Chapter 22: The Eldritch Godness and the Grimoire

In the library, we began examining the grimoire we had discovered.

"However, this is ciphertext. It resembles some form of hieroglyphics, but doesn't match any known nation's script. Decoding this will likely be as troublesome as cracking a cipher."

"Indeed. I wish it were written in a similar language to something already deciphered..."

But finding clues to decode the grimoire wouldn't be that simple.

As I flipped through the pages searching for anything recognizable, I found a slip of paper tucked between them. Though aged and yellowed, it was noticeably newer than the grimoire itself.

"What's this?"

"It's in legible script. Let me read it."

Felix began deciphering the text written on the scrap.

＊The slip of paper found in the grimoire＊

Recorded on Imperial Year 1790, Month **, Day **.

We fear not knowledge. We shall never fear knowledge.

We have grasped fire, cleaved through darkness, and emerged from the cave of ignorance. We are convinced that knowledge is the means to eliminate all terror, inequality, and oppression.

We are well aware that some slander us as devil-worshippers or heretics. Those who voice such shallow opinions fail to understand that definitions of devils or heresy - that existing religions themselves - are ultimately unscientific fantasies conjured by humans.

What difference exists between deluding oneself that benevolent gods and angels reside in celestial heights, and asserting that intelligences far surpassing humanity exist in this vast universe?

We shall make contact with such beings and comprehend them. This is far more meaningful than theology born of fantasy.

From distant skies beyond, we shall summon them to this planet.

This will bring about revolutionary progress for mankind.

Ah. How I wish I could witness that moment myself.

Having finished translating the paper, Felix exhaled deeply.

"The cult that built that underground shrine must have been the group who left this message."

"Indeed. They appear to have openly worshipped clear heresy. Though the writer seemed displeased about being called heretical."

"By any reasonable standard, this is heresy tantamount to devil-worship."

The content wasn't particularly blasphemous per se. They simply believed intelligent aliens existed in space and planned to summon them to Earth to receive knowledge from them.

Merely believing in aliens might have been harmless, but their actual deeds - trying to approach eldritch beings like us and degenerating into those fleshy monstrosities - were undoubtedly harmful.

"Felix, Miss Iris. Found anything?"

"Miss Iris discovered this scrap. Written by the original cultist owners."

"Hmm."

Klaus and the others approached as Felix showed them the translated text.

"An odd message. Clearly different from any heretical religion we've encountered."

"True, but apparently the academy has similar grimoires in its collection. According to information Miss Emilia obtained from the librarian."

"Similar grimoires to this one?"

Leonhardt's statement visibly surprised Klaus's group.

I'm shocked too. They keep books like this in the library? I always assumed they'd be hidden in the studies of fanatics like Father.

"The head librarian keeps them under restricted access. Apparently they've nearly been stolen multiple times."

"Can we see them?"

"I'll make the request."

Leonhardt took responsibility.

Indeed, as royalty, he might gain access to the academy's restricted grimoires. Though the royal family lacks political power, they still command public respect and trust. We should leave this to Leonhardt.

"Let's go immediately, Lord Leonhardt. These might hold clues to deciphering our grimoire. If we can decode it, we may understand the nightmare's origin and prevent further victims."

"Right, Miss Emilia. We should hurry."

Emilia and Leonhardt make quite the effective team. I'll stay quietly in the corner to avoid disturbing them. whisper whisper

Then, as I quietly followed along, Leonhardt arranged a meeting with the library director.

The director’s office was, naturally, inside the library—a stately door on the first floor led to it. According to Felix, the director was always here except on holidays.

"Enter."

A gruff voice responded when Leonhardt knocked.

"Pardon us."

With Leonhardt at the lead, we stepped inside.

The office was a mountain of books. Countless tomes filled the shelves, drawing the eye more than anything else. Yet the room itself was unostentatious, exuding a subdued atmosphere. The faint light from a small window illuminated the room’s occupant.

"What business do you have with me?"

The director was an elderly man. Deep wrinkles lined his face, and age spots dotted his skin. His hair was pure white but still thick. The old gentleman fixed us with a gaze that was anything but friendly.

This was Erich Zann, the library director.

"Director Erich. First, please take a look at this."

Leonhardt showed him the grimoire we had found in the underground shrine.

"This…! Where did you—? Why do you have such a thing?"

Director Erich’s voice wavered as he questioned us.

"Haven’t you heard? About the heretical shrine beneath the academy. We found this there. You seem to recognize it, Director."

Leonhardt pressed further, noting the director’s reaction—clearly, he knew exactly how dreadful this book was.

"Of course I know. I’ve spent my life working with books. That thing is abhorrent. Exceptionally so, for a text written by human hands. Yet you all don’t seem to grasp its horror. You’re far too careless. Far, far too careless."

His words carried clear disapproval.

"Director Erich, we’ve heard the library holds similar grimoires. We need to understand what was happening beneath the academy. It must be connected to the recent incidents—"

"Where did you hear—? No… I suppose keeping it entirely hidden was impossible…"

Emilia’s words drew a sigh from the director.

"It’s true. This library does possess grimoires of the same kind. But I have no intention of showing them to anyone. They’re far too dangerous. That book has claimed lives in the past."

"Lives? How? Some kind of magical effect?"

"If we knew, we could take precautions. But we don’t. Frankly, I’ve no desire to delve deeper into such things."

With that, Director Erich shut his mouth, as if refusing to say more.

"Is there absolutely no way you’ll show us?"

"Absolutely. My answer won’t change, no matter who asks. However… if you hand that grimoire over to me, I’ll briefly explain what it is."

"You want us to give you this book."

"Indeed. It belongs in a controlled environment. Or better yet, burned on the spot."

As Emilia glanced at the grimoire, the director made his stance clear.

"What do we do, President Klaus?"

"We’ll take the deal. Holding onto this serves us no purpose."

When Leonhardt turned to him uncertainly, Klaus seemed resolved to accept the director’s terms.

"Give it to Director Erich."

"Understood."

Emilia placed the grimoire on the director’s desk.

"Good. A wise decision. Then, I shall explain."

Director Erich began his account.

"This grimoire is known as the Book of Rotting Flesh—alternatively, a variant of the Y’slyth-Ris Manuscript. The original was created in an eastern foreign land over 1,500 years ago."

"1,500 years…"

The staggering timescale left us speechless.

"It records heretical beliefs—likely descriptions of a primal religion dating back to prehistoric times. It details, with horrifying specificity, the worship and praise of the Abhorrent Queen of Rot… as well as sacrificial rites."

The director continued.

"The text regards this Queen of Rot as an advanced intelligence predating Earth itself. It suggests she visited after Earth’s formation, bestowing intellect upon humanity—or what was then little more than apes."

"A being that granted intelligence…"

"Naturally, these are the ravings of cultists and madmen. Not factual. However… I once participated in the excavation of a foreign shrine described in this book. And it matched the text perfectly. The idol of the alien god, the sacrificial altar… the heaps of human skeletal remains."

Director Erich fell silent, running his hand over the grimoire’s cover.

"You need know no more. Forget this. Pretend it was but a night’s ill dream."

With that, he urged us to leave.

……………………