Make Dark Fantasy Great Again-Chapter 41: The Ancient Grimoire (1)

Chapter 41: The Ancient Grimoire (1)

Henya froze, momentarily stunned by the outcome of the duel. But it didn’t take long for her to recover. With her usual sharpness restored, she cleared her throat and turned to Risir, addressing him.

“I’ll admit it, Risir. You seem to have a talent. A special one, just like me.”

“...”

“Yes! Maybe you’re even slightly, marginally more special than me. But did you know? I think your sense of humor is terrible.”

Just moments ago, Henya had braced herself for Risir to revel in his victory. After all, she would have done the same in his position.

But Risir hadn’t gloated. Instead, he’d approached her with a serious expression, extending his hand in a gesture of respect.

For a brief, fleeting moment, Henya had been captivated. She’d even entertained the idea of acknowledging him as a rival.

But it turned out she was mistaken. This wasn’t an honorable mage’s handshake, but a shameless loan shark’s demand for payment.

“Did you really have to ruin the moment with such a dreadful joke? Honestly, I was this close to being genuinely impressed.”

Henya scolded him, arms crossed. The spark of pure admiration she’d felt was thoroughly extinguished.

“But I wasn’t joking.”

“Now you say that? Alright, so you realized you went too far and decided to backtrack. But oh no, it’s too late for that! So what—if it wasn’t a joke, you were serious about that nonsense?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“?”

“Do I look like someone who’d joke about something like this?”

Risir was acting ridiculous with a straight face. Ironically, the sheer seriousness of his demeanor gave weight to his words.

Henya, who had been confidently posturing with her arms crossed, faltered under his bright gaze.

“What in the world?! You win one duel and demand my entire fortune?! Do you even hear yourself?!”

“Didn’t we agree the winner gets any request fulfilled? I saw infinite possibilities in that clause.”

“That was just a figure of speech! Who’d actually ask for anything?!”

“How shameless.”

“Y-you’re the last person I want to hear that from!”

“Then let’s hear it. What would you have requested if you’d won?”

“At the very least, I wouldn’t have asked for something silly like your entire fortune!”

“Hold that thought!”

“?”

“Isn’t that because...you’ve never experienced the victor’s perspective?”

It really was a victor’s privilege.

Risir teased Henya with a sly grin. Her face flushed crimson with indignation as she sputtered, struggling to form a coherent response.

The high-born genius mage was accustomed to being in control, but she floundered upon finding herself at a disadvantage.

“S-s-so what do you want?!”

“Well, I already told you.”

“Wh-what if I refuse?!”

This content is taken from fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm.

“That’s hardly possible. You, going back on your word so easily? I know what an honorable person you are.”

“Ugh...ugh...”

Like someone caught in a swamp, the more Henya struggled, the deeper she sank. Despite her efforts to regain control, she found herself completely at Risir’s mercy, being effortlessly toyed with.

At this point, all she could manage was to anxiously await his next move.

“...Well, I’m not completely unreasonable. Normally, I’d never budge—however! I’ll make an exception because it’s you.”

“...What’s that supposed to mean?”

Henya was so flustered that her thoughts slipped out unfiltered. She was practically hanging on Risir’s every word, like a disciple awaiting her master’s pronouncement.

“I’d rather not make things difficult for someone like you, if I can help it.”

“...Someone like me? What kind of person is that?”

“Need I say? A young mage blessed with both charm and talent.”

“...Why the sudden flattery?”

“Flattery? Honestly now, haven’t I toned it down considerably?”

“...”

He had a point. Compared to the usual flood of praise Henya received, Risir’s words were barely a compliment. Yet, they lingered in her mind, resonating more deeply than any grandiose accolades ever had.

“So, what are you trying to get at?”

“I will ask of you one item. Just one!”

Normally, Henya would have retorted with her signature sharpness, agreeing only after hearing what the item was.

“...Really?”

But this time, she accepted Risir’s offer without hesitation. Eagerly, even.

“...”

Marina was dumbfounded as she watched the exchange. Was this clumsy child really her clever, quick-witted disciple?

Unable to hold back, Marina stepped in.

“Risir, why don’t we hold this off for later? Henya seems a bit...overwhelmed right now.”

“No, Master. I appreciate your concern, but I started this. I’ll handle it.”

“?”

Huh, there’s the smart disciple I know. But why is she acting like that around Risir?

Ignoring her master’s bewilderment, Henya turned to Risir.

“So then...what is this item you’re after?”

“...”

Risir’s gaze shifted toward a corner of the courtyard, where the book Henya had discarded earlier lay.

“Oh...!”

Only then did Henya seem to remember the book as she hurried to retrieve it. She examined the book with a complicated expression.

“Hey. Do you even know what this is?”

“Not exactly.”

“Then why?”

“I felt a strange pull, I suppose.”

Risir could sense an unusual energy emanating from the book. It wasn’t malevolent like black magic, but it wasn’t entirely pure, either. Instinctively, he felt it was best to separate the book from Henya.

And who knows, maybe another lucky normalization will boost my magic power.

After a brief pause, Henya began to explain.

“This is...an ancient grimoire I found in the deepest archives of my family’s manor.”

“Oh?”

So it really was something special.

Risir’s mild reaction stood in stark contrast to the three masters, who were near flabbergasted.

“Henya, did you just say an ancient grimoire...?”

“Yes, Master. After considerable research...I’ve determined this book is a grimoire of lost ancient magic. It’s also written in a lost language.”

The three master mages turned grave.

A grimoire was an object of wondrous power and danger, capable of influencing its reader through the magic it contained. And if this one held lost ancient magic? It was far from something an ordinary mage could handle.

Marina spoke carefully.

“Henya? Didn’t you just say it’s written in a lost language? Then how did you figure out it’s an ancient grimoire? Do you know anything about the language?”

“No, ma’am.”

“Then how...?”

“...Sometimes, it speaks to me.”

“The book speaks?”

“A grimoire with its own will and consciousness...! The power and knowledge it holds must be immeasurable!”

The other two masters echoed Meltas’ astonishment.

Grimoires of extraordinary power and knowledge could sometimes develop a will of their own. Henya’s certainly seemed to fit that description.

“Marina. Is it truly safe for your disciple to possess such a dangerous item?”

“...Shouldn’t I be asking you that very question?”

“What?”

“Your disciple is the one asking Henya for it.”

“...Ahem. My disciple, Risir—”

“Don’t try that with me.”

“Tch. Risir. I don’t think it’s particularly wise for you to take an interest in that grimoire.”

Marina and Meltas reached an agreement. The grimoire was far beyond what these young mages should handle.

“For now...”

Master Ladros offered a suggestion.

“I say we consult an expert about this grimoire.”

“...”

“...”

The mention of an expert brought a specific face to both Marina and Meltas’ minds. Their expressions soured in unison.

In any case, Ladros had fulfilled his role as judge and took his leave.

Afterward...

“Henya?”

“Yes, Master.”

“What will you do with that grimoire?”

“...”

Henya glanced back and forth between the grimoire and Risir.

“Hey. You heard what the masters were discussing, right?”

“I did.”

“Yet you still want this grimoire?”

“It seems dangerous. Wouldn’t it be better for me to hold on to it, rather than you?”

“...You’re worried about me?”

“Well, that’s one of the reasons.”

Risir spoke subtly, as if downplaying his concern. But Henya couldn’t take it lightly.

She abruptly proffered the grimoire.

“Fine. Since you’re so worried...I’ll let you have it.”

“...Thank you?”

Risir accepted the grimoire with a bemused expression.

Meanwhile, Marina sighed as she observed her disciple.

Really, just who is this silly girl again?

She turned to Meltas.

“So, what now? That grimoire is now your disciple’s possession.”

“...Ahem. No choice then. We’ll have to go meet that fellow.”

Meltas looked distinctly uncomfortable.

Who’re they talking about?

Unable to contain his curiosity, Risir asked about this expert on grimoires.

“As Master Ladros said, he’s the foremost expert on grimoires in this city. And...”

As Meltas trailed off, Marina finished his sentence.

“He’s also the biggest bigot around.”

“Bigot?”

“You’d best brace yourself. He’ll dislike you on sight.”

***Leaving the mage tower, Risir and the others ventured deep into the magic district. They arrived at a wooden building with a yard that appeared discreetly well-maintained.

The door stood wide open. As they entered, a warm greeting awaited them.

“Leave.”

A figure with androgynous features and neatly slicked-back hair stood leaning against a bookshelf. Their cool demeanor matched their chilling voice. And...

An elf?

The elf’s long, pointed ears were unmistakable. Without looking up from the book in their hand, he continued speaking.

“My lab is for invited guests only.”

“Do you even invite people, Gadena?”

Meltas’ voice already dripped with weariness.

“Usually no. Because usually, I’d prefer if no one set foot in my workshop. Especially not foul-smelling humans.”

If you hate humans so much, why live in a human city?

Risir itched to retort, but bit it back.

Meanwhile, Marina tried to persuade Gadena.

“Still, why don’t you make an exception this time? We brought something you’ll like.”

“...”

Gadena finally lowered his book and looked at the group.

“Get to the point.”

At Marina’s nod, Risir presented the grimoire.

“It’s a grimoire.”

“I can see that. Explain what kind it is.”

“It’s a grimoire of lost ancient magic.”

“...”

Gadena closed his book with a thud. Placing it on the shelf, he approached Risir and took the grimoire.

The moment he flipped its pages open...

<Elf.>

A dry voice emanated from the grimoire.

<Hear my question. When the coldest fire and the hottest ice meet, what will you do? Your answer will determine whether I grant you my knowledge.>

“...”

Bewilderment crossed Gadena’s face. He was surprised for several reasons: the grimoire had spoken, it was written in an unknown script, and the question was incredibly cryptic.

“The coldest fire, and the hottest ice...Since it’s an ancient grimoire, I better approach this from the perspective of ancient magic.”

It took Gadena a while, but he finally managed to come up with an answer.

The grimoire gave a curt response.

<A pathetic answer—but not the worst. Elf, I shall grant you a single passage.>

As promised, a single passage translated itself into a language Gadena could understand.

Henya helped explain how it worked.

“It asks questions when opened.”

“...What did it ask you?”

“I received similar cryptic questions, too.”

“And the reward for answering?”

“Anywhere from a single letter to a whole page.”

“...”

Gadena nodded, returning the grimoire to Risir.

But just as he opened his mouth to speak—

<Hello, friend!>

The book spoke again, this time in a cheerful tone that seemed to belong to an entirely different entity.

<I’ve got a riddle for you. Wanna try answering?>

“A riddle?”

Risir responded without thinking.

<That’s right! How many legs does a horse have when seen from afar?>

“...Five?”

<Five?! Oh my goodness! Dear friend! Such a whimsical answer to such a simple question! But I suppose I’ll hear you out! Why do you think so?>

“...Er, y’know. Because of the horse’s...th-thingie...I figured it might look like it has five legs from far away...”

<BAHAHAHAHAHA!!! You’re a funny one!!! I’ll grant you seven pages!>

The elf’s face crumpled.

My answer earned me a single passage, yet that vulgar joke is worth seven pages?

***

[Title : bros, is this ‘Asking Grimoire’ that famous one?]

Post : the grimoire that ruined the greatest genius of all time?

: yep

: I’m looking for it too. Where’d you find it?

-[OP]: Contyvora

: wtf thats on the other side of the continent

: book doesn’t even have legs. how it get there from Bondalles?

: prolly flapped its pages to flutter itself over

: some fucking migrating bird it is

: that piece of shit is real serious about ruining people’s lives...

: I WILL KILL THE HUMANS WHO MADE ME INTO A BOOK

-[OP]: fr it’s already found a new owner and setting shit up for a mana overload ending

: so it’s not the Asking Grimoire coz it asks questions but coz it BURIES ppl in answers?***

[Title : Asking Grimoire this mfer lmao]

Post : ask some questions already lol

im ready for any questions but why won’t you ask you cunt

: what lvl are u?

-[OP]: 52 rn.

: huh good level

: What’s your highest-ranked magic-related trait?

-[OP]: Common

: then just leave LOL

-[OP]: wtf why

: it’s just a book but bro is super picky about its owners

: ikr it’s like the asking is just a way to screen potential victims

: I think u need at least a Rare magic trait to get it to bite.

-[OP]: Rare magic trait? OK, check.

: even with Rare, it’ll probably only nibble but not bite

: it normally gives riddles and if you answer them, it unlocks bits of its content.

the difficulty of the riddles and the reward depend on your trait rank.

***