Published: July 3, 2025
The job of the guards at the accident scene is to keep bystanders away from the area.
In cases like this, where a flashy accident occurs in the royal capital, the number of onlookers is extraordinary.
As a result, even guards who were supposed to be on vacation were called to the scene.
Still, in comparison to the number of bystanders, their presence was negligible.
Because of this, a type of alchemy tool known as the “No Entry Rope” was set up around the scene.
Touching this rope would cause a sharp shock.
This was meant to inform the onlookers that they could not enter any further.
However, the old man grasped the “No Entry Rope” and walked right in.
Right in front of the guards.
“Hey, old man, you can’t come in here. Besides, how are you okay grabbing that rope?”
One of the guards tried to shoo the old man away.
“Hmph. This is a tool I helped create. I know its principles better than anyone.”
“What?”
“I am Ilalion Baraha, the chief court mage of the kingdom. Hurry up and call the person in charge here.”
When Ilalion said this, no one moved for a few moments, but one person who understood what was said hurriedly ran off.
The remaining guards exchanged glances, all silent.
No one had the confidence to deal appropriately with a sudden appearance of a figure of such importance in the kingdom.
After all, the guard who initially approached him had addressed him with, “Hey, old man”... The guard’s face had turned pale, clear enough to see even at night.
A minute later, a person who seemed to be in charge arrived in a rush.
“Thank you for waiting, Ilalion-sama. I am Rex, the vice-captain of the royal capital guard, overseeing this scene.”
Vice-Captain Rex saluted and introduced himself.
“Hmm, Vice-Captain Rex, I apologize for bothering you during a busy time, but could you explain the current situation? After all, the explosion earlier shook our research lab as well. The researchers are in a panic, claiming they saw smoke, and it’s hard for us to work. As the person in charge, I need to explain various things. Just give me what details you can, please.”
“Y-yes. Currently, accident investigators are on-site, but there hasn’t been a report on the situation yet…”
“I can explain that.”
Someone interrupted Rex, who was about to explain.
“Count Harold Lawrence? Has the minister of internal affairs already arrived? That was quite fast.”
“Given such an explosion, there’s chaos at the royal castle as well… I had to hurry over here.”
In response to Ilalion’s comment, Minister of Internal Affairs Harold Lawrence explained why he had arrived so quickly.
(Still, that was quick. No, it’s too fast...)
A slight doubt surfaced in the back of Ilalion’s mind.
“The accident investigators say it was likely due to a runaway fire attribute magic.”
“Is there a type of magic that can cause such a massive explosion with fire attribute magic…? I was unaware of that.”
Ilalion didn’t hide his disbelief towards Harold Lawrence’s explanation.
“That’s a harsh assessment. There’s no magic that Ilalion-sama doesn’t know. This time, it could be a failure of fusion magic with alchemy or a runaway due to simultaneous activation by multiple people.”
“Hmph. Fusion magic with alchemy, is it…?”
Hearing that, Ilalion fell into thought.
Of course, he knew that the actual cause was an explosion from “black powder,” but the recently announced “fusion magic with alchemy” was a research subject that Ilalion was also interested in.
That being said, Ilalion also knew that even that kind of fusion magic couldn’t produce that much destructive power.
However, there was no point in pursuing that matter.
More importantly, there was something he wanted to confirm now.
“I understand what’s going on. Were there any casualties? The state of this building is terrible. It seems buildings around it have also suffered damage.”
“Yes. It’s dreadful. Ten bodies have been found on the first floor of the building at the center of the explosion. From the debris scattered around, they appear to be adventurers. This is one of the bases for the fusion magic theory.”