Chapter 175
The cursed book we were searching for has been found.
And of all things... it appeared at Luy's feet, sending the baby-faced boy tumbling like he'd slipped on a banana peel.
"This is... the cursed book!?"
"Lord Clael, please step back!"
Eric shouted in alarm, and Reina stepped in front of Clael like a shield.
"The Black Cursed Book... why did it appear now of all times...!?"
The cursed book would appear before humans who bore resentment toward others, urging them to write down the name of the one they hated.
Those whose names were written would fall ill from the curse and eventually die.
Even the person who wrote the name would be dragged into hell, guilty of driving someone to death.
In other words... anyone who got involved with the book would find no happiness—it was truly a cursed book.
"Why did the book... no, as long as no name is written, it shouldn't cause harm. We should dispose of it with magic at once...!"
"Prince Eric, please step back!"
Clael shouted, grabbed Reina's shoulders, and leapt backward.
'KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!'
Immediately after, a black shadow emerged from the book.
Long, writhing purple hair. A jet-black robe draped over its body.
And... in its hand, a massive scythe.
A being that could only be described as a 'reaper' burst out of the cursed book and swung its giant scythe.
"Tch... that was close!"
"Kyaa!"
Eric shielded a female student and ducked to the floor.
The giant scythe passed just above the two of their heads.
Clael, who had taken evasive action early, along with Reina in his arms, had already reached a safe distance.
"That was close... I never imagined the cursed book would suddenly appear at our feet..."
"Lord Clael... this position is very nice."
"Huh?"
Clael looked down at Reina.
It had been a reflexive action, but Clael had leapt while carrying Reina in his arms.
Reina's slender yet soft body fit snugly in his arms.
"If possible, I'd like you to do this once a day... no, even once every three days would be fine."
"...I'd really rather not be attacked by a reaper that often, though?"
"I'm joking. So... what is that ghost? I sense malevolence, but it feels a bit different from a ghost or an undead..."
"As expected, you're sharp."
Clael let out a sigh at Reina, who had intuitively pinpointed the truth.
The reaper that had leapt out of the book... that ominous, evil-looking enemy was actually a fairy called a 'banshee.'
A banshee is a being translated into Japanese as 'weeping woman,' and originates from Irish folklore.
It is said to be a fairy that appears in graveyards in the form of a young woman and wails loudly at night. When their cries are heard, someone in the village or town is said to die soon after.
"Inside that book is a banshee that an ancient magician captured and sealed away to curse and kill their enemies. The reason people get cursed when their names are written is also due to the banshee's power."
This happened more than a hundred years ago.
That magician used the banshee's power to kill political enemies and gained influence in the royal court.
Though he boasted power atop many human corpses... eventually, he fell to an assassin's blade.
The sealed banshee, never released due to the magician's death, eventually drifted to the Royal Academy... or so the story goes.
'KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!'
The reaper... the banshee screamed while wildly swinging its massive scythe.
Normally, it would be harmless unless a name was written, but the caster had programmed it to attack anyone who tried to destroy the book.
"Prince Eric!"
"Everyone, help His Highness!"
Seeing Eric under attack, the students who had been searching for books in the library rushed over.
"You all, don't come any closer! Run away quickly!"
Clael shouted in a panic.
However, the students, determined to rescue Eric and the female student still lying near the banshee, as well as the unconscious Luy who had hit his head and passed out, launched an attack on the banshee.
"It's a ghost! Use Holy Arts... and throw holy water!"
"'Purification'!"
"Take this!"
The students simultaneously hurled Purification magic, the ghost's weakness, and holy water items at it.
They unleashed a barrage of light-based attacks, but... the banshee, still wailing, glared at them fiercely.
"It's dangerous, run!"
'SHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!'
An even higher-pitched, chilling scream echoed through the library.
"UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!?"
"KYAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?"
The students, struck by the scream of the dead, clutched their ears and collapsed to the floor in a faint.