In that flower field, as he watched Flamiel fall into slumber, Ansel indeed felt an unprecedented sense of redemption.
The world before his eyes had beco broader and more open.
"Basically... This is just a prototype, Ansel. Help take a look... Ansel? Ansel?"
Ravenna's call brought Ansel back to his senses. He turned his gaze to a large... box-like device on the workbench and tilted his head slightly. "This thing?"
Ravenna found it strange that Ansel had been smiling just now, but since he always had that smiley expression, she didn't think much about it and spoke to him seriously:
"As you said before, a place like the western land… especially a territory controlled by adventurers—they don't understand city planning. No, they don't even care about what a city should look like."
Ravenna placed her hand on the machine and said softly, "There are many things that are too... absurd. If possible, I hope to make a change, even if it's just a little."
"So you... made this?"
Ansel glanced at the box-shaped device and raised an eyebrow. "Purification, transformation... oh, it's for environntal managent."
He imdiately understood the machine's purpose. "You want to purify the lower district's environnt?"
"You've taught ," Ravenna looked up at Ansel, her expression incredibly serious. "Reform is complex and difficult... If not controlled, so will benefit, but others will sacrifice."
"So now, I'm planning to start with small things that can still make an impact."
Although she said this, Ravenna's expression was still sowhat apprehensive. It was clear she lacked confidence in her direction and wanted to consult Ansel for his opinion.
"This device, as you said, is just a very simple... air purification device. It's very easy to mass-produce. Based on the structure of the lower district of Dispute Fortress, about thirty of these should be enough to cover the entire area."
Having witnessed the absurdity of the lower district's structure, Ravenna said, "Living in such a place, reaching fifty years old would already be a miracle. Even if I can't change their living conditions, changing the living environnt... that's sothing I can do."
After speaking, she looked at Ansel uneasily. The shadow of the soil enhancent potion incident still hadn't faded.
"This way, there shouldn't be any additional victims, right?"
"...."
Ansel just looked at this air purification device, which was very simple for Ravenna and could be made in just a few minutes, without saying anything.
He suddenly realized sothing. No matter how much Ravenna understood him, shared the sa tacit understanding and vision, at the core, she was still a person of this world.
There were so things that Miss Scholar, no matter how advanced or genius she was, could never consider as soone within the system.
He had already determined this a long ti ago; otherwise, he wouldn't have handed power over to Marlina. Occasionally, he still hoped that Ravenna could have an epiphany and understand many things.
But ultimately... that wasn't realistic.
However, this wasn't a problem. Seraphina and Ravenna were already very good girls. Ansel never wanted to demand more. Other matters... were his own issues. In fact, Ansel preferred to fulfill their desires because what they pursued was very close to his forr hopes.
"I'll take you to see Seri and Marlina," Ansel suddenly smiled as Ravenna's expression grew more tense. "Since we're going to implent these devices in the lower district, we should ask for their opinions first, right?"
"...That's true."
Although she didn't know why Ansel was silent, seeing that he didn't imdiately oppose her idea, Ravenna still breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Seraphina clumsily but diligently followed the guidance in her heart, unwaveringly advancing toward her life's beacon.
And Ravenna? When she saw the denizens of Dispute Fortress living in tin boxes and decaying wooden shacks, she had already made up her mind.
I truly... want to change all of this—not for my grandfather, not out of obsession, but for them, for the future.
This world, and everyone living in it, shouldn't be like this.
Even though she still needed to grow and was filled with uncertainty about the path ahead, a hero always remains a hero.
*
Seraphina was perched on the large chair in the office, hugging her legs obediently. Though she was exceedingly confused by now, she still forced herself to listen intently to Marlina's words.
"They need to genuinely believe that life is valuable and aningful, not just blindly hope for the whims of extraordinary beings to change their lives." Marlina's voice was soft yet resolute. "Thus, creating more work that can provide positive reinforcent and transforming their life's motivation from unrealistic fantasies to tangible strength is imperative. The specifics..."
In truth, Marlina had a simpler and more efficient thod to improve the state of the lower district. It involved directly transplanting the political system and class structure of the Empire. Replacing the chaotic rule of adventurers with the Empire's thousand-year-old, continually refined system would at least bring more stability, if not happiness, to the lower district's common folk.
However, Marlina chose not to do so. Firstly, adventurers were unworthy and incapable of becoming the upper echelons of such a system. Secondly, she did not wish to perpetuate sothing she had originally despised. Moreover, she had secretly vowed to ensure Seraphina's satisfaction and to dedicate all her strength to aiding Ansel in his pursuit of that path.
Therefore, Marlina was exploring new ways. She was not treating the lower district's people as re test subjects, for Milo was one of their own, and any oversight could be swiftly corrected. Such opportunities were rare and had to be cherished. Marlina sotis felt that this was precisely why Ansel had deliberately placed her by Seraphina's side.
It was a trendous trial, and if she could achieve even Seraphina's impeccable standards, she would undoubtedly advance further.
Explore more stories with empire
"In the na of the common folk, by commissioning the removal of criminals from the lower district, we can unite them, instilling a sense of 'collective honor,' allowing them to—"
Thud, thud, thud—
-->
Reviews
All reviews (0)