The Book Eating Magician - chapter-115

‘Myrdal Herseim!’

Theodore’s face stiffened at the unexpected name. Yet, in actuality, it
wasn’t surprising that Myrdal was treated as a sage by the elves. In a
world where the high elves couldn’t call the elemental rulers without
borrowing the power of the world tree, Myrdal, however, had managed to
call one with his own power.

This phenomenal feat was more than enough of a reason for him to be a
valued guest of Elvenheim.

“Sage Myrdal said this.” Ellenoa ignored Theo’s inner confusion and
started to recite the prophecy in a calm voice, “After a long time, the
sixth dancer will open their eyes, and forgotten beings will awaken from
a deep sleep. Two countries will compete against each other and summon an
indescribable disaster. But there is no need to be afraid. The guest who
comes from a distant place will avert the disaster. Once that happens,
please guide the guest here.”

“…Is what you just spoke the prophecy?”

“Yes.”

It was like a mysterious puzzle, but Theo was forced to feel a chill
since it had all come to pass.

At least a hundred years ago, maybe more than that, Myrdal had visited
this cabin and made a prophecy. He predicted the events which began with
the birth of the sixth dancer, Ellenoa, and then the appearance of
Laevateinn and the visitor who managed to stop it.

Theodore thought up to there and was struck with a crazy idea.
‘Impossible… Even if he is contracted to an elemental ruler, how long
can a human live for?’

He had met a few existences who lived beyond the ordinary standards of
life, such as a sword master who could collapse a mountain with a sword,
while an 8th Circle magician who could resist even natural disasters.
There were also the guardians of Elvenheim who could reverse a situation
with one arrow.

Nevertheless, Theo hadn’t felt like this when he faced them. This was a
feeling of an incomprehensible awe and fear. Myrdal Herseim was something
entirely different from the masters of this age. At that moment, a piece
of a puzzle floating around slotted into place.

[An original book has been consumed. Promoting a connection to Myrdal
Herseim… Success. Myrdal Herseim has accepted the connection with the
user.]

[Connect is starting.]

‘Connect’ was a phenomenon he had only experienced when he ingested
Introduction to Elemental Magic.

“Ah…!” A sound emerged from Theo’s mouth. There was no evidence
to support his speculation, but his intuition was convinced that he was
right.

In the records of the Magic Society, Myrdal Herseim was a great mage who
had understood elementals more than anyone else 300 years ago…

And he was still alive. Maybe it wasn’t a coincidence that Theo had
made a contract with Mitra. In order to bring him to this cabin, Myrdal
might have arranged something. However, as he was worrying alone, Ellenoa
had continued her explanation.

Then it soon came to an end. “…That is all I can tell you.”

Fortunately, Theodore had been half listening and could remember all her
words. Only one person could enter at a time, so she explained how to use
the Fountain of Wisdom. He inscribed her instructions into his mind.

After finishing the explanation, Ellenoa opened the door. Then the
darkness welcomed him.

‘It is another space door.’

The door led to another space, so while the cabin might look shabby, the
interior was completely different. Theo took one step before turning back
toward Ellenoa and saying, “I’ll be right back. Wait a bit.”

“Ah…” She blinked like a surprised squirrel as Theo completely
disappeared into the darkness of the cabin.

Simultaneously, the shabby door closed, and Ellenoa was left alone.
However, she didn’t feel bad despite being alone. Theo had told her to
wait and that he would be back soon.

Ellenoa replied one beat too late, “…Yes, I’ll wait.”

Her ears peeked through her hair like a rabbit as she lowered her red
face.

* * *

After the familiar dizziness of space travel, Theo reached a space beyond
the threshold of the cabin.

This was the Fountain of Wisdom. He had stepped into a mystery of the
elves, whose true name had been forgotten.

When he saw the reality of it, an exclamation flowed from Theodore’s
mouth, “…Indeed! This is why it is called the Fountain of Wisdom.”

It was literally a fountain. The fountain was transparent enough for him
to see the bottom, and there was a blue light shining from it. According
to Ellenoa’s description, all the elves’ recorded wisdom was
contained in this spring water. It looked like spring water, but it
wasn’t. Additionally, it wasn’t possible to make contact with it
unless a gourd from the world tree was used.

Theo wanted to explore the principles of the magic here, but that would
take more than a day or two. The time limit of this place was 30 minutes,
so he had to prioritize what he wanted to know.

Dakak.

Theo first picked up a gourd hanging from the wall, as Ellenoa had
described. It was made from a seed of the world tree, but there was no
difference. When the thickness and sizes were compared, the gourd was
slightly lighter.

‘Just one time.’

There was a sound as the blue spring water entered the gourd. He tried to
soak his fingers as a test, but all he felt was air. The same would apply
even if he jumped in the spring water; it would be like falling into a
deep pit. This was a place which stimulated the intellectual curiosity of
magicians.

Theodore placed his lips on the gourd.

–Drink from the spring water and think about the wisdom that you want.
Then you will receive an answer to that question.

The blue spring water flowed down. It passed from his lips into his
mouth, and from his tongue down to his throat. However, Theo couldn’t
feel any of that. Apart from the taste, there was no sensation of liquid
being in his mouth. According to Ellenoa, drinking it was just a ritual
to insert the spirit of the fountain into him.

‘Myrdal Herseim.’ Then he started thinking hard about the existence
which reminded him of a mountain range, the eyes which resembled the
sea… the old man with flowing white hair and beard.

Theo recalled the memories of that day when he couldn’t even lift a
finger. Then as the gourd emptied…

Wuuuuuu.

The blue water started fluctuating. The transparent and clear spring
water shone with a white light before moving back and forth, like a wave
raising his body.

No, it wasn’t a wave raising his body. It wasn’t even the spring
water. In the middle of the fountain, an image resembling a human
appeared. It broke and merged several times, but the final form was
familiar to Theodore.

It was the old man with a magnificent presence, Myrdal.

[Hoh, the guest I’ve been waiting for has finally come.]

“…Myrdal Herseim.”

Despite having already met once, Theo barely managed to speak. It was
just a form reproduced by the Fountain of Wisdom, but Myrdal’s presence
was remarkable. Theodore shook as it felt like a weight was crushing his
shoulders.

However, Theo was different from that time. He had grown in circles and
as a person. Therefore, Theo was able to stand firmly without being
disturbed by Myrdal’s presence.

The old man smiled gently at the sight. [You’ve gotten better. You are
still immature, but you are better. It might be incomplete, but you have
gained the primordial flames. If you don’t mind, I, Myrdal, want to
hear your name.]

“Theodore Miller.”

[Theodore… No, Theodore. Haha, it is a funny name for a magician.]

(The first Theodore, author uses the spelling with the Korean
pronunciation. Second Theodore, author uses spelling for English
pronunciation)

Myrdal found it funny…? However, before Theo could ask what it meant,
Myrdal shocked him with the next words.

[It has been a while, ‘Greed.’ No, should I call you Gluttony now?]
The old man spoke directly to Theo’s left hand.

Theo didn’t know how, but it was evidence that Myrdal Herseim knew
about Gluttony. So, Theodore couldn’t expression his surprise when the
mouth appeared on his left hand and a voice flowed out.

-…Yes, it was you. Gluttony’s voice sounded nervous. –A fragment of
memory calling out to me, how pretentious.

[Huhu, please forgive me. I foresaw your visit, but I’m not able to
move at this time. So, I am forced to greet you and your contractor in
this way.]

–Giving excuses… Perhaps it was because Gluttony felt uncomfortable
that it changed the topic without any further complaints.

Indeed, Gluttony’s mild attitude was different than usual. In other
words, this person called Myrdal Herseim, was someone who made Gluttony
nervous and unable to cope with. Theo listened to the conversation
between them carefully.

Gluttony was the one who cut to the chase first. –I wonder how you are
still alive. Explain why you waited for me, no, for my user. If the
answer isn’t acceptable, I will consider you as an ‘enemy’ from now
on.

[You are still too stiff. I am the one who allowed your user to sign an
elemental contract. Shouldn’t you have been more alert?]

However, Gluttony remained silent. This was a silent protest which meant
it wouldn’t listen to any more nonsense. It was the first time Gluttony
had acted wary toward someone, so Theo watched the confrontation with a
strange mood.

In the end, Myrdal raise his hands and answered in a low voice, [It is
because your thoughts are too different.]

–Me?

[That’s right, Gluttony. Unlike the other six, you don’t pay much
attention to the fate of the world. Pride who wants to eat all species,
the one who wants to stop the present world…]

Then Gluttony shouted in a sharp voice, –Stop!

Myrdal closed his mouth like he had been waiting for it. Theo didn’t
know what was going on, but it was clear that Myrdal said something that
stimulated Gluttony. It must be bad if the almost emotionless Gluttony
was forced to shout. Theodore examined the few words that he picked up.

‘Myrdal mentioned Pride. If so, the rest of the information that Myrdal
was going to say…’

It was about the rest of the Seven Sins. As if affirming Theo’s idea,
Gluttony spoke to Myrdal in a voice which didn’t hide its anger, –Are
you trying to threaten me? A remnant of the myths.

[I am asking politely.]

-…You sure talk very well.

Theo couldn’t understand the conversation at all. He merely realized
that the two had agreed on something. Myrdal wanted to expose something
to Theo, but Gluttony had stopped him before taking a step back.

In the end, Gluttony waved the white flag and spoke in an annoyed voice,
–I will tolerate it only once.

[Thank you for your generosity.]