[H.B] Ch 3: A Tiny Little Insight

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While Renji was training, adjusting and optimizing the technique Erica had listed in the shop, the rest of the chat group was in the middle of discussing tier advancement.

『Rin Tohsaka』: "Even if Kanae-nee puts it that way, stepping into the tiers is still insanely hard!"

『Rin Tohsaka』: "You need the strength to take on an army alone before the chat group even recognizes you. And with my level of genius, it'll take at least ten years before I can even think about being acknowledged as first-tier."

『Kanae Kocho』: "Compared to us, Rin-chan, you're already lucky."

『Kanae Kocho』: "At least you've got the Tohsaka family's lineage and the Clock Tower as a proper academy. That's more than most of us could dream of."

Watching Rin sigh about how impossible the goal seemed, Kanae couldn't help feeling both sympathetic and envious. Unlike Rin, who was practically guaranteed to reach tier someday, her own chances were far slimmer. The breathing techniques she relied on had a hard ceiling. Even if she wanted to keep climbing, there wasn't much of a road left.

At this rate, forget about making peace with demons—just killing an Upper Moon wouldn't be an easy task.

Rin shook her head, ponytails bouncing.

『Rin Tohsaka』: "That's true, but I don't have the luxury to wait that long!"

She wasn't being spoiled. She simply had an immediate crisis breathing down her neck. If she couldn't resolve it soon, then even if she became invincible in ten years, it wouldn't matter.

『Kanae Kocho』: "You're right. Just like me, you've got something you absolutely must accomplish."

The group fell quiet for a few moments, a cloud of shared worry hanging over the chat.

Then Erica, the strongest among them right now, broke the silence.

『Erica Blandelli』: "Come on, don't look so gloomy. Didn't I say I'd help you both?"

『Erica Blandelli』: "Kanae's case is tricky, but Rin's problem should be manageable."

『Erica Blandelli』: "As long as you save up enough points, I can come over to your world and give you a hand."

After reassuring her two friends, the blonde's lips curled into a teasing smile.

『Erica Blandelli』: "But wow, Rin, you've got quite the ambition!"

『Erica Blandelli』: "Trying to become tier-one in under ten years? You're planning to recreate my record, huh? That's how much you worship me?"

『Erica Blandelli』: "Fair warning though—becoming a Great Knight at sixteen made me one of the most gifted people on the planet. Outside of a few outright monsters, nobody else could compare."

『Erica Blandelli』: "So if you want to catch up to me, you'd better step it up!"

In Campione world, Erica had every right to brag.

And sure enough, Rin immediately blew up at the jab. Lines like "Just you wait, I'm gonna kick your ass!" and "You're bullying lolis!" flooded the chat, sparking another lively back-and-forth.

Just as the group was laughing again, Erica glanced at her point balance and noticed a new notification.

『Erica Blandelli』: "Nice, another hundred points just came in!"

『Erica Blandelli』: "At this time, that must mean the newbie bought my magic technique."

『Erica Blandelli』: "Thanks for your patronage, @Renji_Amatsuki."

『Rin Tohsaka』: "So jealous!"

『Rin Tohsaka』: "Damn it, I put my magical version up too, why won't anyone buy mine?"

『Madoka Kaname』: "Maybe because your version doesn't actually work for us, Rin-chan?"

『Kanae Kocho』: "Yeah… yours requires opening magic circuits. None of us even have those."

『Rin Tohsaka』: "Ugh! I know, I know—I just hate losing out like this!"

When it came to versatility, the Campione world's version of magic clearly had the edge. In the Nasuverse, magi and regular humans might technically be able to interbreed, but the difference between them was vast. Plenty of magi even refused to see themselves as the same species as normal humans.

So even though group-shop skills came with auto-learning functions, if the prerequisites weren't met, you could buy it and still end up with nothing.

『Madoka Kaname』: "Looks like big brother's just like me, fascinated by the mag... magic!"

She almost blurted out "magical girls" instead of magic, then quickly covered her face in embarrassment.

『Kanae Kocho』: "Erica's magic method definitely has its value, but it still depends on each person's talent."

『Kanae Kocho』: "Even with the auto-learn boost, success isn't guaranteed on the first try."

『Madoka Kaname』: "Yeah! I almost failed the first time myself."

『Madoka Kaname』: "But once you succeed, it feels amazing. Magic is so incredible!"

『Kanae Kocho』: "Exactly. I only managed to produce a tiny bit, but even that much, when I used it to strengthen my body, outperformed my full-focus breathing techniques."

『Kanae Kocho』: "If I can keep increasing my Magic to its limit, my combat strength will rise drastically."

『Kanae Kocho』: "At that point, I might even be able to defeat an Upper Moon demon."

『Rin Tohsaka』: "You can do it, Kanae!"

『Madoka Kaname』: "Speaking of which… why hasn't big brother said anything for so long? Does the first attempt at using Magic really take this much time?"

『Kanae Kocho』: "It shouldn't. Mine was over pretty quickly."

『Madoka Kaname』: "Same here."

『Rin Tohsaka』: "Don't tell me… the newbie failed?"

For someone as proud as her, it made sense. If she'd failed her first try, she wouldn't want to show her face either. If Renji had succeeded, he would've said something already. Even with the time distortion between worlds, this silence was suspicious.

Getting their hopes up only to fail on the first attempt—it was enough to crush anyone's spirit.

Thinking along those lines, the group quickly began sending supportive messages.

『Madoka Kaname』: @Renji_Amatsuki "Don't worry, big brother! Even if you fail the first time, just keep trying. You'll get it eventually."

『Kanae Kocho』: "Exactly. Magic usually just varies in quality. It almost never outright fails. Please don't be discouraged, Renji."

『Erica Blandelli』: "Huh, I thought the shop guaranteed mastery... @Renji_Amatsuki, are you saying it really didn't work for you?"

At last, after a long silence, the newbie finally typed a reply.

『Renji Amatsuki』: "Thanks for the concern, everyone. But no—I didn't fail."

Hearing that, Kanae and Madoka both let out a small sigh of relief, smiling in genuine happiness for their new companion.

『Kanae Kocho』: "That's great. Congratulations."

『Madoka Kaname』: "Congrats, big brother!"

Rin, however, wasn't convinced.

"If he really succeeded, why wait until now to say something? Is he just saving face?"

Based on her own experience, that explanation seemed a lot more likely. She wasn't rude enough to say it aloud, but the suspicion nagged at her.

Then, just as she was stewing over it, Renji sent another message.

『Renji Amatsuki』: "By the way, there's something I want to ask you all."

『Kanae Kocho』: "What is it?"

『Erica Blandelli』: "I'm listening too."

『Madoka Kaname』: "Curious!"

『Renji Amatsuki』: "While using Magic, I had… a little insight."

『Renji Amatsuki』: "If I want to put that insight up for sale in the shop, do I just list it as-is? Or do I need to write it down first?"

The chat went dead silent.

Everyone froze.

Only Rin managed to type something.

『Rin Tohsaka』: "…Huh?"

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