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: The Forbidden Library

Chapter 5: The Forbidden Library

So, I recruited Fiona from the Ministry of Magic.

Her personality is trash, but her abilities are truly exceptional.

After pondering how to headhunt her, my sinister Hollow von Heisenberg brain immediately came up with a brilliant idea.

Simply put, I reported Fiona’s embezzlement to the Ministry of Magic.

Her wrongdoing was bound to come to light eventually as part of the main storyline. This is a fixed event in the destiny scenario. If it’s going to be exposed anyway, better to do it while the crime is still minor.

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

The Ministry demanded she immediately repay the stolen funds, threatening to escalate the matter to the appropriate authorities if she failed to do so within a week.

Faced with this ultimatum, Fiona borrowed money left and right and headed to the royal capital’s racetrack.

I didn’t think she’d actually do it, but… she did.

A one-shot bet on a long shot.

Wow, she’s a real gambler.

Curious, I watched the race unfold.

The result? A crushing defeat.

“Why… whyyyy…?”

Fiona wept openly, shedding huge tears without a care for the people around her.

For the first time, I saw a person figuratively melt.

The racetrack guards consoled her gently, but the sight was more moving than any poorly made film.

Having lost her money, her job, her hope, her reputation, and her future, she bought cheap liquor and returned to her shabby apartment.

People are easiest to persuade when they’re at their lowest.

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

“Fiona, I have a good offer for you.”

“W-what is it…?”

“Work for the Heisenberg family as my tutor and magical researcher. If you do, I’ll lend you 60 million gold interest-free, to be repaid later through your future earnings.”

“R-really…?! Is that true?!”

The 50 million gold she embezzled, plus 10 million in loans from loan sharks, made for a total of 60 million gold—a hefty sum, sure.

But for one of the Four Great Noble Houses, the Heisenbergs, it wasn’t a significant loss.

I had already consulted my father and gotten his approval, so there was no issue.

Besides, this wasn’t a free gift but a loan.

She would have to repay every coin eventually.

And repayment wouldn’t be a problem.

Fiona Sedel’s skills as a magical researcher are top-tier.

She would go on to create numerous groundbreaking inventions that would leave a mark in the history of magic.

The royalties from her patents alone would easily cover the loan.

In other words, I effectively acquired the best magical researcher for free.

What a sweet deal.

(In Ronzorkia, the most vital element for territorial development is talented people. It’s always worth allocating resources here.)

As the next head of the Heisenberg family, I plan to secure even more talented individuals as the main story progresses.

A year flew by since I started my magical training, and I turned 11.

My height kept growing steadily, now reaching 146 cm. My perspective had also become noticeably higher.

It had been two years since I reincarnated in Ronzorkia. I had completed the basics of swordsmanship and magic.

In the original story, Hollow von Heisenberg meets the protagonist on April 1, 1015, during the entrance ceremony of Redrick Magic Academy.

There were four years left until then.

I must use this time to its fullest to gain strength that can rival the protagonist and overcome the fate scenario.

(Alright, let’s start with some morning exercises.)

Just as I was about to head to the garden…

“Damn it… why?!”

I heard my father’s angry voice from outside my room.

(What’s going on…?)

When I approached his study, I found Orvin Dunkelt standing by the door.

“Orvin, is something wrong with Father?”

“No, he’s fine. He’s been tirelessly searching the country, day and night, for a way to lift the curse on the lady. But it seems the situation is quite challenging…”

“I see.”

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

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

He kept repeating his regrets and apologies like a broken record. His mental state was clearly at its limit.

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

“It’s May 1.”

“I see… so it’s already that time.”

Swordsmanship and magic had been so enjoyable that I had completely forgotten.

In the original story, Hollow dies as early as May 1011—this very month.

(If I don’t hurry, it’ll be bad.)

If my memory serves, the deadline is the weekend’s Star Gazing Festival.

If I fail to break my mother’s curse by then, the story will automatically trigger a Bad End.

About eight years ago, in the original story, Hollow’s mother, Leila, failed to defeat one of the Four Calamity Beasts, Sky Eater. She was struck by an evil curse and became bedridden.

Since then, my father, Daphnes, had sought every possible way to lift the curse. But in the end, the curse remained.

Desperate, my father eventually turned to the cult Great Demon Order as a last resort.

While the royal capital celebrated the Star Gazing Festival, my father secretly met with a cult leader and was taught a so-called curse-breaking spell.

Overcome by joy, he immediately used the spell…

The Sky Eater’s curse vanished, and my mother regained consciousness.

But the spell, falsely described as a curse breaker, was actually the Ritual of Demonization.

Transformed into a demon, Leila destroyed the city she had loved with all her heart, turning it into a sea of flames.

Countless lives were lost, and in the midst of the carnage, she wept bloody tears, unleashing destruction until her former comrades, the Holy Knights, defeated her.

In her final moments, she regained her humanity and passed away, apologizing for her actions.

Shortly afterward, my father’s dealings with the cult were revealed, triggering an execution event.

The entire Heisenberg family was sentenced to death by guillotine.

A tragic end where no one found happiness—the Condemned Guillotine End.

There are only three days left until the Star Gazing Festival.

(Alright, it’s time to make my move.)

One year of swordsmanship.

One year of magic.

It’s time to put my training to the test.

“Orvin, I’ll be stepping out for a bit.”

“Where to?”

“The Klein Royal Library.”

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

“There’s no need to come for me. I’ll find a horse for my return.”

“Understood. Please take care,” the coachman said, bowing politely before heading back toward the mansion.

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

“Wow, this is incredible,” I thought to myself.

Books stretched as far as the eye could see—shelves upon shelves filled to the brim. This was the largest library in the Klein Kingdom, boasting a collection of over one hundred million books. For someone who loves books, it was like a dream come true.

“Let’s see… It should be this way,” I murmured, navigating the labyrinthine corridors using my knowledge from the original story.

Finally, I reached the location. Standing before Shelf 33333, I pulled out a blank white book without a title and whispered the secret password.

“Fairy, I’ve found you.”

In the next instant, a white light engulfed my vision. When I came to, I found myself on a bustling main street.

Under the warm sunlight and gentle breeze, lively voices rang out all around me. Looking to the sides, I saw colorful stalls selling everything from cotton candy to pizza, roast pork, sushi, dragon fruit, tacos, and bolognese. The foods were a chaotic mix, yet people eagerly crowded to buy them.

“Just like in the original—what a fun place,” I thought, observing the scene.

This was the “Fairy’s Return Path.” Except for me, everyone here was a fantastical creature: bipedal giant raccoons, walking umbrellas, and chatty turtle shells, among others. These unique beings were fairies, higher entities of this world.

“A human, eh?”

“That’s rare. Did you wander in by mistake?”

“Play with us? Shall we play together?” they asked, their diverse voices calling out as I walked along the lively path.

“Ah, there he is,” I muttered, spotting a flamboyant clown with a large red nose.

“Hmm, hmm, hmm~” The clown hummed a tune as he stirred a pot behind his Western-style stall.

“Hey,” I called out.

“Welcome! What would you like?” he replied cheerfully.

“The special kids’ lunch with caramel pudding.”

“…And the flag?”

“Make it the cutest one you have.”

The clown smirked and skillfully began cooking. In just a minute, he presented the dish.

“Here you go—enjoy!”

The paper plate was piled high with fried shrimp, hamburger steak, and octopus-shaped sausages, along with chicken rice topped with an adorable pink flag. It was a spectacular special kids’ lunch.

“This way, please,” the clown said, leading me behind the stall to the entrance of an old, weathered house.

Stepping inside with my shoes still on, I walked down a dark, unlit corridor while eating the lunch. With nothing else to do, I quickly devoured it. After finishing, I used magic to burn the disposable chopsticks and plate.

Then the atmosphere shifted.

First, the sound of my footsteps changed. The hard clacking of shoes on a wooden floor turned into a soft thud, as if walking on earth.

Next, the smell transformed—from the lively aroma of the bustling town to the fresh scent of grass and greenery.

Birdsong filled the air, and as bright light seeped through my eyelids, I slowly opened my eyes. Before me stretched an immense natural library.

This was the “Forbidden Archive,” a repository of knowledge containing every book in the world.

“These graphics are stunning,” I marveled. “It looked beautiful in the original, but seeing it in reality is something else.”

While I stood in awe, a sweet, bell-like voice spoke.

“Oh my, what an adorable visitor we have here.”

At the center of the lush library was a table set with a parasol. Seated there was the source of the voice.

The Keeper of the Forbidden Archive, the “Witch of Curiosity,” Entia. She appeared about 20 years old, standing 165 cm tall with a slender yet shapely figure, her ample chest impossible to overlook. Her pastel-pink hair flowed in long waves, and her black wings and large, expressive eyes stood out against her flawless white skin. She wore an off-shoulder white top paired with a black skirt featuring a deep slit, revealing her elegant thighs.

“This is our first meeting, I believe. I am Hollow von Heisenberg,” I introduced myself.

“Of course, I know who you are,” she replied with a soft smile, closing the book in her hands. “The child of Daphnes and Layla, the lazy and arrogant wicked noble.”

“I’m Entia, the Witch of Curiosity. Since you’ve come here, there must be something you’re seeking.”

“Indeed,” I replied.

What I sought was the “Codex of Amour” stored in the Forbidden Archive. This ancient book, penned by the High Priest Amour, contained the spell Holy Light of Purification. While I knew the spell’s name, effects, and structure, I couldn’t replicate it. Most likely, completing this event was the prerequisite for mastering it.

This world was both reality and a fictional game.

“To receive wisdom from the Witch of Curiosity, you must pass the ‘Witch’s Trial.’ You understand that, right?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“I’m not very good at holding back. Will you be alright?”

“Naturally. No need for restraint.”

“Good,” she said, rising slowly with a wicked smile. “You have such a confident face. You truly believe you won’t lose. Ah, I can’t wait—to see that self-assured expression twisted in agony!”

From her back sprouted six black wings.

“You’re going all out from the start, huh?” I muttered.

“Now, let the Witch’s Trial begin.”