Selena's voice echoed in both of their minds.
"If we don't do something… we might lose the ability to travel to other worlds altogether."
Both Akira and Erika froze.
Erika was the first to react.
"Wait… what are you talking about? What Fate Array? Why would we lose the ability to travel between worlds? What's going on?"
Selena and Akira both paused.
Only then did they realize something.
They had never actually explained this to her.
Akira opened his mouth to speak, but when he looked at Erika he suddenly remembered the awkward situation from a moment ago.
His face turned slightly red.
"…Sister, you explain it."
Erika gave him a strange look, as if asking What happened to you? But just as she was about to question him, the memory of what happened earlier also resurfaced in her mind.
She also quietly went silent.
Selena sighed.
"Well… how should I explain this simply…"
She paused for a moment.
"Let's start with Fate Energy."
"It's a unique causality energy. Basically, it powers almost all ancient Asterian technology."
She continued calmly.
"From the Nexus Castle's lighting system to the ability to travel between worlds… even the rewards from your quests and the currency in the store."
"All of them are connected to Fate Energy."
Erika frowned.
"I don't get it. What does that even mean?"
Selena sighed again.
"I'm trying my best to dumb it down, alright."
After a short pause, she continued.
"Do you remember what I told you about people with strong fate?"
Erika thought for a moment.
"…You said they are people who stand out. People who can influence a lot of others."
She tilted her head slightly.
"Basically main characters, right?"
Selena nodded.
"More or less."
"When those kinds of people make decisions or perform actions that change the course of events… they generate a special kind of energy."
"That energy is called Fate Energy."
Erika immediately raised another question.
"Can normal people generate it too?"
"They can," Selena replied, "but the amount is extremely small."
She elaborated further.
"Normal people rarely influence the world on a large scale. So the energy they produce is limited."
Erika crossed her arms.
"So what kind of actions create it?"
Selena paused.
"…How should I say it… Anything that significantly alters fate."
She thought for a moment.
"You know what, explaining the theory will take too long."
"Let's put it simply."
"When people with strong fate gather and act, they produce large amounts of Fate Energy."
"And we need that energy."
Erika still looked uncertain.
"…I think I understand? Maybe?"
Selena continued explaining patiently.
"For example, when you and my brother went to the Demon Slayer world and saved everyone, you completely changed the fate of that world."
"That single event generated an enormous amount of Fate Energy."
Selena continued.
"I designed the system so that energy gets converted into mission rewards."
"Some of it is also turned into Star Credits, which you use in the store."
Erika blinked again.
"So all of those rewards actually come from that energy?"
Selena nodded.
"Exactly."
Erika asked another question.
"…Do all those 'main characters' generate that much?"
"Not usually that much," Selena replied.
"But they still produce more than normal people and more steadily."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"However, to gather a steady supply, our ancestors created something called the Fate Gathering Array."
A brief silence followed.
"And they placed it directly under your school."
Erika asked in shock.
"Wait… your ancestors put something under our school?"
Selena answered calmly.
"Well, technically the array was placed there first… and the school was built above it later."
Erika shook her head.
"That's not what I meant. Is it dangerous?"
Selena immediately reassured her.
"Don't worry. It's nothing dangerous."
Erika still looked suspicious.
"But you said it's an energy gathering array, right? It won't suddenly explode or anything like that?"
Selena sighed softly.
"Relax. I promise it won't do anything like that."
"Fate Energy isn't that kind of energy. And the array itself is actually very harmless."
Erika finally relaxed a little and let out a small sigh.
"Alright… then what exactly does it do?"
Selena continued explaining.
"Basically, it attracts people with strong fate to the school."
"Mostly students. Sometimes teachers."
"When those people act and generate Fate Energy, the array gathers it underground and transfers it here… to this mansion and to Nexus Castle."
Erika thought about it for a moment.
"So… do all people with strong fate gather here?"
Selena shook her head slightly.
"Not exactly."
"The array only gives them a subtle suggestion to attend this school. If they want to go somewhere else, they still can."
"And people with supernatural powers aren't affected by it at all."
Erika tilted her head.
"Why?"
Selena answered dryly.
"Because we don't want them burning the school down."
She paused before adding,
"More accurately… supernatural creatures are much harder to control."
"Normal humans with strong fate generate enough Fate Energy anyway."
Akira, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke.
"It's like zebras."
Erika slowly turned toward him.
"…What?"
Akira explained matter-of-factly.
"Humans never domesticated zebras, even though they're stronger than horses. Because zebras are too aggressive and difficult to control."
"Horses are easier to manage and still effective."
"So why bother with zebras?"
Erika stared at him.
Suddenly Selena's voice exploded inside their minds.
"You there! Go back to being silent! The adults are talking!"
Akira opened his mouth to argue, but when he noticed Erika staring at him, he quietly returned to sulking in the corner.
Selena sighed.
"Anyway… that's what the Fate Gathering Array does."
Erika crossed her arms again.
"So why was it damaged? What happened to it?"
Selena sighed once more.
"Do you remember how those rogue mages attacked the school last night?"
Erika nodded quickly.
"Did they damage it? Is that why they attacked us?"
Selena explained.
"Nope. They didn't even know it existed."
She paused for a moment.
"The one who damaged the array… was my brother."
Erika blinked.
"Akira?"
She turned toward him. He was still sulking quietly in the corner.
"What do you mean?"
Selena answered simply.
"Remember that particle beam he fired at the mages who tried to escape?"
"One of those attacks struck the ground and damaged the array."
Erika suddenly remembered the moment when the school barrier glitched as the particle beam hit it.
Understanding dawned on her.
"…So that's what happened."
Akira muttered quietly, "It was an accident…"
Selena ignored him and continued.
"Anyway, his attack damaged the attraction function of the Fate Gathering Array."
"Because of that, people with strong fate will no longer be drawn to our school."
She paused briefly before finishing the thought.
"And without them… the production of Fate Energy will slowly decrease."
A moment of silence passed.
"If that happens, the castle and all of its systems will eventually shut down."
Akira, who had finally recovered from his embarrassment, frowned.
"Our family has been collecting this energy for generations, right?"
"So even if the generation stops… we should still have a lot stored."
Selena sighed.
"Do you think this castle has been idle all these years?"
"Most of that energy is constantly used just to maintain this dimension."
She continued, her tone becoming slightly more serious.
"And do you know how much energy it takes to send you to another world?"
"First I have to locate a specific world…"
"Then anchor that world so you can enter it safely…"
"And at the same time stop time in this world so you can return without anything changing."
She sighed again.
"That process alone consumes an enormous amount of Fate Energy."
Akira frowned deeper.
"So how long will the reserves last?"
Selena answered calmly.
"…About five years."
"That is, if no new energy is generated."
Akira relaxed slightly.
"So we still have a lot of time."
Selena immediately cut him off.
"It's not that simple."
"Every mission you take will consume more energy."
"And starting next year, fewer students with strong fate will enroll in the school."
She paused before continuing.
"If that happens, our entire plan will slowly start falling apart."
Erika finally spoke.
"Is there any way to repair the array?"
"No." Selena sighed. "That array is ancient technology. It's even older than this world itself. Even I don't fully understand how it works. So repairing it isn't really possible."
Akira thought for a moment.
"…I could try."
Selena rejected the idea immediately.
"You probably could."
"But I don't want you wasting your time and energy trying to reverse-engineer something that old."
Erika looked between them.
"Then what should we do?"
Selena paused for a moment.
"Well… I do have an idea."
Akira raised an eyebrow.
"What is it?"
Selena answered simply.
"If the array can't attract them…"
She paused slightly.
"Then we'll just have to do it the old-fashioned way."
Akira frowned.
"Brainwashing?"
Selena immediately snapped.
"No! What is wrong with you? It's publicity."
Akira frowned. "What do you mean?"
Selena answered calmly.
"Simply put… I want you to make our school famous."
She continued.
"So famous that people with strong fate will naturally want to come here."
Erika tilted her head slightly. "Should we promote the school online? Maybe pay for advertisements?"
Selena sighed.
"That won't be enough."
After a brief pause, she continued explaining.
"My plan is simpler."
"Right now our school already has many students with strong fate."
"Some of them have hidden talents. Others already stand out."
She paused before finishing her thought.
"I want you to find those students."
"And make them shine so brightly… that the entire country starts paying attention to our school."
Akira crossed his arms.
"Like what?"
Selena answered immediately.
"Sports competitions."
"Gaming tournaments."
"Academic contests."
She continued listing possibilities.
"Even normal school events can be turned into something much bigger."
"We could form a school idol group."
"Or help talented students rise in their own fields."
"If those students become famous… our school will become famous with them."
Akira slowly nodded.
"That's actually a great idea."
He paused, thinking it over.
"But how exactly are we supposed to train all of them?"
Selena replied without hesitation.
"Brother… you already master most fields."
"And you can learn anything you want quickly."
"That makes you the perfect person to guide them."
Akira thought about it for a moment.
"Then why don't I just reveal myself as a multi-talented genius?"
"If I become famous, the school will become famous too."
Erika immediately shook her head.
"That won't work."
Akira blinked.
"Why not?"
Erika explained patiently.
"If you become famous, people will only admire you."
"They won't care about the school."
She continued.
"But if many students become famous… then people will start seeing the school as the place that trained them."
"And the reputation of the school itself will rise."
Selena nodded in agreement.
"Exactly."
"That's why I turned it into a main quest."
At that moment, a system window suddenly appeared before both Akira and Erika.
---
[New Mission Alert]
Main Quest: Fate / Stay Here
Objective:
Make Shuchikan Academy the most famous school in Japan.
Difficulty: S
Time Limit: 1 Year
Reward:
×1 UR Rank Gacha Ticket
Restrictions:
Do not use magic to brainwash people.
Mission begins in: 10 minutes
Accept Mission?
[YES] [NO]