Zzaak─!
Crash!
Ezekiel deliberately avoided aiming for Zeta’s vitals. His priority was to humiliate him.
‘First, ensure the support for the Magic Tower completely vanishes.’
First, create chaos and then clean it up.
Creating an atmosphere and then finally diving into the work.
The difference between the two methods was immense. If you smashed the Magic Tower outright, no matter how truthfully you explained afterward, those brainwashed would inevitably rebel.
Thus, for the sake of the Imperial Family’s face, it was essential to first correct the misguided atmosphere. Everyone needed to understand the situation and blame the Magic Tower to make it right.
Making sure nobody supported the Magic Tower, waiting only for its downfall, and keeping them from holding their heads high—wasn’t that part of true punishment?
“Do you know why you’re getting slapped?”
Ezekiel spoke in the dark tone typical of demons. Perhaps because he hadn’t been paralyzed by the Golden Lightning, Zeta’s face was filled with confusion.
“You lied about having killed fiends while killing humans. That’s arrogance. Don’t dare equate the deaths of humans and fiends.”
Though it seemed like a simple boast for fiends and demons, it simultaneously revealed that the Purple Magic Tower had killed innocent humans.
Immediately, a stir arose among the crowd.
“Did the Purple Magic Tower kill humans?”
“Now that I think about it, there were quite a few claiming to be human. Could their true identities be…?”
“I heard the victims were crying out in injustice…”
People who had been unable to move under the weight of great energy murmured in admiration from here and there.
Even if they didn’t have the ability to leave their spots right away, they weren’t so dull as to not grasp the situation at all.
Those remaining victims had often cried out about the injustices done to their families, but the city of Clatie had been desperately ignoring it.
Why? Because the Purple Magic Tower had been too strong.
However, that assumption had now drastically changed. Hadn’t Zeta been humiliated right in front of a demon?
Their previous doubts could only grow stronger.
“I could have ended your life without slapping you. But it wasn’t cost-effective. If you’re going to visit, you might as well have some fun.”
Ezekiel exhaled, quietly thinking.
Acting like a demon was surprisingly easy—reminiscing about his time as an idle guy made it even more so.
“Should I brainwash you and make you into a teacher preaching the Demon Realm’s doctrines? You’d make a good example.”
Grrr…
Zeta finally stared back at Ezekiel.
His cheeks were so swollen that his features were hardly recognizable. The handsome hero’s appearance had completely vanished, leaving only an ugly figure.
Zeta barely managed to speak.
“How dare you… touch my face…”
“That was a filthy sensation. Should I wash my hands now?”
“How dare that ugly demon—!”
At that, Ezekiel laughed even more.
“Ugly? Such a word was made for you. Picking only the weak to fight, what a picky eater you are!”
“Remove that tongue… Ugh!”
Zzaak─!
With a crash, Zeta fell on his rear. He had been slapped even harder than before.
Something white and small flew through the air.
It was Zeta’s tooth.
Getting slapped that many times to the extent of losing a tooth—now anyone could understand the difference in power.
“Do I seem to be joking?”
“Ugh, ugh…”
“I haven’t decided yet whether to save you or kill you. Acting arrogantly will only shorten your lifespan.”
If he wanted to keep his life, it implied he should soften his attitude and beg like a dog.
“Aaaaaaaa─!”
Zeta suddenly let out a roar filled with anger.
It was the humiliation he had never truly experienced in his life. His body had exceeded the threshold of anger he could contain.
“No chance of correcting your behavior, huh? Just die.”
Just then, as Ezekiel reached out towards Zeta.
Squeaaaaaaak─!
Cube fragments flying like light arrows blocked Ezekiel’s hand.
Simultaneously, he felt a sensation of forcibly pushing away mana—an extremely high level of telekinesis.
“What kind of demon dares to threaten the citizens of the Empire?”
A woman with a sharp bob cut, angled as if she would slice through the air, and possessing pure white skin stood before him. Just seeing her made the faces of the elders of the Magic Tower stiffen.
“Although I was a bit late in investigating the Purple Magic Tower’s disgraceful behavior, I didn’t expect such pests to appear.”
The figure that emerged was from the Imperial Tower.
Agnes, Ezekiel’s personal secretary and telekinetic.
She had purposely worn attire prominently displaying the Imperial Tower’s symbol upon her entrance so everyone could recognize her identity.
“The Imperial Magic Tower!”
“Didn’t they say the Imperial Magic Tower had completely abandoned Clatie? No, wait…! Thank you for coming!”
“They were late in investigating the Purple Magic Tower!”
The crowd felt it didn’t matter what the reasons were anymore. An ally had appeared in a seemingly hopeless situation where a more powerful demon than Zeta had emerged.
The Imperial Magic Tower.
They had heard it was gradually gaining recognition, especially since the recent exchange meeting. The moment they aligned themselves as allies, it was immensely reassuring.
However, Agnes felt a slight bitterness.
‘Public sentiment truly is like a reed.’
How nice it would be if they could simply discern truth from falsehood with just a little information and believe it!
But that wasn’t the case.
They needed to see it to believe it and were easily swayed.
It felt incredibly burdensome and bitter to have to work this hard to reveal the truth.
Just moments ago, those who had been slandering the Imperial Tower were now feeling relieved that allies had appeared; it was a strange feeling. It made her feel nauseous, as if she had an upset stomach.
She shook off those thoughts.
Now was a crucial moment where the Imperial Tower could gain the public’s sentiment and reveal the true face of the Magic Tower.
Ezekiel, along with Seina, had meticulously practiced to avoid mistakes. She aimed to focus on that.
‘What are the next lines and actions I should take….’
But.
Despite those thoughts, admiration came first.
‘Inspector, you are really amazing.’
It was only natural. The elite of the Magic Tower, Zeta, lay defeated with a swollen face.
With each observation, he grew more powerful. He truly was a genius in hard work.
The secretary barely brought her admiration to a halt and prepared for her next action.
“Demon. If you don’t want to die, retreat.”
“…Did you really dare to get involved after seeing the leader of the Magic Tower get trounced like that? Do you also want to die?”
Silence…
Agnes unconsciously swallowed her dry saliva.
Ezekiel’s voice—rather than imitating a demon, it sounded as though a true high-ranking demon had appeared. It was a voice that never became accustomed to, no matter how often she heard it.
She forced herself not to back down and recited her next line.
“Thinking I am the entirety of the Imperial Tower is a mistake. Soon, the Inspector of the Imperial Tower will arrive in person.”
“The Inspector of the Imperial Tower…”
Ezekiel purposely muttered as if in contemplation.
There was intention behind it.
A demon that easily thrashed the elite of the Magic Tower would fear the Inspector of the Imperial Tower?
There was no clearer way to demonstrate the greatness of the Imperial Tower than this. Naturally, it had an effect.
“…The demon is hesitating?”
“The Imperial Tower has been gaining recognition lately. It seems related.”
“Then the Magic Tower from the start…?”
Along with the recent rumors that had just begun circulating, a plausible story started making its way through the mouths of the crowd.
It all happened in the blink of an eye.
Agnes drew up her telekinesis and spoke.
“Leave this city. Unless you want that worthless neck to be sacrificed as an example and hung on the city walls.”
“Why do humans talk so much?”
Ezekiel took action.
As if he didn’t care about the elite of the Magic Tower beside him, he began walking towards Agnes.
Silence…
Tension hung thick in the air.
Those watching didn’t dare blink.
‘Just act like it’s practice. Just like practice.’
Agnes repeated that thought countless times as she took the same step. Finally, when they entered each other’s magical range.
Boom─!
Mana and telekinesis collided with all their might.
Even though they had agreed to the contest beforehand, Agnes felt a sensation as if her arm would break. Ezekiel’s achievement was indeed phenomenal.
Agnes suddenly thought of the entire Magic Tower.
‘Perhaps he could handle the entire Magic Tower.’
She was confident. If they could firmly grasp public sentiment.
Ezekiel breaking the Magic Tower and administering punishment would not be difficult at all.
Just then.
Ezekiel suddenly staggered backward, as if he had been pushed back.
“…Let’s settle this next time.”
Seeing him retreat made Agnes think he might shatter every bone in her body if they met a second time.
“Demons never run away. I will return after strengthening my power to deliver an even greater punishment.”
Ezekiel and Seina quickly vanished from sight.
The silence didn’t last long. As soon as the safety of the people was secured, they began to chatter like mad.
“Wasn’t that demon strong enough to overpower even the elite of the Magic Tower? Yet the Imperial Tower swiftly…”
“Moreover, isn’t he not even the head of the Imperial Tower? I hear he’s the personal secretary of the Inspector.”
“Then how strong must the Inspector be…?”
Agnes savored every sound that reached her ears.
The false public sentiment concocted by the Magic Tower was successfully tilting towards the Imperial Tower.
Ezekiel’s plans had worked excellently.
Now, should the Imperial Tower suddenly demolish the Magic Tower, there would be fewer who would question or resist.
So then.
Agnes immediately began the finishing touches.
“Everyone, please lend me your ears!”
Swishhh─!
The scroll she pulled from her pocket unfurled before the crowd, influenced by her telekinesis, spreading wide like a huge poster in the air.
It was enormous enough for anyone to see.
“From now on, I will publicly announce the atrocities committed by the Magic Tower before the citizens of the Empire!”
The groundwork was being firmly laid.
The Purple Magic Tower?
From this moment, the Imperial Tower could administer judgment.
With overwhelming support.
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