Book Eater

Chapter 298: Victory Scar (2)

Wuuuong...!

The imprint of Umbra shone brightly as the green light transformed into a silver string. Theo felt his mental strength being sucked into it. It might be a minor undertaking for Jerem, but it was a daunting task for Theo. However, this was natural. After all, interfering with a soul was only possible after becoming a real transcendent in the realm of the 9th Circle. Theo wouldn’t be able to try it at all if it wasn’t for Umbra.

Stay focused. Sister will die if I make one misstep!

There was no second time. Veronica’s life was at stake, so Theo threw everything he had into his focus. Theo sighed with relief as the light from his right hand entered Veronica’s heart.

“Okay, step one is successful.”

Their two souls were connected. Now if he did the rest properly, Veronica’s soul would be bound to his.

“Huuu―...”

One last deep breath. He couldn’t afford a moment like this later on. Theo held his breath as he concentrated his remaining mental power on the imprint on his right arm.

The mind was just the tip of the iceberg that was called the soul. The conscious mind usually stayed at the surface, but once one delved deeper, one would reach the soul. This was the domain of the soul.

Theo’s soul was compressed in one breath and sank deeply into Veronica’s body. As his eyes dimmed, the light from the imprint became clearer. His consciousness flowed through the cerebral blood vessels into the arteries of his right arm, reaching his wrist and palm. Theo slipped into a trance as his soul left his body.

Now!

It was time for stage two, escaping the body. A part of the soul was sent out of the body, directly interfering with the contractor’s soul. A green soul bead dug in from Theo’s right palm into Veronica’s body.

“―Hak!” Veronica screamed and convulsed.

Ugh!

It was a natural reaction. If she had been healthy, the resistance would’ve stopped him cold. However, Veronica was in critical condition, so Theo had enough strength to push past the pressure. Then inside Veronica’s wound, her soul was visible in front of him.

[Damn, it is serious.]

It was like the claws of a large animal had torn at her soul.

[The soul’s nucleus is at 30%. Even a soul master would only last a few more minutes. If she wasn’t a quarter dragon and I hadn’t fed her the elixir...]

Veronica would surely have died. Theo felt a chill at the future that hadn’t happened. Still, he had work to do. Theo looked at Veronica’s wound and gently touched the surface. If he couldn’t fill this hole, she couldn’t survive.

Then the two souls met.

[―Kuk, what is this suction?]

His soul was being sucked somewhere. It was like a drain collecting rainwater on a rainy day. Veronica’s instinct to repair her soul was grasping at Theo’s soul. At first, he panicked, but he soon realized that he could use this situation. It would be easier for him to interfere if she didn’t resist.

Kiiiiing!

Simultaneously, the two souls began to resonate.

―························!!

Somewhere, Theo heard a voice that didn’t belong to his memories.

- Something like you, a child that shouldn’t be born!

- Dragon blood? Are you a reptile or a mammal? You smell fishy, so can you not come near me?

- Ack, hot! Were you trying to kill me? You monster!

- Huhuhu, I’ll get a lot of money if I sell this kid.

Contempt, loathing, hatred, greed... Voices filled with negative feelings resonated from all directions. These were memories that stabbed at someone’s heart, someone’s trauma. They didn’t exist in Theo’s memories. Then perhaps these memories...

[Sister’s memories...?]

It was the childhood of Veronica, who always looked dignified and strong.

[This is too much!]

He yelled in resentment, but no one answered. It couldn’t be helped. They were just echoes of Veronica’s past. Nevertheless, Theo couldn’t help shouting. Despite his experience in Bergen Academy, he didn’t have such terrible memories.

How had Veronica managed to go from this terrible past to what she was now? The strongest magician in Meltor, the incarnation of destruction that all magicians feared... To think that the exciting beauty had these hidden scars.

There was no distinction of time as the flood of memories continued. Theo couldn’t keep them straight in his head. He just knew that he was angry as he cried and yelled, unable to do anything about the emotions that Veronica had felt in the past. Then he escaped from that flood of memories and opened his eyes.

“... Eh?”

Somehow, Theo had returned to his own body.

Was it successful?

He could feel the warmth of her body and a beating heart under his palm. It was weaker than usual, but it was not life-threateningly weak. Theo focused inward. His soul had filled the hole inside Veronica’s heart. He could see that his right arm and Veronica’s heart were connected by a green cord.

“I succeeded...” Theo’s legs wobbled, and he collapsed to the ground.

He was falling out of the trance. Maybe the dragon blood and connection to Veronica had made him stronger. It was good, but if he didn’t concentrate, he would faint.

Not yet, not yet. I need to bring both of them to Bergen.

He somehow got up and picked up Veronica and Randolph. The omnipotent feeling he’d gotten after entering the 8th Circle had long since disappeared. He had consumed an incredible amount of power to heal Veronica’s soul. His magic power, physical strength, and mental strength were at their limits.

He drew a small magic circle with his toes and cried out, “Mass Teleport!”

Was it thanks to reaching the 8th Circle? Theo succeeded in moving through space with a short phrase.

Flash!

The destination was Bergen, a magic zone preset as the retreat area. The three people quickly jumped through space from the middle of the Nadun Mountains. There was a gust of cold air and Theo opened his eyes as he successfully moved through space.

“... Theo?” A crying voice greeted him. Sylvia sprinted toward him with reddened eyes.

“... Sorry, I’m late.”

Tears filled her eyes. “It’s okay! Everything is okay! Your body? You aren’t hurt anywhere? I won’t forgive you if you die in front of me!”

“I’m exhausted but fine.” Theo slowly shook his head, causing Sylvia to cry with a relieved expression. She helped him place the two people he was carrying on a stretcher, before entering Theo’s arms and rubbing her red nose against his chest. Her emotions had overflowed again.

“Grandpa. Kuk. Theo, Grandpa...!”

“Yes, Sylvia.”

“Liar, liar. He said he would officiate... my wedding... H-He left me...!”

“Yes, Blundell is really bad.”

“No, my grandfather isn’t... bad...”

She was a complete mess. Theo smiled bitterly and patted Sylvia’s back. She had lost her family in this fight. He wouldn’t be stingy if he could comfort her with this weary body.

Ah, I am reaching my limit.

Theo had abruptly reached the 8th Circle, and there had been the unreasonable soul healing immediately after, so the burden on him was considerable. The last thing he saw was Orta rushing toward him.

As he let his head gently rest on Sylvia’s, Theo hoped that Orta would take care of things well.

With that, the long and fierce day ended.

* * *

If he had to describe it in one word, it was a library. There were piles of books and bookshelves around him. Books were stacked from floor to ceiling, as the smell of parchment tickled his nose. It was a scent that gradually helped wake up the person lying on the mountain of books.

“Umm.” Theo opened his eyes in an unknown place. “This place...?”

It was a familiar place. Theo explored the landscape of the library and realized it was a separate space. It was similar to Gluttony’s library, but it was slightly different. He knew what he would find in any book. This was a space made up of Theo’s memories. It was the spiritual world that existed at the bottom of his consciousness.

“I see. I fainted when I tried to comfort Sylvia."

Theo identified the situation and sighed. Was the fatigue from healing Veronica’s soul so high that he’d sunk down to the bottom of his consciousness? Maybe he had lost quite a lot of mental power. He sighed and looked at the scattered books.

Should I spend some time reviewing?

Theo’s memory was excellent. He never forgot a book that he had read once and could write a brief summary on the spot. For him, a review was just a tedious and repetitive task. If he read a book that he already knew, what new and interesting knowledge could be acquired?

“... Well, it’s better than nothing.”

Just as Theo was about to pick up a book...

“―What, neglecting me after leaving me alone with your possessions? You are a bad person,” a playful voice sounded behind him.

“...”

“What is with this reaction? Why do you have a stupid look on your face?”

Theo stared at her and his voice came out as a breathless whisper, “... Sister?”

“Huh?”

His body started to tremble. "Veronica, Sister."

Veronica realized why he was surprised and laughed. She walked over and pulled the stiff Theo into her arms. He could feel her soft warmth.

Veronica whispered in an affectionate voice toward Theo, who stiffened in another manner, “Yes, I’m your Veronica now. Thank you for saving me.”

It was then that he realized what was going on. This body that felt good to touch and the warmth that was conveyed; all of his senses proclaimed that she was alive. The terrible memory of the bleeding Veronica came to his mind, and Theo reflexively tightened his arms.

“Ah.” Veronica made a noise.

However, Theo kept holding her tightly. He was terrified that she was going to disappear.

“I’m sorry.”

He was guilty of having given her a dangerous role. He felt sorry for having looked into her memories. He hated his own inexperience when he healed her soul.

“I’m sorry.” Theo kept repeating his apologies.

“It’s fine.” Veronica patted his head as he hugged her. “Everything is okay, so don’t cry, my little one.”