Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: People and Spirits Must Be Quiet in the Library (4)
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The Crown Prince was waiting for me in his office. The moment I saw him, I thrust the book toward him without preamble. He looked a little surprised to see the book I held out.
“What an event. The cowardly Sierra actually completed her mission.”
“Yes, the cowardly Sierra got it done.”
When I shot back with sarcasm, the Crown Prince laughed. It was infuriating to see this nasty guy pretending to be nice with that smile. If he were ugly, it might have been less annoying, but since he was handsome, it was even, even, *even* more infuriating.
“Did you find any materials on the magical beast subjugation too?”
“Oh…….”
I shook my head awkwardly.
Right, that had been my excuse for going in. I’d gotten completely distracted and ended up doing other things.
“I’ll grant you free access to the imperial library from now on.”
“Really?”
“There will be some restrictions, of course.”
“Thank you!”
The Crown Prince opened the book I handed him and slowly turned the pages. Then, with his eyes fixed on the book, he spoke to me.
“This magical beast subjugation will be an important turning point.”
“Yeah.”
I wasn’t particularly interested, but my rank was low, so I had no choice but to listen.
“Lately, strange magic has been detected. I think it’s not unrelated to the legend written in this book. Here, look.”
The Crown Prince shoved a page of the book in my face. I leaned back so my face wouldn’t get crushed against it and haltingly read the passage he was pointing to.
“When the earth crumbles, all things vanish, and the world repeats eternally.”
“That’s right. Aren’t you curious what it means? I intend to uncover the truth behind these words. Even when we drive the magical beasts to the hermit’s land, they pop up in human territory again as if nothing happened. I believe this is part of the ‘repetition’ too.”
“Repetition…… eternal repetition…….”
It felt just like talking about a player replaying a game to get the ending they want. Was it my imagination? Or was there really a connection?
“I expected as much, but the book isn’t intact.”
As the Crown Prince said, parts of the book showed signs of burning. Not from long ago, but recently singed. The paper was crinkled and still faintly warm, and it only turned to black ash after he touched it.
This was definitely Tenerife’s doing. Teide and Canary must have had fire in their mouths to burn certain sections of the book like this.
“What part was it?”
“The story of the three gods. The three children born of the primordial god. Have you heard of them?”
“…….”
It was a story I kept hearing.
“The Witch of Illusions, the Witch of Storms, and the Corpse Devourer. Those three, right?”
“…….”
The Crown Prince closed the book and nodded. He fell silent for a moment, then changed the subject.
“This is helpful enough. Thanks.”
But I felt deeply uneasy. The spirit incident wasn’t fully resolved. If Teide and Canary got the wrong idea, the imperial library might turn into a fireworks festival!
“Your Highness. It’s not completely settled yet. I did sprinkle the 4th Prince’s magic powder, but how things play out…….”
“Enough. Don’t get involved any further.”
The Crown Prince’s attitude was firm.
“Yeah, well, if that’s what you want.”
I shrugged and pulled out the last item I had to hand over.
“Here you go.”
The Crown Prince, who had been expressionless, reached for the doll in surprise. But the moment his fingertips touched it, he yanked his hand back. He quickly schooled his shocked expression too.
“Where did you find this?”
“In a corner of the library.”
I debated whether to mention that the witch Lead wanted it, but the Crown Prince spared me the trouble.
“Dispose of it however you see fit.”
“Huh? But…….”
I examined the doll closely. No matter how you looked at it, it was a toy for an imperial child. The handkerchief draped around it like a scarf went without saying—the material and craftsmanship were top-notch.
“You don’t need me to find its owner?”
It would make things easier if I handled it.
“It’s mine.”
That was an unexpected answer. I’d thought it might belong to the 4th Prince. I alternated glances between the toy and the Crown Prince, mentally placing a question mark over it.
“It’s something that makes me weak. Dispose of it.”
“So this is…… your weakness, Your Highness?”
Had I asked too directly? But if it was a weakness, that would be great. For some reason, this worn doll felt precious.
“Weakness?”
The Crown Prince snorted and nodded.
“If you want to think of it as a weakness, go ahead. The library spirits seem to think so too.”
The library spirits.
Perhaps the Crown Prince had seen an illusion related to this doll.
The Crown Prince was afraid of entering the library. No, according to Camomile, he was ‘tormented’ by it.
So this toy was his weakness. But his attitude toward it didn’t quite suggest that either……
It was clearly a toy with some story behind it.
“In that case, I understand. I’ll dispose of it myself.”
In exchange for not burning the library, the witch Lead wanted this item full of precious memories.
If it truly belonged to this cold Crown Prince, it must hold memories from before he turned into this mess—back in his innocent days.
No wonder the witch figured this was the only thing I had that she’d want.
The Crown Prince seemed unwilling to recall those precious moments. It might even be connected to why his personality turned so harsh. I’d had plenty of experience myself with painful memories that hurt to revisit, especially the dear ones. Like after my little sister died.
As I gazed at the doll with complicated feelings, the Crown Prince spoke.
“I’ll give you a reward for bringing the book. What do you want?”
“I’m asking for quite the expensive reward, Your Highness.”
I grinned and jerked my chin toward Pippin, who was standing blankly behind me.
“I need a sword for this guy.”
“A sword? The Gluttony ducal house can easily obtain one of those.”
“Of course, but a sword from Sir Helio Helian’s trading company—loyal friend of the Crown Prince—would be a far more valuable reward.”
At my words, Helio wrinkled his nose in displeasure. But the Crown Prince ignored it and beckoned to Helio.
“Do as he asks.”
The Crown Prince might actually be a decent guy.
***
As I left the Crown Prince’s office, Camomile and Helio had gathered too. Helio eyed Pippin up and down with a dissatisfied expression, then sighed.
“It’s an order from His Highness, so no helping it. I don’t skimp on work like this. I’ll find one of the best swords from our trading company by the time you head out for the magical beast subjugation.”
Pippin bowed in gratitude, and I said, “You should be thanking *me*, Pippin,” which even I thought was petty. Then I added,
“Oh! While you’re at it, could you get me a weapon too?”
“What weapon do you even know how to use?”
“Something suitable for someone who doesn’t know how to use any weapon.”
“Crazy bastard…….”
It was a most satisfying deal.
Now, with the Crown Prince’s permission secured, I was about to head back to the library……
“Hey, about that doll earlier.”
Helio, whom I thought would leave immediately, grabbed me.
“What about it?”
“What are you planning to do with it?”
Helio hesitated. Camomile tilted his head curiously. I had nothing to hide, so I showed them the doll. Camomile’s face hardened too.
“This is…….”
Was it really the Crown Prince’s weakness? Their faces were turning ashen.
Helio whispered something to Camomile, then patted my shoulder with a grave look.
“Duke, take good care of it. It’s an order from His Highness, so no choice.”
“What’s the big deal with this toy that everyone’s making such a fuss?”
When I shook the toy, the two of them panicked. They treated it like fragile porcelain.
Camomile sighed heavily and explained sharply.
“That’s a doll His Highness cherished as a child.”
Well, I’d figured as much.
“And the cloak around the doll? It’s a handkerchief from the late Empress. Proof that the two of them spent time together…….”
“Ah.”
Now the Crown Prince’s reaction made sense.
*“If you want to think of it as a weakness, go ahead. The library spirits seem to think so too.”*
The illusion he saw in the library was surely related to his departed mother.
So it wasn’t a weakness, but it had been. It was fine to think of it as one, but he meant he wouldn’t be bound by it anymore.
“Since he entrusted it to you, it’s right for you to dispose of it. But please don’t just toss it carelessly. His Highness isn’t a child who’d weaken over something like that…….”
After glancing down at the doll, I shoved it roughly into my pocket. His two retainers fidgeted, thinking my handling too rough, but I just shrugged.
If I got all sentimental too, it would make the Crown Prince—who had worked hard to let go of this doll—look foolish.
I might play the villain, but I hadn’t resolved to cross into outright villainy against family. Memories with his late mother. Hard to forget.
It wasn’t just pity for the Crown Prince that tugged at me. A vague longing for family mixed with pity for Sierra, who’d never known parental love, left my heart tangled.
Best to cool my head by getting back to work.
“I’m going to the library one more time. And this toy…….”
Six eyes sparkled at me. Even Pippin was gazing at me with shining eyes. Family matters hit home for him too.
“I’ll take full responsibility and send it somewhere good, so don’t worry.”
After snapping it in a villainous tone, I left Pippin behind and headed to the library alone.
***
When I returned to the spot with Recrophadas, sure enough, the witch Lead was in the mirror. She seemed to be reading a book, then spotted me and grinned like a ghost.
“Shall I, set it on fire?”
“Such ominous talk.”
“Just kidding.”
I held the doll up close to the mirror. Lead approached slowly. The closer she got, the more I realized just how insanely tall she was.
Not just tall—she was basketball-player height, able to dunk without jumping.
Lead reached her hand out from the mirror. Unlike me, nothing obstructed her passing through.
Before her pale, slender hand could snatch the doll, I pulled it back. Then I stared straight into the long-legged witch’s eyes and asked.
“You’re the Witch of Illusions, aren’t you?”