NOVPUBWhen the flying airship reached the highest point it could touch, the waiters brought out the dinner dishes from the kitchen, marking the official start of the second half of the gathering.
Perhaps it was because the topics discussed earlier were too intense that the conversations in the latter part seemed much more mundane. Of course, it might also be because everyone could sense that the star of the gathering—Emerald Sparrow—was not in high spirits.
Employees of the Magical Affairs Institute who could sit in such a setting were not people lacking insight. Even the few with slow minds would follow the atmosphere obediently and not stir up trouble. As a result, the gathering gradually took on the character of a social obligation within the Material Realm.
All the subordinates of the Magical Affairs Institute raised their glasses of red wine to engage with and show goodwill towards Emerald Sparrow, sometimes even flattering her. Emerald Sparrow responded with social niceties that had almost become muscle memory for her. For a moment, amidst the clinking of glasses, the previously stern atmosphere softened considerably.
Apart from occasional mentions of action details, nobody discussed profit distribution or mutual schemes. People talked about the gossip of the Magical Affairs Institute and the rumors circulating in high society. If someone unaware had seen this, they might have thought it was a harmonious and amicable gathering of Magical Girls.
Ultimately, this gathering concluded on a joyful note, with hosts and guests alike thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Until the very end, no one asked Emerald Sparrow for her opinion on this operation or any instructions she might have. Even Emerald merely engaged in idle chit-chat, as if it weren't her who had previously used a quarter of a Luennolay as bait.
But Emerald Sparrow understood that this didn't mean they didn't care; it was simply that they chose to wait for her response in this manner.
Before leaving, the last person to propose a toast to Emerald Sparrow was Zhe Helan. However, unlike earlier boastful talks, this time she chose a moment where everyone else had stepped aside, leaving only herself and Emerald Sparrow.
"Lord Cornflower."
She bowed slightly and lowered her voice: "If the things I said earlier were what I should have said as part of the Teaching Selection Department of the Magical Affairs Institute, now I would like to convey some personal views." 𝔫𝖔𝔳𝖕𝖚𝔟.𝔠𝔬𝖒
She raised her wine glass and paused: "Regarding the question you asked me earlier, specifically about what I think of the proposal to 'nominate you as the Gemstone Scepter'. On a public level, the Magic Kingdom needs a Sapphire Wand, the Magical Affairs Institute needs a dean, and we employees need a leader with real power… However, I myself don't have very clear ideas."
"My rational side tells me that you are the most suitable person to become the Sapphire Wand and the one most likely to use this power wisely. But my emotional side tells me that doing so will inevitably cause you to lose certain things in the process."
"I have only been in this country's power structure for less than twenty years. During these twenty years, many of my peers among the Magical Girls might still be inconsternation over Flower Cards and even fret over the number of engravings on a word plate, but I have already reached the position of the head of the Teaching Selection Department."
"Many would say I have a talent for politics, that I am a born politician and my talents have allowed me to outpace others. But I know that this is not the case. I initially entered this career, or rather this officialdom, driven by a certain goal and dream, striving tirelessly upward to achieve a certain ambition, but upon reaching this position, I realized I had already become unrecognizable compared to when I first started."
"Have you ever heard of the story of the 'Ship of Fools'? A ship that gets damaged constantly and continually replaces its parts during its journey. When all parts have been replaced, is it still the same ship?"
"Today's me, compared to the me of the past, is exactly like those two ships."
At this point, Zhe Helan's face showed no expression, but Emerald Sparrow could feel that she was neither lamenting nor being sentimental; she was genuinely grappling with this issue and contemplating it: "Those worn and replaced 'old parts' are what I refer to as the things you would 'lose'. Although they will be replaced with new components, those lost parts are destined never to return."
"Looking back with my current perspective, I can't remember exactly what functions those 'old parts' served or how they influenced the past me. But undoubtedly, when they were discarded, I, the 'Magical Girl Zhe Helan', was gradually transforming into a being entirely different from my past self."
"If possible, I do not wish for you to walk down this same path."
"Perhaps your willpower is stronger than mine, maybe your beliefs more noble, and you can resist the transformations brought about by the environment and even become someone who changes the environment… I harbor such fantasies to convince myself and to say that you are indeed fit to become the Gemstone Scepter."
"But in the end, I find it doesn't work. I feel I must share my concerns with you. I'm worried that if you become the Gemstone Scepter, you will gradually become unrecognizable to yourself."
"Please believe that in this country, in this world, there are many who wish for you to change, but there are also many who do not wish for you to change. Without a doubt, I sincerely respect the present you and wish to serve such a you, but when it comes to pushing you to the position of the scepter, I haven't truly made sense of it because I don't want you to change too much."
"So if you're dissatisfied with our work or have opinions on the previous topic, I hope you'll let us know instead of choosing silence because that would indeed make me uneasy as well."
"I feel the need to emphasize that we sincerely pledge our loyalty to you, not to the position of the 'Gemstone Scepter'. Meaning, if you genuinely abhor these matters and don't wish to become the Gemstone Scepter, we would not retract our oath. In fact, if such a case arises, please tell me or us your new goals, then we could better serve you."
"That's what I wish to express. I hope it can serve as a true reference for you, rather than you accommodating for the purpose of 'our group'."
Having said all of this, Zhe Helan downed the red wine in her glass in one go, giving Emerald Sparrow an inexplicable smile.
Reaching this point, instead of being comforted, Emerald Sparrow felt even more perplexed.
"Complete loyalty to me? And not to the Sapphire Wand?"
The fact that the other party chose to lower her voice implied she didn't want this conversation to become the center of everyone's attention, so Emerald Sparrow also lowered her voice voluntarily: "Why? What's the significance of this? If you exclude the 'former Sapphire Wand candidate' identity, I'm not even anything but a nominal Patrol Envoy of the Investigation Bureau, having no relation with you in the Magical Affairs Institute or even the Research Institute."
Zhe Helan's smile widened.
Without giving an immediate explanation, she merely set aside her wine glass, and her expression gradually turned serious as she slowly straightened her already tall frame.
Then, she raised her hand and placed it up to her temple, palm outward.
"Rosam ducat, Luna servet."
Using the perfectly standard Kingdom accent, she uttered the phrase immensely familiar to Emerald Sparrow.
