CH 118

“They won’t be able to report it to the council anyway. They couldn’t even read the title of the books in the Forbidden Book Storage, how can they report about having copied the title of the devil’s book?”

“You made them accomplices.”

“Well, it seems that everyone wanted to help even taking the risk.”

I gestured towards the side where the paladins could be seen. They were sincerely working hard and earnestly looking for books while sweating.

<Religious people are conservative, but they’re nice when you get to know them.>

Agnes’ arms were bent inward, but I didn’t mean to deny it, so I just laughed a little.

Thesilid seemed to have found a scroll book. 

A book with the title, ‘A Demon King’s Aesthetics of Obsession and Humiliation (2): Carpeus Edition’ was placed in his left arm as if it was being hugged.

A conversation ensued.

“Eli, I have another question.”

“What is it?”

“How did you know the list of scroll books?”

“Well. It’s time to get used to me.”

“That’s right.”

I also found one. ‘The Apocalypse of Chaotic Evil Conceived by Strict Order and Goodwill’. Pulling out the blasphemous book, I changed the subject.

“More than that, Elantia is a 7th circle mage, but a 6th is the best magic scroll on the list. Let’s make a plan together later.”

In the 17th play-through, Thesilid has no experience in attacking Elantia yet. Up until this point, he had been diligently writing book reports before leaving the dungeon.

[‘The Spoiler Inspector’ regrets the main character’s writing skills, saying that he has never received a prize.]

Of course, in the very next round, he succeeds in subjugating Elantia.

However, because it was an unreasonable challenge, he had to overcome the crisis of almost dying after becoming a wreck.

I couldn’t let him use such risky tactics.

As much as he got more magic scrolls with my help, we had to refine the strategy he used in the later rounds.

Thesilid stopped searching for a book and looked at me through a crack in the bookshelf.

“It’s enough just to find a lot of scrolls. I will take care of the attack.”

It was a firm voice.

Indeed, all the tactics I was trying to tell him came from his head anyway. I don’t think I need to explain everything.

Thesilid laughed and emphasized again.

“You can really trust me this time.”

If he says it like this, he might feel bad if I try to interfere more.

I nodded.

“Well, okay. I’m going to look at the bookshelf on the other side now.”

“Me too. See you later.”

Each turned around and looked at other bookshelves.

When I looked through the bookshelves in my section, there were three books in my hand.

<One 5th circle and two 2nd circles.>

“Not bad.”

There is quite a bit of time left, but I was worried about what to do now.

Should I search the bookshelf for the rest of my time, aiming for the items of the 7, 8, or 9 circle scrolls? 

‘Though it’s not very efficient.’

To put it bluntly, even the 18th Thesilid, who did possible everything to obtain the ‘Bible of Truth’, did not check all the books.

Instead, he chose to risk his life after equipping himself with the bare minimum of necessary scrolls.

It was natural to not want to waste effort hanging on to a possibility with low income. When I was hesitating because the situation was not particularly desperate.

[‘The Scales that Judges the Soul’ sneakily suggests that you go to the new books shelf while there is still time.]

Oh right. I only realized it after listening to Ms. Libra’s words.

Come to think of it, when we each decided on the area to search for scrolls, we left out the new books shelf.

The books on the list are all old sections, and new books are circulated very quickly, so the shelves are often empty.

‘Thank you, Ms. Libra.’

[‘The Scales that Judges the Soul’ laughs mischievously.]

Hmm? Somehow I don’t want to go.

[‘The Spoiler Inspector’ gives strength to the eyes.]

[‘The World-building God’ gently shakes a carrot in a blind spot.]

Seeing the reactions of the Inspector and World God, I felt like I had to go anyway.

<Ellet, where are you going all of a sudden as if you’re possessed…… Oh, my god.>

Arriving in front of the new books shelf, Agnes stopped talking.

There were four new books on the shelf. The classifications were all literature, and the titles were as follows.

‘I’m a low-level demon, but I’m obsessed with the Saint’.

‘I have tamed an SSS-class warrior’.

‘50 Ways to Corrupt a Handsome Paladin’.

‘The Devil and The Saint’s Predatory Marriage.’ 

……That is the taste of the demons?

[‘The Scales that Judges the Soul’ said this is low-level content compared to the writings of the demon world.]

[‘The Critic who adjusts the balance’ hints that you can read it if you have the worn-out soul of a modern human.]

Come to think of it, the books in my integrated library have similar titles…… eh-hmm.

I calmed down and reached for the book. First of all, I decided to check whether it was a scroll book or not, starting with ‘The Devil and The Saint’s Predatory Marriage.’

Page 6.

“Hmm.”

Page 66.

“Hmm.”

Page 666.

“What?”

I briefly displayed my reading speed. Then, in case someone saw it, I quickly covered the book cover and muttered.

“There are many types of wedding gifts in the Demon Realm……”

<Right……>

I left lingering feelings behind, took out the next book, and opened it.

“What are you looking at, Eli?”

“……!”

When I looked up in a hurry, Thesilid was right in front of me. Soon, his sea-blue eyes glanced down.

“What book…ah.”

The expression faded from his face, but it was similar to a look of steeping on dirt. 

I panicked and tried to come up with an excuse, but he said first.

“I never thought I’d find something like this.”

“Huh?”

Only then did I look down and check page 66 of the new book I pulled out. There, a golden magic circle with a splendid shape never seen before was shining.

[<Item> ‘The Book of Magic’

A magical scroll book randomly planted in the library.

It’s set up so that you can know what kind of magic it has only when you use it yourself. For thrilling matches.

Note: This is for single use only. If you use it, the book will be destroyed, so be sure to use it after thoroughly reading the work.]

Unlike the other scroll books, information on what kind of magic it releases was hidden.

When I started to feel quite unusual about this scroll book, Thesilid looked at the magic circle for a while and said in disbelief.

“This seems like a 9-circle attack magic.”

“What? Really?”

“Perhaps.”

Circle 9 was the level of magic used by the final boss. It was amazing.

“But how do you know?”

“By feeling.”

“It sounds like you just took a wild guess.”

“I have to check it, shall I try it right now?”

“No. I mean, this is a one-time use.”

“How do you know?”

“……By feeling?”

Realizing the lack of excuses, we decided not to delve into each other’s suspicions anymore.

Thesilid smiled and took the book from my hand.

“With this, there is no need to plan an attack strategy. Thanks, Eli.”

“It’s nothing much. Anyway, everything went really well.”

Just as the atmosphere warmed up with the unexpected acquisition of a cheat key. Thesilid’s gaze belatedly landed on the stylish hardcover of the book.

The face of the handsome paladin, who checked the starting word, was shaken.

“The title is a little…embarrassing.”

“It’s good taste, please respect it.”

“……”

“……Of course, not mine, but the taste of demons.”

“Yes.”

“You can’t hesitate in the real battle, so why don’t you practice reading the title in advance?”

“I will decline.”

It was kind of disappointing.

✠

When a handful of sand from the hourglass was left, Thesilid, Ellet, and the others headed to the top floor of the library.

Climbing the stairs, a long, straight hallway unfolded. Through the window, a wide rooftop terrace decorated with flowerbeds could be seen.

The glass window was supposed to turn opaque once the one-on-one magic battle started.

The challenger, Thesilid, stood in front of the terrace’s door. Next to him was a trolley full of scroll books.

The trolley contained the dungeon’s power to safely protect the books inside. It was convenient not to have to worry about the damage to the scroll books in the upcoming magic battle.

“I’ll be back, Eli.”

“Finish quickly and come back. Got it?”

A shaky voice echoed in Thesilid’s ears as he stared at Ellet’s face.

A worried gaze, uncertain whether it would be okay to let him go alone, made him feel ambivalent. He didn’t want to worry her too much and at the same time, he wanted to worry her a little bit more, enough to see her reaction.

Of course, his choice was the former.

“It won’t be long. Wait for me here while eating snacks.”

With those words, Thesilid turned the doorknob. Then, pushing the trolley, he stepped into the Boss’s room.

Chulong. 

The feeling of passing through the door was similar to penetrating a transparent mucous membrane.

As the door closed behind him, the glass windows in the hallway lost their transparency. The hallway with Ellet and the rooftop terrace where he was were completely blocked off.

Elantia greeted Thesilid in front of the wooden flowerbed. 

“Welcome, lowly human being with poor literary taste.”