009: Decay, Ignorance, Stubbornness, Servility Toward Ordinary People
"Shirley, open this door with your own hands."
In the plaza at the bottom of the sea, which resembled a starry sky, a faint light filled the space. It seemed as though some invisible force field or similar was supporting it, as not a single drop of the overflowing seawater on the other side spilled through.
The upper layers of the Alexandrian Library at the bottom of the sea had been disguised by alchemists of the Atlas Institute long ago with a false seabed. In other words, to find the real library, one had to pass through what was thought to be the seabed and continue resolutely downward.
After recalling this, Novia directly placed the Atlas Institute alchemist—who could be called the God Age Sion—Shirley, in front to scout the way. Controlled by the Etherlite, Shirley had no choice but to obey Novia's demands.
Novia didn't use the Etherlite to steal knowledge, interfere with the soul, or read thought patterns. She only roughly understood this person's information. Unsurprisingly, she was indeed a candidate for the next director of the Atlas Institute, having attained the position of instructor and the authority of a special envoy at the mere age of six.
Novia speculated that the spiritron hacker two thousand years later was either her descendant or the same person at a different stage—a reincarnation.
Because he vaguely remembered that in the Type-Moon world, after each segment of a person's life ended, the information of their soul would be recorded in the Astral World, becoming a new node for a new life. The entire structure resembled a constellation.
Entering the Alexandrian Library, forgotten for hundreds of years, was a peculiar experience. Though it felt as though it should be made of marble, there was no echo at all. It was as if all sound had been absorbed into the stone.
"…May I ask what this place is?"
After walking straight down the corridor for some time, Shirley suddenly asked Novia.
"Do I need to answer you? Go scout ahead, or choose a way to die that you like."
Novia wore a villainous expression and answered without mercy.
Shirley clenched her fists, a strong sense of humiliation burning through her body. She couldn't get used to this feeling at all.
The roles of controller and controlled had been instantly reversed. Although magicians were inherently unconventional and unethical, wasn't this humiliation? Yet, in the end, she had no choice but to accept it.
This Alexandrian Library had four floors, each with its own guardian. The first floor's monsters included scorpion-bodied, human-faced creatures, leopard-bodied with snake heads, crocodile-bodied with dog heads, and vulture-bodied with lion heads.
For the first three floors, Novia hardly lifted a finger, relying entirely on Shirley, who was controlled by the Etherlite.
While Novia partly did this out of laziness, his main motivation was caution.
After all, the establishment of this library primarily involved a branch of the Atlas Institute, three magicians, and Pharaoh Ptolemy. However, in terms of nature, the Atlas Institute branch likely wasn't skilled in schemes and intrigues—they might not even have known what these four were doing.
In the era before the Common Era, when the Age of Gods still lingered, three magicians arrived at Ptolemy's side: Zepia of the Atlas Institute, Ziz of the Wandering Sea, and Wuzhiqi of the Mountain Court.
These three magicians used the human world and mythology itself to perform a grand ritual magecraft, transforming Alexander IV, whom Ptolemy protected, into a God-Eater.
According to Novia's memories, the library's final floor contained a coffin holding the remains and fragments of authority of Osiris, the god of the underworld, who had once obtained the kingship of the sun god Ra and long held the position of chief deity in Egyptian mythology.
But Novia also knew that her actions would undoubtedly disrupt the plans of the Wandering Sea and the Mountain Court. These two were old monsters who could live until two thousand years later. With her foundations still shallow, Christianity not yet sweeping Europe, and the Burial Agency unavailable, she would struggle to deal with them.
Shirley, as a candidate for the next director of the Atlas Institute, was different. By all reasoning, this belonged to the Atlas Institute, leaving the Wandering Sea and the Mountain Court with no grounds for objection.
Novia's current dilemma was how to handle Shirley. Although she seemed safe now, having controlled her with the Etherlite, alchemists of the Atlas Institute were exceptionally skilled at dividing their thoughts—splitting their consciousness into multiple parts to deliberate separately.
Unsurprisingly, Shirley was likely already contemplating how to free herself from her own Etherlite. After all, this belonged to her family, and her understanding of it was undoubtedly deeper than Novia's.
Order her to commit suicide? That might be the best approach, but there was a fear that the Trismegistus of the Atlas Institute could uncover the truth. Suicide under orders—while other families in the Atlas Institute might not care, the Eltnam family might not be so indifferent.
The Ether Lines these people used were quite troublesome. Although it was likely impossible to accurately target brain nerves during mobile combat, a surprise attack during a moment of relaxation could be fatal.
"Shirley."
White points of light illuminated the interior of the library like stars in the night sky. Novia took a step closer.
Given their heights, the purple-haired girl's head only reached Novia's chest.
The girl looked up at her expressionlessly.
"Before entering the final floor, how about we cooperate? I need you now."
Parallel Thought No. 4, reporting normally.
Listening, Shirley confirmed the results of the parallel thought diagnostic scan. No issues whatsoever.
His attitude contained no lies—that was enough.
"You released the Etherlite?" Shirley's lips parted slightly. "If you want to cooperate, let me recalculate your magecraft."
"Naturally."
Novia drew the sword hanging at her side, while new threads gathered in Shirley's hands once more.
The alchemist tasked a parallel thought with evasion guidance, and her Etherlite flowed toward both the ceiling and the floor, attacking simultaneously from above and below. In response, Novia leaped up as if slipping, spinning her body once in the air.
Utilizing the Blessing of Wind, Novia closed in rapidly—because these Ether Lines could transform into unparalleled blades with a single thought, capable of slicing through flesh.
Parallel Thought No. 3, evasion too late. No. 2, transfer structural information to the thread puppet.
At such close range, once pierced by such a weapon, it would take years to fully recover.
However, what Shirley didn't expect was that the final strike wasn't from the sword but from a fist that struck her chest.
"Oh?"
A single punch caused her to shatter, and as she shattered, Shirley dissolved into countless threads and vanished.
"So that's possible? I was really lucky earlier, then."
"This is child's play. The wisdom of the Atlas Institute, the secret technique my family prides itself on—please don't think you've understood it so easily."
"In the beginning, God said, 'Let there be light.'"
As Novia's improved church magecraft descended, the nascent form of a powerful current—one that no land could insulate against—was being born at the bottom of the sea. The more people believed in the doctrine Novia spread, the more terrifying the magecraft foundation created over time would become.
The formless light quickly filled the entire space, restraining Shirley and leaving her unable to move.
"Now."
Novia's tone was exceptionally calm, yet brooked no argument.
"I'm not controlling you. In the world of magecraft, demanding obedience from those inferior to you while offering benefits in return—what's wrong with that?"
Faced with this slow, deliberate question, Shirley nodded somewhat unnaturally.
"Anyway, I'd like to cooperate with Miss Shirley. What do you think?"
Looking at Novia, Shirley suddenly murmured.
"The data doesn't match."
"Data?"
"Although I only obtained fragmented information, verifying the opponent's intelligence beforehand is basic, isn't it?"
She raised her gaze and continued.
"Selfish, willful, decayed, ignorant, stubborn, servile toward ordinary people… That's what my observations and intelligence gathered from Alexandria city indicate."
"Is that how I am? Then I think you must be someone easily deceived."
"Evaluating a person requires long-term observation. As a magician, don't you have such common sense?"
Shirley retorted indignantly.
In response, Novia merely smiled as always and shook her head without saying more.
She then prepared to head to the final floor of the Alexandrian Library.
"Wait."
Before pushing the door open, Shirley turned around, her sharp eyes gazing directly at the silver-haired boy.
"I assess that the aura of the Age of Gods is rapidly gathering inside."
Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
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