After a long struggle, Ian finally managed to pull his hand free from between the two grimoires.
His hand, crushed beneath the thick books, had turned bright red. Judging by the fact that his fingers still moved, it didn’t seem broken, but damn if it didn’t hurt. A throbbing pain spread all the way to his wrist.
[Wooooong!]
[Wooooooong!]
Even after Ian’s hand came free, the grimoires continued ramming their bodies into each other. One smashed its corner into the other’s cover, then spun round and round sideways to strike it in the flank.
It was practically a UFC match. The only difference was that what flew wasn’t blood but sparks, and the fighters weren’t humans but books. The two grimoires were genuinely brawling to shove each other away and kill one another. Their appearance was rather ridiculous, but the murderous intent flowing from the two books was real.
“……Haa.”
Ian sat in a chair and watched.
A pure white grimoire and a pitch-black grimoire.
The sight of books with opposing colors fighting was, honestly, so childish it was hard to believe they had been written by Outer Gods. Children might like it.
‘More importantly, two grimoires……’
Another grimoire had suddenly rolled into his lap, but this was not a situation Ian had wanted. If it were an ordinary grimoire, that would be one thing. But carrying around two written by Outer Gods left plenty of room for something to go wrong.
The saying “too much is as bad as too little” existed for a reason. The power held by an Outer God’s grimoire was truly unrivaled. An absurd ability that could reassemble anything into whatever form one desired. Even Yuna, who possessed unusual magic herself, had been surprised by it—a spell with almost no risk compared to its scale and power.
Surely that [Deep Sea Travelogue] would be similar.
It said he could summon creatures he had personally created, but Ian did not think those creatures would be ordinary.
What’s more, the title of the book was connected to the sea. He suspected it might be possible to command all sorts of deep-sea monsters, including krakens. Since they were not ordinary creatures but beings personally made by an Outer God, they could probably operate on land as well.
It wasn’t bad magic for making up for his lacking offensive power.
Yes, it wasn’t bad…… but he had not particularly wanted it.
“Phew……”
Ian put a cigarette between his lips, lit it, and sank into thought. Leaving the two still-fighting grimoires alone, he folded his arms and stared at the librarian, who was putting notices up here and there.
He knew that a grimoire’s choice depended entirely on the grimoire’s own will. If a mage tried to find one, he could, but it was also true that there were more cases where the grimoire came to him on its own.
The Eighth Book of Moses that had just been torn apart while still alive had probably stopped by out of curiosity, only to be forcibly seized and dismembered. It had not been intentional, but it was truly unfortunate.
In any case, being chosen by a grimoire was not something a mage could control. If it were an ordinary grimoire, one could refuse, but with a grimoire of an Outer God, such a thing was impossible. The moment it appeared before you, it forced its cover open and made you look at its contents. What room was there to resist?
Ian let out a deep sigh and looked down at the grimoires that had collapsed from exhaustion after fighting.
Two books of opposing colors lay sprawled on the table, not budging an inch.
He tapped the table with his finger, then spoke quietly.
“……Summon.”
At the same time, the Deep Sea Travelogue was grasped in his hand.
[……!]
The Hand of Re-creation trembled as though it had been betrayed, while the Deep Sea Travelogue fluttered its cover. Ignoring the two grimoires as they showed different reactions, Ian began reading the Deep Sea Travelogue with a serious expression.
‘I have to check it either way.’
The very fact that it answered his summons already meant he had become the grimoire’s owner. Even if it was an unwanted second grimoire, once he had become its owner, there was no going back.
There was no such thing as refusal. All that remained was adaptation.
No matter how much he continued denying reality, the situation would not change. Make judgments quickly. Accept what had to be accepted.
‘Still, I should ask the community. Whether there are any mages who possess two grimoires.’
Thinking that, Ian slowly read the grimoire’s introduction.
[Deep Sea Travelogue]
[Author: Master of the Outer Sea]
[This grimoire was written by the hand of the Outer God, Master of the Outer Sea ■■■, and records magic that allows one to summon and command the creatures of the Outer Sea personally created by ■■■. In addition, it contains magic for breathing underwater, magic for turning fresh water into seawater, and more. As this grimoire has no previous owner, browsing memories is impossible. You may rejoice.]
It was an introduction strangely similar to yet different from that of the Hand of Re-creation. Ian tapped the table with his finger and turned the page.
He flipped past the table of contents listing various spells and checked the summoning section, the main content of the grimoire.
[All creatures of the Outer Sea are fundamentally hostile to living beings. They loathe and hate all that lives, and this applies even among themselves. Their lives are pledged to the master of the sea in which they dwell, and they obey and follow no one but her.]
[However, it is possible to call them forth and command them through the grimoire. The materials required are the owner’s blood and the flesh of a Mystery. Internal organs are even better.]
[The size of the creature summoned also changes depending on the amount of blood and flesh used. However, if the summoning circle is drawn incorrectly, you will instead be sucked into the Outer Sea, so take care.]
[In addition, after summoning them, if you do not give them compensation for answering—in other words, sufficient food—they will attack the owner instead.]
[The creatures that can be summoned and their summoning circles are as follows.]
[Messenger]
[Parasite]
[Failure]
[Unblinking Eyeball]
[Predator]
[Saw]
.
.
.
“……There are damn many of them.”
After reading through the long list of summoning circles, their appearances, and explanations, Ian shook his head.
There was far too much to read in one sitting. Still, he had roughly grasped its nature.
In game terms, it was summoner-type magic.
The difference was that the beings summoned were not beneficial like fairies or spirits, but savage and hungry enough to devour every living thing in sight. If the price of the summoning was not paid, they would even try to kill the summoner instead.
Compared to re-creation magic, which did not particularly take anything as payment, its efficiency was not very good. However, the fact that he had gained a means of ranged attack was something to welcome.
‘Using re-creation and summoning together is…… impossible.’
As the owner of both grimoires, he instinctively realized it.
Of the magic written in the grimoires, he could only use the one from the book he was holding. In other words, while holding the Deep Sea Travelogue, he could not use re-creation magic.
However, he could use the other minor spells besides that. That, at least, was fortunate.
“Um, guest.”
As he sat quietly reading, the librarian approached. The fellow seemed to be struggling even to support his own body now, trembling all over despite standing still. He was forgetting even how to stand properly. It was the stage right before becoming an idiot.
If left like that for more than five minutes, he would collapse on his own and die. Ian did not particularly care whether he died or not, but to leave this place, the fellow’s existence was essential.
Ian closed the grimoire, shoved both books into his bag, and rose.
“Are you done placing the rulebooks?”
“Yes…… I also put up the notices here and there. But I do not quite understand why we are doing this……”
“You don’t need to know. More importantly, give me the original rulebook.”
“Ah, here it is……”
The librarian held out a neatly folded piece of paper to Ian. Ian put the paper into his pocket and spoke.
“Good. My business is done, so I’m leaving now.”
“Ah, yes…… If you follow the formal procedure, I will allow you to leave.”
The formal procedure the librarian spoke of was borrowing one book from the library and promising to return with a book report. If one answered when asked for the exact period, the moment that period passed, one would be forcibly transferred back to the library.
If one knew, there was no need to fall for it.
“Deep Sea Travelogue. I’m taking it now. Not borrowing—owning. There’s no period.”
“Ah, um…… That…… is that right……? Why does it feel so wrong?”
“Are you doubting me right now?”
“Ah, no. You may leave……”
The librarian awkwardly scratched his head and pointed toward the library entrance.
“If you leave now, it will connect to reality…… Please use our services again next time……”
“Sure. Oh, and there’s a piece of paper stuck to your back. Try peeling it off.”
“Ah, so there is. Thank you……”
As Ian watched the librarian stretch out his long arm and peel off the paper, he grabbed the doorknob and turned it.
With a riiip, the red paper, torn away together with a chunk of flesh, dangled in the librarian’s hand. At that moment, the librarian’s huge eyes, which had been blank and unfocused, flew wide open.
“You fucking magic baaaaaastard—!!!!!”
“I’m going.”
Ian did not bother keeping him company. He opened the door and stepped outside.
What greeted him was not a corridor, but the deep night sky.
He had returned to reality. Fortunately, it seemed he did not need to have a staring contest with the monsters outside the window.
He let out a deep sigh of relief, leaned against the library wall, and smoked a cigarette.
“……Phew.”
He exhaled breath and smoke together into the air. Between the acrid smoke scattering into the sky, he could see the stars and the moon. Perhaps because it was a residential area with almost no light, the stars were quite visible. The moon was bright to the point of being somewhat bizarre.
‘……Somewhere among those stars are the true bodies of the Reconstruction of All Things and the Master of the Outer Sea, huh.’
He did not know what they actually looked like, but he suspected they were probably not pleasant to behold. It would be fortunate if he did not go mad from looking at them.
Thinking idle thoughts, he tossed the finished cigarette into a nearby trash can and started walking.
The wind was still rather cold.
*
After returning home, Ian immediately showered, sat in his chair, and contacted the Cartel.
[Me: I completed the library request. How do I receive the reward?]
[Cartel Employee: Thank you for your hard work. In the case of the reward, you may visit a nearby Cartel branch, report the completion of the request, and receive it there. The branch location is provided in this app, so please check.]
[Me: It says it’s an animal hospital.]
[Cartel Employee: That is correct. You only need to visit and show them the Cartel app.]
[Me: My identity protection is guaranteed, right?]
[Cartel Employee: It is. Please do not worry.]
[Me: Fine, understood.]
[Cartel Employee: Thank you. This has been Ikseu, a consultant of the Cartel. Have a good night and a comfortable day.]
Ian closed the phone screen and set it down carelessly beside him.
When he used Indemnis, the reward came in immediately, which was nice, but if not, it seemed he had to go in person. He really did think they had made a good service.
That said, he could not use a service that cost several million won every single time. It was better to use it moderately, only when needed.
“I’d better prepare some means of transportation.”
Ian said that and glanced sideways at the two grimoires placed on the desk.
When they had first met, they had fought so fiercely, but now they were quiet again.
Had they reconciled, or had they accepted each other’s existence?
He could not know, but it was still better than them fighting every time.
Ian placed the covers of the two grimoires so they overlapped, tapped their backs, and said,
“Get along. I’m going to sleep.”
With those words, Ian lay down on the bed and pulled the blanket over himself.
After some time passed, right around when Ian’s breathing grew even, the two grimoires began fighting again.
[Wooooong!]
[Wooong? Woooong~]
The pure white book grew angry, and the black book jeered.
[Wooooooong!!]
In the end, the Hand of Re-creation hurled itself forward first.
In the dawn, while everyone slept,
the fierce battle of the two grimoires began.