Published at 6th of December 2025 6:54 am

Chapter 300

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Why should I?

Isn't that what you want, Sir Everett? Have you ever suffered a loss by listening to me?

This is not!

Ehei~

Emanuel covered my mouth. I saw Maria was surprised. Regardless, Emanuel cast a sound-dampening spell and spoke.

It's advice. Do you think I'm just talking nonsense?

You've been saying you want to get close to us for days.

So.

You're saying that an out-of-body experience is the tool to open Archduke Maria's heart? What a maniacal taste. No, actually, I want to criticize it even more harshly than that.

Then, an unexpected remark came from Emanuel.

Because we want to get close to you too, Sir Everett.

***

[Stop.]

Someone took the cigarette that was in my mouth, and only then did I slowly open my eyes. I was about to spit it out anyway.

[How is it?]

Emanuel asked, holding a handkerchief to my mouth.

How is it, you ask? I just want to sleep. The light from the chandelier blurs in my vision. I slid my body, which had been leaning against the headboard of the bed, down to lie down, pulled the blanket up, and closed my eyes. I wanted to let go of my mind along with the fatigue of my body, but the sound of the Archduke frantically writing something on paper next to me, as if he were about to tear it, grated on my nerves. The noise from the nib of the fountain pen was more irritating than the clip holding my shirt in place coming undone in the process of lying down. Emanuel laughed as he tried to pull down the blanket I had pulled up.

[You asked why bedding should be provided for an occult ritual. See, I told you not to argue with the words of an experienced person.]

It didn't seem like people usually attempted out-of-body experiences with a full set of pillows and blanketswasn't this just planning for a good night's sleep?so I was a bit flustered when I was guided to Emanuel's guest room to use the bedding for a good night's sleep. The bed for an occult ritual in my imagination was something like a surgical table covered with a white cloth on a pentagram or hexagram with strange candles placed on it, not a normal bed like this. Maybe I had been seeing them as too crazy.

But still I was prepared, but nothing much happened.

First, I wondered if I would return to my normal state only after leaving Luka's body, but I haven't even reached the point of an out-of-body experience yet. Second, I expected a bad reaction like during Primrose Path or with Andreas Friedman, and it did happen this time, but it was much better. For one thing, it wasn't a drug that made me lose consciousness, and every time I was about to show an abnormal reaction, the Archduke next to me kept casting something like a spell on me, which was so absurd that it made me laugh. Of course, it was accompanied by strange incantations.

And the suggestion to have an out-of-body experience was, in other words, a suggestion to do drugs. Of course, it wasn't the kind of drug Old Humans use. If he had told me to do drugs, I would have thrown everything away and run out. The thing I was just holding in my mouth was not a cigarette either. I did think it would be nice to move more freely in the Extra Chapter, but I haven't forgotten my initial resolve. It was a magic potion for 'spiritual rituals' to the astral plane, stored in thick paper like cigarette paper and lit, a non-addictive drug that is immediately discharged.

Nevertheless, because of the strange purpose of entering the spiritual world, there was the problem of seeing things that shouldn't be seen. Something is floating in front of my eyes, and I don't know if it's my hallucination or if I've really set foot in the spiritual world.

No matter how I look at it, it should be a hallucination, logically speaking.

Since the purpose was what it was, I'm curious if I really have one foot in the spiritual world.

Still, thankfully, the unfortunate incident of my soul leaving my body did not happen. I did my best as Emanuel advised. As I finished my thoughts, a drowsy sleepiness washed over me.

[You can't sleep yet.]

Emanuel finally took the blanket away. Perhaps because the effect of the drug hadn't worn off, the air felt cool. Just then, Maria, with glazed eyes, turned his body, snatched the cigarette from Emanuel's hand, and inhaled the magic potion.

Emanuel looked down at his empty hand, then looked at me, who had mentioned the oral microbiome, shrugged, and asked.

[Do you still want to be friends?]

I looked at Maria von Osterreich-Este. He had his back to me and was still writing something on paper. He was nodding his head as if to a rhythm, perhaps because of the magic potion or something. Even to me, who had attempted an out-of-body experience with him, I couldn't shake the thought that the scene was a bit crazy.

[Maria is busy organizing her poetic inspiration. It's okay, you can tell me.]

I don't know where he got his poetic inspiration from, but he was saying that the effect of the drug still hadn't worn off over there. He's asking if I still want to be friends. After having this strange experience, and seeing the situation where he's nodding his head in satisfaction and organizing his 'poetic inspiration', does he still want to be friends? Did he think I couldn't know how deeply Maria was into the occult just by taking occult classes? It's certainly outside my expectations.

Nevertheless, my answer is set.

Yes. I want to become even closer.

[.]

Emanuel looked at me with a dumbfounded expression and then chuckled.

[Sir Everett, you are also a strange person.]

Emanuel held out a magic potion. It was a potion that would clear my mind.

***

After that, I went in and out of Emanuel's mansion for another three days.

Emanuel's advice that 'an out-of-body experience will be helpful' was correct.

[When you study the occult.]

[You can encounter numerous technologies and objects that the magic academic world has not yet discovered.]

I placed the magic potion cigarette on a silver tray and drank the elixir that Emanuel had prepared.

This makes it the fourth time I've attempted an out-of-body experience.

Maria had already come to his senses and changed into clean clothes. He said, pulling his tie so that there were no loose parts. Now his voice sounded a little clearer.

The magic academic world shuns 'traditional magic studies' for religious reasons. But that is not a good thing for the development of magic. We must find the technologies that have been discarded and our own holy relics and contribute to the happiness of all people.

Perhaps because he wasn't studying rigidly at a desk, Maria started to talk more about himself after attempting the out-of-body experience. Isn't he talking about his own ideas right now? I felt the heat gradually returning to my body thanks to the elixir and kicked off the blanket.

The Lion Duke's treasure chest probably doesn't have much to do with the happiness of all people.

It might seem that way.

Maria sat on the sofa in front of the desk and started smoking a real ciarette.

That is Sir Everett's magnum opus, not my magnum opus. Like Sir Everett, I am also looking for the Lion Duke's treasure chest, but that is only a means, the magnum opus I am truly seeking is the highest knowledge. I will use what I find to elevate the magic studies of our era by one level.

Hmm.

The Lion Duke's treasure chest is not a chest filled with money or jewels. Of course, since its owner was a nobleman, the chest is made of gold hahaha. It is only a chest containing the records of those who discovered magic before us. Can you imagine how much we can learn from it?

I thought so. It was obvious from the fact that he didn't crave success even after developing a technology to replicate unique abilities. I rolled down the sleeves I had rolled up and asked.

What kind of records are in it, exactly?

The way for all people to use magic is in there.

A chill ran down my spine, and I raised my head and looked directly at Maria. As I started to look at him directly, he looked away and then ran his hand through his hair, which had fallen forward from being tousled while sleeping. Wrong. Now is not the time to worry about my appearance.

I think it's better not to look for it.

Everyone uses magic?

It sounds like a dream. It's also what most non-mages wish for. At the same time, it's what those who monopolize power in this world are most wary of. Why are the Catacombs persecuted so much? The Catacombs have done nothing wrong. All of this happened because the noble mages feared a revolution by the common people.

I also think of his goal as an ideal, but I know. The world will be the same even after 12 years. It's not pessimism or skepticism. It was a matter of the time I was actually living through.

He is a person who will die in two years, and according to my investigation, he was known to have died in an accident, but perhaps this radical goal of his is what killed him.

The Archduke nodded with a look of understanding, but his words were the opposite.

How many people suffer because they cannot use magic. Why is it that only the nobility came to monopolize Magic Power?

Why do the bodies of those who have been commoners for generations not accept Magic Power? Whose trick is this? Is this the will of Christ? Is it the achievement of the one and only supreme Elohim? Is this truly what the Malakh wanted? Did Yahweh send the prophets to do such a thing? Have you never thought it strange? If Augustine and Aquinas were reincarnated, what do you think they would say seeing this? I wonder if those two could hold their heads high seeing today's world.

He is calling the same being by four different names in essence. For what reason did Magic Power become concentrated in the nobility? There are exceptions where commoners are born with Magic Power without inheritance, but the number is not large. From the beginning, magic was clearly the privilege of the noble class. He was asking about the reason for that.

Despite his rebellious tone, I calmly waited for him to speak. Maria spoke as if to persuade me, with a face tinged with a slight sorrow.

What is the reason God has tolerated such evil?

Why did God allow murder to exist on earth?

Maria, who interpreted the meaning of my words on his own, smiled with a look of disappointment and replied.

You do not agree with my opinion.

Not at all. I know the strange aspects of this world better than anyone. Why would there not be times when I feel nauseous? Since I cannot find any essential difference between the irrationality of that place and the irrationality of this place, I only endure the feeling of wanting to be nauseous. I continue to do so, as I always have.

I said something that Maria could not understand, but Maria listened to my words in silence.

I am not claiming that I am right and that Your Highness the Archduke's thoughts are wrong. I am not trying to break Your Highness the Archduke's will either. But what will change if Augustine and Aquinas come back to life? They will never bow their heads, contrary to the Archduke's expectations, even in the reality where only the nobility can use magic. Still, all of humanity will have to accept that this world was made by our mistakes.

Maria understood my words immediately. He raised his eyebrows and let out a dry breath.

Right. Please forget what I said earlier. I understood Your Excellency's words only superficially. I now understand that you are a person with a similar meaning to mine. You are quite tired but your heart for the world seems to be the same as mine. Is that not so?

I am also the same. Nevertheless, I am still a Christian, and I believe in the love that Christ spoke of. That is why I must find the magnum opus right now. Because Christ taught me love, I must atone for the sins I have committed against my brothers. If all people can use magic, wouldn't the inequality that has become severe since the advent of magic be reduced at least a little? Wouldn't it be possible to check those who wield power with magic?

You don't say it's a sin against God.

God wanted us to love one another, but we humans did not, so it may be a sin against God.

Those are words worthy of him. Since I had nothing to say other than to express my respect, I smiled in place of an answer. The Archduke grinned and clapped his hands.

Well, in that sense, now that the topic of the box has come up, let's cheer up again.

For what?

Let's try going into an astral state one more time! Since there has been no progress in the investigation of the Lion Duke's treasure chest so far.

You're going to go to the astral plane and look for the treasure chest now Is that even possible in an out-of-body state?

The Archduke, who had just changed his clothes, took off his jacket and plopped down on the bed again.

I'm going to try a slightly different method this time. Sir Everett, would you cast a mind-control spell on me?

Yes?

This time, I will move my astral body to the Old Human era through hypnosis. There is a limit to the information that can be obtained in the post-magic era.

So.

There was no need to ask.

I am now sitting next to the Archduke with Emanuel, waving my wand. Emanuel had asked me if I was confident in getting close to the Archduke, but he was the one who sighed at the Archduke. I placed my wand on the Archduke's forehead and said what he had told me to say.

Yes You are 100 years before Ion Forso. It is now the 18th century by A.A. standards. Let's slowly go back in time.

So you're actually doing it.

Emanuel said with a dry laugh.

Actually doing it?

He said before that he needed to get close to his family's Divine Power mage. In fact, he said that doing it in his own family was scary and asked to borrow a mage from our family.

To do this?

He probably would have. Why do you think I brought up the out-of-body experience a few days ago? I mentioned it because this friend is often talking about going back in time through out-of-body experiences.

Ah

He really is an occult madman beyond expectations. There are too many types of madmen around me.

I have no expectation that the Archduke will accmplish anything hereis an out-of-body experience even possible?but it seems that by helping him, I won't completely change his future. If it was something he was going to do anyway, that's understandable.

I tried my best to forget the fact that I was participating in this absurd event and asked.

But how do you turn all of France upside down with an out-of-body experience? Do you choose a place from the treasure chest map and travel there?

In fact, even though it's called a map, it's just coordinates that need to be deciphered, not a drawing, and not a proper clue.

What was it he said. He said that a purified spirit leads itself to the right place. That the astral body is fundamentally a being that can move freely anywhere. That's why he's trying so hard to succeed in having an out-of-body experience.

I know what you're thinking. Hahaha!

Yes

At this point, I'm getting scared. I'm the one who has actually experienced a discrepancy between soul and body, but in a situation where they should be afraid of what happened to me, I'm more afraid of them.

In fact, if I were to argue this issue, I would have to go back to the question of whether spirits even exist. No matter how related it is to what I have experienced, it is truly an unbelievable thing on some level.

And so, it was the second day of attempting an out-of-body experience to the 18th century. We did the same thing the next day. With my soul out, I said to his forehead.

Now, come back. You are returning to 1886. To His Highness Emanuel's house.

Your voice is losing its sincerity.

Emanuel chuckled next to me. Just as I was about to quietly ask him if he expected any sincerity, the Archduke shot up.

!

Emanuel looked flustered as the person who had been sleeping peacefully until just now shot up. I was just as surprised by the sudden reaction. The Archduke grabbed my shoulder as if he had never been asleep and shouted.

Sir Everett! In the 18th, 18th century too!

Yes, please speak.

There is an occult club!

Of course there would be.

That's not it!

Emanuel shook his head. He meant that I shouldn't talk to him anymore. But the Archduke poured out his words on his own.

There was talk of magic in the House of Bourbon. It's one of the royal social clubs hosted by the queen, and what it exactly does is, it's actually a literary club for noblewomen. But as time went on, occult elements like magic research were added

So. Just the main point.

Emanuel cut him off.

That Lion Duke's treasure chest is being studied there. When the research is finished, they will either burn it or hide it using another code. That's a characteristic of us occult maniacs.

Yes, so?

Sir Everett, let's go together. If I tell them what I've found out, and I learn what they know, we'll make much more progress by exchanging information. We have to find a way for even Old Humans to use magic.

Emanuel let out a dry laugh. So did I. Suddenly he wants to take me with him? How am I supposed to go there? Not just following as a spirit and watching, but actually participating?

I wanted to grab him by the scruff of his neck, but I couldn't, so I calmly tried to persuade him.

We're New Humans, we can't join Our visuals are different from the start. In the first place, doesn't Your Highness the Archduke not even know how high society women behave? Come to think of it, we don't even have clothes from that era.

Can clothes be spiritually processed too

I tried not to voice such an absurd question.

Actually, I wanted to ask if an out-of-body experience was even possible, but he probably wouldn't have been talking complete nonsense with nothing to go on, and it didn't seem like we could communicate on a spiritual level, so I brought up a more realistic point.

Fortunately, Emanuel, who had been looking serious, started to laugh as if it were absurd and began to speak my thoughts for me.

First of all, I think His Highness the Archduke might have seen a hallucination.

The Archduke seemed surprised that Emanuel had started speaking formally again, but from his expression, it didn't seem like he had any intention of breaking his will. Emanuel quickly noticed this and started using the same strategy as me.

Even if you did find such a place. You seem to think that simply wearing a dress will be enough, but Your Highness is a New Human, so your bone structure will give you away. And you have no shoes, no hat, no jewelry, you have nothing prepared at all. Your way of speaking is not prepared, and neither is your gait. And what about your understanding of the culture? There's a limit to how much I can help, so don't be so reckless.

He's right. I've provided a tailored persuasion, so he should be coming around soon. But the Archduke shook his head and retorted.

Those trivial things can be brought as artifacts. Is there anything my technology can't do?

I'm telling you, how are you going to move the clothes? Is moving the clothes all there is to it? What about your way of speaking and walking? It'll be super obvious.

Emanuel was right again. But that wasn't what was important right now.

Wait a minute.

A crazy possibility that might have happened in the original past flashed through my mind.

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