It took some time for Sylus and Zani to arrive at the barn, where the soldier had been waiting patiently.
The soldier in question knew nothing of what happened in the castle.
If he did, he would definitely have run from the scene of the crime, hence why Sylus didn't bother telling him.
He was the prince; there was no reason for him to explain why he was late.
With that out of the way, the building of the wooden truck-like vehicle continued.
Originally, Sylus thought of making it a jeep, as that would be easier to build and more efficient.
That thought became second base when he discovered the amount of substance that would need to be accommodated within the vehicle for travel.
A truck was the best alternative for that.
Following the model, the soldier was able to construct something similar using high-quality wood, nails, and lubricant to fortify the surface.
As for the engine, it was positioned right in the notable section inside the car's bumper.
As requested by Sylus yesterday, the soldier was already inserting the magic stone into the engine.
Leaving Sylus with the task of linking all the wires to their appropriate places.
The gears stuck to the tires, the metal plate underneath the car for spreading heat, and even the buttons on the driver's seat.
Everything was connected to the car's engine.
And now, it was time to test it.
Sylus stood at the side of the car, allowing the soldier to get in, as he would be the one starting the car.
The seats were padded with foam, making them comfortable to sit on.
With his hand firm on the steering wheel, the soldier uttered,
"This looks so similar to a regular wagon and yet so different."
Sylus answered,
"A wagon is still preferable in other circumstances; this particular vehicle will only be used for important transportation, since magic stones will be needed for it to work."
"You mean just one isn't enough?"
Sylus placed one hand on his small waist. "The amount of runes operating in this vehicle is quite vast. I suspect one magic stone will be used every hour."
"Every hour? That's crazy." The soldier easily calmed himself.
His reaction was quite valid; a single mana stone was about 100 gold pieces.
That was the price to buy two wagons.
"I could think of a way to reduce the expense at which mana is flowing from the mana stone. But there isn't enough time for that; the deadline is tomorrow anyway."
The soldier was quiet for a while.
And then, with a serious face, he spoke, almost to himself—
"I still find it impressive that you were able to do all these at such a young age, Your Highness. I guess I shouldn't be surprised; you're an Astrodial."
'People put so much meaning into that name. I do all these, and the name gets the compliment?'
Sylus fought the childish urge to yell, "It was all me; don't you dare give this to the family name."
That would only make him look desperate for praise.
So, he quickly dismissed the thought.
"Just start the car already."
"Right away."
The soldier remembered the instructions Sylus gave him and implemented them.
He pushed the red button and then added a bit of mana to it.
Almost immediately, a resonating sound echoed from the bumper, and then the car began to vibrate slowly.
It worked.
Zani nodded her head in acknowledgement while the soldier was smiling like a kid who had just received a birthday present.
"Your Highness, it worked!"
Sylus was neutral.
"Move the car forward a bit."
The car starting was one thing; following commands was another.
As instructed, the soldier moved the car forward.
All he needed to do was keep his hand on the wheel and add mana depending on how slow or fast he wanted to go.
Doing that, the car moved forward by a few feet before he stopped his mana flow, causing the car to stop.
Sylus asked for a reversal, and it was simply the same process; the only difference was that he would need to push yet another button for the car to go into reverse mode.
The same went for the rest of the car's functions, including the heating system.
It was certain at the end of the car test:
Sylus had single-handedly built a magical car.
…
The following day…
Parked outside the castle building was the magic car Sylus had made.
As if welcoming a royal figure, guards stood in a straight line, forming a direct path to the car.
And at the very top of the stairs, the Astrodial family was present.
Martin was at the very front, right next to Sylus.
Behind them were Elizabeth, Erica, and Alfred.
It took Martin quite a while to fully take in what he was looking at.
From what Sylus told him, it was named 'Mt 34' and was exactly as he described: a moving wagon that is self-dependent without a horse.
There was no way he could doubt it either; he witnessed the car getting parked in front of the castle with his own two eyes.
And if that wasn't shocking enough, he also discovered Sylus had created his own form of spell writing. An ancient art that had been passed down from generation to generation was now a weaker method than his son's.
The very guards trained to be professional could barely hide their shock and
"Sylus…"
"Yes, Father."
Martin's gaze was fixed in front of him, but Sylus could still see the smile on his face.
That was beside the point; the words he wanted to hear had not been said.
'I was wrong, and you were right. I feel so bad for how I looked down on you. Please forgive me, my perfect, loving son.'
Even his mother, who wanted to lock him up inside the room, had already apologized.
Suddenly, Martin turned his attention toward Sylus, one hand on his shoulder.
'Yes… here it comes…'
Sylus made sure to hide his mocking smile.
Once those words left his father's mouth, he would head straight to his room to laugh his ass off.
Seeing as everything was already settled with the car, there was no reason for him to remain there.
His eyes settled on his father's, listening as his father began.
"I know you worked really hard to complete this. As your father, I am beyond proud. Being able to boast that my five-year-old son did this is my pride as King. The Astrodial blood runs deep in your veins."
"…"
"…"
"That is all."
'Son of a—!!!'