The Forbidden Book in the Cursed Forest
The sealed Forbidden Book—one week's deadline. That equated to 168 hours. I had to become someone who could use magic within that time, no matter what.
I've lost my mind... I'd shouted it boldly, but there was no way it could happen. To use magic, you first had to sense the flow of mana in your body and practice releasing it. Only after gathering that wild mana and reaching a state of harmony could you truly wield spells. The problem was, I had zero mana in my body. Chugging mana potions by force was like pouring water into a leaky jar.
Haa... This can't be real! Holed up in the attic room, I'd focused my mind for hours, but all I got was drowsiness instead of mana. Giving up entirely, I flopped onto my back and stared at the faded ceiling, until a brilliant idea struck me.
I don't have to use magic myself, do I...?
The market district was full of magic tools that could cast spells in your stead. Sure, they cost a pretty penny, but they could fool anyone well enough.
No... I've lost my mind. That might work on commoners, but tricking a mage? I clawed at my hair in frustration at the idiotic thought, then sat up.
Aha! This time, a genuinely good idea bloomed, curving my lips into a smile.
There's the Forbidden Book, right?
On my first day as a court mage, I'd read a book about the Forbidden Books in Barhen's study. It was an intriguing tale—I remembered enjoying it. The Forbidden Books granted wishes in exchange for human desires. The greater the desire, the steeper the price, eventually claiming even your life. It was like a fairy tale passed down through generations. I recalled one such book being sealed near the kingdom in the Cursed Forest.
It really exists, right? I'd never seen one myself, so it sounded like pure fantasy, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. I got ready to head out and set off straight for the Cursed Forest.
The Cursed Forest. Even in broad daylight, thick darkness hung heavy, filling the air with an eerie chill. Monsters could lunge out from anywhere at any time—it was a dangerous place—but I plunged in alone without a shred of fear. That's how desperate I was.
Ugh... It was around here somewhere. No magic staff, no dagger, no protective charms. All I held was a single map marking the Forbidden Book's location. Even if I had a weapon, I lacked the skill to fight, so I planned to stay light on my feet and run if needed.
Ah, here it is.
At the spot on the map stood a cave, jutting out incongruously. Between ancient trees too thick to wrap my arms around yawned an arch-shaped opening. It felt artificially carved.
This must be it...
The entrance was barricaded with tangled yellow cords, densely inscribed with indecipherable script—what I recognized as the Rune Language used in magic rituals. I hesitated there for a long while before boldly stepping inside.
Ugh... Clutching a single torch, I pressed into the dark, damp cave, shoulders hunched. If I claimed I wasn't scared, it'd be an obvious lie. My legs trembled like I might wet myself. But becoming a sex slave to that sixty-something geezer? This life-or-death gamble was the smarter choice.
Whoa... It really exists...?
At the cave's end, on an suspiciously pristine table sat a lone book. It was wrapped tight in yellow cords scrawled with dense, unknown runes. It screamed, Touch this and you're fucked! But I had no options left. The moment my trembling hand touched the Forbidden Book,
Ugh...
A bright blue light burst from somewhere, seeping into my body. A chill ran down my spine, cool like mint candy.
This feels off...
The cover—said to be made of human skin—stuck to my hand. Peeling open the sticky cover revealed blank pages, utterly devoid of text. The next page, and the one after— not a single word anywhere. Pristine, like it had just rolled off the press.
Of course.
Forbidden Book, my ass. Someone had just spread baseless rumors. I let out a hollow chuckle at being duped, but I didn't feel too bad—I'd given it my all.
Sigh... There had to be other ways to use magic. I closed the book with a sigh and turned to leave.
That was when it happened.
Hic!
Suddenly, the Forbidden Book flew open on its own, radiating brilliant light. Pages flipped rapidly—chara-rarak!—the glow intensifying. It was too bright to look at; I covered my face with both hands and squeezed my eyes shut.
Ugh...
Only after a long while did I slowly open my eyes. As the light faded, atop the table where the book had been sat a tiny monster.
Huh?
The Forbidden Book was gone. Nowhere in sight, no matter where I looked. Panicking, I approached the table slowly.
What is this...?
A monster...? Could I even call it that? A dirt-brown lump smaller than a pinky nail wriggled. It looked like a slime at a glance, or a freshly hatched larva at another. Squinting hard, I realized it was a tentacle monster.
What the hell...?
It had to be tied to the Forbidden Book. For all the flashy drama, out popped a pathetic little tentacle offshoot. Even I, without mana, could kill something this small. So what now? I prodded the wriggling thing with my right index finger.
It jiggled like jelly under my finger—kind of cute. Then—
Guhek!
It leaped at blinding speed, shooting straight into my mouth. I coughed, trying to spit it out, but it slid down my throat in an instant, reaching my stomach.
Keherk! Kek! Kaek!
Clutching my throat, I collapsed, gasping for air. I jammed my fingers down my throat to trigger my gag reflex, but only dry heaves came—no vomit.
Keheak... Kkh...
I finally gave up and staggered to my feet. Maybe it was my imagination, but a dull ache throbbed around my solar plexus.
Uuugh... What is this...
The realization that I'd swallowed a monster sent shivers down my spine. But human stomach acid should dissolve it and flush it out, right...? Clinging to that hope, I hurried out of the cave, vowing to keep today's events a lifelong secret.
The next day, a massive explosion rocked the Cursed Forest, followed by plumes of black smoke. Judging by the location, it was near the cave I'd sneaked into. Had the seal breaking from the missing Forbidden Book triggered a self-destruct? I wasn't sure, but an uneasy feeling lingered.
"Airi, what did you do yesterday?"
"Pardon? W-what do you mean, Uncle?"
Barhen stormed into the attic and grabbed my shoulders, shaking me as he bellowed. It was the first time he'd done this; flustered, I forced a calm smile to keep my composure.
"Just one day... Only a single day has passed, and I can sense mana inside you. What kind of training did you do?"
"Pardon...? You can really sense mana?"
"Yes."
Barhen wasn't lying. Closing my eyes as he spoke, I felt a faint flow of mana.
Hehe...
I didn't know the cause, but contact with the Forbidden Book had granted my wish. Escaping a life as a sex slave, I couldn't hide my joy and grinned brightly.
"Airi, tell me honestly. What did you do yesterday?"
"I just worked really hard, and mana appeared, Uncle."
"You expect me to believe that lie?"
Turning 1 into 100 was easy enough. But 0 into 1? Impossible. Barhen stared at me with suspicious eyes.
For the first time, he was looking at my face, not my chest or hips.
"Airi, mana appearing in someone without any is impossible. Especially overnight... Did you touch a Forbidden Book?"
"No, Uncle. I just meditated in my room all day, and mana came."
"I see. Is that so...?"
Barhen stroked his curly beard with a displeased expression. The twisted hairs straightened, the tips sharpening like needles.
Hmm... Yes, I suppose so...
Unable to shake his doubts, Barhen sighed and fixed me with a piercing gaze—as if he knew everything. My secret outing, the forest explosion, the source of my mana. All of it.
But so what? Results mattered more than the process.
"Fine. You're in your growth phase, so maybe it's possible."
After mulling it over, Barhen accepted surprisingly quickly.
"Uncle, now that I can use magic, I won't have to quit as a court mage, right?"
"Er...? Yes, that's fine."
"Thank you."
The old man, whose plans had crumbled, sighed in annoyance. Now that I was untouchable, he had no reason to worry.
"Airi, just to be sure... You really didn't touch a Forbidden Book, right?"
"...Yes, I didn't."
"Very well."
Still unbelieving, Barhen scanned me and nodded. Turning his discomfort into a smile, he patted my shoulder.
"Now that you can use magic, it's a joyous day. Let's dine out for once—it's been ages."
"Yes, thank you, Uncle!"
I beamed as I left the house with Barhen.
How dangerous it was to have borrowed the Forbidden Book's power... At that moment, I had no idea.