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Chapter 114. Another Grimoire

"Combat analysis, resuming... upper correction... checking unit damage status... victory rate: 0%."

"Phew..."

I seriously thought I was going to die.

The robot moved using a theory closer to teleportation than high-speed movement, and when it circled behind me and grabbed both my arms with its additional two arms, I thought I was done for... but thanks to my hidden trump card, [Demiurge], I somehow survived.

With its core destroyed, its self-repair functions seem to be malfunctioning, as the robot begins to disintegrate while muttering mechanical phrases.

Still... to give a defensive robot the ability to teleport is incredible, whether it was an ancient dynasty or demonkind that made it. It’s a testament to the high level of technology they had back then... And yet, it's ironically laughable that even with such advancements, they had no means to stand against Cladius.

Sitting on the now-motionless robot, I waited for Elixira and Vanessa when I sensed movement around me. It had only been a few minutes since I defeated the high-performance robot, so I thought another one might be appearing... but then the ceiling opened suddenly, letting in sunlight.

"Whoa... did I press something weird?"

"What if it was a trap!?"

"I'm not dead, so it's fine."

Hearing Elixira and Vanessa's voices from the hallway, I realized the ceiling must have opened because Elixira pressed a button somewhere... Talk about advanced technology for an ancient ruin, having an opening ceiling.

After a short wait, Elixira and Vanessa, bathed in sunlight, entered the floor. They glanced at the robot remains I was using as a seat, looking somewhat exasperated—but thanks to that, they had made it through unharmed. They should be grateful.

"So, how was the painting?"

"The head was on this side. But when I pressed the eye... there was some noise of something moving."

"Oh... that."

Seeing Elixira's worried expression, I pointed upward. Both Elixira and Vanessa looked up together, eyes following the still-moving, noisy ceiling opening with a hint of astonishment.

"It was moving something that large, huh."

"I don’t know if it was the Simba Dynasty or demonkind, but they must have had considerable technical skills."

"Demonkind doesn't have this kind of technology. Only humans create such nonsensical things."

"Huh? But the painting is demonkind-related, right?"

"That’s why it’s confusing... Maybe demons and humans really coexisted."

Could that really be true?

Regardless, we continued in the direction of the castle ruins through the hole we fell from. I wanted Vanessa to scout the area above... but if countless Naglfars emerged as soon as she popped out, it would be too cruel.

"...Vanessa."

"No way!"

Just saying her name got me an instant refusal.

"Please."

"Ugh... fine!"

I bowed my head and pleaded, and Vanessa reluctantly nodded with an uneasy expression. Of course, I wasn’t going to send her out without any help.

I reshaped [Demiurge] into a cloak and draped it over Vanessa.

"What’s this?"

"It repels most magical attacks. There are limits... but it’s far better than nothing."

"And what’s with that?"

"Secret."

The moment Elixira heard it repels magic, her eyes sharpened. As expected of someone constantly holed up in the Ancient Library... As Elixira suspected, a material that can completely repel magic doesn’t exist. Even if it did, it would be a flawed item incapable of blocking even minor spells.

My [Demiurge] has no set form. It can adapt to whatever I desire, imbued with the effects I need... within limits, of course. While I can’t do anything and everything, repelling magic is no problem. Since it's my grimoire, it loses effect if it strays too far from me... but within several dozen meters, it works.

"Then, allow me as well."

Pages of [Raziel] turned, activating a spell. I was about to ask what it did when Vanessa's presence suddenly became ambiguous. Even while staring, I could only vaguely perceive her from the corner of my eye.

"The duration is short, and it’s not perfect... but it makes one harder to see. It’s impractical, but I have everything."

"That’s a trait of someone who can’t keep a tidy room."

"...It’s clean, you know?"

That’s definitely a lie. I can already picture Elixira's room... piled with books on the floor and tables, yet she knows exactly where everything is and claims it’s tidy. I can’t stand clutter and would be itching to clean if I visited her room.

As I exchanged trivial banter with Elixira, Vanessa began exploring with both my grimoire’s cloak and Elixira’s spell enhancing her.

"Well... this should work."

"Yeah, but be careful; my cloak might cancel out Elixira's magic since it repels magical energy."

"That’s the worst combination!"

It’s still better than nothing.

Watching Vanessa fly upwards, I sat again on the robot’s remnants.

"...That, it’s a Grimoire, isn’t it?"

Just when I thought about chatting with Elixira, she hit the mark, leaving me frozen.

"Don’t underestimate me; I can tell... after observing you closely for so long."

"How’d you know?"

"I’ve always been suspicious of your grimoire, [Yaldabaoth]. A grimoire reflects the soul’s essence... and it’s too pure and white for your personality."

"Harsh."

That’s seriously cruel. My pure heart isn’t that bad... geez, Elixira.

"At first, I dismissed it. But after studying many Grimoires, doubt about yours only grew. When I saw you change a ring into a cloak, I knew that was your true Grimoire."

"Ah..."

So she saw me.

Even with attempts to misdirect her gaze... I can’t beat Elixira in such matters.

"You have two souls."

What now... I really didn’t want this getting out.