The Book Eating Magician Chapter 199:

Chapter 199 – Traces from the Age of Mythology (2)

As Gluttony talked to Theodore, Paragranum’s hands were moving while she held the Emerald Tablet . This thing had been a treasure even in the Age of Mythology . The value of it couldn’t be determined in this age .

Even Theodore, who wasn’t interested in alchemy, was briefly attracted to the glitter, but it was literally just for a moment .

Para stared at the Emerald Tablet in her arms .

“…I have accomplished my first purpose,” she muttered with a loud voice which was rare for her .

However, Theodore had a question as he looked at her back .

According to Para’s actions, the key to this research facility and the dimension containing the Emerald Tablet was clearly the Azoth Sword . However, she had handed over such an essential item as a down payment? Not even a dumb human would make that mistake . A grimoire had an intellect surpassing humans, so she wouldn’t make such an obvious mistake .

Theodore faced Paragranum and spoke in a more rigid voice, “Paragranum, I have something I want to ask . ”

He was already 70% certain, and the remaining 30% wasn’t really him being doubtful . However, he couldn’t leave here without checking . After all, it was easier to deal with someone who was classified as an enemy, than someone who wasn’t .

In any case, Para’s dominance in this set of ruins was absolute .  Unsurprisingly, Para acted like she knew his question . “I can already guess your question . Well, just speak . ”

“It wasn’t a mistake . ” The remaining 30% disappeared as Theodore became convinced . “Why did you hand me the Azoth Sword? It isn’t just the key to obtaining the Emerald Tablet . If this dagger is Paracelsus’ favorite, it must be worth more than that . It can be used in several ways in this set of ruins . ”

“For example?”

“It is the key to controlling Mercurius . ”

This part was purely Theodore’s speculation . It might be possible, but it wouldn’t go toward a level beyond speculation . If Paragranum denied it, his speculation would end here . He had no evidence to back up his hypothesis .

Theodore’s heart was hoping that Paragranum would laugh at his words . He didn’t want to become hostile toward a monster who was equal to a grandmaster in this set of ruins .  However, Para clapped and exclaimed, “Correct! As expected of Gluttony’s host, you have a good head . ”

“You…!” Theodore was about to curse, but he barely stopped himself and lowered his voice, “Answer me . Why did you hand me the Azoth Sword?”

“Why do you mean? It was your choice . ”

“That-”

That was true . Theodore was the one who had chosen the sword when presented with the option of the Azoth Sword or the Philosopher’s Stone .  Even if Paragranum had induced it, there had been no compulsion which forced him to choose it .

Para looked at the temporarily speechless Theodore and opened her mouth again, “The Philosopher’s Stone or the Azoth Sword . At that time, I only respected your free will . As a result of your choice, you fought Mercurius . Life is continuously climbing the ladder, so I can’t have a companion who can’t endure it . ”

Theodore immediately recognized the meaning of what had happened . “… Did you test me?”

“In a sense . ”

“What if I had been killed by Mercurius?”

“Unfortunately, I would then have to do it alone . It isn’t a big deal for me to retrieve the Azoth Sword after securing this laboratory . ”

Theodore heard up to here and gave up on understanding his opponent . Even if she looked like a person, she was still a grimoire . It would be fatal if he thought of her actions as those of a human .

Above all, he didn’t gain anything from this stand-off .  After confirming that Paragranum had no intention to fight, Theodore stepped back and changed the topic .  As it happened, the excuse was in his hand .

“Do you have anything to say about this Fairy’s Book?”

“Huh?”

“This slab . ”

It was a slab with a dark shine and made of an unknown material . The Fairy’s Book had been handed over to him as promised, but he didn’t know how to read it .  Paragranum understood belatedly and scratched her head . “Whoops, I forgot there are no more in this age . ”

“How do I use this?”

“Grab any part and inject it with magic power . At your level… Yes, can you use 3rd Circle magic once?”

Theodore made an uncertain expression and poured the proper amount of magic power in the Fairy’s Book .  Simultaneously, a dim light spread from the slab and eventually formed the shape of a letter . It was a strange and mysterious letter which Theodore had never seen before .

Then at that moment…

Piing!

A light suddenly shot up from the slab . No, the trajectory was too exact . The ray of light flew accurately toward the middle of Theodore’s forehead .  It exceeded the speed of light, and the light from the slab couldn’t be avoided or blocked .

「Checking the user’s magic power pattern . I will start . 」 As before, Theodore heard an unknown voice . 「From page 1 to page 50 . Introducing the concept of the elemental world and the four elementals to the user . 」

Knowledge from the Age of Mythology was forcibly entered into Theodore’s brain .

“Urghh!”

As soon as 50 pages of knowledge were transferred over, Theodore held his temple due to the terrible headache . He had been prepared, so the sudden rush of information wasn’t enough to make him unconscious .

However, this was several times stronger than what he had previously experienced . It was the pain he had felt when he consumed a large amount of books in a short period of time and the processing power of his brain had reached its limit .

Para saw it and grinned at him . “Ahahaha! As expected of Gluttony’s owner, you have a really good head . This is a primitive character used in the Age of Mythology which can compress dozens of letters into one character . Most people won’t be able to read the character and will have their brain fried . ”

“So . how many characters are there in this book?” Theodore asked through the headache and she answered without hesitation .

“36  characters . Creator had a habit of storing 50 pages in one character, for a total of 1,800 pages . ”

“… You should give me a warning beforehand next time . ”

“If it makes you feel better . ”

…She didn’t say she would .   Theodore turned his gaze away anyway .  Then Paragranum pointed to a shelf that was still half full and said, “Now, shall we handle the balance?”

She had promised to give him everything except for the Emerald Table and a few materials .

There were 33 kilograms of platinum, 65 kilograms of gold, and 300 kilograms of precious materials, as well as 182 bottles of various potions ranging from recovery to attribute resistance . There were also five 8th Circle magic scrolls and twelve 7th Circle magic scrolls, along with special items including two bottles of elixir and one Philosopher’s Stone .

Lastly, there was a golem in the corner . Para pointed to the knight in full body armor and suddenly paused .  She made a strange expression before looking like she got a good idea .  Then Para turned toward Theodore with sparkling eyes and asked, “Hey, can I take that golem?”

“Is something the matter?”

“It’s not like that . The ego has died a long time ago . I just recently got a decent material . I want to try remodeling it . ”

“Decent material? What… Ah . ” Theodore reflected on the answer and closed his mouth .

It was Lloyd Pollan, the enemy whom the grimoire had captured . Para planned to use him for her experiments . Even though he was an enemy, Theodore couldn’t help feeling sympathetic .  However, Theodore had no intention of going against the grimoire, so he turned his eyes away with a disgruntled look .

‘It isn’t worth quibbling over . ’

Didn’t Theo have to fight Mercurius because of him? 

“Go ahead . I hope it isn’t too late . ”

“Okay, I finally have something to do in the tower after a long time . ”

Para didn’t hide her cruel joy as she laughed and pointed her finger at the items . This was just the remaining balance, but it was a huge amount . It wasn’t an amount which could be put in a box .

“How will you take all this? Ah, will you put them in your dimensional pocket?”

“There’s no need,” Theodore answered bluntly and held out his left hand .  It was safer and bigger than the dimensional pocket, so the entry to the inventory opened in the palm of his left hand .  The tongue was attracted by the pleasant smell and emerged, then Theodore gave it permission, “Swallow everything and put it all in the inventory . ”

After thousands of years, the warehouse of Paracelsus’ laboratory was emptied .

 

*     *     *

After completing the secret deal, Theodore was returned to his room . The fluffy bed and books he had been waiting for looked exactly the same .  There was only one thing which had changed . It was the new presence of the Fairy’s Book in the books in his inventory .

Theodore sat on the bed instead of the chair and sighed,“Hoo… My head still hurts . Gluttony, do you know about this slab beforehand?”

–I thought that it wouldn’t be a big burden for you .

“Then why didn’t you say anythin- No, forget it . You are a grimoire . I had forgotten . ”

It was meaningless to blame it for something which had already passed, and grimoires didn’t feel sorry or apologize for anything . The grimoire would just be more careful next time and focus on the road ahead .

‘This is a primitive character? It is quite efficient . ’

The Fairy’s Book had dozens of pages were stamped into one character, and the 50 pages of knowledge naturally became Theodore’s .  He had done it once, and the understanding of this book increased to 2 . 7% . In other words, he had acquired understanding just by reading .

The ‘primitive characters’ on this slab was a technique which could change the concept of studying .  However, it was a big risk to the user .

–Your reasoning is correct .

‘What?’

–The computing ability of humans in the Age of Mythology is superior to current humans . Therefore, learning using the ‘primitive characters’ was easier .  However, as time passed, the functions of the brain deteriorated, and the ‘primitive characters’ were banned .

‘Humans have fallen behind technology… How scary . ’

The technology from the Age of Mythology was tantalizing to present humans, but they couldn’t endure it .  Theodore looked down at the slab in his hand . The stinging headache was still annoying, but he could ignore it if he focused .

As long as the act of reading was straightforward, he could have Gluttony eat the book before the next morning .  Theodore could decide to not overdo it, or he could endure the pain .

He hesitated for a moment before pouring magic power into the slab . Although he didn’t want to be in pain, he didn’t like this situation either . Theodore was drawn in by Para’s intentions and had no power to resist .

However, no matter how great Para was, that wasn’t an excuse for powerlessness . Such an excuse wasn’t suitable for the owner of a Seven Sins grimoire .

Piing!

Just like before, a ray of light struck his forehead and knowledge flowed in from the Fairy’s Book .  The great alchemist, Paracelsus…

Theodore would see his face before the sun came up tomorrow .