Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: The Stolen Forbidden Book
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10
3
Sometimes, my body moves so well that even I can hardly believe it.
For instance, even when picking up a sword for the first time and facing an opponent in sparring, my body feels strangely light.
Even granting the magic sword's power, knocking someone down with the hilt.
Or miraculously blocking it just before the raccoon opens the forbidden book.
*Click.* I locked the bedside drawer.
Inside was the forbidden book I'd just confiscated from Choco.
The forbidden book's lock was already broken and useless, but I tossed it in there anyway.
Haa, now I can finally relax...
If only. Honestly, I wasn't reassured at all.
“Choco.”
I called its name, but Choco didn't respond.
“Kim Choco.”
I sat on the edge of the bed.
Choco plopped down at my feet just like a person would.
It brazenly lifted its head, though its eyes slid sideways.
The whites of its eyes were showing—like a puppy that had gotten into trouble and was bracing for a scolding.
“Kim Choco, even if I asked how you got the forbidden book, you couldn't answer anyway... and it's not like listening would change anything, so whatever. Just don't pull the forbidden book out of that drawer on your own.”
Choco still didn't respond.
It just kept rolling its eyes the other way.
I stared at it silently for a while until sweat started beading on its fur, and only then did it reluctantly nod.
“I'm dead serious. We don't know what'll happen if that forbidden book even gets opened. I don't want you or me getting hurt.”
*Nod, nod.*
Choco, signaling that it understood, rolled its eyes again.
I couldn't tell if it was reflecting or not... but saying anything more wouldn't change a thing.
“Haa...”
Aigo, duya.
Leaving aside how Choco got its paws on the forbidden book, the pressing issue was what to do with it.
“How in the world did you get past the forbidden repository...”
No one could even enter the forbidden repository without permission.
It was sealed with strict barriers, and any unauthorized intrusion would trigger alarms along with all sorts of security spells.
It wasn't for nothing that the Impartial Reading Club had occupied the Minenbar Library and taken hostages, yet still scrambled separately to find a way to open the forbidden repository's door.
And yet, someone had swiped a sealed forbidden book from a place like that.
From what guard Jin had said, even he had no clue yet who the thief was.
It understood my words too, so it was obvious Choco wasn't just any ordinary raccoon.
At this point, calling it a normal raccoon didn't make any sense.
“Anyway...”
Because of the barriers, sneaking into the forbidden repository and slipping the book back into place was impossible.
Even if I told Choco to do it, I doubted it'd listen.
Handing it back to Jin would just lead to questions about where I'd gotten it.
If I said a raccoon brought it, no one would believe me.
It was the truth, but even to me, it sounded like too much of a lie.
Just possessing a designated sealed forbidden book was grounds for expulsion.
“I need to figure out a way to return it without anyone finding out, and fast...”
If such a method existed, I wouldn't be agonizing over it.
My head felt like it was going to split open.
I flopped down spread-eagled on the bed.
Choco wriggled its way up onto the bed and poked at my shoulder.
It seemed to be trying to comfort me in its own way.
If you weren't the mastermind behind this mess, I might actually appreciate it, Choco.
“Huu... This day's been way too long...”
I hoped tomorrow would be short for once.
4
Morning sunlight scattered as it hit the street trees.
I watched the leaves sway in the spring breeze.
Whether because I'd slept spread-eagled or because the bed was just that comfortable, I'd gotten a deep night's rest, and my head felt clear.
A lot had happened yesterday, but for now, I was grateful to feel no fatigue.
I still had no idea how to deal with the forbidden book, though...
Well, there were lectures today, so I'd handle those first.
I was on my way to the academic building when—
“Hey, friend!”
I turned toward the energetic mid-range voice.
The first thing I saw... was a wall.
No, not a wall—a person's torso.
I had to tilt my head up just a bit to make out the face of whoever had called me.
Under silver hair that boldly exposed his forehead, cold features held blue eyes that caught the sunlight and reflected it like gems.
He was tall and built like a tank.
His whole body was packed with firm, massive muscles—so much so that I'd instinctively mistaken him for a wall.
It was Ethan Mertezacker, a muscular guy whose build couldn't be hidden by either his uniform or his robe. He stared right at me.
“...You called me?”
I'd never expected Ethan Mertezacker to approach me first.
He was an NPC who often lent his strength in combat events, but all I remembered was his intimidating presence.
He always stood at the vanguard, shield and sword in hand to block enemies—even drenched in his own blood, he never stopped, and once battle began, he turned utterly cold and ruthless.
They called him a war machine in Broken World.
The settings flat-out labeled his combat sense and aptitude as top-tier.
That was why he almost never crossed paths with me in non-combat events. I'd never even seen him with anyone else...
So what did this Ethan want with me?
“It's been a while since we crossed paths on the way to class!”
...?
Had his voice always been this bright?
“Looks like you're heading to lecture today!”
“Yeah, something like that.”
“Self-study's nice and all, but skip too many, and it turns into a real problem!”
Something... something was off.
The Ethan I knew was quieter, more intense.
It almost felt like this was his hidden twin or something...
“You're Ethan Mertezacker, right?”
“That's me! You remembered my name!”
Did knowing his name really warrant eyes sparkling like that?
“Well, yeah. ...So, what's up?”
“Saw you heading to school after such a long time, so I came to say hi. You got caught up in that library takeover yesterday, right? I was wondering how you were doing.”
“...Hold on, how'd you know about that?”
“I'm tight with the student council folks. I dropped by in the evening, and they were all rushing around, so I asked what was going on!”
Dropped by the student council?
And they trusted him enough to spill internal info?
The more we talked, the less he seemed like the Ethan I knew...
“Anyway, you okay? Heard you were taken hostage!”
“What... It was nothing much. I escaped safely.”
Just skipping the part where I got back to the dorm and found a forbidden book in my room.
As I added that inwardly, Ethan suddenly slung his arm around my shoulders.
He bent down, bringing his face close, and whispered in my ear.
“But did you hear about that?”
“About what?”
“A seriously dangerous forbidden book went missing from the forbidden repository.”
...
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't flustered.
But I didn't let it show.
Instead, I turned a surprised gaze on Ethan.
“A forbidden book?”
“I don't know the details. It's already making the rounds as a rumor. All I know is the student council's started searching for it.”
“A search... Did they figure out how it disappeared?”
“They're investigating with the Impartial Reading Club at the center, but it's still unknown. Still, it's such a hazardous forbidden book that even mentioning it is taboo. If someone stole it, the culprit's looking at more than expulsion—they'd face trial!”
*Gulp.*
I swallowed hard.
Oblivious to my inner turmoil, Ethan released his arm and straightened up.
“The library takeover, and now a forbidden book missing. Things are getting pretty grim, huh?”
“Yeah. They really are.”
“Ah, I should head out. Let's do our best today too, friend!”
Ethan waved and jogged off into the distance.
We'd parted ways, but the cold sweat trickling down my back didn't stop for quite a while.
5
“...How'd doing nothing make it lunchtime already.”
I had no clue how the morning lectures had flown by.
I'd been agonizing over the forbidden book, and when I snapped out of it, lunchtime had arrived. I had my tray and was sitting at a table.
“Aigo, duya...”
I pressed my temples hard with my thumb joints.
The culprit behind my headache, Choco, was sitting beside me, chomping away at a piece of chicken.
It was one of the pet meals provided by the student cafeteria.
As expected of a top prestige school among prestige schools—not just feeding the students, but their pets too.
Watching Choco savor its full-course meal of chicken with lettuce and other veggies, plus fruit and cake for dessert, I couldn't help but sigh.
“Yeah, gotta eat well...”
What was done was done.
Scolding Choco wouldn't change anything or make it better.
More than that, I didn't even want to.
You don't bother a dog when it's eating, after all.
I'd set my worries aside for now and eat too.
Lunch today was salmon steak.
Thick, ruby-red salmon sliced steak-style was blanketed in creamy white tartar sauce.
The garnish was asparagus, king oyster mushrooms, and carrots roasted to a golden crisp, paired with a simple salad dotted with cherry tomatoes for color.
The lemon slices were probably meant for squeezing over the salmon steak.
I cut into the steak with fork and knife. The inside was a perfect medium-rare.
I scooped up a generous dollop of tartar sauce and took a big bite.
Before I could even chew properly, the exterior crumbled away, while the interior offered a tender, soft resistance against my teeth.
Savory fish oils spread through my mouth, mingling with the herbal butter aroma.
The tartar sauce added a bright acidity, striking perfect balance.
I closed my eyes and savored the flawless harmony of flavors.
Indeed, gotta eat well.
When something this delicious hits your tongue, all your worries melt away like snow.
“Oh, friend. Mind if I take this seat? It's empty, right?”
“It's empty, so go ahead.”
Someone asked, so I answered on reflex.
When I opened my eyes, a mountain of french fries loomed before me.
“Nothing beats freshly fried fries!”
The one demolishing the fry mountain was Ethan.
I had no idea why he'd fill his entire tray with them...
It was enough to make me suspect he'd cleared out the cafeteria's stock.
Come to think of it, the settings did mention Ethan's favorite was french fries.
Even so, french fries only? It was starting to unnerve me.
As expected of a trash game—Broken World's settings were contrived like this more often than not.
Speaking of contrived, Leon—who had quietly taken a seat next to Ethan—was no exception.
His tray was filled with a chicken breast salad, two slices of whole wheat bread, and almonds for dessert—a meal that traded flavor for health.
“...Does that actually fill you up?”
“It's enough. Holds me till dinner.”
“You're probably the only one who sticks to just salad...”
One side french fries, the other salad.
Maybe that's how the world's balance is maintained.
Still, watching him munch on what was basically grass made my chest ache a little.
Eat to live, right?
There's even that saying about the power of a good meal.
I couldn't stand it anymore. I sliced off half my salmon steak and plopped it onto Leon's tray.
“...?”
Leon just tilted his head.
As I cut up the rest of my salmon steak, I added,
“Salmon goes great with salad all the time, right?”
“It does, but.”
“Then eat up. You've gotta eat hearty.”
Of course—considering all the incidents the protagonist had to resolve ahead.
He nodded, and Leon gave a small smile.
“I'll pay you back later.”
“It's not even my money. It's just cafeteria food.”
With that, I polished off the rest of my salmon steak, salad, and garnish.
All that remained was the dessert: crème brûlée.
Choco had started chomping its last bit of cake, so I picked up my spoon and lightly cracked the caramelized top of the crème brûlée.
“Oh, right—there's a pop quiz in this afternoon's lecture. You guys study at all?”
“I did.”
Leon chimed in right as Ethan brought it up.
Hold on—a pop quiz?
“...There's a pop quiz today?”
“Yeah, Professor Edmund announced it last week for the ancient history and cultural heritage lecture. No way you forgot?”
Ethan said it like he couldn't believe me, but I felt wronged.
First it was an assignment I didn't know about, and now a pop quiz I'd never heard of.
My head was already pounding from the forbidden book fiasco—this was piling on insult to injury.
Before it got any later, I needed to check what assignments and tests were left.
No, before that...
“What's the range for today's pop quiz?”