Night of the Living Books
After sweet-talking Jessie like that, I managed to get her to let us join the investigation team probing the library's anomalies. Two days later, Luna—cloaked in a black robe—headed toward the library. It was a pitch-black night. Letting out a puff of white breath, she turned to me.
"Master, why'd you make me join this request?"
In response to her question, I answered with utmost sincerity.
[Because dealing with a mystery in such a controlled, safe environment like this is a rare opportunity.]
[Especially for a total beginner mage like you.]
Hitting the nail on the head, Luna stuck out her pink tongue long and wide.
[...What ulterior motive?]
"It's true, so I can't argue back. I'm just soothing my frustration."
[...Hmph.]
"Master. Do you really think I can pull this off?"
Luna asked me in a voice uncharacteristically tense. Her antics from earlier were probably just to shake off the nerves. I smirked inwardly and replied.
[Of course. What do you have to worry about with me here? If things get really dire, I'll step in and help.]
At my confident words, Luna relaxed, regaining her usual leisurely smile as we reached the library entrance.
Near the library doors in the dead of night stood a burly middle-aged man. Hmm, that must be the head librarian. His build and muscles were knightly enough to fit right into the Royal Guard. Behind him were a man in a red robe and a girl in priestess robes.
"Hmm, welcome. I'm Jerome Bright, curator of the Golden May Library."
Luna hesitated slightly at Jerome's pot-lid-sized hand but shook it anyway.
"I was worried we didn't have enough people to investigate this anomaly properly, but your joining us is a godsend!!"
Whoosh—whoosh—! As Luna's body swayed like a reed in Jerome's grip, the red-robed man behind him pulled back his hood and approached.
"Mr. Jerome. Who is this person?"
The red-robed man—with red hair and fiercely slanted eyes, looking every bit the delinquent—addressed Jerome.
"Ah, I was late with introductions."
Jerome finally stopped manhandling Luna and introduced her.
"I hear she's the successor of the Shadow Academy."
Luna steadied herself and introduced herself to the redhead.
"Yes, I'm Luna, successor of the Shadow Academy."
"I'm Walter Ascandal, a second-year student from the Red Tower."
The thug-looking guy introduced himself with surprisingly proper manners before stepping back.
"Um, I'm Flora, an apprentice priestess of the Goddess Church!"
The petite woman hiding behind Walter bounced forward and finished her introduction.
With the hasty intros wrapped up, Jerome began explaining the request and its target to the group.
"A baseless rumor started circulating a few weeks ago that around twenty librarians and patrons died after seeing a red-bound book. To verify this nonsense, the librarians and I personally searched the library interior and disposed of every red-bound book we found. But the anomalies persisted—and worse, one of the investigating librarians died."
Jerome clenched his fist and continued.
"Suicide after seeing a red book? Some of you might think it's just groundless gossip. But I believe there's truth to this rumor. Please, stop it before it escalates into something bigger."
With that, Jerome bowed deeply to the group.
"Please rise, Curator."
Walter went to Jerome and helped him up.
"Similar anomalies have been popping up sporadically across the kingdom lately. I don't think what you're saying is mere rumor, Mr. Jerome."
Jerome's eyes welled up at Walter's unwavering gaze, as if deeply moved.
"W-Walter, sir. Thank you! You're the first to truly believe me!"
[What a load of melodramatic bullshit. Let's just get inside already.]
'Right?'
I and Luna grumbled softly at the tearjerker scene unfolding before the library.
"Um, so! Shall we head in now?"
Luna's intervention mercifully ended the farce. Jerome, realizing his display was embarrassing, quickly wiped his tears and saw us off.
"Come back safe! I'll wait here until you return!"
We entered the library under Jerome's send-off.
Screeech—! Bam!
The old iron door closed with a grating sound, plunging the midnight library into darkness where you couldn't see an inch ahead. Hmm, showtime.
[Luna, get ready.]
'For what?'
[You'll see soon enough.]
"It's too dark in here."
Walter squinted as he scanned the surroundings.
"Everyone, come to me."
Luna and Flora approached Walter, who softly chanted a spell.
[1st Circle Magic - Ignition]
A small fireball bloomed from Walter's fingertip, finally illuminating the library interior.
The inside hadn't changed much from our visit yesterday. Neat facilities, wooden shelves perfectly lined with books.
"..."
"Eek!"
Except every book on the shelves now had a red cover.
Clank!
The library's front door locked with a metallic clunk.
"...Fuck."
Walter muttered under his breath, enlarging the flame in his hand.
"So that's what you meant by get ready."
[Exactly.]
Alright, Luna. Time for your practical training.
[Let's see if you can survive. Haha!]
"...Sigh."
Luna let out a long sigh.
About 30 minutes after entering the library.
Luna was sprinting madly down the corridor. And for good reason—a red giant made of books was charging right behind her.
"You... goddamn... book bastard!"
[Talking to me?]
Luna ignored me and summoned shadows.
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh!!
From behind shelves, under candelabras, beneath window frames—countless thorns erupted from shadows along the giant's path, mercilessly piercing its body.
[Ooh, your shadow manipulation has improved nicely. All that practice in the inn every night paid off.]
Luna didn't even acknowledge me, focusing on her run.
[But one bit of advice.]
Roooaaar!!
[Against non-living enemies, blunt attacks work better than piercing ones.]
The red giant shook off the shadows pinning it in a moment of raw power, smashing through the library as it pursued Luna. The moment she reached the corner, Luna slid low and shouted.
"Walter! Now!!
[2nd Circle Magic - Explosion]
BOOM!!
At Luna's cry, Walter—waiting around the corner—hurled his fireball. It exploded on the giant's head, obliterating its entire upper body.
[Oh, that's some serious firepower.]
The Magic Tower lives up to its name? Taking down that size with just a 2nd Circle spell.
I surveyed Walter, panting against the wall, and the trashed library.
Thirty minutes ago, the moment we spotted the books upon entering, every volume on the shelves rained down on us. In the chaos, Walter cleverly fireballed the onslaught, incinerating them. But the books reassembled like toys, forming shapes to attack—the red giant had been the last one.
"Hah... Looks like that's the first floor cleared."
Luna panted.
"Yeah. And since the doors wouldn't open even as we wrecked the place..."
Walter glanced toward the stairs and said quietly.
"...It's on the second or third floor."
"G-Good work, everyone!"
Flora trotted over from afar.
Heal
Golden energy flowed from Flora's hands, visibly improving Walter and Luna's complexions.
"Th-That ambush was so sudden I panicked, but before we head to the second floor, I have some preparations!"
Flora clasped her cute little fists, knelt nearby, and chanted briefly.
"A fragment of the unbreakable shield."
Holy Shield
As Flora's prayer ended, a faintly glowing golden barrier appeared around Luna and Walter before vanishing.
"What... holy magic is that?"
Walter's sharp eyes widened in surprise.
"Hehe. It reduces incoming damage. Blocks anything below a certain level and can even tank ogre hits three times."
Flora puffed out her chest proudly, then blinked as if remembering something and chanted again.
Seraphim's Tiara
"Hehe, just in case we find the main body and it tries mental attacks. Now we're safe!"
Flora, you're... way sturdier than you look? And I wasn't the only one thinking it—Walter praised her in a low voice.
"I've met plenty of apprentice priestesses... but you're the best by far."
"Hehe. Thank you."
Flora blushed and accepted the compliment.
'Master.'
[....]
'Can't Master do stuff like that?'
[Don't get the wrong idea, but once you grow, you'll be blasting out spells way better than that.]
'...Hmph.'
Luna gave me an odd look.
[If you're thinking I'm just a one-trick grimoire who only knows shadow manipulation...]
"Alright, let's head to the second floor."
My piercing analysis got buried under Walter's voice. Luna seized the moment to tuck me into her bosom and stand.
No one else would sense it.
But I could. The red killing intent billowing from the floor above.
Haha, maybe we'll score bigger than expected. I grinned secretly to myself as I got dragged up to the second floor with them.