Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Shoot Towards the Dawn (4)
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I doubt they would've been that startled even if they'd run into a dragon on a stroll. The librarian alternated her gaze between the ring and Ronan before grabbing his wrist.
"I know it better than anyone. Come with me."
"Uh...?!"
Ronan's eyes widened. The grip on his wrist was unnaturally strong. It was hard to believe that vise-like power came from hands as slender as ferns—it almost reminded him of Marya.
The librarian dragged Ronan to a secluded corner. Soon, she stopped in front of a built-in bookshelf and glanced around.
Confirming no one was watching, she pulled out a book titled Secrets and Convictions from the shelf. Rumble... The bookshelf slid aside, revealing a hidden space. Ronan let out a dry chuckle at the familiar trope.
"Damn, is hiding stuff behind books the trend these days?"
"Hurry inside. Someone might see us."
Releasing his wrist, the librarian pushed Ronan's back with both hands. It felt like a wild buffalo was shoving him, not a human. As the bookshelf returned to its place, darkness fell. A whispering voice echoed in the pitch black.
"Just a moment."
The surroundings brightened. A fist-sized orb of light floated above her palm. When she blew on it, the light scattered like dandelion seeds, spreading in all directions.
The secret space, cluttered with all sorts of junk, felt like a warehouse. After double-checking the door, she approached Ronan with an anxious expression.
"I didn't imagine it, right? Show me once more."
"A few questions first. Who does this ring belong to?"
Ronan shook his head. He couldn't let his guard down with anyone. The librarian took a deep breath and answered calmly.
"Sarannte. Sarannte Lemathion, the top mage of the Dawn Mage Tower."
"The librarian? Top mage? She was from the Dawn Mage Tower?"
"Yes. The first top mage who couldn't wield fire magic."
"Huh, I didn't know that... Then you must know about the goddess Sarannte believed in?"
"Goddess? Uh... Did she switch gods? Until she was with me, she worshipped some rock."
Ronan shrugged. Further interrogation seemed pointless. He handed her the ring.
"Take a good look."
"Thank you."
"By the way, I haven't heard your name. I'm Ronan."
"Name... Call me Aire. That's what everyone calls me."
The librarian, introducing herself as Aire, took the ring. Her eyes, brimming with nostalgia, examined it closely before she spoke.
"...It's really Sarannte's ring. She always wore it on her left ring finger."
"Come to think of it, what's your relationship? You talk like you're friends."
Ronan tilted his head. It had been nagging at him. Aire referred to Sarannte like an old friend, but she showed no traits of the long-lived races.
She was short, but not dwarf-short, and her ears peeking through her hair looked human. Elf? No. Vampire, maybe? As Ronan pondered, Aire tilted her head.
"Ah, you didn't know since it's your first time here. I'm a spirit."
"Pardon? A spirit?"
"Yes. Not many know about my connection to Sarannte, though."
Ronan was about to call it nonsense when Aire's body turned translucent and she floated up, eye-level with him.
"Sorry. The space is too cramped to show my true form."
"...That's plenty."
Ronan chuckled dryly. That explained her freakish strength. Dense mana, rivaling Aun Phira's, emanated from her translucent body. He asked again.
"Why are you here doing this?"
She was clearly a high-ranking spirit. It made no sense for such a being to linger in a place like this. Returning to her normal form, Aire explained.
"Sarannte sealed me here. She promised to release me if I did a good job as librarian."
"Sealed? Not a contract?"
Ronan frowned. Aire averted her gaze, scratching her cheek sheepishly.
"Ahaha... Yeah. Well... I was a bit wild back then... immature."
Aire explained she'd rampaged centuries ago, got caught by Sarannte, and was sealed in the Dawn Mage Tower. At first, she wanted to wreck the library, but over time, she grew to enjoy reading and found the job suited her, so now she was content.
What kind of old bat is she?
Ronan realized anew how little he knew about Sarannte. Sealing a spirit like this wasn't enough; she even made her work as a librarian. Suddenly, Aire's eyes sparkled.
"So, how's Sarannte? She left the tower to become a priestess. Still worshipping that ugly rock as her god?"
"Ah."
Ronan faltered. Aire didn't know what happened to Sarannte. After a moment's hesitation, he replied.
"...Yeah. She's living in the Baidian Mountains. That ugly rock's embedded in the center of her temple."
"Ahaha, really? Could you tell me about what happened with her?"
Aire's eyes sparkled like a daughter asking about her war-hero father. Ronan twisted his lips.
He lacked the courage to tell the truth. From her demeanor, they weren't just contractor and spirit—Sarannte had been quite close to her.
How could he casually say a friend of centuries had split in half and turned to stone? Ronan shook his head.
"Later. Things are urgent right now."
"Ah, right. Sorry. What brings you here? I'll help however I can."
Sarannte's last words were to help whoever brought her item. Ronan briefly explained his visit.
A curse. Unlike ordinary ones, standard methods wouldn't lift it. Aire nodded.
"I see. You've been cursed."
"Yes. She said showing you this ring would get me helpful materials. Know anything?"
"Hmm... I'm no expert on curses, but I know where the books on them are."
Aire said there were 289 specialized books on curses, over a thousand that touched on them peripherally. Ronan cursed at the staggering number.
"Damn, that's a lot."
"It's against rules, but I can fetch books only allowed for high mages. You can access everywhere except the forbidden section."
The forbidden section came up again. Aun Phira had warned him, and the separate space suggested extreme danger. Aire continued.
"Don't worry too much. You'll find answers by the time you leave the tower."
"Hope so. Thanks."
With that, Ronan's ordeal began. He claimed the sunniest spot upon leaving the secret room. Soon, Aire flew in and piled books before him.
"Basic ones first. The Origin of Hatred, 100 Wicked Curses..."
"Not easy."
"Tell me when you're done. I'll bring more."
Even asking only for Dawn Mage Tower exclusives, it was this much. Sighing at the stack as tall as his eyes, he steeled himself.
He couldn't quit. With so much to do, he needed max info. Rubbing his dry face, Ronan picked up the top book.
"...Let's see."
Three days passed like that. No incidents since the airship incident ended inconclusively. The culprit remained at large, and Phileon students like Erzsebet were still at the tower.
Ronan devoted all time except sleep, meals, and bathroom to research. Aire flew over, setting down another pile.
"Finished Mandole's treatises?"
"Three down."
"Two left."
Aire flew off. Ronan cursed at the new paper wall. Even with eyes closed, text floated before him.
"Goddamn..."
Aire's promise to help was genuine. She tirelessly brought curse-related books.
Thanks to her, Ronan learned hundreds of curses and remedies. If Asel woke with goat horns, he could lift it on the spot with ingredients.
The problem: no match for his curse. No precedents anywhere.
Ronan touched the metal case in his pocket. Inside: Aun Phira's fire scroll.
...Burn it all?
He fought the urge to torch the library dozens of times daily. No progress frayed his nerves.
But that wasn't all. As he reached for another book, whispers came from behind. Three late-teen mages pointed at him.
"Look, reading again."
"Careful, curse might spread."
"Won't explode again?"
Ronan sighed. No time to thrash them. Turning, he glared with bloodshot eyes, growling.
"You little shits. Got something to say? Whisper in my ear."
"H-Hiiik...!"
The mages fled terrified. Who knew how many times this had happened? Aire arrived with the last two books. Seeing Ronan groan, pinching his brow, she asked worriedly.
"What's wrong? Hurt somewhere?"
"Damn, my brain hurts. Aire, got a question."
"Yes?"
"Anything happen at the tower? Besides the airship."
Ronan described the eerie atmosphere since arrival. Dealing with vulture-like whispering mages was exhausting. Aire nodded.
"Ah... Yeah. That vibe's thick. Probably from ongoing big and small incidents."
"Incidents?"
"Yes. Experiments that can't fail do... Animals in the tower die... People vanish suddenly after being fine."
Suddenly, Aire extended her arm. Greenish papers flew noisily from below into her hand.
Ronan took the stack. Each had a detailed portrait and personal info. Aire said.
"Missing persons list. Six already."
Aire explained steady vanishings for months. They disappeared without trace. Even she, phasing through walls, couldn't find them.
"They didn't leave the tower?"
"Want to think so, but no sightings."
"Weird shit."
"Right? Tower Lord's absence adds to it."
"Tower Lord's not back?"
The lord left on a trip last winter, due back spring. Now midsummer, Aun Phira still proxy. Aire worried.
"He's so strong, probably fine. Aun Phira's handling proxy well, but no head makes the body uneasy."
"What if he never returns?"
"Huh? Um, after a year absent, proxy becomes lord, I think."
"Hoo..."
Ronan stroked his chin intrigued. No return by winter, Aun Phira takes over.
No way.
Sinister possibilities flashed, but unconfirmed. He switched questions.
"What's in the forbidden section?"
"Cursed books sealed. Very dangerous."
"Gotta check soon. No progress."
"Absolutely not."
Aire's smile vanished, face stern.
"Anywhere but there. Besides my sealing, I manage as librarian because only I can handle those forbidden books."
"They're just books. They bite?"
"Yes. They devour people."
She nodded firmly. Ronan's face hardened. Before he asked, she continued.
"Many powerful ones have egos. They seduce or control readers to ruin. Plus... the Dawn Mage Tower seals that book. You know."
"That book? Ah, Bajura or whatever."
Aire nodded emphatically. Ronan had learned of it recently.
Bajura of Destruction, one of three demon-authored books. Infamous for toppling kingdoms by beguiling kings. No wonder Aire was firm. Ronan twisted his lips.
Makes sense, but...
He wasn't in a position to care. If a forbidden book held the key, he'd read Bajura or whatever. World ending in nine years—fuck taboos.
But sneaking in? No clue where without Aire. Conversation ended, she turned.
First... finish the rest.
Mountains left even sans forbidden. Days remained before Phileon return.
Best to exhaust options before forbidden—ideally find clues elsewhere. Sitting, he read.
.
.
.
"...Ah."
Ronan opened his eyes. Pitch black around. Moonlight slanted through scattered library windows.
"...Fell asleep."
Stretching, he smacked his lips. Dozed off briefly. Waking at desks was routine now.
No Aire—must be late. Didn't matter. Rubbing eyes, he grabbed a book.
Step... step...
"Hm?"
Footsteps below. Ronan turned toward the sound. A shadow walked somewhere.
Late homework?
Ronan shrugged. Mages haunting libraries at night? Normal. As he reached to infuse mana into his reading stone, the shadow passed moonlight—a woman's face emerged.
"...Huh?"
Ronan's eyes widened. From the missing list. Parthe, 5th circle? Checked flyer—definitely her.
No doubt.
Exiting the moonlit veil, she shadowed into the library depths. Ronan rose slowly.
Where to...?
Why a missing person wandered? Unknown. But instinct screamed follow.
Stepping lightly, minimizing noise. Crunch. Crunch. Soft footsteps on dust trailed her.