Chapter 44: Two Ministers
After their audience with the Emperor, Ascal and Bernstein became a fate-bound duo. If one tried to escape the bucket, the other would grab his leg with a pincer-like grip, forming a beautiful yet inescapable bond of destiny.
"Honestly, I have to confess. I don't really know how to build a proper airship," Bernstein admitted boldly.
"Then what about all those airships you've built so far?"
"They look fine on the outside, but inside, they're just malfunctioning junk."
"So, you were really planning to mess up and run away?"
"Thanks for the compliment."
Ascal's face turned serious.
"So, what do we do now?"
"Which do you think is less painful? Beheading, being burned alive, or hanging?"
"We definitely should avoid being burned... wait, why are we even talking about dying already?"
"Unless we find my old master's blueprints for an airship, we have no other choice."
Bernstein thought of his master. The grumpy old man had been the best at his craft. If only he hadn't drowned in the sea while drunk at night, he would have been the empire's greatest inventor.
As inventors often do, his master left behind many unfinished blueprints, one of which was for an airship.
"The design was excellent, but back then, we lacked capital and technology. Now, though, it might be possible. Of course, since we lost the blueprints..."
"These ones?"
"...Where on earth did you find them?"
"Just looked around. You should try to be more organized."
Hearing Bernstein's words, Ascal rummaged through the lab and soon found a bundle of blueprints. It was like when one couldn't find something, but thire mom finds it immediately.
Bernstein, having given up on understanding and logic, took the airship-related blueprint from the bundle Ascal handed him.
"It's indeed my master's blueprint. It might be possible with this. But we lack the manpower and time to start anew. Unless dwarves swarm here to help us..."
"Let me contact someone."
"...?"
Ascal reached out to the Golden Hammer Guild and the Blue Flame Guild. The dwarves from both guilds rushed to the lab without delay.
Seeing the blueprints, the leader of the Golden Hammer Guild grinned.
"This is exciting. Boys, get to work!"
"To think we'd get the chance to build the first airship, you're truly our benefactor!"
The dwarves filled the lab in no time.
Bernstein was at a loss for words.
However, building the airship was not an easy task. A few days later, Bernstein approached Ascal with a worried expression.
"We've got a problem. We need to rebuild the engine, but that requires high-purity magic stones. Now, where do we find such stones..."
"I'll contact the alchemist."
"What do you mean?"
Ascal sent a letter to the alchemist Tey, politely inquiring if they could provide assistance in obtaining high-purity magic crystals for the airship.
The response arrived that very afternoon.
<Certainly. I am finally presented with an opportunity to repay a small part of my debt to you. I will send you high-purity magic stone via express delivery. Naturally, I have selected only the highest quality stone available.>
Soon after, a carriage arrived, spilling an abundance of magic stones. Bernstein was astounded at the mountainous pile.
"What, what is this?"
"Magic stones. Now we don't have to worry about the engine."
Bernstein was speechless.
But, as expected, building the airship was no simple feat. A few days later, Bernstein's face turned serious again.
"We need emergency power. Without a large number of gem frogs, we're..."
"My family runs a gem frog farm."
"Is the world playing tricks on me?"
The airship was successfully completed.
****
The fateful day had arrived.
Bernstein swallowed hard at the sight of the airship, built according to the blueprint. The construction went smoothly, but the worry was inevitable.
If they failed, the empire's Hidden Dragon and Bernstein himself would likely vanish from the empire that very day.
"Ah, so this is the airship. It seems smaller than before."
"Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince. We've incorporated magnetic technology and a new material with magical levitation properties. The size is smaller, but it's a much more powerful airship."
"I see. Magnetic technology, indeed."
At a demonstration of new technology, the highest-ranking attendees were usually expected to do nothing more than nod in admiration.
The Crown Prince, fully aware of this, nodded accordingly. In such situations, it was best to feign understanding and move on.
"Ascal, I hear you'll be piloting the airship? It will be a sight to see the empire's dragon actually flying."
"It's all thanks to His Majesty and Your Highness."
Ascal wasn't just idling around. During the construction of the airship, he completed a thorough conditioning regimen for pilot training, with three meals a day, eight hours of sleep, and a one-hour walk.
In reality, he had done virtually nothing.
'The airship operates automatically, anyway.'
'Then why the heck am I the pilot?'
'Because... obviously!!! We're a fate-bound duo!!!!'
Ascal was speechless at Bernstein's shameless response.
In the midst of this daunting scene, watched by the Emperor, Crown Prince, Princesses, and high-ranking officials from various nations, Ascal and Bernstein prepared to board the airship.
Yulia prayed quietly as she watched them.
'May you return safely, Ascal.'
Serena was skeptical.
'That voice... it sounds familiar...'
The Crown Prince thought to himself.
'I'd like to ride the airship too.'
The airship began to ascend.
****
The airship was flying.
It was in the air.
Ascal watched the people through the window, growing smaller and smaller, as he calmed his trembling heart.
So much had changed.
Originally, a pilot with fake credentials would be flying, and the airship, after a short flight, would crash into a mountain. The pilot, having ejected in time, would later be found to have been drinking, leading to his execution.
But now, the pilots were himself and Bernstein.
And the airship was different too.
"We won't crash, will we?"
"We've done our best, Ascal. If we die here, it's fate."
Bernstein made the sign of the cross beside him.
"Dear Lord, we'll be joining you soon."
Ascal resisted the urge to press the emergency escape button in the cockpit.
Fortunately, their efforts hadn't been in vain, as the airship was flying smoothly. The ground was barely visible now.
"Wow... Did I really build an airship?"
Bernstein was moved to tears. Ascal clicked his tongue in annoyance.
'The fool. He doesn't realize that he's about to be eternally ensnared by the empire.'
"Wait. Why are there so many clouds? This seems unusual."
"Calm down. At this altitude, clouds are... Wait, were clouds always this color?"
Both men eyed the clouds ahead with unease. The clouds were blue, and they were surrounded by swirling lightning.
"That's enough. Let's bring the airship down!"
Bernstein hurriedly switched to manual operation, but the airship didn't respond.
"The controls aren't working!"
"What do you mean...?"
Crackle!
"Did you two humans dare to disturb my slumber?"
They had long forgotten.
Originally, the rulers of the skies were none other than the dragons. But they had vanished, becoming mere legends.
"A Cloud Dragon..."
Ascal uttered the name reflexively.
"You know my name."
The Cloud Dragon enveloped the airship. Held in its grasp, the airship was immobilized in the air as if by magic. A slight exertion of the dragon's power, and the airship would shatter in the sky.
"We know of the oath your kind made with the empire."
"That pact is centuries old. What meaning does it hold now?"
The Cloud Dragon was once the guardian of the old empire.
However, after the contract period ended and the Cloud Dragon grew disillusioned with the empire, it chose not to renew the agreement. While the empire never officially announced the end of the contract, people sensed it.
The Cloud Dragon no longer protected the empire.
"Humans have made efforts. In an attempt to apologize to you, disappointed by humanity, we built this airship to reach you."
"So, you made this to apologize to me?"
It was a soulful bluff.
Ascal kept his expression unchanged, continuing his act.
"Yes, Cloud Dragon. Please dispel your anger and protect the empire once again."
"Hmm. I left the empire not just because I was disappointed in you, but because I couldn't stop the flow of events."
"The fall of the empire, you mean."
"You know well. The course of events cannot be easily changed. Why should I expend my precious energy on a nation fated to fall?"
Ascal found it hard to respond. After a long thought, he finally spoke.
"But is the empire really doomed?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, I also thought it was doomed, but recently I've started to have my doubts..."
"What an absurd human. Let me cast a divination."
The Cloud Dragon produced a crystal from somewhere and began to fiddle with it in the air.
Meanwhile, Ascal glanced at Bernstein, who seemed frozen in time, completely motionless.
The Cloud Dragon declared:
"I will renew the pact with the empire! I, the bringer of rain and clouds, 🝲🝪🝨🝠, will protect the empire for the next thousand years!"
"?"
The weather cleared up beautifully.
And the Cloud Dragon's figure was nowhere to be seen.
"Phew. It's working again. What on earth happened just now..."
Bernstein wiped the sweat from his brow.
****
"Hear ye, the Dragon of the Empire and the Saint of the Empire!"
In place of the ailing Emperor, the Crown Prince read the official decree.
"You have achieved a feat unprecedented in history! The conquest of the skies! This is not only a debt owed by the Empire but by the entire world to you!"
Ascal, kneeling, sensed an unusual atmosphere.
This was undoubtedly the flow of a promotion.
"Ascal, will you continue to serve the Empire?"
"...Yes."
"My hands tremble with emotion. You shall become a minister, leading the Evaluation Department!"
"I am grateful for this honor. But, Your Highness, none of this would have been possible without my comrade Bernstein!"
Ascal, spotting Bernstein trying to hide a smirk, beat him to it. Bernstein hastily demurred.
"Not at all. I am but an inventor who merely contributed to Ascal's leadership and command. In comparison to him, I am but a firefly before the moon..."
"Look at this humility! Truly a talent to illuminate the Empire!"
"If not for Ascal!"
"If not for Bernstein!"
The Crown Prince spoke with a moved expression.
"Such humility. You both indeed represent the future of the Empire. Naturally, Bernstein, the Empire has also prepared a place for you. You shall be the minister of the newly established Department of Development and Innovation, and we hope you continue to serve the Empire."
"Your, your grace... I am deeply grateful."
Overwhelmed, Bernstein even shed tears.
It was the moment of the birth of the Empire's youngest minister and the Department of Development and Innovation, and the man who would lead it.
