Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Leobrant Brotherhood: Celestia (5)
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Phantasmic Library Celestia.
The massive library existing beyond the world was not a material space with a clear physical form.
It was a sort of 'mental space' that only human souls could pass through.
That, in essence, was the word that best described Celestia's true nature.
However, this special library had recently undergone one major change.
Objects from the outside world— in other words, items with 'physical substance'— had begun passing through Celestia.
And the entity that made this difficult feat possible was the black shadow right before my eyes.
- Kkieeeek...!
I quietly gazed at the dark tentacle that had brought change to this library.
The being summoned from a magic tome donated by Secret Society member Creighton Lukbart.
The monster that had exchanged a contract with me through 'Adroin's Eight Fingers' was still diligently carrying out its duties in Celestia to this day.
Wriggle, wriggle-.
As proof, atop the tentacle writhing on the floor was the item just sent by a Secret Society member.
"A sword... Hard to believe it came from the Doctor."
A single sword radiating an ominous aura.
It was an offering presented by the Doctor on the surface through the tentacle.
As I looked at it, I quietly received the item from the tentacle.
Swish-.
The moment my hand grasped the 'demonic sword' with physical form, the observation spells installed throughout the library activated all at once.
Mana conductivity. Component materials. The structure of the embedded spells.
A flood of information projected into my field of vision.
"It doesn't seem to be made from any special metal. But the peculiar thing is that there's no slot for a magic stone."
As I examined the demonic sword the Doctor had offered, I began analyzing it slowly.
At first glance, the demonic sword sent from the surface looked like an ordinary metal blade.
Unlike typical magic tools, there was no visible slot for embedding a magic stone.
Yet, despite that, the equipment housed a semi-permanent activation spell.
It even reminded me of the mechanism by which a mage's 'magic tome' operated.
The spell embedded in the demonic sword reinforced the user's strength, stamina, and agility.
However, the demonic sword in my hand had one fatal flaw—.
"It maintains the spell by draining the user's mana and life force."
The sword demanded a person's life and mana.
Every time the sword was swung, the user's life was steadily whittled away.
Of course, the enhancement it provided was explosively powerful in return.
There were humans willing to trade their lifespan for such a weapon.
That didn't mean I wanted to use this thing, though.
"Extremely inefficient structure. Plus, it would interfere with a magic tome and mana circuits, making simultaneous use difficult."
Tong, tong-.
I tapped the blade of the demonic sword in my hand and gave it my cold assessment.
For those who had long abandoned handling magic, maybe. But there was no reason for a mage to use something like this.
"It could also cause significant strain on the mana circuits long-term."
Impossible to operate alongside a magic tome.
And it required sacrificing lifespan as well.
It might deliver explosive performance short-term, but even that was simplistic and crude compared to the advanced spells of the upper archives.
No way I'd recommend it to any mages.
But it was awkward to destroy it outright.
I had some idea of the value such items held in the outside world.
Hmmm-.
I gazed at the treasure before me with troubled eyes.
"Still, there's room for some improvements. Storing it in Celestia for the time being wouldn't be bad."
With that, I raised my hand toward the demonic sword before me.
Snap-.
The moment I flicked my fingers, countless spells began deploying around the demonic sword.
The First Archive's spells activated in complex layers, preparing to modify the sword's embedded magic.
Wuuuuung-.
Spells exerting physical force activated simultaneously.
The magic overlaid on the demonic sword was analyzed, projecting similar incantations into my vision.
An intense obsession reared its head within me.
"First, I'll dismantle that inefficient structure."
I despised inefficient magic.
I couldn't even leave it be right in front of my eyes.
Whether it was magic I created or something made by another—it didn't matter.
This compulsion that had arisen in me at some point was also why I periodically inspected and refined every book in the library.
Sizzle-.
The demonic sword's blade glowed red-hot and vibrated.
I gazed at it, systematically deconstructing the activated spells from the outside in.
"......"
I didn't expect every Secret Society member who visited the library to be enthralled by my magical knowledge.
Surely some would crave tangible treasures over precious knowledge.
They might covet the accumulated treasures and riches in the library over the history of knowledge I'd built.
Which meant this demonic sword before me could someday be checked out into the outside world by someone's hand.
But even so—.
I only wished that everything in my library remained as close to perfection as possible.
Rumble-.
The spells for processing the demonic sword began their work.
"It'd be wise to think of a fair way to distribute the library's items."
My gaze busily dissected the primitive magic.
A heavy silence descended.
In it, only the red demonic sword slowly altered its form.
* * * * * *
"A treasure vault has been newly added to Celestia?"
At the library table where Secret Society members gathered.
Lua Polaris, conducting the meeting there, spoke in a surprised voice.
—Celestia's treasure vault.
It was the first time such a term had appeared in a meeting since Lua Polaris had set foot in Celestia.
Hearing her question, Doctor Begerton adjusted his monocle and replied.
"Yes, that's right. It seems the Great One has permitted us to leave our contributions in a more 'tangible form.'"
"......Contributions? Tangible form?"
Lua's voice, laced with doubt, echoed once more.
It was a question about the intentions of the master who should occupy the empty head of the table.
But the Doctor continued calmly.
"The rewards so far were more like acts of mercy bestowed upon us by the Great One. He promised only three spells, after all."
"......"
"Beyond simply offering those three spells, there are those who contribute to the Secret Society or the Great One's affairs in various ways—."
The members' gazes turned to the Doctor simultaneously.
Perhaps recalling his contributions to advancing the Descent Ritual.
They stared at him with meaningful expressions.
"Is this about your contributions, Doctor?"
"Of course, that's part of it, but aren't you all making significant contributions to the Great One's affairs as well? Even something like the 'World Tree fruits' essential to my research would be hard for me to obtain alone."
The Doctor's gaze fell to the shadow writhing on the floor.
A monster from the outer cosmos, swimming through the void.
It also served as a bridge connecting members to Celestia via the 'marker' magic tool crafted by Lua Polaris.
By forming a sort of passage through rituals, it enabled offering physical items as tributes.
Moreover, one such 'offering' processed through it had been refined into an elegant form and placed in the treasure vault.
Completely different from when the Doctor first offered the demonic sword.
"Can you see the shadows beneath you all?"
Recalling the new demonic sword he'd encountered in the treasure vault, the Doctor pointed to the shadow at his feet.
Having heard him, Creighton stroked his beard and spoke.
"You mean the otherworldly being? We're making good use of it. I understand the esteemed Johan himself is commanding it."
"Indeed. He has tamed the cosmic enigma drifting through the universe to serve our convenience."
"So, what about it?"
"The entity lurking in your shadows will now evaluate your contributions in his stead."
A single remark from the Doctor's lips.
The Secret Society members showed varied reactions upon hearing it.
They finally understood the role the shadows at their feet would proxy.
Swish-.
Peria, stepping her foot into the shadow at her feet, asked the Doctor in a tense voice.
"How can the monster hiding in the shadow evaluate our contributions?"
Peria's question.
The Doctor's answer was simple.
"Causality. Equilibrium. Contracts. Otherworldly beings value fair contracts and are adept at recognizing clear causality."
"That means......"
"So it will assess the tributes we offer, the results you produce—everything—and calculate each person's contribution."
Value of tributes.
Results of actions.
And clear contributions—.
Realizing what those words implied, the members looked down at the shadows beneath them with serious faces.
Wriggle, wriggle-.
The tentacles dancing in the deep darkness waved as if enjoying the members' gazes.
"That contribution level will now determine the rewards granted to us. That is the consideration bestowed upon us by the Great One."
A clear voice rang in the ears of all who peered into the darkness.
Contribution evaluated by the library's bound entity.
With details laid out that far, they could guess the rest without hearing more.
Every contribution, great or small, would be valued—.
That was the gist of the Doctor's statement.
"Have you explained everything you were told to convey, Doctor?"
And as if wrapping up the discussion, a familiar voice drifted into the members' ears.
Thud, thud-.
From the darkness, a man clutching a magic tome took steps forward.
The absolute curator of Phantasmic Library Celestia, who had vacated the head of the meeting room until moments ago.
The sharp-featured black-haired youth had returned.
"Yes, Great One. We were just finishing up."
At the youth's appearance, the Doctor showed deference, addressing Johan politely.
"It seems you've finished all your business."
"Yes."
Johan listened to Doctor Begerton's words while steadily approaching the table.
The heavy footfalls of the centuries-old Archmage echoed through the library.
"I permit the checkout of treasures and magic tomes commensurate with the tributes you offer, the deeds you accomplish, the causality you complete."
"......"
"If you desire, I will also grant access rights to the upper sectors."
The declaration of the Archmage who had lived for hundreds of years.
Recalling the meaning of his promised rewards, the Secret Society members quietly exchanged glances.
Johan's promise meant solidifying the internal transaction system of the Secret Society.
Knowledge, treasures, and results.
Now each could contribute in their own way.
"So continue striving forward."
And at the center of it all was, naturally, the transcendent being managing the library.
Archmage Johan.
The great mage's eyes took in his pieces.
* * * * * *
Central Continent, Great Forest.
Beneath the densely canopied trees, two elves were currently walking.
One woman advancing with a sword at her waist.
And one youth following behind her, staff in hand.
The two elves, who had long lost their purity, eyed each other's movements with calculating intent.
"The Leobrant Brotherhood... Those vile humans will soon move to target the Mother Tree's first fruit."
The first to speak was Lapharia, leader of the Eight Swords Society— the Sword Ghost— striding ahead.
Lapharia scanned the Great Forest's trees with a grim face, speaking to the elf elder trailing her.
Of course, the elder listening to Lapharia's words didn't look pleased either.
Like Lapharia, who had weathered countless trials in the human world, Elder Porport had experienced much as well.
"Isaac Leobrant... We were on the verge of a peace accord with that human. Had you not intervened, peace would have come to the Great Forest."
"You're saying we should trust humans?"
Lapharia rejected the Brotherhood's promises.
It was her distrust of the humans who had attacked elves.
"Lapharia. Your actions have led to the sacrifice of countless kin. A taboo-breaker banished centuries ago— what gall do you have to return to the Great Forest?"
A sharp voice emanated from Porport, following behind her.
The elder's words were filled with condemnation of the Sword Ghost who had come to the Great Forest.
Grind-.
Lapharia ground her teeth upon hearing the elder.
"Those bastards enslave our kin and sell them off, and just recently massacred even more. Yet you trust their promises over me?"
"You've changed much, Lapharia. Is it from mingling with humans outside for so long?"
"......"
"I haven't forgotten the taboo you and that child committed centuries ago. Nor have most of the forest elders."
—Taboo.
Lapharia's expression twisted at the familiar word.
Her gait plainly revealed her discomfort.
But Porport paid no heed to Lapharia's demeanor.
"Remember this, Lapharia. We have not forgiven you yet."
The tale of elves who broke taboos in the Great Forest centuries ago.
An ancient past unfathomable by human lifespans.
The elf elder's reminiscence of that nightmare echoed through the lush Great Forest.
"Come to think of it, it was strange. Swords and puppets— hobbies utterly alien to our kin."
"......Enough, Porport."
Exiled kin.
Humans who repeated lies.
Porport himself had no idea which was more trustworthy.
Yet there was one fact all elves knew.
"That's why they weren't chosen by the spirits."
Elves rejected by the spirits—.
Every elf in the Great Forest clearly understood what they were.
Lapharia bit her lip at words digging into old wounds.
And toward the unforgiven elf, Porport's sharp voice pierced.
"Restrain yourself, Lapharia. At least while I vouch for your stay."
Lapharia, member of the Seven Corners, Sword Ghost.
The elf hailed as the Eight Swords Society's leader and mightiest swordmaster— her eyes clouded with complex emotions.