Chapter 18
“Yes, we meet again,” I replied, smiling politely at him.
The first time was when the Mana Furnace accident happened.
The second time was at the royal palace.
And the third time… is this time. In the Druid’s utopia he founded—Nature’s Home.
“Professor Einstein!? You… you know the Saintess? How is that possible?” Loroshe was stunned.
“The Saintess and I have just met twice recently. Hohoho… As I thought, it’s easier for you young people to talk to each other. In the end, it was you who invited her here,” Professor Einstein smiled kindly at her.
“Well… my reason for agreeing to come here is… complicated,” I said with a laugh.
“You said before that you had found an energy source to replace magic. What exactly is it?” Lian Qi asked, staring at him.
I was rather surprised that Lian Qi would be curious about this.
Professor Einstein gazed at Lian Qi for a moment. I felt that the way he looked at Lian Qi held a bit more appreciation than when he looked at others. Then, he smiled kindly: “Please, follow me.”
I watched his back as he turned and walked away, his hands clasd behind him. Just then, Loroshe jumped in front of me, blocking my view.
“Eh—? So, Saintess-daren, you wanted to inspect the new energy source that can replace magic? To tell you the truth, at Nature’s Home, everything, including all daily necessities, is a non-magical product. Even our energy is supplied by this new source!”
“Really?”
I still found it hard to believe.
“Does that mean there isn’t a single mana crystal in this place?” Qifeng asked.
“Everything here is completely self-sufficient, without relying on magic at all,” Loroshe replied.
Seeing Professor Einstein getting further away, we hurried to catch up, tailing him all the way to the ancient, vine-covered building.
I heard the gurgling sound of flowing water.
“Is there a stream nearby?”
“A windmill?” Lian Qi said, looking up at the roof.
“Eh? I just realized, the first things we noticed weren’t the same at all.”
“It’s so prominent. You didn’t notice the windmill? You really are an auditory animal.”
“Auditory animal?”
“Have you never heard the saying ‘women are auditory animals’?”
“You say that like you aren’t one…”
…Something seems off.
We circled around to the back of the building and, sure enough, saw a small stream flowing down from the forest… as well as… many wheel-shaped devices that were turning using the flow of the water.
Lian Qi froze for a moment, then her expression turned completely exasperated.
“Waterwheels?” she turned her face to stare at Professor Einstein, her exasperation deepening. “Plus the windmill from before… don’t tell me you’re just using wind and hydro power to generate electricity.”
“Electric…ity!?”
“You are correct. Electricity is the new energy source that can replace magic,” Professor Einstein replied.
“Then… what are those people doing?” Qifeng pointed under the eaves, where some people were pedaling to turn a waterwheel.
Lian Qi couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
Her reaction baffled me.
“What are you laughing at?”
“Nothing. I was just reminded of a hamster in a hamster wheel.”
“They are volunteers from the Royal Capital, experiencing the process of generating electricity. Because they usually rely too much on magic, they’ve neglected to train their own bodies. This is a good opportunity to strengthen their physique,” Professor Einstein said.
…I feel like magic has unknowingly racked up another sin, I thought.
“So you can generate electricity just by running on that?”
I saw that although they were drenched in sweat, their faces were filled with a sense of fulfillment and joy, as if they thought it was great fun.
“…Ha. You actually can,” Lian Qi said with a half-smile.
“Oh? You understand ‘electricity’?” Professor Einstein looked at Lian Qi with appreciation.
I suddenly remembered—Lian Qi’s phone needs to be charged to work. Could it be the same thing Professor Einstein is talking about?
“Mm. But… this setup of yours… is a bit primitive,” Lian Qi said.
“In that case, have you considered joining us? Together, we can perfect this electrical energy source.”
“Yes! If Miss Lian Qi is willing to join us, that would be wonderful! Maybe the Saintess will also agree to be our environmental public welfare ambassador!” Loroshe said, her eyes shining.
Wait, why does she think that if Lian Qi joins, I’ll join too?
“Are you sure there’s no problem with abandoning magic and switching to electricity?” Lian Qi questioned, one hand on her hip. “If we switch to electricity right now, while life might be barely self-sufficient, please forgive my bluntness, but… wouldn’t this be a regression in terms of civilization? Besides, it’s impossible for humanity to completely abandon magic, right? Isn’t magic something people are born with?”
“I think what Lian Qi said makes sense. Besides, magic’s usefulness isn’t just in daily life. It can also be used to protect the important people around you,” I said.
Qifeng nodded. “Fei’er is right. After all, magic is the miracle derived from hope. It symbolizes humanity’s aspirations.”
Professor Einstein gazed at the stream before him, as if gazing into the distant future.
“Yes. Magic not only satisfies humanity’s desire for power and wishes, it also brings convenience to life. However… the miasma, the mana-laced food, the leaks and radiation hazards from the Mana Furnace, the water pollution, the melting of the permafrost… who caused these serious problems?”
“Magic may very well destroy humanity, children,” he said meaningfully.
”…”
Seeing that none of us spoke, Professor Einstein smiled kindly at us again.
“Of course, what you said also has some merit. It is indeed impossible for humanity to completely abandon magic in a short period of time. That is why I have always advocated for abolishing crude magic technologies like the Mana Furnace, and controlling magic within a relatively moderate range, so that humanity does not become overly dependent on it, and uses it with more moderation. Only in this way can we slow the melting of the permafrost, and can the environmental problems be improved.”
Eh? The more I listen to him, the more I feel like something isn’t right…
“Of course, my ultimate wish is still to build a society that coexists with nature, using Nature’s Home as the blueprint,” he said in conclusion.
Just then, Lian Qi grabbed my hand.
“Fei’er, come with me for a second.”
She’s always been like this, dragging me away without warning.
“Eh? Eh? Eh?? P-Please… excuse us!”
She pulled me far away in one go, following the stream until she was sure no one was eavesdropping or following us before she let me go. I rubbed my wrist. She turned around to face me.
“Wh-What’s wrong? You’re so tense,” I asked nervously.
“After hearing all that, did it make you think of anything?” Lian Qi asked, her face serious.
I froze. “You… you also feel something isn’t right?”
Lian Qi stared at me and swallowed cautiously.
“His ideas… coincide with the Demon King’s plan to stagnate magic.”
Author’s Note: cough cough Because many readers don’t check the comments section, I can only make the announcement here. I revised Chapter 15. You can refresh to see it.