Steel, Guns, and the Industrial Party in Another World

TL: Etude

“You’re dead meat!”

“Get out here, now!”

“Damn, filthy witch!”

After blowing a horn, a brawny man from the Purification Squad glared around with bulging eyes, shouting loudly.

Then, with a thunderous boom, an explosion occurred near a street corner not far away. The crowd on the street descended into greater chaos, spreading farther. Those at a distance, not knowing what had happened, were sure it wasn’t good and ran for it.

“Damn it!”

The brawny man pushed through the crowd, rushing to the explosion site. However, apart from a few people groaning on the ground, he found no useful clues.

Just then, a series of thunderous explosions occurred one after another on the street, leading to even greater chaos.

The man trembled, perhaps with anger, or maybe fear. “Near the cathedral… this… this is such a desecration!”

“Screams echoed from the end of the street, and the distant crowd scattered in panic.

A few knights in silver helmets and armor charged on horseback, followed by a large group of armed people. They showed no regard for the pedestrians, charging straight through.

Upon reaching the brawny man, the leading knight asked, “What happened? Why did you send such a distress signal?”

In a panic, the man replied, “There’s a dangerous witch lurking near the cathedral!”

The knight’s eyes widened, shining with intensity, making the man instinctively step back.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure, Lord Vileus. Look at me, she did this to me. And the chain explosions just now, it was her doing.”

Without wasting words, Vileus ordered his men, “Block all nearby streets and check everyone in the crowd!”

“But, Lord Vileus, the witch might have already escaped in the confusion!” one of his subordinates doubted the effectiveness of this action.

“Then contact the guard and city defense army to lockdown the entire city!”

Vileus shouted, somewhat excitedly, “This is a provocation, a blatant challenge to the Lord of Light and His servants on earth! We must respond to this provocation!” ℞

“Sir, we’ll block the streets right away.”

The subordinates felt it best not to bother the guard and city defense army just yet, given their recent delicate relations with the Church.

“Hmph, you Church folks really don’t need to go through all this trouble!”

A provocative female voice rang out.

“Witch, you’ve got some nerve!”

Vileus frowned deeply, quickly locating the source of the voice. Whoever dared to be so brazen at this time was likely the person they were searching for.

A woman in a cloak approached them at a leisurely pace.

The brawny man immediately stepped forward to identify her: “It’s her, her! Lord Vileus, she’s the one who caused all that commotion. Hahaha, you blasphemous witch, Lord Vileus is a renowned Witch Hunter. Enjoy the last moments of your life and repent to the Lord of Light, so your soul may suffer less in hell.”

The Church’s forces were on high alert, their gazes locked on the approaching witch.

“Repent?”

The witch stopped, removing her hood, revealing beautiful chestnut hair.

“Sorry to disappoint you, but I have no intention of repenting to any deity. Furthermore…” she declared loudly, “I, Seviya Acitini, hereby declare war on the Horn Bay Church from this day forth, vowing never to coexist!”

The Church’s knights and soldiers fell into a brief silence, as if they hadn’t comprehended the witch’s words.

After a while, Vileus finally reacted, murmuring, “Arrogance! This is sheer arrogance!”

Indeed, wizards had always acted like rats in the sewers, sneaking around and fleeing in panic once discovered by the Church.

When had a rat ever dared to confront a cat and declare war on its natural enemy?

After a brief silence, immense anger followed. Everyone was infuriated by the witch’s audacity.

Vileus, taking a spear handed to him by his attendant, pointed it forward and spoke righteously, “You disgraces to humanity, remnants of the demon race, death bestowed upon you is already the greatest mercy. Yet you show no gratitude, foolishly daring to declare war on the Almighty Father and His servants on earth. Today, I, Vileus, will uphold supreme justice in this world and eradicate all the evil before me.”

“Witch, meet your end!”

As he finished speaking, he spurred his horse forward, charging towards the woman who claimed to be Seviya Acitini. His subordinates also split into two groups, flanking her from both sides.

The witch, now the target of the attack, stood her ground, her face showing a mix of sadness and disdain.

“Heh, a disgrace to humanity? You condemn us based on some ancient, baseless legends. What unforgivable acts have we committed? Is it unforgivable to possess powers that even we can’t fully explain and find no place in this world?”

Vileus, unmoved by her words, prepared to strike as he neared her. His mount reared up, and he raised his spear. “Die! Go to hell and repent for your sins!”

The spear, with its sharp point, thrust forward rapidly!

In a flash, a loud clang resounded. Astonishingly, the spearhead stopped mere centimeters from the witch’s chest, halted by an invisible shield in front of her.

Liszt, hiding behind a stack of barrels, couldn’t help but widen his eyes at this defiance of logic. He had never seen such a scene before.

Strangely, at the moment the spear was thrust, his heart leaped, and he subconsciously hoped for a miracle to prevent the woman from being harmed.

And now, a miracle had indeed happened.

Seviya Acitini’s lips curled into a slight smirk.

“Ha! Knight, never underestimate a well-prepared wizard!”

Vileus withdrew his spear, not surprised. “Such petty tricks, I’ve seen them before! Come forth!”

At this call, four robust men, built like bears, emerged from the Church’s ranks, each wielding a large hammer. They approached the witch from four directions.

“Oh? How about this move?” The witch’s lips moved slightly, whispering something inaudibly.

Vileus heightened his vigilance, certain she was casting some wicked spell. He carefully watched the witch and her surroundings for any signs.

“Retreat!” As his eyes caught a faint pattern on the ground where she stood, he felt a sense of dread. Urgently pulling on the reins and shouting a warning to his men, he attempted to alert them.

But it was too late. A strange light emanated from the ground around Seviya, and in an instant, intense flames surged up. The four robust men happened to be standing right where the fire started. The flames quickly engulfed them, spreading rapidly as if their bodies were doused in fuel.