Grand Library Pleiades.
That was the official name of the tower, spoken by
She didn't seem the type to come up with such a scholarly term on her own, so she had probably been taught it by her "master" — the one who had commanded Shaula to manage the tower.
And for four hundred years, Shaula had faithfully memorized every word and every explanation she'd been taught, only finally getting to display them at that moment.
And now — "— Grand Library Pleiades, and within it, the repository of the 'Books of the Dead' known as Taigeta."
Spreading both arms wide, Ezzo stood before row upon row of bookshelves stretching out behind him. The shelves were arranged in concentric circles around the central staircase descending from the four lower floors, and there were row after row — dozens of rows — of them.
Even factoring in the considerable circumference of the
"That's nothing impossible with Yin magic. Though constructing a formula that remains intact for centuries without even a caster is beyond human capability,"
As a Great Spirit of the Yin attribute, Beatrice would naturally feel uneasy sensing the advanced magic woven into the tower.
In any case — "— — —"
The first-timers — Garfiel and Petra — stood mouths agape, wide-eyed in stunned silence at the sheer number of bookshelves — no, at the books they contained, the Books of the Dead.
That was only natural. When Subaru had first learned the true nature of the books in Taigeta, even though he could understand it logically, he had been struck speechless by the overwhelming sense of the countless dead.
"Is all of this... books of people who... died?"
Petra murmured, voice small with astonishment.
Seeing her dazed, distant-eyed reaction, Subaru thought it was only natural. Petra had grown remarkably composed lately, displaying maturity beyond her years in all sorts of situations — she'd even handled the Sand Time that tormented so many who challenged the Augria Dunes with brisk efficiency.
But Taigeta possessed an alien quality that could unsettle even that Petra.
"— !"
She swallowed hard, eyes slowly sweeping the vast library.
For Garfiel, too. Among the group, he and
And having just witnessed the army of corpses in the Vollachian Empire — literally seeing the mass resurrection and re-death of the dead — that fresh memory might have amplified the feeling.
Petra's and Garfiel's reactions were concerning to Subaru, certainly. But the person he was most worried about was someone else who was visiting for the first time, and who had a reason for coming — "— — —"
Al let out a small breath, craning his neck to peer into the library.
His astonishment was more subdued than Petra's, and his slow survey was more languid than Garfiel's — and precisely because of that, there was a tension about him.
Even Subaru, looking at that figure, felt his mouth go dry and hesitation welling up within him.
But during that hesitation — "Can't read it."
Al had casually walked up to one of the shelves, and in a natural motion, pulled out a book, propping it open on his elbow with practiced ease.
His movements were so free of hesitation, so natural, that Subaru's startled reaction came a beat too late.
"W-wait, wait, wait! Don't just dive in like that! You'll give me a heart attack!"
"Hmm... ah, sorry. When it's right in front of me, I just..."
"Isn't it scarier to dive into something unknown like that?!"
As he spoke, Subaru hurriedly snatched the book from Al's hands.
He was shocked by Al's decisive action, and at the same time was painfully reminded of how precarious Al was. Throughout their journey, Al had never shown it overtly, but his desperate yearning to find the written word was plain.
Subaru wanted to understand. But he couldn't exactly let Al's recklessness slide.
"We talked about this, remember? The books here are, like, way more overwhelming than you're imagining. I almost became Mei Li."
"What kind of joke is that?! Don't say scary things like that!"
Meili protested at having her name used as an example, but this was no joke of Subaru's — it was the terrible, visceral reality that the Books of the Dead carried.
In a previous loop where Mei Li had lost her life, Subaru had read Mei Li's Book of the Dead, putting enormous strain on his psyche and soaking so deeply into her life that he housed within himself a Mei Li who didn't exist.
Honestly, given the warmth and affection Subaru felt toward her, it was hard to say the Book of the Dead had no influence at all. If people grew fond of others through empathy and understanding, then the Books of the Dead were the ultimate matchmaker.
Though, under normal circumstances, the opportunity to reunite with a deceased person while still alive would never arise — such a development could only happen to Subaru.
"So handle it carefully. You might end up losing yourself."
"Losing myself, huh... In a way, maybe that's what I want."
"Al..."
"Just kidding. A joke so lame it's not even funny."
The self-destructive tinge in Al's words made Subaru's jaw tighten.
He had brought Al to the tower hoping it might give him a foothold to recover. But now he was growing increasingly worried that it would do the opposite — not a quick fix, but a way to deepen the wound.
"Just as Natsuki-sama counseled moments ago. Regardless of whether Al-sama's carelessness has already been addressed, I must ask both Garfiel-sama and Miss Petra to be very careful as well. Carelessly absorbing the influence of these books could leave wounds on the heart that never heal."
From behind Subaru and Al, Ezzo issued this warning to the first-timers.
His words carried the same nuance that only someone who had experienced the Books of the Dead's feedback firsthand could convey — the same as Subaru's.
Undeniably, he was one of those who had touched the Books of the Dead, just like Subaru and Julius — "It may not receive much attention, but wounds of the heart are troublesome. They don't respond to healing magic, and because they're invisible from the outside, they're often underestimated. On top of that, this place is heavily affected by miasma, which tends to weigh on one's spirits. If anything comes up, come to me — the eldest — right away."
"Oh, thank you, Mr. Ezzo..."
"What a splendid attitude from our eldest. As expected of someone who, the first time he read the Books of the Dead, rolled his eyes, foamed at the mouth, and wet himself."
"Miss Flem!? That was supposed to stay between us!"
"You were trembling and convulsing in the library. I rolled my eyes too."
Ezzo had been patting his chest with dignified confidence when Flem — ostensibly his ally — exposed his embarrassing episode, leaving him wide-eyed. The impressed look Petra had worn moments before clouded over at the story, and she regarded Ezzo with a hesitant "Mr. Ezzo...?"
Ezzo gesticulated frantically under her gaze.
"No, that's not — well, it's not exactly wrong, but Miss Flem's version makes it sound far too dramatic! Granted, I did collapse in the early stages, but once I learned the trick to reading, I never had another such mishap!"
"A trick to reading, you say? Is there really such a thing?"
"There is! Simply put, you empty your mind. You close your heart. If you can place yourself in that state, you can recognize the incoming information as just information."
"You make it sound perfectly simple, but I still don't understand no matter how many times I hear it."
Flem shook her head slowly as Ezzo looked around at the others for support. But Petra, Garfiel, Meili — and even Subaru and Beatrice — were all equally blank-faced.
At their dismal response, Ezzo was thunderstruck — "Impossible...!"
Setting aside Ezzo's shock, if he truly managed to protect his mind using the method he described and successfully read the Books of the Dead, that was nothing short of miraculous.
Having read them himself, Subaru understood just how absurd that was. Honestly, even hearing the trick explained, he couldn't see himself managing the same thing.
"See? You really can do something irreversible if you're careless. So, other than the book you're looking for, don't touch—"
"I won't. — Understood. I'll take your warning to heart. Besides, it's thanks to you guys that I made it to the tower without any trouble. I won't drag my feet."
"...Then that's fine."
As he spoke, Subaru returned the book he'd taken from Al to its shelf. The name on the spine belonged to someone he didn't know, but touching it felt like touching a gravestone — and that sensation was what made him handle it so carefully.
Yes, the Books of the Dead were perhaps closer to tombstones and grave markers. That was why making a scene or acting rashly here was accompanied by a strange sense of resistance.
In any case — "Finding a specific book among this staggering number is going to be brutal. We should settle in for the long haul. — After all, books may be increasing on these shelves at this very moment."
That final remark from Ezzo spoke to the danger of this voyage across a sea of books with no guaranteed strategy — a different kind of peril from the journey across the sand sea.
△▼△▼△▼△ "— I am
A voice — grand, solemn, capable of shaking the soul of all who heard it. A being of an entirely different order of existence.
Against a backdrop of clear blue sky, the magnificent dragon who made the tower's peak its perch — the Divine Dragon's majestic form loomed before Garfiel, who stood rooted to the spot in a daze.
This was not his first time facing a dragon.
In fact, during the recent Great Calamity of the Vollachian Empire, Garfiel had been entrusted by Subaru and the others to face the Cloud Dragon Mesolia head-on, and had clashed with it directly.
Given the nature of that battle, he couldn't say he'd won against the Cloud Dragon.
Still, the fact that he had never been defeated — that was something Garfiel possessed as a strong point of pride.
Dragons were the synonym for the strongest beings in this world, reigning at the pinnacle of a ranking that encompassed humans, demi-humans, magical beasts, spirits, and all living creatures.
Having gone toe-to-toe with one of those pinnacle beings, Garfiel felt that he had cracked open one more layer of his shell.
However — "— You who have reached the tower's summit. Treader of each floor, petitioner of omnipotence."
The Divine Dragon Volcanica, its pale blue radiance shimmering as it rested its wings atop the tower. That it existed on a clearly different plane from the Cloud Dragon Mesolia — that was something his instincts understood instantly.
It wasn't something visible from the outside, but the difference in experience as a "dragon" between Volcanica and Mesolia was as vast as the gap between an adult and a child.
"Last time we just barely missed each other, so I'd only heard about it, but it's seriously incredible."
Behind Garfiel, Subaru gazed up at the dragon with the same awe.
On their previous visit to the Pleiades Watchtower, Subaru had been whisked off to the Empire before he could encounter Volcanica. Even so, having seen the Cloud Dragon in the Empire, the awe of facing the Divine Dragon Volcanica like this was the same for him as it was for Garfiel.
And Emilia had actually fought this Volcanica.
"Emilia-sama, that was way too reckless..."
"Indeed. Even Betty did not feel at ease. At that time, it wasn't just Emilia — Subaru,
"That time really had Beako worried sick too, didn't it? Thanks for that."
Reminiscing, Subaru wore a solemn expression as Beatrice stroked his head — but the scale of what had been settled was nothing like the wholesome picture their exchange painted.
At that time too, there had been chaos — Subaru losing his memories, Meili's betrayal, clashes with the "Sage" and "Gluttony"...
"If I'd been there, the Boss wouldn't have gotten sent all the way to the Empire..."
"Oh my. You're saying that if Garfiel were present, he could handle problems that even Betty and Emilia couldn't?"
"N-no, that's not what I—"
"Betty's Pretty Joke, perhaps. Betty does understand perfectly well."
Panicking at having misspoken, Garfiel received a laugh from Beatrice. He let out a sigh of relief, and Subaru continued: "Besides, we worried everyone sick. I can't say it was good to get sent away, but if we hadn't been there, the Empire might have collapsed, y'know?"
"I suppose we can't call it a happy ending, though. When you think about how Al feels..."
"It's not just him. Shult, and the old man too."
As Subaru scratched his cheek, Beatrice and Garfiel continued the thought.
In Garfiel's mind, the image surfaced of the camp that had crumbled after Priscilla's disappearance. Heinkel gone, Al seeking the Books of the Dead. Even the ever-optimistic Shult was barely holding himself together. Entrusting everything to Roswaal alone wasn't just worrisome — it was cruel, so Frederica had stayed by his side, a relief in itself.
If only they could help even one person, one by one, face forward again — "Sorry for dragging you along, Boss. I just wanted to get a look at the Divine Dragon."
"I was curious too, so no need to apologize. When you find out a celebrity is staying on the floor above your hotel, it's only natural to be curious... Wait, actually, going to meet them would be bad manners, right? Am I overstepping here?"
"Nobody could fault you for it, I'd say. The only one with the right to do so would be the dragon itself. But —"
"— I am Volcanica. By the ancient covenant, I question the resolve of those who seek the summit."
"That's the response, I suppose?"
At Volcanica's reply, Beatrice shrugged at its vagueness.
Garfiel had been skeptical too, but meeting Volcanica in person, he could see that the dragon really had grown vague after so many long ages. Even so, the extraordinary presence it radiated was precisely what set it apart as a dragon beyond all norms.
In any case — "So there really is someone above. Just gotta make sure I don't get the wrong idea about that."
"...You're strong, Garfiel. Among everyone I know, it's faster to count down from the top."
"And it's my job to remind you of that, right?"
Garfiel poked Subaru's chest — checking his own footing, making sure Subaru wasn't feeling down. At the impact, Subaru grunted softly, then gave a tearful nod.
And as they spoke — "Oh, so you were at the Divine Dragon's after all."
Ezzo arrived from the staircase, joining the group.
He glanced at Garfiel and Subaru, then at Volcanica beyond them.
"Naturally! While the tower's mysteries are a great source of curiosity, the Divine Dragon — an indispensable figure in the founding of the current
"Ha, I guess your reasons and mine don't quite line up, but I'm a fan of dragons too. Volcanica's a bit too big for me, but a dragon rider — now that's every boy's dream."
"A dragon rider...!? Boss, tell me more about that later!"
"Sure. Although, the Sky Dragon Riders in the Empire were something like that."
At the word Subaru uttered, nodding as he spoke, Garfiel's instincts prickled. Something about it — he had a feeling it was incredibly cool and made his blood race.
Watching Garfiel and the others' exchange, Ezzo tilted his head, chin in hand.
"I see. I had hoped we could discuss the significance of the Divine Dragon's existence from a historical and scholarly perspective, but perhaps another time. — Now then, Natsuki-sama, as requested, I've finished explaining the library to Al-sama. He's currently with Miss Flem."
"Thanks, that helps. I haven't really had a chance to talk to Flem yet, but is she alright?"
"No need to worry. She's the type who will say plainly if she doesn't like something. As a servant, her tendency to speak up at inopportune times is a concern, but..."
"I'm used to maids who say they don't like things they don't like."
"Oh, that's right."
At Beatrice's remark, Garfiel and Subaru exchanged a look and nodded.
The object of the proud, self-aware Garfiel's affection was indeed a woman who could assert herself regardless of her role as a maid. He liked that about her.
Thinking about it — Flem was the same way, wasn't she? The pink-haired woman might be strong too.
"Incidentally, Miss Flem has a twin sister named Miss Grasis. They're alike not just in appearance but in personality as well, which can be a handful."
"
"I once received a favor from Miss Felt and Sir Reinhard. That connection led to them taking an interest in me, and I suppose 'picked up' would be the appropriate way to describe it."
"If that's the case, they picked up a good one. Like our Otto."
The expression "picked up" was one Otto himself used frequently, but the commonality between Otto and Ezzo might have been the green — Otto in his clothing, Ezzo in his hair.
A green picked-up thing was reliable and capable. With that thought, Garfiel couldn't help but chuckle.
"You seem to be in good spirits, Garfiel-kun."
"Nothin' much, just somethin' stupid. But y'know, bein' called '-kun' feels kinda presumptuous when we're not that close..."
"Is that so? I don't see it that way... Well then, shall I call you Garfiel-kun, the same as I do Rachins and the others?"
"Oh, it's not like we just met for the first time either. I'd appreciate it."
Garfiel waved his hand casually, and Ezzo nodded with a "Very well."
Watching their exchange, Subaru spoke up, looking between them: "So, you two already knew each other, huh? Where'd you meet?"
"The 'Pristella Incident'... There was that attack on the Watergate City by the
"Oh, so that's when—"
"Yeah, there was quite a ruckus then too... but it's a long story."
It was during that time that Subaru and the others had set out for the Pleiades Watchtower.
Otto had remained in Pristella to recover from his injuries, and Garfiel — helping with the city's reconstruction — had participated in the excavation of the
"Just from hearing that, it sounds like a colorful bunch..."
"It was certainly eventful, but also a period of great learning. Of course, Garfiel-kun helped me out on numerous occasions. It's a bit awkward saying this to his face, but he's a remarkable young man."
"Heh heh, nah, it wasn't that big a deal."
"It really was."
At Ezzo's straightforward, unembarrassed praise, Subaru and Beatrice looked even more pleased than Garfiel himself, which was somewhat embarrassing.
In truth, Garfiel knew firsthand that Ezzo was no mere bookworm — he was an excellent, battle-tested magic user. The frustration was that having someone even more extraordinary so close at hand tended to make him underestimate Ezzo.
"Now then, deepening our friendships is all well and good, but let's take care of business first. I'm talking about Al-sama, who Miss Flem is currently watching over."
"...Al's situation."
"Indeed. I'd like to confirm one thing — I suspect Al-sama's purpose is the resurrection of
"N...!?"
"Huh?"
Both Garfiel and Subaru's voices overlapped as Ezzo, still stroking his chin, delivered that statement.
At the sudden appearance of the word "resurrection," Garfiel at least couldn't keep up. As he struggled with confusion, Beatrice narrowed her round eyes.
"What do you mean? The resurrection of the dead... If you're talking about the 'Secret Art of the Undead King,' we've heard quite enough about that."
"I caught a bit of that story about the Empire. The forbidden technique known as the 'Secret Art of the Undead King' is indeed fascinating, but that's not what I'm referring to. Rather, I'm concerned about the method Natsuki-sama was half-joking about earlier."
"I was joking...?"
"— Using Priscilla Barielle's Book of the Dead to overwrite one's own existence with hers. A pseudo-resurrection of the dead."
"— — —"
Ezzo's words, delivered without inflection and free of excess emotion, seeped into their minds.
Pseudo-resurrection of the dead — Garfiel couldn't immediately grasp what Ezzo was describing. But that it was no laughing matter was clear from Subaru's reaction: face frozen in shock, forehead beaded with sweat.
Subaru said nothing. Watching him, Ezzo continued: "As I said, I've already read about a dozen Books of the Dead. My early mishaps were exactly the shameful episodes Miss Flem described. And based on that experience... I would argue that overwriting one's psyche is theoretically possible."
"I've heard from Subaru that your 'memories' risk becoming mixed together. But the idea that the reader's consciousness would be completely eliminated seems unlikely to me."
"The sense of blending and jumbling — yes, I agree there. But what if the reader was fully prepared to accept it? If, from the very start, they went in with the mindset of being the one to disappear — wouldn't the spirit absorbed from the book take root without resistance?"
"— — —"
"Of course, this is purely theoretical. I haven't actually tried it. But when I considered the motivation of someone who had lost an important person and was seeking that person's Book of the Dead, this was the idea that emerged."
As Ezzo laid out his reasoning, deep furrows appeared on Beatrice's brow — furrows that didn't suit her at all.
Listening from the side, Garfiel had no opening to interject. He tried hard to follow along, and he thought he grasped the general thrust of it.
But even if someone's memories, thoughts, and feelings were completely poured into you through the Books of the Dead — "That wouldn't count as coming back to life, would it?"
"Oh? And why is that?"
"Because... it's the soul! The soul is different! It's not the person in the book!"
His mind in a jumble, Garfiel ground his canines and gave his answer.
He couldn't articulate it with logic or a proper explanation. But he didn't believe humans were made up of just "memories" and "information," so that was his answer.
At Garfiel's response, Ezzo narrowed his eyes.
"Mm. I share Garfiel-kun's opinion."
"...Huh?"
"What's with that vacant look and voice? It undermines your usual sharpness. Pull yourself together."
Having finally squeezed out his answer, Garfiel listened as Ezzo, seeing his troubled expression, raised a finger and continued: "Garfiel-kun's observation strikes at the heart of the matter. Even if every last detail of a dead person were recorded in the Book of the Dead — even if one could experientially relive the accompanying experiences and emotions — even if a psychic overwrite were performed — it would not constitute the resurrection of the dead. It would be the birth of a separate being who shares the dead person's memories, experiences, and feelings."
"A separate being who shares their memories, experiences, and feelings..."
"I do not consider that a true resurrection of the dead. Most people would instinctively feel the same. That is why I want to verify — would Al-sama desire a resurrection of the dead? If he chooses the Books of the Dead as his means to that end, then his wish will not be fulfilled."
"— — —"
"Of course, if what he truly wants is to keep Priscilla within his heart, then that is another approach entirely."
With a slow shake of his head, Ezzo concluded his thoughts.
Impressed by his methodical manner of speaking, Garfiel clenched his teeth, then looked toward Subaru.
Subaru was the one who had been thinking most about staying close to Al and finding a way to help. What did Subaru think of Ezzo's theory now?
"What am I, an idiot? No, I am an idiot."
"Subaru..."
"It never even occurred to me until you said it. ...Al is simply looking for Priscilla's final state of mind. That's all. He's even hoping that searching through the books might help him sort things out..."
Pressing his fist against his forehead, Subaru berated himself for his failure to see what Ezzo had. Seeing Subaru's pained self-reproach, Garfiel grabbed the arm that pressed against his forehead.
"Boss."
Hurting yourself like that wouldn't make anything feel better. Garfiel knew that from the white scar on his own forehead.
"I don't blame you for not thinking of it. This is something I came up with based on my own experience reading the Books of the Dead — the tendency of a mind like mine to look at things from multiple angles. Whether Al-sama has arrived at this idea on his own is doubtful. However —"
"I know. I know, Ezzo. — But if Al is somehow hoping that he'll disappear and Priscilla will come back in his place, then that can't happen."
Subaru answered with fierce determination, biting down hard on his back teeth. Then he looked at Garfiel, who still held his arm.
"Sorry. I made you worry."
"Nothin' to apologize for. This time, it's my job to worry about you, Boss. Emilia-sama and big brother Otto both made me promise to look after you plenty."
"That's... something, I guess."
Garfiel released his grip and shrugged, making Subaru smile wryly as he lowered his shoulders. Then Subaru murmured a quiet "Alright."
"I won't tell Al about this directly, at least. If it's not something he arrived at himself, it could end up pushing him in a direction he doesn't want to go. But I can't leave him alone."
"If he goes lookin' for his book alone and reads it, there's no stoppin' him."
"If we can find the book before he does, ideally, that gives us the upper hand — whether we show it to him or not."
"...I hate thinking about it as some kind of power struggle."
"Boss..."
As they contemplated the possibility of Al going too far, Subaru murmured weakly.
Bringing Al to the tower had been meant to prevent him from reaching that breaking point. And yet, being here had become the very reason he might reach it. Talk about putting the cart before the horse.
"— — —"
Garfiel dug his foot into the tower's floor, grinding it against the stone, cursing the Pleiades Watchtower.
Why did the tower have to house the memories of the dead in the form of Books of the Dead? Why did it have to lure the hearts of those who sought them? Why did it have to torment Subaru and the rest of them?
"Is Al still searching for the book in the library?"
"Mm, he should be."
"What about the girl we left with him — Flem? What's she like?"
"She's Miss Felt's attendant... or rather, a servant of the Astrea household. She comes from a family that has served the Astreas for generations. Young, but a force to be reckoned with. Even I would be helpless without magic."
At Ezzo's explanation, Garfiel — who had observed Flem's bearing — nodded in understanding.
He hadn't seen her in action, but her posture was extraordinarily refined — her poise comparable to Ram's. As for her abilities, they might not match Ram's, but working in the Astrea household, it was safe to expect considerable skill.
"Presumably, Al-sama will sacrifice sleep and meals to search for the book. We can offer to help by splitting up the work, but... what is the tower's time limit?"
"Three days. Al has accepted that too."
Three days — that was the originally allotted period for staying at the Pleiades Watchtower.
Even if Priscilla's Book of the Dead wasn't found within that time, after three days the tower would be left behind, and Al would return to the Barielle domain to stay by Shult's side.
So Subaru's wish was to give Al a reason to bounce back before then — and Garfiel agreed with him on that point.
He wanted these three days to be the time Al spent turning toward the future.
And preventing them from becoming anything else — that was — "That's what I've gotta do here."
Garfiel clenched his fist so hard his bones creaked, steeling himself with the full weight of his role.
For Emilia, who wasn't here. For Frederica. For Otto. For Ram. For
"— You who have reached the tower's summit. Treader of each floor, petitioner of omnipotence."
The Divine Dragon's eyes — their gaze unfathomable — watched over Garfiel and the others as they resolved to seal away every possibility of disaster, its gaze as inscrutable as ever.