Thats odd, Mr. Skelly said as he leaned back, a book in his armored hands. He was sitting beside Alice, the two of them covered in a layer of dust with piles upon piles of books lying on the ground beside them. Every ti one of them turned a page, another cloud of dust would fall out from within the book. Alice had to wear a facemask that covered her nose and mouth to breathe properly.
Whats odd? Alice asked, her voice muffled. She placed the book in her hands onto her lap and grabbed her glasses, tapping them against the chairs armrest to knock the dust off the glass that was obscuring her view.
I thought I sensed the mistresss aura, Mr. Skelly said, eting Alices gaze. But shes supposed to be on vacation. Whats she doing here?
Maybe shes vacationing here? Alice asked. She seems to be all powerful, so its not unlikely that shed show up at another continent, right? Who doesnt like sightseeing?
The mistress isnt all powerful, Mr. Skelly said, shaking his head. Shes actually quite fragile. Not too long ago, shed die if she stepped out into sunlight.
What, is her other weakness garlic? Alice asked, rolling her eyes. Or perhaps a wooden stake driven through her heart would kill her?
Mr. Skelly removed his helt and dropped his mouth open while widening his eyes. How did you know?
Wait, really? Thats it?
No, of course not, Mr. Skelly said as he put his helt back on. There wasnt a need to because Alice punched it off along with his skull. That was a joke. He paused as he groped around for his head. Do you think the black dragon that Mary went to find is Grimmoldesser? If the mistress is here, then certainly Grimmoldessers here as well.
Didnt you say there was nothing going on between those two? Alice asked. If the mistress is taking a vacation, why would Grimmoldesser be there too?
Grimmoldesser and the mistress are like cookies and milk, Mr. Skelly said, picking up his helted skull. Cookies are in relationships with other cookies, and milk belongs with other milk, but despite that, the two are perfectly suited for each other, but alas, their love cant co to be because theyre both eaten.
That was a horrible analogy, Alice said. Stick to making jokes, please. She shook her head. If youre curious about them, why dont you ask? You have so kind of ntal connection to the mistress, dont you?
Was it really that bad of an analogy? I thought it was pretty good, Mr. Skelly said and shrugged. I dont want to bother the mistress while shes on vacation. If its Mary were talking about, Apollonia said she was incredibly challenged directionally; theres no way she couldve found them in the first place. No doubt, shes going to wind up back here because where else would Vurs scent be the strongest if not on Vur himself? Besides, even if Mary ets Grimmoldesser, whats the worst that could happen? At most, shell be kidnapped and used as an experintal specin.
That sounds pretty bad, Alice said. Hasnt she already been traumatized enough in her childhood?
Its alright, Mr. Skelly said as he screwed his head back on. To undo one trauma, all you have to do is traumatize them again until they forget about the first one. He tapped on the book on his lap before Alice could retort. More importantly, where do you think these books ca from? Apollonia said her knights uncovered them from a dungeon, but what kind of dungeon stores books inside of them?
Dungeons drop spellbooks all the ti, Alice said. Its not that weird for more technical books about how to cast spells to appear.
But for every book to be on this kind of ancient forgotten and most-likely-going-to-be-banned-if-they-circulated-through-the-world kind of magic? Mr. Skelly asked. Do you know what Im thinking?
That Apollonias lying to us? Alice asked, raising an eyebrow. She seems pretty nice on the outside, but shes a noble. No doubt theres a snake inside of her waiting to for the perfect chance to rear its ugly head.
Thats not what I was thinking at all, Mr. Skelly said, shaking his head. Im thinking we have to go raid a dungeon. If this dungeon continuously spews out books like these, then we have to get our hands on so of them. Tafel will definitely agree to go once she hears theres information on becoming a demon lord within.
Weve already read the book that had the bit on demon lords, Alice said, pointing at the pile of books in the corner.
Well, the steps were vague and blurry, Mr. Skelly said. To beco a demon lord, one must seek vengeance to the point of burning away everything inside of them? Too vague. Provoking Tafel and making her chase after Mary probably wouldnt be enough. I dont rember much vengeance seeking from the first demon lord when demons were being created back in the central continent centuries ago, but I dont rember much from that ti other than lots of war and battle. Lets find more books. Mr. Skelly chuckled. Besides, youre extrely interested in these books as well, arent you?
Whats that supposed to an? Alice asked, narrowing her eyes at Mr. Skelly.
Well, you said you were going to read so books instead of training because there were other ways you could help Tafel and Vurs party, no? Read so books on the geography, learn the nas of places and their characteristics, you know, the boring logistical stuff that soone has to do, Mr. Skelly said. But then you ca across the topic of how to get stronger in a short period of ti. Mr. Skellys face was covered by tal, but Alice could tell he was grinning. And youre not the teensiest bit interested in using this knowledge to match Vur and Tafel in strength? The Alice I know has a greater greed than that. Youre not fine with being relegated to a logistical role. And youre trying to create a chasm between Tafel and Mary under the guise of helping Tafel beco a demon lord. Why? Because youre afraid youll be replaced if Mary sohow joins the party.
Alice sighed and placed the book on her lap on top of a nearby pile while standing. For soone without a brain, youre awfully sharp sotis, she said. Lets go raid that dungeon.
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