Chapter 81
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Suspicious Couple (7)
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The young elder of the Azure Tower, Seina.
It felt awkward even calling her an elder. Judging by her appearance alone, she looked like a freshman at the academy.
Chwararak—!
There was a lightness to Seina's ice.
Zekiel zeroed in on that immediately.
'The fact that it grew without any twists or turns shows in the ice.'
He had once mentioned it to Anes.
Ice was inherently chatty. Even if it seemed like mere frozen water, the trajectory of the freezing mage's life and all its subtleties were melted right into it.
Seina's ice brimmed with vibrancy and cheer—bright qualities that suggested a life lived upright, exposed only to good things.
In a way, it was the complete opposite of Zekiel.
—Mana operation: as fast as possible.
—This technique has a naturally quick rhythm.
—Yes. I've noted it all down.
Anes's response that she'd noted it all down. Zekiel nodded quietly. He'd fully grasped every bit of the magic Seina was currently employing.
Now it was time for his counterattack.
'She could show me something even more impressive.'
The single thought flashing through Zekiel's mind.
How intense did he need to go to draw out as many of her techniques as possible? In other words, he wasn't even considering defeat. He was on a whole other level.
Whoosh!
He swiftly drew up a portion of the chill he'd been holding back.
Since he hadn't touched Sunweed lately, his current reserves of chill were more than overflowing.
Zekiel suddenly recalled Ether's movements.
He precisely replicated the motion of drawing and firing a bow, but instead of an arrow of qi, he formed one of ice with all his might. In no time, an ice arrow of tremendous power shot forth.
Kwaaaaaa!
The ice arrow pulverized Seina's whip as it grazed past her shoulder. The young elder's eyes filled with shock.
"As expected... you're no ordinary person!"
"Haven't we introduced ourselves? I'm an inspector, you know."
"Your average inspector isn't all that impressive."
Seina grinned and reformed her whip.
Kwang! Kwaang!
The duel had devolved into a chaotic melee, with ice clashing against ice from all directions.
Zekiel gradually ramped up his chill. The more he did, the higher the level of Seina's freezing techniques in response—it was satisfying to draw them out one by one.
'...Is this why the Emperor torments me?'
The thought crossed Zekiel's mind briefly.
But he soon forgot his worries in the thrill of it.
How long had it been since he'd faced another freezing mage?
Was it the sheer joy that made him put in a bit too much power?
Pang—!
"Ugh!"
Seina staggered badly after taking a blunt ice arrow to the shoulder, and Zekiel thought, That should've been weaker.
Meanwhile, the old mage watching muttered to himself.
"...So this is the true realm of self-study? No, looking closely, it really is self-taught. There's no trace of any specific teachings binding it. How can it be this free? It's like he invented it himself!"
Anes and Ether watched him and quietly sent a telepathic message to each other.
—He's pretty shocked.
—Can hardly blame him. The Azure Tower devotes lifetimes to studying ice alone, and now they see the Inspector.
Anes said this as she reviewed her notes.
'So detailed. Detailed enough to try right away.'
Of course, what Zekiel had gleaned from Seina wasn't some secret Azure Tower technique per se—but that wasn't the point. The point was how effortlessly he'd grasped it.
'Just from watching a few times? Something on this level?'
The very fact that he could acquire techniques just by observing them was monumental in itself. It could serve as a key to unlocking secret techniques.
Anes pondered how many mages were in this district right now. Mages from all five towers were mixed in, weren't they?
...If he could witness all their demonstrations clearly.
...If he could analyze them all like this.
Her goal no longer seemed impossible.
As she thought this, the duel came to an end.
Hwiriririk—!
Seina withdrew her ice whip.
"Your skill level is beyond what I expected, Inspector. If we kept going, this whole area wouldn't survive."
"Then call it my loss. I surrender."
"...?"
Seina blinked her blue eyes.
It was only natural. She hadn't been at any disadvantage. A draw might've made sense, but this?
But to Zekiel, it was a perfectly rational decision.
'Connections with the Azure Tower, a chance to visit—both are valuable.'
He'd already gained plenty from Seina. Visiting the Azure Tower in person would yield far greater rewards.
He'd stolen her techniques and forged friendly ties with the tower—boosting his own strength. No need to squabble over a petty victory here.
"I'll visit the Azure Tower now and then for... mental training or whatever."
"... "
Seina still had her braided hair draped over one shoulder. She stared at Zekiel for a moment.
"...!"
Then her eyes sparkled, and she grew visibly excited.
"...Inspector of the Imperial Tower—you're far more splendid than I imagined!"
"What exactly did you imagine?"
"When I got that provocative message, I thought you'd be incredibly arrogant. But to think your freezing arts and mindset would be this outstanding...!"
Seina pulled a vial of Frost Tonic from her bosom.
"You admitted your own defeat—I've lost in character too. Just take the Frost Tonic. As thanks for the duel."
"Mm..."
"Come on!"
"...Alright, thanks."
Zekiel accepted it, somewhat dazed.
Was it okay to take this?
He'd stolen her techniques and now gotten an elixir too...?
He even felt a twinge of guilt.
Zekiel took a moment to sort his thoughts.
Azure Tower magic, Frost Tonic, suspicious circumstances at the Black Tower.
Each one was huge on its own, and he'd acquired all three at once. Plus, connections with the Azure Tower to boot.
'Connections piling up like this...'
Looking back, he'd always prioritized hiding his identity, so nothing ever led to ongoing ties. It left him with a strange feeling.
"We can't call the duel done until we share a meal. Shall we head somewhere and chat? Don't worry—I'll treat, of course!"
Seina began chattering like a sparrow.
Zekiel and his group nodded quietly.
On the way to the restaurant, they cleaned up some bandits along the way. Soon enough, the surrounding area was spotless.
Perhaps fed up with the bandits' rampages, the restaurant owners piled on extra dishes Zekiel's group hadn't even ordered—as a token of thanks.
But one woman was far busier talking than eating. Naturally, it was Seina.
"The ice element is the noblest and most powerful of all elements. Thus, freezing mages bear both a sense of mission and responsibility as they follow the will of the Snow Ghost—"
Something about the mindset of a freezing mage.
It was the Azure Tower's unique mental training, and it seemed endless.
Did the Azure Tower mages approach their freezing arts every day with this mindset ingrained? Zekiel couldn't even imagine it.
Tether, mouth stuffed with food, sent a telepathic message.
—So, who's this Snow Ghost anyway?
—I've been curious too. Might as well ask now that we have the chance.
—But isn't the Azure Tower super sensitive about her? I don't think I should be the one to ask...
The two women's gazes turned to Zekiel.
The intent was clear. Ask for us.
"So, who's this Snow Ghost exactly?"
In the end, he spoke up. Truth be told, Zekiel himself had been mildly bothered by the name.
"Ah, normally, non-Azure Tower members aren't allowed to discuss her identity. But..."
Seina smiled.
"You wield the ice element and have even promised to visit. At this point, Inspector, you're practically one of us. I'll tell you."
The story that followed was simple.
During the war with the Demon Realm, a freezing mage had shone brilliantly, earning the moniker "Snow Ghost" among the demons and spreading her fame.
"...Yes, and now we follow her will."
Tether and Anes exchanged telepathic messages privately. They were surprisingly in sync.
—Fascinating. Humans didn't know her, but records remained among demons, so she's passed down based on that?
—Can't confirm she was real. Might just be a figure invented for teachings.
"... "
Meanwhile, Zekiel had a completely different thought.
'...It's me.'
He'd suspected as much, and his suspicion was confirmed.
The Snow Ghost the Azure Tower revered was Zekiel himself.