Chapter 650: The Voyage Destined to Be Recorded in History!

High above, turbulent air battered the portholes of the Truth.

Inside the spacious cabin of this airship, young magic apprentices were experiencing the most thrilling moment of their lives.

Yet all of this seemed unrelated to Baine and Harde.

At this very moment, the two of them were pressing their faces against the porthole, noses pointed at the grid-like streets below, arguing fiercely over trivial matters, faces flushed.

"... Without a doubt, the shockwave from the No. 3 scroll's thermal-pressure explosive will spread in a perfect circle! All obstacles in its path will be blown away!"

"Fool, how could that be? You forgot to consider the 'magic dispersion surface,' " Harde retorted with disdain. "A projectile-falling magical projectile projects its shockwave along a vector cone—its final spread must be fan-shaped! This is dictated by a perfect mathematical model!"

"Come on, we've never seen that in the lab even once!"

"That's because the mage tower's training ground is too small—it can't meet the ideal conditions of the mathematical model! Once the distance extends to a kilometer and the casting intensity reaches Gold Rank or higher—"

"Then you'd still need to find a Gold Rank mage, or get other mages to join you for a joint casting test, right?"

Just as the two were locked in heated debate, a gentle, familiar voice abruptly interrupted their exchange.

"Considering the street layout of Lei Ming City is mostly grid-patterned, and the old district's buildings are primarily constructed of cement and stone, the shockwave will likely spread along the streets. But as your mentor, I must remind you: don't conduct such dangerous experiments on my friend's territory—or even I won't be able to save you."

That voice, like celestial music, rang in the ears of the two magic apprentices and instantly silenced their baseless quarrel.

They turned in unison, staring at the man who had suddenly appeared behind them—and his ever-calm smile—and nearly dropped their jaws.

"Prince Colin?!"

"M-Mentor?!"

They knew Prince Colin was down in Lei Ming City, but how had he gotten up here?!

"Long time no see, Baine, Harde. I'm glad you've both grown taller."

Luo Yan smiled, patting the shoulders of the two terrified boys, then turned to look at Lam, whose mouth was also wide open behind him.

This shy, meticulous girl came from a clockmaker family in the Luo De Kingdom; she had designed many optical instruments for his science lab and was also an expert at calibrating precision devices.

Luo Yan clearly remembered the talents of every magic apprentice present, for they were all personally selected by him.

Though the Academy didn't value their abilities—or even need them—he knew they were hidden gems buried by their era.

"And Lam, you too. It seems the northern snowstorms haven't hindered your growth."

"M-Mentor?!"

Lam's shock mirrored that of Baine and Harde; blushing, she stammered out her words.

"Y-You… when did you get up here?"

"As you see—just now."

Luo Yan answered casually, as if crossing a kilometer of sky had been nothing more than a leisurely stroll in his own backyard.

Secrets like this are worth concealing only when facing those of comparable strength or those who know you well—but not when facing those vastly inferior.

He knew his students' limits well: they were theoretical geniuses, yet distinguishing between "Upper Displacement Magic" and "Butterfly of All Things" was still beyond them.

Even if he didn't explain, they'd likely assume it was some Platinum or Diamond Rank spell.

Without further small talk, Luo Yan walked straight toward the figure standing frozen by the window.

Those eyes, usually calm and rational, were now filled with mist. Her delicate face flushed with a faint pink hue.

It was the trembling excitement of a long-awaited reunion.

"Mentor…"

"I'm glad to see you again, Ilana."

Watching the girl on the verge of tears, Luo Yan smiled gently and reached out to ruffle her hair in comfort.

"You've done well. Though I suspect Aphelia told you nothing, your intelligence must have already sensed something."

His students were mostly all here—at least, the core members of the Magical Science Lab were aboard this airship.

That gentle affirmation nearly made Ilana's tears spill over; she held them back only by forcing a brave smile.

She took a deep breath and spoke in a trembling voice.

"Everyone supports you. We all believe Miss Aphelia isn't the kind of girl who acts on whims… You must have seen something we couldn't, which is why you chose to take us away from there."

"Thank you for thinking that."

Luo Yan kindly refrained from forcing this proud girl to break down and shed tears before him.

He turned away at the right moment, his gaze sweeping across the cabin, taking in the hundred or so young faces—some startled, some anxious.

Though these boys and girls had long endured the trials of leaving home, two and a half years of apprenticeship had conditioned them to rely on the protection—or rather, the confinement—of the Tower of the Sage.

Now, venturing south toward an unknown fate, their hearts must be filled not only with unease over the thousand-meter height above, but also with uncertainty about the future.

And now, he must dispel their fears.

Facing the eyes fixed upon him, Luo Yan infused his voice with magic, drowning out the roar of the steam engine.

"Boys, girls, don't be afraid."

"I, your mentor, am right here beside you!"

"Even if the airship's engine fails, even if the sky collapses—I'll find a way to make it fly again. Don't think I'm joking; you know my strength better than anyone!"

This statement, brimming with unshakable confidence, was like a calming blue potion—instantly steadying every anxious heartbeat.

The heavy atmosphere shattered; many broke into knowing smiles.

They knew Prince Colin's strength well—Aristotle, the would-be Sage, was no match for him.

Professor Uriel's suppression of the Science School stemmed from fear of Colin's power and influence.

He feared he might return.

Even though he never would.

Luo Yan glanced around, his smile fading slightly, his tone and demeanor turning solemn.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this maiden voyage is destined to be recorded in the annals of the Aust Continent. I am honored to witness this moment with you. In ancient history, the sky belonged to dragons, the garden of gods. But from today, humanity will no longer rely on distant, divine powers—we will conquer the blue heavens above us with our own hands, our own wisdom, and our own sweat."

"But Your Highness, the airship uses rune components and alchemical materials…" a clever student couldn't help interjecting.

Luo Yan caught the remark instantly, yet only smiled faintly.

"Of course, I know you'll say this vessel can't function without magic—but that's irrelevant. Science and magic are not opposing forces. We don't reject supernatural power; we analyze it through scientific thought, until one day even ordinary people can master it."

"Mentor!"

Harde, who had just been arguing about explosive art, suddenly raised his hand and shouted loudly, "You're right! But hasn't your 'Voyager' already conquered the sky once? We have no doubt you're the first prince to conquer the heavens!"

Hearing the immature designation, Luo Yan's expression turned slightly amused. He replied with a wry tone.

"Well said, Harde. But I must honestly tell you: that was one of the few failures of my life. Had I not been a powerful mage myself, I'd have shattered into pieces along with that pile of scrap metal."

"Hahaha—"

The cabin erupted in good-natured laughter.

Several apprentices who had helped design the "Voyager" scratched their heads, wishing they could vanish into the floorboards. But this interruption dissolved their tension, the laughter sweeping it away.

Having calmed his students, Luo Yan turned toward the cockpit. The brass lock turned automatically at his approach; the heavy oak door respectfully slid open.

The moment the prince stepped into the cockpit, even the restless air stilled as his leather soles touched the floor.

Jamie, drenched in sweat, stared into his monocular telescope, muttering navigation data. Hearing the door open, he didn't turn.

"Who let you in?! Get back to your seats!"

"Jamie, could you be a little gentler with your mentor?"

At the teasing voice, Jamie froze like he'd been struck by lightning, nearly dropping his ruler.

"P-Prince Colin?!"

It wasn't just Jamie who turned.

All the other magic apprentices and teaching assistants in the cockpit turned as well.

At the sound of Jamie's cry, Professor James Wally, struggling with the control stick, also spun around in shock, his spectacles nearly falling off his chin.

"Prince Colin?! By Saint Sis! You—you how—"

"Jamie, Professor Wally, we meet again."

Luo Yan waved his hand with a smile, signaling them to continue their work, no need for formalities.

"Ignore me—as if I weren't here. You are the masters of this vessel."

As he spoke, he walked to the cockpit window and gazed toward the open field north of Lei Ming City.

He continued in a calm, unhurried tone.

"See that field of recently harvested wheat? That's your landing zone. Proceed boldly—if anything goes wrong, I'll intervene."

With this reliable promise, Professor Wally's panic vanished instantly; his face regained its confident smile.

He pushed his spectacles back onto his nose, yanked the throttle lever, and shouted excitedly:

"Leave it to me, Your Highness! This is the greatest masterpiece of my life—I won't give you a chance to intervene!"

Hearing his old friend's spirited voice, Luo Yan smiled faintly and cast an expectant glance at the young apprentices in the cockpit.

"Then it's in your hands."

…

A vast shadow, like a dark cloud blotting out the sun, loomed over the wheat field north of Lei Ming City.

After frantic, chaotic maneuvers, the elite of the Science School had not disappointed Prince Colin.

Amid a grating screech of metal, the massive airship "Truth" finally ended its thousand-kilometer journey, its steam whistle sounding.

The great sails, extending sideways, slowly retracted; the enormous propellers slowed as the steam engine shut down, the wind they churned bending all surrounding vegetation and even knocking hats off nearby spectators.

Yet those spectators didn't bother bending down to retrieve their hats.

They feared missing this miraculous sight, their eyes glued to the impossible behemoth above.

By Saint Sis—

So ships really can fly in the sky?!

Had they not seen it with their own eyes, they would have thought they had not woken up at all—that they were still trapped in the unfinished dream of last night.

"Boom—"

Four thick landing gear slammed hard onto solid ground, crushing the dry wheat stubble into fragments beneath glowing runes, sending up a vast cloud of dust!

This sky-born behemoth, under the gaze of tens of thousands of eyes, completed its first landing with proud dignity.

Although Professor James Wally and his apprentices had tested it many times on the snow plains, this was its first landing on the southern plains.

Someone was the first to clap—the applause jolted the silent crowd into motion, and soon everyone was clapping. Roaring applause echoed, mingling with cheers and whistles.

Amid this clamor, a few pairs of eyes saw not just spectacle, but a miracle about to change the world!

Deng Pusi pushed through the crowd from his carriage, ignoring the choking dust, his eyes locked on the hatch now opening.

"Incredible… is that magic?!"

In the year 1054 of the Os Continent, carriages were the dominant mode of transport; only a few nobles chose flying horses or griffins for rapid travel.

Yet the appearance of this colossal machine utterly overturned all of that—

It required no hay, no groom's careful tending, could not be stuck in mud during days of rain, and needed no winding mountain paths or dangerous forests like carriages did.

With this thing, the journey from Lei Ming City to Luo De Kingdom, once taking half a month, might now take only three days!

Even less!

Deng Pusi swallowed hard, as if what he saw was not an airship, but a river flowing with gold.

If he could obtain authorization for this technology, or forge a partnership with Prince Colin… and form an "Air Carriage Fleet"…

The entire land trade network of the Os Continent would be rewritten!

Deng Pusi, just returned home, was not the only one who saw the airship's potential.

Another textile and retail tycoon, who had never left Lei Ming City, now stared blankly at the beast descending from the sky.

His focus was not on the intricate machinery or terrifying carrying capacity, but on the airbag floating in midair!

What a perfect canvas—leaving it bare and floating in the sky was pure waste!