The Book Eating Magician Chapter 198:
Chapter 198 – Traces from the Age of Mythology (1)
Flash!
The investigation team disappeared from the tunnel and appeared again in a strange room . There was a white floor with a lattice pattern, and lighting fixtures floating in the air .
The investigation team, including Theodore, responded swiftly . It was a space transfer which Theodore, Veronica, and the injured Mujak hadn’t been able to resist . The five people quickly backed up against each other and looked around .
This was a ruin from the Age of Mythology . If it was a trap, not one of them could afford to be careless . However, that tension was scattered .
“P-Para?”
The girl, Paragranum approached them with a calm expression . “I’m sorry for the delay, Captain . It took some time to gain control of the laboratory . ”
“…Please give a detailed explanation . ”
“Yes . ”
Theodore was aware of her intentions, and Para used the prepared excuse .
He couldn’t help smiling bitterly as the grimoire explained, “Immediately after the engagement with the empire’s Seven Swords finished, I was transferred to this lab by the power of this ring . According to Master’s words, this is like a key to this set of ruins . ”
“It is the power of the ring that moved us here?”
“That’s not it . ” Para hid the ring on her index finger and shook her head .
After all, an artifact which allowed 9th Circle magic to be used freely would’ve been designated as a national treasure .
“The carriage that we rode relied on the power of the magic crystals, and it isn’t really a carriage . Likewise, this ring is just a vehicle to deal with the power of this laboratory . It is useless scrap metal outside this ruin . ” Para gave a contrived sigh . “Unfortunately, the authority given to this ring can’t control Mercurius, and it is impossible to access some areas . However, I am able to open up the warehouse district . ”
“Okay, I got it . ”
Then Veronica, the head of the party, stepped forward and looked down at Para . Veronica was quite tall for a woman . Para . whose body was smaller than average, had to look up to see Veronica’s face .
Although Para was a highly intelligent grimoire who wouldn’t slip up, Theodore felt an unknown tension .
“But Yellow Tower kid, don’t you think there is a more important problem than this boring explanation?”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you sure you don’t know?” Veronica looked at Para’s emotionless face and brought up a topic which no one else had mentioned . “Lloyd Pollan . Did you get rid of that rat?”
The rest of the party were suddenly reminded of Lloyd’s presence . Maybe it was because they were dizzy from the sudden space shift that Sylvia, William, and even Mujak, who had been injured by Lloyd, had forgotten about him .
Of course, it was good to obtain the ruins, but there was a bitter taste from having missed one of the empire’s Seven Swords . As Veronica was quick-witted, she noticed this . However, Para just smiled effortlessly . “Oh, that rude person . ”
She raised her thumb, and there was a loud sound . Simultaneously, an image appeared on the black wall . The party reflexively looked over, and their faces stiffened at the sight .
“This…?”
“…One of the empire’s Seven Swords . ”
It was Lloyd Pollan . He was scowling until he met Para’s eyes . Unlike his brave stance, his eyes were tinted with fear . The unstable shaking of his eyes was enough to make the viewers feel an eerie chill .
Veronica was the only one who remained unshaken as she asked Para, “What is going on?”
“He seems to have triggered a trap while wandering around . ”
“Trap? Is that what this is?”
“Yes, it is a trap which freezes that space . Perhaps even a grandmaster can’t get out . ”
“…9th Circle magic is popping up like household items,” Veronica grumbled, and the others couldn’t help nodding in agreement .
Space freeze was the peak of space magic which even White Tower Master Orta couldn’t reproduce . In fact, it was only mentioned in old records . However, such a spell had been used as a trap? Did the creator think a dragon was going to invade or something?
“Can you turn it off?”
“I don’t have the authority . ”
“Tch . It can’t be helped then . Anyway, it was an unofficial battle, and he is like a prisoner of war . ” Veronica gave up .
Then Para erased the image on the wall and said, “There seems to be an accommodation area . Shall I guide you to it?”
“Accommodation?”
Veronica wasn’t the only one enticed by it . Theodore was tired from the fight in the sandstorm, while the remaining party members also wanted to rest . There was sand in their clothing, and their dry skin hurt . Furthermore, nobody wanted to keep looking dirty .
Sylvia raised a hand in agreement, and the rest soon followed .
Through the unanimous decision, the next move of the investigation team was decided . Veronica, Mujak, William, and Sylvia were moved through space magic, leaving only Theodore and Para behind in the room .
Theodore wanted to go as well and looked at Para, who whispered to him, “Wait for my call at night . ”
Then her fingers moved .
Clack!
* * *
The laboratory of Paragranum’s creator, Paracelsus, was a place worthy of being called a new world . Its principles were simple, but the unfamiliar facilities, plumbing, and food which was made with one button seemed like miracles, not alchemy .
Then shortly after Theodore washed in the unfamiliar facility and finished a satisfactory meal…
The grimoire, Paragranum, kept her words .
「Confirmed the sub-master’s call, I will guide you from area D-1 to area L-21 . 」
It was in the same unknown language as Theodore had heard in the tunnel . As soon as the voice finished speaking, Theodore’s surrounding landscape changed .
This was compulsory space movement . Despite having experienced it once before, Theodore felt uncomfortable from the forced transfer . After all, it completely ignored the resistance of a 7th Circle magician!
If Paragranum had been harboring malice, Theodore wouldn’t have been able to respond and would be stuck in a space gap .
“Why are you so tense?”
Theodore was surprised by the voice he heard come from behind him .
“…Paragranum,” he uttered .
“In this laboratory, I am equal to a grandmaster . You shouldn’t be surprised by this . ”
Grandmaster…! A grandmaster was a person who was closer to a **** than a human, someone beyond the boundaries of mortals and transcendents . Theodore had already guessed this, but he couldn’t help feeling wonder at Para’s words .
While Theodore was feeling surprised, he soon realized that it was oddly dark . With his excellent vision, he was only able to see what was right before him . Yet, ordinary people wouldn’t be able to see anything at all .
“It is too dark, can’t you brighten it a little bit?”
“This is an area where light isn’t supposed to enter . Well, it doesn’t matter now . ”
Soon afterward, a dim light came on . Then the shapes before Theodore and Para soon became clear . When the lights came on in full, Theodore didn’t even look at Para .
“…W-What is this?”
His surprise was natural . There were green water tanks surrounding the two people, and horrible monsters and people sleeping in them . A six-headed snake, a three-headed dog, a centaur with wings on its back… There were dozens of water tanks containing disgusting things .
“Biological manipulation, chimera,” Paragranum answered the question as she stroked the glass wall of a tank .
Did she remember the days of studying with her creator, Paracelsus? Para looked through several tanks and shook her head . “It can’t be helped . The corpses are all rotting and can’t be recycled . How could Creator’s chimera endure for thousands of years?”
“Thousands of years…”
“If they were alive, we could’ve unified the Northern continent with them . It is regretful as Meltor’s tower master . No one would be left alive . ”
They were terrible words . He might’ve laughed it off as a bluff if someone else had said it, but there was no reason for Paragranum to bluff .
‘…Indeed, she is dangerous . ’
Theodore shook away the creepy sensation of power and hastily followed behind Para . Even though he knew they were already dead, the monsters still seemed like they were alive . After moving past dozens of tanks, the landscape around them suddenly changed .
It was an application of space magic which Theodore couldn’t even guess . However, he wasn’t surprised by the change . Despite the fact that thousands of years had passed, items were neatly arranged on shelves .
“Let’s see… What do I have to take…” Paragranum started to sweep up the things she needed from the shelves .
Her hands moved incessantly until she reached some oddly colored reagents and metals which Theodore had never seen before . It was a large warehouse, and she had filled about half her space bag .
“Oh . ” Para suddenly stopped moving her hand and looked back at Theodore . “Here is the thing I promised you . The rest will be given a little later . ”
She threw him a slab . Theodore hurriedly accepted the slab and asked, “This…?”
“As I told you before, it is the Fairy’s Book . ”
This piece of stone was a book? He touched it with his left hand and whispered . There was a clearer way of finding out than asking Paragranum .
‘Appraisal . ’
Gluttony’s tongue proved its effectiveness as always .
[Fairy’s Book]
[-This book explains the deepening knowledge of the elemental world, including the four major elementals and their utilization . The great alchemist and author of this book, Paracelsus, was the first to distinguish and name the four elemental spirits . He also tried to create artificial elementals based on the ancient elementals . However, the results of that experiment aren’t recorded in this book .
* This magic book is rated ‘Treasure . ’
* When consumed, your proficiency with ‘elementals’ will increase greatly .
* When consumed, your understanding of the ‘four elementals’ will increase greatly .
* The soul of the great alchemist Paracelsus inhabits it . You must be at least the 7th Circle to eat this book . Even if the conditions are met, contact activities such as Synchro might not be possible unless Paracelsus is interested . ]
It had a ‘Treasure’ rating which exceeded the anticipated ‘Precious’ rating . Theodore’s eyes widened in shock . The stone slab didn’t seem like a real book, and the value of it was higher than he had expected .
‘Maybe I really can unlock the 5th seal…’
Every time a seal was released, Gluttony revealed a great ability . From Memorize which could store magic in advance, Another which allowed parallel casting, and to Override which called the author of an eaten book, Gluttony’s abilities were almost a foul .
What would be the function of the 5th seal? He shouldn’t just depend on Gluttony’s power, but he couldn’t help feeling expectant . At that time, Para finished her work and called out to Theodore, “Theodore Miller! Take a look over here for a moment . ”
“What happened?”
“Can you lend me the Azoth Sword?”
Theodore handed the Azoth Sword to her without any doubts . If Paragranum wanted to seize it, he wouldn’t be able to stop her . However, he also wanted to know why she needed it . Paragranum received the Azoth Sword, took a deep breath, and shouted softly, “「Ars Magna! Open the door to your master!」”
Then she pointed the blade at a spot in the air .
Flash!
It was an unrealistic sight . The space in front of the Azoth Blade split in two . There was an emerald gleam in the cleaved space, and Para grabbed it with her left arm . Then Paragranum rummaged in the pocket before exclaiming, “I found it!”
The moment the grimoire pulled out her hand with blissful eyes, the cleaved space was covered up again . Theodore could understand because he had a better understanding of dimensions due to Umbra . The space which Paragranum had approached was impossible to open without the Azoth Sword .
‘Then this means that jewel…?’
Paragranum was holding an emerald in her left hand . Unlike jewels, this emerald cube had a perfect symmetry and didn’t refract light .
–Yes, it is as you guessed, the invisible Gluttony whispered . –That is the Emerald Tablet, the treasure from the Age of Mythology that all alchemists praised as the ‘Gate of Truth . ’