Please, Just Read It

Please read this!

Chapter 23

Arkadia (2)

“Here’s your Access Pass.”

Riley received the Access Pass after a brief explanation on how to use the facilities and what to be cautious about.

“Is there anything else you’re curious about?”

“No.”

“That’s a relief. Then I’ll head in now.”

With a polite farewell, the librarian walked away with a determined stride.

Soon, Riley and I were left alone, and she began to examine the Access Pass, flipping it over in her hands.

The palm-sized card glimmered with a platinum hue.

‘With this card, I can access every area, right?’

[Yep.]

Arkadia was divided into a total of six floors and five zones.

The first floor was the lobby.

From the second floor onward, it was Bronze, the third Silver, the fourth Gold, and finally, the fifth was Platinum.

Access to areas was restricted based on the card’s value.

Currently, Riley’s Access Pass was at Platinum.

This meant she could roam freely throughout this vast library without any restrictions.

Naturally, our next destination was set.

[Shall we go?]

‘Yes.’

Riley moved forward.

A space filled with prohibited books that was strictly off-limits to other users.

Heading toward the restricted area.

*

The reason we were adamant about heading to the restricted area in Arkadia was simple.

[Because it’s fun.]

The thrill of being able to sneak in and out of a secret space forbidden to others was beyond words.

Especially for someone like me, who had lived for tens of thousands of years, and for Riley, who was merely 15 years old, it must have been even more exhilarating.

[Exciting, isn’t it?]

‘Yes.’

While she didn’t show it outwardly, Riley was secretly elated.

Through the bond of connection, I could feel her excitement as well.

Deciding to step outside the blanket and take a stroll turned out to be a great choice.

Just lying around eating and sleeping was nothing compared to the fulfillment of being out here.

[Oh, right. Riley.]

‘Yes?’

[Before we head to the restricted area, there’s a place we need to stop by.]

‘Where is it?’

[Just a general area.]

After hearing my words, Riley stopped by the Bronze and Silver value areas to borrow two books.

The titles of those books were as follows:

<100 Great Figures Who Shaped the Modern Empire>

[Understanding Second Awakening and Elemental Bloom]

The reason I borrowed the first book was simple.

It was to fill the time gap that had occurred while I was trapped in Lutemis.

I had no idea what had happened in the Empire over the past 300 years.

Of course, I had heard bits and pieces from the students and librarians drifting in and out of Lutemis’s library, but that was simply insufficient to catch up with the flow of 300 years.

I couldn’t just keep asking Riley every time I encountered something I didn’t understand.

I had to abandon the lazy notion that I would eventually find out naturally as I went on with life.

I needed reliable information.

To acquire that information, I had borrowed this book.

The reason for borrowing the second book was none other than for Riley.

The “Second Awakening” that comes when a magician reaches adulthood and the “Elemental Bloom” of the Mana Heart that follows it.

These were among the changes Riley would soon experience.

To adapt well to these changes, she needed to familiarize herself with that information beforehand.

Thus, I intended to prepare Riley for the future through this book.

Of course, I could explain “Second Awakening” and “Elemental Bloom” well on my own, but it was undoubtedly better to refer to the illustrations and pictures in the book.

‘Are these the only two I need?’

[Yep.]

Having borrowed all the necessary books, it was finally time to head to the restricted area.

After stopping by the lobby to borrow the two books, we went straight to the Platinum area.

Thud, thud—

‘The air feels different.’

The sixth floor of Arkadia.

Unlike the bright and open previous areas, the air in the restricted area, Platinum, was different from the get-go.

First of all, the lighting was dim.

It was so dark that one would need to carry a lamp haphazardly strewn on the floor to navigate this place comfortably.

Flicker—!

Riley ignited the lamp using her magical heat.

‘Now I can see something.’

With careful steps, she began to stroll around slowly.

The entire sixth floor was filled with an eerie atmosphere. There were no windows at all, creating a completely sealed room. It felt like a ghost could pop out at any moment.

‘But over there seems a bit brighter.’

Riley pointed to a space visible between the bookshelves.

That place was the reading room.

The only empty area in the sixth floor packed with bookshelves. In this 30-pyeong space, desks and chairs had been neatly arranged for users.

Soft lighting was on the ceiling, making it suitable for reading.

[Let’s go there.]

‘I was just about to.’

As Riley and I headed toward that place without a thought,

[……Huh?]

We froze on the spot.

“……”

[……]

In the reading room, there was already someone occupying a seat.

An older man with a strangely familiar face sat quietly turning the pages of a book.

Swoosh.

Swoosh—.

His hair was gray.

Though aged, he exuded a commanding presence.

And a wooden cane was placed to his left.

[Hey, is that person…?]

‘It seems to be.’

Yeah.

No doubt about it.

It was that nagging old man I saw in the carriage last time.

[……Ah, why is it always that old geezer?]

What a dreadful twist of fate.

*

“Hmm?”

Garon Theobalt lifted his head, sensing a presence.

There stood a girl staring blankly.

Short platinum hair.

And matching golden eyes.

‘That girl is….’

Though her outfit had changed, Garon Theobalt instantly remembered the girl.

Three days ago.

The low-ranked magician he had met in the carriage.

“How did you get here…?”

How could a mere child with low-ranking status have made it all the way to a Platinum area when even obtaining an Access Pass for Arkadia was difficult?

I simply couldn’t comprehend it.

Swoosh.

Just then, the girl, having heard his question, quietly extended her hand.

“That’s….”

And upon seeing her palm, Garon Theobalt’s eyes widened in shock.

A reversed pentagram shone faintly in blue. This was a token only given to those who had completed the Selection Test.

In other words, this meant that the girl had passed the first test.

“……Impressive.”

It was a test that had given him quite the trouble too.

He had to stay up all night trying to figure out where the management office was, combing through Wilhelm’s district. He even used the nonsensical Passfinding spell multiple times in vain.

To hide the location of the management office, they had set up magical circles all over Wilhelm’s district.

Even thinking about it now, it was an incredibly cruel ritual.

Step-by-step, overcoming each of those spells to reach the management office required immense patience, effort, and talent.

‘But….’

That little girl had passed through such obstacles.

‘Unbelievable.’

What exceptional talent.

Had he found a magician with such potential in the past ten years?

Definitely not.

No, not even throughout his entire life.

“…….”

But because of that, even more so.

“Give up.”

“……What?”

“Give up on this Selection Test.”

That girl couldn’t be allowed to take the test.

*

“I assure you. A bloodstorm, a truly dreadful bloodstorm, will sweep through.”

“……”

“It’ll be more brutal than you can imagine. The moment the scent of blood spreads, the competition will transform into a slaughterhouse.”

The old man was now gazing into Riley’s eyes with a serious warning.

“For a magician with years of practical experience, it would be one thing, but for an exceptionally talented and inexperienced magician like you, it will be a dangerous test.”

Genuine concern.

Just like last time, it was clear that he was worried about Riley.

“So give up and hope for a next time.”

“……”

[…….]

A heavy silence fell over us.

And as I listened to the old man’s words, I couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh.

[Huh…….]

Sure.

He wasn’t wrong about anything he said.

The atmosphere in the test venue would completely change at the onset of a bloody incident.

And from that moment, the heat would rise exponentially.

Magicians would be easily swept up in madness, and that madness would gradually spread, eventually consuming all the participants in the test.

In such a situation, an inexperienced young magician could easily meet their demise.

The depth of experience separates life from death.

When on the threshold of death, those split-second judgments come to define the fate of the candidates.

But relatively inexperienced promising candidates would generally lack those split-second decisions.

Their mistakes often lead to a tiny opening.

And amidst the frenzy of numerous veterans, that tiny opening could very well lead to death.

—Krrrk, krrak…!

—Hey! Ian! Hey! Get a grip!

Even Ian Shishikin nearly died in the first test, proving the point.

Repeatedly, the Selection Test was referred to as the “Graveyard of Promising Magicians” among magicians.

[…….]

The old man’s concern for Riley likely stemmed from this reason as well.

In his eyes, Riley must have looked no different from the other aspiring magicians.

Talented, yet with poor decision-making in critical situations, and likely to get lost in panic and perish … just like other candidates.

[But you know.]

That was unnecessary worry.

Riley was no ordinary promising candidate. Her talent was overwhelming enough to bridge the gap created by experience.

Depth of experience? Split-second judgment?

That was all fine.

Right beside her stood me, who had accumulated vast experiences over tens of thousands of years.

“Thank you for your sincere concern.”

“……”

“But as I mentioned last time, I’ve already made my decision.”

At her words, the old man’s expression momentarily stiffened.

“Foolish. Brimming with reckless courage for someone so young.”

“Some people actually like me for my overflowing courage.”

And that ‘some people’ was me.

I loved Riley’s overflowing courage!

“Courage? Don’t spout nonsense. That’s not courage; it’s sheer folly.”

“I don’t think so.”

“……”

The old man glared at Riley, falling silent for a moment.

Then, shaking his head, he muttered softly.

“I can’t help it.”

Boom—!

In an instant, an aura of magic erupted from the old man.

Violent particles of white light surged wildly in all directions. Each one wriggling as if alive spoke of the old man’s prowess.

[……That’s terrifying.]

That was the High-ranking “Expert.”

One of less than 50 top-tier magicians across the continent.

Feeling the ominous aura he emitted, Riley flinched and quickly assumed a combat stance.

“Are you planning to attack me?”

“Do you take me for some barbarian? I’m not a madman who throws magic at just anyone.”

That was a relief.

No matter how talented Riley was, it would be hard to withstand a High-ranking magician’s full power.

“Instead, I have a proposal.”

While the white mana still surged wildly around us, the old man continued to speak slowly.

“Let’s have a duel.”

“A duel?”

“Yeah.”

A duel, just like that.

It was so unexpected.

“Of course, it won’t be a typical duel.”

“……Then?”

“I won’t attack you. Instead, I’ll allow you three attacks.”

“……”

“In the meantime, if I move even a single step, that would be your victory.”

In other words, he was saying he would provide her with three opportunities to land a valid hit.

“If you win, I won’t meddle further. If you can land a hit on me, you’ll definitely survive in the test as well.”

[…….]

That wasn’t entirely incorrect.

In fact, out of all the magicians participating in the Selection Test, the old man in front of us would be the strongest.

So if she could land a hit on him, it would likely apply to the other magicians as well.

Even I thought the method presented by the old man was suitable for proving Riley’s abilities.

“So what if I can’t land a hit?”

“…….”

At Riley’s question, an ominous energy gathered again in the old man’s hands.

“I don’t want to do this, but I’ll have to stop you from taking the test.”

“……How?”

“I’ll need to attack you. With full intent.”

No.

Didn’t he just say he wouldn’t attack, you crazy old man?

“Ah, don’t worry. I won’t kill you.”

[…….]

“However, I will break both your legs to ensure you can’t take the test.”

Ah, seriously.

I never understood why all magicians seemed to be lunatics.

“Understand. This is all for your own good.”

“……”

[…….]

You’re surely doing this all for our benefit.

‘……These constant words are all like jewels.’
[You got that right.]

Is this a mindset of “If I can’t have it, I’ll break it”?

Damn it.

I never asked for a yandere grandpa like this.