Chapter 119. Have You Ever Gambled Before?
‘The pinnacle of all grimoires…’
The voice of the Librarian flickered in my ears. Heaven’s Reversal. This worn-out ancient tome stolen from Dekulan’s secret vault, was that really the pinnacle of grimoires?
“Doesn’t feel real, does it?”
“…No.”
I shook my head.
I had already witnessed Heaven’s Reversal’s ability multiple times.
The very fact that I could sit here now was thanks to Heaven’s Reversal’s Regression. That transcendental phenomenon, was it not?
Only, recalling the moment when I first obtained Heaven’s Reversal left me feeling nostalgic. And yet, as I listened up to this point, a question arose.
‘Isn’t this all a little too coincidental?’
The situation wasn’t bad.
After all, I had come to Lafiter precisely to obtain clues about Heaven’s Reversal. But, the more I listened to the Librarian, the more I felt a strange sense of dissonance.
That is to say… yes. His tone didn’t feel like he was delivering “common knowledge” known to all, but rather “specialized knowledge” studied for a long time by one who had researched Heaven’s Reversal.
“May I ask you one question before we continue?”
“Shall I try to guess your question instead?”
The Librarian answered my question with another, wearing a gentle smile.
Yet, as if my response wasn’t needed, his lips parted regardless.
“It must seem strange to you. Strange indeed. ‘Information about grimoires is treated as classified even within noble clans, so how is that old man so knowledgeable?’ Ah, and perhaps you’ve also thought this.”
Tok! Tok!
His bony fingers tapped against the armrest.
“If Heaven’s Reversal truly is such a great grimoire, then perhaps that old man… is he not, in fact, after Heaven’s Reversal himself?”
I hadn’t thought that far. But, listening to the Librarian now, it didn’t seem entirely impossible.
If Heaven’s Reversal was truly the pinnacle of grimoires, there was no reason noble clans wouldn’t covet it.
Over a long time, with astronomical resources and manpower invested, it was well worth pursuing. And this wasn’t limited only to noble clans. The Imperial family, aristocratic houses, anyone at all could desire it.
However…
“You may find this ‘coincidental,’ but for ‘us,’ this situation is not coincidental at all.”
Us?
Regardless of my doubt, the Librarian continued speaking.
“Have you ever seen Heaven’s Reversal’s physical form? Judging by your appearance, it doesn’t seem to exist in ‘book’ form anymore.”
“…I have seen it.”
“Then, have you perhaps seen torn pages?”
“…?”
I searched my memory carefully.
‘Come to think of it…’
Yes, something did resurface.
When I had thought Heaven’s Reversal was merely an old tome, I had skimmed through it. Of course, I couldn’t read the content. But there were peculiar parts.
‘…Missing chapters.’
Here and there, pieces were missing.
At the time, I had assumed it was just an old book that had decayed with age. But suddenly, why mention this?
“So you have seen them.”
“…Yes.”
“Then, have you ever thought about where those missing pages, those fragments, might have gone?”
“…!”
The Librarian closed his eyes slowly and continued.
“From ancient times, there were those who guarded the fragments of a single grimoire. They called themselves Endurance.”
Endurance, they themselves did not know since when or why they had guarded the fragments. Too much time had passed. But only one mission had endured, unweathered, passed down through the generations.
― “Guard the fragments for the future master of Heaven’s Reversal.”
“For truly… truly long have we waited.”
“…”
“You said it was coincidental? Not at all. From the beginning, Lafiter was created for the sole purpose of awaiting Heaven’s Reversal’s master.”
For thousands of years, while wandering the continent, one generation of Endurance conceived a thought.
If the master of Heaven’s Reversal were to appear, he would surely wander the continent searching for clues.
Then… instead of us searching, let us draw him to where we are.
The Library of Lafiter. Known as the greatest library of the Eastern Continent, that was how it began. So that the master of Heaven’s Reversal, searching for clues, would inevitably visit at least once.
“Do you understand now? To you, this may seem coincidental, but for us, your visit has been foreseen for centuries.”
* * *
The scale had suddenly exploded.
‘…What the hell?’
Endurance? People who had guarded fragments of Heaven’s Reversal through ages?
And… that the Eastern Continent’s greatest library, Lafiter, had been built to await Heaven’s Reversal’s master?
Was it because so much unexpected information had rushed in at once? My head was spinning.
But wait…
Aster steadied his mind and asked, “…If I heard correctly, then right now, the fragment of Heaven’s Reversal is with you, Director…”
“Yes. I have it.”
“Then…”
“But, only a single page.”
Aster tilted his head at Teheman’s words.
“Heaven’s Reversal’s fragments aren’t just one. I don’t know the exact number, but there are several more. I, however, possess only one.”
“Then the other fragments…”
“I do not know.”
Teheman sipped his tea, then spoke again.
“Not all Endurance shared the same intent. According to their circumstances, they scattered with the fragments.”
Just as Teheman’s ancestor had built the library to await Heaven’s Reversal’s master. Some Endurance wandered the continent in search of Heaven’s Reversal’s master directly. Others cut ties with the world and secluded themselves in the mountains.
Having heard this much, Aster pressed his temples against the pounding headache.
‘…So, in the end.’
“You mean I’ll have to crawl around like a dog, searching? Is that it?”
“Surely it’s not that hopeless. It won’t be as suffocating as you think. We too have been tracing the whereabouts of other fragments.”
When Teheman’s ancestor first decided to establish the library, he had built it with the help of the Academy’s first chancellor, the Sage. And their very first task had been that.
For the unknown future master of Heaven’s Reversal, they sought to locate the other fragments.
“Of course, none are certain. But we have narrowed down promising leads. It should help somewhat.”
“…Ah, yes.”
Not exactly comforting.
‘I didn’t think it would be easy…’
Digging into Heaven’s Reversal was far more grueling than expected. But not entirely without means.
If I couldn’t track them myself, one way was to have the Endurance bring them to me. But that was for the distant future. For when I had grown strong enough to wield grimoires.
Aster put those thoughts aside and returned to the main point.
“Then, about Heaven’s Reversal’s fragment…”
“Yes, we should speak of that. But first, I must ask you something.”
“…?”
“Call it a kind of test? It’s simple. You only need to answer my question in your own way.”
At that moment, intangible force surged from Teheman.
“…!”
Ssssshh!
Magic? No, it was slightly different. Though it used mana as a medium, the flow was alien.
“This is ancient magic. Devised across generations solely to confront Heaven’s Reversal’s master.”
So spoke Teheman, his deep eyes fixed upon Aster. A blind man. In a world without light, letters floated, carved in the void. This was the ancient magic inherited by Endurance. Reading. Perceiving characters themselves, reading them with the mind’s eye.
‘…’
Aster appeared as a being composed of the grotesque script unique to grimoires.
Teheman gazed at that bizarre figure and spoke.
“Heaven’s Reversal is a grimoire that defies the natural order. Even if you are its chosen master, I cannot simply hand over a fragment guarded for generations. So, I ask you.”
Within the ancient flow that filled the space, Teheman’s voice sank low.
“What do you intend to do with Heaven’s Reversal?”
* * *
A suffocating silence. A chilling tension settled between Aster and Teheman.
‘What will I do… with Heaven’s Reversal?’
Even under the skin-pricking force, Aster chewed on the question without flinching.
As soon as he heard it, several answers flashed through his mind.
Dekulan.
Give that bastard Paheren a good blow. From his past life, to regression, up to this very moment, that was the one unwavering goal.
In that case, Heaven’s Reversal was a sword.
A keen blade to sever Paheren’s throat, and that’s not all.
‘…I’ll build the Tower, too.’
Long ago, he had vowed to fill the Tower with the secret arts of every noble clan. To protect it, strength was essential.
In that case, Heaven’s Reversal was a shield. Power to defend the Tower against the clans’ assaults.
There were other things that came to mind.
‘Founding a House wouldn’t be bad either.’
To establish a clan himself, creating a new magical noble line. Of course, the sworn enemy remained Dekulan.
‘Or live a life of leisure, why not?’
Strength brings power, after all. Wealth and honor… no, forget honor. Wealth! To amass enormous riches and live a life of indulgence.
Truthfully, there were far too many answers to the question, “What do you want to do?”
That was the nature of a grimoire.
‘The power to do anything you wish.’
However…
‘…Let me think.’
Aster fixed Teheman with steady eyes.
‘There must be intent, intent behind this…’
This wasn’t a question with a “correct” answer. If it were, the question would have been more specific.
‘So, is he looking for the answer itself?’
Possibly.
Words carry unconscious traces of the speaker. Subtle choice of terms, nuances, every small detail reveals…
‘…Gambling, my ass. Damn it.’
What nonsense this was.
Aster sighed deeply and shook off the speculation. That kind of snake-like reasoning was Henge’s specialty. For someone as pure as freshly fallen snow like himself, it didn’t fit.
“Pheewww… Heaven’s Reversal, what do I want to do with Heaven’s Reversal.”
“…?”
Teheman tilted his head at Aster’s sudden shift.
His gaze, so serious just moments ago, had suddenly turned crooked.
Frowning at the inexplicable change, Teheman then heard Aster’s answer.
“Never really thought about it?”
“…What?”
At that answer, the sharp force Teheman had been emanating abruptly wilted.
“I mean, sure, there are lots of things I’d like to do… but does it have to be with Heaven’s Reversal? Not really.”
Most of Aster’s goals had been set regardless of Heaven’s Reversal’s existence. They were goals chosen solely by his own will. Things he resolved to do.
In that case, Heaven’s Reversal was nothing more than an auxiliary tool that made those goals easier.
‘And now, suddenly, what do I want to do with Heaven’s Reversal?’
As if there could be a proper answer.
“Hoo, now that feels refreshing.”
Having said what he wanted, Aster leaned back into the sofa as if relieved.
An unmistakable back-alley thug.
Teheman, staring at him in disbelief, asked again.
“…Truly, nothing? Even now, if you think carefully…”
“Do I have to answer?”
Teheman was struck speechless. This was supposed to be a test. And yet, wasn’t he now practically begging for an answer?
Frustration boiled up. Still, Teheman suppressed it with the superhuman patience worthy of Endurance and spoke again.
“…Please, just answer.”
“Hmm. Well, if you insist, I guess I must.”
Under Teheman’s firm tone, Aster gathered his thoughts again. After a short pause.
“…Ah! Actually, I do have one.”
“What is it? Speak quickly.”
For some reason, his voice turned urgent. Embarrassed, Teheman cleared his throat with a “hem-hem.”
And then Aster spoke.
“Have you ever gambled before?”
“…?”
Out of nowhere?
“This thing called gambling, it’s basically a rigged con. But even then, there’s still a minimum code of honor. And this code of honor is…”
“No, no, no. Wait, just wait a moment.”
Unable to bear it, Teheman waved his hands and cut him off.
“Are you… saying you intend to use Heaven’s Reversal for gambling?”
“Are you some kind of lowlife?”
“…”
Teheman’s insides boiled. Once again, he endured. Truly the patience of Endurance incarnate.
“So what’s your conclusion?”
He finally spoke, determined that if Aster failed to answer properly this time, he would slaughter him on the spot.
And yet, Aster’s answer made such resolve seem utterly meaningless.
“Grimoires.”
“…Grimoires?”
“I’ll burn them all.”
Teheman closed his eyes against the rising blood pressure.
