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 7: Negotiation
Chapter 7: Negotiation
The Forbidden Archives hold all the knowledge of this world.
There’s no reason not to use it.
When I thrust out my right hand and used <Void Transfer>, a black vortex appeared in front of me.
This was the entrance to the void, connected to the Forbidden Archives.
Since I marked the place earlier, I could jump directly there without passing through the fairy’s return path.
If I improved my void skills, I could jump using just location information… but at 11 years old, I didn’t have that level of skill.
Well, I still had time, so I planned to work on it bit by bit.
When I slipped through the void and teleported to the Forbidden Archives, Entia, who was reading a thick book, looked up sharply.
“Oh, did you forget something? (He didn’t use the proper method and appeared here directly. As expected, Hollow has the <Void> factor. The information in the Magic Index Arcana is false.)”
“Yeah, I came to borrow some of the Forbidden Archives’ knowledge.”
“Hehe, no way. This is my private library, so I won’t let you read anything.”
Entia stood up and poked my forehead with her index finger.
(…She’s totally treating me like a kid…)
Well, to her, I was just a skilled brat who could use <Void>.
Her reaction made sense.
(…Maybe it’s fine to tell Entia.)
I knew her secrecy well—no, her bad personality.
She loved showing off her knowledge but never shared the important stuff.
That’s why I could trust her.
Even if I revealed my identity, Entia wouldn’t tell anyone.
“Let’s make a deal, Entia. Or should I call you Roy?”
The moment I dropped my lazy, arrogant act and said her real name, her expression froze.
“Where did you hear that name…? (This kid’s vibe suddenly changed.)”
“I know everything about you. Let’s be open and talk honestly.”
“A little boy like you claims to know about me?”
“Hmm, let’s see… For example, the Witch of Knowledge Desire is ‘immortal’ but not ‘eternal.’ If someone burned your original book, you’d crumble away easily.”
As I spoke, I pointed to a specific shelf among the countless bookshelves.
There, the ‘Book of Spirits’ that held Entia’s soul was stored.
If someone burned it, she would vanish from this world.
“…Who are you, really? (He knows not just my real name but also about the original book…)”
The confidence drained from Entia’s face.
Of course it did.
Her prized unique magic, <Book Garden>, had been figured out at first glance.
“To put it simply, I’m a ‘reincarnator.’”
“…I see, that makes sense.”
Entia widened her eyes for a moment but then nodded as if she understood.
“This is my first time meeting one, but I know about reincarnators. A heretic who sent their soul from ancient times and revived in the modern age. Since you know so much about me, we must have had a deep connection in some era. That explains this situation—”
“No, that’s wrong.”
“Huh?”
“I was reincarnated from a different world—an ‘other world.’”
“…What…?”
Entia’s mouth dropped open, and she let out a dumbfounded sound.
“Well, to explain simply…”
I started and gave a brief account of my story.
I was born and raised in an island country called Japan and reincarnated into this world.
My reincarnated body was Hollow von Heisenberg.
This world was inside a game called Ronzorkia, and I knew the characters’ information and the rough future storyline.
After I roughly finished explaining,
“…Hold on, give me a moment to think.”
She said that and slowly closed her eyes.
Even the great witch couldn’t hide her shock.
(According to Hollow, this is a world inside something called a ‘game,’ with a scripted storyline…? It’s hard to believe.)
She slyly opened one eye and glanced at me.
(He doesn’t seem to be lying… It’s so outrageous it actually feels true. He knew my real name and the secret of <Book Garden>. Besides, a normal kid couldn’t even reach the Forbidden Archives…)
Having gathered her thoughts, Entia spoke.
“If your story is true, why do you want the Forbidden Archives? If you have ‘original story knowledge,’ don’t you already know enough?”
“You shouldn’t underestimate Ronzorkia. This game has countless routes and tons of character details. I think there was an interview article once that said, ‘Even the developers don’t fully know everything.’”
“So, your original story knowledge isn’t perfect, and you want to fill the gaps with the Forbidden Archives’ information. Is that it?”
“Exactly. You catch on quick, which helps.”
For now, I finished sharing the information.
It was time to get to the main negotiation.
“I want to read the Forbidden Archives’ books freely. In exchange, I’ll teach you otherworld knowledge once a month. How’s that?”
“Sorry, but that’s not a fair deal.”
She shrugged as if exasperated.
“Really? I think it’s a good trade.”
“My Forbidden Archives have all the information in this world. You’d get unlimited access, but all I get is one piece of knowledge a month? That’s hardly balanced.”
“I see. In terms of ‘quantity,’ I might have the advantage. But the Forbidden Archives’ information is just stuff scattered in this world. My otherworld knowledge, on the other hand, is truly from outside this world. In terms of ‘quality,’ doesn’t that make it more valuable?”
“True, otherworld knowledge is tempting. But there’s no guarantee you’re the only ‘otherworld reincarnator.’ Plus, I’m immortal, so I can wait for the next reincarnator. What I’m saying is—my Forbidden Archives aren’t that cheap.”
Entia rejected me firmly.
I argued for quality, she argued for quantity.
Our points ran parallel, and finding a compromise seemed tough… or so one might think.
But my—Hollow’s—sharp observation didn’t miss it.
Hidden under her long skirt, Entia’s right foot was trembling slightly.
(Entia is the embodiment of knowledge desire. She must desperately want otherworld knowledge…)
There was no guarantee another reincarnator would appear, and she likely wanted to seal the deal here.
Her tough attitude was just an act to make me give in.
The proof was that nervous leg-tapping.
Her mouth could lie, but her body was honest.
(This is a negotiation. I hold the cards. Going strong is the best move.)
Seeing me stay silent, Entia probably thought it was time to act.
In a slightly nervous voice, she brought up the negotiation.
“Well, um? Otherworld knowledge does have value, and I’m not completely unwilling to compromise—”
“Too bad.”
“What?”
I turned on my heel and opened a void to return to the mansion.
“Sorry for bothering you, Entia. We probably won’t meet again.”
As I said my farewell and stepped one foot into the Void Realm—
“Wait, hold on…!”
The witch’s desperate voice echoed.
“What’s up? Need something else?”
“…You know what I mean, you jerk…”
Entia clenched her fist in frustration and glared at me.
“I’m not a god, so you need to say it clearly.”
“Ugh… Fine, I give up! I surrender!”
With tears in her eyes, she shouted half in desperation.
“You can read the Forbidden Archives’ books as much as you want. Just teach me otherworld knowledge… once a month is fine.”
As expected of the Witch of Knowledge Desire.
Her overwhelming desire for knowledge won out.
“I knew you’d understand, Entia. Shall we seal it with a <Contract>?”
When I held out my right hand, a magic circle appeared in the empty space.
Entia read the terms written on it, nodded with a sour expression, and extended her left hand.
Our magic factors were etched into the circle, and the contract was complete.
“Ugh, to think a witch got outsmarted… They don’t call you the ‘Vile Noble’ for nothing.”
“Haha, I’ll take that as a compliment.”
It’s more this body that’s vile, though.
“So, shall I teach you some otherworld knowledge?”
“…!”
Entia’s gloomy face lit up, and her six black wings fluttered rapidly.
Her body was so honest about her desires.
“In my world, there was something called a ‘vacuum cleaner.’”
“S-s-s… ‘Vacuum cleaner’!? What’s that!? A creature? An object? Is it even physical? Or maybe a phenomenon!?”
Entia’s eyes sparkled as she leaned in excitedly.
“A vacuum cleaner is an appliance that sucks up dirt—”
“‘Appliance’!?”
Her cheeks flushed, and she moved even closer.
Too close.
So soft.
Smells nice.
Stop it—Hollow’s body is weak to all kinds of ‘desires.’
If a beauty like Entia got this close, I might accidentally push her down.
With iron willpower, I held back my urges and taught her about otherworld knowledge.