Book Eater

Chapter 18: At the Crossroad of Trust (2)

Five years at Bergen Academy had taught him one thing: he shouldn’t judge people by their light words or temporary actions. Classmates who pretended to be friends had turned away from him, while the professors treated him like a fool. It would be foolish to trust people like them.

However, Professor Vince was different.

- Are you the one they call a long-time dunce? I don’t know what idiot created that nickname.

- The answer to this final exam was excellent. If you don’t mind, come to my laboratory after school. I will teach you a little more.

- Don’t mind those playing tricks on you. You are a better person than anyone at this academy.

- Theodore Miller, do you want to try being a magic scholar?

Theo remembered all of their conversations. Those words had saved the frustrated, disappointed, and ashamed Theodore. Vince was the only one who recognized Theo’s value. The academy’s best magician had said that he believed in the talent of the long-time dunce. His words had created the present Theodore.

Professor Vince... is the only person in this academy that I trust and can confide in...

If even Vince wasn’t trustworthy, then he would never be able to tell anyone in the future. Theodore’s eyes sank as he realized something else; he couldn’t live like this forever. Eventually, someone would notice books going missing from the library, and people would raise doubts about Theo’s sudden skills and performance. In that situation, he was a mere student with neither the power nor the status to fight for his rights. However, it was a different story if he had Professor Vince as his ally.

Obviously, I can try to stop that situation from happening… but like this, I can get help. It will also be easier to get the necessary books.

On one hand, he was gambling on not getting caught before graduation, and on the other, that Vince would not betray him. He couldn’t see the future, but the scales in Theodore’s mind were leaning toward the latter.

“Professor, I’d like to show you something, so please don’t be surprised.”

“I’ll try.”

Vince, who was watching him quietly, nodded with a serious expression. It was just for a moment, but the weight of the worries that had flashed over Theo’s face had not been light. So, he needed to be dignified.

Theo took a few deep breaths before placing Roaring Flames, which he was holding in his right hand, on the table. Then he held his left hand above it.

“Gluttony, come out.”

As always, it responded faithfully to his call.

Slurp!

A hole opened in his palm, and a tongue fell out of it. Professor Vince flinched, but didn’t cast anything. As the eyes of the two people met, Gluttony’s tongue wrapped around its prey, the pendant, Roaring Flames, which was emitting an intense magic power.

[+7 Roaring Flames (Accessory)]

[This silver pendant is a high-grade magic stone that contains a small amount of mithril. This pendant was produced by Viscount Carter, and its method of production no longer exists. The owner can form a contract by dripping blood on the pendant in order to use all the functions. When this pendant is activated, magic power and one’s affinity for fire magic will temporarily increase.

* The rating of this pendant is Precious.

* When consumed, a considerable amount of magic power will be absorbed.

* When consumed, the digestion time will be one hour and thirty-eight minutes.

* Current contractor: Garcia Carter.

* Starting chant: Red light streaking across the sky.]

Precious rating?! It is truly different from the other items.

Theo admired the value of Roaring Flames. He had mostly consumed Normal items, and the occasional Rare item. However, Roaring Flames had gone beyond that limit. It was also the first time that the digestion of an object exceeded one hour. The stronger items would probably take longer to digest.

“C-Can I ask for an explanation?”

Professor Vince belatedly found his voice and pointed at the tongue. However, Theo looked down at Gluttony instead. It was waiting for his permission like a well-trained hound.

“It isn’t over yet... Eat.”

The tongue instantly sucked Roaring Flames into Theo’s left hand. As always, it made a sound, expressing that the food was delicious.

Gulp!

Professor Vince sank back into his chair with an agitated expression.

“Huh, huhuhuh...”

“Professor, are you okay?”

Theo wanted to take a moment for the shock to wear off, but Vince’s eyes were shouting at him to explain. Originally, magicians emerged amongst those who couldn’t refrain from their curiosity. To do this to the curiosity of a 5th Circle master, who was almost at the 6th Circle, was like throwing a thirsty man into the desert.

In the end, Theodore started explaining what had happened to Roaring Flames.

***

The story ended earlier than expected. Vince was a magician as well as a genius scholar. If Theo explained one concept to him, he could grasp three or four concepts, and Vince soon understood Gluttony’s existence.

“Indeed, it is a greedy grimoire.”

Professor Vince shook his head wryly. He was much wiser than Theo, who had absorbed the knowledge in the library, so he knew how ridiculous it was. It was completely out of this world to obtain the magic or magic power of the owner just by eating their written work. It was an idea that modern magicians couldn’t imagine.

Vince managed to calm himself and smiled at Theo.

“But I can’t condone the fact that you fed it library books.”

“I’m sorry...”

“Well, it can’t be helped if your life was at stake.”

It was either the books in the library or his life. Anybody would have made the same choice. So, instead of reprimanding him, Vince chuckled. It was a story which could be laughed off because the price of books had dropped one hundred and fifty years ago with the advent of book copying magic.

After Vince had finished asking his questions, it was Theo’s turn to ask something.

“Professor.”

“Huh?”

“Excuse me, there is one thing I would like to ask.”

However, Vince already knew what Theo was going to ask. “I think I know. Do you want to ask why I’m not greedy for the grimoire?”

“I-I'm really sorry."

“There is no need to apologize. It’s an obvious question.”

He took another sip of his now cold coffee and explained what he knew of grimoires. “Magicians who don’t major in archeology won’t know about it, but anyone who studies ancient magic like me would know. Theodore, the grimoire stuck in your palm is useless to me.”

“Huh?!” Theo’s eyes widened at the unexpected words.

“Although it is unusual to see a grimoire that so embodies its name, they tend to choose their own masters. If a person kills the owner, they would be lucky if the grimoire doesn’t retaliate against them. Actually, there are a few cases of magicians being killed by grimoires that they tried forcibly to take away.”

“That...”

“Of course, it is also impossible to transfer it. Rather, it is often better to study the grimoire by the owner’s side.”

Ah.

Theo raised his head and nodded with a satisfied expression. It didn’t need to be a one-sided relationship. Theo could negotiate using ‘studying’ the grimoire as a bargaining chip. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that it would put the two of them on equal footing. It would not have been difficult for Vince to fool Theo. However, Vince taught him without concealing any information. Vince bowed deeply toward Theo.

“Thank you for telling me. I, Vince Haidel, will reward your trust as a teacher and fellow magician.”

“Professor...”

“Then shouldn’t something be done to maintain this trust in our relationship?”

There was no time to say anything.

Pahat!

As Theodore‘s eyes widened in surprise, a red light shone around Vince’s hands. It wasn’t attack magic nor defense magic, but the Oath spell that only magicians who reached the 5th Circle could use.

It can’t be...!

Vince’s voice resonated with magic power.

“I, Vince Haidel, make this oath. I will be quiet about any secrets that Theodore Miller doesn’t allow me to share. This oath will be observed by the rules of magic.”

It was a spell most commonly seen in trials and interrogations, and was a kind of spell that couldn’t be coerced out of a magician. The user had to make the decision to bind themselves with a spell that couldn’t be canceled once activated on their own. It was also a higher ranked restriction than the Geass Scroll Theo had used. As the red light around Vince’s hands faded away, Vince held out his hand.

“I look forward to our partnership in the future, Theodore Miller.”

Theo was no longer seen as a student or a child, but a fellow magician. Theodore grabbed Professor Vince’s hand excitedly.

“... Thank you.”

Somehow, he couldn’t shed any tears.

Theo closed his eyes as he felt the warmth of Vince’s hand. It was the first time that the academy’s long-time dunce, Theodore Miller, made a true ally.