The Book Eating Magician - chapter-18

At the Crossroad of Trust #2

Having spent five years at Bergen Academy, Theo had realized one thing:
he shouldn’t judge people by their light words or temporary actions.

Classmates who pretended to be friends had turned away from him, while
the professors treated him like a fool. It would be foolish to trust
people like them.

However, Professor Vince was different.

–Are you the long-time dunce? I don’t know what idiot created that
nickname.

–The answer to this final exam was excellent. If you don’t mind, come
to my laboratory after school. I will teach you a little more.

–Don’t mind those playing tricks on you. You are a better person than
anyone at this academy.

-Theodore Miller, do you want to try being a magic scholar?

Theo remembered all of their conversations. They were words which had
saved the frustrated, disappointed, and ashamed Theodore.

Vince was the only one who recognized Theo’s value. The academy’s
best magician had said that he believed in the talent of the long-time
dunce.

His words had created the present Theodore.

‘Professor Vince… the only person in this academy that I trust and
can confide in…’

If even Vince wasn’t trustworthy, then he would never been able to tell
anyone in the future.

Theodore’s eyes sank as he realized something; he couldn’t live like
this forever. Eventually, someone would notice books were missing from
the library, and people would raise doubts about Theo’s sudden skills
and performance.

In that situation, he was a mere student with neither the power nor the
status to preserve his rights. However, it was a different story if he
had Professor Vince as his ally.

‘Obviously, I can try to stop that situation from happening… but like
this, I can get help. It will also be easier to get the necessary
books.’

There was the possibility that he wouldn’t get caught before
graduation, or the probability that Professor Vince wouldn’t betray
him. Either way, the indefinite future couldn’t be quantified.

The scales in Theodore’s mind were leaning toward the latter.

“Professor, I’d like to show you something, so please don’t be
surprised.”

“I’ll try.”

Vince, who was watching him quietly, nodded with a serious expression. It
was just for a moment, but the weight of the worries which appeared on
Theo’s face was really heavy. After such distress, it was a secret he
would tell Vince. So, he needed to be dignified.

Theo took a few deep breaths before placing Roaring Flames, which he was
holding in his right hand, onto the table. Then he placed his left hand
above it.

“Gluttony, come out.”

As always, it responded faithfully to his call.

Slurp!

A tongue protruded from the open hole in the palm of his hand. Professor
Vince jumped, but he didn’t cast a spell thanks to what Theo had said
earlier.

As the eyes of the two people met, Gluttony’s tongue wrapped around its
prey as usual. Its prey was the pendant, Roaring Flames, which was
emitting an intense magic power.

[+7 Roaring Flames (Accessory)]

[As a silver pendant containing a small amount of mithril, it is a
high-grade magic stone. This pendant was produced by Viscount Carter, and
the way to create it doesn’t exist anymore. The owner can form a
contract by dripping blood on the pendant in order to use all the
functions. When this pendant is activated, magic power will temporarily
increase and affinity to fire magic will also increase.

* The rating of this pendant is ‘Precious’.

* When consumed, a considerable amount of magic power will be absorbed.

* When consumed, the digestion time is 1 hour and 38 minutes.

*Current contractor: Garcia Carter.

* Starting spell: Red light streaking across the sky]

‘Precious rating…?! It is truly different from the other items.’

Theo admired the value of ‘Roaring Flames’. Until now, most of his
items had a Normal rating, with an occasionally Rare emerging. However,
‘Roaring Flames’ was beyond that limit.

It was also the first time that the digestion of an object exceeded one
hour. The stronger items would probably take longer to digest.

“C-Can I ask for an explanation?”

Professor Vince belatedly regained his spirit and pointed to the tongue
with his finger. However, Theo looked down at Gluttony instead of
answering his question. It was waiting for his permission like a
well-trained hound.

“It isn’t over yet… Eat.”

The tongue instantly wrapped around Roaring Flames, and it was sucked
Theo’s left hand. As always, it made a sound, expressing that the food
was delicious.

Gulp!

At the sound, Professor Vince sank back into his chair with an agitated
expression.

“Huh, huhuhuh…”

“Professor, are you okay?”

Theo wanted to take a moment for the shock to wear off, but Vince’s
eyes were shouting at him to explain. Originally, magicians emerged
amongst those who couldn’t refrain from their curiosity.

To do this to the curiosity of a 5th Circle master, who was almost at the
6th Circle, was like throwing a thirsty man into the desert.

In the end, Theodore started explaining what had happened to Roaring
Flames.

* * *

The story ended earlier than expected.

Vince was a magician as well as a genius scholar. If Theo explained one
thing to him, he could grasp three or four other meanings, and Vince soon
understood Gluttony’s existence.

“Indeed, it is a greedy grimoire.”

Professor Vince shook his head as he let out a cry of amazement. He was
much wiser than Theo, who had absorbed the knowledge in the library, so
he knew how ridiculous it was. It was possible to obtain the magic or
magic power of the owner just by eating…?

This was something which modern magicians couldn’t imagine.

Vince, who was excited for a while, calmed down and smiled at Theo.

“But as a professor, I can’t praise the fact that you fed it library
books.”

“I’m sorry…”

“Well, it can’t be helped if your life is at stake.”

It was either the books in the library or his life. Anybody would have
made the same choice as Theodore. So, instead of reprimanding him, Vince
made a joking remark, and Theo responded like that.

It was a story which could be laughed off because the price of books had
dropped a lot 150 years ago, with the advent of the book copying magic.

After Vince’s questions were over, it was Theo’s turn to ask
something.

“Professor.”

“Huh?”

“Excuse me, there is one thing I would like to ask.”

However, Vince already knew the question before he even asked it. “I
think I know. Do you want to ask why I’m not greedy for the grimoire?”

“I-I’m really sorry.”

“There is no need to apologize. It is an obvious question.”

He took another sip of his already cold coffee and explained about
grimoires. “Magicians who don’t major in archeology won’t be
familiar with it, but anyone who studies ancient magic like me would
know. Theodore, the grimoire stuck in your palm is useless to me.”

“Huh?!” Theo’s eyes widened at the unexpected words.

“Although it is unusual to have a grimoire that takes the form of the
name of the book, they tend to choose their masters themselves. If a
person kills the owner, they would be lucky if the grimoire doesn’t
steal something or retaliate against them. Actually, there are a few
cases of magicians being killed by grimoires that they tried forcibly to
take away.”

“That…”

“Of course, it is also impossible to transfer it. Rather, it would be
better to study the grimoire by the owner’s side.”

‘Ah.’ Theo raised his head. He now understood what Vince was saying.

He nodded with a satisfied expression. It didn’t need to be a one-sided
relationship. Theo could negotiate using ‘studying’ the book as a
bargaining chip. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that the two people
were on equal footing.

As a seasoned person, in comparison to someone who wasn’t even in their
20s, it wouldn’t be difficult to fool Theo. However, Vince taught him
without concealing any information.

Additionally, Vince bowed deeply toward Theo.

“Thank you for telling me. I, Vince Haidel, will reward your trust as a
teacher and fellow magician.”

“Professor…”

“Then shouldn’t something be done to maintain this trust in our
relationship?”

There was no time to say anything.

Pahat!

As Theodore lifted his head with surprise, a red light shone around
Vince’s hands. It wasn’t attack magic nor defense magic. This was the
Oath magic which only magicians who reached the 5th Circle could use.

‘It can’t be…!’

Vince’s voice resonated due to the the magic power.

“I, Vince Haidel, make this oath. I will be quiet about any secrets
that Theodore Miller doesn’t allow me to share. This oath will be
observed by the rules of magic.”

It was a magic used in trials and interrogations.

The magic couldn’t be triggered through the coercion of others. The
user had to make the decision on their own. Additionally, it was a magic
which couldn’t be canceled once activated.

Compared to the ‘Geass Scroll’ Theo used, this was a higher-ranked
restriction. As the red light around Vince’s hands faded away, Vince
stretched out his hand.

“I look forward to our relationship in the future, Theodore Miller.”

Theo was no longer seen as a student or child, but a fellow magician.
Theodore grabbed Professor Vince’s hand excitedly. Now that he was
recognized as a magician, he wasn’t a child anymore.

“…Thank you.”

Somehow, he couldn’t shed any tears.

Theo closed his eyes as warmth came from Vince’s hand. It was the first
time that the academy’s long-time dunce, Theodore Miller, made a true
ally.