Goodbye, Menethil

Goodbye, Menethil

After a pleasant drive, William and Bell returned to the garden outside the castle.

The moment the flying car landed, William violently shoved open the door and got out.

"Ugh~~"

William dropped to his knees and threw up everything in his stomach. Perhaps the only time he had felt this awful was when he first experienced Side-Along Apparition many years ago.

Compared to William, Bell was merely a little pale, and his legs felt somewhat weak.

In truth, this was also Bell's first time experiencing the flying car's maximum speed, and he had been scared out of his wits too. But unlike William, Bell had great confidence in the flying car's safety system. He knew he would definitely be safe, so his adverse reaction was much milder.

"I... I thought I was going to die..." William said weakly after finally finishing vomiting.

"Dad, you're being way too dramatic. How could I possibly hurt you? I'm a Menethil!"

Bell grinned as he said something that might very well have gotten him disowned by his family.

"You should've told me before accelerating! I wasn't mentally prepared at all!"

William glared at Bell. He felt that he had never been so humiliated in his life, especially in front of his own son.

"I did tell you! Um... about one second in advance? Ah, don't fuss over such details. Throwing up is healthy, and you'll be able to eat more at the banquet later, too."

-_-

"All right, let's talk business. What did you think of the flying car?"

"..."

"It was amazing!"

William excitedly jumped up. Once he had caught his breath and recalled the earlier experience, he suddenly felt it had been absolutely exhilarating! Was this the legendary speed and passion!?

"I never imagined there could be such an exciting flying vehicle. Flying Broomsticks can't compare at all!"

"I'm glad you liked it. All right, it's getting late. You should go to the banquet. Remember not to come back too late, or Mom will blow up."

After reminding William of the time, Bell waved and returned to the castle. He had not seen his little sister for nearly an hour, and he urgently needed her adorable face to soothe the thrill he had just experienced.

When William returned from the banquet that evening, he was shouting excitedly. He had successfully become the most dazzling guy at the banquet.

William announced on the spot that he had named the flying car the Menethil, and that it would be his exclusive flying car from then on. He looked as though he wanted to eat and sleep in it, utterly unlike the man who had once complained about Bell spending too much money.

"Bell, you should've seen it! The moment I arrived in that flying car, everyone was stunned! The scene was spectacular! All those young ladies and married women screamed and crowded around me, asking what it was and where they could buy one! They all begged me to let them get in and experience it too."

William could not wait to brag to Bell. He was so delighted he could barely close his mouth, having never been this happy before.

Whenever he attended banquets in the past, he could only linger at the edge of the inner circle. Even though the family's strength had advanced by leaps and bounds in recent years, those powers could not be revealed, so they did nothing to improve his position.

But today, for the first time, he had become the center of attention, the object of everyone's envy and admiration. Those country bumpkins had never seen such a handsome flying car. William himself had been astonished at the time. He had not expected the car to undergo such an incredible transformation after nightfall. It was just too cool!

Watching William grin so wildly that he seemed a little out of his mind, Bell discreetly glanced behind him.

"So, did you let them get in and try it out?"

William wore the lecherous grin that all men understood...

That night's miserable experience had failed to extinguish the fire in William's heart.

For the next while, he attended all sorts of banquets every day. At most, he even attended three banquets in one day. It was utterly insane, making Bell exclaim, "Well done!"

Thanks to William's tireless efforts, more than half of British Wizards now knew of flying cars. The heads of every major family had submitted orders and chased after William every day, asking when their own flying cars would be ready. William responded with smug disdain.

Bell had already handed the flying car manufacturing techniques over to William, and the Menethil Family's factories were currently producing new flying cars at full capacity.

Naturally, the cars they produced could not possibly be like the Menethil, with bodies made of pure gold and encrusted with multicolored Gemstones. Anyone wanting to flaunt their wealth could only modify their car after buying it.

When William got up that morning, he was once again in an excellent mood and bursting with energy. He was attending another banquet that day. Incidentally, his bookings had already been scheduled a month ahead.

Humming an off-key tune, William walked lightly out through the castle gates toward the parking lot that had been built only a few days ago. There, he would ride his beloved Menethil and begin a brand-new, wonderful day!

It should have been like that...

When William reached the parking lot, he was shocked to discover that his Menethil was gone! Only the scattered remains of some parts on the ground vaguely suggested that a horrific murder had once taken place here... What, exactly, was the truth?

A sense of foreboding rose in his heart. William rushed back to the castle as fast as he could. If the castle had not possessed a Defense Barrier, he would probably have used Side-Along Apparition to return directly.

"Bell, where's my Menethil?" William asked, grabbing Bell just as he was about to enjoy breakfast.

His instincts told him that Bell definitely knew where the Menethil had gone.

"Oh, that? I took it apart last night." Bell yawned, speaking with dead fish eyes.

Taking apart that stupid car last night had made him go to bed later than usual, so he was not very energetic that morning. He was considering whether to go back for another nap after breakfast. It would be even better if he could sleep while holding Shanna!

"!?"

w(Д)w

"W-Why!? How could you do something so cruel!?"

William stared at Bell in disbelief, his entire body trembling violently. He suddenly lunged forward, grabbed Bell by both shoulders, and shook him nonstop. Then Elena, who happened to come downstairs and witness the scene, kicked him flying...

(Kick!)

"What are you trying to do to my son!"

"Because that car was too flashy and didn't suit my low-key nature," Bell said calmly. "Besides, I only rushed it out as a temporary project, so its functions weren't fully developed. I've already given you the manufacturing techniques. If you want one, just build another yourself, assuming you have enough secret savings. Oh, and remember to perfect every aspect of the flying cars before selling them. After all, quality comes first."

Bell and his mother Elena, whose face was full of agreement and pride, went to eat breakfast, leaving William alone as he collapsed to his knees in despair.

Orz