A massive storm was also raging.
"Black Tower Master~ What are you thinking?"
The one openly criticizing the Black Tower Master was none other than the
secretary, Teddy Divine. She, in her usual appearance of a young girl, was
hugging a teddy bear.
The Black Tower Master did not show it, but they were uncomfortable.
'Has she gone mad?'
The Black Tower's hierarchy was different from that of typical magic
towers.
From the beginning, it included demons among its members and maintained
various cultures of the demon realm, making it a place where hierarchy was
extremely important.
It was natural. Bloodlines, family lines, species… The demon realm
maintained its society by strictly enforcing a layered hierarchy based on
various criteria.
Therefore, insubordination was unthinkable.
Teddy Divine was openly rebuking the Black Tower Master, despite being
just a secretary.
One of the other executives shouted.
"You opposed blowing up the bridge to the end and even suggested
bringing them over! Black Tower Master, what are you thinking?!"
Voices from here and there joined in.
"Right! Are you planning to surrender the entire Black Tower?"
The criticism and disrespect had gone too far.
The Black Tower Master, wearing a large pointed hat and looking like a
witch, was about to reprimand them when someone else stepped in faster to
stop them.
"Alright~ Everyone, calm down! Let's listen first~"
"But… you know too, Teddy!"
"This is the Black Tower. We must respect the hierarchy, right?"
It was strange how well they listened to Teddy. The Black Tower Master
observed this scene with a somewhat subtle expression.
Anyway, thanks to Teddy, the commotion temporarily subsided. Teddy
Divine directly asked the Black Tower Master.
"Black Tower Master~ So, what exactly are you thinking?"
"After all, the Imperial Tower is the most authoritative tower."
Then Teddy burst into laughter.
"Wow~ That's strange!"
The girl said while hugging the teddy bear tightly.
"You can't have suddenly gone senile, so why has your attitude changed?
You're acting like a toothless beast. If it's not that, then what, hmm?"
Teddy suddenly brought the teddy bear's mouth to her ear and then widened
her eyes.
"Oh, oh, oh, is the Black Tower Master in cahoots with the Imperial Tower?
No way! You shouldn't say things like that!"
Her gesture of slapping the teddy bear's head was full of mockery, but the
Black Tower Master remained calm.
"Kids, the situation with the Imperial Tower has been unusual lately."
Ribbit.
A frog sitting on the Black Tower Master's pointed hat croaked.
"The Second Princess, who was in the celestial realm, suddenly returned,
and the Auditor has been visiting the Imperial Palace frequently. Recently,
he was active in Luiple too. So…"
The Black Tower Master nodded slightly.
"Remember this. Now is not the time to act rashly."
"We've been waiting for years!"
"Are you suddenly getting scared just before the decisive moment?"
"Coward! The Black Tower Master is a coward!"
The conference room immediately became noisy.
This space had already been divided into two.
One side was the Black Tower Master, and the other side was everyone else.
"Alright~ Everyone, calm down first~"
Teddy calmed the others down.
"Okay, let's say we act cautiously, like testing the bridge before crossing
it~"
"Right."
"But you even opposed asking the Imperial Tower to place the demon
sword on the altar. Why?"
Teddy shrugged.
"The Black Tower Master opposed it alone~ Didn't you know that?"
"…Yes. I know."
The Black Tower Master nodded calmly.
"I allowed Teddy's pranks at first, but I didn't know they would go this far.
You know what will happen if the demon sword is placed on the altar."
When the demon sword is placed on the altar, purification begins.
Purification.
Although it sounds like a good word, what actually happens is not. When
the demon sword begins to purify, it releases all the fear it has been holding
back.
In other words, the Imperial Tower members nearby would inevitably be in
trouble.
Teddy widened her eyes like a very innocent girl.
"Hmph, Black Tower Master~ If you say it like that, it sounds like I'm
playing pranks just for fun and to vent my anger~ That's not the case at
all!"
"Isn't it?"
"No! I'm only playing pranks in the hope that the Imperial Tower, which
oppressed the Black Tower, gets punished, and we rise up! Right, right!"
The Black Tower Master sighed quietly.
'This is troublesome. Everyone is filled with anger.'
The Black Tower Master didn't deny that they had a heart for the Black
Tower. The problem was that their anger had somewhat distorted them.
Because they dealt with black magic, because they were demons.
Those who had been oppressed for so long wanted others to experience this
pain as well. Even if it meant causing a huge disaster.
Teddy Divine spoke again.
"So, why do you want to bring the Imperial Tower so reverently?"
"To match the purpose of the exchange meeting, it's essential for the
Imperial Tower to participate safely."
"The purpose of the exchange meeting?"
"Yes."
The Black Tower Master nodded.
"We'll get them to participate, and if we get recognition at the exchange
meeting based on the magic we've prepared, it's a very ideal way to elevate
our position."
"You're still thinking so naively~"
Teddy Divine openly sneered.
"Then, if the Imperial Tower changes its mind, will you just accept it again
and obediently follow its orders, like a well-trained dog?"
"…In hindsight, it's not that unfair. It's true that we touched forbidden
black magic on the continent. The corpse research went too far."
"Don't you know? The very fact that you think like that is proof that you've
already become the Emperor's dog~ Why should we care about others'
opinions while researching black magic?!"
Teddy's grip on the teddy bear tightened.
'How weak.'
Even though the Imperial Tower had clearly lost its substance and was
delaying things, the Black Tower had obediently followed for over ten
years.
Everyone except the Black Tower Master had grown tired of this deception.
The time for action had finally come.
"Black Tower Master, we've waited long enough, haven't we?"
The Black Tower Master shook their head.
"This is not a matter of waiting. It will take time until the empire trusts our
Black Tower."
"What on earth…?!"
"In the past, I would have embraced such a radical approach. But you all
know."
The Black Tower Master spoke slowly.
"The story is different now. The completion of the Black Tower's secret
technique is near, and we have something to protect, so I can't recklessly
engage in such dangerous acts. It's dismissed."
"Aha! The secret technique you don't even tell us about~"
Teddy frowned and sneered.
"…Yes."
"You just say you're developing it, but don't tell us about it. Doesn't that
remind you of something…? Oh? It's exactly like the Imperial Tower!"
The Black Tower Master quietly fiddled with their pointed hat.
'I can't tell you now when you're all filled with anger.'
What disaster would occur if they found out about it and used it only to vent
their anger? For now, focusing on completing it quietly was the best course
of action.
"It's because it's near completion. Anyway, I'll pass it on as soon as it's
completed, so don't be impatient…"
"Oh, I don't care! That's enough!"
Teddy grinned.
"The number one rule of the Black Tower. The one who receives the most
support takes the position of Tower Master, right?"
"Yes, but…"
"Oh~ Then~!"
Teddy grinned.
"The Black Tower Master might change soon~ It seems everyone except
one person thinks the same!"
The Black Tower Master's eyebrow twitched.
Teddy's statement was clearly a challenge.
However, a direct confrontation was difficult.
If the Black Tower Master fully recovered their strength and faced Teddy, it
would be an easy victory for the Black Tower Master, but they had
exhausted all their power to complete the secret technique.
"The current Black Tower Master is scared of the Imperial Tower and wants
to hide, but there aren't many cowards like that in the Black Tower! There
are far more brave ones like me~"
"It's not that I'm afraid of the Imperial Tower. It's just that the behavior of
the newly appointed Imperial Tower Auditor is unusual…"
"Auditor? Right! So the Auditor is the reason!"
Teddy clapped her hands loudly.
"Great! Let's use the Auditor as a standard~ The magician who can defeat
the Auditor that even the Black Tower Master fears will be more skilled
than the Tower Master! It's perfect for gaining support!"
"Hah…"
The Black Tower Master chuckled bitterly and spoke.
At this point, logic didn't matter.
Everyone was consumed by anger and only thought of expressing it. The
Black Tower Master, who wanted to stop it, was nothing but a thorn in their
side.
They didn't need right or wrong. They just needed an excuse to oust the
Black Tower Master and proceed with their plan.
Teddy grinned.
"It seems our Black Tower Master has become cowardly from stirring pots
in a dark room all day~"
"…"
"Don't worry too much! It's time for you to retire! We've become much
stronger and bolder in the meantime~"
"…Get to the point."
The Black Tower Master's tone was quite sharp.
"Alright, alright, I'll explain it simply~ When the Imperial Tower group
visits the Black Tower's territory, I'll personally step in!"
"You?"
"Yes! They'll definitely be in trouble because they can't manage the demon
sword… I'll help them while I'm at it! Won't the Black Tower's prestige
rise noticeably?"
Teddy grinned.
"Of course~ A few people might die in the process! There's no guarantee I
can save everyone!"
The Black Tower Master shook their head.
"You claim to want the Black Tower to prosper, but are you planning to
start a war between the magic towers? You can't see the bigger picture."
"How far did you look ahead to act like the Imperial Tower's dog for over
ten years? Hmm?"
"Even if you carry out your plan, the Black Tower won't be happy."
"You're wrong. No matter what, it won't be as miserable as it is now~"
The two opinions clashed sharply.
Ribbit.
And at that moment, the frog on the pointed hat croaked.
"Let's do this then."
The Black Tower Master made a decision.
"Both sides are so adamant that going together is impossible. It's better to
set conditions."
"What conditions?"
"Do as you wish. I'll give up the position of Black Tower Master."
The Black Tower Master spoke readily.
"But, even if you get into trouble, I won't share my secret technique. Don't
expect my help."
A shocking statement.
Then, the executives began talking busily from all sides.
"We've waited so long…"
"But for the current Black Tower Master to disappear entirely…"
However, a single word silenced the commotion.
"Yes~ Fine! Get out now!"
Teddy shouted as if she were in a good mood.
"T-Teddy!"
"Teddy Divine!"
But Teddy ignored all those voices.
"Get out~ Get out~ Hurry up and get out~"
She even pushed the Black Tower Master's back to make them leave the
conference room quickly. Such incredible rudeness was unimaginable in the
past.
Of course, the other executives poured out their concerns.
"Teddy Divine, is this okay?"
"At least we should have gotten the secret technique…!"
"The thing we don't even know the substance of and don't know if it will
ever be completed?"
Teddy looked at them blankly.
"Do you still believe such nonsense? Hmm?"
"We just…"
"Pathetic~ Pathetic~ You're all pathetic!"
Teddy stood in the center of the conference room and spoke.
"Remember the years of oppression, being discriminated against for not
being human, suffering for dealing with black magic… Every single day!"
"…"
"How long will we live like this? Is it wrong for us to rise up? Is it that
bad?"
Gradually, everyone's eyes began to turn red.
Confusion and worry were only temporary.
Yes, how harsh the years they endured were.
…Now is the time to unleash their anger.
"Alright~ You don't need to worry~ I'll give the Imperial Tower Auditor
and his party a thorough lesson from now on."
They probably won't even be able to arrive properly. I cut all the bridges. It
will be hard for them to set foot in the nearby territory, let alone the Black
Tower.
Just when Teddy thought that.
─Teddy Divine!
Someone was urgently communicating telepathically.
Teddy made a "hmm" sound and listened.
─Why are you hurting my ears~? What's going on?
─The Imperial! The Imperial Tower!
─Hmm?
What's with this fuss again?
Teddy yawned.
The Imperial Tower can't arrive?
That's natural.
But.
The telepathic message conveyed the exact opposite.
─The Imperial Tower party has set foot in our territory!
"…?"
News that was logically incomprehensible.
Teddy's head tilted unconsciously.