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The first thing that caught my attention was the sound. I faintly heard a deep rumbling sound emanating from my core, prompting me to gaze out of the window. Then the tremor began.

I headed out right as I realized it and called out to the scared and huddled individuals.

“It’s safe inside the branch. Can you stand?”

I tried my best to maintain a composed demeanor.

“Oh, this looks bad.”

Those who had sensed the anomaly and ventured out from the branch casually remarked such things.

In the realm of earth magic, there existed a lower-level technique that could disrupt one’s balance by making the ground tremor. Thus, guild members accustomed to combat situations weren’t particularly surprised by earthquakes themselves.

Nevertheless, it was evident that they were taken aback by the situation, where the entire city was shaking, as they readily accepted my request for evacuation guidance.

After ensuring that everyone nearby had evacuated, I took a moment to observe the situation. Although a considerable amount of time had passed since the tremors began, the city continued to experience intermittent shaking.

“It’s still ongoing…”
“You’ll be safe if you remain inside the branch.”

Ria and the others’ reassuring words helped calm the uneasy murmurs of people gazing anxiously out of the window.

I believe the barriers deployed in the branch are effective even against earthquakes, making it the most secure location in the city. In this world, where earthquakes were considered human-induced disasters caused by magic, appropriate precautions have been taken.

While there were various simple barriers, the most significant one was the earth crystals. The fire crystal was used for lighters and illumination, the water crystal was essential for drawing up and filtering groundwater, and the wind crystal could be utilized to intensify flames or for ventilation purposes. They were intricately woven into our everyday lives.

So how was the remaining earth element crystal used?

The answer was – ensuring the stability of the land… It served as a substantial defensive barrier buried underground, encompassing territories larger than just a sizable town, to absorb and mitigate the waves of earthquakes.

While it was also utilized for soil restoration and reinforcement of walls, priority was given to maintaining stability in residential areas.

Moreover, due to the inherent stability of Rondoville’s terrain, the occurrence of earthquakes caused by natural earth factors was relatively low. This was even more pronounced during the ongoing intermittent tremors.

That’s why it felt strange.

Even if we considered the possibility of it being a spell by an evil god, it lacked the power to instantly bring down buildings, which wouldn’t be surprising considering its potential. Even if the power was intentionally reduced and the range expanded, the underlying motive remains elusive…

“Oh, it has subsided.”

As I was contemplating, the earthquake came to a halt.

“I apologize for interrupting your rest. Could I ask you to join up with the patrolling people and assess the damages?”
“““Understood.”””

Although it was an inconvenience for the members of the patrolling team, Lunevillous, during their break, we had to act in response to this emergency situation.

And of course, I would contribute as well.

First, I needed to evaluate the damage and report it to Frank and Ector. They have already been assigned to inspect the city, so my focus should be on the surrounding areas of Luneville.

“Illya.”

Frank conveniently appeared just in time. With a tousled appearance and bedhead, it seemed like he had been taking a nap when all the commotion started.

Realizing that I noticed his bedhead, Frank instinctively tried to fix his hair, but his hand landed on the wrong spot. To make matters worse, his face turned slightly red, perhaps out of embarrassment.

What is this adorable situation—wait, that’s not the point now.

“Uhh, a large-scale earthquake has occurred. The members of Lunevillous are currently assessing the situation.”
“I-I see… In that case, let’s assume command. Please inform Dajeel to check if there have been any reports of abnormalities from nearby branches.”
“Understood. Should I proceed directly to Ector?”

After a brief pause, Frank rejected my suggestion with a firm “No.”

“I’ll go directly. Or rather… We’ll probably meet on the way.”
“That’s possible.”

There was no way that someone as considerate of the population as Ector would remain inactive in this situation.

“…We should find some tasks for them as well,” he remarked, his gaze shifting towards Ria and Cynthia, who wore mischievous grins.

“Shall I choose something for them?”
“I’m counting on you.”

They seem to have time to peep on us, after all.

Subsequently, through the diligent efforts of the patrol team and the extensive information network among the kitchen staff, we obtained remarkably accurate information. While there were a few cases of minor injuries caused by falls or toppling furniture, fortunately, there were no serious injuries.

It worked in our favor that there were many newly constructed buildings. Some furniture seemed to have been broken, but there were no major incidents like a house crumbling down.

However, that was frankly a small mercy. It brought true harm to the outside of the city.

The following day arrived.

In the reception room of the Lord’s manor, gathered were Ector, Frank, Caron, and myself.

“First, I would like to hear the report,” Ector requested.

His words carried a sense of urgency, revealing his underlying impatience. And in response to his pressing tone, Caron, who normally exuded a carefree aura, spoke with a serious expression.

“There have been major fissures accompanied by significant tremors across various locations in Rondoville. As a result, many towns and villages have been isolated. There are reports of missing individuals, and it appears that disoriented monsters have ventured out of their usual habitats and into inhabited areas.”

This was likely what the Apostle had forewarned me about. He had mentioned the presence of numerous monsters as well. While it’s probable that their population has simply increased rather than them actively leaving their habitats, the lack of any eyewitness testimonies suggests that there might not be an evil god involved.

If that is indeed the case, it’s a relief that it’s not the work of an evil god. However, since there isn’t a single cause to address, we will need to tackle this issue on a broader scale. It poses a challenge, particularly with the disruption of transportation and the difficulties of self-sufficiency, leading to a fragmentation of our forces.

“I understand… Have there been any updates or directives from the Guild headquarters or the kingdom?”
“No, there haven’t been any. The royal capital has directly suffered from the earthquakes and fissures, causing widespread chaos. It appears that the Rondoville headquarters is fully occupied with managing the situation.”