Chapter 233 - 3−37
After returning to my room, I forgot to eat or sleep as I became absorbed in the book I had brought back. The contents of the thick book were scattered like random notes, and even though it was divided into chapters, the content often drifted away from the headings. It took a long time to understand. It was more like solving a puzzle than reading.
Still, I spent day after day immersed in it. Like a student before an exam, I took notes and reread the important parts over and over until I understood them deeply.
"I see... so that's it."
By the time I had summarized the contents in my notebook, I felt as if the fog had cleared. Just then, a knock at the door made me look up.
"Good afternoon."
Lute-sama entered the room with a pleasant expression.
"Ah, was today... our scheduled meeting day?"
I had been so absorbed in the book that the days since I left the Archive were a blur.
"It's fine. I heard about the situation from His Majesty."
"Still... I am sorry."
"No matter. ...However, judging by your expression, you seem to have many questions for me."
My eagerness must have been obvious as I clutched my notebook. Lute-sama chuckled and sat in the armchair. I sat on the sofa across the table and placed the book on it.
"This is?"
"A book from the Emperor's Archive."
"Ah. ...I have never entered it myself, so I was quite unsettled when I heard His Majesty had permitted you entry... but it seems you found something."
Lute-sama smiled a bit wistfully, and I felt a pang of guilt.
"I-I'm sorry."
"No, don't worry about it. It's not a place I was meant to enter anyway. Besides, if the result benefits His Majesty, my own feelings are trivial. ...So, what was written in this book?"
"It's difficult to summarize, as it's mostly a collection of the author's notes from whenever they noticed something..."
I shrugged and flipped through the old book. The handwritten text was smudged in places and often hard to read, like a series of scribbles. Still, even a quick glance showed the word "Spirit" appearing frequently.
"What a strange book. ...It has likely only kept its form because it was in the Archive... it might be centuries old."
"The author likely wasn't from the Tratia Empire. ...I believe the person who wrote this was from the Kingdom of Dutoit... someone with spirit mana."
Lute-sama nodded solemnly and took the book from the table with a polite gesture. As he examined it, I spoke up.
"Lute-sama, um... there is something I want to ask first. About the relationship between spirits and Dragonewts, which isn't in this book."
"What is it?"
I told Lute-sama about the picture book I had seen in the Archive. A story where spirits played happily with dragons and beastmen, and a spirit found a lonely dragon and became its friend. Lute-sama nodded as if something had clicked.
"I have never read that picture book, so I don't know why it was in the Archive. However, the depiction of spirits and dragons getting along is quite interesting."
"Yes. It might just be a work of fiction, but I thought perhaps there was some kind of connection in the past."
"...I see. And that connection might be a clue. ...Very well. I will tell you what I know, though it is only a small amount."
Lute-sama prefaced his story by saying, "This might not be a very pleasant story for you, Rachel-sama."
"Dragons are fond of spirits. This was my impression while studying in the Kingdom of Dutoit as well."
I blinked in surprise at his unexpected words.
"Perhaps it is because they are a completely different species. To a dragon with strong destructive impulses, a spirit is an incomprehensible existence. Merciful, pure... and very weak."
When he said "weak," Lute-sama glanced at Kuro, who was rolling around in the corner of the room.
"This is a theory I read in a book once, so I don't know how true it is... but long ago, dragons used to take spirits into their bodies. ...In other words, predation."
"Predation... that's quite a disturbing story..."
My eye twitched, and I felt my face stiffen.
"In terms of power, a dragon is overwhelmingly stronger than a spirit. If a dragon so desired, it could likely drive spirits to extinction in an instant. But spirits haven't gone extinct, have they? Why is that?"
"Perhaps spirits were hiding from dragons?"
"I wonder. Dragons seem to have a strong sense for spirits, so they would likely be found immediately even if they tried to run."
"Eh..."
Lute-sama smiled gently, but his grey eyes weren't laughing at all. He looked like a snake waiting for the perfect moment to swallow its prey, and I broke into a cold sweat.
"Heh, you don't have to look so serious. I am a Dragonewt, but I've never once thought about eating a spirit, you know?"
He laughed jokingly, but I could only offer a strained smile in return.
"Setting aside the eating part, why did the overwhelmingly powerful dragons go extinct while the weak spirits survived? My theory is that spirits possessed some kind of power to counter dragons."
"A counter-power."
As I muttered that, I saw Rose approach Kuro.
"...Ah, that's why."
"Yes. That might be why it was possible to seal a dragon that should have gone extinct."
Rose had been sealed by the former Dark Saint. That was indeed a case where spirit power had triumphed over a dragon.
"But unfortunately, I don't know what that counter-power is. The fact that the Spirit Country and the Dragonewt country are on opposite ends of the continent might also have a reason."
"That is true..."
I had never considered the Spirit Country and the dragon country intersecting. But if there was a past where they did... what would that mean? The mystery was too large to even guess.
Lute-sama let out a soft chuckle, and I looked up.
"Does this answer your concern, Rachel-sama?"
"Yes. ...I feel like I understand it somewhat now."
The only power that could counter a dragon was spirit power. And the former Dark Saint who sealed Rose. Everything might be connected. If so, as written in this book, the one who can restore Theodore-sama's memories is... likely me.
"Now, let me ask you a question. ...What did you notice?"
I picked up the book and pointed to a specific page.
"Could you read this sentence?"
"Let's see... 'The holy maiden who possesses the power to go back in time. The healing magic stone she creates has the power to nullify the Dragonewt Ability.'"
Lute-sama read the words aloud, tracing them with his finger.
"Nullify... this is!"
Lute-sama looked up in shock, and I nodded.
"Yes. I believe this sentence is the key to breaking the Dragonewt Ability."
"But who is this holy maiden who possesses the power to go back in time..."
This likely referred to the Dark Saint. Light spirits held power over the future, and dark spirits held power over the past. A Dark Saint blessed by the Spirit King would have the ability to manipulate time with his help.
I only suspected it when I first read the book, but Lute-sama's story has made me certain. A power equal to the former Dark Saint who sealed Rose. That must be the power to undo the technique placed on Theodore-sama.
But Lute-sama didn't know what kind of power a Dark Saint possessed. And even though we were allies, I had no intention of telling him.
"I don't know either. I am a Saint blessed by the Dark Spirit King, but I don't have such a power. However, if 'holy maiden' refers to a woman with some kind of power..."
"Then there is a high possibility that you are that maiden, Rachel-sama."
Lute-sama understood what I was trying to say before I even finished. He smirked, his eyes shining with a new light.
As I mentioned in the activity report, the 8th volume of "The Reincarnated Villainess" was released today by Tsugikuru Books.
Comic Seymour includes a special short story.
Also, a repost campaign is currently being held on X.
By reposting Tsugikuru's campaign post and filling out the application form, everyone will receive a newly written short story as a gift.
I personally had a lot of fun writing this short story, so I would be happy if many people participated and read it.