They all call me Great Master

The match scraped across the sandpaper.

Hiss!

Ignited by the heat from the friction with the sandpaper, the match burst fully into flame. Arthur, holding the match, lit the Vigilance Oil Lamp, its range of illumination brighter than that of a standard lamp, allowing him to better discern the books within the iron box.

'Book of Death', two notebooks.

One of the 'Book of Death' was fragmentary—just five pages when including the cover with no signs of tearing. Just five pages!

Arthur was certain that this incomplete 'Book of Death' was transcribed—upon first sighting the words 'Book of Death', his innate sense from 'Spirituality' and 'Breath of Death' told him that the 'Book of Death' was not supposed to be like this.

Then, Arthur examined the paper and ink.

The yellowing paper and dim ink all indicated to Arthur that they were old, but definitely not fifty years old nor to mention a century.

If it really had been from that era, the paper made from a mix of mulberry bark and jute would have been extremely brittle, crumbling to the touch.

Of course, the ultimate confirmation of transcription was the handwriting inside the 'Book of Death' itself.

Messy!

Exceptionally messy!

And trembling at the beginning!

Just by looking at such handwriting, Arthur felt as if he could see someone hurriedly copying it.

Moreover, in a manner...

Not meant to see the light of day!

Arthur quickly confirmed his conjecture through the other two notebooks.

Two notebooks—one was William's own, the other came from an elder of the Sank family—

I know I shouldn't do this!

But this is the legendary 'Book of Death'!

The rumored 'Book of Death' which could complete the 'God Ascension Steps'!

By ascending the ten steps and becoming 'Death', all those dead friends and family members can be resurrected!

...

I, Langfellow, and Gilbert all made the same choice.

I won't blame them.

Nor will they blame me.

Our relationship has grown closer.

...

The 'Book of Death' is truly magnificent!

By borrowing just a fraction of its power, I saw my deceased father. Yet he was very silent. I know he was angry, believing I'd dishonored the 'Hunter' heritage, but I just wanted to see him. What's wrong with that?

I am not wrong!

I am the one in the right!

...

Langfellow saw his mother.

Gilbert saw his master.

That night, we drank ourselves into oblivion.

...

A brief reunion is not enough; we needed to bring our loved ones back to our side forever.

There are such techniques in the 'Book of Death'—quite profound techniques, but...

Why is it missing the most fundamental and crucial part?

It lacks the initial 'Ritual'!

Without the 'Aura of Death', we simply cannot mobilize the 'Power of Death' to perform such secret techniques. Is this some kind of joke from 'Death'?

...

I, Langfellow, and Gilbert talked it over all night.

Ultimately, we decided to join the ranks of the Witch Hunters.

Without the initial 'Ritual', we took it upon ourselves to hunt for the 'Aura of Death', to harness the 'Power of Death'!

...

Coming from 'Hunter' families, the three of us quickly made a name for ourselves in a series of witch hunting operations.

Warlock after warlock, witch, and vile creature were sent to the burning stake by us.

Being able to collect 'Aura of Death' and hunt down these vile beings was truly satisfying.

Using my knowledge as a 'Hunter' combined with the knowledge from the 'Book of Death', I created a small secret technique 'Pit of Death' to store the collected Death Qi.

Langfellow and Gilbert were amazed at my talent.

I played it off as nothing, but deep down felt somewhat proud.

...

We received news.

The remnants of the 'Tower of Mist' were active in 'Andrzej Town'.

The three of us packed and set off.

...

Damn!

It was a trap; we were betrayed by the nobles of North County.

I killed that bastard noble and his entourage.

The target was also taken care of, but Langfellow died, and Gilbert lost his right hand.

I got away unscathed, but something was off with my mental state. While resting at the camp—before my eyes kept appearing the chief of the 'Tower of Mist' from 'Andrzej Town', ceaselessly screaming at us.

She called us 'thieves'.

Saying we stole the 'Sacred Relic' of the 'Tower of Mist'.

...

Gilbert and I used the collected 'Aura of Death' to invoke the 'Power of Death' and resurrected Langfellow with the resurrection secret technique.

However, probably due to the impurity of the 'Power of Death', Langfellow was a bit dull.

Still, we tested him with 'Salt Brick Oil Sword' and confirmed that Langfellow was truly himself.

A few days later, Langfellow returned to normal.

Gilbert fitted his right hand with a hook, and we teased him together for looking like a pirate.

...

That minor noble's death was discovered by the remaining nobles of North County, and we were wanted, but 'Hunter' companions helped us safely arrive in South County. Here, the 'Hunter' friends warmly welcomed us.

But Langfellow began to fall ill.

He became so weak that he could not even lift a longsword, needing support to walk.

Gilbert and I treated him with a continuous stream of 'Aura of Death', and though he improved, the condition could only be maintained for a week before requiring even more 'Aura of Death'.

We continued to hunt down evil entities.

At the same time, we sought help from the local 'Hunters'.

...

A month later, 'Hunter' companions brought us news, 'Cat Faction.Black' should be able to help us.

With Langfellow in tow, we headed to 'Mountain of Cats' to seek out the current 'Black Cat'.

...

Tch, are all cats this aloof?

But their strength is truly formidable.

...

Can cats also see through lies?

Alright, I admit I was wrong.

...

I recounted everything to Gilbert and promised to lend the Book of Death for their perusal.

Then, that cat proudly rejected the Book of Death. Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

"Cats, do not need such inconvenient objects!"

To this day, I still remember how that guy crossed his arms and stood with an air of arrogance.

Although I really wanted to hit him, I truly couldn't beat him—how could a person be so powerful?

...

That guy treated Langfellow, dispelling the mixed feelings within the Aura of Death, but Langfellow was still very weak. That guy suggested we go to the Valley of Cats to find the current Orange Cat.

We set out again, driving away evil creatures as we went on our way.

But the Valley of Cats was already deserted.

The Cliff of Cats, the Forest of Cats—there were no traces of any Cat Faction Member anywhere.

Could it be that they have returned to the legendary Cave of Cats?

...

While we were puzzled, we heard rumors that that guy was being surrounded and attacked by a coalition of noble forces from both South County and North County.

We sped on horseback towards the Mountain of Cats.

There he stood.

There were already seventy-four corpses on the ground, yet there were even more people around.

I tried to use the power of the Book of Death to take that guy away.

But he refused.

"Cats, do not walk in embarrassment."

Carrying his last words, that cat charged into the enemy, swinging its Cat Claws, dodging and leaping, killing hundreds with one against many.

I had to do something.

Those bastards, I had to do something.

...

Hah, the Blood Marquis?

Blood and death are meant to dance together, so let you experience the erosion of the Aura of Death.

I chose to strike at the most conspicuous person among the attackers.

They were eroded by the overwhelming Aura of Death.

And we revealed our whereabouts.

But we didn't care.

A bunch of scum.

...

After being chased for four months, we finally shook off our pursuers. We've been very silent in the past few days; none of us spoke, but we all reminisced about that guy.

The evil beings we hunted, were they really evil?

If they were really evil, why would that guy be hunted down?

That guy was only arrogant but kind-hearted.

...

We began to investigate the truth of the matter.

...

Hah, the truth is so cruel.

...

Langfellow chose death.

Gilbert went to sea.

And I chose to guard this Book of Death.

The initial purpose?

It doesn't matter anymore.

...

Hah, Sank from the Sank family?

Good for him, turns out I'm his uncle.

In the end, after refusing to make copies, that blade was really ruthless.

Just a replica of The First Blade had caused me such an injury?

Truly terrifying!

Maybe this is the retribution for my misuse of the Book of Death.

I hope that guy didn't transcribe too much.

I can no longer stop it.

The only consolation is that the Book of Death won't fall into others' hands with my death, at least temporarily.

...

The notes ended abruptly there, and Arthur, stroking his chin, had roughly reconstructed the circumstances—Sank from the Sank family must have learned from somewhere that the owner of the notes had the Book of Death and wanted to make copies.

After being refused, he immediately took action.

He killed the owner of the notes with his trump card.

Then, Sank found that as the note's owner died, the Book of Death also began to disappear, leaving him only enough time to hurriedly transcribe, including the cover, only five pages.

Afterward?

That was when Sank, with the Sank family, fled North County, and on the ship, encountered William.

Of course, there were details Arthur didn't know, just as he couldn't guess there was any interaction between the note's owner and 'Cat Faction.Black.'

Furthermore, he even launched a surprise attack on the Blood Marquis for 'Cat Faction.Black.'

This also caused Bern's misunderstanding. With his bloodline and having been tainted with the true Aura of the Book of Death, the youngest member of the Blood Clan took the Sank family as an enemy.

"Destiny," Arthur muttered under his breath, but deep inside, he was filled with even greater doubts.

What truth did the three 'Hunters' ultimately investigate?

Why did it shatter the convictions of the three 'Hunters'?

"Could it be related to the Book of Death?

Or was it all a 'trick' from the beginning?

It should have nothing to do with Old Charlie, who during the 'witch hunting,' the Seven Years' War, to be safe, was tailoring for the ladies in Inner Bay.

Only after the Seven Years' War did he move to South Los.

He then acted under the title of 'Spirit Medium' again. With Old Charlie's caution, it probably took ten years... hiss, it can't be that his first job upon reopening was with William?"

Thinking of this made Arthur gasp.

He no longer knew whether to say William was lucky or unlucky.

But as a 'Spirit Medium,' his luck should not be bad.

Arthur picked up the transcribed Book of Death and William's notes, flipped briefly through William's notes to confirm that it was just research on the Book of Death, which had many mistakes and omissions, then Arthur abandoned these notes and began to prepare to focus on reading the Book of Death.

However, just as he was about to open the cover, he suddenly thought of something.

In an instant, the young 'Spirit Medium's' complexion turned ugly, and he muttered softly to himself—

"No way?"