"Gandalf, do you think humanity—the civilization that can once again build magic furnaces—can surpass the previous civilization?"
In the castle dining hall of White Wolf City, Landen put his question to Gandalf.
"Can the Human Empire truly retain its reverence, compassion, kindness, and curiosity, continuing to explore the future as it did centuries ago and becoming a greater civilization?"
The magic furnaces of the future would come sooner and in greater numbers, but could the magic power they produced truly make those Legend families lay down their prejudices and explore the unknown world together? Could it give more Mana-Less people better lives?
Or would it merely create hundreds of Legends and Demigods carving up the magic power, mint countless glittering gold coins, and even bring about a new world-ending calamity from the Dragon Race?
Landen already had an answer in his heart, but he did not dare voice it.
Beside the dining table, the old Mage wore a kindly smile as he studied Landen.
The girls beside Landen looked surprised, unable to understand why he had suddenly raised such a profound question.
"Your question is quite interesting." Gandalf's gaze was deep, as though he could see through Landen and look up at the entire starry sky. "The evolution of civilization is always unpredictable and fascinating. It seems you don't have enough faith in the current Human Empire!"
"Yeah. I only have great faith in the Empire making money in the name of magic furnaces." Landen spoke helplessly. "Some Imperial institutions already hope to control my ability to manufacture magic furnaces, just to plug the holes they've piled up for centuries."
"Heh heh, that isn't strange at all. I'd even say it's stranger that they still haven't tried to control you by force."
Landen smiled without speaking, but he understood that