Chapter 38
After quite a struggle, Ian finally managed to pull his hand free from between the two grimoires.
The hand that had been crushed between the thick books was red as blood. Judging by how his fingers still moved, nothing seemed broken, but it hurt like hell. The throbbing pain spread all the way to his wrist.
[Humm!]
[Hummm!]
Even after Ian pulled his hand free, the grimoires kept ramming their bodies into each other. They smashed at each other's covers with their corners, then spun around to bash each other in the side.
It was practically a UFC match. The only difference was that sparks flew instead of blood, and the fighters were books instead of people. The two grimoires were brawling in earnest, trying to shove each other back and kill each other. They looked a little ridiculous, but the killing intent leaking from both books was real.
“……Haa.”
Ian sat in a chair and watched the scene.
A pure white grimoire and a pitch-black grimoire.
Seeing books with such opposing colors fighting each other was honestly so childish it was hard to believe they were written by a foreign god. Kids would probably love it.
‘More importantly, two grimoires…….’
Another grimoire had suddenly rolled in, but this was not the situation Ian had wanted. If it were just an ordinary grimoire, that’d be one thing. But having two written by a foreign god was more than enough to cause trouble.
Too much of anything was never good. The power carried by a foreign god’s grimoire was truly unmatched. An absurd ability that could reassemble anything into whatever form it wanted. Even Yuna, who possessed unusual magic, had been startled by its scale and power, because it carried almost no risk.
Surely this [Deep-Sea Chronicle] would be similar.
It said it could summon creatures he created himself, but he didn’t think those creatures would be ordinary.
For that matter, the book’s title was tied to the sea. He figured it might be possible to command all sorts of deep-sea monsters, including krakens. Since they were creatures made directly by a foreign god rather than ordinary beasts, they’d probably be able to operate on land too.
Not a bad spell for making up for his lack of attack power.
Yeah, not bad, but…… he hadn’t really wanted it.
“Hoo…….”
Ian sat in a chair, a cigarette burning between his lips, and sank into thought. He left the two still-fighting grimoires alone and watched the librarian post notices all over the place, arms crossed.
He knew that being chosen by a grimoire was entirely up to the grimoire’s will. A mage could find one if they wanted, but it was also true that the grimoire usually came looking for the mage.
That Eighth Book of Moses, which had just been torn apart alive, had probably only stopped by out of curiosity before being forcibly seized and dismembered. It wasn’t intentional, but it was a real pity.
In any case, being chosen by a grimoire was not something a mage could control. If it were an ordinary grimoire, you could refuse it, but that wasn’t possible with a foreign god’s grimoire. The moment it appeared before you, it would forcibly open its cover and make you read it. Where was there room to resist?
Ian let out a long sigh and looked down at the grimoires that had worn themselves out and collapsed from fighting.
Two books of opposite colors lay sprawled on the table, motionless.
He tapped the table with his fingers for a moment, then spoke softly.
“……Summon.”
At the same time, the Deep-Sea Chronicle was in his hand.
[……!]
The Hand of Re-creation trembled violently as if betrayed, and the Deep-Sea Chronicle fluttered its cover. Ignoring the two grimoires showing different reactions, Ian began to read the Deep-Sea Chronicle with a serious expression.
‘I have to check it anyway.’
Simply responding to the summon already meant he had become the grimoire’s owner. Even if it was an unwanted second grimoire, once he became its owner there was no turning back.
There was no such thing as refusal, so all that remained was adaptation.
No matter how much he kept denying reality, the situation wouldn’t change. Decide quickly. Accept what must be accepted.
‘Still, I should ask the community whether there are even mages who have two grimoires.’
Thinking that, Ian slowly read the grimoire’s introduction.
[Deep-Sea Chronicle]
[Author: Lord of the Outer Sea]
[This grimoire was written by the foreign god, the Lord of the Outer Sea ■■■, and contains magic that makes it possible to summon and command the creatures of the Outer Sea directly created by ■■■. It also includes magic for breathing underwater, turning fresh water into seawater, and more. Since the previous owner of this grimoire is unknown, its memories cannot be read. You may rejoice.]
It was an introduction that was strangely similar to, yet different from, Hand of Re-creation. Ian tapped the table with his fingers as he turned the pages.
He skipped past the table of contents listing various spells and checked the summoning section, the grimoire’s main content.
[All Outer Sea creatures are inherently hostile to living beings. They hate and despise everything that lives, and the same is true of one another. Their lives are pledged to the owner of the sea they inhabit, and they obey no one but her.]
[That said, it is possible to summon them and wield them through the grimoire. The required materials are the owner’s blood and flesh steeped in mystery. Internal organs are even better.]
[The size of the creature summoned also changes depending on how much blood and flesh are used. However, if you draw the summoning circle incorrectly, you will be sucked into the Outer Sea instead, so be careful.]
[After summoning, there is also the price of answering the call. In other words, if you do not feed it enough, it will turn on its owner.]
[The creatures that can be summoned and their summoning circles are as follows.]
[Messenger]
[Parasite]
[Failed Creation]
[Unblinking Eyeball]
[Predator]
[Saw]
.
.
.
“……There are way too damn many.”
Ian read through the long list of summoning circles, their appearances, and their descriptions, then shook his head.
There was too much to read all at once here, but he had at least gotten a rough sense of their nature.
If you compared it to a game, this was summoner-type magic.
The difference was that the summoned beings weren’t benevolent like fairies or spirits; they were ferocious and ravenous enough to devour every living thing in sight. If you didn’t pay the price of the summon, they would even try to kill the summoner in return.
Compared to Re-creation magic, which hardly cost anything, the efficiency itself wasn’t that great. But having gained a long-range attack option was a welcome development.
‘Using Re-creation and summoning together…… isn’t possible.’
As the owner of both grimoires, he understood instinctively.
A grimoire’s spells can only be used with the one book you’re holding. That meant he couldn’t use Re-creation magic while holding the Deep-Sea Chronicle.
However, he could still use the other minor spells besides that. That was at least fortunate.
“Um, customer.”
As he sat quietly reading, the librarian approached. The thing seemed to be having trouble even keeping itself upright now, trembling all over while standing still. It was starting to forget how to stand properly. It was on the verge of becoming an idiot.
If left like that for more than five minutes, it would collapse on its own and die. Ian didn’t particularly care whether it died or not. But its existence was essential if he wanted to get out of here.
Ian closed the grimoire, shoved the two books into his bag, and stood up.
“Have you finished placing the rulebooks?”
“Y-yes... I put up the notices all over the place, too. But I still don’t really understand why we’re doing this...”
“No need to know. More importantly, give me the original rulebook.”
“Ah, here it is...”
The librarian held out the neatly folded paper to Ian. Ian tucked it into his pocket and spoke.
“Good. We’re done here, so I’m leaving now.”
“Ah, yes... If you go through the proper procedure, I can let you leave.”
The “proper procedure” the librarian was talking about meant borrowing one of the library’s books and promising to write a book report. If you asked for the exact duration and answered it, once that duration had passed you would be forcibly transferred back to the library.
If you knew that, there was no need to fall for it.
“Deep-Sea Chronicle. I’m taking this one now. Not borrowed—owned. No time limit.”
“Ah, um... th-that... is that right...? Why does it feel so wrong?”
“Are you doubting me right now?”
“N-no, of course not. You may leave...”
The librarian scratched its head awkwardly and pointed to the library entrance.
“If you leave now, it’ll connect you back to reality... Please use our services again next time...”
“Sure. Oh, and there’s a piece of paper stuck to your back. Tear it off.”
“Ah, you’re right. Thank you...”
Watching the librarian stretch out its long arm to peel off the paper, Ian grabbed the doorknob and turned it.
With a ripping sound, the red paper, torn free with a chunk of flesh attached, dangled from the librarian’s hand. At that moment, the librarian’s huge, dazed eyes flew wide open.
“You fucking spell—!!!!!”
“I’m out.”
Ian didn’t bother humoring it; he opened the door and stepped outside.
What greeted him was not a corridor, but a dark night sky.
He had returned to reality. Thankfully, it seemed he wouldn’t need to stare down the monsters outside the window.
He let out a deep sigh of relief and, leaning against the library wall, lit a cigarette.
“……Hoo.”
He exhaled breath and smoke into the air together. Stars and the moon showed through the acrid smoke drifting up into the sky. Maybe because this was a housing complex with almost no lights, the stars were quite visible. The moon was unnaturally bright.
‘……I wonder if somewhere out there among those stars are the true forms of the Recomposition of All Things and the Lord of the Outer Sea.’
He didn’t know what they actually looked like, but they probably weren’t pleasant sights. Wouldn’t it be lucky just not to go insane from seeing them?
With those meaningless thoughts in mind, he tossed the cigarette butt into a nearby trash can and started walking.
The wind was still fairly cold.
*
After returning home, Ian showered right away and sat down to contact the Cartel.
[Me: I completed the library request. How do I get paid?]
[Cartel Staff: Thank you for your hard work. As for the reward, please visit a nearby Cartel branch, report that the request is complete, and collect it there. The branch location is listed in this app, so please check it.]
[Me: It says it's an animal hospital, though.]
[Cartel Staff: That's right. Just visit there and show them the Cartel app.]
[Me: My identity is definitely protected, right?]
[Cartel Staff: Yes. Please don't worry.]
[Me: Fine, got it.]
[Cartel Staff: Thank you. This has been Ex, Cartel's counselor. Good night, and have a peaceful day.]
Ian closed the phone screen and set it aside carelessly.
Using Indemniss was nice because the rewards came in immediately, but otherwise it seemed you had to go there in person. It really was a well-made service.
That said, he couldn’t use a service that cost several million won every time. Better to use it sparingly, only when needed.
“I should get myself some kind of vehicle.”
Ian muttered that and glanced sideways at the two grimoires he’d left on the desk.
When they first met, they had gone at each other so fiercely, but now they were quiet again.
Had they made up, or had they accepted each other’s existence?
He didn’t know, but it was still better than them fighting every single time.
Ian stacked the two grimoires cover to cover and tapped their backs as he said,
“Play nice. I’m sleeping.”
With that, Ian lay down on the bed and pulled the blanket over himself.
As time passed and Ian’s breathing evened out, the two grimoires started fighting again.
[Humm!]
[Humm? Humm~]
The pure white book raged, and the black book sneered.
[Hummm!!]
In the end, the Hand of Re-creation made the first move.
In the pre-dawn hours, when everyone was asleep.
The two grimoires’ fierce battle began.