Chapter 5
## Chapter Text
The Library.
I sought out the Librarian because, in the end, I was stuck.
“I understand it, but I can't accept it. It feels like I'm forcibly cramming knowledge from another world into my head.”
“To understand it, you first need to acquire mana, but Jereun, you cannot use mana.”
Dercia replied, reading her book without even glancing up, as if stating the obvious.
I couldn't even grasp her words, so I asked again.
“Is it because my Deep Realm is what it is that I can't use mana?”
“Hmm”
Dercia set down the book she was reading, thought for a moment, and then began to explain.
“The only difference between a Mage and an ordinary human is the ability to store mana. The method of using stored mana is called Magic.”
“Where does mana come from?”
“It is naturally generated everywhere in the world. Of course, there are some places where mana is scarce. However, there is no place where it is entirely absent. While the difference in a Mage's skill naturally includes the difference in their level of magicology, the most fundamental difference lies in the Sacred Ring that stores mana.”
“A Sacred Ring?”
“Yes.”
I met the Librarian's gaze.
Dercia looked at me, and I looked back at Dercia.
Her eyes were beautiful, and perhaps I stared a little too long without realizing it, as her expressionless face wavered slightly.
“Do you perhaps not know what a Sacred Ring is?”
“Ah.”
*Is this one of those situations?*
*Like, “how could a Noble not know that?”*
If I say I know, I'll be lying, and if I say I don't, I'll be suspected.
As I tensed up, anticipating the worst, the flow around Dercia suddenly changed.
No, the *Current* changed.
In reality, nothing happened, but the *Current* I perceived swirled around her, creating a massive waterspout. As I instinctively stepped back to avoid being swept away by the flow, she approached me.
*Is she trying to kill me?*
“Do not worry. This flow of mana will not harm you.”
“...Right.”
Dercia didn't seem to have any such intention. For some reason, even though the *Current* that had been pushing me around had become such a large waterspout, it had no effect on me.
Dercia came very close, bent down, and took my cheek in her hand.
Then she thrust her face close to mine. It looked as if she was about to kiss me.
I resisted with all my might.
“Th-this is a violation of Imperial law! I'm still a minor...”
...Do not speak such nonsense. Just look into my eyes.
“Your eyes?”
In Dercia's eyes, something sparkling was swimming in a circle.
As I was mesmerized by this extremely peculiar sight, something not seen in ordinary beings, she offered further explanation.
“You should see small stars. How many are there?”
“...I see nine.”
“The number of these stars represents the total amount of mana that can be stored. Since I have awakened nine stars, I am in the Composition Realm.”
“Is that a high level?”
“There are currently fewer than 30 Mages who have reached the Composition Realm. So, yes, I am at a somewhat high level. However, even I have not reached the Heavenly Realm. Why do you think that is?”
“I think it's because reaching the Heavenly Realm is truly difficult.”
“No.”
“Then what is it?”
“It's because reaching the Heavenly Realm is *truly, truly, genuinely* difficult.”
I glared at Dercia, still holding my cheek.
Dercia nonchalantly released my cheek, returned to her seat, and continued speaking.
“That is no exaggeration. The Heavenly Realm is the World of Idea. It is a world where a Mage's enlightenment transcends the laws and rules of this world... in other words, a new world. Mages who reach that place have created their own worlds, making them akin to gods, and they are said to have “reached the heavens” out of respect.”
“Yes, I understand that it's *truly, truly, genuinely* difficult. So what does that have to do with me not being able to use mana?”
“Mages in this world acquire, store, and use pure mana that can become anything. So, where do Mages who have reached the Heavenly Realm store their mana?”
...They could store it in the world they created.”
“Half right. They don't need to store mana. They merely project the mana from the world they created into this world. The meaning of the Sacred Ring becomes obsolete. What meaning would having nine stars or ten stars possibly have? The night sky of the world they created would be filled with more stars than one could count in a thousand years.”
I roughly understood Dercia's words and nodded.
“You said the difference between the Deep Realm and the Heavenly Realm is merely whether one is the Ruler or the primary adversary of the world they created, correct?”
“That is correct. Jereun, you cannot draw mana from this world. Perhaps from your own world, but not from this one.”
“So, this movement I call *Current* is my mana and my Magic?”
“That is also correct. Therefore, no one in this world will be able to teach Jereun about mana. No knowledge I possess would be applicable in that world.”
“Huh...”
I moved the *Current* and made a book float.
Honestly, I didn't even know if this was real Magic. I just thought it was some kind of trick or shortcut.
“I don't even know what I'm supposed to do with this.”
“The world is not structured simply enough for a novice Mage, who suffered a fever less than a week ago, to understand. If it were, it would collapse in less than a second.”
“Hmm... How do ordinary Mages gather mana?”
“Even if you learned it, it would be useless. The laws of your world are different, making it difficult to predict what might happen, so I cannot recommend it.”
“Still, I want to try. I don't have anything else I can do right now.”
“...Mana Collection is possible simply by breathing. Since it hasn't been long since you suffered the fever, you would have already gathered a certain amount of mana in a normal situation.”
“Really?”
“Yes. But in reality, you likely have no mana at all. Just as creatures living underground and those living in the sky have different physical structures, Mages of this world and Mages of Jereun's world are completely different...”
I let Dercia's words go in one ear and out the other, pulling out a Basic Magic Tome and opening it.
She's an excellent librarian, but when she gets on a topic she knows, she talks too much. It seems better to just half-listen.
As I looked through the most basic spells, I found something interesting.
<F1>Luminescence</F1> was a Magic that created a small <F1>Sphere of Light</F1> to illuminate the surroundings, acting as a light source. If I could use this, it seemed incredibly useful. The Orphanage had difficulty lighting up, making it an unsuitable environment for reading at night.
Following the instructions, I concentrated until I felt a tingling sensation in my wrist, imagining the sun—
Pop—
“Whoa, that's tough.”
Suddenly, I felt all the energy drain from my body. Nevertheless, I succeeded in creating a bright *Sphere of Light* above my hand.
I proudly held up the *Sphere of Light* and showed it off.
“I made this! Do I have talent perhaps?”
“...?”
Dercia stared blankly at the Magic I had just performed for a long time.
***
“This is impossible.”
“But I did it.”
“I simply cannot comprehend how Jereun, someone from *that* world, can use *this* world's Magic. It's like a mole without wings flying through the sky.”
“That's certainly strange. But I did it.”
“This is not something to be dismissed so easily. Perhaps your mind hasn't fully adapted to *that* world yet...? No, if you had fallen into the Deep Realm immediately after suffering the fever, then the world would have already been complete...”
After enduring Dercia's muttering for about ten minutes, I brought up the main point.
“So, can I learn Magic?”
“...Come here for a moment.”
As I stood beside Dercia, she once again scrutinized my eyes.
“Would you try using Magic?”
“Yes.”
I created a *Sphere of Light* once more.
Dercia murmured with a dazed expression.
“It truly exists... I see one star.”
“Really? Why can't I see it?”
“It's not something that appears in your field of vision. In any case... it should be possible. As long as you've manifested a star, you can learn Magic in the ordinary way.”
“That's the first good news I've heard since becoming a Mage. Can I just teach myself now?”
“It will be difficult. Learning Magic through self-study is something that only happens in novels.”
“What am I supposed to do if I don't have a Master?”
“What? Wouldn't you just go to the Academy?”
“How do I go?”
“Jereun.”
Dercia looked at me and said.
“You're not a Noble.”
“...”
She found out.
I feigned indifference and whistled. Dercia sighed and set down her book.
“Tell me your story.”
...I'm sorry.
“You haven't done anything to me, so it doesn't concern me. And I wasn't asking for an apology.”
“Well, actually, I'm an orphan born in the orphanage next door—”
I recounted my short life story, and Dercia's expression turned incredulous.
“You certainly have a lot of nerve. Do you know the penalty for Impersonation of a Noble?”
“Yes. I heard they cut out your tongue.”
“Weren't you scared?”
“I'm so young, surely they wouldn't actually cut it out? If I cried and wet myself, they'd probably let me off.”
“Indeed...”
Dercia, who had been nodding, quickly snapped out of it and retorted sharply.
“If you were truly going to deceive a Noble, you should have gathered more knowledge. Nobles are guaranteed entry into the Academy.”
“What about Commoners?”
“If you're a Special Talent Student, there's a possibility.”
“Can I become a Special Talent Student?”
“No. If you had that kind of talent, I would surely know.”
“...”
“Strictly speaking, there isn't *any* way. Try this.”
Dercia told me a trick. It seemed more useful than I expected, so I nodded and expressed my gratitude.
“Thank you. I'm always receiving help.”
“Don't mention it.”
...Please speak to me less formally. You know I'm a Commoner now, don't you?”
“I do not speak informally unless I am close to someone.”
Dercia returned her gaze to her book. I watched her for a moment, then suddenly asked a question.
“Dercia.”
“Yes.”
“You're not a librarian, are you?”
Dercia froze for about ten seconds before replying.
...That is correct. How did you know?
“The Empire isn't foolish enough to employ one of the fewer than 30 Great Mages in the entire world as a Librarian.”
“Hmm. I have been told that it is my weakness to lose my composure and speak without discretion when it comes to matters of Magic.”
“You seem like a very important person, so why are you helping me?”
“I merely offer advice; I have never directly helped you.”
“Well, that's true. Then why do you offer advice? I can't do anything for you.”
“You are, after all, on borrowed time. Extending a little mercy to such a person is merely...”
Dercia paused mid-sentence.
She seemed to be analyzing her own words.
“...No, that's not it.”
“Eh?”
“Jereun, I have a slight interest in you.”
Dercia looked at me with eyes whose focus I couldn't discern.
“You were born with a peculiar constitution. Truly... peculiar.”
“Ah, so that's what piques your interest.”
“No. While that is also peculiar, I am interested in your nature.”
“My nature...?”
“Yes.”
Honestly, the way she looked at me, as if I were an inanimate object,
“When you eventually meet your end, please return to this Library. That is the price for the advice I offer.”
“...Why?”
“I wish to see with my own eyes what you choose as your final struggle against the inevitable end. I am curious how efficiently meaningless it will be.”
“...”
...I felt a bit offended.