“I learned it!”
William looked at me with a satisfied look, sending Carlex a look of admiration.
“Absolutely amazing, Erica.”
“Nothing amazing... It's strange that I could read it so simply.”
“It is an innate talent. The language of magic cannot be read by those who do not have the talent of magic, but those who have it read it like breathing.”
William explained gently.
Okay, but it sounds more like a feature of Breakthrough Syndrome.
Perhaps because of the ability of the “book reader”...
While I was thinking, Carlex preceded me and opened the door.
It revealed a stairway leading down.
He stared at the dark staircase that seemed to hold a deep secret, and muttered:
“A person who knows the location of the secret astral library, can lure the guards and infiltrate, knows the language of magic and can break the spell.”
Carlex put his foot first on the stairs.
"Let's go."
***
The underground library was so spacious that it resembled a ballroom.
There was a faint smell of paper everywhere, not the usual mold found in underground spaces, indicating good maintenance.
But most surprising was the sight of the library itself.
Hundreds of ancient manuscripts dating back centuries, works of art, paintings, sculptures, and ceramic vessels coming from the East... A view of various works of art made the place resemble a treasure treasury of the palace.
With all these precious treasures scattered underfoot, he only took one magic book?
What a scary person.
I would like to applaud the perpetrator's restraint.
If Franz is truly the perpetrator, he is essentially rich.
The huge bookshelves covering the walls of the library were densely filled with magic books.
The strange observation was that the covers of all the books were the same color, and the binding method was the same.
“If you want to hide a tree, hide it in a forest that's all the same. Without the Book Reader, we wouldn't know where Ignis's book is.”
William looked at me with the look of a teacher pleased with his student's questions.
“As sharp as usual, the magic books here do not have titles. To find the required book among them, a long time must be invested, even with the information available. But the culprit found Ignis’s book hidden among thousands of books immediately.”
William explained gently.
Carlex laughed sarcastically, standing next to me, watching the ocean.
“So the perpetrator did not visit the place alone. He needed an accomplice to find the magic book while he was getting rid of the guards. The person who leaked the information about the book’s location must be found.”
Logical talk.
So the first thing to doubt is...
She asked cautiously, observing William's reaction:
"Don't you guess there's someone in our ranks? Someone who knows the secret of the Astral Library. A wizard, for example…"
As we see in crime stories, the criminal is usually an insider.
The likelihood that the criminal is an insider is high.
But he's also charming, and it can be difficult for him to doubt his colleagues easily.
He shook his head with a grim face.
“I suspected internal foul play first as well. But the senior mages of this level are currently in the Kraal Mountain Range, working on installing a dimensional barrier. There is no mage with such power in the capital. After the theft of the last magic book, I tracked and monitored the movements of the subordinate mages, but none of them were noticed acting suspiciously.”
“Just a moment.”
At that moment, Carlex, who was searching the library, stopped and pointed at us.
"here."
At the end of a shelf in the corner, there was only enough free space for one book. Maybe the location of Ignis's book.
What a pity that this is the world of historical romance novels.
If you penetrated the world of scientific investigations, it would be easy to find the criminal by fingerprints or such traces.
I had to watch investigative series seriously.
While I was examining the books with remorseful indifference, I noticed something strange.
All the books are bound with silver chains in the shape of a cross.
In the middle of each silver chain, there was a small lock engraved with a magic talisman.
What? A book banned for those under 19 years old?
Why did they restrict them all so they couldn't be read?
“Director, why did you chain the books?”
“This is a magical tracking device. This library was made a long time ago, so the tracking device was added in the traditional way these days, we put invisible magic.”
“Isn’t it possible that the criminal unwrapped the silver chain with magic and threw it somewhere?”
William was lost in thought for a moment, resting his chin on his hand.
“Hmm, that's a possibility. Maybe he got rid of it to avoid being tracked by the Book Compass.”
“I'll look for it using the 'book compass.' Let's start around the center.”
I wish I didn't regret not watching investigation series.
If there were no tracking magic placed by ancient wizards, the situation would have been worse.
But even that magic becomes useless without the Book Compass...
Books of magic are said to be sensitive to external magical energy, and with current technology cannot be re-spelled.
Even if we get it back, how will we handle its management in the future?
I feel like an indispensable employee.
I can't even take a vacation in peace, let alone quit.
I breathed deeply and moved my steps.
***
We left the Magic Library and headed to the main gate of the center.
“The Book of Ignis.”
Slowly, but with complete concentration, I turned on the Book Compass.
With my voice, the needle moved a little and then turned.
I almost screamed with joy.
But since the soldiers were around us, I quickly closed my mouth.
Carlex shielded me from the soldiers' sight with his cloak.
Surrounded by his calm breathing and the warmth of his body, I felt a warmth that was inappropriate for the situation.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
I whispered in a voice that only he could hear.
Big problem.
I don't have to get used to this.
I tried to get rid of distracting thoughts and focus on the “book compass.”
Faint light seeps from the tip of the needle.
It sparkled faintly and faintly, like the pebbles in the story “Hansel and Gretel.”
“In that direction.”
Carlex ordered the center commander to send a search team.
Following his orders, the soldiers carrying spears and torches followed us in coordinated movements.
The light led us deep into the forest behind the centre.
The midnight forest was surrounded by a silence so deep and heavy that the chirping of birds would have been heard.
The soldiers' footsteps on the branches were the only sound that broke the silence of the forest.
Carlex raised the lamp to light my way.
Honestly, I didn't need the light.
Because when I entered the forest, I realized that darkness no longer obscured my vision.
Night vision with this clarity is at the level of wild animals.
In fact, I was severely nearsighted and wore glasses.
swish.
At that moment, I felt a strange presence behind the bush.
“Who's there?!”
shouted a terrified soldier, raising his spear.
I calmed him down firmly:
“It's okay. It's a deer.”
"What?"
The soldier looked even more astonished at my statement.
The bush swayed and a deer jumped out, quickly running away from us.
Carlex asked me, unable to hide his astonishment:
“Erica, how did you know it was a deer?”
“I saw two eyes shining behind the bush. I guessed it was a deer.”
I made an offhand answer, but Carlex's gaze settled on me. I deliberately quickened my steps.
This is my first time with hack feature.
I'm also amazed at my abilities.
We went back to search in the forest.
As we trudged through the jungle, under huge trees towering up to the sky, something sparkled.
The light of the “book compass” was pointing towards him.
We approached and found a silver chain sparkling among the grass.
It was a magical tracking tool.
“Ah, I found it.”
Happy, I quickly picked up the silver chain and turned around.
I couldn't even get the swaying chain back and show it to Carlex and William.
"What is happening?"
I stopped when I saw their terrified facial expressions.
Especially the look of Carlex who was staring over my head like he was going to kill me.
"Yes."
Even without turning around, I know.
The intense killing I feel behind my back.
A wild wolf was cowering and hiding in the dark forest.
"Bend! Erica!"
As Carlex drew his sword, he jumped forward like a spring.
The moment I heard his shout, I turned instead of dodging.
"Ah! Monster!"
The screams of the soldiers, terrified by the unexpected appearance of the monster, shocked my ears.
"No! Erica!"
William's pleading voice came from afar.
Due to the quick turn, I lost my balance and fell.
In the eyes of others, I looked like someone who had fallen from fear.
I hope they see it that way.
I faced the yellow eyes of the monster staring at me.
I read somewhere: When facing a predator, never show your back.
You must stare the animal in the eye and seize the initiative.
Crazy act, but I wanted to try it.
Anyway, I had to check whether that feeling on the dueling field was real or not.
The savage wolf revealed its sharp fangs between its long, ripping jaws.
Sharp teeth sparkling white between hot breaths.
Yellow eyes sparkle in the darkness like torches.
I stared at the monster and muttered lightly.
They were magic words that only me and the monster would hear.
“Disappear.”
The murder that was shining in the yellow eyes disappeared, and the gleam of the sharp teeth that were about to tear apart the prey in front of her disappeared.
He even turned around as if he was about to leave.
Is it possible...that this worked?
Not attacking me is one thing, but he obeyed my orders?
At that moment, Carlex passed by me and attacked the monster.
The monster did not fight him, but turned and fled with frightening speed.
“Is the monster running away?”
The soldiers screamed in a panicked voice.
Carlex tried to follow him.
“Stop, Your Highness. This is dangerous.”
Carlex stopped at my flattering voice.
He came back right away and first checked if I was okay.
“Erica, are you hurt?”
“As you can see, I'm fine. I think the monster ran away in fear of seeing you, Your Highness. Haha.”
I tried to get over the situation by laughing deliberately.
Because if he suspected that I had exorcised the monster, it would be a problem.
I still don't know if it's real or not, and I don't want this misunderstanding.
Carlex shook his head seriously.
“I can’t understand. A monster escaping? Those creatures have low intelligence and only follow the killing instinct unless they are in a very disadvantageous situation, so why?”
William ran towards me too.
He was about to cry.
“Thank you, God. Erica… really, thank God.”
“Thank God you're okay too, Director William. Ha.”
I handed William the silver chain that I had forgotten for a moment.
“Found this. Magic tracker.”
“...Really, you.”
William let out a deep breath of relief and shook his head.
Carlex stared at the edges of the forest where the monster had disappeared.
A light flashed in his blue eyes.
"Why is there a monster here? Has the barrier deviated again?"
William adjusted his single-lens glasses, tired.
“We should investigate from now on. If he broke the tracking magic, he used his own magic. The remaining magical energy in the chain must be tracked.”
أيمكن استجواب الطاقة السحرية أيضًا؟ It's not a fingerprint.
“So can we find out who the criminal is?”
"It cannot be certain, but it can be assumed. We must pray that any small clue will be found."
“We must find the criminal before he uses the magic book. Don’t tarry, William.”
William shared with a sharp frown.
William shrugged.
"Don't worry, Carlex. There are still four magic books left.
's book alone is useless but it's thick enough to make a decent pillow."
“Your relaxed appearance makes me think you have energy left. You will face questioning in the Cabinet for some time, so try to survive. The Ministers will fry you.”
"Damn, I was trying to think positive, don't do this. It would have been better if I got exposed to the monster."
Even the polite and well-mannered William comes out with obscene words, this seems to be a really dangerous situation.
“To be continued in the next chapter”
Loving translation