Chapter 115
Translator: penny
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: First Wedding Night(?) (9)
Brogar's form, slammed into the wall, drew silence.
"Grrrrr...."
It had targeted the center of his forehead, and it seemed to have worked perfectly.
Brogar's eyes were completely rolled back, showing only the whites. The impact to his head must have been tremendous.
A sense of dismay spread among the warriors who followed him.
"...."
In the settled silence, Zekiel withdrew his gaze from Brogar embedded in the wall and parted his lips.
He gripped a single ice spear that gleamed sharply.
"So, who wants to die first and become a teaching aid?"
"W-What just happened?"
"Brogar, with his insane durability, taken down in one hit...!"
His followers muttered hesitantly, one after another.
They shared one thing in common. All were shocked that Zekiel's level was beyond expectations. Someone even remarked that his chill was greater than the ice of the North.
Because they were so accustomed to the cold, they couldn't help but sense how profound Zekiel's ice mastery was.
Zekiel exchanged a glance with 1st Princess Ether.
It was a signal from her not to intervene.
"Come closer."
Thud.
As Zekiel took a step forward, Brogar's followers backed away instead. It was quite different from the rumors that they never lost courage even before death.
The rumors weren't entirely wrong.
Northern warriors were indeed brave, and there must be some worthy of respect. It was just that these trembling fools before Zekiel were worthless trash.
"Take the lead! Stand at the front!"
"You do it!"
"He reminds me of a snow ghost...!"
"His chill is colder than the North's. How is that possible...!"
Zekiel observed the warriors supporting Ether. Their faces showed no fear of death.
They were clearly different from the terrified followers.
'I need to clean this up.'
He had already heard the circumstances from the messenger, and these guys would surely become a source of trouble if left alive.
Shwaaaak—!
Zekiel unleashed his Freezing Magic without hesitation.
1st Princess's domain was blanketed in heavy snow. It was the perfect stage for Zekiel to rampage like a fish in water.
"Kwaaaak!"
"S-Spare me! At least my life!"
"1st Princess! Are you abandoning us like this?!"
"Brogar! Didn't you swear the plan would succeed? You said you'd gotten a way from the Demon Realm!"
However, the last one's shout made everyone freeze. Even Zekiel was no exception.
He had dared to mention the Demon Realm.
A Northern warrior colluding with the Demon Realm?
"Repeat what you just said. Is there evidence Brogar colluded with the Demon Realm? If you want to live, be honest."
As he froze the man's limbs, he pressed an ice blade under his chin.
The man shouted desperately.
"Y-Yes! Brogar said he got power from the Demon Realm, so we couldn't lose. All the followers heard it!"
"And you stood by after hearing that? Your is great too."
Colluding with Brogar who borrowed Demon Realm power without reporting it? No way he could be spared.
"Spare my life at least...!"
But the follower's words didn't finish. Zekiel's ice blade severed his neck.
Even the blood froze solid and couldn't spurt out.
Boom—!
"...!"
Something like a cannonball targeted Zekiel's side with ferocious force.
Crack—!
The power was monstrous. The ice barrier Zekiel hastily formed around his body shattered to pieces.
The identity of what flew in: none other than Brogar.
"Brogar, you sold your soul?"
"You blocked that? Inspector, your reputation is well-earned!"
"You sold your soul to demons for that pathetic power? Your strength and soul are both worthless."
Zekiel replied calmly while assessing the man's state.
A body that should have been unconscious was forcibly enduring, exuding thick demonic energy. A familiar phenomenon: power received in exchange for offering one's soul to the Demon Realm.
It was what was called demonic energy.
"Demons? Wrong. The goddess who took my soul is human.... She called herself the supreme virgin. She said she gathers souls only for one man!"
"If you're going to spout nonsense, just... ."
Just die.
Zekiel, about to say that, paused.
Because the story was a bit unusual.
'Could this be useful for a deal with His Imperial Majesty?'
He had come just to handle 1st Princess's matter, but there was a guy colluding with the Demon Realm, and he was spilling rare information.
'A human-born executive in the Demon Realm?'
A human-born executive called a goddess. No matter how he thought about it, it was premium intel. If he brought it to the audience chamber, His Imperial Majesty might value it highly.
Zekiel soon smiled in satisfaction.
"Looks like I owe you thanks."
"What?"
"Your life is useless, but the info is good."
Zekiel immediately drew up his chill.
Swish!
Six ice spears formed rapidly above his shoulders. Formation and launch were nearly simultaneous. The blades, tracing various paths, collided with the man's body.
Kagagagang—!
Even though he struck swiftly, the demonic energy was considerable. A pitch-black barrier blocked the ice spears well.
'That goddess must be no ordinary figure.'
He didn't know her exact identity, but the goddess who lent power to Brogar wasn't some low executive.
He could tell from the intensely thick demonic energy. Just a fraction of her power was this much, so she must be extremely powerful.
However.
Brogar, who received only a portion, was easy prey.
Still, victory was overwhelmingly Zekiel's.
'Show me.'
Infusing chill into his retinas, his vision tinted blue, clearly revealing the weak point in the demonic energy roughly cloaking Brogar's body.
He formed an ice spike and targeted that exact spot.
Pfoook—!
The area was narrow, but it pierced cleanly.
The spot was between the eyes.
"H-Huh...!"
The demonic energy scattered pathetically in an instant.
It should have been instant death, but perhaps because he had already sold his soul. Brogar didn't die and widened his eyes.
He had offered his soul to a prominent goddess in the Demon Realm and gained power. It must be hard to accept defeat.
Zekiel could fully sense the man's resentment. His expression showed it.
Full of doubt, the man spoke.
"Why, wh-y did you... a mere Inspector... ."
"Shut up."
Slice—
That was the moment Zekiel's blade took his head.
From the severed neck, something like black energy rose eerily and whispered to Zekiel.
"He's my man. I'll come get him soon?"
"You have to wait obediently!"
"...?"
A sense of unease made him check the enemy again, but Brogar's breath had already fully stopped.
Looking around, it seemed the voice was only for him. Everyone else had puzzled expressions wondering why Zekiel had frozen.
'...My man?'
No, he shook his head for now.
Brogar's followers were still alive and kicking, so it wasn't time for other thoughts.
"Running won't help."
Zekiel said that and unleashed ice.
Now, the extermination of the pests infesting the North was at hand.
In 1st Princess's domain, a grand drinking party was in full swing.
The deaths of former comrades were sad, but the bright future of the North was good news. And hadn't they gained Zekiel as an ally too?
"Drink up! Drink!"
"A great nobleman is with us!"
"As expected of 1st Princess's eye! A true warrior!"
Sounds of clinking glasses, boisterous chatter, and clattering dishes overflowed. The atmosphere was vibrantly cheerful. It was a truly festive day for them.
Perhaps thanks to Zekiel's specialty being Freezing Magic.
"Inspector! Show us your ice once!"
"Ice so beautiful! It's blinding!"
"Ooh! Ice! Ice!"
"He's not Inspector anymore. What should we call him.... Since he's 1st Princess's man, he's our leader too!"
Zekiel's popularity was skyrocketing.
Immense power, ice colder than the North, the one who captured 1st Princess's heart.... From the Northern warriors' perspective, Zekiel was a perfect storm of irresistible traits.
Of course, Zekiel himself wasn't purely enjoying it.
'First, I've finished the 1st Princess matter promised to His Imperial Majesty.'
Now remained neutralizing and consuming the Sun Sap, and handling the five checks. It felt like barely crossing one mountain only to face two more massive ones.
"...."
After that, he gulped down drinks nonstop for a while.
What should he do?
No, it wasn't about what to do.
To take the Sun Sap, he had no choice but to share a bed with 1st Princess. He'd handle the aftermath later; for survival, it was unavoidable.
Gulp gulp gulp—
One glass.
Two glasses.
After that, he lost count.
By the time Zekiel's face was fully flushed. 1st Princess, who had approached unnoticed, draped her arm over his shoulder.
Leaning down and pressing with her chest, she whispered seductively.
"Teacher, shouldn't we go take the Sun Sap?"
Normally, he would have bolted from his seat.
However.
Was it the desire to live, the alcohol, or some long-suppressed male urge?
"...Yeah. Got it."
Finally, the man nodded calmly.
His composure even surprised 1st Princess.
But Zekiel sensed it.
Now, there was no escaping it.