Voltava looked like a rather pure musician. He didn't seem to care much about money at all—at the very least, he never brought it up with Moen.
And when Moen deliberately asked about tuition fees, Voltava even very seriously criticized Moen.
"Passing on teachings and imparting knowledge depends primarily on fate. It has nothing to do with money. For those without fate, no matter how much money they offer, I still wouldn't teach them. Other things can be discussed, but this alone cannot be measured with money."
Voltava spoke with the bearing of a true master, and his words made Jude nod repeatedly, his face filled with strong agreement.
"…"
Moen fell silent. He figured that the main reason Old Master Voltava could say something like that was because he simply didn't lack money.
If he truly lacked money, if he really couldn't even afford food then he wouldn't be putting on this artistic air. Teaching would still have to happen. Making money, after all, wasn't shameful.
"Mr. Ruchio would also like to invite you to hold another concert in Magnolia. I wonder if you have such plans?"
Moen asked. Though he was complaining inwardly, he naturally wouldn't say it aloud. If the old man wanted to put on airs, then let him. Artists were probably just fond of that sort of thing.
"Of course there's no problem. I'd be very happy. In the future, I'll probably often hold concerts in Magnolia. I'm getting old and don't want to run around everywhere anymore. Settling down in Magnolia isn't bad either, at least with Fairy Tail there, it should be quite safe."
Voltava replied with a smile. He actually had thoughts of settling down in Magnolia.
This surprised Moen somewhat. Moen had previously made inquiries, this old man was like a wandering bard, traveling all over the Kingdom of Fiore. When he was young, he had even traveled to other countries. He clearly wasn't the type who could sit still.
Moen hadn't expected the old man to stay in Magnolia for long at all, and had even planned to start intensive learning as soon as they returned. Yet he actually wanted to settle down, this certainly made things easier.
As for whether Magnolia was truly safe, that required a dialectical view.
When there was an external threat, Fairy Tail was the city's guarantee of safety.
And when there was no external threat, Fairy Tail itself was the city's greatest threat.
But in Moen's opinion, compared to other places, Magnolia's safety factor was still quite high. With Fairy Tail around, at least no truly chaotic things would happen, one just needed to be careful around Fairy Tail on a daily basis.
"That's wonderful! My home isn't far from Magnolia either. That way, I'll be able to often go listen to the master's performances in the future!"
Jude reacted quickly and immediately chimed in.
"How about this—personally, I'll fund the sponsorship of a concert hall in Magnolia, exclusively for Master Voltava's use. All the profits from the concert hall will belong entirely to the master himself."
Having already decided to pull Fairy Tail onto his side, Jude made the investment without hesitation. Voltava alone wasn't worth this but Moen was.
Both Moen and Voltava looked at Jude in surprise. Moen couldn't help but feel impressed, this guy Jude really did think fast.
In truth, the cost of sponsoring a concert hall was nothing to Jude at all.
To Jude now, money was nothing more than a string of numbers. He had nearly lost all sense of it.
What mattered was that he could think of doing this, that he was willing to put thought into the matter. That showed he truly cared.
"Then I'll accept it without modesty."
After the initial surprise, Voltava accepted it very straightforwardly.
"…"
Moen felt a headache coming on. This old man truly lived by the principle of "if you're willing to give it, I'll accept it"—not a hint of courtesy at all.
"Then it's settled!"
Jude happily clapped his hands and immediately summoned people to begin making arrangements. His manner of doing things was swift and decisive.
"Mr. Jude, then we'll take our leave."
With everything settled, Moen immediately prepared to head back—first to accompany Voltava in packing his luggage, and then to return to Magnolia.
"Don't go yet! Stay and have a meal before leaving!"
Jude warmly stopped the two, wanting to arrange a family banquet.
"My daughter has just arrived as well. She really likes Celestial Spirits and is also a small Celestial Spirit Mage. If she could receive guidance from two masters who use Celestial Spirit Magic, that would be even better."
Jude said with a smile, speaking of his daughter. It wasn't strange that his daughter would be a Celestial Spirit Mage, she may well have inherited it from her mother. After all, Lady Layla had been an exceptionally outstanding Celestial Spirit Mage. This type of holder magic was relatively easy to pass down within a family.
"There will be opportunities in the future. We won't impose today. Mr. Jude, there's plenty of time ahead."
Moen shook his head. Leaving aside the fact that he really didn't have much he could teach others, the main reason was that he currently had no such mindset. All his thoughts were focused on learning the harp.
Voltava smiled from the side and said nothing, looking entirely content to let Moen make the arrangements. The old man carried a strong sense of going with the flow—neither contending nor competing—possessing a tranquil, far-reaching calm.
"That's fine as well. Let's first properly arrange Master Voltava's matters."
Seeing Moen firmly decline, Jude didn't insist. Moen's words still pleased him greatly. "There's plenty of time ahead" meant that Moen was very confident about cooperating with the Heartfilia Conglomerate, this was what Jude cared about most at the moment.
"Farewell. I'll send word as soon as possible."
Moen bade Jude goodbye, with Voltava doing the same.
"I'll await the good news."
Jude bowed to the two of them, giving them full respect. Moen was the key to whether his Railway Empire could open up the southern market, so he was naturally worth receiving one hundred percent sincerity and respect.
Moen and Voltava left the Heartfilia Consortium headquarters, riding in a carriage arranged by Jude. In most regions, carriages were still the primary means of transportation.
Trains were continuously being promoted and were indeed very practical, but at the current stage they were only connected between major cities. Daily travel still relied on carriages. As for magical automobiles, even mages found them extremely draining to use, making them impractical for the time being.
"The Rose Star, The Great Detective Folmos, Moen Dreyar, Fairy Tail…"
After Moen and Voltava left, Jude was still thinking about Moen as he walked into his private lounge. A blonde little girl wearing a dress was waiting for him inside the room, her expression filled with anticipation.
"Dad! Where is Mr. Moen Dreyar?"
The moment she saw Jude enter, the little girl hurried over, asking expectantly. When she learned that her father was going to receive Mr. Moen, Lucy had been extremely happy. She hadn't seen him outside just now—who would have thought that Mr. Moen had actually come here!
"Hmm? Are you very interested in this Moen?"
Jude looked surprised, and then he noticed the book in his daughter's hands.
"So you've read his The Great Detective Folmos as well. If I had known earlier, I would've mentioned it, he's already left."
Jude shook his head. He had only been thinking about Lucy being a Celestial Spirit Mage and forgot to mention that she was also a fan of The Great Detective Folmos. Even if she wasn't, she could have been made one.
"…"
Disappointment was clearly visible on Lucy's face. She clenched the book in her hands. She had been reading it constantly at home recently, so much so that even Uncle Dreller had noticed.
"Stay here and read. Daddy still has work to take care of. Don't run over again next time. Stay properly at home."
After this brief meeting, Jude left again. He was busy all day, sometimes not even returning home. It was no wonder Lucy had run to the consortium headquarters to look for him.
Having lost her mother not long ago, and with her father then seeming as though he barely existed, the only things that could keep Lucy company were her dolls.
No—there were also books and Celestial Spirits.
Reading became an important way for Lucy to pass time and soothe her emotions. She herself loved reading. The moment The Great Detective Folmos was published, Lucy couldn't put it down, reading it over and over again.
Lucy's mind was also filled with many stories—stories her late mother, Layla, had once told her. Lucy was recording those stories.
She was afraid she might forget them. Those were precious memories her mother had left behind.
Sometimes Lucy would think that perhaps she could organize and publish the stories her mother had told her. But she didn't know whether she had that kind of ability.
Because of that, Lucy very much wanted to talk with a real writer—especially one who wasn't that far apart from her in age.
After missing the opportunity again and again, Lucy felt incomparably disappointed. Silently, she resolved that she must find a chance to meet Mr. Moen someday!
"Fairy Tail."
Thinking of Moen, Lucy naturally thought of Fairy Tail as well.
The last time she suddenly wanted to go find her father at night, an accident happened on the road. The horse was startled, and it was a Fairy Tail mage who saved her.
She hadn't seen who saved her—only the pink Fairy Tail emblem on the back of the person's right hand. From that moment on, the name Fairy Tail was engraved deep in her heart.
Fairy Tail member, powerful Celestial Spirit Mage, explosively popular young bestselling author—every label on Moen fit Lucy's preferences almost perfectly. It was only natural for her to treat the suddenly rising Moen as her idol.
Everything Moen did was exactly what Lucy wanted to do. Aside from the difference in gender, Moen was like the best possible version of herself in Lucy's eyes.
Moen, of course, had no idea that he had missed a chance to meet Lucy.
He didn't know the name of Jude's daughter. The last time he met Lucy in the future, he hadn't asked for her surname either.
If anyone was to blame, it was the system for not tagging Lucy's full name and also the Heartfilia family's overwhelmingly strong genes. Aside from her blonde hair, Jude and Lucy didn't resemble each other much. The problem was that this blonde hair wasn't even inherited from Jude.
"All packed. Let's depart."
In front of the hotel where Voltava was staying, the old man traveled light. He had no luggage, only carrying a harp by his side.
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