The moment I squeezed my eyes shut, my sense of equilibrium went haywire. My body tilted, and I was seized by a strange floating sensation. Immediately after, I was yanked sharply and scolded in a rapid, quiet voice: "Don't zone out, you fool." It was
Just as I thought, *That should do it!*, I dropped with a thud. Sensation-wise, it was like falling off a bed—probably not from a very great height. But because the floating sensation had completely thrown off my balance, I slammed into the ground with my entire body. Specifically, into Ferdinand's armor.
"Owie!?"
When I opened my eyes, all I could see was Ferdinand's armor. Apparently, I had fallen right on top of him.
"That hurts…"
"Stop dawdling and move out of the way, now!"
His sharp voice cut through, and I was forcefully flipped over before I could process what happened. *Wha—?* In the time it took for that thought to form, we had swapped positions, and Ferdinand swiftly rose to his feet. He immediately had his schtappe at the ready.
…He's the one who pulled me in, yet this is so unjust!
Pulled in, dropped, rolled around—my head was spinning. Fighting back the nausea that felt like my brains had been shaken, I staggered to my feet and found that we were, for some reason, in the Garden of Beginnings. In the center of the circular garden paved with white stone, it wasn't a large white tree that had appeared, but Ewermin. Judging by the deep furrow between his brows and the magic power that seemed to drift upward from him like heat haze, he did not look pleased.
…Lord Ewermin looks incredibly unhappy? I wonder what happened?
As I tilted my head while watching Ewermin, a startled voice rose from the edge of my vision: "Lord Ewermin?"
I looked around the Garden of Beginnings. Ferdinand stood with his schtappe at the ready in a combat stance. Gervasio was on his knees before Ewermin. And I was holding my head, trying to suppress the dizziness. Ewermin glared at the three of us with an irritated expression.
"At a time when Jürgenschmidt's foundation must be filled with magic power without a moment's waste, what exactly are the three of you, who possess the qualifications, doing?"
It seemed Ewermin had summoned us here to complain, then manifested his physical form. Probably because he couldn't have a conversation while remaining as a white tree.
"Quinta, I granted you
Most of Ewermin's anger seemed directed at Ferdinand. Some of the waves of fury were aimed at me too, but given how they alternated between us, I concluded that he still couldn't tell us apart by magic power.
Ferdinand, upon whom the former god's wrath was focused, wore an expression of perfect composure. He transformed his schtappe into "Glutrisheit" and began examining something.
"Lord Ewermin speaks of imminent destruction, but since
"Oh, is that so? There is more time than I expected. Does Ferdinand's Mestionora's book contain information on that as well?"
When I eagerly stood up to take a look, Mestionora's book was slammed shut right in front of my face with a bang.
"Surely you could let me see! You cheapskate, Ferdinand!"
"Let me ask one thing. Can you actually perceive the current situation?"
I compared Ewermin, who remained standing while continuing to radiate fury, with Gervasio, who knelt submissively. I realized, at last, that this was not a situation where I could leisurely read a book.
"I can see it. But I don't want to miss any opportunity to read, now or ever!"
"I see. Very well. You're in the way. Step back."
My forehead was flicked, and I was gestured to back away with a chin nod.
"Because of Gervasio, we have already lost dozens of people. We cannot accept someone from Lanzenave, who would destroy Jürgenschmidt from within, as a Zent."
"I know nothing of your mortal reasoning. Jürgenschmidt is a haven for those pursued by
Slowly, Ewermin raised his arm. His fingertips pointed toward us.
Ferdinand sucked in a breath and placed himself in front of me. The instant he shouted "Getilt!", a mass of magic power flew toward us like a full-power attack from Ferdinand himself.
"Kyah!?"
With a harsh, metallic sound, Ferdinand's shield shattered, and the three charms on his arm burst simultaneously. This was on an entirely different scale from anyone we had fought before. The blood drained from my face in an instant.
"Go, Terza. Go and fill Jürgenschmidt's foundation."
Gervasio, receiving Ewermin's directive, rose quietly to his feet. "Terza" must have been some kind of childhood name, similar to "Quinta."
"Ryūken—Water Gun!"
Ferdinand stood and immediately fired at Gervasio, who had turned his back. Gervasio, who had already lost his charms in the battle on the altar, took the shot through his thigh. He let out a stifled groan and collapsed.
"I told you not to interfere, Quinta."
"I don't care for the arguments of someone who claims to know nothing of mortal reasoning. I will establish a new Zent, abolish the royal family, restore prayer, and in the next generation, select Zents from among those who can obtain the Holy Book on their own. I would appreciate it if you would stop getting in the way."
Ewermin, who had been facing Gervasio, moved his fingers. I leaped in front of Ferdinand, poured every ounce of my magic power into casting "Finsunschutz," and spread the cloak of darkness as wide as I could to shield both Ferdinand and myself.
It absorbed Ewermin's magic attack, and a torrent of magic power surged into me all at once. Even the massive amount of magic I had used for Wassen in the lecture hall, where it had been like a giant washing machine, recovered in the blink of an eye.
…This is bad! It's overflowing!
I hurriedly began compressing my magic power, but the flood was too great for compression to keep up. Heat filled my entire body, and I was caught in a swirling vortex of expanding heat. "Nngh!" I couldn't help but groan. The sensation of being devoured by Self-Eating's heat was familiar, but it was a pain I never wanted to experience again.
…Hot. It hurts. Someone…
"Don't try to store it! Release it, Rozemyne!"
…Help me, God!
Magic power erupted from my raised hands, and I erected a pillar of light in the Garden of Beginnings. I don't know if it counted as a prayer. But as if responding to my magic power, light poured down through the circular opening in the ceiling.
Within a vision that seemed to contain nothing but light, a woman who bore a resemblance to me was smiling. Hair the color of a night sky, golden eyes like the moon, a face of almost terrifying symmetry—she looked like an older version of myself, as seen in a mirror.
"She was quite pleased with Arnvax, but you truly do look remarkably similar. Since you are Self-Eating, your magic power should be quite compatible. Please, lend me your body for a short while."
Her voice was clear and soft. Whether the words themselves were entirely different or what, I couldn't make out what she was saying, but it converted into words I understood and resonated directly inside my head—like listening to a simultaneous translation.
"Hm? Lend you my body…?"
"My goodness, you were the one who asked for help, weren't you? I will go and stop Ewermin. If things continue as they are, he too will be in danger."
She tilted her head with a hand pressed to her cheek, saying how troublesome this was. I had no idea who she was, but if she was going to stop Ewermin, that was all the better. As expected of a former god—the sheer volume of magic power was on another level entirely. It would have been utterly impossible for me to fight him.
"…But lending my body…"
No matter what, that was terrifying. Would she really give it back? What would I do in the meantime? There were far too many concerns.
"I won't be down here forever, and I'll provide you with a comfortable place to wait."
The instant she made a slight movement with her arms, this place became a library.
Floor to ceiling—books, books, books. Look one way, bookshelves. Look the other, bookshelves. And not empty ones either—every shelf was neatly filled with books. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume, more than I had ever seen in the Noble Academy's library, let alone the libraries of my Reonwei era. I stood speechless, gazing around. There were chairs that looked wonderfully comfortable for reading and desks suited for writing. It was a paradise where I could read to my heart's content.
"This is incredible…"
It was exactly like the library I had imagined when I'd met the Gold Schummel in order to obtain Mestionora's book. The moment I thought that, I remembered that the library back then had been an illusion designed to judge the thoughts of whoever entered.
"…This isn't another library with painted walls to test intruders, is it?"
"No. This is my library, filled with my wisdom. Every book here can be read. While I am borrowing your body, please wait here."
As she said that and waved her hand, the Gold Schummel brought over a single book. It stood holding the book in front of the chair closest to me, as if inviting me to sit and read.
"I would be happy to lend you my body anytime! A prayer to Mestionora, the Goddess of Wisdom!"
I snapped off a crisp prayer and dashed over to the Gold Schummel.
The single-seat sofa-like chair had an even plusher, more comfortable feel than my cushioned chair. The fabric was soft to the touch and carried a faint warmth.
Once I sat down, the Gold Schummel handed me the book. Maybe in Jürgenschmidt, it was simply the rule that Schummel work in libraries.
As I mused on that, I opened the book. It was written in the language of a rather ancient era and seemed to contain stories about gods.
…I've seen similar stories in the Holy Book and the books I borrowed from Dunklefelger.
I followed the text with growing enjoyment. The first story was about Fairfulemeer, the Goddess of the Sea.
She received proposals from two male gods, but Fairfulemeer did not accept either one. However, perhaps because both were of the Fire God's lineage, they grew too heated and refused to back down.
The resulting commotion drew in the surrounding gods, and in the end, when Fairfulemeer experienced heartbreak, it was decided she would marry whichever one won. First, they had to determine a victor, and the two male gods began fighting, pulling in all manner of other gods.
Since there was a condition that this would only apply if she experienced heartbreak, Fairfulemeer had intended to simply wait around until she found someone she liked. But she was informed by the other goddesses that the battle had escalated far beyond anyone's expectations.
Fairfulemeer rushed to the battlefield and used her divine power to quell everyone's heat. Since then, whenever the Fire God's lineage began to quarrel, Fairfulemeer was summoned—and that was the story.
…Isn't this the basis for Dunklefelger's ritual?
Not only Dunklefelger, but even the gods called for Fairfulemeer—she must have had it tough. Sympathizing with Fairfulemeer, who was summoned every time a conflict broke out, I moved on to the next story. It was the bittersweet love tale of Eugenreise.
"I've finished. Next book, please."
I happily finished the third book and asked the Gold Schummel for the next one. It was the story of Lieseblehile, who stole the threads of fate from under Dreffengauer's nose and played pranks with them, and Dreffengauer, who grew furious at being the target of so many pranks and sought revenge. Lieseblehile's hair was mixed in with the threads of fate, and without realizing it, Lieseblehile tied the threads between herself and a human man.
"I wonder what the next story will be? Hehehe, hmm…"
As I waited in high spirits for the Gold Schummel to return, I heard Ferdinand's voice as if it were being called directly into my brain: "Rozemyne." His tone was as low as the depths of the underworld, and my cheerful mood vanished in an instant.
"Uwah!? Wh-what happened!?"
I pressed my hands to my ears and looked around, but I couldn't find Ferdinand anywhere. There was nothing but a wonderful space surrounded by bookshelves.
"At last you can hear me… Come back immediately, Rozemyne. Otherwise, your precious possessions will start disappearing, one after another."
His voice was laced with fury—this was no bluff. If I didn't go back right now, the demon lord's anger would be unleashed on me, and it would be catastrophic.
"Aagh! Please give me back my body! Ferdinand is furious!"
"…I have been calling you this entire time, you know."
Her voice carried a mix of exasperation and exhaustion. The moment I heard it, the library vanished from my vision. In its place, I saw Ferdinand's face. Ridiculously close. His anxious, worried eyes stared at me from point-blank range.
Startled by how different his expression was from the truly furious voice I'd just heard, I blinked and flapped my mouth open and shut. The instant I did, the worry in Ferdinand's pale golden eyes was wiped away and replaced by a mixture of irritation and anger. At the same time, whatever had been in my hand vanished.
"…It is Rozemyne, isn't it?"
"Yesh."
"Answer properly."
In my defense, the garbled pronunciation wasn't my fault. My cheeks were being pinched by Ferdinand, which made it impossible to respond clearly.
"I shaid Pleafth give me back my body, you're angy!"
"I cannot understand a single word you are saying."
…Ferdinand is so unjust today!
"You have a truly astounding lack of learning ability, Rozemyne."
"Huh?"
I was willing to endure a lecture fueled by anger—just let go of my cheek. I lightly tapped the hand on my face. Ferdinand squeezed once more, then finally released it. However, he didn't move his face away at all. I wanted even a little distance from this lecture of fury, but it seemed that was not permitted.
"You charged into the
There were plenty of troublesome incidents that had occurred around me that had nothing to do with libraries. Don't blame the library. But from experience, I knew that voicing that objection would only make the lecture multiply. So for now, I simply nodded and let it wash over me.
"Despite all that, you went and charged into Mestionora's library using your own body as payment. What in the world were you thinking, you fool?"
"So that was Mestionora's library? It was amazing! Books, books, books everywhere—a paradise. There were so many I could have died happy… I'm sure there were lots of research-related books there too. If Ferdinand went just once, you'd understand how wonderful it is. Let's definitely go together next time!"
Hoping it would ease his anger, I invited Ferdinand to Mestionora's library. His cheek twitched for just an instant.
"Oh, an invitation to ascend to the far higher reaches together—how remarkably novel. Was a brush with death not enough for you this time?"
…The far higher reaches!?
Ewermin, furious that the foundation would not be tainted.
Ferdinand, who wanted to argue that if the situation had been different when the Holy Book was obtained, he would have become Zent.
Rozemyne, who swapped places with a goddess and had a delightful time reading in her library.
Gervasio, who received no healing and suffered until the goddess descended.
Next up: the Zent Candidate Race!