Chapter 7

### Day Three in the Other World

After whispering to a few of the old raccoon dogs that "Amane and I both love sweets," the next morning, a large amount of sweets gathered at our place. Most of them were fresh fruits and fruit preserves.

It seems that in this world, there are no cookies or cakes. This is a bit tough for a modern high school girl.

Anyway, the two of us, Amane and I, enjoyed our morning tea with the sweets and talked. Amane planned to meet all the selected servants today and then decide what to learn from them.

"Hmm, you're going to train, huh?"

After a while, I handed Amane over to the prince who came to fetch her and saw her off. I then took some sweets as a gift and started to win over the maids.

In any world, the women's information network is the strongest. And they all love sweets.

Thinking I might get scolded if I was caught slacking off, I secretly held a tea party and provided sweets to the maids. By the end of the day, I had learned various things, such as the rough power dynamics of the castle, where the library was, and where some suspicious items that shouldn't be in the library were hidden (though the truth of this was unclear).

### Day Four in the Other World

After seeing off Amane, who had started her training, I went to the library and tried to open a book, but I realized I couldn't read the important words and felt incredibly depressed. (I should have thought about this earlier.) It's great that I can understand spoken language, but this is a huge problem.

While pondering what to do, I was collecting information at another tea party with the maids when I heard an interesting story.

"The 'Blood-Stained Grimoire'?"

"It's a grimoire without any words, and it's said to have a will of its own. However, because its will is so strong, no magician has been able to control it, and they all died."

The maid who told me this shivered. The other maids looked a bit scared but also excited, as if it were a ghost story.

"A book without words?"

"You're focusing on that... It's said that it's probably just invisible to those who are not qualified."

It seems the grimoire's "will" selects who can see it. If I were qualified, would it teach me the words?

Driven by curiosity... no, intellectual curiosity, I decided to search for the grimoire that an eccentric nobleman had once presented to the king. I sneaked into the treasure vault late at night.

Using my altered eyes, I found a hidden passage in the vault sealed by magic and entered through the "darkness." Despite being on high alert, I managed to enter without being noticed. I looked around the treasure vault, which was filled with gold and silver, and noticed two items that caught my attention.

One was a black bracelet buried in a pile of gold coins. It was made of obsidian and had a beautiful, delicate design that resembled angel wings. I usually have no interest in accessories, but for some reason, I really liked it. I picked it up and put it on my wrist. It fit perfectly. I decided to take it with me, hiding it under my clothes. (Guilt? What's that, is it delicious?)

The other was an old book in a glass case at the back. The thick cover was embedded with emeralds, rubies, sapphires, topazes, diamonds, and various colored crystals—quite a luxurious book. The gems seemed to contain strong magical energy, and the white cloth that was wrapped around the book in a cross pattern had the strongest aura.

The features matched the rumors. This must be the sealed grimoire, the "Blood-Stained Grimoire."

"Come here."

I extended my palm and manipulated the "darkness" to call the book from the glass case. It vanished and then fell into my hand a moment later. The white cloth that bound the book turned black upon touching me and crumbled into ash.

...Ah.

I'm really starting to seem inhuman...

I sighed deeply and opened the book. Instantly, I found myself standing in an unknown place.

It was a ruin of a massive stone building. The sky was dark, with no moon or stars. Only the moss on the broken pillars and walls glowed faintly.

---

To the one who opens the door, I ask.

The words resonated directly in my mind. A voice that was neither young nor old, neither male nor female, and mysterious. ...No, it was a "will."

---

Do you desire knowledge?

Sure, I want it. If you can give it to me, I'll take it.

---

Very well.

The answer came quickly.

Huh?

That's it?

---

I am the Water Bearer. I will pour the knowledge inscribed in me into your vessel.

The "will" chuckled softly.

---

Whether you can receive it without going mad depends on your vessel.

Is this the selection process? ...No, you didn't choose me, did you? If I survive without going mad, I'm qualified? That's too much.

I felt my consciousness being crushed by the sudden influx of vast knowledge.

What a rough way to do it...

With that thought, I sank into the flood of knowledge.

---

While Amane, the orthodox hero, started her training, Rio went to encounter the first grimoire (ghost story level) on her own. If these two were to enter a haunted house, Rio would ignore all the horror and gore, while Amane would cling to her, crying and screaming (and then be glared at by Amane's fans...).