The Demon King is unfathomable

Chapter 383 The Dream of Conquering the Sky

"Quick! Load everything onto the truck! And the assembly tools too!"

With the prince's permission, Alberto immediately called upon several apprentice craftsmen in the shop to work together to lift the goods, each wrapped tightly in thick canvas, onto the cargo cart parked at the shop entrance.

He then respectfully invited Luo Yan and his party into his simple-looking but sturdy and spacious carriage.

The convoy left the bustling artisan street, passed through the not-so-tall city gate, and slowly drove towards the boundless snowfield outside the city.

The convoy eventually stopped in a vast, empty snowfield.

The afternoon sun made the pristine snow sparkle, and in the distance, the majestic Great Sage's Tower stood like a silent giant, quietly overlooking the land.

"Here we are!"

Alberto rubbed his hands excitedly, jumped off the carriage first, and signaled the pack caravan following behind to stop.

Under his direction, a group of young men worked together to untie the huge canvas bag, revealing a massive spherical air bladder made of tanned leather and thick canvas.

They carefully spread it out completely on the snow, creating a spectacular scene.

However, what is most eye-catching is not the leather airbags spread out on the snow, but a metal machine standing next to the airbags.

"Your Highness...please look! This is the core component we made according to your blueprints!"

Alberto presented the brass machine, which was about half a person's height, to the prince as if it were a treasure.

The entire device may appear rough at first glance, but its ingenuity becomes apparent upon closer inspection.

Moreover, its inner side is covered with dense runes, showcasing the enchanting school's rune techniques to the fullest extent!
This is a completely different enchanting system from the Netherworld runes of the Great Tomb, and Luo Yan, examining it, showed an expression of great interest.

"I've named it 'Heart of the Gale'! Just activate this..."

Alberto didn't explain much, and simply stuffed a fist-sized piece of magic crystal ore into the slot of the device.

With a loud roar, the heater was successfully activated, and streams of scorching air visibly poured out of the nozzles, continuously filling the airbags laid flat on the ground.

The leather and canvas creaked under the weight of the heat.

Then, the shriveled sphere began to swell up gradually, then slowly unfolded its wrinkles, and finally expanded completely, becoming a huge sphere that shocked the eye!

Pulled by several thick ropes, it swayed its clumsy body, broke free from gravity, and slowly rose from the golden snowfield like the sunrise!

When she saw the hot air being poured into the airbag, Taff, who was crouching in Sarah's arms, opened her mouth wide in surprise, but soon closed it again, and her expression turned into one of deep disdain.

"Tch, I thought it was something interesting, but it's just a hot air balloon. At most, they've replaced the coal with magical artifacts..."

Just as she finished speaking, a strong gust of wind, seemingly out of nowhere, suddenly swept across the snowfield without warning.

The huge hot air balloon, which had just been launched, swayed violently in the strong wind. A young apprentice cried out in alarm as the rope in his hand nearly slipped from his grasp!
The apprentice standing in the gondola below the hot air balloon was even more unlucky, almost being thrown out by the not-so-violent turbulence.

"Damn it! The wind up there is too strong!"

"I'm holding on tight!"

"Quick! Throw down the anchor chain!"

Alberto's expression changed drastically, and he and his apprentices rushed forward in a flurry, working together to pull the rope back from the brink of collapse.

The group was dragged along the snow by this "giant," stumbling and falling, and then tossed about by the swaying cable, creating a scene that was both comical and embarrassing.

Watching the group of natives scrambling around with the hot air balloon, Taf could no longer hide her mockery and made "poof poof poof" sounds.

Luo Yan noticed the little rascal who was secretly enjoying himself and said with a smile.

"Don't underestimate this thing. Although it's not as technologically advanced as your starships, it carries things that starships can't."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Taff was immediately displeased. She raised her small head and spoke in a defiant tone.

"I can't pretend I didn't hear that. Tell me, what is it that the Zeta Empire's starships can't carry?"

Looking at the defiant Taf, Luo Yan's lips curled up slightly. His gaze passed over the swaying hot air balloon and looked at the boundless blue sky behind it.

"for example--"

"The dream of all ordinary creatures on this planet to conquer the sky."

Taff paused for a moment upon hearing this, then let out her distinctive "pfft" laugh.

It must be said that she is truly first-rate in stirring up hatred, and what is most commendable is her "perseverance".

"Dreams? You dare talk about dreams from a height where you can't even touch the clouds? You have no idea how vast our star field is!"

After a brief pause, the kid, who had never lost a verbal battle, quickly added another sentence.

"And one more thing—let me make this clear first! I will absolutely not leave Xuebang in this thing! Don't even think about getting me on it!"

Based on her knowledge of this hairless monkey, she had already guessed what this guy wanted to do with the hot air balloon... nothing more than to make a big fuss in front of the natives of the mage tower.

But she wouldn't risk her life. What if that thing fell from the sky?
She can't fly yet!
Faced with Taff's confident statement, Luo Yan simply smiled, remaining noncommittal. After all, whether to take a plane or a high-speed train, is it up to your pet to decide?

He only answered the first half of her sentence.

"Don't get excited, you were young once too."

Although he had never seen the Zeta Empire's starships, the magicians of the Academy had clearly seen them from behind the Void Realm.

However, no magician could truly understand the principles behind it, nor could they imagine its uses. In the end, they only contemptuously recorded it in their research reports as an elaborate but impractical oversized "toy".

Actually, their description wasn't wrong.

No matter how many galaxies the Zetas from another universe conquer with their technology, it means nothing to the people of this world.

That is, after all, a legend from another world.

For the people of the Ottoman Empire, a hot air balloon that they made themselves and understood the principles behind was far more meaningful than a "miracle" from another world.

Just as the man and the dragon were bickering, the north wind, which had been only slightly mischievous before, suddenly became violent.

The howling wind whipped up the snow on the ground, creating a blinding "white disaster" on the vast snowfield, violently lashing the huge hot air balloon that had just taken off.

The group was like sailors struggling in a raging storm, their "captain" Alberto's roars torn apart by the wind and snow.

"Hold on! Everyone, hold on tight—!"

The enormous hot air balloon transformed into an uncontrollable giant sail in the gale, violently tugging at the several iron chains tied to the ground, emitting a tooth-grinding metallic groan.

They had already shut down the magic heater, but the massive airbag was now filled with wind and snow, like a giant kite struggling desperately, ready to break free of its restraints and be swept into the uncontrollable sky at any moment.

Several young apprentices clung tightly to the ropes in their hands, but were still dragged along the snow by that terrifying force, looking extremely disheveled, with cries of alarm rising and falling.

Just when everyone was on the verge of despair, Prince Colin, who had been watching everything, made his move.

He gently waved the magic wand in his hand.

There were no incantations, nor dazzling lights.

An almost completely transparent barrier instantly unfolded in front of him, and squeezed together with the wind and snow on one side of the hot air balloon, forming a white wall spanning hundreds of meters!
The unstoppable howling wind crashed into this seemingly fragile barrier, only to be perfectly blocked and diverted as if it had struck a mountain.

The world within the barrier instantly became calm and peaceful.

The huge hot air balloon swayed slightly, like a sailboat entering safe waters, before gently landing back on the snow.

Alberto and his apprentices finally let go, collapsing exhausted on the snow.

They felt a mixture of shock and awe, as well as gratitude for surviving a catastrophe, gazing at that serene and upright figure amidst the wind and snow.

“I’m saved…” A young man, still shaken, adjusted his hat, but soon a look of shame appeared on his face.

They succeeded.

But clearly, it failed...

Just as he was feeling down, his master, Mr. Alberto, walked up to Prince Colin, looking utterly dejected.

He knelt on one knee, his weathered face filled with frustration and shame, all traces of his previous excitement and pride gone.

"Your Highness...I..."

His lips trembled, and finally he lowered his head heavily, speaking in an almost pleading tone.

"Please forgive my incompetence! I messed it up. I'm willing to return the seven gold coins you just paid, I just beg you to give me another chance! I... I can't accept that my mistake has tarnished your brilliant design!"

Although he had already invested a lot of materials and effort in this order, and refunding the final payment would leave him with nothing, what he feared most at the moment was offending the prince in front of him.

He had already learned from familiar magic apprentices that this prince was no ordinary prince; the territory he ruled in a distant world was even comparable to that of the duke who ruled the northern border of the Kingdom of Rhodes.

Seeing Alberto's anxious expression, Luo Yan simply smiled and shook his head, without taking the trembling money pouch.

On the contrary, he took an even heavier money bag from Sarah and placed it in Alberto's hand with a "clink".

“Mr. Alberto, I am impressed by your superb skills. You don’t feel guilty about it… Besides, it’s not your fault at all.”

Under Alberto's utterly shocked gaze, Luo Yan continued in a gentle tone.

"On the contrary, you perfectly reproduced my design, and that's precisely why you exposed the problems in my design."

"Consider the gold coins in this purse as my additional investment, which, together with the gold coins I paid you before, serves as a deposit for 'Heart of the Gale II'. I hope you will improve my design so that it can truly fly into the clouds and move freely above them..."

"This, how can this be..." Alberto tried to push the gold coin back in a panic, but saw Prince Colin shake his head.

“Take it. Compared to this insignificant piece of gold, I would much rather see a groundbreaking work... I believe in you completing it.”

Upon hearing these heartwarming words, Alberto's eyes instantly welled up with tears. He clutched the heavy bag of gold coins tightly, his voice trembling slightly with gratitude.

"Thank you for your generosity, Your Highness! I...I am willing to serve you like a dog or a horse!"

It seemed that mere gratitude was not enough to express his emotions. He paused for a moment, then continued in a voice so excited that he was almost incoherent.

"Your Highness, I must say, you are truly different from the other professors in the academy! When they mess things up, they only try every means to shift the blame to their subordinates. Only you are willing to admit... Of course, I'm not saying you're wrong, but this is what I'm trying to express..."

Seeing Alberto stammering and unsure how to express himself, Luo Yan smiled and waved his hand, changing the subject.

His gaze returned to the deflated hot air balloon, his approving look as if he were admiring a work of art.

"Perhaps we should consider adding a 'rudder' and 'sail' to control its direction, so that we can steer it like a sailboat."

He paused for a moment, then continued.

"Also, I can try adding some structures similar to flying fish fins to counteract the unstable airflow at high altitudes."

“Rudder, sail, fins…” Alberto’s eyes suddenly lit up; his craftsman’s instincts instantly lifted his spirits. His mind raced, and following the Prince’s train of thought, he came up with a further idea—

"Your Highness, this idea is brilliant! Please allow me to offer my humble suggestion, but we can also design several more compartments inside the airbag, dividing it into several independent cavities with canvas! This would be equivalent to stringing several small airbags together, which would not only greatly increase its stability but also avoid the risk of the entire aircraft crashing due to the accidental rupture of a single airbag!"

Luo Yan nodded with a smile.

"This is a brilliant idea; I'm entrusting its completion to you!"

Alberto patted his chest and said excitedly.

"Rest assured, Your Highness! I swear to Saint Sith, I will never let your generous investment go to waste!"

At that moment, he felt his mind surging with inspiration, and he wished he could immediately return to his workshop and present the ideas he and Prince Colin had discussed on the blueprints.

"Go."

Alberto nodded excitedly.

Then he suddenly remembered something, and with an embarrassed expression on his face, he scratched the back of his head and said...

"By the way, Your Highness, there's a question I've always wanted to ask. Could you tell me how you came up with the idea of ​​using heating to inflate the airbag? I don't mean to pry into your secrets, I'm just curious... how exactly is it done?"

Not surprised by Alberto's question, Luo Yan smiled and said gently.

"It's not how I came up with it, but because that's how science works."

"Science...principle?" Alberto looked bewildered.

He did learn that Prince Colin had apparently founded a school of thought called Science, but he didn't know how its theories differed from ordinary magic.

Luo Yan nodded slightly and continued in a casual tone.

"That's right. The so-called scientific principles are the general laws of nature, just like objects thrown into the sky will eventually fall back down. They have nothing to do with supernatural powers; they explore how all things in the world would operate without the interference of spiritual power."

Alberto nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Although the mystery behind this cannot be explained in a few words, these words reminded him of an old friend.

That person was none other than James Wally, his former mentor.

While inquiring about Prince Colin's background, he also took the opportunity, out of curiosity, to ask an old acquaintance about his mentor's current situation.

That gentleman left the Academy years ago due to ideological differences and went to the Kingdom of Rhodes. Now he seems to be working as a tutor and court mage in the territory of some nobleman.

This is a way out for many mentors who have no hope of promotion.

When there is no longer a place for them in the mage tower, most people will choose to try their luck in the noble territories, exchanging their supernatural powers for worldly money.

This is much more reliable than going on an adventure in a maze.

Alberto always respected his mentor, who not only imparted all his academic knowledge to him but also provided considerable assistance to his career after leaving the Mage Tower.

Alberto's heart swelled with excitement at the thought that Prince Colin seemed quite interested in tinkering with these strange machines.

perhaps--

This is an opportunity to repay his mentor's kindness!
"By the way, Your Highness, those ingenious structures you just mentioned remind me of someone! My former mentor, Mr. James Wally!"

Controlling the excitement in his voice, Alberto continued with a fervent expression.

"He's said similar things to us, but the other tutors and professors in the academy didn't really pay attention to him, and eventually even kicked him out of the mage tower. But I think... you might be interested in his research. Besides, he's best at designing the things you mentioned!"

Luo Yan looked at Alberto in surprise.

"Oh? You're able to contact him?"

I never expected that I would have such an unexpected gain when I came here just to inspect a hot air balloon.

"Of course!" Seeing that Prince Colin seemed interested, Alberto nodded quickly and said with certainty, "I've already found out where he is now. He's not too far from the border between Xuebang and the Kingdom of Rhodes. The letter will travel along the border trade route, and it should arrive in his hands in a week or two!"

Seeing that Alberto didn't seem to be joking, Luo Yan immediately made a decision and gave him instructions with a smile.

“That’s wonderful! Please write a letter for me to Mr. James, telling him that Prince Roxie Collin, the mentor of the Source Law School of the Empire, is very interested in his technology!”

"If he still harbors even a sliver of aspiration for academia and is unwilling to succumb to the mundane world, he may come to me at the Tower of the Great Sage. I am willing to personally hire him as my laboratory assistant..."

"Before I leave this snowfield."

Seeing Mr. Alberto taking out his notebook and diligently taking notes, Luo Yan suddenly thought of something and casually picked up a blank sticky note.

With a gentle wave of his wand, a quill pen, guided by invisible magic, flowed smoothly across the paper, writing a beautiful yet complex formula.

That was the rudimentary mathematical expression of the principle of least action that Ilana had derived under his guidance.

For the vast majority of people in this world, this equation is nothing short of incomprehensible. But Luo Yan believes that for a scholar who has dedicated his life to pursuing a magical mathematical explanation, this is undoubtedly the most irresistible temptation…

Even if Mr. James may not be able to fully understand the true secrets of this formula.

He waved his wand, causing the note with the words "heavenly scripture" written on it to gently fall into Alberto's hand.

"Give this note to him for me."

“Tell him that if he is interested in this ‘formula’ on the note, he must come to the Tower of the Great Sage to find me.”

……

Night always comes earlier in the North than elsewhere; noon has barely passed before dusk arrives.

Although they failed to acquire the "hot air balloon" that could be taken immediately, James Wally's unexpected clue was a stroke of good luck.

Seeing that it was getting late, Luo Yan decided to take Sarah and Tauf for a stroll along the artisan street and have dinner there.

Relying on Tafna's exceptionally keen sense of smell for good food, they quickly found a restaurant that was very popular among the apprentices at the end of a small alley.

The restaurant's signature dish is a roasted, golden-brown pig's trotter, featuring local flavors from the Kingdom of Rhodes.

As soon as the door was opened, a rich aroma of roasted meat, spices, and strong dark beer wafted out, whetting the appetite of the little female dragon.

"Goo-"

Hearing that untimely voice, she shyly hid her head.

Luo Yan found a quiet corner to sit down and was just about to call the waiter to order when the whispers of several young girls at the next table drifted over.

Although they spoke very softly, for Luo Yan, who possessed platinum-level strength, even the sound of a mosquito flapping its wings in the corner of the restaurant could not escape his mental tentacles if he wanted to.

"That Ilana is so arrogant. She just relies on her looks to hang out with Prince Colin all the time," a girl with short brown hair said sourly.

“Exactly! I don’t think Prince Colin is a good person either. He always looks at me with a lecherous gaze…” Another slightly chubby girl immediately chimed in, but before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by a cold gaze from her deskmate.

"You are not allowed to slander His Highness!" a girl with a ponytail shouted coldly, her two ponytails hanging down her shoulders like drills.

"I'm so sorry... Miss Rustina." The girl immediately lowered her head like a startled rabbit, apologizing softly and trembling.

In places like Xuebang, where academic elites abound, even the smallest circles are governed by strict hierarchy and clear class distinctions.

The blonde girl named Rustina didn't bully her; she just gave her a slight lesson before shifting her gaze away from what she saw as an insect.

Her emerald eyes narrowed slightly, and she continued in an unfriendly tone, "A mere prospective student is acting so arrogantly; it seems we need to find an opportunity to teach her a lesson..."

"How about we make our move in the maze trial? There are always 'accidents' happening there every year," someone immediately suggested, understanding the unspoken message.

"But...she's a prospective student, so according to the rules, she shouldn't be allowed to participate in the maze trial, right?" the slightly chubby girl said softly, her voice tinged with fear.

A cold, elegant smile played on Rastina's lips as she spoke slowly.

"I've inquired about it. The rule only prohibits prospective students from registering on their own, but if they really want to go, they can do so as long as a senior mage is willing to take them along."

Their eyes lit up; they seemed to have reached some kind of consensus.

Upon hearing the familiar names, Sarah glanced at them twice.

They were dressed in blue mage robes and appeared to be senior apprentices. They were sitting together, their faces twisted with jealousy.

"I didn't expect you to be so popular." Noticing that someone was jealous of Luo Yan, Taff chuckled mischievously after listening to the whole thing and teased him.

"You just realized that?" Luo Yan replied slowly, while giving Sarah behind him a meaningful look.

Sarah understood instantly.

A chilling killing intent flashed from her body, so fast that the chattering mages at the next table didn't even notice.

Her hand, hidden beneath her cloak, had already quietly grasped the cold hilt of the dagger.

In her view, any ant that dares to hinder the Demon King's plans must be silently wiped out in the darkness.

no matter who!

Sensing the murderous aura spreading silently, Luo Yan quickly glared at the mad cat, stopping her impulsive act with his eyes.

Sarah was taken aback, then realized she had misunderstood. Her fluffy cat ears twitched uncomfortably, and a slight blush rose on her fair cheeks. She whispered, "Sorry."

The murderous aura faded away silently, and the girls sitting not far away were completely unaware that they had just brushed with death.

Luo Yan knew he had to be more explicit with Sarah.

He coughed lightly, picked up the dark beer on the table, took a sip, and said meaningfully.

"It's best for the apprentices to resolve their own affairs; it's not appropriate for us to get involved. Speaking of which, Ilana has helped Miss Castellion so much; it's time for the latter to 'return the favor'."

"Find a way to let Ophia find out about this 'inadvertently'."

That Miss Rastina must be a noblewoman from the Kingdom of Rhodes, but in front of a true behemoth like the Castellion family, she must be just an insignificant little character.

A revolutionary friendship built on exploring the frontiers of science is not enough; it's time to add a little "bond" between them.

Having experienced this, Miss Ophia should not feel comfortable leaving the Academy to follow him to the Principality of Campbell.

Thinking of this, a pleasant smile appeared on Luo Yan's face. The feeling of manipulating chess pieces was always so fascinating.

This time, Sarah finally understood the Demon King's intentions completely.

It turns out it was to help the chess pieces get along.

She respectfully accepted the order, silently concealing her sharp edge in the shadows.

"As ordered."

(End of this chapter)