Chapter 14 (1/2)

Chapter 14

Hana Flower Forest IV [Magic Librarian of the Imperial Academy]

I watched the men from the Imperial Academy, who had been observing the battle, run away as the dust still settled.

It’s almost like they saw a monster. It was a monster, I guess!

“…Useless.” (Shuten)

For now all I can tell is that the bad guys have definitely escaped in haste.

I pick up the small stone rolling about my feet. As usual, the pearl piece was still dark.

“There must be some kind of scary appeal to the pearl pieces. I gave the one I found to Flair Reel-chan because she thought it was beautiful, even though it’s dangerous!” (Shuten)

However there’s no one I can give a pearl piece to at the moment.

That’s why I decided I’ll try to take it into my body later, since I do not want any sharp pain at the moment. I mean, the first one jumped in without any questions, but these ones have showed no such thing besides turning dark. I appreciate the restraint, but there is also the matter of having to push through the pain by my own will.

I decide to put the pearl piece in my chest pocket. Just stay quiet in my pocket until the correct person arrives! You’ll need to wait if you want to be in the bosom of a girl’s kimono rather than mine!

Since it is too troublesome to deal with the corpse of the huge Kuchiinu, I left it behind.

But I digress.

From the moment I got the pearl piece, the pearl sensing radar inside me gave me another direction. That was the case at the Negri abandoned mine, it seems the mission is complete and the radar moves on even without having to put it in someone’s body.

I am grateful that there is no need to put it in a body. Well, the next direction is surprising.

“This way, Northwest. Wasn’t that where the Nine-tails was headed…Hmm?” (Shuten)

Wasn’t it for someone from the Empire?

Woah, I don’t want to go. I super don’t want to go. It’s true that the Empire is used to being surrounded by strong demons, but it shouldn’t be normal for people to be stronger than monsters from the last dungeon. Normally, the power cla.s.s of one from the last dungeon in the Makai Underground Empire wouldn’t be pressed back so much by a commonly sp.a.w.ning monster.

I’m disgusted.

“I wonder what would happen if a magical librarian got one of the pearl pieces. Uhhh, I don’t want to think about it.” (Shuten)

But there is no doubt that the pearl piece is in the direction of the Empire. And the recovery is my job, unfortunately. I do not want to corrupt the balance of power.

It would be interesting if I could give the pearl pieces to Crane-kun and his friends, but I’m scared they might disintegrate if I do it wrong. Normally (普通に).

I became melancholy at the thought that there are 12 remaining pieces.

“Well, I guess I have to go?” (Shuten)

I re-shoulder the Demon Slayer, and as soon as I move I suddenly notice my stomach was empty.

“…I thought that there was no food since I entered this forest, but I was wrong. It’s right in front of me.” (Shuten)

I wonder why I didn’t notice earlier this huge thing lying before me was simply meat.

I decided to head to the Empire after I grilled this giant Kuchiinu I killed, so I sc.r.a.ped some meat from it with the Demon Slayer. After dragging some chest meat over and letting the blood drain out, I quickly put it to roast over the fire.

Let’s bake it carefully and then eat.

“…Disgusting.” (Shuten)

The smell is too strong, and I lost my appet.i.te. That’s not something I want to put in my stomach. I gave up on the meat. It is impossible to eat, it seems the meat of a carnivorous monster is not good.

While thinking such a thing, I start walking Northwest.

The forest is wide, and I admire that a single tier dungeon can boast the largest area. Planar dungeons that you can get easily lost in like the Hana Flower Forest do not exist in Grimoire Lancer. (TL: he probably means that either the forest isn’t found in the first game, or the single-level dungeons in the game overall are not easy to get lost in) Should a map be created it would probably be at least a 15 page book.

“Oh, the rock.” (Shuten)

As I continued, I found an unusual rock formation in the woods.

At the end of the Hana Flower Forest, on the North end, is a warped upright rock.  The exits of this dungeon are separated from the outside, by the rock in the Northwest and in the by a river Southeast.

“On the other side of this rock is the Empire!” (Shuten)

While stroking the rock I indulge in emotion.

So I walk all along the rock wall.

I am melancholic to go to the Empire, but I am also optimistic that I will manage somehow as long as I don’t bite off more than I can chew.

The Empire.

In the landscape of Grimoire Lancer II, the number of human countries in the world is four. The four include the Kingdom, the Professor Country, the Princ.i.p.ality, and the Empire. There was also the Republic, but two years before II it had been completely absorbed by the Empire. As such, the other three countries in a sense of crisis created a tripart.i.te alliance, and strengthened their national defenses by sharing the Adventurers a.s.sociation originating from the Princ.i.p.ality.

Well, though it means that only one country is the hub compared to the Empire, in reality there is a power imbalance. (まあ、その中で一国だけハブられている帝国なわけだが、実際それでパワーバランスが互角かというとそうではない) Even so, the Empire is a strong country.

The Kingdom’s “Holy Dragon Knights.”

The Professor Country’s “Crusaders Cross Legion.”

And the “Adventurers a.s.sociation of Braves” in the Princ.i.p.ality.

With each country having an organization like this, only the Imperial Academy is different. In the world of Grimoire Lancer the use of magic is totally different depending on the country. However, it is common in most countries to manipulate magical particles drifting throughout the world through voiced instructions called “casting” or “chanting.”

But the Empire is different. Strictly speaking, a “magic librarian” is different.

Drawing out a powerful “energy body” from another s.p.a.ce referred to as “variation phases (異相),” magical power is generated with greater ferocity intact.

The ability to enable connection with “variation phases.” Vast magical power. The mental strength needed to reinforce a spiritual energy body. Only those who possess these three talents have the qualifications needed to become a magic librarian, and they can still reach greater heights despite being human.

Because they are always have the ability to manipulate a powerful energy body and own the magic spell books known as Grimoires, they are known as magic librarians.

“…well, the point is that they are a dangerous enemy for me now who can both wield weapons and manipulate magic intrinsically.” (Shuten)

…by the way.

The people who ran away earlier should have been people who belonged to the Imperial Academy. Had they been the troops sent to subjugate the Kuchiinu…they were supposed to be from the agency, but maybe that’s not it?

Somehow the pieces began to fall into place.

I sighed in spite of myself. Since magic librarians are also people from the Empire, they will not excuse any demons. If there is only one it’s possible, but three or four people…especially if all ten are gathered together then I will probably be instantly evaporated. Though I don’t remember too much about those guys.

If there is more than one I will withdraw, but if it’s just one person it might be good to test my current skills. I will be able to pull out my full power, and it is good to reduce the number of dangerous opponents when the opportunity arises, though more than anything…I cannot meet that person.

“…What should I do if it’s Grendel?” (Shuten)

The only problem is Grendel the tenth seat. Obviously, because he is the final companion who joins the hero Crane’s party later on.

I remember when the Imperial magic librarian joined the party, and I thought the rise in difficulty was unusual. Then when I opened the status screen, he was totally higher in level than even the protagonist. Even though everyone else is not yet level 35, he alone is level 48! He’s truly a magic librarian of the Empire…Well, you catch up while fighting together. Since only one person has a high level and a wide range of experience, it is difficult to just raise his level.

“Well, at that time, what then?” (Shuten)

All magic librarians are the same strength as Makai Underground Empire last dungeon cla.s.s…so I probably won’t die if I do my best. After all, if there is a chance to fight a magic librarian and I get battered and lose it will make some good memories. (全クリ後に魔導司書連中と戦う機会があって、ボロボロに負けたのは良い思い出だ)

I don’t think it’s a far-fetched encounter, considering the fact that the people from the Imperial Academy had escaped during the fight earlier, so it may not be surprising that they returned to call on the magic librarian. Initially, only one magic librarian would be dispatched by the agency as part of the advance group to preside over the battle with the Kuchiinu.

“It seems likely.” (Shuten)

I’ll do this much! (とか、これくらいにしといてやる！) I wonder if I can escape through talking. Yeah, let’s try that.

After I came to the northern end of the dungeon, I head west. I move quickly while carrying the Demon Slayer.

That reminds of something urgent!

“…Wasn’t that Nine-tails-chan also headed towards the Empire? I don’t know about 100 years ago, but if she opposes the magic librarians doesn’t that put her in a bad situation?” (Shuten)

However, between the weakest magic librarian Grendel and a Nine-tails sealed for 100 years, which one would win?

There’s no way the one sealed a hundred years ago would win, right? (百年前に封印するしか方法が無かった相手だろ？)

For example, if Grendel is charmed then it’ll be a single shot…or maybe not? Basically, magic librarians are granted magic that resists the magic of certain monster types.

If so they can compete on the same soil (だったら地力で勝負)…I do not know because I have not seen the Nine-tailed girl fight seriously, so—

At that moment, a giant rock from the wall formation hits the ground in front of me with a loud sound. Several large rock fragments were smashed to pieces on the ground, and I can’t help but think something is wrong. I guess they were blown away.

“…Ah- well, the magic librarian is this strong?” (Shuten)

The Nine-tailed girl who was struck by the rocks fell heavily to the ground according to law of gravity. Thinking about it calmly, this Nine-tails is a mid-game boss who fights the hero Crane that broke her 100 year seal. Well, they didn’t have a magic librarian at the time.

I grabbed the Nine-tailed girl about to bash her face on the ground and rolled for a bit.

“…Hmmm, it’s the demon mentioned in the report. It seems to be a few steps stronger than the Nine-tails here.” (Grendel)

“Hey there magic librarian. No way, as I feared, Grendel-san was the one among those here.” (Shuten)

“Huh, you know me?” (Grendel)

As I slowly walked from the trees, it seemed like he was a magic librarian with a cautious atmosphere.

This was the Grendel I had imagined just a little while ago. The tenth seat. Although it is the last seat, that doesn’t mean it is ordered according to ability. The reason why he is called the weakest magic librarian is purely because Grendel in front of me is not as strong in combat capability.

However, even the weakest magic librarian is comparable to a monster from the last dungeon of the Makai Underground Empire.