Hedera tapped her fingernails on the armrest.
"…"
Including the audience, the number of gathered magicians was immense,
and so were the countless voices flooding the space.
With the exceptional sensory perception of those with dragon blood, Hedera
could hear everything clearly, even if she didn't want to.
"How is the Blue Tower preparing for this presentation?"
"As always, we're confident this time too."
The exchange meeting was infrequent and long-awaited, so the voices of
the magicians belonging to the towers were filled with determination.
Yes, the exchange meeting was truly a stage of opportunity.
A place where magicians under the Imperial Tower could instantly rise in
rank and increase their value.
But then, one voice caught her attention.
"The Imperial Tower still hasn't arrived."
Hedera listened closely. It was the representative of the Purple Tower
tugging at his mustache as he spoke.
"If they decide not to participate again this time… That would be truly
shocking. No one would trust the Imperial Tower's position anymore."
"There's never been much trust in the Imperial Tower. They've dragged
things out for over ten years, and there's no evidence they've solidified their
foundation."
It was the representative of the Black Tower, hugging her teddy bear tightly,
who answered.
Hedera quietly listened to their conversation.
The exchange meeting was a world with a long-standing tradition among
magicians, so they had to strive to maintain fairness.
"Teddy Divine, I have a report."
In the midst of this, someone reported to the Black Tower Master.
"It seems that a thick fog of fear has formed around the southern altar in the
territory. It's suspected that the Imperial Tower failed in the purification of
the demon sword."
"…What? Hahahahahaha!"
The Black Tower Master burst into laughter.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
She laughed so hard that tears almost welled up in her eyes.
"Purifying a demon sword is a piece of cake for the Black Tower. But the
Imperial Tower, supposedly the best among the towers, struggled with it?
What a shame! That's seriously pathetic!"
It wasn't just the Black Tower Master. Magicians who heard the report
started murmuring all around.
It seemed certain that the Imperial Tower's prestige had hit rock bottom,
and subtle mockery began to mix into the murmurs.
─Four minutes remain until the presentation.
At the announcement, silence fell over the entire area.
With four minutes left, no one except the Black Tower Master, who was in
charge, could carelessly speak.
The tower representatives around the central round table stood up. The
magicians in the audience did the same.
Among them was a particularly noticeable empty seat…
It was the seat of the Imperial Tower. The Imperial Tower group, who
should have been at the center, was still absent.
"…"
Hedera tapped her fingernails on the armrest.
The four minutes felt suddenly urgent.
Snap!
When the Black Tower Master snapped her fingers, her teddy bear
expanded and floated into the air, growing to nearly the size of three
warehouses.
Something dark was engraved on the teddy bear's belly.
A perfect circle, twelve markers, three hands.
It was a clock.
Dong, dong, dong, dong.
The teddy bear resonated with a deep sound four times. It signaled that only
four minutes remained until the start of the presentation.
Hedera took a quiet, deep breath.
Could something have gone wrong?
Should she step in herself?
Stepping in would violate the exchange meeting's rules, and the Imperial
Tower would face enormous consequences, but Hedera was willing to act if
necessary.
If something unjust had happened to Jaekiel, she would intervene without
hesitation, disregarding everything else.
It was then that the Black Tower Master raised her arms.
"Now, my esteemed and noble magicians."
Her voice, filled with magical energy, echoed throughout the area. The
added touch of elegance was a bonus.
She leaned forward and tugged one side of her Gothic Lolita skirt,
displaying graceful etiquette.
"The time you've all been eagerly awaiting has arrived."
Teddy Divine.
The one who essentially held the reins of the Black Tower.
She had reached a high level of black magic, which was said to prevent her
from aging. Even Hedera, the Second Princess, could acknowledge her
significant power.
Indeed, it seemed the Black Tower had spent the past ten years diligently.
"Before confirming the brilliant achievements of each tower, let's first
ensure that everyone is present."
The voice that once sounded like a child's was completely gone.
As if she had aged in that short time, only a seductive woman's voice now
emanated from Teddy Divine's lips.
"Red Tower."
"Present, like an unquenchable flame!"
Was it meant to signify great passion and spirit, like a flame? The
resounding voice echoed through the meeting hall.
"Green Tower."
"Present, like sturdy roots."
This time, the voice was quite calm.
Next, the Blue and Purple Towers were called, and they confidently
responded, each showcasing their elemental affinities.
Now, only one tower remained to be called.
The one seat that was still empty.
"Imperial Tower~"
When Teddy Divine called the Imperial Tower.
For the first time, there was no response.
"Ah, so the Imperial Tower didn't make it after all?"
It was essentially a confirmation.
Everyone fell silent. An indescribable, subtle atmosphere began to slowly
fill the meeting hall like mist.
The absence of the Imperial Tower.
It was expected, yet also desired.
They had flaunted the authority of the Imperial Tower all this time, yet had
neglected their own foundation while acting high-handedly.
No one welcomed the Imperial Tower, which acted superior without the
ability to back it up. Most of the towers wished to see it fall endlessly and
be trampled upon in its pathetic state.
"The Imperial Tower representative has not yet arrived. If the clock strikes
the hour, they will be excluded from the exchange meeting."
Teddy's voice was a mix of leisure and pleasure.
"Exclusion doesn't just refer to this exchange meeting. As a result of hiding
their disgrace for so long while deceiving the other towers with unyielding
strictness, the Imperial Tower will be permanently stripped of its
qualification to participate in these meetings."
The Imperial Tower, which should hold the highest authority, being stripped
of its qualification?
It was sure to cause a tremendous impact.
"Now, only three minutes remain."
All the magicians' eyes turned to the teddy bear's belly.
They focused intently on the movement of the second and minute hands.
Dong, dong.
Now, only two minutes remained.
If the Imperial Tower's seat remained empty.
The Imperial Tower, which had been in the highest position, managing
conflicts and overseeing corruption among the towers, would lose all its
honor and fall.
It would be a direct insult to the Imperial Family's face.
Dong.
Now, one minute.
Hedera could keenly feel the atmosphere in the audience. It was as if they
were finally witnessing the event they had all been eagerly anticipating.
Mockery and joy.
This won't do.
This situation is suspicious.
It seemed like Hedera would have to step in herself.
Dong, dong, dong.
Just as the clock was about to announce the passing of time.
Dong, dong, dong.
The teddy bear was supposed to explode like fireworks, grandly announcing
the start of the exchange meeting, but at that moment…
Crack… Crrraaaack…
The teddy bear, which had already started tearing in places, began to freeze
solid. Hedera's eyebrow twitched, and everyone's eyes widened
simultaneously.
Dong, dong, dong.
The teddy bear had completely frozen.
As a result, the teddy bear remained stuck in place.
Thud…
Something white began to fall to the floor.
"…Ice?"
Someone muttered.
Everyone's gaze immediately turned to the Blue Tower.
"…"
But they soon realized it wasn't the Blue Tower.
Crack.
Crack.
Crack.
It started from the high sky.
A staircase made of ice began to descend.
A man, flanked by two women, one on each side, descended the stairs.
Though they were dressed as ordinary commoners, the aura they exuded
was truly noble.
Hedera's eyes widened involuntarily.
"…!"
The person she had been waiting for.
Jaekiel, the Auditor of the Imperial Tower, had appeared.
No one spoke.
It was a sight that left everyone in silence.
"Listen, everyone."
It was the Auditor of the Imperial Tower who broke the silence.
He descended the stairs, one step at a time, with the Sun Grass still in his
mouth.
"Auditor of the Imperial Tower."
One step.
Another step.
"Jaekiel."
He passed by Hedera's level, heading toward the meeting hall.
"I announce that I have arrived at this place."
It was something starkly different from the introductions of the other
towers. As if to emphasize a level of authority that was a dimension above,
his entrance and introduction were exceedingly arrogant.
The audience watched in a daze, as if entranced.
The Black Tower Master soon frowned.
"Auditor? You're already late. You've lost the right to participate…"
"How can you say I'm late?"
Jaekiel interrupted Teddy Divine.
"The clock still points to the hour."
Dong… Dong…
It was true.
The frozen teddy bear was stuck in place.
"It seems the Imperial Tower doesn't know when or where to draw the line.
Did you come here just to play word games?"
"From the start."
Jaekiel chuckled.
"I didn't come here to participate."
"…What?"
Teddy Divine's expression twisted in contrast.
"Then what are you here for?"
Jaekiel didn't answer but gestured with his chin.
Anes, who was beside him, tossed out a scroll.
"For the crime of dabbling in forbidden corpse research."
Thud, thud, thud…
The scroll unfurled down the stairs, the amount of text seemingly endless.
"For the crime of blatantly neglecting bandits, for deceiving other towers,
for distorting the purpose of the exchange meeting…"
The list of crimes went on endlessly.
"…And for the crime of daring to mock the Imperial Tower."
At last, the list ended there.
Crack, crack, crack, crack!
At the same time, the giant teddy bear froze solidly.
As if it were a bomb about to blow the place to smithereens.
"I came here with the authority to punish traitors."
The moment his foot stepped off the stairs and onto the ground.
Jaekiel finally spat out the Sun Grass.
"…No leniency, no exceptions. You get nothing."