The violent thunderclap still left my ears ringing. As my vision gradually cleared, I began to comprehend the full extent of the Thunderbolt’s power.

"What in the world just happened...?"

The shockwave must have reached even this far, as some knights were pinned to the ground, heads against the earth, their feet still bound by my Binding spell.

Though groaning and holding their temples, none of them appeared unable to move. A few seemed too dazed to turn around, but perhaps it was time to release the spell.

"Heh... What a spectacle... Quite the bluff you pulled there..."

The prince let out a breath of relief, his tone slipping slightly from formality as he confirmed the safety of all his knights.

Not that I was aiming for them. Even if the lightning struck near me, I wouldn’t have walked away unscathed either.

Looking past the prince and his entourage, my eyes fell on the castle. What was once a proud structure had been dramatically transformed. All four of its towers were destroyed, leaving no trace of their former glory.

The castle itself wasn’t completely obliterated, but the damage was far greater than I’d anticipated. Since the building had been evacuated beforehand, and I had confirmed through my sense detection that the upper floors were devoid of people, I had acted accordingly.

I wasn’t interested in a massacre, even if they had tried to kill me.

This was just a warning. A small satisfaction, for now. But I had no intention of letting this end here. If anything, I hoped they’d now feel the full weight of accountability for a ruined royal castle.

"Ah, I feel a bit better now," I said.

"Right? The view’s much clearer now," Rio added with a laugh.

Though my mana reserves took a significant hit, there was still enough left to function, and my auto-recovery skill was already at work. Mana depletion had never been a problem for me anyway.

While I stared with satisfaction at the castle’s remains far in the distance, Princess Liliana finally turned to glance behind her, her expression growing more anxious by the second.

"O... Oh, Brother...!"

At last, her voice broke through in a strained cry.

"What is it, Liliana?"

"T-that...!"

Following her pointing finger, the prince turned to look behind him. The moment his eyes landed on the castle, words failed him. The knights surrounding him were equally stunned.

"...What?"

The rain had stopped at some point, and sunlight now streamed through the clouds, emphasizing the castle’s ruined state. Dust and debris settled, revealing not just the collapsed towers but also crumbled balconies.

"What... what happened here!?"

The prince’s trembling fists and low, shaking voice conveyed a mix of rage and disbelief.

"I told you, I’d blow your kingdom sky-high."

With the castle—a symbol of this kingdom—reduced to such a state, I’d say my point was made.

"The castle... How could this...?"

Still, I realized the cursed brooch needed more than simple returning. Pulling it from my storage, I held it up to the sunlight and inspected it. Though I didn’t understand its mechanisms, I could faintly sense magic emanating from it.

"What... what is going on...?"

The knights, too stunned to act, merely stared slack-jawed at the wreckage. Their roles as protectors temporarily abandoned.

Now was the perfect time to analyze the brooch further.

Tuning my mana sensitivity to its finest, I traced the flows of energy within the brooch, my focus narrowing.

"Shu?"

Even Rio’s voice couldn’t break my concentration. Slowly, carefully, I extended my mana like a fine thread, weaving it into the brooch.

"Let’s see... tweak this here..."

When I finally found the magical flow and disrupted it, there was a faint snapping sensation, followed immediately by an overwhelming sense of release coursing through me.

"Oh?"

"Whoa..."

Rio let out a strange sound, clearly sensing the same phenomenon.

Whatever it was, it felt incredible. My mana flowed freely, and I felt as if I could accomplish anything.

Clenching the brooch tightly in my right hand, I crushed it with all the mana reinforcement I could muster. The sensation of metal crumpling under my grip intensified the feeling of liberation.

"Ahh..."

So it really was cursed. The relief washing over me was indescribable, though Rio’s blissful expression snapped me back to reality.

This was still enemy territory. I couldn’t afford to let my guard down completely.

"Look at the castle... What madness is this?"

One of the knights dropped his sword and fell to his knees.

"Now then, Liliana Arclight."

At the sound of my voice, the princess flinched and turned to face me, her previous arrogance replaced with unease.

"W-what is it...?"

The sound of her nervous gulp echoed loudly in the now-quiet space.

"The curse is lifted, and I’m returning this brooch to you."

I tossed the now-deformed and unrecognizable brooch at her feet.

"What... what is this...?"

She bent down to pick it up, hesitating as if doubting its authenticity.

"It feels amazing right now, honestly. Which is why..."

I let my killing intent seep into my voice, activating my intimidation skill to full effect.

"I won’t kill you. Not yet."

"Be grateful to Shu," Rio added.

"Haha..."

Ignoring the pale-faced princess and the prince who seemed to be caught between laughter and shock, we turned toward the unconscious forms of our classmates still lying on the ground.