Chapter 78
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Suspicious Couple (4)
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"3, 2, 1…!"
In the Black Tower conference room, everyone who remained counted down aloud with excited voices. They were marking the exact time when the Imperial Magic Tower was scheduled to arrive.
And finally, the precise moment arrived.
"It's time! Deploy the barrier right now!"
Whoooong—!
An enormous surge of energy spread outward.
At the same time, the entire Black Tower domain was shielded by a massive purple hemispherical barrier. Not only was it immense in scale, but its precision was flawless as well.
The barrier's original purpose had been to restrict access and protect the distinguished guests gathering for the exchange event... but they were using it in exactly the opposite way.
It was a blatant act of mocking the tardy Imperial Tower and openly blocking their visit to make it even more difficult.
Everyone burst into hearty laughter, reveling in the moment.
"The Imperial Tower's in for a real headache now!"
"They provoked us first, and look at them now!"
"Even without the barrier, they were going to be late anyway. We haven't even gotten a report of them reaching the moat."
Amid all this excitement...
Only one person.
Teddy Divaine wore a rather serious expression.
The girl hugged her bear doll tightly as she double-checked.
—The Imperial Tower has set foot in our domain?
—Y-yes...!
It was bizarre.
Truly bizarre.
Of course, Teddy didn't see the Imperial Tower as complete trash. They were a group of decent mages, so arriving quickly wasn't impossible.
But the truly strange part was something else.
'They weren't detected anywhere, and yet they just appeared out of nowhere?'
To track the Imperial Tower group's movements as closely as possible, they had planted surveillance agents along every possible route from the Imperial Tower to the Black Tower.
In other words, if the group had shown themselves even once, there was no way the report wouldn't have come in.
'They skipped every step and just popped up?'
It was absurd, yet it had actually happened.
—Any midway stops?
—None. No traces of them leaving the Imperial Tower.
—How many people?
—Estimated at three in total.
'Did they use teleportation?'
But considering the distance between the Imperial Tower and Black Tower, it was a hypothesis that strained belief. Who could teleport three people with such precision?
No way... that inspector?
"Ha..."
Teddy Divaine let out an incredulous laugh.
A commoner-born inspector with no track record using teleportation magic of that level? It didn't make sense no matter how you sliced it.
Louisville region? Already investigated.
They'd uncovered the ice ability. For someone specializing in elemental magic to also handle spatial transfer spells? Utter nonsense.
—What now, Teddy?
—What do you mean, what now.
Teddy regained her composure and replied calmly via telepathy.
—Their arrival doesn't mean our plan has failed~ We just proceed with the rest, that's all.
Right. The key point was that none of the major plans had failed yet. Delaying their approach was just a greeting, if anything.
—Scout the path to the altar thoroughly and prepare.
—Yes!
After ending the telepathy, a smile crept across Teddy's lips.
"Aww~ If they'd just been fashionably late, they might've kept their lives, but they had to show up! They'll regret arriving so eagerly!"
She grabbed the bear doll's arm and spun around playfully.
"Now they're as good as dead~ Whatever will the Imperial Tower do~?"
Inside the Black Tower domain.
Though called the 'Black Tower,' it really referred to the entire area. They included the massive village surrounding the black spire when they named it Black Tower.
The Imperial Tower group took a moment to survey their surroundings.
"Erecting a barrier? How insolent."
Zekiel muttered, and Anes nodded.
"It seems they planned to block us entirely if we were late. This is rudeness beyond measure."
"Well, we can deal with that later. What about the princess?"
Teder, standing nearby, perked up her ears.
"She's probably in the VIP quarters inside the spire. Anyway, we've arrived now, so after handling the magic sword business, we can go see her!"
"Good. Let's check out the area first."
But the surroundings were quite different from expectations.
"...Desolate."
Zekiel's brief impression. That was it.
The area was unbelievably quiet.
Anes emotionlessly turned her cube with a click.
"This is odd. It's not like the reports described."
"Yes, exactly. This isn't the area at all."
Teder nodded in agreement.
"This domain has a lot in common with the Demon Realm, doesn't it? Just as the Demon Realm pursues indulgence, this place is always festive. With all the visitors for the exchange event, it shouldn't be like this..."
"Oh, people over there."
Anes pointed to one corner with her index finger, but...
Slam—!
A house immediately shut its windows.
And similar things kept happening. They avoided Zekiel's group upon sight, closed doors, fleeing as if they'd encountered a monster.
Zekiel quietly chewed on his sunweed.
"Not exactly rolling out the welcome mat."
"Indeed..."
Anes blinked a couple of times.
"The displeasure on their faces—the resentment toward us seems quite strong. There must be some scheme afoot, so moving like this isn't wise."
"How do they even know who we are?"
"Well... our clothes, probably...?"
All eyes turned to their outfits.
All three were dressed conspicuously.
The fine fabrics clearly hinted at their origins, with embroidered insignias of affiliation—and Teder's even bore the imperial crest...
Teder cleared her throat awkwardly.
"...Ahem. Then let's change clothes first. I know a place where we can get some."
"No shops. Our movements would be tracked."
"Not a shop. You'll see when we get there. Let's go!"
.
.
.
.
.
.
"..."
Silence hung between the three.
"I wondered what kind of clothes..."
"What is this..."
Zekiel and Anes looked somewhat baffled, but Teder just cleared her throat as if to say, "What's the problem?"
"Ahem! Anyway, the clothes fit, don't they?"
They had changed, but the type was the issue.
Anes and Zekiel were in perfectly matching couple's attire, while petite Teder wore something like a child's outfit, perhaps for a daughter. From afar, they looked like a family.
A newlywed couple with a rabbit-like daughter. That was the vibe.
Teder pushed up her round glasses and spoke.
"...Why is there only this kind of clothing?"
"Long ago, during hard times for the Black Tower domain, the imperial family supplied clothing and goods."
"And these are the leftovers that couldn't be distributed back then."
"...Yes. That's how it is."
Teder glanced at their expressions cautiously.
She had plenty of experience serving VIPs, and even with extenuating circumstances, handing over such clothes would normally earn her punishment. For bruising their pride.
The Imperial Tower was remarkably tolerant by comparison.
'As expected, the Imperial Tower has an unusual number of big-hearted people.'
Relieved, Teder spoke up.
"Still, you two look good together. Tall and pretty... almost like a real couple..."
As she said it, Teder suddenly shivered.
'Hm?'
Zekiel and Anes were emanating killing intent they'd never shown before.
...Is "couple" a word that makes them seem too old?
"Well, like lovers maybe..."
"..."
"Or like kids playing house..."
"..."
"...Sorry. I'm sorry!"
Teder crumpled like a piece of tissue.
"Anyway."
Zekiel spoke up shortly after.
"I went to the trouble of bringing the magic sword, but the Black Tower didn't even give the exact location of the altar."
Anes nodded.
"Yes. Surprisingly, they just said it's in this neighborhood and nothing more."
"They want us to find the info ourselves."
"...It really feels like there's foul play. Why not just ignore the magic sword request?"
"No need for that."
Zekiel replied firmly.
Now that he had sunweed in his mouth, it would identify him, so he held a long stick candy instead.
"Everyone's not tired, right? Let's move."
"Where to?"
"To get information."
"So, do you have a method?"
"Method, you say..."
Zekiel grinned around the stick candy.
As always, a mischievous, roguish smile.
"I'll just do it my way—the one I'm best at."
After that, Zekiel's group only visited restaurants.
Thanks to the changed outfits? No one fled at the sight of them anymore.
Anes wiggled her fingers in the air.
Without her usual cube to fiddle with, her hands were idle.
"Now that we've changed, no one's avoiding us. In other words, it wasn't us personally—they resent the Imperial Tower and imperial family."
"...Why? What's the reason?"
"That's what we need to find out now."
Right then.
Voices leaked from a passing restaurant.
"I heard the Imperial Tower scum didn't even set foot in this domain. They must be a laughingstock now. When they crash and burn, we'll rub it in their faces..."
"Too bad they didn't show. I wanted to grind them underfoot."
"Should we go hunt them down and harass them? Hahaha!"
It was obvious even from overhearing.
The hostility toward the Imperial Tower was immense.
Zekiel furrowed his brow.
'Their arrogance has gone too far.'
It starkly showed how badly the Imperial Tower had neglected its duties. Their authority was in the dirt.
"Let's go in."
Zekiel jerked his chin.
Bam!
Kicking the door open brought a moment of silence.
The restaurant was far larger than it looked from outside.
Seats were full, with rough-looking thugs, mages exuding sinister auras... all entering Zekiel's view at once.
"Did I mistake this for a library?"
Crunch!
Zekiel bit into his stick candy and spoke.
"Why so quiet?"
At the same time, he nodded at one guy.
"You there. Finish your story."
"...What? You fish-headed bastard, you crazy?"
A mountain of a man stood up.
Flexing his muscles threateningly, he asked.
"Hey, who the hell are you to come in here acting tough?"
"..."
Just as Zekiel's mouth opened wide.
A hand tugged at his sleeve.
Anes's telepathic request pierced his mind. It connected all three, including Teder.
—Inspector, we can't reveal our identities.
—Don't worry, I know.
—Then let's stick to the story we agreed on...!
They hadn't actually agreed on anything beforehand, but with these clothes, the lines were obvious. No way to mess it up.
The three spoke in unison.
"We locked eyes for a moment."
"We're just an ordinary couple."
"They're the ones who adopted me!"
The inn froze in stunned silence.
Before Zekiel had even used any ice.