Chapter 80
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Suspicious Couple (6)
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"Hey—!"
A booming shout rang out, and Zekiel's group came to a halt.
The source of the voice was two mages clad in blue robes, their chest embroidery of snowflakes boldly on display, making no effort to hide their affiliation with the Blue Tower.
One was an old man, the other a woman.
The old man spoke first.
"From your auras, you seem to be mages. Might I inquire about your group's identities?"
—I'll handle the cover story myself.
Since they couldn't keep revealing different identities one by one, Anes stepped forward.
"As you can see, we're just an ordinary couple. And she's our adopted daughter."
But right then—
"Hm... Aren't you the exclusive secretary to the 2nd Princess?"
The young woman from the Blue Tower recognized Teder.
It wouldn't be unusual for anyone affiliated with a magic tower to have visited the Imperial Palace at least once. She must have remembered the face of Teder, the 2nd Princess's representative.
"Secretary? Oh, right! You're the 2nd Princess's secretary!"
"Secretary, what do you mean adopted?"
"Hm..."
Teder broke into a cold sweat and cleared her throat awkwardly.
"More importantly, why are folks from the Blue Tower here...?"
"As you know, the official announcement starts tomorrow. We always arrived right before in the past, but this time, we couldn't resist the provocation from the Imperial Tower's inspector and came a bit early."
Teder glanced at Zekiel.
—Did you provoke them too?
—I just told them not to be late. How is that provocation?
The woman from the Blue Tower spoke up.
"It's not just the provocation—the Black Tower's up to something suspicious too. Things feel off."
This was a key statement showing not all magic towers sided with the Black Tower. It was welcome news for the Imperial Tower group.
"So, who are the two with you, Secretary?"
"Well..."
As Teder stammered, a mental message passed between them.
—They're Blue Tower mages, but they don't seem hostile toward us. Hiding our identities isn't ideal at this point. Should we reveal them?
—Let's do it.
With permission granted, Teder nodded.
"Alright, let me explain..."
.
.
.
.
.
.
They moved to a quiet clearing and continued the conversation.
"That's how it happened."
Teder's explanation was straightforward.
The Black Tower wasn't welcoming the Imperial Tower's visit, had demanded the magic sword be placed on the altar, and had even herded bandits into the area.
"...No way? Treating the Imperial Tower like that!"
The reaction was immediate. The two Blue Tower mages blinked in disbelief.
Anes quietly bowed in courtesy.
"Thank you for your understanding."
"No need. That said, our greetings are overdue. Now that we know you're the Imperial Tower's inspectors, we must observe proper etiquette."
Only then did Zekiel's group and the Blue Tower pair exchange light greetings. Midway, the old man burst into laughter.
"Hahaha, it's we who should be honored."
He stepped back, ushering the young woman forward. It seemed she held the higher status after all.
"Seina, elder of the Blue Tower."
She bore the title of elder outright.
Her white hair was neatly braided to one side over her shoulder. Her blue eyes even resembled Zekiel's somewhat.
Zekiel sent a quiet mental message.
—Is she famous?
—She's an elder, no less, and called the future of the Blue Tower. Her skills are exceptional.
—I've heard of her too. She's the talent constantly raising the Blue Tower's reputation these days.
Anes promptly showed her respect.
"Anes of the Imperial Magic Tower."
The Blue Tower elder reacted at once.
"The inspector who just arrived? I never imagined such a refined beauty! Hard to believe you wrote that provocative invitation! Hahaha!"
"Thank you for the praise. However..."
Anes's gaze subtly shifted to Zekiel.
"...the inspector is over here."
"Hm?"
The old man blinked.
His eyes finally turned to Zekiel.
"So..."
"Yes."
"...this one? The Imperial Tower's inspector?"
"Yes."
"..."
Munching on his lollipop stick, with a demeanor both refined and oddly carefree like a loafer. No one would peg Zekiel as the inspector.
This owed much to his elixir.
With his realm elevated further, his ability to suppress and conceal his chill aura had advanced significantly.
Zekiel thought quietly to himself.
'Even the Blue Tower can't easily sense my chill.'
I'm growing stronger continuously.
He was convinced.
His realm, his life—everything was ascending at the fastest pace ever. The future looked even more promising.
"Hahaha... I've unintentionally been rude."
"Hold on."
That was when Seina from the Blue Tower interjected.
She was staring into Zekiel's blue eyes.
"Imperial Tower inspector, now I see you're suppressing a tremendous chill. You're the one who froze the restaurant, right?"
"Yeah."
"Academy graduate?"
"Never visited as a student."
Only a few mission-related visits.
"...No formal education, then."
Seina's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Mostly self-taught."
"May I ask your family?"
"None. Commoner."
"A commoner!"
Seina seemed genuinely shocked at the word. She even exchanged glances with the old man.
"Ever studied Freezing Magic in the Blue Tower? Or learned from a Blue Tower alum?"
"Never."
"That's highly unusual. If you'd followed a normal path to achieve such Freezing Magic prowess, the Blue Tower couldn't possibly not know you."
The old mage stroked his beard beside her.
"Indeed suspicious. No institution studies the ice element as deeply as the Blue Tower in the Empire. Such accomplishments, yet a stranger to us?"
"The inspector position is odd too."
The atmosphere grew tense.
Zekiel's group exchanged mental messages.
—Fellow Freezing Magic enthusiasts, but not thrilled.
—It's understandable, really.
Anes replied calmly.
—Excluding the Imperial Tower, each magic tower specializes in one element. They're extremely sensitive to leaks or theft of knowledge.
—The inspector role factors in too.
Teder cautiously added.
—As you know, elders and tower lords handle a tower's power. Inspectors... well... hard to put it nicely...
—No need to sugarcoat. Most are clock-punchers living off connections, not merit. Abilities are mediocre at best.
—Exactly. Yet you're a commoner, no academy, inspector... but masterful at Freezing Magic. How confusing.
The situation made perfect sense.
Considering the details, the Blue Tower's attitude even felt polite. They'd usually be outright dismissive, like the Imperial Tower's initial treatment.
Meanwhile, Seina continued.
"Under Frost Phantom's will, the Blue Tower's deep-rooted theories couldn't have leaked. For now, we'll trust the inspector's claim of self-study."
—Frost Phantom?
—A figure they revere like a faith. Greatly influenced their Freezing Magic, apparently. No clear identity known.
'Even the demons called me Frost Phantom.'
What a coincidence.
"However."
Seina emphasized her tone then.
"A non-Blue Tower mage wielding such dangerous Freezing Magic prowess unchecked...? As an elder, I can't help but worry."
"Worry?"
"Yes. Even the most beautiful ice becomes a disaster if misused."
"We're busy. Just the conclusion."
"Duel me using only Freezing Magic. Loser obeys the winner's demand unconditionally."
Seina's expression was resolute.
—Is she always like this?
—She has immense pride in the Blue Tower and Freezing Magic. Well-known for it.
—Also crushing the Imperial Tower's momentum early, with announcements tomorrow.
"Can't think of a demand."
"I'll give you a wish voucher, usable anytime. If that's not tempting... Fine. I know what Freezing Mages like."
Anes pulled something from her bosom.
A flask of blue liquid, icicles forming at the base from its intense chill.
"Frost Tincture."
"Pardon? Frost Tincture?!"
Teder blinked.
—Extremely rare! The one in the Imperial report was on the 2nd floor!
The explanation was simple: It greatly aided chill suppression. A fine item indeed.
However.
Zekiel had another question.
"Hey, what do you want if I lose?"
"Visit the Blue Tower twice a week."
The answer was quite unexpected.
"Undergo three hours of mental training each time. Learn the mindset of a true Freezing Mage."
"What...?"
Zekiel couldn't help but chuckle at the surprise.
Seina tilted her head slightly.
"...What part of my proposal was funny?"
"Nothing. Just not what I expected."
"Thought I'd demand your life or wealth? No. I just want all Freezing Mages to craft beautiful ice with pure hearts."
Seina didn't seem a bad person.
'She pities me completely.'
Not out to slander him, but saw him as a talented stray pup raised poorly. First time for such a woman.
'Though the pitiful upbringing might be true.'
Zekiel thought self-deprecatingly as he bit his candy.
"Ready? Let's start."
"You're yielding first strike? Good."
Shwaaaak—!
As the duel began, Seina's ice whipped out like multiple lashes. A realm where rigid ice bent as fluidly as threads.
Zekiel had no intent to counter.
He focused solely on defense.
Shwaaaak! Thwack!
Kwaaaang—!
The ice whips smashed the ground, rocks flying everywhere. Seina's one-sided assault continued, Zekiel purely defending.
"No progress. Shall we end it?"
Seina smiled, confident of victory.
As Anes and Teder watched worriedly—
—Copy this.
—Element: Ice. Vertical strokes 4, horizontal 3.
Zekiel's mental message suddenly rang in their ears.
—Remove all output from the closing circuit.
—Real-time Freezing adjustment, intervals as short as possible.
Like a spell formula scribbled on a scroll.
Why now?
However.
Anes quickly realized.
'No way...'
Yes, that no-way was correct.
To the question of stealing another tower's secret arts, Zekiel had replied curtly.
—In broad daylight. Obviously.
Anes felt chills.
She'd dismissed it as impossible, yet Zekiel was already unraveling Blue Tower magic, one by one.
Right in front of them, leisurely, without their knowledge.
Kwaaaang—!
A massive braided ice rope like thick cable slammed down like a staff. Dust clouds billowed instantly, obscuring vision.
"...Huh?"
But Seina soon felt lightness in her hand and panicked. The ice rope she'd swung with full force had snapped.
"Blue Tower, huh."
Vision cleared.
Zekiel dusted his shoulders.
"That's not all you've got, right?"
One question, paired with a mischievous grin.
Deciphering secret arts.
Punishing Black Tower atrocities.
Realm advancement.
All tasks meshed like gears. The second hand of Zekiel ticked forward again.
The Imperial Tower group's once stagnant progress.
Sprouted wings and soared.