Of course, that wasn't right.
Lynn pondered, subconsciously raising a hand to pinch his chin. Gradually, a vague hypothesis began to form.
'Too bad… I can't confirm it yet. It'll have to remain a guess for now.'
'We'll deal with it soon. If it really is what I think… then I've unknowingly incurred a favor.'
The thought process took only a moment. By the time Lynn returned to his senses, Aveline was still nodding, half understanding, half confused.
"So… does that mean your bad luck problem is completely resolved now?"
She recalled the dramatic changes that had just occurred in him.
She still didn't fully understand what had happened, but since Lynn hadn't volunteered an explanation, she had no intention of pressing him. All she cared about was whether that strange misfortune plaguing him had truly been dealt with.
"Of course. Otherwise, why would I be in such a good mood?"
Lynn smiled, reassuring her completely.
Just then, an ominous tremor began to rise from beneath their feet.
"That's bad—the ship's starting to sink!"
Aveline's expression shifted slightly.
Under the influence of Lynn's earlier bad luck, the ship had already been pushed to the brink by the sea beast's attacks. Then it had taken even more damage, and on top of that, Lynn's earlier flames and explosions had affected it as well. The fact that it was only beginning to sink now was already impressive.
But this time, Aveline didn't immediately suggest fleeing.
Instead, she looked at Lynn expectantly.
She still remembered what he had said earlier—"watch me perform." Surely he hadn't meant to wait until now just to jump ship in a panic.
And as expected, Lynn didn't disappoint her.
"Relax. Let me show you a magic trick."
As he spoke, he raised his hand and narrowed his eyes slightly, as if sensing something.
"If I took this trick on the road, every great magician out there would have to bow their heads…"
Hearing this, Aveline's anticipation only grew stronger.
She knew full well that whatever Lynn was about to do, it wasn't really magic. If anything, it was closer to true sorcery.
But one thing was certain—it would either be breathtaking or mesmerizing.
"Here it comes. Don't blink. Three—two—"
"One."
Snap.
Lynn snapped his fingers.
In that instant, Aveline felt as if her perception flickered.
The world around her suddenly changed.
The countless colors that once filled her vision vanished, leaving behind only a few—but each one felt intimately welcoming.
One radiated warmth.
Another nourished vitality.
A third felt light and airy, as if it could carry her into the sky.
Surrounded by them, she even felt as though she could make anything happen just by willing it.
But in the very next moment, everything returned to normal.
The night sky was still deep blue, dotted with stars and moonlight.
The ship beneath her feet was still—
Wait.
Why did the ship look brand new?
No—new ships weren't even this pristine. There wasn't a trace of dust or footprints. Every plank of the deck looked freshly made.
"Ah!"
Aveline gasped in astonishment, immediately crouching down to examine it closely.
Their position hadn't been directly struck by the sea beast, but when Lynn had experimented with his Pyro Authority earlier, he had accidentally ignited parts of the deck. Though the flames were extinguished quickly, scorch marks had remained.
But now…
Not just this section, but even the bow that had endured repeated impacts from the sea beast, and the areas destroyed by Lynn's compressed fire blasts—all of it had been restored.
Completely.
Better than new.
"Well?"
Lynn lightly patted Aveline's back, signaling that she could check as much as she liked.
Sinking?
Let something else sink if it wanted to.
This ship certainly wouldn't.
Aveline eagerly complied, running across the deck and inspecting everything. Every bit of damage—even ordinary wear and tear—had vanished.
"Can I check inside the cabin?"
After a while, she returned to ask him.
It wasn't really about the ship itself.
It was the "magic" that fascinated her.
As she had said before, she knew it wasn't actual magic—but she still wanted to find some clue, some hint of how Lynn had done it.
"Of course."
Lynn had no objections. After a moment, he added,
"If you're going inside, grab the phlogiston bomb from the cargo hold. We don't need it anymore—no point wasting it."
"As for the Les, we'll deal with it another way."
With that, he watched Aveline head into the ship.
Left alone, Lynn sank back into thought.
There was no way Aveline would find any clues.
Because that "magic"…
Wasn't a power from this world.
'From beyond the world, we obtain the power to deny it… who said that again? Dainsleif? Or the other sibling?'
'Strangely fitting… though this isn't denial.'
'It's… modification.'
'Or rather… modulation.'
'World modulation?'
'Sounds a bit questionable.'
'…Whatever. As long as it works.'