Chapter 32 - Master of the Grimoire (4)

Meanwhile, in Finland, at the very moment Yohan answered Ellie's call while pondering his work as a Ghostbuster...

Elsie, the saint of the Order of the Holy Maidens—a beautiful girl with silvery hair—was sulking in her room with the covers pulled over her head.

"Uuugh..."

The grimoire <The Book of the Angel Raziel> spoke to comfort her.

[Elsie, come out from under the covers now. I'll give you this week's winning lottery numbers. Use the money to expand the Order, and then we can go defeat Yohan, master of that evil grimoire.]

"Lord Raziel! That's not what matters right now!"

Elsie poked her face out from under the covers and shouted.

"Those bastards on that damn Korean alternate-history forum banned me! Especially this guy called 'Anon'! He's a real fucking asshole!"

"He left all these nasty comments on the novel I worked so hard on, <The Great Finland–Hwanguk War: A Noble White Flower Blooming on the Border>!"

Raziel gently reasoned with her.

[Elsie, from what I can tell, 'Anon' is simply a false name people share online to remain anonymous.]

[And you're an innocent child. Arguing with people who fling knives with their tongues will only hurt you. They don't really want a debate. They just need some meat to tear into.]

Elsie wriggled back under the covers.

"... Ugh. They're the ones in the wrong, so why am I the one getting banned? ... This isn't right. Some people said they enjoyed it."

"This world is wrong. I wish there were a spell to drop a meteor or summon something huge and destroy the Earth."

Silence fell for a moment.

[...]

The cover of <The Book of the Angel Raziel> shone brightly, and the computer's keyboard began typing on its own.

CLACK-CLACK, CLATTER-CLACK

A post appeared on the alternate-history forum.

[Hello, everyone on the alternate-history forum. My name is Raziel.

I'm something of a guardian to 'NobleFinnishSaint,' who has posted quite a few works of original fiction here. My girl has now spent three hours refusing to come out from under her covers because she was banned from this site.

Of course, I understand there was some arguing.

However, although I taught her Korean, she is a foreigner and seems to have been unfamiliar with Korean internet culture.

Still, she is not a bad child who slanders others, and she is kind at heart. Would the moderators please consider lifting her ban?

I will also teach her not to fight with other users.]

A little later, the ban was lifted. Elsie emerged from under the covers and picked up <The Book of the Angel Raziel>.

"That's my Lord Raziel! You're the greatest grimoire in the world!"

[Hehe~ It was nothing.]

A gentle, soothing voice rang out from <The Book of the Angel Raziel>.

[Elsie, there's nothing wrong with using the internet, but always use proper, kind language and enjoy a healthy online culture.]

Elsie answered enthusiastically.

"Yes!"

Then Elsie got into another flame war and received a three-day ban.

"Whyyy!?"

* * *

There hadn't been an evil spirit, and the job hadn't earned him much money in the end. But since he'd received a brunch-café voucher as thanks, Yohan went there for lunch.

Perhaps he'd missed the busy hours. He entered the quiet café and sat by the window.

So this voucher gets me Set A, with pasta, bread salad, and coffee? Not bad.

The noodles are already carbs, so adding bread salad is a bit much...

Still, the bread they serve at places like this tastes good dipped in the accompanying soup or pasta sauce, so it has its merits.

I asked the server to bring me a glass of ice water as well. Since I was already at a café, I figured I might as well read, and took <The Lesser Key of Solomon> out of my bag.

I could have read <Mysteries of the Worm>, since it had some interesting spells besides the utterly fucked-up ones. But they required ingredients like the wrist of a hanged criminal...

Well, just as some materials are easy to get in modern times, I suppose others were easy to get in the Middle Ages.

Just as I opened <The Lesser Key of Solomon> to read it...

'What's that?'

I spotted some comic books displayed in a corner of the café. When I went over to look, I found they were fairly old classics.

So cafés use comic books as décor these days.

As I browsed the comics, the server approached with a smile.

"You're welcome to read them if you're interested."

"Oh, thanks."

Hmm~ In that case...

I picked a random volume from among the comics.

While waiting for food, it's more fun to grab whatever catches your eye and read it without knowing what happened before, rather than starting at volume one and working through them in order.

Yeah, how could I work and study all the time?

I should at least relax while I eat.

...

And so, in a ridiculous instant, a picture book stole Yohan's hands and attention, which should have belonged to it.

...

<The Lesser Key of Solomon>, left on the café table, stared steadily at Yohan and the picture book.

Just then, the server brought the ice water.

"Here's your water first—aaah!?"

SPLASH

The server's feet tangled, and ice water poured over my head.

"S-sir! I-I'm so sorry! Are you all right?"

"... Yes. I'm fine."

It wasn't deliberate, and they were apologizing. What else was there to do?

Getting wet? I could wipe it off and dry out. This sort of thing didn't make me angry, and getting angry wouldn't accomplish anything anyway.

... Besides, it might not have been the server's fault.

I remembered something similar happening before.

Well, at least it was water, not some other drink.

I left the wet comic by the window to dry, then leaned back against the sofa, draped one arm over its back, and looked down at <The Lesser Key of Solomon>.

'Why? What's your problem?'

I knew it sounded strange to say I could feel a book looking at me, but...

...

The gaze I felt from <The Lesser Key of Solomon> seemed to say:

'You don't know why I'm angry?'

'... Oh? Did I hurt your feelings?'

"So what? Are you my boss?"

!?

I'm your master, and you're a grimoire, dumbass.

Still, it was precious to me, so I dried my hands thoroughly.

FLAP-FLAP!

I picked up <The Lesser Key of Solomon> as it flapped its pages in discontent.

"Didn't you come to me because you liked me too? Why are you acting so aloof?"

...!

"So..."

I whispered softly, in a low voice, applying just a little pressure with the hand holding the grimoire.

"Spread your pages. I'll read you."

<The Lesser Key of Solomon>, which had been flapping in protest, suddenly fell silent and grew docile.

The closed book...

...

Opened under the slightest pressure from Yohan.

At the sight, I burst out laughing inwardly.

'Pwahahaha~ It actually worked again. I really shouldn't start enjoying this.'

I smiled faintly at the absurdity of it and gently soothed the book.

"Sorry if I hurt your feelings. I didn't mean to."

...

I'd tried it because it had worked on <Mysteries of the Worm>. Apparently, <The Lesser Key of Solomon> was also weak to lines that sounded like something a romance-fantasy male lead would say.

Not that I'd ever read a romance fantasy, so I still wasn't sure if that was accurate.

A little later, the server brought my Set A.

"Here's your ice water and Set A."

This time, no water spilled over my head.

The server continued.

"I'm very sorry about what happened, so we'd like to offer you a complimentary dessert. Would you prefer cookies or pudding?"

"Pudding, please."

I stole a glance at <The Lesser Key of Solomon>.

It seemed to have completely gotten over its sulk.

‧

‧

‧

The reservoir near God's Healing Campground.

"Aaah..."

Edward Coffin's zombies were biting the reservoir caretakers to death.

CRUNCH, CRUNCH

Edward gazed out over the vast reservoir.

The Lesser Key of Solomon.

<Lemegeton>.

To Edward and other magicians who studied magic of the Solomonic schools, it was the noblest and greatest of all grimoires.

Countless magicians had fought and died to catch <Lemegeton>'s attention.

... Fortunately, the others didn't seem to know yet that <Lemegeton> was here.

Even so, he couldn't afford to delay any longer.

Edward therefore took a glass bottle of purple liquid from inside his coat and poured it into the reservoir.

Doing this was sure to get him caught by the Special Response Section, and it might paralyze an entire region of Korea, but...

"Look at me. I am the one who shall lead countless demons. Grant me an army of demons."

Edward Coffin smiled.

"O Lemegeton. O noble grimoire."

* * *

Yohan's small studio apartment.

The supplies I'd ordered had arrived, and now it was finally, finally time to make some real pentacles.

I sighed quietly.

"Haah... That really took a while."

While waiting for the delivery, I'd drawn the pentacles' magic circles on seven sheets of parchment in advance, using the appropriate color for each planet.

Apart from the pentacle needed to summon Kim Miryeo's spirit, I'd picked out ones that looked useful.

I'd also washed myself thoroughly for the ritual, so it was time to begin.

Holding <The Lesser Key of Solomon> in one hand, I went through the steps as I recalled them.

Step one in making pentacles, magical aids.

Put charcoal into the camping brazier I'd prepared and light it. Add aloe, frankincense, and mastic, and burn them. Once smoke starts rising, recite the incantation.

"Because of your adversaries, you have established strength through the mouths of children and infants."

"To silence the enemy and the avenger."

"When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and stars you have set in place."

"What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?"

This incantation was seriously long. I paid careful attention to my pronunciation.

The flames surged with an intensity that seemed impossible for a little camping brazier, then subsided as smoke rose.

Now, step two.

Hold the prepared pentacles in the smoke to consecrate them.

Recite the prayer.

"O most mighty Adonai, O strongest El."

"O most holy Agla, O most righteous On, Lord who is the beginning and the end, Aleph and Tav."

"We humbly beseech you, by your holy majesty."

"Let these pentacles be consecrated and endowed with virtue and power against spirits."

That was it. Now I could take them out and use them when needed.

I examined the pentacles I'd made.

"Hmm~ They don't look all that special right now, after all."

Anyway.

Ta-da~ My set of parchment pentacles was complete.

I carefully rolled up the finished pentacles and put them in my bag.

After all, it was time to pack and head to the campground to help out at Ellie's church camp.

I gave Grizzly a generous helping of food.

"Grizzly, eat plenty. We're going a little far away."

"Gyaa~!"

Grizzly answered enthusiastically and ate. I smiled faintly at the sight, then sighed.

'I took it because I didn't have any other work... but a camp helper...?'

I just hoped nothing would happen.