Chapter 114
Translator: penny
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Wedding First Night(?) (8)
“Zekiel.”
“Zekiel?”
“Zekiel!”
Zekiel only snapped out of it after his name had been called more than three times. He'd been spacing out.
When he came to, the 1st Princess's herald was standing right beside him.
“...Zekiel, are you all right?”
The herald assumed Zekiel was dazed because he'd made an unreasonable demand, but the real demon tormenting Zekiel was something else entirely.
Checks.
Yes, the checks—now five of them. That was the culprit.
Not just one, but a whopping five. Five checks.
...Why didn't I think of that?
It had started as a simple thought toward the end of his deal with His Imperial Majesty. What if the checks multiplied to five? Wouldn't everyone be happy?
He'd quickly realized it was a shallow idea.
—Five? That means five times the time together.
—Inspector, you'll write them all for me, right?
—Five times the time? I'm thrilled.
The three princesses' whispers already echoed in his ears like hallucinations. It wasn't hard to imagine. Given their personalities, they'd probably demand all five.
They said shock could blank your mind.
It wasn't wrong. Zekiel's head was a blank slate.
“This is...?”
Meanwhile, the herald had just noticed the mountain of elixirs Zekiel had piled up and was staring in shock.
“You said you visited the audience chamber, but did you really get all this from His Imperial Majesty?”
His mouth fell open wide.
“I figured your value as the Inspector would skyrocket soon enough... but I didn't expect it to happen this fast. If it's already this much, then later on...!”
The herald kept marveling on and on, but none of it registered with Zekiel.
He was still wrestling with his check-related woes.
“Five... five checks...”
The herald latched onto Zekiel's mutter.
“Five...? Ah, my reward wasn't enough!”
The herald nodded with grim resolve.
“I don't know what five you're talking about, but I'll prepare compensation to match. So please, just this once, help us...!”
The herald bowed low.
“The North has had all sorts of problems brewing for a while now, but they're such delicate issues that even the 1st Princess couldn't step in directly.”
His voice was thick with desperation.
“You're the only one I can think of who could break this deadlock... Inspector Zekiel! Please!”
1 second.
30 seconds.
1 minute.
And then 5 minutes passed.
“...”
Trembling on the floor, the herald thought to himself.
Of course. The demand was too much. He hadn't prepared proper compensation, so there was no way he'd agree.
Just as tears welled up in his eyes while he stayed bowed...
“Let's go.”
Zekiel murmured.
“...Pardon?”
The herald looked up in disbelief.
But Zekiel nodded quietly at him.
“Gotta do what needs doing.”
Zekiel took the lead, with the herald following behind.
“Inspector, really... really...! Thank you...!”
As he walked, Zekiel thought quietly.
First, I'll consume the Sun Water for sure, then figure things out.
Yes, handle that first and think later. He'd already promised His Imperial Majesty about the 1st Princess's matter, so the checks could wait.
“Inspector! S-Sob...! How can I ever repay this kindness...!”
Of course, the herald had no idea.
The 1st Princess's domain.
Tension hung thick in the air on all sides.
Like a line drawn in the sand, the warriors split to either side.
Centered around Warrior Brolka were those who fully supported the 1st Princess's will, while those following Warrior Brogar sought to test the Inspector.
“I never imagined we'd be this divided.”
“I didn't know you all thought that way.”
“Traitors!”
“You're the traitors!”
It was a deeply significant sight.
There were many warriors guarding the North, but if their opinions were split and they couldn't unite, they could never leverage their numbers as a strength.
In simple terms, they'd never truly united before—only the 1st Princess's power alone had kept them in line.
The problem of her absence was now glaringly obvious.
Right then.
Thud—thud—
The 1st Princess, Ether, made her appearance.
She eyed the split warriors for a moment, then that was it. A long silence followed.
All the warriors waited breathlessly for her response. Only when their necks might snap from craning did she finally speak.
“To be frank.”
Ether spoke in a flat tone.
“I've always been proud of the North's warriors... ”
She shook her head slowly.
“But today, I see just how pathetic you are.”
The warriors' faces split in reaction.
No one prized their pride as much as the North's warriors, and this was outright scorn.
“No need to look at me so shocked. You all know it yourselves, don't you?”
Ether gestured at them with her chin.
“Look at yourselves, standing divided like that.”
“...”
All fell silent.
They'd overcome brutal cold and beasts because they'd united as one. But now? They opposed each other pitifully.
“Securing trusty comrades before battle is basic of basics. Yet today, I see even the warriors can't manage that.”
Ether smiled pityingly.
Brogar's faction naturally bristled at the mockery but couldn't lash out.
They had no choice.
Brogar's side was what caused the rift. They'd seized on the confusion over Ether's interest in the man to force this confrontation.
“I've given the North my full trust all this time, I thought. Always at the front lines, taking on the strongest foes... or so it was.”
Ether's expression hardened.
“One question for you Northern warriors.”
The princess slowly scanned them all.
“Who is it that still doesn't trust me, causing this absurd split? I'm curious.”
Naturally, eyes turned.
No one spoke, but all gazes pointed to one warrior.
Brogar. He took every stare.
“Hmph.”
Brogar scowled.
But he said nothing. For obvious reasons.
I can't very well say it myself.
Admit he wanted the 1st Princess and resented some punk stealing her?
No way.
Ether stared steadily at Brogar.
“Ah, Brogar. It was you.”
The princess smirked faintly.
“Forgot the pain of losing your eye after demanding marriage from me? You know my strength full well, yet you presume to lecture me. Pathetic.”
“Cut the nonsense, 1st Princess!”
Brogar's voice boomed, pierced to the core.
“You should realize you're the one who caused this infighting from the start!”
He twisted his face and continued.
“Ditching your Northern duties for a cozy marriage? That's why this happened, irresponsible leader!”
“Brogar. Then let me ask one thing.”
Ether murmured lowly.
“Do you plan to ride my coattails forever?”
“You... ”
“Can't do a thing without me, won't even try... Is that a warrior? All bravado, but so dependent in truth.”
“...”
Brogar's face contorted.
Ether had nailed the core issue.
Warriors like Brogar, who lusted after the 1st Princess herself, had stopped thinking for themselves long ago. She was their goal.
Her body, mind, strength... they wanted it all.
Ether chuckled lightly and pressed on.
“'For the North' sounds so noble. But Brogar, if you truly cared, you wouldn't blame me. You should've forged the North yourself.”
“Enough sophistry! You chose a worthless man, so your tongue wags to cover it up!”
Brogar didn't back down easily.
He had nowhere left to retreat anyway.
“Worthless man...”
Ether crossed her arms.
“I've finally found the mold rotting the North. Even this proves your judgment is worthless.”
“...What?”
“Why did this happen? Why did I let it, knowing it would? Do you know?”
Ether addressed all the warriors.
But no one answered. Those who guessed dared not speak; the ignorant couldn't.
“A simple reason.”
Ether fixed on Brogar.
“To weed out weak warriors. Like you, Brogar—a pathetic piece of trash.”
“...!”
Brogar's eyes bulged.
“All muscle, but soft and childish inside. No clue of the opponent's strength, no sense of place, no idea how to act.”
Ether clicked her tongue.
“The North has a future only if trash like you vanishes.”
“1st Princess!”
Brogar shouted, but she cut in.
“Warrior Brogar, can you prove it? That your demand for a test fight holds water.”
“Prove...”
Brogar had planned to bellow, “Proof? Easy. Just win.”
But he caught the key point and shut up.
...Proof was for the inferior side, right?
In other words, Ether was convinced to her bones that the Inspector would beat Brogar.
That enraged him.
“1st Princess—!”
Brogar yelled, veins bulging in his neck.
“...With that attitude, even if I kill the Inspector mid-fight, you'll have to accept it!”
Ether snorted in disbelief.
“The North respects every warrior's will.”
“...”
“Even if you choose suicide, I can't stop you.”
“Huh?”
Brogar burst into hollow laughter.
“Ha... hahaha! Haha! Hahahaha!”
Utter absurdity.
“Hahaha! Hahahaha—! How ridiculous do you think I am?!”
Brogar twisted his face demonically.
“I've fought Northern beasts—would I fear some pompous Inspector fraud? If the Imperial Tower loses him today, it's your provocation's fault!”
But then.
Crack—!
Blue flames sparked from Brogar's forehead. No—dazzlingly bright ice.
“Guhk?!”
Brogar rolled hard across the ground.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
He tumbled, tumbled noisily again, flew to the wall, and slammed in spectacularly. A massive muscle lump embedded in the barrier.
“Grrrr...!”
Before Brogar could recover.
No one had noticed, but a man perched atop the wall. His glowing blue eyes gave him away.
Zekiel. It was him.
“Inspector! It's the Inspector!”
Someone shouted, and Zekiel leaped gracefully from the high wall, landing soundlessly like a shadow slipping in.
“You dared question my worth.”
Zekiel barked coldly.
“I permit it. Northern warriors, no fear for your pride. Fight to win by any means, no holds barred.”
Then he drove it home.
“All you arrogant fools—even if you charge at once, it's fine. I'll handle you properly.”
“...!”
Pure confidence in taking on a horde alone.
As shock spread over Brogar's followers' faces...
“That the 1st Princess's choice was right.”
The man conjured a long ice spear and floated it.
“Today, I'll prove it with the lives of you dullards.”