Machinist of Mana Chapter 124 Headache

“You look depressed my boy,” grandpa said to me as we lounged around after dinner.

“Just thinking.”

“Always important but a dangerous pastime I find. Whatever has you so bothered though?”

“I've done a lot, seen a lot, but I'm not sure that it really changes much.”

“What about those nice goblin girls? You certainly changed things for them,” he observed.

“Yes, but.”

“And all the people on that train, what about them?”

“Well, I suppose I did...”

“The girl in the tunnel, the children attacked by that monster, oh I'm sure I'm forgetting one or two somewhere, mind helping?”

“That's not really the point grandfather,” I grumbled.

“It is though, you're doing quite a bit. Those people may seem like little compared to some of the people you're rubbing shoulders with now, but they're still important, still worth your effort.”

“What made you bring the people I'm rubbing shoulders with now up?” I asked.

“Because I'm no child Percival, and I've seen my share of things. I've even felt the way you do now time and again. Seen others outpace me, outdo what I can. It is something we all deal with at times.”

“And how does it make you feel?” I asked, trying to put my own feelings into words.

“Proud mostly, and happy that I get to be part of it all.”

It didn't take a genius to realize exactly who he was talking about, which was good for me, since I wasn't one. His words though did still stir my emotions deeply, and I took a few moments to bring them back under control. After that it wouldn't do at all to lose control of myself here and now.

“I don't suppose you've any advice?” I asked after a few moments spent schooling myself.

“Of course I do, but maybe not on what you were expecting.”

“Oh?”

“This man you've been studying with, you need to be careful.”

“You think he means me ill?”

“No, if he meant you ill you'd be dead. I've never met an Ancient before, but I've heard plenty of stories, and if even a fraction of those are true... Well, we at least know he doesn't mean you ill. That doesn't mean that whatever you're doing will be good for you though. Think of it like the king did about those passengers on that train. People who are leaders, or who have power can and will sacrifice those they need to to achieve their goals. Even if you're doing what you're told you can still be discarded for advantage, so don't trust what you don't need to, take what advantages you can get, but be ready to abandon whatever tasks your given if you find yourself in danger.”

“That's fairly obvious isn't it?” I asked.

“You'd be surprised how often people forget the fairly obvious Percival. There are no small amount of writings there to fully state obvious, stupid things people already know but won't listen to.”

That was rather deep in a way. He was right too, even thinking about my experiences from Earth. Sun Tzu for example wrote a lot of things that brought on the 'Well duh,' reaction, but so many people did them anyway that it seemed a good idea to put them down somewhere. It wasn't any different on this world either.

“A good point. I don't suppose I could impose upon you to continue spreading planes while I'm away?”

“It won't be much of an imposition to do it Percival. The military stopping me might be the only issue at all.”

I snickered, while the king might not have been pleased with my actions they had struck a lot of people like a brick to the face. Any fool could see the application of what we'd done and other potential ones. Sure, there were some mages who could fly and wouldn't need our help to engage in those applications, but bringing it to the masses, or at least more people than we currently had, was a major change.

“And keep an eye on mother for me.”

He sighed. “That is harder. Your mother is still processing it all, and while she's tough it will take time. Honestly I'm not sure if having you here helps or hurts, but don't get hurt son, that would crush her.”

“She didn't seem bad,” I observed.

“It's a brave face for you and others. Your grandmother's been spending a lot of time with her you know, and... well she's still worried.”

“Perhaps I should spend more time with her, and sister too for that matter.”

“That one you'll need to speak with indeed. Particularly with how much time she's been spending with that goblin priestess.” My mind briefly glitched at the back part of his comment.

“Wait what?”

“Were you not told of that?”

“No I most certainly was not! Why in the world are they spending a lot of time together?”

“You'll have to speak to your paternal grandparents if you want more details on that, but I gather they're having rather deep conversations about moral ethics or something.”

“Is... is that a joke? Why would they...” I had a headache just thinking about it.

Sasha had been released from custody some time ago, or mostly released. She was still being monitored, as were all the goblins who came to the surface, few as that was. We also knew they still had at least some people hidden, and the government wasn't outright ripping up the streets to get at them, yet, but they were definitely watching. It was also known that some of the goblins had escaped into the countryside rather than fall back to their old home beneath the city, something which I had no doubt would prove to be a thorn in this island's side for potentially generations to come.

“Well, looks like you've got at least one more task to do now,” grandfather laughed.