The atmosphere inside the academy library was incredibly serene, punctuated only by the rustling of turning pages and the hushed whispers of a few students.
However, that tranquility did not apply to Arvin. The blue-haired youth walked briskly down the aisles of bookshelves, grabbing various magic books without paying any mind to the perplexed stares from the students and librarians watching him.
Right now, his focus was solely fixed on one thing: finding a book on cloning magic.
On the first floor, Arvin scanned every book he picked up at an absurd speed. His eyes darted rapidly, absorbing strings of text and magical structures. Yet, out of the hundreds of books he had opened and read, not a single one mentioned cloning magic. Even up to the very last book on the first floor, the result remained zero.
Letting out a long sigh, Arvin made his way up the stairs to the second floor of the library, which housed advanced magical literature.
I hope the book is on the second floor. he thought hopefully. But if it's really not there, I have no choice but to wait until the tournament arrives so I can enter their royal library.
Upon arriving on the second floor, Arvin immediately resumed his search. His hands deftly grabbed stacks of books from the shelves and set them down on a table.
Suddenly, the image of the disappointed faces of his four spouses flashed clearly in his mind. I don't want to make them feel disappointed ever again.
He combed through the shelves one by one. Book after book, he opened, read, and analyzed the magical structures within seconds. However, no matter how hard he searched, cloning magic seemed completely nonexistent in the academy library.
As time passed, Arvin's hand movements began to slow. He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.
Good heavens... he groaned inwardly, feeling a sharp, throbbing pain assault his temples. My head is spinning after forcing myself to read and absorb hundreds of magical theories in such a short time. My brain feels like it's going to explode.
Even though his head throbbed intensely from cramming too much magical information into his memory, Arvin's eyes showed no signs of giving up.
For the sake of their smiles, I have to do this.
His resolve burned fiercely. His love and sense of responsibility toward Allen, Alrain, Ordion, and Alvein overpowered his physical pain. Arvin continued to read and examine the remaining books on the second floor without a single complaint.
Time marched on, accompanying his stubborn efforts, until he finally reached the very last book on the farthest shelf.
As he closed the final page of that book, Arvin fell silent. He had to swallow a bitter pill. A book about cloning magic truly did not exist in the academy library.
With a profound sense of disappointment, Arvin walked out of the library. The anxious fear of losing the cheerful smiles of his four spouses haunted his mind once more as he walked down the academy corridors.
Upon arriving in front of Class 1-A, the large wooden door was still firmly shut. The faint voice of a teacher explaining the lesson could be heard, indicating that the class was still ongoing.
Arvin leaned his back against the cold corridor wall, folding his arms across his chest as he waited for the class to end. His mind raced as he desperately searched for alternatives.
Where else should I look? Should I go to the foothills and explore the remains of those ancient ruins?
However, the thought of the time difference between those ruins and the outside world immediately stopped him in his tracks.
No! No! Arvin shook his head slowly. If I end up trapped in there for days, everything will fall apart. I can't be reckless. My current goal must remain focused on the inter-kingdom tournament so I can enter their royal library with the privileged status of an academy student.
Feeling that waiting in front of the class would only make him more restless, Arvin straightened his posture and walked toward the quiet academy garden. The daytime breeze gently blew, slightly easing the dizziness in his head.
Since I still have some free time, I should make clothes for Alrain, Ordion, Alvein, and Yonna to fulfill my promise.
Arriving at the garden, he sat down on one of the shaded benches.
Using the fabric rolls he had purchased earlier, Arvin began to focus on his work. With precise mana control and masterful skill in his alchemy magic, the sheets of fabric were neatly cut and sewn together, perfectly matching his imagination.
Time slipped away unnoticed. Arvin finally finished making numerous sets of beautiful and comfortable clothes for the four of them, then stored them safely inside his dimensional storage space.
Once his task was complete, Arvin looked up. The bright daytime sky was now beginning to be obscured by rolling, gray rain clouds. The sudden change in weather caused his thoughts to drift toward the very real threat lurking in the future.
If I remember correctly, four months after the inter-kingdom tournament, Dalvanel will come back to the capital after completing his education in the Holy Kingdom. Arvin noted inwardly, his expression turning serious. Before that happens, I need to have completely destroyed that cave and everything connected to his insane immortality ritual.
He stared at the darkening clouds gathering in the sky. If I fail to stop him, that massacre will happen all over again. And what I fear the most... Alrain will be incredibly disappointed in me for failing to save the lives of innocent people, especially since I have the power to do so.
Crackt! Thoom!
A sudden flash of lightning split the overcast sky, followed by a deafening clap of thunder, as if echoing the intense tension building in his chest.
A light drizzle slowly began to fall, dampening the grounds. Feeling the cold drops of water hit his cheek, Arvin quickly got up and walked briskly toward the academy building so his uniform wouldn't get soaked.
As he stepped into the shelter of the shaded corridors, he gave a wry smile, laughing at himself.
I don't even know what's going through my mind right now. I transmigrated into the body of a villain, yet the actions I'm taking are exactly like a hero trying to save the world. he mused, finding it both amusing and highly ironic.
Arvin let out a long breath, allowing the cool, post-rain air to fill his lungs, as if trying to exhale all the heavy burdens weighing on his mind.
Ah... whatever! he decided firmly in his heart. I don't care if I'm a hero or a villain. I only want to protect my spouses and my family in this world.
The original Arvin's profound love for his family, combined with his own immense affection for his current harem, had fused into an unshakable resolve. There's no way I'm going to let the people I care about die a senseless death just because of an immortality-obsessed psychopath like Dalvanel.
Crackt! Thoom!
Once again, a flash of white light, followed immediately by the roar of thunder, tore through the sky, unleashing a heavy downpour that drenched the entire academy grounds that afternoon.
Arvin stared out into the pouring rain, his gaze turning sharp and ice-cold. Just you wait, Dalvanel! I will absolutely crush your insane plans to sacrifice so many people for the sake of that ridiculous immortality!