LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 94: Ezekiel 223.38 (1)
✦ Chapter 94 – Ezekiel 223.38 (1) ✦
「Translator – Creator」
𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝
“I will… take care of it, Your Highness.”
Silence fell upon the room.
Everyone anxiously watched Hedera’s reaction, but fortunately, she didn’t seem overly displeased, at least outwardly.
“I’m not doubting your abilities. It’s just that this… project is of the utmost importance. As master of the Imperial Magic Tower, I must monitor the situation periodically.”
Agnes sighed internally.
She’d rather be subjected to grueling physical training.
The princess’s constant visits — every hour, on the dot — her anxious voice, her incessant questions… It was driving Agnes mad.“Your Highness, there’s no need for you to trouble yourself with these matters. I will personally provide you with hourly reports.”
“There’s no need for that.”
“Your constant visits must be tiresome.”
“Not really.”
“Knowing that we’re causing you, someone of great importance, to waste time because we haven’t earned your trust makes me uncomfortable. Please, allow me to prove myself.”
Agnes kept her head bowed, while Hedera stared intently at the back of her head.
“……………….”
“……………….”
The silence stretched on, the air thick with an uncomfortable tension. The other mages exchanged nervous glances.
Finally, Hedera broke the silence.
“So, how long until completion?”
“At least a month, Your Highness.”
“A month? That’s far too long.”
Hedera had her reasons for being impatient.
The sooner they achieved results, the sooner the emperor would reward Ezekiel.
Of course, the others weren’t privy to this information.
Agnes responded calmly, “The Imperial Magic Tower, starting from scratch, is struggling to comprehend the refined spells of the other towers. This project would’ve been impossible without the inspector’s assistance.”
“Hmm…”
Hedera bit her lip, her expression hidden behind her mask. “The progress will be much faster once the inspector returns. Please be patient until then.”
Finally, the 2nd Princess nodded reluctantly.
“Very well. Let me know if you need anything.”
“All we need is the Inspector.”
“…That statement is… rather suggestive.”
All we need is the Inspector…
The exact intention behind Agnes’s words was known only to her.
“…………….”
“………..….”
Hedera didn’t press the matter, and Agnes didn’t offer an explanation.
The atmosphere grew awkward once more, but Hedera eventually turned to leave.
“Everyone, you’ve worked hard. I’ll be leaving now.”
“Your Highness, please have a safe journey!”
The magicians all bowed in unison. Only after the door was completely closed did they collectively exhale in relief.
“Phew, she has high expectations.”
“It’s not every day we get such a golden opportunity. It’s understandable.”
Their anxiety was understandable.
The Imperial Magic Tower, long neglected, was finally on the cusp of greatness.
This unprecedented opportunity… they had to succeed.
“Alright, let’s all focus.”
“Let’s do this!”
Agnes spoke, her voice firm, “We cannot afford to fail. The inspector worked tirelessly to obtain these records.”
“That’s right! That’s right!”
“If we can’t even handle the tasks we’ve been entrusted with, the Inspector will be very disappointed in the Imperial Magic Tower…”
“……………”
“…He might even resign from his position.”
A chill settled over the room.
“Can the Imperial Magic Tower even have a future… without the inspector?”
“…No.”
Those words were a catalyst.
They all rededicated themselves to the task, working with renewed intensity.
• • • ₪ • • •
Meanwhile, at the social gathering in the Black Tower…
Ezekiel found himself accompanied by Seina.
Or rather, tormented by Seina, as she was clinging to his side.
She didn’t seem like a bad person, but…
‘Why won’t she leave my side for even a second?’
Ezekiel, hoping to glean some useful information from the social gathering, was finding her constant presence to be an impediment.
Although, after listening to her, he could understand her perspective.
“Ah, I’m so excited, I’m rambling. But… I was hoping you could share your thoughts on the ice spell I demonstrated at the Blue Tower. I worked so hard preparing for it…”
Her eyes sparkled with eager anticipation.
“It’s not every day I get to meet an ice mage of your caliber outside the Blue Tower. And now you’re my master! I want to hear your opinion, I really do!”
Seina’s ice magic?
Of course, Ezekiel remembered it. He’d even taken notes.
[ ←↑→↓↗↙→→↑ Manifest ]
Rotate the ice mana according to the arrows, then manifest. Simple.
‘Lying would only make things worse.’
Ezekiel decided to be honest.
“It wasn’t as impressive as I’d hoped.”
“Oh?”
Her eyes widened, sparkling even brighter.
“As expected of my master! You saw through it!”
“Saw through what?”
“Well, now that it’s clear the Imperial Magic Tower is going to win, the other towers are just… throwing in the towel. They’re deliberately presenting inferior spells. You’re so perceptive, Master!”
So that was why the presentations had been… lackluster.
Ezekiel had sensed that the other towers were holding back, presenting mediocre spells. It seemed they’d resigned themselves to their inevitable defeat.
“You can look forward to it. One day, I’ll show you my full-power ice magic. So, when will you tell me about your constitution, Master?”
“It’s ordinary.”
“‘Ordinary’? I need to know every detail, down to the tiniest blood vessels and meridians, so I can learn from you! There are no secrets between master and disciple, especially in ice magic!”
“Hmm.”
A mage’s meridians and blood vessels were conduits for mana. Sharing such information was akin to revealing every detail of one’s magical abilities and weaknesses.
Think of it as… a mage’s instruction manual.
Knowing someone’s meridian chart allowed you to deduce their strengths and weaknesses, making such a request incredibly rude and intrusive in mage society.
It was like demanding to see someone’s naked body.
“Let’s take our time getting to know each other.”
“I like to move quickly.”
Even if he wanted to share his constitution… he couldn’t.
Ezekiel’s constitution was already incredibly complex, and it was constantly changing as he absorbed more elixirs.
“Would you be willing to share your entire meridian chart with me?”
“Of course, if you need it. I’ll even take off my clothes.”
“…………..….”
It seemed her zeal for ice magic was far more… intense than Ezekiel had anticipated.
“Master, shall we move on to the next gathering?”
“I’m starting to get tired. I was thinking of heading back.”
“Oh, are you tired? Would you like some Frost Elixir?”
“…You’re talking about Frost Elixir like it’s a snack. I’m fine.”
It was absurd. Frost Elixir was an incredibly precious elixir, even within the Blue Tower.
But she was dead serious.
“Oh… um… There’s nothing I can do for you then.”
“You don’t need to do anything for me.”
Even though she hadn’t personally given him anything… he’d already received more than enough. The Frost Elixir, and her unintentional disclosure of the Blue Tower’s techniques, would be immensely beneficial to the Imperial Magic Tower.
“But, as your disciple, I must do my utmost…”
“It’s not necessary. Focus on your training.”
“…Master!”
To Ezekiel’s surprise, she seemed genuinely touched.
“Your ice magic is incredible, and you’re such a kind person… I’m so grateful to be your disciple. If you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll do anything to help.”
Anything…
Anything, huh…
Well, there was one thing…
“I need to be able to access information from the other towers in real time.”
Yes, that was why he was attending this social gathering.
This particular exchange had gone well, but generally, these gatherings were infrequent.
He needed to stay informed about the other towers—their political climate, the rumors circulating, any important developments. Such information could be invaluable to the Imperial Magic Tower.
She tapped her chin thoughtfully.
“Hmm… It’s not entirely impossible. There’s actually a secret online community where members from the different Mage Towers share information anonymously.”
“An anonymous community?”
“Yes. Everyone’s identity is kept secret. You need a recommendation from a current member to join. I can provide that for you… but the problem is…”
She looked at me intently.
And then, a mischievous grin spread across her face.
“Members of the Imperial Magic Tower are strictly prohibited from joining. But… I’m sure you’ll figure something out, right? Just make sure you don’t get caught.”
It sounded straightforward.
There was a secret online community for the five Mage Towers. And because of the sensitive nature of the information shared, members of the Imperial Magic Tower— the overseers—were forbidden from participating.
I couldn’t help but be surprised by her willingness to help me.
“…Are you sure it’s okay for you to do this for me?”
“Of course it is.”
She raised a fist.
“Under the will of the great Seolgwi, we are one.”
She winked, a playful glint in her eye.
“Right?”
• • • ₪ • • •
An hour later, I was ready to infiltrate the anonymous online community.
As I entered, a rectangular window of blue mana projected before me, displaying a prompt in white text.
[Please enter an alias.]
“…So it’s not just anonymous.”
This was more… organized than I’d anticipated.
They used alias, indicating a level of seriousness and commitment.
“But…”
This was harder than I’d expected. Choosing a name.
What to choose…
I couldn’t just pick something random. And I couldn’t use anything that could reveal my identity. But I also couldn’t use something outlandish and unintelligible.
‘Something that will draw attention… but not too much attention. Something… respectable.’
A name came to mind.
“…Verd?”
I muttered the name, testing it out.
Verd, the Formless.
The name of the emperor.
I shook my head.
It was too much. Too risky.
I couldn’t handle the potential fallout…
I quickly amended my choice.
“North. I’ll go with North.”
North. An unremarkable, forgettable name.
But something was wrong…
The prompt window wasn’t responding.
“…What’s going on? I said North. N-O-R-T-H.”
And then, I realized the horrifying truth.
The prompt window wasn’t malfunctioning.
It had simply… completed its task.
“………….”
Before my eyes, the prompt window displayed a shocking message.
[Your alias is Verd.]
Huh?
…Huh?