Chapter 41
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: A Guest More Precious Than Holy Relics! (2)
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Before they knew it, they had reached the entrance to the Imperial Treasury.
Originally, he was supposed to visit with the 2nd Princess Hedera, but Zekiel had arrived alone.
'Looks like the situation was pretty serious.'
Hedera was fundamentally a Word Command user.
It was exceedingly rare for her, who wielded Word Command, to utter a falsehood. Her absence now meant the circumstances were extremely urgent.
The Imperial Treasury, a repository housing countless holy relics.
Though it seemed like it should be within the Imperial Palace, it was actually located in a nearby mountain. This was because the relics each contained such vast mana that the entire facility required special processing.
"...It's been a while."
Zekiel muttered this while chewing on Sunweed.
Of course, saying it had been a while was only half true.
—Zekiel, I know your abilities are exceptional.
—You can surely accomplish it without a holy relic, right?
—This is how much I trust you.
—Yes. But please, at least assign me some elite agents.
'Come to think of it, I've never actually been inside.'
The entrance scenery was utterly familiar, yet he had zero experience stepping foot into the Imperial Treasury itself.
This was due to the immense weight the treasury carried. Even when he had led the secret organization, entry had been forbidden—a place that held truly extraordinary treasures.
As he passed the midway point, soldiers came into view.
There were quite a few of them. Proof of the site's importance, no doubt.
As he drew closer, two soldiers stepped forward.
"State your occupation, name, and purpose."
"..."
For a moment, Zekiel was dumbfounded.
'...Hedera, just how urgent was it?'
There was no way she would have set up such a malicious prank, which meant she hadn't even had time to inform her subordinates.
He couldn't help but wonder what the situation was.
In any case, he had no choice but to answer the soldier's question.
"I'm Zekiel, Inspector of the Imperial Magic Tower."
"Inspector...!"
"What is an Inspector doing here?"
The guards' expressions softened considerably.
The Imperial Magic Tower's dismal performance hadn't yet been announced to the public. Thus, an Inspector from the tower still commanded high status among the people.
Zekiel gestured with his chin toward the entrance beyond.
"I'm here to visit the Imperial Treasury."
"Visit?"
"Yes, I have an appointment with the 2nd Princess."
"Hmm..."
Was it the shock of someone entering the treasury, or the mention of the 2nd Princess? Likely both, as the soldiers began exchanging glances.
This was how strictly guarded the treasury was.
A while later, one soldier asked in a sharp tone.
"...That thing in your mouth. Sunweed, by any chance?"
"That's right. Sunweed."
At the curt reply, the soldiers' eyes widened.
"...You expect to prove it with mere words?"
Instead of answering, Zekiel pulled out a golden pin.
The golden pin worn when accepting yellow-rank commissions from the tower should suffice as proof of identity.
But the soldiers' reactions were lukewarm.
"Anyone dispatched from the tower can wear one of those, can't they? It's hardly proof of being an Inspector..."
"He looks far too young. Considering the average age of Inspectors, it doesn't add up at all."
"Why do you even possess Sunweed?"
The soldiers eyed him suspiciously, voicing their doubts one by one. Suspicion was swiftly turning to conviction.
Right then.
"All of you, stand down."
A man who instantly pushed the soldiers back appeared. Towering frame—he seemed to be the guard captain.
He glared at Zekiel with bulging eyes.
Old memories suddenly resurfaced.
—Z-Z-Z-Zekiel, sir! You've come!
—Oh no...! I'm so sorry every time I see you...!
—It's not a holy relic, but please accept this at least!
—Please, take it! It's a token of our sincerity!
Retrieving stolen relics from the treasury and such.
Even after handling such tasks impeccably, the Emperor never released a relic, so the guard captain would always anxiously offer other items while watching Zekiel's mood.
...The world has changed. Changed a lot.
Zekiel unwittingly clicked his tongue.
The current guard captain spoke.
"Lately, the demon realm's movements have been suspicious, driving the value of holy relics sky-high and attracting all sorts of thieves. Don't take it personally."
"Personally."
"The Imperial Treasury will be here forever and isn't going anywhere. Why not return once you have proper proof?"
"No."
Zekiel tilted his head slightly askew.
"It's not a matter of feelings."
Not feelings, but time.
Zekiel's one minute was never equal to another's.
With his predetermined lifespan so short, he detested wasting time above all else.
"...Time is the issue."
Whoooosh—!
With his response, he unleashed chilling energy in the form of aura. The cold swept through the surroundings in a circular wave.
Not overwhelmingly powerful, but enough to convey substantial depth.
Surprise spread across the guards' faces.
"...Such profound mana!"
"I-Is he really an Inspector?"
The regular soldiers quickly backed down, but.
"How dare you—!"
The guard captain bellowed.
"Daring to recklessly unleash your mana in this sacred place, the Imperial Treasury? How bold!"
Zekiel let out a disbelieving chuckle.
"...You're saying the exact same things as the old guards."
Zekiel thought to himself: No being held as much boundless potential as humans, yet none were as rigidly patterned either.
Every time he demonstrated his abilities, it was always like this.
Gaining trust easily? Never.
Fear, wariness, doubt. It always started this way.
Soon, the other guards were on high alert as well.
"Not content with brazenly carrying Sunweed, chewing it like it's nothing, now you're hallucinating."
"Impersonating an Inspector and name-dropping the 2nd Princess? That's a grave crime!"
Things had escalated somewhat.
Guarding the Imperial Treasury was of utmost importance, yet paradoxically, the palace's key figures couldn't always be stationed there.
This incident arose from that paradox.
But then.
"If this fool is truly the Imperial Magic Tower's Inspector, that's an even bigger problem, isn't it? Appointed by Her Highness herself—her judgment must have deteriorated badly."
One soldier's remark.
Zekiel paused his chewing.
This wasn't mere insult to him alone.
It was defaming Solana, who had appointed him.
"...You know insulting a princess is a grave crime."
His tone had grown somewhat icy.
"Prepare to face punishment."
No, it wasn't just his tone.
The surroundings were actually beginning to be enveloped in chill.
"Aah... So sleepy."
Tether, secretary to the 2nd Princess Hedera, was quite the heavy sleeper.
The 2nd Princess couldn't personally review the mountain of tasks piled up, so miscellaneous duties fell to Tether. It was inevitable he'd be exhausted.
Stretching, Tether recalled the events.
—Dragonkin have come to the palace.
—It's about the Ascension Ceremony, so you must attend.
"Dragonkin visiting... That's genuinely shocking."
Celestial dragonkin personally coming to the palace—it truly drove home how little time remained until the Ascension Ceremony.
Hedera had rushed off to greet them but hadn't forgotten to give Tether several instructions.
—An Inspector from the Imperial Treasury will visit.
—Greet him with the utmost courtesy.
—And also...
There had been various matters, but the conclusion was simple.
Treat the Imperial Magic Tower Inspector with maximum hospitality possible. And provide one holy relic.
"Amazing. Truly amazing. You learn something new every day!"
He had served as Hedera's secretary for quite some time, yet it was rare—nay, unprecedented—for the 2nd Princess to order such lavish treatment for someone. It was like hearing the sun had risen at night.
"Just who could this person be?"
...Did he save the continent in a past life?
Or perhaps shone in the war against the demon realm?
Or maybe Her Highness's secret lover?
Nothing less would make sense.
"Sheesh."
Tether let out a hollow laugh. Even to him, it was absurdly fanciful imagination.
But nothing chased away drowsiness like wild fantasies. Tether deliberately indulged in extravagant delusions as he staggered toward the treasury.
"Come to think of it..."
For some reason, the 2nd Princess had issued multiple warnings.
—If word reaches me that the Inspector was discomforted.
—You'll take responsibility, Tether.
—One more warning, Tether. Remember that.
Her demeanor had been more intimidating than usual. At the time, all Tether could do was bow his head, sweating coldly.
...He seemed a bit late getting up, but it should be fine, right?
That was when Tether thought so.
"... "
The entrance to the Imperial Treasury came into view.
"Huh?"
And the sight that met his eyes was utterly shocking.
"Wha... Wha? Wh-what?!"
A massive man with white hair falling to his shoulders stood there, while the soldiers before him trembled, half-frozen.
"... "
A chill that seemed to slice flesh just by looking.
Tether froze blankly for a moment, then.
"Eek..."
began hurrying toward the entrance.
"Eeeeeek—!"
Soon, his steps turned into a sprint.