"Nor, it's morning."

  I was shaken awake by the shoulders, and when I opened my eyes, Misha's face was right in front of mine.

  "Good morning."

  "Good morning."

  This was the morning greeting we’d exchanged without fail ever since I arrived in this world.

  Somehow, just doing this made me feel like I was connecting with others and becoming a proper human being. It was all about mindset. It boosted my motivation.

  "Misha, you’re always up early in the morning, huh?"

  I blocked Misha’s attempts to help me change clothes while making small talk.

  "Waking you up is part of my job."

  "Huh."

  "Waking up early is just a matter of habit. The first few days are tough, but after that, it becomes routine."

  "So it’s like training, then?"

  "Hehe, I suppose you could say that."

  Just like magic and academics, I guess.

  The first step in anything is always hard and full of uncertainty.

  Speaking of training—

  "Misha, did you manage to bring the new books I asked for?"

  "Yes, they’re already on your desk."

  Following her gaze, I saw the books neatly pced on my study desk.

  There was no need to hide my studies anymore—now, I could leave them out in the open.

  Things had really changed, huh.

  ———About nine months had passed since then, and it had been roughly a year since I arrived in this world.

  Schneizel left shortly after that incident, and we returned to our usual routine in the annex.

  Though I was told I could live in the main building until my apprenticeship began, I’d rather stay in the familiar, comfortable annex than deal with strangers I’d have to tiptoe around.

  These past nine months had been spent focusing on magic, studies, and building my physical stamina—things I’d once had to do in secret.

  That said, all of that was coming to an end now.

  "What’s on the schedule for today?"

  "After breakfast in fifteen minutes, we’ll proceed with your studies. In the afternoon, General Schneizel will come to pick you up, so after lunch, we’ll prepare for departure."

  Today was the st day before my apprenticeship began.

  Well, technically, I might come back at some point, so it might not be the *st* st day.

  Still, I couldn’t help feeling a little sad.

  The first day I arrived in this world, when I knew nothing and had to figure things out blindly.

  The day I somehow managed to win Misha over as an ally.

  Sneaking around to study and practice magic had been fun, too.

  Now that I thought about it… I’d really had a fulfilling time here.

  "Haha."

  "What’s so funny?"

  Misha peered at my face, as if wondering if I’d remembered something amusing.

  "Nothing. I was just thinking about all the things we’ve done in this room."

  "Ah… Yeah, now that you mention it, a lot *has* happened."

  Misha murmured nostalgically, a healing spell glowing faintly in her hand.

  She’d been learning magic alongside me here.

  After the vampire incident, she’d thrown herself into it with even more determination, and now, when it came to healing magic, she’d surpassed me.

  *I want to be of use to you. I refuse to stay weak.*

  Misha, who would be accompanying me as my apprentice, would undoubtedly keep pushing herself from now on.

  I couldn’t be more grateful.

  "Alright!"

  Let’s give today our all, too!

  ?

  Morning studies, an impromptu workout since we finished early, lunch—and before I knew it, it was time for Schneizel to arrive.

  Misha and I left the annex and headed for the estate’s front gate.

  Even though the family’s son was about to leave for a distant pce, there were no farewells from anyone.

  At most, a few servants I’d gotten to know over the past nine months gave small nods.

  No send-off from the family.

  "Yo, long time no see, kid."

  A familiar man stepped down from the rge carriage waiting at the front gate.

  Tall and lean, but not skinny—his body was honed to its limits, muscles like steel covering his frame.

  His bck hair fluttered in the wind as he moved—this was the man who would ter become the world’s strongest, Schneizel.

  "It’s been a while, Schneizel. Or should I call you ‘Master’ now?"

  "Call me whatever ya want. So, this girl’s Misha, right?"

  "Yes. Thank you for your help back then. As Norwin-sama’s personal maid, I’ll be accompanying him, so I look forward to working with you."

  "Yeah, yeah, same here."

  "Alright, let’s get goin’. You done with your goodbyes?"

  "Yeah, I’m all set. Misha, you…?"

  "I said my farewells to my colleagues yesterday."

  "That’s what she said. We’re ready to leave whenever."

  "Sweet, then let’s roll!"

  Schneizel pumped himself up and moved to leap onto the carriage—but before he could take a single step, a voice called out from behind me.

  "How cruel. Leaving without even saying goodbye to your father."

  "F-Father?!"

  I turned around to see a handsome gentleman smiling faintly.

  Norwin’s biological father—Nichos.

  "Tch. Like you got any right to talk to this kid."

  "Ouch. You’re not wrong—we haven’t exactly made an effort to bridge the gap between us."

  True to his words, Nichos had barely interacted with me.

  Well, he *had* granted every request I made, no matter how unlikely, and even taught me some surprisingly effective training methods, so it wasn’t like he’d done *nothing*.

  But still. That wasn’t the point.

  I couldn’t understand this man’s thoughts, and that made him untrustworthy. Frankly, he scared me.

  Even actions that seemed beneficial to me could easily turn out to have been for Nichos’ own gain.

  Whether he noticed my wariness or not, Nichos continued speaking with the same smile.

  "We’re hardly the picture of a happy family, after all. But since my son is setting off on a journey, I thought I’d offer some advice."

  "Advice?"

  Coming from a man known for his cunning strategies, I couldn’t deny I was *very* interested.

  Behind me, Schneizel was making an exaggeratedly disgusted face and tapping his foot at world-record-breaking speeds—which was terrifying in its own way—but I kept my expression neutral and urged him to continue.

  "Right. It’s about how people like us operate. The fundamental way of thinking. Listen well, Norwin—"

  And so, he id out the tactics of the schemers.

  In a tone so gentle it could have been mistaken for a father speaking to his beloved son, Nichos shared his wisdom.

  "—The key is to ensure every action has multiple meanings. One action, one purpose—that’s no different from how ordinary people live. If you truly wish to soar above the rest, you must think in yers. Two, three—leave the ordinary and even the so-called geniuses in the dust. In the far eastern isnds, they call this ‘killing two birds with one stone.’"

  "…!?"

  "You alright?"

  "Ah—yeah."

  That *shocked* me.

  Hearing a Japanese phrase out of nowhere almost made me jump.

  Since *Alcue* was developed by a Japanese company, maybe there was an unspoken part of the worldbuilding where a Japan-like country existed.

  For now, I’d just accept that.

  "Shall I continue?"

  "Y-Yes, please."

  Nichos’ smile deepened, as if amused by my flustered reaction, before he went on.

  "What you need for this is knowledge. Read countless books. Accumute endless knowledge, turn it into dots—then connect those dots to paint a new horizon. Once you develop the ability to think like that, you’ll be a proper scheming fox."

  That st bit was probably his idea of a joke. Maybe he was trying to lighten the mood to make himself seem more approachable.

  I still couldn’t figure this man out, but at least I understood the importance of what he’d just told me.

  "That’s why—yes. You should absolutely keep up your habit of reading two books at once. It’ll serve you well."

  "You… knew about that?"

  "Of course. No matter what anyone says, I *am* your father."

  Nichos winked teasingly.

  Even though he was pushing middle age, the man was so handsome it didn’t feel out of pce.

  Honestly, despite how coldly he’d treated me, I couldn’t bring myself to hate him.

  "Thank you. What you just told me… it’s really helpful."

  "Gd to hear it. I’ll be rooting for your growth from here. Now then—safe travels."

  "Yeah. I’m off."

  I’d thought no one would see me off, but in the end, Nichos smiled and waved as—

  "Alright, *now* let’s go."

  "Right. Please take care of—ah, I can’t reach."

  "Nor, I’ll lift you up."

  "Pfft—you might act mature, but you’re still a kid in some ways, huh?"

  "H-Hey, cut me some sck!"

  —I left the mansion where I’d spent the past year.

  Finally—*finally*—I could truly begin moving forward to change the story.