Chapter 49 Assessment ( 4 )

Therese recalled what they have found out about the mysterious Ancient Book. When she tried to appraise the item based on its outside appearance, she can tell that it was most likely two centuries old.

She had seen many books that were around that old so she was confident about her estimate of its age. Aside from that, the mysterious method used to bound the book was something that a cult about two centuries ago has done before.

No one knows how it was being done but the book they make will always exude a mysterious aura as if it was cursed. Unfortunately, the cult has been completely eradicated now so no one knows the method to create these books.

As for its content, it appears to be just an evil ritual of some sort, and anyone who tried to practice it would have their mana taken away by an evil god.

"Interesting… Are you telling us that the book was bound by a human skin?"

"Aside from that, it contains a Mana Art as well?"

Olivier and Therese asked. Both of them are experts when it comes to Mana Arts Manual. They have seen so many records of Mana Arts already. They were either written in tomes, stones, scrolls, or even bones as long as they are things that could accept a sufficient amount of mana to ensure that the text written wouldn't be wasted.

After all, when creating such a manual, the insight of the writer would also be included whenever he writes the skill learning method.

This is a way to easily pass down the Mana Arts to another.

However, none of them could feel this insight in that book at all. It was just plain evil or perhaps, a trap to drain the mana of the unlucky person.

'Wait? When did he look at the content of the book?' Olivier seemed to have missed that.

Anyway, the only prohibition is that they can't take the book out from the wooden tray. It must remain in its position and it can't be lifted.

Nevertheless, flipping the book shouldn't be a problem…

"That's correct. It's not a normal human skin as well. I also surmised that it's from a strong female magician considering how he could feel some spirituality up until now." Vincent replied.

"Ho~ You can even tell the gender? Isn't that too ridiculous?" Maurice thought that Vincent has an interesting theory about the book, however, for him to identify even the gender of the human skin that was used was probably too far-fetched now.

On the other hand, Dylan was more interested in the method that was used to bind the book.

"A human skin… A magician at that… That's quite plausible considering the unpleasant aura it's giving off. It would also make sense that we can't properly identify it. Vincent, have you seen other books bound by human skin as well?"

Instead of answering with a yes, Vincent just smiled and nodded. He didn't want to elaborate further since his lies might be seen through if he talk too much.

All appraisers must have their own secrets after all. They shouldn't be questioning his background right now but instead, whether he is right or wrong.

In truth, Vincent was quite confused about their reaction. They should already be aware of the answers. However, they seem to have been enlightened as well and there is even someone who called him ridiculous!

'Wait… Did they have a different understanding of this Skill Book? Tsk…'

As Vincent was starting to get agitated by their unexpected reaction, Therese laid out her conjectures.

"I can remember that the creator of these kinds of books was related to the Evil Cult a long time ago. They were known to have abducted many young girls and would sacrifice them to their god. As they were purged, the method of creating the book was also lost if they are truly the real creators… If that is the case, his answer would actually make even more sense."

Therese reminded the three other examiners. For sure, they know about the history of their country.

This is why as soon as she said this, they all pondered for a while and no longer questioned Vincent's appraisal of the book.

As for the Mana Art that was written on it, the three of them also have an idea about it but it's almost likely a skill that only members of the Cult are capable of practicing.

They finally accepted Vincent's appraisal as he continued to introduce the Damaged Blueprint of an Aircraft.

After he carefully provided the information to them, they all looked at him with confused expressions.

,m "Why do you say that it's an Aircraft? Isn't this obviously, a weapon?" Olivier asked.

The others seem to have the same thoughts as well. Vincent can only helplessly smile as he realized that there aren't any advanced aircraft in this world yet!

He previously thought that there would be at least someone kind of Airship or Dirigible Balloon existing in this world. After all, he heard from his grandfather that the Celestial Beings passed down their knowledge to humans.

'Hmm… It seems that they only properly passed down the things related to practicing mana and cultivating the soul… Wait, they know that this is a blueprint of something so they weren't new to this type of parchment. Perhaps—'

Vincent suddenly realized what was wrong with his way of thinking.

He has to be really careful about this topic in the future.

"I just made a guess… Although the blueprint is badly damaged and we could only see about sixty percent or more of its content, the sketch on it reminded me of a bird… So with the mechanisms showing around it, I thought that it would be an Aircraft if it's completed."

Vincent replied. He guessed that this blueprint was brought here by the Celestials. However, as the world hasn't advanced to a certain degree yet, they were left unused and perhaps, were hidden in some dungeons where they found this.

This is also his guess if he tried to connect the things that he was aware of.

"A bird, huh?" Olivier muttered as the others remained silent.

Everyone previously agreed that this is some kind of destructive weapon used to annihilate rivers and mountains. However, Vincent's words somehow affected them.

Anyway, none of the agreed yet as they allowed Vincent to start introducing the other 18 items instead.

Well, he got them all correct.

Their names were spot on and he could even mention the main material used to create them. He can also tell them a rough estimate of their durability.

This is quite impressive since they have actually included five items here that are about to shatter. He was able to point that out as well!

Even the two Epic Rated weapons were easily seen through by him even though they have coated them with Mystic Dust which could supposedly hide their real value!