"Marie... my sweet angel..."
Ryoma, who was heading to the library area, suddenly heard such a voice and turned to look.
Not far ahead, a man was holding a photo with a dazed expression, muttering something incomprehensible.
That obsessive, sister-complex demeanor, as if no one else was around, could only belong to Gauche.
Ryoma's lips twitched, and he silently walked around him.
A sister complex is truly terrifying.
He then encountered Grey, who was hurriedly transforming, and Charmy, a petite figure who was eating voraciously.
Ryoma couldn't help but sigh at how small the world was.
He looked at Charmy's terrifying appetite, completely disproportionate to her petite figure, and silently shook his head.
The eccentrics of the Black Bulls truly had more personality than the last.
He no longer paid attention to these little detours on the way and walked straight towards the magnificent building in the distance.
The Royal Capital's library was a completely different concept from the place in the Black Bulls' base that could only be called a storage room.
Countless scrolls and heavy books were densely arranged on numerous bookshelves. The air was filled with the mixed scent of ancient parchment and ink, so quiet that one could only hear their own faint footsteps and the rustling of turning pages.
Ryoma walked deeper into the library.
What he needed to find was not basic magic theories, but more obscure, or rather, rarer knowledge.
In the Ancient Magic Literature section, the security here was much stricter than outside. Several Mages stood expressionlessly, scrutinizing everyone who entered the area.
It was only because Ryoma had the Black Bulls' cloak that the guards merely glanced at him and waved him through.
Members of the Magic Knight Squad had the authority to access most of the information.
Space...
Time...
Ryoma moved between rows of tall bookshelves, his gaze quickly scanning the titles of the ancient texts.
On the Extensibility of Space Attributes, Analysis of Teleportation Magic Circles in Ancient Ruins.
He pulled out book after book, flipping through them quickly, but the results were not satisfactory. Most of the books recorded only theories, or simply records of failed magic experiments.
"Space displacement failed, experimental subject's molecular structure collapsed..."
"Magic backlash, caster instantly torn to shreds..."
One after another, shocking records, most of which were cases of failure.
"Sure enough, it's not that simple."
Ryoma closed the book, about to turn to another bookshelf, when a figure blocked the light in front of him.
It was an old man, with white hair, slightly stooped, wearing a simple scholar's robe, standing on tiptoes, trying to reach a book on the highest shelf with difficulty.
Ryoma initially paid no attention. Although few people came to this area, there were always some scholars or Mages specializing in ancient magic research.
He was about to turn and leave, but one of the old man's actions made him stop.
The old man seemed to have given up. He took a step back and looked at the book. The look in his eyes was not annoyance, but a pure curiosity and longing. His eyes seemed to sparkle, filled with the excitement of a child discovering a new toy.
This look...
In Ryoma's mind, a name instantly surfaced—Julius Novachrono.
He walked over calmly, naturally extended his hand, and easily took down the heavy book.
"Sir, is this the one you wanted?" Ryoma handed over the book, a perfect smile on his face.
"Oh! Thank you so much, young man."
The old man took the book, cradling it in his arms, a brilliant smile on his face.
"Young people nowadays are warm-hearted."
"It's nothing at all."
Ryoma's gaze fell on the book's cover—A Study of Ancient Magic Tools from the Lost Era.
"Are you interested in ancient magic tools?" Ryoma asked casually.
"Yes."
At the mention of this topic, the old man instantly became excited, and the light in his eyes grew brighter.
"Don't you think it's amazing? The people of ancient times were able to create so many tools that transcended their era and contained incredible power. Every structure, every inscription of a magic circuit, is like a work of art. It's so fascinating."
As he spoke, he even gesticulated, not at all like an elderly man, but rather like a child who had received a beloved toy.
Ryoma's suspicion grew stronger.
In this world, someone so obsessed with magic and who likes to wander around disguised... it could only be the Wizard King.
In the original plot, he was interested in Asta's anti-magic and had disguised himself as an old woman to meet Asta in the black market.
Now he had disguised himself as an old man and encountered him in the library.
Was he interested in his magic?
Or... did the last mission catch his attention?
Ryoma's thoughts raced, but his face remained calm.
He said, following the other's words, "It is indeed amazing. I've also been very interested in a certain magic recently, but unfortunately, I can't find any effective information."
"Oh? Tell me about it." Julius's interest was piqued.
Ryoma slowly began to speak, carefully observing the other's expression as he did so.
"The books say there is an ultimate magic that can transcend space and touch time."
At this moment, the air seemed to freeze for an instant.
The smile on Julius's face disappeared, and the childlike innocence vanished completely.
"Space-Time Magic?" His tone became flat, yet carried an undeniable authority.
"Young man, are you very interested in this magic?"
Here it comes.
Ryoma understood in his heart.
He replied, "Just a little curious. After all, this magic is powerful enough to make one want to explore it."
Julius gently shook his head, stroking the cover of the book in his hand, his voice low. "Powerful enough?"
He looked up, his undisguised eyes seeming to see through everything. "Young man, I don't know where you heard about this magic, but I must warn you."
"Do not easily delve into that power."
His voice was not loud, but it carried a heavy sense of oppression, echoing in the quiet literature section.
Julius stared at Ryoma, saying each word distinctly, "Without the talent and attribute for it, forcibly exploring it will only lead to self-destruction."
Julius's voice rang out again, returning to its original tone. "Curiosity can kill."
With that, he no longer looked at Ryoma, holding the book "A Study of Ancient Magic Tools from the Lost Era," and slowly turned to leave.
The stooped figure soon disappeared at the end of the bookshelf.
Ryoma stood still for a long time.
The Wizard King's warning...
These words, rather than a warning, were more of a reminder, or even a disguised test.
He did not directly forbid him from researching, but merely stated the dangers involved.
"Talent and attribute, huh..." Ryoma murmured to himself.
Far from feeling fear, he was... even more excited.
Indeed, the magic attribute in this world is determined at birth, but he was somewhat of an exception.
He refocused his attention on the bookshelf, continuing his search.
Right next to where Julius had taken that book, there was an even thinner, more inconspicuous pamphlet. The book was wedged in the gap between two large volumes, almost impossible to spot.
Ryoma's heart stirred, and he pulled it out. The pamphlet had no name, its cover was rough leather, branded with a strange symbol in an ancient script.
He opened the first page, on which there were only a few words.
"Between the narrowness of time, beyond the shore of space..."
Below the text was a pattern similar to one of the markings on his silver-white grimoire.