The Imperial Magic Tower’s underground prison, reception room.
Zekiel hadn’t visited this place in ages, and the person sitting across from him was quite unexpected.
First off, it was hard to believe that Zeta was related by blood to the elite of the Magic Tower. Aside from the same hair and eye color, they looked nothing alike.
His eyes were squinty.
Whether they were open or closed was quite ambiguous, but Zekiel could definitely feel a clear gaze directed at him.
‘This woman is said to be an elite of the Magic Tower too.’
Herta of the Purple Magic Tower.
They said she was even more skilled at manipulating lightning elements than Zeta. It was just hearsay, but he had definitely heard that before.
Unlike Zeta, she had a sense of gravity.
If Zeta was a loud and flashy flash of lightning, Herta was a thick bolt that struck with a thud. Just by looking at her calm and weighty atmosphere, one could see it.
Thud.
Before long, the door on the opposite side of the reception room opened, revealing a young man from the Magic Tower.
He appeared too pathetic to even be called an elite of the Magic Tower, tied up with special ropes all over his body to prevent him from using magic.
The siblings’ gazes met.
“…”
Zeta immediately frowned, while Herta didn’t seem particularly affected.
“Well, at least it looks like you haven’t starved.”
Herta broke the silence first.
“I was thinking you might lose your life in Clatie. But here you are, alive and kicking. Should I be happy about this?”
“…Shut up.”
“Still got your pride, huh?”
Herta continued calmly.
“You have no idea how much the Magic Tower has turned upside down. The truth has come to light. No hiding places left.”
“What?”
“I just wanted to focus on training and cast away distractions, but I had to see my pathetic brother, so I couldn’t even do that. How much more arrogance and trouble do you need to throw before you’re satisfied?”
“….”
Zeta simply glared at Herta, unable to respond. He had no words to say.
Watching quietly from the side, Zekiel found it surprising.
He had expected her to demand unreasonable things and discuss Zeta’s release right away, but instead, she was calmly scolding him.
It was different from what he pictured.
“Except for me from the Magic Tower, all the mages had to sign the agreement for the death match. Are you starting to get it now? Thanks to that, the Magic Tower is on the brink of destruction.”
“Herta, you’re not only trying to get away from this, are you…!”
At first glance, it looked like she was trying to escape unscathed after committing the crime together, but Zekiel knew that wasn’t the reality.
Suddenly, a remark Anes had whispered to him before entering the reception room popped into his mind.
─ Herta, an elite, is quite a fascinating figure. She wears the title of elite from the Magic Tower, but she’s never once involved herself in Magic Tower affairs.
Since she was a figure of the Magic Tower, she couldn’t be fully trusted, but if Anes’ information was correct, she might be the only innocent mage from the Tower.
So Zekiel observed Herta very carefully.
“Not really surprising. I figured it would turn out this way.”
Thud.
With that remark, Herta struck down the divider in the center of the reception room. Instantly, both sound and sight were completely blocked, and Zeta’s presence vanished.
As if she had little interest in her twin brother, Herta slowly turned her body.
Finally, her gaze landed on Zekiel.
“You’re the inspector from the Imperial Tower, right? I’ve heard rumors. You’ve excellently punished the Black Tower’s crimes at the exchange meeting.”
“Do you know the crimes committed by the Magic Tower?”
Zekiel dove straight into the main topic without any niceties or flowery language. He couldn’t completely trust someone from the Magic Tower yet.
However, Herta’s response was unexpected.
She simply nodded calmly.
“Betrayal in the underground maze, plundering citizens in the city of Clatie… I know vaguely. I won’t deny it. It’s a tower that would do such things.”
“Hmm.”
“I am both an elite of the Magic Tower and the next Tower Master. Did you know that?”
Zekiel shook his head. He only knew that Herta was simply an elite of the Tower.
The Purple Magic Tower didn’t have a Tower Master at present. It was run by elders holding meetings and making decisions.
But were they planning to nominate Herta as the next Tower Master? On one hand, it seemed to suit her quite well.
“Despite wearing a pretty good title, it seems you have never actually led Magic Tower affairs yourself. You’ve only wondered what to do.”
After that, there was a moment of silence.
Was she someone who thought very deeply about everything? Herta pondered for quite a while before cautiously parting her lips again.
“I swear I’ve never once interfered in the Tower’s affairs. I thought their lightning and my lightning were very different. But I’ve had recent realizations about what a next Tower Master should do.”
“A realization of what the Tower Master should do….”
Zekiel echoed those words.
“What should you do?”
“A sincere request.”
At that moment, Herta lowered her head.
Was this an ambush? Zekiel thought for a moment, but quickly realized it wasn’t. Herta was not exuding any energy.
Just then.
Thud. Herta’s knees touched the ground.
She knelt before Zekiel.
“I believe it’s right for the next Tower Master, being me, to apologize since no one from the Tower has yet apologized for the betrayals in the underground maze.”
Zekiel was internally bewildered, but Herta appeared quite calm.
“I also feel responsible for the plundering that happened in Clatie. It would have been better had I stopped it sooner.”
The woman placed her hands gently on her thighs.
“I sincerely apologize like this.”
After that, there was silence.
Zekiel could only frown.
The actions Herta took were so unexpected, but even more pressing matters weighed on his mind.
‘She said she has a sincere request.’
Herta’s words made him feel uneasy.
“Herta, I can’t eliminate the already determined death match.”
Zekiel made his move first.
Thinking back to what happened in the underground maze, it was only natural. Hadn’t she approached him with a smile and brazenly betrayed him?
He couldn’t repeat the same mistake. Moreover, with Arcne’s life at stake, he had to be cautious.
No matter how pitiful the next Tower Master looked while begging, he couldn’t remove the death match.
However.
Once again, Herta exhibited unexpected behavior.
“My apology doesn’t come with any expectations. I also have no thoughts about eliminating the death match. My sincere request isn’t about that.”
“Then what is it that you want?”
Herta fell silent for a moment.
Still kneeling, she carefully pulled something out from within her clothes.
It was the very scroll that the mages from the Magic Tower had signed to participate in the death match.
Rustle, rustle—!
She unfolded it in front of her.
“The death match has already been agreed upon, and all but one from the Tower have signed.”
“…”
Zekiel fell silent for a moment.
The only mage from the Tower who didn’t have to sign was the elite Herta.
“The death match can only end when one side is dead. It feels wrong for me, being the next Tower Master, not to participate in such a major event.”
Finally, Herta slowly raised her head.
She gazed up at Zekiel with squinty eyes.
“I want to sign and participate in this death match as well. I earnestly request this.”
“…”
Zekiel pondered in silence.
‘It goes against reason.’
Not needing to participate in the death match between the Imperial Tower and the Magic Tower meant she could quietly avoid this storm.
But the elite Herta from the Magic Tower chose not to stay still. Instead, she chose to dive into the heart of the storm.
“Oh, of course.”
Herta opened her mouth again.
“I promise to participate with integrity. I’ll also spend time in prison until the banquet, so I’ll be treated like a criminal. For trust’s sake.”
Trust from someone from the Magic Tower.
Should he believe this?
After a moment, Zekiel blurted out a somewhat different question.
“I’m curious about your intention behind wanting to participate in the death match.”
“Perhaps it’s not that different from your intentions, Inspector.”
Herta smirked slightly.
“To protect something precious.”
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