”…… You look a bit happy, Ouga-kun.”
“You’re not excited, Reina? We get to gain new knowledge.”
“Hahaha! Ouga’s been research-natured since he was small. Hearing unknown element, he can’t hide his interest.”
House Veret has several secret rooms.
Most are underground, with an entrance to the basement on the first floor.
”…… Surprised. To think my house had such a place.”
Led by Father, we descended the stairs in cold air.
“I was going to tell Ouga after he graduated, but the schedule moved up. Having an outstanding son is troublesome.”
“That’s why the office a head uses has a hidden corridor.”
“Exactly. Reina, you’ll support Ouga at his side. So I judged it best to teach you both at once.”
”…… I know it’s strange to say myself, but is it all right? I was originally under her……”
“Ouga said he’d make you family. Then no doubt is necessary. If Reina ran away, Ouga would chase you down.”
“That…… true. Yes, as Father says.”
”…………”
Reina glanced at me and let out a small laugh.
I had nothing to correct so I kept silent…… but somehow felt slightly embarrassed.
“This is the entrance to the Forbidden Library. I’ll give you the key so you can come freely. Don’t lose it.”
“Got it. ……Father, you’re not coming in?”
“I have regular duties. And I’ve read them once.”
“All right, then without hesitation.”
“Ah, one warning……”
Father rare in form put an arm around me and whispered too quiet for Reina.
“Just because no one comes in, don’t enjoy yourself with Reina.”
“Wha——!”
“Hahaha! That reaction puts me at ease. Then, work hard.”
So saying, Father returned to the ground floor.
When his back disappeared, Reina tugged my sleeve.
“What did Father say?”
”…… Better not ask. Ah, not insulting you. ……A common middle-aged dad joke.”
“I see. I thought it was a warning not to engage in vigorous exercise here.”
“If you knew, don’t ask……”
“True. I’ll be careful next time.”
“Honestly……”
Sighing, I inserted the key and turned the knob.
A dull creak as the door opened, and orange-toned lights all turned on simultaneously.
The eye-friendly faint light illuminated a small table in the center, surrounded by bookcases lining the walls.
Every bookcase was packed with age-worn volumes — no doubt this was the Forbidden Library.
”…… Amazing. She had me read many volumes, but I don’t recognize any of these titles.”
“House Veret manages all of Rondism Kingdom’s information. So preserving such things makes sense.”
”…… I see. That’s why House Veret has strong ties to the royal house.”
“But today’s goal isn’t that. Let’s find books about dark-element magic.”
“I’ll take this section to that one.”
“Got it. I’ll take the opposite. Place finds on the table.”
We split tasks and scanned the bookshelves for dark-magic books.
…… But nowhere.
This shelf is the last……
When I started doubting it existed, a thud — books placed on the table — came from behind.
“Seems they were collected over here.”
”…… Yeah.”
Reina had found three old leather-bound volumes.
No text printed on covers.
But each was as thick as my upper arm.
“Many or few?”
“I checked briefly; the entire pages were on dark-element magic.”
“Then three may suffice.”
“Let’s read at once. Time is finite. Here.”
“Sorry. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Now, excuse me.”
”…………”
When I sat in the chair Reina pulled out, she sat on my lap.
Looking carefully, there was only one chair — mine.
“Ouga-kun. What’s wrong? Turn the page.”
”…… Right. Knowing the content is priority.”
Setting Reina aside, I scanned the content.
…… The text was faded; decoding would take time.
“Skim and grab just what we need?”
“No, even if it takes time, let’s read from the start. This might be a genre our existing knowledge doesn’t apply to.”
So I read from page one carefully.
Reina didn’t object and looked at the book the same way.
How much time passed?
Only the sound of pages turning and our breathing filled the room.
When I finished one book, my body was stiff all over.
“Mn…… mnh……”
Reina stretched on my lap.
Since she’d been in the same position, the muscles releasing made seductive sounds — not great mentally.
I kept a stone face and shared thoughts on dark-element magic.
”…… Terrifying, dark-element.”
”…… Yes. All of it ignored human dignity.”
What was wonderful about how I’d thought of completing a hypnotic harem; dark-element magic was horrifying.
Its core: acting on the target’s mind.
Hijacking the target’s mind…… so-called brainwashing.
Plus, magic that directly implants the image of death in the brain, making the target believe they died.
And the climax——
”——[Possession Reincarnation]. If others’ minds can be manipulated, your own can too.”
“Yeah. I’d wondered how to transfer one’s mind to another body; using dark magic……”
This is what Floné is trying.
Magic to transfer her mind to another body.
Mind transmigration, exactly.
Most terrifying: the vessel’s original mind is overwritten and erased from this world.
Living but dead.
She, for the simple reason “want a young body,” abused Reina, now targets Mashiro.
Anger welled up at that alone.
Because she sees no value in others’ lives, she can devise and execute it.
If I hadn’t entrusted Alice and Father with Mashiro that time — it chills me.
“Her judgment criterion is simple. Herself, or others. As long as she’s fine, she doesn’t care.”
“That’s why she excelled on battlefields……”
She’d have had no interest in allied or enemy deaths.
So performance wouldn’t slip.
Following her own desires, killing enemies feels good.
”…… Heh heh heh. The first one to call Floné a hero couldn’t see her essence.”
“Absolutely. She’s not a hero. Just a deranged monster.”
We agree.
I don’t know what means that monster will use.
The Juke invitation letter too — I can’t relax; must tighten up……
“All right, let’s return. Continue tomorrow.”
“Yes. Concentration is spent; I’m hungry.”
“Then today, let’s request meat-heavy meals to build stamina. Days like that are fine sometimes.”
“Sounds good. I’ll eat well today too.”
So we could resume tomorrow, leaving books stacked, we left the library.
Then, Father was walking toward us.
Not in a panic…… what’s up?
“Father, what is it?”
“It’s dinner time and you hadn’t come back, so I went to call you. How was it, any harvest?”
“A bit. But not complete.”
“I see. ……By the way, you two.”
“What is it, Father?”
“That…… really, did you enjoy yourselves, the two of you?”
"""(We did not)!"""
Our shouts echoed in the underground passage.