Chapter 132: A Stroll with Carlotta
"Hmm?"
Sensing a fluctuation in Resonance Power frequency from somewhere, Fleurdelys turned her head, only to see Carlotta... followed by Aeron with an awkward expression on his face, while Phoebe turned away in annoyance.
He's caused trouble again...
Well, considering it's him, this is pretty normal.
As for her other part, Cartethyia, she seemed already accustomed to such situations.
"Alright, Blessed Maiden, the person over there just explained the situation to me. Although I wanted to ask for your opinion again... it seems you're already prepared."
"Mhm."
Fleurdelys gave a slight nod in response to Carlotta, then glanced at Aeron beside her, a faint smile appearing on her cool face.
"Then, let's begin."
"...Huh? Begin what?"
Just as Fleurdelys was about to attune her own frequency, it was Aeron who voiced his confusion.
"As His Resonator, I still maintain a partial connection with Avinoleum. I can use my Resonance Power as a baseline to adjust Avinoleum... What's with that surprised look on your face?"
"Holy crap, you can actually do something like that?"
The person who should have been the least surprised wore an expression of astonishment. Honestly, Aeron hadn't expected Fleurdelys to be capable of such a thing.
Upon realizing this, a hint of resentment sprouted in Fleurdelys' heart.
"...Then why did you bring me up here?"
"Can I say I only brought you up because I thought this was your property?"
Aeron had only considered needing permission to make changes on someone else's land and hadn't thought much beyond that—otherwise, he wouldn't have called over the financier (Carlotta).
Come to think of it, can Resonance Power really do something like this? It's way too convenient.
Hearing Aeron's infuriatingly honest answer, Fleurdelys puffed out her cheeks slightly in annoyance.
Thump.
"Ow, that hurts."
"That's a little punishment for you."
"I think you should change this habit of hitting me whenever you feel like it."
It wasn't really a big deal, but it made Aeron lose face.
However, since she was willing to help, Aeron naturally had no reason to refuse. This way, more funds could be allocated elsewhere.
"Just now, the first mate showed me the blueprint. Adjusting the positions of the buildings slightly is something I can manage. As for the rest..."
[Projection, begin!]
Before Fleurdelys could finish speaking, her frequency resonated with Aeron's beside her.
"Since our Blessed Maiden is willing to work so hard, I can't just stand idle either."
A faint golden light emanated from Fleurdelys, the radiance extending like living threads, gently reaching toward the surrounding structures. The previously silent Avinoleum began to emit a low hum, as rubble and dust slowly levitated and realigned within an invisible force field.
"...Still as self-willed as ever."
Though her words sounded like a complaint, Fleurdelys' face showed a genuinely heartfelt smile.
"This is more like my style, Roccia. Can you give me the blueprint?"
"Mhm."
Aeron took the stage design blueprint Roccia had prepared over this period from her hands, casually glancing at it twice.
Great, completely incomprehensible!
But it didn't matter if he couldn't understand—he just had to set it up as instructed.
[Instant Mastery, activate.]
Holding Roccia's blueprint in one hand, Aeron placed his other hand on the ground beneath his feet.
"Structure Analysis, Architectural Concept Convergence, Craft Technique Threshold."
Carlotta: ...What is he muttering about?
Phoebe: Well... sometimes Senpai says strange things like that.
Ignoring the whispers of the two little ones beside him, Aeron shifted all his focus to Avinoleum.
Fleurdelys had already placed these structures in their proper positions, so what he needed to do next was decorate.
Since Resonance Power was so useful, it was his turn to use it.
Then, with Aeron as the center, pale golden patterns spread rapidly across the ruins of Avinoleum like growing roots.
Rough surfaces smoothed over, cracks silently mended, and dust was swept away by an invisible force, revealing the gentle luster of the materials themselves.
Following the lines and annotations on Roccia's blueprint, structures and platforms that would have required complex scaffolding and a large workforce to reinforce gradually took shape within the spreading light.
Fleurdelys hovered barefoot slightly above the ground, a soft glow emanating from her body, resonating with the light patterns Aeron had spread.
She stabilized the spatial framework of the entire Avinoleum, adjusting the positions and angles of the structures.
But her gaze never left the rapidly renewed yet still ancient-charm buildings below.
Once upon a time, hymns echoed here, and believers gathered like threads, a place where faith and hope converged.
Until the Dark Tide erupted, and this place became her prison, a forbidden land sealing away the truth.
But now, the dust was swept away, the gloom dispelled, cracks on the ruins healed, and the shattered stained glass reflected the sky's light. Though not as bustling as before, it truly radiated a different kind of vitality and energy.
Raindrops, gentle breezes, the sky, rainbows—things that had once bid farewell to Avinoleum returned here today.
Not to worship gods, nor to imprison the Blessed Maiden.
But for songs, for laughter, for humanity itself.
An extremely complex emotion welled up in Fleurdelys' heart. Somewhat dazed, somewhat relieved, and a faint warmth she couldn't quite explain.
She drifted into a slight trance, even the frequency of her guidance softening a bit.
This... doesn't seem so bad.
Hmph, that guy's getting off easy.
Cartethyia gently responded in her consciousness.
Then, she secretly adjusted the axis of the viewing platform they were on.
Aeron, focused on "decorating," suddenly felt the ground shift beneath his feet. Though the movement was slight, it nearly made him lose his balance.
"?"
He looked up in confusion at Fleurdelys, the Blessed Maiden, floating in the air. Her expression was calm and holy, as if the slight disturbance earlier was merely a natural adjustment of the spatial structure.
...She definitely did that on purpose.
But such thoughts could only be kept to himself. Aeron simply shook his head helplessly on the surface and continued with his work.
Since she still had the energy for mischief, it meant she was in a good mood. He'd let her off today (though the main reason was that he couldn't beat her anyway).
In any case, the project progressed at an unimaginable speed. Under the guidance of Aeron and Fleurdelys, the northern part of the city, which originally would have taken months or even longer, had already taken shape in just an hour.
When Aeron finally let out a long sigh of relief and withdrew his hands, the golden patterns flowing across the ground gradually dimmed and disappeared. What lay before everyone's eyes was a transformed venue, as if it had been meticulously prepared for a long time.
Though the details still needed polishing and the decorations were not yet complete, the grand framework, the smooth flow of movement, and the perfect fusion of old and new aesthetics were already breathtaking.
"Is it done?" Carlotta stepped forward, looking around, the surprise in her eyes not yet fully faded. She knew Aeron always managed to pull off the unexpected, but witnessing this near "turning stone into gold" transformation firsthand was a different kind of impact.
Roccia dragged her toolbox over, looked up at Aeron, and said earnestly,
"Mr. Aeron did very well, even better than the design plans anticipated. The structure is stable, the flow is reasonable, and there's ample space reserved for modifications." She paused, then added softly, "Thank you."
"If anything, I should be thanking you, Roccia. But since it's a compliment, I'll gladly accept it. Hehe, as expected of me."
In short, the project was completed much faster than expected, which was definitely something to be happy about.
Aeron had originally prepared himself to live up here for a while, but since things went so smoothly, he could now shift his focus to other matters.
Looking at it this way, maybe he still had a chance to bring his talents to civil engineering.
Fleurdelys slowly descended from the air, walked up to Aeron, and examined him carefully. Suddenly, she reached out and brushed her fingertips over his shoulder as if dusting off non-existent dirt.
"You performed better than I expected. I was worried you might tear this place apart." Her tone was flat, but the hint of amusement in her eyes betrayed her true feelings.
"I'll take that as a compliment, then."
Anyway, the hardest part was essentially done. What remained were issues of funding and resources, which could be safely left to Carlotta.
"Phoebe, could you help Roccia? Be careful, and if there's anything heavy to move or anything dangerous to do, ask Arsène for help."
As he spoke, Aeron snapped his fingers, and Arsène's silent head emerged from the shadows.
"Ah, yes, Senior!" Phoebe replied energetically, immediately moving closer to Roccia. The two girls began murmuring over the design plans.
"Second Young Lady, the main framework is complete. I'd like to do a final inspection to see if there are any oversights. Would you like to join me?"
"Oh? I didn't expect you to invite me along."
"After all, there's nothing urgent here for now... Taking a stroll together could be considered an early inspection."
"That's fine, I suppose..."
Carlotta seemed somewhat hesitant about Aeron's proposal at the moment.
After all, this guy would never offer kindness without an ulterior motive.
"What's the matter, Second Young Lady? Too busy with countless affairs to spare time for a mere commoner like me?"
"...You're not thinking of anything strange in that head of yours, are you?"
"Definitely not."
"That means you are."
Before, Carlotta hadn't been entirely sure, but now she was certain—this guy was nine-tenths, if not entirely, up to something.
"I just want to spend some time with you, Second Young Lady. Can't even this small wish be granted?"
"First, drop that sickeningly sweet tone of yours."
Based on her experience, whenever Aeron spoke in that manner, he definitely had his own little schemes in mind.
And the truth was, she was right.
After all, unlike the others present, Carlotta was Aeron's patron, so he certainly wouldn't dare order her around to do work.
However, with the mindset of "since we're already here," Aeron still wanted to keep her occupied.
So, he intended to take Carlotta around for a tour. If she happened to be in a good mood, he might even manage to squeeze out a bit more funding!
"...Sigh, fine, let's go then. There's nothing to do staying here anyway, and it'll give me a chance to see how well you've succeeded."
After a mental tug-of-war, Carlotta ultimately chose to accept Aeron's suggestion.
"As you wish."
The morning sunlight filtered through the floating rubble and stained glass of Avinoleum, casting dappled patterns on the polished floors. Clear water flowed gently through the canals, and the air carried a fresh, post-rain scent, along with a faint, pleasant fragrance.
"I never expected you could accomplish even this."
Carlotta's gaze swept over the corridors and pillars, her tone carrying a subtle note of awe.
"Most of the credit goes to them. I just made use of it a little."
"You certainly know how to put people to work."
"Still not as skilled as you, Second Young Lady."
In this manner, exchanging casual remarks, the two wandered through Avinoleum.
Carlotta's gem-like eyes scanned every part of this celestial abyss. Though its former glory had faded, every corner yearned to shine brilliantly once more.
In the empty courtyards, flowers left untrimmed for years still emitted their fragrance. For two decades, they had taken root here, keeping company with this academy.
On the inverted waterfall, clear water defied logic as it climbed toward the sky, transforming into delicate beads of light at the summit before leisurely scattering downward, stirring ripples in the small pool below.
Within the overturned towers, traces of past grandeur still gleamed brightly to this day.
And so, the two passed through vine-draped canal corridors, rode gondolas across calm waters, and even experienced the sensation of reversed gravity.
The entire process was more relaxing than Carlotta had imagined.
...This was the first time she had spent time with Aeron like this.
Without a specific goal, no schemes to consider, no one else around, and no need to wonder what hidden motives he might have or worry about what new ways he might find to get himself killed.
Ever since meeting Aeron, he always seemed to be tangled up in one trouble after another—being hunted, plotting conspiracies, facing powerful enemies, teetering on the brink of life and death... It was rare to see him like this, simply wandering aimlessly.
Just accompanying him like this... didn't feel so bad either.
The two walked through the long corridor and finally arrived at their last destination—the main tower of Avinoleum.
Above them was the Holy Spire of Confluence, where Aeron and Leviathan had battled for three hundred rounds half a month ago.
Now, the traces of the Dark Tide's corruption were gone, leaving only the lingering frequencies that still whispered the story of Fleurdelys here.
"It's quite spacious here, isn't it?"
"After all, this was where the 'Blessed Maiden' was crowned twenty years ago... Though not much remains now. We've seen enough, so let's head back."
"Eh, leaving so soon? I thought you came here to boast about how you defeated Leviathan back then."
"Even if I had that idea initially, I don't have the energy for it now..."
Compared to Carlotta, who seemed as energetic as ever, Aeron was on the verge of collapsing.
He had wanted to complain earlier—these people seemed to forget one fact when spending time with him: he was just a muggle without Resonance Power!
Three hours of immersive hiking around Avinoleum, and Aeron felt like he was about to meet his maker.
Seeing Aeron's exhausted state, Carlotta found it rather amusing, but since he looked ready to collapse onto the floor, she decided not to press further.
"Alright, that's enough for today. I'm quite satisfied with your performance."
"Yeah, yeah, you're absolutely right."
After giving a nonsensical reply, Aeron weakly waved his hand and turned to push the tower door they had come through. As soon as his hand touched the cold metal, he froze.
He pushed again, then pulled.
The door seemed fused with the space itself, unmoving.
"...Huh?"