The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology

Nogana Republic National Library.

It was a dizzying, wonderful space.

There are several reasons why this country is called an academic city, and one of them is this Palace Archive, the world's largest library.

I had heard it had the world's largest collection of books, but they say they copy and display every book from across the continent.

That boast wasn't just for show; from the entrance of the converted former royal palace, bookshelves were crammed everywhere. Even though we're still in the lobby before entering, we can see from here that the shelves reaching to the ceiling behind the reception are packed tightly with books.

"Woohoo! This is truly my ideal land!"

Overwhelmed by the library that was far more majestic than I had imagined, I couldn't help but shout in excitement.

A passing staff member glared at me.

"Everyone there, this is a library even if it's the lobby. Please be quiet."

"I'm sorry. Come on, Ruruk, don't shout so loudly no matter what."

"First, the literature section... no, mythology... or maybe starting with fairy tales in the picture book corner..."

"Honestly, you..."

As I mumbled to myself while looking at the library map, Saaya gave me an exasperated but fond smile.

"Ruruk's going to be like this for a while. What about the rest of you?"

"Nagi will look for books related to martial arts."

"Heh, I am one who seeks the sealed dark scriptures..."

"I'll look for materials related to magical devices."

"Well, that sounds about right. What about you, Elenora?"

When Saaya asked, Elenora quietly said one word.

"Mm. Relax."

She was as easygoing as ever.

Saaya clapped her hands lightly and said,

"Then we'll have free time until closing. Let's meet here when the library closes."

"""Okay~"""

Everyone headed from the lobby to the entrance, showing their admission tickets to enter.

As they passed through, all the women except for me and Nagi stopped.

"Ah, there's a magic restriction barrier. Well, I guess there would be for such an important facility."

It seems there's a device that disrupts magic power, like the ones installed in royal palaces of various countries.

It's a barrier device that nullifies attack magic and magic-based skills by disturbing the magical power in the air. I think I heard that during the attack on Mataisa Castle recently, an insider destroyed this device.

By the way, this device was apparently created by the "Sages" based on the principles of magic trees.

It's not the type that directly interferes with individuals, but affects the magic power within its range, so it's not treated as a status ailment. That's why even Elenora is affected by this.

It only prevents magic that's released externally, but even a Demon Lord would be weakened within this barrier.

"Be careful too, Elenora. You can't use magic here like usual, so don't cause any unnecessary trouble, okay?"

"Mm. No problem."

"...I'm worried, so I'll stay with her."

Perhaps sensing a flag, Saaya went along with Elenora. Punisuke is also staying at home today.

Well, even if magic can't be used, it's an important national facility. There shouldn't be any dangerous situations.

And so, after parting with my companions, I walked alone through the library, taking excited steps.

■　■　■　■　■

After Ruruk and the others left, Saaya was left alone with Elenora.

Come to think of it, it feels like it's been a while since they've been alone together.

They've gained quite a few companions, and on days off they go their separate ways, so they only see each other in the morning and evening. There are days when they don't meet at all when Elenora is holed up in the basement.

Still, for Saaya, Elenora is the person she's been with the longest, along with Ruruk. She doesn't feel the need to be overly cautious.

The same goes for Elenora.

"Hey, is there any book you want to read?"

"Mm."

"Then what will you do until closing time?"

"Walk."

Elenora starts walking casually. She moves slowly towards the back, looking at the bookshelves.

Saaya also looks at the spines behind Elenora, picking up books with interesting titles and at least skimming the table of contents.

This library doesn't have a lending system, so you're limited to reading on the spot or making copies. Of course, there are books that are forbidden to copy, so if you find something interesting, you tell the librarian the title and shelf number, and they'll lend you paper and pen for copying—that's how it works apparently.

There are also professional copyists on staff, though it's expensive, and you can ask them to do it for you. Of course, we don't plan to use that service.

"Hey, look at this, Elenora. It's a guide to exotic foods."

"Mm. Let me see."

She takes out a thin book from the shelf and sits on a nearby chair, flipping through it.

"Wow, you can eat this plant. It looks like moss but it's supposed to be delicious."

"Mm... meat?"

"It's on this page. Ew, it's rotten meat stuck to skeleton bones... This one is how to eat toxic shellfish... This isn't so much exotic food as it is just bad food."

"......"

"Ah, wait. We need to put the book back."

Elenora, having lost interest, walks away quickly.

Perhaps because they're collected indiscriminately, there were many books like the guide earlier that seemed to have misleading titles or questionable content.

Still, their interest wasn't exhausted, so they would occasionally stop to read, and move on when Elenora got bored, repeating this process.

Just when Saaya was thinking she wanted to sit down and rest, they came across what looked like a courtyard.

Perhaps because it was originally a palace, the garden was large with many flower beds.

There was a small fountain in the center with benches beside it. No one was there at the moment.

"Let's take a break. It's snack time."

"Mm."

They sit side by side on a bench, and Saaya takes out cookies and a water bottle from her item box.

Elenora eats the offered cookies while swinging her feet. Really, when she's like this, she looks just like a normal child.

As they were enjoying a leisurely tea time, a man entered from the opposite entrance.

He was in his forties, tall and thin with sunken cheeks, wearing glasses. He was slightly hunched with poor posture, but his eyes behind the lenses gleamed dully.

He wore a shabby coat under an extremely dirty white lab coat. Probably some kind of researcher.

Just as they thought he would pass by, he suddenly stopped in front of Saaya and Elenora.

He looks at them with interest.

"...Oh my. Oh my, oh my, oh my."

He stares intently at Elenora.

"What a coincidence to meet you here. Are you also heading to the forbidden book repository? If there are any books you wish to view in the forbidden repository, please let me know in advance. It usually takes at least two weeks for a regular viewing request to be approved, but I can prioritize it with my authority."

The thin man rattled off quickly.

Elenora tilted her head.

"Who?"

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself, how rude. My name is Crowley. I'm a top executive of the Central Magic Academy and the head of the Ministry of Education, which manages this sanctuary of knowledge. Welcome to our Palace Archive."

Crowley bows exaggeratedly.

Saaya knows that name. She immediately asked,

"Could you be Lord Crowley of the 'Ten Magical Prodigies'?"

"...Who are you?"

He glares at her with a stark difference in temperature compared to how he looked at Elenora.

Of course, this was within expectations.

"I'm Saaya Schreine. I'm an adventurer companion of Elenora. Nice to meet you."

"It's laughable for a commoner to think they're equal to a Demon Lord. Shouldn't you introduce yourself as a servant?"

"Hmm... Being Elenora's underling sounds dangerous, so I'll pass."

"Mm. Do naked dance."

"No way."

"Imitation."

"I said I won't."

After this light banter, Crowley showed an openly displeased expression.

"...Demon Lord, I think you should consider who you associate with. I sense absolutely no intelligence from this girl."

"Intelligence... heh."

"Ah, you laughed, didn't you? Remember this later."

"Not laughing. Sympathy."

"That's even worse!"

Saaya and Elenora quickly turned to jokes even when insulted, not minding at all. Crowley clicked his tongue in irritation.

"You little brats."

"Did you say something, uncle?"

"I said you should know your place."

When Saaya retorted, Crowley's forehead veined.

"No matter how much experience you accumulate, adventurers only hold temporary positions. If you continue to walk through my castle with that shameless attitude, you'll regret it."

"My, what a clumsy threat? For one of the Ten Magical Prodigies to get so worked up over children, aren't you embarrassed? And are you not aware of how this looks? You're a middle-aged man pressing two young girls."

"...You insolent brat. Do you savages who understand neither reason nor theory know what happens when you underestimate adults?"

"Who knows? Unlike you scholarly types who are good at lining up arguments, we adventurers are good at living freely by twisting sophistry. Remember that."

Saaya responds to provocation with provocation.

When did I become so good at verbal sparring, after dealing with nobles and adults behind the scenes to protect Ruruk?

While thinking about this, Crowley shifted his focus to Elenora.

"...Demon Lord. You must be a possessor of supreme talent. Don't you think it's unwise to keep such an impertinent girl as a friend?"

"Impertinent. Agreed."

"Hey, don't agree."

"...Demon Lord, I think it would be better for you to have companions befitting your status. Having lowly people around you lowers your own value. Isn't that undesirable for superior magic users like us?"

Crowley was starting to get irritated.

He's someone with strong elitist thoughts.

Certainly, Lilith had applied for a meeting with this Crowley, and now I understand why Charlotte had warned her with a sour face.

Elenora tilted her head at Crowley.

"Talent?"

"Indeed. With your talent, isn't it your destiny to live with superior magic users like us who have intellect, rather than adventurers who are only good at fighting? I hear your leader has magic element deficiency. No matter how skilled in mystic arts, being unable to use magic is tantamount to being defective. In fact, in demon society, such individuals are called 'defective products.' For you to follow someone so unsuitable for you, as a Demon Lord, it shows—"

"No talent, that side."

Ah, he stepped on a landmine.

The moment Ruruk was insulted, Elenora turned a cold gaze towards Crowley. Her expression didn't change as usual, but she was clearly angry.

"...Are you saying I have no talent?"

"Mm. This one, more."

"Don't call me 'this one'."

Elenora poked Saaya with her staff.

Crowley's face twitched. With his eyebrows quivering, he said,

"Can you please stop joking? You might be one thing, but for a mere adventurer girl to be superior to my talent?"

"Mm."

"I see, I see... Well, if you say so, shall I prove it? If that little girl is superior to me, she should be able to easily defend against this level of magic!"

Crowley casually pointed his hand at Saaya and,

"Be crushed—'Gravity Purge'!"

He suddenly activated attack magic.

"......"

"......"

"......"

...Wait, what?

Crowley is one of the "Ten Magical Prodigies." He's an executive of the Central Magic Academy and a high-ranking government official. He has achieved many results in research, including drive formulas, and his skills are undoubtedly world-class. Of course, he must have mastered several powerful magic spells. It goes without saying that he can attack precisely where he aims.

While it's a matter of personality to suddenly attack out of anger, even if the opponent is a young girl, I can understand to some extent.

But forgetting that you can't use attack magic here seems questionable for the person responsible for the great library.

"...Are you stupid?"

"You little brat!!!"

Crowley, his face bright red, lunged at her.

No matter how skilled he is as a magic user, his thin arms have hardly been trained. Compared to Saaya's status, the difference is like night and day. Saaya, sitting on the bench, lightly pushed him away with one hand, and he went rolling on the ground.

Crowley got up, his already dirty white coat now even dirtier, his arms shaking.

"Y-You knocked me down... Resorting to violence, you scum!"

"No, you're the one who tried to use violence first."

By now, Saaya was too exasperated to even provoke him.

Crowley stood up, glared at Saaya, and turned on his heel.

"I'll remember your face, you brat. And Demon Lord... No matter how transcendent your talent is, you're still a child. Until you show behavior befitting your position, I'll treat you as a child. Yes, children need education... strict education..."

Crowley left the courtyard, muttering to himself.

The moment he disappeared from sight, Elenora murmured,

"That was interesting."

I agree with that.

Still, we've caught the attention of a troublesome person.

An executive of the Central Magic Academy and one of the top figures in this country. While his thoughts and words were a bit off, it's probably because of his ability and achievements that such behavior is tolerated.

We've encountered one of the Ten Magical Prodigies who's dangerous in a different way from the pervert congressman.

Thinking about it, Simongusu might be quite a decent member of the Ten Magical Prodigies...

"Mm. Snack."

"Yes, yes. More tea?"

"Want."

Saaya and Elenora resumed their tea time, trying to put the incident out of their minds.

I hope this doesn't turn into something troublesome.