Wizard: I Add Points and Hunt Monsters

As the urgent, incessant tolling of bells began, the entire Caster City State fell into an unprecedented silence.

Whether they were nobles in the Natali District or the struggling poor in the Laos District, everyone stopped what they were doing and stared blankly toward the Krimms Cathedral at the center of the city state.

”Is that... an alarm bell?”

”A warning...”

”The Dawn Church’s alarm bell... h-how can this be?”

”What do you mean ’how can this be’? Hurry up and pack your things! Head to the underground shelters!”

Someone’s shout broke the spell, and a moment later, everyone scrambled into motion.

”Run!”

”Dammit, I just got to the Caster City State! How could I be so unlucky to run into something like this?”

”Enough with the chatter! Get out of here while you still can!”

In the blink of an eye, the city state went from dead silent to utter chaos.

Their hearts hammered in their chests, a frantic rhythm matching the bells, each person terrified that if they were too slow, the rumored disaster would fall upon them.

No matter their previous status—be they nobles, paupers, or the middle class...

...beneath the sound of these alarm bells, they all wore the same face—that of the weak!

Outside the high walls northeast of the Caster City State.

”Has it begun?” Bolsen asked, hearing the bells from his perch atop the head of a Sutle Dog.

On the Sutle Dog next to him stood another person, also dressed in a dark green robe and wearing a black mask with gold patterns. In a hoarse voice, he said, ”The north is yours. I’ll take the east.”

”Alright,” Bolsen said calmly, his eyes on the high walls of the Caster City State. ”The masters have been waiting impatiently.”

”Let’s go. Time for a feast!”

The other person stomped his foot, and the Sutle Dog beneath him shot forward with a howl.

Bolsen watched him go, then led the dozen or so equally ferocious Sutle Dogs behind him toward the north side of the Caster City State.

At the same time, outside the port west of the Basil District, more than a dozen three-masted sailing ships sat motionless on the water, swaying with the winds and waves of the Cordo Sea.

Some of them looked like they had just been in a battle, their hulls patched with planks of various colors.

Others had bloated hulls, with massive cannons positioned on their decks. Hundreds of well-trained sailors stared grimly in the direction of the Caster City State.

One, in particular, resembled a steel behemoth. Its deck and hull were covered in thick steel plates, and two large smokestacks on either side of the hull billowed white smoke.

An array of mechanical weapons was neatly arranged on both sides of the foredeck. Some resembled giant turrets, while others were massive crossbows, their bodies glinting with the light of runes.

From a distance, it looked just like a fortress.

The sound of the Cathedral’s bells, carried on the faint wind, reached them. For a moment, the entire fleet fell silent, as if it had received some kind of signal.

”Raise the sails! Set course!”

”Raise the sails... set course!”

”WHOOO—”

The motley fleet of ships began to slowly sail toward the Caster City State.

”By order of the great Black Pearl, all Caster ships are forbidden from the West Coast seas!”

As the order was given, the sailors—no, the pirates—on board all broke into vicious smiles, shouting and cheering.

”All hail the great Isabella, Master of the Cordo Sea!”

”We can finally kill to our hearts’ content!”

Meanwhile, to the south of the Caster City State, things were strangely calm.

”Praise be to Lady Storm!”

An old man in a deep blue robe watched the distant high walls, a smile touching his lips as he saw the people fleeing in a panic.

”Lord Bishop, d-did he really do it?”

Behind him stood rows of soldiers wearing armor the same color as his robes. The emblem of the Storm was emblazoned on their chests: the slender silhouette of a woman standing proudly against wind and waves.

”Of course.”

”Then...”

The old man turned and glared at him. ”What are you waiting for? Take your men and go welcome them. They are all devout followers of Lady Storm!”

”Um, I don’t think they are... yet?”

The old man looked at him, flashing two rows of pearly white teeth. ”You had better believe they are. If they aren’t, then you will be the one to answer Lady Storm’s call.”

”Rest assured, Lord Bishop! They can only be, and must be, devout followers of Lady Storm!”

”They’d better be...”

The old man looked once more toward the Caster City State, where he could faintly make out the tip of a spire rising above the high walls.

’Dawn... Dawn!’

After settling Yuan, Kali rushed to the chapel inside the Cathedral. ”Teacher,” she said impatiently, ”is a Level 4 Disaster really coming?”

Andrews did not turn around. His gaze remained fixed on the statue before him as he spoke slowly, his voice deep and steady. ”Kali, you are a Candidacy Saintess now. You must always remember the Dawn Teachings.”

Kali had already changed out of her Secret Investigation Officer’s uniform and into the ceremonial dress from the festival, looking sacred and noble.

Before this, her heart had been filled with anxiety.

But upon entering the chapel, under the gaze of the statue of the Lord of Dawn and the portraits of the eight Dawn Guardians, all her unease was instantly soothed away.

”Teacher, can you tell me what is going to happen?”

”That is not something you need to know right now... Stay close to Melbel. He will take you where you need to go.”

”Where I need to go? Are you telling me to leave?” A flicker of gravity returned to Kali’s just-calmed eyes.

Although Bishop Andrews didn’t answer, she was now certain that something major was happening to the Dawn Church.

”Naturally. Your place is not in Caster, but with that sacred authority.”

’Authority...’

’If I can’t even do what I want to do, what’s the point of having that authority?’

Kali shook her head. ”I’m not leaving!”

”Be good, child.” Andrews turned to face her. ”Forgive my disrespect, and please allow me to call you that one last time. I am very glad that I could teach a student like you before I receive His great summons.”