Chapter 52: Knowledge That Cannot Be Understood

Merorin opened Advanced Magical Theory, her gaze falling upon the complex magical runes and obscure theoretical explanations.

However, the more she read, the more alarmed she became.

This knowledge, these symbols—she had clearly encountered them back when she was a Hero, and they had even appeared frequently in the fragmented memories after her transformation.

They were so familiar, as if carved deep into her soul.

But why was it that now she couldn’t understand a single word?

The once-fluid runes twisted into meaningless lines before her eyes, and the logical chains that should have been clear became fragmented and broken.

She could read the words, yet she could not grasp their meaning.

“Why?” she roared inwardly.

“When I was reading those forbidden experimental reports in the Forbidden Section, I could understand them perfectly… so why can’t I understand this basic magic book now?!”

A cold conjecture slithered into her mind like a venomous snake.

It was the Demon King’s doing.

Morgana must have placed some kind of restriction deep within her consciousness—an invisible shackle.

This shackle allowed her to understand harmless reports about her own destruction, yet sealed away her ability to learn and master any practical magical knowledge that might pose a threat.

She could know her own despair, but she could not gain the power to resist.

“Damn it…!”

Merorin slammed her fist onto the heavy wooden table with a dull bang, making even the candleholder on the table wobble.

“Master!”

Little Louise beside her was startled by the sudden outburst and flinched.

She looked at Merorin in fear, yet still mustered her courage and asked in a trembling voice, “W-what’s wrong, Master…?”

Merorin was pulled back from the abyss of anger by Louise’s voice.

She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the humiliation and resentment in her heart.

Turning her head, she saw Louise’s small face filled with worry and fear, and her heart softened again.

She raised her hand, gently stroking Louise’s cheek, and forced out a smile.

“It’s nothing, Louise.

It’s just that… I might not be able to teach you what’s in this book.”

“Huh? Why?”

Louise immediately panicked.

A layer of tears welled up in her big eyes, her voice tinged with sobs.

“Is… is it because I’m too stupid?

So Master thinks she can’t teach me?

Or… do you want me to study something even simpler?”

Seeing her like this, Merorin became even more unwilling to admit that she herself couldn’t understand the book.

If she admitted it, wouldn’t that mean her earlier promise—made with such confidence—to teach Louise was nothing more than empty bravado?

That would completely shatter the image of authority she had only just managed to establish in Louise’s heart as a master and guide.

A spark of inspiration flashed through her mind, and she immediately came up with a solution.

She thought of Sevia, the former saintess.

“Actually,” Merorin said casually, a gentle smile returning to her face, “I was planning to take you to the garden and have Sevia teach you instead.”

Louise didn’t understand why her master’s attitude had changed so quickly.

But since it was her master’s decision, she didn’t question it further.

She wiped her eyes and smiled again.

“Alright, no problem, Master.

Let’s go together!”

Hearing this, Merorin secretly wiped away a nonexistent cold sweat from her forehead and let out a long sigh of relief.

“Good thing Louise didn’t notice… otherwise my dignified image would have been completely ruined.”

Her plan became clear.

She would take Louise to the garden under the pretense of having Sevia teach her.

In reality, she could observe and learn from the side.

If she couldn’t understand it by reading, then surely she could understand it by listening.

Not only could she mend her relationship with Sevia, she could also indirectly absorb knowledge she couldn’t directly comprehend through Sevia’s teaching.

A perfect plan that killed two birds with one stone.

“I really am a genius,” she praised herself inwardly, even casting a provocative smile at the empty air.

“Morgana, how could you possibly compete with me?”

She picked up Advanced Magical Theory as a perfect excuse, took Louise’s hand, and headed out of the library.

In the corridor, Louise followed closely behind Merorin, a little afraid, and asked cautiously, “Master, where are we going?”

“We’re going to the garden to find Sevia,” Merorin replied with a smile.

“Who is Sevia?” Louise asked curiously.

“She’s the one who was holding your master in her arms just now,” Merorin added, blinking.

Louise immediately remembered.

Recalling Sevia’s possessive gaze and powerful presence, she shrank her neck and said softly, “Master… maybe we shouldn’t go to her… she looks really scary…”

Inside the small pavilion in the garden.

Sevia was sitting on a stone bench, an illustrated gardening book spread across her lap.

Yet her gaze was unfocused, drifting beyond the pages, her thoughts already far away.

Her heart was filled with regret over what had happened in the corridor earlier.

“Sigh, Sevia, Sevia, how can you be such an idiot?”

She scolded herself over and over in her heart.

“Knowing full well that Merorin hates being forced, I still acted against her because of jealousy…

Now that I’ve hurt Merorin’s heart, how am I supposed to make it right?”

She sighed in distress, wracking her brain for a way to make amends.

“Maybe… tonight I should go apologize to her?

Or personally make a table full of her favorite sweets?

Or give her a bouquet of freshly bloomed white irises?”

The more she thought about it, the more inadequate all these ideas felt.

Just then, the corner of her eye caught sight of a familiar figure.

That flowing white hair, that slender silhouette, holding the hand of a pink-haired little girl, walking toward the pavilion.

“Sevia, are you okay?” Merorin asked with a smile as she reached the pavilion.

Hearing that familiar voice, Sevia was instantly invigorated, as if life had been breathed back into her.

She snapped the book shut with a [sound of a slap] and sprang up from the stone bench.

In just a few steps, she rushed to Merorin and, without hesitation, opened her arms and pulled her tightly into an embrace.

“Merorin!”

Her voice was filled with apology and lingering fear.

“I’m fine!

But I was really, really sorry just now!

I misunderstood you.

I shouldn’t have done that.

I shouldn’t have let my jealousy make me… treat you like that…

I truly regret it!”

She buried her face in Merorin’s hair, her tone sincere and remorseful.

Feeling Sevia’s trembling and regret, the corner of Merorin’s lips couldn’t help but curve into a faint smile.

She wasn’t truly angry with Sevia.

After all, in the daily life of the Demon King’s Castle, punishments born of love and jealousy were nothing unusual.

She had long grown accustomed to them, even able to read the other person’s affection from them.

She gently patted Sevia’s back, soothing her.

“Alright, alright.

I understand.

Don’t blame yourself anymore.”

She lifted her head and met Sevia’s eyes directly, a gentle smile on her face.

“Sevia, there’s something I’d like to ask of you.”

“What is it?” Sevia immediately pulled herself together and asked seriously.

She said with firm conviction, “If it’s something I can do, I’ll definitely help you!”

Hearing this, joy rose in Merorin’s heart.

She pointed to Louise beside her and said, “Could you help me teach Louise a bit?

She’s just arrived and doesn’t know anything yet.

I’d like her to learn some things from you.”

“Louise?”

Sevia followed her finger and looked at the timid little girl.

At that very instant, an extremely wicked thought slithered into her mind like a poisonous snake.

“Merorin wants me to teach this little succubus.

If I were to teach her the wrong things, make her embarrass herself, make her unable to learn…

Then Merorin would see that she’s no good and stop valuing her, choosing only me and relying only on me…”

The thought startled even Sevia herself.

She hurriedly shook her head hard, driving the dark idea away.

She sternly admonished herself.

“Sevia, how could you think like that?

That’s wrong.

Merorin trusts me and entrusts her maid to me for teaching.

How could I use that trust to hurt her?”

“Sevia?”

Seeing her lower her head and fail to respond for a long time, as if struggling with something, Merorin smiled and explained, “It’s not anything difficult.

It’ll only take a little of your time.

Just teach her some basic magical knowledge.”

Sevia’s thoughts were pulled back by Merorin’s gentle voice.

Looking at Merorin’s eyes, filled with trust, the last trace of gloom in her heart was swept away.

She revealed a gentle yet resolute smile, lowered her head, and answered seriously.

“No problem, Merorin.

Don’t worry.

Leave it to me.”