Fantasy Library.

Chapter 448 Not a Free Laborer

A corridor in the high school building of Saikai Gakuen.

As Aize caught up with Nangong Nayue and was about to call out to her, a lace fan was flung at him first, pointing at his head.

“If you dare to add the word ‘酱’ after your homeroom teacher’s name again, I’ll cancel your vacation.”

Nangong Nayue held up her lace fan, pointed it at Aize's nose, and gave him a stern warning.

"Fine, fine, I won't say it anymore, okay?" Aize raised his hands in a gesture of surrender and said, "Everyone calls me that, I'm just following the crowd, why are you targeting me?"

“I’m targeting all brats who dare to call me that.” Nangong Nayue snorted coldly and said, “As for you, you’re just trying to steal my business. Being called that by you only makes me feel like I’m being looked down upon.”

"Who would dare to underestimate you, Nangong Nayue?" Aize curled his lip and said, "Even the three saints of the Lion King Organization probably wouldn't dare to underestimate the legendary [Witch of the Gap], right?"

While the Three Saints are undoubtedly the strongest magic users among humans, Nangong Nayue is no less formidable.

Although he is currently just an instructor in a demon-controlled special zone, in Europe, he is a ruthless individual who has earned a reputation as a demon assassin and managed to escape unscathed.

That place is the territory of the War King, which can be said to be the stronghold of vampires and most of the demons. To be able to act recklessly in such a place and still be able to escape unscathed, and even live such a comfortable and carefree life, is enough to show that Nangong Nayue is no ordinary person.

Fortunately, Nangong Nayue has been content to stay in her secluded corner of Itogami Island; otherwise, she might well have been a contender for the title of the strongest human mage.

Otherwise, this person wouldn't have so readily referred to someone as "snake charmer" as someone as close to the True Ancestor as Vatra.

It's safe to say that even if Vatra were to actually fight Nagaku Nagaku, it's still uncertain whether he would gain the upper hand.

This shows just how extraordinary Nangong Nayue is.

However, I am arrogant and have no interest in those so-called empty titles.

"You came all this way just to flatter me?" Nangong Nayue glanced at Aize and said, "Just say what you need to say, I have work to do."

Upon hearing this, Aize smiled and uttered a single word.

"LCO".

When the word reached Nangong Nayue's ears, the impatient homeroom teacher froze on the spot.

"...Where did you hear about this?"

Nangong Nayue's tone changed, and her attitude became extremely thorough, causing the relaxed atmosphere around them to change, becoming both tense and heavy.

In contrast, Aize remained as casual as ever.

"Come on, I'm an agent of the Lion King Organization, how could I not know about the existence of such a world-renowned criminal organization?"

Aize said this quite calmly.

LCO, short for "Library of Criminal Organization," commonly known as "The Library," is, as Aize stated, a world-renowned and massive criminal organization, a force composed solely of high-ranking mages and witches.

In this world, there is a type of book known as the Book of Magic.

It is a magical book used to record all sorts of mysteries, such as magic spells, procedures for magic rituals, and methods for controlling spirits.

These enchanted books, used to record magical spells, procedures for magical rituals, or methods for controlling spirits and other mysteries, became tainted with mystery and gained power in the process of accumulating vast amounts of knowledge. Ultimately, without exception, they all became tools capable of bringing great calamity and granting readers powers beyond human comprehension.

Therefore, those who seek the path of magic, without exception, begin to pursue magic books that can grant them knowledge, wisdom, and even power.

However, only a few people can truly understand the Mage's teachings and bring the accumulated immense magical power under their control.

Therefore, throughout the history of this world, countless researchers have perished because of their failures in manipulating, reading, and using grimoires.

The serious consequences of improper manipulation, reading, and use of grimoires can even affect the surrounding environment. If a powerful grimoire goes out of control, the calamities it releases can destroy several cities and corrupt the souls of tens or hundreds of thousands of people.

Therefore, many mages and witches were worried about this, and Ice created LCO—an organization known as the "Library".

They collect grimoires from all over the world, strictly categorize them according to their intended use, and seal them away, lending the books only to chosen individuals so that those who are qualified can use them.

Gradually, however, they began to use magic books not to develop magic, nor to protect the peace of the world, but only to satisfy their own curiosity and desires. In the end, they became a group of magic researchers who acted recklessly and only cared about themselves.

The library, which houses thousands of people and is named for its vast collection of magical books, has committed numerous large-scale magical incidents, causing suffering to many families and even cities, with countless victims.

As a national anti-crime officer, one should certainly be aware of such an international criminal organization.

but……

"You suddenly brought up these guys, surely not just to make fun of me?" Nangong Nayue said coldly, "Speak, what do you know?"

Hearing Nangong Nayue's feigned indifference, Aize smiled. "It is said that many years ago, Itogami Island experienced a magical crime incident." Aize said as if talking to himself, "The mastermind behind the incident was the Grand Librarian of LCO, who was not only a famous witch, but also carried an extremely powerful, even terrifying, grimoire."

Nangong Nayue remained silent, but tightened her grip on the lace fan slightly.

The term "witch" does not actually refer to human magicians or sorcerers, but rather to a group of women who have made pacts with demons.

They usually have desires they want to fulfill, and in order to achieve their desires, they decide to make a pact with a demon.

After forming a pact with a demon, they will be able to manipulate magic power that rivals that of high-ranking demons. Their magical skills and techniques will reach a level that even the highest-ranking mages can easily surpass, and some will even possess special abilities.

Therefore, they are anomalies among humans, anomalies among anomalies, and fearsome, demonic women.

Of course, this doesn't come without a price.

By making a pact with a demon and gaining the power to fulfill their desires, they also pay an equal price.

The price is not fixed. It may be that a certain goal must be achieved, or a certain accomplishment must be made. It may even require sacrificing the blood of a loved one, paying the price with the life of another, and living in pain for a lifetime.

Therefore, after making a pact with the demon, the witches will also serve as the demon's familiars, who are both the source of the witch's power and her monitor. While protecting the witch who is their host, if any witch intends to break the pact, the demon will become the executioner who will take the witch's life and kill her.

A witch is someone who, in order to achieve her own desires, is willing to sacrifice her freedom and soul, and is thus granted power by the devil.

【The Witch of the Gap】—this title is both a compliment to Nangong Nayue and a symbol of her true identity.

Yes.

Nangong Nayue is a genuine witch.

Therefore, she knew better than anyone how much the events Aize mentioned were related to her.

Is that what you mean?

As if knowing what Aize was about to say, Nangong Nayue looked at him and spoke expressionlessly.

"In order to rescue the organization's top executives and retrieve that precious grimoire, the library has set its sights on Itogami Island?"

It must be said that Nangong Nayue was very perceptive and immediately grasped the meaning behind Aize's words.

"That Grand Librarian, wasn't it you who captured him back then, Teacher Nangong?" Aize said. "And that powerful grimoire is also in your possession, isn't it?"

Nangong Nayue understood the implication once again.

"So that's how it is. The target isn't Itogami Island, but me?"

Nangong Nayue remained expressionless, yet exuded a chilling aura.

"If those people are planning something, then this Haruin Festival should be a good opportunity, right?"

Aize's pointed remark made Nangong Nayue click her tongue in surprise.

"So you were being so kind as to come and remind me, but you were planning to use me as a laborer?"

Nangong Nayue's displeasure was now completely undisguised.

"I just wanted to tell Teacher Nangong that I'm not the only one who can cause trouble, you know?" Aize spread his hands, feigning innocence, and said, "Teacher, you know what to do so that your students can have a pleasant holiday, right?"

This is a subtle way of telling Nangong Nayue that if she doesn't want to get involved in strange events and cause trouble, then she should step in and solve the problems herself.

To avoid getting involved and causing a huge mess when things actually go wrong.

Aize originally wanted to take action himself, but since Nangong Nayue was bothering him so much, he naturally didn't want to be a free laborer anymore.

So he laid his cards on the table, telling Nangong Nayue to handle it herself and find her something to do so she wouldn't always be watching him and making things difficult for her.

"You guy..."

Nangong Nayue raised her lace fan, seemingly preparing to tap him on the head.

But Aize had anticipated this and slipped away without a trace, leaving Nangong Nayue with nowhere to vent her anger.

Thinking about what Aize had told her, Nangong Nayue couldn't help but feel a surge of anger.

"The library... what a troublesome thing."

It seems I really need to pay attention and make some arrangements.

(End of this chapter)