This magic collision won't last long.
Soon, the library will start to collapse under the impact of the storm.
'How much time do I have left?'
I wondered, running towards the entrance of the library.
'An hour? 30 minutes?'
Maybe even less than 10 minutes.
If the building collapses... I'll die too, right?
'I don't want to die.'
I've come this far to avoid death.
My goal is to break the seal of the evil god and be free from Lordbelle.
And to live my life as Lucia, not as a half-breed bastard or a sacrifice prepared for the glory of Lordbelle.
"So I won't die here."
I clenched my fist, reaffirming my will.
In the meantime, I arrived at the entrance.
"Wow..."
I exclaimed, looking up at the library building with its doors wide open due to the storm.
"It really looks ominous when you look at it like this."
The sky seen from within the storm was an ominous purple.
The magic swirling around the library, and the old building shimmering in dark purple, reminded me of a cursed castle from a book I once read.
It exuded an atmosphere that I would never want to enter willingly, but that wasn't important to me now.
"First, I need to find <Isla's Medical Book>."
I also want to find the book that will be the key to breaking the evil god's seal, but...
'I have no choice.'
I can find clues elsewhere.
But <Isla's Medical Book> is the only one of its kind in this world.
I can't give up on it.
'I'm glad I obtained the direct lineage qualification.'
Thanks to that, I can enter the non-public area.
"Okay, let's go."
I braced myself and stepped onto the stairs.
It was a place I used to visit often, but it felt completely unfamiliar.
'The inside... is quiet.'
Unlike the outside, where the magic storm was raging with loud wind noises, the inside of the building was so quiet that even my breathing sounded loud.
But it wasn't a serene quiet like deep dawn.
'It's like it's holding its breath.'
It feels like the building itself has become a living being, holding its breath to capture its prey.
'Creepy.'
I rubbed my arms at the creeping eeriness.
My pace quickened.
'Non-public area. Non-public area.'
I passed through the entrance where the bookshelves lined up, crossed the space where I had a dispute with Banshees, and finally arrived at the door at the innermost part.
[Non-Public Area]
...Gulp.
I swallowed hard at the sudden surge of tension and put my hand on the doorknob.
'Surely it won't say no now, will it?'
Belatedly, anxiety washed over me.
That's because, in order to use the non-public area, you need not only the qualification of direct lineage but also one more condition.
'The permission of the head of the family.'
Without the permission of the head of the family, even a direct descendant who has obtained the qualification cannot enter the non-public area.
I put strength into it and turned the doorknob.
At that moment, a purple seal rose above the door, glowed, and then disappeared.
Click.
'It opened...!'
The result was successful.
"Haa..."
For a moment, I forgot the situation and indulged in joy.
I finally opened this door. I made it this far.
'No, let's get a grip, Lucia.'
It's too early to be moved.
I threw the door open.
I was about to go straight in, but... I was blocked by an unexpected ambush.
'...It's dark.'
The room, with not a single ray of light, was as dark as an abyss.
Even the floating stones that usually provided light were not working, perhaps due to the influence of the magic storm.
I can't find the book like this.
No, actually...
'...It's like the abyss.'
I know it's not.
I know very well that this place is not the abyss, but simply dark.
'I'm glad you're my daughter.'
I tightly closed my eyes at the rush of memories from that day.
My breath quickened.
'This is just a memory.'
In the end, it is oneself who gives influence to past memories.
'That situation will never happen again.'
Being urged to death in front of a deep, wide pit with no end in sight, being hurt by ridicule and laughter, and finally being pushed away and losing one's life.
'It will never happen again.'
I opened my eyes wide.
And I took a step into the darkness.
"Hoo..."
As if breaking through a wall, it was easier to move forward after taking a step.
But that was only for a moment.
'It's too dark.'
Eventually, I was blocked by a realistic wall.
As my eyes got used to the darkness, I could vaguely see the outlines of the bookshelves, but I couldn't see the names of the books.
If I could use magic, I could easily create a weak light.
'I don't know how to use magic...'
In my previous life, I happened to have the opportunity to have Elbert measure my magic power, and the result was '0'.
It means that magic power does not exist at all.
So I didn't even think about learning magic in this life, but I couldn't help but feel sorry that this happened.
But I don't have time to feel sorry right now.
'What should I do?'
Time is passing, but I can't stay still like this.
"I need light."
That's when I muttered unconsciously.
Flutter...
Suddenly, a ray of light flew into my sight.
What is that?
I was startled and took a step back.
Soon I knew what it was.
"A butterfly?"
It was a purple, not unfamiliar butterfly.
Certainly...
'It's the butterfly that led me to the Crown Prince, isn't it?'
Why is that butterfly here?
I inadvertently looked around.
I wondered if the Crown Prince... Bethel Denab Arpedel was here.
Of course, the Crown Prince was not there.
Then where did this butterfly come from?
...But this butterfly is more than I thought...
"...Bright?"
It shone around its body like a firefly, and it was quite bright.
With this much light, I could distinguish nearby objects.
I don't know where the butterfly suddenly came from, but...
"Can you help me?"
Even though I knew it wouldn't understand, I was unconsciously asking the butterfly for help.
And the butterfly.
Flutter-flutter-
As if answering, it fluttered its wings and hovered around my face.
I approached the bookshelf. Then the butterfly followed me.
The butterfly stuck to the bookshelf.
I cheered inwardly.
'I can see it...!'
The names of the books, which had been buried in darkness, began to appear.
I hurriedly scanned the neatly arranged books with my eyes.
<The Beginning of the Empire and the Distribution of Gods>
<Mirror: Good and Evil>
<The Darkness of the Beginning>
<Those Who Destroyed Evil>
<Sword and Swordsmanship>
...
Most of them were history books or philosophical books about good and evil. Or it was about swordsmanship.
The books that judged good and evil were quite interesting, but the rest were ordinary.
How should I say it...
'It's different from what I thought.'
As the books in the difficult-to-enter <Non-Public Area>, I thought there would be more secret and great books hidden.
But this is...
'It's just a room with a lot of books.'
Is <Isla's Medical Book> really here?
Just as I was about to feel uneasy, the innermost part of the bookshelf caught my eye.
A large book was unnaturally inserted.
Feeling suspicious for some reason, when I pulled it out, a thin, old single-volume book was hidden behind it.
The intention to hide the book was obvious.
Could that be <Isla's Medical Book>?
Thump, thump...
My heart fluttered with anticipation. I carefully pulled out the thin book.
And I checked the title of the book.
"...What is this."
For a moment, my mind went blank.
That's because...
<Arista and Ellesa: A Heart That Crossed Borders>
First of all, it was not <Isla's Medical Book>.
Not only that, but just by looking at the title, I could tell that it wasn't an ordinary book.
Could this be...
"A romance novel?!"
Unable to believe it, I turned the pages of the book.
On a page that happened to stop, a man named 'Arista' and a woman named 'Ellesa' were passionately making love.
'Eeeek!'
What is this!
My face was burning so hot that it felt like I had been burned.
"Why, why is this kind of book in the non-public area?"
I haven't even seen this kind of high-level romance novel in the general area!
"...Ugh."
I kept remembering the scene I read, so I closed my eyes tightly.
I feel like I've seen something I shouldn't have.
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