Book Eater

Chapter 58: Zero Library Delicacy (4)

After exactly thirty hours and twelve minutes, Theodore regained consciousness. As he slowly woke, he felt a strange incompatibility with his body. His body felt both heavier and lighter. But he couldn’t confirm his weight right away, since his five senses also seemed several times more sensitive.

Sarok… saruruk...

He heard a soft rustling nearby. His closed eyelids twitched in response.

… It’s… robes? Someone’s nearby?

As Theo gradually pulled himself out of unconsciousness, he opened his blue-green eyes. He found himself staring at an old ceiling. It seemed his eyesight had also improved, since the stains on the ceiling were much clearer. It was a rather strange phenomenon, since Theo’s eyesight had been worsening from the hours he spent poring over books.

A jolt of realization struck Theo. He was on Vince’s bed. He feebly tried to rise, but his limbs were rather stiff after not moving for thirty hours.

He groaned as the blood rushed back into his arms and legs. “Mmmm...”

“Oh! You’re up? How’s your body?” Vince appeared out of the corner of his eye. He had prepared a few emergency potions when Theo had suddenly collapsed, but there didn’t seem to be any issues.

As Theo gradually sat up on the bed, Vince relaxed and took a seat. “It has been around 30 hours since you consumed [Battle Song]. I don’t know what happened, but you should first take a look in the mirror.”

Bewildered, Theo swung his feet off the bed. “Mirror… What are you talking about?”

He looked down at his body, and realized in surprise that the clothes he had been wearing were now almost rags. The sleeves were fine, but the material was stretched tight over his chest and shoulders while the thighs were just torn open. It was like the clothes had just shrunk in certain places. Theo quickly walked over to the full-body mirror set in a corner of the room.

He found himself at a loss for words. “Eh?”

A day ago, Theo had been rather skinny. He had been exercising for a few months, but his body was only in the initial stages of conditioning. He would have had to use magic in order to match an apprentice knight in physical ability. He might have some inherited experience with weapons, but it was the same as putting a pearl necklace on a pig.

However, his reflection in the mirror beggared belief.

“... This is ridiculous,” Theo unconsciously muttered as he examined his new body.

Corded muscle had filled out his bony shoulders and arms. His branch-thin legs were now thick and explosive. If he belted on a sword and wore some armor, he would look the very picture of a young swordsman.

It isn’t just appearance. My strength, stamina, and senses have also improved.

Theo held up a hand and carefully made a fist. He could feel the muscles in his arm contract and extend like twisted rope. He could feel strength gathering in his fingers. If Theo had been holding an apple, it might be dripping with juice. It seemed that inheriting just some of Lee Yoonsung’s abilities had elevated Theo to the level of an average knight, which only went to show how much of a monster Lee Yoonsung must have been. He must have devoted himself to training despite not having a constitution that could produce aura. Theo knew how lonely that path must have been, as it echoed Theo’s own struggles at the academy.

... Your dream, I’ve surely received it.?

Theo bowed solemnly as he remembered Lee Yoonsung’s lonely back. He had not been able to voice his gratitude before he had been forced to leave. Theo had been entrusted with the completed Battle Song, the spell that Lee Yoonsung had used to prove his life’s worth.

After expressing his respect, Theodore turned to Vince. “Master, I wanted to ask you something.”

Vince’s eyebrow rose. “Hrmm? You can ask me anything.”

However, before Theo asked his question, he looked at his reflection once more. The result of the third experience had gone beyond his imagination. He had hoped to obtain an ability that would allow him to respond to close combat attacks, but the strength he had received from Lee Yoonsung had completely shored up his weakness as a magician. Theo’s muscled forearm could now withstand the recoil of a fully powered Magic Bullet and Battle Song would also allow him to hold his own in close combat.

Gluttony’s third feature was fearsome indeed.

“How can I contact the Red Tower Master, Veronica?”

Now, Theodore had but one challenge remaining: to complete his unstable 5th Circle.

***

Every magic tower had their own role in Meltor Kingdom. The Blue Tower used its highly versatile life and water magic to create laundry and hygiene facilities across the kingdom. The Yellow Tower’s alchemists pushed the envelope when it came to the fields of construction and metallurgy. The secretive White Tower was known for being able to lay their hands on any piece of information.

And the Red Tower, famous for its war magicians, was specialized in fighting.

“Tower Master, a pair of trolls have appeared in Viscount Bermund’s territory. The estate’s forces have been deployed, but many people are suffering, so we have received an urgent request to dispatch war magicians.”

A man rushed to the top of the Red Tower and read out a brief but urgent report to the Red Tower Master. He knew her personality, so he also knew what she disliked.

Veronica took a moment to finish scrawling something on a document before responding, “Send Superior David and request a two knight escort to accompany him. That should be enough.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

The messenger deftly took his leave, brushing past another magician who walked in and delivered a brief report. “Tower Master, a large bandit group was detected near Marquis Orten’s territory. Marquis Orten has sent a request for help, so how should we handle it?”

Veronica looked up as she tried to remember him. “Orten? Oh, that mustache guy. Why is someone with so many knights asking for our help? Tell him to take care of it.”

“Yes, I will.” The magician inclined his head and left.

Veronica had signed and sealed over ten official documents while the two dispatch requests came in. Despite her speed, she was extremely meticulous and had an excellent memory. She might be known for her fickle, fiery nature, but she was also an extremely competent 8th Circle magician. Her only problem was that her patience tended to run dry long before her competence was exhausted.

“Ah, damn! Why is this my only duty these days? Why are they asking the Magic Tower for help with their own security? We aren’t dogs to be paraded around the royal court!”

In the end, Veronica reached the limits of her patience and tore up the papers. Her eight Circles responded to her frustration and ignited the torn documents. She shook the ashes from her fingers and leaned back, placing her legs on the newly cleared desk. As Veronica stared up at the ceiling, a face appeared in her head.

What an interesting kid… But no matter how relaxed I am, ten days is too long. Does he think he can stand me up after I guided him to the Zero Library?

Having the bloodline of a red dragon meant that the most important thing to Veronica was to follow her interests. She didn’t want to see people or things that weren’t interesting. Although her nature meant she couldn’t ignore her duties, she could refuse to entertain empty words.

It was at this moment that a magician entered.

“Tower Master!”

Veronica’s irritation grew. “Ah, what is it this time?”

The man turned pale at Veronica’s dangerous tone and prepared to quickly read the report in his hand. After all, he couldn’t just make up an excuse to leave the room.

“There is a request to meet you.”

Veronica frowned. “Meet me? Who?”

“A new magician who just entered the Red Tower, an Average named Theodore Miller...”

Veronica jumped out of her seat. “Send him in! Right now!”

The magician blinked. “... Yes?”

Veronica stopped him. “No, don’t do that. It’ll be faster if I go to him. Hey, go find an elder to sit here. I have something to do, so the rest is up to them.”

“Huh?”

“Then I’ll be going!” Veronica ignored the magician’s bemused expression as she rushed out of the room. It didn’t matter what happened as long as she could get away from that damned paperwork. To make matters better, she was going to see that very interesting kid again.

Great timing, kid!

Thanks to her exceptional physical abilities as a quarter dragon, Veronica reached the Red Tower’s waiting room in moments. She didn’t break her stride as she kicked the door open and was met with Theo’s surprised face.

Simultaneously, Veronica’s footsteps slowed. “Huh...?”

Something had changed. Her own intuition tingled as she took a moment to look Theo up and down. He was giving off a different scent after just ten days. He still stood in the same manner, but his center of gravity had shifted. It was like he had learned a martial art.

Is it possible to change this much in just ten days?

Theo greeted the puzzled Veronica first, “Thank you for your time, Tower Master.”

Veronica shook herself out of her introspection. “Yes? Well, I told you to come and find me. Is it about what I mentioned last time?”

Theo nodded. “Yes, that’s right.”

He hadn’t been able to understand the phenomenon involving his Circle with books, and Veronica had asserted it couldn’t be resolved with time. In order to resolve this issue, Theo had come to ask Veronica for help. After all, aside from Veronica, there was no better teacher for this task.

“You are welcome at any time, but… um...” Her golden eyes shone with a strange light as she looked at Theo.

It was impossible to hide his skills in front of her since she could see through him with one glance. Fortunately, she was just marveling at Theo’s change instead of being curious.

“Well, it doesn’t really matter since I like this better! But don’t follow Blundell’s awful example. That old man is completely unreasonable.”

“Ah, I understand.”

“Okay, then shall we go?” Veronica walked past him.

Theo followed her silently as he wondered where they were going.

As if she knew what he was thinking, Veronica looked back. “You probably know the place.”