Book Eater

Chapter 206: Together with a Dragon (3)

A week had already gone by, and the 5th seal had yet to be released. It must be a great feature, or more time was needed to unseal the 5th seal. However, Theo waited without feeling impatient. So far, Gluttony had never betrayed his expectations.

He wouldn’t have to wait for Kurt’s reward.

Anyway, I will know after three or four hours.

Theo was thinking about it when the door of the reception room suddenly opened.

“Theo!”

The intruder was a high elf whose green hair shone brightly without any illumination, while an energy of vitality emitted from her.

Ellenoa smiled brightly as she looked at Theo first, but belatedly realized that the people around him were looking at her. She had come after hearing that Theo had returned, but she hadn’t known he was with other people. No one had stopped her from entering because she was a VIP guest of unprecedented stature.

When Ellenoa realized her position, she immediately flushed red. “I-I’m really sorry. I didn’t know the situation...”

Even if she wasn’t familiar with royal courtesies, she could tell that this meeting was important. The sight of the king sitting in a chair with a Tower Master on either side was a dead giveaway. This wasn’t a place for a foreigner to enter, even if she was a national guest.

However, Kurt’s reaction was surprising. He shook his head. “No, it’s okay. The talk was over anyway.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

He continued, “I guess you have a lot to say to Theo. But first, Lady Ellenoa, I would like to introduce you to a new guest.”

Kurt gestured, and Ellenoa’s gaze followed his hand. The moment the high elf’s bright jade eyes and the dragon’s fluorescent eyes met for the first time, the air in the reception room sank.

Ellenoa’s expression stiffened. “... Conductor of the waves, tyrant of the sea. The evil who controls the eastern waters to the north.”

Theo was surprised by the uncharacteristically hostile feelings coming from her. But when he thought about it, he realized it was natural. Elves were basically a species with a good character, and they abhorred the act of oppressing or taking the possessions of others. On the other hand, Aquilo’s default attitude was treating everyone as below her. As such, Ellenoa wouldn’t like Aquilo, who protected pirates just so she could take their loot.

Aquilo replied with an effortless smile, “It is natural that you don’t like me, but don’t you think that your attitude is tougher than usual today?”

Ellenoa replied coolly, “It is your imagination.”

Aquilo chuckled. “Look at that cold attitude. Well, I can see one thing.”

Ellenoa looked askance at her, and Aquilo laughed. “Woman who doesn’t know the world, there is a man in your eyes, right?”

“... No way, you!”

Ellenoa had recently come to Meltor from the Great Forest, so she didn’t know what type of relationship existed between Aquilo and Theo. Therefore, she couldn’t stay calm at the provocation which aimed accurately at that blind spot.

The sea dragons were well known as a clan that coveted the possessions of others. Moreover, Ellenoa was a high elf who could only pick her gender once in her life. So, to a high elf, a refusal was like a half-death. Ellenoa couldn’t help reacting to that, even if the words were a bluff.

The high elf and the dragon...

The confrontation of the two women made it difficult for the people of Meltor who were stuck between them. Someone needed to intervene, and a most surprising one stood up.

Veronica stepped between the two. “That’s enough. Both of you.”

Ellenoa managed to collect herself, while Aquilo’s lips curved into an innocent smile. Veronica looked directly at Kurt. “Your Majesty, please leave these two to me.”

He had a mysterious smile on his face. “Hoh, you’re going to act?”

Veronica shrugged and nodded. “Well, something like that. I should rescue him. I don’t like the worm, but it can’t be helped.”

“Hold on, did you call me a worm just now?”

“Don’t wriggle around and come here. Let the kid rest.”

“Hey! Let me go! Hey! Why is a quarter hybrid so strong?”

Veronica physically dragged Aquilo out of the room, while Ellenoa bowed and followed after them. It was a truly stormy exit.

Kurt laughed as he said to the rest of the people in the room, “You should go back and rest. Veronica has already volunteered to take care of them.”

“Yes, I will follow Your Majesty’s will.” Theo was at a loss, but he retired from the reception room without delay.

After that, Quattro split up. Paragranum had acquired good materials after a long time, so she happily returned to her tower. Meanwhile, William returned to his tower, stating that he needed to write a report for the White Tower Master. Then after sending Sylvia in the opposite direction, Theo moved toward the red tower.

The steeple made of red bricks was always surrounded by a lukewarm heat.

Master... He is researching. I shouldn’t interrupt him.

Theo first checked Vince’s current situation and decided not to interrupt his research. Vince would stop his research if he knew that Theo had returned, but Theo didn’t want to interrupt Vince’s concentration.

Creak.

Instead, he returned to his room, which wasn’t much different from when he left.

“Mitra.”

A girl suddenly sprang up from a flowerpot on the windowsill.

[Hoing!]

He hadn’t heard her relaxing voice in a while. The cheerful and lively girl now had a bud similar to a rosebud on her head. Did eating the Fairy’s Book trigger it, or did it only need time for the flower to bloom? It wasn’t a surprise that Mitra had become more formidable.

This scent is quite similar to Ellenoa.

It was a fragrance which boosted a person’s vitality, and his body felt lighter. If he were attacked by Aquilo again, he wouldn’t be affected by her poison at all. Theo touched the flower on Mitra’s head.

[Hihihit, hohihihi...]

Mitra laughed like a child being tickled. It was as if the flower was connected to her senses. The flower was pretty, but it didn’t seem possible to peel off a petal. The flower was fully assimilated with Mitra’s body, so the pain of separation would be more than he imagined.

Moreover, for plants, flowers had another meaning. Roots took place first, then leaves, flowers, and finally, fruits. Yes, fruit. Theo didn’t know how much power remained in the sprout which had grown from eating the world tree’s seed, but a fruit would grow from the flower.

“... Wait.”

He felt something. Theo felt an unknown sense of incongruity. It was very fleeting, but it left a clear trail. The Ring of Muspelheim, a sea dragon’s blood, an ancient earth elemental... He was only lacking—

At that moment...

[Completing the unlocking process of the 5th seal... Accepted. This is a legitimate request. Gluttony’s 5th seal has been released.]

.

[Gluttony’s feature has been opened normally. The user should check the information window of the corresponding feature immediately.]

[Grimoire “Gluttony” / B Rank]

[Gluttony’s 5th seal has been released through a normal path. From now on, the user will be able to access the wisdom that Gluttony accumulated from a long time ago. You can immediately learn the magic by paying a corresponding price. Previous owners have called the feature Library, which can be changed.

* The ego, Gluttony, will explain how to use the Library.]

Once the 5th seal was released, the information about its feature appeared before Theo. It was a sudden situation, but he had become familiar with it. He pushed down his sudden inspiration and read the explanation.

No, to be precise, he tried to read it. However, his consciousness blurred as his body fell back on the bed.

[Deo? Deoo!]

Mitra noticed his condition was strange and smacked his forehead, but his consciousness didn’t return. Theo tried to reach out to calm her down, but his body didn’t move. It was as though it was being crushed by a lead weight. He felt like he was being sucked into an ocean.

-Ah.

It only took a moment for him to pass out.

***

“Urghh!”

My head hurts.

Theo thought as soon as he woke up. He must’ve collapsed on the bed. However, he was soon forced to forget all his pain. As Theo’s blurred vision cleared up, an incredible landscape appeared before his eyes.

“Wow!”

This was Gluttony’s Library, a space too dazzling to be called just a library. There were endless shelves packed with books, and the bookshelves rose higher than the Magic Towers. The library of the Magic Society, the greatest on the continent, was nothing compared to this.

There must be hundreds of thousands of books. Perhaps even millions?

It was impossible to estimate, even after looking around a few times. There were mountains of books everywhere. This was a sea of books. Even if he read one book in one minute, Theo was convinced that he wouldn’t be finished until he was old and dying.

- You must like it.?

Theo suddenly heard someone’s voice from behind him.

Theo responded, “Gluttony.”

- Hoh, you’re not surprised.

“I was expecting it. It said you would explain how to use the Library... Heok!”

However, Theo was astonished when he looked behind him.

“You... Why do you look like me?”

It was like he was looking at his twin. Gluttony looked exactly like Theo, except its eyes were completely black. They were like a bottomless swamp that would suck Theo in if he looked.

Gluttony responded to the question.

- It can’t be helped. Since I don’t have a separate appearance, I need to copy User’s appearance. Otherwise, I will guide you with my voice like before.

“... No, it’s okay. It isn’t that offensive.”

Superbia’s chimera appearance was far more unpleasant. It was like looking in a mirror.

“Then tell me about this Library.”

- Okay.?

Gluttony said, nodding like it had been waiting.

- To put it briefly, this place is my stomach. I’ve been devouring magic since before the Age of Mythology. Now that User is in the?5th?stage, User has the right to look into the realm of the gods.