“Who… who is going to the Demon Realm alone?”
The elder of the Blue Tower, Seina, asked in disbelief.
But everyone here felt the same shock. The Emperor himself is heading to the Demon Realm—it was truly a huge deal.
“To rescue the Inspector, the Emperor himself…?”
“I can’t remember the last time the Emperor left the Audience Chamber. At least since I was born, I’ve never seen that happen.”
The 2nd Princess and the 1st Princess muttered in turn.
The Emperor of the Empire was famous for many reasons, but the most notorious was that he would never leave the Audience Chamber.
In other words, it meant he didn’t personally handle trivial matters.
The continent’s strongest power was heading to the Demon Realm to rescue the Inspector. Each element was shocking, so everyone fell silent for a while.
“Surely, if His Majesty is personally going, then there may be no reason to discuss this matter any further. For indeed, the Emperor is such a being.”
The 3rd Princess Solana whispered quietly.
Not just Solana.
Everyone relaxed, putting aside their concerns. The might of the Empire’s Emperor was just that significant. Even if he went to the Demon Realm alone, it was comforting.
That’s when Ilaref spoke up.
“If that answers your questions sufficiently, I would like all of you to leave now. His Majesty does not like his orders to be delayed.”
At the same time, his gaze turned toward Seina.
“Furthermore, His Majesty has declared this mission to be classified. During a covert operation, we’re to return the elder of the Blue Tower…”
As if asking if she understood, he tilted his head.
“…Elder of the Blue Tower, I hope you comprehend the intent?”
“Ah!”
Seina uttered an exclamation close to awe.
Didn’t all the mages of the Magic Tower already know that the Emperor himself was going to rescue Ezekiel?
In other words, it was an opportunity to sift through the mages infesting the Purple Magic Tower. The Magic Tower was likely playing politics, and it meant to identify the mages that were clinging to them.
“Understood!”
Seina and Agnes quickly got into action.
The Emperor was siding with Ezekiel.
Her heart began to race.
Just thinking about the betrayal of those at the Purple Magic Tower made her shudder, and now there was a chance to snatch up the mages clinging to them. It couldn’t be helped.
However, just as they left the Imperial Palace,
Seina and Agnes’ group encountered the envoys coming from the opposite direction, flauntingly. Dressed in violet robes, they were dispatched from the Purple Magic Tower.
“…!”
Seina and Agnes’s eyes widened in shock, as did the opposing side. How shocking it was to see those who shouldn’t be alive.
“…”
A peculiar silence enveloped them.
“…Ah! The elder of the Blue Tower and the secretary of the Imperial Tower!”
Suddenly, one envoy from the Purple Magic Tower made the first move.
“I was determined to save you all to the end, but you fled without a second glance! Do you know how grave the damage you’ve caused is?”
“…Huh?”
“I’ve come all the way to the Imperial Palace today to accuse you! I will inform the Princess and His Majesty about your vile truths and request execution!”
“…”
Seina and Agnes fell silent.
It was truly a loss for words.
They had anticipated that the Purple Magic Tower would engage in politics. After all, wasn’t that why they escaped from the Blue Tower and the Imperial Magic Tower?
“…”
But now that they faced this, they were genuinely dumbfounded. It was all the more sickening to see the Purple Tower denouncing the Blue and Imperial Towers as despicable.
Seina gathered her retching feelings and spoke.
“Purple Magic Tower, don’t you have a conscience? You left the Blue and Imperial Towers in the Underground Maze and then confidently came to the Imperial Palace to boast about it?”
“I don’t understand what you’re saying. You surely abandoned us… are you trying to deceive us again?”
“Hah… I can’t stand the disgust.”
Seina and Agnes ultimately couldn’t hold it in.
Agnes lifted her telekinetic energy, and Seina elongated an ice whip, just then.
Boom─! Boom─!
Suddenly, the ground began to tremble.
Boom─! Boom─!
“The ground is shaking!”
“What is…?”
“Is it an earthquake?”
Everyone was thrown into confusion, yet the loud sounds didn’t cease.
Boom─! Boom─!
Only after a while did they realize it was the sound of footsteps.
A helmet resembling a lion’s head.
And clad in full armor and a cloak, someone was walking out from the depths of the Imperial Palace. An indescribable overwhelming presence made everyone involuntarily swallow dryly.
Then they noticed something strange.
The helmet only imitated the upper part of a lion’s head, which meant that the lower jaw was exposed and visible.
Yet the area where the jaw should be was completely empty.
As if a ghost was inhabiting the armor.
“What is this? A sophisticated telekinesis?”
“What is that…?”
As the envoys from the Purple Magic Tower pondered those questions,
Crack─!
The space twisted, and in an instant, it swallowed the envoys.
The sound of bones shattering, the sound of flesh being minced. That was the end of it. Without even a scrap of clothing or a corpse left, the envoys simply vanished.
“…”
The two women were left speechless by the transcendent scene.
At that moment, when they were so shaken they couldn’t act,
“You will gather the sins of the Purple Magic Tower.”
The armored figure muttered through the lion helmet.
“Upon returning from the Demon Realm, immediate punishment shall be delivered.”
And in the next moment, it vanished without a trace, leaving Agnes and Seina to exhale heavily and flop down to their knees.
Words wouldn’t come out. Their thoughts seemed to stop.
For the first time, they witnessed the Emperor.
…That overwhelming strength left them trembling.
*
In the Demon Realm’s city, Atra.
“How is it? Atra, isn’t it a beautiful city?”
Akshne, walking with her arms linked with Ezekiel, said. Interestingly, even while her gaze was solely on Ezekiel, she walked without wavering.
“Think of it as your own body and explore every corner. If there’s a spot you like, feel free to touch it. You’re now my husband and lord, after all. Hehehe… I’m so happy.”
As she said this, Akshne repeatedly rubbed Ezekiel’s arms against her bosom.
“…Can’t you keep your arms still?”
“I’m sorry. My body just keeps yearning. Ah, honestly, I want to embrace you right now. I’ve never felt Atra so vast before…”
The population of Atra exceeded imagination.
Despite the numerous demons strolling down the streets, Akshne showed no concern for others’ gazes and behaved in what could only be described as an affectionate manner.
“I’ve solely thought of you while cultivating myself and this city. What do you think? Do you like it?”
The level of development in the city was outstanding.
‘Comparable to the Imperial Capital.’
Ezekiel dared to think.
Both in terms of population and the size and cleanliness of the buildings. It was an exceptionally wonderful city, with differences only in the artistic aspect of beautifying its exterior.
“It’s even more beautiful compared to the city of Han-shin next door. That guy has such peculiar tastes; he only captures humans to work as slaves. No matter what he builds, it’s said that it must be mixed with human blood to have its own flavor…?”
That city must be destroyed, Ezekiel thought.
The very existence of such a malicious city was disgusting. He would gather information from the Demon Realm while simultaneously planning to topple Han-shin’s city. He added one more goal in his heart.
Then, in an instant, something caught his eye.
“…Is that, perhaps, a Dimensional Gate?”
Ezekiel’s gaze turned toward a gigantic, round structure. It was the biggest building in the city.
“You recognize it at a glance? That’s right. It’s a Dimensional Gate. Unlike teleportation magic circles, it won’t break down no matter how many times you use it. I arranged it.”
“…What?”
Technology and size.
Ezekiel was astonished by both.
First of all, it was absurdly enormous. Even an army marching in formation could enter all at once.
‘And it’s not one-time use?’
The biggest flaw of teleportation magic was the consumables involved. But saying it was both massive and reusable was indeed a remarkable feat.
“Just when did the Demon Realm…?”
“I’m glad you’re so surprised. It feels as if my efforts are being acknowledged. Atra, the fruit of our love, must grow to become the capital of the Demon Realm in the future. I intend to decorate it even more!”
Akshne smiled alluringly.
The more Ezekiel explored the interior of Atra, the deeper her smile seemed to grow. She was confident that Ezekiel would inevitably grow fond of this city.
Of course, the level of technology and development was astounding…
But Ezekiel was lost in other thoughts.
‘This city, perhaps, can be used splendidly.’
With a Dimensional Gate, traveling across the continent becomes feasible, and he could potentially extract information and resources from the Demon Realm rapidly.
Doing so would surely be a great aid.
It was something only Ezekiel could accomplish. He was both a human and had attained the rank of ruler within the Demon Realm.
“Husband, husband. I’m so happy… Haa….”
Every step, Akshne occasionally nudged against him while sighing, and he also thought about her.
‘Let’s look for ways to reform Akshne.’
Though he had come too far to turn back, perhaps he could manage some reform. Ezekiel wished that Akshne, once a princess, wouldn’t die.
However, at that moment,
Just as he had completed his tour of the Demon city Atra.
In a brief instant.
“…!”
Ezekiel distinctly sensed a certain energy.
So faint, yet undeniably felt.
And having sensed it, it was a force he could never mistake.
‘…The Emperor?’
That was definitely the energy of the Empire’s Emperor.
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