"At that unexpected answer, Cain stared at the boy with a surprised expression.
"Excuse me?"
"I don't like books."
"But, but aren't you reading books every day?"
Why would he hold onto books he doesn't like every day?
Cain sent a questioning look.
Usually, the conversation wouldn't have gone on this long, but today the boy's attitude was different from usual.
What changed the boy's attitude?
The boy said.
"I was curious."
"Excuse me? What..."
"There's someone I know who particularly likes books. I'm reading them because I'm curious as to why they like them so much."
"Ah..."
Only then did he realize it was the answer to the question he had asked.
He hesitated, unsure what to say, and the boy held out the book to Cain.
"This book is quite readable. I'll lend it to you instead of recommending it."
"......!"
Cain's eyes widened at the boy's unexpected action.
He stared blankly at the book that had approached him for a moment, then hurriedly took it.
"T, Thank you."
He was bewildered because he never thought he would even lend him a book.
"I hope it suits your taste."
"Of course it will!"
"Then go and rest now."
"Yes, sir!"
Cain greeted him energetically and left the room.
As soon as the door closed with a thud, he checked the title of the book first.
What kind of book would that extraordinary human being read?
'Let's see.'
Thump, thump.
With a trembling heart, he checked the title.
Cain's eyes gradually shook violently as he read the letters one by one slowly.
And for good reason.
"......'For My Beloved Alice'......?"
The book that the guild leader handed over was none other than a romance novel.
Cain's face turned bewildered.
"......"
A heavy silence fell over the hallway.
Four days have passed since the day a part of the archive collapsed due to a sudden magical collision.
The injuries sustained by Duke Rodbel, who took the brunt of the falling ceiling fragments, were by no means light.
He suffered multiple fractures and deep bruises. In particular, his back injury was so severe that his doctor strongly insisted that he should take time off work and focus on treatment after using a healer.
Ligrin also agreed.
No matter how much of a Duke Rodbel he was, there was no way he would be okay after suffering such injuries.
And naturally, their advice was.
"......I found the identity of the magic that collided with the magic of the first head of the family."
It didn't work for the Duke.
Ligrin tried to hide his troubled expression and placed a palm-sized silver box on the Duke's desk.
The Duke picked it up and examined it.
At first glance, it looks like an ordinary box, but if you look closely, there are small purple gems embedded in it.
It was found inside the archive.
"It's a magic tool."
Ligrin explained.
"It's a tool that causes explosions. It is mainly used to demolish abandoned buildings or dig mines."
Ligrin's expression became heavy.
This was because the intention of placing it in the archive was so obvious.
It was a magical tool with great explosive power.
"Magical tools with this level of power can only be owned with the permission of the Magic Tower and the Imperial Family, but..."
He suppressed the rising sigh.
The Duke said.
"Made by a priest."
"Yes. It is said to be quite elaborately made, but it doesn't seem to match the power of the real thing. However, it is said to have enough power to easily collapse a building..."
Just as he was about to continue the end of his words, the Duke put down the tool and recited.
"The magic of the first head of the family reduced the explosive power."
"Yes..."
Ligrin's expression became strange.
Clearly, it was the magic of the first head of the family that magnified the incident.
Because of the collision caused by that magic, no one could enter the archive.
But thanks to that, the complete collapse of the archive was prevented.
More than half of the 1st and 2nd floors collapsed, but it was enough to be restored.
Ligrin chose his words carefully and uttered cautiously.
"Should I say we were lucky..."
So, as a result, the terrorist attack could be prevented thanks to the magic of the first head of the family.
If the archive had collapsed, the responsibility for not protecting the heritage would have fallen entirely on the Duke.
No matter how much of a Duke he was, it would be difficult to completely avoid that responsibility.
However, the Duke himself seemed to think differently.
"Ridiculous."
The Duke sneered coldly.
"Yes?"
Ligrin's eyes widened at his ruthless atmosphere.
The Duke fiddled with the tool and muttered.
"We didn't even know that the magic of the first head of the family was sleeping in the archive. As a result, it collided with external magic."
The Duke assumed.
What if they had continued the magicalization work without knowing that the magic of the first Rodbel was asleep in the archive?
The magic of the first Rodbel and the magic of the current Rodbel are the same in essence but different in nature.
Therefore, the magic of the current Rodbel was also the same as external magic to the magic of the first Rodbel.
Which means...
"It's something that would have happened anyway."
"......"
"Really, terribly powerless."
"Ah..."
Even at the Duke's cynical remark, Ligrin could not say anything.
This is because his words were all true.
After the first head of the family sealed the evil god in the Abyss, Rodbel enjoyed brilliant glory.
But no generation could escape from the shadow of the first's light. Everyone was brilliant under the glory of the first.
And all Rodbels took it for granted. On the contrary, there were those who admired and were proud of the first, who had a solid influence even on later generations.
Unlike Ego Rodbel.
'Certainly...'
Ligrin thought while listening to the Duke's words.
'Perhaps Rodbel may not have taken a single step forward since the first Duke.'
But is that necessarily wrong?
Even if it is old glory, it was not wrong glory.
Since it is not false, he thinks that he can enjoy it enough and use it as nourishment for development.
However, Ligrin kept his mouth shut even more tightly instead of saying his thoughts.
This is because he is the one who assists the Duke and adds his wisdom, not the one who corrects the Duke's thoughts or ideas.
The Duke didn't say anything more about it either.
Ligrin continued the report, noticing.
"In particular, the damage to the 1st floor and the unopened area is severe. More than 50% of the books have been lost or disappeared, and it is even difficult to grasp the situation."
His expression darkened rapidly.
This is because the collapse of the building could be prevented, but the damage was still severe.
"I have requested cooperation from the Smore family. Giles Smore is scheduled to return within this week."
"I will completely entrust the progress of that matter to the butler."
"Yes, and..."
Ligrin's expression turned cold for a moment.
He said in a firm voice.
"It is said that they have found the tail of the person who led the terrorist attack by installing a magic tool in the archive."
"That case."
The Duke raised his head.
He stared at Ligrin with inorganic eyes and said.
"I will handle it."
Ligrin was momentarily surprised by the Duke's words that he would step in directly, but soon bowed his head.
This is because it is certain that the Duke will step in directly as the matter is a matter.
"Lastly, it is about the unidentified crystal that rose from the floor of the archive."
It was then.
Knock knock.
"Head of the family, it's Elbert Beedon."
Elbert Beedon appeared just in time.
Elbert, holding a thick report, came inside.
"I have finished the component analysis of the crystal you ordered and am reporting it."
Rodbel's wizards not only devise and enhance magic, but also conduct research related to magic power.
Elbert strode up. His expression was a little excited.
Ligrin took a step back. Elbert, who quickly approached the desk, handed the report to the Duke.
"First of all, here are the results of the component analysis."
His voice was a little excited.
"It's magic power."
"Magic power?"
"Yes!"
Elbert replied forcefully.
"It is a special substance made up of pure magic power. And there is only one magic power in this world that can be realized as a substance."
Gulp.
His expression became serious.
He carefully spat out the words.
"It's Rodbel's magic power."
"Rodbel's...!"
Ligrin, who had been watching the situation from a step back, reacted without realizing it.
Elbert's face flushed again.
There was a reason why he was so excited.
"Therefore, I guess that, Head of the Family, perhaps you have awakened 'Rodbel's true magic power'...?
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