The terminal sitting before Stella cast a glow over her indigo hair.
The faces of her subordinates, stationed in various regions, flickered across the screen.
"Supplies for the Southern Orphanage are being gathered on schedule. We'll have a surplus even after accounting for the winter stores."
"The northern region is a different story; they're facing a bit of a shortage. It would be a huge help if we could redirect the southern surplus up north."
Listening to each report, Stella offered a polite nod and acknowledged every speaker.
"Understood. Redirect a portion of the southern supplies to the north. Also, a severe cold front is predicted for this winter. Just to be safe, let’s establish maritime transport routes in addition to our land routes. Can you look into that?"
"Understood. I'll contact the shipping firms immediately."
"Thank you. I’m counting on you."
Her voice was calm and gentle, yet her instructions were unerringly precise. It was clear to everyone present that the meeting revolved entirely around her.
To the public, Stella was known as the Saint.
She led an organization dedicated to supporting underprivileged children without asking for anything in return—a role that more than justified her title in the eyes of the world.
However, that moniker wasn't born solely from genuine admiration. There was a cynical side to it; those looking to polish her public image to attract more donations had helped manufacture the persona.
Stella was well aware of the politics behind it. Even so, she chose to accept the title in silence, believing that if it helped save even one more child, it was worth the cost.
"Well then, let’s wrap up today's regular meeting. I'll be in the lab for a while, so reach out if anything urgent comes up."
Stella gave a light bow to the screen, and her subordinates followed suit before their connections winked out one by one.
As silence returned to the room, Stella let out a long breath and rolled her shoulders.
"Phew..."
She straightened her back, working out the lingering tension, and gave a deep stretch.
"Alright... time to go."
Giving herself a quiet word of encouragement, she grabbed her coat. Her stride was light; she was already mentally prepared for her next task.
Stella straightened her hem and stepped out of the building.
A biting wind brushed against her cheeks. Looking up, she saw a forest of skyscrapers with glass facades reflecting the pale light, while an endless stream of cars flowed through the streets below. Pedestrians paced the sidewalks with handheld terminals in their grips, stopping and starting in waves as the traffic signals shifted.
In this bustling urban landscape, there wasn't a single element that hinted at a world of swords and magic.
Stella was heading toward the university gates, her mind on the cityscape, when a voice suddenly called out to her.
"My, Stella. It has been quite a while."
She turned to find a woman in the prime of her life, dressed in a sharp, professional suit.
"...Ms. Victoria. It has been some time."
Victoria was the leader of another global organization that supported underprivileged children. Stella had once been a member of that group, drawn in by its noble philosophy and believing in its ideals.
—Until she saw the truth. Once inside, she found nothing but a pack of opportunists who cared only for the flow of money. Disillusioned, she had left to start her own organization.
"Thanks to your remarkable activities, donations to my organization have increased as well. You have my thanks, 'Saint.'"
"I’m glad to hear I could give back to my old home," Stella replied with a practiced smile, though she was cursing inwardly.
(A money-grubber like you certainly has some nerve...)
Victoria opened her mouth to say something more, a certain muddiness flickering deep within her eyes. Given their history, Stella knew whatever was coming wouldn't be pleasant.
"I apologize, but I’m in a rush today. Please excuse me."
Cutting the conversation short with a perfunctory bow, Stella hurried away.
Still feeling the unpleasant aftertaste of the encounter, Stella climbed the stairs of the research building and swung open the lab door.
By the window stood a man with black hair streaked with red. He was her childhood friend—the man who would be remembered in later ages as the Fairy Tale Hero and the King of Special Ability Users: August.
He was currently hunched over, leaning his head out the window to stare at the sky.
"Man... I wish money would just fall from the sky..."
Stella let out a weary sigh at his mutterings.
(There’s another one here. A money-grubber...)
However, she knew his words were just aimless venting. Despite herself, a small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she walked over to him.
"And if money actually did fall from the sky... I wonder what would happen then?"
"Hm?"
"Your lab would be swamped by a mob within seconds. You wouldn't even be able to move."
"Ugh... Spare me that..."
August let out a pathetic groan, his face looking utterly haggard.
"You’re really feeling the pressure, aren't you? The inspection by the dignitaries is next week. Are you going to be okay?"
"Hahaha... Do you honestly think I look okay?"
Stella gave a wry smile at his dry laugh.
"Aaargh! How did it even come to this!?" August shouted, messily scratching his head. "By now, I was supposed to be hailed as a Savior by the whole world, showered with applause! I should’ve been a legend in the history books!"
"You certainly had an optimistic roadmap," Stella remarked coldly.
August was left speechless. While his words were an exaggeration, they weren't entirely baseless.
For a long time, the world had been sounding alarms about a crisis that had recently become an undeniable social reality: the energy problem caused by the depletion of natural resources.
August was one of the researchers tasked with finding a solution. Five years ago, as the world searched for alternative energy, a massive meteorite had struck a certain region, causing devastating damage.
Stella had immediately led her team to the site for relief efforts. August, who had tagged along to help with manual labor, discovered a fragment of the meteorite. Investigating it between shifts, he realized that an unknown substance within the rock had the potential to serve as a new energy source.
After years of intensive study, August established a method to harness this unknown substance as fuel. He named it "Mana" and published his findings. The world, facing a bleak future, erupted with hope.
But the problem wasn't so easily solved. Even if they used every fragment of the meteorite that had fallen, it wouldn't be nearly enough to meet the world’s energy demands.
Thus, the state issued a new mandate: Find a way to increase the amount of Mana.
Since then, August had been buried in research day and night, carrying the weight of humanity's future on his shoulders.
Suddenly, August's brow twitched. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his terminal. A notification for an incoming call was flashing on the screen.
"...It’s Iris," he muttered.
He tapped the screen, and the face of a silver-haired woman appeared.
"Yahoo! August!"
"...What do you want?"
"Whoa, wait. Are you in a bad mood?"
"I’m just exhausted from being stuck in this lab every day."
"Heh. Working hard as always, I see!" Iris laughed, completely unfazed. "Anyway, time for a quiz! Where do you think I am right now?"
"I don't know."
"Wow, how cold! The correct answer is... the Country of Sand!"
"...The Country of Sand?"
"Yep! Look at this!"
She spun the terminal around, showing a vast, golden desert and the bustling noise of an exotic marketplace behind her.
"Pretty great, right? A person like me, who has her eyes on the 'future,' has to travel the world to broaden her horizons."
"...You just like being a tourist."
"That’s harsh. I mean, you’re not wrong, but this is all for the sake of the future! Looking back at the past doesn't change anything, right? I only look forward!" Iris declared with a beaming smile.
"Then maybe you could look forward at the problems the world is actually facing..."
"Eh? But August, you’re going to take care of all that, right?"
"What!? Why was that your immediate answer!?"
"Because that’s what a Savior does! It’s because I believe in you that I can go around seeing the world. I’m sure there are hints for carving out a path to the future scattered all over the place!"
"...Your true desire to just go sightseeing is leaking out."
"Ehh? And I thought that was such a good excuse."
Iris laughed cheerfully, showing no sign of remorse.
"............"
"Anyway, report over! See ya!"
The call ended abruptly, and silence reclaimed the lab. It felt as though a storm had passed through in an instant, leaving only a sense of fatigue in its wake.
"...Man, dealing with that free spirit is exhausting..."
August slumped over his desk, his strength completely spent. Stella watched him with a wry smile.
"Iris hasn't changed a bit."
"Isn't she way too much of an optimist, though?"
"Well, that’s her best quality. For workaholics like us, she’s a breath of fresh air."
"Treating people like air fresheners? Our 'Saint' is surprisingly dark on the inside."
"Stop calling me that. 'Saint' is just a nickname the money-grubbers gave me so they could use me as a poster girl."
"Regardless of how it started, I think you're plenty admirable, Stella. You're actually out there working yourself to the bone for those kids."
Stella shrugged and let out a soft sigh.
"If you're going to say that, then the man who’s trying to save all of society, not just children, is much more—actually, now isn't the time for this. Let's just do what we can before the inspection next week. I'll help."
As Stella walked off to get started, August watched her go and let out one more long sigh.