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The residence had exploded, leaving only ruins behind, and the entire estate was blanketed in pristine white snow. Those who had been enjoying the festivities still did not seem to understand the situation. It was only natural, given how swiftly the change had occurred.

“……..What on earth happened?”

“It seems like there was a big fight inside the residence.”

As they murmured thus, feeling a profound sense of unease, they soon realized what had caused it.

Monsters and fiends.

“Wait a minute! What about the monsters and fiends?”

It was peculiar that they had the luxury to chatter so leisurely when hordes of monsters and fiends had just invaded, wasn’t it?

Everyone swiftly surveyed their surroundings, searching for what had become of these creatures.

“……………!”

And soon, all were astounded.

The monsters and fiends were simply frozen.

The demonic mana, still twitching with life, was trapped within the ice, unable to escape. Whispers spread like wildfire among the people.

“To imprison demonic mana as is? I’ve never seen such ice in my life. Never even heard of it!”

“Not just the monsters. Even the fiends so easily… Just how high is this level of mastery?”

“Who on earth could have done this?”

Among those present, only Belka and Agnes remained silent; this Ice was undoubtedly Ezekiel’s handiwork.

Of course, they too were equally bewildered.

As everyone was marveling at the situation, suddenly—

“Your attention, please.”

A man who had appeared atop the estate wall spoke. The Inspector of the Imperial Magic Tower, Ezekiel, was more than enough to draw all eyes.

In his hand was a cubic block of ice.

Inside the transparent ice box was Tirbi’s head, her eye whites tinged a deep purple. Even without deep contemplation, it was clear evidence of a fiend.

“This one was the cause of Ruiple’s erosion phenomenon, which I’ve just eliminated. Not too difficult to understand, is it?”

People could only blink in bewilderment.

Tirbi.

The name of the woman who had reigned like a deity in the Ruiple region, called the Envoy of the Sun God. She who had held the hearts of the people in her grasp was now conspicuously decapitated and encased in ice, wearing the face of a fiend.

“………….”

The shock was so profound that no one could utter a word; everyone just stood there frozen like ice statues.

“How could this be… Of all people, Lady Tirbi?”

“It’s impossible. The Envoy of the Sun God…”

Here and there, people began to sink to the ground. It seemed that despair outweighed anger for most. Understandable, given how deep their trust in Tirbi had been.

At that moment, Ezekiel spoke again, “Well, I understand you’re all shocked.” He pulled out a single leaf from his breast pocket, “But that aside, there’s something you all need to do right now.”

A long, slender leaf resembling a willow—yet no one failed to recognize its true identity. After all, this region, Ruiple, was the primary producer of this plant.

“…Sunweed?”

Someone murmured.

And Ezekiel nodded.

Indeed, it was Sunweed.

“Bring me all of this you have. Every last piece, without exception.”  ​

~~••~~••~~

The situation in Ruiple was quickly being brought under control.

“The Inspector of Imperial Magic Tower has truly accomplished something remarkable.”

“I shudder to think what might have happened if he hadn’t visited…”

“We would have lived our entire lives deceived. It’s horrifying to even consider.”

The shock of Tirbi’s revelation was already transforming into fame for Ezekiel; substantial fame, at that. Of course, Ezekiel merely continued to smoke sunweed. With true evil defeated and eliminated, it was only right that the festivities should continue.

He leaned against the mountain of sunweed, piled high behind him…

Whoosh—

…And exhaled a long stream of smoke. Perhaps due to smoking a large quantity after so long, his mind felt somewhat hazy. The wavering of his vision was oddly pleasant.

It was then that Agnes approached.

“Inspector, how long have you known?”

“From the beginning.”

“I had no idea at all.”

“That’s due to your current level. Still dull.”

“…Did you say dull? Me?”

Ezekiel deliberately used provocative language. This expedition should also serve as a lesson for Agnes, and such words would be effective for her.

‘Agnes has always been a top student, never missing first place.’

He had already reviewed the data on his secretary. She was exceptionally talented. Admitted to the academy at a young age, she had consistently ranked first among her peers. No wonder she could serve as an imperial administrator.

A promising talent worth nurturing. Just as Ezekiel thought this—

“I won’t deny it. It’s true that I’m still dull compared to your skills, Inspector.” Agnes continued, “I can vaguely guess why you didn’t even give me a hint. It would have been easier to carry out the mission without telling me.”

Her response was unusual; there was almost no anger or resentment, just a pure question. She stuffed the cube into her pocket and continued, “Your name will now become incredibly famous here, Inspector. Perhaps even beyond Ruiple.”

“And?”

“I don’t understand why you brought me along. If you just needed to fill a headcount, wouldn’t it have been more efficient for me to remain at the Magic Tower and work?”

Always expressionless. Always emotionless.

Even now, what she was asking about was merely ‘efficiency’.

However, at this rate, Agnes would forever remain just a top student. Ezekiel intended to guide her beyond that, to reach the realm of genius.

Just like in the distant past when he taught his precious disciples.

“Agnes, you need inefficiency.”

The sense of powerlessness, anxiety, perhaps even inferiority felt when closely observing someone far more extraordinary than oneself… These things, though somewhat painful, were exactly what she needed. Truly essential.

Agnes blinked twice rapidly, “Are you playing with words again?”

“I said you need what you need. Now, off you go.”

As if to say he wanted to devote time to savoring the sunweed without interruption, Ezekiel waved her away.

“………..”

Agnes blinked at regular intervals.

Staring at the Inspector with that same expressionless face.

【Occasionally says completely incomprehensible things.】

【Seems to spout nonsense when intoxicated by sunweed.】

She added these two lines to her notebook.

~~••~~••~~

“Ha… This should be enough. That pathetic Inspector.”

Valken, the guard knight of the Second Imperial Princess Hedera, gazed with satisfaction at the monster corpses lined up on the ground.

“I’ll make him realize that chasing immediate pleasures ultimately kicks away life’s long-term happiness.”

If Valken had been blinded by something right in front of him, he too might have sought a way to immediately defeat Ezekiel. For instance, through a duel.

While he could have defeated him outright that way, it wouldn’t have been a wise choice. He needed a method that would gradually tighten the noose while exposing as much of Ezekiel’s hand as possible.

After all, that was how this wager had begun.

Moreover, this was Ruiple.

A place where unexpected peace had arrived.

Contrary to expectations, monster sightings were rare; to win the wager, he had to move quickly.

‘Considering the circumstances, 30 monsters isn’t bad.’

Valken nodded quietly. His eyes, hidden behind his helmet, glowed like lights.

“The Inspector is probably still drinking.”

“He’ll regret it when he’s forcibly dismissed.”

The three knights entered the estate, smiling.

The scene that unfolded was exactly as they had anticipated.

The ongoing festivities, the Inspector of the Imperial Magic Tower indulging only in alcohol and sunweed… Except for a light dusting of snow inside the estate, it was precisely as expected.

Valken raised his chin and called out—

“Inspector! Have you accomplished anything today?”

However, there was no answer.

It was understandable. It was obvious that he’d been playing all day; pretending not to hear out of shame was probably his best option.

So, Valken turned his gaze to Ezekiel’s companions.

“It seems your Inspector at least knows shame. Will you answer on his behalf to save face? Was there any achievement today?”

However…

Something was off.

‘Why are those fellows reacting like that?’

By now, they should have been blushing furiously, unable to handle the embarrassment, but the attitudes of Ezekiel’s two female mage companions were utterly nonchalant.

No, they weren’t even paying attention to Valken.

“Oh, sunweed senior…! Hello…!”

“Show some restraint. Aren’t you ashamed?”

“Lady Agnes, are you also shy…? Embarrassed…?”

“Obviously, that’s not what I meant.”

“Anyway, it means you’re not very close, right…? Come on, say hello. It’s what the Inspector ordered, after all…”

“…Please stop lowering your own value.”

Beyond nonchalance, their response was indifferent. They were engaged in an incomprehensible, bizarre conversation.

“How much have these rascals overindulged…”

Just as Valken was about to berate them.

Snap─!

Someone snapped their fingers as if to draw attention.

It was Ezekiel, the Inspector of the Imperial Magic Tower.

Still with his back turned, he raised his hand; holding something, slowly.

Very slowly.

“………..”

Immediately, the three knights’ mouths clamped shut.

“………..!”

A moment later, their mouths gaped wide open again.

What Ezekiel held in his hand.

It was unmistakably the head of a high-ranking fiend.