Do You Know This Magic Tome?
Do you know this magic tome? The higher your Citizen Rank, the better your quality of life gets. From 11th to 10th Grade, you can even use the 'library,' they say.
Two years into this otherworldly life, and I still know way less than I don't. The library's a must.
Maybe because we were getting closer to Mortus, the tension started easing up bit by bit.
"Ughhh…."
I glanced back at the groaning sound. She'd introduced herself as 'Kiara Meskannon,' but unfortunately, I'd never heard the name before.
A rare non-human race in Mortus, and a mage to boot… I cautiously checked the ID plate she'd given me.
[B]
"…."
Suspicion was starting to creep in. From 5th Grade up, you can punch through the Erosion Zone.
Of course, bulldozing everything like the church does is damn near impossible.
"Uuu…."
Kiara was pouting, desperately covering herself with her cloak.
Sure, her outfit was pretty damn skimpy, but with features like that, even as a slave, I'd have heard something….
Once you start suspecting, it snowballs. Human psychology's a bitch like that.
Maybe we should just part ways now. But I'd already bullshitted my way too far.
"Kiara."
At my call, Kiara tilted her head, her ears twitching up and down.
"Yeah?" "Can you tell me everything you remember?" "Um… I recall my name and a few things about magic, but nothing else comes to mind."
Basically, it's not like blank spots in her memory—it's a total whiteout. But she remembers her name and magic a bit.
Magic's like breathing for a mage, so it makes sense. Nobody forgets how to breathe.
…
We walked until we reached Mortus's gates.
"Fuck this shit, time to call it and sell my loot."
"Wasn't as bad as I thought. Let's hit the tavern."
"Shiiit fuuuck!!! Niiiice!!!!"
There were a decent number of people at the gates. Most were empty-handed, heading back to daily grind, but a few looked happy. They'd scavenged something.
On the last day, it'd be three times this crowd.
Actual explorers would come even later. When monsters spawn, those crazy superhumans farm the Erosion Zone—that's explorers for you.
They bring in the magic stones that keep the city alive, so they get treated like kings.
But with only about 1% of explorer wannabes surviving, it's no easy gig.
I took Kiara straight to the Mortus Management Council.
…
"There is no resident named Kiara Meskannon in our Mortus records."
What?
Fuck, my worst suspicions came true.
The council clerk adjusted his glasses and meticulously checked the ID plate.
"This is Sir Sarnian's ID plate. We won't meddle in outside affairs, but don't pull this inside."
Misunderstanding? More like it's probably not a misunderstanding.
The old Kiara was a psycho mage who could burst heads with a gesture. Given mages' average personalities, she probably killed for fun when bored.
I closed my eyes and talked to myself. Help me out here, you crazy bastard.
Just keep her around.
Yeah, solid call. Who can I trust if not myself?
"I want to raise my Citizen Rank. And register this friend as a citizen too…."
Citizen Rank. Mortus's stand-in for identity.
Starts at 12th Grade base. The default housing? A fucking barn.
Way to level up is simple: prove your worth.
The clerk picked up a 12th Grade ID plate and infused it with mana. Alchemy.
"Here's your ID plate. If you end up working at the magic tower, come back here."
"Ah… y-yeah…!"
Kiara fumbled to take the plate.
"And you wanted to raise your rank, right?"
In Mortus, everyone carries their whole fortune on them. And I'd looted four corpses.
One-eye, fatso, skinny, queen bee.
Enough magic stones to escape 13th Grade easy. Even after taxes, plenty left.
I handed over my 13th Grade plate and bags full of stones.
"You've got quite a haul. Here's your 11th Grade plate."
The clerk counted the stones fast and updated my plate from 13th to 11th. Hands like a pro mart auntie.
He loaded the bags onto a magic device for mana reading—higher mana means higher value.
Then pulled out some small stones and handed them over.
"Your change. We'll contact the owner separately."
From 10th Grade, you can own slaves. But slaves are more the council's property than yours.
Slaves are multi-use, which is why no female slaves in the sewers. Well, one exception.
Feminist barbarian boss Bornien.
If her owner was some psycho gay… Nah, don't even think it.
"Taxes: fill 150% mana value. About 150 low-grade magic stones."
Taxes same as my fucking ransom. Higher rank means higher taxes—basically rent included.
"For the elf: 60% mana, about 60 low-grade stones."
Mid-sentence, he rummaged a drawer and pulled out a rolled map.
Flutter!
"Head to D District, sector 3-6. And the plate…."
He glanced at Kiara.
"We can collect it for you."
As Kiara opened her mouth, I shook my head.
"It's fine."
I led Kiara to D District.
Way different vibe from my E District shithole. Like apartment blocks made from containers.
Escaped the fucking barn.
Thud-thud.
My backpack and sacks felt heavy. Hadn't sold the gear yet.
But right now, gear was secondary.
The magic tome.
A book holding magic.
"Um… did I…."
Then Kiara hesitantly called out.
Truth is, I'd been mulling over this crazy elf mage. Skimpy outfit, healing magic user.
Power to one-shot the thug trio.
If she were a bearded dude, fine—but she's a hot elf.
"What're you staring at? Come on."
"Huh…? Got it!"
Sensing the connection, Kiara's anxious eyes lit up.
Magic's not a solo study. And my tome's got some weird play script.
Kiara's a keeper—no loss ditching her.
****
My new digs? Politely, a mansion. Rudely, a dogshit dump.
Like stepping into a tiny, filthy container home.
I plopped down roughly; Kiara eyed me and sat too.
Carefully, I pulled out the magic tome from my bosom.
A yellowed, worn cover. Oozes ominous vibes just looking at it.
"Eek…!"
Kiara flinched at the tome and backed away.
She'd lost her memory opening it, right?
I read it fine before…. Suddenly uneasy.
Is it safe to read this?
Right then, the tome flipped open on its own.
Flutter.
I nearly rolled on the floor like when I first saw the Darkness-Eating Small Worm in the sewer. Then a black-and-white muscle dude appeared in my head, bellowing sternly.
Just read it, dumbass.
Yes, bro.
"Eek…! Eeeek!"
Kiara was already rolling on the floor.
Waves break along the shore of Lake Hali,
twin suns sink beyond the lake,
shadows stretch long
in Carcosa.
'Huh…?'
Didn't notice on a casual glance, but this writing's no joke.
Bzzz~.
Then the tome started vibrating.
Fuck, what's this? Vibration mode too?
Bzzzzz~.
The pages rustled to the next.
One page. Two. Three.
Flip, fliip.
Midway, the sound changed.
Like old dry scales scraping.
Bzzzzzz—!
The tome shivered like it was thrilled.
Then a voice shattered the silence.
"Close the book!!!!"
I slammed it shut in shock.
Thud!
'Huh……?'
Snapping to, Kiara's crotch was soaked.
"…." "Sob… sniff… don't open that thing."
Kiara trembled, tears like chicken shit dripping as she stared at the tome.