I left Marise and headed straight for the main library.

"Well... I wonder what's in here.

　Well, I have a pretty good idea.

　I walked into the library.
　There was not a single person inside, not even a hint of a presence.
　The moonlight was shining through the windows.
　I walked deeper and deeper into the library.

　Eventually.

"Here?

　I reached a small door.
　There was a plaque on the door that said 'No Entry'.
　This was the image that came to him when he read the surface of Erik's memory.

　Furthermore, the door is locked with a chain.
　It was also locked with magic.
　It's so secure. I'm getting more and more curious about what's inside.

Either way, there's no point unless we go in.

　I gently put my palm to the door and tried to unlock it. ...... That's when it happened.


I'm finally catching up!


　I turned around.
　There was Avril, hands on her knees, catching her breath.

You're late.
"Hmm?　Aren't you surprised, ......?
I knew from my detection spell that Avril was approaching.

　Shrug.

Marise told me about ......, right?
"Yes, I did!

　Avril looked up.

"Please. Take me with you.
Take Avril?　Well, Avril can take care of my back. ......
But more importantly, I need you to protect Lara and Marise from any danger. ...... You look like that.

　That's about it.
　That's why I came to the Great Library, thinking that I alone would be enough.

"No, they'll be fine. If anything should happen, Kurt can use his transference magic to get to them quickly, right?
"Well, that's true, but ......

　In fact, the Marlies have become quite good.
　I'm sure they'll be able to keep up with you in no time.

"So this is selfish of me. It's my way of exploring my mysteries.
"My mystery?

　I ask.

　Avril's face became mysterious and she began to speak.

"...... I have no memory of my childhood.
"No memory?　If you have no memory, then how did you get that magic power?
I don't know that either. Somewhere along the line, I acquired these powers.

　That's quite a strange thing.

　I don't remember, but the knowledge and power of magic was with Avril from the beginning.
　No, maybe not from the beginning. Avril probably doesn't even know when the first time was.

"People around ...... were creeped out by me.
Maybe so.

　In the past, if Avril had magical powers like she does now, she might be feared rather than respected.

　Moreover, he has no memory of the past.
　She can't even answer the obvious question, "How did you train yourself to reach that point? ......

She can't answer the obvious question, "So I've lived my whole life away from people's eyes. It's easier to be alone. I enjoyed using magic. The more I studied, the more I was fascinated by the depth of magic that could do anything. I didn't want accolades, I didn't want honor, I just wanted to be able to master magic without ...... anyone getting in my way.
I agree.

　I'm sure you'll agree with me." Avril's face turned pale as I spoke.

Do you understand me?
Do you understand? Yes, of course.

　A thousand years ago, I was just like you.
　In order to reach a higher level alone, I was training in magic ...... and continuing my research.
　People called me a 'heretic' and shunned me.

　Perhaps that's why I can understand what ...... Avril is saying.

This mystery is about Avril's memory loss?
Yes. I don't think it's a good thing to have no memory either. I've been chasing that mystery for a while now, but I can't ...... figure it out.
You think it's here?
Hmm. It's just a hunch, but my heart has been aching since I came to the Empire.



　He put his hand on Avril's own chest.

"There is something in this empire.

　He said with determination in his voice.

　It's either a loss of memory or something that ...... even he doesn't understand. If you want to explore it with magic, it is probably sealed in the abyss, not on the surface.
　Moreover, the memory itself may have been erased.
　If that's the case, you'll have to find her yourself.

Then you can follow me. If Avril is here, it will make my task easier.

　I turn my back on her.
　This time, when I tried to unlock the door, he tugged on the hem of my ...... dress.

"What's the matter, you still have something to say?
"Doesn't ...... you creep me out?

　Avril turned her head and continued.

You're just like everyone else. Wouldn't you discriminate against me like the others? ......?

　The tone of voice was fearful.
　It sounds like she has a very bad memory.

　But what she's saying is...


"What are you talking about? Why should I be creeped out by Avril?


　Foolish question.

"What ......?

　Avril looks up.

"Avril is indeed an amazing wizard. In this day and age, you can see why they call him the Great Sage. But ...... from my point of view, no matter how great the wizard is, they're all the same.

　It's not like he's stronger than me, you know.
　So there's no need to be afraid of Avril.
　I'm not going to feel 'creepy' or 'scared' of Avril for ...... ever.

　He continued.

"...... Huh. That's a very Kurt-like answer. So, to Kurt, I'm just another wizard lying around. That's a funny thing to say.

　Then Avril blew up.

"How's that? You got that stuck in your chest?
"Yeah. Thank you.

　Thank you." There was a hint of a smile on Avril's face as she said this.

Now, ......, let's get ourselves together and go behind this door.

　He turned back to the door.

Is there anything behind it?
Maybe.
But ...... it looks like it's magically locked. It's quite a complicated magic formula. It's locked five times and six times. It'll take some time to unlock .......

　Palin.

　While Avril was saying something, I instantly unlocked the magic formula.

"Five-fold or six-fold?　If you want to stop me, you'll need to have at least a hundred magic formulas on top of each other to stop me.
"......, right. That was Kurt, wasn't it?

　Physical chains and locks are not a big problem.
　After using physical enhancement magic, he was able to completely go through the door by forcibly tearing it off.

"Let's go, Avril.
"Mmm.
There's one thing I forgot to mention about .......

　There was one thing I forgot to tell you," I said to Avril as I put my hand on the door.

I'm on Avril's side, no matter what.