Hee-neigh!

Viviana, who had been steeping tea leaves, turned her head toward the window. She had heard the sound of a carriage arriving. The long, long-awaited, precious guests from the far end of Bariel! Viviana wrapped an arm around her daughter Vivi’s shoulder and gave her a look that said, Let’s go together.

As she threw open the door, her eyes met with those of a woman with brilliant golden hair. Her dear friend, whom she had sent away in such a rush ten years ago. Overcome with joy, Viviana couldn’t help but let out a shriek.

“My lady!”

“Lady Viviana!”

“Goodness, it has been far too long! You must have had such a hard journey. My, you haven’t changed a bit. It seems I’m the only one getting older.”

“You look just the same, Lady Viviana. As does the estate. Nothing has changed from my memory. It’s so wonderful.”

“Lord Nersarn! Please, come in. Oh my, and this must be Roel. Hello! It’s so nice to meet you. My name is Viviana.”

“Thank you for your warm welcome, my lady!”

As Viviana greeted her, Roel responded with a polite, formal curtsy. They had called her a female Ian, and it was clearly not just about her appearance. Her entire aura was a perfect match.

Unable to hold back her smile, Viviana brought her own daughter, Vivi, to stand before Roel. It was their first meeting. Vivi, looking incredibly shy, hunched her shoulders and blushed.

Seeing this, Philea waved her hands, at a loss for what to do.

“To think that tiny baby has grown so much! I’m so proud, and it’s so amazing. It’s nice to meet you, Vivi. I’m Philea.”

“Ah, hello!”

“And this is my daughter, Roel. Roel is a year younger than you. I always hoped you two would meet someday, and now it’s finally happened.”

Vivi smiled shyly and held her hand out to Roel. Though they had only just met, the long nights of stories her parents had told her, and the occasional letters they had exchanged, had created a significant sense of closeness.

Roel noticed that Vivi’s eyes were sparkling excessively and glanced at Philea and Nersarn. Given the atmosphere, it seemed she had no choice but to take her hand.

“…A pleasure to meet you.”

“A pleasure, a pleasure! Roel!”

As Vivi leaned in to give her a cheek-to-cheek greeting, Roel decisively raised a hand to block her.

“I am not accustomed to imperial greetings.”

“Oh, right! Sorry, sorry! Do you want to come inside? I’ll show you my room. It’s on the second floor. Let’s sleep together while you’re here. Do you like books? What about pictures? Oh, I have a collection of flower petals, want to see it together?”

Vivi bounced on her feet as she tugged on Roel’s arm. Roel sent a silent plea for help to her parents, but both were lost in laughter and conversation with Viviana.

‘Hah, I suppose it can’t be helped.’

Just as she was being dragged away by Vivi, something caught Roel’s eye. Red hair.

“Ah.”

She had never seen him before, but she knew at once. The rough, messy hair, the ill-tempered look in his eyes, the sneering mouth, and the skin covered in scars.

“…Uncle Beric?”

“Uncle Beric?! Where, where?”

Beric was entering the estate with Romandro. More accurately, Romandro was pushing the back of a reluctant Beric who was digging in his heels.

“Ah, seriously, what’s your deal? I told you I’m busy!”

“What’s going to change if you’re an hour or two late?”

“Of course it’ll change! Your legs are short, Lord Romandro, so you can’t go far, but my legs are long! In an hour or two, I could pass through three more towns!”

“This brat! Listen to you! The only reason you’re fast is because of your mana, don’t you dare bring leg length into this! Oh, looks like they’ve arrived. Hooooy!”

Romandro, still gripping Beric’s collar tightly, waved his other hand enthusiastically. Roel thought the gesture looked familiar, and then realized it was exactly like Vivi’s.

‘Then the man next to him must be Lord Romandro.’

“Da-ad!”

As Vivi ran over, Philea and Nersarn also turned toward Romandro. It had been a long, long time. Romandro and Beric, completely unchanged. Philea felt tears welling up in her eyes. In that brief moment, all the hardships they had endured together ten years ago came flooding back.

While Romandro and Philea embraced, sharing in the joy of their reunion, Beric just scratched his head and scowled.

“Lord Romandro! Have you been well? You look good!”

“My lady. What more is there to say?”

“That’s right. What more is there to say? You’ve gained weight.”

“I have not!”

“Beric, you’ve gotten so tall. But you’re still the same. It’s so, so good to see you. Have you been well? Come here. Let me hold your hand.”

Philea caressed the back of Beric’s hand, her expression unreadable. It was admiration, and it was joy, and at the same time, it was sorrow.

If, if Ian hadn’t disappeared, he surely would have grown up just like Beric. Beric’s growth was a reminder of the growth Ian never had.

“Ah, seriously.”

Knew it. Beric ran a hand through his hair and muttered under his breath. Just as Philea saw Ian when she looked at him, Beric couldn’t help but see Ian when he looked at her. His hair was that brilliant gold, his green eyes were that deep.

“Roel. Come here.”

At Philea’s call, Roel slowly walked over. Romandro, faced with a presence far more intense than he had imagined, clapped a hand over his mouth.

Beric, on the other hand, just looked down at Roel impassively. The two sized each other up, their faces blank. Beric was the first to offer an impression.

“Damn… you’re a spitting image of Ian.”

And then, Roel.

‘…Dog.’

Philea, watching them, was inwardly surprised. How many people could say Ian’s name so casually? But her surprise was fleeting, and she soon broke into laughter and hugged Beric.

“Where are you going? I heard you were leaving the capital. Prince Jin’s coming-of-age ceremony is soon. You’re not going far, are you?”

“I’m going to Toolun.”

“Toolun? Why so far away?”

“There was a report that Rutherford appeared. I’m going to check if it’s true. If he’s there, there’s a good chance Ian is too.”

There’s a good chance Ian is too.

At those words, Philea’s eyes grew so wide it seemed they would spill over. She was clearly struck dumb with shock. She couldn’t ask a single question, only stare at Beric’s face as if to ask, Did I hear you correctly?

“And the annex is being built this year. It’s about time, you know. Time for Ian to come back.”

“U-um, Beric?”

“But they keep telling me to eat before I go. Honestly.”

“When will you get a proper meal once you leave? Of course we’re trying to feed you well before sending you off!”

“You know, you’re the only one who ever worries about me eating, Lord Romandro. Everyone else is always telling me to stop.”

Beric waved his hand dismissively. He had seen Philea and her family; there was no reason to stay here any longer. He would hurry to Toolun, beat Rutherford to death if he was there, and bring Ian back. And…

“Hm?”

Beric suddenly realized Roel was staring at him intently and quirked an eyebrow.

“What?”

“You’re going to Toolun?”

“Yeah. You know it?”

“I know of it… but never mind.”

How bland. Beric stretched his arms wide, turned his body, and walked away down the path he’d come, as if he had no lingering attachments.

Philea watched him go in a daze, then heard Roel’s murmur.

“It’s not Toolun.”

“Hm? Roel, what did you say?”

“But I suppose it won’t matter. He’s going to get lost anyway.”

What do you mean? Philea asked with a tilt of her head, but Roel pressed her lips firmly together, as if she would say no more. The girl let herself be led away into the estate by Vivi, and the adults remained silent for a long time, staring at the spot where Beric had disappeared.

Ian is coming back. What had been only a whisper on the wind now felt like a reality, stepping boldly closer, all thanks to Beric, who had so casually declared he was going to bring him back.

“Shall we go inside, then? You must be tired from your journey. For today, just rest well. Minnie has prepared your rooms with great care,” Viviana whispered, helping the half-swooning Philea to her feet. Don’t just stand here. Let’s go in together, and share our sorrows, and soothe them.

***

A brilliant light. Idgal. The wave of the Underground God. Rutherford’s pupils.

All the sights he had seen in the Sea of the Abyss swirled together, making Ian’s head spin. The throbbing headache was one thing, but the acrid stench that assaulted his nose was agonizing. Ian scowled and opened his eyes, freezing at the damp sensation that covered his entire back.

A roughly thatched ceiling… a stable?

‘What is this?’

As he tried to move his body slightly, every muscle screamed as if it were being torn apart. It seemed the only things that worked properly were his eyes.

Ian slowly scanned his surroundings to get his bearings and soon confirmed it. A warehouse, one that had been used as a stable.

“Ah.”

From the sunlight seeping through the cracks, it seemed to be daytime. But why was he here? Ian clearly remembered his last moments in the Sea of the Abyss—every single instant of his attempt to kill the Rutherford protected by the Underground God. In the end, a brilliant light had consumed his surroundings, and he seemed to recall a feeling of warmth. What was it? Just as the Underground God protected Rutherford, was I, too, protected by God?

‘I wonder if Rutherford knows the true identity of the thing he follows.’

Whether he knew its identity was the Underground God, or if he had been completely deceived, like the priests of the Carbo Temple. In truth, neither mattered much to Ian. Either way, it was a being that had to be cut down and dealt with for the sake of Bariel and the will of God.

‘However, he will serve as a guide for how to deal with Toolun when I return. There are traces of the Rutherford Guild having stayed in Toolun for a period, and their influence seems to have been considerable.’

Hah. Ian closed his eyes and tried to even his breathing. There was a mountain of work to do, and he wanted to move at once, but not a single finger would twitch. The only sounds were the chirping of birds, and—

Rustle.

‘Footsteps.’

Ian’s eyes shot open. At the same moment, the warehouse door opened. His form was silhouetted by the backlight, but it was a thin man, around forty. He seemed to have come to check on Ian’s condition, and let out an immediate cry.

“Oh, you’re awake!”

He had the form of a human. From his shabby clothes, he seemed to be of a low class, and likely uneducated. Even so, he spoke the common Bariel tongue fluently, which suggested this place was somewhere in Bariel. From his peculiar accent, it was likely an outlying region.

“I was worried what I’d do if you didn’t wake up today. Open your mouth.”

Just as Ian was about to thank the man for saving him and ask where, exactly, this was, he shut his mouth. For a way to speak to someone who had just woken up from unconsciousness, it was incredibly strange. Wouldn’t it be normal to ask if he was alright, or who he was?

Ian stared at the man with wary eyes, but the man paid him no mind and held out a bowl of watery gruel. He didn’t seem to be trying to kill him—it was just warm water—but his next words were still rough.

“I said, open your mouth. Ah, maybe you don’t understand me? You look like you’re from Bariel.”

Bariel. So it’s true. I’ve returned. As Ian kept his lips pressed firmly together, the man scratched his head and muttered, “This is a problem. It’ll be tough if you can’t understand words. Come on, ahhh! Ah! Open up! Like this!”

The man kindly demonstrated, gesturing with his hands and feet, even stretching his own mouth wide.

“The master said if you didn’t wake up by today, he was gonna sell you to the slave market. Sell you! You get it? A slave! Tsk! You need to get your strength back and greet him properly! If you don’t, you’re getting sold!”