“I’ll manage this well.”
Silence…
Everyone was anxiously glancing at Hedera, but luckily, she didn’t seem too displeased. At least, on the surface.
“I’m not saying I don’t trust you, but the agenda is super important, you know? I’m technically the Tower Master too, and I feel like I have to keep an eye on things periodically.”
Agnes sighed inwardly.
It was better to be scolded directly than to have her come by every hour with a voice full of concern checking on everything.
“Your Highness, there’s no need for you to move at all. I’ll report back every hour.”
“There’s really no need for that.”
“You must be annoyed by my constant visits.”
“Not really annoyed.”
“When I think about how you’re wasting your time because we can’t provide you with faith, it makes me uneasy. Please allow this.”
Agnes kept her head down, and Hedera stared intensely at the back of Agnes’s head.
“….”
“….”
There was a prolonged silence between them.
An oddly humid and sticky atmosphere… It was up to the other mages to pick up on it.
Finally, Hedera broke the silence.
“So, how long until it’s complete?”
“I anticipate at least a month.”
“A month? That’s so long.”
There was a good reason for Hedera’s impatience. The quicker they produced results, the quicker the Emperor would give something to Ezekiel.
However, it was unfortunate that others didn’t know this. Agnes responded calmly.
“It’s difficult to organize skilled magic from other towers with the Imperial Tower, which had no foundation at all. Normally, it would be an impossible task, but thanks to the Inspector’s assistance, we can at least attempt it.”
“Hmm.”
Hedera bit her lip behind her mask.
“If the Inspector comes to the lodging, progress will be much faster. For now, please wait.”
Finally, the 2nd Princess nodded reluctantly.
“Okay, let me know if you need anything.”
“I think having the Inspector is enough.”
“That statement feels a bit strange.”
Just having the Inspector would suffice.
What she meant with that was a mystery to all, except the person involved.
“….”
“….”
Neither Hedera nor Agnes felt the need to pry.
Once again, the atmosphere turned peculiar, but eventually, Hedera turned to leave the lodging.
“Everyone, you’ve worked hard. I’ll take my leave now.”
“Your Highness, please be careful!”
The mages all greeted in unison. Only after the door was completely shut did they finally release a collective sigh of relief.
“Oh my, she seems to have high hopes.”
“It’s a rare boom. Naturally, that’s the case.”
That wasn’t difficult to understand. The Imperial Tower, which had been stuck, finally had a chance to spread its wings.
It was such a rare opportunity that they absolutely had to succeed.
“Alright, everyone, let’s concentrate.”
“Fighting!”
It was then that Agnes spoke up.
“We absolutely cannot fail. The Inspector has worked tirelessly for this record.”
“That’s right, that’s right!”
“But if we can’t even handle the tasks we’ve been subcontracted for, the Imperial Tower will be seriously disappointed….”
“….”
“…The Inspector might even resign from her position.”
At that, the atmosphere turned cold.
“Is there a future for the Imperial Tower without the Inspector?”
“…No.”
That was the signal.
Everyone began to focus with all their strength.
Meanwhile, in the social hall of the Black Spire.
Ezekiel was with Seina.
No, it was more accurate to say Seina was clinging onto him, making it seem like he was suffering.
Seina didn’t seem like a bad girl, but…
‘Why is she sticking so close to me without a break?’
While Ezekiel was wandering around the social gathering, hoping to gain something, Seina was glued to his side, making things awkward.
Well, he could understand her feelings after listening to her.
“Oh, I’m talking too much because I’m excited. But I really wanted to hear your thoughts on the magic presented at the Blue Tower. I prepared so hard for it….”
Her eyes sparkled.
“It’s the first time I’m facing such a high-level ice mage outside the Blue Tower, and you’re now my master! I really want to hear it. Please!”
The ice magic Seina showcased?
Of course, Ezekiel remembered and had even noted it down.
[ ←↑→↓↗↙→→↑ Activation ]
It’s the end once the chill is rotated according to the direction and activated.
‘Lying would only make things worse.’
Ezekiel decided to be honest.
“It wasn’t as good as I expected.”
“Oh?”
Seina’s eyes sparkled even brighter.
“As expected, my master seems to see through it?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, it seems like everyone was just throwing together whatever they had since it’s certain the Imperial Tower secured the highest place. Just as I expected from my master!”
Was that why the presentation felt so unsatisfactory?
Everyone seemed to just use fairly ordinary magic, clearly reassured they couldn’t climb to the top.
“You can look forward to it. One day, I’ll show you my full power in ice magic. So, when will you reveal your constitution to me?”
“Ordinary.”
“Ordinary isn’t enough, you need to tell me everything down to your veins and meridians so I can reference it. Isn’t there transparency among ice mages and their masters?”
“Hmm.”
Knowing a mage’s meridian and blood vessels means revealing almost all personal information.
In simpler terms, it was like a user manual for any mage.
Just knowing someone’s meridian could give an idea of their strengths and weaknesses, so asking about it was regarded as a colossal rudeness among mages.
Like asking a normal person to strip and show their naked body.
“Let’s take our time to get to know each other.”
“I like to speed things up.”
In fact, even if he wanted to share, he couldn’t.
Ezekiel’s constitution was far too complex, and it was constantly changing since he had acquired the elixir.
“If you were me, would you give me all of your meridian diagrams?”
“If you need it, of course, I’d give it to you. Even take off my clothes.”
“….”
It seems that Seina’s zeal for ice magic was stronger than Ezekiel had thought.
“Master, how about we go over there this time?”
“I’m starting to feel tired. I’m thinking of going back.”
“Oh, are you tired? Should I get you some frost soup?”
“…You’re talking about frost soup like it’s a snack. Forget it.”
It was truly absurd. Frost soup was an exceedingly rare elixir, even within the Blue Tower.
Meanwhile, Seina was contemplating seriously.
“Oh, um… Then I have nothing to offer you.”
“You really don’t need to do anything.”
She hadn’t directly provided anything, but she had already done so much. Frost soup and understanding the techniques of the Blue Tower would greatly benefit the Imperial Tower.
“But as your disciple, I want to do my best….”
“You don’t need to. Just focus on your training.”
“…Master!”
Yet strangely, Seina had a genuinely moved expression.
“Ice magic is wonderful, and your character is wonderful too… I’m truly impressed. If you need anything, just let me know. I’ll do my best to help.”
Things needed.
There was something.
“I want to get real-time information between the towers.”
Yes, that was the reason for roaming around the social gathering.
Though this exchange meeting wrapped up well, it fundamentally moved at long intervals.
If they could get real-time information about the political climate between the towers, ongoing stories, and important information, it would greatly aid in operating the Imperial Tower.
Seina placed a finger on her chin.
“Hmm, it’s not entirely impossible. Actually, there’s an anonymous community where members of the tower can gather and share info.”
“Anonymous community?”
“Yes. In that place, every identity is anonymous. You need a letter of recommendation to join, and I could write one for you, but the problem is….”
Seina looked at him intently.
Then she smirked mischievously.
“It’s usually forbidden for Imperial Tower members to join, but I’m sure you’ll handle that part well? Just don’t get caught.”
It sounded simple.
There was an anonymous community among the five towers, and because critical conversations occurred, the Imperial Tower, as a monitoring faction, was strictly prohibited from participating.
Ezekiel couldn’t help but be surprised.
“Are you sure you’re okay with helping me this much?”
“Is it okay or not?”
Seina raised a fist.
“Under the great Hedera’s will, we are one.”
She even winked with one eye.
“Isn’t that right?”
An hour later.
Ezekiel was getting ready to infiltrate the anonymous community.
Upon entering, blue mana projected as a rectangle, creating a window with white letters above.
[ Please choose an alias. ]
“…So it’s not just anonymous.”
This was larger in scale than Ezekiel had thought. It seemed like a place where they would even use aliases for serious activities.
“But….”
What’s up with this?
Naming it was unexpectedly hard.
What to name it? What should it be?
It shouldn’t be something ordinary, yet choosing a name that could hint at identity would be problematic. On the flip side, bizarre words wouldn’t work either.
‘A name that draws interest without being ignored…’
And then one came to mind.
“…Verd?”
He muttered that name.
The formless Verd.
The name of the Empire’s Emperor.
He quickly shook his head.
“I couldn’t handle that. No way.”
There was no way he could handle that…
Ezekiel corrected himself.
“Let’s go with Nos.”
Nos. An utterly ordinary name.
But just then, an unsettling sensation washed over him.
The notification box didn’t react at all.
“…What’s this? I said Nos. Nos.”
And then he realized a great truth.
The notification box hadn’t malfunctioned.
It simply had executed his predetermined command and stopped.
“….”
In front of Ezekiel’s eyes.
The notification box displayed a shocking fact.
[ Your alias is Verd. ]
Huh?
Huh…?
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