The Manuscript ≪The Book of Those Who Slither the Earth≫
Around the same time that Mia was enjoying watching the priest’s enthusiasm…
“Oh, it’s kind of boring without Mia-san…”
In St. Noel Academy’s student council room, Rafina was sighing.
“It’s true… Oh, Rafina-sama, this is the budget. But Mia-sama wants to increase the budget related to the cafeteria…”
Chloe handed Rafina the parchment with the budget written on it.
“Cafeteria-related……Is there something wrong with it?”
Tiona raised her hand to Rafina’s question.
“Um, about it… I talked to Chloe about it, and there’s a theory that if you don’t eat a wide variety of foods, it’s bad for your health…” Saying that, Tiona handed out a book on nutrition that Chloe had acquired.
“Maybe Mia-sama knew about this. She must have read a book like this.”
After that, Tiona smiled a little and continued.
“Mia-sama is too smart, so there are times when she omits explaining because she expects us to have also understood… Keithwood said same thing before.”
“Ah, yes… That may be true. Ufufu.”
Rafina also smiled, remembering her friend in the distant empire.
“I really wish she would have explained a little more during the student council president election. It would have made things easier. Instead, she used such a roundabout method to get her point across.”
Like that, the three girls looked at each other and laughed happily.
…and that was it until there was a thud and a modest knock on the door.
“Excuse me. Lady Rafina…”
“Oh, Monica, you’re back!”
The person who opened the door and entered was Monica Buendia, a former Wind Crow member. Today, instead of wearing a maid outfit, she was wearing a thick gray overcoat.
“I’m back not too long ago.”
“Thank you for your hard work. So how is it? Did you find it?”
“Yes. It was found in the mansion.”
After saying that, Monica placed on the desk a square-shaped object wrapped in cloth.
“I see. It was just as Lynsha said.”
“Rafina-sama, what is that…”
Rafina gave a knowing smile to the curious Tiona.
“This is… the Scripture of the Chaos Serpent… a copy of the manuscript of ‘The Book of Those Who Slither the Earth.”
While saying so, Rafina unwrapped the cloth. What appeared was an old book. Looking at the rough black cover, Rafina contorts her face in disgust.
“As far as I know… this manuscript has rarely appeared in the center stage of history. It’s the first time I’ve seen it.”
Then, casually Rafina stroked the surface of the book. In an instant, a horrifying chill ran through his fingertips. It felt like a snake was crawling on her skin… Rafina couldn’t help but catch her breath at the intense discomfort that ran through her body from her fingertips to her arms.
“What happened just now?”
Rafina stared blankly at her own palm. Monica gazed at Rafina with worry.
“Is everything fine, Rafina-sama?”
“…No, it’s nothing.” She smiled to assure the others. Then Rafina urges Monica to continue her report. “By the way, Monica, have you read the contents of this book?”
“Yes. I have been authorized to do so, and I’ve already looked through it.”
“I see… So how was it?”
At that question, Monica was silent for a moment.
“Well… To put it bluntly, that book describes the process through which a nation is destroyed by revolution.”
“Do you mean it predicted the revolution in Remno Kingdom?”
“No, it’s not.”
Monica shakes her head. In response, Rafina frowned.
“No…? What do you mean?”
“Rather than a book of prophecies… this is… how should I put it…” After a moment of hesitation, Monica said. “It’s more like pure malice.”
For some reason, her voice was trembling.
“Pure malice?
“I’m sorry. I’m being vague.”
After saying that, Monica let out a small sigh. She then continues in a flat voice that was imitating a calm voice.
“The content of that book… is a manual of how to destroy the order of a nation. How to corrupt the royalty and devastate the nation. To beget death with death, and wring from those deaths every lasty drop of hatred. To then use that hatred to seed the land with violence, creating breeding grounds for revolution and war. And finally, to manipulate the masses so they seek the destruction of the established monarchy. Destroying with it the established government and order. I’m only scratching the surface, but that is the kind of knowledge that is written in this book.”
Then unconsciously Monica rubbed her arm.
“As I read it, the malice of the person who wrote it seemed to seep into me… I felt that kind of ominousness.”
A faint fear was shown by a spy who has undergone the harshest training and is required to remain calm at all times. Rafina, who noticed it, paused for a moment to think, then immediately shook her head.
“In any case… if we analyze this book, we might be able to get a clue about how to track down the Chaos Serpent. As expected, Mia-san.”
“Huh? Was it Princess Mia who found the book?” Chloe’s eyes widened with surprise.
“Yes, she certainly did. Mia-san asked Prince Sion and Prince Abel not to kill that man named Jem. Then she sent him to me… I’m sure she expected to get from him this book or something similar.”
“I see, that’s certainly true. If it’s Mia-sama, of course, I think it’s not strange for her to think in advance like that.”
“That’s just expected of Mia-sama.”
Tiona and Chloe totally agreed with Rafina’s guess.
Monica saw what was happening…
Her Highness Princess Mia is such an incredible person… I can’t believe she foresaw all of this!
…it instilled a new sense of awe in her.
