Ian Hielo.

Dozens of memories were attached to that single name.

Some remembered him as the forgotten viscount of a frontier territory, some as the long-vacant Minister of Magic, others as the hero who led them to victory in the Clifford-Burgos war, and still others as the saint who had vanquished the demon haunting the Imperial Household.

In the brief moment of Ian’s appearance, the images of Ian Hielo that flashed through people’s minds were as diverse and rich as history itself, impossible to unify into one. Though he had walked a single past, the memories they recalled were all different, like blind men touching an elephant.

“…”

It was the same for Jin Verocion. Faced with that faded name, Ian Hielo, he was consumed by memory.

The moment Mariv had swung a sword at him, the moment he had first stepped into the Great Assembly Hall, the moment he’d been told not to look down, the moment they had gone out in disguise and called each other brother.

Every moment he thought he had forgotten, despite never having done so, washed over him like a breath, and he felt himself suddenly suffocating.

‘How—’

I thought he was as deep and vast as the universe, but was he truly such a small child? The hand that led me, the back that walked ahead, the voice that spoke of truth. Did all of that belong to such a small child? It was strange, so strange, it was truly unbearable.

Jin held his breath without realizing it and studied Ian carefully.

“They’re saying Ian Hielo has returned.”

“Yes, but why is he so young? He looks to be barely seventeen.”

“He looks no different than he did when he disappeared.”

“Is that possible? Heavens, what an astonishing thing.”

“Could it be the power of a mage? Or the rift?”

“It is not normal. Let us observe for now.”

“His Highness isn’t moving an inch.”

“Could it be a monster wearing a human skin?”

“Watch your mouth! The Ministry of Magic is everywhere.”

The noise from the nobles grew louder, but Jin could not utter a single word. It felt as if the world had turned white, as if only he and the boy existed in the ballroom.

Ian, who had been waiting, was the first to finally lift his head. Jin’s eyes were looking down at him. Those unfamiliar yet familiar blue eyes were filled with his own reflection. For Ian, it had not been long since he’d faced him through the medium of a painting, yet the depth of his gaze had grown remarkably.

‘He looks just as he did in the portrait.’

The deep scar across his face and the firm, powerful set of his mouth were particularly eye-catching. He has grown so much. As Ian smiled at this admirable sight, Jin’s brow furrowed, as if all the things he had been holding back were about to surge forth.

“Sir Ian.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“…Just, how, how long—”

Jin mumbled, unconsciously touching his jaw. His voice trembled slightly, and the syllables were barely forced out, crushed between his teeth. The corners of his eyes had reddened, but thanks to the flower petals filling the air, no one noticed.

No, in truth, everyone was so busy looking at Ian that no one was paying attention to Jin’s eyes. Then and now, Ian hadn’t changed. By his very existence, he was the one who allowed him to breathe.

Jin barely managed to clear his throat and reprimanded him.

“…You said it wouldn’t take long. You said you would be back soon.”

“I was arrogant, Your Highness.”

“Your crime of abandoning the post of Minister of Magic without permission is great.”

“I am deeply sorry, Your Highness.”

“Your crime… is truly great.”

A sob lingered on the tip of Jin’s tongue.

How could you abandon the Imperial Palace and leave like that? You didn’t even say a proper goodbye, so for many years, I chased only the you in my memory. I chased and chased, until at some point you grew faint, and I let my memories of the past grow faint along with you.

But Jin managed to swallow those words. It was not the right time to let them out, to pour them forth.

“…Did you see the Sea of the Abyss?”

“I saw the Sea of the Abyss, and I navigated it. It was a place far deeper and darker than I had imagined, and a place that held everything I desired.”

“If you have found your answers, then the Sea of the Abyss is no longer important.”

“That is so, but I will report to you on this matter separately.”

Jin took a deep breath and nodded with considerable composure. This was not a suitable place for a conversation. Nobles who existed only to chatter, officials who calculated political tides, and even foreign delegations were watching him.

“Good. This will be an unforgettable day.”

Jin shot up from his seat, and Ian’s head followed his movement. As if intrigued by the grown-up Jin, his gaze lingered persistently.

And for good reason. Beric and the others had always been older than Ian, but Jin had not. With the passage of ten years, he had surpassed him.

“The Ministry of Magic will be summoned separately.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“The other departments are to be on standby as well.”

Oh, damn it. The officials who had been happily drinking set down their glasses, smacking their lips. It seemed an emergency meeting would be convened tonight. Then again, the Minister of Magic had returned with the secrets of the Sea of the Abyss; it would be absurd to just let it pass.

Unlike the officials, who were just exchanging glances, the nobles put their heads together and began to gossip openly.

Creeeak! Thud!

Jin turned his back without hesitation. He wanted to quickly clear the area and speak with Ian. The flow of the ballroom was already in a state where it was impossible to continue the ceremony anyway.

The moment the Crown Prince disappeared, the nobles and officials swarmed Ian simultaneously.

“Sir, Sir Ian. Is it really you?”

“Do you, do you recognize me? We met at the administration office!”

“You’ve been to the Sea of the Abyss, so how is it that you look the same?”

“Step aside, please don’t come so close!”

“Yeah, stop pushing! Shit, you’re going to crush Ian!”

“And who are you to dare speak before—”

“Beric! Beric of the Imperial Royal Guard! If you’ve got a problem, take a swing!”

“Sir Ian, do you really intend to return to your post? What of all the suspicions surrounding you? Now that your appearance is unchanged, I suppose another suspicion has been added.”

“What suspicions? What was there?”

“There were many. The one about you being of royal descent, and the testimony that you personally created Yggdrasil, and above all, that you had a relationship with Rutherford… ahem.”

“Shut up! What did you just say? Who are you and from where?”

“H-How, how dare you speak to—”

“And how dare you!”

“Ian! Iaaaan!”

A single woman pushed her way through the chaotic crowd. It was Philea. Nersarn used his arms to block the people, clearing a path for her, and thanks to him, Ian found himself, unintentionally but very naturally, in her embrace.

Squeeze.

“Heavens. Thank you. Thank you…”

“…Mother.”

“Ian, you, where were you? I was so… so worried. Are you hurt? Is anything wrong? Have you been well? Why, why do you look the same as you did then? Hm?”

As if in a dream, Philea touched Ian’s cheeks and shoulders over and over. Ian placed his own hand over the back of hers and whispered softly. The crowd pressing in from all sides made it difficult to have a conversation.

“Mother, I’m sorry.”

“Ian!”

“Just a moment, please wait just a little longer. I have returned to the Imperial Palace, so I must see its master, His Highness, Jin, first. Please do not be too disheartened.”

Philea’s eyes widened slightly. Something… something felt a little different from before. How should she put it? In the past, Ian had been kind and gentle, but there had been an indescribable wall.

Now, it seemed as if it had all melted away.

“Okay. I’ll wait. Always, a mother can wait.”

It was fine if he didn’t remember their song. It was fine if she couldn’t reach him, fine if she couldn’t see him. As long as he was alive like this, anything was fine. Philea slowly let go of Ian’s collar and was pushed back by the crowd.

“I told you not to come closer! Step back!”

“Sir Ian, let us see your face more clearly!”

“Wow, my goodness. He really hasn’t changed at all.”

“This isn’t normal. How can such a child be the Minister of—!”

“Move! I said, move! We’ll use magic!”

Ziiiing! Ziiing!

As the mages guarding Ian unleashed their mana, a path finally cleared and the people fell back. Ian grabbed Romandro, who was shouting at the crowd, and gave a short order.

“The commotion is severe. Please handle it well.”

“Don’t you worry. Just give them some booze, and they’ll be too busy drinking and chattering to think straight. Now, go on ahead!”

“Everyone, this way.”

“Yes, Sir Ian!”

Thump-thump-thump!

The boy, with the mages who followed him, ascended to the second floor of the ballroom. It was a place only royalty could enter, and just by turning a single corner, the surroundings became as quiet as if they’d entered a different world.

Ian stopped in front of the door the servants indicated and gestured for the mages to wait.

Knock, knock.

“Your Highness, it is Ian Hielo, Minister of Magic.”

“…Enter.”

Jin was sitting on the sofa. However, his elbows were on his thighs, and his face was buried in his hands. It looked as if he might leap up at any moment, or perhaps fall forward just as he was.

Ian closed the door firmly and called out to him.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

“…That appearance. Is it a curse you received from the Sea of the Abyss?”

“I do not know if it is a curse or not. It is simply because I was unaware that the timeline there and here were different.”

“I did not know that the ten days you spoke of meant this.”

“You were surprised, weren’t you? I was too. When I returned, everyone had aged. Your Highness. Forgive my impertinence, but you have grown up so splendidly.”

“Sir Ian!”

Jin shouted in a burst of anger, glaring at Ian. In the dim light, the Crown Prince’s eyes glittered with a particular shine. Ian recognized it as tears and frowned slightly. He shook his head, his gesture firm.

“You must not, Your Highness. Have you forgotten?”

“Forgotten what?”

“I asked that you smile, not cry.”

“It’s you, you!”

Jin rose from his seat and walked toward Ian. The green eyes he had once looked up to were now below him. Unbelievably so.

Jin asked, his gaze wavering.

“With those small hands, how did you ever hold mine?”

“Because Your Highness’s hands were even smaller.”

“How could someone as young as you do such a thing for Bariel?”

“Your Highness stood alone at an even younger age. Do you not remember?”

“I, I—”

Jin finally scrunched up his face, and a single tear fell.

“It is too heartbreaking. That the many deaths and tragedies we endured were even harsher than I thought.”

“That you endured them is enough. That you overcame them… is sufficient.”

Ian smiled brightly and patted Jin’s arm. You have grown well, Your Highness. The day I told you not to look down comes back to me so vividly. From now on, no matter where you look, I believe the crown on your head will not waver.

As Ian observed Jin with a proud look, Jin let out a laugh of disbelief.

“It’s absurd. That you have now become smaller than me.”

“I knew. That one day, Your Highness would become taller than me.”

Unlike himself, who had been cut down before reaching adulthood, Jin was the emperor who would carve an infinite future into history. Of course, he had expected that one day, he would surpass him and arrive there first.

Although, he never thought he would see it with his own eyes. And in a situation like this.

“Ian Hielo, you are to be reinstated as the Minister of Magic.”

“Yes, Your Highness. As you command.”

“…Bariel needs you.”

At Jin’s sigh-laden acknowledgment, Ian smiled and replied.

“I need Bariel as well. Always, and forever.”