Episode 513
I asked a question to Lise, who was starting to nod off.
“But how did you fool Assad’s eyes?”
“Huh… … ?”
“I just told you. You said you would make sure that I didn’t know I had set foot in the Butterfly Forest… … I know from experience that that person is no pushover, right?”
“joy.”
Lise immediately laughed.
I guess I was so sleepy that I was dizzy and didn’t want to hear Assad’s praise.
“Even so, compared to this Lisera Digos, he’s a guy with little skill and talent… … . I don’t know that fact even if I die.”
“Aha. So you mean you tricked me with magic?”
“That’s right… … The magic Asad has cast around his home base is [Observation], [Detection], and [Alert] respectively… Since all three are deployed in a wide area… there are plenty of loopholes to penetrate… … .”
“Oh… … ? How is it spread out?”
Lee Se rubbed her eyes once and continued speaking.
“First of all, the observation magic… is the magic called [Cyan Eye] placed in the sky above the main house… … . It has a wide range and has strong durability… but it’s not that precise… … . I also don’t have clairvoyance, so even if there’s only a roof, my field of vision is blocked… … .”
“aha.”
“And the detection, alarm magic… is formed around all the walls of Badniker… … . The rose vines that cover the entire wall are a sign of it… … . If you wander near it, you will be detected… and if you make contact or climb over the wall, an alarm will sound immediately… … .”
I got goosebumps a little bit.
It is a well-known fact that the walls of Badniker are densely woven with unsightly rose vines.
I never dreamed that it itself was a trace of magic.
‘… I told you, they’re a crazy family. Really.’
I continued asking questions in a sly tone, sticking my tongue out inwardly.
“If it’s spread across the entire wall, isn’t it watertight?”
“That’s not true… … . The downside of widespread magic is that… even if errors occur in certain areas… they won’t be immediately transmitted to the caster… … . A wizard of equal skill could intervene in the spatial coordinates and then scatter the mana to fool the opponent… … .”
“Then only a wizard can fool Lord Assad.”
“joy…….”
When I spoke in a deliberately disappointed tone, Lise snorted again.
“Have you forgotten… …? The northern area of the main house… the area where there is no fence.”
“ah.”
“If we go through there… there’s no risk of being caught by Assad… … .”
“I see. As expected, it’s Lady Lise. You’re truly amazing.”
“Huh. To put it plainly… … .”
Lise, who was quite happy, blinked and spoke slowly.
“Luan… If I die, the underground library will lose its owner… … .”
“Hmm. I guess so.”
“But knowledge should never be cut off… … . There are documents and records that exist only in underground libraries… … . Among them, there are forbidden books that are so dangerous that reading just a few lines can break your mind… However, information is like a medicinal herb, and depending on who handles it, it can be either poison or medicine… … .”
What are you trying to say?
I didn’t feel like responding right away, so I didn’t say anything, but then Lise’s voice continued.
“In the fifth drawer on the right as you enter the space… there is a book written by this Lisera Digos… … . Read it slowly later… … .”
“All right.”
“Okay… that’s fine… … .”
Lise, blinking slowly, muttered in a faint voice.
“… I’m starting to find it hard to hold back my sleepiness… … . I should go now… … .”
“yes.”
I nodded, and immediately after that, Lise’s head slowly lowered.
Judging from the calm breathing, it seems like he’s not dead yet. Of course, we don’t know how long he’ll be alive.
I said as I looked at the sleeping Lise.
“See you later.”
* * *
Actually, Lissera Digos didn’t tell me the whole truth.
How did the Dark Elf disappear from history, how did the Badniker family begin, what is Kuset doing in this Butterfly Forest…?
It was a list of secrets that would be shocking to anyone who heard them, but somehow I got the feeling that even those truths might actually be nothing more than a veil.
If you think about it, it feels like an illusionary sword to dazzle the opponent’s eyes?
In the end, it was unclear what Kuset wanted to do by conducting biological experiments on black elves and creating the Badniker family.
The same goes for the use of the Lisse that suddenly came out of the underground library and was sealed under the old tree.
What on earth is the purpose of this black elf who has lived for over a thousand years doing this?
The purpose of the hero Kuset in the literature was the same as that of the current Badniker.
I’m talking about subjugating demons and killing believers.
However, it was unknown whether the monster Kuset’s purpose, lurking somewhere in the Butterfly Forest now, would be the same as then.
The purpose of life is something that changes from time to time, and a thousand years is such a long time.
“Your Majesty… … You said that Kuset was your former colleague?”
I looked down at the Seven Sins Sword and muttered.
“Was he crazy back then too?”
[… … .]
Of course, there was no response, and I sighed.
There is no way to know whether Kusette has become corrupted or if he has some kind of ulterior motive that requires him to do such a thing.
But even with the information we have now, we can tell that he is not in a sound mental state.
When I returned to my room, I waited quietly in my room for an hour or two without doing anything rash.
Because Assad or another elder might come and question him.
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Luckily, that didn’t happen, so I realized that Lise really had my back.
I wonder if the sudden drowsiness I felt was a side effect of trying to erase my tracks for myself.
As the sun was setting, I headed to the underground library, pondering questions that I now had no answers to.
“Fifth drawer… here it is.”
When I opened the drawer that Reese had mentioned and looked inside, I saw something that looked like an impossibly thick ledger.
Since there was nothing written on the brown book cover, I had no choice but to open the book.
On the very first page, in crooked handwriting, it said:
[A kind and accurate guide to the underground library written by the great and wise Black Heavens wizard Liseradiceus Ol Haimud for her only disciple, Luan Badniker.]
I couldn’t help but laugh.
‘Disciple… … .’
I remembered a conversation I had with Lise before.
Strangely enough, I don’t feel as much aversion to this word now as I did back then.
I still don’t think I can be Lise’s disciple, but I think I at least understand why Liseradigos thought of me as his disciple.
I also paid attention to the phrase “Black Heaven’s Magician.”
Perhaps this nickname was the identity that Lissera Digos had defined for himself.
Not the innate identity of a Saryongdo, nor the identity of a Black Elf that was forcibly instilled in Kuset, but the identity of a magician.
At least I would have earned that name on my own.
“… You really can’t use the official language.”
There’s nothing we can do about it, since he’s from the past.
The ancient Elvish language may be much more familiar to Lisseradios.
The book was filled with such illegible handwriting.
Even if you look at it roughly, it wasn’t an amount that could be used in a day or two.
I must have been writing this book for at least two or three months, maybe even longer.
While reading the book, the image of Lee Se sitting alone in a dark underground library, silently writing a book, came to mind.
It’s like someone writing a will, putting his heart and soul into each and every word.
Sometimes I laugh out loud, sometimes I feel depressed, and sometimes I sigh wondering what I’m doing…
Despite suffering from various emotions, I wonder if I managed to fill this thick book.
For me, that is.
“… … .”
The manual included the locations of each area and magical tool that I had been wanting to know about while studying the ancient Elvish language on my own, and even the order of books recommended to help me learn Elvish language step by step.
There’s also useless stuff like how to clean a library, how to teach a book that won’t listen, tips for when you can’t remember where a book is, and how to spend time alone when you have nothing to do.
Maybe because I wrote it myself.
As I read, I got the feeling that it was more like an essay filled with Lee Se’s thoughts rather than a manual that should be concise and concise.
It couldn’t be helped since I wrote each and every letter by hand in the first place.
Anyway, the thing that helped me right away was a magic tool.
The underground library of Lise contained a treasure trove of magical tools.
Most of them were dangerous items that required careful handling, but if you look closely, there were quite a few that could be used right away.
‘Perfume that can erase body odor, a potion that can turn you into a cat for an hour, and a teleportation bracelet.’
The one I particularly like is the last one.
The teleportation bracelet was literally a magical tool that allowed you to instantly teleport to a designated location if you wanted to… … .
Of course, there were some limitations.
There is only one designated location, and you must have your bracelet engraved with your ID before visiting. The distance cannot be too far.
However, it is not a very narrow range, as it can be used anywhere on Badnikker’s land, including Butterfly Forest.
Could this possibly be an item that applies the magic principles of the underground library?
It’s like I can enter the underground library from anywhere with the key I received from Lise.
I roughly packed the things I needed and returned to my room… … .
“… … !”
It’s a surprise.
For a moment, I almost swore.
Because there was a familiar face in the room: Assad.
“What is it? What brings you here at this hour?”
“I have something to say. Did you go to the underground library?”
“yes.”
“What did you go and do?”
A voice that keeps breaking up.
Assad had a different expression and tone of voice than usual, and perhaps because of that, the atmosphere created as if he were being interrogated.
Anyway, although I was surprised, I was not unprepared for this situation, so I responded in a calm tone.
“I was just looking for a book. I was bored.”
“Lise, Radigos.”
“I thought you weren’t there.”
“… … .”
Assad stared at me intently.
It seemed like he was observing my expression to see if there was anything strange.
Even during that time, I felt strangely creeped out because there was no expression on his face.
‘Why are you doing this?’
Since Lise couldn’t have left any traces, are you just suspecting it based on a feeling?
When I was wondering, Assad said:
“He went out in the afternoon and came back without telling the servant.”
“Yes, it was.”
“Where did you stop by?”
“I just went for a walk. The weather was nice… … .”
“… … .”
“Because the weather is not good… Because the weather is just right… … ?”
Assad turned a deaf ear to my nonsense and said:
“Follow me.”
“Where are you going at this hour?”
“Please go.”
“Yes? Where?”
Assad started walking away, leaving those words behind.
I had no choice but to follow him.
The sun has already set.
After leaving Socheoldang, I pass through the dark garden and return to my hometown, stepping into the main building for the first time.
Although it was dark, it wasn’t yet the end of work, so I could see some servants.
In this way, we passed the 1st floor, the 2nd floor, the 4th floor where outsiders were not allowed to enter, the 4th floor where only a very small number of the family were allowed to set foot, and finally reached the 5th floor.
“hmm……?”
The appearance of the 5th floor was somewhat different from what I remembered.
In fact, I’ve only visited once, but that time, as soon as I climbed the stairs, the surrounding scenery changed and I entered a different space…
Now, there is only a deserted corridor.
Is it because of Assad?
As I continued to follow the Archmage, I arrived at a room.
This seems to be the place to go.
“… … .”
This is an office that feels empty, even though it is a large room. This is because it only has the bare minimum of furniture, such as a desk, bookshelf, chair, and sofa.
I looked around the room as if observing briefly, and checked the titles of the few books on the bookshelf.
[You too can be a good parent.]
[How to Be a Loved and Respected Father.]
[The right attitude to take when dealing with your child’s adolescence.]
You’re crazy.
Which idiot with a big liver gave this book to Cheolhyeolgong?
Assad? Or some other bastard? If he had the wit of Ryzen or Ludwig, it could be possible. But it would be risking one’s life.
I said, trying to erase from my mind the hallucinatory scene I had just seen.
“So what’s the matter with you? You even called me to an uninhabited room.”
“… … .”
The moment he said that while looking back, I froze. Because the expression on Assad’s face as he guided me was unusual.
Crack, crack.
Before my eyes, Assad’s facial muscles began to contort and his appearance began to change…
Soon, the one standing there was a black fairy dressed in Assad’s clothes.
It wasn’t the usual dark elf appearance I’d encountered a few times.
It had no eyes or ears, as if it were covered in skin, and it had no hair.
The only facial features that existed were the mouth and nostrils.
“What… … .”
Since when did you start disguising yourself?
Was this the reason why his expression was strangely stiff and his speech was stiff?
While I was stunned, the guy disguised as Assad ran past me and banged his head on the bookshelf.
I had to do it… … .
“… … !”
Just before the Black Elf ran, the bookshelf split in two, revealing a dark passageway.
The black elf showed off a somewhat bizarre jumping motion and disappeared into the passage in an instant.
“… … .”
I don’t know what the situation is right now.
I don’t know if I was caught in a trap or if there was another purpose… … .
At least I know who’s calling me.
Black Elf Cushette.
This guy was hoping to have an exclusive conversation with me.
I looked across the suddenly opened passage for a while… … .
“… … .”
He quietly backed away, closed the door, and left the room.
