While the fame of Auditor Jaekiel spread, it was especially true for the
Imperial Tower, with its status greatly rising, particularly around Anes.
This was only natural.
The magicians from other towers didn't just assist but led the charge, taking
every hit themselves. It was impossible not to be deeply impressed.
It was an incredible feat for Jaekiel to solve everything with his immense
power, but wasn't it equally great to help solely through sheer will, even if
not as extraordinary?
"To risk their own lives to help…!"
"I have a new respect for the Imperial Tower. I thought it was just a place
that harassed other towers, but it's not at all like that."
"Since the meeting exchange, it feels completely different."
Such murmurs reached Jaekiel's ears frequently.
Therefore, there were many voices praising Anes and the Imperial Tower. It
was a very good thing.
At that moment, Seina from the Blue Tower approached Jaekiel.
"If humans on the continent have a main enemy, it's the Demon Realm. I'm
not sure how many demons the Auditor has taken down, but it will certainly
have a huge impact."
Her voice was full of contentment.
"I witnessed your actions outside the maze clearly, and so many magicians
have witnessed what you did inside. If this all ends well… the fallout will
be even bigger than at the meeting exchange."
"Thank you."
Jaekiel was grateful for Seina, who always looked out for him first, but he
gave a brief reply. His feelings were complicated at the moment.
It was because the Imperial Tower magicians were in poor condition.
Even Anes, his personal secretary, had a broken left arm. It was pitiful to
see her unable to move her arm, wrapped in bandages.
Anes, who had a high level of magic, was in that condition. How badly
must the other magicians have been hurt? Not a single Imperial Tower
supporter was unharmed.
"…I'm sorry for what happened back then."
Anes seemed very downcast. It looked like she was deeply troubled by her
encounter with the First Princess.
'She needs proper care, and I should have a good conversation with her
soon.'
Seina, who had been observing Jaekiel's face, asked.
"Master, is something bothering you?"
"I think this situation requires a reward."
Jaekiel honestly expressed his feelings.
Since Seina had always helped Jaekiel without hiding anything, he could
clearly sense her integrity and felt comfortable telling her.
"A reward, you say?"
"It's not a reward for me."
Jaekiel shook his head.
"The Imperial Tower magicians need a reward. They bravely helped others,
and at the very least, there should be something more than just basic
treatment."
The Imperial Tower magicians knew that Jaekiel wasn't part of the
operation, but they still stepped up to assist. They showed incredible
courage.
"Ah, the demon extermination doesn't necessarily have to be rewarded only
by the Imperial family. It might be possible in other ways."
Seina moved a little closer to Jaekiel.
"The Purple Tower is specialized in combat magic, right? There are many
spells for quick treatment of injuries. What if we could share that
knowledge?"
"Emergency response magic…"
Jaekiel had heard of it a few times.
Powerful abilities like 'healing' were a special power of saints and priests,
but there were also magical spells that produced similar effects.
"The Imperial Tower will inevitably get caught up in such huge events
again. If we acquire emergency response magic, we can heal these injuries
and minimize the damage in the next operation. Right, Master?"
Seina was now seriously considering Jaekiel's concerns as if they were her
own.
"Once you save the Purple Tower, Master, they will have no choice but to
reward you. Even the other towers will have to offer something for the sake
of saving face."
Seina placed her finger on her chin thoughtfully.
"Hmmm… Of course, there is something more important."
"Something more important? What is it?"
"The elders of the Purple Tower are on the second floor of the underground
maze. Whether we can save them in time, or if it's already too late… that's
a very important issue."
Seina's wisdom was quite sound.
Jaekiel examined the map of the maze.
The maze was made up of several levels, and the elders of the Purple Tower
were trapped on the second floor.
The structure was far more complex than the first floor.
"The geography is ridiculously complex. Magicians who aren't familiar
with the layout are bound to fall into traps."
Jaekiel murmured quietly.
The structure seemed designed solely to trap and demoralize anyone who
entered, and Jaekiel couldn't be certain if the Purple Tower magicians on
the second floor were safe.
But still.
'We will go. Without fail.'
Jaekiel's resolve didn't waver.
If the elders were taken down, it would be a huge loss to the continent's
forces, and Jaekiel would ensure the Imperial Tower magicians were
compensated for their efforts.
"If they're elders, they've probably taken care of their lives."
"I can only hope that's the case."
Jaekiel stood up immediately. He assumed they were still alive and was
ready to go rescue them.
After gathering his cold energy, Jaekiel pushed forward with his legs, fully
assisted by mana.
Boom!
Jaekiel shot forward like an ice spear.
"Huh? Master! Let's go together!"
Seina quickly followed behind.
In the deepest part of the second floor of the underground maze.
However, the interior was unbelievably bright for an underground, due to
countless magical battles.
Boom! Crash!
Enormous amounts of concentrated mana collided with the demons, and the
floor and walls, unable to withstand the shock, continued to crumble.
The elders of the Purple Tower and the demons from the Demon Realm had
been battling fiercely for days.
"Crazy bastards, they're unbelievably strong."
One of the Purple Tower's elder magicians was in disbelief. At that
moment, the elders were desperately guarding a massive magic circle.
The reason was simple.
This magic circle was their only chance for survival.
"When will this magic circle be repaired?!"
One of the elders shouted urgently.
Even as an elder, his body was covered in blood. The demons' strength had
surpassed their expectations.
"Wait."
"Just hold on a little longer!"
The elders encouraged each other without hesitation.
"Once the dimension-shifting magic circle is fixed, all the Purple Tower's
members will be safe. Also, we must hold this place to prevent damage
from spreading to the upper floors!"
In the midst of all this, an elder cried out.
He wore a purple robe with a matching purple cone-shaped hat, and his
white beard was nearly long enough to reach his belly button.
He was Gendiz, the leader of the Purple Tower elders.
"When we face the Purple Tower's magicians again, shouldn't we be able to
call ourselves true elders without a shred of shame? Give it everything
you've got, everyone!"
"That's right. Let's hold on a little longer!"
The other elders supported Gendiz's words.
The dimension-shifting magic circle was their last means of escaping alive.
They were desperate.
However, the gap between reality and ideal was vast.
Boom! Boom!
The demons, targeting the magic circle and the elders, grew stronger, and
the situation continued to deteriorate. The elders had to grit their teeth and
hold on.
"We can't maintain the formation any longer…!"
A voice, almost giving up, came from one side.
In truth, everyone had the same thought, but no one dared say it aloud. It
was clear that they had reached their limit.
"If this magic circle falls, we will all perish. We must think of everyone, not
just ourselves! Value the lives of others over your own!"
Gendiz, the elder leader, was firm in his stance.
The demons were still shouting.
"The Goddess… The Goddess has arrived…"
"The Snow Ghost has come…"
"Ah, their meeting at last…!"
The Snow Ghost, the Goddess.
These were the two words the demons kept mentioning. To the Purple
Tower's elders, it was hard to understand.
"The Snow Ghost, the Goddess… They've been repeating the same thing
for a week. What are these vile creatures thinking…?"
Gendiz shook his arm in frustration.
The elders of the Purple Tower had considerable battle experience.
However, the demons who attacked were much smarter and stronger than
expected.
They had an intricate knowledge of the underground maze, and even their
individual abilities surpassed those of the elders.
They were truly intent on defeating them.
"My… my throat is so dry…"
"My stomach is empty. I'm losing strength…"
The issues of a prolonged battle were starting to show.
The demons could function as long as they had magical power, but humans
needed food and water to survive.
Strength was slowly draining away. The lines of defense were collapsing.
"We can't hold on any longer!"
"I'm sorry. We did our best, but—"
Just as Gendiz himself was starting to consider giving up.
Whoosh!
From somewhere, they began to hear a sound like something stretching out.
If their ears weren't deceiving them, it was definitely the sound of
something freezing and expanding.
"Ice…?"
"This way! It's coming this way!"
"A demon?"
"I can feel the mana. It seems to be a magician…"
Whoosh!
The chilling sound of freezing grew closer.
Both the demons and the elders focused all their senses on the sound.