The Royal Library is at the center of the city next to the castle.
The smell of old books is pervasive inside the building. The windows are small, probably to prevent discolorations from sun rays. It's lit with magical light even though it's still noon.
The second floor houses the literatures.
By the way, Octopus Ton was a devil with bull horns, spider arms and octopus legs.
The myths of this world resemble the other myths. Creation God created the world, and let its children Gods to rule it. God of Sky, God of Earth, God of Wood, Water, Fire and such.
The priests and cardinals of this country are also of Vanus belief.
Leaving that aside, we couldn't find the God called Lapisia.
Celica lets out a sigh with her hand on her cheek.
"Well, I just happened to overheard it in a tavern."
"I'd rather check out ceremonies for Gods."
I'm not sure if it would listen to an appeal from an outsider like me though.
In the first place, I'll likely get turned to stone during the ceremony.
I unintentionally stop my hand and mutter.
"What's the matter?"
"There should be no monster that's dangerous in the exam."
"Such a dreadful thing...."
I'll fiddle with the drawing lots and pick anything but number 3.
We can pass it safely if I do that.
....But then, I won't be able to save the child God who told me not to look.
As a God, I can't stand that.
"They sell Earth Holy Water for curing petrification. However, items that can prevent petrification are very expensive. The cash in hands are..."
Having no money is painful.
However, petrification is even more painful.
"No, wait?"
"You should just be a stone from the beginning!!"
She caught and pulled my Wafuku's sleeve.
A librarian wearing a long robe came to the bookshelves related to myths where we were. He's smiling, but his eyes are not.
"Uh, sorry for being loud. We were investigating a God called Lapisia, but we had no success."
"Eh? You know about it!?"
"W-where can I read that!?"
"Thank you! We're saved!"
I see, it's a half-god so it's not in the myths.
"And also, please keep your voice down in the library."
"We're sorry."
We went out of the dim basement, and felt warm just from the sunlight coming from the small windows.
I pulled the 『Maternal Love』 from a picture book's bookshelf.
The Earth Goddess fell in love with a human man.
The Creation God who knew about the circumstance ordered the goddess to kill the child.
The goddess was going to kill the child.
She even thought of offering her life instead to seek pardon.
They would lie about killing the child, and hide the child in a coffin buried in the earth.
The child is still sleeping even now, embraced by the Mother Earth.
....So that's Lapisia.
In other words, rather than containing Lapisia's wrath itself, I should borrow the mother's power instead.
With a cheerful look on my face, I speak to Celica who should be nearby.
"Fe, ah, yes."
"Do you like picture books?"
"Hee."
"Hee."
With sparkling blue eyes, she said that powerfully like a dreaming girl.
"Ah, you don't understand the splendor of this story do you! This is~"
She kept on insisting during our way back to the inn.
Just hearing her bell-like clear voices was fun.
Next day. The day of the exam.
After eating some light breakfast, I immediately went to the hero registry.
Half of them are already occupied by the hero candidates. These guys seem used to it.
He was in plain clothes and acted lazily like he wasn't going to take an exam. His breath smells of alcohol.
I wait for it to begin while looking down on him.
Looks like he's the proctor.
"Ee, good morning everyone who's aiming to become the hero. We will now begin the test of 『Wisdom』 required for a hero. Geography, history, weapon, armor, magic. Monsters' weak points. All the wisdom needed for a hero as a leader who commands his party. We will choose 32 people with the highest marks from this exam. The test will end when the sun has inclined in the western sky."
"""HUH?"""
"Shouldn't it be until sunset!?"
Looks like it's shorter than the last year's exam.
"Those who aspire to become a hero have to be able to cope with any situation. And we will announce the result of the exam today at sunset."
"That's way too fast!"
"Last year, the people who passed the exam drew lots in another day to decide the turns to enter the Tower of Trial, how will it be this year?"
The examiner answers like it's natural.
The room rustles again.
Since everyone is in the same situation, they unwillingly approve.
The room is filled with noises of pens moving on the paper.
I answered all of them. There should be no mistake.
Well they can't exactly announce Gaff's score after all.
"The first who passes the written exam, Gaff."
The room is filled with surprises, and resenting mutters.
"Failing at these little problems huuh. You guys ain't qualified to be the hero."
The atmosphere inside worsen.
The second one was another guy.
"Third, Keika."
And then, the atmosphere inside subtly changes.
"Isn't Keika the guy who drove Gaff away?"
"You serious. I'd like to see that."
Looks like that Gaff guy is really hated. He probably acted violently in other shops besides the old man's.
"Tch!"
You're the bad one here. That guy is really irritating me.
Well anyway, for now it's ended as planned--.
The examiner who's standing in front of us speaks with a hoarse voice.
Several people stood up. Some heaves a sigh of relief, some bitterly bites their lips.
However, the examiner utters unexpected things lastly.
"""EEEH!"""
"I was going to hire the guys who failed!"
Such and such.
I'm thinking.
The exam this time is really set for Gaff to win.
He probably already knew about it. It's just as planned huh.
I had asked the tavern old man to look for people but he said it would take one week.
They probably will decline if we don't pay them.
--Now then, what should I do.