They are all characters I control.

We're all magicians, why aren't you playing by the rules? Why did you slap me? Shouldn't you have used magic?

The loud sound of a hand hitting a cheek startled the maid Anna, but she looked at the bookkeeper who was being slapped with a hint of envy.

Naturally, the maid Anna also knew very well who was controlling Lia's body at this moment.

[Lia: My Goddess of Guidance, isn't this a bit...?]

Claire: Shut up. If you want to learn more advanced magic, then shut up.

[Lia: Oh, oh.]

Although Lia suddenly lost control of her body and was now watching 'herself' do things that were completely out of character, she didn't feel anything.

There was no other reason than that the guiding god was helping him once again.

Regardless of Lia, the maid Anna, or the bookkeeper Ronan who had come to his senses but did not stop her, Claire walked straight to the bookshelf and unsealed the magic circle in the correct order.

However, Claire's method of breaking the seal earlier was incorrect.

Claire was quite surprised to see the defensive magic circle appear before her, while the maid Anna was unaware of what had happened.

Ronan, the bookkeeper, grinned and sneered.

“As I said, you were able to access those books last time because I wasn’t there, and I didn’t know that anyone knew the secrets of these forbidden books.”

"Now that I know, I naturally upgraded the protective magic circle."

"The current protective magic circle is more advanced than the last one. Any attempt to forcefully open the magic seal will be met with a counterattack, and forcibly breaking the seal will cause the forbidden book inside to self-immolate."

Ronan grinned arrogantly at the stunned 'Lia' in front of him.

These banned books are all his. This is not boasting or wishful thinking; Ronan truly has the key to unlock or lock these banned books.

"What should I do, Master? Do you need my help? I can act as a substitute. You can tell me what to do from behind and I'll do it."

Judging from 'Lia's' eyes and the slap she had just received, the maid Anna knew that the person in front of her was her 'master'.

Her intention was clearly to ask Claire whether or not to use harsh measures against the bookkeeper.

The maid didn't know any magic, but she had physical strength, and the slovenly man in front of her was even smaller and thinner than her.

[Lia: My God of Guidance, why is Anna so obedient to you? She seems to treat me even better than she does to me...]

"No need, I'm not an incompetent idiot." Claire ignored Leah's jealous remarks and also refused the maid Anna's offer of help.

Anna was worried that the magic circle's counterattack would hurt Claire.

Little did she know that the magical seals on these bookshelves containing forbidden books were something he had personally set up years ago.

This magic seal is not an ordinary magic seal. In fact, magic circles also contain some mathematical and geometric elements. As long as you have some basic knowledge, programmers are very good at constructing and improving new magic circles.

The magic circle in front of us is the one Claire improved upon back then; it's unique.

The reason for placing such a magic circle on this forbidden book shelf is to prevent the church members from being wiped out all at once.

Claire was speechless, never expecting that someone would use it to show off.

“You’re not the first idiot to try to force open the forbidden bookshelf…” Ronan, the book guardian, was still smugly showing off.

But as soon as he finished speaking, a surge of magical energy accompanied Claire's jigsaw puzzle-like movements.

The magic circle has been deactivated.

The colorful covers on the bookshelf faded like a phantom, gradually disappearing to reveal their original appearance.

[Upgrade Spells for Fire Magic] [Knights' Formation Tips] [The Swordsmanship Notes of a Hundred-Battle Knight]...

Real magic books are quietly arranged on the bookshelf.

Ronan's pupils contracted sharply.

"You...how could you..."

Claire turned around and looked at the shocked, distorted face, feeling utterly bored.

He didn't bother to explain, but instead glanced at the figure entering through the library entrance before relinquishing control of Lia's body.

In the blink of an eye, Lia regained control of her body.

[Lia: Guiding God, what magic should I learn next? Why did you go back so soon?]

[Claire: ...You're addicted to being controlled?]

[Lia: No? I thought the God of Guidance would help me choose a spellbook like last time.]

Claire: Someone will help you choose.

[Lia: Who? Anna? Or is it this Ronan...?]

Before Leah could finish sending Claire her message, a captivating fragrance wafted over.

"Miss Liya, so you've been here all along."

The Earl of Orlando has arrived.

Chapter 72 Please Select Skill

Just as Lia was wondering why the 'God of Guidance' didn't choose a magic book for her...

Accompanied by a captivating fragrance, a tall, slender figure walked up to Lia's side.

Tall and slender, with amber-colored almond-shaped eyes and a signature languid smile, the newcomer was none other than Earl Orlando.

"Miss Liya, so you've been here all along."

Earl Orlando's gaze swept over the row of bookshelves that had been unsealed, then landed on Ronan, who stood beside them in a daze, as if a good show had been brewing beforehand.

“Count!” Lia exclaimed in surprise.

This was the first time she had personally taken control of her body and spoken face-to-face with Earl Orlando, who had revealed his identity, so she was naturally a little excited.

Earl Orlando walked to her side and gently ruffled her hair.

This intimate gesture startled Lia, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

To outsiders, it looked like the philandering count was about to ruin another young lady's life, but little did they know that it was the aunt patting her niece's head.

"Looking for books? Then you've come to the right place. Coming to Ronan's place is the best choice." Count Orlando's voice was gentle and casual as she looked at her niece with concern.

"What do you want to learn? The magic you know before is still too low-level; it'll be a problem to defeat your opponents."

"I...I want to learn some more advanced magic," Lia replied shyly, "like rune inscriptions."

"Hehe, isn't that guy who's fighting you for the body going to help you choose?" Count Orlando smiled as he looked at Leah, but he was actually looking for Claire.

Although it is Lia herself who is in control of the body at this moment, the other 'Lia' will naturally not disappear.

"The God of Guidance said that the Earl can give me advice."

Lia said honestly.

"Hehehe, then I've really been trusted. But he's quite wise, isn't he?" Count Orlando smirked smugly, turning like a proud peacock as he walked toward the bookshelf.

Lia's gaze followed Count Orlando's long, slender fingers as they traced across the magic books on the bookshelf, their disguises removed.

"For rune engraving, this book, [Intermediate Rune Construction], and this book, [Introduction to Compound Engraving], are suitable for your current level."

"Intermediate runes are more powerful and come in many varieties, while composite runes are runes that combine two types of magic into one, making them more powerful than runes of a single attribute."

"Also, I would recommend that you learn some concise and effective mental magic..."

Just as Count Orlando was about to pull out a book of mental magic, Lia quickly interrupted him.

"My lord, I don't need to learn mental magic anymore, do I?"

Why do both the guiding god and the count want to learn mental magic?

How terrifying is mental magic? It can directly affect the opponent's mind.

This kind of magic is purely for tormenting people.

"Lia, you really are kind." Count Orlando looked at Lia with a hint of helplessness, knowing her niece's personality very well.

"Since you don't want to be aggressive, you can learn other mental magic. Not all mental magic is very aggressive."

Earl Orlando pondered for a moment, then took a book of mental magic from the bookshelf and handed it to Leah, saying, "This 'Touch of Soothing' is not offensive; it's a supportive mental magic used to calm emotions and eliminate fear."

"This isn't just something you can use on others; you can use it on yourself too. I think that suits your personality?"

Given Lia's current state of mind, Earl Orlando felt it would be very difficult for her to directly learn more aggressive mental magic.

To eliminate her prejudice against mental magic and to help her gradually shed her naive personality, it would be better to let her learn this kind of auxiliary mental magic.

The fate of the Rost family is already sealed. Not only herself, but also another 'Lia' wants to bring down the Rost family, but it would be a waste to squander the Rost family's marquis title.

Who will inherit this marquisate? Of course, it will be Lia.

Therefore, Earl Orlando decided to slowly cultivate Leah's personality.

Sure enough, Lia's eyes lit up when she heard that it could soothe emotions and eliminate fear.

"Thank you, Your Excellency!" Lia said happily as she accepted the third magic book.

Earl Orlando smiled and then turned to the maid standing to the side.

"And you? What did you study?"

Anna was taken aback, not expecting the high and mighty count to ask her such a question.

"I...I'm just a maid..."

“Even maids can learn something,” Earl Orlando interrupted her, glancing at the bookshelf before pulling out two books and handing them to her.

"This book, [Basic Knight Swordsmanship], and this book, [Warrior Breathing Technique], are suitable for people without magical talent. That way, you won't have to rely on Lia to take the hit for you next time you're attacked."

Anna took the book and looked at Leah.

Leah nodded vigorously: "Learn! Anna, you have to learn too!"

Anna paused for a second, then nodded as she looked at the two skill books in her hands.

After selecting skill books for Lia and Anna, Count Orlando turned to look at another person present.

On the side, the bookkeeper Ronan stood rooted to the spot like a wooden stake the whole time.

His gaze was fixed on the books that had been taken away, and then on Liya, his expression indescribably complex.

Earl Orlando looked at Ronan before him, a playful smile curving his lips.

"It's rare for you to be so generous, actually opening the seal and letting people pick any book they want." Her tone was clearly teasing. "Back then, it took me a lot of effort to be able to read a book once or twice."

Ronan, the keeper of the books, did not answer.

He just stared at Lia, his cloudy eyes filled with emptiness.

Earl Orlando, somewhat puzzled, asked Leah, "What's wrong with him?"

"The God of Guidance just broke the seal on this bookshelf, and that's how he ended up like this."

Lia looked completely innocent. If anything, it was related to the 'God of Guidance' slapping Ronan.

However, Leah still didn't tell Earl Orlando, because she also felt that Ronan's previous actions were excessive.

He insisted on taking what wasn't his, and even said that he couldn't look at it without permission, and he kept mocking Lia's background whenever they met.

“You opened it?” Earl Orlando was taken aback. “I see.”

Then he laughed, a very happy laugh.

She looked at Ronan, her eyes filled with a mixture of sympathy and schadenfreude.

After her, someone else was "persecuted" by 'Lia'. How could Earl Orlando not be happy? The more unfortunate souls there were, the more it proved how correct her choice to cooperate with 'Lia' was.

"Never mind him, this guy's Dao heart is probably shattered now."

“Let’s go sit down over there and learn from these magic books. Let Ronan stand here and continue to daydream.”

After saying that, Count Orlando pushed Leah toward a seat in the library.

Lia turned around and glanced at Ronan a few more times.

Ronan still stood there blankly, looking completely lost, like a scarecrow.

Chapter 73 He went mad after reading Claire's book.