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A mixture of suspicion, doubt, and all sorts of negativity were swirling on their faces. After all, they were the ones who didn’t want Hedera to succeed in the first place.

But Ezekiel was different.

Ezekiel’s gaze was devoid of even a hint of negativity; his eyes were filled with boundless trust, as if Hedera’s success was a foregone conclusion.

…Hedera suddenly looked back at herself.

Hedera, who had lived her life accepting that she was a slow learner, suddenly had an incredible talent bestowed upon her one day. Since then, she had only honed her talent, nothing more.

In other words, she had never truly pushed beyond her limits.

But there was one person who consistently challenged her.

Only Ezekiel pushed Hedera to her limits, compelling her to grow step by step. Always.

Dragons were transcendent beings who looked down upon the entire continent.

Their immense power needed no explanation; they were embodiments of wisdom, guided solely by reason and intuition.

Just as a Dragon breaks free from the small world of its egg to greet the larger world, Hedera too had to break out of the small worlds she had confined herself to in order to pass the ascension ceremony.

And today, Ezekiel had once again assumed the role of Hedera’s Master, much like he had years ago.

Hedera had been skillfully avoiding this reality. She had been neglecting the development of the ancient dragon language, pacifying herself with vague, ambiguous reasons. She was afraid to face her own lack of talent.

“…………..”

Once more, she surveyed her surroundings.

She saw Ezekiel, radiating infinite trust in her, and the others, brimming with expectation.

As she watched this scene…

Ssssss—

A warmth began to rise from the depths of Hedera’s heart. It quickly transformed into a distinct energy. After a long time, her passion had reignited.

Time passed by, and dawn was soon approaching.

Hedera, who had wrapped herself in moonlight like a robe, finally placed her hand on the stone tablet. It was an ordinary gesture, devoid of any special meaning.

However.

Hum— Hum—

The ancient tablet began to resonate and respond. The eyes of those watching widened in amazement.

“Resonance!”

“The stone tablet is reacting!”

As tension and anticipation intensified, Hedera’s energy stalled, unable to progress further.

“Hah…”

Her breathing was labored. Indeed, this was the ancient dragon language. It was clear why it was known for its extreme difficulty.

Everyone looked at the Second Princess with anxious expressions.

After a moment, Gromon spoke up.

“Princess, is something wrong?”

The dragon-person smiled meaningfully and continued, “I’ve heard that the ancient dragon language isn’t something that can be mastered through effort alone. Talent plays a crucial role. It would be a shame to leave things as they are, wouldn’t it?”

Instead of answering, Hedera closed her eyes slightly.

“With so many eyes watching, we can’t disappoint and send them away. Let’s make a soul trade immediately. It won’t take long, and you’ll be able to achieve instant success.”

Hedera opened her eyes very slowly.

Hedera’s pupils, vertically slit and inhuman, were revealed; the corners of her mouth, hidden behind her mask, curled upwards. It was a sneer directed at Gromon, and a confirmation of her own resolve.

“Princess, please make a decision quickly…”

“Silence.”

Her response was devoid of any honorifics.

Gromon closed his mouth.

He furrowed his brow, as if a human had never addressed a dragon-person in such a manner before, but Hedera remained focused.

She now knew with utmost clarity—

What needed to be done for her own sake.

What she must do.

Who was hindering her, and who was helping her.

Rumble—!

The stone tablet beneath her hand began to shake violently.

Crack—!

And the stone tablet shattered.

What had been imprisoned within was an illusion spell. A long, serpentine form, bathed in moonlight, soared skyward, its end lost in the heavens; a dragon coiled around the moon in a single revolution, then gazed down with eyes brighter than moonlight. 

Everyone understood the significance of this vision.

Ascension.

It was an illusion depicting the act of ascension.

Though not reality, it was a breathtaking spectacle precisely because it was an illusion. A small vision of ascension, brought forth by Hedera’s hand. As everyone stood slack-jawed…

The dragon-people swiftly prostrated themselves.

“We witness the dragon’s potential, the future of ascension…!”

~~••~~••~~

One week later.

At the Imperial Magic Tower, I finished my personal training early in the morning.

Even though I had only dealt with the ice magic all my life, its charm lay in discovering new aspects with each use. There was still room for improvement, which is why I had been diligently working.

“You’ve been training since dawn again.”

It was Agnes, my personal secretary, whom I met in the hallway.

Her sharp, bob-cut hair, the cube in her hand, and the notebook she occasionally glanced at—everything about her was as usual.

“Were you looking for me?”

“Yes. I have something to report.”

“Let’s do it in the office.”

The path to the office was exceptionally noisy.

The incident at the Imperial Treasury entrance a week ago—with so many witnesses, it was inevitable that rumors would spread. As a result, today too, there was an abundance of chatter about me.

“It’s the Inspector! I heard he did something incredible!”

“They say he subdued an elemental effortlessly.”

“I heard he helped the Second Princess achieve enlightenment!”

“The news that the Imperial Magic Tower’s Inspector is extraordinary has spread throughout the capital! It’s causing quite a stir!”

The reaction was vastly different from when I had just assumed office.

Perhaps because it was an incident within the Imperial family, involving the Princess and dragon-people, the impact was truly immense. The number of mages trying to curry favor had increased significantly.

“In-Inspector, I have a question…”

“Could you please take a look at this scroll?”

“I want to learn ice magic too. Please…!”

It was beyond the level where I could respond to each request individually.

“Later. I have a lot to do right now.”

I sent them away with a brief response. It wasn’t a lie or an excuse. I was genuinely very busy.

Of course, I also felt a sense of novelty.

— Ezekiel, you must not reveal your existence.

— You are the shadow of the Imperial family. Remember that.

In the distant past, hadn’t I rather tried my best to hide my identity? It felt truly peculiar that I could now openly gain fame.

Lost in these thoughts, I found myself at the office door.

Agnes immediately set down a stack of documents.

“First of all, congratulations. The Tower’s reputation can change based on the Inspector’s standing, and thanks to this recent incident, the Imperial Tower’s prestige seems to have risen considerably.”

“I didn’t know you were capable of praise. That’s new.”

“I’m simply stating facts. It’s not out of personal interest.”

Agnes cleared her throat and gestured to the documents.

“Anyway, perhaps because of that influence, an unexpected development has occurred, with only three days left until the inter-tower exchange meeting.”

“Unexpected? Go on.”

“The Black Tower is sending an envoy. Whether it’s due to their newfound interest in the Imperial Tower after the Imperial Treasury incident, or if they have other motives, I’m not certain.”

“Is sending an envoy a common occurrence?”

“An envoy from the Black Tower is exceptionally rare.”

I nodded. There was no reason to be intimidated or afraid, and consequently, no reason to decline.

“Next, we’ve received a message from the Ruiple region. They wish to express their gratitude but are unsure what you desire. They’ve asked us to inquire on their behalf.”

“Tell them to focus on cultivating their sunweed well.”

“Shall I relay that message exactly?”

Instead of answering, I stared at Agnes intently.

“…Understood.”

She telekinetically organized the documents.

“Now for the final item. This isn’t confirmed information, just a rumor, but…”

“You must have a reason for mentioning it. Let’s hear it.”

“The Second Princess hasn’t been seen for a week. I’ve heard whispers that she entered the Emperor’s palace and hasn’t emerged since.”

“In the Emperor’s palace for an entire week?”

I wondered if there could be that much to discuss for an entire week.

“………..”

Then something clicked in my mind.

— Sun Elixir. I said I’d propose it.

Sun Elixir. The moment I recalled it, my mind snapped to attention.

At the same time, I thought back over the conditions that the Emperor had set.

➸ First, become stronger than Ether.

➸ Second, become more noble than Hedera.

➸ Third, become more devout than Solana.

➸ Fourth, acquire more wealth than Chain.

➸ Fifth, reach a higher magic realm than Neo.

Fortunately, I was not lacking in skill and talent, so I had made some progress, but the one thought I had the most while trying to achieve the conditions was—

‘This demands a long-term strategy.’

These conditions were not something that could be achieved in a short time.

For Ezekiel, who wasn’t granted a long life, this was truly a vexing problem. If only the time issue could be resolved, the chances of success would greatly increase.

…But what if I could get my hands on the Sun Elixir?

Even during my days of toiling like a dog in the Imperial family, Sun Elixir was something I couldn’t even dream of tasting or hoping for. It was that precious—an elixir said to grant immortality to humans.

Was Hedera discussing Sun Elixir as well?

If so, what would the Emperor’s decision be?

Come to think of it, the impetus for writing the letter was the resentment of death, and I had written it hoping for Sun Elixir in my heart. Could it truly change my life in the end?

“Agnes.”

“Yes?”

I quietly put a sunweed leaf in my mouth.

“I need to be alone for a while.”

“Certainly. I’ll withdraw immediately.”

After Agnes left, I exhaled a puff of smoke.

Something long worn out within me began to stir.

It was a feeling I hadn’t experienced in a very long time—desperation.

~~••~~••~~

That night.

I received a letter with shocking contents.

「Come see me at once.」

「We will discuss Sun Elixir.」

It was none other than a missive from the Emperor himself.