Chapter 139
Chapter 139
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: Sub-Heroine (2)
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Eve von Loengrin's fury pierced the heavens.
"Curator. I have one question."
"P-please, speak freely, Princess Eve."
"That's not important right now. Just answer my question."
"Y-yes, of course. Ask me anything, Princess. I'm always ready to answer."
It was only natural to show proper respect to the imperial family, guardians of all humanity.
It was the expected demeanor for anyone serving the imperial household, but her killing intent was something else entirely.
The man facing her was none other than Eve von Loengrin.
A monster who could wield mana equal to that of the first emperor three hundred years ago.
Undoubtedly the genius representing this generation's "humanity."
If she so chose, she could grind a lowly noble like him to dust with 【Light】 and face no legal repercussions—an extralegal existence.
"First, how many books were gathered here before the great ancestor's time?"
"Twenty-three million, five hundred thirty thousand, one hundred seventeen volumes."
"I see."
The middle-aged curator, a low-ranking noble who had risen to his position thanks to his sixth-tier unique skill 【Appraisal】, answered the princess's question instantly.
"Then we need to check the remaining collection..."
That left roughly six million volumes.
"I understand the great ancestor managed the books indiscriminately..."
There was a reason the Jefrin imperial library held so many tomes.
Books were the most fundamental tool for passing down magic and knowledge.
After defending the Mid-Realm's rights against the heavenly and demonic races, the Mid-Realm once teetered on the brink of division.
A controversy arose over who was truly the first emperor's legitimate wife and greatest ally.
To prevent it from escalating into a massive conflict, the first emperor gathered all books—except those preserving culture and customs—into the imperial vaults.
"The most efficient education comes from a unified system. Especially when demon scum could invade at any moment, our descendants must keep growing."
"I'll respect each faction's culture, but rebellion in the center is a problem. Originals with secrets stay central; copies go to the factions."
"We must unite. That's what Jefrin is for. All education starts and ends here! Don't you think so, Clau Solas? So let go of my collar. Damn it! Please!"
He said this to the prime minister of the era, birthing Jefrin—the pinnacle of all the world's educational institutions.
"...So this imperial repository holds the original texts of every book in the world."
"Yes, that's correct, Princess."
In hindsight, it bordered on tyranny and sparked backlash, but ultimately, this repository and library greatly bolstered imperial authority.
However...
"There are just too many books. And we can't even take any out."
"Yes, by the will of our great emperor."
"Guess I'll have to read them here. For now, Curator, set aside those ten million volumes. I won't be reading those."
"Understood. I'll get right on it."
"Thanks."
Once the curator quietly withdrew, Eve gazed at the space—less a library than a forest made of books—and let out a deep sigh.
Wolfram von Loengrin had claimed he gained knowledge from the books on these shelves.
Eve wasn't naive enough to take that at face value.
Wolfram von Loengrin had cunningly, pettily woven a hint into his words.
Yes.
He had obtained a fateful encounter from these shelves.
A fateful encounter allowing him to follow the great path laid by the first emperor.
"It wasn't a lie. But that's what makes it even more vile."
Otherwise, how could that incompetent, trashy, petty Wolfram act so meticulously, precisely, and aptly...?
"No, he's still trash!"
In any case, he shouldn't have been capable of such conduct.
"Fine. It's clear Wolfram found something in this library... So I'll find it too. No, I'll uncover it!"
So, she just needed to find it herself.
The first emperor's fateful encounter—the starting point of the path prepared for his descendants!
"No more showing off in front of me. Get ready, Wolfram!"
Let me say this upfront.
Not everything in the first emperor's treasures is amazing.
Hark von Loengrin was officially a eccentric in the lore.
There were ninth-tier items inside.
But it's still true endgame content because the drop locations are completely random every playthrough.
They spawn somewhere on the map, and early on it's "Oh, even here?" evolving to "Why the hell here too?"
No heroine route demands more than five treasures, but even rotten players end up doing "treasure runs" for everyone.
Why do rotten players bother?
No special reason.
Achievements.
And the real annoyance? Some have time limits, so it might be in Act 3 one run, gone in Act 4 the next.
In the end, I've never collected all of Hark's treasures in any run. I was grinding for them right before entering this game.
Anyway, there are a few treasures you can always obtain.
And the hint for the first one is with Elphirane.
"So, it doesn't seem like you've come for me this time. What brings you here, successor?"
"To approach the darkness beyond this forest."
"...How do you know that? Hark never told anyone."
"Who do you think I am?"
"Y-yes? ...Well, your eyes are a bit fierce, but you're nicer than I thought, and the age gap isn't a thousand years..."
What the hell?
"When Elphirane first came to you. How do you think she knew where to find you?"
"...She said she obtained Hark's information? I wasn't sure if I could believe that. Hark seemed carefree, but his true intentions were always unreadable... Are your words true?"
Elphirane looked at me with eyes full of disbelief.
Fairies detect lies via mana patterns, so I had to be careful.
No straight lies here—just a bluff.
Bluffing against Elphirane is tough; you can't lie even once in her route or the happy ending locks out.
Lucky Regina, that one.
"Indeed. I obtained the great first emperor's fateful encounter and read his personal notes. Thus, I 【know most of the arrangements the first emperor hid】."
Say it casually, then hit hard with Imperial Bloodline at the end—they'll take the skill-infused part as truth even if the preamble's dodgy.
A non sequitur, but a solid bluff she'll swallow.
"...I see. All of it Hark's arrangements. Or... you know the truth Hark left behind."
"Yes. Now it's time to speak of the treasures Hark von Loengrin hid—and the truth concealed within."
"...You're going to tell Tia everything?"
"Mm."
"Understood. I'll prepare."
Elphirane and I exchanged words only we understood.
"...Auntie? Sister? What are you talking about?"
"Follow the successor. Then you'll know."
"Mm."
Of course, Filtia had no idea.
About the truth hidden behind this fairy forest—for her.
"This is as far as I can guide you," Elphirane said before returning to paradise.
The fairy paradise is hidden at the start of the Eastern Forest.
Assume you warp through the portal. Fun part: there's a map beyond it.
And you must clear the fairy paradise to enter.
More precisely, it's an "extra map unlocked with the key from freeing Elphirane."
A hidden map leading to an extra map. This is the real second-run farming spot.
【Black Forest】
And at the entrance lurks a second-run chainsaw.
Grrraaah, grrraaaaa!
"Mm."
The demon of the swamp in the Black Forest.
Built around basic-attack immunity, it inflicts one hit then constant DoT damage, plus slows and binds—don't even think melee without magic.
Elphirane's a pure mage, so warriors have it easier, but the devs placed this second-run chainsaw here to say "no warriors allowed." Applause to them.
But it's fine.
We have a dragon!
"Filtia sis, can you handle that?"
"Oh? What do you take your sis for?"
"Ah, I'll hit it once with status potion too, then it's yours."
"Hehe. Just leave it to sis."
Boom! Crackle!
And so.
The boss died.
"As expected of a dragon."
"Hehe. Feel sis's greatness now?"
"Of course."
Damn.
Dragons are insane. I wanna keep getting wrecked like this.
Filtia nodded.
Sensing the area with her mana in this Black Forest her brother had brought her to, there were no monsters matching her level—but for humans alone, it was impossibly tough.
So why had her dear brother brought her here?
What connection did it have to sealing the demon gate?
Was it linked to Papa's treasure?
She'd felt it during the dragon trial: he was certain of the outcome, executing the process from start to finish without a single doubt.
Mysterious, yet wickedly charming.
That's why his fiancée was so hopelessly smitten.
Whatever. She could give him a hundred years.
Then turn him half-dragon and spend the remaining 4,900 together.
But teasing an older woman too much wasn't nice.
Bad habit.
"So, gonna explain to sis now?"
"Sis. Do you know why the current Loengrin Empire doesn't send forces into uncharted lands?"
Her brother called her "sis" sweetly while using casual speech.
Adorable.
"Because lives are precious?"
"Not bad reasoning. But the bigger issue is the risk of mutual destruction."
"Mutual destruction? Like perishing with monsters?"
"Weak mana concentrations draw weak monsters. But places like this... where strong mana pools, beasts like that appear."
"...Why mutual destruction?"
"Strong mana spots usually hold big treasures. Invest national budget, and you clash with strong monsters. Once committed, you pour in more assets to recoup—assets meaning soldiers and mages."
"I see. Interesting thought."
"Borrow and repay" wasn't for an empire maintaining world order.
But why bring it up now?
"And there's treasure like that here."
Now it clicked—everything he said.
Ah.
"Papa's treasure? Drawn by the mana, so monsters circle it?"
"In short, yes."
Papa's treasure is here.
That sparked a flicker of interest in Filtia.
"What kind?"
Her brother crossed the vanished monster's remains and found it.
With groans of "Ugh, urk. Damn..." he clutched it and approached.
"Ah. Found it. This is it."
"...Giant bear doll?"
"Mm. This is the great first emperor's treasure."
"R-right."
Papa had odd tastes sometimes; hiding something like this wasn't weird.
Filtia thought so, but held her breath at her brother's next words.
"This bear doll... was sewn by the great ancestor himself."
"...Huh?"
"Read it. He even embroidered it, but couldn't bring himself to give it."
Filtia lightly took the bear doll with one hand and scanned the text below.
This giant bear doll, sized like me, was made for Filtia Bluebreeze.
And I know the story behind it.
Bittersweet consideration, or poignant thoughtfulness?
"I never knew such a thing existed even three hundred years ago... How did you find out, little brother?"
"The process is a long, complicated tale. But in conclusion, it's due to the first emperor's self-reproach."
"Self-reproach...? Papa's?"
"Look closely at the doll's options. Self-repair, infinite regeneration, and a skill attached, right?"
"...Yeah."
Simply put, infinite-power CCTV.
And it's truly a gift for Filtia.
"In short, it's a doll that monitors one demon gate 24/7. Filled with affection for you, sis."
"R-right."
"But the first emperor also thought: 'Giving her this would be too cruel a sin.'"
"...Cruel sin?"
For centuries. Millennia. Even up to ten thousand years.
Filtia, bearer of the Mid-Realm guardian's fate.
His own daughter.
Jefrin's demon gate held strong seals from the first emperor and other dragons.
As a result, it was extraordinarily stable.
Another hundred thousand years? Near-permanent barrier.
Provided Filtia never leaves Jefrin. The barrier centers on her; stepping out destabilizes it.
"You know that much, sis. Did you think I believed you unaware of your duty? So why hide this doll...?"
Filtia's voice rose.
Why had her doting father concealed this gift until departure?
Simple.
"Too harsh a gift for a daughter locked here for up to ten thousand years."
"......"
"If it brought comfort, fine—but what if resentment sprouts every time she sees it?"
"Resentment...?"
"Yes. Resentment toward a father who left such a gift and abandoned her. The great ancestor, Hark von Loengrin, feared that... or so it's said."
"......"
"Sis Filtia, guarding the demon gate with this bear doll for three hundred years—can you swear you never resented him even a little? 'He gave me one gift and left me'? Better if it didn't exist, maybe. That's what he thought."
"......"
Filtia fell silent at my words.
"I'm leaving now, so take this gift and watch the demon gate for ten thousand years. Good job!"—she might interpret it that way.
What if she saw his personality as trash? That anxiety gnawed at Hark... per the setting docs.
Guy was pretty weird himself.
"Then... little brother."
"Speak."
"Then why give it to me? ...I might resent you forever. Curse you for ten thousand years?"
"Ha. Funny thing to say. Are dragons' memories short?"
"Huh?"
How many times do I have to repeat?
"I said I'd get you out of here. Didn't you hear?"
Listen when a vet speaks. Got it?
"L-little brother."
"What?"
"You... said 'you'? To sis?"
"Ah, yeah. My bad, si—"
"No. It wasn't bad."
"Huh?"
"Ahem. Yeah, o-occasionally? I forgive you calling me by name or 'you' instead of sis. Just occasionally, though. Basically sis, got it?"
"......"
"Come on, to bond as siblings—try it?"
"Filtia."
"Eek."
"What's with you? Your face is red."
"Urk!"
She likes being talked to as an equal despite being centuries older?
...Whatever.
Mix it up and she'll be fine.