Rosewater

"The story begins with the savior of mankind being kept isolated from people who possess advanced technology. Eventually, a group of adventurers rescues Him and the island on which He was held captive falls. However, a tsundere dove helps make the island fly again. This experience causes the characters to question their previous beliefs as they realize that some myths may have more truth to them than they initially thought, holy symbols may not always hold the same significance, and there may be hidden secrets within seemingly ordinary things," the old man said.

"Sure, Grandpa. Let's get you to bed," the child said.

"No, it's real!" the old man insisted.

"Orochi! Did you tell the child your crazy story again?" the older man asked.

"No, papa. It's not crazy, and you know it's the truth," the old man replied.

"Orochi, we discussed this before. I want my grandchildren to be normal children, not some Grand Mystic Maestro," the older man said firmly.

"But..." the old man protested.

"No buts. Now just go to bed," the older man said, ending the conversation.

---

Shadowweave 1st, Caelumoria, Mechanist's Spire, 9:00 AM.

---

I, Mika, am a prodigy in the field of inventing, and I know it.

I'm not arrogant, I'm just confident in my abilities.

I've always been a step ahead of my peers, constantly pushing the boundaries of what's possible with my innovative designs.

So when I see the Annual Shadowweave Invention Contest, I knew that victory was already within my grasp.

The other inventors may have been skilled, but none of them could match my level of talent and expertise.

We only had six hours to invent something new.

As I worked on my creation in the given room, I couldn't help but feel a sense of superiority over my competitors.

They were amateurs compared to me, still struggling with the basics while I had already mastered them long ago.

When the time was up, I strode confidently into the venue, ready to showcase my invention to the judges. I watched as the other inventors presented their creations, but none of them impressed me.

They were all lacking in some way, with flawed designs and amateurish execution.

But when it was my turn to present, I knew that I was about to blow the judges' minds.

I explained my invention with calm and measured confidence, knowing that every word I spoke was pure gold.

And when I demonstrated how it worked, the judges' eyes widened in amazement.

I knew that I had won before the judges even declared it.

It was just a matter of time before they realized what I already knew - that I was the best of the best.

I cleared my throat and began my presentation to the judges. "Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to present my latest invention, which I call the 'Automatic Clockwork Assistant.' It's a device that can help with a variety of tasks, from serving tea to completing complex calculations."

One of the judges raised an eyebrow. "And how does it work?"

I grinned, feeling confident in my answer. "Ah, that's the beauty of it. The Automatic Clockwork Assistant is powered by a series of gears and springs, all controlled by a central mechanism that I designed myself. By adjusting the tension on the springs, the device can be programmed to perform a wide variety of tasks with remarkable accuracy and speed."

Another judge leaned forward in interest. "Could you demonstrate?"

I nodded and turned to the assistant standing nearby. "Fetch me a cup of tea, please."

The assistant immediately sprang into action, darting across the room to retrieve a cup and saucer before returning to my side with the drink.

I took a sip of the tea before turning back to the judges. "And that's just the beginning. The Automatic Clockwork Assistant can be customized to perform almost any task, from basic chores to complex calculations. With a device like this, the possibilities are endless."

The judges murmured among themselves, clearly impressed. "Incredible," one of them muttered.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as I watched the judges examine my invention.

They might have been experts in their field, but they had never seen anything like this before.

I was already certain that I would win the contest - after all, no one could match my level of skill and innovation.

As I accepted the trophy, I looked out at the other inventors with a sense of smug satisfaction.

They may have tried, but they could never match my level of skill and ingenuity.

I was the undisputed champion, and they would always be playing catch-up.

[+500 Exp]

---

Shadowweave 1st, Caelumoria, CaCa Hostel, 3:20 PM.

---

"I'm back," I announced triumphantly, holding up my newly-won trophy and my backpack filled with glittering gold coins.

"Welcome back," Airi greeted me without looking up from the book she was engrossed in.

"Oh, you're reading books again? How rare," I teased her lightly.

"Just shut up, I'm trying to understand why a demon like me is blessed by the Christian God," she retorted, her eyes still fixed on the pages.

"You won't find anything there. Even if you read the Bible a million times, there will be no record of it," I told her, rolling my eyes.

"I hate the blessing. You made me touch it. Like the ability to heal people by making them eat the bread that I prayed for? It's so ridiculous," she grumbled, still not looking up.

"Well, at least yours is better. Turning water into wine is the worst blessing. Luckily, Orion got the good one. He's basically immune to every poison now," I said with a smirk.

"Hwaaah..." Airi let out a deep sigh.

"What's wrong?" I asked, noticing Airi's expression.

"Nothing," she said, shaking her head. "It's just that sometimes I wonder if it's really worth it. Being blessed, I mean."

I frowned. "What are you talking about? Of course, it's worth it! You have powers that no one else has. You can do things that others can't even imagine."

"But at what cost?" Airi asked, looking up at me with a pained expression. "I'm a demon, Mika. A creature of darkness. And yet, here I am, blessed by the Christian God. It doesn't make any sense."

I placed a hand on her shoulder. "Remember when you healed that little girl's broken arm?"

Airi nodded. "Yes, but..."

"And when you saved the old man from that deadly poison?"

"Yes, I remember," Airi said, looking down at her hands. "But sometimes I feel like there's more to it than just having these powers. Like there's a purpose to all of this, but I don't know what it is."

I couldn't help but smile at her. "I never thought I'd see the day when a demon questions the purpose of their existence."

"Shut up, idiot," Airi replied, punching me playfully on the arm.

"Let's check the northern border now. We want to finish the quest as soon as Eiko comes back, right?" I said.

"Whatever," she replied.

---

Shadowweave 1st, Caelumoria, Northern Border, 6:00 PM.

---

It had been five days since the momentous event.

Despite uncovering the secret of the floating island, our quest remained unfinished.

We had yet to identify the mastermind behind the enslavement of countless people, which was rampant throughout the entire region, but especially concentrated in the northern areas.

As we made our way towards the northern border, the air grew colder and the terrain more treacherous. Although our goal was to eradicate all forms of slavery, the vast expanse of the affected areas seemed insurmountable.

Suddenly, a loud noise emanated from the direction of the border, causing us to stop in our tracks.

We could hear the sound of people shouting and chanting in unison, and our curiosity was piqued.

As we cautiously approached the source of the commotion, we saw a large group of people gathered together, holding signs and banners to protest against the heinous acts of the mysterious organization responsible for so much suffering and devastation.

We joined the protesters and learned that they were being led by a charismatic and determined young woman named Maya.

Her unwavering conviction and passion for justice inspired us all. "We have new information about the leader," she declared boldly, "and together, we can finally put an end to this abominable practice of slavery once and for all."

"I heard you have information on the leader of the organization, Maya," I said in a low, steady voice. "Is that correct?"

"Yes, we do. His code name is X, and we've been gathering intel on his operations for years. With your help, we can finally put an end to his reign of terror," Maya eagerly replied.

"We'll need a plan," I said. "Do you have a strategy?"

"We do. We've studied their movements and weaknesses, and we have a few ideas on how to take them down," Maya responded.

"What about the protesters?" I asked, gesturing to the crowd surrounding us. "Are they prepared to fight for their freedom?"

Maya paused for a moment, regarding me with a hint of suspicion. "You're quite bold here for someone who suddenly showed up," she remarked.

The protesters erupted in cheers, but I sensed that many were unprepared for battle.

"We'll need to train them. They're not ready to face X's forces," I said, meeting Maya's gaze.

"You're right," Maya agreed. "We'll start training them immediately."

The protesters murmured among themselves, fear evident in their eyes.

"Don't worry," Airi interjected. "We'll ensure you're all trained and prepared for anything that comes your way."

"Isn't she the demon who heals sick people?" One of the protestors asked.

"Isn't she the one with pink and cyan hair? The Rosewater?" Another added.

"You mean the one who can heal any sickness with just a slice of bread?" Another chimed in.

The protestors murmured again as soon as Airi spoke.

"Did I say something wrong?" Airi asked, puzzled.

"Don't worry. Let's get to work, for Caelumoria!" Maya shouted, her right arm raised in determination.

The crowd cheered for her, and the training began.