"I figured out the true identity of the miracle."
Let's rewind one week before the town sunk.
"True identity? So it's man-made?"
"Well, half of it. At the very least, no god's involved."
"Just tell me already! Engy dear! No secrets between lovers!"
Who's your lover?
But Claire also looked intrigued, so I explained.
Phoenix seemed indifferent.
"The miracle's true identity - it's a sinkhole."
"Sinkhole?"
A sinkhole refers to a large cavity forming underground when rock and space collapses, whether due to natural erosion by groundwater or some scientific shift.
While some have artificial origins like quarries, this case was a bit of both.
The feeling of floating came from the entire town dropping into the hole.
Falling into a hole isn't something you'd normally miss, but the sheer scale precluded noticing.
Circling the town's perimeter revealed unnatural faults everywhere, which in retrospect explained the sense of wrongness I first felt seeing the town from the forest.
"Eh, a hole? I've got one too but... Holes that big can just appear suddenly?"
Is she even listening?
Head tilted quizzically as if to say Did I say something strange? How odd.
The bird had begun lounging, and I glanced at Claire with an Oh well expression.
"...I've got one too."
Alright, got it.
"I don't think holes engulfing entire towns normally form."
The world would be riddled with holes in a panic if this casually happened everywhere.
"But two factors here enabled it."
"The God Stone?"
I nodded. The other one was...
"Yup yup! I get it, I get it! The other is the magic water, right?"
"Correct. First, that so-called God Stone is just an enchanted magic stone."
"Eh! No way! But even so... Too big!"
Ignored.
Magic stones possess magical power. Simple magic can be imbued into them, often used by those unable to properly use magic, like to create fire.
Nothing strange about finding them in large town tool shops. But magic stones that enormous, I've never seen.
Forming naturally, how many years or decades... No, centuries would it take?
"Its nature as a magic stone is clear, though the reason is unknown. The earth magic embedded is likely some rock-carving type. But that alone wouldn't cause this."
"So the magic water, got it. Yeah, a bit scary now that I understand."
Right. The rivers and groundwater infiltrating the earth here all originated from that mountain.
Or more precisely, the magic spring of the Lake of Spirits.
The guy who said he was in great shape since coming here was replenishing his magic by drinking the magically-infused water.
In other words, the miracle was the magic stone's magic permeating the surrounding earth through the magic water, triggering the collapse.
Unlike natural sinkholes, using magic caused the instantaneous cave-in of the underground rock, creating a falling sensation at the surface as if floating.
Impossible on Earth, but this world made it possible.
"Woah~ Pretty impressive realizing all that."
"...Amazing."
Can't complain about praise.
Feeling a bit smug, I spoke while looking at the blindfolded girl's face. Slipped out.
"Ah... Hate to admit it, but you were part of what tipped me off."
"Oh! Could it be you yearned to enter my hole, and that desire was the catalyst—"
"No. When we fell in the Lake of Spirits, remember? I saw cracks at the bottom. That was the first sign."
I figured it could withstand a few more miracles with smaller impacts.
But total collapse was imminent. Unaware townsfolk would die then.
"As expected of my beloved! You're so smart!"
"Stop it. I absolutely don't want to be your beloved. If it's set in your mind, please rescind it if possible."
"...Amazing. Engy."
"Right?"
"Mm~! But I created the chance! Be nicer to me! Pay more attention! Love me!"
Full body appeal for attention. Ugh, annoying.
"On second thought, getting punched by that washboard spirit was the catalyst. Not you."
I pried her off and punted her away.
"Geez geez! But I, I also... Wah~"
The blindfolded girl cried after rolling to a stop.
"What will you do?"
Growing accustomed perhaps, Claire asked ignoring her.
"Well, I've got a solution of sorts. We did get help from the townspeople."
"I'll help too."
Claire made a fist in front of herself, showing motivation.
"Hmm... For now, just keep being the miracle maiden as usual. That'll help me."
"Okay... Got it."
Slightly dissatisfied, but can't be helped.
While I do plan on helping the townsfolk, I intend to steal the God Stone during this chance.
Can't get her involved in a thief's schemes.