Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 441

Deep reading.

That was the word that accurately described Zaira.

Ian looked down at the child’s head, who was lying flat on the floor amidst scattered papers, meticulously scrutinizing each letter.

Like a castaway in the desert burying their face in an oasis, the child had maintained the same posture for tens of minutes, seemingly unfazed by any neck pain.

He had thought she was unusual, but she was definitely different. No matter how bright she was, it was not normal for a child to show such concentration.

“The records…”

Clatter.

The shackle on Zaira’s left arm rattled. Ian knew what the child was about to say.

“Unfortunately, that’s all there is. A long time has passed. A time so long it’s almost meaningless. I’m just grateful that we even found that much.”

“The mage named Bandor went into the rift with his subordinates, and there were no reports after that. Anyone who called themselves Bandor was executed back then. Doesn’t that mean they were distrusted then and now?”

“That’s right. Just like you, Zaira, the people back then wouldn’t have believed them. But there’s a slightly interesting part. The first person to call themselves Bandor, and similar cases happened quite often after that.”

“Wait a minute. What’s so strange about that? It must be copycat crimes.”

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

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“It means that at least only one person was impersonating Bandor at any given time. This confirms that impersonating Bandor was not very beneficial to the people of that time.”

Zaira rested her chin completely on the floor while still reading the letters with her bright eyes.

“More than anything, among the first mages who impersonated Bandor, the abstract concept of the ‘Abyss’ became a tangible entity. It could be that magic developed as time passed, but I think that change has meaning.”

“It does have meaning. Even if it’s a faint hope, there’s nothing brighter in the darkness.”

Zaira propped herself up with her arm and stood up. Whether it was a record from a thousand years ago or two thousand years ago, it didn’t matter. If there was a way to the Abyss other than forbidden magic, anything would do. She would walk through fire if she had to, and she would dive into the deep sea if she had to.

“What about the records of the Lusswennah mages?”

“There are some. But not as many as these. Especially the forbidden magic, I only heard about it from my grandmother, and that was the first time I saw it properly.”

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

“…Wait a minute. Looking at this, there’s something that Ian needs to see right away.”

The child crawled over and pulled a small bag that was placed in the corner of the office. Since she had grown up in the forest with her family, Ian thought that Zaira needed to learn etiquette.

If she entrusted her future to Bariel, she would surely be a suitable candidate to lead the Magic Department someday. Ian lightly crossed his arms and advised Zaira.

“Zaira. No matter how short the distance, walking on your knees is not good for your health and goes against etiquette. Be careful from now on.”

“Wow, it’s just like everyone was worried about.”

“Everyone was worried? About what?”

“Some of my family members said that the Lusswennah mages who played and ate in the mountains might get indigestion eating at the Imperial Palace.”

However, Zaira didn’t seem to care much, and she squatted down and rummaged through the papers. The memos that were tucked in fell like the first snow in the middle of the night. Softly. Softly. The yellowed papers scattered on the floor, showing their age.

“But unlike Bariel, this is anonymous. I don’t know who wrote it, so I can’t easily believe it.”

“That’s the case with all records. Even if you saw it, it might not be the truth. Zaira. All we can do is believe it.”

Just like you did.

Believing even while erasing the limits she had set for herself, saying that she couldn’t save someone who had fallen into the Abyss. Drawing the Abyss in each person’s universe, each person’s sky, and each person’s truth.

Zaira understood Ian’s meaning and nodded.

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

Ian smiled brightly and looked at the papers. Round coffee stains, smudged ink, drawings that looked like scribbles. And two or three different handwritings.

-Just as the rift flows from the earth, the world below also flows. Flowing and flowing, the monsters that were close to the earth flow out.

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

-Look inside. What do you see?

-Nothing is more dangerous to the rift than conceptual things. If you look at it from a human perspective, you will never know.

“Is this a written conversation?”

“I think so. When I asked, no one knew. It’s probably a note that was used by the older generation, or the generation before that.”

“It’s quite difficult to understand. It looks like a riddle. It seems like one side is asking a question, and the other side is answering.”

Ian tilted his head and asked.

“By any chance, is there anyone new who joined Lusswennah in the older generation? Or someone who visited?”

“Well, I don’t know. Why do you ask?”

“It’s right to assume that at least one of the two is an outsider. Otherwise, at least one of the Lusswennah mages would have had an answer to this. If no one knew, it’s natural to assume that the writer was an outsider.”

“Is that so?”

Ian narrowed his eyes, holding the paper up to the sunlight. The handwriting that was showing through was somehow familiar.

As Ian tilted his head, Zaira reached out her hands as if asking for it back. Bariel was still Bariel, and Lusswennah was still Lusswennah. The information they brought was their weapon.

“There’s a little more, but I don’t have it with me. It was one of the ways to persuade my family.”

What remained in the mage’s forest was to be shared completely. Nothing was more precious, and no one was more needed. Everyone was equal.

Since they were jumping into the arms of Bariel, who had been their enemy, the Lusswennah mages needed to be even more united.

Ian raised an eyebrow and asked.

“Really? Who?”

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

Ian shrugged at the child’s prim words.

“Okay. Do as you please. But Zaira, as you’ve seen and heard, I will soon be stepping down from my position as Minister. The issues raised are not the only reason. But I cannot stay in ‘this’ Imperial Palace for long, as everyone expects.”

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

“I promise again that I will live up to that trust. Zaira. You and your family will live the life you want in Bariel.”

Ian fixed his gaze on the note in Zaira’s hand and urged her.

He wanted Zaira to continue her research on the Abyss independently, even if he wasn’t there. Of course, she was still a child, so her limitations were clear.

As days passed, and years passed, and life accumulated, Zaira would one day be able to realize her belief. A reality where she could save a mage who had fallen into the Abyss.

“I’ll be below, and you’ll be above.”

“…”

“Let’s look at the same place. Whether there is an Abyss below the rift, and if there is, how to save our loved ones. And whether there is a way to fill the torn earth. Zaira.”

The child rolled her eyes as if she was thinking about something. It wasn’t a request that required an answer, so Ian straightened his back and turned around without any regrets. But as soon as he took a step, Zaira spoke.

“I want to go with you too.”

He didn’t want that. As Ian frowned, Zaira took a step closer, not missing the chance.

“Logically, shouldn’t I be the one going out to investigate the rift directly?”

“You’re too young.”

A puzzled look flashed across Zaira’s face at those words. Funny. She was losing. The child composed herself and calmly continued.

“…But I’m a Lusswennah. Ian, you’re the Minister of the Magic Department, born in Bariel. Seeing that you’re going yourself, it seems like you have high expectations for that side. Please take me with you. Rather than being stuck up here shuffling papers, I’d rather be on the ground.”

“No.”

“Now that you said no, I want to go even more.”

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

“I can show you more than you can imagine. I’m the second strongest in magic in our village, after my grandmother. I’m much better than those mediocre people wearing headbands, you know?”

Zaira glared at the tightly closed door. Idiots. If they wanted to eavesdrop, they should at least hide their presence.

Ian and Zaira’s conversation wouldn’t leak out, but their magical presence was too clear. It was as if the group with the red headbands was announcing, ‘We’re here!’

Bang!

Thump! Crash!

“Whoa! Whoaaa!”

“Don’t push, don’t push!”

As Zaira strode over and flung the door open, the Bariel mages who had been pressing their ears against it tumbled in.

They were curious as to why Ian had taken only one little child into his office. They needed to find out what kind of conversation they had, what the Lusswennah mages’ position was, and how it would affect Ian’s faction, which was on strike.

“Is this also part of etiquette? I will learn it well.”

The child looked back at Ian and bowed with a sly smile.

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

“Seeing that you’ve all come here, it seems like you’ve finally decided to help me with my work. If you have nothing to do, move the reports that have been processed.”

“No! The Mama Union will fight to the end!”

“We, we are fighting. Ah, honestly, we were worried and curious about bringing in a Lusswennah mage who isn’t even a Bariel citizen yet, so we came here.”

“That’s right! We were worried, no, curious! You’re Zaira, right? If you’re done talking with Ian, why don’t you talk to us? As you can see, we mages are doing something very important.”

As the mage pointed to the red headband, Zaira sat on the armrest of the sofa and made a pathetic expression. What kind of ridiculous nonsense was that?

“I don’t want to.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t worry about me and continue your strike or whatever. I’m going to leave the palace with Ian soon anyway.”

Clink.

Ian put down his teacup with a sound, meaning to tell her to restrain herself. But the child only tapped her toes and didn’t stop chattering.

“I honestly don’t understand. Why are you even on strike? Do you want Ian to stay in the Magic Department, but you don’t want to follow him to the rift?”

At that moment, Acorella strode through the mages. She grabbed Zaira’s nose and shook it roughly.

“Hey, you cheeky brat! I knew you were unusual when I saw you before. Your tongue is the same material as Beric’s? Huh?”

“Ah!”

“If Ian goes to the rift, we’ll go too. So from now on, act politely, Zaira. The Lusswennah mages are on the same boat as us.”