Chapter 48
“Yes, Noona”
Of course, anyone with a verified ID could enter the library.
But to access the restricted archives or use it until dawn, you needed an official’s permit.
And Derrick Musket sunbae was the one who helped me get that important permission.
Since it had been a while since we met, I sat with Derrick in front of the fountain to catch up.
As I excitedly talked about life in Elche, I asked him about his own recent life.
“How’s work at the Knight Administrative Office?”
Derrick didn’t respond—he just gave me a bitter look.
“Is it really busy?”
He explained with a gloomy expression. It wasn’t just the workload—it was the hierarchy and all the old-school “back in my day” types that made it hard.
Trying to lighten the mood, I said something positive.
“Well, at least the future prospects are good, right?”
It’s true. Being in the Knight Office meant stability and recognition in the Empire.
“Prospects? Oh, sure…”
Derrick seemed to agree.
“It’s true, the view is great from the top floors. I guess that’s the only good thing.”
“…?”
We were clearly talking about two different things.
“No, I meant career prospects.”
“Huh?”
After a few seconds, Derrick finally understood me.
“Ahh…”
He didn’t even bother correcting himself and just laughed.
Watching his embarrassed laugh, I couldn’t help but laugh too.
So, Derrick and I just kept laughing together for a while.
Late at Night – In the Royal Library
The night grew deeper.
I had flipped through every book I needed, and now I slumped over the wide wooden desk, exhausted.
Running all over the giant library had worn me out.
“Ugh…”
What I was searching for were methods to eliminate summoned beasts.
Roitz’s beast, Necroquad, was close to a summoned creature.
In most cases, summoned beasts have a core, or “mana nucleus,” embedded into an object—this is the source of their life force.
‘In Necroquad’s rare case, that core is embedded inside Roitz’s body.’
To destroy such a summoned beast, you must destroy its mana core using a special weapon—which isn’t easy.
And with Necroquad, the difficulty was multiplied several times.
Why? Because the mana core was inside Roitz.
Rubbing my tired eyes, I stood up again.
‘Focus. Time is short!’
The night was short, and I had much to do.
The Next Morning – After a Sleepless Night
The knights were busy again with training.
“Serdin, you look dead. Didn’t sleep?”
My classmate Aaron glanced at me.
I just nodded.
“Aaron, at least say thank you.”
“Thanks.”
“Not that you know why.”
Last night, I had finally finished drawing up a rough plan to defeat the demonic beast.
In the original story, Aaron loses an arm to Necroquad.
So, if my plan succeeds—I’m saving his arm too.
I blankly watched the knights training and mentally reviewed the plan.
The key issue was:
‘How do I lure Necroquad out of Roitz’s body?’
To destroy the beast, I had to destroy its mana core.
But the core was inside Roitz. So getting it out was critical.
Summoned beasts can move within a short distance from their host. But if they go too far—
‘The mana core pops out along with them.’
Meaning, if I could lure the beast out far enough—it would drag the core with it.
The problem?
Necroquad lives off Roitz’s mana. It’s like air to it.
‘It wouldn’t willingly leave Roitz. It’d be like a fish jumping out of water on its own.’
In the original story, Lucike used a light technique that made Necroquad leave Roitz on its own.
‘That was a total heroine buff moment.’
But I couldn’t rely on such miracles.
So, instead of sunlight, I needed to act like the wind—coax it out and pin it down.
And luckily, I found something last night.
Two tools:
Choro Incense – a scent that detaches a summoned core from the host
Dagger of Light – a weapon strong enough to destroy that core
‘Choro Incense is like a drug to monsters—draws them in and holds them.’
But it wasn’t sold in stores anymore due to frequent misuse.
‘If I can’t buy it, I’ll just make it myself.’
The Choro grass grows near a lakeside forest near the capital.
Not easy, but doable.
‘Once I separate the core using the incense… I’ll strike it with the Dagger of Light.’
The dagger is stored in the sacred relic vault—easy to get somehow.
‘Okay, it’s doable!’
Not a perfect plan, but that’s what real plans are—constantly adjusted in action.
All I needed now was to collect the materials.
Later That Afternoon – Sneaking Out
During joint training with Kaela Knights…
“Ugh…”
“You okay, Serdin?”
“My stomach hurts… Can I head back early today?”
On the way to dinner after training, I faked a stomachache to slip away.
Roitz looked like he might follow, but I gave him a pained look—so thankfully, Lizzie and Enia pulled him away.
Once they were out of sight, I ran toward Kadel Forest.
The training ground was nearby—perfect chance.
I entered the forest through a small hiking trail. Leaving the main path, I reached the wild, overgrown part.
Walking through dew-covered grass, I followed the wind’s direction.
Soon, the Choro grass patch appeared.
‘You ban this stuff but don’t even block the field? Not very effective policy.’
Still, lucky for me.
“Here it is!”
I crouched down and started picking the grass like I was harvesting mugwort.
‘Let’s gather a bunch—doesn’t produce much scent per bundle.’
Humming to myself, I was happily gathering when suddenly—
A sharp wind blew.
“……!”
Feeling something off, I jerked my head aside.
A sword came flying down and stabbed the ground next to me.
‘Not wind. A real sword?!’
I jumped up and looked up.
There was a figure standing in the leafy shadows.
A handsome man with silver hair and purple eyes, staring down at me against the sunlight.
His uniform was that of a Kaela trainee knight—and he looked vaguely familiar.
He pointed at the sword next to me.
“Could you pass that up? Wind knocked it from my hand.”
Never mind his looks—his manners were the issue.
‘I almost died, and he doesn’t even apologize? Did he drop his decency with the sword?’
I picked up the sword. And pointed it like I might throw it back at him.
He just laughed.
“Not like that. Could you be a little gentler?”
“If you want gentleness, start with some basic manners.”
“Manners?”
He grinned mischievously.
Wait—silver hair, purple eyes, that smirk…
He looked really familiar.
“So, what were you doing down there?”
“Huh?”
He looked at the Choro grass in my hand.
I quickly stuffed it in my bag.
“The grass looked pretty.”
“Pretty enough to pick that much?”
My bag was stuffed—more like building a whole garden than admiring a flower.
“I’m greedy. Anyway, who even are you?”
“Sword first, please?”
“Manners first, I said.”
“Okay, Noona.”
“……”
“Wait… You’re not Noona?”
