Chapter 8

Introduction to Rascals - Chapter 8 (8/300)

#008

The Curse of the Barrier is not something that can only be used on living people. Just as I used it on Terving, the original Leos also used the Curse of the Barrier to restrain the girl who wouldn't listen to him.

"Almost got me there, really."

But perhaps because I tried to obtain it earlier than in the original, the resistance was stronger than expected. Normally, he would start a conversation, testing the worthiness of the one to become the master.

If Terving had taken over my body, the story would have ended there. I would probably have been killed by the knights after wielding the sword for about half a day.

Despite being called a divine sword, it was a formidable weapon, but this place is the royal palace. There are many experts who can easily handle a mere unawakened magic sword.

The royal palace, where schemes abound. The weak do not survive.

"..."

Terving, who had been groaning, seemed to have lost consciousness and was slumped over. What is the difference between the original Leos and me that led to this situation?

Leos reached the level of Sword Master right after graduating from the academy. Since he obtained Terving before that, there shouldn't be much difference from now.

This body, though I can't use it, has the strength to resist even a decent knight. Even the strongest prince, Carius, would not be a match for me in a direct confrontation.

"What's the matter?"

After the intense struggle with Terving, it took a while for Oz to appear.

I stroked a thick book. Terving, who had fainted and fallen to the floor, had already returned to the form of a book.

It was fortunate that Oz came late. Otherwise, rumors would have spread that I mercilessly beat a child in the library. Ah, but since I'm already known as a rascal, maybe a bad reputation wouldn't matter much?

"I slipped while trying to get a book."

"I'm glad you're safe. Even if the library has precious books, if Your Highness were to get hurt..."

'Oh?'

For some reason, he sounded worried. I was slightly moved, but then his next words made my mood sour.

"I will be reprimanded."

"..."

In the end, it's about his own safety. I looked at him with a face of disbelief, and Oz smiled, saying it was a joke.

He seems to be a peculiar person. He must have heard about my reputation, and a normal person wouldn't dare to joke with a royal or noble.

'He must be very confident in his abilities.'

"So, did you find the book?"

"I want to borrow this one."

I held up the book that Terving was pretending to be. Oz, who carefully examined it, said with a gleam in his eyes:

"It's the story of a blacksmith who remained in hell alone, striking iron to avenge the fallen clan during a winter of howling winds. It's a good book."

"Do you know it?"

Perhaps due to the effects of the status window or system assistance, I could read the title on the thick cover.

'The Last Sword.'

I was slightly surprised by Oz's words. This book was almost hidden in a corner of the library.

To guess the content from just the title shows his remarkable knowledge.

"I am the librarian of the royal library. I have read most of the books I have permission to read."

"Remarkable."

Given the size of the royal library, it's enormous. There could be thousands, even tens of thousands of books, and he has read most of them that he has permission to read.

'I will make you my person, no matter what.'

"Then I'll prepare the loan record for this book."

"Thank you."

"Ah, and The Last Sword is not a standalone. There are stories before and after it, but unfortunately, this is the only one in the library."

I mostly ignored his words, just nodding and smiling.

On my way back to my palace.

I met a few more people, but they all avoided my gaze and bowed deeply.

Regardless, I felt good.

The magic sword Terving.

When its true power awakens, it will be a powerful weapon capable of opposing the invading demons or even the strongest race, the dragons.

Although it hasn't recognized me as its master yet, that will happen in time. I know a few sources related to Terving. If I use them appropriately, coaxing it won't be a problem.

"Hmm?"

Returning to my room with light steps, I found a woman I hadn't seen before inside. She was drinking tea, steam rising from the cup, and stood up when I entered.

"Finally, you're here."

Her striking red hair cascaded down to her waist. A beauty with skin as white as the snow outside, I just stood at the door, dumbfounded.

"From your expression, you didn't remember I said I would visit today."

She sighed and said with a pout. Only then did I realize who the woman was.

Petra von Leipzig.

Leos's fiancée and the eldest daughter of the Leipzig family.

'I didn't expect to see her at this timing.'

The Leipzig family, once a prestigious lineage, had declined for several generations due to some reason.

But the current Leipzig Duke is an ambitious man.

Selling his daughter to revive the family was no big deal, even if the buyer was Leos, the emperor's illegitimate son.

Though it was an unwanted relationship, she also desired the family's revival and willingly accepted the sacrifice.

Leos's reputation was far from good. In fact, it was the worst.

Even a corrupt noble who indulged in luxury and debauchery wouldn't be as bad.

But the authority of the royal family was so powerful that she was willing to bear the stigma and take Leos's hand. The Leipzig family was desperate.

In the original story, the two used each other.

Bound by the name of marriage, they had a physical relationship but no love.

But over time, they felt a sense of kinship and eventually opened their hearts to each other.

How happy they must have been to finally find someone to comfort their wounded hearts. Even though it was a fantasy, a review mentioned that the dense romance appealed to female readers.

But it ended in tragedy. Petra, ordered by her family to betray him, ultimately faced death in Leos's place.

Her lover's meaningless death pushed Leos into another abyss, and he used that anger as fuel for Terving's second awakening.

"...Is there something on my face?"

The beauty, one of the top five in the world, asked with a puzzled expression. I slightly turned my head, wiped my eyes, and said in a low voice:

"Nothing."

"..."

But her expression was not at ease. After all, who would like being ignored for something else?

But that was the original Leos. To maintain his public image, I moved with a haughty expression.

"Sit."

"...I was going to just look at Your Highness's face and leave, as my father instructed."

Petra sighed and sat in front of me. Then she looked at me seriously.

"I heard you had trouble with other princes."

"...A little?"

"Calling it a little is an understatement, isn't it?"

I closed my mouth at her words. She was talking about the assassination attempt. It was clearly my mistake, so I had no words to defend myself.

"Your actions affect me, your fiancée, and the Leipzig family. I hope you will be more careful."

In short, she was telling me to lie low and go along with it.

It was a bit annoying, but I let it slide because she was beautiful.

"Understood."

I nodded, but she still looked at me with distrust.

"By the way, what about the academy issue? I heard it will be announced on the upcoming Founding Day."

"I haven't heard anything yet."

The Founding Day, commemorating the establishment of the Ribera Empire, was approaching.

There would be festivals everywhere, and the royal palace would be no exception.

On that day, Leos and Augustus were to be admitted to the academy by the emperor's order.

The academy admission would bring significant changes to Leos's actions and mark the beginning of the original story.

I would be the antagonist, and he would be the protagonist.

The start of the main story. From then on, the world would begin to move under the name of the story.

"Hmm."

A small sigh brought me back to my senses. I didn't know how she interpreted my reaction, but Petra still looked gloomy.

Yes, she probably thinks I'm clinging to a rotten rope.

But that will change soon.

* * *

After Petra left, I carefully reviewed the upcoming developments.

Like when I obtained Terving, I was afraid of overlooking something and making a mistake, so I reviewed it two or three times and only finished the early part late at night.

Given the 300 chapters, the roots run deep. The author's specialty is planting seeds and recovering them at the right time.

Thanks to my experience as an editor, I had recorded the major points, and I would decide how to use them as the situation unfolded.

"Phew."

It was well past midnight. I sent Parsi, who sometimes shared my bed, to her room. I didn't want her to be disturbed by my rustling.

I wiped the ink from the pen and put it down. Just as I was about to stretch and go to bed, I heard an unfamiliar voice.

"You."

At this late hour, no one other than Parsi would come to see me. My body tensed for a moment, but I recognized the speaker from the short, sharp voice.

"You're awake."

Terving was sitting at the end of the bed, tapping her feet. She got up, her dark hair swaying like the night, and approached me.

"What are you scribbling at this hour?"

Her stiff tone, unlike her short, sharp voice, almost made me laugh.

I thought she would immediately try to take back the Curse of the Barrier, but the hatred I saw earlier seemed to have subsided. Instead, there was curiosity.

"...Do you know about the Akashic Records?"

After a moment's thought, I brought up the excuse I had prepared.

"Akashic Records?"

She tilted her head, as if she had never heard of it. Her gaze urged me to explain, so I cleared my throat and began.

"To put it simply, it's the world's memory, recording everything from the past, present, and future."

"...I've heard something similar. Was it called the Idea?"

She knows about the Idea but not the Akashic Records. From a philosophical perspective, the latter is more complex, which is ironic.

"Whether it's the Akashic Records or the Idea, the context is the same. The totality of all records. And I've glimpsed a part of it."

"Glimpsed?"

It's not a lie. From the world's perspective, an SSS-grade absolute being in another world is practically the Akashic Records.

Not just glimpsed, but a part of it is mine.

...Maybe about 5%?

Terving, intrigued by my words, came closer and looked at the parchment on the table. But there's no way she could read it. It's written in Korean.