Effort does not guarantee growth.


    I have deeply understood this simple truth even before my reincarnation.


    No matter how much I struggled, there were so many things beyond my grasp.


    Looking back, perhaps that was why I became so immersed in Fantasy X Academy.


    At least in a game, effort was rewarded.


    ‘Even if it was just daily quests, at the very least.’


    Maybe that’s how I got used to working hard again.


    At the very least, while ying Fantasy X Academy, I was more dedicated and serious than in anything else.


    I worked hard, and as a result, I was rewarded.Of course, sometimes I had to spend money, but even that was part of the fun for me.


    That’s how I learned.


    ‘Now, I simply enjoy the act of putting in effort itself.’


    The state of striving—the act of working hard itself—became enjoyable.


    That’s why I kept training relentlessly even after my reincarnation.


    Even if growth wasn’t guaranteed, I found joy in the process of improving.


    …But then.


    — <em>Drip, Drip</em>


    Snowke-shaped mana, flowing outward along the water’s surface.


    Seeing it, I had no choice but to admit it.


    “This body… it really isn’t normal.”


    The body I reincarnated into—Pongpong’s body—was anything but ordinary.


    No.


    Saying it’s ‘not normal’ isn’t enough.


    No matter who Ipare myself to, I don’t fall behind.


    Even the heroines of the game pale inparison.


    Sharon, the one hailed as the most overwhelmingly skilled and talented—


    Even her maximum potential in the best possible scenario is now leagues behind me.


    In the end, the one with the greatest potential in this game… was Pongpong.


    ‘He just never put in the effort.’


    Effort is all about direction.


    No matter how perfectly round a ball is, it won’t move forward unless it’s pushed.


    I simply took this body’s potential and pushed it forward through training.


    That’s all I did…


    And yet—


    “My abilities are snowballing.”


    Overwhelming talent.


    I could feel it bing mine as I gripped my staff.


    Then, I nced at the skill books and the mana traces left on the walls.


    Secluded training.


    I don’t know how much more time I have to train.


    The final ending of this game is the ‘Descent of the Demon God’.


    And I can already sense… that it’s not far off.


    Three skill books were given to me.


    A secluded training experience buff.


    And the expectation that [Awakening]es at the most unexpected times.@@novelbin@@


    “I’ll do it.”


    Overwhelming growth.


    That’s the only path I can take.


    ◆


    It had been 15 days since Ian disappeared.


    The Dessert Research Society, who had been tracking his whereabouts, was preparing for a long-term search.


    Ian’s traces had vanished.


    For now, they paused the pursuit and instead set up a temporary search camp in the area.


    Inside the camp’smunication room, equipped with an ultra-high-grade crystal orb worth billions of Krone, Lina Rosewell was talking to someone.


    “Thanks, Silvia. All the supplies have arrived safely.”


    — <em>Yes. Let me know if you need anything else. I can send it over right away.</em>


    “Of course. How’s the persuasion going on the Empire’s side?”


    — Mm… It’s not easy. But I’ll be moving together with Princess Asteria soon. We’ve also been invited to tonight’s imperial banquet. I’ll try convincing a few more people there. ??Ν??ês


    “I’m d you’re there, Silvia.”


    — <em>Lina, you’re working just as hard.</em>


    “…”


    Lina took a deep breath.


    Unbeknownst to many, she had be the emotional pir for the others.


    With her natural warmth and easygoing nature, she managed to keep the atmosphere from bingpletely bleak, even in the despair of Ian’s disappearance.


    But that didn’t mean she wasn’t struggling just as much.


    To Lina, Ian was nothing short of a savior.


    A world without her savior was nowhere near as bright as her actions made it seem.


    And in that world, Silvia’s reassuring words reached her.


    Even if they held no particr meaning, they made her chest tighten.


    But it was too soon to cry.


    Lina had made a promise to herself—tough and cry as much as she wanted only <em>after</em> they found Ian.


    “…No. I have to at least keep things together here.”


    — <em>Just hold on a little longer. We’ll find him soon.</em>


    “You too, Silvia. Let’s keep going just a little more.”


    — <em>Yeah.</em>


    <em>Click.</em>


    Themunication ended.


    Lina stood in front of the crystal orb in silence.


    She stood there for about three minutes before—


    “<em>Haaah</em>…”


    She took in a deep breath through her nose.


    She didn’t cry.


    She didn’t think she had the right to.


    The guilt of having abandoned Ian once before still had deep roots in her heart.


    Enduring without showing her struggle—


    That was one of the few ways Lina could atone.


    “…Yes. This is my atonement.”


    Nodding to herself, she lifted the tent p and stepped outside.


    The sight of several tents came into view.


    It was only a temporary search camp, but the scale and facilities were far from modest.


    No—


    For just a single missing student, the setup was <em>excessive.</em>


    High-endmunication devices, magitech search tools, tracking dogs, search specialists…


    Ever since Danya’s detection abilities had hit a dead end, Silvia had swiftly dispatched personnel and equipment.


    — <em>You’ve been searching non-stop for two weeks. Everyone needs at least a day of rest. This is going to be a long-term operation.</em>


    Even Danya, who usually butted heads with Silvia at every turn, had no choice but to agree.


    The members of the Dessert Research Society were visibly exhausted.


    Lina looked up at the sky.


    A sunset mixed with shades of crimson and violet—


    A peculiar color that had been appearing frequently as ofte.


    “…We have to recover quickly and start the search again.”


    Clenching her fist, she steeled her resolve.


    Then, she headed toward the central tent.


    Lifting the p, she saw Danya sitting nkly on a bed and Elena lying down, fast asleep.


    The atmosphere was heavy.


    Lately, whenever Lina wasn’t around, the camp always felt like this.


    Just as always, she stepped inside with a bright smile.


    “Alright, everyone! It’s dinner time! Get up!”


    She deliberately spoke in an upbeat tone.


    Rustling came from the bed near the entrance.


    “…Food!”


    Elena shot up.


    Her forehead, pressed down from sleeping face-first, had a bright red pillow mark imprinted on it.


    <em>Swipe, Swipe.</em>


    Shezily wiped the drool at the corner of her mouth.


    Then—


    <em>Blink. Blink.</em>


    Herrge eyes fluttered as she stretched sluggishly.


    “…It is time for food.”


    For some reason, her voice sounded a little downcast.


    Lina smiled at her.


    “Today’s tomato sd, your favorite.”


    “Tomato!”


    Her face instantly brightened—


    Only for it to drop slightly again.


    She was probably thinking about Ian.


    Ian always used tomatoes as bait when training Elena.


    “…I can eat it deliciously…”


    She murmured softly, trying hard not to show that she was thinking about Ian.


    “Yeah.”


    Lina reached out and patted Elena’s head.


    Elena immediately hugged her tightly.


    After giving her a few reassuring pats on the back, Lina stood up.


    Now, it was time to wake up Danya.


    “Danya.”


    Her ears twitched slightly.


    But Lina knew all too well that it was just a reflexive reaction to hearing a sound—nothing more.


    Danya’s vacant gaze remained fixed on the wall,pletely unresponsive.


    The sight of her like this was painful to watch.


    Lina knew exactly what Danya must have been thinking.


    She reached up and touched the ck scarf wrapped around her neck.


    It no longer carried Ian’s scent, but just having it calmed her.


    It was the only thing he had given her.


    ‘…Yeah.’


    She gave herself a small nod before stepping closer to Danya.


    Then, she took her hand.


    There was still no reaction, but Lina knew how to bring Danya back from her thoughts.


    “We will find Ian. No matter what.”


    Ian.


    That name made Danya’s eyes blink.


    Her unfocused gaze gradually shifted,nding on Lina.


    “…Lina?”


    “Yeah. I’ve been waiting for you, Danya. Let’s eat. It’s dinnertime.”


    “…Ah.”


    Danya’s eyes drifted toward the entrance.


    The ground outside had darkened with the approaching night.


    “…Thanks, nyah. We need to eat to stay strong.”


    She gave a firm nod.


    But Lina caught the tiny tear welling up beneath her eyes and bit her lower lip slightly.


    Everyone was hurting.


    But no one showed it.


    At some point, it had be an unspoken rule.


    “Let’s eat outside. I’ve set everything up.”


    Lina led the two of them outside.


    A little fresh air and the warmth of the bonfire—


    Sometimes, that was all it took to help ease one’s heart.


    Resting was necessary, but lying in bed all day only made the sadness worse.


    She seated them side by side in front of the crackling fire.


    “Here. Take one each.”


    A fresh tomato and vegetable sd, sprinkled with fine cheese powder and drizzled with balsamic sauce.


    A perfectly cookedmb steak, not too heavy but just enough.


    <em>Crackle, Crackle.</em>


    The fire crackled softly in the background, making for an ideal evening meal.


    Elena, chewing on a tomato, suddenly mumbled.


    “…The sky has been unusually purpletely.”


    “Yeah. It’s been like this for days. Maybe it’s a regional thing?”


    “Oh! I’ve heard about this before! In snowy regions, the sky shimmers like curtains at night!”


    “Oh, you mean the aurora? It’s a little different, but still beautiful.”


    “Have you ever seen it, Sister Lina?”


    While Lina and Elena chatted, Danya chewed on her sd in silence, staring nkly at the sky.


    Then, she spoke cautiously.


    “…I’ve heard about this before, nyah… about a purple sky.”


    All eyes turned to her.


    “It’s just an old fairy tale passed down in my n, but…”


    “What kind of story?”


    “…In our world, there is a being known as the Demon God, nyah. A being that will one day bring the world to ruin. I heard… that before the Demon God descends, the sky turns purple for an entire month.”


    <em>Gulp.</em>


    Lina and Elena swallowed nervously.


    “…It’s just a fairy tale, but…”


    But her eyes held a determined glint.


    “…Let’s all stay strong, nyah.”