Ezekiel felt very strange.
‘I never thought there would be people on the continent thinking of me.’
Despite undergoing countless missions, he had never been recorded in any history. That was him, but still, there were people remembering him, even if it was in the abstract form of “Ice Ghost.”
Of course, it was not exactly him they knew, but it didn’t feel bad that someone revered him.
However, there was one thing he was curious about.
‘I’ve never left any meaning behind, though?’
What meaning could there possibly be that they followed?
“Did you hear the meaning you all follow directly from the Ice Ghost?”
“Well, I didn’t hear it face to face, but I could feel it as if I heard it directly.”
Seina smiled a little after her statement.
“Hehe, does that sound a bit strange?”
“It’s hard to understand.”
“First off, you know the saying that ice is talkative, right?”
“A frost mage can’t not know that.”
Seina nodded as if satisfied.
“In fact, the Blue Tower is currently storing a whole cliff face taken from the Demon Realm.”
“…a cliff face?”
“Yes. It’s not just any cliff face. The traces of the Ice Ghost showcasing the Ice Magic Technique are all there. It’s so vivid!”
Seina clasped her hands together and raised her gaze to the ceiling, just like a girl in love.
“When I see the ice, I can feel it. The intricacy, the sense of justice, but with a hint of tenderness…! All of that has become the meaning the Blue Tower currently aims for.”
Eventually, she even clenched her fist.
“I absolutely want to meet her someday! I’ll convey my feelings to her and receive compliments about the Ice Magic Technique!”
Her face was flushed, just like a girl with a crush.
His feelings were growing stranger by the minute.
If he had lived a normal life, not getting entangled in the affairs of the Imperial Family, would Ezekiel have lived as a mage with many apprentices in the Blue Tower?
…He soon shook off the troubling thoughts. The past couldn’t be changed.
“By the way,”
Seina’s expression became quite serious.
“The Inspector of the Imperial Tower is quite similar to the Ice Ghost.”
Indeed, it seemed Seina had found some similarities.
In a way, it was only natural, as she was a woman well-versed enough in ice to hold the position of elder. It made sense that she had some goodwill towards Ezekiel.
Thinking that she found someone resembling the Ice Ghost, she’d want to talk and share everything.
“What similarities?”
“There’s something about the ice being very free, or something like that? It’s not bound by anything. It feels like a whisper: I want to be free. I want to be free…”
For some reason, it felt odd as if her innermost feelings were exposed. Ezekiel awkwardly changed the subject.
“The presentation is tomorrow, and half the day has already passed. We should wrap up this meal here.”
“Oh, let’s do that. But wait a moment…”
Seina rummaged through her pocket.
“I have something that might help the Inspector of the Imperial Tower.”
At that, the nearby non-mage’s eyes went wide.
“Elder Seina, you don’t mean that…?”
“Yes. I thought it would be right to give it.”
“That’s something we can’t accept! To pressure the Black Tower from the Blue Tower, we need to keep it as our trump card…!”
But Seina handed a paper bag to Ezekiel even before the non-mage finished speaking.
“This is evidence that the Black Tower broke the rules and touched on corpse research. Punishing the Magic Tower is the Imperial Tower’s responsibility, so it will be helpful.”
At that, both Tether and Agnes looked astonished.
“This is…!”
“They touched the corpses? This surely will help! This alone is enough reason to punish them!”
Ezekiel nodded as well.
Seina’s offering was such valuable evidence that it was hard to believe it was handed over so easily.
“Thank you.”
Just when Ezekiel was about to reach out his hand.
“However, there’s a condition.”
Seina’s sudden declaration.
Ezekiel tilted his head slightly, but Tether and Agnes looked quite troubled.
After showing such valuable evidence, what could she possibly demand?
However.
Surprisingly.
“I hope you can become my mentor.”
What Seina asked for was extremely unexpected.
“…Mentor?”
“Yes. Mentor. The free technique that the Inspector possesses is not in my ice. I would be grateful even if it’s just occasionally.”
In Seina’s blue eyes, there was nothing but eagerness and goodwill—no bad intentions at all. She felt like a very strong, yet not rough, woman.
Ezekiel nodded.
“Well, anytime.”
Thus, the first meeting with the Blue Tower was warm like this.
Night.
After firmly refusing the Blue Tower’s proposal to stay until the end, Ezekiel and his party headed towards the altar.
“Uh, Agnes, are we going the right way?”
“Yes. We are.”
“It’s so creepy?!”
Tether said shivering. Well, all around were trees with ominous branches.
Agnes remained calm, though.
“Feeling creeped out is proof we’re going the right way. They say it’s an altar that has been abandoned for a long time.”
“Ah, is that so…!”
However, Agnes’s expression was strangely bright.
It was a blank expression, but a slightly bright blank expression.
Ezekiel popped a lollipop into his mouth.
“Agnes, you seem to be in a pretty good mood.”
“Yes. I’m a bit excited.”
“Do you like such a creepy forest?”
“…Please, don’t joke. It’s not about the background changing my mood; it’s because of the progress that my mood has changed. Haven’t we had an incredible gain today?”
Agnes spoke calmly.
“We confirmed that we could gain techniques through the Blue Tower, obtained elixirs, and even have evidence of the Black Tower’s true colors… There’s nothing more perfect than this.”
He couldn’t deny that.
Among those, the contributions from the Blue Tower were astounding. It would be nice to repay them somehow in the future.
“Right. Now we only have to deal with the Demonic Sword.”
“Let’s quickly handle the Demonic Sword! As soon as the presentation starts tomorrow, we’ll just get them good! Let’s go! Hooray!”
Tether jumped around.
Yes, now only the matter of the Demonic Sword was left.
“Oh, I see it. The altar.”
They arrived at the site of the altar.
In the middle of a dense forest, there was an unusual space resembling a park with a meadow. The altar looked like a bed meant for offering human sacrifices.
“Everyone, do you remember the action plan I mentioned?”
Ezekiel said while taking out the Demonic Sword from the case.
It was a hideous thing that made others filled with fear just by holding it, yet he was handling it as if it were a fork.
Teddy and Agnes nodded at the same time.
“Yes. I will stay still! I know!”
“I’m recording everything that happens from now on through the cube’s mana recording.”
Agnes’s cube could capture very brief scenes in video form through its mana recording feature.
Ezekiel planned to utilize that now.
“The Black Tower wouldn’t have asked us for purification for nothing. The moment I place the Demonic Sword on the altar, something will definitely happen.”
Tap! As Ezekiel snapped his fingers, the two, except Agnes, were enveloped in an ice barrier.
“Even if it’s just for a short while, record the circumstances. It’ll serve as evidence that the Black Tower conspired against the Imperial Tower. I want to do it myself, but….”
“…I have no choice but to do it. This cube operates solely on my mana.”
Agnes nodded as if it were no problem.
“I will record adequately and signal you. You can rescue me then.”
“If the signal is too late, I’ll pull you out right away.”
“Yes. Then let’s begin.”
Ezekiel placed the Demonic Sword onto the altar.
Sssssssssssss─
The black energy began to rise like fog.
Grurururur….
Help me, help me, help me….
Woooooo….
Suddenly, a mix of various ghostly voices began to sound.
Agnes focused intently on the cube.
And just then.
Kuuooouuuuuuuuu─!
The Demonic Sword started spewing black smoke like a volcano. The surrounding vision was quickly shrouded in darkness, and Agnes felt an indescribable chill.
Fear.
This entire fog was fear.
Fear had solidified, enveloping the surroundings.
─Why are you the only one alive? Why are you the only one alive? Why are you the only one alive? Why are you the only one alive? Why are you the only one alive? Why are you the only one alive?
─If you cut off a finger, you’ll be saved…. Chop! If you cut off a finger, you’ll be saved…. Chop!
─Please don’t hit me! Gasp! Please don’t hit me! Gasp! Please don’t hit me! Gasp!
“…!”
In the most fearful moment someone could have while alive, all forms of it began to unfold before Agnes. Some ghosts even lunged at her.
─Let’s die together. You have to die too.
What on earth was the Black Tower thinking?
That thought filled Agnes’ mind.
Was releasing all of the Demonic Sword’s fear what purification meant?
That was, quite literally, just the “purification” of the Demonic Sword. Even if the Demonic Sword was cleansed, everything around had to bear the fear instead.
And the life that bore all this fear….
‘Must die. Must die.’
In other words, the Black Tower was planning to kill them from the start.
While calmly starting the recording, Agnes adapted.
─Help me, help me, help me, help me, to be saved, I must die first.
One of the ghosts choked Agnes’s neck.
Whoooom─!
Using potent telekinesis, she pushed it away immediately.
Agnes hurriedly moved, dodging all the ghosts’ attacks while capturing every scene.
Then, at one point.
─Please, save me! Just spare my life!
─I have a daughter at home.
─Mooooom!
At that moment, when her mind felt like it was going to burst with all the fear.
Agnes spotted a man.
“Are you all safe? Please answer….”
Kneeling on one knee, bleeding profusely, yet asking about others’ well-being.
Agnes couldn’t believe her eyes.
In the thick fog of fear stood Ezekiel.
However, Agnes knew. That wasn’t the real Ezekiel. It was just a projection created by the Demonic Sword.
Agnes had no choice but to panic.
Ezekiel was immune by default to the Demonic Sword.
It meant he had no fear within him, yet did he have fear? Could it be that there was a trauma buried deep inside his mind?
Was it an illusion, or was it something that actually happened?
Surprisingly, the way to distinguish them was simple.
Agnes reached out and grabbed Ezekiel’s shoulder.
“…Inspector?”
It didn’t feel tangible. There was no response.
…So it was something that actually happened.
It wasn’t a ghost fabricated by the Demonic Sword.
It was a real memory from Ezekiel’s mind.
“Are you okay? Breathe…. Just breathe….”
The Ezekiel projection seemed very anxious. He looked like he could collapse at any moment, yet he was more worried about someone collapsed on the ground.
Agnes suddenly recalled information about the Demonic Sword.
It doesn’t just refer to the moment when your life is threatened. If something longed for is thwarted, that can also be fear.
The fear Ezekiel must have faced.
It was likely regarding someone’s well-being.
Agnes cautiously moved forward.
She tried to check on the one Ezekiel was worried about.
“…!”
And soon, she was horrified.
“Huh…!”
Her blank expression shattered, and she covered her mouth, quickly collapsing from shock.
“Pull yourself together! Focus…!”
The one Ezekiel was so worried about.
The identity of that someone.
“Your Highness…!”
It was none other than the princess of the Empire.
Agnes gasped for breath, covering her mouth.
Still, the cube’s mana recording was still activated.
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