The Forbidden Archive of the Baron’s House
The Forbidden Archive of the Baron’s House
Terrified, Raguel clung tightly to the edge of the round table. Though the gold crystal descended softly, the blind boy could feel no stability.
The fear of the sudden situation itself was too great. Since he could not see, he could not know anything.
Johan was just as tense, though for a different reason. The demon was in a state of extreme alert due to the divine power.
The vast hall unfolding before his eyes was spewing out a tremendous amount of divine power. For a demon, it would be a deadly poison.
‘……Damn it.’
His skin began to ache. The further they descended, the more the pain intensified. Now, it was difficult even to look directly at the light.
Every single ray of that glow beneath his feet was divine power from holy relics.
From anti-demon armaments to original copies of the holy scriptures and top-grade holy water.
The hall was filled with holy artifacts that would make any demon shudder.
Johan took a deep breath as he sat on the table.
If he was not careful, he might faint before even stepping onto the corridor.
“A-Are you alright?”
It seemed the boy had heard his groan. He had tried to suppress it, but it hadn’t worked well.
“A human worrying about a demon?”
“It’s not a worry, it’s just that if something happens to you, I won’t be able to return either. I-I mean it in that sense……”
Johan forced a laugh.
“The longer your tongue, the more it sounds like an excuse.”
The boy flared up.
“If it’s not for that reason, why would I care about you?”
“I was joking, but you’re overreacting.”
Raguel glared at Johan in frustration. Of course, his eyes were closed.
It was quite entertaining to tease him.
“I will get you back, so don’t worry.”
The boy did not respond. He simply flinched in surprise as a loud rumble struck his eardrums. A dull vibration seeped through his ribs.
The round table had touched the ground.
A vast space reminiscent of the corridor of the Great Temple greeted them.
“……W-Where exactly is this place?”
Even for the boy who had passed through the library hundreds of times, this was a first-time experience. Who could have known there was an even deeper underground beneath the library?
Johan spoke.
“This is the Forbidden Archive of the Abyss.”
“So this is the place you mentioned at first.”
“Yes.”
He had asked Raguel to bring him here.
“But how could a place like this…….”
“Your ancestors prepared it. You’ve at least heard of the Watcher of the Abyss, haven’t you?”
The boy nodded.
“I’ve read the family history books. It said that the head of the Miyatro Family had watched over the Abyss for generations. That’s exactly how it was written.”
“That’s only up until about 200 years ago. The current Miyatro has long since laid down that duty. Look at your father. What could he possibly watch over with that heavy body of his?”
It was not wrong, and Raguel deeply agreed, but it was difficult for him to openly agree. Whether he liked it or not, the baron was still his father.
“Well…….”
“In any case, this place is the legacy of your earliest ancestors. If you weren’t blind, you would have widened your eyes in amazement, which is a pity.”
All sorts of books, including grimoires, holy scriptures, and forbidden texts, were lined up on the walls of the hall, and the floor was filled with holy relics.
On the left and right sides, busts of past family heads were arranged in a row. Of course, only those who had not forgotten their duty were enshrined here. Since 200 years ago, no bust had been added.
The holy armor draped on each statue scattered bright divine power. There was no need for candles here. It was already bright enough inside.
Thanks to that, Johan was in pain.
“Grab what we need and get out for now.”
“What about the promise?”
“I will read the books to you in the library or your room.”
If he stayed any longer in the Forbidden Archive, he truly felt like he would melt away.
“Follow me.”
Saying so, Johan pulled Raguel and took a few steps forward.
‘It should be around here.’
They stopped in front of a long display case. On top of the blue silk were rings and necklaces lined up.
All of them would be ancient treasures.
He examined the tags attached to each item carefully.
‘Found it.’
The Ring of the Holy Hero, Kazan.
It was a relic used to defend against miasma.
It seemed useless to a demon like Johan, but in fact, it was the item he needed the most.
A corrupted holy relic would gain an ability opposite to its original nature.
A relic that defended against miasma would turn into a relic that defended against divine power.
The moment he corrupted it and wore it, Johan would be able to come and go in the Forbidden Archive as if it were his own home.
Beyond that, its uses would be limitless.
Evading the Inquisitors, standing against the Order’s Holy Knights, breaking through the exorcist priests’ barriers…… At any rate, the Ring of Kazan was the top priority item to be corrupted.
Johan reached for the relic. At that moment, the ring trembled.
Crackle.
The divine power that burst out coursed through Johan’s body like an electric current.
A terrible pain swept over his entire body.
The demon suppressed a groan as he stepped back a few paces.
“As expected.”
He could not even touch the holy relic.
“I will need your help.”
Johan took the boy’s arm and placed it on the display case.
“Take it.”
Raguel picked up the ring. He fiddled with it for a moment before muttering softly.
“Stealing.”
“From whom?”
“W-Well……”
Johan let out a small laugh.
“From you, of course. Rather, it’s more like seizing it.”
All the relics in the Forbidden Archive belonged to the Miyatro Family, and Raguel was the family’s only son.
The boy spoke with an exasperated expression.
“How can you be so shameless?”
“A demon is a being that steals from humans. I am acting according to my nature, so why shouldn’t I be shameless?”
Raguel clicked his tongue at the demon’s shamelessness.
He then put the ring back down.
“W-What if I don’t want to help?”
“This is all part of helping you regain your sight. Stop arguing and do as you’re told.”
“No matter what excuse you give……”
Johan cut him off.
“If you don’t want to, then don’t. As promised, I will read books to you. But you will never stop being blind.”
The promise with the boy was simple.
If you become my legs, I will become your eyes.
By bringing Johan to the Forbidden Archive, the boy had kept his promise. Now, if Johan fulfilled his part, their relationship would be over.
It was literally a matter of honor. An oath, not a contract. Their souls were not bound as collateral.
“B-But you said earlier that you would give me my sight back.”
“Weren’t you the one who refused? Without the ring, I have no way either.”
The relic was both a stepping stone for Johan’s growth and the means to restore the boy’s sight.
In his current state of stagnation as a fledgling, it would be difficult to achieve anything.
“What exactly is this ring…….”
“It’s a relic that defends against miasma.”
“That has nothing to do with sight.”
“It’s too bothersome to explain everything. Like I said, if you don’t like it, you can stop.”
Saying that, Johan began to walk away.
“If we’re done talking, let’s get out. If I stay here any longer, I’ll go insane.”
The boy did not move. He stood there, staring down at the floor, and muttered.
“……How can I trust the words of a demon.”
Johan’s lips curled up.
“An oath wavers like a reed, but a contract is firmer than a rock.”
The boy turned his unfocused eyes toward Johan.
“What did you just say…….”
“A contract. It’s a deal made with your soul as collateral.”
Raguel at least knew the concept of a contract.
Johan added.
“This is your chance to gain your sight in exchange for a single ring.”
It was wrong.
This ring would become the cornerstone to devour the entire Forbidden Archive.
The boy could never even imagine it.
He was simply standing before temptation.
The demon spoke.
“What better deal could there be than this? Truly, what a merciful demon I am. Even Marziel would be impressed.”
The boy fiddled with the hem of his trousers. He gripped and released it repeatedly. Hesitating, he did not reach for the ring.
Johan let out a small laugh.
“Pick it up and follow me. We’ll make the contract in the library.”
If he were to release miasma here, the unspecified holy relics would react with hostility and tear Johan apart.
There could be no sadder ending.
“It’s tiring when you hesitate too often. Brace yourself and hurry up.”
Saying that, Johan ripped off a piece of parchment attached to one side of the wall.
It was a map of the Abyss. Additionally, he took a small jewel box, a few canyon journals, and a grimoire.
Among these, some were leashes to control the witch.
Lastly, he plucked a single leaf from a sprout growing in the center of the corridor.
It would easily heal the boy’s dislocation.
“Come quickly and help me.”
It was too much to carry all at once with his small body.
***
Four days had already passed.
It was hard to believe. To the boy, time had always moved slower than a snail, but these days, it passed like an arrow.
Ever since he had encountered the demon.
He spent all his waking hours with him, leaving no room for loneliness. He no longer felt as if he was trapped in darkness.
A life where he looked forward to the next day. It was a very unfamiliar concept, but it had now become his reality.
‘When will he come?’
These days, the stories he heard from the demon were the chronicles of the Holy Hero Kazan.
Yesterday, it stopped just when it was getting interesting. He had not pestered Johan to read more. Raguel knew the demon’s circumstances.
He was a half-demon.
A hybrid who transformed into a human at sunrise. It was the first time he had heard of such a trait. No half-demon recorded in history had experienced such inconvenience as Johan.
To shift between human and demon. Johan surely had many hardships too.
At any rate, because of this trait, Raguel and the half-demon always returned to the room before sunrise after leaving the library. It was their set routine.
Raguel would lie down on the bed, and the half-demon would hide under the bed. At dawn, someone would come to take Johan away.
From then until the afternoon, Raguel would sleep soundly.
Today was the same. Since he had woken up about three hours ago, the demon would soon arrive.
As expected, the door slowly opened with the sound of worn-out hinges.
As usual, an apology would follow. Something about being sorry, or repaying in hell, that sort of thing.
Raguel always pretended to be asleep. It was a little awkward to face an unidentified man.
Even now, he was pretending to sleep soundly.
Time ticked by.
Even after a long while, the voice he was waiting for did not come.
He did not even hear the door close.
It was different from usual. Someone had definitely entered, yet they were doing nothing.
Was it the maid bringing a meal? That couldn’t be. She had come and gone long ago. Then was it his father? It shouldn’t be. He had heard that his father was bedridden due to declining health.
There was no one else who would come.
His chest felt heavy for no reason.
It was hard to overcome the anxiety.
“Um……”
He ended up speaking first.
“You’re awake, young master.”
A pleasant, soft voice. Also, a familiar voice.
At the same time, Raguel pressed his body against the edge of the bed as if trying to escape.
“Young master?”
He knew that child. She was the girl who had been brought here as a captive. Her appearance was unforgettable after seeing it once.
Creak.
The sound of scraping cut off his thoughts. It seemed she had pulled over a chair and sat down.
“I had something I was curious about, so I took the liberty of coming here like this. Please forgive me.”
Raguel did not answer.
“Do you know the mercenary who was hired recently?”
He did not. He had never cared in the first place.
“You smelled like him.”
What smell? It was hard to understand what she meant.
“So, I wanted to ask, are you two perhaps making friends with a bad person together?”
Her breath approached right in front of his nose. Her voice continued, lowered and quiet.
“If that’s the case, please introduce me too.”
Raguel recalled his conversation with the demon.
‘Before long, Illea might come looking for you.’
‘Me? Why?’
‘Don’t ask why, just remember one thing.’
‘……Yes, what is it.’
‘Shout this when the time comes. Repeat after me.’
“……Witch, begone!”
His voice, unlike the demon’s, was small and trembling.
There was no response. Only silence flowed.
The air grew cold.
Raguel hiccuped.
“How amusing.”