Book 4: Volume 1 Chapter 4, Big Failure

Translator: Kazumi

Editor: Silavin

 

After being blocked by the harsh natural conditions and abandoning her patrol of the Floors, Mia returned to the fifteenth Floor with thorough preparations. This time, she had armed herself with magic to combat the snow and cold.

 

Originally, Mia possessed no knowledge of magic whatsoever. However, on the very day she retreated from the fifteenth Floor in defeat, she sought instruction from Kouhi. The magic Kouhi taught her proved quite challenging to master, yet Mia accomplished this feat in a single day.

 

This was a testament to her status as one of the academy’s most gifted students. Her rapid mastery stemmed largely from her unwavering determination to witness the fifteenth Floor with her own eyes.

 

Upon their arrival at the fifteenth Floor, Mia successfully activated the protective spell and gazed upon the snowy landscape with profound emotion. Her bodyguard, Mikage, had requested that Mia cast the same spell upon her for protection.

 

“It truly is a white world,” Mia observed.

 

Though the magic had alleviated much of the cold, it could not provide complete protection from the harsh environment. Nevertheless, the improvement from her previous visit allowed Mia to observe the scenery with newfound composure.

 

Kousuke regarded his Daughter with curiosity. “This isn’t your first time witnessing a world completely blanketed in snow, you know? When you were younger, I showed you various locations throughout the Floors, including the snowy peaks of the high mountains.”

 

“Yeah, but those were mountains.” Mia replied. “I have never experienced a place like this, where snow accumulates across open plains.”

 

Indeed, few locations within the Central Continent experience significant snow accumulation. While snowfall occurs occasionally, it rarely persists on the ground. Naturally, cold weather equipment remains available for adventurers venturing into hazardous territories throughout the continent.

 

The world of Earthgard operates under different climatic principles than Kousuke’s original world, lacking the temperature variations typically associated with latitude changes. While this phenomenon might seem peculiar to Kousuke, the native inhabitants consider it entirely normal.

 

After thoroughly appreciating the pristine, snow-covered landscape, Mia proceeded toward the base she had established during her previous visit. The sight that greeted her proved shocking.

 

“It is completely buried,” She stated with dismay.

 

Before them stood the stable, entombed beneath approximately two meters of accumulated snow. The entrance had become entirely inaccessible, blocked by the white barrier.

 

“All our previous efforts is now meaningless!” Mia exclaimed in panic.

 

“That appears to be the case,” Kousuke agreed calmly.

 

While Mia reacted with distress to the stable’s condition, Kousuke remained remarkably composed. When he had first observed the snow-covered fifteenth Floor, he had anticipated precisely this outcome. His decision not to warn Mia stemmed from his belief that she needed to experience such setbacks firsthand. He considered these mistakes valuable learning opportunities, having made similar errors countless times throughout his own journey.

 

Observing her Father’s demeanor, Mia released a resigned sigh. “Dad, you predicted this would happen, did you not?”

 

“I suppose you would not be able to anticipate such a consequence without direct experience with how snow accumulates here.” Kousuke replied, deliberately deflecting her question. Rather than providing explicit explanations, he preferred that Mia discover these lessons through personal experience, step by step.

 

Understanding his approach clearly, Mia sighed once more and surveyed the scene before her. She recognized that the stables had become completely unusable and required replacement. Her expression demonstrated her determination to carefully examine her surroundings and formulate an appropriate solution.

 

“Using this structure as it stands presents fundamental problems,” she muttered while studying the buried stables. “One could potentially enter from above, but escape from within would prove impossible.”

 

Mia began analyzing the situation from multiple perspectives, considering various possibilities and constraints.

 

Mitsuki, standing beside Kousuke, observed Mia’s analytical approach with recognition. Though certain of the Family resemblance between Father and Daughter, she kept this observation to herself.

 

Unaware of Mitsuki’s thoughts, Kousuke posed a question that had been troubling him. “Did you establish a Holy Water Source there?”

 

“Yes, of course I…” Mia began confidently, then stopped abruptly. “Wait, what?”

 

The small spring she had intended to convert into Holy Water lay completely buried beneath the snow. Witnessing this additional failure, Mia’s shoulders sagged in despair.

 

“Nothing has succeeded…” she lamented.

 

Kousuke placed a reassuring hand upon her shoulder. “What are you saying? You have learned a ton from this experience, no?”

 

“What do you mean?” Mia looked at him with confusion, noting his serious expression indicated no intention of mockery. However, she could not comprehend his meaning.

 

As Mia surveyed their surroundings with mounting frustration, Kousuke decided to provide guidance. He realized that Mia had only witnessed his successes and lacked understanding of how to approach such challenging situations.

 

“Consider this,” he began. “Objects installed within the Tower are invariably positioned with the ground as their reference point.” He gestured toward the locations where the stables and spring should have been visible.

 

Mia regarded him with bewilderment. “Dad, I do not understand what you are saying.”

 

“This Floor was designed as a snowy environment from its very beginning, no? If so, would it not be logical for snow to cover the ground from the beginning?”

 

“Ah! I get it now,” Mia exclaimed with sudden clarity. “If that premise still holds true, then the absence of snow around would be an anomaly.”

 

During her previous inspection through the windows, she had observed bare dirt Floors rather than snow-covered ground. This observation confirmed that objects were positioned relative to the base terrain rather than environmental conditions.

 

Through this explanation, Kousuke had provided Mia with valuable insight into Tower management principles. Being exceptionally intelligent, Mia immediately began generating additional questions, her curiosity flowing like water from a spring. She surveyed her surroundings with renewed analytical focus, clearly formulating new theories and approaches.

 

Mitsuki, observing this exchange, chuckled softly and addressed Kousuke. “The expression ‘like Father, like Daughter’ seems quite appropriate here.”

 

“Really?” Kousuke responded with mild embarrassment.

 

“Not only does she require minimal explanation to grasp concepts, but her thought processes are already beginning to align with your own analytical methods.”

 

Rather than expressing surprise, Mitsuki spoke with genuine admiration. Kousuke appeared somewhat uncomfortable with the praise.

 

“When you phrase it that way, I find myself feeling rather embarrassed,” he admitted.

 

Mitsuki simply smiled without further comment, then shifted the conversation in a different direction.

 

“More importantly,” she continued, “have you developed new plans following this experience? Do you intend to test them?”

 

More than a decade had passed since Kousuke’s arrival in this world. Throughout this time, he had maintained certain consistent patterns, including his apparent inability to conceal his thoughts and intentions from those who knew him well.

 

Mitsuki’s question addressed precisely what he had been contemplating, prompting Kousuke to shake his head with a wry smile.

 

“Not at this time,” he replied.

 

Mitsuki appeared surprised by his response. The Kousuke of previous years would have immediately implemented any promising solution he had conceived.

 

Reading her expression, Kousuke understood her unspoken thoughts. “My intended approach may overlap with Mia’s development plans. I prefer to watch her progress before I take any action.”

 

He recognized that pursuing identical solutions could dampen Mia’s enthusiasm and initiative. Having no desire to discourage her positive engagement with Tower management. So, at her first genuine attempt at such responsibility, he chose patience over immediate result.

 

From Kousuke’s perspective, his experience with working directly with his children remained limited. However, this moment of reflection revealed that he had already developed the instinctive mindset of a Father, prioritizing his Daughter’s growth and learning over his own immediate objectives.