While a future defined by agonizing stomach pain was being quietly finalized for Lilia, Tiana—who was enjoying a pleasant tea break with Kaito—asked him a question as if a sudden thought had just occurred to her.
"By the way, Kaito-kun. When I first arrived here, you had such a puzzled look on your face... That wasn't just because I was moving as if I were checking something, was it? You looked quite perplexed even before that. Did you sense something?"
"Eh? Oh, well... I'm not sure how to describe it properly. It felt like I was submerged in weightless water, or like the air itself had subtly shifted. I thought it was strange."
"I see. That was likely a reaction to me protecting the local space. It must have come as quite a shock."
"It was surprising, certainly, but it didn't feel malicious at all, so I didn't really mind."
Hearing Kaito's response, Tiana nodded as if satisfied. She took a sip of her tea and offered him a gentle smile. Then, after a short pause, she spoke to him again.
"Come to think of it, my current name, Tiana, is just something I came up with for use in this world. I should probably tell you my true name as well, just in case. My name is ∇∮◆￡. Were you able to catch that?"
"...Ah, sorry. It was the same when Canalis-san said it, but it just sounds like a high-pitched ringing to me."
"Ah, that can’t be helped. My name doesn't fit into the linguistic forms of this world, and it isn't something that can be vocalized within the auditory range of the creatures in this world or your own, Kaito-kun."
"I see. I suppose it makes sense that languages would differ when worlds are different. I heard that when I was summoned to Trinia, a magic effect for automatic translation was applied to me, but I guess otherworlds are outside its scope?"
"No, it should be fine for normal conversations with residents of other worlds. However, when it comes to words or frequency ranges that don't exist in the languages you can perceive, even translation magic is powerless. Besides, names aren't really the kind of thing you can translate in the first place. If there isn't a corresponding word in your world, you’ll only ever perceive it as a strange noise."
"I see..."
As she watched Kaito nod with a gentle smile, Tiana quietly let her thoughts wander.
(...So he really... 'can hear it.' My name, which exists in the Super-high Dimensional Hierarchy, shouldn't even be audible to beings of the Lower Dimensional Hierarchy in the first place unless they possess a very specific ability. Yet Kaito-kun can hear it, even if he can't process it as language. And regarding my arrival in this world... he sensed the power I used to protect the space. But Kaito-kun shouldn't have any ability to compensate for such differences in dimensional hierarchy...)
If this were a being with almighty power like Canalis, they could perceive Tiana’s name and power by transcending the gap between dimensions. Furthermore, if Kaito possessed some ability to perceive high-dimensional beings across the hierarchy... then, even if one ignored the premise that such an ability shouldn't work because the power gap was too vast, it might be possible for him to recognize Tiana’s name and power.
(...There is... something. Something inside Kaito-kun. I can't figure it out even with my omniscience. In fact, let alone Canalis or Electrone, even Nebula-san hasn't noticed it. The only reason I caught on was because Kaito-kun happened to have that puzzled expression the moment I arrived, and even now, facing him like this and using my omniscience because I suspect something is there... I still can’t see it. There is only one power in existence that cannot be recognized by any force—omniscience included—whose presence cannot be sensed, and which cannot even be noticed... Epilogue (The End of the Story). It’s likely a fragment of that power, isn't it? If a Fragment of The End of the Story <Epilogue> is inside Kaito-kun, neutralizing the impact and differences between dimensional hierarchies, then everything makes sense.)
While she suspected an incomprehensible power resided within Kaito, even Tiana—who was considered extremely high-ranking even among World Creators—could find no trace of it. If that were the case, by process of elimination, it could only be a power related to the Epilogue (The End of the Story).
(Did Shallow Vernal bestow it upon him to keep him safe? Or is the Epilogue (The End of the Story) itself trying to protect Kaito-kun? I don't know... but in terms of his safety, it’s the most reassuring thing possible. Well, there aren't any World Creators foolish enough to try and meddle in Shallow Vernal’s world anyway. If anyone tried to harm Kaito-kun, a vast number of World Creators, myself included, would move instantly to erase them before the Epilogue (The End of the Story) even needed to act. Since Nebula-san is here too, there isn't any problem at all.)
A Fragment of The End of the Story <Epilogue> was inside Kaito, and though it was only a guess, she assumed it would activate as a counter-measure. If so, even if Tiana tried to kill Kaito this very second, only "the end" would be waiting for her, and Kaito would remain safe.
(...In that case, it’s not really an issue.)
The realization had been accidental and remained purely speculative... but it didn't seem to have any negative effect on Kaito or his surroundings. It simply meant that Kaito could neutralize the differences in dimensional hierarchy. A situation that was already perfectly safe had merely become absolute.
(...Wait. If that's the case... then Kaito-kun could even come to my world in the High Dimensional Hierarchy if he wanted to. It also means it wouldn't be a problem if I gave him the kinds of items I had previously excluded. If so, the number of items for lovers that I can recommend to Shallow Vernal will increase... and maybe I can even negotiate... a Free Visitation Permit?)
Following Canalis’s advice, Tiana had informed Shallow Vernal of romantic items that didn't exist in this world during their negotiations. However, she had excluded items she thought Kaito wouldn't be able to experience due to the dimensional hierarchy, even if Shallow Vernal would be fine.
But if Kaito could ignore those differences due to the influence of the Little End of the Story <Little Epilogue>, she could introduce those as well. If she used that as a bargaining chip, there was a real chance she could win a visitation permit, just like Electrone.
(Well, I'll think about that later. For now, I'll just focus on enjoying tea with Kaito-kun.)
Serious-senpai: "So she’s actually the first one to notice the Little End of the Story <Little Epilogue>, something that even Shiro herself hasn't realized yet..."