Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Mine
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"…What did you say?"
"I'm saying those 'magic lovers' who can't even use magic are stirring up trouble."
So Seori's rather aggressive wording made Akashic's face crumple.
"This is about your comrades' lives."
"So what? Are we supposed to be heroes? You're the Grimoire Keeper, aren't you? Isn't this your job to handle?"
Akashic fell silent at So Seori's words.
"We're just ordinary people who awakened and somehow gained powers by chance. Hardly anyone has a grand calling like you do."
So Seori's gaze remained ice-cold.
"You can't even manage a single Grimoire properly, yet you proudly call yourself a Grimoire Keeper?"
"At the very least! I can offer help."
"So why should we? Do we look like suckers to you?"
The argument was turning into a full-blown shouting match, and the air grew heavy.
"If you become their target, you'll be trapped in a Grimoire for life. Even if you didn't want it! Don't you feel sorry for those souls?"
"That emotional appeal might work on those two, but not on me."
Voices were rising. I had no immunity to emotional fights like this, so I stepped in lightly to calm things down.
"So Seori."
"Moon Byul, stay out of it. You're being played for a sucker too."
I shouldn't have butted in. I decided to stay quiet and read the room.
"This is your responsibility, Akashic. You need to recover the Grimoire."
"I get that, but isn't this a bit heartless? If you think of them as victims…"
"I'm in a position where I have to be heartless. I can't send my guild members into danger over some sob story."
So Seori's expression didn't waver, firm as ever.
"What if someone dies fighting those shamans? Would you take responsibility? You, the great Grimoire Keeper?"
"……."
Akashic had no response to that.
She stood up from her seat and approached Akashic.
"These are the bastards you were talking about, right?"
She held out a photo. It showed a group in strange robes, bound up.
"How did you…?"
"You're telling me to come running after victims have already appeared? One of my guild members got hit."
"……."
Akashic fell silent again at the mention of an existing victim.
Now everyone in the room understood the source of her anger. They might not know the full details yet, but So Seori had already been a victim in this incident.
"You need to provide fighting forces or compensation or something. Is taking your illegal Grimoire all we get?"
"……."
"If you want help, prepare something worthwhile. Whatever it takes. Otherwise, handle it yourself."
With that, So Seori turned and left. Iru Ri glanced around awkwardly before following her out.
The room was left with just me and Akashic.
"……."
Honestly, I didn't think she was wrong either. I wasn't about to meddle in every problem in the world.
I'm no hero. Just an ordinary guy who can use some magic.
I'm content with this life of safely climbing the Tower and inching toward freedom. Dangerous stuff? Pass.
Still, once you know about something, it's hard to pretend you don't.
Snap.
I flicked my fingers, handing Akashic a cup of warm tea.
She accepted the teacup silently and took a sip.
"She talks tough, but she'll take the minimum action required. Her anger isn't really aimed at you."
I took a sip of my own tea.
"It's my fault."
Akashic said.
"I'm the Grimoire Keeper, hailed as a god of the 90th floor, and I knew nothing."
"Then you'd better get ready quickly."
She looked at me.
"Prepare compensation that satisfies all of us, one way or another. Unfortunately, I'm no sucker either."
"Guess I'll have to think fast."
Akashic handed me several items to detect the shamans' talismans and a summoning stone to call her, then left.
She said she'd track down the shamans' base and settle things herself.
That same day, So Seori reported what Akashic had told her to the Association, and they notified all the guilds.
A basic safety net was in place. All we could do now was wait for them to show up.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Haa, haa."
How many days had passed since the incident? No idea. Incident? What happened?
Lately, it was always like this. Memories were fuzzy.
All electronics off, curtains drawn. I didn't care how much time had passed anymore.
My chest hurts. Mom, it hurts so much.
What was this pain? I'd been bedridden for days now, lost in this unfamiliar agony.
What was this excruciating pain? It felt like my heart—no, something deeper, more fundamental—was being torn apart.
'Let Nana go.'
I pulled the blanket over my head and plugged my ears. Hallucinations kept coming.
'What did you do to me?'
I couldn't make sense of it. What had I even done? Get out of my head, please.
'Let Nana go! Fuck! Why do you have it, you?'
"Gaaah! Fuck! Shut up, shut up!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
I smashed whatever bedding I could grab from the bed onto the floor. That voice was eating away at my brain. Get out of my head!
Even covering my ears, the voice rang crystal clear. I was going insane. Who the hell was it?
Screaming at the top of my lungs seemed to push the damn noise away. Was I actually losing my mind?
Bzzz.
Something by the bedside was vibrating. My phone? What time was it? The guild? I thought I'd taken leave…
When did I last charge it? Memories were hazy.
Bzzzz.
No, this wasn't a phone. It was calling me. Calling me.
I reached out instinctively toward the vibration. Very slowly.
My hand fumbled over a torn pillow, its stuffing spilling out, and dolls with separated heads and bodies.
No. That's not it.
I kept groping around.
"Fuck, no!"
I flung everything else away in irritation.
Bzzz.
Slowly toward the vibration again. Please, this time.
Thud.
Ahh, this texture. Finally. The thick, aged paper.
"It's mine."
I quickly pulled it under the blanket. Dark in here, but I could see it clearly.
A purple-tinged book. My Grimoire.
Finally! A Grimoire had come to me at last.
Hee hee.
I stroked the Grimoire gently, like petting a child.
The feel of a new book. Look. The Grimoire was trembling with pleasure too.
"Yeah, I'm your master. You like that, right? Right?"
Crackle, fizz.
Mana swirled inside me. This abundant fulfillment. Mana was such a beautiful power.
My Grimoire was still trembling.
An A-Rank like me with a Grimoire—how strong would I become?
No more glaring at that thief Luring… no, Iru Ri with contempt.
Take your worthless Grimoire with no attack spells.
I had something even greater now.
Hummm.
The purple Grimoire vibrated harder.
Come to think of it, that one was originally mine too.
'Then take it back.'
"Take it back?"
I swear I heard it say take it back.
But could I? Would that make me the first mage with two Grimoires?
Yeah. It was… originally mine.
"Of course I can take it."
Crackle.
The blanket over Choi Jin Ah slowly caught fire.
Lightning flames spread along the white cotton to the blanket. It blackened quickly, the blaze spreading wider.
She emerged slowly from the burning blanket. Like a chick hatching, her eyes beheld the world with newfound vision.
To reclaim what was stolen.
Clutching her precious Grimoire, she geared up.
Muttering to herself, she left the room. The room blazed up fast.
The flames didn't stop.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Ugh, time to clock out."
"Whir whir."
A few days had passed since Akashic's visit.
Moon Byul had kept solo climbing the Tower without a party. Makes sense—a party needs matching levels.
When not climbing, he enjoyed tea times or ate out everywhere. Who knew—he ate like a pig.
I tagged along once, and he just kept going. Looked like he had no idea what satiety was.
Though he's not exactly human.
Come to think of it, he mentioned a favorite spot nearby.
"Rice balls, right?"
Perfect, I was hungry. Decided to check out his pick.
"Down this alley…"
"Whir whir."
Not far, so we arrived quick.
A lone little shop.
After school rush, the restaurant street near the school was empty.
"Table for one."
Worried about being recognized as the Little Saintess, I quietly took a seat inside.
Looking at the menu, I ordered the kimchi fried rice ball Moon Byul mentioned.
'They've got great kimchi there.'
The steaming rice ball came right out.
"Oh."
Coated outside with seasoned seaweed and sesame oil, stuffed inside with stir-fried kimchi and ground meat.
I scooped a spoonful and tasted it.
"Mmm."
"Whir whir."
Like the burger-style rice foods I used to eat, but a fresh taste.
"Delicious!"
I got why Moon Byul recommended it. A nostalgic flavor, maybe?
Beep beep beep.
Enjoying my meal when an alarm blared from my pocket.
'What the?'
The alarm Akashic gave me was going off. The one that detects those Tower escapees…
"Whir whir!"
Wisph flew in fast circles.
This was the danger signal. Eating and suddenly danger?
Crackle.
Iru Ri dove toward the shop owner.
"Holy Guard!"
Boom!
It was lightning.
Even with magic defense, the shock rippled through the whole shop.
"Cough cough. What… the hell."
"You okay?"
Before a secondary blast, I pulled the owner outside.
Lightning from straight ahead, not the sky. Lightning-attribute magic.
Iru Ri stared frontward. Smoke obscured the view.
Only clear: heel clicks.
Clack. Clack.
"S… Sis?"
From the thick fog, the silhouette approaching was all too familiar.
"Hey? Been well?"
"……Why?"
Beside Choi Jin Ah floated an ominous purple Grimoire.
"Here to take back what's mine."
She pointed at me with her finger.
Or more precisely.
"That's my Grimoire."
The Grimoire of Light.