Chapter 102

Chapter 102

I Proposed While Drunk and Now the Princesses are Obsessed.

Episode 102: Wow, The Rewards Are Pouring In! (2).

“Why on earth would they give me this kind of check…?”

Jaekiel muttered in disbelief. Though he was deeply concerned, the scribe seemed to interpret it as humility.

“Haha! No need to be so modest. You more than deserve it!”

“That’s not what I meant…”

Jaekiel stopped mid-sentence. It wasn’t something he could easily explain to anyone in the first place.

So, he simply sighed and wiped his face with his hand.

A time check.

The time check in Jaekiel’s hand felt like a ticking time bomb. The problem was that there was no way to defuse it, and it had to explode at least once.

He asked the scribe again.

“Regardless of how I use the time check, all the princesses will be informed?”

“Yes. That was the condition for this check. There’s no way around it.”

“The Second Princess’s will, I presume.”

The scribe smiled.

“The Second Princess was the most enthusiastic supporter, which is why this arrangement was made.”

“…”

The reason for her enthusiastic support was obvious. She was confident that she would be the one chosen.

Jaekiel quietly lit a Sun Grass and remembered a particular phrase from his conversation with Hedera.

—Auditor, once this expedition is over, you must give me an answer.

‘Forcing me to answer this way, huh?’

Not only did she want him to use the check on Hedera, but she also wanted to flaunt it to the other princesses.

Sure, he understood her intent, but…

‘There’s no way the other princesses will sit idly by.’

The start might be with just one check, but it would definitely end in ashes. Jaekiel briefly tried to imagine the outcome.

…But he stopped. It was too terrifying.

For now, it was best to ask the scribe one more question.

“I can use this check at my own pace, right?”

“Of course.”

That was reassuring.

The deal with the Emperor, the duties as the Magic Tower’s Auditor… Jaekiel was busy. He could use the excuse that he didn’t have time to use the check for quite a while.

Yes, that’s what he thought.

“You just need to use it within this week.”

“This week…?”

There really was no escape.

The next day.

The Imperial Tower magicians immediately departed for the imperial capital, but Jaekiel’s party began exploring the edge of the Black Zone.

Stealing secret techniques.

To earn the right to receive the Sun Water, he had to track down the whereabouts of the Black Tower Master.

“Wow… this is amazing…”

“It’s incredible. Five hours with a princess…?”

Currently, Seina, Tether, and Anes were traveling with Jaekiel, all marveling at his check.

“I want to take a closer look!”

“Oh my, why are you gripping it so tightly?”

Jaekiel quietly watched the scene and thought to himself.

‘Wouldn’t it be nice if they accidentally tore it up?’

But he quickly realized it was a pointless thought.

‘…Even if they tore it, nothing would change.’

Would the issuance of the check be canceled just because it was torn? Of course not. The check was probably made of indestructible material.

Seina’s eyes sparkled as she spoke.

“To receive something like this from the Imperial Family… You really are the treasure of ice magic, Master. Congratulations.”

“…Sure.”

“Hm? You don’t look too happy?”

Jaekiel simply waved his hand as if telling her not to worry about it.

Instead, he asked something else.

“There was no need for you to come with me.”

“Aww, but it’s a good thing, right? Let’s enjoy it together.”

Seina was a kindly elder without a single sharp edge. She had volunteered to join this journey, without asking for a share of the merits.

Anes and Tether could only look on in amazement at the two of them.

“…You’ve really taken an elder of the Blue Tower as your disciple. It’s quite shocking.”

“Indeed.”

How long had they walked in that atmosphere? Before long, they arrived at the entrance of the Thorn Forest.

There were no leaves, only trees sticking out like black thorns. The Black Tower Master was definitely here.

Tether blinked.

“So, we’re supposed to search through this entire forest to find the Black Tower Master?”

“Yes.”

“I thought it would be easy since the scroll specifically mentioned the Thorn Forest, but it’s so vast and eerie…”

Seina chimed in from the side.

“It’s wide, but we can’t spread out. The demonic energy here is extremely thick. We never know when a demon might pop out.”

“There’s no need to enter the Thorn Forest.”

Jaekiel cut off their conversation abruptly.

He slowly knelt on one knee and placed his palm on the ground, as if focusing his mind.

“Anes.”

“Yes?”

“The Black Tower Master is definitely here, right?”

“According to the information, yes.”

“Good.”

Jaekiel quietly nodded.

Inhale.

He took a long breath in.

“Thread.”

Greta was born a witch.

Until recently, she held the position of Black Tower Master, but now she was just a woman in a black robe with a large pointed hat. And a frog sat on top of it.

Lately, she found herself often reflecting on how she ended up in this situation.

The biggest reason was Teddy Divine. She had simply been swept up by that fool’s greed and ambition. She hadn’t committed any crime of her own.

Nevertheless, Greta reflected on herself. Being of a generous nature, she sought the fault within herself.

“The problem started when a witch left the forest in the first place. The Black Tower and all that…”

Ribbit.

She was in the heart of the Thorn Forest.

Though it was an area often described as eerie, for Greta, who had been born and raised here, it was the most comfortable place.

The scenery before her was tranquil.

A crackling fire, a bubbling cauldron, a magical hut not far away, and many frogs… She was satisfied.

Yes, a witch could be content with this.

Just as she was about to close her eyes slowly…

Ribbit, ribbit.

A frog leapt up and landed smack on Greta’s face.

“…Ugh.”

Greta brushed the frog off with her hand and opened her eyes. Frogs with bundles of grass and berries surrounded her.

“These are quite nutritious, I suppose.”

Ribbit, ribbit.

“I appreciate the gesture, but it’s not something that can be healed by these things.”

Greta had used her own life force to practice secret techniques for the Black Tower’s achievements.

Her body wasn’t going to improve with mere herbs and berries. Only an elixir might help.

“I’d like to create an ice waterfall at least once, and set it up proudly for all to see.”

Ribbit…

The frog stirring the cauldron shook its head, signaling that she had failed yet again.

Greta knew all too well. How could she, with no talent in ice magic, create an ice waterfall?

An ice waterfall, something even the Blue Tower struggled with.

It was nothing more than a stubborn obsession.

Ribbit, ribbit! Ribbit, ribbit!

That’s when the frogs began to croak urgently. Greta’s expression hardened slightly.

“…The forest keeper is here.”

A figure approached with slow, heavy steps. They looked so ragged, they resembled a beggar.

They wore a crown of thorny branches from the forest, and carried a long piece of wood as a staff.

The keeper of the Thorn Forest.

They were also called the “Thornbird,” as wherever they went became a field of thorns.

For Greta, it wasn’t a welcome reunion. She didn’t have the strength to deal with him in her current state.

“So it’s you, Greta, who has returned. What about the Black Tower?”

“There were some issues. But…”

Greta quietly took a step back.

“It seems you’re not here just to welcome me, are you?”

“That’s harsh to say! I’m welcoming you with great enthusiasm. The way I welcome you has just changed a bit, that’s all.”

The forest keeper smiled slyly.

“…Changed?”

“You were once a supreme witch and a force to be reckoned with, so in the past, it was only natural to welcome you as the master of this forest.”

“And now?”

“Now, however, you seem to have aged quite a bit. So, I’m welcoming you as nourishment for the Thorn Forest. Understand?”

Rustle. Rustle.

Several thorny trees slowly began lowering their branches, as if they were ropes meant to strangle Greta’s limbs and neck.

‘This is bad.’

With her remaining strength gone and her body exhausted, Greta was in serious trouble.

Ribbit…! Ribbit…!

Just then, the frogs began croaking pitifully.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a sound like a strong gust of wind hit her ears. But it was clearly different from wind—it was colder.

“What’s that irritating sound…?”

The forest keeper couldn’t finish his sentence.

In the next moment.

“…!”

Whoooooosh!

What happened in front of Greta was truly shocking.

Crack!

Before she could even witness the freezing process, the entire Thorn Forest had turned to ice, and the forest keeper was now nothing but a block of ice.

‘…But the frogs and I are fine.’

Greta found that strange.

Tap.

Greta tapped the frozen forehead of the forest keeper with her finger.

Krssshhhh!

An icy path quickly formed in front of her, and something was rushing towards her at great speed.