This could also become a problem. I’d originally left it as a plot hole, figuring I could fill it in later if I wanted—or, if I didn’t, just never tell the readers that the Phil Continent was a floating island. But now it’s turned around and become a problem for me. After all, if things follow the usual story logic, there’ll definitely be a much wider region beneath the Phil Continent someday. The locals will surely try to make contact with it, and that could lead to all kinds of unpredictable changes to the story and the world.

But that’s a problem for later. For now, I should focus on finding a way to get stronger.

The mainstream power system in this world is based on the elements. But mages aren’t the only ones who can use them. Warriors, archers, and all sorts of other adventurers can use the elements to boost their strength, too. Everyone is naturally attuned to one of the four elements—earth, wind, water, or fire—with special elements like light and darkness as exceptions. Talent is determined by something called affinity. It affects how much elemental energy your body can contain, how quickly you absorb it, how efficiently you use it, and so on. In short, the higher your affinity, the greater your talent.

According to my own settings, you need an affinity of at least thirty percent to become an adventurer. That’s the minimum needed to use the elements effectively to boost your combat ability and fight the magical beasts native to the Phil Continent. An ordinary person’s body, no matter how much they trained, just couldn’t beat those things.

Of course, having high affinity doesn’t mean you can skip training and effortlessly crush magical beasts. The elements exist naturally all around us, but no matter how talented you are, you still have to actively reach out and connect with them before you can use elemental energy. That goes for every element.

But there was one unexpected problem: I hadn’t decided what element the protagonist would have, what their elemental affinity would be, or even what their class would be. In other words, the protagonist would appear in a way I knew absolutely nothing about. And that was seriously frustrating.

But worrying about it now wouldn’t help. I’d just have to take things as they came.

Then there were the different classes and how they used the elements. For example, mages gathered large amounts of elemental energy and arranged it into a certain form to attack, while warriors and similar classes used the elements to strengthen their weapons or bodies.

Finally, there were the class ranks, divided into nine levels. A First-Rank class could contain 100 units of elemental energy, a Second-Rank class 500, a Third-Rank 1,000, a Fourth-Rank 2,000, a Fifth-Rank 5,000, a Sixth-Rank 10,000, a Seventh-Rank 50,000, and an Eighth-Rank 100,000. Those at the Ninth Rank could freely command the elements that resonated with them throughout the world. At that level, a person’s strength was determined by their own Divine Restriction. Everyone had a unique power hidden inside them, and that power was their Divine Restriction. But they could only use it briefly once they reached the Ninth Rank. The level beyond the Ninth Rank was, naturally, becoming an Elemental God. That was the ending I’d planned.

But it was way too early to be thinking about the ending. I should focus on figuring out which element I had and finding a way to get stronger.

On the Phil Continent, the Elemental Awakening Ceremony was held every year on December 30. That day, the kingdom sent soldiers to bring twelve-year-old boys and girls from all over the country to the central square of the royal capital. There, examiners guided them through the awakening process one by one.

But I still didn’t know how old this body was. I could guess that I wasn’t twelve yet—though I couldn’t be far off. In other words, I couldn’t get stronger just yet. All I could do was slack off.

Elina sighed in disappointment. Since she couldn’t improve her strength for now, she’d start by learning firsthand about the Phil Continent. She knew all the settings, but there were still so many details she didn’t know!

Still, with my sharp instincts as a transmigrator, I was bound to uncover some powerful legacies.

Elina’s lips curled slightly as she walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and gazed at the magnificent royal capital. A hint of longing flickered in her pale blue eyes.

Sure, I was a lazy couch potato, but a part of me still wanted to stir things up. Maybe I could become an immortal Elemental God, nya~

And maybe pick up a few cute girls along the way. Wouldn’t that be great, nya~?

As Elina daydreamed about her wonderful future, little stars appeared in her eyes. She was practically drooling, and her cat tail swished back and forth without her realizing it. Anyone who saw her would surely want to give her a good petting.

While Elina was lost in fantasies of a bright future, the door to the room suddenly opened.

A young woman with short green hair and green eyes walked in. She had a curvy, alluring figure and wore a maid’s uniform. The moment she saw Elina standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, tears of joy filled her eyes. She dropped to her knees and cried, “Your Highness Elina, you’re finally awake!”

At those words, Elina’s heart gave a sudden jolt. Her pale blue eyes flickered, and a bead of cold sweat slid down her temple.

Ah... Princess Elina. A blonde catgirl. Now I could be absolutely sure this was the novel I’d just started planning...

And somehow, I’d ended up as the villainess who opposed the heroine...

If things followed the original plot, I’d die a horrible death!

But it wasn’t a big problem. It was all still within my calculations. I was young, after all. Elina and the heroine were supposed to meet at Falan Tower Elemental Academy in the Frank Empire, when they were both fourteen. I wasn’t even twelve yet, so I still had a chance to change fate. If I made the heroine my very best friend by then, what did I have to worry about?

I could even go all out supporting the heroine and the protagonist from the sidelines, becoming the ultimate supporting character—the perfect wingwoman. Then I’d have a sure way to get in good with the protagonist’s crew!

Heave-ho! I’m a little genius, nya~

That settled it. For now, I should ask about the specifics of this body.

“Um... may I ask who you are? I can’t seem to remember much since I woke up.” Elina turned around shyly, clasped her hands nervously behind her back, and gave the maid a sweet smile.

When you transmigrate to another world, the best trick is obviously to pretend you have amnesia~

And I was using the half-fuzzy kind of amnesia. That way, I could hide the fact that I knew some of the setting, while still using my memory loss as an excuse whenever I got asked about the finer details.

The green-haired maid clutched at her heart as if she’d been pierced by a thousand arrows. She struggled to stay upright, but eventually fell to the floor, her face bright red. “Your Highness Elina, please... please don’t act so cute. I... I can’t take it.”

Elina awkwardly scratched her head. Honestly, when I’d looked at myself just now, even I’d thought I was so cute I could barely stand it. If I could’ve pounced, I would’ve done it already.

Then I’d better act normal.

It’s not my fault I’m so adorable...

Wait, I’m the author. I guess it actually is my fault, nya~

Forget it. No point getting hung up on that.

Elina shook her little head and spoke again. “May I ask who you are? I can’t remember what happened a few days ago, and my memories from the past ten years or so are pretty blurry, too.”

......