Chapter 7

Introduction to Rascality - Chapter 7 (7/300)

#007

The Imperial Library.

As the heart of the empire, it was the continent's premier repository, housing countless rare documents and valuable ancient books. Access was extremely restricted, only allowing those who were at least a baron's direct descendant or recognized by the emperor to enter.

If any damage were to occur to the books, one would have to pay a substantial amount in compensation, and if that were impossible, they would be imprisoned regardless of their rank.

Of course, I am an exception.

The third prince of the Rivera Empire, Leos von Rivera, is not a name to be taken lightly.

"Your Highness, I am truly grateful for your visit."

The location of the library was roughly known to me from Parsi. For the finer details, I casually asked the passing maids and nobles, who answered with wide eyes as if they had seen a rare animal.

Upon arriving at the Imperial Library, a person introduced himself as the head librarian, as if he had been informed of my arrival.

The librarian's name was Oz.

He was in his mid-thirties, but his appearance was not much different from mine. Glancing at his face, he looked like a handsome man with blue-silver hair, wearing glasses, and bowed deeply in front of me, resembling the character from the illustration who loves books.

As you might have guessed, his name was borrowed from a famous fairy tale wizard.

In reality, he was a hidden powerhouse within the palace, possessing skills comparable to a grand mage, and in the story, he recognized the protagonist's strength when he entered the palace and became his supportive ally.

I would have liked to bring him over to my side, but I have no power or influence yet.

‘Don’t be hasty.’

I know better than anyone that being too eager to do too much at once can ruin everything.

If I build things up step by step, a path will eventually open up.

"Thank you for your hard work."

"...No, not at all. Is there a particular book you are looking for?"

At my praise, he bowed even deeper. He probably didn’t expect such words from my usual behavior. If he were to look up, I imagine his face would show surprise.

"No, I just want to take a casual look around."

To obtain the hidden piece, it’s best to be alone. To shake off unnecessary attention, I spoke arrogantly, and Oz’s eyes slightly dimmed.

"...I will be at the entrance. If you need anything, just call my name."

But he didn’t reveal his true feelings and bowed lightly again.

I nodded lightly and entered the library with a dignified stride.

"Hmm."

Perhaps due to my brief experience as a writer, the smell of books was always pleasant to me.

Glancing around, thanks to the magical maintenance, there wasn’t a speck of dust in the library.

Books, books, books.

Taking a few more steps forward, a grand feast of books greeted me, stretching as far as the eye could see. The shelves, filled with books bound in thick leather, left no gaps in the space.

"Then, let’s see..."

As mentioned earlier, I came here to find a 'sword.'

Specifically, the magic sword known as the strongest and most evil.

Leos obtained this sword around the middle of the academy chapter.

The talent of the Rivera bloodline, which once made him stand out, had now become a shackle around his neck.

Leos struggled to break free, but at the moment of resignation, he was drawn to it as if by fate.

However, I don’t need to, nor can I, wait that long.

The magic sword is in the form of a book. Leos’s discovery of it was almost a fated coincidence.

It was the first stroke of luck for someone who had always played the role of a rascal and lived a suppressed life. I remember it clearly.

- The motionless crystal chandelier. It seemed out of place in the dim library, but it emitted a mysterious aura that intertwined with the atmosphere of the ancient books.

Leos walked a few steps further into the library, following the strange aura that stimulated him.

Recalling the original story, I moved my steps. After walking in for a while, a large crystal chandelier appeared on the ceiling, just as described. I walked forward slowly, as Leos did, with the chandelier behind me.

Thump.

A foreign heartbeat was felt from my heart.

At the same time, a particular ancient book on the shelf caught my eye, and I approached it as if entranced.

Swoosh.

I carefully grabbed the corner of the book. Then, gripping it tightly to prevent it from slipping, I pulled it out.

If this is truly the magic sword that Leos pulled out, its existence will manifest now, and it will whisper sweet words to me.

Of course, thanks to the original story, I know how to subdue it.

But knowing it in theory and experiencing it in reality are different. This is a weapon known as a cursed magic sword. No amount of caution is too much.

"......?"

But after waiting for a few seconds, there was no reaction. And I felt a chill run down my spine.

‘This feels bad.’

The library is maintained at a constant temperature by magic. But for some reason, cold sweat was breaking out on my forehead and trickling down my cheeks.

‘This is a bit, not right.’

The unexpected turn of events made my fingertips tremble. My advantage lies in knowledge, not power. If the foundation of that knowledge is denied, the future is a murky abyss.

Feeling it was not good, I put the book back. As I turned to leave, I heard a woman’s voice with a hint of laughter.

"Where are you running to?"

The clear voice that followed was enough to push me into the abyss.

It’s cold. A dagger pierces my heart. The situation was inexplicable, but it hadn’t reached the worst point yet. After all, I hadn’t used my trump card.

"Stop moving. I can’t be rude to a guest who has come after so long."

The bitter air entering through my nose and mouth swept through my lungs. The magic sword wasn’t always a magic sword. Of course, it wasn’t an ordinary sword to begin with. It was at least a famous or valuable sword.

The nature of the sword was determined by the owner's disposition. But what I wanted to obtain was the highest and worst among those that had risen to the rank of a magic sword by offering the blood and flesh of many.

Turning around cautiously, I saw a black-haired woman with a mesmerizing appearance smiling at me.

I tried to hide my agitation and spoke with a firm face.

"My name is Leos von Rivera, the third prince of the Rivera Empire. Reveal your identity!"

Her blood-red eyes glowed with a sinister light at my words. Then, she chuckled and slowly approached me.

"Leos von Rivera."

"Ugh?!"

Like a venomous snake, she silently approached and whispered in my ear.

"Cursed prince, child of a prostitute."

Her mesmerizing voice echoed in my head. I wanted to shake her off, but for some reason, I couldn’t move a finger.

"Isn’t it hateful? Those who killed your mother and live shamelessly."

She coiled around my body like a snake climbing a tree. Then, slowly, she lifted my hand and guided it toward her own body, which was embedded in the bookshelf.

She continuously whispered mesmerizing words in my ear. Though I didn’t empathize with any of it, my mind became hazy, and my limbs grew weak.

‘What...!’

I knew mental temptation would come, but I never imagined it would bind my body so strongly.

‘This didn’t happen in the original...’

Was it because I tried to obtain it earlier than the scheduled time? But it wasn’t over yet. A status window I didn’t know when it appeared was now in my field of vision.

I clenched my teeth, looking at the last sentence.

I was about to be overwhelmed by the unexpected turn of events. Of course, I had a trump card, but if I failed before using it, there would be no way to stop it. I desperately moved my hand to press the status window.

Buzz.

The sound of flies buzzing filled my ears. At the same time, she seemed to notice something was changing and smiled mockingly.

"You have a hidden move, don’t you? Your will is impressive, but it’s too late to resist now."

She guided my hand to the book she had just put back. I finally pulled it out, and in an instant, it transformed into a sword.

The sword gleamed in the light of the chandelier. Even though I don’t know much about swords, the appearance was enough to make me marvel, but the ominous aura made my skin crawl.

A dark, almost demonic aura spread through the air. Tiring, with a mesmerizing smile, said:

"Now, just submit to me."

She was laughing so hard it seemed her mouth would split. She must have been confident that I was now hers.

But she couldn’t have known that the moment I aimed for was right now.

"Curse of the Veil activation."

"…What?"

I inserted the veil I had taken from my finger into the hilt of the magic sword. As I recited the activation phrase, the ominous aura of the sword subsided, and the powerful force that had restrained me disappeared instantly.

Name - Tiring

Rank - Artifact

Nature - Demon

Titles

- Deathbringer

- Destroyer of the Owner

- Finger of Tiring

Crafted by - Duren (Dwarf)

*Linked with the owner, Leos von Rivera.

*Most abilities are deactivated by the Curse of the Veil.

Several status windows appeared in front of me in an instant. At the same time, Tiring’s adult female form began to shrink.

"What, what is this!"

She eventually shrank to the size of a five or six-year-old child. Tiring, looking at her suddenly smaller body, was in disbelief.

Forgetting I was beside her, she seemed to be trying to use her powers, but the black flames rising from her body disappeared like a gas stove with insufficient gas.

"..."

Tiring shivered, looking at her hands pitifully.

"You, you! What did you do!"

I composed myself and smiled lightly, then grabbed Tiring’s collar and one arm.

"What, what...?"

She took a step back, sensing something unusual from my expression, but the initiative was now mine.

After being in a panic for a while, Tiring finally realized the reversal of power and looked up at me with a pitiful expression, tears in her eyes.

Whish.

Of course, I ignored it without a moment’s hesitation. As I tightened my grip on her collar and arm, her light body was easily lifted into the air.

"Huff!"

With a light shout, I twisted my waist. Tiring was slammed into the ground before she could even scream.

Thud!

A common technique in judo. A silent scream burst from her lips as she hit the ground.

If she were still the sultry older sister, it might have been different, but trying to seduce me in a child’s body?

"It doesn’t work."

Who do you think I am, a criminal?