The Response to my Drunken Proposal was Surprisingly Good

​✦ Chapter 90 – Not A Battle of Wits, But A Warm Celebration of Spirit (1) ✦

「Translator – Creator」

𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝

“………”

Second Princess, Hedera.

She carefully observed the situation with great focus.

‘…It doesn’t feel real.’

The Black Magic Tower had conceived a plot more sinister than she had imagined.

Hence, Hedera was even prepared to step forward herself.

Even if it meant breaching the inviolability of the ‘Exchange Meeting, which was exclusively a celebration for mages,’ and causing the Imperial Magic Tower to face disadvantages, she was not going to stand by and let Ezekiel be slandered.

Yes, she’d been determined… but…

But in the end, there was no need for Hedera to step up personally.

All thanks to the Inspector’s outstanding abilities.

“What’s that…? A barrier…?”

“What’s happening in there?”

The mages in the spectator seats murmured anxiously.

They had reason to be worried. A black, hemispherical barrier had enveloped Ezekiel and Teddy Divine, trapping them in the center of the exchange meeting hall. An ominous aura radiated from it.

“She absorbed all those corpses…!”

“Could it be… the Black Tower has actually prepared a Transcendent Realm?”

Hedera silently shook her head.

‘It’s not a Transcendent Realm.’

The Transcendent Realm was, by definition, a landscape revealed by a transcendent. However, the Black Tower Master’s showed all the signs of being hastily concocted. It might have been powerful, but it lacked finesse. It was nothing more than a crude, unrefined blast of raw mana.

That’s why she wasn’t worried about Ezekiel’s safety.

The other Tower representatives had probably sensed it too, but Hedera could feel it with absolute certainty—

Ezekiel’s aura, his icy presence, was growing stronger, more pervasive, as if asserting its dominance.

And then…

Crackle—! Crack—!

The pitch-black hemispherical barrier began to crack, and through the fissures, the blue chill started to gush out incessantly.

‘The Inspector has only been in his position for a short time…’

The Imperial Magic Tower had been a persistent thorn in Hedera’s side.

But that weakness had now transformed into a sharp, piercing fang, striking down a corrupt Tower and asserting its authority over the entire magic world.

And all of this… it was all thanks to Ezekiel.

‘He has barely taken the elixir yet.’

After this incident, Ezekiel was promised the Sun Elixir. How much more would he achieve then? Hedera found it difficult to predict.

Could it be…?

Would she, one day, bear witness to Ezekiel’s own Transcendent Realm?

Shatter—!

At that moment, the hemispherical barrier finally shattered completely. It was a clear indication to everyone that Teddy Devine’s final desperate struggle had ended in failure.

“……..…!”

“Gasp—!”

“Incredible! The Imperial Magic Tower Inspector!”

Gasps of amazement and awe echoed through the hall, but Hedera was lost in thought.

She suddenly remembered Solana’s words:​

—So, what have you done for him?

How much further Ezekiel’s achievements would go?

Whether Ezekiel would one day reach the Transcendent Realm?

What Ezekiel would do?

Those things didn’t matter.

“What can I do for him…?” she murmured.

Yes, this was what mattered now.

Whatever Ezekiel chose to do, Hedera would be by his side, offering her unwavering support. She would be his ally, his confidante.

But what could she offer, specifically? What unique contribution could she make?

“…Because he’s my Inspector, I will take care of him.”

Hedera quietly murmured.

• • • ₪ • • •

The Imperial Magic Tower inspector’s complete victory sent shockwaves through the exchange meeting hall.

The atmosphere shifted dramatically.

“Seize the Black Tower mages!”

“Don’t let a single one escape!”

The other Towers joined forces to apprehend the Black Tower mages.

“Aaaargh!”

Screams echoed through the hall as the Black Tower mages, scattered throughout the space, were swiftly subdued. Those who surrendered were merely restrained, but those who dared resist were executed without hesitation.

‘…No, the Black Tower has no chance here.’

A Black Tower spy, concealed under a cloak of invisibility, made a decision. 

Boom—! Crash—!

Crack—!

He scanned the chaotic scene, searching for an escape route. Survival was his top priority.

He’d been fortunate enough to have cast an invisibility spell before the chaos erupted.

The spy clutched a scroll hidden beneath his cloak.

‘I must protect this. Where should I flee to first? The Demon Realm? Yes, that would be better.’

The scroll contained a wealth of confidential information — the location where the former Black Tower Master was being held, the gruesome details of the Black Tower’s necromantic experiments… It would surely be valued, even in the Demon Realm.

“Help! Someone, help!”

“Aaaaagh!”

The attendees had been divided into three distinct groups…

…the Imperial Magic Tower;

…those condemned by the Imperial Magic Tower; and

…those who sided with the Imperial Magic Tower.

Yes, the most critical point was that the Imperial Magic Tower had firmly taken the center stage. The scales of importance had tipped overwhelmingly.

The other Mage Towers weren’t fools. They quickly calculated their options, assessing the situation and determining the best course of action.

“Capture everyone you can!”

“Show no mercy!”

They chose to align themselves with the Imperial Magic Tower.

Swoosh—!

The spy, shrouded in invisibility, moved swiftly through the hall. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this desperate to escape.

But an even greater sense of unease gnawed at him, overriding the fear.

It was unsettling, seeing all the Magic Towers united under the Imperial Magic Tower’s banner.​​

Today, it was assumed that it would be the Imperial Magic Tower that would be trampled upon…

“Just save your life, there will definitely be opportunities if you live!”

The spy had nearly reached the exit.

Just as he was about to cross the threshold.

“Where are you going in such a hurry, to the bathroom?”

Whack—!

Something struck the spy right on the forehead.

“Ugh!”

If he had been even slightly off, his neck would’ve snapped. With a tremendous amount of force, the spy flew through the air and crashed to the floor in an ungainly heap.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

He was pushed so hard that he repeatedly bounced on the ground, hitting his head multiple times before he stopped

“Grrr… my head, my head…”

Twisting in pain, the spy barely managed to raise his head. A man was looking down at him.

Ezekiel.

The Inspector of the Imperial Magic Tower, that was him.

He flipped through the scroll, commenting,

“I expected it, but to think they wouldn’t even treat the former Black Tower Master with respect. Imprisoning an innocent mage? What a bunch of clowns.”

“……..?”

The spy’s eyes widened in shock.

“Huh?”

He began to frantically search through his belongings.

Empty. The scroll has already been taken.

‘When did he…?’

The spy didn’t even notice when Ezekiel had appeared or how he had snatched the scroll. The Inspector’s power was beyond his ability to even comprehend.

“….”

His astonishment was so great that he forgot about the pain for a moment.

He could only stare blankly at the Inspector.

“Hey.”

Finally, Ezekiel spoke. He tossed a pair of ice-wrought handcuffs at the spy.

“If you’re going to leech off the continent, at least fulfill your duty as a mage. Don’t even think about going to the Demon Realm.”

“W-We have our reasons!”

The spy protested.

“You were the ones who discriminated against and ostracized us first!”

“Wow….”

Ezekiel nodded as if greatly impressed.

“Just like I’d expect, saying the exact same things.”

“…What? The same as who?”

“Who else? Teddy Devine.”

Ezekiel lit a sunweed.

“What do you think happened to her?”

“That’s….”

The spy’s gaze drifted towards Ezekiel’s shoulder.

An ice spear was resting there, impaled through the chest of a young girl’s corpse. She dangled limply from the spearhead.

“……..….”

The moment he recognized her as Teddy Devine,

The spy silently picked up the ice handcuffs.

Click—!

Without a word, he fastened them onto his own wrists. They were a perfect fit.

• • • ₪ • • •​

“Indeed, truly amazing…”

Agnes murmured quietly.

She hadn’t fully grasped the gravity of the situation until now. But with the Imperial Magic Tower’s judgment nearing its end, a sense of awe washed over her, sending shivers down her spine.

“So this is what ‘punishment’ and ‘judgment’ truly mean.”

It was completely different from simply issuing warnings and fines on paper. This was about extinguishing the very life of those who committed grave sins. It was truly terrifying.

Meanwhile, Tether sat there in a daze. Agnes quietly approached her and spoke.

“It seems like it’s almost over. You’ve worked hard.”

“What did I really do?”

Tether replied, her voice slightly subdued.

“I thought I trained diligently enough, but today, I felt utterly powerless. It makes me wonder how pathetic I am, and how much I need to reflect on myself….”

Pathetic was not the right word. 

Both Tether and Agnes had faithfully carried out their assigned duties. They might not have accomplished extraordinary feats, but they hadn’t shirked their responsibilities either.

However, Agnes could also understand Tether’s feelings.

‘It’s because the standard has become impossibly high.’

The sin of witnessing Ezekiel’s power firsthand— there was no other explanation.

When one witnesses true excellence, it initially inspires admiration. But soon after comes the realization of one’s own shortcomings, leading to despair. Agnes herself had experienced a similar sentiment, so she understood Tether’s feelings well.

Furthermore, Tether had no idea about Ezekiel’s past. He must have seemed like a genius who appeared out of thin air, leaving her to wonder about the source of his extraordinary abilities.

“Tether, do not let yourself become dispirited.”

“………..…”

“The Inspector might be exceptionally amazing, and compared to him, our current level might seem insignificant. But that doesn’t mean we should fall into despair.”

“Uh….”

“Let’s work harder. To be the best versions of ourselves.”

“Agnessssss!”

Tether’s face was filled with gratitude.

She sprang up and hugged Agnes tightly.

“I always thought you were scary because of your stoic expression, but you’re such a warm person! Agnessss!”

“No, but suddenly clinging to me like this….”

Just as Agnes was about to push Tether away—

“Agnes, so you know how to give compliments? I wasn’t aware.”

“……………!”

Ezekiel’s voice suddenly rang out.

Agnes jumped in surprise, like a startled frog.

“Were you listening this whole time? Since when?”

“Well, I think I heard almost everything.”

“Oh…!”

Agnes’s face turned as red as a matchstick. It felt like the slightest breeze would set her aflame.

“Aha, to think you held such admiration for me deep down.”

“It’s not admiration! Well, it is, but….”

Agnes hastily added..

“Comforting Lady Tether was my top priority. In other words, what I said was a necessary lie for the mission. Low morale leads to decreased combat effectiveness….”

As she was speaking, Agnes suddenly stopped.

It was as if time itself had frozen.

Ezekiel, who had been playfully listening, tilted his head slightly.

“What’s wrong? Was it that unpleasant to hear?” 

“No, it’s not that….” 

Agnes thought carefully.

She was the only one who knew Ezekiel’s past. In other words, no one else had ever acknowledged his past struggles. 

…Shouldn’t at least she, of all people, offer him some words of praise?

And wouldn’t that be something only she could do?

“Ahem….”

Agnes cleared her throat and stood in front of Ezekiel.

“Excuse me, Inspector.”

“What is it?”

“About this mission, good….”

“Good?”

Agnes nodded.

“Yes, good….”

The problem was that Agnes had absolutely no experience expressing such sentiments. She may have uttered empty pleasantries in the past, but never had she spoken from the heart.

Her face felt like it was about to burst into flames. 

“Good… good… good…”

“Ooh~ Do you have a problem?” 

At that moment, Tether intervened.

Her eyes twinkled with an awareness of the subtle atmosphere between the young man and woman. It was as if her gossip radar had detected something interesting.

“I do have a problem, but it’s not that kind of ‘good’. It’s ‘good’….”

“Good? Are you hungry?”

“…No. Please be quiet for a moment.”

“Then is it ‘good’ as in pain? Broken? Chili pepper? Lonely?”

Tether’s rambling seemed endless.

Agnes could practically feel her eagerness to stoke the flames.

“Just what could it be? ‘Good’ as in employment? Frustrating? High-quality? Advice? Unique? Headstrong? Extreme? Connection? Bread? Pulse? High score? High performance? High income? Exclusive edition? High-altitude herb? High yield?”

“…That’s enough.”

“Do you mean ‘good’ as in stale? Clothes dryer? High-yield bond? Dry socket? Proprioceptor? Basilar membrane? Primary ovarian insufficiency? High-angle fire? Fixed support? Anchor symbol? Fine finishing? Thermophilic plant? High-pressure opening and closing? High Commissioner? Usury? Eardrum groove—”

“…Stop it, just stop!”

Flick—!

Finally, Agnes thrust something towards Ezekiel.

It was her own right hand, held out stiffly in a handshake.

“Good… good… good work…! Inspector!”

Her face was bright red, as if it were about to explode.

“……….”

A moment of silence fell.

Ezekiel blinked in surprise, and Tether let out a sudden, “Woohoo!”

But that was when it happened. 

Whoooosh—!

“….….!”

Agnes shuddered involuntarily. An ominous, bloodthirsty mana washed over her. 

‘…What is this?’

The source of the mana was above them.

Where the Second Imperial Princess resided.

And that wasn’t all. 

—The three of you. Come see me for a moment.

 A sudden, thunderous voice echoed in their minds.