Jaekiel had left to survey the surroundings for a moment, and Anes nodded
at Tether.
"We have no choice but to follow him."
"Anes?"
Tether's rabbit-like eyes widened.
"Is it really okay to do that?"
It was a natural reaction for Tether, who was the secretary of Hedera, the
Second Princess and master of the Imperial Tower.
Even though Jaekiel and the Emperor had a conversation, it was clear that
Hedera's intentions were not involved in this situation at all.
However, Anes's attitude was rather firm.
"We received this news suddenly, but it might not be a bad opportunity. On
the contrary, the Imperial Tower never had a chance to receive an imperial
command."
Yes, thinking about it, the Imperial Tower had finally received the imperial
command they had longed for.
But it was something more difficult and important than the red request form
suggested.
"Interpreted positively, it means His Majesty the Emperor also has some
interest in the Imperial Tower."
"Hmm… That's true, but…"
Tether still tilted her head in confusion.
She didn't deny that it was a good opportunity for the Magic Tower. She
was just worried about something else.
"The Second Princess hasn't been informed of any details. Is it okay for us
to proceed on our own…?"
Recently, Tether had overslept and lied about it when the Second Princess
wasn't around, leading to a big mistake and severe consequences, which she
regretted.
For her, it was a valid concern.
"Tether, the personal secretary of the Second Princess."
"Yes?"
"I always worry too. Whenever the Auditor receives a mission, I often feel
it's absurd and impossible to achieve."
"Yes, yes."
"And that's not all. Even while carrying out the mission, questions keep
popping up. So many bizarre things happen…"
"Uh, um… In that case, it might be better not to…"
"But."
Anes's tone became quite serious.
"The important thing is the result. In fact, every time the Auditor has
undertaken something absurd, it has always ended well. Without a single
exception."
"Without a single exception…?"
"Yes."
Anes nodded slightly.
"He isn't someone who can be stopped by us in the first place. You know
that too, Tether."
"Oh, that's certainly true…"
Tether recalled the situation during the Treasury incident.
Jaekiel had firmly held on to his own intentions and accomplished things
that shocked Tether without a second thought. Even if Tether had tried to
stop him, he would have gone through with it.
Click!
Anes rotated the cube.
"Trying to stop him always ends in fuss, and it only delays the Auditor's
actions. It's better to follow his lead, even if you have questions."
"Indeed, I completely agree with that."
Jaekiel had a certain genius.
What good does it do to endlessly doubt a person with a solid genius by
confining them to an ordinary framework? It was time to believe and
support him instead.
Tether finally clenched her fist.
"Alright. Let's trust him and go!"
"Yes. Let's do that."
As Anes and Tether shook hands, they thought simultaneously.
'With the Second Princess's personal secretary agreeing, even if things go
wrong, the Princess won't blame only us.'
'Anes brought it up first, so I won't be the only one scolded later, right?
Please, please, please…!'
Their personalities were very different.
But the instinct of being a secretary was the same.
'Let's take responsibility together!'
'Let's take responsibility together.'
It was then that Jaekiel, who had been surveying the surroundings, returned.
He started speaking while chewing Sun Grass.
"I checked, and all the other carriages are fine."
"Yes. There's definitely nothing wrong with the carriage."
Then Jaekiel tilted his head to the side.
"Then we should leave immediately. What are you doing?"
"…"
Anes's expressionless face showed a bit of awkwardness.
Tether was already sweating profusely.
"E-Excuse me, Auditor. The thing is…"
"What?"
"Uh, well…"
"Ah."
Jaekiel nodded as if he understood.
"Did you mistake the date?"
A mistake of saying something scheduled for tomorrow was happening
today. It seemed like an absurd mistake, but it was one of those catastrophes
that happened quite often.
"No, that's not it. It's completely gone."
"Gone?"
"Yes. It's gone…"
"…What are you talking about? The exchange meeting itself is gone?"
Tether's words, answering without context, were quite frustrating. As
Jaekiel's expression began to contort, Anes finally stepped in.
"Auditor, you know that the Black Tower's territory is entirely surrounded
by a wide moat, right?"
"Yes. They really like the demonic landscape."
Sharp spires, wide moats, black magic, eerie nights… They had a taste for
the demonic.
"But all the bridges leading into the Black Tower's territory have been
blown up. So, simply put…"
"All the paths to enter are gone?"
"…Yes, that's correct."
Anes spoke in a rather awkward tone.
"They claim that the bridges were destroyed as a result of preparing a
massive spell, but it's hard to believe that's the real reason."
"Haven't all the other magic towers already arrived? It's obvious. They
want us to arrive late."
"Yes…"
Anes and Tether watched Jaekiel's reaction.
They couldn't help it.
It was a fact that they were already late, and if they had hurried the
departure, they might have entered before the bridges were blown up.
In other words, while the Black Tower did something absurd, Jaekiel could
easily blame his secretaries for it if he wanted to.
However.
Unexpectedly.
Crunch!
Jaekiel calmly chewed on the Sun Grass.
"They're being quite cute. Not only do they not submit reports, but they
also destroy the paths."
"Yes."
"This is interesting."
…Interesting?
…He finds this interesting?
"It seems that the provocation to not be late worked well. The Black Tower
guys are really hoping the Imperial Tower arrives late."
Puff.
Jaekiel exhaled the smoke from the Sun Grass.
"Anyway, there's no way to get there by carriage now?"
"They say they'll repair the bridges immediately. However, the repair will
conveniently be completed in a week."
"A week later…"
It wasn't hard to figure out.
"Exactly when the exchange meeting ends."
"They said it's impossible to advance the schedule."
"Those skilled guys, they're so childish."
Jaekiel quietly rubbed his chin.
"Should I freeze the entire moat?"
Jaekiel seemed capable of performing an incredibly high-level freezing
technique. But even if he froze it, it wouldn't solve the situation.
Anes shook her head.
"…Even if you freeze it, it will take time to cross. We only have about five
minutes left."
"Yes, that's true."
Jaekiel nodded too easily, and Tether and Anes couldn't help but be curious.
"Well, I guess there's no choice then."
It was natural for anxiety to rise.
Could it be that he just gave up quickly?
"Au-Auditor! What are you planning to do?"
"It's nothing. I have a solution."
"A solution?"
"Yes."
Jaekiel began to walk briskly.
"Just take care of the luggage."
He left with just those words.
"…"
His attitude was so calm that no one could stop him.
Inside the Imperial Palace, in the Emperor's Audience Room.
The appearance of the Audience Room was not the same as usual. It had
turned into ruins, with everything smashed here and there. It looked more
like a battlefield than an imperial palace.
Of course, that appearance didn't last long.
Shuaaah!
The space distorted, and the Audience Room regained its usual scenery.
Luxurious and majestic as ever.
The Emperor quietly looked at his feet.
The First Princess, Ether, was sound asleep.
"…Strange. An astonishing growth rate."
There had been resistance in the process of putting the First Princess to
sleep, and the Emperor was amazed at her level during that process.
Her growth had not been this steep originally.
…Could it really be Jaekiel who made her like this?
But it was then.
Bang!
Someone boldly opened the door and entered.
The more he thought about it, the more it didn't make sense. This was the
Emperor's Audience Room, a space only for the Emperor. Who could dare
to open the door on their own?
"May I make one more request?"
"…"
Jaekiel.
The one who barged into the Audience Room was none other than him.
"…This is the Audience Room, Jaekiel."
"Please open a dimensional gate to the Black Tower's territory. It's
necessary for the successful completion of the transaction."
"…"
"If the transaction ends well, it's good for both of us."
The Emperor sighed deeply.
"As long as it's within the Black Tower's territory, it's fine."
"I will pinpoint the exact location on the map."
"…"
He really asks for a lot, doesn't he?
It suddenly occurred to him.
The reason Jaekiel insisted on calling it a transaction instead of a mission.
…Was this his plan from the beginning?
"Your Majesty, we don't have much time."
"Alright. I understand."
The Emperor threw the apple he was holding onto the floor.
"Anyway, do as you please."
Just try to fail after all this.
The Emperor thought quietly to himself.