Chapter 122
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: Scene 122 Transcript
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Meikahel University Library, Great Wall of Truth.
Beneath the endlessly stretching bookshelves, a woman so breathtakingly beautiful it was suffocating was reading a book.
Mm-hmm.
Her snow-white hand twisted the glossy ends of her silver hair.
Even the occasional frown on her face was enchanting. Bella Izarkhel, the dukes daughter, closed the book shed been reading.
Theres nothing in this one either.
With those words, Bella stretched.
She had spent hours poring over the librarys books, but the one she sought was nowhere to be found.
I knew it wouldnt be easy, but.
The Great Wall of Truth, the magic library boasting the kingdoms largest collection.
In this place said to have every book imaginable, Bella had spent days flipping through every curse-related tome she could get her hands on, yet there were no results.
What she sought wasnt some ordinary curse, but one so powerful it had been passed down through generations.
The curse on the Ruelverta family.
Well, if it were common, the count wouldnt have given up on it so easily.
Bella buried her face in the book.
As far as she knew, Tristan was a capable man.
The young head leading the Ruelverta family, which wielded immense wealth and influence across the empire.
The infamous reputation as the empires worst villain was, in other words, proof of his vast power.
Even Tristan couldnt break this curse.
There was no way Bella could unravel it just by searching books for a few days.
Ugh.
Still, it left her utterly drained.
Shed gone through quite a few books, but she didnt feel any closer to uncovering the curses nature.
No, she couldnt afford to lose steam this early.
Get it together. This is just the beginning.
Bella lifted her head and patted her cheeks.
Resuming the search felt daunting, but fortunately, she wasnt alone.
Blanche. Did you find anything useful in the books over there?
...
Yet no answer came from her loyal guard knight seated beside her.
Blanche?
When Bella turned her head, Blanche was frozen in place, clutching a thin magic book.
Bella tapped her forehead, and only then did Blanche look at her.
Are you okay?
Miss Im sorry.
Huh? Whats wrong all of a sudden?
I was looking at curse books as you asked, but
Blanche gritted her teeth in frustration.
Even the first book is no joke. Its like facing a grand mage
G-grand mage?
Yes This is absolutely beyond an ordinary mages domain.
Bella glanced at the title of the book Blanche held: Fundamentals of Curses.
Urgh In a real fight, a book like this wouldnt even be worth a single punch, yet this humiliation
.
Being a powerful magic user didnt mean one was versed in theory.
For Blanche, whose specialty was mana-enhanced physical combat, magic was as natural as breathing. But that didnt mean she understood the principles behind it.
Bella set her book down and stood.
Blanche, it feels like we wont get anywhere just the two of us. Lets ask for help.
Yes?
Bella looked around.
Near the densely packed bookshelves, she spotted a wriggling object.
Bella approached the shelf and addressed it.
Over there
Th-this lowly historian Myoil!? Dont play tricks, meow?!
A furry ball leaped up.
It was a calico kitten wearing an apron.
The cat, who had jumped to its feet and scanned the surroundings, spotted Bella and sighed in relief.
Phew I thought you were the seniors, meow. What business does a guest have, meow?
Wow, so cute
What did you say, meow??
Ah! No, thats not it!
Bella, who had been gazing adoringly at the young Myoil, snapped back to attention.
Im looking for books on curses
Every book in your line of sight is about curses, meow.
Im searching for a specific curse, but no matter how much I look, I cant find it.
What curse are you looking for, meow? Tell me, and Ill help, meow.
Ah, well
At Myoils question, Bella hesitated.
She had hoped to keep her investigation into this curse secret from everyone if possible.
That was why shed only brought Blanche, whose lips were sealed.
But at this rate, it would take far too long.
After wavering, Bella finally spoke, grasping at straws.
A high-level curse.
There are many types of high-level curses, meow. Itd help if you were more specific, meow.
One powerful enough to be passed down through generations.
Blanche flinched behind her at those words, but Bella didnt notice.
Passed down through generations, meow
Myoils tail swished as it pondered, then stopped abruptly.
No matter how I think about it, Ive never heard of such a curse, meow. The director might know, but hes away right now, meow. Sorry I couldnt help, meow.
No, no, its fine.
It was disappointing, but at least shed confirmed it.
Maybe I just havent been around long enough to hear of it, meow. Ill ask the veteran seniors, meow.
No!
Meow?
Myoil tilted its head at Bellas sudden shout.
No, I mean It might just be that I missed it, right? No need to bother others
Is that so, meow?
Y-yes! Of course.
If thats what you say, meow.
At Bellas insistence, Myoil tucked its communication bell back into its apron.
Seeing this, Bella inwardly relaxed.
That was when it happened.
Ah.
Myoil muttered as if struck by a thought.
Come to think of it, I heard there are books in the underground archive, meow.
Underground archive?
Yes, meow. I heard from the seniors theres a special vault underground in the Great Wall for damaged old books and ones needing restoration, meow.
Oh.
Even in this massive Great Wall of Truth, such a place existed.
Bella felt a spark of interest.
There might be rare books there, then?
Probably, meow. But its a restricted area, meow.
Huh? Restricted?
Yes, meow. I heard you need special permission to enter. No one high up can even approach, meow.
Even a dukes daughter?
Not even a dukes daughter, meow. Even the head librarian cant go, meow. Without a special viewing permit, not even His Imperial Majesty could enter, meow.
Hmm? So who holds this special viewing permit?
Only one person, of course, meow. The master of this library, meow.
Master?
Myoil picked up a nearby book and flapped its cover.
There was a pristine black lion emblem stamped on it.
The mark indicating ownership of every book in this library.
And it was one Bella knew very well.
Pfft.
Ill let those bastards have it!
That evening, in Wendys room, a long-whiskered cat, Myohail, was fuming.
Im going to storm over to Mondri right now and give him a piece of my mind. While Im at it, Ill take away his position as Cremont family head. It was never a seat fit for that fool anyway!
I-its okayyy.
You fool! Whats okay about it! You coming in dead lastdoes that even make sense?!
The reason for Myohails uncharacteristic outrage was none other than the transcript.
On the bed lay Wendys midterms report card.
The university midterms results had been announced that morning.
Defying everyones expectations, Wendy had placed dead last.
Master, calm downnn. I-Im really fine
Wendys response came from the gap in the wardrobe in the corner of the room.
Right after the results were posted, shed returned home in a daze, barely remembering the trip.
Without even changing clothes, she had crawled into the wardrobe and curled up.
Myohail, watching her from the bed with pity, shook his head.
You fool If youre fine, then why are you like that?
I-I like it hereee Sniff A girl like me belongs in a place like thisss.
First place went to her classmate Sia Ryumin. And dead last was Wendy.
Considering her background, even last place was remarkable.
She had boldly claimed the bottom spot over countless noble students. She knew that, yet Wendy wanted nothing more than to crawl into a hole.
Sniff Master Wh-what do I dooo? I cant face the count nowww
Tristan had told her he expected great things.
Hed promised to grant any wish if she took first.
Wendy had studied relentlessly for that one promise.
And this was the result.
The count must have had such high hopes
Tears poured out.
Inside the wardrobe, Wendy hugged her knees and sobbed.
He had such high hopes for meee
The sadness kept bringing more tears.
I feel so sorry, I cant bear ittt
My disciple
Myohail couldnt bring himself to speak to Wendy, though he couldnt see her.
He knew how hard she had worked for this exam.
Wendy, sobbing quietly, spoke in a choked voice.
Im sorryyy Master. I want to be alone todayyy
Alright. Rest well tonight. Ill wake you in the morning.
Yesss
Myohail glanced worriedly at the wardrobe one last time before leaping onto the windowsill.
And in an instant, he vanished into the outer darkness.
Silence filled the room.
Her small shoulders trembled as if crushed by sorrow.
Sniff Hic.
---
Wendy wept and wept inside the wardrobe. She wished she could just cry herself to death.
How long had she been crying?
She thought she heard something.
Sniff?
Knock knock.
A knock at the door.
Wendy peeked out from the wardrobe.
Before she could ask who it was, a low voice came.
Wendy.
It was her master, Tristan.
The timing was so unlucky it was almost comical.
Wendy chose silence.
She was in no state to face him now.
Inside the wardrobe, she prayed.
Please just go away today, Count.
Yes, shed cry today and tomorrow bow her head and apologize.
Even if Tristan fired her as exclusive maid Wendy was prepared for any punishment.
But not now.
Right now, she didnt know how to face the count.
It was simply too hard for her
As Wendy stayed silent, quiet fell.
No response from beyond the door eitherperhaps Tristan had left
Im coming in.
Against her desperate wish, the door opened.