Dark Fantasy Normalized

40 – The Ancient Grimoire

Ahem.

Momentarily losing herself due to the shock of the duel, Heinya regained her composure.

Returning to her usual sharp self, she spoke to Rishir.

“I’ll admit it, Rishir. It seems you were born with a special talent. As much as I have.”

“…”

“Yeah! Maybe even, slightly, a bit, more! Special. But? Your sense of humor is utterly lacking, isn’t it?”

When she had just lost the duel, Heinya thought Rishir would gladly look down on her and despise her.

Why? Because she had done the same.

But Rishir did not.

He approached earnestly and extended a handshake, showing respect.

Heinya was unconsciously captivated by that gesture.

For a moment, she even thought it was okay to acknowledge him as her rival.

But it wasn’t a handshake.

It wasn’t the honorable handshake of a wizard, but the demand of a shameless loan shark.

“Did you really have to make such a lousy joke right now? Honestly, I was just about to be quite impressed by you.”

Heinya, whose pure heart had been trampled, crossed her arms and scolded him.

“I’m not joking.”

“Now? Yeah. You thought it over and realized it wasn’t, right? But how? It’s too late to take it back now, isn’t it? If that wasn’t a joke, then what, you meant that foolish statement seriously?”

“Yes.”

“?”

“Do I look like someone who would joke about this?”

Rishir said something absurd with a serious face.

Ironically, because of his completely weightless demeanor, his words carried weight.

Heinya, who had been boasting with her arms crossed, was overwhelmed by Rishir’s clear eyes and shrank back.

“What is this!? You win one duel and demand my entire fortune!? Do you think that makes sense!?”

“Didn’t we agree that the winner could ask for anything? I saw infinite possibilities in that sentence.”

“That’s just a figure of speech! Who actually demands anything for real?”

“An unreasonable person, I suppose.”

“You, of all people, I don’t want to hear that from you!”

“Then let’s hear it. What would you have asked of me if you had won?”

“At the very least, I wouldn’t have asked for something foolish like your entire fortune!”

“Wait!”

“?

“Isn’t that something you can only say because you’ve never been in the winner’s position?”

It was literally the privilege of the victor.

Lishir teased Heinya with a sly smile.

Heinya was so furious that her face turned bright red, but she couldn’t come up with a proper response and just gaped.

The genius magician, born of noble blood, was accustomed to standing above others, but was utterly clumsy when someone stood above her.

“So, so, what do you want to do!?”

“What do you mean? I’ve already told you.”

“What if I say I don’t want to!?”

“That’s impossible. How could someone as honorable as you go back on a promise as easily as flipping a hand?”

“Ugh…ugh…”

It was like a swamp. The more she struggled, the deeper she sank.

Heinya tried to regain control from Lishir, but when she came to her senses, she found herself being thoroughly mocked.

Before she knew it, Heinya was fidgeting and only watching Lishir’s reactions.

“…Well, I’m not entirely inflexible. Normally, I would never bend my will! But for you, I’ll make an exception this time.”

“…What does that mean?”

Heinya was so flustered that she even forgot to hide her true feelings.

She was almost like a disciple eagerly awaiting her master’s words.

“I don’t want to make someone like you uncomfortable if I can help it.”

“…Someone like me, what kind of person is that?”

“Do I really need to say it? A young magician with both charm and talent.”

“…Suddenly, why the flattery?”

“Honestly, for flattery, isn’t this quite modest?”

“…”

It was as Rishir said.

Compared to the usual praise people directed at Heinya, Rishir’s words just now didn’t even count as a compliment.

But why? Heinya felt more touched by Rishir’s fleeting praise than by any of those usual compliments.

“So, what do you want to say?”

“Just one thing! I will ask you for just one thing.”

If it were the usual Heinya, she would have retorted with her characteristic sharpness, saying, ‘That depends on what the thing is.’

“…Really?”

But the current Heinya snapped at Rishir’s proposal.

Even feeling pleased about it.

“…”

Marina, who had been watching the whole scene from the side, was astonished.

Is that really my sharp-witted student, that clumsy child?

Unable to watch any longer, Marina intervened.

“Rishir. How about we talk about this later? Heinya is confused right now.”

“No, Master. Thank you for your concern, but this is my doing. I will handle it.”

“?”

What? She is my sharp-witted student, after all?

But why, when dealing with Rishir?

Leaving the flustered Marina behind, Heinya spoke to Rishir.

“So. What. What is that one thing you want?”

“…”

Rishir’s gaze turned to a corner of the inner courtyard.

There lay the book Heinya had just thrown away.

“Ah…!”

As if she had just remembered, Heinya went and picked up the book.

Her expression grew complicated as she examined it.

“You. Do you know what this is?”

“Not exactly.”

“Then why?”

“I felt a strange attraction.”

Rishir felt an alien energy from the book.

It wasn’t an unholy power like black magic, but it wasn’t entirely pure either.

Rishir instinctively decided it would be best to keep the book away from Heinya.

‘Maybe, just maybe, it might boost my magic power if I get lucky.’

After a moment of contemplation, Heinya spoke.

“This is- an ancient magic book I found in the deep archives of my family.”

“Oh.”

As expected, it was a special book.

Unlike Rishir, who felt only that much, the other three masters reacted with near shock.

“Heinya, did you just say an ancient magic book-“

“Yes, Master. According to my own investigation over a considerable period- this book deals with lost ancient magic. The contents of the book are also written in lost characters.”

The expressions of the three masters immediately turned serious.

A magic book.

A magic book that exerts a strong influence on the reader with its contained magical power is inherently dangerous and mysterious-

Moreover, it deals with lost ancient magic.

It was definitely not something an ordinary magician could handle.

Marina cautiously asked a question.

“Heinya? You just said? The contents of the book are also written in lost characters. But how did you know? That this book is an ancient magic book? Do you know anything about those characters?”

“No.”

“Then how?”

“…Sometimes, it speaks to me.”

“The book speaks to you?”

“A magic book with a will and consciousness…! The power and knowledge contained within it are beyond comprehension!”

Two masters agreed with Meltas’s reaction.

Magic books that contained power and knowledge beyond the norm sometimes had a will and consciousness.

For example, it was reasonable to assume that the magic book Heinya possessed also contained knowledge and power beyond the norm.

“Marina. Is it okay for your disciple to have such a dangerous item?”

“…Isn’t that something I should be asking you?”

“What?”

“Your disciple is asking Heinya for that magic book right now.”

“…Ahem. My disciple, Lisir-“

“Don’t play tricks.”

“Tsk. Lisir. It doesn’t seem like a good idea to take an interest in that magic book so hastily.”

It was the moment when Marina and Meltas’ opinions aligned.

The two masters judged that the magic book was not something the young wizards could handle.

“For now-“

At that moment, Master Ladros offered his opinion.

“How about consulting an expert about that magic book?”

“…”

“…”

Expert.

The moment that word was mentioned, a face popped into Marina and Meltas’ minds.

Their expressions simultaneously crumpled.

Soon, Ladros, having fulfilled his duty as a judge, left the room-

“Heinya?”

“Yes, Master.”

“What will you do with that magic book?”

“…”

Heinya alternated her gaze between the magic book and Lisir, then spoke.

“You. You heard the conversation the masters just had, right?”

“I did.”

“And yet, you still want this magic book?”

“It seems like a dangerous item. So, wouldn’t it be better for me to have it rather than you-“

“…Are you worried about me?”

“Well, that’s one of the reasons.”

Lisir said subtly.

As if to say, don’t take it too seriously.

Heinya couldn’t do that.

She suddenly thrust the magic book forward and said.

“Alright. Since you’re worried about me – I’ll concede.”

“…Thank you?”

Rishir accepted the magic book with a bewildered expression.

‘So, who is it? That clumsy child.’

Marina sighed as she watched her disciple from the side.

She spoke to Meltas.

“So, what are you going to do now? That magic book is now your disciple’s property.”

“…Ahem. There’s no choice. We have to go meet that person.”

Meltas openly showed his discomfort.

Who could it be?

Rishir couldn’t contain his curiosity and asked about the expert.

“As Master Ladros said, he’s the best magic book expert in this city. And-“

Meltas trailed off.

Marina continued in his stead.

“The best – bigot in this city.”

“Bigot?”

“You’d better prepare yourself. That person will dislike you for no reason.”

*

Rishir and his party left the magic tower and ventured deep into the magic district.

The courtyard was a well-maintained wooden building that seemed indifferent.

The door was wide open. As soon as Rishir and his party entered, a familiar greeting welcomed them.

“Get out.”

A person with an androgynous appearance and neatly combed-back hair was leaning against the bookshelf.

A cold voice matched the cold impression.

And-

‘An elf?’

Even from a distance, the long ears were noticeable.

The elf spoke with his gaze fixed on the book he held open with one hand.

“My laboratory is off-limits to anyone who isn’t invited.”

“Gadena. Do you even invite people?”

Meltas spoke in a voice already showing signs of fatigue.

“Usually, no. Usually, I don’t want anyone stepping into my lab. Especially if they’re foul-smelling humans.”

Why do you hate humans so much, yet live in a human city-

Leaving behind Lishir, who was itching to speak, Marina said,

“But this time, make an exception? We brought something you might like.”

“…”

Gadena lifted his gaze from the book he was reading and looked at Lishir’s group.

“Get to the point.”

At Marina’s signal, Lishir showed the magic book he was holding to Gadena.

“It’s a magic book.”

“I can see that. Tell me what kind of magic book it is.”

“It’s a magic book dealing with lost ancient magic.”

“…”

Thud.

Only then did Gadena close the book he was holding with one hand.

He then placed the book back on the shelf and approached Lishir to receive the magic book.

The moment the magic book opened in the elf’s hands.

＜Elf.＞

A monotonous voice flowed from the magic book.

＜I ask you. When the coldest fire and the hottest ice meet, what will you do? Depending on your answer, I will grant you my knowledge.＞

“…”

A series of bewilderments appeared on Gadena’s face.

Because the magic book spoke.

Because the contents of the book were written in characters he had never seen before.

And finally, because the question from the magic book was extremely difficult.

“The coldest fire and the hottest ice… Since it’s an ancient magic book, I should approach it from the perspective of ancient magic.”

After much contemplation, Gadena answered with difficulty.

＜A poor answer.＞

Then the magic book spoke in a blunt voice.

＜But it’s not the worst. Elf. I will allow you one passage from the book.＞

As the grimoire said, a passage from the book was interpreted into characters that Gadena could understand.

Heinya added an explanation.

“When you open the book like that, it intermittently asks questions.”

“…What kind of questions did it ask you?”

“The questions it asked me were generally like that.”

“And the reward for the answers?”

“As little as a single character. As much as a whole page.”

“…”

Gadena nodded.

Just as he was about to return the grimoire to Lisir and open his mouth, it happened.

＜Hey, friend!＞

A voice emerged from the book once again.

It was a cheerful voice that made one wonder if it was really from the same book.

＜I’ll ask you a question, see if you can get it right?＞

“A question?”

Lisir responded unconsciously.

＜Yes! How many legs does a horse have when seen from afar?＞

“…Five?”

＜Five!? Oh, my goodness! Friend! Such an absurd answer to such an easy question! Let’s hear it! Why did you think that?＞

“…Well, you know. Because of the horse’s- that thing, it might look like it has five legs from afar-“

＜Hahahahaha!!! What a funny friend!!! Alright! I’ll grant you seven pages of the book!＞

The elf watching their conversation from the side had a deeply furrowed expression.

My answer was worth a single passage, but that crude joke is worth seven pages?

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[Title: Guys, is this ‘Asking Book’ really that one?]

Content: The grimoire that sent the greatest genius of all time?

– : Yes

– : I’m looking for it too, where did you find it?

-[Author] : Kontuiborea

– : No way, it’s on the other side of the continent

– : How the hell did a wingless runt get from Bondales all the way there?

– : Maybe it opened a book and just flapped its way over?

– : What, is it some kinda migrating bird, you dumbass?

– : That b*stard’s truly dedicated to ruining people’s lives…

– : I’m going to kill the humans who made me into a book.

-[OP] : Seriously, it was already finding a new owner and stacking up a magical power build, piece by piece.

– : Is it called the ‘Asking Book’ (‘Mutneun Seo’) because it doesn’t just *ask* questions, but goes around *burying* people (‘Mutda’ meaning bury)?

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[Title : Seriously, what the hell is up with the Asking Book ㅋㅋㅋ]

Content : Just ask something already ㅋㅋㅋ

I’m all prepped to let you have a bite, why aren’t you asking, you damn b*tch

– : What level are you?

-[OP] : I’m at 52 right now.

– : Level’s decent though?

– : Out of all your magic-related traits, what’s the highest rank one?

-[OP] : Common

– : Then just go without asking any questions, lol.

-[OP] : What the hell, why?

– : That book is super picky about the people it fucks with.

– : Seriously, is it only asking questions to carefully choose who it’ll bury?

– : You’d need at least a Rare magic trait for it to even nibble, I bet.

-[OP] : Magic trait Rare? Got it, noted.

– : Rare just means it’ll nibble; it probably won’t get caught.

– : Usually, it poses a problem, and if you answer it, it unlocks the book’s contents little by little.

The problem difficulty and reward change based on the trait rank.

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