Ascendance of a Bookworm

"In the meantime, it's natural to look for my book because it's gone. I'm coming."

As I tried to get to the door, the clergyman raised his hand gently.

"Where are you going? You got a clue?

"No, I'll look for dark clouds all over the city with magic, as I did earlier."

When I claimed that both the Lower Town and the Noble City would gather together and explore with magic, the Chief Cleric looked back at me.

"Exploring with magic doesn't grasp your magic, even if it turns out to be someone else's. It's like being made up of noble neighborhoods and all the magic of others. Totally useless. It's a waste of magic, fool."

"Ugh..."

"More than that, consider the killer's purpose. If the target is narrowed, we might get somewhat closer to the killer."

... the killer's purpose? There's only one such thing.

I lean my neck wondering what the hell the chief cleric is talking about even though I don't have to think about it.

"There's only one motive for what you want the Bible for, right? It's decided I just wanted to read one precious Bible to Aerenfest!

If you came to me for permission from the front, I might have given you permission to view it. However, there is no way that anyone who commits a criminal act that erases the gray clerics and breaks in and replaces them at will can give permission.

My perfect reasoning was flushed with one sigh to the Chief Cleric.

"If the purpose is just to read the Bible, I don't need to bother sneaking into your room and replacing it. A copy of the Temple Library should be enough, or you can ask the Blue Cleric to make a copy."

"Ugh, can you think of all kinds of things like wanting to read parts of the Dark Congratulations that aren't in the library copy, or parts written about Haldenzel's miracles"

Find out where your scriptures are superior to others in their misery. There is a wider scope to read than the scriptures of other realms, where temple priests are chosen from blue priests. I think there are a lot of people who want it.

... because my Bible is amazing!

"You are right, it can be motivating that the central temple wanted to know more about the miracle of Haldenzel and the celebration of the noble and dark gods. But I don't know why I'm replacing it, and it doesn't make sense that I can't read it without permission in the Bible where your magic is registered."

"Why don't we just re-register the owner?

I also re-registered my keys after I became temple chief. It shouldn't be that hard to re-register.

"Wouldn't it change the extent to which it can be read"

"... did you swap it because you wanted to read where it would be out of range in your magic?

We know that it depends on the magic of the viewer in addition to the magic of the master of the temple, who is the owner, because it compares to the scriptures of the central temple. But I don't think that's what a very wide range of people know.

... Was there something about having trouble without the scriptures?

To be honest, I'll take it to the prayer room during the ritual, but in my case it's just perfect. I don't have a problem celebrating without a scripture. I don't use scripture outside of rituals, so much so that it is usually a decoration of the temple chief's office. I can't think of any trouble without it.

On the contrary, would there be something we could not do without the scriptures? With that in mind, I remembered that my scriptures had changed.

... Maybe those floating magic formations and letters are what you're looking for?

It is a scripture that can be described as a guide to becoming a king, but only me and the Cleric Chief should see the magic formations and letters that are floating. It didn't even look like Hildebrandt, the royal family, so I don't think there's anyone else.

"Is it inconceivable that the Ehrenfest scripture is an end in itself?

That magic formation, not to say, I looked up to the chief cleric. The clergyman only extended his index finger slightly from the hand that was on his chin. It just hits my lips and signals "shut up". I seem to have conveyed what I wanted to say.

He does not answer my questions, and the chief cleric begins to speak of his speculation.

"... it is conceivable that one of the purposes is to stain you. Complain that the Temple Commander is not worthy of mismanagement, such as losing a scripture with only one in each territory. Not only for you, but also for me in the temple as a guardian and chief cleric, the loss of the Bible can be a stain enough."

"Or there's an alternative scripture, isn't there?

I pointed to the scriptures on the altar. The chief clergyman shook his head after looking at the scriptures as if to look at them.

"... that's not necessarily the real Bible. Maybe it's just a sticky magic trick that made you look alike. Let's say it was a real scripture from another realm. If we can prove it, the killer can also claim that this one stole the scripture from another realm. I can even put on the wet clothes of theft, not just the loss of Scripture. Perhaps this is also an end."

I am told that I may be treated as a thief before I realize it, and my blood draws away.

"In the meantime, we need to find out if this is a real Bible!

"Don't touch the breadth!

My hand, stretched out against the altar, was bashed away by the chief cleric. The pain runs like paralysis on my fingertips. And I saw that I had been paid with no strength at all, and I saw the ginseng and the painful fingertips.

"Yes, there he is..."

"The loss of Scripture, the wet clothes of theft, and then, your assassination. That's what I think the killer is after."

the harsh gaze. The chief clergyman is pointing at the scriptures on the altar. Too noisy a word emerged, and I kept a great eye on it.

"Oh, is it an assassination?

"It would be best if I could kidnap you and imprison you so that you can freely use your magic, but kidnapping is more difficult than killing you"

"Is it easy to kill?

"Ah. You can prepare something so exquisite and secretly replace it. I'd take the assassination into account."

When the chief clergyman turned his gaze to Brother Eckhardt, Brother Eckhardt reached into the medicine pocket at his waist and took out the white fruit. Put out the shtarp and let the messenger change and cut in gently. And squeezed the fruit together. The juice flies badly towards the scriptures.

"Wow! What do you do!? Dirt...... huh?

The moment the juice was applied, the scripture changed color red as if it were even on blood. Pass the squeeze of white fruit to Justkus as Brother Eckhardt looks at the scriptures with an abominable face. "Again," the chief cleric murmured.

"This red stain is a commonly collected poison around the border between Arlensbach and Aerenfest, a rare poison that penetrates from your hands when you touch it. Apply to objects you touch on a daily basis, it is often too late when you realize you are being invaded by poison. In fact, if you hadn't realized that this scripture was being replaced, you, Fran, who will surely have this at the fall mitzvah, who will prepare, and Haltmoot, who will help you, would not have been far from invaded by poison."

Waving gently as the clergyman said so, Yustox took one cartridge out of the medicine holder he was lowering to his hips.

"Ha, I didn't think it was time for this again"

Saying so in a sigh, Justkus stains his medicine in a gauze-like cloth. In the meantime, Brother Eckhardt put on his leather gloves and received that cloth with his natural face and began to wipe the scriptures. I knew very well that if I wiped it with a drug stained cloth, the poisonous red stain would be removed.

"Thus purchasing knowledge about poison and protecting the Lord is also a side role. Do you have a sense of knowledge and crisis? This is actually how poisons are used close to the Lord, but are several types of antidotes ready?

Brother Eckhardt asked, starting with Brother Cornelius, everyone near me breathed lightly.

"Rosemaine is a magically rich Aerenfest Virgin and the First Lady Planner of the next Lordship, who is creating an epidemic. If the aim is to sharpen Aerenfest's power, is it not certain that he will be the target of the assassination? You're not ready for an escort."

Brother Eckhardt says so in a quiet voice as he wipes the scriptures. I could see Brother Cornelius holding his fist for a long time. I feel poked right in front of my eyes at how much attention and preparation the priesthood's proximity has been paying to me, who has routinely come feeling life-threatening.

"Cornelius, you are inferior to Angelica with no hesitation and speed of reaction, so you have to learn the art of looking around more and removing dangers beforehand. Master Ferdinand, who has so far removed the perils around Rosemaine, will be gone. Wouldn't they have understood what that meant?

Angelica doesn't hesitate for basically nothing to think about. Protect the Lord by pointing your weapon at whoever you are dealing with. Brother Eckhardt said he needed an escort knight who could do anything but keep his body up and protect the Lord, but that wasn't enough.

"There is no need for one of them to do what Master Ferdinand has done so far. There's no way I can do the same thing as Master Ferdinand. But there are many Rosemaine escort knights, so make every effort to get a little closer to Master Ferdinand."

After placing demonic stones on the detoxified scriptures, spraying other medicines, and trying things out to make sure there was no danger, Brother Eckhardt offered the scriptures to the clergyman. The chief cleric lay a magic formation on it and shook his head.

"... a sorcery that looks a lot like the Bible, but it doesn't seem to be the Bible. Take this to the ceremonial setting and you will not be able to open it, and you will be exposed to ugliness in front of everyone."

"So that's not a book?

"You're a magic trick to photograph the look. Nothing in it."

My anger broke through the limits where it was not even a replacement between scriptures. I can see the lid pushing in the magic coming off, and the magic coming all the way to anger. Even though her body was hot like she had a high fever, her head was cold.

"My scriptures..."

"Master Rosemaine?

The next moment I hear Eudit's full of surprise and fear, my vision is blocked by great hands.

"Rosemaine, don't leave it to your emotions. It's gonna be a hell of a result."

I found it was the clergyman blocking my sight with that voice.

"The multiple and overlapping harassing interfaces remind me of the White Tower of Vilfleet. You are in the same position as Wilfried was then. If you move poorly, you'll get your surroundings involved. Who do you want to drive to execution?

I desperately suppress the magic of taking a deep breath and trying to rumble around, having been cordially and politely explained where and how the damage will go to the opponent wherever it is caught and how far the periphery will lose ground in which failure.

"We have to get the Bible back as you think it is. That's for sure. If you fail to recover it, you must choose the method with the least damage. … have you settled down a little?

"Yes."

The clergyman's hands broke apart, and his sight revealed surprised facial proximity. The clergyman sighs as he sees the proximity of the pocan.

"Not if you're being rash. Though rarely emotional, Rosemayne quickly runs wild when the book or the body she cares about is in danger. Stopping this is a nearby role."

"... the difficulty of missing Master Ferdinand has engulfed me"

When Brother Cornelius said so with dismay, Leonore and Eudit all nodded as well.

Philine, who was going to the orphanage for questioning, jumped in where the clergyman was thinking about dealing with some of the loss of the scriptures.

"Dear Rosemaine! There's something wrong with the Konrat. I'm trembling as I dive into the futon, and I'm just asking Master Rosemaine for help, and he won't come out."

"... you most likely know something. Let's go."

The clergyman looks around at his side. Yustox and Brother Eckhardt snort.

"Your Highness can only enter the dining room. I will escort Leonore and Eudit with Philine and Monica."

Entering the dining room through the door of the orphanage that Monica had opened for me, I could see Delia and Dilk looking at me and kneeling as if they were in horror.

"Delia, how's Conrad doing?

"Because I'm not feeling very well, and I was taking a nap today. You must have seen something then. When Lady Filine went to talk to me, she didn't come out shaking."

Listening to Delia, I leave the priests in the cafeteria, going down the back stairs. I entered the children's room before the christening ceremony. Vilma and the little ones are speaking to Konrat worryingly.

"I'm sorry, will everyone leave? Just me, Filine and the escort knight."

The children's room before the christening ceremony is not that big. I asked the Vilmas to leave, and I spoke to the futon where the conlat was caged.

"Konrat, it's me. Can you tell me what happened and who to help?

Konrat slipped his face out of the futon. The face is stretched to fear.

"Please help the gray clerics."

"Are the gray clerics alive?

Konrat nodded over and over as he rattled his teeth. He gave up half because the chief cleric said he would have turned it off, but he didn't. I get high feelings for the hope that springs up.

"I'll help. Tell me more, Konrat"

"The gray clerics at the gatekeepers, in a stamp, a scary woman..."

Fear seems stronger and the conlator's gaze is not set, blinking again and again, spinning interrupted words. My eyes began to tear me apart.

"Scary people like Master Yonasara!... to make everyone look terrible"

"Konrat!"

Filine squeezes the conlat tight. Conrad continued his words, clinging to Philine and crying as he was relieved.

After lunch, Konrat came to the room alone when Delia and Vilma told him to take a nap. The window was in a position where you could see the gate for the carriage, and it seemed like it was just opening the gate. Because it was unusual, Konrat was looking at the gate through the window.

"The gate opened and the carriage came in, but suddenly the carriage stopped..."

Looking so strangely and blinking, the woman who came down from the carriage stepped out and wrapped the grey clerics around in a band of light. And they were transported into the carriage by three men. And the men closed the gate and rode in the carriage again. Only the aristocratic woman said she rode the beast to the front entrance.

"You might still be able to help. Help them, too, as you helped me from Master Yonasara."

I guess the way the grey clerics were tied up in a belt of light and exposed was a sight that stimulated the trauma of the Konrat, who had been abused in Starp. I gently stroked the head of the conlat, which was sweaty and tingly cold.

"I'll help. The carriage sightings have already been instructed to gather from the soldiers at the gate, so you can quickly see which gate you left. Don't worry, wait."

To reassure the Konrat, I tried to smile as gently as I could, but I feel angry enough to get annoyed but boil over and over again. They stole my scriptures, prepared poisoned fakes, abducted the gray clerics, and inspired the trauma of the Konrat.

But it was a great gain to have the information that the grey clerics, who thought they might have been erased in the words of the Chief Cleric, were alive.

"Philine, do you want to stay here?

In my words Philine compared me to the Konrat who remained cuddled. The moment a little force caged in his arms holding the Konrat, Konrat pushed Philine's body.

"Sister, please go with Master Rosemayne. And help everyone. I'm waiting for everyone to come back with Dirk."

"... ok"

I leave it to Delia and Dirk to return to the dining room after the contort. "I'm glad Konrat has become more reliable, but as a sister, I miss you a little," chuckled Philine small.

"Thank you for waiting"

Back in the dining room, Justkus was just listening to me from Fritz. I walk out toward you.

"Chief Cleric, the gray clerics of the gatekeepers are alive."

"What?

"Konrat witnessed where he was taken into custody and put on a carriage in a strip of light in Sturp. As soon as we gather the information on the gate, we'll go and help."

"It was surprising that you took him away. It's easier to erase it without any evidence."

Justkus gently strapped his shoulder to the clergyman, who shrugged so as to stroke his jaw.

"The old Veronicans are being played from the paper and printing industries, so it's possible they took away the gray clerics and tried to gain knowledge. If you want to gain knowledge, your life will be safe so far."

"I see. But where I thought I'd be caught, it could be like a cannibal soldier. Speed and covert operations will be a must for rescue operations. We're going back to the temple chief's office."

While we follow the orphanage, we listen to information gathered in the orphanage from Filine and Justkus. Several other important testimonies of Konrat appear to have been obtained in the orphanage. Filine talked to me as she looked at the note.

"A gray witch who was cleansing is in conversation with a gatekeeper who headed to contact the aristocratic area. They told me to clean it up as soon as possible because I have a noble visitor."

"That one's very tough on gray witches and gray clerics," the gatekeeper said. Yustox went on further.

"According to Fritz, the gatekeeper is an ex-side servant of Sikikoza. He says if he's a nobleman he found out about, he must be a relative of Sikikoza. If you're an aristocratic woman who's afraid of what Konrat witnessed, the line of the Viscount Dardolph is thick."

...... Viscount Darldorf.

A former Veronican woman who resents and hates me for causing the execution of Sikikoza. I should have promised that the Lord would keep me out of this so as not to involve the clan in the syndicate, but did you think it was okay to involve me in the syndicate? Or does it have some way to escape?

Darmuel and Angelica came into my head.

"Dear Rosemaine, I have gathered the chiefs of each gate for information. I'm asking you to keep an eye out for coming in and out of the carriage."

The information on the gate that controls the carriage's entry and exit is important. Everyone's gaze is directed at Darmuel and Angelica.

"Information please"

"Ha!"

"Now is the time for nobility to come together from the north for the winter social world. Today alone there are ten aristocratic carriages, coming into Aerenfest. No aristocratic carriage left."

The north side should be starting to snow already. The south hasn't come down yet, so it really makes a difference to come to the aristocracy for the winter social world.

"Normally we're supposed to use the aristocratic gate to enter the aristocratic district, but there seemed to be four carriages using the North Gate complaining that there were no gatekeepers in the temple to enter the temple. Gunter told me that time was focused around lunch."

Darmuel gave me information on the North Gate. I hear my father gathered information right away.

"Does the absence of the carriage that left mean that the gray clerics were taken to the aristocratic district?

"If you used the aristocratic gate to get to the aristocratic city, you need magic certification to open the gate, so you should know who used the aristocratic gate by contacting the castle"

That's what the chief cleric said, but it's hard to be honest waiting for noble work that takes days for the answer to come back.

"Dear Rosemayne, I, no, I also have a report from Steinluke."

Angelica then stroked Steinluke. Stynrook begins to speak in the voice of the chief cleric.

"There was information that an unusual carriage came in from the West Gate. Even though the carriage itself is a bit like that used by civilians with money, he said your language and attitude were clearly those who served the nobility. They are coming in before the three bells ring, and it is confirmed that they will leave the south gate some time after the four bells ring."

"South Gate...?

"At the South Gate, when things sounded in the carriage and I tried to check inside, one soldier said he was shown a ring with a noble crest and was silenced"

In the words of Stynrook I saw the chief cleric. I would be too suspicious of anything at all.

"You haven't gotten that far yet. I'll just make sure."

"Let's accompany you. I can't just throw you out alone."

That's what the chief cleric said, looking around the room.

"I was honestly amazed at the ability of Lower Town to collect information.... However, in the civilian population, it is less valuable as a testimony to noble opponents. We must hold onto a ring with a crest that will prove it, or the gray clerics that were taken away. All right?"

"Ha!"