Chapter 4 – The Festival and the Hidden Power

The city was alive with music, banners, and laughter. At the center of the festival stood rows of food stalls, each packed with customers.

Sentou Kaji tightened his apron and groaned.
“Guard a stall? No thanks.”

The manager grinned, waving a small envelope.
“Extra pay.”

Sentou froze. Then sighed.
“…Fine.”

From behind, Claire slammed her hand on the counter.
“If he’s doing it, then I’m joining too!”

The manager blinked. “Oh? Well, sure. Extra help is always welcome.”

Claire smirked triumphantly. “Heh. This will be my chance to prove I’m better than you, Cosplayer.”

Sentou ignored her, focusing on the batter.

Unseen beneath the festive grounds, Fubuki crouched, adjusting the settings on a small device buried in the soil.

“Six training golems… programmed to ignore civilians. This will be perfect.”

But the ground pulsed unnaturally. A dark shadow seeped into the circuits, twisting commands. The HUD flickered, the blue eyes of the golems glowing blood-red.

“ELIMINATE THEM ALL”

The festival began peacefully. Sentou flipped takoyaki with precision, while Claire fumbled with trays, nearly tripping over herself.

“Welcome—oh, wait! Your change—ahhh! Don’t run off with it!”

Customers laughed. Sentou just kept cooking, wearing headphones, ignoring the chaos.

Then the ground trembled.

“An earthquake?” someone shouted.

Claire narrowed her eyes. “No… this isn’t normal. I feel magic.”

BOOOOM!

Six massive golems burst from the ground, gatling guns blazing. Civilians screamed, scattering as bullets tore through banners and stalls.

From a rooftop, Fubuki’s face went pale.
“They’re attacking civilians?! Impossible—I programmed them not to—!”

Clara’s eyes widened. “The golems… someone hacked them?”

The sky split with golden light. A figure descended—blonde hair shining, blue eyes burning.

Claire gasped. “Floyd?!”

Clara and Fubuki froze. “Him…?!”

Floyd spread his arms dramatically.
“Claire! I’ve come… to claim your love once and for all!”

Claire’s brow twitched. “You’re firing missiles at civilians… because of romance?!”

“I won’t allow anyone to interrupt our destined moment!” Floyd pressed his hand over his right eye, smirking arrogantly.

“Kuh… You think I’d ever accept you after this?!” Claire roared back.

“If you reject me, then perish with them!” Floyd raised his hand, energy gathering.

Before the fight could erupt, Sentou’s voice cut through the chaos. He had finally pulled off his headphones.

“WAIT! Can you maniacs fight somewhere else? I’m busy cooking!”

The crowd blinked. Claire blinked. Floyd sneered.
“Tch… pathetic human.”

Without hesitation, Floyd’s blade of light slashed toward Claire.

Clara and Fubuki leapt down, directing spells toward the six rampaging golems.
“Contain them! Floyd, surrender yourself!” Clara ordered.

“Never!” Floyd spat, his arrogance untamed.

The battle exploded across the festival grounds—spells colliding, stalls collapsing, and panicked civilians fleeing. One golem swiveled, missile launcher locking onto Sentou’s stall.

FWOOOSH!

The blast tore through the stand, flames rising high. Customers screamed.

Sentou froze, his takoyaki spilled onto the ruined counter. His jaw clenched. His voice trembled.

“You witches… always dragging your battles into people’s lives… ruining everything.”

He pulled off his chef’s hat. His headphones clattered to the ground. He tugged off his gloves, his golden eyes darkening.

From his legs, a surge of black energy burst outward, cracking the ground beneath him. The air grew heavy, suffocating.

Claire’s breath caught. Clara’s smirk faltered. Fubuki’s eyes widened. Even Floyd’s arrogance cracked.

Sentou Kaji, the man who had abandoned magic, stood revealed.