The Defeated Saintess Is On A Journey To Tame The Evil God Book 01 Chapter 08.03.1 - Late September's Whispers

This... isn’t this a bit much?

Xing Mo stared, stunned, at the spectacle before her. She had seen artillery mounted on barques before, but nothing this massive.

This thing is supposed to fly... and attack a whaler? No mere mortal could possibly stand against something of this scale.

Just as the thought crossed her mind, a figure emerged from the steam nearby and approached.

When she saw his face, Xing Mo’s eyes widened in surprise—then lit up with joy, “Instructor!”

Lucius Phillips was clad in full work gear, helmet and all. He looked less like a Wizard and more like a construction foreman.

He stopped in front of Xing Mo and Alice, glanced around, then grinned, “So, you’ve figured it out?”

“You didn’t tell me about Mo-mo.” Alice spoke shooting Lucius a resentful look, “I’m holding a grudge for that.”

Lucius chuckled, “Ha-ha-ha. Well... we couldn’t just trust anyone. I left it to Mo-mo to decide if she wanted to trust you.”

So they’ve talked before... Xing Mo glanced between Lucius and Alice, imagining the senior desperately searching for her.

She must have been so worried...

Clearing her throat, Xing Mo nudged the conversation forward, “Instructor, what are you doing here?”

Lucius winked, “Have you forgotten where my true expertise lies? I’m a steam engineer. And when it comes to a colossus like the Stardust, I’m probably the only one who can handle it.”

“I see.” Xing Mo looked toward the massive steam-powered behemoth, “But why is it underground?”

Lucius smiled, eyes gleaming, “Ah—that brings us to my other masterpiece.”

He turned and gestured for them to follow.

The two followed Lucius up a metal ramp, through a semicircular hatch, and into the interior of the Stardust.

Inside, it was surprisingly narrow—perhaps only a third the size suggested by its exterior bulk. The walls were lined with intricate pipes and instruments, dials flickering constantly.

They made their way to the ship's bridge, where honeycomb-shaped windows offered a full 180° view ahead. Nearby stood several control consoles, their displays filled with information Xing Mo couldn’t understand.

Despite scoring well in Alchemy Machinery, she now felt like a primitive in the face of this technological marvel.

If it were Miriam instead, she’d probably be shouting, “What an amazing design!”

Lucius stepped to the forward control console and began flipping switches with practiced precision.

Whirrr...

Xing Mo felt a soft light fall from above. She lifted her gaze and peered through the glass—and her eyes widened.

The ceiling was opening.

Above them, the rear garden of the Pushett mansion—what had appeared to be nothing more than a regular lawn—was slowly splitting apart. Through the gap, light spilled down from the gray-clouded sky, rain falling in thin silver lines. The glow lit up the underground chamber, revealing the full silhouette of the Stardust.

“Using signal lights, we coordinate with the ground crew.” Lucius said beside her, “But soon, we won’t need all this hassle. Ever heard of the telegraph?”

“I’ve heard of it.” Xing Mo replied, eyes still fixed on the yawning ceiling, “But it doesn’t seem as convenient as a courier.”

Lucius chuckled softly, “Not everyone has access to couriers. But anyone can use the telegraph. The point of technological progress is to serve the masses—to extend what once belonged only to the privileged, to everyone.”

By now, the ceiling had fully opened, flooding the underground space with pale daylight.

Steam hissed from the Stardust's hull, jets bursting outward as the massive vessel began to lift—like a beast stirring before the hunt.

Hiss—

Amid the hiss of steam, Xing Mo heard something shift nearby. She turned to see the pipes on the wall glowing red.

No—it wasn’t the pipes glowing red. It was what was inside them—strings of fire.

The strings of fire were captured within bronze conduits, their brilliance flaring with each pulse of blue steam that surged through the system. Stimulated by the steam, the strings discharged energy in a flash—then vanished. The energy raced upward, funneled through the pipes to the balloon above, powering the Stardust.

Each cycle—stimulate, release, vanish—was the heartbeat of the airship.

“This section is for observation.” Lucius explained calmly, “In the main reactor, about a hundred strings are stimulated in sequence. By the way, Alice—about those conduits, I’ve drafted some upgrades. Look them over when you get a chance.”

“Just send me the invoice. It'll all be reimbursed.” Alice’s eyes gleamed with the same wonder as Xing Mo’s. Watching the strings of fire flare and vanish, she couldn’t help but smile.

By now, the Stardust had fully emerged from the underground chamber, breaching the surface and ascending into the gray-clouded sky.

Rain tapped gently against the honeycomb-shaped windows. The city below blurred, washed in silver—its lines softened, as if seen through tear-filled eyes.

Then—

Fsshhh—

Twin streams of air burst from either side of the glass, forming a wind field that swept away the rain, restoring a fairly clear view from the bridge.

Needless to say, it was the work of the string of wind.

Through the now-clear glass, Xing Mo took in the sight of the Citadel: the towering White Tower at its heart, streets radiating outward in circles. Horse-drawn carriages wound their way through the streets, cargo ships floated along the river, and all of it shimmered under the rain’s delicate veil.

She suddenly felt as if she were standing impossibly high. The city below looked so small—like a model made of building blocks. One wrong move, and the whole thing could collapse.

“The Citadel is really quite small.” Alice said softly beside her.

Small—but even in such a tiny place, so much malice and darkness had taken root.

Somehow, at some point, Alice and Xing Mo’s hands had found each other and clasped tight. Neither spoke, but the same thought echoed in both hearts.

They were Bellkeepers, guardians of the Citadel, their mission to protector the fragile city beneath their feet.

Gazing out at the cityscape, Lucius suddenly said, “Miriam would’ve loved to ride an airship like this.”

Xing Mo turned and met Instructor Lucius’s gaze—his lake-blue eyes as deep as the Middle Sea beneath the crescent moon.

“Watch over it well for her.” He said softly, “Watch over the city she loved.”

Lucius offered a gentle smile, then turned and walked toward the back of the bridge to confer with the flight crew about test procedures.

Noticing Xing Mo slipping into a daze, Alice gave her a light pat on the shoulder, “We’ll make Prince Austin pay for this. Once we’re outside the city, we’ll test the artillery on practice targets. Just imagine it’s the Humpback Whale.”

Xing Mo smiled, “Sounds satisfying.”

She turned her gaze back to the rain-veiled city—

Yes... we’ll protect it. For Miriam. The city she gave her life for.

While she lingered in thought, the steamship passed silently above the White Tower, heading for the outskirts of Academia Territory.

Her gaze wandered—and landed, almost absently, on the flat rooftop of the tower.

In that instant, a sharp flash of gold burst across her vision.

“Ah...”

She squeezed her eyes shut and raised her hand to shield them, and a faint sting bloomed across the back of her hand.

“What’s wrong?” Alice turned to her, instantly alert.

“It’s nothing.” Xing Mo said, opening her eyes and waving her hand, “Probably just tired... didn’t get enough rest.”

But inside, she was rattled. That flash—bright and golden—wasn’t imagined. She had seen it.

It resembled the visions she’d seen in her dreams. But this was the first time it had happened while she was awake.

What was that...? Why did it appear when I looked at the top of the White Tower? Golden light... isn’t that the symbol of the Starsea Goddess?

Xing Mo furrowed her brows, questions spiraling in her mind.

......