Chapter 10

After gauging the right moment, I slipped out of the kitchen and wandered around the castle, swaying unsteadily.

Then, I discovered a grand, wide-open door.

Peering in slowly, I found a vast hall-like space with rows of tall bookshelves.

So many books!

This must be the library.

Maybe I can find a book here that will solve the mystery of this young girl.

I cautiously entered.

But there was no need to be so cautious; it was quiet inside, and no one even glanced at me. I felt a bit relieved.

At the counter, a woman with blue hair and glasses was sitting.

She had long ears, so she must be an elf.

She’s probably the librarian here.

Maybe she can help me.

“Miss”

“...Yes?”

She must have been reading a book.

The librarian, who had been looking down, raised her face.

Her cool eyes looked at me, slightly widening in surprise.

“Um, I’m looking for a book.”

“...What kind of book? I can help you find it.”

“Thank you!”

Hmm, how should I explain it?

“I’m looking for some kind of magic.”

“Yes. There are various categories of magic. Do you know which category the magic you’re looking for belongs to?”

“Categories?”

“Life magic, attack magic, defensive magic, healing magic, support magic, summoning magic, spirit magic, space-time magic... If you don’t know, you can also search by elements like fire or water.”

Hmm, that sounds complicated...

After some thought, I decided to be honest.

“Um, is there any magic that can make someone younger?”

The librarian’s eyebrow twitched slightly for a moment.

“Physical transformation... magic that affects the human body.”

“That’s it! How do I find that kind of magic?”

“Please wait a moment.”

The lady placed her hand on a thin glass-like board.

Suddenly, words started appearing on it!

The text flowed from the bottom to the top of the glass board.

Wow, this is amazing!

What’s going on!?

“The search is complete.”

While watching the text flow, the lady spoke in a calm voice.

“I did a very broad search, so there are a large number of materials. There are probably some irrelevant ones as well.”

Wow, there are so many books.

“However, I suspect that the information you’re looking for might be in the space-time magic category.”

“Space-time magic?”

“Yes. However, most of the information on space-time magic is restricted and can only be viewed by a select few high-level mages and His Majesty the Demon King.”

“So, I can’t see it?”

The librarian nodded.

“Yes. To view restricted materials, you need His Majesty the Demon King’s permission. Do you have a permit?”

I shook my head.

I don’t have one.

I wonder if she’ll give me one if I ask.

The librarian looked a bit troubled.

“Other than that... how about I select some for you?”

“Sure! Thank you, please do!”

The librarian fiddled with the glass board, picked out a few books, wrote down the necessary information on a small note, and handed it to me.

Wow, her handwriting is so neat.

“There are various books, from magic to anti-aging. I believe the information you need is likely in one of these.”

“Wow.”

“However, there might not be any crucial information.”

If you need more, please come back.

The librarian said this and smiled for the first time.

Wow, she’s so beautiful.

Yuki and this librarian, elves must be very beautiful.

I’m envious.

While I was thinking this, the hallway became noisy.

Oh no, not good.

I might be found again.

“Thank you, Librarian!”

I bowed and ran in the opposite direction from where I came in.

I found a door leading outside.

I’ll borrow the books another time, even though she helped me find them.

“Princess Presia”

Suddenly, the librarian called my name.

“Huh?”

“Please don’t run inside.”

“Okay!”

“And please be quiet.”

“Okay (whisper)”

I replied and dashed outside.

◆

Outside, there was a beautiful garden.

“Wow, it’s so beautiful!”

A well-maintained garden with flowers of various colors blooming.

Under the sun, the petals were fully spread, and a sweet fragrance filled the air.

To avoid being seen, I crouched by the wall. I was a bit tired, so I decided to take a break and enjoy the garden.

“Still, magic really has different categories, huh.”

Magic is about imagination.

I thought that by imagining, you could use these mysterious techniques. But I don’t really know the truth.

In the human world, magic hasn’t developed.

So, I couldn’t study it as an academic subject.

Now that I’ve heard about magic, I’m a bit interested.

I have magic power too.

I want to try more things.

“But, can I do anything other than flying?”

I looked at my hands and tilted my head.

I might be able to create fire or water, but I probably can’t control it. Even flying magic took a lot of practice. It’s like I can only adjust the output to one or ten, and I struggle with it.

Especially with fire, if it catches on to something, it could be dangerous, so I haven’t practiced much. In fact, when I lived in the orphanage, there was almost a fire, and I haven’t used it since.

Suddenly, I looked at the garden in front of me.

“Right.”

This place is wide open, so I might be able to try it.

“Okay, let’s water the flowers.”

Water magic should be safe.

Even if I fail, this place is wide open, and no one is around, so it should be fine.

“Water, come on out!”

I closed my eyes and raised my hands.

Then, a point in the air distorted, and a small ball of water started to form, swirling and growing.

Oh, this feels good.

Let’s make it a bit bigger and make it burst.

“Okay...”

The ball grew rapidly.

When I thought it was big enough, I relaxed my body.

But something unexpected happened.

“Huh? What’s going on?”

Why is it still swirling...?

I can’t stop the flow of water.

The ball of water started to form a vortex, creating a strong wind.

The rotation intensified, and flower petals were sucked into the water vortex.

Before I knew it, the ball of water I created had turned into a water spout reaching high into the sky.

“What is this!?”

Flowers, leaves, shovels, and buckets were being sucked into the water spout.

“Stop it! I’m not just watering the flowers; everything is getting destroyed!”

But the water flow wouldn’t stop.

“Stop, stop, I said stop!”

– Magic is about imagination.

I remembered my own words and was startled.

I clapped my hands and gripped the water spout as if to crush it.

Just disappear!

At that moment, with a loud “BOOM!”, the water spout exploded.

“Ah!”

The water tornado burst in the sky.

Water rained down like a heavy shower.

Under the blue sky, the water reflected the sunlight, sparkling.

A beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky.

Wow, it’s so beautiful... but when I looked at the garden, I was speechless.

It was a mess, as if a storm had just passed.

“Oh...”

Cold sweat trickled down my back.

“Ahh!? Princess Presia!?”

Tiana’s scream-like voice echoed.

“Are you okay!? Are you hurt!?”

People gathered, asking what happened.

Everyone was staring at the garden and me, open-mouthed.

I felt awkward and fidgeted with my fingers.

“Achoo!”

I sneezed loudly.

I’m really, really sorry...