Inside the barracks, a meeting was in full swing.
Ophelia and quite a number of mages had gathered. All were mages involved with the Spirit Trap.
One of the mages opened his mouth.
“Is it true that Ophelia has taken an interest in the repairs of the Spirit Trap again?”
“….”
Ophelia remained silent for a while.
‘Cheeky humans.’
In fact, it had been a long time since they last held a meeting at the nearby barracks.
Why, you ask? Because all the mages in charge, excluding Ophelia, had fled. They deemed it hopeless and irresponsibly ran away.
So why had they returned? Just from looking at their expressions, it was clear. They must have heard news that the Spirit Trap could be repaired.
Ophelia nodded her head.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Did you find a reliable method after all?”
“It wasn’t me who found it, right? There’s someone working directly to help. Our esteemed Inspector from the Imperial Tower.”
“Hmm, could it be that rumor is true?”
The other mages, aside from Ophelia, exchanged glances, signaling each other with their eyes. Indeed, they returned only because it seemed the Spirit Trap might be repaired.
This time, another mage spoke up.
“Mages are flocking here from all over, leaving no space in the town. What happens if we fail to repair the Spirit Trap?”
“Oh come on, the 5th Princess wouldn’t lie. I heard the source of this rumor is the 5th Princess herself.”
“Still, we need to confirm this for sure.”
Interjecting into their conversation, Ophelia asked.
“So what do you want?”
“Bring him here, I want to confirm if he can really fix the Spirit Trap or not. If it turns out there’s no hope, we can quickly inform the people crowded in town and evacuate them. That’s all we wish for.”
Ophelia clicked her tongue inwardly.
‘It’s not for the townspeople’s sake, you know.’
She could see right through their intentions.
Aren’t they just trying to save their own necks?
They rushed back in a panic after hearing that the Spirit Trap could be repaired, but now they’re worried about their own safety if it fails, hence wanting to check on Ezekiel.
“Ophelia? What are you doing not going there right now?”
“….”
Ophelia sighed as she stood up.
Ezekiel must be diligently working even now, and they wanted to take up his precious time? Guilt filled a corner of her heart.
…
…
…
…
…
…
“There was such an incident,”
With a look of embarrassment, Ophelia explained to Ezekiel what had happened.
However, contrary to the woman’s thoughts, Ezekiel nodded willingly. As if it were no big deal.
“Should we just return to the barracks together?”
“Y-yes. If you don’t want to, we can consider this all forgotten… I’ll find an excuse somehow…”
“No, it’s rather making me think I should go now.”
From Ezekiel’s perspective, it wasn’t a difficult task.
Just dump a huge amount of mana on the ground, and the ground would react accordingly. He had just confirmed its success by trying it in the market moments ago.
As a result, Ezekiel realized it didn’t matter where he was located. All he needed to do was raise his energy several times and pour mana onto the ground.
“So after we return to the barracks, you mean I should just focus on repairing the Spirit Trap as usual, right? Did I understand that correctly?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Good. But…”
Ezekiel added one very simple condition.
“Now, tell me the names of those mages who finally returned.”
A girl was watching Ezekiel and Ophelia from a distance. After sending Ophelia back, Ezekiel awkwardly parted his lips towards the girl.
“I think we should check inside the barracks.”
“Aha.”
The girl’s voice expressed a hint of disappointment, but she quickly regained her composure.
“It’s fine. Just thinking about the Spirit Trap getting completed makes me happy. You’ve already checked the materials, right? I’d just be a bother if I stayed next to you.”
After thinking for a moment, Ezekiel started speaking again.
“Come over to the barracks after you wake up.”
“Me? I can’t enter.”
“From tomorrow onwards, outsiders will be free to enter. We’re going to completely restore the Spirit Trap.”
At that, the girl’s face took on a curious expression.
She had wanted to see the completion of the Spirit Trap so much, but now that the moment was getting close, she looked somewhat uneasy.
Eventually, the girl nodded her head.
“Yes, I understand.”
Her face was remarkably like her mother, Mirabel.
Near the Spirit Trap’s barracks.
Gyaaaaaah!
The scream echoed.
Right after returning to the barracks guided by Ophelia, Ezekiel was indiscriminately killing off the traitors.
“P-please save me… just my life…!”
Ezekiel had no intention of listening to the pleas of the non-mage who was trembling all while frozen.
“Cheeky bastards. It’s a shame you’re still alive.”
Crack!
Something that was once human turned into a shard of ice, bursting apart.
Leaving because it seemed the Spirit Trap had no hope?
Sure, he could understand that much. Ezekiel never had high expectations from humans to begin with. If they were paralyzed by fear, it was understandable.
But what truly infuriated Ezekiel was their brazen behavior upon returning. What kind of greed was it to try to stake a claim now?
‘No need to hesitate since I have a license to kill.’
After all, he had just received a license to kill from Ilaref, the Emperor’s henchwoman. There was even less reason for Ezekiel to let these scoundrels live.
Cough!
Gah!
With each scream, another life was extinguished.
Before long, the traitorous mages who shamelessly attempted to take advantage were all met with death.
Ophelia, nearby, trembled.
“You’re quite… decisive.”
“If an Inspector isn’t decisive, it would be a problem.”
Honestly, Ophelia had imagined countless times what it would be like to see the despicable overseers die, but witnessing their gruesome deaths was somewhat different.
‘I’m scared…’
The thought of being scared came first. She couldn’t help but feel that a truly impressive person had come to the Spirit Trap.
“Clean up the corpses, and let’s check the Spirit Trap first.”
“Yes, yes? Ah, yes!”
Afterward, Ophelia became noticeably more polite, but Ezekiel had no reason to think poorly of her.
No, Ophelia actually deserved a medal. While others irresponsibly fled, she remained until the end, desperately searching for other solutions.
Ophelia glanced at Ezekiel, being careful.
“Then I’ll take care of cleaning up the corpses, so… you can go again. I’m sorry for stealing your precious time.”
“There’s no need to be wandering around anymore.”
Ezekiel approached the Spirit Trap, kneeling down and placing one hand on the ground.
Ophelia, confused, blinked at this incomprehensible action.
“Uh… what are you doing?”
“Quiet.”
At his two words, Ophelia bit her lip tightly and fell silent. It was the Inspector’s turn to concentrate.
Having gone through various trials and errors, he now understood.
Instead of needing to step on the ground one by one and pour mana, he could simply spread the mana related to the spells all over the ground inside the town.
It was possible.
Every piece of the puzzle and every answer filled his mind.
Strong output? That was something Ezekiel could handle.
Then there was a commotion.
“They say the Spirit Trap is going to be repaired?”
“We can’t miss that sight!”
“It’s worth risking our lives to see it!”
Those who heard the rumors about the 5th Princess had all gathered. Thanks to that, Ezekiel briefly opened his eyes, breaking his concentration, and Ophelia looked very uneasy.
“Ugh… there are too many people, and it’s beyond the level I can manage! They are rushing here recklessly!”
Ezekiel only nodded.
“Let them in.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t worry, just let them in.”
Mages tend to have a unique conviction just before their magic succeeds, and that’s how Ezekiel felt now.
A very strong conviction surged.
He was certain that with a single outpouring of mana, he could repair the Spirit Trap at once.
Moments later, it seemed Ophelia had opened the entrance. The clamor of the crowd was getting closer.
“Oh, it looks like it’s in progress!”
“Let’s get as close as possible!”
Ezekiel cleared all distractions and noise from his mind and focused. He just released the vast mana.
While the amount was enormous, it was also incredibly intricate. The energy he emitted was the complete answer to all the problems contained within the Spirit Trap’s spell fragments.
Hwaaaaa!
Finally, when the entire Spirit Trap regained its emerald glow.
“…”
Ezekiel unconsciously furrowed his brow.
—Hello, I am Neo, the 5th Princess.
The walls of the Spirit Trap transformed into a massive screen, displaying the upper body of the 5th Princess.
The 5th Princess began to speak.
—First of all, congratulations on completing the Spirit Trap. Also, by the time you watch this recording, I expect a massive crowd to have gathered.
A vacant look in her eyes.
However, her voice was remarkably serious.
—I wanted to inform you all.
What could it be?
Though Ezekiel pondered that question, his curiosity didn’t last long. The 5th Princess continued.
However, what she said was incredibly shocking.
—This concerns the Secret Organization ‘Balance’ operated by the Empire and the atrocities the Emperor has committed.
The man’s eyes widened dramatically.
People continued to pour in like waves.
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