A huge rumor was swirling around the world.
It was said that a single man could stop the collapse of the Spirit Trap, which had kept the Empire safe from the Demon Realm.
For the citizens of the Empire, it was news they couldn’t help but cheer about, and for mages, it was an opportunity to witness an incredible spectacle.
And the source of the rumor was none other than the 5th Princess?
No one believed that the 5th Princess would tell a lie. The faces of the crowd, gathering like clouds, were filled with curiosity and excitement.
How magnificent would a mage capable of repairing the Spirit Trap be? What kind of sight would a perfectly restored Spirit Trap present…?
“Please, enter calmly! You’ll get hurt!”
“Don’t push!”
The soldiers were sweating bullets trying to manage the throngs of people. Even threats in the name of the Empire’s soldiers weren’t enough to quell their curiosity.
“It seems they’re starting right now?”
“If we had been any later, it would have been a disaster!”
“Lower your heads a bit! Wouldn’t it be better to enjoy the grand spectacle together?”
The area near the Spirit Trap had never been open before. In other words, every little element present was a sight to behold.
After a moment, the Spirit Trap came into view.
“Ooooh, that is….”
“They said the collapse was severe, but isn’t it already looking green? Looks like repairs are nearly complete.”
Gasps of admiration echoed from the crowd.
Since they were also mages, they could immediately grasp how extraordinary the Spirit Trap was.
Every part of the barrier was incredibly intricate, and it appeared that thousands of barriers had perfectly interlocked to create stunning harmony.
Some mages were already satisfied with having made it this far.
However, those who had been interested in the Spirit Trap for a long time, or mages of higher rank, were a bit different.
“As far as I know, the old Spirit Trap shimmered with rainbow colors and was awash in green light.”
When someone cautiously spoke up, another mage immediately replied.
“That’s nonsense; just looking at the current state is enough to feel it’s perfect. And you think it’ll evolve further?”
“But I’m sure I’ve heard that before.”
“It’s common for stories involving great things to get exaggerated. Can you even imagine? The Spirit Trap becoming even more magnificent than this?”
Others nodded quietly at that comment. It was hard for them to envision how the Spirit Trap could become any more perfect.
That’s when it happened.
“Silence!”
“Wait, look over there!”
In a moment when so many people had gathered, an unexpected silence spread throughout the area. Considering the size of the crowd, it was truly an impressive feat.
The cause was a single man.
“Why all of a sudden…?”
Someone who had just arrived at the back tried to speak, but couldn’t continue. The whole crowd had placed a finger on their lips.
Then they pointed with their chins towards one man.
“….”
Ezekiel, the Inspector of the Imperial Tower, that was him.
Despite receiving countless gazes, Ezekiel didn’t care at all; he knelt down and placed his palm on the ground.
The mages instinctively knew he was about to do something extraordinary. However, none understood the principle behind his actions.
There was already a tremendous, invisible gap between them.
Hwoooosh─!
Ezekiel pushed a massive amount of mana into the ground in an instant. With his unique resonance, ripples spread across the entire Spirit Trap like waves in a lake.
At that moment, the very Spirit Trap morphed into a screen, taking on a human form.
─Hello. I am the 5th Princess, Neo.
It was actually the 5th Princess herself.
─First of all, I congratulate you on completing the Spirit Trap. Also, by the time you see this record, I expect there will be a large crowd gathered.
With her pink hair shining under the light and eyes as blue as a lake, even though it was merely a recorded form, there was an inherent majestic aura unique to a princess.
─I wanted to make sure to inform you all.
─This is the story of the secret organization ‘Balance’ that the Empire has been running, and the atrocities committed by the Emperor.
An unexpected sight and statement unfolded before the crowd, crashing down upon them like a wave.
“Isn’t that the 5th Princess…?”
“She’s going to expose the Emperor’s atrocities? What?”
“What’s with this secret organization?”
With their eyes wide and ears perked, the crowd listened intently as the 5th Princess slowly continued her record.
─Thinking back, it’s a simple story, but the Empire’s safety isn’t maintained normally. Someone has been covertly acting for the peace of the continent.
Even though something outrageous was happening, people couldn’t help but focus on it since it was so outrageous.
In this sudden situation, everyone was greatly attentive.
─The identity of the organization ‘Balance’ is simple. They’ve been eliminating dangers to the Empire by any means necessary. Surely you haven’t heard of them. Their records have been erased.
At that moment, the Spirit Trap crackled, and the screen shook.
Zzzziiiii─
The figure of the 5th Princess blurred and then completely vanished as if nothing had ever occurred.
Naturally, the surrounding area soon became chaotic.
“…What’s going on? At such a crucial moment.”
“It seems this is where the recording ends, but hasn’t the Spirit Trap been fully repaired yet?”
If only they had been completely unaware it wouldn’t have been a problem, but there was nothing more frustrating than being cut off midway. That’s why the crowd was particularly agitated.
“…”
Ezekiel quietly narrowed his brow.
After thinking several times, he was certain his assumption was correct.
The 5th Princess had lured him here and intended for such a huge crowd to gather. To show them the record she left behind.
And that record was…
‘About me and my team.’
Had the 5th Princess intended to harm Ezekiel?
No, that couldn’t be. She must have wanted to help him and resolve her grievances. Absolutely.
Ezekiel understood her desire to assist.
But was this not clearly something Ezekiel had to handle himself?
His head felt about to burst with questions. Why on earth did the 5th Princess have to do this?
As they watched Ezekiel, people began to whisper among themselves. It was merely whispering, but together it created quite a size. So much so, it could be called a commotion.
“I’m so curious about what’s next….”
“What on earth just happened?”
“Please! Show us the next part!”
Ezekiel continued to ponder, but ultimately decided to first push aside complex thoughts.
‘Anyway, the Spirit Trap has to be fixed.’
The fact that the Spirit Trap must be repaired remained unchanged.
The 5th Princess seemed to intend for the recorded video to resume playback as the Spirit Trap was repaired; however, Ezekiel had no choice in the matter.
If he didn’t repair the Spirit Trap, the continent would be directly exposed to the dangers of the Demon Realm. In the end, fixing it was the only option.
He needed to watch the recording all the way through to truly understand the 5th Princess’s intention. Perhaps that question was the decisive reason why Ezekiel resumed the repairs.
Hwoooosh─!
A vast amount of mana flowed into the ground.
As the Spirit Trap took on an even more beautiful glow, the figure of the 5th Princess reappeared above.
─The problem lies with how the organization ‘Balance’ is treated. The Emperor did not treat them with any respect at all. He treated them like puppets, devoid of humanity, and in the end…
That’s when it happened.
Pik─!
The sound of a taut thread snapping.
“…”
In an instant, the surrounding area fell into total silence. The Spirit Trap had turned pitch black.
It looked as if it were a matte black mirror. It was so opaque that nothing on the other side could be seen.
“The Spirit Trap… has turned pitch black?”
“What is going on?”
Panic took hold of the people.
And understandably so, the Spirit Trap was famous for its elegant green hue. But now it looked pitch black, to the extent that nothing could be seen on the other side, causing significant shock.
“Did it get infected by mana?”
“Did the repairs fail, and it got completely ruined?”
All sorts of wild guesses began to swirl around.
“…”
Ezekiel remained silent.
His furrowed brow only deepened.
“…The Emperor.”
At that moment, he acutely felt the Emperor’s power, which had turned the Spirit Trap black.
At that moment of unease.
─It’s a lie. The citizens of the Empire must not be deceived.
An unexpected voice burst forth.
The gathered crowd had no choice but to kneel in unison. Their instincts made them aware. This voice belonged to none other than the Emperor of the Empire.
─The 5th Princess has betrayed the Empire, and on top of that, she tries to brainwash the citizens. This is undoubtedly treason and cannot be forgiven.
Fwaaa─!
Simultaneously, the Spirit Trap regained its former appearance.
“…!”
And everyone’s eyes widened in shock.
The 5th Princess was still visible, but there was a massive difference.
She appeared shackled with chains, simply awaiting execution.
─I announce the capture of the criminal.
─Tomorrow, the 5th Princess will be publicly executed.
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