Volume 10 Chapter 35 The Underground Treasure Vault
When I opened the door, a wide space unfolded before me.
I placed a lantern on the table near the entrance of the dark room, and Mr. Lucian lit the candles on the candelabra with fire magic.
"It's a treasure vault."
My dad, who had gotten off Mer-Mer's back, said.
Just as Dad said, the room illuminated by the flames was filled with not only bookshelves but also things that looked like treasure chests, as well as art pieces like vases and paintings.
Beautifully crafted crystal bottles and ornaments were scattered around haphazardly, giving a cluttered impression, but each one seemed to hold some value.
Eir-Eir and the others plopped down on a large, comfy-looking sofa, bouncing up and down.
Ms. Famine lounged on the sofa like a lady, while Mer-Mer helped Nel-Nel and Med, who were struggling to climb up, by nudging them with her head.
"Ah, after the war, they brought out what was in the castle. To protect the history of Kirschtein──and to keep precious things from being taken by Bernard."
Mr. Lucian said as he looked around the room.
"That said, I'm not sure how many valuable items there really are that need protecting."
"Maybe there are some records from Sylphina that are left behind."
"Yeah. I haven't really searched this place much. I don't know if there's anything, but it's worth a look."
"Yes!"
I told the lounging Eir-Eir and the others, "Please wait a moment," and moved deeper into the room.
If there were records, they would probably be on paper.
I ran my fingers along the spines of the books lined up, checking the words written on them.
'Methods to Manipulate the Power of Monsters'
'Types of Magic and Their Derivative Systems'
'Civil Engineering Using Earth Magic'
And so on.
The books had old-fashioned covers, but it was clear that Kirschtein had been utilizing magic in daily life for a long time.
"Hmm..."
I continued deeper into the treasure vault, glancing at the spines and occasionally opening a book.
The further I went in, the older the books seemed to become.
It changes from something with a proper spine to just a bundle of paper held together by a string.
Suddenly, I notice a book faintly glowing blue in front of me.
Around that book, something like blue butterflies are fluttering about.
"──That's what they call a forbidden book. It's imbued with strong magical power, and it can't be opened. Even we don't know what it is."
Mr. Lucian, who was rummaging through the shelves beside me, tells me.
Drawn to it, I stop in front of the book.
Hesitantly, I reach out to touch the shining spine.
"...Ah."
The moment I touch it, I'm hit with a sensation as if the glowing blue butterflies are entering me.
Memories of Sylphina that Eir-Eir gave me come flooding back, and I take a step back.
"Are you okay, Lydia?"
"Y-yes... I'm fine."
The memories of Sylphina are so vivid and clear that it feels like I've become Sylphina herself.
The sadness of betrayal, the sorrow and hatred of having a child taken away──and then.
This is──nostalgia for wanting to return home.
I want to go back to my childhood.
To a time when I knew nothing, when I was a child.
I didn't have anyone I loved, but I had my parents and siblings.
That alone was enough to make me happy.
I want to go back. I want to go back.
"...!"
Mr. Lucian supports me as I'm overwhelmed with Sylphina's memories.
The light of the book shining in front of us dims, and it looks like just an old book again.
"It's as if it was waiting for you."
"...Can I read it?"
I take the book out.
The old blue cover is still intact, and the pages inside are clean without any wormholes.
When I open the first page, it has a slightly childish handwriting that says, 'Today was a fun day.'.
'Today... was a fun day. Father made me a new dress. Mother praised me for being cute.'
It's a short sentence, but the words seem to bounce with joy.
It conveys that it must have been a really fun day.
"Is this a diary...?"
"Yeah. It seems so."
Mr. Lucian nods in response to my murmuring.
To make the text easier to read, Mr. Lucian said, "I'll bring a lantern," and went back to the entrance of the treasure vault.
It's dim, so it's hard to read.
The black ink is happily dancing on the next page.
'It was another fun day. Elder Brother caught a deer. Elder Brother is good at controlling monsters. The royal family of Kirschtein is skilled at summoning monsters.'
This is──probably──Sylphina's diary.
I don't feel great about carelessly probing into someone else's inner thoughts, but── still, there might be something important written here.
I nervously turned the next page.
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