Chapter 416 The Prince Who Conquered the Sky
With the return of the great sage, the dark clouds hanging over the tower finally dissipated, and those anxious scholars finally put their minds at ease.
With a demigod-level expert in charge, I believe no villains will bully them anymore.
During this period, the magicians of the school were worried about being regarded as Ariste's accomplices, worried that something might happen to their students or teachers, and also worried about being recognized as Prince Colin's faction... Even the twelve sages were worried.
This may seem a little difficult to understand to outsiders.
Although it was His Highness Colin who really stood up to clean up Xuebang's mess during the previous maze trial incident, this loyal and honest prince was not the winner.
He too was a victim.
Fortunately, the catastrophe has finally come to an end, at least for the vast majority of people who were not implicated.
By the way, since the great sage returned, even the weather in the northern wilderness has improved a lot. I think it was the wisdom of that sage that awakened the sleeping sun...
Outside of Artisan Street, the breeze on the snowy fields was gentle, unlike the harsh cold of a month ago.
Thanks to the great sage's grace, the warm sunlight shines on the white snow, reflecting a dazzling light.
In a clearing cleared by magic, a huge ship with a strange appearance was lying quietly, like a sleeping beast.
That is the work of Alberto's workshop.
However, unlike the previous "Unit-01", this "Unit-02" completely abandoned the bloated spherical design and instead changed it to a spindle shape that is more in line with "fluid mechanics".
A sturdy wooden keel supported a massive, spindle-shaped air sac, its hide composed of countless pieces of thick leather tanned with a special alchemical agent. The leather's seams were meticulously stitched, neatly tied with thick hemp rope, creating a look resembling a work of art from a distance.
A cabin shaped like a small boat is suspended under the airbag, which is equipped with a rudder and pedals to control the diversion device.
Several movable wing surfaces that imitate the "flying fish fin" structure are installed on both sides of the cabin to maintain stability and precise turning in the wind.
These are all the ideas of His Royal Highness Colin.
By the way, the so-called "fluid mechanics" is also one of the concepts proposed by His Highness Colin, and together with aerodynamics and thermal science, it serves as the guiding ideology of Alberto's design.
According to the prince, he got the inspiration from a flying cannonball, but how he got the inspiration is unknown.
Alberto was not curious enough to pry into the empire's military secrets, and even if His Highness Colin didn't mind, he didn't want to know more.
Knowing too much is not a good thing.
He is just a craftsman.
Just as Alberto and his apprentices were busy making preparations around the airship, James Wall-E, a visiting scholar from the Magic Science Laboratory, was also holding a notebook and pacing nervously around the airship.
The monocle on his nose kept slipping off, and he had to frantically straighten it.
"Alberto, are you sure the seams of the airbag can withstand the internal heat pressure? According to your Highness's empirical formula, the peak pressure after inflation cannot be underestimated!"
"Don't worry, mentor!"
Having just finished checking the last cable connecting the cabin, Alberto patted his chest. His rough palms were covered in oil and sweat, but his face was filled with a confident smile.
"I used a double-layer staggered stitching method and reinforced it with Warcraft glue. Even if it was filled with magma, not to mention heat, there's no way it would leak out!"
When he said this, he suddenly changed the subject and expressed his nervousness in a teasing tone.
"Compared to your Highness's empirical formula, I'm more worried about your calculations. Honestly, how long has it been since you last touched those things?"
"Don't worry about this. Not to mention that I've only been away for less than a year, even if I haven't touched these things for another ten years, I won't forget them!"
James grinned, and the tense atmosphere at the construction site eased a lot.
He looked at his former student, his expression suddenly becoming complicated and guilty. After hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke.
"Alberto...you'd better stop calling me that. I couldn't let you stay in Xuebang back then. I'm really not worthy of being your mentor."
Alberto was stunned when he heard this. He obviously didn't expect that his tutor was still brooding over the small matter of not being able to stay in school.
Looking at those eyes full of guilt, he suddenly laughed heartily twice, wiped his nose with his oily sleeve, and said with a grin.
"Teacher, what are you talking about! You've taught me so many interesting things, how can you not be worthy of being my mentor?"
James whispered.
"But...that's your dream after all."
"Dream? Not really. It's just one of the ways to realize my dream," Alberto said with a smile and a wave of his hand, nonchalantly. "Besides, I'm living a good life now. I have my own shop and endless free time. I can freely do what I like."
As he spoke, he turned his gaze towards the giant man-made beast standing on the snowy plain. As he looked at the masterpiece he and his mentor had created together, pure light shone in his eyes.
"If I had really stayed in the tower, staring at a pile of moldy files, forced to flatter my colleagues like you, I would never have had the chance to create something so interesting."
James looked at the open-minded student, and the guilt and regret in his heart were instantly replaced by a strong feeling of being moved and resonating.
yes--
This is what these "outliers" really pursue.
He almost forgot that he had originally joined Xuebang for the pure reason of pursuing the truth. How could he lose all hope and forget his original intention after leaving Xuebang?
“I never thought that one day I would be taught a lesson by my own students.”
Looking at those pure eyes, James's face showed a relieved smile. He took off his glasses, wiped them gently with a handkerchief, and then put them back on.
The moment he put on the lenses, his eyes became extremely firm.
"Well then... let's get started."
"Okay!"
Alberto shouted excitedly, then jumped into the cabin impatiently and pulled down a brass control lever.
With a low roar, the alchemical furnace under the cabin was instantly ignited, and a stream of scorching orange flames spurted into the opening at the bottom of the airbag like an angry dragon's breath!
The huge air bag, which had been lying limp on the snow like a deflated leather bag, began to make a "ho ho" breathing sound.
The leather was stretched taut, and the wooden keel made a teeth-grinding creaking sound. It trembled and squirmed like an ancient beast awakening from its slumber!
Under the breathless gaze of the two engineers and countless apprentices, it slowly and firmly straightened its huge body.
"It's moving! It's moving!" The craftsman's apprentice standing next to the airship shouted excitedly, his glowing eyes as if he had witnessed a miracle.
The same goes for James.
Although he didn't cry out loud, his heart was already filled with shock. Even if Saint Sith descended upon him, he probably wouldn't be so surprised.
That's not a power driven by magic—
Not a god either!
They used a power that even mortals could touch to lift a ship that could only sail on the sea into the sky!
The airship's cables were stretched straight one by one, and after dragging for several meters on the snow, a slight friction sound came from the bottom of the pod, and then it suddenly became lighter.
This ship, which mainly relies on natural wind and buoyancy rather than powerful magic, is like a giant that has broken free from the constraints of the earth and slowly rises into the clear blue sky!
"Hahahaha! Mentor! I'm flying!"
His hair ruffled by the wind, Alberto, who had poked his head out of the porthole, let out a childlike laugh. Only after a mouthful of wind had filled his mouth did he honestly retract his head, close the porthole, and face the dazzling array of joysticks again.
"Let me see...it should be this one."
He gripped the steering wheel tightly, recalling the operating instructions attached to the footer of the drawing, and like a captain setting sail for the first time, he began his first "driving" in his life.
He tentatively tugged the steering wheel to the left, and the airship's bow lurched, turning at a precarious angle.
This scene scared James, who was standing on the snow, so much that his heart skipped a beat and he almost pulled out his wand.
Saint Sith above——
If such a large ship really fell from the sky, his magic would not be able to support it!
He shouted loudly while looking at Alberto who was messing around in the sky.
"Be gentle, Alberto! Its keel is still fragile!"
His voice couldn't reach that high.
Unlike the frightened Professor James, Alberto, who was at high altitude, did not feel any fear. Instead, he let out a strange cry of excitement.
"Ohhh! This is too exciting!"
He frantically corrected the course in the opposite direction, clumsily adjusted the wings on both sides, and tested each component again.
The airship swayed in the air like a drunk fat man, drawing a crooked arc in the sky.
Although it was in a messy posture, it did not fall down after all, and finally stabilized after reaching a certain height.
Alberto cast his gaze at the ground through the window and was completely mesmerized by the scene before him.
The houses on Craftsman Street transformed into exquisite models beneath their feet, and the towers of Xuebang in the distance seemed within reach, like lighthouses planted in the snowy plains...
The airship circled over the snowfield for a circle, and after confirming that all control systems were "responsive", Alberto began to land reluctantly.
The wide belly of the ship plowed a deep groove in the snow like a sled, and finally stopped.
The burning stove was completely extinguished, and the airbags that were inflated by the hot air also relaxed. James' heart, which was raised to his throat, and his right hand, which was holding the wand, also relaxed.
Saint Sis above...
Fortunately no accident happened!
"We...we did it! Mentor! We did it!"
Alberto excitedly jumped out of the cabin, rushed to James who was already waiting on the ground, and gave him a tight bear hug.
James' face flushed with excitement as well, and he smiled and patted his student's shoulder hard.
"Damn it! You almost scared me to death, you little brat!"
Alberto said with a chuckle.
"Hahaha! Isn't this okay?"
The two middle-aged men, who are almost eighty years old in total, are as excited as two children who have never grown up.
Including the group of craftsmen and apprentices standing around, they were all cheering excitedly for the victory, whistling and clapping each other's hands.
This is not only the success of an airship, but also the best proof of the value of these scholars and craftsmen who have been excluded by the mainstream academic community!
Perhaps for a powerful magician, flying is not some great miracle, but just a matter of waving a wand.
However, for mortals who do not possess extraordinary powers, soaring in the sky is a dream that almost everyone has.
Now they can finally hold their chests high with pride and answer with a confident voice—
We can do it too!
Alberto wiped the sweat from his forehead, turned around and shouted to the still excited apprentices with an unprecedented excitement.
"Hurry! Go to the Great Sage's Tower! Tell His Royal Highness! Our Unit 2... No! Our Voyager can finally fly!!"
…
Unlike the glittering snowfield, Professor Hector's office was dimly lit and the air was heavy, like a gloomy dungeon.
The towering bookshelves were piled high with documents that threatened to overflow, squeezing the entire room into a narrow aisle.
Ever since the labyrinth incident, the great sage's lukewarm attitude towards him and the overt and covert exclusion of scholars from other factions have made this professor, who has always been rigorous in his studies, feel overwhelmed.
Ever since the "Servants of the Chaos Apostles" appeared beside him, many mentors and professors who once worked closely with him have distanced themselves from him intentionally or unintentionally, and he can only face the mountains of work alone.
At the same time, perhaps because they were worried that he would overwork himself, the higher-ups at the Tower of Great Sages suddenly began to block the budget for his new project.
That's just a budget, not a virtual realm. He really doesn't understand what these people are reviewing. Wouldn't it be better to just approve it to himself?
With the financial support of the empire, Xuebang has never been short of money!
Hector angrily threw a rejected research budget application on the table, and the papers scattered all over the floor.
He felt that the entire tower was against him, and every gust of wind that passed through the window seemed to be mocking him.
"When people are down on their luck, even drinking cold water will get stuck in their teeth..." He muttered an old proverb, shook his head, and waved his wand, causing the budget application that had fallen on the ground to float back to the table.
Just then, there was a short and light knock on the door, and Hector answered impatiently.
"Come in."
The door was pushed open, and Assistant Instructor Corgi walked in. He still walked briskly, but his face, which usually wore a smile, now looked a little heavy.
He gently placed a letter and an exquisite wooden box kept at a constant temperature by magic runes on the only empty space on Hector's desk.
"Professor, His Highness Colin sent me to deliver it." Corgi reported briefly, then stood aside with his hands hanging down, waiting for instructions.
Hector frowned, his heart full of doubts.
This guy who never plays by the rules always comes to visit me directly, as if he is at home. When did he become so literary?
He waved his hand suspiciously, indicating that Corgi could leave.
After the office door was closed again, he turned his gaze to the two items on the table, then reached out and picked up the wooden box that exuded a faint chill.
The moment the lid of the box was opened, a sweet fragrance mixed with pure magic instantly filled the entire dim room.
Five round and plump fruits are lying quietly on the velvet cushion. The clear shells are like transparent glass, reflecting the bright luster of stars.
Hector froze, his eyes widening in disbelief.
This... is this "Star Drop Fruit"? !
He subconsciously picked up one, and the cool and warm touch penetrated into his heart through his palm. Just sniffing the intoxicating fruity fragrance was enough to make him feel peaceful.
Hector didn't hesitate and quickly closed the box.
Of course, this kind of good thing must be enjoyed slowly, and every detail from the shell to the flesh must be fully utilized. It would be a waste if even the slightest bit of fragrance was revealed.
Hector took a deep breath, as if to absorb the missed aroma into his stomach, and finally calmed his restless heartbeat.
However, it wasn't long before the confusion that followed caught up with him, leaving a puzzled expression on his face.
"Strange..." he muttered.
That prince who always took advantage of him would actually be so kind as to give him a gift? And it was something so valuable!
Hector had only heard that even in the Great Sage's garden, this kind of top-grade magic material was rare.
It is simply not available on the market.
With suspicion and trepidation, Hector put down the box of fruit and reached for the unopened letter.
Although he had not seen the contents of the letter yet, he could guess with his toes that the boy must have caused him big trouble again.
Based on the principle of "one should be grateful to the favor given to him" and "one should be grateful to the favor given to him", Professor Hector thought that he had to help the prince.
It's a pity that I can't protect myself right now, so I'm afraid I won't be of much use...
I have to say that this honest professor may not understand "His Highness Colin" better than his own Corgi teaching assistant.
If the prince had anything to ask of him, he would never write a letter or pass on a message, but would always talk to him in person.
The moment he opened the envelope, the guy who never played by the rules surprised him again, unsurprisingly.
There was a faint scent of ink on the letter paper, and the handwriting was as elegant and powerful as ever, saying farewell and taking care in just a few lines.
[…Thank you for your care during this time. I won't say anything sentimental; that's not my style. As for the five-star rating, consider it my return gift.]
Hector was stunned.
Colin...
Leaving?!
What’s going on?!
A myriad of emotions surged through his mind, the most overwhelming of which was reluctance. It was only then that he suddenly realized how well the man who seemed to be controlling him had treated him, a fact he had never realized.
A trace of loss and hesitation flashed across the old professor's eyes. He sat at the table for a long time in silence with mixed feelings, which finally turned into a long sigh.
This man from the holy city was like a gust of wind, coming suddenly and hastily, and leaving unexpectedly.
But he was not surprised.
He had this feeling a long time ago. The scorching sun did not belong to this snowy field. It would leave one day, just like the sun would eventually set.
"…Take care."
May you shine brightly in another sky.
…
Inside the Magic Science Laboratory, the afternoon sun was warm and bright, and everything seemed in order in front of the huge windows.
Bain and Had were arguing heatedly over a drawing, Ilana was preparing for the next issue of Science at her seat, and even the usually active Ophelia was quietly reading a thick book.
The mysteries of mathematics are fascinating, but they can also be frustrating for those with lesser talents.
After realizing that she could never surpass Ilana in mathematics, Ophelia began to work hard in the field of magic.
This is a shortcoming that Ilana cannot overcome no matter what. The young lady from the Castellón family only needs to make a little effort, and the miracle of God will naturally come to her.
This world is so unfair, even in an academic country that advocates equality and pursues truth.
Just when everyone was enjoying the peaceful daily life, His Highness Colin's assistant Miller suddenly walked in from outside the laboratory.
That face that was always full of energy on weekdays now had a seriousness that no one had ever seen before.
He didn't say anything, but just walked silently to the laboratory window, clapped his hands, and signaled everyone to come over and gather.
"Everyone, please put down what you are doing for a moment. Our respected mentor wants to show us his recent... miracle."
He didn't know what words to use to describe the incredible masterpiece, so he used the universal word "miracle".
When all the students in the laboratory gathered in front of the window with curiosity, Miller slowly raised his arm and pointed to the distant sky outside the window.
Following the direction of his finger, everyone saw a huge spindle-shaped object slowly rising from the snowfield in the direction of Artisan Street.
It is like a seed that has broken free from the constraints of the ground, flying towards the blue sky and planting incredible dreams in the field of clouds.
"What is that?"
Ophelia opened her eyes wide in astonishment. She tried hard to identify the strange creature and subconsciously expressed her first impression.
"A flying... walnut?"
She seemed to see the sails!
The Castellon family has many ocean-going cargo ships, but she has never heard of any of their ships being able to fly into the sky!
This is too incredible!
Her naive and unrelated metaphor made many apprentices laugh. As the atmosphere became lively, excited discussions spread among the crowd.
Listening to the discussion of those young men and women, Miller's heavy expression felt a little relieved, but the sadness between his brows did not disappear.
His eyes did not leave the gradually rising wonder, and he tried to hide the sadness in his heart with a calm tone.
"His Royal Highness said it's called an 'airship'."
"Although its creation was a miracle of magic, its launch didn't rely on any spells... but rather on the most basic scientific principles he taught you in science class."
As soon as he finished speaking, exclamations were heard from the side.
"Not relying on magic?!"
“How…is this possible?!”
Hard and Bane blurted out the words almost unconsciously, their young faces filled with disbelief, as if the assistant coach was joking.
But Miller was obviously not joking and just spoke in a casual voice.
"The secret of its ability to fly is hidden in the books he left behind."
When he said this, he suddenly paused, as if conveying an extremely heavy maxim, and changed his tone to a low one.
"Besides that, he also asked me to tell you something——"
“Never give up the search for truth.”
This thought-provoking statement left many people stunned.
The first one to come back to her senses was Ophelia. Her jewel-like eyes were filled with disbelief, and she asked anxiously.
"Wait... why did that guy ask you to tell us?! Why didn't he tell us himself?"
Because she was too anxious, she forgot about decency and elegance for a moment and even used the impolite term "that guy".
Why on earth did she come here?!
And now, he told her... he was leaving? !
Ilana came back to her senses after hearing this question, and for the first time, her usually calm face was filled with confusion and anxiety.
And a hint of reluctance that she herself had not even noticed.
Jamie and Ram quickly went to the window, looked at the airship flying farther and farther away, and exclaimed in a low voice.
“It doesn’t seem to be coming back.”
"Your Highness... Is the instructor really leaving?"
Those faces were filled with confusion and reluctance, as well as a trace of uncontrollable sadness.
Although many smart apprentices had long sensed that His Highness Colin had been preparing to leave the academy, including establishing the "Science" journal, which focused more on academics rather than status and authority, and encouraging them to lecture on the podium in science classes, etc.
But they didn't expect that this day would come so suddenly that they were caught off guard because they were not prepared.
Without waiting for Miller to answer her question, Ophelia rushed out the door without saying a word, her slender shoulders trembling slightly.
Ilana caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of her red and swollen eyes and saw a few drops of crystal clear water hanging from them... The duchess didn't want others to see her shameful side.
Out of concern for her good friend, Ilana did not hesitate and followed Ophelia's footsteps.
Even at this moment, her heart was filled with sorrow. She suppressed her tears and wanted to bury her face in the pillow and cry loudly...
Jamie and Ram stared at each other, speechless for a moment. Hader and Bane, like frost-bitten eggplants, drooped their shoulders and remained silent.
The sadness of parting permeated the laboratory. Today, this mage tower was destined to have many sad people...
Miller didn't want to look at their faces, for he was afraid that the sad atmosphere would infect him and shatter the strength he had worked so hard to build up in his heart.
Taking a deep breath, he suppressed his emotions and bid farewell to the sail that gradually disappeared into the horizon with a cherished look.
"He said... this was his last lesson for us."
"He flew here, so he will leave by flying."
"He hopes that you will never give up your pursuit of truth, and never forget why you came to this desolate snowfield."
At the same time, on the top of the tower, a kind gardener was also looking at the direction where the airship left.
The corners of Dosulfk's mouth curled up into a smile.
Although Novel's chosen one was very cunning and did many tricks under his nose, he still kept his promise.
Xuebang does not need "science".
All his servants had to do was keep their heads down, keep their ears perked up, and complete their orders step by step.
Of course, he allowed them to call themselves "scholars."
As his thoughts drifted away with the airship, Dosulfuk suddenly thought of the apprentice he had sent to the south, and a playful smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
"I forgot to tell you."
He said to the clear blue sky in a voice almost whispering, "I have also prepared a 'gift' for you in the south."
Arrogance and conspiracy are not enemies.
And greed, naturally not...
(End of this chapter)
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