Chapter 2. Greedy Grimoire

The library was just a couple of minutes' walk from Professor Vince's office. As I approached the shabby door, the smell of old paper and bookshelves tickled my nose. It was a pleasant scent that had become almost familiar to me.

Through the partially open door, I was greeted by an empty library hall. Just as I expected. The scene was almost always the same: tall, standalone bookshelves completely filled with books. Of course, this was not the most popular place among students, and even professors didn't come here very often. So it became the perfect place for a loner like me: quiet, peaceful, and isolating.

Of course, looking at this situation from the outside, there is a desire to curse: how is it possible that magicians do not read magical books? But as paradoxical as it may sound, these are the realities of the magical world.

Most of the books gathered here presented complex concepts that professors tried to convey to their students in a simpler form during classes, and often that was enough. Moreover, at the beginning of each academic year, all students were given the books they needed, which were much simpler and easier to understand. And young magicians themselves did not learn too complex spells that required additional study of theoretical material in the library.

Almost all the books gathered here are written in a strict scientific style, which makes it extremely difficult to understand them without a solid foundation. What can I say, magical theory is my area of expertise, no matter how useless it may turn out to be in the end. I mocked my own incompetence as I walked past familiar rows of bookshelves.

Every single day for four years, I devoted all my efforts to studying. It's funny how my brain didn't consider it stressful and absorbed knowledge like a sponge absorbs water. But in the end, the only thing I achieved was the ability to find any necessary book with my eyes closed.

Perhaps today I will take a look at manuals on creating magic circles. I remember everything written in them, but I might have missed something.

Taking the necessary books, I headed to the reading area, when suddenly something completely unexpected happened. I saw a thin book with a black cover falling from the sky, its pages flipping colorfully as it flew. In that moment, my brain couldn't fully comprehend what it was seeing, but one thing I knew for sure:

This plot is from an entirely different anime.

I only came to my senses when the book fell on the ground a meter away from me and the world around me returned to its familiar flow of time. Let's be honest, when something like this happens to you, an unprecedented interest is awakened, but after a couple of seconds, equally strong wariness sets in. Besides, I was still a wizard, albeit weak, but not lacking in intelligence. Therefore, to avoid any extraordinary situations, it was decided not to touch the book and analyze what had happened for now.

Taking this book, will I see the gods of death?

My thoughts are cluttered only with references to "Death Note," something needs to be done about this. With a good knowledge of Magic and many other things related to it, one can conclude that it is not a cursed grimoire or demonic writing, as I am still not turned to dust. Although this thing may be associated with demons. After all, it is not uncommon for desperate people to receive such an invitation from demons for tea... That is, it could be a demonic contract, albeit in a very specific form.

Why am I acting like a virgin before my first date? I already know that if this were an "evil" book, I wouldn't be standing here with my level of power. So what do I have to lose, even if it is a demonic contract?

Perhaps it's because I have to go back to the repeat course again, but I reached out my left hand for the book. And as soon as I picked up this strange "package," I felt a strange sensation. It felt like I had put my hand in a barrel of sticky syrup, or like I was shaking hands with some formless slippery palm.

...And I also had the feeling that I had put my hand in the mouth of something alive.

*smack*

"Oh, crap!"

Quickly withdrawing my hand, I panicked and took a couple of steps back, leaning against the neighboring bookshelf. Taking a few deep breaths, I looked back to where the strange book had been, but there was nothing there anymore.

What's going on? I whispered in confusion.

It was some completely inexplicable phenomenon. Was it some kind of hallucination? However, I still felt that horrible stickiness on my palm. I cautiously touched my left hand. To the touch, the palm was dry, completely devoid of any signs of moisture or slime. This made me even more uncomfortable because I still felt something slimy on my left palm.

Is it really a hallucination? But I saw that tattered book with my own eyes, I muttered and sank to the floor. "And, in general, why would someone want to play a prank on me like this? ... Although, that's a stupid question. Who wouldn't want to make fun of a "freak" like me...

Maybe I should just leave this year after all?

It was better than a shameful expulsion. After spending four years in the academy hoping to become a mage, I had not achieved anything. Maybe it's time to give up... Take a break from such a lifestyle. Enjoy life in the end...

Who am I kidding? I won't be able to leave this.

At that moment...

*smack*

Suddenly, my left hand felt a strange sensation again. And it was slippery and sticky once again... The hallucination that tickled my palm appeared again!

I instinctively looked at my left hand, which was touching the floor, and saw something shocking.

... A tongue!?

A tongue was sticking out of my palm. It had a smooth pink surface and was a real long piece of flesh that looked like it was taken from some reptile. The tongue popped out of a hole in the middle of my palm and shook like a snake before eating.

It slowly swayed from side to side.

*smack*

Like a frog catching a fly, it grabbed the nearest book that was lying on a nearby shelf. Its speed was so fast that I didn't even notice its blurry image. The tongue completely wrapped around the book.

What happened next even the most experienced wizard couldn't predict. The tongue, holding its prey, began to return to the hole in the palm.

*squelch*

A piercing sound was heard. The book, which had been peacefully lying on the shelf a second ago, suddenly disappeared into my left hand.

I stared in shock at my left hand. However, the book swallowed by the palm did not reappear. Instead, I heard a voice. A voice with a strange tone that I had never heard before.

[You have swallowed 'Lightning Magic Handbook'.]

[Your understanding of the book is very high.]

[You have learned Lightning Strike of the 2nd Circle.]

[Awakened from a long sleep, Gluttony was very hungry.]

[Hurry up and feed her.]

[Remaining time: 10 minutes, (1/5).]

What the...

I didn't even have time to finish my sentence when new knowledge started flooding my mind in waves. The amount of information was so vast that it simply couldn't be processed by all five human senses. It was like gaining experience that would normally accumulate over several years.

At the same time, I felt that I had a complete understanding of how to use the "Lightning Strike" spell. I didn't just learn the mechanics, I acquired the wisdom of the author himself [Manual of Lightning Magic].

"...Lightning Strike."

Without hesitation, I extended my hand and activated the spell. Countless precise calculations were made in less than a second, and the realization of what would happen was vividly "etched" in my mind. Numerous magical formulas intertwined, forming a complex magical circle around my palm.

On any other day, the only thing that would have been created was a feeble imitation of an electric spark, but this time was different. A bluish electric discharge shot straight out the window. The image I visualized in my mind was fully realized. The lightning struck a tree, causing the leaves on one of its branches to immediately darken and crack. If this spell hit a living being, it could have been very dangerous.

This isn't a hallucination... I finally managed to create second circle magic! I was so happy that I even bit my tongue to make sure it wasn't a dream.

However, the sudden pain, the taste of iron in my mouth, and the sweat on my palms from shock made me believe that all of this was real. A mage devoid of sensitivity and magical power could achieve something greater than just languishing under the weight of his regrets... And all thanks to that book...

It all started when I discovered an unidentified book. Then it 'absorbed' into my hand. Next, a long tongue appeared from my palm, which grabbed and swallowed [Manual of Lightning Magic] from the shelf. As a result, I completely mastered the technique of using Lightning Strike... No, there was something else before that. The voice.

Remembering the words I heard, I focused on the not-so-important first three lines. Absorbing the book and learning Lightning Strike were secondary information.

"Gluttony...?" I muttered involuntarily.

To my great surprise, the spoken word immediately led to a reaction. A hole appeared in my left palm, and a red tongue flew out of it. Moreover, teeth and even lips could be seen in the hole. I carefully examined my palm, trying not to be scared or amazed by this phenomenon.

I wanted to find out if this mouth could speak. However, the answer came from a completely unexpected source - that strange voice sounded in my head again.

[Glattony is hungry. If you want to talk to Glattony, relieve her suffering.]

[To satisfy Glattony, you need to feed her four more times. Remaining time: 6 minutes 24 seconds.]

[Glattony is a grimoire whose roots date back to an era long erased from chronicles and handbooks.]

[The grimoire increases its power by consuming magical items. Books are Glattony's favorite food.]

[By providing food to Glattony, its owner can also benefit.]

[However, if the desires of the grimoire are ignored, Glattony will begin to treat its owner as food.]

"I cannot become dinner for a book... can I?"