Chapter 836 Prolonging Life <TOC> Chapter 838 Refugees
Translator: SumTLMan
A while later, Eureka sensed Jon’s physical condition and gently nodded, “The decay in his body has slowed, and there are signs of recovery in his physical constitution. This recovery is likely to last for half a year, after which the decay will continue until death.”
“Overall, your attempt this time has been highly successful, although the corresponding consumption has been substantial.” Eureka looked at the empty potion bottles nearby with a hint of regret. The consumed resources must have been worth at least twenty or thirty thousand magic crystals.
“But at least you’ve saved Jon’s life. Given his current condition, he can definitely hold on for two years.”
Joy was evident in Eureka’s words. The more years Jon could live, the more data he would provide.
However, Angel didn’t seem overly pleased. His original plan was to prolong Jon’s life by at least twenty years, then explore other methods to potentially extend Jon’s lifespan further. But now, not only has the set goal not been reached, it has also been reduced tenfold.
How could that bring joy to Angel?
“You don’t look too happy. Are you regretting the potion expenditure now?” Eureka asked.
“The potions were bought for Jon’s use from the start, so there’s no room for regret,” Angel paused, “Lady Eureka, does Jon have to be in a frozen state right now?”
“You want to restore Jon’s consciousness?”
“Yes.”
“You can unfreeze the coffin, but once you do, the erosion from the World Will shall accelerate. He will completely vanish in less than half a month at most.”
In other words, if kept frozen, his life can be prolonged by two years. If unfrozen, he has at most half a month.
“Weren’t you the one who said that you’ll definitely find a way to save him?” Eureka crossed her arms, looking down at Angel from a high vantage point.
“I will certainly find a way to save Jon.” Angel seemed to be answering Eureka, but he was more like reassuring himself.
“Then I’ll be waiting to see it.” Having said that, Eureka turned and walked towards the entrance of the Ice Chamber.
Just as Eureka was about to disappear into the dark corridor, Angel suddenly said in a low voice, “No matter what, Jon is free.”
Eureka paused, understanding what Angel meant by those words. She didn’t turn around, merely responded lightly, “Freedom? Ever since he arrived in the Wizarding World, he’s been shackled. All his actions are no longer his own under the erosion of the World’s Will. Imprisoned by the world, or by wizards, or even by himself, which outcome do you think is better?”
“Freedom has long since been eroded into oblivion. Neither you nor I can claim to be free, let alone him.”
Eureka’s voice grew increasingly ethereal until it finally disappeared completely. Angel, however, remained in the Ice Chamber, sinking into a deep silence.
Perhaps Eureka’s words were tinged with sophistry, but they were not devoid of reason. From a certain perspective, it might even be said that Angel himself was confining Jon’s freedom.
However, without reaching that pinnacle, discussions of freedom were nothing more than empty rhetoric.
Angel was reluctant to dwell on the distinction between “conceptual freedom” and “relative freedom”. His singular concern at the moment was ensuring Jon’s continued survival.
Angel stayed in the Ice Chamber for a whole day and night, etching the pale, withered face within the ice casket deeply into his memory before turning to leave.
…
The sunlight outside was warm and pleasant, and a fragrant aroma wafted throughout the manor.
Angel had initially planned to seclude himself immediately to seek a method to save his mentor. However, before doing so, he decided to visit Drew. After all, as Drew’s guide, he had no idea how long this seclusion would last, and he needed to ensure these trivial matters were handled beforehand.
Angel headed towards the manor’s main gate. Not long after, he saw the maid, Ollie, with her flushed face, running towards him with a basket of food.
“Master, these are the milk pastries personally baked by Head Maid Mana. She specifically instructed me to deliver them to you,” Ollie said, her face tinged with embarrassment. Even though Angel was her young master, his elegant and handsome appearance still made her heart flutter.
“My taste has changed a bit compared to before, but I still appreciate Head Maid Mana’s kindness,” Angel said with a smile, accepting the basket and resisting the urge to take a bite immediately.
He casually placed the basket into his bracelet and continued towards the gate. Seeing this, Ollie quickly followed.
“Is there anything else?” Angel asked, looking at Ollie with curiosity.
Ollie pouted slightly and said with a hint of grievance, “Master, have you forgotten? I am your personal maid. I couldn’t find you these past few days, so of course, I have to stick close now. If there’s anything you need, please don’t hesitate to order.”
Angel was taken aback: “Actually, there’s no need. I’m used to being alone when I’m outside…”
Before Angel could finish, Ollie’s eyes began to well up with tears.
Left with no choice, Angel swallowed the rest of his words and sighed, “Alright, as it turns out, there is something I need you to do right now.”
Seeing that Ollie was captivated by the topic at hand, Angel instructed, “Could you please fetch Mana, the head maid, for me and ask her to wait in the main hall? I have some matters to discuss with her. And it would be best if you could bring my elder brother as well.”
After directing Ollie away, Angel continued on his path.
He genuinely had matters to attend to with Leon and Mana. After all, his return was not simply a solitary venture; he carried with him the hopes of an entire tribe.
Every servant he encountered along the way paid their respects to Angel. The servant he had met in the wheat field, now aware of Angel’s identity, timidly greeted him as he approached.
Regardless of who it was, Angel’s response was always a courteous smile.
After Angel had left, the servant in the wheat field finally let out a sigh of relief. It seemed that the young master was just as gentle as the rumors suggested. He didn’t blame him for not recognizing him that day, but the servant had been losing sleep over the incident.
Unaware of the servants’ thoughts, Angel arrived at the manor’s entrance, glanced at the owl pretending to sleep on the treetop, then without a backward glance, left the manor.
His destination was George’s log cabin.
The number of people in Grud Town who knew Angel was no less than those in the manor. However, unlike the reverent greetings from the manor’s servants, these townsfolk mostly assumed Angel had returned from studying in the capital. From their attitude, they treated him as if he were still the young boy they knew, which was a bit more familiar than the treatment from the manor’s servants.
“Master Pat, have you returned from your studies?” asked an old scholar puffing on a water pipe, who was sitting in front of a small wooden house, greeting Angel from beneath the shade of a tree.
Angel wasn’t in a rush to find Uncle George. He stopped and asked, “Grandpa Pasha, have you also picked up smoking from Uncle Dim?”
“What do you mean I’ve learned from him? It’s Dim who learned from me!” Pasha immediately retorted, “It was I who taught that country bumpkin Dim to smoke a water pipe. It’s just that I quit later, while Dim continued.”
“The idea of you quitting! You were clearly so poor that you couldn’t afford tobacco,” chimed in a burly man who had just come out of the wooden house next to Pasha’s. His name was Dim.
Pasha was the town’s old scholar who had seen the world in his youth and had a penchant for showing off. Dim, Pasha’s neighbor, was the only blacksmith in town. Actually, he was also a servant of the Pat Manor, but he had moved outside the manor after starting his own family, with old Pat’s permission.
These two men were neighbors and old pals who enjoyed teasing each other.
“Master Pat, you’re back. The Viscount has been thinking about you often,” Dim greeted Angel while snatching Pasha’s water pipe, “Smoking in front of Master Pat, calling yourself a scholar, you don’t even know basic manners!”
Pasha coughed twice, grumpily retorting, “It’s the pot calling the kettle black! You never put your pipe down when young Master Pat was around.”
Dim countered, “I’m just looking out for you. Cut back on the smoke, look at the state you’re in.”
Unable to retrieve his pipe, Pasha could only stomp his foot in frustration, “Ah, even if you’ve quit smoking, don’t prevent me from doing it.”
Angel couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight. Dim used to be the most avid smoker, while Pasha never touched the stuff. Now the tables had turned – Pasha had picked up the habit, while Dim had dropped it. What could have prompted such a change?
“Change? There’s no real change.” Upon hearing Angel’s query, Dim spoke for Pasha, “The main issue is the influx of refugees in the vicinity. They often sneak into town to steal bits and pieces, sometimes making off with livestock. Old Scholar’s cow was nabbed and roasted by these refugees, we only found the massive head when we arrived… Alas, we can’t lay a finger on them, they cling on and have nothing to their names. Even if George manages to catch them, there’s nothing to fine.”
Pasha sighed, “Such a pity about my cow.”
“Those who have nothing, fear nothing.” Angel commented after a moment of silence.
“Exactly. We can only passively bolster our defenses, but the sheer number of refugees is overwhelming.” Dim shook his head, blowing out a smoke ring, “War, when will it end? Our province of Elegant Plum seems to be on the brink of disarray.”
“Dim’s right. We might end up as refugees one day, that’s what’s been causing me anxiety. And it’s the anxiety that makes me smoke… Huh?! Dim!! You’re smoking my pipe!” Pasha’s sudden realization came halfway through his sentence, his face a picture of shock.
The two resumed their bickering.
The somber atmosphere they had built up dissipated instantly.
“Rest assured, even if the entire Goldfinch Empire collapses, Grud Town will undoubtedly be the safest haven,” Angel confidently assured.
Pasha and Dim couldn’t fathom where Angel’s confidence stemmed from, but seeing his sincere expression, they found themselves somewhat convinced.
After Angel’s departure, Pasha turned to Dim, “I don’t know why, but I feel a lot more at ease.”
Dim nodded in surprise, “I feel the same. Having young Master Pat back gives us a sense of finding our backbone again.”
“Do you think Pat Manor might be unsealed as well?” The two fell into whispered conversation, the previous bone of contention over smoking seemingly forgotten…