Chapter 34
The Book of Calamity (2)
At the very center of the underground library stood a massive stone tablet.
It did not look like an ordinary slab of rock. Its surface was ominously black, while the characters engraved into it were as red as blood.
More than ten skeletons were even wrapped tightly around the tablet, as though attempting to conceal the engraved words.
Johan was somewhat startled, but he spoke as calmly as possible.
“So you found the Forbidden Archive after all.”
The stone tablet before him had been lying dormant inside the Forbidden Archive.
“The most obvious place truly is the hardest to see. I never imagined it would be hidden in plain sight beneath the lord’s castle.”
The Myatro territory was vast. Since it also encompassed the Abyss, people sometimes speculated that the baronial family’s treasury was buried somewhere within it.
Consequently, neither bandits nor tomb robbers could easily target the treasury.
Ilea was different.
Not only did she have no fear of the Abyss, but she also had a rough idea of the Forbidden Archive’s location.
It was thanks to the legacy of Archwitch Rachel.
The forbidden artifacts sleeping within the archive had continuously drawn Ilea toward them.
It was as though she possessed a guide. Through this connection, Ilea had become the first person to discover the Forbidden Archive in the original story.
“You found it sooner than I expected.”
“You don’t seem particularly surprised.”
“I knew you would find it someday. It merely happened sooner than I anticipated.”
“It was all thanks to the young master.”
Smiling with her eyes, Ilea looked toward the round table.
Raguel was sitting there. He flinched and lowered his head.
“J-Johan, I’m sorry. Before I knew it, I had...”
Entry into the Forbidden Archive required the blood and fingerprints of a Myatro family member. Without Raguel’s assistance, even Ilea couldn’t have descended into it.
Patting Raguel on the back, Ilea said,
“Johan, please don’t scold him too harshly. The young master had no choice because of my suggestion spell.”
Apparently, she had used some sort of magic to manipulate him.
She used Baron Grian in the original story, but this time she chose Raguel.
Events had changed somewhat.
But such a minor change hardly mattered.
“Raguel, don’t be discouraged. I have no intention of blaming you.”
Ilea let out a quiet exclamation.
“How magnanimous of you. Since you’re so generous, I’m sure you won’t object to sharing the Forbidden Archive with me. That place is truly... beyond description.”
Desire flickered in her eyes.
Anyone who witnessed the Forbidden Archive would react similarly.
As a witch, she was bound to find it even more fascinating.
Johan briefly considered the matter.
Ilea discovering the Forbidden Archive was inevitable.
He had prepared himself for this long ago.
He had considered various solutions and simulated how each situation might unfold, but ultimately there was only one conclusion.
Monopolizing the Forbidden Archive is impossible.
He had no justification for restricting her access, and attempting to stop her by force would only create a serious conflict.
Since they were working on the same side, damaging their relationship would be unwise.
For the time being, sharing it was the correct decision.
Johan nodded.
“You found it through your own efforts, so you also have a right to the Forbidden Archive.”
“That reaction is quite unexpected.”
“However, since we’ll be using it together, we will need rules.”
“I agree. What specific rules do you have in mind?”
“We can discuss that later. For now, I want an explanation about the Book of Calamity.”
Johan looked at the massive stone tablet.
“So you recognize it after all.”
The tablet was the Book of Calamity.
More precisely, it was the original version of the scripture—its first chapter.
“Why did you bring it out?”
“To investigate your true nature.”
“With the Book of Calamity?”
“That’s right. It will be the first step in my research.”
The Book of Calamity was a corrupted relic that automatically recorded accomplishments contributing to the end of the world.
If the Holy Scripture was a hymn dedicated to heroes and gods, the Book of Calamity was a requiem for demons and Apostles.
How could she possibly use it to conduct research?
Johan couldn’t understand.
“Explain it in a way I can understand.”
Ilea smiled gently and nodded.
“Before we begin, allow me to explain several suspicions I have.”
She moved closer to Johan.
The sun had already set, so Johan had transformed into a demon.
“As you are now, Johan, your race changes according to whether it is day or night. It is a condition without precedent. Furthermore, you could speak from the moment you were born and already possessed perfect awareness. At least, that is what my father testified. Is everything I’ve said correct so far?”
There was another explanation for his language and awareness, but Johan couldn’t tell her the truth.
He could hardly confess that he had transmigrated into a novel.
“You are correct.”
“Furthermore, you can interfere directly with souls. You used that power to threaten Baron Grian and turn the knight Rael into a puppet.”
That was true.
As an additional effect of his authority, Soul Slaying, Johan could even perceive other people’s souls.
He could also distinguish the Demonic Soul possessed by a witch.
Johan’s gaze naturally fell upon Ilea’s chest.
“So you can see it—my true form.”
A dark crimson Demonic Soul flickered within her.
“I won’t deny it.”
“Please don’t stare too intently. It’s embarrassing.”
Smiling playfully, she crossed her arms over her chest.
Johan sighed.
“We’re getting sidetracked. Returning to the matter at hand, what significance does my ability to interfere directly with souls have?”
Ilea’s expression grew serious again.
“To be blunt, your authority is profoundly blasphemous. It is a power that challenges God’s authority. According to the Holy Scripture, the body may perish, but the soul is eternal. Once the body dies, the soul that remains is destined to ascend. Your power robs it even of that opportunity. It denies the very doctrine upon which the Church is founded.”
The people of this world believed in an afterlife.
The authority Soul Slaying deprived them even of the chance to return to God’s embrace.
From a religious perspective, it was undeniably an exceptionally wicked power.
“It is difficult to believe that such power would be granted to a mortal.”
“And what is your conclusion?”
“One last point. You weren’t overwhelmed by the Apostle’s presence. If anything, you were the one trampling him beneath your feet.”
No matter how strong-willed an intelligent being might be, it would inevitably shrink before a greater existence.
Yet Johan had shown no such reaction.
It was inexplicable.
“Based on these circumstances, I arrived at a single hypothesis.”
Ilea pointed toward the Book of Calamity.
“Would you try touching it? If my theory is correct, it will undoubtedly react.”
Only an Apostle could read the original Book of Calamity.
“...I understand your hypothesis.”
Ilea suspected that Johan was an Apostle.
“But you’re mistaken. Only twelve Apostles exist in this world. That is an immutable law.”
Ilea shook her head.
“We don’t know even the tip of the iceberg that is this world. We lack far too many pieces of the puzzle to be certain of anything. If we bind ourselves to supposed truths and immutable laws, we’ll never uncover even the world’s outline.”
She wasn’t wrong, but Johan remained skeptical.
There was a valid reason the Apostles numbered exactly twelve.
He knew because he had read the original story.
After studying Johan’s expression, Ilea said,
“There’s nothing to lose by trying. At worst, nothing happens.”
Johan shrugged.
“Well, I’ll lose a few minutes at most.”
It wasn’t a significant loss.
Johan approached the enormous stone tablet.
He slowly extended his hand.
Quiet anticipation appeared in Ilea’s eyes.
Johan, however, remained expressionless.
At the exact moment Raguel hiccupped, Johan’s hand touched the Book of Calamity.
***
In a dark alley during the dead of night, long after curfew had fallen, a hooded man and woman spoke in hushed voices.
“Is that the extent of the unusual activity?”
“Yes, Inquisitor. Since this was only my first day, I have nothing else worth reporting.”
“No, that is enough. The mere fact that the Baron does not know the whereabouts of his knight Rael allows us to make quite a few deductions.”
“...In truth, it is understandable that the Baron would not know.”
“What do you mean?”
“Baron Grian Myatro was not the person who truly controlled the lord’s castle. He appears to have withdrawn from the forefront of power.”
“Have you identified the person acting in the Baron’s place?”
“I cannot be certain yet, but I believe it is the Baron’s eldest son. In practice, I conducted every discussion with that boy.”
“The Baron’s eldest son should still be a child, shouldn’t he? Moreover, he is blind.”
“I understand that the Baron brought in an illegitimate child because of the succession issue. His name is Johan Myatro. Despite his young age, he is remarkably intelligent and appears to have no difficulty governing the territory.”
“It seems he left quite a favorable impression on you. I hope that assessment isn’t overly subjective.”
“...His reputation within the castle was also exceptionally good.”
“I understand.”
The Inquisitor lowered his voice and muttered,
“A horned demon appearing in the south, an Apostle manifesting for the first time in five hundred years, and an illegitimate child suddenly emerging to seize control of a territory... This once-peaceful backwater has become chaotic in all manner of ways.”
The Inquisitor raised his gaze as though looking toward a distant mountain.
The enormous lord’s castle filled his vision.
“Eerie.”
The ancient castle had been weathered by the passage of time. It appeared more venerable than dilapidated, yet it was too ominous to be called beautiful.
The mist encircling the castle resembled a serpent, while the silence blanketing the surroundings felt like someone’s soundless scream.
The Inquisitor shuddered at the unsettling atmosphere.
He spoke.
“Shaperia, we’ll stop here for today. Continue Continue investigating the knight Rael. I will continue operating outside the castle as I have been.”
“Understood. Then I will take my—”
She abruptly stopped.
“Inquisitor, what is that inside your robe?”
Purple light was leaking from the Inquisitor’s chest.
He immediately searched inside his clothing.
A pitch-black book emerged.
Shaperia’s expression filled with alarm.
“W-why do you have a Book of Calamity?!”
“Shh! Keep your voice down.”
Possessing the Book of Calamity was classified as one of the Seven Sins. Anyone caught with one would immediately be put on the rack.
There were, of course, exceptions.
Inquisitors were not punished for possessing the scripture.
The nature of their duties often required them to confiscate copies from heretics, and they sometimes used the books when disguising themselves as heretics.
Inquisitors and the Book of Calamity were inseparable.
Shaperia knew that perfectly well.
There was another reason for her surprise.
“...Why is the Book of Calamity glowing?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen anything like this in my life.”
The Inquisitor silently stared at the book. An ominous violet radiance poured ceaselessly from its black cover.
“Stand back for a moment.”
Steeling himself, he opened the book.
Beneath their black hoods, both of their expressions turned to shock.
New words were being inscribed within the Book of Calamity.
『Chapter Thirteen: The Book of Deception and Chaos』
—Raise your heads, all evils, and sing of the Thirteenth End.
Letters as red as blood continued appearing across its pages.
The Book of Calamity, which had contained only twelve chapters, was now writing its thirteenth.
There could be only one meaning.
A new throne had been born.
The Thirteenth End was beginning.
The Inquisitor immediately thrust the book back inside his robe.
In a trembling voice, he said,
“I must contact headquarters first. We will meet again soon.”
“W-what should I do?”
“Remain where you are for now.”
With that, the Inquisitor hurried away.
Left alone, Shaperia stared blankly up at the night sky.
The events she had experienced over the past several days had been so extreme that they no longer felt real.
It was as though she were trapped in a dream.
“...What in the world is happening?”
She traced the pentagram-shaped holy sign toward the moon.
“Saint Margiel, please grant us the strength to overcome this chaos.”
Her prayer, whether it reached its destination or not, scattered into the moonlight.
Shaperia remained there for a long time.
The shadowy figure who had been watching her vanished into the alley.