Dark attribute magic

"...It looks like it's going to be a little fun, Ogre-kun."

"Aren't you excited, Reina? You'll be able to gain new knowledge, right?"

"Hahaha! Ogre has always been a researcher. When I heard about his unknown attributes, I thought he couldn't hide his interest."

　There are several secret rooms in the Verret household.

　Most of them were built underground, and there was also an entrance on the first floor that led to the basement.

"...I was surprised. I never thought a place like this existed in my home."

　Father takes us down the stairs into the cold air.

"I was supposed to tell Ogre about it after he graduates from the academy, but that schedule has been moved up a bit. It's also a problem that my son is so talented."

"Is that why there is a secret passage in the office used by the head of the family?"

"That's right. Reina will be supporting Ogre next to her from now on. Therefore, I decided that it would be better to teach her at the same time."

"...I know it's strange for me to say this myself, but is it okay? I was originally the person who worked for that person..."

"Ogre said he's going to make you a family member. In that case, there's no need to doubt anything. If Reina runs away, Ogre will definitely come and catch you."

"That's...certain. Yes, your father-in-law is right."

"..."

　Reina glances at me and lets out a chuckle.

　I didn't have to make any corrections, so I remained silent, but for some reason I felt a little embarrassed.

"The entrance to the Magic Forbidden Library is here. I'll give you the key so you can come freely. Just be careful not to lose it."

"Okay.....Isn't your father going to come inside?"

"I still have my regular work to do. Besides, I've read it once."

"Okay. Feel free to do so."

"Ah, I have one piece of advice..."

　Father unusually crossed his shoulders and turned his head towards me, and muttered in a voice that Reina couldn't hear.

"Don't stop having fun with Reyna just because no one comes in."

"What...!"

"Hahaha! It's reassuring to see you like that. Well then, let's do our best."

　With that said, Father returns to the ground.

　When his back was no longer visible, Reina quickly pulled the sleeve of his clothes.

"What about your father-in-law?"

"...It's better not to ask. Oh, it's not a bad thing about Reina....It's a common middle-aged gag."

"I see. I guess I'm advising you not to do strenuous exercise here."

"If you know, don't ask..."

"That's right. I'll be more careful next time."

"Geez..."

　Sighing, I insert the key and turn the doorknob.

　When the door opened with a dull sound, orange lights turned on all at once.

　A light that is gentle on the eyes illuminates a small table in the center, surrounded by numerous bookshelves placed along the walls.

　Every bookshelf was packed with age-old books, and I knew without a doubt that this was the Magic Forbidden Library.

"...That's amazing. That person has made me read many books in his collection, but there are only titles I don't recognize."

"The Verret family controls all the information in the Londism Kingdom. So it's no surprise that they keep such things."

"...I see. The Verret family has strong ties to the royal family."

"But that's not the purpose of this time. Let's look for a book that talks about dark attribute magic."

"Then I'll go from here to there."

"Okay. I'll take care of the other side. Once you find it, put it on the table."

　Reina and I deftly divide up our efforts and look closely at the bookshelf to find a book that describes dark attribute magic.

　...but I can't find it anywhere.

　This stage is already the last...?

　Just as I was starting to doubt if it was really there, I heard a thud from behind and the sound of a package being placed on the table.

"It looks like they were grouped together here."

"...That's right."

　What Reina found were three old leather-bound books.

　There are no words printed on the cover of any of them.

　However, each book was as thick as my upper arm.

"Should I think it's more or less?"

"I briefly checked the contents, but all pages were written about dark attribute magic."

"In that case, three books might not be a problem."

"Let's read it now. Your time is limited. Please come here."

"Sorry. Thank you."

"No, no. Well then, I'll excuse you too."

"..."

　I sat down on the chair that Reina pulled out for me, and she also sat on my lap.

　If you look closely, the only chair I see is the one I'm using.

"Ogre-kun. What's wrong? Please turn to the next page."

"...Ah, that's right. Right now, knowing the content is my priority."

　Leaving Reina aside for now, I looked through the contents.

　...However, the letters were blurry and it seemed like it would take some time to decipher it.

"Would you like to skim through and read only the necessary parts first?"

"No, it's okay to take your time, so let's read it from the beginning. This time, there's a possibility that our knowledge won't be of any help at all."

　With that said, I read it carefully from the first page.

　Reina didn't seem to have any objections either, and just like me, she lowered her gaze to the book.

　How much time has passed since then?

　The only sounds in the room were the sound of me turning the pages and the sound of the two of us breathing.

　By the time I finally finished reading the book, my whole body was already stiff.

"Hmm...mm..."

　Reina is on my lap, making a sudden noise.

　Perhaps because I had been in the same position for so long, every time I relaxed my muscles, I was letting out a loud voice, which was not good for my mental health.

　While remaining unresponsive, I decided to express my thoughts on dark attribute magic.

"...It's terrifying, dark attribute."

"...Yes. All of them were heinous and ignored human dignity."

　Dark attribute magic was so terrifying that I was embarrassed to think that if I used it, I could complete a lewd harem with hypnosis.

　The basis of dark attribute magic is that it primarily works on the target's mind.

　Taking over the other person's mind...so-called brainwashing.

　Another type of magic is to give an image of your own death directly to your brain, creating the illusion that you really have died.

　And the ultimate thing is...

"--[Possession Reincarnation]. If you can control the minds of others, does that mean your own mind is no problem?"

"Ah. I was wondering how you would do something impossible like transfer your mind to another body, but I never thought you would use dark attribute magic..."

　This is what Flone is trying to do.

　Magic that allows you to transfer your spirit to the body of another.

　Truly a reincarnation of the spirit.

　The most frightening thing of all is that the original spirit in the vessel will be overwritten and disappear from this world.

　He should be alive, but he's dead.

　He played with Reina's body with such terrifying magic because he just wanted her young body, and now he's targeting Mashiro.

　That fact alone made me feel angry.

　It's a trick that he can come up with and execute because he doesn't care about other people's lives.

　I shudder to think that I hadn't asked Alice and my father for Mashiro back then.

"The criteria for judging that person is simple. It's me or someone else. As long as you're good, it doesn't matter what happens to others."

"Maybe that's why I was able to do so well on the battlefield..."

　I'm sure he wasn't interested in the death of his allies or enemies.

　Then you won't feel bad.

　It feels good to just follow your own desires and kill your enemies.

"...Kukkuk. It seems like the person who first started praising Fronne as a hero didn't see her true nature."

"Not at all. He's not a hero. He's just a crazy monster."

　We agree.

　I don't know what kind of trick that monster will use.

　There's also the matter of Juke's invitation letter from earlier, so I need to be more careful and not let my guard down...

"Well, let's go back now. We'll continue tomorrow."

"That's right. I'm getting hungry because I used up all my concentration."

"Then let's adjust the menu so that today we'll mainly have meat that will give you strength. It's okay to have days like that once in a while."

"Good. I'm going to eat well today too."

　I leave the Forbidden Library with a pile of books so that I can resume work as soon as tomorrow.

　Just then, I saw my father walking toward me.

　He didn't seem to be panicking, but...I wonder what happened.

"Father, how have you been?"

"No, you didn't come back by dinner time, so I thought I'd go and talk to you. How was your harvest?"

"A little bit. But I can't say it's complete yet."

"I see.…By the way, both of you."

"What's wrong, father?"

"Um...did you two really enjoy it?"

"I haven't (I haven't)!"

　Reina and I's screams echoed in the underground passage.