The Magic Tower’s library was said to contain every book related to magic in existence—and it wasn’t an exaggeration. I was thrilled at first to witness a library straight out of a fantasy novel with my own eyes, but that excitement didn’t last long. My mind was once again tangled in anxiety.
“What on earth am I supposed to do for a living in this world?”
Sitting in a corner by the window, I clutched my head, trying to find an answer to this impossible question.
Thankfully, the original Ethel’s knowledge from before I possessed her remained faintly in my mind. She had clearly studied diligently—she may have lacked magical power, but she had a deep passion for magic.
If she’d had that kind of drive back in my world, she would’ve been a highly respected scholar or a professor by now.
I felt a sudden pang of sympathy for Ethel, who might be floating around somewhere. But now, this life was mine. And this problem was urgent—my feet were practically in the fire.
Sniffling back threatening tears, I pulled out a notebook from my pocket, scribbled a number, and circled it.
When you’re stuck, the best thing to do is take stock of what you have in hand. Staring at the notebook, I began listing out Ethel’s practical assets one by one.
Her resume isn’t bad. She’s worked at the Magic Tower for over four years, after all.
Even if she hadn’t played a major role in the novel, she had at least officially entered the Tower and been registered as a proper mage. That background alone was nothing to scoff at.
After all, names and affiliations always carry weight.
“Yeah… A mage from the Magic Tower, the center of magical study on the continent. That doesn’t sound bad at all.”
The problem, though, was that Ethel—now me—was practically powerless.
Being able to use magic was a mage’s greatest strength, but I didn’t have that.
So maybe…
“Maybe I should study more magic and try teaching?”
I recalled my days as a guest lecturer during university. The director had even asked me to keep teaching with a raise, so I must’ve done something right.
Yeah, going back to teaching kids might actually be fulfilling.
“I wonder if they require a degree here too?”
Ugh. I really don’t want to go back to school. Hopefully being from the Magic Tower will be enough to get by.
Still, I felt like I was finally onto a decent idea. I wrote “Teacher” next to the first number and started sketching out a second one.
“What else is there…”
Hmm. No other ideas were coming to me.
I pulled a few books from a nearby shelf and flipped through the pages quickly. Since I had no idea what I could do outside the Tower, I was determined to find any sort of clue, no matter how small.
It seemed like Ethel had studied magical principles and history thoroughly, but thanks to living inside the Tower her whole life, she seemed pretty clueless about how the world outside worked.
“Now that I think about it, something like a newspaper or magazine would probably be more helpful.”
Hmm. I might need help from Duke Meliz. Or maybe I could just ask one of the kinder-looking mages I’ve seen around.
The book I happened to pick up was titled A History of Artifacts.
“Artifacts? Oh—those things that let you use magic even without magic power?”
I knew what they were even without Ethel’s memories. They appeared in the novel often enough. If I remembered right, they were pretty expensive.
When I opened to the first page, I found a simple explanation written in the language of this world: artifacts required high-quality mana stones and magic power to craft. It was odd, but the words entered my brain naturally, as if the world was gently accommodating me, a possessor.
“‘The purer the mana stone, the more efficient the artifact created.’ Hmph. Still useless if you don’t have magic.”
With my abilities, I’d probably get no efficiency at all. What a shame.
Smacking my lips in disappointment, I slid the book back into place. Time to look for something else.
“Let’s see… something stable… something long-term…”
Just then, an annoyingly familiar voice interrupted my thoughts.
“What, are you scribbling in your diary again? Or still running around looking for a way to magically gain power?”
The voice was far too loud for a quiet library.
Two men had apparently entered unnoticed, now standing in front of me and casting long shadows over the table. With scowls and narrowed eyes, they glared down at me.
Ah. So it’s these jerks.
From the leftover fragments of Ethel’s memories, I quickly figured out who they were. These were the ones who always tormented her.
One of them—probably Benjamin, a burly mage with a few strands of precious brown hair carefully slicked to one side—stepped forward.
The third son of a noble family, constantly trying to earn Duke Meliz’s favor, wasn’t it?
He was also the violent bastard who had recently pushed Ethel off a library ladder while she was engrossed in a book.
Ugh, what’s up with that aggressively free-form face of his?!
His voice was gruff, and his face was somehow even worse up close.
Ethel had always been looked down upon, but the bullying really started after the prince had been brought to the Magic Tower. Duke Meliz had placed a powerful barrier around the top floor, and only he and Ethel had access to it. That had apparently been the beginning of the problem.
Because it was related to the prince—someone at the top of the power chain—Benjamin had been ridiculously jealous.
It’s not like Ethel asked to be involved.
Since I possessed her, this was the first time I was facing them myself.
They seemed to have conveniently forgotten that Ethel had fainted the last time they caused trouble. Or maybe, since she hadn’t said anything, they figured it had all blown over.
“Still, I guess writing that silly diary is the only way to justify giving free room and board to a talentless loser like you. Haha!”
The other one, who had a face like a rat, snickered and added his own nasty comment.
I think he was the son of a servant from Benjamin’s family. I couldn’t even remember his name.
Thinking of how Ethel had endured all of this alone for so long made my blood boil. I gently set my book down and raised a hand to my lips.
“Oh my, excuse me… What did you just say?”
“W-what?”
I couldn’t exactly grab their hair and start a catfight, so I opted to get under their skin instead. I opened my eyes wide as if I’d just heard something shocking and looked at them like I’d just been betrayed by my childhood heroes.
They clearly hadn’t expected that kind of reaction.
“Did you just say… that the very important task personally assigned by the great Duke Meliz, master of the Magic Tower and a noble of the Ludensa Empire, is just some silly diary?”
Feigning innocence, I trembled with an awkward expression, subtly twisting the knife. The best way to deal with jerks like this is to match their level—with flair.
Ethel probably tried to deal with it alone until now, but I’m not that kind of person.
Ten years in the workforce had shown me all sorts of nastiness. I knew exactly what worked on idiots like this.
“How could you! If Duke Meliz said it was necessary, it must be important!”
Translation: You two morons are mocking a task directly ordered by Duke Meliz himself.
My tone must have landed because both Benjamin and the rat’s faces turned bright red.
“N-no, that’s not what I meant!”
“I meant the diary, not Duke Meliz—!”
Their excuses were completely uncoordinated.
“Yes, the diary. The one Duke Meliz explicitly said was important. That one. You’re saying that’s useless, right?”
“That’s not—!”
I let out a deep, regretful sigh and shook my head.
“So that’s what you really thought, huh? Oh no… But I can’t just ignore the opinions of my senior mages. I guess… I’ll have to ask Duke Meliz about it?”
Blinking innocently, I tilted my head like a clueless newbie who simply wanted to clear up a misunderstanding.
This was a very different reaction from Ethel’s usual silence and submission.
“N-no! Come on, I mean, it’s not totally meaningless or anything! You—Mikel! What nonsense were you even talking about?!”
“M-me? Huh?”
Oh, so the rat’s name is Mikel?
Now that the blame was being dumped on him, Mikel pointed at himself and stammered.
But after a moment, he seemed to catch on and nodded furiously.
“Ah, yes, yes! I did say that—but that’s not what I meant! Not at all! Right, right!”
Wow. A textbook display of a higher-up avoiding responsibility.
“Anyway, we’re very busy! Ahem!”
Avoiding my innocent, wide-eyed stare, Benjamin and Mikel muttered vague excuses and beat a hasty retreat.
“Ugh, what pathetic losers.”
Honestly, what kind of grown men throw tantrums because Duke Meliz favors a young girl?
Can’t help it if Ethel’s cute!
“Ugh, gross and petty.”
In possession stories, the main character usually gets some overpowered cheat ability and blasts all the bullies away. I wish I could land at least one punch—it’d feel amazing!
But I didn’t get any possession buff. Just Ethel’s knowledge. That’s all.
Seriously, if you’re going to throw me into another world, couldn’t you at least give me some legendary-level mana?
I sighed deeply, wondering how much longer I’d have to put up with guys like that.
“Well, time to go see the prince.”
Nothing soothes the soul like a little eye candy when you’re feeling down.
