In the midst of a cacophony of voices, I saw the 'First Grimoire' left behind by the [Golden Witch].

“...”

The old cover made of thick leather was weathered to the point where it had long lost its original color, and it had been handled by so many people that it now shone with a patina. Inside the thin leather pages were the words inscribed by the [Golden Witch] herself.

The content was so bizarre that some students speculated that the [Golden Witch] might have written it under the influence of some mind-altering tonic during her research.

In short, it was a dirty, old book. Moreover, since it was the first creation of the [Golden Witch]—a sort of practice workbook—it did not function as a conventional grimoire. The contents were said to be more like a novel with no research value.

‘It's just something incomprehensible to people with different [Fates].’

The first book left by the [Golden Witch], called a grimoire but not one.

The written content had no intrinsic value... but it was kept as a relic of the Inquiry Faction, inheriting the legacy of the first scholar of ether magic.

It was roughly that kind of story item. And in the game, it was an item that students from the <Public Bana Boarding School> would 'accidentally' drop during the disaster caused by the [Priest of Erosion] that affected the entire academy city.

‘That was its [Fate].’

The 'story' left by the [Golden Witch]. A [Fate] that was supposed to be met in the cold of winter had arrived in early summer. It was now in the hands of a girl with orange cat ears wearing a crimson cape.

Even I, who knew of its existence, had no idea where it was located.

‘Rota wouldn't be the kind of kid to go on a treasure hunt in an emergency... she must have found it ‘by chance’.’

Even after the ruckus with the [Priest of Discord] and all the chaos, when the original story was twisted, and [Fate] disguised as 'coincidence' made itself known, it left me with indescribable feelings.

Sometimes it seems endlessly twisted, yet sometimes it finds its way back to the original place.

What exactly is the [Fate] of this world...

“...”

I stared at the grimoire in Rota's hands for a moment.

She held the shabby grimoire in both hands as if it were precious. Though her eyes were fixed on me, she was unconsciously keeping the grimoire well-protected inside her cape, which was impressive.

Seeing this, Hilde and Rota spoke to me in concerned voices.

“...Senior? Are you feeling unwell?”

“...Lara?”

“Nothing at all~☆”

I glanced at the students of the Inquiry Faction with a wry smile.

‘If the kids in the Inquiry Faction notice, there could be trouble...’

Since it was practically a relic of theirs, Freya would certainly be shocked and demand it back if she saw it.

Twitch, twitch...

Murmur, murmur...

However, the Inquiry Faction students didn't seem particularly interested in us.

“...?”

Hundreds of pairs of animal ears twitched incessantly.

They seemed unaware of the grimoire hidden inside Rota’s cape. Instead, they were focused on something else, engaged in what appeared to be a serious discussion while glancing at me, Hilde, and Rota.

Murmur, murmur...

Even Freya seemed to join the discussion. They were all talking with serious faces. It was curious to see them speaking so loudly, yet I couldn't understand a word of what they were discussing.

“That pink one might be the cover... After all, she's the most outgoing and... usually, those types take the lead...”

“You don’t get it... those rowdy types are actually the bottom... They laugh and then get devoured...”

“Oh... I see... As expected of the librarian, your insight is truly sage-like...”

Murmur, murmur...

“Looking at it... the silver one seems to be the dominant cover...”

“The moment she gets home, the leash... it's scary... but thrilling...”

“Could it be that the pink one is the supportive cover...?”

“Healing types being the cover is odd... Healing types exist to be the bottom...”

Twitch, twitch...

“Does no one support the orange one?”

“I think it's good... she's the smallest but the most predatory... maybe a harem...”

“How shameless... but that’s why I like it...”

“Oh my... a small predator! Am I going to get eaten...?!”

“Maybe all three of them...! A love triangle...?! Then the World Tree will burn...!”

“...?”

I couldn't understand a word. But it was clearly a serious and difficult conversation.

‘Hmm... are they discussing [Unique Ether] and attack affinities...? And perhaps the fate of the World Tree?’

Indeed, these students were closest to forbidden knowledge. They were discussing the fate of the strong and the World Tree without hesitation. However, perhaps due to the brief observation, there were minor inaccuracies in the details.

‘Hilde’s [Unique Ether] isn’t silver but a mix of blue and white... well, it’s easy to confuse if you just glance.’

These kids were cooped up in the library, so they might not know about titles like [Blue and White Thunderbolt]. Despite not understanding their conversation, it seemed like a profound discussion typical of magic scholars.

Thanks to the ongoing discussion, it seemed they weren’t paying any attention to the first grimoire in Rota’s possession.

‘But where on earth did she pick that up...?’

Pointing at the grimoire, I asked Rota.

“By the way, where did you get that wonderful... uh... vintage♪ grimoire from─☆ It doesn’t seem like the kind of thing to bring to a dangerous place☆”

“Oh...! This thing? I ended up bringing it without realizing.”

“Ahaha☆ So our house cat is a thieving cat too─☆ Naughty thing~!”

“What?! That’s not...!”

Twitch

The cat ears twitched once in surprise.

Rota explained the situation to me.

“Well, it was under the statue of the [Golden Witch], and the floor kept shaking, making the statue wobble... I didn’t want the book to get damaged, so I took it with me...”

“Ah─♪ I see─☆”

“I’m serious! The library kept going thud! Thud! shaking...!”

“Ahaha...☆”

Rota's entire body moved up and down as she emphasized the urgency of the situation. Her face turned completely red, likely because she realized she had taken an item belonging to the Inquiry Faction.

“Ahaha...”

Despite her cuteness, I felt a sense of futility about the unexpected place where the grimoire had been hidden.

Oh... that statue with ridiculously large breasts. Who would’ve thought it was hidden beneath it?

‘It seems the statue’s extraordinary appearance distracted everyone... Or maybe they just placed it there symbolically because it was the [Golden Witch]’s belonging?’

To be honest, considering the extraordinary things these Inquiry Faction kids have shown so far, I thought there could be multiple overlapping reasons. Even I had looked at the statue for quite some time without noticing the existence of the grimoire.

‘...The book itself looks strangely inconspicuous too.’

Anyway.

I became curious about whether Rota could use the first grimoire at this point.

‘...Originally, you’re supposed to get it when you can at least use [Wave Ether], so she might not understand it at this stage.’

I set my high expectations aside for the moment and asked Rota, pretending not to know.

“I see~☆ Then, do you know what it says?”

“Oh, it's amazing...!”

At that moment.

“...Lara. More important now is going to the nobles' main base. The operation explained by the [Violet Spinning Wheel] has ended, so we should head to the next site.”

“Ugh─?!”

Hilde spoke in a whisper right beside me. The high-pitched breath tickling my ear startled me.

‘Oh my gosh... why is she suddenly doing ASMR...’

“Y-yeah... I have things to do too... I’m...”

Interrupted, Rota seemed discouraged. However, knowing it wasn’t the time for a leisurely discussion about the grimoire, she quietly put on a somber expression.

“...”

Hilde, unconcerned, came closer to me.

Press—

The warmth and softness of her arm pressing close.

‘If it feels like she's always bringing it up... it can't just be my imagination.’

No matter how I thought about it, it felt like blatant temptation. I was already trying to distract myself with other topics because Hilde had been on my mind since earlier. With this, strange thoughts began creeping in again.

“...”

Regardless of her actions, which felt like temptations, what Hilde said made sense.

Even though Offnir had strategically retreated, and Frau's forces, including the nobility faction, were shot down by the guided bombardment from the ‘Sage’s Room’...

‘The situation isn’t over yet.’

Offnir could return to cause chaos at any time, and Frau’s forces were still borrowing power from the [Serpent of Wisdom and Cycle]. And there was still the mysterious magic circle whose purpose remained unclear.

‘After holding a strategy meeting together, let’s go to where Frau was and find out what happened.’

Following Hilde's words, I called Freya, who was continuing her discussion in the distance, to decide on the next course of action.

Back in the Inquiry Faction's library, the students had already fled to their places. Rota said she would put the grimoire back under the statue and disappeared.

Freya spoke with a cautious expression.

“I-I see. Come to think of it, Frau might have gone out alone to protect that magic circle...”

“Any idea what that magic circle might be used for─☆”

“Well, you see... a magic circle doesn’t just activate out of the blue... It’s inefficient in modern times... No, to be precise, it’s an ancient method that wastes space... it gives me a bad feeling...”

“Borrowing power from an ancient being and using an ancient method... it doesn’t feel like a coincidence.”

“You’re right... Huu... I wonder how far that idiot Frau plans to go...”

“Idiot...”

Hilde murmured upon hearing what Freya said, which she had heard from me earlier. But Freya, taking it as agreement, nodded.

“Y-yeah... To borrow so much power she can’t handle, relying on external forces to set the stage... What an idiot...!”

With those words, Freya sighed.

Finally, Hilde contacted the <United Student Council> by phone to sort out all the matters. They quickly joined those freed up by the support fire from the ‘Sage’s Room’.

“...”

Lastly, Hilde glanced at me and inquired about the situation on Albit's side.

Fortunately, having safely joined the main force of <Gjallarhorn>, they were currently battling dozens of armored puppets rushing at the gate.

‘Unintentionally, we ended up providing support at the gate instead of the Golden Street.’

“...”

Certainly, they would be able to overcome it. If not, we should quickly finish up here and go help them.

‘I’ll have Rota stay here to read the grimoire and go with Hilde.’

It was too early for Rota to get involved in the battle against the [Priest of Discord]. Instead, staying here to read the grimoire and getting closer to her [Fate] would lead to greater growth.

‘With the support fire coming from the Sage’s Room, we should be able to enter Frau’s main base.’

Thinking that, I left the Sage’s Room in Freya’s care and was about to step out.

Boom—!!

“...?!”

“What is...?!”

“W-what?!”

Ether shook from far outside the library.

Along with a massive tremor, the ground began to shake.

[Heheh...! Ahahahahaha──!!]

Offnir’s voice resonated, clearer than ever before.

[It is complete now──!!]

[Kahahah! The flesh of the dead beast god! Move as the insignificant mount of the minions serving the other beast gods──!!]

Rushing out of the library, we were met with an unbelievable sight.

“A-a snake...?!”

“This can’t be.”

Ooooooo──!!

Across several kilometers.

In the distance, from the corner of the Golden Street, a massive sound erupted.

A gigantic snake was rising from the ground, obscuring the sky like a pillar. That pillar resembled an ancient god’s column supporting the heavens.

Endlessly.

Endlessly.

Endlessly...

Ooooooo──!!

A colossal body that seemed to rise endlessly. It finally stood tall, reaching heights that rivaled even the World Tree.

The [Serpent of Wisdom and Cycle] lifted its body filled with black ether.

And as it opened its mouth...

Kwoooaaa──!!

...everything around it was being destroyed.