---

“I can’t believe you actually brought the special library pass, meow!”

The library’s cat librarian, Myohyu, was holding a purple card.

The silver-haired princess, Bella, had brought the VVVIP library pass that only the library’s owner could possess.

“Now I can enter anywhere in the library, right?”

“Of course, meow! But were you acquainted with the library’s master, meow?”

“Hmm. We’re not that close, but you could say we’re more than lovers but less than spouses.”

“…? I don’t really get it, but that sounds impressive, meow!”

“Of course. Very impressive.”

Contrary to Bella’s expectations, Tristan readily lent her the pass.

He didn’t even ask what book she was looking for.

However, she had to endure a humiliating moment.

‘I don’t show mercy to thieves. Unless they’re thieving cats.’

‘Ugh…’

She flinched at the word “thief.”

But she couldn’t deny it.

His words were undeniably true.

‘Ah, I get it, so please move aside…’

Bella, hiding under the desk, didn’t know where to look.

His lower body was right in front of her, and if she lifted her head just a bit, she’d see his sweaty upper body.

As Bella remained frozen, Tristan spoke.

‘What if I don’t?’

‘…What did you say?’

‘Cats are agile, so you could run away.’

‘I won’t run, so please move. Wait, since when have you been treating me like a cat?’

‘If you don’t like it, get out on your own.’

‘You’re so mean. Do you think I can’t get out if you don’t move?’

Bella tried to push him, but his lower body was too close for her to even touch. It was too embarrassing to say it out loud.

‘Ugh… I think I understand why they call you a genius of evil deeds.’

‘You just realized that now?’

‘Stop joking and move. Count. I’m really going to get angry.’

‘You know the answer. If you want to get out of there and borrow the pass from me, you know what you have to do.’

Tristan looked down at Bella with a smug smile, like a villainous organization boss.

Seeing his arrogant face made her even more annoyed.

‘…What’s wrong with your head? Do you want me to do something so shameless?’

‘It’s not shameless. I just want to see you embarrassed.’

‘You’re the worst…’

Fine, I’ll just do it once and be done with it.

Finally, Bella closed her eyes tightly and spoke.

‘Please lend me the pass… meow.’

‘Disappointing. I’ve never seen such an un-cute cat before.’

‘I’m not a real cat!’

‘Then stay there, fake cat.’

‘Ah! Really…!’

Bella covered her face in shame.

Just saying one word made her feel like she was going to die of embarrassment.

The heat from her cheeks was almost burning her palms.

She wanted to run away immediately, but all she could do was speak in a mosquito-like voice.

‘Ma, Master… meow… Please lend me the pass… meow…’

‘Alright.’

Tristan chuckled at Bella’s all-out performance and handed her the pass.

That was yesterday.

“Without even knowing why I wanted to borrow the pass…”

“Meow? What did you say, meow?”

“Nothing.”

Bella and Blanshe followed Myohyu down the stairs.

They arrived at an empty space without a single bookshelf.

“Miss… look over there.”

“Huh?”

Where Blanshe pointed, a group of cats was lined up in perfect order.

Cats wearing aprons were scanning the area with intense focus.

The atmosphere was anything but ordinary.

Behind them stood a heavy iron door that looked imposing at first glance.

Bella instinctively knew it was the entrance to the underground archive.

“Welcome, Lady Bella.”

The large black cat at the front saluted.

“I am Myocheolsu, the First Librarian of the Wall of Truth. I heard you wish to enter our library’s underground archive.”

“Yes.”

“Perhaps you should reconsider, even now.”

Reconsider?

Bella was puzzled by the unexpected suggestion.

“Why is that?”

“Our duty as librarians is not only to manage books and facilities but also to ensure your safety. However, if you enter the underground archive, we cannot guarantee your safety.”

“Safety? What do you mean?”

“Monstrous beasts inhabit the underground archive.”

Monstrous beasts?

Myocheolsu continued his explanation.

“This underground archive was originally used as a preservation vault to safely store old books. It holds many national treasures and extremely valuable books. However, the strict security measures backfired, allowing monstrous beasts to nest there.”

“Ah…”

Finally, Bella understood what Myocheolsu was talking about.

Monstrous beasts are aberrant beings born from the influence of magical power.

Some books contain a lot of magical power. That’s why places like libraries, with many books, are prone to spawning monstrous beasts if not properly maintained.

“Since then, this place has been sealed off for too long. According to records from a reconnaissance mission 100 years ago, the place was teeming with monstrous beasts. So, we’ve left it untouched until now. I don’t know what book you’re looking for, but… I want to warn you that entering the underground archive is extremely dangerous.”

“Hmm…”

She expected it wouldn’t be easy, but not to this extent…

Even the Ruelberta Family, with their exceptional information network and resources, couldn’t break the curse on them.

It was inevitable that Bella’s journey to uncover the truth of the curse would be difficult and dangerous.

‘Right…’

It’s worth doing precisely because it’s difficult and dangerous.

Bella instinctively knew that the path she was about to take was the shortcut.

Time was running out.

Hadn’t Tristan said it?

A hero had appeared.

Soon, the world would be engulfed in chaos.

When that happens, there would be nothing she could do.

Before that day comes, Bella wanted to break Tristan’s curse.

Bella stared at the firmly locked iron door.

Looking at it, she was certain.

Beyond that door were the books she needed about the curse.

“…What do you think, Blanshe?”

“I will follow your decision, Miss.”

Blanshe must have wanted to stop her.

As Bella’s bodyguard knight, she wouldn’t want her master to go to a dangerous place.

But knowing Bella’s resolve, she had prepared herself.

Then… Bella, too, steeled her resolve.

The black cat librarian, Myocheolsu, cautiously spoke up.

“The head librarian has also ordered that no one should approach this place unless under special circumstances. Given the time that has passed, there might not only be monstrous beasts but also demons.”

“Demons…?”

“Yes. So, it would be best to keep the underground archive sealed-”

“No. If that’s the case, then I can’t back down.”

“Huh?”

“I am Bella Izakhel. The one who carries on the will of the hero Alonso Izakhel.”

Bella quietly drew her rapier.

“To the Izakhel Family, who have vanquished evil for generations, monstrous beasts are nothing. No…”

The sharp tip of her sword pointed at the entrance to the underground archive.

“Rather, demons would be a blessing. The power I wield is meant to destroy evil.”

As she spoke, the tip of her sword began to glow, and soon the entire blade shone like the sun.

The magical power of light, one of the seven elemental magics.

A noble power only the Izakhel Family, blessed by the gods, could wield.

And the power demons fear the most.

“……!”

Gasps erupted among the cat librarians.

Bella, holding the sword radiating light, looked incredibly elegant and beautiful.

“Please open the archive’s door.”

The most noble silver-haired princess in the country spoke to them.

“I will illuminate the darkness.”

 

---