Chapter 57

Returning to her desk, Laura stared intently at a single book placed there.

*The Witch of Calamity*

A book with such a title.

"Ugh... u..."

For the past few minutes, Laura had repeatedly reached out to the book, only to pull her hand back.

The Witch of Calamity—

A magician with bone-like white hair and blood-red eyes.

Wan Thousand—she mastered offensive magic that surpassed the legendary magician Magnus and challenged the kingdom with her formidable power. After a fierce battle, she was defeated, but many of the kingdom's people died, the land was devastated, and it took a long time to recover.

She was the symbol of 'evil' in this kingdom.

An existence so hated that even her name was erased.

Her descendants lived in Laura's village.

Laura covered her face with both hands.

Her snow-white hair swayed, and her sky-blue eyes peeked through the gaps in her fingers at the book.

"Ha..."

She sighed, unable to count how many times.

The moment she saw the title of the book—

(I shouldn't look!)

Laura thought reflexively. The story of the Witch of Calamity was taboo in her village.

"Laura, if you aspire to be a magician, remember this: never become like the Witch of Calamity. Show kindness to others, never forget your compassion, and engrave your loyalty to the country in your heart."

She had heard this over and over again.

So, she tried to leave the bookshelf immediately, but—

Her body wouldn't move.

Her eyes couldn't look away, as if glued to the book.

It would be a lie to say she wasn't interested.

An existence related to her ancestors.

An existence taught to be only evil.

An existence told not to know.

The information was right here.

(I want to see...)

Laura couldn't resist the urge. She opened her tightly clenched left hand and gently took the book from the shelf.

Then, she returned to her original spot.

As if fleeing from something terrifying.

After placing the book on her desk—

She couldn't bring herself to open it.

In the end, Laura couldn't make up her mind.

(No, I can't...)

She had been told many times in the village.

Stay away from the Witch of Calamity.

Those words held her back.

Still, Laura felt her resistance weakening with each passing second, each passing minute.

—Maybe it's okay?

Such thoughts slowly spread.

—Why not just look?

A voice in the back of her mind kept repeating.

Laura swallowed, her white throat trembling.

"...It's fine... right? I mean, I'm just looking at the book..."

She muttered,

as if trying to convince herself.

But it lightened her heart. Just looking at the book—just that.

Just that, that's all.

Laura extended her trembling left hand—

And, with determination, opened the book.

"This is—"

The book was a grimoire.

"Eh, the Witch of Calamity's magic—!?"

Most magicians only learn the publicly available magic, like Magic Arrow.

That alone is already a great feat.

But the truly excellent magicians who leave their names in history are different.

They construct magic that doesn't exist in the world, as if testing their talent.

In other words, magic known only to them.

Magic is similar to cooking. If you know the recipe—depending on your training and magic power, you can use it.

So they hide the recipe.

As a result, most original magic disappears with their death unless they choose to pass it on.

The Witch of Calamity—truly a genius of offensive magic, capable of manipulating natural disasters.

Her magic, here.

Laura flipped through the pages.

She kept flipping, flipping, flipping, flipping, flipping, flipping, flipping, flipping, flipping, flipping, flipping.

She couldn't look away anymore.

Her mind was blank. She couldn't think. Vast amounts of information flooded into that void.

Breathing heavily, Laura read the grimoire.

Her consciousness gradually faded. She felt like she was losing herself—just absorbing the text—

Laura's blue eyes,

slowly turned a blood-red—

---

---

---

"U, uh..."

Laura, who had lost consciousness at some point, slowly sat up.

"Ouch!"

Her head felt like it was splitting. Laura touched her white hair.

After the pain subsided, she slowly opened her eyes.

The color of her eyes—

was sky blue.

In her field of vision was the closed book of the witch.

(I was reading that book, but... what happened?)

She couldn't remember.

Suddenly feeling uneasy, Laura covered the witch's book with the books she had been studying.

◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

"Hey, Laura. Long time no see."

A voice called out.

Laura, who had been studying, jumped and looked up.

"Albert! !"

There stood her friend.

It had been exactly a week since they last met, and Albert had returned as promised.

"Is your study going well?"

"Yes! Thank you for the valuable experience!"

After saying this energetically,

"Um, Albert—"

Laura continued hesitantly.

"What's wrong, Laura?"

Albert tilted his head.

Laura had been hesitating. Should she tell Albert about that day? Should she consult him?

She should consult him—

But she was a little scared.

—Hey, witch girl, witch girl! Stay away, your white hair will curse us!

The persecution she faced as a child in a nearby town flashed through her mind.

Albert would never act like that. Laura was certain of it. He would surely look worried and say,

—Are you okay, Laura?

Definitely.

Without a doubt.

Despite this trust, her voice wouldn't come out. It was as if her vocal cords were being squeezed by something, preventing her from speaking.

Silence dominated the library.

Thinking the conversation was over, the female librarian behind Albert extended her hand to Laura.

"Laura-sama, could you please return the key to the library?"

At her words, Laura's paralysis was broken.

"A, ah, ah, yes!"

Laura hurriedly handed over the key she had been holding. The female librarian took it and spoke to Albert.

"Albert-sama, I have heard about your succession to the marquis family. Could you spare some time for a brief tour of this building?"

"Sure, no problem..."

Albert glanced at Laura.

The female librarian smiled at Laura.

"I'll guide you to a separate room. I'll prepare some sweets, so please rest your tired mind from studying. We'll take care of putting the books away."

"...Understood."

Laura nodded.

Albert and the female librarian left the room.

Laura gently wrapped and hid the unease in her heart.

(That's right... Nothing happened, nothing at all. I just felt a bit unwell.)

Laura convinced herself—

and convinced herself—

(Albert is in an important period. It wouldn't do to tell him such a story... It would only trouble him...)

She repeated this to herself—

and followed after Albert and the others.

Laura is the heroine, and it's a happy ending! That's the writing policy.

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