**Chapter 76**
—
The spare time between lectures.
Arthur headed to the university library to make use of it.
Normally, he would have gone to a nearby café to work on assignments, but today he had something else to do.
*“I need to figure out why Jeannie’s spirit affinity increased.”*
The university library, located between the three magic towers, was the largest building on campus aside from the towers themselves. Accordingly, it housed an enormous collection of books.
The sheer volume of works earned it a place among the three greatest libraries on the continent.
Considering that the other two were the Imperial Royal Library and the capital library in Elysium, the nation of mages, one could clearly see just how vast the Arcane University Library was.
That was why Arthur assumed he would be able to resolve his questions about today’s phenomenon here.
As he stepped inside, a stern-looking librarian addressed him.
“You’re a first-year, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then you may only use the first floor. The second floor is off-limits.”
Arthur blinked.
“Uh… is there a reason for that?”
“From the second floor up, there are books containing knowledge that can be a little dangerous for first-years.”
“Dangerous knowledge?”
“There are many types, but to give you a simple example—grimoires. Books that describe spells one should not attempt without the proper level of mastery.”
Arthur let out a small exclamation.
“Oh, fascinating. I thought grimoires were extremely rare, and yet you’ve made them accessible.”
The stern-faced librarian allowed a faint smile.
“Arcane University’s creed is that knowledge should not be restricted.”
Arthur tilted his head.
“That seems a bit contradictory though.”
“……?”
“You say knowledge shouldn’t be restricted, but you still divide access by floor.”
The librarian frowned.
“That’s because students are not yet able to handle certain knowledge. Knowledge beyond one’s capacity is extremely dangerous.”
Arthur scratched his head at the explanation.
*“Something doesn’t add up here. That doesn’t quite make sense.”*
But he didn’t press further.
The librarian’s frown made it clear further questioning would be unwelcome.
So Arthur bowed slightly and stepped further into the library.
The librarian, after watching him go, returned his attention to the book he had been reading.
“Oh… this place is huge.”
Arthur, now inside, couldn’t help but gasp.
A vast arched space.
And filling that space—books.
The only area without them was the large central table, everything else was lined with books from floor to ceiling.
*“An area the size of a sports field filled with books… can that even be real?”*
Clicking his tongue in amazement, Arthur stood in place for a moment, thinking.
How was he supposed to find books on other races among so many?
As he puzzled over this, he turned his gaze.
“…Can I help you?”
“I’m looking for a certain kind of book. Could you help me find it?”
The librarian let out a sigh and rose from his seat.
“What kind of book?”
“Books about other races. Specifically, elves.”
The librarian tilted his head.
The curiosity in his eyes seemed to ask: *Why are you looking for that?*
But instead of voicing it, he gestured.
“Follow me.”
With that, he strode confidently into the rows of shelves.
Arthur followed cautiously—and soon let out another exclamation.
*“Oh… all of these are about other races?”*
Hundreds of books lined massive shelves marked *Other Races.*
Arthur clicked his tongue again, surprised there were so many works on the subject. Meanwhile, the librarian pulled out several volumes and handed them to him.
“Recommended readings on elves.”
“Oh, thank you.”
“If that’s not enough, search through this section. You’ll find more. Well then.”
Leaving him with that advice, the librarian returned to his desk.
Watching him go, Arthur smiled faintly.
“Strict, but competent. He even picked out the books for me.”
With that, Arthur carried the books over to a nearby table and sat down.
The first he opened bore the title *History of the Elves.*
It was fairly thick, but he read through it smoothly without pause.
In the process, he gained some unexpected knowledge.
*\[In the distant past, humans and spirits coexisted. Human leaders, instead of calling themselves kings, used the title of chieftain, in deference to the Spirit King. In return, the Spirit King taught humans how to control nature.]*
*\[As time passed, the Spirit King took a human wife. From their union were born the elves. Half human, half spirit—the first rulers of the forest.]*
An intriguing hypothesis.
Arthur stroked his chin and murmured.
*“I always thought spirits only existed in the spirit realm, as incorporeal consciousnesses… but they were actually beings with physical presence?”*
As he pondered, his eyes drifted to Undine, seated across from him.
*“Maybe Undine would know?”*
He asked aloud:
“Undine? Can spirits… marry humans?”
The girl who had grown into a young woman blinked.
\[…Are you talking to me?]
“Yeah. Can you get married?”
Undine looked flustered as she answered.
\[How could a spirit possibly marry a human, Arthur?]
“Really? But this book says it’s possible.”
At that, Undine tilted her head, moved beside him, glanced at the page, and shook her head.
\[That’s from the distant past. Back when spirits had physical existence.]
“So now you don’t exist physically?”
\[Not exactly. Once we become higher spirits, it becomes possible… but it feels different.]
Arthur frowned thoughtfully.
“Hm… so aside from physical presence, there’s some other special requirement?”
\[It’s less of a special condition, more like a restriction. Only contracted spirits can leave their designated places.]
Arthur nodded at the calm explanation.
He didn’t grasp all the details, but he understood the general idea.
“That’s a good explanation. You’ve really improved at speaking, Undine.”
\[Really? Hm… I don’t feel any different from before.]
“No, you have. You’re more… mature, I guess? Which makes me feel a little sad.”
Undine flinched.
\[D-do you prefer how I was before?]
“Not exactly. But now you feel like you’re keeping a bit of distance from me.”
\[…]
At that, Undine fell silent, unsure of what to say.
Her unease and sadness were clear.
Arthur tilted his head, noticing the tremor in her expression.
*“Why’s she reacting like that? Did I say something that would cause that kind of feeling?”*
Just then—
The gnome, arms folded across from them, suddenly spoke.
\[Spirits are no different from humans. As we ascend, our knowledge and personalities mature. Undine’s change is only natural.]
“…?”
\[Which means, Arthur, you should treat us as higher beings now. It’s no longer appropriate to treat us like children.]
Arthur blinked at the gnome’s serious tone.
Undine, beside him, gaped in shock.
\[N-Noom?]
But the gnome, oblivious to the delicate atmosphere, continued with pride.
Arthur tilted his head and asked:
“You’ve changed too, Gnome?”
\[Of course. Becoming a higher spirit made me a complete being.]
“Oh… so like you said, you’ve become an adult?”
\[Exactly. So I’d like to be treated accordingly.]
Arthur considered briefly, then nodded.
*“Hmm… he has a point. If they’ve matured, I should treat them as such.”*
He had indeed treated his spirits like children until now—because they spoke and acted like children.
*“That’s why I kept them out of danger, excluded them from risks. But if Gnome is truly an adult now…”*
There was no reason to continue doing that.
Arthur smirked.
“Very well. From now on, I’ll treat you like an adult, Gnome.”
\[…Heh. A fine answer, Arthur Bayern.]
The gnome’s nose seemed to lift a little higher—perhaps an illusion—when suddenly he felt Arthur’s thoughts in his mind.
The deepening bond between spirit and contractor had triggered an anomaly.
Reading Arthur’s thoughts, the gnome froze.
*“Hmm… how should I use an adult Gnome? Since he’s specialized in defense, using him as a meat shield wouldn’t be bad.”*
\[…]
*“He called himself an adult, so I won’t feel guilty. Maybe I’ll start by throwing him in as bait.”*
Arthur muttered this in a serious tone, envisioning scenarios.
The gnome, perceiving his thoughts, was horrified.
*“T-this is Arthur Bayern’s idea of treating me like an adult?”*
Unbelievable, but it seemed true.
Arthur actually meant to try it.
The gnome belatedly remembered what kind of man his master was.
*“A lunatic… a madman beyond reason…”*
He hunched his shoulders, muttering awkwardly:
\[A-Arthur?]
“Yeah?”
\[M-maybe it’s still a bit early to treat me like an adult.]
Arthur blinked.
“Suddenly?”
\[Y-yeah! Just because my form grew doesn’t mean my personality is mature yet!]
Arthur tilted his head, and Undine murmured, equally confused.
\[…That’s a sudden change of heart.]
In the awkward silence, the gnome pleaded.
\[A-anyway, I’m still not an adult, okay?]
“Uh… sure. You don’t seem like one yet.”
\[Promise? You won’t use me as a meat shield?]
Arthur’s eyes glinted.
“Oh… Gnome, you can read my thoughts now?”
\[…]
“Hm… I never imagined that. That’s actually pretty interesting.”
The gnome’s jaw dropped slack.
Arthur chuckled and turned back to the librarian.
“I’d like to borrow these books, if possible.”
“Write down your name and today’s date.”
“Alright.”
Arthur quickly jotted them down.
The librarian checked, then nodded.
“Return them by next Monday. Don’t be late.”
Arthur bowed instead of replying.
As he left the library, he thought:
*“I gained something completely unexpected today.”*
Not only the origin story of the elves, but also the discovery of unique abilities possessed by evolved spirits.
He would need to test it further, but if they could transmit his thoughts, the ability would have many applications.
And that wasn’t the only revelation from the books.
*“Jeannie’s ability growth… I finally understand why.”*
According to the texts, elves possessed a higher order of personality than humans.
And as their personalities matured, they were able to command stronger spirits.
*“So Jeannie matured through this incident, and that’s why she grew stronger…”*
A race whose spirit affinity increased as their personalities matured.
Perhaps the books were right—perhaps elves really were born between humans and spirits.
*“Even Undine and Gnome matured once they became higher spirits.”*
Arthur smirked at the thought.
*“So the more Jeannie matures, the more my spirit affinity rises?”*
An intriguing discovery, to say the least.
He had never seen a bloodline *grow* in his previous life.
He pondered what made the difference, and then realized:
*“Ah… maybe because she’s still alive?”*
The hypothesis made his eyes sparkle.
*“Oh… that makes sense. In my past life, everyone whose bloodline I absorbed was already dead.”*
His eyes lit with excitement.
If this hypothesis was correct, he had made a groundbreaking discovery.
*“Sir Tacen’s bloodline, and Julie’s bloodline…”*
The blood of trolls and of lightning—among the strongest he had obtained in his past life.
And now it seemed even those bloodlines might be capable of *growth.*
—
