Chapter 77
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Suspicious Couple (3)
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Meanwhile, at the Black Magic Tower.
A massive storm was brewing here as well.
"Black Tower Lord~ What on earth are you thinking?"
The one openly criticizing the Black Tower Lord was none other than his secretary, Teddy Divine. She had the appearance of a young girl and was clutching her teddy bear as usual.
The Black Tower Lord didn't show it, but he was deeply displeased.
'Has she lost her mind?'
The Black Tower operated differently from typical magic towers in terms of hierarchy.
With demons among its members and carrying over various cultures from the Demon Realm, no other tower obsessed over rank and order quite like this one.
It was only natural. Bloodlines, heritage, species... The Demon Realm maintained its society by strictly enforcing layered hierarchies based on all sorts of criteria.
Thus, something like insubordination was utterly unthinkable.
And yet, Teddy Divine was openly scolding the Black Tower Lord. Even though she was merely a secretary in rank.
One of the other executives shouted.
"You opposed blowing up the bridges to the bitter end, and now you're suggesting we invite them over instead! Black Tower Lord, what in the world are you thinking with these actions?!"
Voices joined in from here and there.
"Exactly! Are you planning to offer up the entire Black Tower on a platter?"
The criticism and rudeness had gone too far.
The Black Tower Lord, wearing a large conical hat that gave her a witch-like impression, parted her lips to reprimand them, but someone else stepped in even faster to silence the group.
"Now, now~ Everyone, calm down! Let's hear him out first~"
"But... You know that too, Lady Teddy!"
"This is the Black Tower. We have to respect the hierarchy, right?"
The group obeyed Teddy's words with uncanny compliance. The Black Tower Lord observed the scene with a subtle expression.
Thanks to Teddy, the commotion subsided temporarily. Teddy Divine turned directly to the Black Tower Lord and asked.
"Black Tower Lord~ So, what exactly are you thinking?"
"No matter what, the Imperial Tower holds the highest authority."
Teddy burst into laughter.
"Wow~ That's bizarre!"
The girl hugged her teddy bear tightly and continued.
"You haven't suddenly gone senile, so why the sudden change in attitude? You're acting like a beast that's lost all its fangs. Or is that not it either?"
Teddy suddenly brought the teddy bear's mouth to her ear. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"Oh dear, is the Black Tower Lord colluding with the Imperial Magic Tower? No way! You can't say things like that!"
Her gesture of smacking the teddy bear's head was dripping with mockery, but the Black Tower Lord remained composed.
"Everyone, the situation at the Imperial Tower lately has been far from normal."
Gaegul─
The frog perched on the Black Tower Lord's conical hat croaked.
"The Second Princess, who was in the Heavenly Realm, returned abruptly, and the Inspector has been visiting the Imperial Palace quite frequently. She even made waves recently in Luiple. So..."
The Black Tower Lord nodded slightly.
"Understand this. This isn't the time for rash moves."
"Have we not waited years for this?!"
"Are you suddenly getting cold feet right before execution?"
"Coward! The Black Tower Lord is a coward!"
The conference room erupted in chaos once more.
The space had already split into two factions.
One side: the Black Tower Lord. The other: everyone else.
"Now, now~ Everyone, calm down first~"
Teddy soothed the others again.
"Fine, let's say being cautious makes sense. Like tapping a bridge before crossing it~"
"Exactly."
"But you opposed asking the Imperial Tower to place the demon sword on the altar. Why on earth?"
Teddy shrugged.
"You were the only one against it~ You know that, right?"
"...Yes. I know."
The Black Tower Lord nodded calmly.
"I allowed your prank initially, but I didn't expect it to go this far. You know full well what happens when the demon sword is placed on the altar."
Once the demon sword is placed on the altar, purification begins.
Purification.
It might sound like a benevolent word, but the reality is anything but. As the demon sword undergoes purification, it unleashes all the terror bound within it.
In simple terms, it meant the Imperial Tower personnel nearby would inevitably face dire peril.
Teddy widened her eyes innocently, like a pure young girl.
"Eek, Black Tower Lord~ Saying it like that makes it sound like I prank for fun and revenge~ But that's not true at all!"
"Isn't it?"
"No! I'm just pranking so the Imperial Tower, which has suppressed the Black Tower all this time, gets punished while we rise tall! That's all~"
The Black Tower Lord let out a quiet groan.
'This is tricky. They're all consumed by rage.'
He didn't deny their intentions were for the Black Tower's sake. The problem was that their rage had twisted those intentions somewhat.
Because they wielded black magic. Because they were demons.
After enduring oppression for so long, they wanted others to suffer the same pain. Even if it led to a colossal disaster.
Teddy Divine spoke again.
"So, why do you want to welcome the Imperial Tower so lavishly?"
"To align with the exchange conference's purpose, it's essential for the Imperial Magic Tower to participate safely first."
"The exchange conference's purpose?"
"Yes."
The Black Tower Lord nodded.
"Get them to participate first, then have our prepared magic recognized at the conference based on that. It's an ideal way to elevate our standing dramatically."
"You're still harboring such childish notions~"
Teddy Divine sneered openly.
"So, if the Imperial Tower changes its tune, you'll just accept it wholesale, obey their orders meekly, and go back to that? Like a good little dog?"
"...In a way, it's not unjust. We've dabbled in continent-taboo black magic, after all. Corpse research crossed the line."
"You really don't get it? Thinking like that proves you're already the Imperial Palace's dog~ Why should we research black magic while watching our backs?!"
Teddy's grip tightened on the teddy bear.
'Pathetic.'
Even as the Imperial Magic Tower clearly lost its edge and delayed everything, the Black Tower had meekly complied for over a decade.
Everyone except the Black Tower Lord had grown weary of the charade. Now, the time for action had finally come.
"Black Tower Lord, haven't we waited long enough?"
The Black Tower Lord shook his head.
"This isn't about waiting. We need time for the Empire to trust the Black Tower."
"What..."
"In the past, I might have gone along with such radical methods. But you all know that's changed."
The Black Tower Lord continued slowly.
"Things are different now. Our secret technique is nearly complete, and we have something to protect, so we can't recklessly start something so dangerous. Rejected."
"Aha! That secret technique you won't even tell us about~"
Teddy wrinkled her nose mockingly.
"...Yes."
"You just say you're developing it but won't share with us. Feels familiar... Huh? It's exactly like the Imperial Magic Tower!"
The Black Tower Lord quietly fiddled with his conical hat.
'I can't tell you in your current enraged state.'
What catastrophe would unfold if he shared it and they used it just to vent their anger? For now, focusing solely on completion in silence was best.
"It's nearly complete, that's why. I'll share it the moment it's done, so don't be impatient..."
"Ugh, whatever! Forget that!"
Teddy grinned.
"The Black Tower's first principle: The most supported person takes the Tower Lord's seat. That's still in effect, right?"
"...It is."
"O~ In that case~!"
Teddy grinned wider.
"The Black Tower Lord might change soon~ Everyone agrees except one person!"
The Black Tower Lord's eyebrow twitched.
Teddy's statement was a blatant challenge.
But a direct confrontation was problematic.
If he recovered all his power and faced Teddy, it would be an easy win for the Black Tower Lord. But with every ounce of strength poured into completing the secret technique...
"The current Black Tower Lord is judged to be shying away out of fear of the Imperial Tower, and the Black Tower has few such cowards! There are way more brave ones like me~"
"It's not fear of the Imperial Tower. It's just that the newly appointed Imperial Tower Inspector's behavior is unusual..."
"The Inspector? Yes! So the Inspector's the cause!"
Teddy clapped her hands sharply.
"Perfect! Let's make it about the Inspector then~ Any mage who can crush the Inspector that makes even the Black Tower Lord tremble would be superior! Great for gaining support!"
"Ha..."
The Black Tower Lord let out a hollow laugh and spoke.
Logic no longer mattered in this situation.
They were all consumed by rage, intent only on unleashing it. To them, the Black Tower Lord trying to stop it was just a thorn in their side.
They didn't need right or wrong. Just an excuse to oust him and proceed.
Teddy grinned.
"Looks like our Black Tower Lord has grown timid from stirring pots alone in a back room all day~"
"..."
"Don't worry! It's time to retire! We've grown so much stronger and bolder in the meantime~"
"...Get to the point."
The Black Tower Lord's tone was sharply edged.
"Sure, sure, I'll explain simply~ When the Imperial Tower group enters the Black Tower's territory, I'll step up personally!"
"You?"
"Yep! They'll surely be in trouble managing the demon sword... So I'll help out while I'm at it! Won't that flaunt the Black Tower's might?"
Teddy grinned.
"Of course~ A few might die in the process! No guarantee I'll save everyone!"
The Black Tower Lord shook his head.
"You claim to want the Black Tower's prosperity, yet you're ready to start a war between towers. You can't see far."
"How far did you see to act like the Imperial Tower's dog for over a decade? Huh?"
"Even if you proceed, the Black Tower won't be happy."
"Wrong. Nothing could make us more miserable than now~"
The two sides clashed evenly.
Gaegul─
And at that moment, as the frog on the conical hat croaked...
"Then let's do this."
The Black Tower Lord made his decision.
"Both sides are stubborn, so uniting is impossible. Better to set conditions and proceed."
"What conditions?"
"Do as you wish. I'll yield the Black Tower Lord position."
The Black Tower Lord said readily.
"However, even if you get in trouble, I won't share my secret technique. Don't expect my help."
A shocking proposal.
Executives buzzed immediately.
"But we've waited so long..."
"Even if... having the current Black Tower Lord vanish completely..."
But one remark dismissed the clamor.
"Yay~ Great! Get out now!"
Teddy shouted gleefully.
"L-Lady Teddy!"
"Lady Teddy Divine!"
But Teddy ignored them all.
"Out~ Out~ Get out already~"
She even shoved the Black Tower Lord's back, swiftly ushering him from the conference room. An unimaginable rudeness in the past.
Of course, the other executives voiced their concerns freely.
"Lady Teddy Divine, is this really okay?"
"We should've at least gotten the secret technique..."
"That thing whose substance we don't even know, and if it'll even complete?"
Teddy stared at them steadily.
"You still believe that nonsense? Huh?"
"We just..."
"Pathetic~ Pathetic~ You're all pathetic!"
Teddy stood in the center of the conference room and declared.
"Remember the years we've been oppressed? Discriminated against for not being human, tormented for touching black magic... Every single day!"
"..."
"How long will you live like that? Is it wrong for us to rise up? Is that so terrible?!"
Gradually, everyone's eyes reddened.
Confusion and worry lasted only a moment.
Yes, how many harsh years had they endured?
...Now was the time to unleash their rage.
"Now, now~ No need to worry~ I'll thoroughly school the Imperial Tower's Inspector and her group."
They probably wouldn't even land properly and would be tearing their hair out. All bridges were severed, after all. Entering the Black Tower's territory, let alone nearby areas, would be impossible.
As Teddy thought that...
─Lady Teddy Divine!
Someone urgently sent a telepathic message.
Teddy hummed and listened.
─Oof, that hurts my ears~ What's up?
─The Imperial Palace! The Imperial Magic Tower!
─Hm?
What was this fuss about?
Teddy yawned.
The Imperial Magic Tower failing to arrive?
That was obvious.
But...
The telepathic report was the exact opposite.
─The Imperial Tower group has set foot in our territory!
"...?"
An incomprehensible report by any logic.
Teddy's head tilted involuntarily.