Defense specialization and dialogue.

Kanade had once resolved within herself to cease testing new skills today, yet curiosity proved stronger.

Stepping out of the library, she walks toward a less frequented path.

"Just have the [Breach Cannon]... [Arcane Archive]!"

As Kanade calls out, light gathers in the air, and five floating hexagonal bookshelves materialize.

They hover gently, passing through objects as if insubstantial.

Simultaneously, a blue panel appears before her, listing the skills currently available using her MP.

"Skills containing multiple spells like [Fire Magic] allow selection per spell, and those not listed must be the skill itself..."

Kanade selects [Breach Cannon] first. A thirty-minute timer appears within the panel, and the creation of the [Arcane Tome] begins.

Restore MP using an item, then convert [Fireball] into [Arcane Tome].

This also took thirty minutes.

The abilities temporarily vanished from Kanade.

"Thirty minutes for anything... must prepare in advance."

Kanade spent thirty minutes reading the book.

When thirty minutes passed, thread-like light gathered on the panel, forming two books.

They rose gently when Kanade touched them, then settled into the bookshelf.

"Ah... [Fireball]!"

As Kanade spoke, the crimson Arcane Tome flew from the shelf, opened, and discharged [Fireball].

Then, the [Arcane Tome] vanished.

"By paying the cost in advance, attack without cost during battle... possible. Now, whether the skill [Heavenly Archive (Akashic Record)] can be stored... storage capacity limited, perhaps?"

Kanade finished testing what she wished to test and logged out.

The next day, upon checking the field's [Magical Archive], she found a single book still inside. The ability [Heavenly Archive (Akashic Record)] could indeed be stored.

This confirmed Kanade could now store any MP-using skill.

"Phew... I'll save it bit by bit. Surely, one day, a great spell no one could predict..."

Kanade said this, and activated the [Heavenly Archive (Akashic Record)] once more that day.

"I’m such a lucky one... hehehe."

Thirty minutes later, a single black book was added to the shelf.

At that time, Maple had just begun exploring the third floor of the Town alone.

Crom and Kasumi were gathering [Watermelons], Yui, Mai, and Sally were in training.

Iz was crafting gear. Kanade was absent from the Guild.

There was nothing else to do but walk through Town alone.

"Let's go see that machine!"

Maple headed toward the NPC shop, where many players gathered to view the machines used for flight.

Some were vehicle-shaped, designed for multiple riders. Others were worn on the back, meant for a single person.

Yet they were quite expensive.

"Mmm... Expensive for a must-have item... A bit... no, really tough..."

Maple never actively sought money and was always short on coin.

She reached a single conclusion.

"Yeah, I'll pass. I have Shiroppu with me!"

That was true. Maple could fly without a machine.

It was not essential.

Still, curiosity stirred. She studied the device closely.

Then, Maple noticed something.

"These don't use screws at all. Feels like something from the near future!"

There were no screws anywhere, and the device felt remarkably light.

Maple’s lightness was significant.

After studying it for a moment, Maple turned and walked elsewhere.

While wandering without direction, Maple found an elderly NPC lying at the entrance of an alley.

"Um… are you all right?"

Maple tapped the老人 gently. The old man began to speak in a faint murmur.

"Can you share some water… food, if possible…"

Maple had no reason to refuse. She withdrew the requested items from her inventory as instructed.

The老人 took them and consumed them in moments, drinking all.

"Phew… thank you. Here, I’ll tell you one story in return."

"Wha—? Oh, yes."

Maple sat before the老人, who began to speak.

There stands a grand building at the heart of this Town. A machine god resides there. It creates flying machines—those machines are born of the machine god.

A machine god… I see. Humming.

The machines it produces—no one can understand how they are made. Men have smashed them open to examine, but inside… nothing. Not a single screw, gear, or spring.

Eh!? What… what kind of thing is that…?

Well, this is common knowledge here. From here on.

Maple leans forward, listening intently.

In truth, that machine god is the second one.

The second one…?

Aye. In days past, ordinary machines were common in this Town. The first one gave us dreams and hope—before we even knew what machines were.

As the old man said, machines given to a place without the concept of machinery must have been nothing but bundles of dreams, hopes, and miracles.

And then... one day, when I was away from the town. A pale blue light

It burst apart!

"So, that's it!?"

Maple urges her to hurry and continue.

I returned in haste. I thought something had happened. Then... the town was filled with new machines. All from the people, the memory of the first generation had vanished. And the old machines from before were gone entirely.

Was it because of that light that memories returned? That’s why the old man who stayed away is unharmed…?

This concludes the matter. Only the two of us know of the First Generation.

Thank you for the most valuable conversation!

Maple offers her thanks. The old man walks slowly into the depths of the tangled alleyway. He vanishes from sight.

Was the Second one hateful of the First?... Not a quest, perhaps. Something to be used someday?

Maple kept the old man’s words at the edge of her mind and resumed walking through the Town.