Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: 2nd Princess, Hedera (9)
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"…That’s a rare occurrence, Balton."
Hedera offered her brief impression.
The Imperial Knights Order of the Empire.
Capital knights, wandering knights… Across the continent, there were countless knight orders and knights, but none surpassed the Imperial Knights Order.
They gathered knights whose skills had been proven and subjected them to grueling training. What emerged were elite knights.
That was why tales of a single Imperial Knight holding off an entire enemy knight order weren’t dismissed as mere jokes on the continent.
However.
The Imperial Knights Order was also known by another name.
—The Silent Knights.
They never uttered unnecessary words.
Their swords swung without a sound.
And in their final moments, they left no last words.
Yet Balton was undeniably an escort knight of the Imperial Knights Order. For him to request to speak at an official gathering was, as the princess had said, truly unprecedented.
However, put another way, when he did speak, there was always a reason of equal weight.
To become an escort knight for a princess, one had to survive ruthless competition even within the Imperial Knights Order. Only when other knights called you superhuman could you finally take on the honorable duty of guarding her side.
Thus, the one speaking now wasn’t just any knight.
He was speaking as a superhuman who had claimed immense glory.
As the 2nd Princess, she had every reason to listen closely.
Balton first bowed his head politely.
"Forgive my rudeness. I am well aware that I have shown insolent behavior."
"Speak first. I’ll hear you out."
The watching mages swallowed dryly.
Why had the escort knight suddenly stepped forward? Unlike the mages, whose faces began to show inexplicable anxiety, Inspector Zekiel remained utterly composed.
Exhale—
He simply puffed out smoke from his Sunweed in serene calm.
In truth, such situations were all too familiar to him.
Fame was a hassle, and obscurity was stifling.
Zekiel fell into the latter category.
Most of the missions he’d undertaken in his life had required him to hide his identity, so encounters without backlash were the rare exception.
—Who do you think you are?
—Can you take responsibility?
—Do you know who I am?
‘I can’t even count them.’
The attitudes demanding proof while looking down on Zekiel were beyond numbering. To him, such things were mere annoyances, never difficulties.
That was when Balton continued.
"Before Your Highness the 2nd Princess makes her decision on the Magic Tower sale, there is something I must request."
But Zekiel interjected immediately.
"You could make your request after hearing the decision. Her Highness has likely already made up her mind on her way here."
"…."
In response, the sharp gaze within the helmet turned toward Zekiel. It was unmistakable hostility.
The 2nd Princess’s face was more than half obscured by her mask, but a flicker of mild interest passed through her eyes.
Hedera slowly opened her mouth.
"Inspector, it seems you’re confident you’ll get the outcome you want."
Zekiel didn’t even answer the question.
He merely offered a relaxed smile and a silent bow, as if confirming her guess. It was an enormous display of conviction.
But then.
"Regardless of today’s decision, the inspector needs to correct his attitude. How dare he be so rude in Your Highness’s presence?"
Once again, the voice belonged to Balton.
Was this the glare of a beast encountered in the dead of night? Yet Zekiel brushed it off as if it were absurd.
"I don’t care about manners. I just rack up results."
He spoke as if the 2nd Princess weren’t even there.
"Isn’t that better than an incompetent inspector?"
"…How dare you."
To Zekiel, it was a genuine question, but to Balton, it sounded like provocation. Balton placed his hand on his sword hilt and looked to Hedera.
"Grant me ten minutes for a lesson. I’ll drill into him the proper etiquette for addressing Your Highness in this Magic Tower."
However, to Balton’s chagrin, even Hedera showed no concern for Zekiel’s attitude.
The 2nd Princess simply waved her hand dismissively.
"Escort knight, state your request first."
"…Understood."
There was no helping it. If he pressed the issue when the princess herself didn’t mind, it would be overstepping his bounds. This only heightened Balton’s impatience and unease.
…The way Hedera treated Zekiel was different.
He had never seen her handle anyone like this.
The escort knight took a deep breath, straightened his posture, and spoke.
"Your Highness, I believe there is a clear distinction between someone exceptional and an exceptional leader. The difference is vast."
"Hm."
"Even if the inspector is an outstanding mage, he has proven nothing as a leader in this presentation. For the Imperial Magic Tower to achieve high performance, wouldn’t every member need to advance their realms?"
Everyone listened quietly. The logic was sound.
"Many imperial citizens are suffering from the recent Erosion Phenomenon. If he’s truly an excellent inspector, he should quickly train capable mages and show results."
Hedera seemed to ponder for a moment.
Then, as if she’d reached a decision, she nodded.
"I’ll give the rest a chance to speak as well. You don’t have to just sit and listen. Feel free to share your opinions."
At that, the Theoretical Faction leader Widro stood immediately.
"He says to quickly train capable mages and show results, but how exactly? Specifically, what timeframe are you talking about? Consider that the exchange meeting is coming up soon."
"The imperial citizens in the neighboring Luipl region are suffering from demonic energy and beasts this very moment. It needs to be resolved within at least a week."
"…Hey, a week? Be reasonable!"
"I’m confident I can train seeds into knights within a week. Does that mean this Magic Tower can’t?"
Then Knox pushed up his glasses and chimed in.
"Escort knight, the inspector has given great motivation to the mages of this wandering Magic Tower. Isn’t that a result in itself?"
"Thieves give motivation too. What matters are visible results, not such sentiments."
"What…! Are you calling us thieves?!"
"You’ve taken tax money investments with zero results, so perhaps ‘thieves’ is too generous. You’ve been legally robbing us all this time."
"…!"
Discontent and anxiety began to cloud the mages’ faces. They had just felt hope after the presentation, only for the knight to snatch it away.
The problem was, his words rang true.
Proving excellence not as an individual, but as a leader—it was perfectly logical.
The mages were simply anxious. The gap between dreaming and achieving was as vast as heaven and earth.
Could they reach the realms the inspector had shown? Could they arrive at a site overrun by demonic energy and Erosion Phenomenon and produce astonishing results?
…In just a week?
Results meant purifying Erosion zones.
Purification involved slaying beasts, eliminating demonkin, stabilizing civilian life…
They couldn’t guarantee a single one, hence the anxiety.
As the training grounds began to stir.
"Halt."
Hedera commanded.
She hadn’t lowered her mask or used Word Command, but that alone quelled the commotion.
"Balton has faithfully performed his duties for years, and the new inspector’s presentation was impressive. Base your opinions on what you’ve heard so far."
The princess’s eyes slid toward Balton.
"I am the Dragon Word wielder, a princess, and a Word Command user… My words carry immense weight. I decided to deliberate for exactly one day, so the sale decision must be made now. You wouldn’t dare object, escort knight."
"How could I defy you? I will follow whatever you decide."
Hedera nodded.
"First, the Magic Tower will not be sold. That is my decision."
"…!"
The mages’ eyes widened in shock. Joy flooded their previously worried expressions.
But the 2nd Princess’s words weren’t over.
"That said, the escort knight’s claim has merit, but it’s a proposal the inspector, with his tight schedule, has every reason to hesitate over. It offers him no gain."
"…."
"So here’s what we’ll do."
Hedera slowly crossed one leg over the other.
An alluring poise. The word ‘fitting’ didn’t do it justice.
"If the inspector accepts the escort knight’s proposal despite his pressing schedule, I’ll partially open the imperial records. That should suffice as compensation for the Magic Tower."
"…The imperial records?"
Anes murmured unwittingly.
The imperial records—weren’t they where tremendous secrets slumbered?
"I’ll open the first floor and grant the Magic Tower whatever it desires. I am a Word Command user. I do not speak falsehoods."
"The entire first floor…!"
The mages buzzed.
Balton, meanwhile, remained calm. The inspector wouldn’t set foot in the records anyway. He wouldn’t even accept the proposal to prove himself.
The reason was simple. These fools couldn’t do it.
All eyes turned to Zekiel.
It was like a trap.
Not forced, but participation brought rewards. One might think they could forgo the reward and dodge it, but no fool believed that.
…The princess was showing interest enough to offer rewards. And she expected it. That was the key.
Refuse, and she’d be disappointed—trouble.
Accept, and it was impossible—trouble.
…A trap. Defeat settled on everyone’s faces.
A long moment later.
Zekiel spoke.
"Well, it doesn’t appeal to me."
"…."
The mages nodded reluctantly.
It was the expected, safe answer. If they tried and failed spectacularly, it’d be far worse than just mildly disappointing the princess.
"Hah."
As Balton scoffed as if he’d foreseen it.
Just as even Hedera seemed ready to accept it.
"Still, since it involves imperial treasures, let’s say I’ll outdo the escort knight’s own results."
"…."
Everyone was speechless for a moment.
Balton, doubting his ears, parted his lips.
"…Higher results than my knights?"
"Yes."
"—!"
Only then did shock hit them like a thunderbolt.
Not just growing the mages, not just results in Luipl…
He’d surpass even Balton of the Imperial Knights Order.
…That’s what Zekiel had declared so boldly.
In the frozen silence gripping everyone like a lightning strike.
At the center, where icy stillness reigned.
"Inspector, are you in your right mind?"
To the escort knight’s question, the man exhaled Sunweed smoke.
And.
He grinned with teeth bared.
"…I was never in my right mind to begin with."
His piercing blue eyes stretched straight ahead.
They had long since pierced Balton’s helmet.