Chapter 383

Still doing well even after writing a book with a black mage as the protagonist?

Usually, if one wrote such a subversive book, it was common to be dragged away by heretic inquisitors for investigation.

And since this was Acherandir, if it was the inquisitor in charge…

‘Please let it be a book written before Professor Kaina’s appointment.’

Yusina and Sion, who had grown deeply attached to Ryuca before they knew it, sincerely hoped so.

Roan told them the name of the author who wrote this book.

“Silphy Luikian. Have you heard of her?”

“Silphy Luikian…?”

The three pondered for a moment, rolling their eyes upward.

Soon, each of them offered a different response.

“I read it a lot before enrolling! Ah, j-just for reference…”

Sion seemed embarrassed by the fact that she had been reading children’s books until recently.

“I also read a few volumes in the library. It was really fun.”

Ryuca also seemed to have heard the name often.

And finally, Yusina.

“She’s a senior from our club, though?”

…?

Suddenly?

Sion and Ryuca turned to look at Yusina.

She was someone they all knew, but it was knowledge on a completely different level.

As the two stared too intently, Yusina scratched the back of her head awkwardly.

“Well, you see… she was in her graduating year when I first enrolled, so I don’t know her very well. As you know, Sion, the people in our club are a bit hard to meet.”

“That’s true… And Roan already knew… of course. Yes, I suppose he would.”

You had to ask the right person.

Roan shrugged.

“Though I didn’t know she was a member of the Sanctuary.”

Actually, he knew.

It wasn’t that difficult to find out either.

“Did you really not know?”

“Well, that isn’t what’s important for now.”

‘He knew.’

‘He already knew.’

Roan briefly explained about Silphy Luikian, the author of this children’s story.

“As you all know, Silphy Luikian is one of the most promising children’s book writers in the Empire. was written by her during her time at Acherandir, and it is probably her debut work.”

!!

The listening audience was surprised in unison.

Just as he said, Silphy Luikian was a great writer.

If it was the first work of such a writer, and a handwritten one at that, the value of this book would indeed be astronomical.

“But why is such a book gathering dust in a secret library like this?”

Roan replied with a gaze that seemed to ask how she could even ask such a question.

“Because it’s a book related to a black mage.”

“…Ah.”

Although they had all been genuinely curious, their doubt was completely resolved.

Indeed, it was an astronomical story about a black mage infiltrating Acherandir.

And yet, such a black mage eventually survives and everyone lives happily ever after?

It wouldn’t be far-fetched to see this not as a children’s book, but as a pamphlet spreading subversive ideology.

*Humm—*

*Listening to this, there is also one thing I want to ask.*

False Divinity vibrated lightly.

‘What?’

*Since even someone who wrote such a thing is eating and living well now, doesn’t it mean nothing bad will happen to you either, as it turns out?*

‘…’

Honestly, Roan had also not been without such thoughts.

Silphy Luikian was one, but Roan already knew someone who lived perfectly well even after blathering words like ‘I want to learn black magic’ right in the middle of Acherandir.

Furthermore, how much information did Roan possess?

If he secured his safety by threatening and lobbying the influential figures of the Holy Emperor’s Palace and the Vatican using their corruptions and secrets, and in return dealt by revealing the locations of criminals the Empire was frantically searching for…

Wouldn’t it actually be possible to spare just one black mage?

‘No, why does it sound plausible?’

Roan realized the situation was more serious than he thought.

It really seemed possible!

Roan could instantly sketch out the final conclusion of that path.

Naturally, if the Empire guaranteed Roan’s survival, the ultimate end would be Harden—

‘Ah, it won’t work.’

*Humm—*

*It won’t work.*

Roan and False Divinity simultaneously realized the limitations of this rosy future.

What would be the point of receiving recognition from the various massive orders, the Vatican, and the Holy Emperor’s Palace one by one?

If he revealed his identity as he pleased, and Harden just said ‘Well, I still have to kill him,’ that would be the end of it.

Furthermore, Harden didn’t even need to step forward himself.

Since if he ordered Kaina beside him, she would handle it well on her own.

And impersonating a black mage (?) and being a real black mage were issues on completely different levels.

Roan left behind the imagination that was like a midsummer night’s dream and continued his story.

“…Anyway, after Silphy wrote this book, she showed it to the principal, and the principal, valuing Silphy’s talent, confiscated the book.”

In short, it meant that if this book were made public, a precious writer might meet a bad end in prison, so he cut it off at his own level.

“Even so, Silphy is said to have felt extremely regretful that her first work could not see the light of day. Ryuca’s materialization probably happened around that time.”

“Oh dear…”

Hearing Roan’s story, Yusina, Sion, and Ryuca once again could not escape from the crucible of emotion.

What a story that was even more like a children’s story than the book itself!

A genius children’s writer’s first work was born in the wrong era, locked in a closet, and the writer’s regret transformed the protagonist into a soul!

“Then, what do we have to do to resolve Ryuca’s grudge?”

However, the most important thing was resolving Ryuca’s grudge.

Roan nodded and showed them the method.

“It is simple. The three of you just need to read this children’s storybook. To be exact, you must know the contents. And then you recite it to Ryuca.”

After all, the reason Ryuca came into being was the regret that the story could not be made public to the world.

Resolving that regret would naturally allow Ryuca to leave this world and ascend.

Yusina clenched both fists and shouted.

“Alright! I’ll read the book! Ryuca, in your next life, be born as a real human, not a soul! Come, everyone gather here!”

Yusina patted the spot beside her and summoned Sion and Ryuca.

As for Roan…

“I will be listening, so read it well.”

Since he already knew all the contents and didn’t want to fit into such a sentimental scene, he decided to just look around the library.

“Aw, how could you do that?”

Yusina tried to call him over to sit down despite that, but.

“Saintess…”

“Huh?”

As Sion subtly hinted at her, she gave up as if she understood.

“Seeing how he’s trying to solve it to this extent, it seems he has already investigated this case a lot. Maybe he’s acting like that because he’s embarrassed to show a bashful side?”

“Yeah… that might be it. Since Roan is kind.”

?

Ryuca tilted her head at the conversation between the two.

He still doesn’t seem kind, though…

In any case.

“Now, I will begin! ‘Once upon a time, not long after Principal Harden founded the school, a black mage girl…'”

Yusina read the story in a cheerful voice.

‘Hmm, I looked around once last time, but I should see if there is anything I need.’

Roan decided to scan the surroundings again, since he had already entered this place.

* * *

“‘And so, the black mage girl Ryuca became the secret girl of Acherandir and lived happily ever after.’ The end!”

As it was a children’s story of not very long length, the recitation ended quickly.

Yusina closed the book in a cheerful voice.

However, her expression was not very good.

“Saintess…”

Sion was grieving even more visibly.

To be exact, a few pages before Yusina closed the book.

It was because they all felt that Ryuca was no longer remaining here.

Yusina spoke with a bitter smile.

“I played with her so hard, yet she left without even saying goodbye.”

At first, she thought she was just a lost soul in the library filled with spatial holy magic.

But to think she was hiding such circumstances.

In any case, a soul departing quietly meant the grudge had been properly resolved.

Although she felt regretful, she somehow felt proud in a corner of her heart that everything had ended well.

And she was very grateful to Roan, the gloomy-looking boy who had shown them the way.

Yusina brushed herself off and stood up.

“It must be really late now. Sion, should we return to the dormitory?”

“Ah, yes, Saintess!”

Sion also stood up with a bright smile, glad that Yusina had regained her spirits.

“By the way, Roan said he would listen, but where did he go?”

“He didn’t go toward the door… could he be in the back?”

Yusina and Sion began to look around and search for Roan.

Since the secret library itself was not a very large space, finding him was easy.

“Ah, Roan!”

“You were here—”

The two brightened up upon finding Roan, who was invoking various books.

Roan was holding a worn-out black magic book.

If it were just that, they would have let it slide, but.

*Fwoosh!*

…?

The black magic book held in Roan’s hand was literally burning away!

Moreover, it wasn’t a normal fire, but a white flame. In other words, he had completely erased the black magic with holy power.

Although he had just touchingly sent away the soul of a girl who thought she was a black mage.

Thinking that Roan, who had shown them the method, was burning a black magic book behind them with a gloomy and dangerous expression, Yusina and Sion had no choice but to be dumbfounded.

‘Is this what they call ruining childhood innocence…?’

Of course, unlike their thoughts, Roan had not burned the book out of burning rage against black magic.

‘Well, this actually works.’

*Humm—*

*Indeed.*

It was none other than ‘Rapid Learning.’

Although divided stages into Basic, Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced, it was not a system where one had to fully complete the previous stage to move on to the next.

In fact, stalling time with the intention of completing the previous stage was extremely inefficient.

If one had the capability, they should push forward to the next stage right away.

However, there were many cases where one had to learn new lower-stage skills even after moving up.

And the system designed to prevent the hassle of learning each of them anew was ‘Rapid Learning.’

For example, holy magic or spells that were too low in level could be learned simply by making up one’s mind to master the corresponding skill book while holding it.

In return, the magic book would burn away and could not be reused.

For priests, they could just reprint it anyway, so they wouldn’t care whether it burned or not.

‘But for black mages, magic books are rare, so each and every volume is precious.’

At any rate, such circumstances were hidden behind it.

Since he had recently risen to Intermediate level, he tested Rapid Learning just in case, and it went surprisingly smoothly.

It was possible not only for Basic but also for Beginner level up to a decent standard.

…Given that the one Yusina and Sion saw was already the fifth volume, that said it all.

Roan could not help but be highly satisfied inwardly.

‘As expected, one receives rewards when living kindly!’

The Elont Grand Library book thief event?

Frankly, even if he had imprisoned her in the infinite mirror prison of the void like Doldol-ie, there would have been no issue with the reward.

However, the reason he chose the troublesome path was entirely out of pity and sympathy for Ryuca, who was in a similar position to himself.

And the presence of Yusina, who had been close to her, played a large part.

*Humm—*

*Well… if you really think so, I won’t stop you.*

False Divinity also thought that Roan had done one of his few good deeds this time.

‘It should be a big help thanks to that.’

That was true.

For the effective activity of False Divinity, he had to learn as much Hilonian and black magic as possible.

If Rapid Learning was possible for black magic alone, it would be perfect.

“Roan, shall we head out now?”

Yusina called Roan awkwardly.

Only then did Roan realize the two were watching him and turned his head.

Roan lied as naturally as breathing.

“Hmm, no matter the circumstances, I couldn’t bear it when I saw black magic books…”

“Right, right, of course. I understand completely.”

“Did you send Ryuca off well?”

“Yeah. Thanks. It’s thanks to you!”

As always, there was no way Yusina and Sion would doubt Roan.

If anything, they were only grateful.

At that moment.

“Thanks for what?”

“Hieeeek—! G-Ghost!”