Chapter 202 – The Book of Captives

After the farm work had settled down for a while, Cecilia brought us some shaved ice. Since the weather was nice, I decided to eat it outside and take a break with everyone.

“Pumpkins, huh? I’m looking forward to the harvest.”

“There are some experimental aspects too, but I’m looking forward to those as well.”

“Yes. I’ve… always liked the pumpkin pies that Mihaela-sama makes.”

“Is that so? If we get a harvest that’s good enough to eat, it might be nice to have her bake us some pies.”

At those words, Mihaela straightened her posture and bowed her head.

“I don’t know if it will suit your taste, but if my baking is acceptable…”

“Please let us help you when the time comes,” said Grace and Cecilia.

Mihaela showed a gentle smile, nodded, and elegantly brought the shaved ice to her mouth.

“…Speaking of which, are there any unusual crops in the Labyrinth Village?”

Curious, I asked Claudia. It wouldn’t be bad to try cultivating something rare if they had it. Since there are seasonal considerations like sowing seeds and planting, it’s better to make plans early.

At my words, Claudia showed a thoughtful expression before answering.

“There aren’t particularly rare agricultural products… but there might be something that could be called a specialty product. I’m not very knowledgeable about worldly matters, so I’m not sure.”

“A specialty product, huh? It might be good to consider selling it. Like selling only what we receive.”

If we only sell what we receive, the burden on production would be light.

“That might be good. It’s the clothing that the village residents wear, but it’s made from fabric woven from thread spun by the Arachnes.”

“That’s… certainly unusual.”

“Would it be something we could sell?”

Claire, who was eating shaved ice, seemed unsure…

“Actually, in Termwills, clothes woven from water spider silk by Mermaids and Sirens are imported through trade and sold. It might be good to ask an expert. Of course, we’ll only proceed if we get positive opinions.”

“In that case, I’ll ask the other Arachnes.”

Hmm. If we could sell that fabric here, use the money earned to buy outside goods, and bring prosperity to the Labyrinth Village… it would essentially become a form of trade.

“The Arachnes seem enthusiastic. They had some fabric before tailoring, so I brought it with me… what do you think?”

That evening, I got a response from Claudia. She let me touch the fabric she was holding, and it had a very nice texture. Spider silk, huh? I’ve heard that as thread, it’s actually quite durable. If that’s the case, Arachne Thread should also have excellent durability.

“Then I’ll take that to town and ask around.”

The tailor who helped us with the Lunaworm coat before would be good. I’ll go with Miriam another day.

“They said they want to try whether it can be sold as a product,” Claudia said with a smile.

Yeah. It seems to be stimulating them in various ways, which is good.

While relaxing in the Japanese-style room and thinking about the fabric, I received a communication from Alfred on the Communication Device.

“Can you come to the North Tower now? There seems to be a problem.”

…A problem at the North Tower? It must involve Rosemary… but what could have happened?

Although it’s a communication from Alfred, I should probably consider it as coming from King Melvin.

“…I need to go to the Royal Castle for a bit. It seems there’s something to discuss about Rosemary. I might be late.”

“Understood.”

“I’ll leave Caduceus here. If anything happens, contact me via the Communication Device.”

…I’ll take Ouroboros with me. Who knows what might happen. Putting on my Chimera Coat, I replied that I would head over immediately, then went to where Lindwurm was playing with the Carbuncles in the courtyard.

“To the Royal Castle.”

Mounting Lindwurm’s back, I announced our destination, and he let out a cry. After waiting for the Carbuncles to move away, he took flight.

Rushing to the Royal Castle, I landed near the Dragon Stable and headed to the North Tower. The guards at the entrance seemed normal. Apparently, it’s not an escape situation.

Riding the Floating Stone, I ascended to the upper floors of the North Tower. Passing through the corridor, I showed my face at Rosemary’s room to find King Melvin was there. Several servants stationed at the North Tower were also present. Rosemary… seemed to be sitting still in her chair.

“You’ve come,” said King Melvin, his expression somewhat stiff.

“What happened?”

“Hmm. Rosemary’s condition is strange. It’s somewhat beyond my ability to handle.”

I looked at Rosemary. I had noticed it since entering the room… the abnormality was obvious.

Her expression was so lifeless that you’d believe it if told she was a Doll. Her eyes remained hazy, as if all emotion had been stripped away. Certainly, this could be called an abnormal situation.

Judging from the circumstances, a servant probably noticed the abnormality and reported it to King Melvin.

If I had to guess, it might be a Magic Potion. Or something else… If it’s a Magic Potion, it should be possible to remove it later with the Amulet of Evil Repulsion, but…

“Excuse me.”

I touched Rosemary’s hand and performed Circulating Ki.

The flow of Magical Power is strange. It’s very low… or rather, it seems to be leaking outside her body somehow…

Following her Magical Power slowly, as if tracing a thin thread. Where it leads to is—

“…Who discovered her first?”

“I-It was me,” a servant timidly raised her hand.

“Could you tell me in detail about the situation at that time?”

“Well… when I noticed, she was in this state. I had brought her dinner, but she didn’t respond when I called… I thought she was doing research at her desk as usual, but…”

I see…

There was a single book placed on the desk. Rosemary’s Magical Power seemed to be being absorbed into that book.

It must be a Spell Formula similar to Curse Magic. The book’s pages were left open, but since they were left like that and no one except Rosemary had experienced abnormalities, it seemed that merely looking at it wouldn’t cause anything to happen. The written characters appeared to be from quite an old era, and at a glance, it was impossible to tell what was written.

Ancient characters, huh… This is, well…

I used the Communication Device to make contact. After briefly explaining the situation, I received a reply after a short while.

“That’s a magical trap set by ancient Magicians. They embed it in books to capture the souls of those who understand the meaning of specific pages, drawing them into the world within the book.”

That was the content of Claudia’s response.

Capture, huh… It’s fortunate it wasn’t an immediately fatal trap… but she said it’s problematic because if left alone, it would be the same as Magical Power depletion.

“What’s the method for breaking the curse?”

“From the outside, it’s impossible except for the one who set the trap. From the inside, it’s possible… by defeating the guard, though it requires using force… I hear the book’s jailer is quite formidable.”

According to Claudia, the Spell Formula only works by leaving an escape route from the inside, thereby increasing the risk to enhance its effectiveness. So even if captured by the book, it doesn’t mean immediate doom. Inside the book, you can fight just like outside… but of course, that also means the jailer is strengthened accordingly.

It’s probably a trap to counter those who would disturb the study.

For a forbidden book archive, such traps would be prepared, I suppose. From the perspective of the one who set the trap, they can do whatever they want—boil, roast, prepare as they like—with the opponent who’s been captured and turned into a doll-like state.

Let me organize the situation. So Rosemary attempted to decipher the Ancient Document with the trap set in it, and got captured by the book.

Self-rescue would be impossible for Rosemary, who has her Magic sealed. To go in after her for a Rescue… I need to understand the meaning of the Ancient Document’s pages. Around the book were Rosemary’s notes. There was also a comparison table of the characters Rosemary had deciphered. With this…

“The situation has become clear.”

After explaining Claudia’s information and the countermeasures I’d considered to King Melvin, he furrowed his brows and closed his eyes.

“What will happen if she stays like this?”

“It would be the same as continuing in a state close to Magical Power depletion. If she can’t get out for a long time, she’ll weaken and waste away… eventually, that is.”

King Melvin made a pained expression. That said, my course of action was already decided.

“…I’m thinking of going into the book.”

“—You, huh? But considering what she did, it wouldn’t be right to make you cross such a dangerous bridge.”

“That may be so, but that’s that. Part of why she’s in this state is because she was assisting with my work… and above all, I can’t stand the part about her weakening.”

The situation of a family member just watching their relative weaken is sickening even from a bystander’s perspective.

Entrusting it to the Knight Order is impossible. Understanding the Grimoire’s content is necessary. The Mage Corps might be able to go after her, but… Claudia said the opponent is quite formidable. With half-baked skills, we might end up with a double disaster.

In any case, in this situation, I don’t have the option of leaving it to others. To avoid tasting such bitterness ever again, I want to become much, much stronger.

“May I take her and the book to the mansion? If I don’t return, please send reinforcements.”

Saying this with a smile, King Melvin agonized for quite a long time… but eventually told me.

“My apologies… I must say this not as a king, but as a single father. Please forgive my foolishness for always putting you on the front lines.”

“No. I choose my own battlefields. This is the result of that.”

Well then… The book’s gatekeeper, huh? I wonder what kind of opponent it is.