Book Eater

Chapter 21: Outside the Academy (3)

Thud!

Theodore closed the door to Professor Vince’s laboratory and headed back to his dorm room. There was no need to rush, but he wanted to feed Gluttony as soon as possible. There was a chance that something would happen like when he received Alfred’s memories through [Ballistics Magic].

It should be time for Gluttony to wake up.

He lined up the books on the bed and waited for his partner to wake up.

- ... H-Hungry. Come, feed me.

Gluttony finally opened its mouth.

[Gluttony has awoken from its sleep and is complaining about its empty stomach.]

[The regular meals have greatly reduced its hunger. There is more room to choose its food. Gluttony will answer one question after eating each book and will immediately fall asleep after eating two books. The time limit is one hour.]

Theo’s expression changed subtly as he listened to the voice.

It seemed that Gluttony’s hunger had gone down after eating Roaring Flames and reaching E rank. A quota of one or two books a day was much lower compared to the five books it had required after waking up for the first time. Theo might have welcomed the change during his days of secretly eating library books, but that wasn’t the case anymore.

If this is the case, won’t I have to be more selective about the books...? There’s a chance it might only wake up once every few days if I release more seals.

There was also the possibility that it would only eat Rare grade magic books from now on. A magician should always consider all the possibilities to get the best results. Theodore worried about how Gluttony’s changes would affect him and decided to discuss it with Professor Vince during their next meeting. Today, he would focus on [Introduction to Elemental Magic]. Theo shook his head and opened his hand.

“Come out and eat.”

Gluttony’s tongue stretched toward the two books on the quilt. The tongue started from [Understanding of Healing Magic], which was next to [Introduction to Elemental Magic], as if it wanted to eat an appetizer before the main meal.

[Understanding of Healing Magic has been consumed. Your understanding is very high.]

[Proficiency with the 2nd Circle spell Cure has increased. You can heal wounds efficiently.]

A cool breeze blew through his head, and a soft sensation seemed to permeate through him. Theo now understood how to use magic on blood vessels, muscles, and bones. He knew the tricks and tips which magicians at healing clinics used to reattach sliced off fingers.

However, Gluttony didn’t end there. The main dish was next; [Introduction to Elemental Magic] was sucked into Theo’s left hand.

Gulp!

Theo couldn’t help gulping along with Gluttony.

[Introduction to Elemental Magic has been consumed. Your comprehension is very high.]

[Your proficiency in elemental magic has increased significantly.]

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

[Connect is starting.]

That's it! Theo formed a fist when he heard the word Connect. Last time, he had heard the word Synchro. This time, a new word had popped out. Theo wondered what the difference was; however, there was no time to think.

Kiiiiing-

“Ack!”

Despite his determination, the sharp sound caused him to gasp in pain. There was a feeling of uncertainty, as if his spirit had left his body and was being lifted into the air. He knew that it was futile to resist, but the fear of looking into the abyss aroused his reluctance.

D-Damn...

Theodore’s pointless resistance ended, and his consciousness fell into the abyss, where Myrdal Herseim was waiting for him.

***

The sweet scent of fresh grass tickled his nose as a warm breeze caressed his skin. He drowsily came to on a bed that felt like it was made of cobwebs. Suddenly, Theo opened his eyes.

“Ah!” He got up hastily.

The hammock was tied between two trees, and it swung roughly, but that was fine. Theo tried to quickly orient himself. He had been on his dormitory bed a moment ago, and now, he was in a place like this. The only possible reason for this was that Gluttony had eaten [Introduction to Elemental Magic].

Theo looked down and saw his own body.

This time, my body hasn’t changed. Is it different from last time?

It wasn’t Synchro but Connect. He didn’t understand the meaning, but the two words seemed to trigger different phenomena. Theo decided to think about Synchro as assimilation, while Connect was connecting to something.

It was at this moment that a decrepit voice, filled with the weight of years, spoke from behind him.

“Ah, you are a noisy child.”

Theo spun around to find an old man with a white beard and long hair behind him. The moment he tried to speak, Theodore froze. His eyes widened, but his body didn’t move.

W-What? Why don’t I have a voice?

His body had been paralyzed the moment he met the old man’s gaze. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t even move a finger. How could the eyes of the old man exert this type of binding force when he didn’t give off the slightest pressure? The confused Theo continued staring into the old man’s eyes, and soon realized the reason why.

- Your presence is lacking in front of his grandeur.

The white hair of the old man was like a snowy peak, while his shabby body reminded him of the greatest mountain on the continent. His eyes were clear as the sea and seemed to see right through Theo.

Is-is he even human?!

It was like a magnificent mountain in the shape of a man was standing before him. His very presence was like a weight on Theo’s shoulders. There was no doubt about the man’s identity. He was the greatest elementalist of the century, Myrdal Herseim. The one who opened the door to the elemental world. This man was the genius who had succeeded in calling an elemental king.

“Hrmm… Let me look at you,” Myrdal murmured.

Myrdal’s blue eyes pierced through Theodore Miller with all the perception and wisdom that he had acquired as a magician. The eyes of the old man, who had reached the peak as an elementalist and a magician, gazed at Theo’s essence. Elementals wouldn’t open their hearts to the impure or the false. They only reached out to sincere people. Inevitably, the eyes of an elementalist were honed to peer into the essence of a person.

After looking at Theodore for a long time, Myrdal spoke, “You don’t know how to burn like fire. You avoid burning yourself and don’t enjoy reckless challenges. A fire elemental would not get along with you.”

That made a great deal of sense. Theo was a magician who moved with a cold head rather than a burning heart. As Theo grew as a magician, he preferred to stifle impulsive actions, which was the opposite of a fiery nature.

“You’re not free like the wind. You are tough on yourself and hate acting without purpose. The wind spirits won’t feel any interest in you.”

Myrdal was correct. Theodore had always condemned his talent and worked hard to overcome it. Every act that wasted time was a sin, so relaxing was regarded as laziness.

“You're not as flexible as water. You have defined your life and will move along a set course. That rigidity is certainly wonderful, but the water elementals who always change shape won’t welcome such a person.”

This too made a lot of sense. Theo had walked the path of a magician even when he was mocked and told to give up. Instead of acknowledging his insufficiency, he added more effort. Despite knowing that it was pointless, he couldn’t give up on such a life.

Are you saying that I’m wrong? Is it wrong to not be as hot as fire, as free as the wind, or as flexible as water?

Theo, who was rejected by three types of elementals, bit his lip bitterly. Myrdal’s words felt exactly like the mocking he had endured about his talent in magic.

However, Myrdal wasn’t finished. “But you know how to persevere. No matter how large a rock is, it will someday become sand. A rock has to endure hot lava, have its rough surface smoothed by rain and wind. Neither fire, wind, or water can shake a rock’s perseverance.”

Myrdal’s mouth, half-obscured by his white beard, rose in a smile. He tapped the floor with the staff in his hand as Theo stood immobile in front of him.

“I will call the elemental most suitable for your stupid honesty!”

The end of his staff started to glow, lighting up the area. Theo’s eyes started to water from the brightness as he started to blink rapidly.

A young child...?

He could vaguely make out the silhouette of a palm-sized child in the light. A small child made of clay floated toward him. It considered him for a moment, and headbutted Theodore’s forehead lightly.

“Hahaha! That child likes you! The child’s name is Mitra, a forgotten ancient elemental.”

Myrdal’s voice was getting softer. Was the connection with him ending? Myrdal’s voice became increasingly faint as Theo’s consciousness faded away. Only the tiny dot of soil on his forehead became clearer.

As Theo formed a strange bond with the earth elemental Mitra, his consciousness returned to reality.

[The connection with Myrdal Herseim has been terminated.]

[You have formed a contract with the forgotten earth elemental, Mitra.]

[Affinity to earth has increased significantly.]

[Gluttony is satisfied with the food it has consumed. Having eaten two books, it has fallen back into a deep sleep.]