The guard's hands trembled.
If these people had been terrorists who'd lost family to the Empire and come seeking revenge, it wouldn't have been surprising.
That was a situation the guard had encountered a few times before.
But there was no seriousness in this person's expression.
"We are the White Cloud Society. People who have gathered with the purpose of eradicating filth from this world and purifying the Empire."
Introducing the organization with a casual smile, as though all of this were mere entertainment.
How could anyone smile in a situation like this?
The guard screamed out, trembling with fear.
"......Do you not feel even a shred of guilt?!"
A booming rebuke from the guard.
But the White Cloud Society's Leader merely tilted his head.
Unable to comprehend why the guard was suddenly angry.
No -- it seemed as though he couldn't comprehend human emotions at all. An otherworldly monster mimicking a human being.
"Is this really something to get so upset about? Lady Yulia was unlucky and drew the bomb from the gacha, sure, but she's been purified, hasn't she? She must be feeling refreshed after getting so thoroughly cleaned."
......Purification?
Did he genuinely believe that was purification?
That she should be grateful for being made clean?
His very way of thinking had departed humanity by leagues.
But what came next was even more bizarre.
"Usually, back home, when you pulled a dud from the gacha, the only use for them was as upgrade fodder -- shove them into some other character's mouth. But our product is useful in real life too."
Just listening was enough to feel like losing one's mind.
As if the madness were contagious.
'......Wh-what the hell is he saying? Back in his homeland, they shoved bombs into other people's mouths for fun?'
An unbelievable statement. And yet for bluster, the Leader's voice sounded far too sincere.
The guard thought quietly.
Imagined the lunatic Leader shoving a bomb into someone's mouth. Imagined the expressionless face finally breaking into a smile at the sight of a victim weeping in despair.
......Just imagining it made his body start to shake.
Fear made it unbearable to even meet the man's eyes.
"Everyone's just not used to gacha culture yet, but trust me, they'll find it surprisingly fun. It'll catch on in no time."
The Leader approached without a care.
Declaring that these games would continue. That terrorism and assassination were nothing but games to him. That he would dye the Empire in blood.
Saying all this as he drew closer, then asked.
"Would you like to try one yourself, in honor of the occasion? If you give me your address, I'll send some to your family as well."
He had to respond immediately.
He was holding a spear. He could thrust it into the man right now.
But the pressure had locked his body in place.
Those golden eyes. Eyes steeped in madness, gleaming with an eerie light. The Leader's presence was so overwhelming he couldn't even breathe.
As if he couldn't draw a single breath without the Leader's permission.
"I promise you, it will be a memory you'll never forget."
If you try to stop me, I will kill your family too.
I will make you hear their screams in person and create a memory you will never forget. Saying all this with a smile.
The guard felt as though he might lose consciousness from sheer terror.
"I'm not demanding anything in return, but. If you wouldn't mind spreading the word to those around you, I'd be much obliged."
And as if even that weren't enough.
What came from the man's mouth was yet another declaration of war.
A smile accompanied the announcement of the next attack.
"This is merely the beginning. In two weeks, we will return for a proper introduction with an event even bigger and more spectacular than this one. We will be commencing operations in earnest, so do look forward to it."
They had killed a noble who ranked among the Empire's most powerful.
But to them, this was nothing more than a warm-up.
They would tear this Empire apart. They were declaring war -- the White Cloud Society, openly announcing their next attack.
"A little hint -- His Majesty the Emperor will surely be surprised as well. We've prepared a gift for him, after all."
They were even throwing down the gauntlet at the Imperial Family.
......Were they planning to assassinate even royalty?
A coup, announced in advance?
It was impossible to tell what they were thinking.
Just as the guard's mind was fading.
"Seize them! The criminals disrupting the Empire are right there!"
Shouts from reinforcements arriving from behind.
Being the capital, personnel had gathered quickly.
The Guardians happened to be away, unfortunately. But the guards had still managed to surround the White Cloud Society in short order.
Guards formed a circle around the White Cloud Society in an instant.
Yet there was not a trace of alarm on their faces.
"Leave the uninvited guests to me, Boss."
A figure who appeared to be a White Cloud Society officer.
The woman in the robe walked forward with perfect composure.
***
Rang surveyed the guards surrounding her.
At a glance, there had to be at least eighty of them.
The difference in numbers was stark.
But what filled her eyes was not fear.
"......How discourteous. Boss is personally bestowing his teachings for your benefit. And you dare point your spears at him."
A scowl of displeasure.
Calling Boss a criminal?
A butcher who had slaughtered thousands to gild her estate in gold. How was killing such a person wrong?
They should be grateful, if anything.
The Leader had purified that vile soul. And yet they had the gall to be angry? They were nothing but revolting.
"......It seems I need to cool your heads."
Not figuratively -- physically.
Rang smiled and pulled off her gloves.
Instantly, a wave of cold crashed over the area. In the middle of a sunlit city center, a blizzard erupted out of nowhere.
"Freeze, you noisy lot."
The Seven Great Calamities of the prophecy.
A power she had possessed since birth, as a seed of the apocalypse.
A force whose very origin was unknown even to herself.
A Leader who had recognized the twins at first sight and identified her brother's ability before anyone had so much as mentioned it.
A miracle that no one short of a genius like the Leader could even begin to analyze.
These things could never hope to counter it.
"Wh-what the hell."
No barrier could withstand it. Dispel. The attempt to cancel the magic using counter-spells was quick, at least.
But this was not even magic to begin with.
Using dispel to nullify it was impossible.
The Empire's guards froze solid in an instant.
That should have been the end of it -- problem solved.
"The Empire's guards are rather like vermin. From the way they're revolting, right down to how they keep crawling out no matter how many you kill."
Rang looked at the Leader and smiled.
"Let us go, Boss. There is much to be done."
Boss looked somewhat bewildered.
Rang took Boss with her and escaped the area in a flash.
Pursuers did follow, but it didn't matter.
So what if guards kept crawling out no matter how many she dealt with? She'd just freeze them all. Ice walls cut off their approach.
They successfully shook the pursuit with speed.
Catching her breath somewhere safe, Rang spoke.
"......Quite a successful introduction. Our name will start spreading little by little. The next step you mentioned just now, Leader -- extending our reach to the Imperial Family -- is not far off."
But Boss's condition seemed oddly off.
"Successful? This? Something's gone wrong, I think. Also, Rang, since when could you use ice magic? No, put that aside -- first we need to sort out the current situation......"
Why was the Leader suddenly acting like this?
Just as Rang was puzzling over that.
"Everyone, take off the masks and robes. Now."
The Leader's expression turned suddenly grave.
The voice radiated authority.
Not a single person questioned it. Everyone knew that Boss always saw several moves ahead.
Sure enough.
From the distance came footsteps.
"......Good grief. His Majesty really does work people to the bone. I finally took a vacation, and now I'm called back in. What is this?"
Rang's face went deathly pale in an instant.
Because any citizen of the Empire would know who was approaching.
......Black hair and deep blue eyes.
And above all, a sword forged of pure white light.
One of the Empire's three Guardians.
Astraea, the Sword Emperor.
The second strongest human in the Empire was standing right before them.
"......Look, I'm asking you all nicely -- cooperate with the checkpoint, would you? I'd like to wrap this up and get back to resting."
Only then did Rang understand why the Leader had ordered the masks off.
If the robes and masks gave them away as the White Cloud Society, they were in danger.
......She and Ren could probably hold their own in a fight.
But there were non-combatants here too -- Sian, the workshop employees. If a fight broke out, they wouldn't survive.
That was why the Leader had chosen to avoid engagement.
A choice that was undeniably wise, worthy of the Leader.
But there was no relief on Rang's face.
"Good thing it looks like this'll be over quick, though. Right? Your headcount lines up perfectly with the reported terrorist group, and here you are, panting and rushing off somewhere."
She wasn't worried about Boss failing to come up with an excuse. Doubting the Leader's ability would be the greatest folly of all.
But this was an impossible plan from the start.
No matter how brilliant the Leader was, suspicion could not be avoided.
'......Those eyes.'
The Sword Emperor's deep blue eyes.
They gleamed with an eerie light as they fixed on the Leader.
Information she'd picked up from mercenary companies while wandering with her brother. It had, unfortunately, turned out to be true.
'......The True Eye, which sees through all lies.'
Something about slaying an elder dragon and taking its eyes. Or being blessed with them from birth by a celestial deity.
Those eyes of the Sword Emperor, surrounded by all manner of rumors.
Rang's face twisted with despair.
And seeing that expression, the Sword Emperor smirked.
"If you plan to keep operating as a terrorist group, you might want to train your people to control their bloodlust better. With hostility this obvious, it's harder not to recognize you."
Their cover was already completely blown.
A fight was unavoidable.
Guardian, Sword Emperor, whatever -- at the end of the day, a servant of the Imperial Family. Even with children present, there would be no mercy.
......She had to protect the Leader and everyone, no matter what.
With that resolve, just as Rang was about to unleash her power again.
"......Hold on. Stand back. I'll handle this."
Boss stepped in front of Rang.
Everyone had been panicking and rattled.
But Boss alone showed not a shred of agitation, simply walking up to the Sword Emperor with perfect confidence and declaring.
"What are you talking about? Terrorist group? We're just ordinary soap sellers. I don't know anything about any organization."
The Sword Emperor heard the laughable excuse and scoffed.
Heard the laughable excuse and scoffed, and then.......
"......?"
Suddenly started rubbing those eyes.