“I’ve contacted Prince Fernand of Girtonia to request that he warn his citizens to vacate the area surrounding the Volcanic Miasma Zone, just in case.”
“Thank you for that, Sir Osvalt.”
By sunrise, I was standing beside Sir Osvalt on a hill overlooking the Volcanic Miasma Zone. If we needed a reminder of how perilous the area was, the constant roar of explosions was more than sufficient.
We would be using our magic tool for the first time. If that wasn’t nerve-wracking enough, nothing on this scale had ever been documented before, even by the ancients. If there was an accident, it could affect everything in the area, so Sir Osvalt made sure to keep Girtonia well-informed.
“It’s no big deal. Besides, it’s one of your magic tools, Philia. I doubt we have anything to worry about.”
“You never know. If nothing bad happens, all the better, but still…”
In the past, Sir Osvalt had explained the importance of taking every possible precaution. His desire to defend his country left a lasting impression on me.
On this occasion, I could only hope that nothing went wrong.
“You’re right,” Sir Osvalt laughed. “I’m not the only one who has confidence in you, though. Prince Fernand and Lady Mia said they felt at ease, knowing you were the one who made the device.”
“Mia, too? Oh, that silly girl.”
“Anyway, let’s pray that this operation succeeds.”
“Yes.”
As we watched the magic tool being loaded into the cannon, we exchanged nods. I could hear my heart pounding. Perhaps I was a little nervous.
“Sir Osvalt! Lady Philia! Preparations are complete! We can fire at your command!”
Philip was in charge of launching the magic tool. A pro at handling cannons, he’d put himself forward for the job.
“All right. We’re counting on you, Philip.”
“Understood! Leave it to me, Your Highness. I’ll put my heart and soul into ensuring this device hits the center!”
If we wanted to stabilize the mana as efficiently as possible, the tool would have to strike the center of the Volcanic Miasma Zone. The idea seemed to have ignited a fire in Philip when I explained it to him.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a little off. Just relax and fire.”
“Understood! Your wish is my command! I’ve already done several test launches using projectiles of the same mass and size, so I believe I’ve got the hang of it!”
Philip thrust out his chest with pride. His expression was the very picture of confidence. He gave me hope that my concern was unwarranted.
“Let’s leave the rest to Philip,” said Prince Osvalt. “He’s not the kind of man to crumble under pressure.”
“I know. It’s in your hands, Philip.”
“Understood! Prince Osvalt, Lady Philia, just sit back and watch. It’s time to launch! Ten, nine, eight…”
Philip commenced his countdown.
It had only been a few months since I risked my life to look for the Moontear Flower with Mia, hoping to save my uncle Luke.
“Three, two, one! Launch!”
I’d been dreaming of a way to stop the constant eruptions that prevented anyone from getting anywhere near the zone…
There was a pause.
“What do you think, Philia?” asked Sir Osvalt. “Did it go well?”
I raised my binoculars. “Yes, it landed in the ideal spot. We have Philip to thank for that.”
“Great. That means there’s only one thing left to do.”
“Yes. We just need to see whether the device activates safely and brings the explosions to a halt.”
To increase our chances of success, I’d used magic to control the local weather, minimizing the influence of wind and rain.
If my forecast was correct, the device would activate upon impact and its effects would spread gradually throughout the area. It should be possible to tell whether it was working with the naked eye.
“Oh!” Sir Osvalt pointed at the pillar of green light rising into the sky. “Isn’t that the light you said would go on once the device started?”
He was spot on. The device was emitting a glow of compressed magic power, the same power that would stabilize the mana that filled the Volcanic Miasma Zone.
“Hey, it’s gone quiet all of a sudden. Philia, is that…?”
“We did it, Sir Osvalt. It worked.”
The interminable explosions that had been resounding through the air had ceased. Silence settled over the land, carried by the early morning breeze.
“It did?” Sir Osvalt chuckled. “I never realized how quiet this area could be. There’s so little sound, the breeze seems deafening.”
“There’s hardly any life or greenery here, after all.”
For a while, we simply gazed at the silent, desolate landscape that stretched out before us. No longer a danger zone, it was safe to venture into. As Prince Reichardt had warned, however, it would require further monitoring in the future.
“Lady Philia. Prince Osvalt. I examined the Volcanic Miasma Zone and detected no explosions.”
“Thank you, Himari, for taking on such a dangerous mission.”
“It was nothing. As the fastest among us, it was my duty.”
Now that we had the all-clear from Himari, it was finally time to start exploring.
“My goodness.” Haruya appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, rolling up his sleeves and licking his lips in anticipation. “We’re going to end up with more Moontear Flowers than we could possibly carry. As a businessman, I couldn’t be more excited!”
He was nothing if not consistent. Even while working as Sir Osvalt’s retainer, his mercantile instincts still took precedence.
“Come on,” replied Sir Osvalt. “Nothing against making money, but I’m pretty sure we discussed this.”
“Of course! I made a fair proposal that every nation would be satisfied with, didn’t I? Yes, at that price, we should narrowly avoid any accusations of extortion.”
“A price doesn’t have to constitute extortion to be unfair, does it?” Sir Osvalt sighed. “Still, I have to admit your plan was impressive, Haruya. I can’t see anyone complaining.”
I hadn’t been able to argue with his proposal, either.
Haruya flashed a polished salesman’s smile. “The Moontear Flowers earmarked for research will be sold separately from those to be used for other purposes. Customers will have to go through a formal procedure and vetting process to obtain flowers for research, but they’ll be cheap. The rest will be available for purchase, but resale will be prohibited, and the accrued profits will be split evenly between Parnacorta and Girtonia.”
“It’s a smart idea. Researchers will have access to what they need, and in the future, we may even be able to cultivate enough flowers to exceed demand.”
We nodded, impressed by Haruya’s plan. One of our biggest worries had been that the frantic pursuit of profit would cause vital research to fall by the wayside, but Haruya had understood our concerns. For that, I was genuinely grateful.
“Don’t forget, part of the revenue will go toward covering the cost of the magic ore and my own personal earnings. I didn’t expect my cut to be this slim, but I’ll make do with what I have. Considering how much my acquittal is worth, it’s not a bad deal.”
“Right. Since today was a success, you’re officially a free man. I know we haven’t been working together for long, but if serving as my retainer isn’t for you, you’re welcome to quit.”
Sir Osvalt had negotiated with Prince Reichardt to ensure that, should the device work, Haruya would be absolved of his crimes. Sir Osvalt was too kind to force Haruya to continue working as an attendant and squander his abundant business talents.
“Well said,” Haruya laughed. “I’m grateful for your hard work, Your Highness. But now that me and my baby sister are back together, I’d love to join forces with her to build a larger business. That way, I’ll be able to look out for her.”
A business? With Himari? As soon as I heard that, I felt a tight, crushing pain in my chest. She was his only living family member. It was only natural for him to want to look after her.
“All you ever talk about is business, Haruya,” said Himari. “Is earning money really that entertaining?”
Haruya responded right away. “Of course! Someday I’ll teach you just how fun it can be.”
He’d carved out a new life for himself as a merchant, rising from the ashes of his painful past. The convictions he’d build from those experiences wouldn’t be easily changed.
“It’s strange, though,” Haruya continued. “I’m starting to enjoy making money for a greater cause—out of a sense of loyalty—instead of purely for selfish gain.”
“I don’t understand,” said Himari. “What do you mean by that comment?”
“Well, for example…” Haruya crossed his arms. “Serving under Prince Osvalt, negotiating with Girtonia, and coming up with a business plan that worked for everyone felt like worthwhile work. In fact, it made me question what I’ve been doing with my life. According to His Highness, I’m free now. But I think I’ll stick around for a while. I want to see for myself whether someone like Sir Osvalt is truly deserving of Fuuma loyalty.”
“Haruya…” murmured Himari.
“Of course, you’re welcome to kick me out if you like.”
Still grinning broadly, Haruya kneeled down.
Sir Osvalt looked startled for a moment, but a smile soon spread across his face. “You can stay as long as you like,” he laughed. “Honestly, I’d hate to lose an attendant as exceptional as you.”
“I’ll take you up on your offer, then. For the time being, my sister and I will remain at your service.”
Haruya grabbed the hand that Sir Osvalt offered him and rose to his feet. I didn’t know what kind of future he was envisaging through his one eye, but he looked full of hope.
Still, my priority lay elsewhere.
“Er, does that mean that you’ll be staying in Parnacorta?” I asked Haruya.
“Yeah, that’s the plan. Say, you’ve caught me by surprise. Are you happy that I’m sticking around, Lady Philia?”
“Oh, it’s not that. That is…I was afraid Himari would be upset if you went away. Oh! Don’t get me wrong. That’s not to say I don’t care—”
What in the world was I saying? I’d started to speak before I’d processed my thoughts, so I was babbling.
“Lady Philia,” said Himari, “this is the most joyful day of my life. But please know, I intend to continue serving you, even if my brother decides to move on.”
Having laid her feelings bare, she turned her reassuring gaze on me. When I looked at her, the ache in my chest vanished completely.
“H-Himari…”
“My goodness. Your infatuation with Lady Philia is almost troubling. Being your brother, I’ll have to claw some of my dignity back.”
In the past, I used to fear that my weakness was getting the better of me. But things had changed. The fact that I cherished people enough that losing them hurt me was something I was proud of. The sadness of saying goodbye, and the joy of meeting them—I treasured each and every one of those moments.
One day, I would be able to love Parnacorta not only as a saint, but as a person, just as Sir Osvalt hoped. I was sure of it.