Release that Witch

When a present-day engineer dies and wakes up as a useless playboy prince in a medieval fantasy world, he doesn't swing a sword or learn magic — he starts an industrial revolution. That's the core of Release That Witch, and it's a surprisingly satisfying premise. Roland, the fourth prince of Graycastle, is basically dead last in the royal succession. Nobody takes him seriously. But when he saves a witch named Anna from being executed and discovers that her fire magic can function like a furnace, something clicks. He doesn't see witches as threats — he sees them as the key to replicating modern technology in a world stuck in the dark ages. What follows is a kingdom-building story where the real weapon isn't a legendary blade but cement, gunpowder, and basic engineering principles applied through magical shortcuts. If you liked the slow-burn societal transformation in Ascendance of a Bookworm or the strategic world-building in The Rising of the Shield Hero, this ONA scratches a similar itch. There are echoes of Mushoku Tensei's isekai reincarnation setup, but the focus here leans way more toward innovation and logistics than personal power fantasy. The tone is engaging without being frantic — Roland wins through planning, not plot armor. Studio Thundray adapts the web novel with a focus on the political maneuvering and the gradual shift in how society views witches, which gives the whole thing a grounded feel despite the fantasy setting. Worth your time if kingdom-building is your thing.