Three days passed.
The territory of the Purple Magic Tower was vast.
Of course, it made sense. The commercial district was very well developed, and it was a strategic point with well-established roads.
Rumors began to spread quickly across that wide land.
People’s lips seemed to have no chance to rest.
“There’s a saying that the department store is the safest place.”
“I heard that too. They’ve cleaned up all the Fiends.”
“The Inspector of the Imperial Tower came personally, that’s great!”
News that humans were active in the territory of the Magic Tower, which the Fiends had been occupying, was surely pleasant—most people rejoiced.
The whispers reached Ezekiel’s ears as well.
However.
“Aren’t the Fiends targeting a fictional character called Ice Ghost? They claimed it was themselves?”
“Why provoke like that? If it’s on your land, that’s one thing, but in the end, it only puts the territory of the Purple Magic Tower in danger.”
“It’s such a unilateral action. It’s serious.”
People’s psychologies were as diverse as the number of individuals.
The Imperial Tower began to take action to resolve the situation happening in the territory of the Purple Magic Tower. Among the Purple Mages, some obviously felt offended by it.
It couldn’t be helped. It’s just human psychology.
“Let’s not sweat the small stuff.”
Of course, Ezekiel didn’t care about the negative talk. The Purple territory was struggling, so it wouldn’t be easy for them to think positively.
After all, Ezekiel had lived his whole life with outstanding talent, so he was too familiar with jealousy.
He had now turned the department store into a stronghold.
The building itself was enormous, and it became a great base where they could solve their needs. Having made such a big provocation, they were bound to come.
Yes, the provocation was definitely effective.
“How dare a human impersonate Ice Ghost…!”
“I’ll confirm whether your nonsense is true!”
Bam!
As soon as the Fiends crossed the threshold, they froze and shattered. Ezekiel held his ground in the department store, killing every Fiend that approached while gathering information.
“Inspector, can we stay here as well?”
“Please, we have nowhere else to go…!”
Naturally, humans began to rush in as well. Word spread quickly that there was no safer place than this.
At some point while fortifying the department store.
“Are you the Inspector from the Imperial Magic Tower?”
“I came to speak with you. Is it true that you’ve wiped out the Fiends here? We were too busy to attend the exchange meeting.”
Both were women, two mages from the Purple Magic Tower.
They wore elegantly flowing purple robes. They definitely seemed to be mages from the Purple Magic Tower.
‘Their attitude isn’t great.’
It seemed they were more inclined toward jealousy than to welcoming Ezekiel, as they eyed him with wariness.
Ezekiel slowly chewed on a piece of Sunweed and replied.
“I am Ezekiel, Inspector of the Imperial Tower.”
“Aah, speaking of which, we forgot to introduce ourselves.”
Originally, they should have introduced themselves before Ezekiel, but it was quite rude.
“I am Laila, a high-ranking mage of the Magic Tower. The one next to me is my assistant, so you don’t need to worry about her.”
A high-ranking mage was a rank below that of the elder position. In other words, it was a level far inferior to that of an Inspector.
‘Information comes first.’
Even so, Ezekiel didn’t scold them for their rudeness. Given the situation with Agnes and the mages of the Imperial Tower being hostages, information was too valuable.
“I’m pleased to meet a high-ranking mage from the Magic Tower.”
“That reaction….”
The high-ranking mage Laila blinked, slightly relaxing her guard. She hadn’t expected the Inspector from the Imperial Tower would even go so far as to show courtesy.
Laila and her assistant exchanged glances for a moment.
It seemed they were secretly sending telepathic messages, but soon, with a slightly more polite demeanor, Laila asked.
“The situation in the Purple Territory isn’t very good right now. Do you have any willingness to help us?”
“Help?”
Ezekiel feigned ignorance and asked back.
‘I would love to hear some info.’
The underground caves underneath the Purple Magic Tower were truly a headache, resembling a maze. Commonly referred to as a “labyrinth,” they were classified as dangerous terrain.
To ask him for help, they would have to explain their circumstances in detail. That was the point they were aiming for. They were hoping to extract information.
Perhaps, they could provide accurate locations.
“…And just like that, we were surrounded in the blink of an eye. It was really sneaky how they used the terrain of the underground maze to flood in during dawn.”
“A lot of mages are still trapped underground. They might be dead, or if they’re alive, they could be undergoing torture.”
“If we succeed, I promise you a hefty reward. We can even offer you a glimpse of the Golden Lightning, known as the ultimate technique of the Purple Magic Tower!”
Laila and her assistant beg for help while simultaneously promising a stunning reward like the ultimate technique.
After all, just to even get a glimpse of the ultimate technique, the situation must have been that dire.
‘Right now, the reward isn’t important.’
Of course, Ezekiel wasn’t particularly interested in rewards. He just wished for the safety of the mages from the Imperial Tower.
Was Ezekiel’s silence a bit awkward? Laila slightly squinted and cleared her throat, adding.
“…I might have encountered some chaotic events underground, but if I could roam free in the region, I would have directly taken action too. I would have wiped out the Fiends in this department store, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct. Our Laila is indeed an incredible mage. But the situation is unfavorable…”
Ezekiel watched their mentality carefully.
He quickly realized.
They were the quite common type of people who wanted to elevate their honor far beyond their lacking abilities. They were people obsessed with pride.
Since they didn’t have the strength to accomplish it themselves, they know they have to ask for help, but they don’t want to grovel while still wanting to protect their pride…
‘If it weren’t for the hostages from the Imperial Tower, I would have smashed their heads.’
Ezekiel thought so as he chewed on his Sunweed.
“Alright, I understand you’re talented. I’ll cooperate, so tell me everything you know without holding back.”
Ezekiel was aware of priorities. He didn’t want to bother with their patheticness and first inquired about the information.
Thanks to the praise, he was able to hear a lot.
“Since you’re cooperating, I’ll detail the terrain inside the maze. We were here, and the barrier was like this, and the assault route was…”
Laila began to manipulate mana like paint, explaining the structure of the maze and the status of the mages.
Ezekiel remembered everything without missing a beat.
‘Very useful information.’
The map that Laila provided was quite detailed. He could even decide to directly attack the underground maze without staying in the department store.
Just as the conversation was coming to an end.
Was Laila feeling embarrassed for gushing out all the information and making various requests? Suddenly, she took a more reserved tone.
“Um… you know I’m quite a valuable asset, right? Thinking about it, the situation with the hostages from the Imperial Tower is serious, and the information I provided is incredibly important…”
“That’s right. Earlier, we got so flustered that we promised way too much. It wouldn’t be reasonable to promise everything.”
“If things end positively, we can renegotiate later. Inspector, would that be alright?”
Seeing Ezekiel’s abilities, had they become sure of success? They suddenly started to change their words.
Ezekiel thought that saving the mages from the Imperial Tower was what mattered, so he tried to ignore such petty human concerns.
Just as he stood up to head for the underground maze.
“…That sounds like the typical talk of a scammer, especially receiving the assistance of the Inspector from the Imperial Tower.”
Suddenly, a voice came out cold and clear as ice.
Thud!
A woman emerged alongside the chill, like fog.
“…Seina?”
The elder of the Blue Tower, the Frost Sorceress Seina, with neatly braided hair over her shoulder.
As soon as Ezekiel recognized her, the corners of her sharp nose formed a gentle curve. Her eyes were a beautiful blue.
“The Blue Tower has also come to support the Purple Territory, and I sensed an exceptionally powerful chill from the department store. I immediately ran over upon realizing it was you.”
“Master…?”
Laila asked, bewildered, but Seina didn’t even bother looking at her and continued speaking.
“They say you’ve made the largest building, the department store, into a base and taken in the needy? Stories about you are spreading like wildfire. Those dripping with jealousy are… well, I’ve taken care of them myself.”
Seina pulled an ice whip from her hand with a crack as if to show off how well she handled them.
Ezekiel nodded gratefully.
“Thanks. But let’s catch up later; for now, I think we need to head to the underground maze immediately.”
“Let’s go together. I’ll assist you, Master.”
With Seina, the elder of the Blue Tower, Ezekiel would now have a solid ally.
He couldn’t help but feel thankful. She was offering help without demanding anything in return.
“Oh, and…”
Seina glared sharply at Laila and her assistant.
“It seems you’re trying to slip away with that nonsense about renegotiating a reward later, right? I feel like I’ve seen that behavior before from those who twist their words after the fact.”
“Elder Seina from the Blue Tower, we were just…”
“Enough excuses. Let’s draft a contract right now. You have no idea how remarkable the Ice Sorceress who’s assisting the Inspector is. Do you think you can pull a fast one?”
Ezekiel didn’t even have a chance to intervene. Seina, with her fierce energy, unfurled a scroll from her bosom.
“Write it all down clearly. What did you promise earlier? If there’s even one thing missing, you’d better be prepared. As the elder of the Blue Tower, I won’t let it slide.”
“Yes, yes…”
Laila began hastily scribbling down everything they’d mentioned earlier, including the ultimate technique, with a nervous expression.
After a moment, Seina smiled sweetly at Ezekiel.
“Master, I did well, right?”
With a warm smile from the woman who carried the chill.
The departure towards the underground maze had finally begun.
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