And so, that night, I made my move toward the castle’s depths.
It pricked my conscience slightly to betray Albert’s trust, but that took a back seat to the forbidden tomes. I wanted to look at them closely, touch them, and analyze the spell formulas woven into their pages. I’d just head in, take a quick look, and come right back. It wouldn’t be a problem... probably.
In the middle of the night, I woke up, changed into some clothes that were easy to move in, and slipped out into the hallway.
"Oops. Better hide my presence so I don’t get caught," I whispered.
I focused my will, and a vortex of air enveloped my body.
—Wind system magic, "Hermit."
This spell manipulated the wind to create an atmospheric lens, using the refraction of light to render the caster invisible. Since it created an unnatural movement of air, a truly skilled user nearby might have sensed it, but it was more than enough to fool the castle guards. Normally, "Hermit" would dispel the moment the caster moved, but I’d modified the control so that the lens followed me as long as I kept a slow pace. If I moved too quickly, I’d look like a blurry afterimage, but at a walking speed, there were no issues at all.
I passed several soldiers on my way, but none of them seemed to notice a thing. The trip went smoothly, and I reached the stairs to the basement with ease. The entrance was unguarded, so I headed down.
As I descended the old spiral staircase, a prickling sensation, like needles against my skin, washed over me.
—So this was the barrier.
The closer I got, the more obvious it became. Furthermore, this barrier hadn’t been woven to prevent intrusion from the outside; it was designed to stop something from breaking out from within. That pretty much confirmed there was something dangerous down here.
At the bottom of the stairs, I found myself in a small area surrounded by stone walls, with a single door directly ahead. This was the center of the barrier. When I reached out to touch it, I felt a powerful resistance.
I had to undo the barrier first. That said, I couldn't just shatter it with brute force. I couldn't leave any evidence that I’d been here. The best approach was to manipulate the barrier’s control system and grant myself passage.
"Before that, I should probably set up my own barrier just in case."
If I deployed a secondary layer on the outside, I could rest easy even if something happened inside. I focused my mana, and a bubble-shaped field expanded outward with me at the center.
—Water system magic, "Waterfall Canopy."
Beyond its basic defensive properties, this spell was specialized in muffling sounds and vibrations. Even if a massive explosion occurred inside, not a whisper would reach the world above.
Next, I slowly analyzed the composition of the main barrier.
...I see, I see. It was quite robust, but it was designed to allow relatively easy passage to those with royal blood or anyone granted specific permission. I rewrote the control system’s parameters and... there. I could now pass through without any trouble.
All that was left was the physical lock. I fashioned a key using earth system magic, "Stone Effigy," inserted it, and with a twist, the door swung open effortlessly.
The moment I stepped inside, the atmosphere changed completely. A torrent of mana—colors, sounds, and scents—swirled through the air. It was incredible. I saw grimoires for wide-range annihilation, life refinement, and even spatial transfer. What an absolute goldmine. This was a true mountain of treasure.
However, my attention was drawn to a presence emanating from the back of the room. To put it simply, it felt like something sinister was beckoning me, hidden within a scent as sweet and fragrant as flowers. This was likely the forbidden tome Albert had warned me about.
Now, how should I approach this...? As I pondered, I realized my feet were already carrying me toward the back of the room.
Oh, I see. This was control system magic. Its power of compulsion was remarkably strong. It used a spell formula that restricted a target’s autonomy through their sense of smell. The Majin in question was likely the source. If an unsuspecting person wandered in here, they’d be lured in like a puppet to break the forbidden tome’s seal. No wonder the barrier was so strict.
Of course, that wouldn't work on me. Countering control system magic was simple. Even if my body’s motor functions were hijacked, I just had to stay calm and overwrite the command with my own magic. I cast a counter-control spell on myself, and my body was instantly freed.
With my autonomy restored, I stepped further into the depths of the archive.
"—Whoa, whoa, whoa. Are you insane? Or just a total freak?"
A heavy, resonant voice echoed through the room. At the very back, I saw a dark haze hovering over a pitch-black book. The haze took a vaguely humanoid shape, and a pair of red eyes glowed brilliantly as they stared at me.
"To slip my domination and then walk right up to me instead of running... You’re either incredibly brave or a complete moron. ...Ah, I forgot my manners. I am the great Majin Grimoire. Nice to meet you."
The black haze—the Majin Grimoire—laughed boisterously.
"My, I’m surprised," I said. "I thought you were sealed inside that book."
"Kukuku... Ages have passed, and the seal is starting to fray. I can manifest a small portion of myself on the outside now."
Looking closer, the book Grimoire was perched upon was indeed tattered. The seal woven into its binding was in tatters; it wouldn't be surprising if it failed entirely at any moment.
"Say, kid. What’s your name?"
"Lloyd."
"Hmph. Well, Lloyd, in a few more years, I’ll shatter this seal and return to this world in my perfect form. When I do, I’m going to wipe this kingdom off the map. I was sealed away by the mages of this land, after all. I have every right to my revenge. ...But listen, Lloyd. If you do what I say, I might just spare your life."
Grimoire’s mouth twisted into a dark smirk as he pointed a smoky finger at the book beneath him.
"How about you destroy this seal for me?"