Chapter 73: Dream On (2)
OtyPIKYAs about ten children took their seats at the table, Lumina’s mother generously served the boiled pork.LCs
MRA7kShirone felt a bit awkward. Preparing such a meal must have cost a considerable amount of money. Paying for it wasn’t the issue, but it was a peculiar situation nonetheless.4xO
Wh6Sensing Shirone’s concern, Altor spoke up.B1JB
G3MD“Don’t worry. We can sell the monster’s hide for a good price. We’ll start working on it tomorrow. Of course, we’ll need your permission first.”Dr905L
CEaUtAJ“Me? No, of course, you should. Ah, and the monsters were Ulks. Their claws and fangs can fetch a good price, I’ve heard.”tiMLwv
rLKnKLShirone was sure to give permission. Besides, knowing the monster’s name was a bonus.AUW
OQ1KIn this world, knowledge equated to money.M6qdTu
ZEMEZVWithout knowing its name, taking it to market risked being underpaid. The effort of skinning could end up costing more than the profit.EDkKt4Z
f5xb“Well, thanks. Not just for the Ulk, but without you, our village would’ve had to relocate.”6gxng4U
eFEynWUFor generations, living off the land and selling forest yields was their way of life. Losing their home would’ve been a disaster. In that sense, Shirone was a hero to the village.D1cw
vjgOg“It’s fine. This place is precious to me too.”y8fKw1
yjl3SShirone truly felt that way. The children had stayed instead of going to the mountains to collect the Ulk, even though the meat would spoil.xXGQpDC
VxDIXThough not wealthy, their way of life, tough and filled with more blushes than nobles, taught them how to live together, which Shirone appreciated.NUp
7XvRMartin, chewing on the meat, suggested, “Too bad your hard-earned vacation turned out this way. Want to come to the mountain tomorrow? We’ll sell everything – the hide, claws, and all – and use that money to have fun.”TUkYZD1
gEeuQThe children of Huajeonmin Village never missed a chance to play, but Shirone regretfully declined. He was eager to analyze his recent enlightenment.T5UKYr
S4Vh9“No, I’m well-rested. Thanks to you, my fatigue is gone too. Time to study hard. I’ll head back to school tomorrow morning.”mOcM7v0
NDw8vKAfter dinner, the children returned to their homes. The night was still young, but they had work to do – preparing equipment, checking carts, and more.8zjgy
PEFShirone climbed a hill to look down at Huajeonmin Village. The children, carrying torches, prepared for the next day’s work, joking and laughing together. A gentle smile graced Shirone’s face.n6Ro
WP8“Shirone, you’re here?”n8BkBBj
6xj“Altor, how did you find me?”cX2i
K6s“Just felt like you’d be here. What are you thinking about? You didn’t even notice me coming.”UuAY
raad3XV“Just the old days. Playing tag here with Dad in those fields.”deGvMLM
jD11Th8“True. But you spent more time reading books. Well, probably because of us.”rsPS
IiyxN“No, I just really liked books…”BLMRn
dl5hoBAltor laughed heartily.8XxI
RSQb“No need to be polite. We all knew. Kids have always looked up to you. I was jealous too, and I owe you an apology for many things.”fsDM0h
M1dzK“No, I was the weird one. Maybe I was just scared to meet people. It was a confusing time.”Io9
PUPcEIn Huajeonmin Village, Shirone was the pride of his parents, never causing trouble. But since discovering magic at twelve, he was constantly tormented with doubts and struggles.MPlBLDM
10AgN6KAltor nodded, understanding. Seeing Shirone’s magic today made things clear. The boy he thought was naive and bookish was, in fact, fighting harder than anyone else.EYR8h
AhmQkk“Sorry, Shirone.”x3RI7s
X4dX“For what?”8Nz1C0
yHl4akr“For last night at the bar. I overstepped. Everyone has their limits, and I misjudged. Don’t take it to heart.”5Oc
N3NdwShirone recalled Altor’s sharp words from the night before. They hadn’t hurt him. It was a burden he had to bear for choosing magic.INv
bDbyCPJ“I don’t think like that. I’ve never considered how blessed and lucky I am. How fortunate.”9MqH8c
YQO1hV5“No, Shirone. You worked hard. That’s why people help you.”yruWzq
ZgGFh“But still, it’s the truth. What you said is my reality, and I have to live with it.”cwF63u
WktpzAltor smiled sadly. People like Shirone, who could criticize themselves so objectively, were rare in Huajeonmin Village.t2ce
YTS“Mages are amazing.”fpXv
W0GjAltor couldn’t comprehend mages’ thought processes. But that’s probably why the world revered them so.vSXzL
0wSShirone and Altor looked down at the village, silent, but their eyes fixed on the same place.Br6KgJz
dnOj9The following morning, only the children remained as the adults had already started their day’s work at the crack of dawn.RginI
rrkMvAfter having breakfast at Lumina’s house, Shirone left for the day. The children saw him off, each carrying tools to dismantle the Ulk.jKke
XYzDShirone realized anew the weight of his own path in life, seeing their never-resting daily lives.ejp
Vbe“Take care, Shirone. Study hard and become a mage,” Altor offered his hand for a handshake. The other children also crowded around Shirone, bidding their farewells.k0BDWcv
iEOxq“Shirone, will you visit again?”pFB6
njqp“Tell us more stories about the magic academy when you come next time.”Kmu77p
JEZMsyR“Ha-ha! Sure. I’ll come after this semester ends. Take care, everyone.”FpUJ6ya
i3Q7jQAfter bidding farewell to the children, Shirone turned to Lumina. Despite the cheerful atmosphere, her face was the only one clouded with sadness.figg
Cc1VShirone vaguely understood Lumina’s affection for him. But what could he do? Matters of the heart are not something one can control with their mind.mMjo
MUINjCR“Lumina, thanks for the delicious meals. You’ll cook for me again, right?”jeLWHFY
M1FOgbiOnly then did Lumina show a smile. It was a resigned smile, knowing that wishing for more would be greedy.OIG
sp6RY“Of course! Just make sure you visit often. Don’t pretend you don’t know me just because you become a mage.”yhlN1w
EjUz“Sure. I’ll definitely come back.”QqUZ
ahj9qFWalking down the hill of Hwajeonmin Village, Shirone suddenly turned back and shouted to the children still standing there.QavxP
U70Kev“Take care, everyone! Stay healthy!”6BPiC
rQjN2GJAs Shirone walked further away, Lumina finally let her head drop weakly. It was sadder to realize that she could no longer harbor feelings for him.SQt
60cMg6e“Hey, are you okay?” Altor touched Lumina’s shoulder, concerned. Lumina couldn’t hold back her tears any longer. Altor felt a pang of guilt, knowing her feelings for Shirone from childhood but not realizing how serious they were.RgiYN
ilzqh40“Damn, if you’re so upset, you should have at least said something. Want me to beat him up and bring him back?”WITmO
njRPnQR“No, it’s okay. Shirone isn’t gone.”02M6EoC
rzwYLumina wiped her tears with both hands and lifted her head. Suddenly, a bright smile appeared on her face.bz3YgNp
Rhm95r“Shirone is chasing his dream.”kyqUVZF
D5j6Lumina prayed to the gods of the mountains and forests.QBiW7i
Xx4TMay his path be filled with warm light.ugO7
nzNVAs Shirone headed back to the school, he pondered over the questions Hwajeonmin Village had thrown at him.fSDg
dpzHow far can I go?iQuQ4f8
I8JiBeing a guest at the Ogent family, studying with the students at the magic school, didn’t mean he had achieved anything.E7adTc
V8OGHe must continuously strive and progress without hesitation. He was attending school with the support of the Ogent family, studying advanced magic due to his parents’ sacrifices.wAROR
q9G7Is this the right path?n55yvEU
v7dpIf he fails, can he easily accept it and live as he did before?ZOcJgC9
YJQYArriving at the school, Shirone headed straight to the research club. He didn’t feel like entering his dormitory, feeling troubled.Wl5PS0
YXBI wonder if the others are having fun? Hopefully, they haven’t lost too much…8A8q
vvoLBy now, Yiruki and Nade should be excitedly betting in the casino. He hoped they hadn’t gambled away their house deeds.qLri
ja2nVbxEntering the warehouse where the research group was, Shirone stopped at the door, hearing voices.Ycky
qcyzOh?YaS
XWrH73hOpening the door, he found Yiruki and Nade arguing on the sofa. The debate was so heated that Yiruki was unusually excited.k0fQ8ZS
sjKoYou idiot! A perpetual motion machine is absolutely impossible!1kswJ
ZI93aRoWhy are you so narrow-minded? Im not talking about infinite power, but a second-type perpetual machine!zWOg3
Q0SomdSThats against the law of entropy!LycMc
xneuWhat about this then? What is this Ive made?j10
pwyAMNade pointed at a wind-up toy car on the table. To call it a car was a stretch; it was more of a wheeled metal box.Y3iU
gGeUh, guyszlJEN9
N8aNade turned to Shirone, holding up the toy car.W2H
zZEyShirone! You be the judge. I made this. After winding up like this and placing it on the ground…m7zCt
6ALI209The car moved in a circular motion, but the wind-up didnt unwind.xvaSq
iqMlJrfYiruki glared furiously.RtpB
ci5Hey, Shirone! Dont be fooled. Thats a complete scam!wMjpM7
0r6Whats a scam? Youve been waiting to see when it stops, and now youre arguing with me!cmcD2y
kdIkFThe perpetual motion machine! Its impossible to prove with just 1-2 hours of movement! Your machine is just highly efficient, thats all! The wind-up is ridiculously tight!XDoze
bJbSo what? It’s miniature. If it’s bigger, it can be 100 times more efficient!Axhp
pjIAHow big will you make it? As big as the sky? Its more efficient to feed a horse!bJu6tA
ZU6JgLeAll we need is to show the possibility! Technology always evolves towards being more compact!Erv
U6IoMJTheoryless technology eventually collapses!vx87B4
hTdWho cares about theory! Just make it and use it!eXCnjAC
c1axirfBoth the mathematician and the engineer had valid points. Shirone blinked, observing the car.vSg
1i9Seeing them heatedly argue over a seemingly useless toy car, Shirone suddenly felt his earlier troubles fly away.7n4CrSF
aklVXAh… I see.N7sv50
QG8JviCSomeday, this wind-up car, through the research of many scholars, will earn a reputable name. Someone will then use it to create new knowledge.j1pb
04sN1PLHow arrogant to think I am the only one who can do something. It wasnt because I was exceptional that I got here.BbdDiM2
qysN5If my father hadnt bought me books, if I hadnt entered the Ogent family, if there hadnt been a teleportation test, if I hadnt met Yiruki and Nade…mDT
XmKQCShirone wouldn’t be as he is now.Ayorq6
JK04hULA series of improbable coincidences led Shirone here.Zaf
2ozhThank you for letting me be here.cHR
NEzUuoELost in his thoughts, Shirone quickly regained his smile and asked his friends.NJ5Aro
MfgTpSo, what happened with the casino?ZKG0QK
KSbQNade, who was head-to-head with Yiruki, turned with a frustrated expression.Wex
rtipXa6How? Got cleaned out in one day. We were just one bet away from hitting the jackpot.F8F6ib
VItEbRThats why I said it would be a spade. 57% chance.Myt2B6s
tKaKkZTFunny! I lost big time listening to you! 57%? Thats just a game of chance!Xpz
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