"This, doesn't seem quite right..."

Even though the books recorded it in great detail.

But Ronald was not satisfied with this result, even furrowing his brow tightly.

To be fair, the contents recorded in this book were very detailed, giving one a sense of having personally participated in the events of the past.

However, this final inference differed from the information Ronald had previously obtained using [Greed Sin] on Il.

Ronald wasn't someone with amnesia.

Just a day had passed, and he clearly remembered that Ile's symptoms should be [Magic Infection].

Even if the words [Magic Power] matched, the word [Infection] that followed should not appear with violent magic fluctuations.

"..."

The event that initially seemed clear now raised more questions.

Faced with this conflicting result, Ronald could only jot down the content and then continue reading the next set of materials.

The books documenting the changes in the mysterious aspects were different.

Or rather, they couldn't be called books at all.

It was a large collection of event investigation records, rolled into a bundle and stored in a cylinder. Ronald took it out, untied the rope, then organized the slightly chaotic pages before starting to flip through the disordered yet very detailed content.

It didn't take long for Ronald to sort out the form regarding this epidemic, with as many as three connected pages.

He then continued reading according to the order they were extracted.

These tables documenting the changes in mysterious aspects indeed offered Ronald a fresh perspective!

First, about a sea city.

A coastal metropolis established during the Magic Age, the Dark Age, [Lacrimort], was a well-known gathering place for casters, with countless prominent figures.

Even the previous Grand Mage Ormont was a caster born there.

However, long ago, when the people of that city were studying the essence of language and its relation to magic, a new disease began to spread among them.

And the symptoms back then were almost identical to the plague near this coastline!

The second page was the follow-up to that city.

Not long after the war to end the Dark Age, [Lacrimort] suddenly disappeared at sea. According to the limited exploration by several casters, the region's seas could not access the city; [Lacrimort], along with the island it sat on, and even the seabed, had been mysteriously erased!

The third page documented this epidemic.

Since it belonged to the eastern region of the Setting Sun Ocean, the investigators secretly documenting the city's disappearance believed there was a connection between the two incidents. It might even relate to the originals Lacrimort was researching at the time.

...

With the last useful material read.

Ronald organized the pages back to their original state, tied them with a rope, and stuffed them back into the cylinder.

"In that case... it seems the situation isn't all that bad."

"..."

Ronald sat at the table, stretching lazily, his expression finally relaxing a bit at this moment.

Through these materials, he had gained a fairly comprehensive understanding of this epidemic. While not completely grasping the entire truth, he had formed his own perspective on it.

What truly relaxed him was the confirmation of Il's condition.

In all recorded texts, anyone in history who had encountered similar issues, if they didn't die immediately, would continue to live normally afterward, with no aftereffects or trouble.

For Ronald, that was enough.

Even if the pandemic was related to the once-great Magic City or a runaway original text.

Ronald wasn't particularly concerned with these matters.

Because the purpose of this trip was to ensure Il was alright!

Clap, clap—

With a relaxed pat on his hands, Ronald finally looked at the bookshelf before him with a smile.

Now that Il's issue has been resolved.

So... isn't it time for him to enjoy himself?

Though only one day was left before the fleet would leave this port city, seizing the opportunity, Ronald could still satisfy his curiosity with newfound knowledge here.

That's right, Ronald couldn't resist anymore!

As a book lover, with the problem resolved and no other tasks left in this city, he had no reason to suppress his desire.

Having made up his mind.

Ronald immediately got up and walked to the entrance of the underground library.

He knocked gently on the door, attracting Taylor's attention, then revealed an apologetic smile:

"Mr. Taylor, I plan to continue reading here for a while. If someone comes looking for me and it isn't urgent, please could you turn them away?"

"Ah?" Hearing this, Taylor at the entrance was directly stunned.

—This was a situation he had never encountered before.

Based on his life experience and seeing Ronald's expression, he understood that this young man had likely found the needed content in the library and confirmed the situation.

Why did the other party want to stay in the library?

It can't really be just for reading, can it!

Thinking of this, Taylor couldn't help but ask:

"Mr. Ronald, is there something else troubling you?"

Facing Taylor's question, Ronald felt a bit guilty. But thinking of the abundant books behind him, he forced a smile:

"It's actually not a big issue."

"A few issues I encountered long ago have answers in these collections, so I want to read a little more."

"Mr. Taylor, I also don't plan to take the books out; using a little time shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"..."

Taylor was directly astonished by Ronald's statement.

He didn't expect that such a powerful original text holder could shamelessly say something like this!

But considering the other's power.

Taylor, already intending to build a good relationship with Ronald, naturally nodded in agreement:

"That's certainly not a problem."

"Then Mr. Ronald, I wish you to find the knowledge you seek here."

"..."

Next, Ronald returned to the library, continuing his reading.

Unfortunately, his happy reading time didn't last.

Just a couple of hours later, his attentive reading was abruptly disrupted by an incident.

Because right above the library, a very strong magic fluctuation occurred!

Snap—

Sitting in the underground library, Ronald immediately closed the book in his hand and walked out.

He was cheekily indulging in the library's collections here.

Now that something has happened in the library, Ronald plans to help handle it out of courtesy.