Episode 33: Celine’s Legacy
“So, this is Celine Dufour’s house. What she was doing in her later years has always been a mystery. It’s been three hundred years, so I thought it would be impossible to investigate now… You never know how life will connect you. Still, it’s in such good condition. Were you managing it, Misty?”
Rosette, gazing up at Celine’s mansion, muttered with deep emotion before addressing Misty, who stood beside her.
“Yes. This is a place of memories for me and Master. Even after I was left alone, I didn’t want to forget our time together. It’s a place just for the two of us, so I never thought I’d bring anyone else here… or so I thought.”
Misty had brought us here.
I couldn’t know exactly what that meant to her.
After all, we were just strangers who had met less than half a month ago.
Even so, I felt like Misty had changed since the first time we met. I hoped it was a change for the better. If we were the reason for that, I’d be very honored.
Me, Mizuha, Rosette, and Misty joined our hands in front of Celine’s grave.
The way to mourn the dead wasn’t that different between Earth and this world.
We didn’t chant “Namu Amida Butsu,” but we prayed in our hearts that she could rest in peace.
“The library is this way. Inside, there’s a Forbidden Book.”
Guided by Misty, we walked through the house.
There were mainly two reasons why we came here.
One was that Rosette had said, “I want to see Celine’s collection.”
The other was because Misty had asked, “There’s a book I can’t open no matter what. It seems to be guarded by magic… I don’t want to force it open and tear it. But I don’t have the skills to undo the seal Master put on it… Could you help me?”
Celine Dufour, an ancient mage whom even Rosette respected.
What could be written in a book that such a person had to seal?
Even I was curious.
“Ho ho! Wonderful! There must be ten thousand books here! To collect this many books before the invention of printing, Celine was indeed something else. She seems to have been a voracious reader, not just of magic books. And they’re so neatly organized. Did you do this?”
As Rosette said, the library was beautiful.
It wasn’t just that the books were on the shelves. The carpets and curtains were elegant. The amount of light coming through the windows was gentle, so it wouldn’t damage the books. However, the area where the chairs were lined up was bright enough not to interfere with reading.
Even if you weren’t a book lover, you’d feel like “Maybe I’ll read a bit” when you stepped in here.
“No. Master kept it like this since she was alive. I just dusted it occasionally.”
“Celine was very meticulous. I should learn from her a little…”
“The Forbidden Book is this one.”
Misty walked through the forest of bookshelves without hesitation and took out a book.
It had no title.
The binding was simple.
It was as big and thick as a dictionary, but that was because they couldn’t make paper thinner with the technology of the time, which was normal considering the era.
“Hmm… This is quite a heavy seal. But judging from the way the book is worn, it seems to have been opened many times daily. If you know the key spell, it seems easy to open… but conversely, if you don’t know the key… where do you even start? Hmm…”
Rosette groaned, staring at the book, walking around, and sitting in a chair, acting suspiciously.
I didn’t want to disturb her. But if Rosette asked for help, I wanted to respond immediately, so we quietly read books ourselves.
After a while—
“Alright, I’ve decided. I’ll give up on deciphering the key. I’ll force it open from the outside, but carefully. Mizuha, lend me your magical power. Celine’s seal is strong and precise, but it’s loosened after three hundred years. With my and Mizuha’s magical power, we should be able to force it open without damaging the book.”
“Okay. Use as much as you want.”
“Rosette. Can you use magic with someone else’s magical power…?”
“Yes. Of course, only if they agree. If I could use other people’s magical power without limit, I’d be truly invincible.”
“That’s amazing technology, even with consent… Then use my magical power too.”
“…I’m used to Mizuha’s, but I don’t like Akito’s magical power because it’s unknown.”
She said it with a straight face. I was a little shocked.
“Um… Akito-san’s black magical power, I think it’s cool. So please don’t be discouraged.”
Misty patted my head to encourage me.
She was like an older sister… no, she actually was older. She’s been alive for at least three hundred years.
“Ah. I’m sorry, that was sudden and rude… I was happy when Master did this to me, so I just…”
“…Thank you. I do feel a little better.”
“I’m glad to hear that…!”
“Hey, Akito-kun. You’re not allowed to flirt with girls other than me!”
Mizuha glared at me. Then she,
“Hey, Misty-chan. Pat me later too, okay?”
She asked.
You’re asking Misty instead of me?
With the atmosphere relaxed, Rosette and Mizuha worked together to send magical power into the book.
To be more precise, Mizuha sent magical power to Rosette, who controlled it and channeled both of their power into the book.
Particles of light flew around the book.
They drew patterns like magic circles or electrical circuits.
I thought I had studied magic quite a bit, but what Rosette was doing was too advanced for me to understand.
“…Alright! I’ve enjoyed the genius’s sealing technique. But we have three hundred years of wisdom here. I’ll undo it!”
The particles of light rotated regularly, and then, there was a click, like a key opening.
Rosette put her hand on the cover. It opened slightly.
There was no curse overflowing from the gap between the cover and the pages. There was no explosion or scattering of electricity.
“Um, Rosette-san. Could you let me open the rest…?”
“That’s right. You’re strong enough. You should be able to handle any traps. But we’ll be right next to you.”
“Yes. Please.”
Misty sat in a chair and lowered her gaze to the book.
As if she were talking to Celine, she slowly opened it.
Only the sound of pages turning could be heard in the library.
“This… Master’s diary…?”