Chapter 32

“Excuse me, Lady Erika.”

 

“Yes. Please come in.”

 

Lewen set down the tray he was carrying on the table. It held water, soup, and bread on a plate.

 

“I brought this thinking you might be hungry after such a long carriage ride.”

 

“Thank you for looking out for me. I will enjoy it.”

 

He hesitated for a moment before carefully speaking up.

 

“I hope you weren’t startled by the commotion outside.”

 

“I’m fine. But the situation seems quite serious. How is the dimensional barrier holding up right now?”

 

He avoided my gaze, looking troubled.

 

“It is highly unstable.”

 

Taking a deep breath, he met my eyes with a calm expression.

 

“The monastery mages are doing everything in their power, so it will stabilize soon. Master Arden has also arrived.”

 

By Master Arden, he must mean William. The monastery mages clearly have a lot of faith in him.

 

“I see. I trust Director William will handle it perfectly.”

 

After responding agreeably to Lewen’s words, I waited a moment before carefully asking, “I’m sorry, but could I ask a favor? I would like to visit the monastery’s library.”

 

In such an emergency, an outsider asking to visit the library was likely an unreasonable request.

 

But there was something important I absolutely had to check there.

 

The weight of the Book Finder hidden deep in my sleeve felt heavy.

 

Currently, two of the Five Great Grimoires were housed in the monastery library: <The Book of Ignis> and <The Book of Undine>.

 

Originally, <The Book of Ignis> was kept in the royal palace’s detached archive, but it was moved to the monastery as a precaution.

 

The Guardian Mages were highly vigilant; I’d heard they would never show you the grimoires even if you made a formal request to view them.

 

Even William, a Master, could only view them on designated days after following strict procedures.

 

That was why William came up with the idea of using the Book Finder to verify that the Five Great Grimoires were safely secured. Of course, I couldn’t get caught using it.

 

Because of that, I absolutely had to get into the monastery library.

 

I was brainstorming other methods just in case Lewen refused, when he spoke.

 

“Understood.”

 

Surprisingly, Lewen readily accepted my request.

 

“Our monastery’s library is a historic site built alongside the founding of Ruberia, so many people visit it. Please follow me.”

 

“Really? I thought it wouldn’t be allowed. Thank you so much, Lewen.”

 

I jumped up from my seat, overjoyed. Seeing this, a gentle smile graced Lewen’s lips. He observed my attire closely before asking for my understanding.

 

“Librarian, please wait just a moment. I will be right back.”

 

As soon as Lewen stepped out, I quickly dashed to the table. This was my only chance.

 

With zero hesitation, I tore the bread in half and thoroughly soaked it in the soup. Then I shoved it into my mouth in one bite.

 

The soft, rich flavor of the cream soup paired perfectly with the slightly hard, salty, and wholesome rye bread.

 

“Phew, I thought I was going to starve to death.”

 

I felt a bit more alive after a bite. These days, skipping just one meal made my blood sugar drop and my hands shake.

 

I was devouring the bread and soup in a flash when I felt a piercing gaze on my back. Turning around, I saw Lewen had already returned, holding a pure white mage’s robe.

 

He looked speechless, having caught me eating as if I were about to lick the soup plate clean.

 

Ah, come to think of it, they rarely encountered women in the monastery.

 

What if he forms the wrong impression because of me?

 

I quietly set the plate down and elegantly wiped my mouth with a napkin, giving Lewen a slight bow of the head.

 

“I enjoyed the meal very much.”

 

“I am glad it suited your tastes. I will bring you a larger portion for dinner.”

 

True to a monastery mage who remains unflappable in any situation, Lewen replied calmly.

 

However, seeing the faint twitch in his facial muscles, it was obvious he was holding back laughter.

 

Lewen handed me the mage’s robe.

 

“Because it is an emergency, the sight of an outsider wandering around could agitate the other mages. I ask that you wear this robe and pull the hood down deeply.”

 

Lewen’s expression, which had been gentle a moment ago, was now taut with sharp tension.

 

Was the situation really so serious that I had to hide my face as an outsider?

 

The tension thickened in my throat, and I swallowed hard.

 

“I understand. But do I really need to pull the hood down?”

 

He avoided my gaze, looking somewhat sheepish.

 

“It is rare for such a beautiful woman to visit the monastery. We worry it might disrupt the discipline here, so please understand.”

 

What, it was just because of that?

 

But wait—‘a beautiful woman’? Hearing that made me feel more embarrassed and flustered than anything.

 

Come to think of it, it had been a while since my looks were complimented. With everyone around me being so gorgeous, Erika actually looked somewhat plain in comparison.

 

As expected of a mage, he had a good eye. I smiled with inner satisfaction.

 

“I see. I will follow the monastery’s procedures.”

 

I pulled the robe down deeply over my head and followed Lewen out.

 

As we walked down the corridor with its vaulted ceiling, the light hitting the stone pillars cast all sorts of shadows.

 

While the dimensional barrier outside the monastery was violently fluctuating, the inside was submerged in a tranquil silence.

 

It was so quiet that even a whisper seemed like it would echo off the stone walls.

 

The library was located in a cylindrical building to the east. Upon entering, an ivory-columned interior beneath a circular stained-glass ceiling came into view.

 

Light of sky-blue, yellow, and various other colorful hues filtered through the ceiling, beautifully embroidering the floor in a circle.

 

Upon reaching the deepest part, I saw a worn, old solid-wood door. Apart from its bronze handle, it was an ordinary door with no distinct features.

 

There wasn’t even a nameplate; a first-time visitor would likely struggle to even find where the library was.

 

Libraries, often hailed as treasure troves of knowledge, were usually built as lavishly and grandly as possible to boast a nation’s cultural advancement.

 

The Royal Library of Ruberia, for instance, was adorned with gold, silver, and all sorts of jewels, much like a royal treasury.

 

Catching my gaze, Lewen smiled softly.

 

“I have visited the Royal Library as well. The atmosphere here is quite different, isn’t it?”

 

“Excuse me? Oh, no. The austere atmosphere suits the monastery perfectly.”

 

Applying pressure to the bronze handle, he slowly pushed the door open.

 

“It is said they intentionally installed an unremarkable door to protect against invasion and looting. Because in this place, the true treasures are the books.”

 

A soft light spilled through the doorway as the millennium-old library unfolded before my eyes.

 

Volumes were piled high on the shelves, reaching all the way to the ceiling, and colossal bookcases stretched out endlessly like a labyrinth.

 

From the moment I stepped through the entrance, I could see portraits and copper plaques of renowned mages throughout history, alongside all sorts of antique books and ancient maps.

 

From shelves packed with sheepskin parchment to those filled entirely with transcribed copies of rare ancient texts. The history of human knowledge and civilization breathed wholly within this library.

 

Pride was etched into Lewen’s expression as he gazed upon the library.

 

“The monastery library houses 60,000 centuries-old books and manuscripts. That is why we mages call this place a clinic that heals the soul.”

 

With every step I took, the scent of densely stacked ancient books tickled my nose.

 

All throughout the library, the scratchy sounds of mages deeply engrossed in reading or reverently transcribing open ancient texts could be heard.

 

Beneath a sunlit window, a white-haired old mage was mending the leather cover of an old book, while a young apprentice sitting next to him read it aloud in a low voice.

 

Occasionally, I made eye contact with mages moving through the library; they would offer a brief nod before returning to their work.

 

It was solemn, yet an atmosphere that peacefully reveled in intellectual freedom. It was an air I hadn’t felt in a very long time.

 

Lewen lowered his voice and asked discreetly,

 

“Librarian, is there a particular book you are looking for?”

 

“Ah, Un….”

 

I almost blurted out <The Book of Undine>.

 

William had warned me never to bring up the Five Great Grimoires while at the monastery.

 

The fact that they were stored in the monastery library was a closely guarded secret known only to a few mages.

 

Suddenly, Berna popped into my head. I was told she was an exceptional mage. Perhaps there were records about her?

 

“By any chance, is there a book with records of a mage named Berna?”

 

Lewen repeated the name Berna slowly, lost in thought with a serious expression. Soon, he shook his head.

 

“I haven’t heard of it. I know most of the mages on the roster, but that is my first time hearing that name. Is it a pseudonym perhaps?”

 

Did Berna operate under a hidden identity?

 

I didn’t want to, but would I ultimately have to get information about her from Palia?

 

“Mm, it’s fine. I’ll just browse the books for a bit. Thank you for guiding me despite being so busy, Lewen.”

 

“Please enjoy your reading comfortably. I have pressing matters to attend to, so I will take my leave.”

 

He bowed politely and hurried out of the library.

 

He seemed to be a high-ranking mage himself; I felt bad that he had neglected his own duties just to look after me.

 

I walked deep into a deserted section of the stacks. Pretending to look for a book, I scanned my surroundings.

 

Just as I was cautiously trying to pull out the Book Finder hidden in my sleeve, someone forcefully snatched my wrist.

 

“Who is it!”

 

I shouted sharply and spun around, but a tanned hand clamped over my mouth and roughly shoved my shoulder against the bookshelf.

 

My back slammed against the edge of a book, a sharp pain shooting through me. I frowned and glared at my attacker.

 

Palia, her brow furrowed, was looking down at me with eyes that deemed me insignificant.

 

“Are you an idiot, or are you just crazy?”

 

“Both. Now let go of me before we talk.”

 

I lightly brushed my shoulder and slipped out of Palia’s grasp. It was an unconscious movement, but it made her eyebrows shoot up.

 

She seemed quite surprised that I had managed to shake off a mage like her, who was skilled in close combat and possessed a vice-like grip.

 

Well, I was a bit surprised myself.

 

Palia shoved her face into mine and growled menacingly.

 

“A Transmigrator like you casually reading a book in the stronghold of the Guardian Mages… You must be desperate to die.”

 

Sighing faintly, I took a step back from her.

 

“I want to know about Berna. I was looking for books about her.”

 

At the mention of ‘Berna’, a flicker of pain crossed her eyes.

 

“There are no records of her here.”

 

“You said she was a brilliant mage. Are there no related records or books she wrote herself?”

 

Palia’s gaze wandered aimlessly over the old bookshelves.

 

“Berna was an outstanding mage and author. She left behind countless records and wrote grimoires. She even developed original magic circles. However…”

 

Palia’s breathing gradually grew ragged. The whites of her eyes turned red, veins popping out.

 

“Records of her… exist nowhere. After she died, all her records, writings, and research papers were burned. Without a single volume left.”

 

Spitting out the words, Palia clenched her fists. Her knuckles turned stark white.

 

In a strained voice where anger and agony were so entangled it was impossible to tell them apart, she lamented.

 

“Only I… am the one who remembers.”

 

Palia’s eyes glared at the library. Her gaze flashed with a madness and fury that looked ready to burn everything to the ground.

 

It was a library that synthesized all of humanity’s wisdom, history, and culture, but it contained not a single record of the person she wanted to remember forever.

 

Perhaps all these countless books were nothing more than a meaningless graveyard of paper to Palia.

 

Was that why she was so enraged she looked ready to set the library ablaze?

 

Palia took a deep breath, as if to compose her emotions. Having regained her composure, she glared at me before abruptly turning around.

 

“Follow me. I’ll tell you about her.”

 

***

 

Palia’s quarters were located high up in the eastern stone tower.

 

The circular ceiling was high, but the windows were small, and very little sunlight came in, making it gloomy.

 

A peculiar mark on the door caught my eye. It looked like a magic circle that someone had violently hacked away with a knife.

 

“What are you doing not coming in? Since you’re such a precious noble lady, do I need to escort you?”

 

Palia sneered, her face filled with annoyance. I smiled sweetly and replied, “Would an escort from you be a one-way trip to hell? We aren’t quite close enough to walk hand-in-hand to hell yet, are we?”

 

Palia stepped closer. Her terrifying face closed the distance between us. It was a gaze I was afraid might haunt my dreams.

 

“Watch your slick tongue. Because I might just forget myself and kill you.”

 

Without blinking an eye, I met her murderous glare.

 

“Hmm, for the great Palia to hesitate, whatever could be the reason? Could it be someone ordered you to spare my life? I’m *so* curious about who it is that can pull your strings.”

 

Instead of answering, Palia conjured a black sphere in her hand. A chill ran down my spine as I watched the dark mana bloom, emitting a dreary light.

 

I stepped into the room at the speed of light.

 

The room was as barren as a desert, containing only the bare minimum for survival.

 

A hard bed, a crude table, and a simple bookshelf. There was no human warmth, only a lingering coldness.

 

“Do you really live here? This feels less like a room and more like a prison.”

 

I offered this harsh critique after sweeping a glance over the room. It wasn’t as if we were on polite terms anyway.

 

I thought she would get angry, but instead, Palia twisted the corners of her mouth as if amused.

 

“You’re unexpectedly observant. This place is no different than a prison without bars to me.”

 

“Hmm, that’s surprising. I thought Guardian Mages were treated well. Low pay and overwork… You go through a lot too.”

 

Looking at it from the perspective of a fellow worker, seeing how exhausting Palia’s life was actually made me feel a sense of camaraderie.

 

Of course, she didn’t seem to feel the same at all. She instantly bared her teeth and glared at me.

 

“Lady Diel, you didn’t come all this way just to chat with me, did you? Shall I serve you some tea?”

 

I instinctively checked my escape route. I needed to run at a moment’s notice.

 

I could easily die in this prison-like room where no one ever came, without a soul knowing.

 

Palia, sharper than a ghost, seemed to read my anxious gaze and scoffed.

 

“If I wanted to kill you, I would have taken care of it the moment you stepped out of the carriage. I won’t do it right now, so don’t worry.”

 

Hah! Unbelievable. She spoke of killing me later as if she were doing me some grand favor.

 

I crossed my arms and spoke plainly.

 

“Let’s stick to the point. Tell me about Berna.”

 

Palia furrowed her brow.

 

“Before that, I’ll ask you first. Why did you come here? To commit suicide?”

 

“I came here to live.”

 

“Ha! Stop spouting nonsense. Tell me before I kill you. I lack patience.”

 

“You aren’t killing me right now, either. You even gave me a bracelet to hide my identity.”

 

Flashing a relaxed smile, I purposefully shook my wrist to show off the bracelet. A jade-colored light twinkled.

 

Palia’s face contorted, but she didn’t reply.

 

I carefully studied Palia’s expression for a moment. To think I had to honestly confess my condition to an enemy who could take my life at any moment.

 

The funny and sad part was that I had no one else to discuss it with but Palia.

 

My heart pounded fiercely, but I clenched my fists and forced the words out, one by one.

 

“I… can control monsters.”

 

It must have been something she didn’t expect; Palia’s pupils dilated. With a cold expression, she interrogated me.

 

“Your power is growing quickly. To what extent can you control them?”

 

“They obey my words. When I tell them to stop, they stop.”

 

The monsters that obeyed me felt like obedient wolves that were merely hulking in size.

 

According to records, monsters were described as a merciless, ferocious, evil race that lived solely on the instinct to slaughter.

 

I had no idea why they obediently followed my commands.

 

Palia let out an exclamation mixed with shock and astonishment.

 

“Unbelievable. Even Berna didn’t possess that level of ability.”

 

“Wait, so Berna could control monsters too?”

 

“Not to your extent. Instead, she possessed a genius talent for magic.”

 

Palia glared at me intensely before suddenly thrusting her hand toward my heart.

 

Instinctively, I slapped her hand upward and spun out of the way.

 

“What are you doing!”

 

Deep creases formed around Palia’s eyes. It was a look of surging annoyance.

 

“I was checking to see how far the monster’s power has progressed. Because if the power reaches your heart, I have to end your life right then and there.”

 

“What does that mean?”

 

“Exactly what it sounds like. Even now, you can feel the power continuously expanding inside you, can’t you? If it eventually reaches your heart, your consciousness will be devoured by the monster.”

 

Palia spoke in a flat tone, as if she were discussing the evening dinner menu.

 

As if reacting to her words, my heart began to gallop wildly like a crazy horse. I gasped for air and slowly took a deep breath.

 

“That’s ridiculous. I can’t believe you…”

 

Palia twisted her lips in amusement and looked at me coldly.

 

“Your very existence in this world is ridiculous. It’s a being that shouldn’t exist. That’s what a Transmigrator is.”

 

She observed me with piercing eyes.

 

“Not all Transmigrators can use the power of monsters like you do. Some were completely powerless and incompetent, while others were devoured by the monster’s power and went mad. And some used their power wisely.”

 

Palia’s gaze wandered in the air for a moment. It held a distant longing.

 

The eyes that locked back onto me were still cold, but the longing she hadn’t managed to erase still flickered within them.

 

“Berna was a Transmigrator too, but she possessed power. She was a genius mage. So much so that she could hide her true identity. Not even the elders of the Guardian Mages realized she was a Transmigrator.”

 

The story Palia was telling me about Berna was astonishing. I held my breath and focused on her words.

 

“She had an incredible talent for creating magic circles. It was as if it were a god-given gift. Using mathematical calculations that do not exist in this world, she constructed intricate and powerful magic circles without a single margin of error. She was also the first to create dimensional travel magic using the Five Great Grimoires.”

 

I was so stunned I lost my words. The creator of the dimensional travel magic circle was Berna?

 

In my head, the scattered fragments of memory I had sensed regarding Count Rubel began piecing themselves together one by one.

 

Back then, it was like looking at a shattered glass mirror; it was hard to tell what it meant or what message it held.

 

Freesia had said her mother was always looking at the sky, longing for something.

 

Berna’s determination to return home was so strong that she had even left a portrait behind to record her life here.

 

Her husband, Count Rubel, refused to believe his wife was dead and insisted that her soul would return.

 

Could it be that Berna didn’t die, but actually returned to her original world using the dimensional travel magic circle?

 

I had finally found a way. I could hardly hide the joy spreading across my face.

 

As long as I had the dimensional travel magic circle, I could go back, regardless of the original story’s ending. Back home.

 

“Why are you smiling? It’s creeping me out.”

 

Palia glared at me, clearly displeased. I shrugged, pretending everything was normal.

 

“Just… because I’m surprised. By the way, when did you find out Berna was a Transmigrator?”

 

“I noticed from the very beginning. But I forced myself to pretend I didn’t know. She was my… friend.”

 

Palia cast her gaze downward and offered a bitter smile.

 

I was curious how she had become friends with Berna, but I didn’t ask further.

 

Palia and I weren’t close enough to share personal stories, and thoughtlessly prying felt like a quick way to shorten my lifespan.

 

“When I was officially appointed as a Guardian Mage, I received my very first mission. It was an order to execute the Transmigrator, Berna. No matter how much of a genius she was, she couldn’t hide her identity forever. But by then, she was already married to Count Rubel, had given birth to Freesia, and was building a happy family.”

 

I hesitated for a moment before carefully asking, “Did you really… try to kill her?”

 

No matter how cruel Palia might be, surely she wouldn’t try to harm a precious friend who was living happily with her family.

 

“Because it was my mission.”

 

A cold answer came back, instantly shattering my naive belief.

 

“You called her your friend! How could a human being do such a thing!”

 

My fists clenched with anger towards her. I glared at Palia with resentful eyes.

 

“When did I ever say I was human, Erika.”

 

Palia smiled icily.

 

“What?”

 

“I am a Guardian Mage. Finding and killing Transmigrators is my calling and my reason for existing. However, skipping to the conclusion, I couldn’t kill Berna.”

 

As she repeated that she couldn’t kill her friend, her expression was a mix of agony and sorrow.

 

“Right. I’m glad you didn’t kill her.”

 

“Why are you the one looking relieved?”

 

As I breathed a sigh of relief, my eyes met Palia’s.

 

Palia coldly averted her gaze first and continued her story.

 

“Berna was frighteningly wise and clever. When the pursuit narrowed in on her, she entered the royal court of Ruberia as a palace mage. She colluded with the royal authority, an area where the power of the Guardian Mages could not reach. She gained the deep trust of the King and the First Crown Prince, Richard. Ultimately, even the elders ordered us to monitor Berna instead of killing her.”

 

I genuinely marveled at Berna’s astute judgment.

 

“Aha, so that’s why she was safe despite being a Transmigrator. As long as she had the backing of the royal family, even the Guardian Mages, who do not interfere in politics, couldn’t touch her recklessly. That’s incredible… truly.”

 

“Come to think of it, you’re quite similar to Berna.”

 

Palia scoffed, wearing a look of mock surprise.

 

“What are you trying to say to pick a fight this time?”

 

I furrowed my brows slightly and glared at Palia.

 

Since we were already speaking informally, I had long since abandoned any basic courtesy toward the Guardian Mage.

 

“You have the backing of the Ruberian Royal Family, the favor of Grand Duke Reinhardt of the North, and you’re parading around as Freesia’s friend. Your knack for worldly survival is astounding. I genuinely want to pay my respects.”

 

“Either compliment me or insult me, pick one. Hearing anything from you just puts me in a bad mood.”

 

Palia gave a light snort.

 

Huh? Come to think of it, this was the first time Palia and I had such a peaceful and normal conversation. Hmm, it feels like I’m slowly taming a ferocious monster that’s trying to kill me.

 

My guard toward her must have softened. I ended up blurting out a bold question without thinking.

 

“Why didn’t you report me as a Transmigrator?”

 

Ah, I felt a wave of regret the second the words left my mouth.

 

I really was like a fearless newborn puppy that didn’t know enough to be scared of a tiger.

 

Palia glared at me with a chilling look that seemed capable of freezing someone on the spot.

 

“An amusing question. It’s like the prey rebelling against the beast, asking why it hasn’t been eaten immediately.”

 

Palia closed in on me and grabbed my jaw tightly. I didn’t even have a moment to dodge.

 

She could probably shatter my jaw in an instant.

 

Held by the chin, I gritted my teeth.

 

“Is our conversation over?”

 

If the peaceful talks break down, all that’s left is the use of force, I suppose.

 

Palia narrowed her eyes as if finding me pathetic. She pulled my chin even closer.

 

It was close enough that I could see my own stiff face reflected in her eyes.

 

“My story isn’t over yet. Listen a little more closely.”

 

“What else is there left to say? Are you possessed by a ghost that died because it couldn’t speak?”

 

Annoyed, I smacked away the hand Palia had clamped on my jaw.

 

Then, a thought flashed through my mind like lightning.

 

“I heard Berna died in the Royal Palace Monster Attack Incident seven years ago. Do you happen to know more about that?”

 

Palia’s expression noticeably darkened. I briefly regretted my words. It must have reminded her of her friend’s tragic death.

 

Then a hollow laugh escaped me. What a useless bout of empathy. Why should I walk on eggshells around a person who has tried to kill me multiple times?

 

“The Ruberian Royal Family completely covered up that incident. Even the Guardian Mages found it difficult to grasp the exact situation.”

 

Palia’s voice was impossibly raspy and filled with pain.

 

It was a voice that sounded as if she were forcefully dragging up fragments of agonized memories that had been deeply sealed away.

 

Palia paused to collect her breath.

 

Her expression, which had been contorted with rage and pain just moments ago, gradually smoothed out.

 

“When the monsters attacked the royal palace back then, the dimensional barrier was also at its most unstable. All the mages had to guard the barrier for an entire month. By the time I joined the investigation team and went to Ruberia later, the whole situation had already been cleaned up.”

 

“Cleaned up? What do you mean?”

 

I urgently threw the question at Palia.

 

“The Ruberian Kingdom had thoroughly covered it up. Furthermore, the Crown Prince and high-ranking nobles had been massacred, so it wasn’t a situation where we could conduct a proper investigation. Berna’s funeral had already taken place, and Count Rubel locked down his estate and refused to come out. The elders also decided not to broach the matter. There was a risk that the existence of Transmigrators might become known.”

 

Her voice reminiscing about the past was devoid of emotion, entirely dry.

 

“I was confined in the monastery for several years as punishment for aiding a Transmigrator. This room is my prison from back then.”

 

“So that’s why… there was a magic circle on the door. It acted as the bars to keep you from leaving this room.”

 

“Yes. A powerful barrier that only the elders could destroy.”

 

The old, narrow bed sitting solitarily in the room caught my eye. A hard pillow and a single thin sheet. It looked cold and uncomfortable, much like a prison bed.

 

How long had she suffered, sitting alone on that bed? Blaming herself for failing to save her friend.

 

It might have been a mental punishment more severe than any physical torture, an injury that would never heal.

 

“Why are you still living in this room?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

Palia furrowed her brows at the out-of-the-blue question.

 

“You said it was a prison. It must have been terrible, so why are you still staying here?”

 

Palia froze for a moment. She slowly turned her gaze toward the small window.

 

Beyond the window, covered in dust and cobwebs, lay a cloudy, ashen sky.

 

“It makes no difference. My soul is still in a prison.”

 

Palia slowly turned back to look at me.

 

It was the first time. The first time her eyes shone with an entirely different emotion—not anger, not contempt, not hostility.

 

Her eyes, clear and calm like a tranquil lake, reflected me.

 

“Aren’t you the same? A soul trapped in the prison of an unfamiliar body.”

 

My throat suddenly choked up. My mouth felt parched and burning, forcing me to swallow dryly.

 

Palia was seeing right through me, right to the entity dwelling within this physical body named Erika.

 

No one else had ever seen the real me. Not even Calix.

 

They say your enemy knows you best, and indeed, Palia had recognized me.

 

A hollow laugh escaped me before I could stop it.

 

“Why are you telling me this?”

 

As if changing masks, she smiled brightly. It was a terrifying smile, far too bizarre and alien.

 

“Erika, when do you think a person tells their opponent the truth?”

 

“What?”

 

“It’s when they know that opponent is about to die.”

 

A small flame sparked in Palia’s hand. It shot forward like an arrow and struck the bracelet on my wrist.

 

“Ugh!”

 

The pain was so agonizing it snatched my breath away. It felt as though my wrist had caught fire and was burning to a crisp.

 

The bracelet shattered into pieces and scattered across the floor.

 

“Palia… you dared to trick me.”

 

The moment I tried to spit curses at her, a horrific, skull-splitting pain suddenly assaulted me.

 

With the bracelet broken, the power inside me began to run wild. It was an agony akin to being carved up by blades.

 

“Aaaagh!”

 

My legs gave out, and my body collapsed to the floor like a crumbling clod of earth.

 

My face smashed hard against the cold ground, but I couldn’t even feel the impact.

 

The agonizing pain of the mana excavating my organs was far greater.

 

The pain scoured every corner of my body, as if it were a living creature.

 

“Try to hold on so the dimensional barrier doesn’t explode. If you buy me enough time, I’ll make sure to kill you painlessly and instantly when the time comes.”

 

Palia’s voice buzzed in my ears.

 

Glaring at her retreating back until the very end, I helplessly endured the convulsions wracking my body as I writhed like an insect.

 

***

 

The horrific pain that felt as though it had dragged on for an eternity finally stopped.

 

Barely ten minutes had likely passed, yet it felt like hours.

 

The demonic power was still rampaging through my body on its own accord. It was nearly impossible to control with my own will, but as a small mercy amid the misfortune, I no longer felt the pain.

 

Then, my legs started moving on their own. Regardless of my will.

 

A powerful, irresistible force began pulling me. Half out of my mind, I staggered outside.

 

It felt like I was dreaming. I was walking forward, but it lacked any sense of reality, as if I were treading on thin air.

 

My mind was hazy, like I was suffering from a fever, and my vision was blurred as if shrouded in fog. Strangely enough, I didn’t cross paths with a single person.

 

Where did everyone go? Is this a dream?

 

From afar, consecutive shouts and urgent cries echoed. Occasional screams and wails erupted alongside them.

 

As I climbed the hill behind the monastery, five stone towers reaching toward the sky revealed their majestic forms.

 

Like massive living organisms, the stone towers hummed loudly, emitting a blue light.

 

Beneath the five towers existed a massive dimensional barrier.

 

It looked like a fiercely swirling galaxy. Ripples of blue and white light undulated outward, radiating immense power.

 

The dimensional barrier rotated as though it would swallow every living thing.

 

As if it had been there since the beginning of time and would remain until the moment this world ended. It was a living entity in itself, a universe of its own.

 

“Damn it! It’s going to break at this rate!”

 

“Stop it, hurry! We have no time!”

 

“Pour out all your mana! We have to stop it, or we all die!”

 

They were desperate cries, shouted as if they were coughing up blood in a life-or-death crisis.

 

Mages clung to every stone tower, pouring their mana into them.

 

Light flowed from their hands, entirely absorbed by the towers. Their complexions grew pale, and sweat poured down like rain. I even saw a few who had lost consciousness, slumped against the stone.

 

Greedily devouring the mana, the stone towers emitted an even deeper, more vivid light.

 

Every time that happened, the movement of the dimensional barrier slowed slightly, but it soon churned again, blasting out light.

 

I staggered forward, drawn toward the dimensional barrier as if possessed. The pressure pushing back from the waves of light gradually grew stronger. It was so intense that even standing still was difficult.

 

“Who are you? Outsiders are strictly prohibited!”

 

A mage urgently blocked my path. But upon seeing my face, he froze like a stone statue.

 

“Y-your eyes… Don’t tell me…”

 

‘Annoying. Don’t block my way.’

 

With a single flick of my hand, the mage collapsed powerlessly to the side.

 

Grey-robed mages were swarming the five stone towers like a colony of ants.

 

I approached the nearest stone tower. It pulsed as it expelled blue light. Fragments of stone crumbled away as if the structure was on the verge of collapsing at any second.

 

I reached both hands toward the stone tower. Something inside me began to detonate alongside it.

 

The demonic power that had been boiling like lava inside my body erupted through my hands and into the tower.

 

Sucking in my power, the tip of the stone tower shot a beam of blue light upward. The light, stretching toward the sky like a waterspout, instantly blanketed the dimensional barrier like a massive net.

 

The blue net radiated an even stronger brilliance. As the net of light rippled, the earth quaked. The dimensional barrier, which had been spinning like a colossal galaxy, gradually began to slow.

 

“I-I’ve never seen such strong mana before. This is ridiculous…”

 

“Whose mana is this? Was there ever a master this powerful?”

 

“T-this isn’t the power of a human…!”

 

Shouts filled with shock and astonishment clamored around me. The noise stung my ears, but I focused my attention and continued pouring my power into the stone tower.

 

Because if I didn’t forcibly drain the power like this, I was on the brink of exploding from the inside out.

 

Right then, someone yanked my hand back forcefully.

 

“Why are you here?!”

 

As my hand was torn away from the tower, the mana pouring out of me like a waterfall halted as well. Only then did my senses return to me, as if I had been doused in ice water.

 

Beyond my blurry vision stood William.

 

Stained with despair, grief, and guilt, he looked ready to break down at any moment. Even though I was the one on the verge of passing out from mana depletion.

 

William hurried to support me.

 

The familiar scent of ink and old books emanated from him. Catching that familiar scent brought my mind back a little more.

 

“P-Palia is acting suspiciously.”

 

“What happened, Erika? You need to rest first.”

 

“No. I’m fine. I’ll be fine if I just catch my breath. More importantly, Palia is…”

 

In that instant, a sense of déjà vu washed over me. This situation felt entirely too familiar.

 

The worst-case scenario occurs, and while everyone is scrambling to clean up the mess, someone swoops in to take what they want.

 

After being stabbed in the back a few times, I figured it out. The most precious and coveted things in this place were…

 

“Director, you said the <The Book of Ignis> and the <The Book of Undine> were here, right?”

 

“Pardon? Yes, that’s correct. But your treatment comes first, Erika.”

 

As light began to shimmer in William’s palm, I reached out and interlaced my fingers with his.

 

“Erika…?”

 

William’s eyes wavered as he watched our fingers intertwine. I shook my head.

 

“I told you not to use your mana on me. You need to stabilize the dimensional barrier, Director. I’ll go find the spellbooks.”

 

I tried to pull my hand away, but his grip tightened, tangling his fingers more firmly with mine.

 

William’s eyes sank into a deep, somber gaze. A voice akin to a sigh slipped from his lips.

 

“Erika, it’s too dangerous. Please.”

 

Just then, a deafening roar shook the earth’s axis.

 

“Again, it’s happening again! The barrier is shaking!”

 

“Please, someone get over here! We don’t have enough mana!”

 

The urgent cries of the mages pounded against my eardrums.

 

As the dimensional barrier spun, an earth-shattering rumble echoed out. It was in an unstable state, liable to explode at any moment. It was like a volcano right on the brink of erupting.

 

“Director, you said the enemy was within. We cannot let Palia get her hands on those spellbooks!”

 

“Are you saying… Palia stole the spellbooks?”

 

Shocked by my words, the strength in William’s hand loosened. Seizing the opportunity, I easily slipped my hand out of his grip.

 

“Wait, Erika! You can’t!”

 

Shaking off William’s attempts to stop me, I immediately turned around and dashed toward the monastery library.

 

Pulling out the Book Finder I had hidden in my sleeve, I spoke the name: “<The Book of Undine>.”

 

The Book Finder’s needle spun wildly before coming to a halt, and a beam of light shot forward. As expected, it pointed toward the monastery library.

 

Perhaps because the mana had settled, my body felt light and overflowing with energy. With every powerful stride, the scenery blurred past me.

 

I reached the front of the monastery library in a flash. The mages guarding the door had collapsed. When I checked closely, I felt their heartbeats; they were only unconscious. Did Palia put them to sleep with magic?

 

The light from the Book Finder trailed deep into the library. When I pushed open the doors and stepped inside, there wasn’t a single trace of anyone present.

 

Did everyone evacuate because of the dimensional barrier emergency? That was actually a relief. I never wanted to see anyone get hurt again.

 

The Book Finder’s light led beyond the bookshelves. It was a section lined with ancient tomes. As I moved toward it, I heard a strange noise from behind the shelf.

 

The bookshelf was slowly, silently swinging open like a door.

 

‘There was a secret room behind the bookshelf?’

 

I quickly hid behind another shelf. Holding my breath, I watched the hidden door open.

 

The shelf opened completely, and someone with a hood pulled low over their face stepped out cautiously. In their hands were two ancient, worn spellbooks.

 

As soon as I confirmed the spellbooks, I lunged forward. An angry shout tore from my throat.

 

“Palia!”

 

Upon seeing me, Palia ground her teeth audibly.

 

“You… You didn’t get devoured by the dimensional barrier.”

 

I twisted the corner of my mouth into a smirk and mocked her.

 

“You planned to use me as a sacrifice? Just to steal some spellbooks? Sorry to disappoint you.”

 

Palia crumpled her face into a scowl and threw her hand forward. Fierce flames flared in her palm.

 

With a sharp crack of compressed air detonating, a fireball hurled toward me at tremendous speed.

 

To my eyes, it was a speed I could easily dodge. But just as I was about to leisurely side-step, I remembered that we were inside a library.

 

‘If I’m not careful, these precious books will burn. Do I really have to block it with my own body?’

 

Frowning slightly, I thrust both hands forward.

 

‘The worst that could happen is that it hurts like hell. And even if I’m injured to the point of death, this demonic power will probably heal me in no time.’

 

Baaang!

 

The fireball never reached me. The power surging from my palms collided with the sphere of fire, causing a mid-air explosion.

 

Embers rained down on the stone floor, kicking up shards of rock and plumes of dust.

 

“How dare a lowly thing like you block my magic… Have you already assimilated with the demonic power?”

 

Piercing through the hazy dust, the glare in Palia’s eyes flashed with murderous intent.

 

Palia raised her hand again. She genuinely intended to kill me right here, right now.

 

I took a deep breath, and shouted with all my might.

 

“Shut up and help me! Cooperate with me!”

 

Palia’s pupils dilated drastically. Her shoulders shook as she burst into a hollow laugh.

 

“Hah, have you finally lost your mind, Erika?”

 

Looking straight at Palia as she mocked me, I stepped forward.

 

I had no idea what was going through her head, but I pressed on anyway.

 

‘I have to make her understand and persuade her. I need to turn my worst enemy into my ally. It’s the only way.’

 

“I don’t know who you’re working with, but stop right now. You won’t be able to kill me. You’re seeing Berna through me. You’re still regretting it. Regretting that you couldn’t save her, that you couldn’t help her.”

 

“Shut your mouth, before I kill you.”

 

Provoked by my words, Palia grew agitated and spat a curse.

 

I ignored her reaction and kept talking.

 

“Help me. I can control the monsters. With my power, I can stabilize the dimensional barrier and complete the dimensional transit magic circle that Berna created. You know it. You know what kind of power I have and what I’m capable of.”

 

I walked right up to Palia and tilted my head up.

 

Our gazes clashed fiercely. I could vividly feel her fury through her ragged, shattered breaths.

 

“So choose me, Palia.”

 

I whispered sweetly into Palia’s ear. Making sure my words would shake her at her weakest point.

 

“You are…”

 

The flames of anger flickering in Palia’s eyes subsided. Beyond them lay a distant longing and unreachable affection.

 

Her parched lips trembled slightly.

 

“You truly resemble Berna. Right down to that arrogant way of speaking.”

 

Her bloodshot eyes stared at me obsessively, as if piercing through my very soul.

 

“I’ll tell you the secret of this world and the Transmigrators.”

 

Holding my breath, I listened closely to the words leaving her lips.

 

“I… I would have killed Berna in the end anyway. Because Transmigrators are not allowed to exist in this world.”

 

Hearing that, my anger flared up to the top of my head. I screamed viciously at her.

 

“Why the hell not?! Is getting unluckily transmigrated here and struggling to survive in this world a crime?!”

 

Palia reached out and gently caressed my cheek. A faint, nostalgic gaze wandered dizzyingly across my face.

 

Her eyes were fixed on me, yet she was searching for Berna within me.

 

“Because as long as you are in this world, the monsters will continuously appear.”

 

“…What?”

 

“Do you know why the dimensional barrier twists and destabilizes? Why monsters spawn all over the place?”

 

Palia slowly blinked her long eyelashes.

 

With just a few blinks, all tender and poignant emotions vanished. Beneath her bloodshot eyes, a madness-laced hatred danced.

 

“It’s all because of you.”

 

Suddenly, I couldn’t breathe, as if I were drowning in water. It was like my tongue had been crushed; I couldn’t even let out a moan.

 

“When a Transmigrator appears in this world, the dimensional barrier reacts and trembles. When the barrier is unstable, monsters spawn. The very existence of a Transmigrator is a disaster for this world.”

 

Palia’s hand, which had been stroking my cheek, slowly descended to my neck. Hardened by training, her calloused hand felt rock solid, and her skin was as cold as a corpse’s.

 

“The longer a Transmigrator stays in this world, the more the monsters multiply. That is why the Guardian Mages have spent centuries hunting down and killing Transmigrators. To protect this world.”

 

Her hand pulled out the necklace hanging around my neck.

 

‘It was the one William gave me before entering the monastery. How did she know? I kept it hidden deep away.’

 

Palia easily snapped the chain and threw the necklace to the ground. The blue gemstone of the pendant shattered into pieces.

 

“What are you doing?!”

 

I shouted, struggling to push her away. The grip of her hand around my throat tightened even further.

 

“You’re quite amusing. Other than Berna, this is the longest I’ve ever conversed with a Transmigrator. Usually, once I confirmed their identity, I killed them right away.”

 

A black aura rose from her hand, and she grabbed my neck, lifting me up. My feet gradually left the ground.

 

I flailed, but her fingers dug even deeper into my throat.

 

“U-ugh… let… go…”

 

“Sometimes I was curious. What your real name is.”

 

‘I’m really going to die at this rate.’

 

My breath caught, and my vision went dark. I gritted my teeth hard. All the blood in my body rushed to my heart, which felt like it was on the verge of exploding.

 

The power inside me whipped through my internal system like lightning. Sparks sprang to life within my hands, dancing between my fingers.

 

Power raced through my veins, moving entirely according to my need.

 

In the blink of an eye, I seized the fingers wrapped around my throat and ripped them away.

 

Crack.

 

The sound of her finger bones snapping echoed vividly in my ears.

 

“Gah!”

 

Palia spat out an agonized groan and stumbled backward. The black smoke suffocating my neck dissipated.

 

I rolled my tingling neck around. It was a bit stiff, but my neck bones were intact.

 

“Just… kill me instead.”

 

With her broken hand hanging limply, Palia clutched the two spellbooks in her remaining hand.

 

Trembling all over, she glared at me with eyes full of hatred. I furrowed my brow and extended a hand toward her.

 

“I have no interest in your life. Just hand over the spellbooks.”

 

“Master! Librarian!”

 

Right as Palia and I were locked in our standoff, Lewen rushed in urgently. He gasped, seemingly horrified by the state of the library.

 

I had tried my best to avoid damaging the library, but coming back to my senses, the place already looked like a disastrous warzone hit by a bomb.

 

Several massive bookshelves had toppled over, sending precious ancient tomes spilling across the floor. The stone ground was cratered, kicking up clouds of dust. It was a heartbreaking sight for a librarian, but…

 

Lewen ran over to the fallen Palia and quickly checked her condition.

 

“Master, is your hand injured? What on earth happened?”

 

As Lewen cast a healing spell on Palia’s hand, he briefly cast a glance my way. Out of courtesy, I gave him a slight nod.

 

‘She attacked me first, so it was self-defense,’ I wanted to explain, but I held my tongue.

 

With a bewildered expression, Lewen darted glances back and forth between me and Palia.

 

“What happened between you and the Librarian to cause…”

 

“Wake up, Lewen!”

 

Palia growled like a wounded beast.

 

“Have your eyes rotted out? Do you still not know the true identity of the woman standing right in front of you?!”

 

“Pardon? What are you talking about…”

 

Flustered, Lewen didn’t know what to do and looked between Palia and me in confusion.

 

Palia’s face contorted with fury. She bellowed like thunder, barking out an order.

 

“As a Guardian Mage, I command you: execute that Transmigrator!”

 

“Librarian Erika was… a Transmigrator?”

 

Startled, Lewen spun around to look at me. Instantly, his kind, gentle eyes turned freezing and ruthless.

 

“So that’s why the dimensional barrier was fluctuating so violently. The monsters must have caught her scent.”

 

Lewen took off the monocle resting on his nose. His eyes flashed with murderous intent.