The mage couldn’t quite believe Ezekiel’s story.
“…So you’re saying that the Inspector of the Imperial Tower was involved in more than half the design of the Spirit Trap?”
“That’s correct.”
Even with his face completely covered, it was clear that the mage was quite confused.
“I’m sorry, Inspector. It’s just hard to believe.”
“Well, I understand.”
“I’m not doubting the Inspector’s abilities. It’s just that the 5th Princess working with someone? I can’t picture that at all.”
The mage’s response had a point.
The 5th Princess was born reserved, and her aversion to interacting with others was extreme. She practically had a phobia when it came to human relationships.
So, of course, it would be hard to believe that the 5th Princess had partnered with Ezekiel to create the Spirit Trap.
Ezekiel didn’t make any effort to explain himself. He simply decided to point out another matter sharply.
“So, is there any progress on repairing the Spirit Trap? I assume all you’ve been doing is just watching and pacing back and forth.”
“…Yes.”
“Are you holding on just because you want to take responsibility for protecting the Empire by somehow repairing the Spirit Trap? If that’s the case, then make a wise judgment.”
Ezekiel crossed his arms and said.
“Either watch the Spirit Trap collapse or throw down a gamble to see if it can be fixed.”
The mage nodded. After a moment of silence, he nodded again.
“Certainly, there’s nothing wrong with what you said.”
In the end, he made a somewhat half-hearted judgment.
“You may enter. Please look for Ophelia. She is currently in charge of the Spirit Trap’s repairs. However…”
The mage tilted his head slightly.
“I’m not sure if Ophelia will welcome you. No, to be precise, she is likely to oppose anyone trying to touch the Spirit Trap.”
“Why would she oppose? She needs help desperately.”
“Not at the moment. Ophelia is rather suggesting abandoning the repairs of the Spirit Trap and bringing in the army instead.”
Now it was the turn of Ezekiel and his companions to tilt their heads. It did not make sense by any common sense.
Ezekiel bit down on a piece of Sunweed and asked.
“Isn’t she the one who valued the Spirit Trap above all else and stayed here? And now she’s advocating for its destruction? That’s a bit contradictory.”
“That’s… it’s better to say she’s changed now. In fact, many have come before you claiming they would fix the Spirit Trap.”
The mage let out a heavy sigh.
“All of them were just empty barrels making noise. There was no substance, and they only made various demands. And it didn’t help that the 4th Princess made a promise…”
Now, it was a story that Ezekiel couldn’t afford to miss.
“The 4th Princess’s promise?”
“The 4th Princess has been aware for quite some time that the 5th Princess was suspicious of the Spirit Trap, and she publicly declared she would offer an enormous reward to anyone who succeeded in repairing it.”
“An enormous reward?”
“Yes. There was a time when various people flocked here like clouds, claiming they would help repair the Spirit Trap, and Ophelia had a hard time during that time.”
Ezekiel nodded, understanding. It meant that upon succeeding in repairing the Spirit Trap, they could receive the vast reward promised by the 4th Princess, but he wasn’t overly concerned about that right now.
The safety of the 5th Princess and maintaining the Spirit Trap for the Empire’s security was all that mattered to him at the moment.
“I need to see Ophelia right away.”
“You can go all the way into the deepest tent.”
“Okay.”
Ezekiel and his group moved through countless tents, heading toward the innermost one. Soon, they could see the largest tent in sight.
Ezekiel stood at the entrance and asked.
“Is the repairer Ophelia inside?”
“Who are you? I’ve never heard that voice before.”
A moment later, Ophelia appeared, pushing the tent’s entrance aside. Surprisingly, she showed her face, her long bangs obscuring her eyes.
Ophelia tilted her head.
“…An outsider? You shouldn’t have been able to enter.”
Ezekiel immediately showed her the Emperor’s official document.
“This is the Emperor’s decree. I want to look at the condition of the Spirit Trap.”
“Ugh…”
Ophelia waved her hands dismissively.
“Just go back.”
“It wouldn’t be permissible to dismiss someone with an imperial order.”
“While it’s true you’ve received the Emperor’s orders, the content states the arrest of the 5th Princess. She is currently not here. Please leave.”
“… arrest or not, shouldn’t we repair the Spirit Trap? It’s our only means to block the Demon Realm’s invasion.”
“I initially wanted to, but now I know it’s impossible. I’ve given up.”
Ezekiel narrowed his eyes.
“Given up?”
“Do you know how many mages claiming to have learned about barriers came here? There were so many I couldn’t even count them, yet not a single one managed to fix even a part of the thousands of barriers in the Spirit Trap.”
Ophelia shivered, her teeth likely grinding at the thought.
“Because the 4th Princess is offering a tremendous reward, the situation has become even more severe. We had plenty of con artists coming too. They demanded repairs upfront, ‘just about to succeed,’ or asked for elixirs…”
Then she shrugged her shoulders.
“Looking back now, they were all scoundrels. We had no choice but to comply with their demands out of desperation, and all our wealth was siphoned away.”
“We’re not here to take the reward.”
“…Ah, yes. That’s true. So who are you?”
The question was directed at Ezekiel, but Agnes stepped forward, seeming to take her duty as the secretary seriously.
“This is the Inspector of the Imperial Tower, Ezekiel. He will undoubtedly be of help regarding the current situation of the Spirit Trap.”
“…Ezekiel? Your name is Ezekiel, right?”
It seemed Ophelia had many thoughts racing through her mind, as she stroked her chin. After a moment, she spoke in a somewhat ambiguous tone toward the group.
“Did the mage at the entrance show you a purification orb?”
“We were on our way here after reporting.”
“Then you must already know. If Lord Ezekiel is here, the collapse of the Spirit Trap will accelerate.”
“Yeah.”
“Alright. I’ll show you the condition of the Spirit Trap.”
Ophelia suddenly changed her attitude. Agnes blinked a couple of times at the change.
“What is this? That change in attitude?”
“I actually think it’s better for the Spirit Trap to collapse.”
“Do you realize that’s a treasonous statement? It sounds like you don’t want the peace of the Empire.”
“No? I say that because I want peace for the Empire!”
Ophelia shouted with a serious tone, making it clear she was innocent.
“Anyway, since the Spirit Trap can’t be repaired, it’s bound to collapse. Because of the current ambiguity, the Imperial Family isn’t sending any support. Thus, it’s better to destroy it completely! For support!”
Suddenly, the 5th Princess had vanished, leaving Ophelia to bear the burden as the overseer of the Spirit Trap.
Her voice was filled with frustration.
Ophelia sighed deeply.
“…I’m sorry for yelling at you distinguished guests. Regardless, this isn’t a bad exchange. The Inspector can inspect the Spirit Trap’s condition, and I’m glad it will collapse faster.”
“Your intentions don’t matter. Hurry it up.”
Ezekiel urged Ophelia with a nod.
There must have been a process for her to come to such a conclusion. It didn’t really matter. The priority was to repair the Spirit Trap.
The four of them advanced deeper and soon reached a vast open area.
The field was so expansive that neither the start nor the end could be seen, yet surprisingly, a green curtain remained steadfastly retaining the barrier’s form.
This was indeed the Spirit Trap, the masterpiece of the 5th Princess.
Ophelia pointed at a section of the Spirit Trap.
“If you look here, this part is a different color.”
The green curtain had countless outlines in a puzzle shape, and it was understandable since it was originally made up of thousands of barriers.
The part that Ophelia’s finger pointed to was not green but purple, clearly in bad shape.
“Wait a moment.”
Ezekiel placed his hand on that part. Ophelia shook her head in disbelief.
“I’ve seen this sight countless times…”
“Shut your mouth. I need to concentrate.”
Ophelia glared at Ezekiel as if this was pointless and rolled her eyes.
‘This part is exactly where I was involved.’
Half of the Spirit Trap was made by Ezekiel and half by the 5th Princess Neo. Luckily, the piece that was crumbling now was the one Ezekiel was responsible for.
How strange.
Just by placing his hand on a fragment of the Spirit Trap, memories related to that fragment arose in his mind.
─Teacher.
─This part, it just won’t work.
─You should do it this way.
Whoooosh—
Ezekiel seamlessly infused his energy into it. The purple color began to shimmer and slowly regained its green hue.
“…Huh?”
Ophelia, having just shown disinterest, was now clearly taken aback.
It had been so long since she saw the Spirit Trap react! No, it was the first time ever.
Before long, Ezekiel withdrew his hand, leaving the fragment that had turned from purple back to green.
“…”
Ophelia immediately inspected that area.
Without a doubt, it had completely returned to normal, fulfilling its role as a barrier. Ophelia felt an incredibly strange feeling.
Could it be that repairing the Spirit Trap was genuinely a possibility? Just when she was deeply stunned.
─I knew it would end up like this.
A translucent figure of the 5th Princess appeared in the air. She looked down at Ezekiel and his group with an indifferent gaze.
─Seeing this projection means you’ve touched a part of the Spirit Trap. Just as I expected.
“5th Princess? You left behind such a device?”
Ophelia gasped in shock.
Naturally, she could never have seen it before. No one had succeeded in repairing the Spirit Trap.
The 5th Princess’s continued message followed.
─I will now spread the news that Ezekiel has successfully repaired part of the Spirit Trap across the continent. Countless people will flock here like clouds.
With a slight curve of her lips, the woman concluded:
─Give it a try. You must succeed; otherwise, you will die with everyone who comes.
With those words, the projection completely dispersed.
“…”
Ezekiel and his companions were left speechless for a while.
It was only natural, as this was the moment it was practically confirmed that the 5th Princess had betrayed the Empire.
So she deliberately aimed to draw as many people here as possible? It was madness. Was she trying to create as many victims as possible?
It was incomprehensible.
Why?
What was she dissatisfied with?
What did she want?
The shock was immense, and their tasks became even clearer.
Ezekiel turned to Ophelia and said.
“…First, let’s speed up the repairs. Quickly.”
Ophelia nodded vigorously.
She then began walking briskly to guide Ezekiel and his group, the first time she had ever taken someone this deep.
At long last.
They reached a part of the Spirit Trap where there were far more purple than green pieces, revealing the serious state of it.
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