Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: 2nd Princess, Hedera (2)
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Current time: 7:50 PM.
"This is the Magic Tower's training ground."
The empire's 2nd Princess, Hedera, was due to visit the Magic Tower soon.
Zekiel had headed straight to the training ground under Anes's guidance upon hearing the news. Of course, he was accompanied by Knox and Widro, the heads of the two factions.
The training ground was a two-story structure, designed so the situation below could be observed from the upper edge. Naturally, they were standing on the upper level now.
"Hmm."
Zekiel silently surveyed the scene below for a moment.
The number of people gathered in the Magic Tower's training ground was large.
Yet there was a strange sense of dissonance.
"Anes, the 2nd Princess is scheduled to arrive at 10, right?"
"That's what I was told."
Two hours.
That was all the time they had left.
"Good. Guide me around the rest."
I leaned back in my chair and pulled out a stalk of Sunweed to chew. The satisfying crunch as it burst in my mouth. Excellent.
"Not only is it spacious, but its durability is exceptional as well. Experimental use of research-stage spells, power and utility tests... You can assume just about any casting happens here."
Zekiel nodded quietly.
"You're pretty good at this guiding thing."
"I've spent quite some time in the Magic Tower."
"How's your nose?"
Just moments ago, Anes had dramatically collided with a door and her face. The noise had been so loud he couldn't help but ask.
"It's fine."
"Sure about that? Wipe the nosebleed first and talk."
"...!"
Anes hurriedly touched her nose, but no blood came away on her hand. It had been a joke from the start.
"...The situation is urgent. Don't joke around."
"Anyway, the training ground's utilization is a mess. Needs fixing."
"In what way is it a mess?"
The dissonance Zekiel felt—that was the root of the mess.
This training ground had no duels.
'No one's dueling at all.'
Training and duels were inextricably linked, yet with so many people, not a single one was sparring.
"Experimental use, power tests, practicality... One duel covers all that. But no one's doing it."
"Ah, Inspector. Duels are problematic."
Knox interjected.
He still seemed a bit tipsy, occasionally hiccuping, but he calmly pushed up his glasses and continued.
"Per the 2nd Princess's edict, we prioritize exploration. Duels don't fit the nature of this place."
"Interesting."
Zekiel let out a short chuckle.
"Hm? What's so interesting about it?"
"Everything."
He exhaled a puff of Sunweed smoke.
"Little kids. That's exactly how you're being treated."
"...Pardon?"
Letting young children play freely in a magic playground—as long as they don't cause too much trouble.
Hedera seemed to treat them just like that.
—Do whatever you want, within reason.
That was the edict she'd issued, and nothing invited incidents like duels. Sure enough, they'd made duels taboo inside the Magic Tower.
Zekiel's gaze shifted to Anes.
"Anes, combat's included in the performance review, right?"
"Yes. It is."
"...But no duels? Even a stray dog would laugh."
It was absurd to abandon an item clearly included in the review.
Other Magic Towers might focus only on their strengths, but the Imperial Magic Tower had nothing to boast about right now. They weren't in a position to be picky.
"Inspector."
Widro cautiously spoke up then.
"I understand your enthusiasm to tinker with everything a hundred times over, but shouldn't we be discussing countermeasures instead of loitering in the training ground? Take a look below."
Zekiel followed the old man's gaze toward the first floor.
"... ."
The wizards who met his eyes hurriedly looked away.
Hesitant, unfocused—they looked disorganized just standing there.
A master wizard's honed senses extended to hearing as well. Thanks to that, Zekiel caught every whisper.
"The new Inspector's impressive in his own way, but..."
"Inspector or not, the opponent's a princess. What if we break her edict and fall out of favor?"
"Heard he has zero experience. That's why he's so bold? He has no idea how ruthless the 2nd Princess is..."
As expected, it was all about the 2nd Princess.
"Plus, this visit's for selling the Magic Tower, right?"
"Selling the Imperial Magic Tower? To who?"
"If it doesn't sell, they might just disband it. Maintenance costs are a waste anyway. What do we do now?"
Newly appointed Inspector versus the infamous princess.
Naturally, they were watching the latter. Everyone was terrified of the 2nd Princess, trembling and at a loss.
Widro clicked his tongue.
"News of the 2nd Princess's visit has paralyzed the entire Magic Tower. We shouldn't be here—we need countermeasures now. We can't do nothing until 10."
The old man was anxious, even urging him on.
"Inspector, are you listening? We can't greet the princess in this chaos! This is a disaster!"
Of course.
Zekiel just waved it off as if it were ridiculous.
"Don't panic. I already have a plan."
He had come to the training ground precisely because of that plan.
"...A plan?"
The three nearby widened their eyes. Zekiel chewed his Sunweed casually and continued.
"First off, the 2nd Princess's purpose is the sale. Definitely."
"Not just rumors—it's confirmed?"
"Obviously. This is the best time to sell high."
The Magic Tower's dire state hadn't leaked out yet.
But if these results held until announcement day, its value would plummet. For the 2nd Princess, now was the prime moment to offload it at peak price.
Anes blinked quietly.
"So, what plan did you come up with?"
"...Obvious, isn't it? Just tidy up nice and clean."
Knox pushed up his glasses and cut in.
"Better to avoid stirring trouble and earning her ire. Cleaning and waiting is safer. We can gauge her reaction and decide then."
"...Makes sense. Is that your plan, Inspector?"
But Zekiel shook his head firmly.
"Nonsense."
Knox's judgment was perfectly reasonable.
Normal, rational. That's why everyone was wasting time, hunkering down to wait out the princess.
However.
Zekiel knew that wouldn't work.
"That'll be too late."
"Too late for what?"
"Exactly what I said. Reacting after she sees will definitely be too late."
The current Hedera was a cool-headed princess.
She calculated profits precisely and rarely reversed decisions. The moment she arrived, she'd likely push straight for the sale, ignoring everything else.
Pleading "hear us out" would be pointless. Hedera never listened to that.
So there was only one way.
Change her mind. And for that...
"This place—the Magic Tower—has to already be transformed when she steps in."
The Imperial Magic Tower had to captivate her interest the instant she entered. They needed a sight to seize her gaze, elements to draw her in.
Knox frustratingly ran a hand through his hair.
"...Change this place? In two hours?"
"Yeah."
"In just two hours, into something the 2nd Princess would like? Easier said than done! Is that even possible?"
Knox pressed on with a panicked expression.
"The stakes are the Imperial Magic Tower itself. Just clean and play it safe. Please, Inspector!"
"To turn crisis into opportunity, that's the bet. Right?"
Good opportunities always carried grave risks. Grave risks always hid good opportunities. One of his hard-earned lessons.
Anes parted her lips.
"...But execution's the issue anyway. Everyone's in chaos—no room to follow orders."
Anes's gaze went to the first floor.
The wizards there were still indecisive, just stamping their feet and waiting for the princess.
But Zekiel, as if he'd anticipated even that...
"I get it. Bunch of scaredy-cats, every one."
"It's not cowardice—it's common sense. Who in the empire doesn't fear the 2nd Princess?"
"Anes is right."
Widro joined in from the side.
"The moment they follow your orders, they're accomplices. If the princess rages, can you handle it? Will you take responsibility for everyone here?"
"Responsibility?"
But.
Zekiel just smiled faintly.
"Responsibility, huh."
A smile. Mischievous boyish charm, not entirely unpleasant.
The attitude of someone so superior they'd gladly oblige. Conviction that he could lift a crushing burden on mere mortals like a feather.
"I'll take it. The responsibility."
He briefly recalled fragments of the past.
—Zekiel, just handle the continent this once. If you can close the Demon Realm Gate somehow...
—Zekiel, you're responsible for the squad's lives...
—Zekiel, it's on you.
A soft plink as the Sunweed stem fell from his mouth to the floor.
"...I've shouldered that countless times already."
Zekiel lightly snapped his fingers.
Rumble rumble rumble—
Right then, the entire training ground shook.
"Whoa!"
"Wh-what?!"
As everyone panicked, frozen statues rose at both ends of the training ground. They depicted beautiful women with eyes closed, so lifelike it seemed they'd open any second.
The startled wizards gaped blankly.
"Huh?"
"Whoa... pretty..."
But their innocent admiration didn't last.
Fwooooosh—
The two statues began exhaling white frost breath. The wizards soon noticed the chill in their bodies.
"I-it's cold!"
"My body's freezing! Wh-what is this?!"
Frost began creeping over their skin. They all stared up at Zekiel on the second floor with bulging eyes.
"No need to freak out."
Zekiel said leisurely, arm draped over the railing.
"Stand still and you'll freeze, but use mana and you're fine. Start casting spells desperately from now on. Pair up for duels—that'd be even better."
"What the...!"
"Got time to yap? Hurry up and cast."
"Uwaaaah—!"
Asking questions took a backseat to not freezing. Soon, the first floor erupted into a chaotic frenzy of spells and duels.
"... ."
The three nearby stared at Zekiel in disbelief.
Zekiel just popped another Sunweed stalk into his mouth.
"Everyone in the Imperial Magic Tower's being coerced by me and dueling for survival. That should suffice, right?"
"... ."
From their perspective, it was sheer madness, but he was indeed taking full responsibility.
Someone on the first floor shouted.
"Uwaaah! That Inspector's insane—!"
"I've never been sane."
Always, already, even now. He'd always been that way.
With Zekiel's smile came a brief hush.
The man stared piercingly down at the floor below.
Through a wizard's eyes, intently.
Through a leader's eyes, steadfastly.
Through a pioneer's eyes, thoroughly.
At some point, Zekiel closed his eyes.
One second.
Two seconds.
And finally, five.
He opened them and spoke.
"No need to wait till 10. Tell her to come by 9."
It was the tone of one who'd found the answer.
10 PM. Entrance to the Imperial Magic Tower.
Whoooosh—
The night breeze swept once over a woman's form.
A graceful figure sculpted by a master artisan—so flawless the word "perfect" fit without excess.
In the dark hour, only her red eyes gleamed.
The woman stood with arms crossed, gazing up at the Magic Tower.
Whoooosh—
The breeze blew again, rattling the sale proposal clutched in her hand. Suddenly, a slender sheet slipped free, fluttering dramatically into the air.
She snatched it deftly between index and middle finger.
A single envelope.
Click-clack— Click-clack—
2nd Princess Hedera.
She had finally set foot at the Imperial Magic Tower's entrance.
"...Ha."
Her mouth was hidden by a mask. No one could read her expression.