Episode 35
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The fear and horror that the people had of the Duke of Saxony was by no means exaggerated.
Even though the Black Tower of the Black Empire was unfolding a conciliatory policy unlike before, the darkness of the old era that their clan had built up was not so shallow that it could disappear overnight.
The Book of the Black Goat was the very embodiment of evil that symbolized the darkness of their clan.
‘Only Confucius can enter the library of hell.’
The underground passage of the Apostolic Palace. Dale walked, remembering his promise with Cardinal Nikolai. The stairs, covered in thick darkness, continued on endlessly.
‘Also, the church will not take any responsibility for what happens in hell… … .’
All they can take is one grimoire. And in return, Dale and the Duke of Saxony swear eternal silence about the ‘corruption of the Church’.
The above content is the contract magic that the White Tower is proud of… … It was a deal made through “Geas.”
The Oath of the Gods. A binding contract made with the hearts of the two parties to the contract, Dale and Nikolai, as collateral.
As long as the Geass is in effect, there will never be any doubt about the maintenance of confidentiality and trust. As soon as either party becomes aware of breaking the contract, the Geass curse will activate and cause their heart to burst.
‘It was information that had no value even if I went around telling the neighborhood about it anyway.’
Now, spreading the truth that only the warriors know and destroying a few high-ranking cardinals will not make a difference. However, since they are bound together as a community of destiny through Geass, the church cannot help but be an ally of the House of Saxony.
To win the heart of the church is to win the heart of a goddess.
What Dale got from the Sistine Chapel was nothing short of killing two birds with one stone.
This was only a story about being able to get out of this place safely.
At the end of an underground passageway, gleaming with the dim glow of crimson lamps. The entrance to hell. A stone gate with ominous writing engraved on it blocked Dale’s path.
[Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.]
And the moment I read those words.
“Keeeeeek!”
In that place where not even a slight breeze blew, the artifact ‘Shadow Cloak’ disguised as a black surcoat began to run wild. Dale raised his head, suppressing the shadows that were swaying along the shadows at his feet.
It’s the resonance of darkness.
After raising my head, I took a step forward without a moment’s hesitation.
Beyond the gates of hell.
* * *
It’s not for nothing that they call that place ‘hell’.
A single, massive dungeon that takes its name from the library.
And the banned books confined there were by no means books designated for trivial reasons such as impure thoughts.
‘Forbidden Magic Books’ are powerful in their own right, and their power is only used in the form of evil. They are uncontrollable treasures that destroy the owner’s mind and bring about disaster.
However, just as a famous sword accompanies a famous knight, a grimoire is like a knight’s sword to a magician.
Who could blame a knight for wanting to obtain a great sword, even if it were a demonic bloodstain stained with the blood of countless men?
The wizards were no different. No, rather, their desire for the grimoire was incomparable to that of the knights.
‘The Wizard’s Sword… … .’
For example, things like the 『Heart Scale』 held by Dale’s father, the Black Lord, or the 『Book of Blood』 boasted by the Blood Lord.
Dale stretched out his arms in the suffocating darkness, searching for a single grimoire that would truly become ‘his sword’.
“… … !”
It was at that moment. A pitch-black blade rose from Dale’s feet and began to circle around him. He sensed an ominous presence from beyond the darkness.
“Ugh… … .”
It wasn’t hard to figure out what it was. It was a being that guarded the library of hell. It was a puppet that swore to become a sword that would protect the church even after death.
This is Mummy Knight.
Armed with white armor and swords forged by the divine power of white magicians, and with thorough post-mortem embalming procedures such as pickling in formalin, there is no trace of the ugliness typical of corpses.
White dead resurrected with the divinity and blessings of white magicians and priests.
But, in terms of being a puppet that cannot die even after death and is moved by magical powers, what makes that being so different from the ‘Death Knight’ that the Black Tower boasts of?
‘That’s right… … .’
In ancient times, there was a ‘Black and White Tower’ that explored the principles of life and death. And there, two perspectives on life and death were divided into two factions, and a great battle was fought.
A battle later named by historians the Great Battle of Black-and-White.
And the defeated Blacks, along with their leader, ‘Frederick the Immortal’, were exiled to a remote area in the north.
In exchange for his defeat, he had his 『Book of the Black Goat』 confiscated by the church and the White Tower, and swore to become a shield that would protect the empire and the continent from generation to generation against the Northern Demon King’s territory.
He was called the Black Tower Lord, Frederick of Saxony.
That was the beginning of the House of Saxony and the Black Tower, and it is the deep-rooted darkness that has been passed down to the generations of Dale.
Away from the white tower that seeks the light of wisdom, to the black tower that seeks the truth in the darkness──.
‘Nothing is different.’
It was exactly as he said.
The standoff with the mummy knight was not long.
Taat!
The Mira Knight kicked the ground. The divine sword in his hand swung.
A white corpse that moves not with the dark magic of the black magic tower, but with the light magic of the white magicians.
Dale senses the magical power of water and darkness and regards them as enemies to be eliminated.
‘The church is not responsible whatsoever for what happens in hell.’
If someone suddenly dies here, it’s only Dale’s fault.
The “Geass” of the White Tower is like a 21st century insurance contract, and its clauses always have loopholes that can cause an eel to slip through.
‘We can’t just let them go their own way.’
Kaang!
Before he knew it, a pitch-black blade rose from under Dale’s feet. He blocked the sword of the Mira Knight who was swinging, and kicked the ground to gain distance. In the darkness where he could not see even a few inches ahead. In that place where ordinary people could not hide their confusion and fear, Dale never felt scared or panicked.
Rather, I felt like my body was flying with a sense of liberation.
You don’t have to be a mere 3rd circle wizard, nor do you have to package yourself as the empire’s greatest genius or a prodigy from a duke’s family.
Showing your true self without being conscious of other people’s opinions.
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Dale opened his mouth, leaving behind his ‘shadow cloak’ fluttering madly.
“Shadow Bullet.”
It is not the cold-hearted decision that has been shown before.
Shadow Cloak, a bullet made of dark malevolence that squirms beneath your feet.
It never stops at just one shot. He elaborately carved the shadow blades into bullet shapes along the hem of his fluttering cloak, and flicked his fingers. Just like pulling the trigger of a heavy machine gun, a hail of shadow bullets rained down.
The armor forged by the priest’s divine magic was torn apart and broken into pieces. The pale body, which looked like it had been dried in formalin, was no exception. The black bullets dug into the body of the mummy knight and began to eat away at the inside of his body like insects.
Literally becoming a ‘living bullet of darkness’.
It is a magic filled with malice unlike anything ever before.
Dale continued walking, leaving behind the helpless fallen mummy knight. In this hell reminiscent of a labyrinth, he was on his way to obtain the true treasure he desired.
* * *
Just because a book has so-called ‘dangerous ideas’ doesn’t mean it directly harms or eats people.
But ‘Grimoire’ is different.
Magic is the power to turn ideas into reality, and just as a book contains the author’s ideas, a grimoire is ultimately a book that contains the wizard’s ideas.
‘Forbidden Magic Books’ refers to books among those magic books that are filled with ‘extremely malicious and dangerous ideas’.
That’s why this place is called the Library of Hell.
An other world twisted by strong evil and evil thoughts.
‘It’s nearly impossible to find your way around in a place like this.’
But it was so obvious what to do.
He concentrates his cold magic to crystallize a blade of ice and slashes his palm with it.
Stop.
Drops of blood fell from the wound.
“I, Dale of Saxony.”
The blood of the bloodline that inherited the darkness of the Saxon family.
“I, the rightful descendant of the Immortal Bloodline, hereby declare.”
Knock, knock.
“… … Black mountain goat of the forest with a thousand cubs.”
Knock, knock, knock.
“I command you to fulfill the contract you made with the Dark Clan and appear before me.”
And as the pool of blood began to pool at Dale’s feet.
“Blood, blood! Blood with very strong power!”
“Fresh wizard’s blood!”
“They want to sign a contract with us!”
“Child, come here! I’ll give you strength!”
From all sides, whispers began to be heard, almost like auditory hallucinations.
In this place where the boundaries between reality and thought are blurred, the thoughts of the grimoires are drawn to Dale’s temptation, like a school of piranhas smelling blood in the water.
It was just then.
“Get out of the way! That kid is my contractor!”
The whispering of the books ceased, and only then did a terrible, terrifying malice strike me.
“I can feel it, the hatred and the murderous intent! The smell of slaughter!”
And the surrounding scenery changed.
The ‘world of ideas’ contained in the book of magic unfolded before Dale.
The world in books.
Corpses strewn everywhere, severed arms and legs, scattered entrails. A landscape of carnage stretching endlessly beyond the horizon. And from among the piles of corpses, the avatar of the Grimoire appeared.
─ I will slaughter all your enemies.
An executioner holding a bloody axe for decapitation.
─ I will hold a festival with the corpses and blood of those who block you.
There was only one grimoire that could be inferred from this scenery.
‘The Book of Massacre.’
The infamous Blood Magician Duchamp, his world of imagination and dangerous thoughts are contained in the Blood Magic Book. The secret of the most vicious blood magic that contains the essence of mass murder. Its power and value are indescribable.
‘There is only one grimoire you can take with you.’
Nevertheless, Dale shook his head softly.
“It’s not you I’m looking for.”
And he answered towards the grimoire, “The Book of Carnage.”
“Get out.”
─ Do you dare to reject me?
Dale nodded again, and the Book of Carnage… …the avatar of the Grimoire brandished its bloody axe menacingly. Dale’s refusal could only mean one thing.
─ And do you think you can get out of here alive?
The executioner’s bloody axe emits a chilling chill.
“There’s no reason you can’t go out.”
Dale nodded without a care. He turned his back on the endless scene of carnage, and fused the cold air with the refined dark magic.
The bloody world contained in the grimoire 『Book of Carnage』. However, it was a truly trivial world that did not even bring a shred of inspiration to Dale.
That day, in front of the memory of a white and dark winter night.
