A path of ice stretched through the air.
Jaekiel flew along it like an arrow.
"Teacher, how long do you plan to run away?"
…Until you give up!
"Just stop, let's have a conversation!"
"Conversation, my foot…!"
Jaekiel glanced at Ether's reflection in the ice.
A sword in her left hand, and an axe in her right.
This was far from what one would normally call a conversation.
"Don't be shy. Let's just kiss today!"
…That's exactly what can't happen!
Chwaaaack!
Ether shattered all the ice as she chased him, but Jaekiel kept slipping away
with almost acrobatic movements.
He seemed to be caught, yet not.
"Why don't you give up? At your current level, you can't catch me."
He meant it as a plea to stop.
"…What?"
Instead, Ether's eyes widened.
The 1st Princess murmured in a chilling voice.
"Fine, I understand. When I catch you, I'll wring everything out of you."
"…!"
Jaekiel flew with all his might.
Swaaack!
Run, run, and run again…
Chwaaaack!
Chase, chase, and chase again…
A chase that seemed to have no end.
Finally, Jaekiel made a decision.
'…There's no other way.'
Bang!
The only conclusion after much deliberation.
The place Jaekiel dove into without hesitation.
It was none other than the Emperor's Audience Room.
Inside the palace, the Emperor's Audience Room.
"…"
A subtle tension flowed between the Emperor and Jaekiel.
The Emperor on the throne broke the silence first.
"So now you come and go from the Audience Room as if it's your home."
"Well, I never had a home to begin with."
"Hmph. You've become bolder."
The Emperor indirectly pointed out that he had never provided Jaekiel with
luxurious accommodations, but he didn't seem upset. He just chuckled.
An apple was lifted into the air.
"Would you like an apple?"
"No, thank you."
Now he saw that the apple had been peeled completely.
─… Who even eats an unpeeled apple?
Could it be that he remembered what Solana had said?
The Emperor spoke again.
"Then explain why you sought me out."
"The 1st Princess is personally chasing me."
"I'm not surprised at all. It was bound to happen."
An even more composed reaction than expected.
Jaekiel couldn't help but tilt his head slightly.
"…So are you allowing it now?"
"Of course not."
The Emperor snorted.
"I still don't want to give you my daughter."
A brief silence fell in the Audience Room.
A holy grail began to slowly rotate in the air.
"Don't misunderstand. It's not approval; it's indifference."
The Emperor's cold voice continued calmly.
"Jaekiel, you are indeed an excellent magician."
"Hmm."
"But I'm not sure if you're a good man."
Crunch!
One of the apples disappeared from the air.
"Proposing to five women, it's a first."
"…"
Jaekiel couldn't refute this one.
Who would think of proposing to five women? And not just any women,
but princesses.
"Would any father want to give his daughter to a rake? We have
prearranged conditions, and I am only watching because I value my
position as Emperor."
"…"
"This is your karma. Endure it while meeting the conditions."
Jaekiel suddenly recalled the five conditions.
First, become stronger than Ether.
Second, become more precious than Hedera.
Third, become more devout than Solana.
Fourth, acquire more wealth than Chein.
Fifth, reach a higher magical level than Neo.
"…"
Recently, just dealing with the three princesses had been chaotic enough.
But in the future, he would have to face even larger-scale challenges while
meeting these five conditions.
Crunch!
Another apple disappeared from the air.
"Jaekiel."
"Yes."
"I asked why you came to the Audience Room, but your answer was
unsatisfactory. Normally, I would punish you, but…"
The holy grail in the air above the throne wavered.
"You're lucky. I also have something to discuss with you, so I'll overlook it
today."
A snapping sound.
At the same time, a stone tablet rose from the floor of the Audience Room,
detailed with the major regions of the continent.
"Jaekiel, I heard that the five towers didn't submit their reports this time.
Their intent is clear. They want to secretly hide their secret techniques."
"I think so too."
"Get them all without exception. This is the condition for overlooking
today's discourtesy and for not interfering in the matter with the
princesses."
In fact, what he was asking for was extremely difficult. The vigilance
between the towers was at its peak, and the security systems were stronger
than ever.
To penetrate all that security, investigate thoroughly without missing
anything, and return with every crucial detail.
But even so, Jaekiel didn't complain.
He only asked this.
"Investigation, is that all you want?"
"Yes, don't forget how generous I am."
A moment later.
Jaekiel burst into laughter.
"Your Majesty, you are truly consistent."
"Consistent? Your words are rather presumptuous."
"Aren't you deceiving me again?"
There was a brief silence.
At the same time, the apple being nibbled in the air stopped.
The Emperor asked again after a long pause.
"Deceiving, what do you mean?"
"I'm not entirely denying that you are considering my convenience. But it's
not just generosity at play, is it?"
Jaekiel tilted his head slightly.
"It seems that you also need me, Your Majesty."
"Your thinking is shallow."
The Emperor interrupted firmly.
"You've gained confidence from your recent achievements, but that doesn't
mean you're infallible. You won't succeed at everything you touch."
"Yes."
"Considering that, if this isn't generosity, what is it? I'm providing various
conveniences to someone who isn't infallible just because I'm giving you a
mission."
The Emperor had a firm tone.
But Jaekiel didn't falter.
"Whether I'm infallible or not isn't important."
"Hmm?"
"As I said, you need me. So I deserve the appropriate reward."
The apple in the air rotated slightly.
It seemed the Emperor was fiddling with it.
Jaekiel, standing quietly, suddenly reached out toward the Emperor. He
created an ice spear and nonchalantly shot it.
Swaaack!
"Hmm?"
Shwaaack!
Immediately, part of the space twisted into a vortex. The Emperor's power
absorbed it, causing the ice spear to disappear without a trace.
"What are you doing? You…"
"As expected, it disappears."
"Yes, no attack can reach me."
"It seems it can be considered annihilation."
Jaekiel rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Step, step.
Suddenly, Jaekiel walked toward the stone tablet.
He quietly placed his palm on the area where the towers were located and
then destroyed that part of the tablet.
Bang!
"The hidden magic of each tower will also be annihilated if the Emperor
personally intervenes. And it will vanish without the world ever knowing."
Jaekiel didn't lift his palm yet.
Ssssssshhhh.
The destroyed part of the map was re-engraved with ice.
"Someone must investigate. Someone as skilled, if not as strong as the
Emperor, someone meticulous. Who could that be?"
The holy grail, which had been rotating, stopped.
Jaekiel grinned.
"…Does it sound convincing now?"
Tap, tap, tap…
There was the sound of fingernails tapping on the throne.
"Your head has grown considerably. Go on."
"I am confident in the mission you just mentioned."
"Confident?"
"I will preserve and record the hidden magic of the five towers without
missing any. If you wish, I'll even make a diagram that a child could
understand."
Jaekiel smiled slightly.
"Of course, if you promise a reward."
Like a rascal who can't be hated.
However, the Emperor didn't react yet.
"Jaekiel, you are gravely mistaken."
Crunch.
The Emperor began chewing the apple again.
"Did you think those spells could threaten me? Not at all. It doesn't matter
if they disappear without a trace."
"Of course, that would be true for Your Majesty."
Jaekiel continued calmly.
"But not for the continent. Considering the magic hidden by each tower, it
could become a great asset if refined for good use."
"…"
In the distant past, when the Yellow Tower was in its heyday, there were
signs that each tower was hiding something.
They couldn't uncover it back then.
Now, the Yellow Tower had lost power, and it had been ten years.
It was like a ticking time bomb.
The scale must have grown tremendously.
But if they could redirect that immense power, it could surely benefit the
continent.
Crisis is another word for opportunity.
"Coincidentally, I know someone in the Empire who cares the most about
the continent. Someone who has given up everything and shows no mercy,
focusing solely on the continent."
"Who?"
"The person in front of me right now."
With that, there was complete silence.
The apple no longer moved.
The holy grail stopped moving.
"I am still confident about this mission."
The Emperor still didn't respond.
However.
At some point.
Rustle.
Rustle.
The Emperor's robe slowly began descending the stairs.
Finally, when they were close enough to touch noses.
"…Jaekiel, I have just two things to ask you."
At last, the Emperor spoke.
"When did you know?"
"Hmm…"
Jaekiel leisurely put the Sun Grass in his mouth.
"Since my life became very desperate?"
After taking the elixir and receiving the three drops of Sun Water, Jaekiel's
desire for life grew stronger. He meticulously analyzed the Emperor's past
actions.
He was able to confirm a few things.
That he was working for the continent.
And that Jaekiel was needed for the continent.
Yes, just knowing this was enough.
If Jaekiel hadn't known these two things, he wouldn't have taken the
gamble in front of the Emperor.
"Alright. Now the second."
The Emperor asked from a close distance.
"What do you want in return for completing the mission?"
An overwhelming sense of pressure.
But Jaekiel answered calmly.
"Again, three drops of Sun Water."
The Emperor had to think again.
'Jaekiel, you've become very bold.'
He quietly nodded.
"Alright. I accept."
But.
Surprisingly.
"Oh, one more thing."
Jaekiel hadn't finished speaking.
"…Please put the 1st Princess to sleep for a while."
"…"
The Emperor looked at Jaekiel blankly.
Strange.
A viper.
Yes, a viper for sure.
…But now he behaves like a seasoned snake?
"Haha!"
The Emperor laughed.
That laughter was full of approval and interest.