Eye of the Sky

Episode 30

“Perhaps this is unwanted interference?”

“Ah, no! Not at all! Please, I… I beg you!”

At Celine’s words, the Minister silently opened the lid of the lunchbox and used a fork to pick up a piece of food, bringing it to her mouth.

Opening her lips to receive the food, Celine felt an exquisite happiness.

‘The Minister is actually feeding me…!’

A day she had thought unlucky instantly transformed into the best day she would never forget.

She could almost find it in herself to be grateful for the injured hand.

But the happiness didn’t end there.

“What do you fancy next to eat?”

“Th-the sausage…”

Food, speared with a fork, continued its journey into her mouth.

Celine felt her heart ready to burst, watching the Minister carefully supporting her hand to catch any possible spills.

She wished this moment could last forever, but the amount of food was finite, and soon the bottom of the container was visible.

‘Ugh. If only I’d packed more.’

Though she smacked her lips in disappointment, Celine was genuinely delighted to have experienced something that would usually be impossible, so the Minister opened his own lunchbox and spoke.

“Let’s call it a day, and you go home.”

“Pardon? Oh, no. You really don’t have to be so considerate…”

“With both hands like that, you won’t be able to do your work properly anyway. Be good and go rest.”

Touched by the Minister’s exceptionally kind words, Celine felt a flicker of confusion.

‘Wait, both hands?’

She lowered her gaze to her hands.

Each hand was covered with a black glove.

Only then did she realize.

Why the Minister had gone so far as to personally feed her, even though she could have eaten perfectly well with her left hand alone.

Her pondering didn’t last long.

“…Then, as you say, I think I’ll head home for today.”

Until she was out of the Minister’s office, she had to put on the performance of her life to emphasize how much both of her hands hurt.

After Celine left and I finished my meal, I was sitting there, lost in thought, when Christina suddenly opened the door and came inside, snapping me back to attention.

I almost told her to knock, but decided against it. If she knocked with her strength, the door wouldn’t survive.

“What is it?”

“………”

Christina, having barged in as she pleased, didn’t say what she wanted but just stood there, staring at me.

Several minutes passed in that state.

I don’t know why, but I’m starting to get a little scared, so I wish she’d stop.

Then, Christina’s mouth opened.

“I saw everything.”

“What is it you’re on about?”

“The Minister feeding Celine.”

When did she even see that?

More importantly, *where* did she see that? Did she peek through a crack in the door or something?

“So what if I did?”

“……”

She fell silent again.

I was starting to worry she was upset, cautiously observing her, when Christina’s eyes began to redden.

What’s this? Is she awakening some new ability?

“……The Minister always dotes on Celine.”

Oh, hold on. Is she crying right now?

All I did was pack my lunch and put a piece of food in the mouth of a subordinate who’d hurt her hand.

Does that give her a reason to cry?

“Waaah!”

She’s crying.

She’s really crying.

The girl who tears people apart with her bare hands.

She was sobbing so pitifully, it tugged at your heart.

“Christina.”

“Waaah!”

Calling her name only made Christina wail even louder.

What on earth is going on here?

I have no idea why I’m spending my precious lunch break in a state of bewilderment while my subordinate bawls her eyes out, but I can’t just leave her like this.

I could sense the commotion outside growing little by little with Christina’s crying… Now what do I do?

Should I just start crying too?

“Waaah! Why aren’t you hugging me while I’m crying!”

All I had to do was hug her?

That’s easy enough.

I rose from my seat and went to her, pulling Christina into an embrace.

I could feel my chest getting damp with tears and snot.

Honestly, it feels a bit off.

“Ugh…”

I don’t quite grasp the principle behind it, but it seemed to work. Christina gradually ceased her weeping.

Sniffling, she soaked my clothes with tears and snot, looking up at me with swollen eyes.

“…You used to hug me right away when I cried.”

“When was that, ancient history?”

Don’t bring up those days. Just thinking about it exhausts me.

“Minister.”

“What is it?”

“You’re not just favoring Celine, are you?”

“No.”

“If you’re not favoring her, then why were you feeding Celine?”

“Her hand was injured.”

After hearing the explanation, Christina pondered something deeply before asking.

“If my arm got cut off, would Minister feed me too?”

“Not if you cut it off on purpose.”

“Tch.”

Tch, is right. You crazy kid.

“If you’re done, get out.”

I need to change. Lucky I keep spare shirts on hand.

“Can’t I stay like this a little longer?”

“No.”

“Are you going to cry again?”

“Do as you please.”

“Minister is really cold-hearted.”

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Christina cautiously broached the subject.

“Um, you know… I’ve been wanting to ask this for a while. Are you cold to us, maybe because of that…”

I returned my gaze and stared ‘straight’ at Christina.

“N-Never mind…”

“It’s alright. I’m not angry.”

There were just things I wouldn’t even speak of to myself.

Things the mere thought of was agonizing.

“Your mission starts this afternoon, right? Be careful.”

“Yep!”

I saw Christina off as she practically bounced out of the Minister’s office, realizing it was the end of lunch.

Turning back from the doorway, I took advantage of Celine’s absence and settled into my chair, spacing out for a welcome stretch.

—

Angela felt a certain…restlessness in the Magic Tower, more than usual. She snagged one of the researchers from her department.

“Everyone’s acting like a bunch of dogs desperate to pee. Is something going on?”

“Huh? Director Barmut, you didn’t know?”

“Know what?”

“The Grand Sage! They’re saying the Grand Sage is visiting today!”

Grand Sage Gideon Arbor.

A living legend of this age, known to every mage.

He was a wanderer with no fixed abode, constantly traveling the world, so seeing him was usually impossible. But he’d apparently crossed into the Empire to see his old friend, the Tower Master.

That explained the festive atmosphere. But Angela’s reaction was decidedly lukewarm.

“What? That’s all it is?”

“That’s…all? He’s the Grand Sage, Director!”

“Just an old wizard, if you ask me.”

“The young lady speaks true. Such titles are far too much for this old body.”

The moment Angela heard a voice besides her own and the researcher’s, she shoved the researcher aside, spun around, and conjured a wall of ice.

The reaction speed was astonishing, but inwardly, she was overcome with dread.

‘I let someone get behind me this easily? Me?’

The truly shocking part was yet to come.

The ice, summoned with all of Angela’s power, was being swallowed by a vast inferno.

Seeing this, Angela unleashed twin magic circles with both hands, launching into full battle readiness. The old man who had suddenly appeared scratched his cheek, looking almost embarrassed.

“Ahem. Forgive me. I didn’t mean to startle you so. Grant me your pardon, won’t you?”

Seeing the flames subside as quickly as they had appeared, Angela lowered her battle stance, gazed at the old man, and then bowed deeply.

“I greet the Grand Sage. Please forgive the unspeakable rudeness of one so junior, and accept my deepest apologies.”

The clash had been fleeting, but it was enough.

Angela had no choice but to acknowledge the old man before her.

In terms of magical power, combat experience, technique, and even mana control, he surpassed her in every way.

“Heh heh, a lady with a fearsome future, I see. Not easy to admit defeat so readily at that age, with your skill, it isn’t.”

“You flatter me, sir.”

The Archmage chuckled, amused by Angela’s reply, and stroked his beard.

“Fletcher, that fellow, got thoroughly thrashed in a head-on battle. I wondered what sort of woman he faced, but you’re beyond my expectations.”

“Thank you for your kind words. If I may be so bold, may I ask you something?”

“Ah, so that was the crux of the matter.”

With a playful smile, the Archmage nodded, and Angela pounced on the opportunity, firing away a question.

“Just now, I detected neither your presence nor your gaze, Great Sage. Not even the most skilled assassin could accomplish such a feat. I beseech you, please enlighten me on how it’s done.”

To the junior mage’s inquiry, the wizened elder mage raised a finger towards the ceiling.

“…Have you activated some sort of magic on the ceiling?”

“No, it’s nothing like that. Let’s see, where to begin explaining… Perhaps, are you familiar with the concept of ‘The Eye of Heaven’?”

Angela shook her head.

“Is that the name of the technique you employed, Archmage?”

“It’s not quite a ‘technique.’ The foundation of the Eye of Heaven lies in overview, that is, observing everything, including oneself, from a bird’s-eye perspective, in the third person. Anyone can do that much.”

Frowning, as if finding it difficult to accept, Angela listened as the Archmage continued his kindly explanation.

“The Eye of Heaven is a maximization of that panoramic view. Based on all the information received, from the basic five senses of sight and hearing, we construct a world in our minds as if seen from above, from the heavens.”

In essence, it was a product of the imagination.

“You’re saying mere imagination can conceal one’s presence and gaze?”

“It would be usually impossible, though it pains me to say it.” The Archmage chuckled heartily, then added that it wasn’t entirely unachievable.

“If the very way you perceive things is different, you might see what was previously unseen, even when looking directly at it. Conversely, you can also see what you do not directly look at.”

To see, yet not be seen.

Not to look, yet to see.

“Do you always view the world through that lens, Archmage?”

“In a way, yes. It may sound like bragging, but I’ve honed it throughout my life, to the point where I can cover the entire capital with my vision.”

She did not fully grasp it, but Angela had an inkling of what that sensation might be like, and she sincerely marveled.

“To conceive of such a concept yourself, it is impressive!”

“Hmm? No, no. The Eye of Heaven is not a concept I created.”

Angela tilted her head, puzzled by the Great Sage’s dismissive wave.

“Huh? Then who…?”

“Originally, it was a way of seeing the world belonging to a now-vanished clan. I learned it from them long ago, as well.”

The Great Sage requested understanding, claiming he couldn’t elaborate, before broaching a request of his own.

“If possible, would you permit me to meet with your brother, the Minister?”

—

Before leaving for the day, a subordinate informed me that Angela was here, looking for me with someone in tow.

So, this day had finally arrived.

I scrutinized myself in the mirror, smoothing my clothes and hair, putting the finishing touches on my preparations before heading out, only to be thoroughly bewildered.

Angela, my sister, I can respect all of your preferences, but even so, isn’t he a little too old?!

“Uwaaaghhh!”

He even threw up the moment he saw my face!

Just who is this geezer!?