I left Marise and I headed straight for the Great Library.

"Well. I wonder what's in here.

　Well, I have a general idea.

　I walked into the Great Library.
　I didn't see a single person inside, or even feel any signs of life.
　The moonlight is shining through the windows.
　I went deeper and deeper into the Great Library.

　Eventually.

"There it is.

　I arrived at the small door.
　The door has a plaque on it that says 'strictly forbidden to enter or leave'.
　This is an image that came to me when I read the surface of Eryk's memory.

　Furthermore, the door is wrapped in chains and locked.
　It was also magically locked from above.
　It's tight. I'm more and more curious about what's inside.

Either way, it's useless if you don't go in there.

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


'I've finally caught up with you!


　He turned around.
　Then there was Avril with her hands on her knees, catching her breath.

'You're late,'
Hmm?　Aren't you surprised...?
I knew Averil was on his way with his detection magic.

　I shrug my shoulders.

'Marise told me about........right?'
Yeah, yeah!

　Averill looked up with a bang.

Please. Take me with you.
Averill?　Well, if it's Averill, I can handle your back, so it's a big help...
'More importantly, I hope you're protecting Lara and Marise from danger... you have that look on your face.

　That's about it.
　That's why I came to the Great Library, thinking that I was enough on my own.

"Hey, they'll be fine. If something were to happen, Kurt would be able to use transference magic to get to them in no time, right?
'Well, that's true, but...'

　In fact, the Marys have become quite good at it.
　I don't think they're going to fall behind for a minute or two.

'So this is my selfishness. It's my mystery to figure out.
Mystery?

　Question.

　Then Averill got a divine look on his face and broke off the conversation, saying

''Well I don't have any memories of my childhood.
'No memory?　If so, how did you get that magical power?
'I don't know that either. Before I knew it, I'd gained this kind of power.

　That's quite a strange thing.

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

'Such a me the people around me were creeped out.
Maybe so.

　For a long time, if Avril had the magical power that she has now, she might feel 'fear' rather than 'respect'.

　Moreover, the person himself has no memory of the past.
　She can't even answer the obvious questions, such as how she trained and arrived at that state of mind.......

'That's why I've been living all my life, avoiding the eyes of others. It's easier for me to be alone. Using magic was fun in itself. The more I studied it, the more I still get a kick out of the depth of magic that allows me to do anything. I didn't want the accolades, I didn't want the honor, I just wanted.......to be able to master magic without anyone getting in my way.
I agree.

　Averill becomes puzzled at my sudden words.

"Do you understand?
Yeah. Of course.

　A thousand years ago, I was the same way.
　
　People called me such a 'heretic' and smoked me.

　

''Is that mystery about Averill's loss of memory?''
'Yes. I'm not a fan of not having memories, either. I've been chasing that mystery for some time now and I can't figure it out.
You think it's here?
'Hmm. It's just a hunch, but apparently my heart has been buzzing ever since I arrived in the Empire.

　Averill's hand on his own chest.

There's something in the Empire.

　He said with a determined voice.

　 Even if he tried to explore it with magic, it would be sealed in the abyss, not on the surface.
　And it's also possible that the memories themselves have been erased.
　If that's the case, you'll have no choice but to search for it yourself, Averill.

Then you can follow me. If Averill was there, then the task I'm about to do now will be a lot easier.

　I turn my back on her.
　This time I was about to unlock the door I was about to unlock the door when she tugged on the hem of my clothes.

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

　Averill continued with his head down.

''For me to be able to use so much magic even though I have no memory of the past. Won't you discriminate against me like the rest of them...?

　He has a tone of fearfulness.
　It sounds like she has some pretty bad memories.

　But what she's saying is--.


What are you talking about? Why do you need to creep out Averill?


　It's a stupid question.

'What...?'

　Averil looks up.

'Averil is indeed an amazing wizard. If you were in my time, you would understand why he is called the Great Sage. But ... from my point of view, no matter how great a wizard you are, they're all pretty much the same.

　After all, it's not 'someone stronger than me'.
　So there's no need to be afraid of Averill.
　I'm not going to be able to have feelings of 'weirdness' or 'fear' for Averill for the rest of my life.

　He continued.

''........Huh. That's a very typical answer. So, to Kurt, I'm just like any other wizard around here. Interesting thing to say.

　Then Avril blurted out.

'How's that for a pinch on your chest?'
Yeah. Thank you.

　There was a wry smile on Avril's face as she said that.

''Well let's get back on track and go to the other side of this door.

　I turn back to the door.

'What's behind it?
Maybe.
But it looks like it's magically locked. It's quite a complex magical system. It's locked in five and six layers of locks. It'll take some time to unlock it...

　Palin.

　As Avril said something, I released the locking magic formula in an instant.

'Five-fold or six-fold?　If you want to stop me, you'll have to stack at least a hundred magical formulas on top of each other to stop me, too.
Well that was it. That was Kurt, wasn't it?

　Physical chains and keys aren't much of a problem either.
　After using body-enhancement magic, he was able to go behind the door completely by forcibly tearing it off.

''Then let's go, Avril.''
Hmm.
Later there was one thing I forgot to mention.

　As I put my hand on the door, I said to Averill, "I'm on your side.

'I will stand by Averill, no matter what.