The World's Strongest and Most Evil Noble Strives Humbly and Diligently ~ Using Knowledge of the Original Story and Unique Magic to Avoid a Destruction End ~ - Chapter 5: Forbidden Archives

Chapter 5: Forbidden Archives

So, I managed to pull Fiona out of the Ministry of Magic.

Her personality is trash, but her skills are truly outstanding.

I was thinking about how to headhunt her… and this evil Hollow brain came up with a brilliant idea in a flash.

To put it simply, I tipped off the Ministry of Magic about Fiona’s embezzlement.

Her crimes would inevitably come to light as the main story progresses.

This is a fixed event determined by the fate scenario.

If it’s going to be exposed anyway, better while the crime is still light… right?

Based on my tip, an investigation was conducted, and Fiona’s embezzlement was uncovered.

The Ministry of Magic demanded immediate repayment from her, stating that if she didn’t settle within a week, she’d be turned over to the appropriate authorities.

Faced with this ultimatum, Fiona… frantically borrowed money from everywhere and headed to the capital’s racetrack.

I couldn’t believe it… but that’s exactly what happened.

She bet everything on a long-shot single horse.

Man, she’s such a “guy.”

Intrigued, I watched how the race turned out.

It was a total disaster.

“Why… how could this happen…?” Fiona cried, shedding big tears without caring who saw.

It was the first time I saw a human “melt” like that.

The racetrack guards gently scolded her, but… that scene was more tear-jerking than a bad movie.

Having lost her money, job, hope, trust, and future, she bought cheap liquor and returned to a rundown apartment.

People are easiest to sway when they’re at their weakest.

Judging the time was right, I visited her and proposed a deal.

“Fiona, I’ve got a good offer for you.”

“W-What is it…?”

“Work for the Heisenberg family as my tutor and magic researcher. If you do, I’ll lend you 60 million gold, interest-free, to be paid back as you climb the ranks.”

“R-Really…?”

The 50 million gold she embezzled plus 10 million borrowed from shady lenders.

A total of 60 million gold is, admittedly, a hefty sum…

But for the Heisenberg family, one of the four great noble houses, it’s not that painful.

I already got permission from my father, so it’s all good.

Plus, this is a “loan,” not a “free handout.”

I’ll make sure she repays every bit of it eventually.

Of course, I’m confident she can pay it back.

Fiona Seder’s skills as a magic researcher are top-notch.

She’ll achieve groundbreaking inventions that go down in magic history.

With the patent income from those, recovering the principal will be easy.

In other words, I got the best magic researcher practically for free.

There’s no sweeter deal than this.

(In Ronzorkia, the most essential thing for developing the territory is talented people. You absolutely have to allocate resources to this.)

As the next head of the Heisenberg family, I plan to keep recruiting talented individuals based on the main story’s progress.

—

A year passed in a flash since I started training in magic, and I turned 11.

My height kept growing steadily, and now I’m 146 centimeters.

My perspective has gotten quite high.

Now, two years after reincarnating in Ronzorkia, I’ve completed the basics of swordsmanship and magic.

In the original story, Hollow meets the protagonist on April 1, 1015 of the Holy Calendar—the entrance ceremony at Redrick Magic Academy.

That leaves about four years.

I’ll make the most of this time to gain strength that rivals the protagonist and power that defies the fate scenario.

(Alright, let’s start with morning strength training.)

Just as I was about to head to the courtyard,

“Damn it, why…?” I heard my father’s angry shout from outside the room.

(What’s the commotion…?)

I headed to my father’s private room, where Orvin stood by the door.

“Orvin, is something wrong with Father?”

“No, he’s fine. He’s been traveling the country day and night to break the curse on your mother. But it seems to be quite difficult…”

“Hmm.”

If I listened closely, I could hear my father’s voice.

“I’m sorry, Layla… Ugh, why did I let you go alone that day…?”

His words of regret and remorse repeated like a broken record.

His mental state was clearly at its limit.

“By the way, Orvin, what’s the date today?”

“It’s May 1st, sir.”

“I see, it’s already that time…”

I got so caught up in the fun of swords and magic that I completely forgot.

In the original story, the earliest Hollow can die is May 1011—this month.

(I need to hurry, or it’ll be bad.)

If my memory is correct, the deadline is the Star Gazing Festival this weekend.

If I don’t break my mother’s curse by then, it’s a straight path to a Bad End.

About eight years ago, Hollow’s mother, Layla, failed to defeat the Sky Eater, one of the Four Calamity Beasts, and was cursed, leaving her bedridden.

Since then, my father, Dafnes, has searched tirelessly for a way to break the curse, trying every possible method… but the curse remained unbroken.

Out of desperation, he turned to the evil cult, the Great Demon Order.

While the capital was buzzing with the Star Gazing Festival, my father secretly met with the cult’s leaders and was given a… flawed spell for breaking the curse.

Blinded by hope and lacking sound judgment, he used the spell, which lifted the Sky Eater’s curse, and my mother regained consciousness.

However, the spell he was told would break the curse was actually the Ritual of Demonization.

Turned into a demon, Layla set the capital ablaze, a city she dearly loved.

Amid countless deaths, she shed tears of bl00d while wreaking havoc, only to be slain by holy knights, her former comrades. In her final moments, she regained her human heart, apologized for her sins, and passed away.

Soon after, my father’s dealings with the cult came to light, triggering the condemnation event.

The entire Heisenberg family was sentenced to death, and the cold guillotine fell.

A tragic ending where no one finds happiness—the Guillotine Condemnation End.

Three days until the Star Gazing Festival.

(Alright, am I ready…?)

One year of swordsmanship.

One year of magic.

It’s time to test the culmination of my efforts.

“Orvin, I’m stepping out for a bit.”

“Where to, sir?”

“The Klein Royal Library.”

After a while, swaying in the Heisenberg family’s carriage, I arrived at the Klein Royal Library.

“No need for a pickup. I’ll grab a horse to get back.”

“Yes, sir. Please take care.”

The coachman bowed politely and headed back to the estate.

I turned on my heel and entered the towering structure before me—the Klein Royal Library.

(Wow, this is incredible…)

Books, books, and more books, as far as the eye could see.

This is the largest library in the Klein Kingdom, with a collection said to exceed 100 million volumes.

For book lovers, it’s a dreamlike place.

(Let’s see, it’s this way, right?)

Relying on my knowledge of the original story, I navigated the maze-like passages.

Here it is.

Standing in front of shelf 33333, I picked up a plain white book with no title and whispered the secret password.

“—I found the fairy.”

The next moment, a white light filled my vision—and when I came to, I was in a bustling street.

Warm sunlight poured down, a pleasant breeze blew, and lively voices echoed all around.

Looking left and right, I saw colorful stalls lined up, selling cotton candy, pizza, roasted pig, sushi, dragon fruit, tacos, bolognese, and more… a chaotic mix of foods, with crowds eagerly buying them up.

(Just like the original story, this place looks fun.)

This is the Fairy’s Return Path.

Everyone here, except me, is some kind of otherworldly being.

A giant two-legged tanuki, an umbrella with legs, a talkative turtle shell… these uniquely bizarre creatures are fairies, higher beings.

“Hey, a human?”

“Rare to see one. Did they wander in?”

“Wanna play? Play together?”

Glancing at the various fairies, I walked along the path until—

(There he is!)

I spotted a flashy clown with a big red nose.

“Hmm-hmm-hmm.”

He was humming while shaking a pan at a Western-style stall.

“Hey.”

“Welcome! What’ll it be?”

“Special kids’ meal, with caramel pudding.”

“…The flag?”

“Make it the cutest one.”

The clown grinned and skillfully prepared the meal.

A minute later—

“Here you go!”

On a paper plate were shrimp fritters, a hamburger patty, octopus-shaped sausages, and other top-tier side dishes, with a cute pink flag stuck in the chicken rice.

What a lavish special kids’ meal.

“This way, please.”

The clown opened a worn-out door at the back of the stall.

I stepped inside, still in my shoes, eating the kids’ meal while walking down a dark, unlit hallway with my eyes closed.

With nothing else to do, I munched away and finished the meal in no time.

As I incinerated the chopsticks and paper plate with magic, something changed.

First, the sound of my footsteps shifted.

From the sharp clack of a floor to the soft thud of stepping on the ground.

Then the smell changed.

From the lively scent of the town to the fresh aroma of grass and leaves.

As birds chirped and dazzling light shone through my eyelids, I slowly opened my eyes—and there it was, a vast natural library.

This is the Forbidden Archives, the repository of all the world’s knowledge.

(The graphics are amazing… It was beautiful in the original story, but seeing it in real life is something else!)

Overwhelmed by awe, a bell-like, beautiful voice rang out.

“Well, well, what a cute visitor we have here.”

In the center of the lush library stood a table set with a parasol, where the owner of the voice sat.

The keeper of the Forbidden Archives, the Witch of Knowledge, Entia, who looked about 20 years old.

She was 165 centimeters tall, slender yet toned, with a full chest that asserted its presence.

Her pastel pink long hair, jet-black wings sprouting from her waist, large curled eyes, and smooth, fair skin made her a stunning beauty.

She wore a white off-shoulder top that exposed her shoulders and a black long skirt with a deep slit, revealing her alluring thighs.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Hollow von Heisenberg.”

“Of course, I know you. The child of Dafnes and Layla, the lazy and arrogant wicked noble, right?”

She closed her book with a snap and gave a soft smile.

“I’m Entia, the Witch of Knowledge. You came here because there’s something you want to know, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

What I’m after is the Secret Tome of Amour, stored in the Forbidden Archives.

Written by the ancient high priest Amour, it details the curse-breaking spell, Holy Light of Purification.

I know the spell’s name, effects, and structure… but I couldn’t recreate it no matter what.

It’s probably designed so you can only learn it by clearing this event.

This world is both real and a fictional game.

“To gain wisdom from the Witch of Knowledge, you must pass the Witch’s Trial. You understand that part, right?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m not very good at holding back… Are you sure you’re okay with that?”

“Of course, no need to hold back.”

“Good, that’s a relief.”

Entia stood slowly, a sadistic smile spreading across her face.

“You’ve got a great look. Not even a hint of thinking you’ll lose. Oh… I’m excited to see that confident face twist in pain…!”

Six black wings extended from her back.

Whoa, she’s going all out right away…

“Now, let’s begin the Witch’s Trial.”