According to Ronald, the maintenance and resupply of Iron Man No. 23 would be finished within two days. He was also willing to personally escort them for a portion of their journey, which would undoubtedly save them a significant amount of time.
The city's griffin units had suffered heavy losses during the previous battle against the Void Fiends. Although Blake had given Kite Claw to him, Midir felt that the creature was clearly better suited to staying here for the time being.
In the end, the two of them eventually wound up back at the dining hall. Under Aila’s dumbfounded gaze, Midir devoured several large bowls of food, as if trying to replenish all the energy he had lost at once.
Over the next two days, Midir had originally planned to rest properly and build up his strength for the upcoming journey.
However, Aila had other ideas. She believed they should fully experience the charms of Azure City before departing, so she dragged Midir all over the city to sightsee.
During this rare period of peace, Aila seemed to transform into a shopaholic. Her passion for shopping caught Midir completely off guard.
Whenever she saw a novel or interesting trinket, Aila couldn't resist buying it. Consequently, Midir’s seemingly bottomless storage space became her personal storage room.
“Anyway, these little things aren't expensive. Besides, your storage space is so big that it's a waste not to use it. If you help me carry my things, I'll waive half your commission!” Aila said to Midir with a laugh.
Though helpless, Midir didn't have the heart to refuse when he saw how excited Aila was. He could only silently accompany her on her shopping spree.
Even though Azure City had just endured a battle with the Void Fiends and the walls and formations had sustained varying degrees of damage, the city's residents didn't seem too affected.
Thanks to the quick response and efficient management of the Lord's Manor, production and daily life quickly returned to normal. Along the streets, vendors enthusiastically called out to customers, and shops were filled with a dazzling array of goods. The entire city was brimming with life and vitality.
The only minor drawback was that their heroic deeds during the defense of the city had already become the talk of the town, even taking on mythical proportions through word of mouth.
Whenever the two walked through the city, enthusiastic citizens would recognize them and flock around, hoping to catch a glimpse of the heroes.
To avoid further disturbance, the two eventually decided to wear cloaks and hoods, hiding Midir’s striking white hair. Only then could they walk the city streets openly and enjoy a rare moment of peace.
In the blink of an eye, two days passed. Good news came from Ronald: the maintenance of Iron Man No. 23 was complete, and they could depart for the Valley of Ice at any time.
Upon hearing the news, Midir and Aila immediately headed to the administrative wing of the Lord's Manor to meet up with Ronald.
However, as they stepped into the manor, they noticed a subtle change.
Since the great battle, Duke Rovena had rarely appeared in public. Even at the victory banquet, he had only given a brief speech before hurrying away. This led to speculation that perhaps the Duke’s health had not fully recovered, or perhaps he was intentionally delegating power to train his sons.
Blake and his brothers had undoubtedly been swamped with work these past few days. Midir had only managed to see them once, on the day he woke up.
Although they had been here several times before, they were either busy dealing with crises or sneaking in at midnight. This was the first time they had entered so openly in broad daylight.
The Duke’s study had been completely refreshed and looked quite different from before.
The documents and books that had once been scattered all over the floor were now carefully organized in their proper places. The giant sandtable used for commanding the battle had also fulfilled its purpose; it had been dismantled and placed quietly in a corner of the room.
The secret passage hidden behind the bookshelf had been restored to its original appearance. In its place were several desks arranged side by side, where Blake and his brothers sat, buried in mountains of paperwork, working diligently.
Midir watched with interest as Blake carefully checked a stack of documents. It wasn't until Midir softly greeted him that Blake snapped back to reality, his face lighting up with surprise.
“Oh? Mr. Midir, Miss Aila, what are you doing here?”
Aila responded in a light, cheerful voice.
“To see a busy man like you, of course, and to say goodbye. Remember what I said before? We’re leaving Kite Claw with you; it can be of much more use here. We happen to be catching a ride with Ronald today.”
“Ah! You’re leaving so soon? I didn't even realize two days had passed!”
Blake looked stunned, as if time had slipped through the cracks of his busy schedule, leaving him unprepared.
Seeing this, Midir couldn't help but laugh. He reached out and patted Blake on the shoulder, saying with a hint of teasing.
“It seems you’ve truly thrown yourself into your work and lost track of time. However, while work is important, you must also look after your health. Balancing work and rest is the only way to stay in top form. Also, don't forget your cultivation; that is the key to increasing your strength.”
Blake felt a bit down upon hearing this, but he understood Midir’s meaning. They were about to embark on a new journey, while he had to remain in the Azure City-State. He took a deep breath, tried to steady his emotions, and nodded in understanding.
Afterward, Blake personally accompanied Midir and Aila to the platform where they had previously landed. The giant red and black mech already stood there like an iron tower, waiting for their arrival.
Ronald was standing to the side, focused on inspecting a square metal gondola he had built himself. Under the sunlight, the surface of the gondola shimmered with a cold, solid luster.
This was clearly a custom piece made to accommodate Aila’s request for a ride. It could be safely attached to Iron Man No. 23, providing a comfortable space for passengers, since the cockpit designed for dwarves couldn't fit three people.
Shortly before the three arrived, Ronald had finished his inspection. After greeting them, he immediately climbed into the cockpit. As the thrusters on the back of No. 23 began to roar, a massive amount of scalding steam and heat billowed out, creating a spectacular sight.
Midir and Aila didn't waste any more time. After a brief farewell to Blake, they quickly boarded the novel metal gondola.
The interior was both spacious and comfortable, equipped with all the necessary safety measures, making one feel both secure and expectant.
The tall Iron Man No. 23 slowly leaned down, gently lifting the gondola from the ground with its massive hands. Auxiliary supports on both arms quickly extended, firmly locking the gondola to its body.
With a slight sway and a thunderous roar, Iron Man No. 23 slowly left the landing platform, taking to the air and flying toward the northern horizon.
Blake stood where he was, watching the distant figures of Iron Man No. 23, Midir, and Aila with a heart full of complex emotions.
Inside the gondola, Aila looked down at the fortress. Blake’s figure had already become a blur. She gently closed the window and turned to look at Midir, who was lost in thought.
“That guy Blake must be really disappointed that he can't come with us, right? But staying here is probably a better choice for him.”
“Yeah. At least Blake seems to be enjoying himself for now. We'll see him again one day; there's no rush.”
Midir slowly snapped out of it, withdrawing his gaze from the scenery outside to meet Aila’s eyes. He nodded, a smile touching the corners of his mouth.
Rate on N.U.
