"…Even if the work of revival doesn't fall to me, my actions will inspire others to join it?"
Finn repeated the words Loki had brought back. He sat for a long time without speaking.
His mind wandered back to the day, decades ago, when he first met Loki. His original resolve had been that pure. But as time passed, perhaps his ideals and convictions had… warped.
The goal hadn't changed—but the means had drifted.
"I see… so that's how it is…"
He murmured it softly. His obsession with revitalizing the Pallum had kept him from relaxing for decades. Yet now he saw the skew in his methods.
He had clung to the belief that, no matter the process, only the result mattered. The process might tarnish his image, but a victorious result would magnify the best of him. That glow, cast upon every Pallum, would make him a model—reforming their spirit into the unshakable conviction once held by the "Fiana Knights."
Now he understood: results-first thinking wasn't wholly right—just as no Pallum, anywhere, truly expected his success.
No one was watching for his "result." No matter how hard he worked, the Pallum across the world would not gather around him and kindle that unwavering will to rise.
At last, Finn saw the gap between himself and Fiana.
It wasn't only strength or talent. It was the aim itself.
Fiana never fought to "revive the Pallum." She fought to save the world's hopeless. Because of that—and what she and her knights did—she became the Pallum's glory.
It wasn't the result. From the very start, it was the process!
Finn finally realized his approach had been wrong from the beginning. His hopes were a one-sided wish. He had put far too much weight on the "result" as the key to the Pallum's revival.
He smiled, a weight lifting from his chest. Perhaps it was time to set things right.
"That's quite an appraisal. I really ought to thank him properly."
What mattered was never the result. What the Pallum needed wasn't a single outcome—it was a journey.
A process to rebuild confidence, courage, and hope.
Only when those take root within the Pallum will their day of resurgence come.
He'd always known: the Pallum could never rise on his power alone. He needed to show them the radiance they once had—the creed Fiana upheld, that unyielding spirit, the courage and hope she gave to all.
Not a cold "result."
"Right? Right? I told you the kid's great," Loki crowed, nose practically pointing at the ceiling, smug as if she'd read the world's script.
"That child's education is different—he seems very seasoned in matters like these," Gareth said.
Finn agreed—and then steered back to the "appliances" Loki mentioned.
"Loki, the 'appliance' you spoke of—he made it?"
"Of course. He imagined a monster with those functions. I just spent ages playing with it in his room—controlling that bird to fly really far, and the bird's view projected perfectly onto the 'appliance.'"
"Then his value is even greater than you suggested," Finn said. "Not just his ability, but his understanding—and the imagination to turn understanding into reality. With his help, delving the Dungeon will be far easier."
What Finn could confirm now was how all-purpose Sawada Tsunayoshi's power was—especially for Dungeon expeditions, where it would be priceless.
"If he can fully develop it and create a space for long-term storage, our long campaigns would benefit immensely."
"No more worrying about hauling supplies, or how to bring up drops and magic stones. That would ease our Familia's economic strain, too."
Transport constraints often dictated expedition planning—balancing resources versus provisions. Solve logistics, and the rest comes down to strength.
Finn's heart surged, though he kept his excitement in check.
"Agreed. That 'appliance' can also scout dangerous zones," Gareth added, stroking his beard. "It'll be a huge boon for unknown floors."
"But if we plan to take him into the Dungeon, we must train him first. The Deep Floors are far too dangerous for a kid like him."
"Mm."
Finn concurred.
"I never planned to push him to full output this early. He needs study—and seasoning. For now, he should absorb Dungeon knowledge, and explore and refine his power."
"Once he has a baseline of intel, we'll hone his combat fundamentals step by step. At minimum, he needs to reach Lv.2 and have solid survival tools before he joins expeditions."
"Now that's sensible," Gareth said with a nod. He wouldn't send a fresh novice into the Dungeon.
With Finn and Gareth aligned, both sets of eyes settled on Riveria.
They weren't suited to teaching beginners. That role fell to meticulous Riveria.
"We're counting on you, Riveria," they said—almost in unison.
These idiots… Riveria felt a vein throb. The weight had just gotten heavier again.
But looking at Finn and Gareth, she sighed.
"Understood. I'll be especially careful with that child's education."
(End of Chapter)
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