Canis: "I can't understand. Why would you make such a deal? I get that the Manager of Ingris can't interfere with heaven's affairs. But you also follow the laws, right? Selling lifespans to a heretic isn't a normal duty, is it?"
The Manager blinked blankly.
Manager: "You're very direct. Usually, people pretend not to know these things. Anyway, fine. I have the ability to acquire concepts, which is why I was put in charge of Ingris' library. For tens of thousands of years. What do you think that means? I can't do anything here. That's why I need words. To escape this place."
It was an absurd claim. But theoretically, it wasn't impossible.
A Mara's lifespan was close to immortality. Though it was unclear how much time she had left, collecting words would eventually allow her to achieve her goal.
Canis: "You're trying to become the Akashic Records yourself."
Manager: "Hoho! Exactly! While controlling information here, I realized it. I could become a god too. But there's one thing missing! I erased all information about leaving this place. I need to fill that in! That's why heretics are my main customers. If I can just leave here, I'll become greater than Ra!"
Harvest spoke through the mental channel.
Canis, this woman is dangerous.
Canis also thought she was a bit unhinged.
Someday, she might collect enough words to complete the Akashic Records, but no one knew when that would be.
Of course, he could understand her feelings.
If he had been trapped in a library for tens of thousands of years, he would have gone mad too.
The Manager's eyes gradually filled with madness.
Manager: "Are you going to do it or not? You've been dragging your feet since earlier. Do you have some other scheme in mind?"
A bluish aura began to emanate from the Mara's body. A strong hostility was emanating from her.
If they didn't make a deal, it would be a fight. But could they win? If he died here, all his friends' efforts would be in vain.
Canis, this is dangerous. We need to be careful.
Harvest also began to grasp the risks.
The offer to extend one's lifespan in exchange for a single word was tempting to any human.
Honestly, when he first heard the offer, the first thing that came to mind was himself and Arin.
If their lifespans were extended to 300 years, what more could they want?
But they didn't do it.
The Unlockers who came here 200 years ago extended Kadum's lifespan as per the deal and returned to their original world.
The reason was simple.
They had to reveal their names.
The reason Canis didn't stake his lifespan was the same.
Was it safe to give his name to a Mara who could control all information?
If the Manager, who was already half-mad, learned the word "Shirone," he couldn't imagine what demands she might make.
I know. But we can't stall forever. We also need to disable the Mechan's System.
As Canis remained silent, the Manager's face twisted like a monster's.
She was on the verge of going berserk.
'Even a one-horned Mara would be a tough opponent in a direct fight. The only option is to stall for time by making a deal.'
It didn't seem like anything serious would happen if he gave up one word.
But those who came 200 years ago clearly said it wasn't a profitable deal.
Considering that history is inevitably influenced by the historian's perspective, it meant they had suffered a tremendous loss.
'In any case, they made the deal. That's certain. What exactly happens if you sell a word?'
Canis tried to imagine the situation 200 years ago. He couldn't recall anything.
Then a thought struck him. If his teacher had also come to Ingris, what choice would he have made?
'That's it! That's exactly it!'
Canis gave instructions.
I'll buy some time. You look for the panel with the serial number written in the memo. There must be something written there.What are you planning? Even if it's a dark magic enhancement method, we can't do it right now.No. My teacher must have known there was a Manager in Ingris. Yet, he only left a serial number, which means it might not be what we're looking for.I see. Got it. But the number is complicated, so it'll take time to find.
Harvest, who had disappeared into Canis shadow, was absorbed into the darkness and slipped away to another location.
Canis: "Fine, let's make a deal."
As Canis spoke as if giving up, the Manager's face instantly brightened.
Manager: "Good thinking! So, who? Whose lifespan should I extend?"
Canis: "No. It's Kadum again."
Manager: "Oh? Really? Whoever that person is, they're really lucky."
Canis: "But… this time, instead of extending it, return it to its original state. Ingris can do that, right?"
The Manager blinked as if she found it ridiculous.
While countless people had asked to extend their lifespans, this was the first time someone had asked to revert it.
A wicked smile spread across her lips.
Manager: "This'll be fun. Did something happen?"
Canis responded with the same smile.
The chieftain of Kergo, Kadum, was starving his tribesmen to death for his own immortality. Canis, who knew the pain of hunger well, didn't like him.
After all, he was a man who had lived 300 years longer by extorting money from his tribesmen.
It was a blessing that he wasn't killed outright and only had his lifespan reverted to its original state.
Manager: "Good, good. I like this kind of thing."
The Manager frantically tapped on the central control device.
Canis pretended to show interest while watching what she was doing. He was a layman when it came to machines, but it would be helpful to observe for later.
Manager: "There, it's done. I've restored the lifespan to its original state. Of course, there will be some differences depending on the person. People accept time differently. But this person probably won't live much longer. Subtracting 300 years brings them close to their biological limit."
Canis: "It doesn't matter. They've lived long enough."
Manager: "Hohoho! For a human, they've lived a long time. Now, then…"
Canis flinched and stepped back. The Manager's gaze had changed.
He had expected it to some extent, but seeing her mental state shift so quickly sent chills down his spine. He just hoped Harvest would move a little faster.
Manager: "Deal complete! Now, let's take that word!"
Canis: "Ugh!"
Canis grimaced as a headache struck. He didn't know what kind of ability it was, but it was an irregularity.
The problem was that it wasn't a price but a contract.
If it was an irregularity formed by a mutual contract, it couldn't be canceled, but it didn't violate equivalent exchange.
Canis: "Damn it! Wasn't I supposed to choose the word?"
Manager: "Kekeke! Of course! I'm just taking a peek. Huh? It's fine. Let's see what words you have. Ah, this is good. This one's nice too! I love them all! I'm going crazy!"
Watching the Manager scream with a rapturous expression, Canis corrected his misconception.
She wasn't just a little unhinged. Her obsession was similar to that of a number-crazed nerd.
Harvest, are you close?Wait! I've found up to the second item.
If it was the second serial number, there was still a long way to go.
Canis thought about stalling with magic.
But the magic didn't activate. Whenever he tried to recall a concept, she immediately deleted it.
'Damn it. So that's how it is.'
The Manager's irregularity, "Editorial Department in the Mind," allowed her to freely edit the thoughts of those she had a contract with.
The ability she was using on Canis was called "Recommendation," which edited his thoughts to suggest something.
While he could reject it and regain his original thoughts, the brief inability to think logically was fatal in a fight.
Manager: "How is it? Feeling disoriented? Eyes. Anger. Comrades. Focus. What else should I edit?"
Canis: "Damn it!"
Canis clenched his teeth to keep his thoughts from slipping away. Each time a word was taken, the linguistic structure associated with it collapsed, leaving a void in his mind.
Manager: "Kekeke! Now you see? How important a single word is? 200 years ago, that human sold me the word 'mosquito'! They said they hated it or something! Do you know what happened?"
Harvest!Almost there! It's the last item!
Canis couldn't regain his composure.
Even if he exercised his right to reject, the Manager's deliberate scrambling left him on the verge of losing consciousness.
Seemingly satisfied, the Manager grabbed Canis by the neck and lifted him.
Despite her fragile appearance, the strength of a one-horned Mara surpassed that of a Taboo.
Manager: "That human went mad after having nightmares about mosquitoes for days. Can you imagine? Seeing them in their dreams but not knowing what they were. Any human would go mad if they couldn't endure it. Kekeke!"
Canis realized how much history could be distorted.
It wasn't a profitable deal? They had lost their comrades. The value of a single word was ultimately a life.
Shirone: "You're… a scammer."
Manager: "Oh? Says the one with their own schemes."
The Manager turned her head while still holding Canis by the neck.
The panels where Harvest had swept through were all missing. She had probably searched through the panels to find words she didn't know and planned to sell them.
Manager: "Hoho, you're quite clever. But that's impossible. The words you can sell are only those with assigned meaning. I explained that earlier, didn't I? You're not very good at learning, are you?"
Canis's face turned pale. Blood wasn't reaching his brain.
Manager: "Come on, wouldn't it be easier to just give it up? Otherwise, you'll die here."
Canis (internally): "Ha, Harvest…"
Harvest: "I found it! Canis!"
Harvest ran his fingers over the words written on the glass panel.
Since he perceived the world through vibrations, the sentences on the panel seeped into his mind through the mental channel.
Canis's half-dazed eyes regained focus.
Canis: "Fine, I'll give you the word."
Manager: "Hoho, good choice. Now, what word will it be?"
'Recommendation' was indeed a powerful ability. But the true terror lay in 'Coercion.'
Activated by the contract, it permanently stole the word the target offered, and the aftermath was directly linked to life itself.
The Manager waited for Canis's answer with eyes filled with madness.
Even though he knew she was insane, he had to give up a word.
For her, this was the most thrilling moment.
Canis: "Eu…"
The Manager's brow furrowed slightly. She didn't particularly like words that started with "Eu."
Canis: "Eu. Re. Ka."
Canis immediately collapsed to the floor. Gasping for breath while clutching his throat, he looked up to see the Manager trembling, her face pale.
Manager: "You… how do you know my name…?"
The panel with the serial number left by Arcane contained information completely unrelated to dark magic.
It was a record of the Mara Chronicles.
Specifically, it detailed the Manager of Ingris, Eureka.
Eureka hadn't been insane from the beginning.
In fact, she had been a decent Mara who entered the minds of intellectuals to edit their thoughts and aid their creativity.
Perhaps tens of thousands of years of solitude had driven her to this state.
Eureka: "Ah, no! It can't end like this!"
Canis knew Eureka but had forgotten her.
In the end, the current situation meant that Eureka, who shouldn't exist, was existing, so she had to disappear according to the laws of causality.
Eureka: "No! I was so close! I could have become a god! Call me! Tell me who I am!"
Canis: "I'm sorry…"
Canis smiled faintly.
Canis: "I don't know who you are."
Shock filled Eureka's eyes. Her pupils flipped, and a scream filled with anguish raced through the walls of Ingris.
As Eureka vanished, the irregularity was lifted, and Canis regained his concepts.
Canis: "Phew, I really can't handle this."
Canis slumped to the floor. If Harvest had found the information even a little later, he would have been sent to the afterlife.
Wait, wasn't this place already the afterlife?
Harvest: "Canis, are you okay?"
Canis: "Yeah, more or less. I'll recover my mental strength after a little rest."
Ingris, now without its master, felt desolate.
Canis looked at the spot where Eureka had disappeared. Solitude was a painful word for him too.
As if voicing his thoughts, Harvest spoke.
Harvest: "She must have been lonely. Rotting in a place like this for tens of thousands of years."
Canis: "They say Maras are just resetting their life. In her next life, she'll probably live a better life than now."
A moment of silence passed, like a moment of mourning, before Harvest spoke again.
Harvest: "But Canis, there's something you need to know. The moment I came across the word 'Eureka,' some of Arcane's memories came back. It seems like that was some kind of keyword."
Canis, realizing something, jumped to his feet.