Chapter 183

Chapter 183

I Proposed While Drunk and Now the Princesses are Obsessed.

Episode 183: Steeplechasing, Double-dealing, And Unfair Trade (5)

After Jaekiel and his companions solidified their plan, they began thorough preparations to ensure its success.

Paaaang!

“Ugh!”

Seina tumbled several times across the ground. She hadn’t been able to defend against Jaekiel’s ice shotgun.

“Ugh…”

Despite the overwhelming power, she struggled to get up, twitching with convulsions, but her expression seemed happy.

“Seina, are you alright?”

“Of course! I’m fine!”

Even covered in dirt and dust, she replied energetically.

She hadn’t had the chance to train with Jaekiel in a while, so the opportunity to do combined training to synchronize their movements was something she was truly glad about.

“Let’s take a break for a moment.”

However, human stamina had its limits. They had trained all day, so it was now time to rest.

The three of them sat down together to take a break.

“Your ash-colored ice was truly a great experience, Auditor. It was really enjoyable facing it.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“But…”

A slight trace of concern appeared on Seina’s face.

“The Purple Tower’s elite enjoys crushing big names.”

“Crushing big names?”

“They claim to travel across the continent, gaining experience by facing great magicians, but in reality, it’s different. They just kill and steal their belongings and potions.”

Seina furrowed her brow and continued.

“The amount of potions Zeta has stolen and consumed is beyond counting. This operation was particularly long, so he must have returned even stronger.”

“So, his power is the result of combining various rare potions.”

“That’s right. His lightning is golden, and unlike the usual lightning from the Purple Tower, it has the effect of paralyzing the opponent’s mana. That’s how he wins every time in his escapades.”

Jaekiel silently nodded.

Paralyzing mana, which was the very foundation of a magician’s abilities, truly was an impressive technique.

“Now I understand why the Purple Tower was so confident—they possessed such a technique.”

“Yes. Even if someone from the Imperial Tower came to punish them, it would still be a magician, right? And if it’s a magician they’re facing, they’re certain they won’t lose.”

Seina quickly added.

“I would never think of your defeat, Master. I’m just worried I won’t be able to fulfill my role. What if it’s like the last time, in the underground maze…?”

At the mention of the underground maze, Anes and Seina’s faces immediately darkened.

They felt responsible for Jaekiel’s abduction to the Demon Realm, believing it was due to their lack of ability. In reality, that wasn’t the case.

“It’s alright, it wasn’t your fault.”

Jaekiel patted their heads gently. The women quietly blinked their eyes.

“And this time, we will not fail.”

Finally, the time to execute the plan had come.

It was when the Purple Tower’s support was at its peak.

City of Clatie.

A branch temporarily established by the Purple Tower.

On a long chair, Zeta lay on his side, propping his head up with one arm, observing the situation with an incredibly bored expression.

“Next!”

The elder of the Purple Tower, Gendiz, shouted.

The temporary building resembled a very large courtroom, with the elders seated as if they were judges, facing the entrance.

Screech.

Only one person was allowed to enter at a time. The door opened, and a citizen of the Empire quietly entered, following their turn.

But this time, it was unusually two people.

A man dragged in a woman, badly beaten and tied up. There seemed to be a story behind it.

“Hmm, what is this about?”

The elder, Gendiz, asked.

“I’ve identified a demon. However, I am just a regular citizen of the Empire. I don’t have the courage to deal with the demon myself, so I request a proxy execution.”

“That’s wrong… that’s not true!”

The woman shouted in a pitiful voice.

“He tried to rape me, and when it didn’t go as he wished, he’s labeling me as a demon! It’s so unfair. I am not a demon, I swear!”

Gendiz’s gaze shifted to a long chair at the side. Zeta, one of the Purple Tower’s elite, seemed indifferent, yawning as though he had no interest in the situation.

Zeta himself asked.

“Hey, a proxy execution costs quite a bit.”

“If it’s about money, I’ll pay generously. I’ve brought a bundle of gold coins. After all, it’s for the esteemed members of the Purple Tower.”

“Hmm…”

Even though the woman was giving him a desperate look, Zeta didn’t show any interest. It was as if he were simply watching a bunch of insects having a conversation.

“Elder, proceed.”

That was all.

“I’m just an ordinary human! I’m not a demon! Is this really happening?”

The woman’s cry didn’t last long.

Szzzzzt!

“Ugh…”

As soon as the lightning struck, the woman’s eyes rolled back in agony. The pain was unbearable, even for a person in their right mind.

The once beautiful woman quickly transformed into a charred corpse. The man who had come to make the request also broke into a cold sweat, horrified by the gruesome sight.

“Take double the gold coins promised. Next.”

“Yes, yes…”

Even though Zeta unexpectedly doubled the price, the man didn’t say a word and left. After witnessing the power of the lightning, he had no way to resist.

City of Clatie.

Were demons hiding throughout the city? In other words, it meant that anyone who was resentful and turned out to be a demon could be killed.

Therefore, many people, like the man earlier, brought bundles of gold coins, eager to settle their grudges.

The Purple Tower took all the benefits related to this. Before long, they were ruling like the Emperor.

A burst of laughter erupted among the elders.

“The city of Clatie is no different from a gold mine, huh?”

“The profits we’ve already made are huge. We could even uproot the Purple Tower’s garden.”

“We could even expand. This city is so wealthy, there’s plenty we can exploit.”

From then on, even during meals, their conversations revolved solely around money—discussing how they could extract wealth from the citizens of the Empire.

“They won’t be coming at all, will they?”

“It’s already been a week, and they haven’t shown up. They must have just run away.”

“Actually, it’s better this way. Starting next week, we’ll collect protection fees. It will be a steady source of income.”

Zeta grew bored of the conversation and left. The elders all simultaneously bowed to him.

As he stepped outside, a crowd formed like waves, all waiting for Zeta. Each of them had admiring looks in their eyes, and Zeta found it quite amusing.

It was something he could look at endlessly without ever tiring of it.

“It’s Zeta!”

“Zeta! Purify this city with lightning!”

“He looks every bit the hero. How could such a kind person be in this city…? It’s a blessing…”

“More praise. More praise.”

Zeta, who found everything dull, never grew tired of this. He could listen to it forever.

At that moment, someone shouted.

“Zeta! I dare ask, is it true that a protection fee will be collected starting next week?”

“It’s true.”

Zeta immediately answered.

Before the person who asked could continue, Zeta preemptively kept talking.

“Everyone in the Empire, you know that originally, the Imperial Tower and the Purple Tower had agreed to jointly protect this place, right?”

“Yes? Yes…”

“Since the two towers promised to protect this city, it’s quite a burden for the Purple Tower to handle it alone. We’ve been struggling with this…”

Zeta put on a serious expression.

“If we don’t collect protection fees, the Purple Tower will run into such a deficit that we’ll no longer be able to stay here.”

Then, he put on a pitiful expression.

“Of course, we don’t want to burden the citizens of the Empire. Therefore, the protection fee is not mandatory, and we’ve also considered the option of simply leaving.”

“Hah!”

“Ugh!”

At his words, many people around him held their breath.

The Purple Tower’s support was already sky-high. The thought of them leaving Clatie was terrifying to the citizens of the Empire.

It was a clever piece of manipulation, and everyone had been perfectly brainwashed.

“We will support you, at least so you don’t leave!”

“Please don’t abandon us!”

“Those disgraceful Imperial Tower bastards! We’ll provide all the money you need. Please stay…”

At that moment, Zeta smirked inwardly.

Kuuuoooo!

With a great roar, the sky darkened. The black clouds gathered ominously.

At the same time, an overwhelming, intense energy swept over them.

It was definitely demon energy.

─Protection?

So many people in the crowd stood in stunned silence, as the voice that spoke was incredibly deep and resounding.

─How dare you try to stand against our Demon Realm?

At the same time, two figures appeared, standing in the air. Their faces were hidden, and they were cloaked in jet-black robes from head to toe.

“D-d-demons…?”

When someone murmured that…

─Today.

The two dark figures spoke simultaneously.

─We’ll correct the behavior of the Purple Tower.

It was a truly bold declaration of war.