- -Your Majesty is the center of the world, and your belief is the truth.
Amid the child’s wailing, Ian suddenly heard Naum’s whisper. How to view the world as an Emperor. A small piece of advice from his friend that had reached Jin through him.
Jaira continued to scream in anger, but Ian, lost in thought, did not respond.
Soldiers bound Jaira’s limbs with fearful expressions, and in that moment, a verbal dagger flew and struck Ian’s heart.
“I thought the Bariel Ministry of Magic’s minister might know something, but you’re nothing special! Idiot, fool!”
“S-someone, please shut her mouth.”
“How dare you speak so disrespectfully in front of such a person!”
“How can anything be impossible in this world? It must exist but you just don’t know it. Say it exists! Admit that you just don’t know!”
Jaira lay on her back, sobbing loudly, and continuously insulted Ian. Calling him an idiot, an idiot who makes assertions without knowing anything. The leader of Gaia’s mages, Bariel’s salt, yet he knows nothing.
- -Your Highness is the center of the world, and your belief is the truth.
This time it wasn’t Naum’s voice. It was Ian’s own. The lesson he had taught Jin that day, gently yet firmly.
Ian leaned his arms on the railing and carefully called to Jaira. Though his voice was very soft, everyone could hear it in the wind’s silence.
“…Little one, do you believe you can rescue someone who has fallen into the abyss?”
A little knowledge can be dangerous.
It felt as if the knowledge from his previous life and the convictions of his current one had unknowingly drawn boundaries. A wall built in the name of established theory. Ian saw it clearly. Forbidden magic was an end in itself. Therefore, it could not be reversed.
But in Jaira’s world?
If Jaira truly believed she could undo forbidden magic, wouldn’t that become her truth? In the Gaia world, the Bariel Emperor may be its center, but in each person’s life, aren’t they themselves the center?
If in that child’s world—blank as a clean slate—there was a way to reverse forbidden magic, then it might possibly exist. At least there.
“……”
Jaira’s tears rolled down as she glared with wide eyes. Ian asked again, as if wanting a clear and definite answer. Somehow, it sounded almost like a plea.
“Do you think you can undo forbidden magic?”
“…Yes. Even if you don’t know, someone else must. And if no one knows, I’ll find it myself. And I’ll bring my grandmother back from there.”
The mages listening clicked their tongues inwardly. They felt truly sorry for this ignorant child’s impulsive statement.
It was clear what storms she would face in her short yet long life if she took such ignorance as her guide. Dull-witted, foolish, and in a way, ridiculous.
But Ian’s reaction was different.
“…Remarkable.”
Remarkable. Truly remarkable. The child had a world he wouldn’t have dared to imagine.
Ian, chin resting on his hand, looked genuinely amazed. And he wanted to rebuke himself for his earlier declaration that there was no way to undo forbidden magic.
He shouldn’t have spoken so easily. He shouldn’t have made such a simple assertion. It’s easy to search for something you believe exists, but difficult to create something you believe doesn’t, isn’t it?
Everyone looked at Ian with puzzled expressions at his reaction. Jaira too. The child let her final tear fall and looked up at Ian.
Whoosh.
The silent wind began to blow. Ian’s hair fluttered like moonlight. Beneath it, his green eyes rippled.
Was it an illusion? Jaira thought it was due to her tears, and others didn’t dare notice the subtle change in Ian.
“Jaira…was it?”
“……”
“I misspoke. Let me correct myself. There might be a way to reverse forbidden magic.”
Though it didn’t yet exist in Ian’s world, if he gradually changed his perception, he would eventually encounter a world where it did. Because Ian’s belief was the truth.
“No, it surely exists somewhere. I just regret that I don’t know it. Jaira, strengthen your belief so that time cannot erode it. I hope you treasure it and move forward. Please.”
Jaira’s mouth opened slightly at Ian’s sincere encouragement. She looked extremely surprised. Anywhere, including Ruswena, rarely treated a young child like her with such flexibility. Especially in extreme situations like this.
Hadn’t a general struck a mage’s cheek? A mage with power close to that of gods. How dare they.
“…Why, why are you saying this?”
“I hope you find it. So we can live in a better world. That’s all.”
A better world. Jaira realized this was similar to the distant world her grandmother had mentioned.
Ian clicked his pocket watch to check the time. Not much time remained before sunrise.
‘Sending a mage instead of a scout is to check internal affairs. They’re aware of the fires, so there will surely be movement.’
Whether it would be contact between kings or a night attack, he didn’t know, but the former was certainly more likely. This was Clifford, where foreign countries couldn’t easily move in the darkness.
“Jaira. Let me ask you one thing. Does Ruswena have one of our mages?”
“I told you they did! One! Alive!”
Beric, who had bounded up, answered instead.
One. Everyone sighed heavily at this information. The news that he was alive was good, but the fates of the remaining four were still unknown.
“His condition?”
“…Not good. Queen Eripony hasn’t allowed magical energy to be shared. She said she would decide after consulting with Burgos.”
“Those crazy bastards, what if he dies!”
“Who is it? Describe his face.”
“He was unconscious, so I couldn’t talk to him. A man around thirty. With brown hair.”
“It’s Captain Jang. The only men are Tommy and Captain Jang. Ah, this is driving me crazy. Really.”
“Hey! How bad was his condition?”
“A doctor treated him! But they just haven’t shared magical energy. I don’t know the details!”
The mages noisily threw out comments one by one.
Though his presence had diminished since Ian became minister, Jang was a former captain of the Magic Support Division. It was natural for the mages to be upset, hearing that one of their key forces was hovering near death.
Ian raised his hand lightly to calm them.
“Jaira. I don’t think you came on reconnaissance alone.”
“…I don’t know.”
Jaira bit her lip, indicating she would remain silent on this matter.
Just as Bariel mages had close bonds, so did Ruswena mages. Jaira’s independent action must have startled the other mage, and there was a good chance she would be held accountable upon her return.
So Jaira thought it best to avoid mentioning the other mage as much as possible.
“Captain Jeirutt.”
“Yes, Lord Ian.”
“Strengthen the guard on the right side of the wall.”
Queen Eripony wouldn’t have sent the child alone. This wasn’t just any task—it was approaching the enemy wall to gather information.
Moreover, Jaira had lost her grandmother that day. There were too many concerns to select her solely because she was suitable for concealing her presence.
Ian turned his gaze to Jaira.
“Jaira, do you have more family?”
“Why do you ask that?”
“If not, I propose you defect to Bariel.”
“Lord Ian!”
The mages gasped and covered their mouths. Their current state was due to Ruswena mages, and five of their own were missing—yet he spoke of defection!
And look at her condition. She had lost her grandmother at their hands. Her fierce character seemed troubling, so how could he make such a proposal?
But Ian ignored the opposition and added:
“Unlike Ruswena, Bariel has abundant information about magic, and the Imperial Palace actively supports research. Above all, all citizens respect the greatness of magic. Jaira, if you wish to undo forbidden magic, receiving help through Bariel’s Ministry of Magic wouldn’t be a bad choice.”
“I am a Ruswena citizen.”
“The center of your life is still far away. Someday, when you die, you might call yourself a Bariel citizen.”
Though Ian tempted her sweetly, Jaira couldn’t even consider the word defection. Didn’t she have a brother held captive at the palace? Moreover, the mages in Ruswena were like family to her.
Ian noticed that Jaira’s expression hadn’t changed and raised an eyebrow.
‘She seems likely to resent Queen Eripony, yet she doesn’t even consider it. She must have more relatives.’
“If there’s anyone you want to bring along, they would be welcome too. Bariel is a country overflowing with mercy and compassion.”
“Lord Ian—”
As someone was about to cry out that they didn’t want to mix with the enemy Ruswenans, several mages covered their mouth.
What foolishness. Wasn’t the best way to weaken Ruswena’s forces in this war to win over their mages?
That’s what Ian was trying to accomplish through the child. He knew this wasn’t an issue to be approached emotionally just because they had lost comrades and been injured.
Jaira stared at them blankly, then shook her head.
“I can’t.”
“Not ‘I won’t’ but ‘I can’t’—that’s nice to hear.”
As Ian smiled, Jaira activated her magical power. Her eyes tinged with gold. She was trying to escape.
The soldiers aimed their spear tips carefully and looked at Ian in alarm, while those who could use magic immediately emanated power.
Hummmm. Hum.
“Jaira. Don’t act clever, act wise.”
Standing calmly at the railing amidst that power, Ian’s advice carried weight.
“We can kill you right here, which would mean mission failure, and ultimately disturb the safety of your precious people left in your homeland.”
Kill her? Jaira inwardly snorted. Though she had been caught off guard and taken a hit from the magic swordsmen, she hadn’t used her full strength yet. Breaking through these groaning mages and soaring into the sky would be…
Hummmm! Hum!
Crash!
「Restraint (羈束)」
Beams of light quickly rose from Ian’s feet and plunged toward Jaira. Dense and sharp. Jaira lay on her back, eyes wide open, staring at them.
“Iaaaaan! I told you not to use magic! You’ll get all weak again! Bring meat! Meat!”
“Beric, eating meat doesn’t cure everything. Do you think you’re the same as Lord Ian? Call Captain Akorella! Let’s try something with the amplification agent!”
“Hey! We agreed not to call Captain Akorella! If you open the door while she’s experimenting, you’ll die on the spot. Anyway, Lord Ian, please release the restraint. We’ll take over.”
“Ah, of all things, to be hit by Idgal…”
“Those with just shells, step back!”
“You’re saying it so nicely. Bastard.”
“Mages with magic power, come forward! Let’s gather for restraint!”
After the commotion, as mages capable of using magic rolled up their sleeves, Ian lightly shook his head to stop them.
“It’s not efficient.”
“Pardon?”
“Jaira’s magical power is quite strong. No matter how many gather their strength, they can’t surpass it. I mean it’s better for me to create one layer alone than for many to create multiple layers.”
“T-then, shall we give you our magical energy again?”
There’s no way to help. As the mages stamped their feet in frustration, Ian smiled. Though faint, his smile was clearer than before.
“Go finish your meal.”
“See? Ian likes meat too! Let’s go. You can eat the rest, Ian. And I’ll have just one bite.”
“Along with strengthening the right wall’s defenses, the Imperial Guard and Imperial Defense Department should help Clifford execute the operation. You may use the soldiers.”
“Ah, yes. Understood!”
Shwoosh!
The soldiers carefully saluted and removed the Idgal spears. Jaira jumped up like a beast, but Ian’s pillars of light immediately closed over her, completely sealing the top like a lid.
Crash!
“What is this!”
“You don’t know restraint? Well, I was puzzled from the start that your grandmother used Ice Mass.”
“Don’t act so smart! I’ll break it!”
Hummmm! Hum!
Boom!
Though Jaira burst with magical power, the wall made of light remained solid. Those who had been anxious saw this and relaxed, gradually easing the tension from their bodies.
“Jaira. If you don’t defect to Bariel, that is, if you don’t cooperate with us, you’re a valuable sacrifice to save Jang. Wait there for a while. I’ll think about how to deal with you after assessing the situation.”
Ian nodded as he spoke.
“If you have something to say, I can listen anytime. Call me after you cool down in there. And at that time, it would be better for you to address me formally.”
Then he went inside without looking back.
Beric looked back and forth between Jaira and Ian, then hurriedly followed Ian.
“Ian! You’re not going to put me in there, right?”
“Why, did you do something wrong?”
“No, no. Just checking. Just in case.”
“Heeeey! Let me out of this!”
Crash! Boom!
Though Jaira created light and shouted, no one was there to listen.