Chapter 413

Ellen and Charlotte left the temple. Charlotte had an artifact that cast cognitive impairment magic, and Ellen wore a robe to avoid unnecessary attention. Charlotte briefly explained to Ellen where they were going while walking down the street. She talked about the day they found a clue while walking around the Ali-Gar shopping district with Reinhardt, the day Reinhardt acted as a messenger to deliver a letter to the shop owner, and the day they stopped contacting each other after the last letter when their suspicions were confirmed. Charlotte realized how big of a problem her actions had caused. Ellen didn't comment on Charlotte's actions, but she knew that Charlotte had suffered a lot and felt guilty. Ellen saved Charlotte's life when she was a captive, and at that time, she couldn't have suspected the person who saved her life. Ellen didn't know how to comfort Charlotte, but she knew that Charlotte's actions had a very negative impact on the continent and the empire. Ellen could only offer words of comfort that self-blame was meaningless. Despite the chaos caused by the existence of the demon king, daily life continued. Ellen watched adventurers leaving on the street, and although she wasn't sincere about being an adventurer, she had seen the true faces of adventurers in Darkland with Reinhardt. Adventurers continued to appear even at a time when the demon king threatened the continent. Charlotte told Ellen as they passed by the scene, "They found a labyrinth that is presumed to be a tomb of a lich in Dark Land." Ellen was surprised at the sudden mention of a lich. Charlotte explained that although the labyrinth had not been completely penetrated, there were adventurers who had wandered around and brought back several high-level magic books. Charlotte felt guilty for causing chaos with her actions. She also mentioned a murder case that happened in the palace the night before, where a magic department employee killed the guards and stole magic books. Charlotte revealed that the stolen magic books were the biggest problem, and that she had obtained them from the demon king's underground palace the day before. Ellen and Herriot headed to the palace to investigate the case. "Qualifying to own a magic book as an individual is very difficult. Most wizards read or borrow officially published magic books from large institutions, schools, associations, or guilds. And if you don't qualify, you can't even see or borrow magic books that exceed a certain level or danger, just like magic related to enchantment is strictly regulated, the system for managing magic books is also strict. "As many magic books are difficult to regulate, they are considered acceptable, but magic books are not easy to obtain even if you have money." "So it's not an easy thing to sell?" Herriot stared at me blankly at my words. "No way." "...Is it difficult to live but easy to sell?" "Wizards who want to own rare magic books are overflowing with them. As long as they don't get caught, it's okay, right? If it's a rare magic, they would pay a lot of money to buy it, right? But if there is a very rare magic that is not yet known in the world, calling it is more valuable than the utility of that magic." There must be a premise that it is a rare magic book, but it is true that it is a very expensive item. It is difficult to officially possess dangerous magic, but you can possess it secretly. Anyway, magic books can be turned into money. Especially if it is rare. "It wasn't for the money. Never." "Magic books can be turned into money?" Herriot looked at me with a subtle sneer. What is this feeling of being despised? "If you are a wizard who works in the Imperial Magic Department Research Laboratory, you can make a lot of money by making copies and selling them. There is no need to steal." "...Oh, I see." Come to think of it, it was a natural story. "So, it wasn't because of money that Rose Dwynn stole the magic books." Hearing it, Herriot's words seemed to be right. If it was because of money, there were countless ways to earn it safely, so why did he steal the magic books by going so far as to kill people inside the palace? "It's strange. The treatment would be considerable, and it's not like anyone in the empire can use it. The identity would be certain, and the verification would have been sufficient...” Even if they have the ability, those who have been properly verified for reliability can be part of the Imperial Magic Department Research Laboratory. Why did someone who could not be clearly identified kill people and steal magic books for no apparent reason? If it wasn't for money, what was the reason? Was the magic itself the purpose? Cantus Magna. Only that group could naturally come to mind in my head. Could it be that Rose Dwynn was a member of Cantus Magna? "Do you know what magic books were stolen?" "I don't know either. And Rose Dwynn didn't seem to know either. But these days, they say they discovered the tomb of a lich in Dark Land. Adventurers brought back magic books of high level from there. I guess they were brought from there... Right, he seemed curious about the source of the magic books." The tomb of a lich. A trap created to lure Cantus Magna. The leaked magic books from there reached the palace, and Rose Dwynn stole them? According to Harry's words, Rose Dwynn was curious about the source of the magic books. If she was a member of Cantus Magna, it means that information about the Darkland's labyrinth would be known to them. It means that Cantus Magna may approach the labyrinth. If there is any connection between the Rose Dwynn case and Cantus Magna, I have to investigate it regardless of Harry's will. The atmosphere inside the palace was also severe. Although the incident occurred in the magic department located in the southern part of the palace, the security posture of the entire palace was strengthened, and soldiers and knights were busy going back and forth. "Is it scary to just investigate without necessarily doing anything? I'm sorry for saying this... but why are you so fearless?" Harry looked at me blankly and let out a deep sigh with a worried expression. "You're amazing for not being scared even when you see so many soldiers and knights. Why aren't you afraid?" I didn't have anything to say in response to Harry's words. Was it because I had been maintaining the delinquent concept for so long and was now being treated as a hero that I had become so nonchalant? Compared to when I first fell into this world, I had changed a lot without even realizing it. "What can I do? I was born this way." "You're amazing just the way you are..." Harry followed me cautiously. Of course, since the magic department was the center of the incident, we were inevitably blocked. "This place is currently under access control." "I know that, but I..." "Lionhardt? Sangtu-an...?" Just as I was about to explain, a voice called out to me from behind. It was a voice that had become quite familiar to me. "What's going on here?" Berthus had just arrived at the magic department with some people.