Down the stairs to the basement of the main library.

It's a dark and dank place. Dusty, too.
But there are signs of human presence.

　At first glance, the place looks empty, but we can detect a small amount of residual magic.

I think there's something behind .......

　After using light magic to brighten the surroundings, we carefully proceeded up the stairs.

"Looks like the stairs end here.

　Then, ......, a place similar to the ground level of the Great Library appeared.
　There are so many bookshelves, it's like a maze.

"Kurt, have you noticed?

　As we walked forward, Avril asked warily.

"Yeah.

　I probed with my detection magic and found ...... that there was a magic circle painted behind this.
　But it's covered with a number of cloaks, so it's hard to get a clear picture from here.

I'll have to check out the magic circle for now. ...... Kurt?　What are you doing here?
I'm just reading a book.

　I don't mind reading.
　I take a book off the shelf and flip through the pages.
　As soon as I finished one book, I would move on to the next one and repeat .......

"Did you find anything interesting?
"Hmm. Well, there's not much in it. But ...... apparently the big library down here is a little better than the one above ground.
"Which one?

　Avril also picked up some books and started to turn the pages.

　The books on the ground were mainly about inefficient magic techniques.
　The best example of this is 'chanting magic'.
　But ...... most of the books I've picked up here are about no-chant magic.
　The content was not wrong either.

You seem to be just flipping through ...... them, are you sure you're reading them?
"Of course.

　But I don't have enough time to read everything.

　It was better than what's on the ground, but nothing new for me.
　So I focused on this world ......, especially the books about the history of empires.

　The books were basically bland and uninteresting.
　However, there was one description that caught my attention.

"Was the ...... empire destroyed a thousand years ago?

　As I was reading it, Avril crossed her face and said, "Apparently so.

"Apparently so.
What do you mean?　What do you mean? I've never heard that ...... before.

　Avril looked confused.

　Yes. A thousand years ago, the empire was destroyed.
　Avril seemed surprised, but I've known about it for a thousand years.

　That's all well and good, but I saw a statement on ...... that stuck with me.

"A thousand years ago, a demon king who plunged the world into an unprecedented state of terror destroyed an empire.

　What are you talking about?
　If this Demon Lord is a heretic, then I didn't destroy the Empire.
　It was the Demon God that destroyed it.

But the Fosynds, who were still wealthy after being destroyed, took the lead in rebuilding the empire to this day. ......

　The Fosynds again.
　Does this mean that the Fosind family existed even a thousand years ago?
　But no matter how much I search my memory, I can't think of any noble family named the Fosynds that existed a thousand years ago.

　...... No, no.


I've seen this guy once or twice.


"Kurt!　There's something wrong with the magic circle in the back!　It's trying to activate!

　I was lost in my thoughts, but Avril's words pulled me back.

"Looks like it.
Let's get moving!
Yeah.

　We kicked off the ground and ran towards the magic circle.
　It doesn't matter how maze-like the place is.
　If we use the detection spell, a detailed map will appear in our minds.

　It must have been less than five minutes since I had started running when I reached there.

"This is ......!

　Avril was at a loss for words when she saw the glowing magic circle.
　The whole area around it is covered with magic circles.

"Looks like a detonator.

　I calmly analyze it.

"Well, it's a pretty big deal!　Even I don't know how much of a catastrophe this could cause if it were to be activated!

　Avril's voice echoed in the basement.

　The magic leads lead to ....... I knew it was there.

What are you waiting for?　I've got to do something about this. ......!


Wait a minute.

　I turn around.

"Hey, come on out. I know you're in there.

　I call him.

　And then, as if in desperation, ...... says.

"Quite right, sir. You see everything.

　Out of the darkness, a man appeared.
　He was dressed in a strange clown-like outfit.

"You drew this magic circle, didn't you?
"Correct.

　The man grinned, the corners of his mouth twitching.

"Who are you?
'I don't have a name to give you, sir. "I don't have a name for you. Avril.

　They know who I am.
　I don't know this guy, but I'll call him ...... the clown.

You seem quite calm, don't you?
It's not much of a magic circle. I was expecting a little ...... disappointment.
No big deal?　Oh dear, it seems your eyes are blind.

　The clown shrugs his shoulders.

　I feel uncomfortable, but I'm going to watch how stupid this guy is going to be now.

"Don't you see the artistry of this magic circle?　I've been working on it for 30 years!　I've spent 30 years painstakingly preparing this magic circle!　I thought you were of my ilk, but it seems I was mistaken!

　I thought you were like me, but it seems I was mistaken!" "Well, it's quite impressive by the standards of this era.
　It uses unnecessarily complicated circuits, and it may be a marvel to the observer.

"It looks like it's a detonator.　It seems to be a detonator, and it's designed to blow up the entire school building if it goes off.
That's right!　Your loved ones will be lost!　Everything will be blown up!　There will be blood!
I'm afraid you won't be safe then.
I don't care!　It's all for the sake of him. If this artistic magic circle can be activated and be of use to him, there will be no greater joy than that!

　That person?

"Hmmm, you ask for forgiveness?　Stop it. Get down on all fours in front of me like a dog and start whimpering!
Then you can try booting it.
What about ......?

　"Then you can try booting it up." "What about ?" I continue to shout at the delighted clown.

I said, "You should run it. I told you to fire it up, and I'm sure you're more than happy to do so.

　If so, it would be distracting to interrupt me in the middle.

　Hearing my words, the clown's face twisted in anger.

"......!　That word is an insult to art!　I won't allow it!　You should be sniffling miserably and begging for forgiveness!
"Don't mess with me. Or are you not sure?
You'll regret it ...... when you're dead.

　The clown puts his hand out in front of him.

"My name is Esaias!　Activate and destroy this filthy schoolhouse!

　I don't think you need to chant, but I guess you're trying to lift my spirits that way.
　The clown man ...... Esaias' words caused more light to come from the magic circle, but .......


What's wrong, nothing's happening?


　The light dazzled to a certain point and then suddenly lost its brilliance.
　This is the first time that Esaias has seen such a thing, and his face is filled with confusion.

What do you mean?　Why won't it start?　Once this thing is activated, this school building will be blown away. ......
"If it won't start, you know why. If it won't start, it's because it was ...... disabled during the day before I got here.
Oh, what have you done to ...... me?

　Yes.
　At noon, when I was wandering around the school building before the start of joint classes.
　I thought there were a lot of disturbing magic circles, so I took a walk around the school building and deactivated them all.
　If you trigger the magic circle of this detonator, the magic circles written all over the school building will explode .......
　So no matter how much he tried to activate this magic circle, it was pointless because the magic conductor had been destroyed in the first place.

"Ahhhh!　My magic circle, the art of ......10 years!


"I know this sounds like a lot, but I'll tell you this.

　I told the astonished and screaming Messiah.

"Your thirty years are meaningless.