NOVEL NEXT Chapter 82: The Truth (1)
✦ Chapter 82 – The Truth (1) ✦
「Translator – Creator」
Ezekiel felt a strange sense of… validation.
‘To think that there are people in this world who… remember me. ’
He had lived a life shrouded in secrecy, his accomplishments erased from history. And yet, here they were — the Blue Tower, keeping his memory alive.
Of course, they didn’t know the real Ezekiel. They only knew the legend of Soelgiw. But even so, the thought that someone, somewhere, was honoring his legacy brought a warmth to his heart that he hadn’t felt in a long time.
But one question lingered in his mind.
‘I’ve never… espoused any kind of philosophy. What “will” are they following?’
“You said you follow Seolgwi’s will. Where did you learn about this will?”
“I’ve never met Seolgwi personally, but… it’s as if I can hear their voice guiding me, clear as day.”Seina smiled sheepishly.
“Hehe… perhaps I sound a bit strange?”
“It’s a little… hard to understand.”
“Well, you know how Ice is always chattering? ”
“Every ice mage knows that.”
Seina nodded, pleased that he understood.
“You see… the Blue Tower… we have a piece of a cliff face from the Demon Realm. We brought it back after the war.”
“…A cliff face? ”
“It’s not just any cliff face. It bears the marks of Seolgwi’s battles… their ice magic. It’s so vivid, so powerful.”
Seina clasped her hands together, her gaze drifting upwards, as if lost in a daydream.
“You can feel it just by looking at the ice. The precision, the sense of justice, and yet… a hint of… kindness. That’s… that’s what the Blue Tower strives to embody. That’s Seolgwi’s will.”
She clenched her fist.
“I want to meet Seolgwi one day! To tell them how I feel… to hear them praise my ice magic! ”
Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes shining with admiration. She looked like a schoolgirl with a crush.
The feeling grew more peculiar for Ezekiel.
If he’d lived a normal life, if he’d never been caught up in the affairs of the imperial family, would he have become a Blue Tower mage, teaching students and wielding ice magic for the greater good?
He quickly brushed aside the thought. The past was the past, and he couldn’t change it.
“But you know,”
Seina’s expression turned serious.
“Inspector of the Imperial Magic Tower, You remind me… a lot… of Seolgwi.”
She had noticed the similarities.
It wasn’t surprising. She was an elder of the Blue Tower, a master of ice magic. And it explained her newfound respect for him.
Thinking she had found someone similar to Seolgwi, it was no wonder Seina felt inclined to talk to him and offer various gifts.
“In what way?”
“There’s something about your ice that feels very free? It’s not bound by anything. It’s as if it whispers, ‘I want to be free. I want to be free…’”
Ezekiel felt a strange sense of… exposure. As if his innermost thoughts had been laid bare. He awkwardly changed the subject.
“Tomorrow is the presentation, and half the day is already gone. We should probably wrap things up.”
“Ah, let’s do that. But wait a moment…”
Seina rummaged through her pouch.
“I have something that might be… helpful to you, Inspector of the Imperial Magic Tower.”
The old mage beside her gasped.
“Elder Seina, you’re not… giving him that?”
“I believe it’s the right thing to do.”
“But that’s… unacceptable! We need to keep it as leverage against the Black Tower…!”
Before he could finish his protest, Seina handed Ezekiel a paper envelope.
“This evidence proves that the Black Tower has been conducting forbidden experiments on corpses, in violation of the accords. The Imperial Magic Tower is responsible for dispensing punishment, so I believe this will… be of use to you.”
Tether and Agnes stared at the envelope, their eyes widening in disbelief.
“This is…!”
“Experiments on corpses? This is exactly what we need! This is more than enough to justify disciplinary action! ”
Ezekiel nodded. He could tell, just by looking at it, that this was valuable information. He couldn’t believe she was giving it to him so easily.
“Thank you.”
He reached for the envelope, but Seina stopped him.
“There is… one condition.”
Her sudden declaration surprised Ezekiel, but Tether and Agnes looked like they’d been expecting this.
To present such a precious document and then mention a condition—there was no predicting what she might demand.
However.
Surprisingly.
“I’d like you to be my mentor.”
What Saena asked for was quite unexpected.
“…Your mentor? ”
“Yes! Your… your ice magic… it’s so free, so unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I… I want to learn from you. Even if it’s just a few lessons, occasionally…”
Her blue eyes were filled with an earnest desire to learn, a sincere admiration for his skill. There was no malice, no hidden agenda. She was a strong woman, but in a way that was not threatening or overbearing.
Ezekiel nodded.
“Very well. I’ll teach you.”
Thus, his first encounter with the Blue Tower turned out to be quite heartwarming.
• • • ₪ • • •
Night fell.
After politely, but firmly declining the Blue Tower’s invitation to join them for the rest of the evening, Ezekiel’s group set out for the altar.
“Are we going the right way, Lady Agnes?” Tether asked, her voice trembling.
“Yes, we are.”
“This place is creepy! ”
It was true. The forest was dark and oppressive, the branches of the trees reaching out like grasping claws.
Agnes, however, seemed unfazed.
“It’s supposed to be creepy,” she said. “The altar hasn’t been used in centuries. It’s only natural for it to have a… certain atmosphere.”
“Oh… right…”
But Tether noticed something different about Agnes’s demeanor. She was… happy. Or as happy as someone with a perpetually stoic expression could be.
Ezekiel, sucking on a lollipop, turned to Agnes.
“You look… pleased. ”
“I am. I’m… excited.”
“You enjoy creepy forests?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m excited about our progress, not the scenery. Think about everything we accomplished today.”
“We confirmed that we can acquire the Blue Tower’s magic. We obtained a valuable potion. And we have proof of the Black Tower’s wrongdoing. It’s… perfect. ”
Ezekiel couldn’t argue with that.
The Blue Tower’s contributions had been particularly significant. He would have to find a way to repay their kindness.
“You’re right. Now, all we have to do is deal with the demonic sword.”
“Yes! Get rid of the sword, expose the Black Tower, and then… justice will be served! Let’s go! ” Tether said, pumping her fist in the air.
Indeed, the demonic sword was all that remained.
“Ah, I see it. There’s the altar.”
They had reached their destination.
In the heart of the dense forest, there was a clearing, an unnatural patch of green amidst the gloom. In the center stood the altar — a flat, stone platform shaped like a sacrificial bed.
“Remember what we discussed?”
Ezekiel asked, carefully removing the demonic sword from its case.
The sword, which would have filled most people with terror, seemed as harmless as a fork in his hands.
Tether and Agnes nodded.
“Yes. I will stay still! I know, I know!”
“I will record everything that happens, using the cube’s magic recording function.”
Agnes’s cube could record very short scenes in video format using magical preservation. Ezekiel planned to make use of that now.
“The Black Tower wouldn’t ask us to purify this sword unless they had an ulterior motive. Something is bound to happen the moment we place it on the altar.”
Ezekiel snapped his fingers, and two ice barriers materialized, encasing Tether and Agnes.
“Try to capture as much as you can, even if it’s just a few seconds. We need proof that the Black Tower was trying to frame the Imperial Magic Tower. I would do it myself, but…”
“…It has to be me. This cube only responds to my mana.”
Agnes nodded.
“I will record appropriately and give you a signal. When that happens, please rescue me.”
“I’ll get you out before that, if anything seems amiss.”
“Alright. Let’s begin.”
Ezekiel gently placed the demonic sword on the altar.
Ssssssssss—!
A black mist began to rise from the blade, like smoke from a dying fire.
Grooooan…
Save me… Save me…
Woooooo…
Suddenly, a chorus of voices, the whispers of tormented souls, filled the air.
Agnes focused her mana, activating the cube’s recording function.
And then…
Kaboom—!
The demonic sword erupted, spewing black smoke like a volcano. Darkness enveloped them, and Agnes felt a bone-chilling dread seep into her very core.
Fear.
It was everywhere.
The entire mist was fear itself, given form.
— Whyareyoualive? Whyareyoualive? Whyareyoualive? Whyareyoualive? Whyareyoualive? Whyareyoualive?
— CutyourfingerandI’llspareyou… Snap—!
— Don’thitmeplease… gasp! Don’thitmeplease…
“………..…! ”
Visions of terror, a flash of humanity’s darkest fears, assaulted her senses. Some of the spirits even lunged at her, their voices filled with hatred and despair.
— Youmustdieyoumustjoinus
The Black Tower… what were they thinking?
Agnes’s mind reeled. This… this was supposed to be a purification?
It was a purification, but only for the demonic sword. The darkness that had clung to the blade was now free, infecting everything around it.
And anyone who absorbed that darkness…
‘They would die. There’s no other outcome. ’
The Black Tower had set them up. They’d intended to kill them all along.
Agnes activated the recording, her movements swift and precise. She dodged the spectral attacks, capturing every terrifying detail.
— Helpme! Spareme!
— Ihaveadaughterathome!
— Motherrr!
The cacophony of screams and pleas threatened to overwhelm her. And then…
Agnes spotted a figure in the swirling mist.
“Is everyone alright? Please… respond… ”
A man knelt on the ground, blood pouring from a wound on his shoulder. But even as he struggled to breathe, he was more concerned about the well-being of others.
Agnes blinked, her mind struggling to comprehend what she was seeing.
It was Ezekiel.
But… she knew immediately that it wasn’t the real Ezekiel. It was an illusion, a phantom conjured by the demonic sword.
She was stunned.
Ezekiel was immune to the demonic sword’s influence. He had no fear… or so she thought. Could it be that he had a deeply buried trauma, a hidden fear that the sword had unearthed?
Was this an illusion, or was it based on a real memory?
There was an easy way to find out.
She reached out, placing her hand on the phantom’s shoulder.
“…Inspector?”
There was nothing there. No resistance, no response.
It was a real memory. Not some random fear conjured by the demonic sword, but a memory that existed within Ezekiel’s mind.
“Are you alright? You’re… you’re barely breathing… ”
The phantom Ezekiel looked frantic. He was severely injured, but he was more worried about the person lying on the ground in front of him.
Agnes remembered the stories she’d heard about the demonic sword.
Fear wasn’t just about being startled or threatened. It could also be the crushing despair of losing something precious, of watching someone you cared about suffer.
This was Ezekiel’s fear—a fear of loss, a fear for someone else’s safety.
She cautiously approached, wanting to see who had caused him such pain.
“……………! ”
She gasped, her normally stoic expression crumbling as she clapped a hand over her mouth. The shock was so great that she sank to her knees.
“Stay with me, please… stay with me…!”
The two figures lying at the phantom Ezekiel’s feet…
“Your Highnesses…!”
…were the imperial princesses.
Agnes struggled to catch her breath, her hand still pressed against her lips.
The cube’s recording function was still active.