Chapter 231 - 3−35
Forming a temporary alliance with Lute-sama brought unexpected benefits. He shared his information with me without reservation. Since we began meeting in the Library every few days, I gained access to a wealth of knowledge I could never have found on my own.
Today, we were in the Library once again.
"The Tratian royalty began with the Progenitor Dragon. His ability allowed him not only to transform into a human despite being a dragon but also granted him divine power. His descendants have inherited portions of that divine power."
"What exactly is this divine power?"
"Most of it remains unknown, but as written in that book... Past Sight, Foresight, Memory Manipulation, and Physical Enhancement. Teleportation, Mana Amplification, Transformation... and it seems there was even Healing."
"...Those are incredible abilities."
"They sound impressive when listed like that. However, now that the blood has thinned, the abilities themselves are thought to be weaker compared to the Progenitor's power. Physical Enhancement might only double one's strength, or Transformation might only allow one to become another person for a few minutes to hours. That is the extent of it."
The ability to transform into others... even if weakened, such a god-like power could be used for endless mischief if one were so inclined.
"Still, it varies from person to person. Some only have healing abilities enough to fade a scar, while Margaret, who is rare even among the royalty, possesses Foresight and was able to find the location of the Dragon's Heart."
"How powerful do you estimate the First Prince's Memory Manipulation to be? May I hear your thoughts, Lute-sama?"
"In my view, Memory Manipulation is rare even among Dragonewt Abilities. In other words, awakening it is difficult, and mastering it is nothing short of a miracle."
"Meaning... we should consider the First Prince a highly capable user."
Lute-sama nodded with a furrowed brow. "Yes. He has awakened the ability to permanently erase a person's memories. Finding the First Prince and forcing him to undo the technique might be the easiest way... but I expect our next meeting will be on a battlefield. If the caster dies without undoing the technique, it becomes permanently irreversible."
"...No. Then we must search for a different way to undo it while simultaneously looking for the First Prince."
"...That is how it stands."
From Lute-sama's tone, the First Prince was both brilliant and powerful. It was hard to imagine him easily undoing the technique. But where could the key to breaking such an absolute spell be?
"I have read all the books you lent me, Lute-sama, but there is no mention of how to undo it."
"Well, yes. I have never heard of or seen a way for a third party to break the technique. But loopholes often exist in unexpected places. I will search again, but as someone unrelated to the Dragonewts, you might notice something I cannot."
Lute-sama looked at me intently with a serious expression, then tapped the stack of books on the table with his finger.
"Perhaps both you and I are making a massive assumption... and the hint lies in a place we thought was completely unrelated."
"A completely... unrelated place."
The stack of books included biographies of the Progenitor Dragon, records of the Tratian royalty, books on beastmen and magical beasts, and even texts on spirits. I picked up one titled Mana of the Spirit Country.
"I am also investigating the mystery of why your dragon was sealed by the former Dark Saint. We are facing ancient powers. The truth might emerge from an unexpected source."
Lute-sama's words struck a chord. Kuro always wanted to go to the Garden, and Rose insisted on coming with me whenever I met Lute-sama. Rose was currently sleeping on my lap.
Now that he mentions it, spirits and dragons might not be entirely unrelated.
Perhaps there were things I could only learn here in a distant foreign land, things I couldn't see back in my own country.
"You are right. ...Thank you. I will try."
"Yes, let us both do our best!"
As an ally, Lute-sama was surprisingly helpful in pointing out things I had missed. Though we were only temporary partners with aligned interests, he seemed to be truly trying to work with me.
After that, we continued reading book after book in silence until the sun began to set.
The next day, I had another appointment with Lute-sama at the Library, but he had to leave early due to some business. With knights stationed outside the door, I continued reading alone in the vast Library.
"Kyu."
After I had finished about three books, Rose, who had been flying boredly around the Library, wrapped herself around my neck and chirped affectionately.
"Rose, I'm sorry. I can't play right now."
"...Kyu!"
As I gave a troubled smile, Rose seemed to take offense and flicked the stack of books with her tail.
"Ah, no! I haven't checked those books yet."
Small as she was, she was still a dragon. With a flick, the stacked books scattered from the table onto the floor.
"Hey, you'll damage the books."
"Kyu."
"I understand. Let's play together in just a little bit."
"Kyu!"
I sighed as I looked at the scattered books, and Rose chirped cutely while bumping her head against my forehead. I shrugged and stroked her head, and she flew off somewhere, looking satisfied.
She's adorable, but truly a free spirit.
I felt my lips curl into a smile as I knelt on the floor to carefully pick up the books one by one.
"One book is missing..."
I checked under the table to see where it had gone. The remaining book lay on the other side of the table. As I reached out to grab it, a large hand beat me to it.
"Oh..."
"To meet in a place like this... what a coincidence."
I slowly looked up to see the Emperor. As I scrambled to my feet, he held the book out to me.
"...Th-thank you... very much. ...Eh?"
Just as I was about to take the book, the Emperor jerked it up in front of his face.
"The Tratian Lineage, is it? Reading such a thing won't be very interesting. If it were me, I'd be asleep in a few pages."
He checked the cover, snorted, and held the book out to me again. I suppressed my annoyance and took the book. This time, the Emperor didn't pull it away.
Why is he here?
The Emperor, who had appeared without a sound, sat heavily in the chair opposite where I had been sitting. He ran a finger along the spines of the books I had stacked.
"Aren't you going to sit?"
The Emperor rested his cheek on the back of his hand, elbow on the table, and looked up at me suspiciously as I stood frozen.
"...No."
I was uncomfortable under the gaze of those reddish-purple eyes. Just being looked at made me feel as if my body were being restrained. The tension felt like a sword pressed against my throat, making my heart race. But the Emperor ignored my feelings and gestured for me to sit with his eyes.
"Just sit."
I sat down cautiously. The Emperor smirked with satisfaction.
"I heard from Lute. You're desperate to restore Nana's memories, aren't you? So, any results?"
"It is not Nana. It is Theodore Camus-sama."
My retort seemed to surprise him, and he snorted with amusement.
"Either is fine. I'll likely kill him before I bother to learn his name anyway."
My shoulders jumped at his ominous words.
"Don't be so afraid. I won't kill Nana yet. The best magician in the Spirit Country seems like he'll be quite useful."
Everything depended on the interest of the man before me. How long that interest would last, even he likely didn't know. Tomorrow, the day after, a week, or a month.
When I think that he holds Theodore-sama's life in his hands, I can't afford to waste any more time.
Anxiety made my palms sweat as I gripped my hands under the table. The Emperor glanced at me, then picked up a book with lack of interest and flipped through it. He tossed it back onto the table almost immediately.
"This is worthless. A waste of time."
He was surely mocking my futile struggles. The Emperor stood up, his chair scraping against the floor, and headed toward the Library exit.
I don't know what whim brought him here, but he's finally leaving.
My relief was short-lived. The Emperor stopped at the door. He turned back, his cloak fluttering.
"What are you doing? Follow me."
"Eh?"
The Emperor frowned slightly at my surprised exclamation. Growing impatient as I remained in my chair, he urged me, "Hurry up."
His low voice made me jump to my feet reflexively. I started toward the door but realized the table was still a mess.
"Ah, the books..."
"Leave them. I'll have them delivered to your room later. ...Though they're likely useless anyway."
The Emperor spoke mockingly, then fixed his gaze on a corner of the bookshelf. Rose, who had been hiding in fear since the Emperor appeared, was there. The Emperor moved his finger, and Rose floated up, landing right in his hand.
"Kyuuu."
"Ah, Rose!"
"...I'll take this one along too."
The Emperor grabbed Rose by the scruff of her neck, and she froze in terror. Holding her roughly, the Emperor looked back at me once more.
"Hey, hurry up."
Despite his rough tone, he didn't seem particularly irritated. He waited for me to get up and come to his side before leading the way out of the Library at a slow pace.