The day after his return from the research trip, Jin took Erza, Saki, and Hannah to his predecessor's study.

Reiko led the way.

"It's been years since I've been here. ......"

Jin followed the corridor, wondering about that too.

He woke up in this world, met Reiko's predecessor, an automata, and was led to the study of his predecessor.

Jin opened the door, which Reiko's predecessor, an automata, was not allowed to open.

There was a bookshelf full of books, a simple but solid desk and chair, a book and a crystal ball on it.

Jin touched the door, immersed in his memories.

"Nn...... that?"

At that moment, Jin felt a light dizziness.

"This is ......."

At that time, he had pushed the door open by pulling it, and he was surprised to find himself in such a daze this time as well.

I turned around and looked at Erza and the others, and they looked dazed.

"I knew it."

Jin guessed that there must be some kind of mental protective barrier around here.

Compared to when he was summoned, he was more perceptive now that he had more experience in a world with magic.

"I guess that's the last precaution to avoid being disturbed," he said.

Jin then instructed the old man to deploy the <>, one of the functions of the bracelets the three of them had.

I also put up a <> as well. This makes magic attacks ineffective.

"......"

"Huh?"

"...... were you sleeping?"

The three seem to have come to their senses.

"Yeah, I just noticed that there's some kind of mental barrier around here. That seems to have unnerved everyone."

Jin explains as he examines the door.

"There it is. This is ......."

The Magi Formula is engraved on the back of the door. It was something that Jin had never seen before.

"There is also some writing on it. ......What is it?

Jin slowly read the words.

"<>...... Reiko, did you know about this?"

But Reiko shook her head apologetically.

"No, father. No, father. I didn't know. Maybe you just don't remember.

Perhaps not remembering is more accurate.

Reiko's predecessor, an automata, had taken care of her predecessor and guided Jin through the presence of this ward.

"I didn't know there was such a magic formula (Magi Formula) ......"

Jin recognized some of the characters used. They were probably the characters used by the .

They are the prototype of the letters used in Ars today.

The difference between Greek and Roman letters is about the same. Even Jin can barely read them.

"The previous generation must have learned about this magical formula somewhere and copied it in its entirety.

Picking up the readable parts, we can guess that the effect is similar to <>, but there are no aftereffects, and it seems to have the effect of simply making people less interested in this place.

There is a magic called <>. It is a magic to erase the presence of others, but it loses its effect if one speaks out or is attacked.

Jin guessed that it was of the same lineage. Furthermore, it seems that this warding is effective against automata and golems.

When she traveled with Erza and Reinhardt in the Kingdom of Elias, Reiko had once been unable to detect the presence of a bandit who was wearing an amulet with <> effect.

However, once you are aware of it, the effect is gone.

Reiko's predecessor, an automata, knew this place well enough to guide Jin without hesitation during their last visit.

However, Jin must have been affected to the extent that he was surprised when he pushed the door that he had to pull to open.

This ward is very useful. If we put it around Horai Island, Jin thought, the chance of being discovered would be reduced even more than it was now.

"So, why didn't my brother Jin remember this place until recently?"

As Jin thought about this, he heard Erza's voice and came back to himself.

"Yes, it seems so. It seems that after leaving this room, he no longer has any use for this place.

"Why did your predecessors set up ...... this kind of ward?"

Saki tilted her head. Jin guessed.

"I think the point is that he <>. I guess his predecessor in his later years was a misanthrope. ......"

"......"

What happened to his predecessor, who had a cheerful personality according to the records so far? I feel as if I would like to know, but I feel as if I would prefer not to know.

He couldn't stay in the corridor all the time. Jin looked up, took Reiko's hand, and stepped into the room. The others remained in the hallway waiting.

"This is the second time you've come to my predecessor's study.

As before, I was flooded with bright light as I stepped into the room.

"I was so surprised that time that I didn't take the time to show you the room. ......

Jin looked around the room.

The same simple but solid desk and chairs as before.

And a jam-packed bookshelf .

"...... Huh?"

I picked up one of the books and saw that it was blank inside. In other words, it was a dummy book.

Why go to all this trouble for such an elaborate book, Jin thought to himself.

Then, he gently touched the bookshelf.

He felt the bookshelf move slightly.

"......?　That's strange, such a massive bookshelf.

I checked it out and soon found out the reason why.

The bookshelf slides sideways. Jin slowly moved the bookshelf.

"Oh!

Hidden in the bookshelf was a door.

On it was the name written in gold letters.

"I wonder if this is really her private room."

Jin gently opened the door. There was a similar room there. No, the room in front was a dummy, and this one must be the original.

The same heavy bookshelves, shelves full of books, desks, and chairs. But there is one thing different.

"Paper cranes ......"

In the middle of the bookshelf, there was a transparent case, probably made of crystal, in which a yellowed and old folded paper crane was placed.

"Father, is this the one that your mother received from your grandfather?

Reiko asked when she saw the paper crane that her predecessor had treasured.

Perhaps she remembered it when she was an automata, Reiko's predecessor. However, the memory seems to have been lost with the damage of the deteriorated control core.

In this sense, this visit is very significant for Reiko.

"Yes. First of all, I'm sure."

"It's your mother's treasure, isn't it?"

How many years have passed since Shuki gave it to her, and how many years has it been on display here for more than a thousand years.

You can imagine how much Adriana Barbora Zetsi cherished it.

Jin and Reiko, who had been lost in deep emotion for a while, remembered that Elsa, Saki, and Hannah were still in the hallway.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Come on in, guys."

"...... sorry to bother you."

Sorry to bother you.

"Sorry to bother you."

All three of them said a few words in quiet voices before stepping inside, which made Jin happy.

"......This is the study of our predecessor."

"So this is the room of my predecessor, the Magecraft Meister.

"He was your master, wasn't he?　It was thanks to him that you met Onii-chan, wasn't it?"

Hannah murmured as if to confirm rather than ask a question, and offered a silent prayer for <>.

Seeing this, Elsa and Saki offered a silent prayer as well. Jin followed their example and meditated. And Reiko also said a silent prayer at .......

"Thank you, everyone."

After about a minute, Jin opened his eyes and thanked them.

"So, this is the real study of my predecessor. Perhaps there are some records on this bookshelf.

"Yes, father."

A number of books with black leather spines were inscribed in gold letters.

About half of them were written in Japanese, though in hiragana.

"Shuki-san didn't teach you kanji. No, there were too many things to teach, or it was not a priority. ......

In any case, Jin thought, it was no wonder that the Magi Formula composed by his predecessors did not use Kanji characters.

Then he picked up a book.

It looks like a brand-new book, probably enchanted for preservation.

Of course, this was probably due to the fact that the whole room was sealed with magic.

"This must be the record left by my predecessor. ......"

On the spine of the book was written <>. It must mean "my footprints," or the footprints of my footsteps, or the first book of the diary.

It is closed with a belt made of the same leather so that it cannot be opened easily.

The diary can be opened by removing the metal clasp that holds the belt ......, but Jin hesitated to open it.

Jin hesitated to open it.

"Father, what's wrong?"

Reiko asked curiously.

Jin looked a little troubled and answered.

"No, I felt like snooping in someone else's diary. ......

"Father, if that's the case, I'll take care of it. If a daughter looks at her mother's diary, it would be permissible, wouldn't it?

I see. ......

It may be a sophistry, but it makes me feel more comfortable. Jin handed the diary to Reiko.

Reiko received the diary, tried to remove the clasp, and noticed the words written on it.

"Father, there is a kind of a warning written here. ......<>."

"...... I see."

Once again, Jin took the diary from Reiko, unfastened the clasp, and slowly opened it.

* * * *

"......The first part of the diary seems to be the same as the trajectory of the < we have seen so far."

Jin said as he turned the page.

"Yeah, it says here that Shuki died. This is where the unknown begins.

.

Jin began to read in a whisper.