Chapter 94

The mage, clearly skilled but vulnerable to compliments, had finished the task in less than an hour after receiving the powder.

“What exactly are you planning to do with this…? And what is that powder, anyway?”

Despite having completed the task, the mage’s tone remained skeptical.

“Do you think I’d use this for terrorism?”

“Well, you never know…”

The mage’s suspicious gaze lingered, refusing to dissipate easily.

Waving dismissively, as if tired of arguing, they gestured for the mage to leave. However, instead of exiting the office, the mage brought up another topic.

“By the way, while returning to the Mage Tower, I analyzed the magic power embedded in the bomb spells. Fortunately, no similar bombs remain in the Imperial Palace.”

“Have you identified the culprit?”

“No. Unfortunately, it was unregistered magic.”

Unlike divine power, magic carried unique signatures. Once registered with the Mage Tower, it could be easily traced. While most nobles had their magic registered, commoners were less likely to do so. Even so, the Imperial Family had implemented rewards for registration, gradually closing the gap.

“In this case, it’s highly likely the culprit belongs to the underworld.”

The mage nodded in agreement. This would make tracking the perpetrator all the more challenging.

“But, you see…”

Clearing his throat dramatically to draw attention, the mage continued, 

“The Mage Tower recently developed a magic tracker, didn’t they?”

Proudly, he pulled out a small, circular artifact from his pocket. It resembled a miniature radar.

“This is an artifact designed to track unregistered magic!”

His expression practically begged for praise. 

“Isn’t it amazing?”

“Oh… it’s impressive…”

Even though the words were spoken without much enthusiasm, the mage’s pride soared to the heavens.

“So, how does it work?”

“If you insert a paper inscribed with the formula of the magic you want to track…”

The mage opened the artifact and placed a prepared sheet of paper inside. A light emanated from the artifact. After a brief moment of anticipation, nothing changed.

“…”

Visibly flustered, the mage shook the artifact vigorously, but the result remained the same.

“Let me see.”

Machines, after all, often worked better when given a good whack. Just as she was about to slam the artifact, it emitted a high-pitched beep, and a red dot appeared on the screen.

The mage snatched it back hastily.

“It seems the target wasn’t within the artifact’s tracking range earlier. Look here—see how the red dot keeps appearing and disappearing?”

The red dot on the artifact’s display flickered intermittently.

“So, it’s moving.”

While following the signal would likely lead to the culprit, the question remained—how, and who, would apprehend them?

She glanced at the boxes the mage had brought.

These needed to be delivered to the Knights Order, but the knights had already departed for the plaza where the gathering was taking place.

“There’s no choice. I’ll have to go.”

“What?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll just deliver these to the knights at the square and inform them of the culprit’s location. Then I’ll leave immediately.”

There was about an hour left until sunset when the gathering was supposed to begin.

If she acted quickly, there shouldn’t be any issues.

But she had overlooked one crucial fact.

Life rarely went according to plan.

* * *

The sun was setting.

The dusk was creeping in faster than anticipated.

“What time does the sun set today?”

She asked the mage who had followed her, just in case.

The mage, after checking something briefly, replied, 

“These days, the sun sets around 5:20 PM.”

It was roughly thirty minutes until sunset.

Upon confirming the time, they quickened their steps.

“This is far too dangerous, no matter how I think about it. Even now, you could ask another knight to…”

“Shh. Do you think I’m doing this because I want to?”

The assembly site was surely dangerous, but she couldn’t pass such a perilous task onto someone else just to save herself.

She had her reasons for heading to the plaza.

“You’re doing this because you want to…”

“Hey, hush!”

She glared at the mage, silently reprimanding him for talking back to a noble.

Though his mouth shut tightly, his gaze remained full of discontent.

“Why did you even follow me when I said I’d go alone…”

She cast a sidelong glance at the mage, who continued to grumble.

The mage, undeterred, retorted boldly, 

“If something happens to you, Chief, I’ll be held responsible.”

The mage clutched the handle of the bag containing the “surprise box” tightly, worried that something might happen.

“You’re more concerned about yourself than my safety.”

“Well, is that so wrong?”

“No. It’s a valid reason.”

Everyone knew that mages who voluntarily confined themselves in the Mage Tower had eccentric personalities.

She should be grateful that he didn’t cast a binding spell on her to stop her from going.

Shrugging her shoulders, she exited the alley leading to the plaza.

The plaza was already crowded with people.

However, they all looked remarkably ordinary.

So ordinary, in fact, that it was impossible to distinguish between regular citizens passing by and those gathered for the assembly.

‘Catching the Heretical Cult will be a headache.’

Evacuating the Empire’s citizens from the plaza would cause the cult to flee, but leaving them there was risky, as anything could happen.

In any case, she scanned her surroundings in search of Eched or Orgon.

As expected, they were nowhere to be seen, likely hidden somewhere out of sight.

The knights, disguised as ordinary citizens, were also difficult to identify among the crowd.

As she weaved through the throng, a voice echoed across the plaza.

“Greetings, believers. I am the leader of the cult. Some of you may be seeing me for the first time, while others are already familiar with me. It’s an honor to meet you all here.”

The voice, tinged with laughter, filled the plaza.

All eyes turned to a man standing on a high platform.

The man, who appeared to be of an advanced age, stood confidently, his face fully exposed as he began his speech.

This was a problem. The assembly seemed to be progressing faster than expected.

She quickened her pace.

Then, bam! She collided hard with someone.

“Are you alright?”

When she looked up, she saw a knight she had once encountered at the 1st Knight Order’s training grounds.

The knight’s eyes widened in recognition upon seeing her face.

“…Sha, Shaterian…!”

She hastily covered the knight’s mouth, urgently whispering, 

“Shh. Sir, I need to meet the knights… no, my husband, immediately.”

But as she surveyed her surroundings, it became clear that pushing through the crowd wouldn’t be easy.

Meanwhile, the cult leader continued to welcome new believers without pause.

His sudden speech had drawn even more curious onlookers to the plaza, further complicating the situation.

“Never mind. Just deliver this for me. This is…”

She handed the bag she had received from the mage to the knight.

“What… what is this?”

“A surprise box. This mage created it…”

“That’s why I—!”

Her words were drowned out by a booming voice.

She glanced at the man on the platform, who was smiling deeply.

“I stand here to guide you all onto the path of salvation.”

The knight, who had momentarily looked at the cult leader, turned back to her.

“Chief, you must leave the plaza immediately.”

Of course, she wanted to, but…

There was something unusual about the atmosphere in the plaza.

It was like ripples forming on a calm surface of water.

She noticed people gradually moving toward the platform.

“This is a significant gathering. But on such a fine day, we seem to have uninvited guests.”

The cult leader seemed to have already realized that knights were hiding among the crowd.

Well, it would’ve been more unrealistic if they hadn’t been discovered.

Holding an assembly so openly—it was bound to attract the knights’ attention.

Tension filled the air.

The momentary tension swept across the plaza like a wave.

Suddenly, chaos erupted.

Citizens screamed and fled, while knights clashed with disguised cultists.

However, the unease she felt wasn’t merely due to the chaotic situation.

It was something more primal, accompanied by an instinctive fear.

Something like dark sorcery, for instance.

Despite being a newly formed religion, the cult had amassed a significant number of followers.

They even outnumbered the knights dispatched for the operation.

But the difference in skill was evident, with the Imperial Knights holding the upper hand.

Yet, even as the cultists were being pushed back, the cult leader remained composed.

It was as if he had a final card up his sleeve.

And that card aligned perfectly with her worst fears.

As the sun set and twilight gave way to complete darkness, the energy enveloping the plaza shifted dramatically.

Suddenly, those consumed by dark sorcery began to writhe in agony.

Clunk, clunk.

Their bodies creaked.

“Grrrk—”

They emitted strange noises.

Their hollow eyes fixated on those who had not succumbed to the dark sorcery.