Chapter 31: Index of Forbidden Books: Gospel of Suffering

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[Under the desolate afterglow of sunset, the emerald magic crystal shattered with a crisp crack.]

[Fragments of crystal scattered across the corpses strewn over the ground, glimmering faintly with gold beneath the orange-red evening sky.]

[The golden-haired girl, drenched in blood, had collapsed unconscious among the bodies, kneeling with one hand braced against her staff.]

[She had already been utterly exhausted, and the magic she had expended had drained the last of her strength.]

[You walked over to her.]

[Under the influence of magic, some of her wounds had already closed. But most had split open again during the battle.]

[Blood ran down her body, pooling beneath Vivian.]

[If she was not treated soon, the young girl would likely bleed to death.]

[You sat beside Vivian, waiting for the person who had been watching through your eyes to arrive.]

[As a streak of golden light descended, Wigefat’s figure appeared behind Vivian.]

[She had left a spell within the staff she had given Vivian.]

[Whenever Vivian entered a near-death state within the spell’s range, Wigefat could use it to teleport to her instantly.]

[The moment Wigefat saw Vivian’s condition, her brows drew together.]

[The magic within her surged with fury.]

[A thin layer of frost slowly formed over the surrounding corpses.]

[“How did things end up like this...?” Wigefat murmured. After calming the magic within her, she raised her staff and began to chant.]

[Healing radiance descended upon Vivian, beginning to soothe her wounds.]

[The blood was washed away, and the scabs were cleansed.]

[Vivian’s once-pale skin gradually returned to its former state.]

[Wigefat removed her own robe and draped it over Vivian before lifting her into her arms.]

[Only then did Wigefat survey the surroundings.]

[The sleeping residents. The shattered green crystal.]

[As a witch of the Iris Society, she immediately understood what had just happened.]

[But where was that primordial remnant soul?]

[Had someone taken it?]

[Wigefat did not suspect you. You were only an ordinary cat.]

[She recognized the white-robed mage whose head had been smashed.]

[He was one of Trevor’s most trusted subordinates.]

[So Trevor really had been planning to fuse with the primordial remnant soul.]

[That bastard had actually used Vivian twice!]

[Furious, Wigefat wondered how she ought to teach Trevor a lesson.]

[Perhaps she should sneak into his house in the middle of the night and smash his head in...]

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[Wigefat continued thinking.]

Damn! No wonder you two are teacher and student.

You are both mages, yet you share exactly the same fondness for smashing people’s heads.

Wigefat used a magic crystal to contact a knight in the city of Palavi. He was an old friend of hers.

Although Vivian had saved this little town,

Wigefat did not want her student entangled in an incident that had already drawn the attention of the Imperial Magic Association.

However, Sola Town had been protected by Vivian at the cost of her own life. As her teacher, Wigefat would never stand by and let someone destroy it merely to cover up a crime.

[Wigefat looked down at the sleeping Vivian in her arms.]

[This girl only ever looked peaceful at times like this.]

[“I’m sorry. I can’t let you enjoy the treatment a hero deserves.” Wigefat apologized softly.]

[You let out a meow and leaped onto Vivian.]

[In a flash of golden light, Vivian and you were teleported onto Wigefat’s bed.]

[You felt indignant.]

[That was your ability too!]

Ron’s mouth twitched faintly.

If he remembered correctly, this teleportation skill was called “Defeat CG.”

So although it ignored distance, it had only one possible destination: the user’s bed.

He let out a sigh of relief.

He had never expected the attempt to seize the Demon King’s remnant soul to be so perilous. Vivian had nearly paid for it with her life.

Judging by Vivian’s condition, she probably would not be waking up anytime soon.

From Ron’s perspective, however, everything had still been worth it.

[You yawned, and an exquisite grimoire appeared beside you.]

[Forbidden Index: Gospel of Suffering.]

It was not an item, but one of Ron’s authorities.

He had his self in the spirit realm open the grimoire. On its cover, the names Ron and Vivian had already been written.

The first few pages contained several simple spells:

wind blades, fireballs, lightning strikes, ice spikes, as well as wind walls and earth walls.

These were the spells the white-robed mage had used to obstruct and attack Vivian.

That was the grimoire’s power.

It could record any skill that affected the author whose name was written on its cover. The author could then use those skills by erasing their records.

Since Ron did not currently possess a true physical body, the grimoire was effectively bound to Vivian and was subject to Vivian’s maximum mana capacity. For now, it could record only ten spells.

At least it gave Vivian a way to cast magic normally. She would no longer need to recklessly charge into battle against everyone she encountered.

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Unfortunately, Vivian did not possess her complete form’s ability to become immune to every attack. Any recorded skill that affected her would still affect her in turn.

That meant recording an enemy’s magic in the grimoire was extremely dangerous for Vivian, no matter what spell it was.

Wait! Damn it! I need to update the story immediately!

Ron had just realized that unless he wrote up the corresponding chapter and had it accepted by his readers, his Demon King Cat would not have this Forbidden Index: Gospel of Suffering!

He had never imagined that Vivian would risk her life and obtain a new Demon King’s remnant soul before the recommended dungeon arrived.

He hurried to his computer, intending to write this section of the story in the shortest time possible.

However, speed and quality were impossible for Ron to achieve simultaneously.

Three hours later...

Looking at the hastily typed chapter draft before him, Ron quietly sat down and wiped his face in shame.

All right. Rather than upload something of this quality and disgust his readers, he might as well enter the recommended dungeon with the characters, items, and skill cards he already had.

He truly had no time left even to revise the chapter.

When midnight arrived, the watch on Ron’s wrist began to emit a pale blue light.

[A spirit-realm dungeon is about to open.]

[Please finish your current affairs within sixty seconds.]

[Forced teleportation will begin after the sixty-second countdown reaches zero.]

[60...]

[59...]

[58...]

Ron stared at the rapidly changing countdown and drew a deep breath.

This was the true “price” of wearing the stabilizer. It had to be paid at least once every month.

There was no avoiding it by hiding at home, nor could removing the stabilizer prevent it.

Still, it could not be said to be entirely negative.

Every recommended dungeon was carefully selected by the editorial department, and the rewards within were unquestionably superior to those of a random dungeon encountered by chance on the roadside.

[3...]

[2...]

[1...]

[The dungeon is opening.]

[Please remain rational at all times.]

A white light slowly unfolded before Ron.

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