Chapter 141
Chapter 141
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: No Lovey-Dovey in the Library
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Everyone has those moments in life.
If only I had done things differently back then.
We all regret the actions we didn't take in the past and ponder the things we couldn't achieve.
For instance, what if I'd known from the start that Pine was a woman and kept my distance?
'...If I had, I wouldn't have been able to protect her from Magic Hat.'
I wouldn't have tried to team up with Pine for the group project. If that were the case, she might have ended up as the Nameless Saintess, just like in the original story.
In a game where even the smallest flags can branch the routes, this was a place to review what should have been done before.
The opposite of the Sage's future foresight—unrealized possibilities.
A place where all information from the past gathers through the power of the Goddess of Wisdom, Akasha. That is the Library of Truth.
'...No real gains here.'
The books the Reaper brought had crucial sections erased, as if someone had tampered with them maliciously. I leaned back against the chair, stretching my body.
I'd thought another version of me from a different route might have left something prepared, but there wasn't even a trace.
I'd hoped to learn about the Demon Kings here, but it was all scribbled over in black, as if to ensure I wouldn't find out.
Even when I asked the Reaper about the Demon Sword Horizon, he claimed he had no idea about such an item. Damn, can't I get my hands on this either?
I'd anticipated the massive amount of information would be overwhelming, but this is ridiculous.
"...I'll personally express my gratitude to you, Licht."
"Why's that?"
From beside me, green-haired Laplace bowed his head politely. His antique robe fluttered.
"To be honest, I was terrified of losing my position as librarian."
Laplace pointed to the wall. A long stone tablet listed the library's rules in detail.
"If you hadn't taken down the Head, our Claire might have been in danger."
If the Library of Truth were attacked, the blame would fall on the librarian or administrator.
The moment he lost his librarian post, even the fact that he'd cured his lover's incurable disease could be erased.
'I never heard of the Head attacking the academy in the game.'
There was no such event when the Omni-Knowing Demon King moved in the past.
Since it kept its identity hidden until the end of Knight Heart, appearing as a monocled Reaper from some Demon King's castle.
It could be a butterfly effect from me twisting Pine's future.
That's why it tested me. It must have suspected I was a hero trying to exploit the library.
"This won't do!! Why are you doing this all of a sudden!! Last time, you clearly..."
"Hand it over."
From afar, a small Reaper in a black robe and the Glass Knight were tussling over a single book with a clatter.
The Reaper was trembling as he looked at the Glass Knight.
Originally tasked with overseeing death, he was one of the NPCs that appeared on game over.
He didn't seem like the type to cower even before most powerhouses.
Even against my max-level character, his signature sarcasm remained intact. So why the sudden honorifics?
The Library of Truth's limit against the Head's ignorance was mere blanking out, and even Laplace's powers only caused the lights to flicker.
For its chief administrator to shake like this...
'What kind of book is that?'
I looked closely at the scene of Pine and the Reaper fighting. A notebook stained with bloodstains.
It resembled the notes I'd made from game knowledge—actually, it looked identical. The difference? The massive amount of blood smeared across the pages.
"That's an item the hero asked me to hold onto!!"
Pine snatched the book with brute force. With small pattering footsteps, the Glass Knight dashed over and hid behind me.
"Licht. This... smells like blood."
"...."
So that's why the Grim Reaper recognized Pine.
Another route's me—or Pine—had come here before. That was the only possibility.
"...Pine, do you know what this place is for?"
"A place where past possibilities and information converge."
She nodded. Pine tried to flee with the book, but I'd already grasped the severity and grabbed her arm.
"Exactly. Can't we read it together?"
"...No."
The golden eyes inside the glass helmet wavered.
No helping it. Time for my trump card. I decided that book needed reading—it was past info from another me.
"I'll pet your head."
"For real..? Gently, right..?"
Don't say things that could be misunderstood if overheard. Where'd she learn that?
At that, Pine removed her glass helmet and came closer. Her snow-white hair fell with a soft thud, and her wolf ears, perked back sweetly, looked so soft.
"...Hehe, got it."
Pine stuck right by my side and began reading the book with me. Our distance was so close that turning my head would brush her lips against my cheek.
As soon as I opened the notebook, a black rose bookmark fell out. They say the present is the gap between past and future.
'Something similar appeared in the Sage's vision of the future...'
I turned to the first page, but it was smeared with blood, rendering the text invisible. Another me had erased it.
There were traces of torn pages here and there, as if to destroy any evidence in case someone saw.
Flipping further, hurried, crooked handwriting appeared. Small, winding script.
【—Imperial Year 18, my loved one died.】
This year's calendar. Even tear stains.
【It was my oversight. I didn't anticipate the ploy of the Demon Kings of Truth, Omniscience, and Force—.】
The remaining two Demon Kings were probably Pin and Black Cloud.
【If only I'd realized sooner. I searched Tardun's temple and begged Pantos tearfully, but no miracle came.】
【After the Demon God War, they changed targets.】
【A hero from prophecy? I hate that...】
The notes ended there. No info on the future.
I wanted to know what Black Cloud Demon King was too.
"...."
"Licht. This..."
Probably a route where I failed. The case where Mardol didn't realize she was the Nameless Saintess I sought and kept distance.
By the way, the war the Ten Heroes fought in the past was called the Demon God War. I found info on the ?Myth that popped up in my status window.
Demon God Myth. Probably meaning turning into the game's final boss monster.
Did I write that after accepting all penalties? No, that'd be future info.
'...Pine died before I could even check the love line?'
Only one possibility.
The big flags I nearly missed: Magic Hat's assault and the Head's academy invasion.
Another was the little kid's advice to grab the Mana Rose.
"Pine, mind if I step away alone for a bit?"
"...Yeah, don't push yourself too hard."
I got up and dashed to a corner like fleeing. My eyelids stung. So this is what another route brings—such tragedy.
The reason I'd staked my life on the 'Grand Route.'
This game's world is pretty dark, and endings branch massively based on player choices.
Dennis gets poisoned, Kainel builds a harem, Nex turns traitor and becomes a Hero Cult pawn.
'In another worldline, I failed to protect Pine.'
My fist clenched. Nausea welled up inside.
If I'd blindly followed the status window's no-combat advice, that might've happened.
"...That status window can go fuck itself."
I spat out the curse in frustration. It meant only two outcomes: become the Nameless Saintess or die. I felt relieved I'd twisted the future.
"I can't stay like this."
Even if penalties turn me into a zealot for the Hero Cult or a boss monster via Demon God Myth, I can't let Pine get hurt.
But how? What the hell do I do...
At least three Demon Kings ahead. How far can my incomplete Demon King Slayer reach?
Ah, right, that.
A memorable term from the note: Tardun's temple.
The god of swordsmanship that wields will.
Drake's 66-day training feels too unstable now. What if I do it here?
If Akasha's temple is like this, something must be here too.
While Licht was away, Pine felt an odd sense of déjà vu staring at the memo.
'...This handwriting looks familiar.'
Too small for Licht's script. Unlike his messy scrawl, the words looked precise.
Pine, who'd made a habit of secretly watching the Black Knight during lectures, recognized it.
"Since I brought this... please go easy on me!"
"...Huh?"
That was when the Grim Reaper approached Pine with a book. A cover adorned with a black rose, quite striking.
"Kehehe, you're really done meddling in our library, right? You promised!"
The little Reaper chattered his teeth in a grin.
The title on the cover read How for a Werewolf Woman to Devour a Human Man—somewhat brutal.
Out of curiosity, she flipped through it. Pine's eyes went wide.
"It's so lewd..."
Pine covered her mouth with one hand. Seemed too stimulating for her.
But her other hand kept turning pages relentlessly. Eyes devouring every word without missing a letter.
"Huh? But this is definitely the book you requested last time..."
The Grim Reaper tilted his head. He'd carefully selected it from reservations, not expecting this reaction.
"You mean... I requested this..?"
"Of course! Here's the requester's name ri—"
Pine's cheeks and neck flushed crimson as she shot back. Laplace felt doubt watching her swallow repeatedly.
He couldn't stay in the library full-time due to academy headmaster duties.
Just as he was about to say it seemed like a mix-up from another worldline's figure...
"Pine, what're you doing there..?"
"Ah, uh.. It's nothing..! I didn't see anything weird!"
The helmeted Black Knight burst in after gathering his thoughts, creating a hilarious scene.
Mischievous Laplace smirked, watching the spectacle.
"How to devour... a human..?"
Licht paled seeing the title on the book Pine clutched to hide it. He even backed up, fumbling for books behind.
Even the oblivious would notice, but the lettering cleverly obscured the content.
"I'll... borrow this."
"As expected of your discerning eye!"
Embarrassed, Pine bowed her head low, while the Grim Reaper wiped sweat from his skull in relief.