In a certain forest of the continent.
Woo-ooh-ooh-ooh—!
With an incredible energy, space began to warp. Soon, part of the sky split open as if sliced by a sword, and something began pouring out of the gap.
“Uwaaaah!”
“Hold on tight!”
Kung—!
What was pouring out was none other than humans. They seemed to have fallen from a considerable height, and just looking at them didn’t suggest they were in great shape.
But why?
Every one of their faces was filled with nothing but smiles.
“Continent—! Finally, it’s the continent—!”
One of those who fell began wildly kissing the ground. From a normal person’s perspective, it could look like they had lost their mind.
However, no one thought it was strange. Instead, everyone was celebrating with a similar feeling.
“Finally back, finally…!”
“Slave life is over! Just thinking about seeing my family makes me want to go crazy!”
Their identities were those of slaves who had been forcibly taken to the Demon Realm for labor. Now they were finally returning to the continent through the dimensional gate.
Woo-ooh-ooh-ooh—!
After that, humans continued to fall periodically, chatting away in a warm atmosphere.
“…How did you end up getting captured?”
“They said there was a good job. They’d buy expensive drinks, so we should work hard together starting tomorrow. But after drinking, I came to my senses in the Demon Realm.”
“Those trash! Using others’ desperate hearts for their own gain, those damned fools!”
Since the place they fell was a clearing in a forest on the continent, they all seemed to set up tents and prepare to head toward the empire.
Woo-ooh-ooh—!
“Ugh! I’m falling!”
Thud—!
That was a quite rational judgment.
Traveling to the empire with a small group was dangerous, and people were falling from the low sky regularly. The idea was to gather enough people before setting out.
Compared to forced labor, building a residence and cooking was incredibly easy. Everyone was working hard with cheerful hearts, focused on their survival.
“By the way, did you hear that saying?”
“What saying?”
“Don’t forget that it was the Ice Ghost who saved you… The demon woman was stressing that so much!”
“Oh, that saying? I’ve heard it a countless times!”
“Me too!”
Everyone became excited and joined the conversation.
It was puzzling that a terrifying demon woman had saved them, and all they heard in return was to spread the word that Ice Ghost had rescued them.
It was truly a curious and intriguing matter.
“But, who exactly is Ice Ghost?”
“I think they were talking about the Imperial Tower’s Inspector.”
“What?”
“The Imperial Tower Inspector! Ever since that last Exchange Meeting, it seems the name Ice Ghost has been spreading more and more.”
Everyone stopped shoveling food into their mouths. They had unknowingly been immersed in conversation.
“Why is the Inspector being mentioned all of a sudden?”
“There’s a witness to that.”
Suddenly, everyone’s gaze focused on someone.
Though they all worked in different cities, there were those among them who had been saved from Han-shin’s City—the ones who had Intuition about Ezekiel.
“I was mindlessly getting whipped…”
He cautiously began to speak.
“It was the work of Han-shin, the Demon God of Regret. But the Inspector from the Imperial Tower smashed him. He even asked about my safety and rescued me.”
“So we were saved by a demon woman? What kind of relationship do the Inspector and the demon woman have?”
“Hey! Are you really that clueless?”
A man clicked his tongue.
“You heard that the Inspector took down Han-shin, right? It means he’s stronger than the demon women who saved you!”
“Um… I guess that makes sense?”
“The Inspector must be manipulating her like a puppet. He must have ordered her to rescue you.”
“No way…! If that’s really true…”
Someone came to a realization that someone had come to the Demon Realm, fearless of battle, and even had the gall to control demons to save humans. Could there be a better tale of heroism?
The man spoke with newfound confidence.
“It can’t be anything but true. You know the Ruiple region, right?”
“Of course! The area that got people in trouble with fiends!”
“That place was in a crisis, but thanks to the Inspector, we were saved. If you visit, you’ll only hear stories about the Inspector.”
“Wow… I never thought such a Righteous One existed among Mages.”
In fact, Mages weren’t particularly welcomed among the powerless citizens of the empire.
Unlike commoners, they could wield magic, giving them a high status, and they often used that power to harass the citizens in various ways. They were a thorn in their sides.
Thus, it was impossible not to be surprised by the story about Ezekiel. To think someone so virtuous existed.
“Come to think of it, I heard rumors that the Imperial Tower has completely regained its former glory. Apparently, they’re punishing all the bad Mages who harassed the citizens.”
“After experiencing it firsthand, it doesn’t seem like a lie…”
As they talked, they suddenly realized how extraordinary Ezekiel was. The tales of his achievements were all quite remarkable.
“How did such a talent appear in the Imperial Tower?”
“I think I’ll have to support the Imperial Tower.”
“Support?”
“If you live in the jurisdiction of a magic tower, they naturally demand support just like taxes, right? From now on, it might as well be for the Imperial Tower. At least such an honest Mage will use my donations wisely.”
“…That makes sense. I’m tempted too. Donations to the Imperial Tower are going to skyrocket.”
Everyone quietly nodded in agreement.
Some listened with interest, some were surprised, and others were astonished.
However, there was one thing they could understand clearly: the balance in the political landscape among the magic towers on the continent was definitely shifting.
The good deeds would spread frantically, and the Imperial Tower, receiving tremendous support, would grow even stronger.
Right now it was just the ruckus of those gathered here, but what would happen in a few months? It was hard to even imagine what immense results would arise.
“I hope the Imperial Tower gains even more power.”
“Why? Is there another reason?”
“I live in the jurisdiction of the Purple Magic Tower… To be honest, the staff there are quite terrible. They demand unreasonable amounts of donations.”
“Can’t you move?”
“They won’t allow it. If I want to leave the jurisdiction of the Purple Tower, I’d have to pay an absurd amount of gold coins.”
“…Those guys? I’ve never experienced anything like that living in the jurisdiction of the Blue Tower. Isn’t it about time the Imperial Tower intervened?”
Just then, in the midst of their busy chatter.
Hiiiiing—!
Suddenly, three horses arrived. Each carried three incredibly different women.
“Uh…”
One of the men dropped his dinner bowl.
“Uh…?”
The others reacted similarly.
“Princess, Your Highness?”
“How did the Princess end up here…!”
“Is this another form of salvation?”
“First, let’s maintain our manners!”
Immediately casting aside their bowls, they quickly prostrated themselves, bowing their heads. The status of the women revealed was that significant.
1st Princess, 2nd Princess, 3rd Princess.
The three princesses had arrived at the same time.
3rd Princess Solana smiled kindly and said, “Everyone, you can now rest easy. The Sun God has guided me here to rescue you. Please prioritize stability over manners for now.”
“An angel…!”
“The angel has descended…! Salvation…!”
As Solana skillfully calmed the people, Ether and Hedera watched the sky intently.
“2nd Princess, what do you see?”
At the question from 1st Princess Ether, Hedera quietly closed her eyes in concentration. At the same time, her sensitivity to energy as a Dragon’s Blood user spread out everywhere.
“What we felt is not wrong. It’s certain. The dimensional gate from the Demon Realm is connected to this place.”
“That means…”
“Yup.”
A little while later,
Hedera revealed her vertically slit eyes.
“…This dimensional passageway, we can use it in reverse.”
In the Demon Realm, Han-shin’s City.
Kwaaaang—!
There was a massive explosion all around the city.
“Stop right there!”
“I was expecting Ice Ghost, but is running away all you can do?”
The prowess of the demons was indeed tremendous. Even though they were attacking with some difficulty, they were doing just that.
Each of their casual movements caused destruction throughout the city; they didn’t even seem like living beings, but rather constructs of condensed mana.
However, Ezekiel remained quiet, focusing solely on evasion.
’This is a gain. The city being destroyed is in the Demon Realm.’
Kwaaaang—!
Ezekiel deliberately led the demons’ attacks toward significant buildings to ensure they were completely obliterated.
The Demon Lord and the demons came looking for Ezekiel, trying to bribe him with all kinds of treasures.
Ezekiel rejected them outright…
“Not stopping? Should I blow this city to pieces along with you?”
“If I capture you, it’s off with your ankles.”
And this was the result.
The demons coordinated perfectly and were rampaging to capture Ezekiel.
Chwaaaaang—!
Ezekiel gracefully unfolded an ice path and continued to evade, but it didn’t take long for him to reach his limit.
“I didn’t want to get involved, but…”
Suddenly, the voice of the Demon Lord rang out.
Kwaaaang—!
Simultaneously, black explosions erupted across the entire area.
“Guh…!”
It was beyond the range of avoidable attacks; Ezekiel lost his center and crashed to the ground.
Like the numbers on a clock, the demons quickly closed in around Ezekiel.
“Finally, you’ve fallen.”
“Was running away enjoyable? Ice Ghost.”
“Why did Han-shin fall to such a nobody…?”
Completely surrounded, the Demon Lord spoke.
“Ice Ghost, how wonderful it would have been if you had decided to remain in the Demon Realm after receiving the treasures? It’s truly heartbreaking that you made me resort to such a crude method.”
In the midst of this, a demon reported.
“Your Lordship.”
“Speak.”
“…All the human slaves from other cities have vanished without a trace; it seems that the Goddess is orchestrating something. What should we do?”
“I had wanted to let them live, but I guess this is how it ended up.”
Velleta softly gestured.
“I command execution. Send three demons to slice the Goddess into pieces.”
Ezekiel’s mind flashed with one important thought.
’No. Arcne is in danger.’
A decision was made quickly. If the demons were to leave this place, Arcne’s life would be in jeopardy.
Just then, Velleta gestured again.
“Immediately sever Ice Ghost’s limbs and keep the body while leaving only the torso.”
“Understood.”
Simultaneously, every demon summoned their mana, clearly intending to team up.
Ezekiel raised his chill and suddenly understood he was out of his depth. No matter how much stronger he became, facing so many opponents at once was impossible.
Kuung—!
Finally, the demons began charging toward Ezekiel from their positions. Their intent was clearly to destroy his body while leaving his life barely hanging on.
But here, he couldn’t afford to die.
Neither could he let the demons reach Arcne.
Ezekiel’s hand moved into his robe. His nail lightly broke the orb he had received on that fateful day.
Whooooosh—!
In an instant, the atmosphere rippled.
Paaah—!
With a tremendous cracking sound, no attack reached Ezekiel. An even greater force blocked the demons’ onslaught at once.
Of course…
The one who had intercepted this incredible collaborative attack seemed to have had no intention of doing so.
Whooooosh—!
As the mist cleared, a middle-aged figure emerged, causing the demons’ eyes to widen in surprise.
“…Is that…?”
“Is that the Emperor?”
As everyone exclaimed in shock, the summoned individual merely turned to look.
“Ezekiel.”
Finally, the Emperor asked.
“What is all this?”
Ezekiel slowly averted his gaze.
“…It’s the Demon Lord and his demons.”
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