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Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: Small Goals and Long-Term Goals

"This skill really is absurd."

Loki recalled the scene of Sawada Tsunayoshi falling from the sky moments ago—coming straight from another world to stand before her.

Thinking that such a feat was one of the abilities of a monster created by that skill, even a god like Loki felt her worldview tilt on its axis.

"He really is hiding a lot of secrets. And the weight of those secrets is far greater than I imagined."

"His power wasn't gained through the Blessing either—it existed before the Blessing. The Blessing didn't grant him clear new strength; it merely turned what he already had into data."

For ordinary people, a Blessing is enormous help; for those with talent, it's a way to manifest potential early. But for a genius who has already manifested that potential, it's basically just datafication.

The first two cases are common enough. The third—until now, Loki had only ever seen it in Sawada Tsunayoshi.

On top of that, he carried unknown mysteries and the identity of a traveler from another world. Loki's interest in him was anything but ordinary.

She patted Tsunayoshi's bare back lightly.

"All done. You can put your clothes back on."

"Okay."

Tsunayoshi quickly slipped his shirt on. He had no idea what exactly Loki had done. He'd only noticed a strong glow behind him; beyond that, he hadn't felt much of anything.

No change in the body, no ripple in the heart. For a "contract," this was strange. He had expected it to impose some sort of restriction. The lack of it was… unexpected.

A hand suddenly clapped his back.

"Still thinking about what the contract restricts?"

"…Yeah. I originally thought there would be limitations. But I can't feel anything like that at all."

"Of course you can't. How would you be able to 'feel' it?"

"Eh?"

Tsunayoshi blinked.

"Loki-sama, didn't you say it was a contract? Aren't contracts supposed to impose restrictions?"

"If I call it a contract, you just believe me that easily?"

"Yes."

Loki hadn't expected him to accept her words so straightforwardly. She teased him with a hint of exasperation—only for Tsunayoshi to answer with disarming honesty.

That reaction made her pause for a beat.

This kid really has no guile, Loki thought with a soft sigh.

"Let me explain the 'contract' properly."

"What we've established is indeed a contract, but it's the Blessing we gods give the people below—a gift to guide and draw out the latent abilities of ordinary mortals. Those who receive it step out from the crowd of the 'ordinary' and become part of a Familia."

"So this so-called Blessing is basically a guiding force?"

"Exactly."

Loki was pleased he grasped it quickly.

"The Blessing is a tool to help people in the lower world grow rapidly—to give a special 'plug-in' to talented ones who can't awaken on their own, and to give ordinary people a chance to turn their latent ability into visible data."

"As long as you work hard, you can grow—and seeing your growth encourages you to work even harder. That's what a Blessing is."

Turning one's abilities into data… that was indeed impressive. Tsunayoshi could understand why this was a chance granted to ordinary people.

Compared to prodigies, ordinary folk can't match innate gifts. But the existence of the Blessing lets them fight on closer footing. That truly is remarkable.

Tsunayoshi had never believed the world was fair or that everyone was equal.

Obviously, the world and people are unequal.

Talent, birth, and status—these are inequalities you're born with. That's the "meaning" of being born into different lives.

But something like the Blessing narrows those gaps. That alone proved how powerful a tool it was.

Still… why does the word "Blessing" sound so familiar? Tsunayoshi felt he'd heard something similar somewhere—not here, but in another context. Yet he couldn't quite place it.

I'll think about it later, he decided, giving a tiny shake of his head to press the odd feeling down.

"We'll talk about the rest after we head out. Mm, I'm going to meet with Finn and the others in a bit—come along."

"I'm coming too?"

"Of course. You're the person involved—how else am I supposed to explain things? Also, you're our Familia's future key. And that resource tilt you asked for? You'll need to show them what you can do."

Tsunayoshi nodded. That made sense to him as well.

"Alright, don't turn around. I'm going to change."

Listening to the footsteps recede, Tsunayoshi could tell Loki had gone to change clothes. His stiff shoulders finally eased.

Finally gone. He'd been awkward the whole time—falling from the sky, accidentally seeing her body, then talking for so long right after.

'At least I can confirm this much—Loki isn't an ordinary girl.'

'That Blessing isn't some common thing either, and it's not something just anyone can grant. It must come from Loki's own identity and standing.'

'And she said I'm the Familia's "future key"… Yeah, no matter the world, you have to demonstrate value to earn matching resources.'

'Not surprising in the least.'

'Intel on this otherworld is still thin. For now, this is all I can be sure of. When I join Loki for the meeting, I'll need to pay closer attention and gather more.'

Even in the present mess, Tsunayoshi swiftly sorted the threads he needed to watch.

For him, going back wasn't the immediate priority.

He didn't believe he could find the road home quickly. The time frame wouldn't be short—that was a long-term goal.

Within that long-term goal, the key was how to achieve his small, near-term goals.

Master this world's information. Understand his situation. Use the resources Loki provided to grow quickly. Those were the small goals that formed the inevitable road toward finding his way home.

'The most urgent task now is to understand Loki's Familia—its people and its structure.'

(End of Chapter)

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