Chapter 7

"Hey, what's wrong? Why are you so flustered? It's just a seal that will break in a few years anyway. If you're a magician, you should be able to see that, right? I'm offering to spare your life if you break it for me now. It's not a bad deal, is it?"

Grimoire looked at me and grinned.

Does he really think I'll nod in agreement?

My answer, of course, is already decided.

"I refuse."

"W-What!?"

I continued speaking to the surprised Grimoire.

"There's no way I'm going to let a bad guy who wants to destroy a country run loose. I'll reseal it myself. I'll make sure it won't break for another thousand years or so."

"W-Wait! Hold it!"

Grimoire hurriedly tried to stop me as I reached for the book.

"...Sorry. I got a bit carried away talking to someone after so long. I apologize. I didn't mean to. The people who sealed me were from hundreds of years ago, so I don't have any grudge against the people of this country. Of course, I won't kill them!"

I stared at Grimoire, who was speaking solemnly.

"Really?"

"Yeah, so, if you unseal me, I'll grant any wish you have! How about it, Lloyd? I can make you rich! I can create gold!"

As he said this, Grimoire opened his hand, and gold grains spilled out.

Hmm, a creation-type magic, I see.

"How about it? I can give you as much gold as you want, Lloyd."

I picked up a grain of gold and crushed it with my finger.

"What!?"

"...It's not a very high-level creation magic. Did you force a rock to turn into gold? The purity is too low, and the inside is hollow. You couldn't even fool a beginner merchant with this."

Creating gold with magic is forbidden, anyway.

And I'm a prince, so I don't need money.

"Ugh... Then, how about immortality! I can make you immortal!"

"I don't like having someone else's magic circuits implanted in my body. Especially something as powerful as immortality, which carries a lot of unknown risks when woven into the human body."

Magic isn't omnipotent.

Low-level magic can be managed with just mana consumption, but high-level magic puts a strain on both the caster and the recipient.

Even if immortality is woven in skillfully, it would still carry significant risks, such as severe nerve paralysis or physical defects.

I can't accept such a risky magic circuit.

Grimoire's face twisted, as if I had hit a nerve.

"...I guess I'll have to seal you again. You seem dangerous."

"W-Wait! Hold it! Please! I'm not dangerous at all! I'm a good demon! I was only sealed because I played a little prank!"

"Hmm, but you might be lying. I think I'll seal you again..."

Just as I was about to touch the book,

"Then, how about magic...!"

The demon muttered.

"It's ancient magic from hundreds of years ago! As a magician, you must be interested, right? I'll teach it to you! How about it, Lloyd!"

After thinking for a moment, I nodded.

"---Interesting"

Needless to say, I love magic.

Ancient magic, huh? According to legends, it can shake the earth, cause floods, and split the sea.

I wonder what the real thing is like. I'd love to see it.

Grimoire's expression brightened at my words.

"Right! Of course! For a magician, unknown magic is like a treasure you'd give your right arm for!"

"Really, you'll teach it to me?"

"Of course! So, Lloyd, unseal this accursed seal!"

"---Alright"

I touched the book and opened it.

Since the seal was already starting to break, it opened easily and the pages started flipping rapidly.

The edges of the pages turned black like charcoal and crumbled.

Fragments of the book floated in the air, and a gust of wind blew them away, completely erasing everything.

The seal was completely broken.

"---K"

A muffled voice echoed in the room.

"Hahaha! You've got to be kidding me! He actually broke the seal!"

A black mist gathered in one place and began to form a more human-like shape.

Blue skin, two horns on the forehead, bat-like wings, a dragon-like tail, a muscular upper body, and a goat-like lower body... the inhuman form was worthy of being called a demon.

"This feels great! I might even sing a song! I'm free! I'm free! Hahaha!"

Grimoire laughed joyfully, and I called out to him.

"That's great. ...So, can we get to it now?"

"Hmm, yeah. You wanted to know about the ancient magic, right?"

Grimoire grinned and began to gather magic in his right hand.

Wow, that's a lot of magic. The amount alone is incomparable to humans.

He is a demon, after all. As I marveled, Grimoire pointed his right hand at me.

Suddenly, my vision turned black.

A huge explosion occurred, and a cloud of dust rose.

"---This is the Black Flash Cannon. How about it? Pretty powerful, right... though I'm not sure if you can hear me."

A chuckle. ---Of course, I can hear it.

I created a wind to blow away the rising dust.

Grimoire's face showed shock when he saw me.

"W-What!?"

"...Yeah, it's quite an interesting magic. So this is ancient magic, huh?"

The magic circuit is unique. The flow, composition, and formation of magic, as well as the activation method, are different from what is used in modern times. ...Very intriguing.

"Can you show me a bit more?"

When I spoke, Grimoire seemed to hold his breath.