The terminal in front of Stella cast a soft glow on her indigo hair. On the screen were the faces of her subordinates working in various regions.
"Supplies for the children's home in the south are coming in smoothly. Even after setting aside enough for winter, we still have a surplus."
"The north is running short, on the other hand. It would help if we could redirect some of the southern surplus there."
Stella listened carefully to each report and gave polite nods in response.
"Understood. Redirect part of the southern supplies to the north. Also, a severe cold wave is forecast for this winter, so please prepare sea routes in addition to the land routes just in case."
"Roger that. I will contact the shipping companies."
"Thank you."
Her voice was gentle and warm, yet her instructions were precise and clear. It was obvious that the meeting revolved around her.
Stella was known to the world as the Saint. She led an organization that supported underprivileged children without seeking anything in return. That alone was reason enough for the title.
Of course, not all of the praise came from pure goodwill. Some people used the name to embellish her reputation and gather more donations.
Stella was fully aware of that. Still, if the title helped save more children, she chose to accept it quietly.
"Then let us end today's regular meeting here. I will be in the laboratory for a while. Contact me if anything comes up."
Stella gave a small bow toward the screen. Her subordinates nodded in unison, and the connections ended one after another.
Once silence returned to the room, Stella let out a deep breath and rolled her shoulders.
"Whew…"
She stretched her back, which was still tense, and gave a big stretch.
"Right… let us go."
She gave herself a small boost of motivation, picked up her coat, and headed out.
Her steps were light. She was already fully prepared for the next task.
Stella straightened the hem of her coat and stepped out the front door.
A cold wind brushed her cheek.
When she looked up, she saw a row of high-rise buildings with glass walls reflecting the light. Endless streams of cars flowed along the roads. People holding portable terminals walked along the sidewalks, stopping in waves at traffic lights before moving again.
There was not a single trace of swords or magic in the scene.
As Stella headed toward the university gate, a voice suddenly called out to her.
"My, Stella. It has been a while."
She turned around to see a well-dressed woman in a sharp suit.
"…Victoria, it has been some time."
The woman also led an organization that supported underprivileged children around the world.
Stella had once belonged to that group. She had been drawn to its ideals and believed in them. But once inside, she found it was filled with people who cared only about the flow of money.
Disappointed by them, she had founded her own organization.
"Thanks to your hard work, donations to my group have increased dramatically. Thank you so much, Saint."
"…I am glad I could repay some of the kindness I received from my old home."
Stella answered with a smile, but inside she was cursing.
(Gold digger. How dare she say that…)
Victoria opened her mouth to say something more. Stella could see the greed lurking in her eyes. From past experience, she knew it would not be a pleasant topic.
"I am sorry, but I am in a hurry right now. Please excuse me."
Stella gave a quick bow, cut the conversation short, and walked away briskly.
◇
Still carrying an unpleasant aftertaste, Stella climbed the stairs of the research building and opened the door to the laboratory.
Inside, she saw a man with black hair streaked with red standing by the window.
He was Stella's childhood friend, the man who would later be called the Hero of the Fairy Tales and the King of the Gifted — August.
He was hunched over, leaning out the window and looking up at the sky.
"Ah… I wish money would fall from the sky…"
At those words, Stella let out a sigh without thinking.
(Another gold digger right here…)
Still, she knew his muttered words were nothing more than a joke.
Before she realized it, a smile had formed on her lips.
Stella walked over to the window.
"If money really did fall from the sky… what do you think would happen?"
"Hm?"
"Your laboratory would be swarmed with people in an instant. You probably would not even be able to move."
"Ugh… spare me…"
August made a tired face and let out a pathetic groan.
"You seem quite cornered. The VIP inspection is next week, right? Will you be ready?"
"Hahaha… do I look ready?"
His dry laugh made Stella smile bitterly.
"Argh! How did it come to this!?"
August ruffled his hair wildly and raised his voice.
"At this point I should be praised as a savior from all over the world, receiving thunderous applause! I should even be in textbooks as a great man!"
"You were quite optimistic in your predictions."
At Stella's cool remark, August fell silent.
His words were exaggerated, but the possibility had certainly existed.
For a long time, this world had faced a serious issue that was now becoming a clear social problem: the energy crisis caused by resource depletion.
August was one of the researchers working to solve it.
Five years earlier, while people were searching for alternative energy sources, a massive meteorite fell in a certain region and caused catastrophic damage.
Stella had immediately taken her team to the site for relief efforts.
August, who had come along to help with manpower, obtained a fragment of the meteorite. While assisting with relief, he discovered that an unknown substance within it had the potential to become a new energy source.
After serious research, August established a method to use the unknown substance as a new energy source. He named it "magic power" and published a paper on it.
Although the problem was not yet urgent, the world rejoiced at finding a way to prepare for the future that would eventually come.
However, the long-standing issue was not solved so easily. Even using every piece of the fallen meteorite was nowhere near enough to supply the world's energy needs.
That was when the government gave new orders: find a way to increase magic power.
Since then, August had spent day and night on research, carrying the future of humanity on his shoulders.
August suddenly raised an eyebrow as if he had noticed something and reached into his pocket.
He pulled out his portable terminal. A notification for an incoming call was blinking on the screen.
"…Iris."
He muttered softly and tapped the screen. It switched to show the face of a silver-haired woman.
"Hey there, August."
"…What do you want?"
"Eh, are you in a bad mood?"
"I am just tired from being buried in research every day."
"Hmm~ You are working hard as usual~"
Iris smiled cheerfully, showing no remorse.
"Anyway, big problem! Where do you think I am right now?"
"I do not know."
"Wow, so cold! The answer is the Land of Sand!"
"…The Land of Sand?"
"Yes, look!"
The terminal spun around, showing a golden desert and the lively noise of a market in the background.
"Is it not amazing? Someone like me, who looks toward the future, is out here broadening my horizons by traveling the world."
"…You are just a travel lover, are you not?"
"That is mean. Well, yes, but this is all for the future! Looking back at the past changes nothing, right? I only look forward!"
Iris declared it with a bright smile.
"Then could you please face the problems the world is dealing with…"
"Eh, you will take care of those, right, August?"
"Huh!? Why do you answer so quickly!?"
"Because you are the savior, are you not? I believe in you, which is why I am out here seeing the world. I am sure hints to open up the future are lying around everywhere!"
"…Your real motive of just wanting to sightsee is completely obvious."
"Ehh, I thought it was a good excuse."
Iris laughed happily without any shame.
"......"
"Well, report complete. I am hanging up. Bye!"
The call ended abruptly, and quiet returned to the laboratory. Only a strange feeling of exhaustion remained, as if a storm had passed through in an instant.
"…Haa, dealing with a free spirit really is tiring…"
After the call ended, August collapsed onto his desk and let all the strength drain from his body.
Stella gave a wry smile at the sight.
"Iris is the same as ever."
"Is she not way too optimistic…?"
"Well, that is part of what makes Iris good. For workaholics like us, she is a nice refreshing breeze."
"The Saint herself treating someone like a refreshing breeze? You have quite a dark side."
"Stop calling me that. The Saint is just a nickname those money-grubbers gave me to use me as their poster child."
"Whatever the origin, I think the Stella who is actually running around helping all those children is quite admirable."
Stella shrugged and let out a small breath.
"If you are going to say that, then the one working to save not just children but the whole of society is you. But this is not the time for that kind of talk. Let us do everything we can before next week's inspection. I will help."
As Stella started walking, August watched her back and let out another sigh.