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Chapter 254: Blooming the Flower (5)

“……I could have won.”

In the Tower Master’s room, left alone with him, Sasha muttered with her lips pouting.

She seemed dissatisfied about being eliminated from the candidacy without even getting a proper chance to compete.

“Of course, Master must have his reasons. So what’s the reason?”

“Didn’t you feel anything after seeing Lloyd’s world?”

“Hmm……”

As Sasha fell into thought, her brow furrowed more and more.

He pressed that spot flat with his finger.

“Don’t frown. You’ll get wrinkles.”

“Yes, um. Well, the world felt kind of desolate? Barren? It was like that.”

“Doesn’t suit him, right?”

“It doesn’t fit magic, but… if you think about his past… it might fit a little?”

As she said, Lloyd’s youth was unfortunate.

He had been driven to the edge, alone, desperate.

The current world seemed to reflect those feelings.

“But it mustn’t be so.”

A world isn’t a box under the bed where you stash away flaws.

Of course, there are countless views on world liberation, with as many papers scattered about it.

But a certain archmage who once reached level 9 in his past life knows:

Fundamentally, a liberated world takes shape to fulfill the caster’s desires and yearnings.

In that sense, Lloyd’s world was strange.

“Eternal Bloom, was it.”

A world holding endless blossoming, where closed flowers bloom again, without end.

But unlike the thousands of flowers ready to bloom, the world itself was utterly barren.

Soil filled with dry sand, a sky with not a speck of light, scorching heat, no wind to stir.

Every condition was akin to poison.

“Even if you say it mustn’t be… what can you even do?”

Sasha tilted her head.

“A world that’s already complete can’t just be swapped out somewhere else. Even if you go to the Sage of the Stars, I’m pretty sure it’s impossible.”

“You can’t exchange it, but you can change it.”

People often liken the human heart to reeds.

Some mock that as spinelessness, but Oscar thought otherwise.

‘It means it’s flexible.’

The heart is supple and formless.

That’s why it can become anything, if one wills it.

“Like the wind.”

“You mean… depending on how one sets their mind, the world itself can change?”

“To some extent, yes.”

Of course, even such change has limits.

Meaning, once a world is liberated, its fundamental background and structure cannot be altered.

“For example, my sky cannot become a sea, and your grassland cannot become a sky.”

“Hmm… I don’t really get it. If that’s the case, isn’t it meaningless?”

“Normally, yes. But if the subject is Lloyd, it’s different.”

The flowers he deals with are extremely sensitive.

Wind, light, soil, temperature.

Only when all conditions are perfectly met do the best flowers bloom.

‘One week left.’

In that time, to help Lloyd bloom the perfect flower.

That was Oscar’s goal.

* * *

Before Lloyd’s training, there was something to take care of.

Sending Uncle Emperor back to the capital.

The situation had been urgent, so he had called him here, but the man couldn’t remain away from his post for ten days.

“I’m truly grateful this time.”

“For no one else but you, how could I not come?”

His gaze upon him was the same as ever.

Eyes filled with trust.

To be trusted by another is always both a burden and a source of strength.

“I’ll escort you.”

“Hmm……”

The Emperor, Ludwig, clasped his hands behind his back, looking at the gaping open space.

He glanced around as though stalling.

After waiting, Oscar blinked and asked.

“Not going?”

“I should go. I must, but……”

He gazed at the open space with reluctance.

“I can’t remember the last time I left the palace like this. Somehow, I feel a pang of regret……”

What?

What does he want?

Oscar suggested.

“Then would you like to tour the southern coast? Or perhaps the elves’ Great Forest?”

“Hrmm.”

Apparently not the answer he wanted.

Narrowing his eyes, Oscar spoke.

“Don’t tell me… you want to return by airship?”

“Oh, an airship? Can I return by that? I never thought of it, but yes, what a way.”

The Emperor brightened immediately.

“You could have just said so from the start.”

“I too have appearances to maintain. At my age I can’t just whine like a child.”

“…Then you shouldn’t have hinted at all.”

“Don’t mutter, I hear you. Just lead the way.”

When they reached the dwarves’ workshop on the 13th floor, a ruckus filled the air.

Dwarves, roped to their waists, hung onto the Nospelra as they carried out maintenance.

“Ohh, up close it’s even grander.”

The Emperor’s eyes sparkled like a child’s as he looked at the airship.

Noticing them, Hagor approached.

“Been a while, Oscar. And this is……”

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His eyes widened at Ludwig.

“Wait, are you Ludwig?”

“Hagor? I knew it!”

The two already knew each other, having worked on the Sky Project in the past.

The Emperor showed rare excitement, shaking hands with him.

“From the moment I saw that elegant hull at the White Night Festival, you came to mind. My eyes weren’t wrong.”

“Eh, it’s nothing.”

Though Hagor brushed it off, the twitch at the corner of his lips betrayed his delight.

All dwarves loved hearing praise for their work.

“So, could something like this also be implemented?”

“What sort of thing?”

As always, their chemistry clicked.

Naturally so, since both had shared the dream of soaring in the sky.

“Hmm, I’ll reflect as much as possible. Rare chance to get such feedback.”

“And I too enjoyed this time.”

As the chat wound down, Oscar spoke.

“Hagor, can the airship be flown to the capital?”

“Hmm. By now the maintenance is… ah, finished. No problem.”

“Then please escort His Majesty back to the capital.”

“Excellent. The more flight data, the better.”

Until the White Night Festival, the airship had been kept secret, so they had only gathered data by hovering inside the 13th floor to balance the hull.

“Nospelra, prepare for takeoff!”

“Prepare for takeoff!”

At Hagor’s shout, dwarves bustled about.

Soon a wall of the workshop swung open like a door.

The airship, resting on rails, slowly moved outside.

“My heart races. More than the day I ascended the throne.”

“That much?”

How much did he love airships?

Oscar gave a brief explanation on deck.

“As I said before, the Nospelra is a prototype.”

“And what will change?”

“The goal is to build seating like the luxury cruises.”

Since airports in each major city would take months to build, they planned to use that time to enhance onboard facilities.

“Freight transport, passenger transport, and mixed. These three types will be produced.”

“Does it vary that much?”

“Passenger-focused hulls will be more luxurious.”

“Hmm. But isn’t it a loss to carry many passengers? Wouldn’t guild cargo bring more profit?”

“That’s why we’ll grade the seats.”

Basic economy seats, pricier business seats, and first-class seats so costly only those of certain status could even dream of them.

Hearing this, the Emperor gave him a knowing look.

“Very like you. It’s almost frightening, like you plan to sweep up all the continent’s wealth.”

“Taxes will be paid faithfully, don’t worry.”

Oscar winked.

“And of course, for Your Majesty and the imperial family, first-class will always be free.”

“Hrmm.”

Who dislikes being treated well?

The Emperor laughed like a child as the airship lifted gently.

* * *

A few hours later, an overexcited Emperor called again, stealing another hour.

Once Oscar wrapped up that conversation, he naturally made his way to the training hall.

There stood Lloyd, motionless.

Edna had yet to arrive.

“……”

As Oscar approached, Lloyd stared at him and spoke.

“If training was your purpose, you’d have gone to an empty hall. If it was to speak with me, you’d have said so already.”

“Right. I didn’t come to the wrong room, nor to ask you anything specific.”

Oscar shrugged.

“Didn’t you hear from the Tower Master? From today, Edna and I will be helping with your training.”

“……”

After a pause, Lloyd said.

“Personally, I think you’ll become an excellent mage. Your growth is quick, your talent remarkable. But as of now, in what way can you possibly help me?”

Coming from Lloyd—or from an 8th-level mage—that was gentle.

Anyone else might have said “Know your place and get lost.”

“You’ve already seen how deep my theoretical knowledge is, haven’t you?”

He and Lloyd had debated extensively while researching the Seed.

Not to boast, but most of those debates ended with Oscar proven right.

“Of course I remember. But that was limited to alchemy. I called you in because my knowledge of alchemy was lacking.”

“Ah, so in short you accept my alchemy, but not my magic theory?”

“…Since you insist on putting it that way, I won’t deny it.”

Lloyd exhaled softly.

“Oscar Crucian. Right now, every day, every minute, every second matters to me. The Red Tower Master is no lenient opponent. I wish to focus on Edna’s rich instruction.”

“Fine.”

Oscar answered cheerfully, jerking his chin.

“Ask me.”

“…What do you mean?”

“A question. Anything on magic theory. I’ll answer. If I can’t, I’ll step aside cleanly.”

“Hoo.”

Lloyd sighed quietly, thinking it wasn’t a bad deal.

‘If he can’t even comprehend the question, he’ll give up himself.’

At the same time, if it was a question worth long contemplation, it could aid his growth.

After brief thought, Lloyd posed one with generosity.

“There are two opposing views on the brief delay between a caster’s controlled mana and its manifestation as magic. Do you think it’s a physical limitation of the mana circuits, or the mage’s lack of ability?”

“Easy.”

Oscar answered instantly, less than a second after the question.

“Most people misunderstand. In truth, there is no delay whatsoever in magic manifestation.”

“……”

Lloyd’s eyes widened at the unexpected answer.

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