“Are you really planning to put your hand on that?”
Dorosian was perplexed. Although she didn’t show it, from the moment she set foot in this place, a wave of malicious energy had flooded over her, originating from the black grimoire on the platform.
‘This is just from what’s leaking out…’
It was like a glass brimming with poison, its contents barely restrained from spilling over by surface tension alone. If he touched it, the raw, undiluted malicious energy would seep into his skin.
‘…There’s a limit to foolishness.’
Dorosian narrowed her eyes and stopped Hersel in his tracks.
“You must not feel it due to your dulled senses, but what they’re saying isn’t just bluff. When they say it’ll kill you, they mean it.”
Hersel opened his eyes nonchalantly. Had he even heard him properly? Rather than showing any caution, he replied indifferently as if he were only mildly annoyed.
“That’s something I can confirm myself.”
“Even though the outcome is obvious?”Despite Dorosian’s irritated tone, Hersel didn’t take his gaze off the book.
“I sensed it too. The malicious energy coming from that grimoire is no ordinary force. It might just be the driving power that forms this entire place, and the idea that interacting with it might allow us to return to our world holds some credibility.”
His hypothesis was quite convincing. It was highly likely that the grimoire was the source of the power forming this place. If that were the case, then draining the malicious energy it contained could indeed be the solution. However, it was such a concentrated form of energy that ordinary mana wouldn’t be enough to handle it with external magic.
Dorosian glanced sharply at the suppressor attached to her body.
‘If only I didn’t have this, I might have had a chance.’
As she felt the restraint heavier than ever, Hersel continued with his theory.
“Dorosian, a grimoire is fundamentally a tool. The implication of direct contact is closer to using it. The only way to drain its energy is—”
“I know that…”
As Hersel suggested, the only way was to become the grimoire’s user and release its power directly. It was a tool with a concept that only its master could utilize, allowing its master to handle it freely without any barriers.
“This is surprising, isn’t it? The grimoire is the answer.”
“Go on, put your hand on it. It’ll spit out every bit of accumulated energy.”
“Onto your body, that is! Haha!”
As the soldiers sneered, Hersel approached the grimoire. Dorosian tried to stop him urgently, but her words failed him.
“Even if I die, you’ll walk out alive, won’t you? You’ve got nothing to lose.”
His voice overflowed with confidence, despite his clear understanding of the situation, which only added to Dorosian’s internal turmoil.
‘It doesn’t feel like it’s from ignorance…’
In that brief moment of confusion, Hersel’s hand calmly moved toward the grimoire. Dorosian’s eyes widened as the energy emanating from the grimoire flickered sharply, like the bite of venomous fangs.
“And, I don’t get scared by some book.”
A faint tremor arose, and the air grew prickly.
***
It was a sticky sensation.
Black liquid was oozing from the grimoire. As it trickled down the platform and dripped onto the floor, I felt something squirming from my palm, forcefully prying its way through my pores. This was different from the gradual build-up of malicious energy I had felt before. The grimoire seemed intent on overwhelming me, shoving an enormous amount of energy into me all at once.
[Threat detected. Type: Lethal dose of malicious energy]
[1-second Invincibility activated.]
[1-second Invincibility cooldown: 59 seconds]
But of course, it was all nullified.
Rumble!
As the malicious energy drained from the grimoire, an earthquake shook the area, causing stone dust to fall. I looked over at Dorosian, who was blinking in shock.
“It’s starting to collapse. Looks like we’ll be returning to the real world soon.”
“…How are you still alive?”
Her voice was filled with disbelief, so I gave her a nonchalant answer.
“Who knows? I’m not really sure myself.”
Dorosian gently bit her lip, then, perhaps realizing she wouldn’t get an answer, let out a faint sigh. I smirked at the stunned expressions on the faces of the Apparitions.
“Too bad, right? Looks like I didn’t die.”
However, the Apparitions sneered as well.
“Yeah, real shame, but it can’t be helped.”
“Couldn’t agree more.”
Saliva dripped from their mouths. I looked down, noticing the black liquid creeping toward their feet. It was unmistakably from the grimoire.
‘Hersel, they’re giving off hostile intent.’
‘I know.’
The black liquid began to fill their translucent bodies, clinging to them like humans drenched in oil. One of the soldiers opened his mouth wide, showing his teeth.
“We’re going to disappear anyway, so might as well grab a bite of flesh before we go!”
Their eyes gleamed wildly as they stared at Dorosian and me. When they drew their swords, I handed a staff to Dorosian. She responded with a cold smile as she began weaving her spells.
“Seems like they’re starving. They must be going mad from hunger.”
At her words, the Apparitions charged at us. I also drew my sword and dove into their ranks, seeking an opening. They were just soldiers, after all. The thought made me feel confident.
‘Is it just my imagination, or do they look clumsy?’
‘No, Hersel, you’re right. Your eyes have improved thanks to those we’ve fought so far.’
One soldier aimed a vertical slash at me, which I blocked with my sword. When he tried to press down with force, I advanced and ducked, feeling another’s horizontal swing graze past the top of my head.
“You… you little brat!”
Now it was my turn to strike. As I twisted my wrist to slash, Donatan offered a suggestion.
‘Hersel, take out the one who attacked first.’
‘I was planning to.’
I straightened up and thrust my sword into the abdomen of the soldier who had made the vertical slash earlier.
Squish!
The blade slid in more easily than I expected, like cutting through soft pudding. The shadow-enchanted sword seemed to absorb the malicious energy from the Apparitions’ bodies, amplifying its sharpness. I then swung the sword upward, slashing through his shoulder.
Thud!
His arm, still holding his sword, fell to the ground, forming a dark puddle. The one who had attacked from behind now tried to stab me in the back. Already clad in reinforced armor, I swiftly evaded his strike.
Srrr-
Donatan spoke in a slightly excited voice.
“You’re doing quite well now. Seems your body has gotten the hang of the movements.”
Naturally. Each time I’d fought under his guidance, I hadn’t just been standing around watching.
“Like they say, even a village dog learns to recite poetry after three years.”
‘Village? And poetry? Never mind, those things don’t matter. It seems you no longer need my help for the basics.’
With those final words, Donatan fell silent, as if giving me free rein to act as I wished. I deflected the Apparition’s sword with force and then slashed the neck of the one whose shoulder had been severed earlier.
Slice!
The brief clash ended, and the atmosphere turned into chaos.
“Get that guy first! Hurry!”
“No, look over there. Let’s take out the woman first!”
“Just make up your mind! We’re running out of time!”
Meanwhile, the space around us was gradually collapsing. With a momentary breather, I glanced over at Dorosian. She was seated in a chair, waving her staff with a look of amusement on her face.
…Was the chair created with magic?
Dorosian spoke up.
“Do you know what power best amplifies the effects of manifestation magic?”
Before her sentence even ended, massive guillotines appeared one by one above the Apparitions.
“Gravity.”
Sharp blades sliced through the air, splitting the Apparitions’ bodies and causing them to burst into black liquid. Not yet satisfied, Dorosian poured flames onto the liquid.
“…She’s really using up all her mana.”
“Who knows? They might come back to life. That kind of cliché exists, right?”
Dorosian seemed to have read a bit too much genre fiction recently.
“It’s common enough, though it doesn’t seem to be the case this time.”
I averted my gaze from her and carefully approached the burning floor toward the grimoire.
[1-second Invincibility: Available]
Earlier, I’d only touched it for a second. There was still malicious energy left in the grimoire. Touching it again might accelerate our return to the real world. Besides, I needed to stay near the grimoire to keep an eye on what the perpetrator behind all this might do next.
As I placed my hand on it, the prison that held the soldiers fully dissolved. Then, with a popping sound, the world was engulfed in light.
Boom!
***
As I returned to the real world, I took a moment to piece together some of the thoughts I hadn’t yet sorted out. First, the sacrifice I thought had died in the explosion— the female student— had been a misjudgment influenced by what I’d seen of playable characters. The explosion sound was merely the sound of expanding air, leading me to believe she’d died in the blast. I hadn’t realized she’d been torn apart by Apparitions instead. Though unintentional, it meant she had escaped her fate as a sacrificial pawn.
And as for the mastermind behind this incident. Based on the circumstances, it wasn’t the man from the Special Ward as planned, but rather the student council candidate, Ecok. The only one with knowledge of the grimoire’s nature was that man, and the only one with connections to him was Ecok. It’s unclear why they’re seeking the ‘Book of Blackblood’ at this point, but that’s something to investigate later.
I opened my eyes, remaining alert. Familiar light greeted me—the glow of the mana stone lamp on the stairs. Beside me was Dorosian, and at my feet lay a single grimoire.
“Snrrrk.”
A sudden snoring sound drew my attention to the bottom of the stairs, where the massive figure of Professor Gomon sat in a chair, fast asleep. Through the window behind him, I could tell it was night. The students were likely absent due to curfew, and it seemed Professor Gomon had fallen asleep while investigating the disappearances. The scene appeared plausible enough, but the fact that he hadn’t woken up, despite the noise, sharpened my wariness.
Dorosian, evidently annoyed with the sleeping professor, approached and shook his shoulder.
“Professor?”
Professor Gomon continued snoring. He’d likely been forcibly put to sleep by someone, most likely Ecok, given the method…
“Here we are back, and he’s sleeping soundly?”
I looked at Dorosian with a slight shrug. She wouldn’t be much help as she must have expended most of her mana in the prison. Besides, I wasn’t sure she’d help even if she could.
While her attention was on Professor Gomon, I picked up the grimoire lying at my feet. I pondered deeply about what to do with it. To set the scenario back on its proper course, I absolutely couldn’t hand it over. Giving it to the professors posed risks as well—Ecok might try to steal it using his influence in the student council.
The best solution would be to store it in the ‘inventory’ and deliver it by some means when the time is right.
I finished my thoughts and spoke to Dorosian.
“Let’s head back to the dorm for now. I’ll report to the professors.”
“Fine by me,” she said with a grin, turning on her heel.
I stowed the grimoire in my coat, wary of Ecok, who was likely hiding nearby and watching. This was an emergency situation. I’d probably run into at least one professor on the way to Adele Hall.
‘Donatan, let me know immediately if anyone approaches.’
With my staff in hand, I kept a vigilant eye on my surroundings as I walked down the corridor. Then Donatan’s voice came to me.
‘Hersel, someone’s peeking at you from the stairway corner.’
I halted and called out.
“Why don’t you come out instead of just watching?”
No response.
Maybe I should try calling him by name?
“Ecok.”
The sound of a single step echoed. It seemed he’d taken an involuntary step back in surprise.
“Just come out. I’m not planning on reporting this to the professors.”
Reluctantly, Ecok finally revealed himself, scratching the back of his head with a wry smile.
“Ahaha… Actually, I wasn’t trying to hide. I just left something important in the conference room, so even though it’s past curfew, I had no choice but to come back for it.”
There was no benefit in exposing the fact that I knew his true intentions. I nodded as if accepting his excuse.
“Is that so? Well, don’t worry. As I said, I don’t plan to tell the professors.”
Then I added a vague, veiled threat.
“But Ecok, do you know what went on in there?”
“In there? Oh, right, come to think of it, you were with Miss Dorosian, weren’t you?”
“Enough.”
His poor attempt at acting was almost painful to watch.
“I ran into some folks who thought they could take something from me. Did they really think that was possible? It was almost laughable how they dared to covet what’s mine,” I said, my smile turning bitter, my eyes flashing with a dark resolve.
Ecok flinched. Now for the finishing touch.
I let my eyes go distant, as if reminiscing, and spoke coldly.
“You know, I almost regret it a bit. I killed them too quickly. They had such fresh reactions. It would’ve been fun to play with them a bit longer.”
Ecok forced a smile despite the cold sweat on his face.
“Still, murder isn’t a good thing. If you’d like to confess, I can arrange a private setting for you later.”
“Oh? Well, I’ve never felt guilty about anything, so I doubt I’ll need that.”
“Ahaha, well, you never know what might happen. If the time comes, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have business to attend to.”
Ecok walked away. His steps seemed calm, but inwardly, he was probably in turmoil. Now, the thought of reclaiming the grimoire from me likely wouldn’t even cross his mind.
Yet, the problem didn’t disappear.
Ecok, the boss of the next scenario, was missing an essential ingredient: the “Crimson Book.” It had been stolen, which might be why he sought the “Book of Blackblood” in the first place. To progress through the main storyline properly, I needed to think this over carefully. Fortunately, I had about six months left, so I could take my time.
Now, with no one watching, I decided to cast an inventory spell. I placed the grimoire in the safest vault. I was heading up the stairs toward the Adele Hall dormitory when I spotted a professor in the distance. I figured I should give him a brief report; it would end his worries, at least.
As I approached him, my eyes suddenly widened.
Tick-tock.
The sound of a clock echoed nearby. The ticking halted with a faint click, and a system message appeared.
[Threat detected. Type: Time Stop]
[1-second Invincibility activated.]
…What exactly was a time stop?
Before I could dwell on it, a black-haired woman flashed past me, disappearing without a trace. During that one-second window, I fixed the image of her in my mind as if capturing it in a photo.
“Hey! You there! What are you doing out past curfew?”
The professor’s voice barely registered. My inventory had definitely been opened. And her hand…
“No… Hersel Ben Tenest, you…”
…had been reaching inside.
“Hersel Ben Tenest, your face looks pale. Are you alright?”
“……”
“And what’s with the lipstick mark on your cheek?”
The mention of lipstick made me turn my head. Reflected in the corridor window was my dazed face, my hand brushing over my cheek. Where I’d touched was a faint, purple kiss mark.
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