Chapter 9: Misguided Desire (1)

Lucas grew irritated.

However, since the possibility of him performing that spell was extremely low, Lucas decided to pretend he didn't know.

Just as he turned his eyes back to the book, Brandy spoke up.

"I... might finally be able to use magic."

"...What do you mean?"

"Hmm, I don't know if it's right for this old man to speak so hastily."

"It's fine, go ahead. I don't have anyone else to talk to either."

"...Well."

The story that came out of his mouth was shocking.

As Lucas watched him continue with an excited expression, he wanted to clamp his hand over the old man's mouth.

This morning, someone had visited Brandy and told him they could make him a wizard. They said that if the spell Lucas had seen earlier was completed, anyone could become a wizard. Brandy had eagerly accepted the spell.

However, they said one thing was missing to complete the spell: a soul contract.

When Brandy asked what it was, they said they needed a young and pure soul.

Brandy offered his old soul immediately, but they said they needed a young and pure soul.

"...A young and pure soul?"

"Yes, they said they needed a young and pure soul."

"...Where do you plan to get one?"

"They said that the soul contract would not harm the body or mind. They just needed to borrow a bit of the power within the soul, so there was nothing to worry about..."

"That's ridiculous!!!"

It was absolutely absurd. Borrowing power from a soul? It wasn't like borrowing land to farm, and Lucas couldn't believe Brandy had taken it at face value. Brandy was planning to go to an orphanage near the capital to find those souls.

"Young Lucas may not understand, but there are many great wizards in the world. If I just lend them a bit of my soul... this old man's dream will come true."

It was dangerous. The goal of becoming a wizard, a dream he had cherished since childhood, had been trapped in his aging body, and the old man in front of him was losing his judgment and about to do something wrong.

"...That's absurd. It's impossible to borrow a soul temporarily. Sir Librarian, you should consult with other... adults about this issue."

Just as Lucas finished speaking and was about to stand up,

"You don't know!!!"

"?! "

Lucas paused in his movement at Brandy's sudden outburst.

"You, who can easily summon light from your hands, don't know!!! I... I!!! I've spent my whole life trying to create even a tiny spark!!!"

The old librarian's hoarse voice echoed through the library.

- Bang!

Seeing the old man's mad appearance, Lucas finally stood up.

"Do you not know what you're about to do for that tiny spark!!!"

Lucas's clear, young voice echoed through the air.

The immense pressure emanating from his small body.

Shaken by that pressure, Brandy began to laugh maniacally.

"Ha... hahaha!!"

"Finally, you've gone mad. You're completely mad! Snap out of it!!"

Lucas's desperate cry echoed.

Despite his desperation, Brandy's laughter only grew louder.

"Ha... ha... ha..."

The laughter gradually subsided and turned into sobs that filled the library.

"I... I know... I know..."

The old man, over seventy, had tears streaming down his deep wrinkles, soaking his collar.

He knew that the young soul they wanted would not be unharmed.

He wanted to hide this fact and lessen his guilt by telling the seemingly innocent young Lucas.

"Librarian Brandy, I will help you."

The small human approached the old man and grabbed his hand.

As the small hand touched him, the old man's sobs turned into wails, as if pouring out a lifetime of sorrow.

'I will find out who spouted such nonsense and beat them to a pulp.'

***

Back in his room, Lucas stared at the spell he had received from Brandy for a long time.

At first, he thought it was just a cult group trying to gather souls or black magic enthusiasts.

But the more he thought about it, the more suspicious aspects emerged.

No one had shown interest in Brandy, the librarian.

While a few knew he had admired magic in his youth, he was not a significant figure, and everyone saw him as just a librarian who liked magic.

The person who approached him intentionally likely knew about his past.

They had extracted his greatest desire, clouded his judgment, and almost made him do something wrong.

If he had really carried out that plan, terrible things would have happened, as clear as day.

"Filthy scum!!"

Trying to track them through the spell in his hand, he found no trace.

'Young and... pure soul...'

As he pondered Brandy's words, he suddenly hit the desk.

Lucas, who seemed ready to get up and leave, suddenly stiffened.

"I may be young, but... am I... pure?"

***

'There's no way...'

Lucas sighed deeply as he entered the library and saw the haggard Brandy.

"Sir Librarian, did they say when they would come?"

"...They said to find them when I found a child to lend a soul."

"Where is that?"

"Why..."

"I said I would help, didn't I? Here I am. A young and... pure soul."

"No, I cannot involve you, Sir Lucas, in my old man's greed and put you in danger."

Now that he was fully in his right mind, Brandy smiled kindly, which made Lucas even more frustrated.

He had been yelling at him, saying he didn't understand, and now he was refusing help.

What had he done to help this old man!

"Sir Librarian?"

"A, ah! How did Professor Amman get here..."

At that moment, Amman, who had followed Lucas using the Invisibility spell, revealed himself.

"I asked for Professor Amman's help. To thoroughly investigate this matter, I needed the help of an adult."

"Hahaha. Our young Lucas is truly clever, isn't he?"

Lucas wanted to spit at Amman's face, but now was not the time.

"Hehe... But it's really fine even without that. I must have been temporarily mad."

"Huh? No, I'm doing this for the greater good, not just to help Sir Brandy."

Amman emphasized the word 'greater good' as he continued.

"Even if it's just a rat's soul, it needs to be investigated. Using living beings for rituals is prohibited in Arant."

"Yes... I know that."

The old man bowed his head deeply, aware that he had almost committed a crime against the empire.

"But don't worry. You won't be held responsible for this."

Despite Amman's reassuring smile, the librarian's face only grew darker.

"Shall we go?"

Amman cast the Invisibility spell again.

***

A small cottage in a forest not far from the palace.

Lucas and Brandy, who had been followed by Amman's constant whispering, were mentally exhausted during the walk.

'You crazy bastard!!'

Amman's mouth didn't stop talking the whole way to the cottage.

"So what did I say? 'If you don't stop, you'll all face dire consequences!'"

Lucas wanted to stuff a rock in Amman's mouth as he recounted his own heroic tales.

Worse, he was whispering between Lucas and Brandy.

The occasional breath from Amman's whispers was extremely unpleasant.

'You damn blue lizard. I really want to break your jaw right now.'

He wanted to yell at him to shut up, but he couldn't respond to Amman's whispers due to the Invisibility spell, so they just walked silently.

-Knock knock knock

When Brandy knocked on the cottage door, it slid open.

As they entered, a pungent smell hit their noses.

'Blood...?'

It was definitely the smell of blood. Lucas instinctively pinched his nose at the revolting smell coming from the cottage.

"Welcome, Sir Brandy."

The man, wearing a deep hood, greeted them.

After checking the surroundings before closing the door, the smell of blood became even stronger.

"Yes. This is the young... friend you mentioned."

"Heh... Good job."

The man's eyes scanned Lucas from head to toe, making him frown.

'What are you looking at? Dirty bastard. I'll pluck out your eyeballs.'

The urge to strangle him was overwhelming, but Lucas forced himself to look innocent and wide-eyed.

'Is this innocent enough?'

He didn't know how they determined a pure soul, but he tried to look as innocent as possible, feeling a wave of self-loathing.

'I should have bitten my tongue and died.'

-Snap!

"Ugh!"

Suddenly, the man reached out and roughly grabbed Lucas's chin.

"Very... very good."

Lucas involuntarily gasped at the man's sudden action, but the man ignored it and examined Lucas's face, muttering his approval.

"Heh... Thank you. Sir Brandy will soon have his wish granted."

The man's unpleasant laugh echoed in Lucas's ear as he pulled him closer.

"Then what should I do now?"

"I'll contact you when it's time... "

The man's lips curled into a sinister smile as he grabbed Lucas's hand.

"Can I take the child now?"

"I said I'll contact you when it's time."

When Brandy asked again, the man's voice lost all its warmth.

Brandy nodded slightly at the cold tone.

"...I'll wait."

"Yes... Don't worry, go home... The child will be fine..."

With that, Brandy glanced at Lucas and left the cottage.

'My part is done...'

Brandy didn't have the strength to face the man. Lucas would be safe. Professor Amman would protect him.

He had to believe that.