Chapter 33: More forbiddens and magic history

Lylia flipped to the next section, expecting more overly dramatic warnings or some pretend-ancient script.

Instead… the page looked like a zoo crime scene.

Different animal marks were scattered everywhere. There were paw prints, claw slashes, wing-shaped smudges, bite marks, and even what suspiciously looked like a giant feather taped in before being ripped out. It was messy enough that Lylia paused, squinted, and murmured,

“Huh… animals this time, huh.”

The next page was, thankfully, less chaotic.

Similarly, there was also an art, a head of a cat cutely drawn like a logo of some brand. Below, it also had some description.

'Misfortune

Service Summary:

Upon summoning, Misfortune will exude a continuous field of bad luck wherever it goes. Tripping fate, souring fortune, and gently ruining the lives, belongings, relationships, and general stability of anything within reach.

It may be assigned to:

-a specific place,

-a single individual, or

-an entire group.

However:

Anyone who insists on staying near the target will also suffer increasing misfortune. Those who cut ties early may escape with only partial life damage.

The curse ends only when:

Misfortune is discovered, or

the target dies.

(Whichever is more dramatic.)

Requirements:

Please provide 7,777 freshly deceased rats, representing:

7 for luck, multiplied by

1,111 for excessive cruelty and unnecessary flair.

Draw misfortune wherever you want. Then, all offerings must fit inside the drawn sketch.

Any spillage or overflow will be considered disrespectful and void the contract.

When preparations are complete, call its name gently.

(It appreciates courtesy.)'

Lylia’s eye twitched once.

“…Uh-huh.”

Flip.

Another drawing similar to the cat's. But this time, its of a dog's head.

'Man’s Best Friend

Service Summary:

This summon will protect the contractor with absolute devotion. Its claws, teeth, brute force, and questionable morals included.

However:

Man’s Best Friend only recognizes criminal danger as real danger.

In short:

If you haven’t broken a law, it will not help you.

Requirements:

Offer 1,000 cat bones, representing ancient canine pettiness.

Draw Man's Best Friend wherever you want. Then, all bones must be placed inside the drawn border.

Any stray bone = disrespect = rejection.

Lastly, speak its name clearly.

Notice:

Upon activation, Misfortune will seek you immediately.

Additionally, the phrase “man’s best friend” will become completely meaningless.'

Lylia stared slowly at the page.

“…What do you mean ‘man’s best friend will no longer mean anything’? Why would I even call this one then?”

Flip.

At the top was a minimalist dolphin wearing a tiny crown. Regal. Majestic. Slightly smug.

'Lord Dolphin

Service Summary:

Lord Dolphin will enact revenge on your behalf using any method you specify: emotional, political, social, physical, oceanic, or “creatively interpretive.”

Precision may vary depending on His Majesty’s personal mood and his interpretation of the offense.

Requirements:

Draw the crowned dolphin large enough to contain the offerings.

Fill the outline with 999 liters of seawater, collected directly from natural oceans.

Bottled, filtered, or desalinated water is forbidden.

Add one living fish for every injury the target has caused you, symbolic or physical.

(Symbolic insults are still counted, unfortunately.)

Whisper your grievance into the water. It must be sincere.

Call His name three times and step back ten paces.

Additional Note:

Lord Dolphin’s definition of revenge may include property damage, emotional devastation, or abstract aquatic symbolism.

No refunds.'

Lylia let out a small exhale.

“…I don’t know what to feel thinking that a dolphin will take revenge for me. I might as well just hire an assassin at this point.”

There were several more entries after Lord Dolphin. More animals, more curses, more strange “services.” She skimmed the pages, then quietly closed the book halfway.

Her eyes drifted up to the ceiling.

“…Why did God even include these?” she murmured. “These seem like the type of things that would make enemies out of everyone. And… probably gods too.”

Was she actually meant to use them?

Or was He just testing her?

Maybe letting her know such things existed?

Either way… it didn’t feel right. Especially considering who these beings likely angered, and who they clearly mimicked.

They sounded like devils.

And nothing good ever came from contacting devils.

Not in stories.

Not in reality.

Not even in her old world’s anime.

Still… having additional knowledge never hurt.

She then flipped back to the table of contents, thumb dragging sluggishly, until she finally found a heading she hadn’t touched yet:

'History of Magic'

She turned the page.

The handwriting was finally back to its initial font, cursive.

'Author: Yours truly, The God of Beginning and Everything.

Alright, let’s keep this simple.

In the beginning, mortals learned to weave magic directly from Azurel, the God of magic. Though magic that time was… let’s call it a mistake that everyone enjoyed a little too much.

People could pull mana straight into themselves. Freely, endlessly, and with absolutely no sense of moderation. A few geniuses even figured out how to stockpile it without limit.

Which sounds impressive until you realize that unlimited mana usually leads to something exploding within the week.

Naturally, mortals did what mortals always do when given too much power,

They rebelled.

A whole crowd of them suddenly and basically decided,

“Hey, we basically have infinite magic now. Why listen to gods at all?”

… Bold. Wrong. But bold.

Thankfully, the god who invented magic, Azurel, stepped in before the whole planet folded like wet paper. He ended the rebellion, cleaned up the mess, and then came to me to talk about… rules.

And yes, we actually agreed on some.

Rule One: The accumulation of infinite personal mana is hereby prohibited.

Rule Two: All mortal beings shall henceforth draw mana solely from the world through breathing it in then out, rather than storing or hoarding it within themselves.

Rule Three: Objections will not be entertained. The preceding era's misuse of magic has rendered these regulations necessary.

To keep everyone from dying (again), Azurel refined a safer method that we simply referred it as mana breathing technique (the same goes for the path of strength but it will be a whole another chapter of history).

A controlled way to borrow mana, shape it, return it, and most importantly, not spontaneously combust.

After that came the finishing touch.

The Magic Towers.

Four continents. Four towers.

Each one reaching high enough to touch the edge of the heavens.

Anyone who climbs to the very top. Those who masters the new era's magic fully, properly, and without cheating gets to meet us Gods.

And we'll judge them there.

That’s the whole story.

Don’t overthink it.'

Lylia stared at the section for several seconds, blank, dazed, and slowly, very slowly, processing the overly casual divine storytelling.

“…Hoh,” she whispered. Her eyelids lowered half-mast.

“… well, nice."

A soft yawn escaped her before she could stop it.

She closed the book gently, set it on her bedside table, stretched once like a lazy cat, and flopped onto the mattress without ceremony.

Within seconds, she was out cold, asleep before her head fully sank into the pillow.