Permission to access the Forbidden Library arrived much sooner than I had anticipated. I’d assumed I wouldn’t get the go-ahead until after the new year, but the notification came right after the exams.
"Congratulations, Albert. The permission you requested has been granted."
Eliana delivered the news as we sat across from one another in the academy’s meeting room.
"I’ve fulfilled my end of our bargain. You haven’t forgotten our arrangement, have you?"
"Of course not."
Subjugating the Demon King? Fine, I’ll help with whatever she wants! Hell, I’m already stuck at this academy anyway!
I didn't even know what was going on anymore; I was just flying by the seat of my pants at this point. Dammit!
Right, Eliana was a princess with a vast information network. She might know something I didn't.
"—By the way, do you know anything about that transfer student, Aristia?"
"The one who just arrived? Are you that shocked she managed to steal your spot as head of the class?"
Eliana cast a curious look my way. I see—if that was how she chose to interpret my interest, it worked in my favor.
"Something like that. Any idea who she actually is?"
"I found her presence curious as well, so I had her background thoroughly vetted. Thus far, I’ve found nothing. Which, in itself, is an anomaly. No matter the individual, there should be some trail of information, yet she is a total cipher."
Of course there was no information. A Demon King had transferred in; naturally, she’d have a foolproof cover.
"I’d like to hear your thoughts on the matter as well, so if I learn anything new, I’ll be sure to share it."
"I’d appreciate that."
"Aristia is certainly a concern, but even more unsettling is Knight Klaus. For a swordsmanship specialist like him to score nine hundred points—well over a perfect score—is simply..."
It was simple, really: his body was being piloted by Verdict.
"Have you tried talking to him?"
"I have. He told me, 'If you do not see a man for three days, look at him with fresh eyes.' He also mentioned that the moment a person changes is always instantaneous."
Well, he had certainly changed. Literally.
"Klaus is a vital military asset for the coming battle against the Demon King. I’m grateful for his 'awakening,' such as it is."
...I couldn't even begin to guess how Verdict would actually behave during the Demon King Subjugation Battle.
When it came to those two, I possessed far more information than even the well-informed Eliana. However, I had no intention of disclosing it for the time being. For better or worse, Eliana's influence was too great. If I shared the truth haphazardly and caused a massive uproar...
There was no telling if it would provoke the two Demon Kings.
Eliana was a card that needed to be played at the perfect moment. Still, I figured I should at least offer a warning.
"It's just a gut feeling, but those two have a dangerous air about them. For the time being, you should avoid approaching them carelessly and just see how things develop."
"I appreciate the advice."
I wasn't sure if a warning meant anything to a princess whose primary motivation was intellectual curiosity, but I’d said my piece. After that, it wasn't my problem.
"And thank you for the library access."
First things first: I needed to acquire the power to deal with Verdict.
After parting ways with Eliana, I headed straight for the royal castle. As the eldest son of the Ducal House, my face was essentially a master key that got me in almost anywhere.
Once I stated my business, a civil servant from the royal palace whom Eliana had arranged for arrived. After a respectful bow, he guided me into the depths of the castle.
He led me to a massive, imposing door tucked away in a quiet corner of the palace. It was sealed with a magical lock; the official murmured a few words as he inserted a key.
With a heavy click, it swung open—
The big reveal! Or so I thought. Instead of a library, I was greeted by a narrow, dimly lit spiral staircase.
"It is further ahead," the official said.
Following him down the stairs, we arrived at a second heavy door. This one shimmered with a distinct white light, radiating a powerful magical pressure. Again, the civil servant inserted a key, whispered a phrase of release, and opened it.
This time for sure!
Or so I thought. Instead, a dark, cold stone corridor stretched out before us.
"...How many more of these are there?"
"Three remain."
We continued deeper into the bowels of the castle, winding through a complex maze of branching paths. Finally, we reached the final door.
"This is the entrance to the Forbidden Library."
Just like before, the official unlocked the door. A loud, resonant click echoed through the hall.
"Please, feel free to browse. However, every item here is an irreplaceable treasure. I must ask that you handle them with the utmost care."
With that, the civil servant stepped back.
"Wait... am I the only one going in?"
"I have not been granted permission to view the contents. Furthermore, your actions within the library will be fully monitored by recording magic. Should any serious issues—such as damage to the texts—occur, a warning alarm will sound immediately. Please understand that House Kronstadt will be held strictly liable for any and all incidents."
"I understand."
"Then I shall wait here. Please inform me when you are finished."
"It might be better if you went back. In fact, we should probably set a scheduled time for you to return."
"...How many hours do you intend to stay?"
"If you want an accurate estimate, you should be asking how many days."
I offered a flippant shrug.
I knew for a fact that the Ancient Magic Books were kept here. With Verdict likely to make his move at any moment, I couldn't afford to waste time. Finding the target book was my absolute priority; I intended to stay at the royal castle until I found it, bypassing the academy entirely.
"Just come back when it's time for meals or sleep."
"...Understood. I will make the necessary arrangements."
The official nodded and headed back down the corridor.
Honestly, I would have preferred to bring in a mountain of rations and pitch a tent, but the logistics of the bathroom made that a bit difficult.
"Well then, let's get to work."
Left alone, I pushed the doors open.
The dry, earthy scent of ancient parchment filled my lungs. Row after row of bookshelves stretched toward the ceiling in a staggering display, each one packed with countless volumes.
The academy’s Central Library had overwhelmed me with its sheer scale, but this place was different. It wasn't as vast, but it possessed a density that was on a completely different level.
Every volume here was an artifact the Kingdom had deemed dangerous enough to seal away. The very existence of these books carried a physical weight, exerting an unconscious pressure on my mind.
To a researcher, any one of these books would be a dream come true. There might even be texts that touched upon the core lore of the "original game" that even I wasn't privy to. As someone who valued knowledge, part of me wanted to devour them all, but I had no time to waste.
An Ancient Magic Book. That was my only target.
And so, my search began.
Trying to pull a single "winner" out of this massive collection was a statistical nightmare. To make matters worse, I had to spend a significant amount of time reading each candidate to judge its worth. I could only process a few volumes per hour.
Was it impossible?
No, I didn't think so. I wasn't that pessimistic. I had a feeling that Ancient Magic Books had a way of drawing in their intended masters. I sought the book, and the book pulled at me—the distance between us was closing.
It was pure superstition, but it was a much better mindset than searching in despair. I chose to believe that I would be recognized by the will of the ancient magic. I simply had to keep looking.
My conviction was finally rewarded on the fourth day.
I was skimming a book titled Steel within the Heart when—
My vision blurred.
The text began to warp, the colors of the world leaching away as the towering shelves receded into the distance.
Yes! I finally found it!
I’d had a hunch the moment I saw this book. It was as if the secret intent hidden behind the cover had leaped directly into my mind.
The world shifted in a heartbeat.
The first thing to hit me was the copper tang of fresh blood.
Beneath a leaden, gray sky, a desolate wasteland stretched toward the horizon. Across that infinite, ruined earth lay countless corpses. It looked like the aftermath of a massive slaughter.
Broken swords were scattered like refuse, and shredded military banners lay rotting in the mud.
So, this was the mental world of the ancient magic’s will...
Quite the dramatic entrance.
In a world where nothing moved, a heavy metallic sound—clank, clank, clank—echoed through the stillness as something approached.
I forced my heart to steady.
There was no mistake. This was an Absolute Being—one who had reached the summit and carved their name into history. A Past Demon King.
My skin crawled instinctively. It was only natural; I was facing a being that existed on a fundamentally higher plane of existence. It could end my life in a heartbeat.
To be honest, I wanted to turn and run.
But unless I overcame this terror, I would never obtain the power I needed.
I exhaled a long, steady breath. Steeling my resolve, I turned around to face whatever stood behind me.