Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 117
>Chapter Title: They Must Have Never Seen a Real Beast
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“Hmm, Infinite Chain, huh...”
I let the lighthearted mood that only I’d been enjoying sink and approached the situation with gravity.
Sure enough, if the Decullans got their hands on the Infinite Chain, things would get messy.
As I’d said, secret arts like Red Flame or Heavenly Origin Art could just be burned away, but a thesis? No such luck.
‘In the end, it’ll follow history’s course again.’
Just like in my past life, Pahren would rise as the greatest mage in history.
This was a pretty serious issue.
But hold on a second.
“Lortel won’t cooperate that easily, will they?”
“Why do you think that?”
Oh, they don’t know yet.
‘No, that’s not right.’
I quickly calculated the timeline and corrected myself.
In my past life, Lortel’s patriarch was a hardcore martial supremacist.
- Martial arts are the supreme study on earth, and all other secret arts are mere tricks.
Only the body and the sword. Arms and legs. Weapons as their extensions. Those were the righteous path, while magic and other secret arts were nothing but sideshows!
Yeah, the guy was insane.
Rarely did you find someone that deranged.
He ignored artifacts that any knight would kill for, pursuing only the purity of martial might.
For a guy like that to deal with the foremost magical family on the eastern continent?
Ridiculous.
But.
‘It’ll be a while before he becomes patriarch.’
So, a deal between Lortel and Decullan wasn’t out of the question.
Realizing that far left a bitter taste in my mouth. How the Decullans would act once they had the Infinite Chain was plain as day.
“...You know something? If you do, share it.”
“Nah, nothing. Anyway, things just got complicated. How much of the situation have you grasped?”
I set aside my thoughts at Parun’s voice and tossed the question back.
Parun eyed me suspiciously for a moment before answering.
“The situation isn’t urgent yet. The talks between Decullan and Lortel are still in the early stages. Decullan just made a one-sided proposal.”
“Even for Decullan, there aren’t many items on par with the Infinite Chain, are there?”
“True, but they’re not entirely without options. And it doesn’t have to be a straight trade.”
“You mean they could borrow it.”
“Yeah, then Decullan has more cards to play.”
A straight trade for the Infinite Chain would require Decullan to offer something of equal value, a burden for them.
The Chain’s value was immense, but once this was over, it’d just be a shiny paperweight with no real use.
But renting it out for something of lesser value? That could satisfy both Decullan and Lortel.
“So, the deal’s pretty much a sure thing...”
“High probability.”
“Alright, what’s the plan?”
I took in Parun, seated at the head of the table.
Surely he had some plan, that’s why he called me.
He wouldn’t just sit on this intel. He must have a scheme to turn the tables.
But Parun’s response dashed my hopes.
“No clue.”
“...What?”
“We’ll figure it out from here. That’s why I called you. You’re better at this shady stuff.”
“...”
Fair point. Fair, but...
I couldn’t shake the strong impression from Parun’s brazen attitude. Y’know, that thing. In crude terms...
“Dumping the grunt work?”
Yeah, that’s what it felt like—getting saddled with the grunt work.
But Parun stayed brazen at my question.
“Call it division of labor. I do the research, you create a comfy research environment. That’s it. You weren’t planning to mooch off the thesis for free, were you?”
“Urgh.”
No comeback for that.
Truth was, I’d been planning to mooch.
After all, anything free tastes the best. Cooked meat might be great, but raw? That’s the real delicacy in cases like this.
But with things as they were, no choice.
Time to roll up my sleeves.
“First... brief me on the intel. How’d you get it, and what are Decullan and Lortel doing?”
“Good thinking. A person’s gotta work to be a person.”
Work makes a person?
Then maybe ditching humanity was worth considering seriously.
* * *
After my talk with Parun, I headed straight back to the academy, moving briskly.
‘There’s still quite a bit of time buffer.’
For how urgently Parun summoned me, the Decullan-Lortel negotiations had plenty of runway left.
Dealing between noble houses.
Beyond mere profit calculations, there were tons of details to iron out.
From the deal date and location, negotiation style and representatives, to the petty nitpicking befitting noble houses on every little thing.
Anyway, I mapped out the board in my head based on Parun’s info.
‘The desperate ones are Decullan, while Lortel isn’t in a rush.’
If I played that angle right, I could probably clear my nose without lifting a finger...
Everything should yield max gain for min effort. Find the path of least resistance.
Not just laziness—safety first.
Lost in those thoughts, I arrived at Rapiter.
“...”
I stood stock-still in the darkened academy, taking in Rapiter’s silhouette.
Was this truly the east’s greatest library? Its scale was overwhelming.
Only three stories tall, but the sprawl was vast beyond words.
The faint outline shrouded in night evoked an indescribable pressure, like a colossal beast coiled in wait.
And atop the main entrance, on the ornament, a pair of eyes glared down like sentinels.
*Beep, bweep—*
Breakfast No. 1.
Why Breakfast No. 1 out of nowhere? Timeline goes back to yesterday.
- I’ll get you entry, but you entering Rapiter shouldn’t get out. Bad for everyone.
Even mid-layers might slide quietly, but upper ones? Controversy bait.
Truth was that.
‘A Black-White Slums stray in a space reserved for royals, noble houses, grand nobles? Absurd.’
If word spread, it’d hit not just me, but the headmaster senior’s position hard.
That’s why tonight.
And he said something like?
- I’ll introduce you to a bookworm. He’ll help plenty with coming and going to Rapiter.
Right, he’d introduce someone.
Librarians were unavoidable for Rapiter access, so better a tight-lipped one.
Anyway.
*Beep, bweep!*
With Breakfast No. 1 perched on my head, I stepped inside Rapiter.
*Step, step.*
The quiet footfalls echoed in the deserted building. How far past the antique lobby?
I stopped before a door.
“This it?”
*Beep, beep.*
Breakfast No. 1 chirped affirmatively, well-behaved since the flick on the head.
Anyway.
*Creak—*
The door opened with a faint hinge squeak, revealing the interior.
The headmaster senior was chatting with an old man, spotting me soon after.
“So that punk... Oh, you’re here? Late.”
Punk? Sounded like they were talking about me. Overreacting? No, probably not.
“Ahem. Close the door and come in. Air’s pretty chilly.”
“It’s hot, though.”
“...Bones ache when you’re old.”
Bones? More like conscience. Or time’s up.
But I held my tongue. Stranger present. First impressions matter.
Anyway, entering the modest office.
The headmaster senior offered me a seat and introduced me to the old man.
“Introduce yourselves. This is that punk I mentioned... er, Aster. You too. This is Rapiter’s librarian, Teheman. The bookworm I said I’d hook you up with.”
“...”
What? The bookworm he was introducing was Rapiter’s head librarian?
Figured it’d be some sleazy clerk like Riley, the way he said it casual as calling the neighbor’s dog...
Stunned briefly by the twist, I bowed politely with my best innocent eyes.
“Hello, Librarian. I’m Aster, Jenion Academy Magic Division Class M3.”
“...Huh.”
The headmaster senior let out a disbelieving huff, like he couldn’t believe it.
Looked like he had plenty to say, but oddly, he didn’t continue.
But why?
The librarian’s vibe was off.
“...”
Eyes boring into me like he’d seen something he shouldn’t. Pupils trembling faintly, his stern face twisted in inexplicable displeasure.
Displeasure? Or something more complex, like utter incomprehension.
As that piercing gaze threatened to bore holes in my face, the headmaster senior caught on and stepped forward.
“What’s wrong? Problem?”
“...”
The librarian didn’t reply.
Awkward, cringey atmosphere. Even Breakfast No. 1 tilted its head with a *beep?* But the librarian stared right through me, as if the headmaster senior’s voice didn’t register.
No, “stared” wasn’t right.
‘His eyes...’
The librarian’s cloudy eyes. Barely noticeable unless you looked close, but now that I did, it was clear.
‘...Blind?’
Yes, the librarian was blind.
As I pieced that together, the librarian’s pursed lips finally parted.
“...Schweitzer. Is that truly a human standing before me?”
“...”
Out of nowhere? Personal attack? But I assure you, I was human. I worked, after all.
Yet for some reason, the headmaster senior nodded like he got the blind jab.
“He’s lesser than a beast at times, but definitely human.”
This guy?
Must’ve never seen a real beast. In that case, broadening the senior’s horizons was a junior’s duty.
I vowed someday to show him a true beast.
“...No, no. Not that nonsense.”
The librarian shook his head gravely. Then, a solemn tone dropped.
“Schweitzer, could you step out a moment? I have words for... Aster here that aren’t for you.”
Now it’s straight-up “thing.” Object treatment.
‘Double tap?’
Note: my fists don’t discriminate—strong or weak, man or woman, young or old. Hit hard if hit.
About to unleash my inner aggression.
“...Hmm, mind telling me what it’s about?”
“Don’t ask. Better for me, and especially for that thing.”
“Don’t know what it is, but fine. I’ll come back when you’re done.”
*...Creak, click.*
The headmaster senior stepped out, practically endorsing my soul’s vow of fists.
I clenched and unclenched mine discreetly. He was a contact, and the guy had status as librarian, so a few chances spared.
But then.
The librarian spoke.
“You... are you a grimoire? How can a grimoire wear human skin?”