Published: September 6, 2025
… I want to read it, The Book of Mestionora.
As I half-listened to the conversation between Hildebrandt and Hannelore, my mind wandered to thoughts of The Book of Mestionora.
… It’s the goddess’s book. What could it be like? I’m looking forward to it. … Wait, The Book of Mestionora usually means Gultrishite, right? Could it be that I'm not supposed to read it?
Just as the temptation to read it overwhelmed me, reality suddenly snapped back. Having secluded myself alone in the shrine, I realized that before reading the stone tablet, I should have contacted the guard knights. Or maybe I shouldn’t have approached such a suspicious stone tablet in the first place. Looking at my actions from a practical perspective made things clearer.
… It’s just like when I had that strange experience at the goddess’s bathing spring on Flutlene Night.
Back then, I unnaturally forgot to contact my companions, and Ferdinand and the others couldn’t enter—there must have been some kind of magical interference. Maybe the inside of that shrine feels the same way.
… I should calm down and think carefully.
If The Book of Mestionora is actually Gultrishite, it would be very bad for me to obtain it. I don’t want Gultrishite, nor do I want to become Zent. If I want to avoid unnecessary trouble, it’s best to keep my hands off it and keep quiet.
But if I miss this chance, I feel like I’ll never be able to read the goddess’s book. I want to read it. I really want to read it. I can’t deny that feeling.
… Also, the royal family is searching for Gultrishite, right? They want even the slightest clue, don’t they?
They are desperately translating in the underground archive, just from the information that knowledge necessary to become Zent is there. I think my current experience is quite valuable and could become important information.
… It’s valuable, yes, but can it really be done the same way?
I think some of the light that flew away when the pillar of light rose became the origin of the Blue Stone Tablet. In other words, you have to offer that much blessing and mana and raise a pillar of light. The royal family, who’s already struggling with mana replenishment in the Central Temple, could they perform such blessings to raise pillars of light one after another at the noble academy?
… What if the royal family can’t do it?
Since I’m someone who’s always passed things I can’t do to others, the first thing I think is, "Then have someone who can do it do it." Someone who can obtain Gultrishite should get it. It would be perfect if that someone isn’t me.
… But if I get Gultrishite, what will the royal family do?
It would be good if I could easily hand it over to the royal family after reading, but when Ferdinand aimed for the throne, it was difficult for him to gain backing in Ehrenfest. The same applies to me. Moreover, Ferdinand was ordered by royal decree to go to Arensbach as a groom to prevent him from becoming Zent. There’s a high possibility that a similar fate will befall whoever from the current royal family tries to obtain Gultrishite.
… So I should provide information for the royal family but keep quiet for my own sake. What should I really do?
I want to consult someone, but I can’t think of anyone to talk to. As I pondered, I raised my gaze and saw blue lines streaking across the sky. Several blue beams were emanating from the shrine’s roof.
“...What is that blue light?”
“Which blue light?”
Hildebrandt and Hannelore looked up at where I was pointing with puzzled expressions. They couldn’t see the unnatural blue light that was so clearly visible to me. Not just them, but even the close aides couldn’t see it; they squinted and tilted their heads. No matter how much I insisted to those who couldn’t see it, they wouldn’t understand. I blinked a few times and shook my head.
“...It seems I was mistaken. Perhaps the sunlight filtering through the trees dazzled my eyes when I looked up.”
“It is brighter than expected, isn’t it?”