinking about expressing it. The Black Tower Master was merely a thorn in their eyes.
To them, right and wrong didn’t matter. They only needed an excuse to oust the Black Tower Master and take action.
Teddy grinned widely.
“It seems like our Black Tower Master has become so timid from mixing potions in her snug chamber all day long~”
“…”
“Don’t worry! It’s time for retirement! We’ve grown immensely stronger and bolder!”
“…Just get to the point.”
The Black Tower Master’s tone was quite sharp.
“Okay, okay, I’ll explain briefly~ When the Imperial Tower people visit the Black Tower’s territory, I’ll take charge!”
“You?”
“Yup! They’ll definitely be in trouble for not managing the Demonic Sword…. I’ll help while we’re at it! The Black Tower’s might will surely rise!”
Teddy beamed.
“Of course, some might die in the process! I can’t guarantee I’ll save everyone!”
The Black Tower Master shook her head.
“Are you planning to instigate a war between the towers while claiming to wish for the prosperity of the Black Tower? You’re not seeing the bigger picture.”
“How far out are you thinking? What made you act like a dog of the Imperial Tower for over ten years? Huh?”
“If you act recklessly, the Black Tower won’t become happy.”
“You’re wrong. It can’t possibly be worse than it is now~”
Both opinions were fiercely clashing.
Ribbit—
And at that moment when the frog on the pointed hat croaked…
“Then let’s do it this way.”
The Black Tower Master made her decision.
“Both sides are stubborn, so going together is impossible. It’s better to set conditions and go.”
“What kind of conditions?”
“Do as you please. I will willingly give up the position of Black Tower Master.”
The Black Tower Master said this readily.
“However, even if you find yourselves in trouble, I will not share my Vision Technique. Don’t expect my help.”
A shocking statement.
Immediately, the executives busily spoke up.
“But we’ve waited this long…”
“We can’t accept the current Black Tower Master just disappearing…”
But there was one sentence that dismissed the chaos.
“Yup~ That’s fine! Just get lost!”
Teddy shouted joyfully.
“T-Teddy Divine!”
“Teddy Divine!”
However, Teddy ignored their voices.
“Get lost~ Get lost~ Hurry and get out of here~”
She even pushed the Black Tower Master’s back, making her leave the meeting room quickly. Such outright rudeness was unimaginable just a moment ago.
Of course, the other executives overflowed with concern.
“Teddy Divine, are you fine?”
“Shouldn’t we have at least gotten the Vision Technique…?!”
“Something we don’t even know the substance of, which may never be completed?”
Teddy looked at them with a piercing gaze.
“Do you still believe in such idle words? Huh?”
“We just…”
“How pathetic~ Pathetic~ You’re all just full of pathetic thoughts!”
Teddy stood in the center of the meeting hall and spoke.
“Remember the years you were oppressed, discriminated against for not being human, and suffering for dabbling in black magic… every day!”
“…”
“How long will you continue to live like this? Is it a bad thing for us to rise above? Is that so wrong?”
Slowly, everyone’s eyes began to redden.
Confusion and worry were only fleeting.
Yes, enduring such harsh times…
It’s now time to unleash our anger!
“Alright~ Don’t worry! I’ll educate the Imperial Tower’s Inspector’s crew from now on!”
They probably wouldn’t even manage to arrive properly. She had cut off all the bridges. It would be difficult to set foot in the Black Tower’s territory, let alone the surrounding areas!
As Teddy thought this, suddenly.
—Teddy Divine!
A panicked telepathic message came through.
Teddy made a humph noise as she listened closely.
—What now?! What’s the matter?
—The Imperial Family! The Imperial Magic Tower!
—Huh?
What kind of commotion was this?
Teddy yawned.
So the Imperial Magic Tower couldn’t make it?
That was expected.
But…
The news delivered through the telepathic message was quite the opposite.
—The Imperial Tower party has set foot in our territory!
“…?”
A piece of news that didn’t make sense logically.
Teddy tilted her head unknowingly.
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