Young elder of the Blue Tower, Seina.
The very word “elder” seemed awkward. Judging by appearances alone, she looked like a freshman at the Academy.
Chwalararak—!
Seina’s ice shimmered with liveliness.
Ezekiel focused on that very point.
‘The fact that her growth has been so smooth is evident in her ice.’
He had mentioned this to Agnes at some point.
Ice, fundamentally, is a chatterbox. Even when it appears to be simply frozen water, the trajectory and nuances of the ice mage’s life are thoroughly infused within it.
From Seina’s ice, a sense of brightness and cheerfulness was felt. It was as if the trajectory of a life lived with only good things was reflected right there.
In a way, she was the complete opposite of Ezekiel.
—Mana manipulation, as fast as possible.
—This nuance, the rhythm is fundamentally quick.
—Yes. I’ve noted everything down.
Agnes’s answer, saying she had noted it all. Ezekiel quietly nodded. He had completely grasped the magic Seina was currently utilizing.
It was now time for retaliation.
‘I feel like I can show something even greater.’
The thought that slid through Ezekiel’s mind was singular.
At what level should he engage for Seina to unleash as many techniques as possible? In other words, he didn’t worry about losing at all. He was already standing on distant grounds.
Huuuk!
He quickly drew upon some of the hidden chill.
Having not tasted Sunweed recently, he was currently brimming with chill.
Suddenly, Ezekiel recalled Ether’s movement.
He precisely recreated the motion of shooting an arrow, but instead of using energy, he forged an ice bolt with all his might. Before long, an ice spear with overwhelming power shot forth.
Kwaaaaah!
The ice spear shattered Seina’s whip and grazed her shoulder. The young elder’s eyes filled with astonishment.
“Truly, you are not an ordinary person…!”
“Didn’t we introduce ourselves? I’m somewhat of an inspector.”
“An ordinary inspector is not impressive at all.”
Seina smiled and shaped her whip again.
Kwaang! Kwaaaang!
The duel had now plunged into chaos, with ice clashing from all sides.
Ezekiel slowly heightened the chill. The more he raised it, the more Seina responded with high-level ice magic, making each counter deliciously anticipated.
‘…Is that why the Emperor troubles me?’
A fleeting thought crossed Ezekiel’s mind, but he soon forgot his worries in the joy.
How long had it been since he faced another ice mage?
Perhaps enjoying it too much, he accidentally exerted too much strength.
Paang—!
“Ugh!”
Seina, struck by a blunt ice spear on her shoulder, staggered greatly, and Ezekiel thought, maybe a bit weaker next time.
Meanwhile, a non-mage muttered while watching.
“…Is this truly the level of self-study? No, upon closer inspection, it is indeed self-taught. There are no traces tangled in specific teachings at all. How can one be this free? As if it were something created directly!”
Agnes and Tether quietly exchanged telepathic messages while watching that.
—It seems the shock is quite significant.
—It makes sense. The Blue Tower is a place that studies ice for a lifetime, and they’ve seen an inspector.
Agnes said this while reviewing her notes.
‘Detailed. It’s good enough to try out right away.’
Of course, what Ezekiel had obtained from Seina wasn’t the Blue Tower’s vision technique, but that wasn’t what mattered. The crucial point was how easily he grasped it.
‘Just a few times looking? This much?’
The ability to acquire knowledge simply by observing techniques was truly remarkable. It could serve as a stepping stone for accessing vision techniques.
Agnes pondered how many mages were present in this region. There were indeed five magic towers’ mages mixed in.
…If one carefully observed all their presentations…
…If one discerned everything as in this situation…
It no longer seemed impossible to pursue goals.
While she thought this, the duel came to an end.
Whiriririk—!
As Seina collected her ice whip, she stepped back.
“The level of the inspector is beyond my expectations. If we continued this duel, nothing nearby would remain.”
“Then let’s conclude my defeat. I surrender.”
“…?”
Seina blinked her blue eyes.
Of course, it was natural. It wasn’t a situation where she had the upper hand at all. Rather, a draw would be understandable.
However, to Ezekiel, it was a very rational decision.
‘Connections with the Blue Tower, opportunities to visit, are all important.’
What he had gained from Seina alone was a huge benefit, and if he directly visited the Blue Tower, he would obtain even more remarkable things.
Not only would he steal techniques, but he would also form a good relationship with the Blue Tower, thereby strengthening Ezekiel’s power, and there was no reason to raise his voice here to claim victory stubbornly.
“Mind training or whatever, I’ll visit the Blue Tower sometimes.”
“….”
Seina still rested her braided hair on one shoulder. Gazing at Ezekiel, she suddenly sparkled her eyes and grew in size.
“…The inspector of the Imperial Tower, turns out to be someone truly amazing, unlike what I thought!”
“What on earth were you thinking?”
“When I received the provocation, I thought you would be extremely arrogant. But to have such an excellent mindset in both ice magic and demeanor…!”
Seina pulled a Frost Soup from her arms.
“You spoke of your defeat, and because of that remark, I ended up being defeated in character. I’ll simply give you the Frost Soup. It’s my thanks for engaging in the duel.”
“Hmm….”
“Hurry!”
“…Okay, thank you.”
Ezekiel accepted it by accident.
Can I even accept this?
He had stolen a technique and also got an elixir…
Even felt a sort of guilt.
Ezekiel suddenly organized his thoughts.
The magic of the Blue Tower, Frost Soup, suspicious circumstances of the Black Tower.
Each one alone was remarkable, but he had managed to obtain all three at once. Not to mention, a connection with the Blue Tower as well.
‘I never knew ties could form like this.’
Looking back to the past, he had always prioritized hiding his identity, and thus had never formed any connections. His feelings became naturally ambiguous.
“Only after we share a meal can we truly say the duel has ended. Shall we move and chat? Don’t worry, of course, I’ll treat!”
Seina began to chirp like a sparrow.
Ezekiel and his companions quietly nodded.
On the way to the dining hall, they also cleaned up the heinous criminals. Before long, the surrounding area was sparkling clean.
Perhaps sick of the thugs’ antics, the restaurant owners brought out extra food that hadn’t even been ordered. As a sign of gratitude.
However, there was one woman who was more busy talking than chewing her food. Naturally, it was Seina.
“The ice element is the most noble and powerful of elements. Therefore, ice mages bear the responsibility and sense of duty, following the will of the Ice Ghost—”
The mindset of an ice mage, or whatever.
Was this the kind of mental training unique to the Blue Tower that they were imbibing daily as they engaged in ice magic? It was something Ezekiel could never have imagined.
Tether, with her mouth full of food, sent a telepathic message.
—So, who exactly is this Ice Ghost?
—I’ve been curious about that for a while. Now that we have the chance, asking would be good.
—But isn’t Blue Tower highly sensitive about this person? I don’t think it’s my place to ask….
The two women’s gazes turned to Ezekiel.
Their intentions were obvious. A request to ask on their behalf.
“Well then, who exactly is this Ice Ghost?”
Ultimately, he spoke up. In truth, Ezekiel was also concerned about the identity of the Ice Ghost.
“Oh, it’s forbidden for someone not from the Blue Tower to speak of their identity. But….”
Seina then smiled.
“You handle the ice element and have already promised a visit. One could say you’re already part of the Blue Tower, right? Let me tell you.”
The story that followed was simple.
During the war with the demon realm, there was an ice mage who shone brilliantly, and they were renowned among the demons by the name of Ice Ghost.
“…Yes, I am currently following that person’s will.”
Then Tether and Agnes exchanged telepathic messages, and now it seemed the two got along quite well.
—It’s fascinating. Humans didn’t know, but it’s a figure transmitted based on records left among the demons?
—I can’t guarantee their existence. They might just be a person created for the sake of teachings.
“….”
Meanwhile, Ezekiel had entirely different thoughts.
‘…Isn’t that me?’
He suspected, but that suspicion turned out to be correct.
The Ice Ghost mentioned by the Blue Tower was indeed Ezekiel himself.
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