Book Eater

Chapter 115: Mysterious (1)

Myrdal Herseim!

Theo stiffened at the unexpected name. 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 once said this.” Ellenoa ignored Theo’s inner turmoil 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 that the prophecy?”

“Yes.”

It was like a mysterious puzzle, but Theo felt a chill at the unerring precision of the prophecy.

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, then the appearance of Laevateinn and the visitor who managed to stop it.

Theo was struck by 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 turn a mountain to rubble with a sword, and an 8th Circle magician who could resist even natural disasters. There were also the guardians of Elvenheim who only needed a single arrow to reverse a dire situation.

Nevertheless, Theo hadn’t felt incomprehensible awe and fear in front of them. 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 three hundred 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 rapidly thinking, Ellenoa continued her explanation.

“... That is all I can tell you.”

Fortunately, Theo had been half listening. Only one person could enter at a time, as she explained how to use the Fountain of Wisdom. He quickly memorized her instructions.

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

It’s 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 in surprise as Theo completely disappeared into the darkness of the cabin.

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 looked askance, blushing.

***

Theo felt the familiar dizziness of space travel as he 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 the ancient relic, Theo breathed, “... Indeed. So 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 he could see the water glistening with blue light. According to Ellenoa, all the elves’ recorded wisdom was contained in this spring water. It looked like spring water, but it wasn’t. It was also not possible to make contact with it unless a gourd from the world tree was used.

Theo wanted to explore the principles of the magic involved, but that would take more than a day or two. He only had thirty 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 light ringing as the blue spring water entered the gourd. He tried to dip his fingers into the water but all he felt was air. The same would apply even if he jumped in; it would be like falling into a deep pit. This was a place that stimulated the intellectual curiosity of magicians.

Theo placed his lips on the gourd.

- Drink from the spring water and think about the knowledge that you want. Then you will receive an answer.

The blue spring water flowed from his lips into his mouth, and then down 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, and those eyes that resembled the sea… the old man with flowing white hair and beard.

Theo recalled the 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 as it rose like a wave about to breach.

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 shattered and reformed several times, but the final form was familiar to Theo.

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. Theo trembled as he felt a massive weight on his shoulders.

However, Theo was different from the first time they had met. He had acquired more Circles and grown as a person. Therefore, Theo was able to stand firmly in Myrdal’s presence.

The old man smiled gently at the sight. [You’ve gotten better. 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.”

[Theo... No, Theo. Haha, it’s a funny name for a magician.]

However, before Theo could ask what he meant, Myrdal shocked him.

[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, Theo couldn’t express his surprise when the mouth appeared on his left hand.

- ... Yes, it was you.

Gluttony sounded nervous.

- A fragment of memory calling out to me, how pretentious.

[Huhu, please forgive me. I foresaw your visit, but I can’t move at this time. So, I was forced to greet you and your contractor like this.]

- Giving excuses…?

Perhaps Gluttony felt uncomfortable enough that it changed the topic without any further complaints. Gluttony’s mild attitude was different than usual. In other words, this person called Myrdal Herseim, was someone who made Gluttony nervous. Theo listened to their conversation 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 of someone, so Theo watched the confrontation carefully.

In the end, Myrdal raised his hands and answered quietly,

[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...]

Gluttony sharply interrupted.

- 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 had provoked Gluttony. It must be bad if the almost emotionless Gluttony was forced to shout. Theo 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 myths like you?

[I’m simply asking politely.]

-... You sure talk very well.

Theo couldn’t understand the conversation at all, but he did realize 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 this once.

[Thank you for your generosity.]

1. The author uses the characters for the Korean pronunciation for the first “Theo”, and the characters for the English pronunciation for the second “Theo”