Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 032
Chapter Title: Owner of the Grimoire (4)
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While Kim Yohan was lost in thought about his Ghostbuster gig,
at that exact moment in Finland—right after picking up Ellie's call.
The saintess of the Order of the Holy Maiden, a beautiful girl with silvery-white hair.
Elsi was holed up in her room, buried under her blanket and wallowing in gloom.
"Uuuu..."
And the Grimoire tried to console her.
"Raziel! That's not what's important right now!"
Elsi peeked her face out from under the blanket and shouted.
"Those damn Korean Alternate History Community jerks banned me! Especially this 'anon' guy! He's a total asshole!"
"He left a ton of nasty comments on the novel I worked so hard on!"
The Book of Raziel the Angel gently admonished her.
Elsi wriggled back under the covers.
"...Ugh. They're the bad guys, so why am I the one getting banned? ...This is wrong. Some people said it was fun, too."
"The world's all messed up. I wish there was a spell to drop a meteor or summon something huge and smash the planet."
A brief silence followed.
The Book of Raziel the Angel's cover glowed brightly, and the computer keyboard started typing on its own.
Tap- clack clack-
A post appeared on the Alternate History Community.
A little while later.
The ban was lifted, and Elsi crawled out from under the blanket to pick up the Book of Raziel the Angel.
"As expected of Raziel! The world's greatest Grimoire!"
A warm, gentle voice echoed from the Book of Raziel the Angel.
Elsi replied energetically.
"Yes!"
And then Elsi dove right back into flaming wars and got hit with a three-day ban.
"Why-!?"
It wasn't even a vengeful spirit, and in the end, he didn't make much money off the job.
But he got a brunch cafe coupon as thanks, so Yohan headed there to grab lunch.
He'd timed it to avoid the rush, entering the quiet cafe and taking a seat by the window.
Does this coupon cover the A set—pasta, bread salad, and coffee? Not bad.
Pasta's already carbs, so the bread salad feels redundant...
But the bread here is great for dipping in the accompanying soup or pasta sauce. It works in its own way.
He asked the server for a glass of ice water on the side.
And since he was at a cafe anyway, why not read a book?
He pulled the Grimoire out of his bag.
There were interesting spells beyond the utterly useless ones, so he could read the Grimoire.
But the ingredients—like the wrists of criminals hanged for their crimes—were a problem...
Well, modern stuff might be easy to get, just like medieval ingredients were back then.
The moment he opened the Grimoire to read.
What's that?
His eyes caught some comic books displayed in one corner of the shop.
He walked over. They were pretty old classic manga.
Some cafes these days use comics for interior decor, huh.
As he browsed, the server approached with a smile.
"If you're interested, sir, feel free to read them."
"Ah, thanks."
Hmm~ In that case.
He picked a random volume from the stack.
Something about these—you don't start from volume one while waiting for food.
Grabbing one at random and reading without knowing the story is half the fun.
Yeah, enough with the constant work and study.
Let's relax a bit while eating.
·········.
And just like that, absurdly quickly.
The hands and attention that should have gone to Yohan were stolen by a picture book.
············.
The Grimoire on the table stared intently at Yohan and the comic.
Right then, the server brought the ice water.
"Sir, your water first—aaah!?"
Splash-
The server's foot caught, and ice water poured down on Yohan's head.
"S-Sir! I'm so sorry! Are you okay?"
"...Yeah. I'm fine."
It wasn't on purpose, and she's apologizing—what can you do?
Wet clothes? Wipe 'em and dry. No point getting mad over this.
...And it might not even be her fault.
He recalled a similar incident before.
At least it's water, not soda this time.
He roughly set the wet comic by the window to dry.
Leaned back on the sofa, draped one arm over it, and looked down at the Grimoire.
What's wrong? What's the problem?
He knew it sounded weird, but he felt eyes from the book.
············.
The gaze from the Grimoire felt almost like—
Don't you know why I'm mad?
...Oh? Upset?
"So what? Are you my boss or something?"
―!?
I'm your owner, you're the Grimoire, got it?
Still, it's precious, so he wiped his hands completely dry.
Flap flap-!
He grabbed the Grimoire, its pages fluttering in protest.
"Didn't you come to me because you like me? Why act all high and mighty?"
·····!
"So—"
He whispered low in a small voice.
Applied the slightest pressure with the hand holding the Grimoire.
"Open up. I'll read you."
The protesting, flapping Grimoire suddenly went quiet and obedient.
...The closed book.
············.
Opened at the tiny force from Yohan.
At the sight, laughter bubbled up inside him.
Puhahaha~ It works again. Can't get addicted to this.
He chuckled lightly in disbelief and soothed it gently.
"Sorry if I hurt your feelings. Wasn't trying to."
············.
It was just a test since the time felt right. Apparently.
Weak to romance-fantasy male lead lines.
He'd never read any rofan, so he wasn't sure if it was spot-on.
A moment later, the server arrived with the A set.
"Sir, here's your ice water and A set."
No water over his head this time.
And the server continued.
"Sir, I'm so sorry—how about a free dessert? Cookie or pudding?"
"Pudding, please."
He glanced at the Grimoire.
Looked like its mood was fully restored.
‧
‧
‧
Near the reservoir by God's Healing Camp.
"Aaaah..."
Edward Coffin's zombies were tearing into the reservoir managers.
Crunch- crunch-.
Edward surveyed the vast reservoir.
Lesser Key of Solomon.
To Edward, or any mage studying Solomonic grimoires.
The noblest and greatest of all Grimoires.
Countless mages had fought and died to catch its eye.
...Luckily, the others didn't know it was here yet.
But he couldn't drag this out any longer.
So Edward pulled a vial of purple potion from his pocket and sprinkled it into the reservoir.
This stunt would definitely attract the Response Special Task Force.
Might paralyze a whole region of Korea.
But.
"Behold me. I am the one to lead legions of demons. Grant me the hordes of Hell."
⟨ Lemegeton ⟩
Edward Coffin laughed.
"Lemegeton. Noble Grimoire."
Yohan's tiny studio apartment.
The ordered supplies had arrived by courier.
Finally, time to make real pentacles.
He let out a quiet sigh.
"Haa... Took forever."
While waiting for delivery,
he'd drawn pentacle magic circles on seven pieces of parchment, colored to match each planet.
Excluding the one needed to summon Kim Mireh's soul.
He'd picked ones that looked decent.
He'd thoroughly washed up for the ritual.
Time to start.
Grimoire in one hand, he reviewed and performed the steps.
First step of making magical assistant tool pentacles.
Light charcoal in the camping stove.
Burn aloe, frankincense, mastic. Chant when smoke starts rising.
"Through the praise of the mighty, You establish strength in the mouths of infants and nursing babes." "To silence foe and avenger." "When I behold Your heavens, formed by Your fingers, the moon and stars You set in place." "What is man that You think of him, the son of man that You care for him?"
⟨ Sanctification Rite ⟩
The chant was a real mouthful. He focused on pronunciation.
The mini camping stove blazed fiercer than expected, then settled, smoke billowing.
Now the second step.
Hold the prepared pentacles in the smoke to consecrate them.
Recite the prayer.
"O Adonai most powerful, O El most strong." "O Agla most holy, O On most righteous, You who are Alpha and Omega, Aleph and Tav." "We humbly beseech You, by Your holy majesty." "Consecrate these pentacles, that they may gain virtue and power against spirits."
⟨ Consecration Prayer ⟩
Done. Ready to use as needed.
He gazed at his handmade pentacles.
"Hmm~ None look super special right now."
Anyway.
Ding~ Bundle of parchment pentacles complete.
He rolled them up neatly and tucked them in his bag.
Now to pack.
He had to head to the camp as a helper for Ellie's church event.
He gave Grizzly plenty of food.
"Grizzly, eat up. We're going a bit far."
"Gya~!"
Grizzly barked energetically as it ate.
Yohan smiled faintly and sighed at the sight.
I took it 'cause I had nothing better... camp helper...
Just hope it's nice and uneventful.