The flames licked the edges of the letter, letting out a low hiss.
The "telepathic dialogue" continued.
Allen leaned back in his chair with ease, chin resting in his palm, eyes narrowed in satisfaction as he watched the letter burn.
So my childhood-phase score is maxed out. Does that mean I can advance to the tutoring phase now, task-wise? Or do I have to wait until next summer, when Rudeus heads to Roa, for it to officially start according to the original story?
[According to the original plotline, yes, next summer. But you've now cleared the childhood phase with full marks. You're absolutely allowed to enter the tutoring phase early, of your own accord.]
[As always, this is your transmigration journey.]
Advance by my own choice, huh? What's the trigger? And will the score reset?
[Same as when you entered the Sylphy affection route—by interacting with major characters from the next arc. Once you do, the phase officially begins.]
[And yes, your score will reset. Good luck, Host. Do your best again this time—to reach the passing mark of 60 points.]
Is there another perfect score reward this time?
[Of course.]
What is it?
[Just like before, you'll need to earn at least 60 points before you're even qualified to ask that question. Since you've fully experienced the childhood phase by now, you should understand what truly fuels score progression at its core.]
Allen stared at the system panel and murmured quietly:
That first step toward a perfect score... was when I made up my mind to save Zenith and Paul.
Every ripple of the butterfly's wings is a mark of my existence.
The more violent the ripple, the deeper I'm etched into everyone's hearts.
The more violent the ripple...
The more it proves I'm alive.
The butterfly effect shouldn't be avoided just because of something like "Future Sight." My own emotions shouldn't be repressed by some cowardly instinct for self-preservation, either.
Do what I want. See the people I want to see. Live freely—like a person.
That's what Allen's "Jobless Reincarnation" should be.
[Heh. How long have you been bottling that up? You've known everything all along—but still dragged your feet.]
The flames were inching dangerously close to Allen's fingers. Instinctively, he flicked the burning paper, sending the scorched fragment fluttering downward.
But the fire did not go out.
In his gray irises, the flame kept tumbling down—unstoppable. Allen ignored the system's teasing. Instead, he whispered to himself, slowly and clearly:
Follow the heart, unify thought and action.
In his gaze, the falling fire seemed to cleave something open in the air—splitting cleanly in two.
Then it fell onto the desk.
Allen looked at the flickering flame on the tabletop and smiled faintly.
The fire reflected on his face.
I saw myself severing—not just with my eyes, but in my mindset. Sword God Style really is all about that moment of insight.
[Oh?]
...In the moment I burned the letter, my heart told me—
[Longsword of Silence.]
I've reached the peak.
[Hmm. Pretty cool line.]
Not bad, thanks for the compliment.
[Your desk's on fire.]
Mm, than—wait, WHAT?!
Allen's eyes flew open. Flames had begun to rise from the tabletop. He shot up from his seat.
Behind him, the chair crashed to the floor with a loud thump.
The once-cool and composed Allen was now in full-blown panic, flailing both hands and slapping at the flames like mad.
Yeah.
This must be what "reaching the peak" looks like.
A voice called out from the next room—Zenith's, concerned.
"Allen? What's going on in there?"
"Nothing! Nothing at all!!!"
Nothing my ass!!!
Allen stared blankly at the two charred divots left in the desk, mouth opening and closing like a goldfish.
This kind of idiocy wasn't because he was dumb. At this point, he hadn't slept in nearly forty hours. Under Water God Style perception, his brain was screaming at him:
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, TAKE A BREAK!
But Allen had just spit in the face of Future Sight, letter blazing in the fire, emotions running high. How could he be sleepy now?
His brain, though, clearly wasn't firing on all cylinders anymore.
[Understandable fail. Just don't write yourself any more drama.]
Allen could only stare in silence at the two scorched pits on his desk.
I'll apologize properly tomorrow.
Zenith and the others will probably forgive me.
But I'll still need an excuse.
At least… the flames didn't reach the Roxy figurine.
At that thought, he turned toward it—and couldn't look away.
The little "Roxy" on his desk stood proudly, staff raised, expression cool and resolute mid-cast.
Yeah, she looked badass.
But something was missing.
No matter how long he stared, her face didn't feel like Roxy.
It was too serious.
In Allen's memory, the real Roxy wasn't like this.
Rudeus had gone all-in with his craftsman spirit. Sure, the detail was perfect—it looked like something you'd sell commercially. But a Roxy with a flustered expression, or a bashful blush, would've suited him better.
Something like the wooden carving he'd made himself.
Allen blinked and stared at the figure.
Follow the heart, unify thought and action." That has to mean I'm on the right path, right
[Yes. Why?]
Allen looked down at Roxy's tiny face and smiled.
System.
Activate location tracking. Target…
Roxy.
Maybe it was just his imagination—but for a second, the system panel seemed to hesitate. As if completely caught off guard by Allen's sudden request.
A moment later, the system's smoke and light flickered through the air, moving fast—almost giddy.
Like it was celebrating something.
Lines of smoke swirled, forming a massive world map floating before his eyes.
It was the world map from the novel.
Allen's pupils scanned it, and almost instantly, he found her. Southeast of the Central Continent—in the Kingdom of Shirone—a dark speck of smoke pulsed in the center of the nation like a heartbeat, rippling outward in concentric waves.
He focused his gaze.
The map zoomed in. More and more detail came into view—until he could even make out the palace roofs and courtyards.
So this was what "within 100 meters" precision looked like?
Allen rested his chin in his hand and stared at that pulsing speck in Shirone's capital, smiling wryly.
He still couldn't see Roxy—but at least he could see where she was. That alone was some small comfort.
And besides, he didn't need the tracker right now. The cooldown was a week, and a week it would be.
Shame, though. Even if he believed in unifying knowledge and action—he couldn't just charge off to find Roxy.
The Jobless Incident storyline was still in progress. He didn't even have 60 points yet. He could still be erased.
Unifying thought and action meant living free—not dying stupid.
Still. Damn these systems and their trigger-happy erase functions.
Back when he read these kinds of novels, he used to laugh at their dumb rules and brain-dead logic.
But now that it was him in the story…
Not so funny anymore.
This must be transmigration.
Allen's thoughts spiraled—but suddenly, something on the map caught his eye.
Lines of text were surfacing and sinking beneath the smoke under the map.
[Activate "Gaze"? Duration: 10 seconds.]
Allen stared, throat suddenly dry.
System...
[Yes?]
What does [Gaze] mean?
[Location Tracking: Manifested as a system panel version of the Clairvoyance Demon Eye.]
[So this "Gaze"… what do you think it means, Allen?]
[Allen.]