September 1, Year 7 of the New Calendar
Tick-tick-tick, tick-tick-tick.
The timer ticked steadily and evenly.
Sunlight streamed through the window into the room, while the sound of wheels rolling over the ground drifted in from outside.
The flames in the fireplace still crackled. There was no need for firewood; the spell for lighting a fire was common knowledge to almost every bug here.
The Flame Capital never lost its vitality. Warmth and sunlight always favored this land.
Iggs had barely rested last night. Mantis's hunt had gone on for a long time. In fact, if the Artificial Sun had not been about to come back on, she probably would have kept killing.
Meanwhile, Iggs had spent the entire night scrambling to keep up with his work.
He did not want to leave that softness behind.
But after his alarm went off for the third time, he had no choice but to drag himself out of bed.
"Ah... Lady Mantis really ought to pay me more overtime."
Without enough rest, he was so exhausted he could barely open his eyes. But the report would not write itself. He had to get to work.
After pouring himself a cup of hot water, Iggs began considering whether he should find another job.
But living in the most prosperous district of the Flame Capital cost a great deal, and only this job could cover his expenses.
"Well, what else can I say?"
In the end, Iggs surrendered to money and hurried out of his home.
---[Royal Capital]---
This had originally been a vast city left behind by the previous civilization. Meltwater from the snow at the highest mountain summit drove waterwheels, supplying power to the entire city. Its inhabitants used that power for all kinds of work.
Mechanics, scholars, alchemists, priests, spell