Chapter 106
Though the contract signing was finished, I stayed longer at Enigma.
One could say I unexpectedly hit it off well with Ms. Book.
Ms. Book was also from a training center, and between talking about that and the Abyss, our conversation never dried up.
Plus, I barely needed to talk as Ms. Book took about 70-80% of the conversation.
Even when she started talking like a flood once she got going, it wasn't boring.
That was because while talking, if I didn't understand well, Ms. Book would draw pictures on her pages to show images, and later even became a pop-up book showing three-dimensional movements.
There was lots of useful information too, and seeing my attentive listening attitude made her talk more excitedly, to the point where I started feeling somewhat sorry thinking she must have been quite lonely.
"Ah~ That was fun, it's been a while."
"I enjoyed it too."
"Come to think of it, I haven't told you my name yet?"
You noticed quickly.
Well, I haven't properly introduced myself either, so we're even.
"I'm Roman Sun. Though you know that."
"Yes. Though I know. I'm Alice. Eternally 17. A shy literature girl."
"I can tell both of those aren't true."
"They're both true!"
Believe what's believable.
What about your conscience?
Well, maybe the shy literature girl part is true? Like communicating through a book because she can't face people.
You know the type.
People who clam up face-to-face but become Lü Bu online.
Looking at it that way, maybe it's not entirely a lie.
"Well! Anyway, I'll give you some advice for listening so well."
"Advice?"
"Yeah. You don't use that grimoire at all, do you?" Alice asked confidently as if she could tell at a glance.
"That's right."
"Because it's a blank grimoire?"
"...Yes?"
You can tell that too?
Well, that book was clearly an S-rank artifact and also a kind of grimoire.
Someone who handled something like that as their own body probably wouldn't fail to recognize a blank grimoire.
"How long will you wait for it to complete itself? Rather than waiting for completion, you should make it complete. Even if not fully complete, it's better to make it usable to some degree."
"Is that something I can control?"
Mystery dwelling in objects required time.
Isn't that common sense?
"That's for normal grimoires. This is already a completed grimoire. Just with its contents erased. So you just need to fill in the content," saying this, Alice shook herself, and the chain unwound itself as the blank grimoire floated up.
"Let's see?"
Flip.
There wasn't much to flip through.
Alice stopped turning pages the moment she turned the first page.
"Hmm? Something's already written?"
"What?"
I had no idea.
At some point, I'd started thinking of the blank grimoire as just decoration and hadn't thought to open it.
"Hmm? Interesting. Why would this be written?"
Wondering what caused such a reaction, I moved beside Alice.
And saw these words written in the blank grimoire:
「I shall take your karma.」
「Thus I shall set you free.」
"Ah...!"
"Seems you recognize something?"
The moment I saw it, I intuitively realized when this was written.
This is, Mea's...
This came from when I took Mea's price without a doubt.
I was certain the moment I saw it.
"That's good. Many people don't know why such things are written even when they're the ones who caused it. 'Know thyself.' That's the first button of being a magic scholar. You'd make a good magic scholar? Want to change professions?"
"Sorry, but Devil Sorcerer is my calling."
"Really? That's too bad."
Your tone doesn't sound very regretful though.
"I'm serious! If you're willing to become a magic scholar, I might take you as my assistant? Ah, instead of the subsidiary guild contract, come in as an apprentice. I'll treat you well."
"I'm fine. Rather, I'd like more explanation about the grimoire."
I understand it started filling itself, but what more can I do here?
Even that writing appeared without my knowledge.
"There's something you need to do first when handling a blank grimoire. What is it?"
"Quiz time!" Alice floated around me in circles, constantly muttering questions like, "What could it be?"
At this rate, Cheshire might suit her better than Alice.
Anyway, I should answer the question.
"Um, giving it a title?"
"You...!"
Was I wrong?
"You're smart! This won't do. You really should become a magic scholar. It's not too late! Magic scholars can start late!"
"Devil Sorcerer is my calling, I said. Anyway, about the title..."
"A grimoire should be judgeable by its cover."
"...Isn't that backwards? I thought you shouldn't judge a book by its cover."
"That's for regular books. Grimoires are different. In the big picture, this is magic too."
Makes sense when you hear it.
Just like magic, isn't it?
Naming magic served to give a clear image by fixing the name, making it easier to draw out the same effect.
At the same time, it amplified power by adding the mystery inherent in names themselves.
Incantations worked on similar principles.
If that was the case, wouldn't the same principle apply to grimoires that hold mystery and inscribe magic?
"That makes sense. If I give it a title, the blank grimoire would follow that direction too. Since it creates a framework and rules, recording should be faster too?"
"Exactly!"
Usually, a blank grimoire's title was determined in the middle or end, but by reversing this and forcibly giving it a title, one could aim for quick completion.
While this meant giving up the grimoire's maximum potential, it had the advantage of raising the minimum while allowing quick practical use.
The difference between waiting for an uncertain peak or raising the floor while getting desired abilities.
Isn't the latter better?
Going for the former might risk ending up with nothing at all.
"Once the first line is written, you can consider the direction somewhat set. If you'd decided the title right when you received it, you could have had complete control, but you're a bit late?"
"Should I just leave it then?"
"Not necessarily. You can name it to match those lines. Though the direction is somewhat limited."
Alice carefully examined the lines again and said, "Hmm... since it mentions taking karma, you could use it for ability analysis, theft, sealing. Or emphasizing 'shall set free,' nullification and dispelling would work too."
Like a veteran Explorer and magic scholar, Alice quickly found usable angles.
"Besides direction, how do you reflect the title once decided?"
"You inscribe it in magic letters. See how the cover's empty? You write it there. With mana. It might get erased at first, but keep writing and it'll stay. You could outsource to Word Mages or Magic Scholars, but I don't recommend it. It's your grimoire after all. Better to train it from the start, even for later. Though troublesome, it's not that difficult."
"I see. Thank you for telling me."
"So, have any title ideas?"
"Since I'm not sure what kind of ability I need, I'll have to think about it."
I should probably get my Patron Devils' opinions too.
Though Seir's naming sense was a bit weird, she was reliable for ability consulting.
Even now, my magic combination was the result of Seir's consulting.
"You're careful. That's not bad either. But don't spend too long thinking. Wasting time is a sin, remember?"
"I'll keep that in mind."
Just as I was thinking it might be time to leave-
Bang bang bang!
The sound of someone roughly pounding on the door handle.
I sighed at the thought of what inconsiderate person would do something so rude.
"Since we're a subsidiary guild now, I'll go check."
"Ooh, good, such initiative."
Alice repeatedly opened and closed herself as if clapping.
And approaching the door, I heard a very familiar voice.
"Roman! I know you're still in there! Come out! How long are you going to stay?"
"Ah..."
So it was you, Rei-Rei.
§
"I seriously can't live comfortably because of you."
"Well, you should have come out quickly then."
After practically fleeing Enigma with a red face, I immediately got scolded by Rei.
The time... is a bit late.
"You think contracts are that easy? You don't appreciate my hard work."
"Yeah. You think I don't know you finished the contract right away? You were just chatting. It's been almost half a year."
Rei confidently counters, saying I couldn't fool her.
Fighting dirty with facts, are we?
"So who did you gather?"
I tried to subtly change the subject.
Rei looked at me with half-closed eyes, and as if saying she knew what I was doing but would play along, blurted out, "For now, Red and the minions. Elowen will probably be called by Leaf. Thought about calling Trash but he's in the Abyss so pass."
The ones Rei called Red and minions were the Alexandria School trio, and the one she called Trash was our classmate Dustin Challoner.
The former was Rei's personal nickname, but everyone used the latter.
Poor Dust—actually no.
"Also called the Dhampir. Philon seemed busy, I sent a message but no response yet."
"You worked hard going around."
"Huh? I just borrowed a communication crystal from the Union? Why waste time running around when the city's so big?"
...She's smart.