Absorbed reading.

This was the perfect word to describe Jaira’s current state.

Ian looked down at the back of the child’s head as she lay flat on the floor surrounded by scattered papers, meticulously dissecting each character.

Like a castaway in the desert burying their face in an oasis, the child had maintained the same position for dozens of minutes without seeming to notice any neck pain.

While he had thought her exceptional, she was certainly different. No matter how intelligent, it wasn’t ordinary for a child to display such concentration.

“The records are…”

Clink.

The shackles locked on Jaira’s left arm rattled. Ian knew what the child was trying to say.

“Unfortunately, that’s all there is. A long time has passed. Such a length of time that it’s almost meaningless to call it time. I consider myself fortunate to have discovered even that much.”

“A mage named Vandor led his subordinates into the rift, and there were no reports afterward. The person claiming to be Vandor was also executed at the time. Doesn’t this mean he was distrusted both then and now?”

“Correct. Just as you are skeptical, Jaira, the people of that time probably didn’t believe either. But there’s an interesting aspect. After the first person who claimed to be Vandor, similar cases occurred often.”

“Wait, what’s strange about that? It must be copycat crimes.”

“What’s even more interesting is that there were no simultaneous cases—they occurred at irregular intervals.”

“I don’t understand what that means.”

“It means that at least in any given era, only one person existed who impersonated Vandor. This confirms that impersonating Vandor wasn’t particularly beneficial to people of their time.”

Jaira rested her chin completely while lying prone. Even so, her bright eyes never stopped reading the text.

“Most importantly, among the first Vandor-impersonating mages, the abstract concept of the ‘Abyss’ became substantiated and established. While it could be that magic developed as the times progressed, I believe that change holds meaning.”

“There is meaning. Even the faintest hope shines brighter than anything else in darkness.”

Jaira propped herself up slightly with her arm and rose. Whether this was a record from a thousand or two thousand years ago didn’t really matter. If there was any method to reach the Abyss besides forbidden magic, she would take it regardless. If told to walk through fire, she would walk; if told to submerge in deep waters, she would submerge.

“What about the Ruswena mages’ records?”

“We have them. But not this many. Especially forbidden magic—I only heard about it from my grandmother, and that was the first time I properly saw it.”

“That’s normal, Jaira. That’s why it’s called forbidden magic.”

“…Wait. Looking at this, there’s something you should see immediately, Minister Ian.”

The child crawled over and dragged a small bag from the corner of the office. Having grown up wild with her family in the forest, Ian thought Jaira would need to learn proper etiquette.

If she was entrusting her remaining future to Bariel, she would surely someday be suitable material for leading the Ministry of Magic. Ian lightly crossed his arms and advised Jaira.

“Jaira, no matter how short the distance, walking on your knees is neither good for your health nor proper etiquette. Be careful from now on.”

“Wow, it’s exactly what everyone was worried about.”

“Everyone was worried? About what?”

“Some of our family members said that Ruswena mages who played around in the mountains might get indigestion from eating palace food.”

But Jaira didn’t seem to care much as she crouched down and rummaged through papers. Notes that had been tucked away fell like the first snow of midnight. Softly, softly. Showing their age, yellow papers scattered across the floor.

“But unlike Bariel’s records, this one’s author is unknown. Since we don’t know who recorded it, it’s hard to trust easily.”

“All recorded things are like that. Even if someone claims to have seen it, it might not be the truth. Jaira, all we can do is believe.”

Just as you did.

Believing while erasing the self-imposed limits that said those who fall into the Abyss cannot be saved. Drawing the Abyss into each person’s individual world, their individual universe, their individual sky, and their individual truth.

Jaira understood Ian’s meaning and nodded.

“Don’t waver, Jaira. The reason you and I are here together is because I admire your world. Admiration always changes reality.”

Ian smiled gently as he examined the papers. Circular coffee stains, smeared ink, drawings that resembled doodles, and two or three different handwritings.

—Just as rifts flow through the earth, the world beneath also flows. Flowing and flowing, magical beasts that were close to the earth flow out.

—Look at the stars. We are moving. The world below the rift, their world, must also be moving. If we call each other unknown worlds, their star would be us.

—Look carefully. What do you see?

—Nothing is more dangerous to rifts than conceptual things. If viewed from a human perspective, you could never understand.

“Is this a written conversation?”

“It seems so. When I asked around, nobody knew. It’s probably notes written by the previous generation, or the generation before that.”

“It’s quite cryptic. It looks like riddles too. It seems like one side asks questions and the other provides answers.”

Ian asked while tilting his head.

“By any chance, were there any newcomers to Ruswena in the previous generations? Or perhaps visitors?”

“I’m not sure. I don’t know. Why do you ask?”

“It seems right to assume that at least one of the two was an outsider. Otherwise, at least one of the Ruswena mages would have had answers to this. If nobody knew, it’s natural to assume the writers were outsiders.”

“Is that so?”

Ian held the paper up to the sunlight and squinted. The handwriting showing through from behind seemed familiar somehow.

When Ian tilted his head questioningly, Jaira held out both hands as if asking for it back. Bariel was still Bariel, and Ruswena was still Ruswena. The information they brought was their weapon.

“There’s a bit more, but I don’t have it with me. It was one of the methods for convincing my family.”

To completely share what remained in the Mage’s Forest. For everyone to become equal, with nothing being more precious and no one becoming more necessary.

Since they were leaping into the embrace of Bariel, their former enemy, the Ruswena mages needed to stick together even more tightly.

Ian raised an eyebrow and asked.

“Really? Who has it?”

“I can’t say right now. Once we all obtain Bariel citizenship and feel safe and secure, then we’ll unpack everything. You’ll know then.”

At the child’s coy words, Ian shrugged his shoulders.

“Very well then. But Jaira, as you’ve seen and heard, I will soon step down from my ministerial position. The issues raised aren’t the only reason. However, I cannot stay long in ‘this’ palace to meet everyone’s expectations.”

“How can this be? We came here trusting you.”

“I will respond to that trust, I promise you again. Jaira, you and your family will live the life you want in Bariel.”

Ian focused his gaze on the note in Jaira’s hand as he made this request.

Even if he wasn’t here, he wanted Jaira to independently continue research on the Abyss. Of course, since she was still a child, the limitations were clear for now.

As days passed and years accumulated with life experience, someday Jaira would be able to manifest her beliefs into reality. A reality where mages who fall into the Abyss could be saved.

“I’ll be below, and you’ll be above.”

“…”

“Whether there’s an Abyss below the rift, and if there is, how to save precious people. And whether there’s a way to newly heal the torn earth. Let’s look at the same place, Jaira.”

The child seemed to be contemplating something as she rolled her eyes. Since it wasn’t a request that required an answer, Ian straightened up without lingering regret and turned around. But before he could take a single step, Jaira continued speaking.

“I want to go with you too.”

That’s not what I hoped for. When Ian frowned, Jaira didn’t miss the opportunity and took a step closer.

“Logically, shouldn’t I be the one doing direct fieldwork like rift investigation?”

“You’re young—”

A puzzled expression crossed Jaira’s face upon hearing those words. Funny. The child collected herself once, then calmly continued.

“…But I’m from Ruswena. Minister Ian, you’re a Bariel-born Minister of Magic. Since you’re going personally, it seems you have considerable expectations for that place. Please take me along too. Rather than frustratingly shuffling through papers up here, I prefer running around with my feet.”

“No.”

“Since you’re saying no, I want to go even more.”

“…You’re more of a troublemaker than I imagined.”

“Whatever you imagine, I can show you more than that. I have the second strongest mana in our village after grandmother. I’d be much better than those mediocre folks wearing headbands, right?”

Jaira glared at the firmly closed door. Stupid fools. If they wanted to eavesdrop, they should at least hide their presence.

While Ian and Jaira’s conversation wouldn’t leak outside, their mana presence was far too clear. It was like the red headband group advertising “we’re here.”

Burst!

Rumble! Crash!

“Wah! Wahhh!”

“Don’t push, don’t push me!”

When Jaira strode over and flung the door open, the Bariel mages who had been pressing their ears against it came tumbling out.

They had been curious about Ian bringing just one small child into his office. They needed to find out what kind of conversation they’d had, what the Ruswena mages’ position was, and how it would affect the pro-Ian faction currently on strike.

“Is this also part of etiquette? I’ll learn well.”

The child looked back at Ian and cheekily smiled while bowing politely.

Since this had happened several times during the strike, Ian simply sat on the sofa without comment and picked up a file folder.

“Since you’ve all come here, I suppose you’ve finally decided to help with my work. If you have nothing to do, move the processed reports.”

“That’s not it! The Mage Association will fight to the end!”

“We are fighting, but… ah, honestly we’re worried and curious about bringing in Ruswena mages who aren’t even Bariel citizens yet, so we came here.”

“That’s right! We’re worried—no, curious! You’re called Jaira, right? If you’re done talking with Minister Ian, could you talk with us too? As you can see, we mages are doing something very important.”

When the mage pointed to his red headband, Jaira perched on the sofa’s armrest with a disdainful expression. What kind of ridiculous nonsense was this?

“I don’t want to.”

“Eh?”

“Don’t mind me and continue with that struggle or whatever it is. I’ll be leaving the palace with Minister Ian soon anyway.”

Clink.

Ian set down his teacup with a sound, meaning she should exercise restraint. But the child only tapped her toes while continuing to chatter.

“Honestly, I don’t understand. Why exactly are you on strike? You want to keep Minister Ian in the Ministry of Magic, but you don’t want to follow him to the rift?”

Then Akorella pushed through the mages and strode forward. She grabbed Jaira’s nose tip without hesitation and shook it.

“Hey hey, you cheeky little brat! I thought you were extraordinary when I saw you before. You have exactly the same tongue material as Beric, huh?”

“Ah!”

“If Minister Ian goes to the rift, we go too. So from now on, behave politely, Jaira. The Ruswena mages are in the same boat as us.”