Book 3 Chapter 5

Episode 54

On a weekend morning, with clear sunlight streaming down, I grabbed Tureyna’s book and went outside.

I had thought about researching Tureyna's abilities, but as someone practically ignorant of witchcraft, it wasn’t an area I could touch.

The wound still ached and throbbed from the poison’s influence, but now I had to deliver this book to Karen.

'That person will be busy now, I suppose….'

They would have to forge a loan certificate and stamp a new library seal on the book.

As I hurriedly exited the main gate of the dormitory, I collided with something that suddenly sprang out, causing me to drop the book.

"Oh dear…"

Normally, I would have just been pushed back a bit, but due to the injury from <Ledacavell>, I ungracefully fell on my backside.

"Are you alright?"

The person politely asked and extended a hand. I grabbed the hand and stood up without much thought… then my heart and breath instantly stopped.

It was the student council president, Valencidis.

As Valencidis helped me up and picked up the dust-covered book, brushing off the dirt, a tension so intense that my palms grew sweaty enveloped me.

"『The Disciples of Lin and Fride, The Life and Achievements of Tureyna, the Miko of Cigarette Ash』, you say…?"

Oh, goddammit…

Now that I think about it, he was a black magic user too. Was he waiting for me? To retrieve the book? No, that can't be right.

'Then, revenge for his comrades?'

This is also ambiguous. Not all black magic users belong to the same faction… And since I defeated both of them, my information shouldn't have leaked out.

"Unlike your cheeky appearance, you read such books?"

A strange light flickered in Valencidis's eyes.

I need to remain calm.

If Valencidis truly is an accomplice, the one who shows emotion first here loses.

"There's no reason why I shouldn't read it."

I fumbled with a cocky expression, but my mouth was already bone dry.

In my current physical state, fighting this guy, who is surely several times stronger than Ribeny, would result in my death in 5 seconds, no exaggeration.

Valencidis let out a cynical scoff, as if in disbelief.

"Surprising. Don't you know this is a forbidden book?"

"A forbidden book?"

"Currently, all books about Tureyna are forbidden books. Did you borrow this from the library?"

"Yes."

"Then that's a big problem. The 'Golden Children' are at the Central Library right now."

Is this what it feels like to be caught between a rock and a hard place?

I felt my breath catch in my throat. Black magic users in front, inquisitors behind, is that it…?

My pupils shook uncontrollably, but Valencidis unexpectedly turned around docilely and began to walk away.

'Phew…'

Just as I was about to let out a sigh of relief, Valencidis glanced back over his shoulder.

"Why aren't you following?"

"……?"

"Why are you so flustered? Do I look like the kind of person who would hand a junior over to the Inquisition?"

Well, he's not *that* kind of person. He's a black magic user who would kill you so brutally that being interrogated would be preferable.

Looking into his hollow, profoundly dark eyes, my heart trembled.

But I couldn't show it, so I responded with a mischievous expression.

"You wouldn't, of course. Unless you were the kind of person to exploit a weakness for more leverage."

Valencidis snorted with a "humph" and changed direction.

"I was going to guide you to the back entrance of the library, but if you don't need it, then never mind."

At that, Rain hastily grabbed Valencidis's sleeve.

"You know how much I respect the President, don't you? I was just playing a little prank because I wanted to talk to you longer."

This was high-level psychological warfare. I absolutely couldn't reveal that I was wary of Valencidis, a black magic user.

If I refused something that had absolutely no reason to be refused, he would surely suspect me.

For now, I must act on the conviction that he is an accomplice of Ribeny…

"……"

Valencidis stared directly at Rain, as if weighing something, then shook his head with a sigh and motioned for him to follow.

As they crossed the campus, students out for a weekend stroll greeted Valencidis warmly.

Some students asked questions about math, while others grumbled about club funding being too low, but he answered everyone sincerely.

'He really is an enigma.'

Watching him like this, I couldn't imagine him being an accomplice of that Ribeny. No matter how I looked at it, their factions seemed different…

"Do I look like a good person, seeing me doing good deeds?"

As they passed through the campus and entered a garden that detoured behind the library, where foot traffic was sparse, Valencidis unexpectedly asked.

"No."

"Good. Don't judge people rashly. Their tone, their expression, their words and actions… all can easily masquerade as good. The person who hides their true intentions and acts is the most terrifying."

As Valencidis spoke, my heart trembled uncontrollably. What was he trying to say? Why was he saying such things?

"Are you perhaps talking about Tureyna?"

I feigned ignorance.

However, Valencidis's voice dropped ominously, and he gave an ambiguous answer.

"Perhaps."

My eyes wavered. Does he know about Tureyna? If Tureyna had truly embraced black magic, it wasn't impossible.

But should I ask this?

Wouldn't he suspect at that moment that I knew his true identity?

Perhaps this was a trap. Was it high-level psychological warfare? As I desperately racked my brain.

"You weren't around during the holidays. It seems you went on a nice outing somewhere?"

Valencidis quietly hit the nail on the head. I tried to answer something in surprise, but merely closed my mouth.

'Should I make the first move?'

My neck shivered in the wind that swept through the garden.

The crunching sound of footsteps on the dusty ground grated harshly on my ears. Cold sweat beaded on my back.

A preemptive strike is inevitable. I can't control my strength. Capture is impossible; I'd have to move with the intent to kill… What excuse would I make later?

"──No, I said I didn't borrow it!"

Just then, a voice echoed through the rustling commotion of the forest. It was at the end of the garden's maze, where turning a corner would lead to the library's back entrance.

"But Professor Ellin Ludwig's name is on the loan certificate?"

"Ah, I'm really telling you it's not me!"

That voice was unmistakably Aunt Ellin's.

What's going on…?

I dashed past Valencidis and, moments later, saw Ellin Ludwig arguing at the back entrance.

"Auntie, um…"

And facing her, a pair of men and women stood, clad in plate armor embossed with the pure gold crest of the Mad Dragon Haraderiman, carrying shields and maces.

The Papal Inquisition's direct agency, 'The Golden Children'.

The man looked back at Rain with an expressionless face, and the woman, who had been politely speaking with Ellin, whistled.

"……"

Her nephew, who appeared out of nowhere, the expression of dismay and bewilderment on his face… and the book in his hand, a forbidden book.

Ellin Ludwig, who had grasped the entire situation in a very brief moment, crossed her arms and feigned complete ignorance with an air of superiority.

"See? I was going to return it today, so I didn't borrow it, did I?"

"?"

"If that slow-witted nephew of mine had carried out my instructions a little faster, I wouldn't be in the state of borrowing the book right now, would I?"

Then she approached Rain and roughly snatched the book away. "Don't say anything," she whispered with her mouth movements.

The inquisitors exchanged glances, dumbfounded by Ellin's behavior. The most dumbfounded, however, was Rain.

The female inquisitor, without even a sigh, still smiling, asked.

"I understand. So, you're not currently borrowing the book, but you admit to having borrowed it?"

"That's right. But why is that a forbidden book?"

It would be a nuisance for a while, but Ellin herself wouldn't suffer any particular loss from being bothered by the inquisitors.

She hadn't committed a taboo by using black magic, nor had she become a follower of Tureyna; she had simply read a biography of a great figure.

Rain would be in the same boat, but he was a student.

A time when every second is more precious than any other time in life… She simply judged that it would be better to protect him.

"It's a bit difficult to discuss here. So, could you spare us some time?"

"Of course. But you know I'm busy, don't you? This very body is the genius professor of <Delytein>."

"We know. And will you hand that book over to us? The confiscation order has already been submitted to the Central Library."

Even as she was being escorted away by the inquisitors, Ellin held her back straight and maintained her haughty demeanor…

Staring blankly at her, I then hurried into the library, found librarian Karen, and brought her to the back door.

Karen, who had been extremely anxious about the inquisitors' appearance, was pale-faced.

"I only just found out about this… I've been so distracted lately, I'm truly sorry."

Karen explained how the situation came to be where Ellin, instead of me, was listed as having borrowed Tureyna's book.

Such…

Indeed, both of them must have been distracted at the time. To forget that freshmen couldn't borrow books in their first semester and put my name on the loan register. I felt terrible for my aunt, who got caught up in this by chance.

"Karen, as a librarian, you know a lot about forbidden books, right?"

"Yes?"

"Do you also know the penalties for reading a forbidden book?"

Forbidden books are classified into three grades.

Grade 1 is Ang (殃), these are publicly announced books that everyone knows are forbidden, typically books about the 'Forgotten Kings', the lords of the abyss.

"Grade 2 is Gui (鬼)… these refer to books that compile black magic. There are no officially published books, mostly just manuscripts or ancient editions."

Grade 3 is Heom (玁), books that could be dangerous fall into this category.

In this case, the Papacy used a method of quietly moving to confiscate such books spread across the continent, rather than making a public announcement.

Most owners don't know the book is forbidden, only finding out when a bookseller or library librarian informs them.

"Tureyna's book here is a Heom. If you don't have a notorious criminal record or aren't a person of suspicion, it usually ends with just a few investigations."

Hearing this, I felt a little relieved. I don't particularly like bothering others, and Aunt Ellin is family, after all.

"But how did you get it? I heard <Ledacavell> was in chaos…"

I got it from <Ledacavell> itself, I thought… but instead of saying that, I just shrugged my shoulders as if it were an industry secret. Then, as I turned my back to leave, Karen suddenly bent deeply at the waist and bowed.

"Thank you, Young Master. I will never forget this kindness for the rest of my life."

I hesitated for a moment.

It had been a very profitable trip for me… except for being targeted by black magic users.

It was nothing to me, but it seemed to have been a very significant matter for her.

"No need for thanks. It was just something I did incidentally, anyway."

"Do you know how many people wouldn't even do that 'incidentally'?"

"Alright… just manage the books better from now on."

I felt a warmth inside me, but I didn't show it. To hide my embarrassment, I waved my hand and quickly left.

* * *

'His expressions are too honest… too honest.'

Valencidis, who had been hiding in the darkness of the garden, observing the entire process, narrowed his eyes.

'His talent as a wizard is outstanding, but his talent as a spy is utterly useless.'

Rain Ludwig, I was certain when he raised his magic in response to my killing intent.

And I was certain it was a book brought from <Ledacavell> just by the musty smell of the sewer ingrained in its cover.

'So he was truly the one who dealt with Ribeny and Mirek, after all…'

Valencidis let out a sigh close to a lament. Dark blue flames erupted from his hand, burning the book he was holding without a trace.

On the leather binding, which charred black then turned to ash, these words were written:

[The Disciples of Lin and Fride, The Life and Achievements of Tureyna, the Miko of Cigarette Ash]

He had swapped it out earlier when he purposely collided with Rain.

The book the inquisitors took would have the correct library seal. So there would be no problem. Because it was the book Valencidis had previously taken from the Central Library.

Valencidis watched indifferently as Tureyna's biography scattered into ashes, and in the next moment, his body silently vanished into the darkness.