Two days after returning to the royal capital, in the morning.
Martina, who had the day off from work, was walking somewhere with such a light step that she seemed ready to skip.
Her destination—of course, was the Royal Palace Library.
Upon entering through the library’s doors, Martina took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the distinct aroma of the library.
“Ahh, this is so calming,” she murmured with a radiant smile.
Sophian, who approached her with a gentle smile, greeted her warmly.
“Martina, it’s been a while.”
“Sophian, it really has been…! Seeing your face makes me feel like I’m truly back at the library.”
“Hehe, your eyes are sparkling with joy.”
“I haven’t been able to visit the library or read any books for so long—it felt like I was going through withdrawal. I’m thrilled to spend the whole day reading today!”
Martina’s enthusiasm as she professed her love for the library made Sophian smile even more warmly. He then guided her to her usual spot.
“Do you already know what you’d like to read today?”
“No, I was thinking of choosing something now.”
“Then how about one of my recommendations?”
“Please do! Your suggestions are always spot on.”
“Thank you.”
With a graceful motion of his finger, Sophian summoned a book that floated over from behind the counter.
At first, Martina used to be amazed by this phenomenon, but by now, she was solely focused on the contents of the flying book.
“Here you go. It’s a knight’s tale from a slightly older era.”
“A tale… I love stories. Thank you, Sophian, for the recommendation.”
“It’s my pleasure as a librarian. Please take your time and enjoy.”
“I will!”
Martina quickly immersed herself in the world of the story. It was a knight’s tale carefully crafted to combine realistic historical elements with fiction, providing both entertainment and learning opportunities.
The story was set during a time of constant conflict, where many nations waged war over territorial disputes. The protagonist was the son of a ruler from a small nation. However, born with a frail body, he was shunned by both his family and the retainers.
Eventually, the man cursed the world and turned to sorcery, forging a pact with a demon to gain tremendous power.
This power allowed him to create monsters. When he touched the ground and chanted a spell, a pitch-black mist would appear, continuously birthing monsters for years.
Using this power, he annihilated neighboring countries one after another and achieved temporary glory. However, his own nation soon fell victim to the very monsters he had created, and he himself was devoured by them.
In the end, humanity was wiped out by the monsters, marking a tragic conclusion to the tale.
“This… is…”
Having finished the story, Martina frowned deeply as she gazed at the book’s cover. But apart from the title, there was no additional information provided.
“Sophian, why did you choose this book?”
Martina called out to Sophian, who was organizing books nearby. Placing the book he was holding aside, Sophian approached Martina’s table.
“Well, I happened to hear something about miasma pools, which reminded me of this book. I wondered if it might be related to them.”
Sophian, who usually wore a gentle smile, now spoke with a serious expression. Martina nodded slowly.
“I think so too… This book doesn’t have an author listed, but it’s clear that someone knowledgeable about history wrote it. It might not just be a story—perhaps a historical researcher from the past embedded accurate information to preserve it for future generations.”
The tale included scenes where people desperately tried to dispel the black mist and sever the man’s pact with the demon. Martina considered these parts as potential clues for eliminating the miasma pools.
“What stood out to me was the research on the ‘Undoer’ who could sever the demon’s contract. It concluded that the Undoer didn’t exist in this world and would need to be summoned from another realm. The summoning method involved drawing a ritual circle. I believe the Undoer could be the ‘Holy Maiden,’ and the ritual circle might refer to a magic circle for summoning her. The man’s death left the circle incomplete, but if we think positively, half of it was already done. Using this as a reference, we could gather more information from other documents—”
Lost in her thoughts, Martina spoke aloud as she organized her ideas. Realizing Sophian was still standing nearby, she looked up apologetically.
“I’m sorry! I started rambling nonsense…”
“No, it’s fine. Besides, I’ve heard a little about the Holy Maiden’s summoning myself.”
Hearing this, Martina’s eyes widened in surprise.
“…You’re well-informed, Sophian.”
“Hehe, I suppose so. Many people come to the library, after all.”
“That’s true.”
“Yes. I’ve also heard about the miasma pools that haven’t been eradicated. I’d like to help in any way I can.”
“Just recalling this book has already been a great help. Since light magic hasn’t been effective, summoning the Holy Maiden is a significant possibility.”
As Martina frowned in deep thought again, Sophian’s expression softened back into his usual kind smile. He used wind magic to return the knight’s tale to the counter.
“Oh…”
Martina, startled by the sudden motion of the book, looked up to find Sophian smiling at her.
“Martina, I’m sorry for recommending such a heavy book on your day off. Perhaps we could take a break and have lunch together?”
Drawn by Sophian’s smile and suggestion, Martina couldn’t help but smile herself and nodded.
“I’d love to join you.”
“Thank you. I’ll notify the other librarians and be right back.”
“Got it.”
After a few minutes, Sophian finished preparing for his lunch break and left the Royal Palace Library with Martina. Their destination was the dining hall within the royal palace.
