Chapter 28
Chapter 28
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Into the Forbidden Library
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Today’s lecture ends here.”
Edmund, standing at the podium, closed his textbook.
A languid fatigue washed over me right after the lecture ended, so I relaxed in my chair.
This was the last class of the day, so I figured I’d head back and rest.
Or maybe go look for Easter eggs. That wouldn’t be bad either.
Just in case, should I bring Choco along?
With those thoughts, I stood up from my seat.
Just as I was about to savor my freedom either way, Edmund added belatedly,
“Theo Agrit, stay behind for a moment.”
“…….”
Of course he’d call me on a day like this.
But it was the professor’s summons, so I trudged over to the podium.
“You called for me?”
“Yeah, let’s talk.”
What on earth does he want to discuss, holding back someone whose lectures are done?
Helping with Edmund’s research as an undergraduate assistant had been suspended after the Jaist relic theft incident.
The stolen relic had been safely returned to the academy via Guard Jin, so it ended without issue, but the whole undergraduate assistant program was halted due to the risk of students getting involved in dangerous matters.
It was the academy’s decision, so even Edmund couldn’t do anything about it.
Of course, this only applied to undergraduate assistants. Teaching assistants and graduate students—those with advanced standing—were exempt.
R.I.P. Clara.
Rest in peace....
“What did you need me for today?”
“Your access to the Forbidden Library has been approved.”
Edmund said it casually, but I was genuinely surprised.
I had requested entry to the Forbidden Library, but I hadn’t expected approval this soon.
The chances were low to begin with, and even lower amid all these incidents.
It had wrapped up far quicker and cleaner than anticipated.
Plus, with the undergraduate assistant program suspended, I had nothing to lose.
As for Edmund’s interest... well, I’d already hooked it, so no helping that.
I wondered why he’d called me so suddenly, but this was tremendous good news.
Once I entered the Forbidden Library, I could somehow dispose of the forbidden book in my room.
Handling that would eliminate my biggest worry, and I could finally sleep easy.
“When should I go?”
“Right after today’s lectures end. I’ll escort you.”
So he won’t let me go in alone, after all.
But being able to get inside was enough, so I had no complaints.
“Are your lectures done for the day?”
“Yes, I’ve finished all of them.”
“Then it doesn’t matter when. I’ve still got one left, so come to the Minenbar Library in three hours.”
Three hours.
I could relax in the dorm and then bring the book along.
Nodding at the thought of finally defusing the biggest bomb,
“There’s just one thing. Before entry, I need to hear your reason for wanting into the Forbidden Library. The order’s changed, but motive is important.”
Edmund asked seriously.
One wrong word, and this hard-won approval could vanish.
I pondered briefly, then slowly moved my lips.
“When the Non-Discriminatory Reading Society raided the Minenbar Library, I started doubting whether our right to know was truly being restricted.”
“You’re questioning the kingdom’s edict?”
“Yes, I am. Accepting phenomena without doubt is no different from a roadside pebble. The Reading Society’s methods were wrong, but their cry about restricted knowledge made me feel the need to verify it myself. So, presumptuously, I requested entry to the Forbidden Library.”
A suitably fabricated justification.
Felt like my tongue had turned pretty smoothly.
But it must’ve gone even better than expected, as Edmund let out an intrigued hum.
“Hmm, doubting all things is the basic virtue of a scholar.”
“...Is it?”
“Of course. Accepting phenomena without doubt is, as you said, no better than a pebble. At least you’re not one of those blockheads.”
I had a hunch.
The conversation was veering off again.
Sure enough, Edmund smoothly added,
“There’s still a chair open in my lab, you know.”
“I’ll pass.”
“Stubborn as ever. A true scholar needs that kind of tenacity to see their insights and theories through to the end.”
No reasoning with him.
No matter what I did, he’d go on about scholarly demeanor or whatever.
At this rate, he might start preaching about a Graduate School of Everything.
Terrifying—beyond fear, downright horrifying.
“Come to my lab anytime you change your mind.”
“Yes... Understood.”
Not that it’ll ever happen.
No, please just give up before then....
1
The door to the Forbidden Library was a massive iron gate sealed with six thick chains.
Layers of security spells coated it thickly, but it opened on its own as Edmund stepped forward.
Rumble......
A loud groan echoed, kicking up accumulated dust.
The scene beyond matched my memory of the Forbidden Library perfectly.
Bookshelves crammed side by side in endless rows.
Each shelf bore heavy seals and warnings, with chains binding the books or locks securing them.
All those were forbidden tomes.
Ones harboring seditious ideas, recording banned knowledge, triggering curses just from being read, or sealing away entities.
Books unreadable by ordinary means.
I closed my eyes briefly, inhaling the ancient ink scent wafting from them.
Who’d have thought I’d enter the Forbidden Library so openly one day.
In the game, you only sneaked in or entered via some event—never legitimately.
Maybe that’s why actually having clearance felt oddly out of place.
“I’ll say it again: don’t open any books sealed with locks.”
“Got it.”
Edmund warned as he walked between the shelves.
Of course, I already knew all that, so it went in one ear and out the other.
My goal wasn’t reading forbidden books but returning one safely.
No intention of reading anyway.
If the book that vanished right after I accessed the place popped back up, anyone would suspect me.
But with the Forbidden Library incident still under investigation, plenty of people came and went.
They didn’t check the inventory daily, so realizing a missing book had returned would take time.
Just put it back, and all problems solved.
My worries had been piling up lately—I’d even dreamed of getting arrested over the book.
For my mental health, I needed to dispose of it ASAP.
“You have one hour. I won’t interfere unnecessarily, so explore freely.”
Edmund checked his pocket watch and returned to the entrance.
No interference meant I could roam as I pleased.
With luck on my side, I nodded and wandered the shelves of the Forbidden Library.
I felt the heavy weight of the forbidden book inside my robe once more.
Tuck it into some corner shelf away from Edmund’s eyes, pretend ignorance, and done.
I deliberately took a winding path.
Pretending to peruse a few tomes while evading Edmund’s gaze, I tucked myself into a remote corner.
Shouldn’t arouse suspicion now.
With that conviction, I pulled the book from my bosom.
Just slot it into a suitable spot—I scanned the nearest shelf for a gap.
-Hey, you. Planning to return that forbidden book?
Deathwise asked in a strangely quivering voice.
Of course I was.
-Hmm......
No idea why, but Deathwise grumbled.
He was always incomprehensible anyway, so I ignored him and found a spot.
The moment I went to shove the book in,
-Sigh, no helping it.
With the demon sword’s mutter, crimson-black aura leaked from Deathwise.
Disregarding my will entirely, the aura enveloped the book and absorbed it outright.
Like cotton candy melting in water, the book dissolved into the crimson-black aura and vanished.
The aura flowed back into Deathwise.
“…….”
What the hell!?
I couldn’t yell aloud, so I screamed internally.
Deathwise stayed silent a while before finally speaking.
-It’s your fault.
What kind of nonsense is that?
-This power was too early for you originally, so I’d been holding off absorbing it. But you got scared and tried returning it alone. So it’s your fault!
So, you were waiting to steal the book because it was beyond my level, but when I tried returning it, you panicked and absorbed it instead?
No, more importantly....
If you could absorb it, say so from the start!
I wouldn’t have gone through all this trouble!
My head felt like it’d split.
Of all places, this happens in the Forbidden Library.
As I agonized over what to do, Edmund’s approaching footsteps echoed from afar—he must’ve sensed the anomaly.
“What happened?”
“I must’ve brushed a forbidden book wrong; a dangerous aura leaked out. It vanished right away, so no worries.”
In truth, the book got absorbed into my sword.
I bluffed like that... and hurriedly escaped the Forbidden Library sometime later.
2
“Explain.”
I propped the demon sword in front of my dorm bed.
Perched on the bed, I demanded, and Deathwise fell silent briefly.
Even at this distance, we could communicate via thoughts.
“Hey.”
-Fine. I’ll explain, so have some patience? It’s a long tale; I need to decide where to start....
“Talkative much? I said explain, not make excuses. Spill it quick.”
-Impatient fool....
“If I lacked patience, I’d have tossed you in the pond before reaching the dorm.”
-Always.... Anyway, first, why I’m a demon sword. Can’t explain anything without this. I originally slew countless demons. For slaying ten thousand demons, I ascended to demon sword rank amid respect and awe. And gained power befitting that rank.
Legendary weapons each have their tales.
Seems Deathwise had his own story.
I’d wanted to learn someday, but not in the mood now.
“So?”
-I can take demons’ powers. That’s all I did. To fully unseal, I need peak power first—naturally.
Take demons’ powers.
I mulled that over.
No demon race in Broken World.
Just brief mentions of demons existing in the past.
“Demons vanished from the earth long ago.”
-Precisely, I eradicated them from the earth.
“Then no demon powers to take.”
-Demons are gone, yes. But like that book I absorbed, demons’ remnants linger on earth. Absorb them all, and I’ll reach peak—not just pre-seal strength, but beyond! How dare you scold me!
“You pulled it off without a word?”
-......Ahem.
Deathwise went quiet for a while.
Things escalated suddenly, but... not a bad deal.
If Deathwise grows stronger, I, its wielder, benefit too.
Several suspicious items come to mind, like that book; just feed them to it.
“...No way there’s such a convenient story. You said I can’t handle it—what’s that about?”
-You qualify as a demon sword wielder. But you don’t wield it properly. Barely half-baked now. The gap between you and me widens, and you’ll burst like an overinflated balloon from the power disparity.
A person popping like a balloon.
Imagining it gave me chills on my arms.
-If you don’t want that, train quick and become a proper demon sword wielder. You.
“...I’m fine for now, right?”
-Fortunately, yes. Thanks to the new authority.
Truly fortunate news.
New authority, huh? No obvious change yet.
-Tsk tsk. What I just absorbed was the remnant of the Demon of Pranks.
“Demon of Pranks? Sounds weak.”
-Don’t underestimate. Pranks without malice can still take lives. Thus, the Demon of Pranks was a high demon. Got a fine power from it.
“So what is it?”
I grumbled, and Deathwise cloaked in black smoke.
Then, with the smoke, it dispersed completely.
Reflexively scanning around, the black smoke swirled before condensing on my left ring finger.
The smoke vanished.
A pitch-black ring I’d never seen gleamed on my left ring finger.
“This... don’t tell me....”
Before I could finish, Deathwise replied proudly.
-Correct. Shape-shifting!
