The Book Eating Magician Chapter 18:
At the Crossroad of Trust #2
Having spent five years at Bergen Academy, Theo had realized one thing: he shouldn’t judge people by their light words or temporary actions .
Classmates who pretended to be friends had turned away from him, while the professors treated him like a fool . It would be foolish to trust people like them .
However, Professor Vince was different .
–Are you the long-time dunce? I don’t know what idiot created that nickname .
–The answer to this final exam was excellent . If you don’t mind, come to my laboratory after school . I will teach you a little more .
–Don’t mind those playing tricks on you . You are a better person than anyone at this academy .
-Theodore Miller, do you want to try being a magic scholar?
Theo remembered all of their conversations . They were words which had saved the frustrated, disappointed, and ashamed Theodore .
Vince was the only one who recognized Theo’s value . The academy’s best magician had said that he believed in the talent of the long-time dunce .
His words had created the present Theodore .
‘Professor Vince… the only person in this academy that I trust and can confide in…’
If even Vince wasn’t trustworthy, then he would never been able to tell anyone in the future .
Theodore’s eyes sank as he realized something; he couldn’t live like this forever . Eventually, someone would notice books were missing from the library, and people would raise doubts about Theo’s sudden skills and performance .
In that situation, he was a mere student with neither the power nor the status to preserve his rights . However, it was a different story if he had Professor Vince as his ally .
‘Obviously, I can try to stop that situation from happening… but like this, I can get help . It will also be easier to get the necessary books . ’
There was the possibility that he wouldn’t get caught before graduation, or the probability that Professor Vince wouldn’t betray him . Either way, the indefinite future couldn’t be quantified .
The scales in Theodore’s mind were leaning toward the latter .
“Professor, I’d like to show you something, so please don’t be surprised . ”
“I’ll try . ”
Vince, who was watching him quietly, nodded with a serious expression . It was just for a moment, but the weight of the worries which appeared on Theo’s face was really heavy . After such distress, it was a secret he would tell Vince . So, he needed to be dignified .
Theo took a few deep breaths before placing Roaring Flames, which he was holding in his right hand, onto the table . Then he placed his left hand above it .
“Gluttony, come out . ”
As always, it responded faithfully to his call .
Slurp!
A tongue protruded from the open hole in the palm of his hand . Professor Vince jumped, but he didn’t cast a spell thanks to what Theo had said earlier .
As the eyes of the two people met, Gluttony’s tongue wrapped around its prey as usual . Its prey was the pendant, Roaring Flames, which was emitting an intense magic power .
[+7 Roaring Flames (Accessory)]
[As a silver pendant containing a small amount of mithril, it is a high-grade magic stone . This pendant was produced by Viscount Carter, and the way to create it doesn’t exist anymore . The owner can form a contract by dripping blood on the pendant in order to use all the functions . When this pendant is activated, magic power will temporarily increase and affinity to fire magic will also increase .
* The rating of this pendant is ‘Precious’ .
* When consumed, a considerable amount of magic power will be absorbed .
* When consumed, the digestion time is 1 hour and 38 minutes .
*Current contractor: Garcia Carter .
* Starting spell: Red light streaking across the sky]
‘Precious rating…?! It is truly different from the other items . ’
Theo admired the value of ‘Roaring Flames’ . Until now, most of his items had a Normal rating, with an occasionally Rare emerging . However, ‘Roaring Flames’ was beyond that limit .
It was also the first time that the digestion of an object exceeded one hour . The stronger items would probably take longer to digest .
“C-Can I ask for an explanation?”
Professor Vince belatedly regained his spirit and pointed to the tongue with his finger . However, Theo looked down at Gluttony instead of answering his question . It was waiting for his permission like a well-trained hound .
“It isn’t over yet… Eat . ”
The tongue instantly wrapped around Roaring Flames, and it was sucked Theo’s left hand . As always, it made a sound, expressing that the food was delicious .
Gulp!
At the sound, Professor Vince sank back into his chair with an agitated expression .
“Huh, huhuhuh…”
“Professor, are you okay?”
Theo wanted to take a moment for the shock to wear off, but Vince’s eyes were shouting at him to explain . Originally, magicians emerged amongst those who couldn’t refrain from their curiosity .
To do this to the curiosity of a 5th Circle master, who was almost at the 6th Circle, was like throwing a thirsty man into the desert .
In the end, Theodore started explaining what had happened to Roaring Flames .
* * *
The story ended earlier than expected .
Vince was a magician as well as a genius scholar . If Theo explained one thing to him, he could grasp three or four other meanings, and Vince soon understood Gluttony’s existence .
“Indeed, it is a greedy grimoire . ”
Professor Vince shook his head as he let out a cry of amazement . He was much wiser than Theo, who had absorbed the knowledge in the library, so he knew how ridiculous it was . It was possible to obtain the magic or magic power of the owner just by eating…?
This was something which modern magicians couldn’t imagine .
Vince, who was excited for a while, calmed down and smiled at Theo .
“But as a professor, I can’t praise the fact that you fed it library books . ”
“I’m sorry…”
“Well, it can’t be helped if your life is at stake . ”
It was either the books in the library or his life . Anybody would have made the same choice as Theodore . So, instead of reprimanding him, Vince made a joking remark, and Theo responded like that .
It was a story which could be laughed off because the price of books had dropped a lot 150 years ago, with the advent of the book copying magic .
After Vince’s questions were over, it was Theo’s turn to ask something .
“Professor . ”
“Huh?”
“Excuse me, there is one thing I would like to ask . ”
However, Vince already knew the question before he even asked it . “I think I know . Do you want to ask why I’m not greedy for the grimoire?”
“I-I’m really sorry . ”
“There is no need to apologize . It is an obvious question . ”
He took another sip of his already cold coffee and explained about grimoires . “Magicians who don’t major in archeology won’t be familiar with it, but anyone who studies ancient magic like me would know . Theodore, the grimoire stuck in your palm is useless to me . ”
“Huh?!” Theo’s eyes widened at the unexpected words .
“Although it is unusual to have a grimoire that takes the form of the name of the book, they tend to choose their masters themselves . If a person kills the owner, they would be lucky if the grimoire doesn’t steal something or retaliate against them . Actually, there are a few cases of magicians being killed by grimoires that they tried forcibly to take away . ”
“That…”
“Of course, it is also impossible to transfer it . Rather, it would be better to study the grimoire by the owner’s side . ”
‘Ah . ’ Theo raised his head . He now understood what Vince was saying .
He nodded with a satisfied expression . It didn’t need to be a one-sided relationship . Theo could negotiate using ‘studying’ the book as a bargaining chip . It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that the two people were on equal footing .
As a seasoned person, in comparison to someone who wasn’t even in their 20s, it wouldn’t be difficult to fool Theo . However, Vince taught him without concealing any information .
Additionally, Vince bowed deeply toward Theo .
“Thank you for telling me . I, Vince Haidel, will reward your trust as a teacher and fellow magician . ”
“Professor…”
“Then shouldn’t something be done to maintain this trust in our relationship?”
There was no time to say anything .
Pahat!
As Theodore lifted his head with surprise, a red light shone around Vince’s hands . It wasn’t attack magic nor defense magic . This was the Oath magic which only magicians who reached the 5th Circle could use .
‘It can’t be…!’
Vince’s voice resonated due to the the magic power .
“I, Vince Haidel, make this oath . I will be quiet about any secrets that Theodore Miller doesn’t allow me to share . This oath will be observed by the rules of magic . ”
It was a magic used in trials and interrogations .
The magic couldn’t be triggered through the coercion of others . The user had to make the decision on their own . Additionally, it was a magic which couldn’t be canceled once activated .
Compared to the ‘Geass Scroll’ Theo used, this was a higher-ranked restriction . As the red light around Vince’s hands faded away, Vince stretched out his hand .
“I look forward to our relationship in the future, Theodore Miller . ”
Theo was no longer seen as a student or child, but a fellow magician . Theodore grabbed Professor Vince’s hand excitedly . Now that he was recognized as a magician, he wasn’t a child anymore .
“…Thank you . ”
Somehow, he couldn’t shed any tears .
Theo closed his eyes as warmth came from Vince’s hand . It was the first time that the academy’s long-time dunce, Theodore Miller, made a true ally .