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 6: The Witch of Curiosity, Entia

Chapter 6: The Witch of Curiosity, Entia

The villainous noble Hollow von Heisenberg and the Witch of Curiosity Entia quietly locked eyes.

“Let’s begin the witch’s trial,” Entia said with a smile, spreading six black wings. Hollow drew his sword with his right hand, letting it hang loosely.

“Oh my, your sword grip is quite poor,” Entia remarked, shaking her shoulders. In the next instant, Hollow was right in front of her.

“!?” Entia jumped back just as a black sword flash streaked past her face. Her pink bangs fluttered down as she swallowed a dry breath.

(…That was close…) If she had reacted even a moment slower, her head would have been gone.

“Hmm, I meant to finish you there… You’re surprisingly fast,” Hollow said, his face brimming with confidence.

“You’re not just a child, are you?” Entia replied.

“Who knows?” Hollow responded.

(According to the forbidden books, Hollow von Heisenberg was blessed with natural talent but hindered by innate laziness and arrogance, living a reckless life. So what’s this!?) The information about Hollow was completely different from reality. This was a first for her.

(This kid is no ordinary being—he’s clearly abnormal. Irregulars like him… I’ll crush with overwhelming force!) Raising her guard, Entia flapped her black wings and floated into the air.

“<Black Wings: Annihilation>,” she chanted. A barrage of feathers shot from her wings, each magically enhanced to pierce even thick iron plates.

But Hollow, with a mocking laugh, dodged them perfectly with minimal movement.

(Without using defensive magic!?) Entia’s eyes widened in shock. In the blink of an eye, Hollow vanished.

(Where!?) she thought.

“Over here,” his voice came from behind, laced with suppressed mockery.

Entia spun around on reflex, crossing her arms to guard. But Hollow’s kick carried an unimaginable weight for his small frame.

(This abnormal force… I can’t absorb the impact…!) Blown back horizontally, Entia crashed into a massive bookshelf, squeezing the air from her lungs with a pained groan.

(I’m in trouble… I need to escape, or his follow-up attack will…) Struggling to stay conscious, she flapped her wings clumsily. The air was her safe zone, unreachable by the wingless Hollow.

(Panting, that kid…) But no follow-up came. Instead, Hollow was calmly assessing his skills in the midst of battle, saying, “Hmm, my swordsmanship and physical techniques are passable.”

(This little brat…!) Hollow wasn’t taking it seriously. His fighting style was like he was testing his weapons one by one, using the witch’s trial as a stepping stone. The realization deeply wounded Entia’s pride.

“Hollow von Heisenberg, to your extreme arrogance, I grant the witch’s trial,” she declared, her aura shifting. Raising her right hand slowly, she chanted, “<Final Polaris: Ras Meteor>.”

The forbidden library was enveloped in night. As a black curtain fell, dazzling starlight emerged. Hollow let out an awed breath, “Beautiful…” But the stars turned crimson, and an aurora pierced his body. A massive shockwave roared, shaking the library and raising clouds of dust as Entia looked down at the destruction.

(Maybe I went a bit overboard,) she thought. <Final Polaris: Ras Meteor> converted her magic into light, sweeping a designated area with ultimate magic that nullified all defenses. It could destroy an entire city. Using it on an eleven-year-old was excessive.

(Oh well, he was pretty cheeky.) Folding her wings, Entia descended. As she reached for a book on the desk, saying, “Now, where was I reading?” a voice cut through.

“Pretty magic,” Hollow said, emerging unscathed from the dust.

“…No way…” Entia’s eyes trembled in disbelief. <Final Polaris: Ras Meteor> could pierce any material in this world.

(It’s impossible… How!?) She didn’t know that Hollow von Heisenberg was a monster who ruled the non-existent realm of ‘Void.’

(It’s not normal defensive magic. It’s definitely a unique, highly irregular power…!) As Entia frantically searched her wisdom for answers, Hollow flashed a wicked grin.

“As thanks for the planetarium, I’ll show you something fun.” His crimson eyes gleamed, and his face distorted.

(Illusion magic!? No, could it be… Disaster Zeno’s unique magic <Void>!?) It wasn’t just Hollow—Entia and the entire library were warping.

(Evasion is… impossible, the range is too wide. Defensive magic—too late…!) The next moment, Entia’s body was torn apart, and she collapsed forward.

“Hmm… I might be a bit strong,” said the King of Void, scratching his cheek, claiming a flawless victory.

—

The Witch of Curiosity Entia, guardian of the forbidden library, was strong. The original eleven-year-old Hollow couldn’t have beaten her, even on his best day. But that was the ‘Lazy Arrogant Route.’ I, in the ‘Humble Steadfast Route,’ figured I could win.

(As expected of genius Hollow, achieving this in just two years…) My honed swordsmanship, physical skills, and all-purpose unique magic <Void> were beyond my expectations.

Entia’s remains turned into glowing particles, quickly restoring her healthy body. “Phew… I was shocked. To think you’d use the same <Void> as that Zeno,” she said. Entia was immortal, or rather, her unique magic made her pseudo-immortal. Knowing her immortality trick from the original story, I could kill her anytime but chose not to, as her death would destroy the library. I only broke her vessel this time.

“Hollow von Heisenberg, I praise your valor and grant you the witch’s wisdom. Name the knowledge you seek,” Entia said, reciting the exact game dialogue. It really felt like I was in Ronzorkia’s world.

“My mother Layla fell to the Sky Eater’s curse and is bedridden. I want to know how to break her curse,” I said.

“You want knowledge to break the curse on Layla von Heisenberg, meaning the magic of curse removal?” Entia confirmed.

“Yes,” I replied.

“Your wish is granted.” With a snap of her fingers, a book floated from the shelves into her hand. “This is the spellbook left by the great sage Amour. It contains the curse-breaking magic you seek. A mage like you should master it quickly.”

“Thank you,” I said, taking the ancient book. “See you again,” I told Entia, leaving the library.

Back at the mansion, I headed to Father’s study and knocked. “…What?” he answered.

“It’s Hollow. I have something to tell you, Father.”

“Later, I’m busy,” he dismissed.

“With respect, I’ve prepared to break Mother’s curse,” I pressed. A chair clattered, and the door flung open.

“What!? Explain!” he demanded.

“I passed the witch’s trial and obtained curse-breaking magic.”

“You found the forbidden library and defeated the witch!?”

“More accurately, I discovered the library and earned Entia’s recognition.”

“Hollow, you…” Father trembled, then turned to Mother. “The curse-breaking magic from the witch, you can use it already!?”

“Yes, I’ve mastered it.”

“Well done! Begin at once!”

I stood by Mother’s bedside, focusing my magic. “<Holy Light of Purification>,” I chanted. Sacred light enveloped her, dispelling the evil curse. As seconds ticked by, her eyes slowly opened. Father spoke impatiently, “Layla! It’s me! Do you know me!?”

“…Dafnes…?” she replied.

“Layla…!” Tears streamed from Father’s eyes. He took her hand, apologizing. “I’m sorry, truly sorry… I should’ve ignored trivial work and stayed with you. Forgive my foolishness…”

“I lost to the Sky Eater because I was weak. You did nothing wrong,” Mother said, shaking her head. She looked at me. “Hollow, you broke the Sky Eater’s curse, didn’t you?”

“You can tell?” I asked.

“Yes, while fighting the curse in the dark, I felt your gentle magic. Thank you. You’ve grown splendidly. Your magic takes after your father, doesn’t it?” she said, smiling happily.

Father placed a hand on my shoulder. “Hollow, your actions were truly remarkable. You’re my pride.”

“I’m honored,” I said, bowing slightly. Then Mother coughed, “Cough, cough.”

“Are you okay, Layla!? Is the curse still…!?” Father panicked.

“No, no. I’ve been bedridden so long, my throat’s just weak. Could I have something to drink?” she asked.

“Of course! Sorry, I didn’t think!” Father rushed to the door, shouting, “Orvin, bring a warm drink! Hurry, it’s urgent! Layla’s awake!”

“The madam…!?” Orvin replied.

It was chaos after that. Father, Orvin, and the other servants rejoiced at Mother’s recovery, showing how beloved she was.

(For now, I can relax,) I thought, slipping out of the room amid the commotion. Father had contacted the Great Demon Order to break Mother’s Sky Eater curse. Now that it was broken, he had no reason to deal with the cult. The flag for the ‘Guillotine End’ was completely broken.

Having achieved my initial goal, I set my sights on the next target: (Now… I want to secure the forbidden library.)