A loud shout, and Jaekiel's party stopped.
The source of the sound was two magicians in blue robes, with snowflake
embroidery on their chests, clearly indicating they were from the Blue
Tower.
An old man and a woman.
The old man spoke first.
"I sense a group of magicians. May I ask who you are?"
─I'll handle this on behalf of us.
Anes stepped forward, as it was impractical for the three to repeatedly
reveal their identities.
"As you can see, we're a normal couple. This is our adopted daughter."
But just then.
"Hmm… Aren't you the secretary of the Second Princess?"
The young woman from the Blue Tower recognized Tether.
It was not unusual for someone from the Magic Tower to have had a chance
to visit the Imperial Family. She must have remembered Tether, the
secretary of the Second Princess.
"Secretary? Now that I think about it, you are the Second Princess's
secretary!"
"Secretary, what do you mean by adopted daughter?"
"Um…"
Tether broke into a cold sweat and cleared her throat.
"More importantly, why are members of the Blue Tower here…?"
"As you know, the official announcement is from tomorrow, right? We
usually arrive just before the announcement, but this time we came early
due to the provocation from the Imperial Tower auditor."
Tether glanced at Jaekiel.
─Did you provoke them?
─I just told them not to be late. How is that provocation?
The woman from the Blue Tower spoke.
"It was provocation, but we are also here to observe the Black Tower's
plans. Something feels off."
This was an important remark indicating that not all Magic Towers
supported the Black Tower. It was good news for the Imperial Tower's
party.
"So, who are the two people with the secretary?"
"Well…"
While Tether stammered, a telepathic conversation took place.
─They are magicians from the Blue Tower, but they don't seem to have
come with hostile intent. Should we reveal our identities?
─Let's do that.
With permission granted, Tether nodded.
"Alright, I'll explain…"
They moved to a quiet clearing and continued the conversation.
"That's what happened."
What Tether explained was simple.
The Black Tower did not welcome the Imperial Tower's visit, demanded the
cursed sword be placed on the altar, and even drove bandits into this area.
"…How could they? Such actions against the Imperial Tower!"
The response was immediate. The two magicians from the Blue Tower
blinked in disbelief.
Anes quietly bowed in respect.
"Thank you for your understanding."
"No. By the way, our introduction is late. Since we know you are from the
Imperial Tower, we should show proper courtesy."
Then, Jaekiel's party and the Blue Tower magicians exchanged light
greetings. The old man burst into laughter in the middle.
"Hahaha, the ones who should be shown courtesy are us."
He took a step back and brought the young woman forward. Surprisingly,
she had a higher status.
"I am Seina, an elder of the Blue Tower."
She mentioned the title of elder.
She had neatly braided white hair over her shoulder. Her blue eyes gave her
a look somewhat similar to Jaekiel.
Jaekiel quietly sent a telepathic message.
─Is she a famous magician?
─Her status as an elder and being called the future of the Blue Tower
indicate her exceptional skills.
─I've heard of her too. She's a talent who has been raising the reputation of
the Blue Tower lately.
Anes also showed respect immediately.
"I am Anes from the Imperial Magic Tower."
The old magician from the Blue Tower reacted immediately.
"Are you the Auditor who came this time? I didn't expect such a beautiful
woman! I can't believe you wrote such a provocative invitation! Hahaha!"
"Thank you for the compliment. But…"
Anes subtly turned her head towards Jaekiel.
"…The Auditor is over here."
"Huh?"
The old man blinked.
Only then did his gaze turn to Jaekiel.
"So…"
"Yes."
"…This person? The Auditor of the Imperial Tower?"
"Yes."
"…"
Chewing on a lollipop, Jaekiel's distinguished yet somewhat lazy demeanor
made it hard to believe he was the auditor.
The elixir played a big role in this process.
Jaekiel's level had significantly increased, and his ability to conceal his aura
had greatly improved.
Jaekiel quietly thought to himself.
'Even the Blue Tower couldn't easily sense my aura.'
He was getting stronger and stronger.
He was confident in himself.
His level and life were rising at the fastest pace. The future looked more
promising.
"Hahaha… I inadvertently made a mistake."
"Wait a minute."
It was then that Seina from the Blue Tower intervened.
She was staring into Jaekiel's blue eyes.
"Auditor of the Imperial Tower, I see now that you've been hiding your
aura. You're the one who froze the restaurant, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Are you from the Academy?"
"I've only visited as part of missions, never as a student."
He had visited a few times for missions, that was all.
"…You didn't follow a normal educational path."
Seina's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I was mostly self-taught."
"May I ask about your family?"
"I don't have one. I'm a commoner."
"Commoner!"
Seina seemed quite surprised by the word commoner. She even exchanged a
glance with the old man.
"Have you ever learned ice magic from the Blue Tower? Or been mentored
by someone from there?"
"Not at all."
"That's very strange. If you had followed a normal path and mastered this
level of ice magic, the Blue Tower would definitely know about you."
The old magician beside her stroked his beard.
"It is indeed puzzling. There's no institution in the empire that studies ice
elements as deeply as the Blue Tower. To achieve this level of mastery and
yet be unknown to the Blue Tower?"
"I'm also concerned about the title of auditor."
The atmosphere grew tense.
Jaekiel's party communicated telepathically.
─She's an ice magic comrade of sorts, but her reaction isn't great.
─Actually, it's understandable.
Anes replied calmly.
─Except for the Imperial Tower, each Magic Tower specializes in one
element. They are very sensitive about leaks or someone stealing their
techniques.
─The title of auditor might also be a factor.
Tether cautiously interjected.
─As you know, the power of a Magic Tower lies with its elders and tower
master. Auditors… Um… How should I put this…?
─Is there a need to sugarcoat it? Most are just filling their term and
collecting a salary. They have great connections but lack ability.
─Yes, that's true. But Jaekiel is a commoner, a non-attendee of the
Academy, and an auditor… Yet he excels in ice magic. It must be very
confusing for them.
The situation was easily understood.
Upon closer examination, the behavior of the Blue Tower seemed almost
kind. Usually, like what I initially experienced at the Imperial Tower, being
ignored right away would be the norm.
Meanwhile, Seina from the Blue Tower continued speaking.
"Under the guidance of the 'Snow Ghost,' the deeply rooted theories of the
Blue Tower couldn't have leaked. For now, we'll trust that you are selftaught."
─Snow Ghost?
─A figure the Blue Tower reveres like a deity. They say he had a great
influence on their ice magic. There's no physical form, so his exact identity
is unknown.
'Even the demons called me the Snow Ghost.'
It was quite a coincidence.
"But."
Seina's tone became stronger.
"A magician not from the Blue Tower possessing such dangerous levels of
ice magic…? As an elder of the Blue Tower, I have to be concerned."
"Concerned?"
"Yes. Even the most beautiful ice can become a disaster if used incorrectly."
"We're busy, so can you get to the point?"
"Let's duel using only ice magic. The loser must unconditionally comply
with the winner's demand."
Seina from the Blue Tower had a very determined expression.
─Is she always like this?
─She has great pride in the Blue Tower and ice magic. She's famous for it.
─She also seems to want to curb the Imperial Tower's momentum in
advance since the announcement is tomorrow.
"I can't think of anything to demand."
"I'll give you a wish voucher that you can use anytime. If that doesn't
entice you… Okay. I know what ice magicians like."
Anes took something out from her pocket.
It was a flask filled with blue liquid, so cold that icicles formed at the
bottom.
"It's Frost Essence."
"What? Frost Essence?!"
Tether blinked.
─It's a very rare item! Previously, the Frost Essence that was in the Royal
Treasury was on the second floor!
The explanation was simple. It greatly helps in harnessing cold energy. It
was indeed a good item.
However.
Jaekiel was still curious about something else.
"Hey, what do you plan to demand if I lose?"
"Visit the Blue Tower twice a week."
The answer was quite unexpected.
"Take three hours of mental training each visit and learn about the mindset
of an ice magician."
"What…?"
Jaekiel chuckled at the unexpected answer.
Seina tilted her head slightly.
"…What part of my story was funny?"
"Nothing much; it's just different from what I expected."
"You thought I'd demand your life or treasure? Not at all. I just want all ice
magicians to create beautiful ice with a righteous heart."
Seina didn't seem like a bad person.
'She completely pities me.'
It wasn't that she was eager to slander Jaekiel, but rather saw him as a
talented yet pitiful stray dog. This was the first time he met such a woman.
'Well, it might be true that I grew up pitifully.'
Jaekiel thought self-deprecatingly as he bit his candy.
"Start when you're ready."
"You're conceding the first move? Fine."
Swish!
As the duel began, Seina's ice whipped around like multiple strands. She
was at the level where even the hardest ice moved as smoothly as threads.
Jaekiel didn't think of counterattacking.
He only focused on defense.
Swish! Splat!
Boom!
As the ice whips hit the ground, rocks scattered everywhere. Seina's onesided attack continued, and Jaekiel only focused on defense.
"No progress, huh? Let's wrap this up."
Seina smiled, confident of her victory.
At that moment, Anes and Tether were full of concern.
─Write this down.
─Element is ice; four vertical strokes, three horizontal strokes.
Suddenly, Jaekiel's telepathic message rang in Anes's ears.
─Remove all output from the closing circuit.
─Real-time control of ice; keep intervals as short as possible.
It was similar to a spell written in a scroll.
Why suddenly?
But.
Anes soon realized its identity.
'Could it be…?'
Yes, that guess was correct.
When asked how he would steal another Magic Tower's secret technique,
Jaekiel had replied shortly.
─Like stealing candy from a baby. That's how.
Anes felt chills.
What she thought was impossible, Jaekiel was already unraveling the Blue
Tower's magic one by one.
Effortlessly, while the opponent had no idea.
Boom!
A thick, braided ice rope slammed into the ground like a pole. Dust rose
instantly, obscuring visibility.
"…Huh?"
But soon, Seina felt lightness in her hands and was shocked. The ice rope
she had swung with all her might was broken.
"The Blue Tower, huh."
After the dust cleared.
Jaekiel brushed off his shoulders.
"It's not over with just this, right?"
A single question, accompanied by a mischievous smile.
Deciphering secret techniques.
Punishing the Black Tower's atrocities.
Achieving new levels.
All tasks began to click together like gears. Jaekiel, the minute hand, was
moving forward again.
The progress of the Imperial Tower's party, which seemed infinitely slow.
Began to spread like wings.