✦ Chapter 97 – Ezekiel 223.38 (4) ✦
「Translator – Creator」
𒋝
Hierarchy.
The natural outcome when people with emotions gather was the creation of a hierarchy.
The higher one’s position in this cruel food chain, the greater the benefits … that went without saying. It was simply the natural order of things.
Therefore…
Ezekiel intended to climb to the top of this hierarchy.
This place was not welcoming to new members. On the contrary, newcomers were thoroughly suppressed and excluded, so one had to climb up to be respected.
The choice was crystal clear.
“Wha-, wha-, what…?”
A look of bewilderment crossed the face of the creature with green hair, elf ears, and reindeer antlers growing from its head.
“What did you just say to me…?”
While the incident was already unfolding, the other members merely observed the situation; they intended to gauge the abilities of the new member before determining their own actions.
Ezekiel welcomed this attitude.
The more they assessed his abilities, the more likely they were to side with him.
The Antlered Mage ran her hand through her bangs.
“Weakling, repeat what you just said.”
Her fury radiated like a ticking time bomb, but Ezekiel remained unfazed.
“I told you, it was just a light tap. Like, um…”
“You little…!”
Sparks of rage flew from her eyes.
She was genuinely angry, but Ezekiel didn’t mind. It was better than seeing her strutting around with that smug look.
But then it happened.
“Hey, malicious ego.”
The Antlered Mage released a wave of immense mana.
Whoosh!—
An overwhelming pressure began to crush Ezekiel. Was this what it would feel like if gravity suddenly intensified? The mana was unimaginably heavy.
‘However, it’s slightly different from the sensation of real mana.’
There was an unpleasant sensation, like the weight had been artificially increased. Ezekiel understood. This must be the effect of “ adjustments ” within the virtual world. ŗÄ
‘So that’s how it works.’
He marveled, once again, at the intricate illusions of the Black World. Ordinary magic, amplified through illusions, inflicted upon the opponent.
Ezekiel checked the opponent’s status.
[Name: ???]
[Class: Mage, Specialized in Mana Manipulation.]
A mage enhanced by Mana Manipulation Specialization… a far superior Class compared to Ezekiel’s “Idler”.
The other members finally relaxed, starting to snack on whatever they had brought. They likely viewed this scene as just another overconfident newcomer getting put in their place.
“You were all talk just now, weren’t you, weakling? Oh, was I too harsh? Did I almost kill you? I should ease up a bit.”
It was a lie. In fact, she was actually increasing the pressure.
Perhaps Ezekiel’s earlier remark had wounded her pride, because the Antlered Mage was exerting all her might to keep him pinned down.
Of course, Ezekiel remained completely fine.
“I don’t get it. Why do you want to hear it so many times?”
“Scared to say it again? Can’t handle the consequences?”
“I told you, I thought of your mother and gave it a light tap.”
Shock washed over the Antlered Mage’s face.
“W-What? But I increased the intensity…?”
She was so stunned that she revealed her lie; a stark contrast to Ezekiel’s composure.
‘At least she won’t think I’m from the Imperial Magic Tower now.’
There were many things Ezekiel could say to rile her up, but he deliberately chose aggressive language. The more he acted in a manner disassociated from the dignity of the Imperial Magic Tower, the better he could conceal his identity.
It felt good. Refreshing, even.
Meanwhile, the other members began to murmur among themselves.
“This is strange. She did apply pressure.”
“Could it be that the newcomer is just stronger?”
“In any case, drawing attention right from the start isn’t a good idea. Nothing good comes from standing out in a Secret Gathering.”
Some were confused, while others began to show interest. Ezekiel’s plan to establish himself was progressing smoothly.
“You malicious ego! You’re clearly exploiting something, and you dare to act like this?! How dare you, how dare you…!”
The Antlered Mage’s fists trembled with fury, but…
Ezekiel shifted his focus.
Suddenly, he recalled the words of Seina, the Elder of the Blue Tower.
— A waste, a waste? Absolutely not! This virtual world can be beneficial to reality as well. Training here can have an impact on reality, you see.
What Seina had told him was simple.
For example, if a low-ranking mage practiced intermediate-level magic in the virtual world… that experience would linger even after returning to reality .
— In this virtual world, even a low-ranking mage can experience intermediate-level magic. That’ll be immensely helpful when they try to break through their limits.
How would it work for Ezekiel?
Perhaps experiencing magic with a healed constitution could be immensely beneficial in reality ?
There was no harm in trying.
And as luck would have it… he had an eager opponent.
— So, Master, why don’t you try the “Duel” function with me later? It’s a one-on-one duel feature, and it’s incredibly realistic.
Seina had added—
— There’s practice mode and serious mode in “Duel”. If you lose in serious mode, your Black World persona gets reset …. A huge penalty, huh?
Well, then serious mode it is.
He quickly scanned the notification window.
It seemed like merely thinking about using the “Duel” function was enough. A notification automatically appeared before his opponent.
The Antlered Mage carefully examined the notification, then scoffed in disbelief.
“… ‘Duel’? Serious mode? Are you kidding me?”
“You seemed to want it.”
“This is childish, but fine. I’ll humor you.”
The Antlered Mage immediately accepted the challenge.
“A cornered rat will bite a cat, as they say. It’s true, isn’t it? If you’d just begged, you might’ve gotten some scraps of information.”
“…Why do you talk so much?”
“Shut up, weakling. No, you’ll be silenced soon enough.”
Swoosh—
As the surroundings transformed, the duel began. The setting was an expansive plain with just the two of them.
‘Let’s start by gently drawing out my ice mana.’
He focused on manipulating his ice mana.
Shhhk—
“Even though this is a virtual world, the pain is just as real, you know? You insolent —”
The Antlered Mage, who’d been ranting non-stop, suddenly froze.
She stood motionless.
But not completely still. Her body was trembling rapidly, almost imperceptibly.
“…Ugh.”
A single sound escaped her lips.
A sound Ezekiel was all too familiar with; the sound he’d heard countless times throughout his life.
Cold.
People tormented by an unnatural, extreme cold made that kind of sound as they writhed in agony.
“…What, that’s all you got? Just a bit of frost?”
Ezekiel muttered, incredulous.
He approached quietly and patted her on the shoulder.
The Antlered Mage continued to shiver, but there was no other reaction.
“She’s enveloped in mana, but she’s still out of it.”
Ordinary people could easily freeze from a slight chill, but mages were inherently protected by their rapidly rotating mana; they shouldn’t freeze so easily.
Well, that’s how it should be…
But the Antlered Mage was frozen solid before his eyes.
An ego with the Mage Class and Mana Manipulation Specialization … completely incapacitated by Ezekiel’s Ice.
“Wha-, wha-, what…? What in the…?”
The Antlered Mage mumbled, bewildered.
Her HP bar, displayed above her head, was rapidly depleting.
Ezekiel pressed his middle finger against his thumb and flicked it towards her forehead— a gesture commonly known as a “flick”.
“What else could it be?”
Flick—!
Her head shattered with a cracking sound.
“Your persona is hopeless. Start over.”
A landslide victory.
However, his tone carried no particular emotion.
• • •
The other members’ eyes widened as Ezekiel returned to the Secret Gathering chamber, having defeated the Antlered Mage.
It was an understandable reaction. Ezekiel’s HP bar was still full, even after the duel.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
And people averted their gazes.
“Ahem….”
“Hmm! A worthy new member has joined us.”
The rapid change in the attitudes of those who had looked down on him was all too familiar to Ezekiel. He waved his hand dismissively, not wanting to waste time.
“Enough with the formalities, let’s share some information.”
“Not yet….”
“Not yet?”
When Ezekiel quickly turned his head, a beastman with a human body and a cat’s head took a few steps backward.
“Wh-Why are you looking at me like that? We can’t start yet. The host hasn’t arrived.”
His way of speaking was peculiar.
But what bothered Ezekiel more was the word “host ”.
“Host?”
“Th-That’s right.”
The beastman’s persona nodded. The other members chimed in, confirming his statement.
“There’s someone who leads this Secret Gathering.”
“Who is it?”
“We obviously don’t know their true identity, but they’re assumed to be a highly influential figure in reality as well. The information they handle here is on a different level.”
“That’s right…! It doesn’t work without them…!”
“It’s amazing. They have deep knowledge of magic, and they even share information about the imperial family sometimes.”
Who was this host?
And when would they arrive? Time was precious.
As these thoughts swirled in Ezekiel’s mind…
Creak—
The door opened.
And the members’ faces lit up.
“Oh, they’re here!”
“Host-nim, you’ve arrived!”
“Greetings, Host-nim.”
And…
Ezekiel himself was taken aback.
It was a rare occurrence. Ezekiel, surprised ?
“
But he couldn’t help it; the sight before him was too shocking.
‘Is that… me?’
[‘ Ezekiel’ has entered the Secret Gathering. ]
The person who entered as the host of the Secret Gathering…
…Had not only taken the alias “Ezekiel”, but also had an appearance identical to Ezekiel’s.