Book Eater

Chapter 198: Traces from the Age of Mythology (1)

Flash!

The investigation team appeared in a strange room that had a white floor with a lattice pattern, and lighting fixtures floating in the air. They responded swiftly, standing back to back as they scanned the room cautiously. This was a ruin from the Age of Mythology. They would not be underestimating it. However, the tension was immediately broken.

“P-Para?”

Paragranum approached them calmly. “I’m sorry for the delay, Captain. It took some time to gain control of the laboratory.”

“... Please give a detailed explanation.”

“Yes.”

Theo was aware of her intentions, and Para used the excuse she had prepared.

He couldn’t help smiling bitterly as the grimoire explained, “Immediately after the engagement with the Empire’s Seven Swords ended, I was transferred to this lab by the power of this ring. According to Master, it acts like a key to this set of ruins.”

“The power of the ring moved us here?”

“That’s not it.” Para hid the ring on her index finger and shook her head.

After all, an artifact which allowed 9th Circle magic to be used freely would’ve been designated as a national treasure.

“The carriage that we rode relied on the power of the magic crystals, and it isn’t really a carriage. Likewise, this ring is just a vehicle to use the power of this laboratory. It’s scrap metal outside this ruin.” Para gave a contrived sigh. “Unfortunately, the authority given by this ring can’t control Mercurius, and it is impossible to access some areas. However, I can open up the warehouse.”

“Okay, I got it.”

Veronica, the head of the party, stepped forward and looked down at Para. She was quite tall for a woman, so Para. who was shorter than average, had to look up to meet her eyes. Although Para was a highly intelligent grimoire who wouldn’t slip up, Theo felt an unknown tension.

“But Yellow Tower kid, don’t you think there is a more important problem than this boring explanation?”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you sure you don’t know?” Veronica looked at Para’s emotionless face and brought up a topic which no one else had mentioned. “Lloyd Pollan. Did you get rid of that rat?”

The rest of the party were suddenly reminded of Lloyd’s presence. Sylvia, William, and even Mujak, who had been injured by Lloyd, had forgotten about him. Of course, it was good to obtain the ruins, but it would leave a bitter taste if they missed one of the empire’s Seven Swords.

However, Para just smiled humorlessly. “Oh, that rude person.”

She raised her thumb, causing a loud rumble. The black wall turned into an image. The party stiffened as they saw what was on the screen.

“This...?”

“... One of the Empire’s Seven Swords.”

Lloyd Pollan was scowling until he met Para’s eyes. His eyes were tinted with obvious fear. The rest of the investigation team could see the trembling in his eyes.

Veronica was the only one who remained unshaken as she asked Para, “What’s going on?”

“He seems to have triggered a trap while wandering around.”

“Trap? Is that what this is?”

“Yes, it’s a trap which freezes space. Perhaps even a grandmaster can’t get out.”

“...9th Circle magic is popping up like mushrooms,” Veronica grumbled, and the others couldn’t help nodding in agreement.

Freezing space was the pinnacle of space magic, something even White Tower Master Orta couldn’t reproduce. In fact, it was only mentioned in old records. However, such a spell had been used as a trap? Did the creator think a dragon was going to invade or something?

“Can you turn it off?”

“I don’t have the authority.”

“Tch. It can’t be helped then. Anyway, it was an unofficial battle, and he’s like a prisoner of war.” Veronica gave up.

Para erased the image on the wall and said, “There seems to be an accommodation area. Shall I guide you to it?”

“Accommodation?”

Veronica wasn’t the only one who was tempted. Everyone was tired; there was sand in their clothing, and their dry skin hurt. They were all feeling grimey. Sylvia raised a hand in agreement, and the rest soon followed.

The next move of the investigation team was decided unanimously. Veronica, Mujak, William, and Sylvia were transported to their rooms, leaving only Theo and Para behind in the room.

Theo glanced at Para, who whispered to him, “Wait for me later.”

She snapped her fingers.

Clack!

***

The laboratory of Paragranum’s creator, Paracelsus, was a place worthy of being called a new world. Its principles were simple, but the unfamiliar facilities, plumbing, and food that came at the touch of a button seemed like miracles, not alchemy.

Shortly after Theo washed in the unfamiliar facility and finished a satisfactory meal, the grimoire, Paragranum, kept her words.

「As per the sub-master’s instructions, I will guide you from area D-1 to area L-21. 」

It was the same unknown language Theo had heard in the tunnel. As soon as the voice was done, Theo’s surroundings changed. He had been forcibly teleported again. Despite having experienced it once before, Theo felt uncomfortable. After all, it completely ignored the resistance of a 7th Circle magician!

If Paragranum had any malicious intentions, Theo could easily be banished to the void.

“Why are you so tense?”

Theo was surprised by the voice from behind him. “... Paragranum”

“In this laboratory, I’m equal to a grandmaster. You shouldn’t be surprised by this.”

A grandmaster was a person who was closer to a god than a human, someone beyond the boundaries of mortals and transcendents. Theo had already guessed this, but he couldn’t help feeling awestruck.

He soon realized that it was oddly dark. Despite his excellent vision, he could only see what was right before him. Ordinary people wouldn’t be able to see anything at all.

“It is too dark, can’t you brighten it a little bit?”

“This is an area where light isn’t supposed to enter. Well, it doesn’t matter now.”

The room lit up, revealing the shapes before Theo and Para soon became clear. When the lights brightened completely, Theo didn’t even look at Para.

“... W-What is this?”

His surprise was natural. They were surrounded by green water tanks that had horrible monsters and people sleeping in them. A six-headed snake, a three-headed dog, a centaur with wings on its back... There were dozens of water tanks containing disgusting things.

“Biological manipulation, chimera,” Paragranum answered as she stroked the glass wall of a tank.

Was she reminiscing over the days of studying with her creator, Paracelsus? Para looked through several tanks and shook her head. “It can't be helped. The corpses are all rotting and can’t be recycled. How could Creator’s chimera endure for thousands of years?”

“Thousands of years...”

“If they were alive, we could’ve unified the Northern continent with them. As Meltor’s Tower Master, it’s certainly a pity. No one would be left alive.”

They were terrible words. He might’ve laughed it off as a bluff if someone else had said it, but there was no reason for Paragranum to bluff.

... Indeed, she is dangerous.

Theo shook away the creepy sensation of power and hastily followed Para. Even though he knew they were already dead, the monsters still seemed like they were alive. After moving past dozens of tanks, the room suddenly changed.

It was an application of space magic which Theo couldn’t even guess. However, he wasn’t surprised by the change. Despite the fact that thousands of years had passed, the shelves were neatly arranged.

“Let’s see... What do I have to take...” Paragranum started to sweep up the things she needed from the shelves.

Her hands moved without hesitation until she reached some oddly colored reagents and metals that Theo had never seen before. It was a large warehouse, and she had filled about half her space bag.

“Oh.” Para suddenly stopped moving and looked back at Theo. “Here’s the thing I promised you. The rest will be given a little later.”

She threw him a slab. Theo caught it and asked, “This...?”

“As I told you before, it’s the Fairy’s Book.”

This piece of stone was a book? He transferred it to his left hand. There was a clearer way of finding out than asking Paragranum.

Appraisal.

Gluttony’s tongue proved its effectiveness as always.

[Fairy’s Book]

[This book explains the deeper knowledge of the elemental world, including the four major elementals and their utilization. The great alchemist and author, Paracelsus, was the first to distinguish and name the four elemental spirits. He also tried to create artificial elementals based on the ancient elementals. However, the results of that experiment aren’t recorded in this book.

* This magic book is rated Treasure.

* When consumed, your proficiency with elementals will increase greatly.

* When consumed, your understanding of the four elementals will increase greatly.

* The soul of the great alchemist Paracelsus inhabits it. You must be of at least the 7th Circle to eat this book. Even if the conditions are met, contact activities such as Synchro might not be possible unless Paracelsus is interested.]

It had gone beyond Precious and reached Treasure rating. Theo’s eyes widened in shock. The stone slab didn’t seem like a real book, and it was more valuable than he’d expected.

Maybe I really can unlock the 5th seal...

Every time a seal was released, Gluttony revealed a great ability. From Memorize which could store magic in advance to Overwrite which called the author of an eaten book, Gluttony’s abilities were almost like cheating. He couldn’t help wondering what feature the 5th seal would unlock. He shouldn’t just depend on Gluttony’s power, but he couldn’t help feeling expectant.

At that moment, Para finished her work and called out to Theo, “Theodore Miller! Take a look over here for a moment.”

“What happened?”

“Can you lend me the Azoth Sword?”

Theo handed the Azoth Sword to her without hesitation. After all, if Paragranum wanted to seize it, he wouldn’t be able to stop her. However, he also wanted to know why she needed it.

Paragranum received the Azoth Sword, took a deep breath, and shouted softly, “「Ars Magna! Open the door to your master!」”

Then she stabbed into the air.

Flash!

It was unbelievable, but the space in front of the Azoth Blade split in two. There was an emerald gleam in the cleaved space, and Para reached in with her left hand.

She rummaged around before exclaiming, “I found it!”

The moment the grimoire pulled out her hand happily, the tear in space closed up. Theo could understand because he had studied Umbra and its dimensional ability. The space that Paragranum had opened was impossible to open without the Azoth Sword.

Then this means that jewel...

Paragranum was holding an emerald in her left hand. It was perfectly symmetrical, and didn’t refract any light.

- Correct.?

Gluttony whispered in his mind.

- That is the Emerald Tablet, the treasure from the Age of Mythology that all alchemists praised as the Gate of Truth.