This Is No Accident!
The explosion that rocked the heart of the imperial capital was no accident. The Wizard’s Workshop stood at the center of the royal city, a bustling hub that sold potions, medicines, and magical tools. With its vast stores of volatile chemicals and offensive scrolls, the building was essentially one massive powder keg. The administrators knew this perfectly well, which was why the workshop always operated under strict management and an atmosphere of ironclad discipline.
At that very moment, a long line of people waited at the entrance for the usual pre-entry inspection. The checkpoint was responsible for determining whether anyone was carrying dangerous items and confiscating them if necessary. And right then, a figure wearing a thick robe stood before the inspectors.
“Next, please step forward and show us your belongings.”
At the inspector’s words, the robed figure moved forward without hesitation. They calmly set down their bundle in front of the guards. The staff immediately began unpacking it and checking the contents.
Hmm… nothing particularly suspicious here…
Inside were packages of food, several books, and a token identifying the bearer as a witch. Seeing this, the staff naturally assumed the person was a witch from the Magical Nation. Since witches from the Magical Nation frequently visited the Falcon Empire, there was nothing unusual about it. After finishing the inspection of the last item, the lead inspector looked at the ‘witch’ before him and spoke in a calm voice.
“Your belongings are all clear, Madam Witch. All that remains is a brief identity check. Could you please remove your robe for a moment?”
“…”
Since the main inspection had already been passed, the inspector saw no reason for trouble. With that thought in mind, he watched as the figure before him slowly removed the robe.
But then—
“! What the fu—!”
A curse burst from his mouth like a dying scream. The other staff members were just about to alert the outside when—
Whoosh!
A massive gauntlet flew straight at him.
“Guhhhk!”
The inspector and soldiers didn’t even have time to react. They were swept away by an overwhelming force and sent flying.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
“Gack!”
With short, dull sounds, they slammed into the ground. The visitors waiting behind them screamed in terror and fled to avoid getting caught up in the chaos. Meanwhile, the mages and soldiers standing guard directly in front of the checkpoint drew their weapons and shouted furiously.
“You bastard! What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”
“How dare you cause a disturbance here of all places!”
An unidentified individual had triggered an inexplicable incident. But regardless of the reason, they all knew that any trouble in a place like this—one wrong spark in this powder keg—could lead to irreversible catastrophe. The rule was clear: anyone causing a disturbance in such a dangerous location was to be executed on the spot, even if they were a witch from the Magical Nation.
The soldiers immediately moved to eliminate the reckless intruder.
But—
Whoosh!
Just as they tried to close in on the ‘witch,’ the figure appeared before them as if time itself had stopped. And then—
BOOOOOOM!!!
A tremendous shockwave erupted as the fist swung. The soldiers were sent flying just like their comrades, slamming helplessly into the ground.
After neatly knocking out every guard at the entrance, the witch stepped into the workshop. Beneath the hood, a face marked with ●△● showed no change in expression whatsoever.
And roughly twenty minutes later—
KWAAAAAANG!!!!
The Wizard’s Workshop, one of the largest in the empire, suddenly erupted in a massive explosion caused by an intense fire. The various magical reagents and offensive spells stored inside detonated in a chain reaction, sending a colossal mushroom cloud into the sky. Immediately afterward, flames erupted simultaneously across all the surrounding buildings.
It was almost as if someone had deliberately set the fires at precisely timed intervals.
*
“Damn it! Put out the fire, quickly! If we don’t stop it now, everything will burn!”
“It’s no use! The flames are already too intense—we can’t extinguish them!”
Residents and soldiers desperately fought the raging inferno. But their efforts were in vain. The crimson flames devoured everything in their path, spreading with terrifying speed. Perhaps because of the magical influence from the workshop, the fire refused to die even when doused with water and spread several times faster than ordinary flames.
In the end, the blaze only died after it had completely consumed an entire district of the city. The area that, only hours earlier, had symbolized the empire’s grandeur was now nothing but ashes. The citizens stood among the ruins with dazed, hollow expressions, staring blankly at the devastation.
“The damage is severe…”
“It appears so, General Achilles.”
Achilles had rushed to the scene at the emperor’s command to investigate the incident. Normally indifferent to the suffering of others, even he couldn’t help but frown at the horrific sight before him. Five percent of the massive imperial capital had been wiped out in a single stroke. The scale of property damage was beyond calculation. Considering that the Wizard’s Workshop and other key facilities had been located there, the technological losses would be even more catastrophic.
Of all the places… why here? Was this really just an accident? Or did someone do this on purpose…?
Since the exact circumstances were still unclear, he couldn’t be certain. But as the one investigating the situation, Achilles’s instincts were screaming at him.
This was no accident.
“How many fatalities?”
“Well… fortunately, it seems no one died in the initial explosion. However, with so many injured, there’s a high chance of additional deaths in the coming days…”
“I see…”
Another unexpected report from his subordinate. Hearing it, Achilles became even more convinced that this was no mere accident, but a deliberate act of terrorism.
Having made up his mind, he turned around and began to leave the scene.
“I have something to take care of. I’ll leave the rest to you.”
“Sir? Where are you going so suddenly?”
His subordinate looked bewildered by the sudden departure of the officer in charge. Achilles replied in a cold voice.
“I’m going to catch the culprit. If anyone asks, tell them that.”
“W-what… General, wait!”
Despite his subordinate’s confused shout, Achilles leaped onto a rooftop in an instant and vanished from the scene. Once he was gone, he activated his mana detection ability—just like High Priestess Aileen—and began scanning the area for powerful individuals.
If I wait for more time to pass and gather witness statements, the answer will become obvious. But by then, the perpetrators will have already escaped. So before that happens… I’ll catch them with my own hands.
Achilles had been reluctantly assigned to investigate the fire by the emperor’s orders. But if this was no accident—if it was a deliberate act—then the situation changed completely. For him, this was a golden opportunity to face off against skilled individuals capable of causing such a massive disturbance.
A faint, expectant smile formed on his lips as he began moving toward the presences of the ‘strong ones’ entering his detection range.
They’re hiding their power, but there are two fairly strong individuals. This should be interesting. It’s been a while since I’ve had a proper workout.
*
“Any pursuers?”
“Doesn’t look like it. I don’t see anyone following us with the naked eye.”
“Keep watching anyway. We can’t let our guard down yet.”
“Yes, Lady Shamyuel!”
The demons were fleeing at full speed after completing their mission. However, thanks to Hector’s request that they avoid causing any civilian deaths, they had been slightly delayed. Because they were still within the imperial capital’s territory, they remained tense and focused entirely on escape.
They had already left the urban area, but buildings and farmland still dotted the landscape. If they were pursued here, they could be caught quickly. So they poured all their strength into reaching the forest visible ahead.
Meanwhile, Hector, running almost shoulder-to-shoulder with Shamyuel, spoke with genuine sincerity.
“Thank you… for listening to my unreasonable request.”
“I am well aware. It was an extremely unreasonable request. I will make sure to repay this debt twofold later.”
Shamyuel answered in her usual flat, emotionless tone. Yet seeing her like this, a small smile crept across Hector’s face.
He had insisted that, even though they had joined the demon side, they could not slaughter innocent civilians. Shamyuel had argued that completing the mission came first, but in the end she had accepted his request. She had claimed it was only because more witnesses would make it easier to manipulate public opinion, but Hector believed she had shown him consideration.
She doesn’t show it on the surface… but she’s actually quite warm-hearted.
Just as Hector found himself unable to look away from her captivating face hidden beneath her helmet—
“!”
“Oh no…”
KWAAAAAANG!!!
A sudden, deafening explosion rang out. Hector and the demons froze as they stared at the figure that had dropped down in front of them with a thunderous crash. A heavy tension gripped them all.
“Who… is that person?”
“…Achilles.”