Chapter 9: Planning
Chapter 9: Planning
~Mash B. POV~
As the twins showed me to the path of the mansion towards the dining room, I had to admit that everything was there. Much more than in my old home anyway.
Seeing the mansion was certainly a good experience to have since I never experienced having been invited into a big home before.
But I digress since when the twins finally lead me to Emilia is eating but I see the cat Puck playing with Beatrice the spirit. Let's see their levels… [Observe].
[Puck Lv.? Beast of the End]
[Beatrice Lv.? Great Spirit of the Forbidden Library]
Tch. That checks out on their strength in levels.
On the outside, Beatrice seemed like a lovely young girl around the age of eleven or twelve as her face was so sweet that Subaru believed no heart wouldn't melt at the sight of a genuine smile on the little spirit's adorable face.
Her large sky-blue eyes had pink butterfly patterns as their irises that may have denoted her relation to the Witch of Greed. Beatrice's pale cream-colored hair was worn long and tied into frilly vertical drill-shaped twin tails that acted like springs when pulled on. Most of the time, the Great Spirit of the Forbidden Library wore a pink frilly ornate dress with white trimmings and an exposed front that left her legs visible.
Her legs were completely covered by pink and purple vertically striped tights she had a petite crown sported on the right side of Beatrice's large head and she wore pink shoes with butterfly straps on her feet. Beatrice has a large pink ribbon adorned upon the left side of her waist and a pair of similar ribbons tied at the top of her twin tails.
As I entered the dining room everyone was enjoying their meals Emilia looked towards me with a smile on her face as she said happily, "Oh! Mash good morning I hope you are doing well today."
Smiling at her I took a seat where my food was as I replied to Emilia with a happy smile as Beatrice was playing with Puck, "Great honestly I had a time talking to Rem and Ram they are both professional maids the best I have seen and probably the only maids I ever seen."
Ram made a twitching sound of her lip seeing my jab from earlier still fresh from the morning.
Best moment of my life right there. Soon Rem started to speak professionally for my earlier comment, "Thank you very much guest for your humble words of gratitude."
Glancing over to Rem, I gave her a big smile as I told them both in a genuine tone, "No need you take your duties seriously from what I have seen, and your work is inspiring."
While I was buttering up the twins Ram took offense while Rem's eyes glint content. I took a glance at Beatrice and tilted my head a bit to see her.
Beatrice noticed my staring at her before ignoring my existence till I brought up about her race getting her attention in an obvious tone, "Say you're the one named Beatrice, correct? You aren't exactly a human, aren't you?"
Beatrice just simply plays with Puck as she responds to me in an arrogant tone, "Hmph! I see that you aren't blind for a human, I suppose."
Nodding my head to her I turned my attention over to Emilia and asked her a question in a curious tone, "Say Emilia I know this seems a bit rude, but can I ask when this Rosswaal person is coming because I don't want to surprise him into assuming that I was an invader."
However, that question was responded to Ram as she said to me in a blank voice, "Master Rosswaal-sama will arrive tomorrow night and since Emilia has agreed to help you train in the magic and language of our Kingdom, I'm afraid you must wait till the master has arrived before we can begin."
Nodding my head towards Ram I understand that really since this is Rosswaal's home after all better to not interfere with this as much until tomorrow.
With that in mind, I decided to ask the next question in a curious tone, "Alright then if that is the case is it ok for me to leave a bit outside the mansion, I'm quite curious where exactly am I?"
Emilia then asks me with her head tilted at my question a glint of curiosity in her eyes directed at me, "Hmm…? Are you positive that would be wise sir Mash, would you rather look around the mansion a bit I can guide you around if you like?"
Shaking my head to her I reply with my reason to her with a smile on my face as I explain to Emilia in a casual tone, "As much as I would like to honestly Emilia I'm afraid I'm going to decline it's just that I'm very excited to explore around the place but I bet the maids would be mad if I make a mess of the place. I don't want them to get in trouble if I break something when Rosswaal is not around. I should explore the outside of the mansion if you two don't mind?"
Rem was the next to respond to me in a monotone voice of her opinion, "There would be no problem at all Mash."
Ram was next to reply with her expression happy to match her tone of voice, "Yes it would be very troublesome if that were to happen so that is no problem at all. I hope much of your exploring."
Well, looks like Ram is happy to see me leave this place well then.
With that we all finished our meals as Emilia left for her usual spirit training or contracts, Beatrice left with Puck in her arms in joy, and the twins went off to clean the place and do the chores of the mansion.
As for me? I'm going to train away from them. Leave me room to think about what to do next. The clown won't be back till tomorrow… that leaves me one day before the clown would cause trouble for me.
Although I should be busy considering what I can do next. And that next being I need a companion with me for a ride against the Multiverse to find my home.
Even thinking that I need a home of my own to rest in between my journeys across the unknown. Placing my hand over the lower part of my face I began to ponder what else could I obtain from here…
Hmm… well there is that. The knowledge of the Forbidden Library. From my understanding, anyone or everyone in this world wants a piece of Beatrice or rather the knowledge contained in the Forbidden Library.
The Forbidden Library is a massive library built by the Witch of Greed to house her vast knowledge converted into Magical Books, exclusively in the old Roswaal Manor. Sometime before the Witch's demise, she installed Beatrice as the Library's keeper, until the arrival of 'That Person'.
Furthermore, before the Witch's demise, Echidna made a mechanism that would erase the knowledge from every book in the library, should Beatrice abandon her role as the Forbidden Library's librarian. This was done so people wouldn't kill Beatrice to get their hands on the infinite knowledge hidden in the Forbidden Library.
However, since Subaru isn't here to get Beatrice as his contract spirit… It would be a real shame if she was left alone and even in the story, she was a suicidal person only wanting death to return to her mother…
… Sigh I'm a poor sap for this kind of people. Well, it looks like it's decided. And I have the perfect place to put her in a place where she can safely keep my Gamer Ring.
I will get Beatrice to be my contract spirit! That and having company on the voyage beyond will do me some good. Having a good companion to help my spirits because God forbid, I'll become insane if I don't.
[+1 INT realizing you are a social creature!]
Point proven but fuck you!
But besides stating the obvious I'll have to use my future knowledge carefully. This is my only chance to catch Rosswaal by complete surprise.
Plus, I won't leave her alone in her fate it's just too sad honestly plus she can be someone who can assist me with magic-related issues I'll face in the future. I know as hell that I'm too dumb to solve a wizard formula.
But she won't come willingly unless I can convince her I'm the "They" or "That Person" in her gospel has been waiting for. Luckily, I have a solution for this dilemma that Beatrice is in.
Her Book of Wisdom is her weakness and strength. From my understanding of [Perfect Memory], I can recall this small piece of info.
400 years ago, Echidna gave Beatrice one of the two imperfect replicas of her Book of Wisdom. The Book's design was similar but wider, taller, and thicker than the defective Witch Cult's Gospel although this one was far more specific when it came to guiding the owner towards their desired path, resembling Echidna's very own, perfect Book of Wisdom more than the Witch Cult's Gospels.
Soon after Beatrice received the Book and locked herself in the Forbidden Library, her Book suddenly stopped showing new content, leaving Beatrice in the dark for centuries. At last, Subaru saved Beatrice from the burning library, in which, her Book of Wisdom was completely lost.
But I won't allow it to happen. Not when I have so much to gain… I must think smart about this. And most importantly it must be after 5 PM since Puck vanished during the fight with Elsa not giving her any room to concentrate her thoughts.
Immortal and knowledgeable as she is Beatrice has one flaw that every human has. That flaw is called emotions.
When his gone is when I'll make my move. Till then… my eyes linger to the outside of the backyard of Rosswaal's Mansion choosing this time to grind my skills.
/////
Heading to the backyard of the mansion I began to swing my katana up and down. I needed to train to become stronger.
*Shinng*
*Wooosh*
Stronger than even Reinhard. That won't happen immediately or possibly shortly, but I know when, but I'll get there one day.
*Shinng*
*Wooosh*
[<Sword Mastery> LEVEL UP!]
Remember every strike you deliver must be fast. Swift and clean. Strong but controlled. Do not lose your balance.
[+1 AGI increasing muscle movement!]
It's a death sentence on the battlefield. Aim with accuracy. Do not miss and display any openings no matter what. Use the ground to support you.
[<Style of the Undrawn Long Sword> LEVEL UP!]
[<Mugetsu-Style > LEVEL UP!]
Focus! Do not let your mind wander! Focus on the target! Clear your mind!
[+1 STR increasing your body strength!]
Your sword is a part of you! It is the extension of your limbs! Control it! Just control it like your hands and legs! It moves at your will!
Elsa… Reinhard… Rem… they're strong. Way above my level and many more to come. For that reason, I must grind or else I'll get squashed like a bug. But… I'm never giving up!
I must be smarter than the smarties and tougher than the toughies.