Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Chapter 1 - Floor 1 #12
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Tissue paper.
It was in the living room, the bathroom, and the bedroom.
Just as it was easy to find anytime, anywhere, it had countless uses.
Of course, there was an undeniable gap between real tissue paper and the paper used to make books, but it was still better than the gap between leaves and tissue paper.
'It's not just for wiping.'
Paper burned well.
It was easy to handle because it was easy to shape.
Its uses were truly endless. Fold it properly, and it could even become a bowl for food.
'This is only possible because of purification magic.'
Lucille was truly capable.
Nodding to himself, Cheon-ho slotted books into the bookshelf while lost in thought.
'There must be some useful books here.'
Etiquette for Imperial Citizens: 100 Essentials would surely come in handy if he met any imperial citizens.
And then there were the truly practical ones.
'If you go to another world, study that world's history, geography, and culture.'
'Is that an extension of the teaching that information is important?'
'That's part of it, but it also makes you likable.'
'What do you mean?'
'Imagine a blond, blue-eyed foreigner passing by who knows a lot about Korea and praises its culture. They even speak a bit of Korean.'
'They seem like a good person.'
'Exactly. So study up. It's a great way to win people over.'
The more he recalled it, the more his father's teachings felt like blood and flesh—vital and nourishing.
Unknowingly wearing a faint smile, Cheon-ho suddenly turned to Lucille.
She was looking up at him with eyes full of slight wonder.
"Lucille?"
"Ah, sorry. You just seemed so happy."
You really love books.
Lucille smiled brightly, and Cheon-ho nodded.
"Yeah, I'm glad we stopped by the tower. Especially... this bookshelf will be really useful."
"Really? That... bookshelf?"
Bookshelf?
Why the bookshelf?
For a moment, the kite shield and helmet came to Lucille's mind, but she decided to wait for Cheon-ho's answer.
Cheon-ho caressed the smooth bookshelf and said,
"It's not easy to find wooden planks in this condition in the labyrinth."
There was no plane.
No sandpaper either.
Dozens of well-finished planks had appeared before Cheon-ho, who lacked such tools.
'Perfect.'
He could even make a bed by dismantling this.
It wouldn't be complicated either.
Rip out all the inner planks of the bookshelf, layer giant rat pelts on the floor, weave robes into a mattress on top, and it was done.
Plus Lucille's wing blanket on top.
With inventory storage, transporting the bed would be no issue.
And the bed was just the beginning.
"Hmm."
Cheon-ho gave the bookshelf a meaningful look, then turned back to Lucille.
"Lucille, is there enough space in the inventory?"
"Uh... you're putting the whole bookshelf in there?"
"If possible."
"It should... be possible, but... I think we need to discard some of the monster and bug corpses from before."
"No choice. Please do."
He had collected the bug corpses out of a vague collector's instinct—maybe their fluids or shells would come in handy someday.
With Cheon-ho's permission, Lucille let out a sigh of relief for some reason and dumped the bug corpses in one corner of the first floor.
'It feels like cleaning out my pockets.'
Books and bookshelves were far better than bugs.
Feeling motivated, Lucille began filling the inventory with bookshelves and books.
After helping Lucille clear out the bookshelves, Cheon-ho's eyes turned to the carpet laid on the stairs.
'It'll be useful.'
Perfect for blocking out the cold.
So Cheon-ho decided to take the carpet too. He rolled it up and tucked it neatly into the inventory.
"Um... is it okay for us to do this?"
They had come into the tower, but instead of going up to the second floor, they were looting everything.
Lucille spoke in a slightly worried tone, and Cheon-ho nodded with a handsome face.
"It'll be fine."
They had entered the tower to loot in the first place.
And there was no owner around.
"More importantly, Lucille, if we pry those glowing stones off the wall, will they still glow?"
The glowing stones embedded in the walls and ceiling drove away the darkness on the first floor.
Lucille answered with a slightly drained face.
"The glow comes from the magic on the tower... They won't glow if removed."
"Hmm, but they're special stones, right? Like magic stones."
"Lowest grade, but... magic stones are magic stones."
"I see. We'll grab them on the way out."
Who knew when he'd see magic stones again.
It was important to collect them when he could.
Lucille nodded reflexively at Cheon-ho's resourceful words and glanced toward the stairs.
"By the way, Hero. This tower seems connected to the Empire."
"The Empire?"
Come to think of it, the first book he pulled out was titled Etiquette for Imperial Citizens: 100 Essentials.
Lucille nodded and said,
"Yes, the Empire. The greatest human nation that existed before the world was devoured by the Great Labyrinth. Its full name is the Aiter Empire."
"It doesn't exist now?"
"When the world was swallowed by the Great Labyrinth... the Empire suffered the most. It shattered into dozens of fragments scattered throughout the Great Labyrinth."
"So the lineage persists in some form."
"That's true, but... the imperial line is effectively broken. Some survivors from the Empire's elite claim the name, but there's no central figure."
In fact, the Empire wasn't the only nation to collapse this way.
Almost all countries swallowed by the Great Labyrinth met similar fates.
"The world is still being eroded by the Great Labyrinth right now. And someday... when the entire world is swallowed... that will be true extinction. Our world will vanish, and the fragments and people eroded into the Great Labyrinth will lose their roots and disappear. Truly devoured by the Great Labyrinth."
Lucille's voice carried fear.
Cheon-ho gripped her hand tightly and said,
"We have to stop that before it happens. We can stop it. No, we will."
"Hero."
Lucille gazed at Cheon-ho with sparkling eyes.
And a light window appeared.
[Lewd has reached Lv3.]
'No, why?'
But that wasn't important now.
Recalling his father's words, Cheon-ho told Lucille,
"So, as our first step, let's conquer this tower."
"Yes, Hero."
Lucille clenched her fist as if reenergized and smiled brightly. Cheon-ho was satisfied.
He let go of her hand, soothing his lingering regret.
"Hmm, so this tower is connected to the Empire."
"Yes, the emblem on the bookshelves and floor is the Aiter Empire's crest. It seems part of the Empire... specifically the imperial household... was eroded into the Great Labyrinth and took the form of this tower."
The Empire.
And the imperial household.
His hero's intuition hadn't failed him.
Just hearing about it screamed money—no, it sounded promising.
"What was the Empire like?"
"It was advanced in both swords and magic. As the largest nation on the continent, it was home to not just humans but various races."
It wasn't hugely helpful info, and he doubted he'd get more.
So Cheon-ho decided to act instead of talk further.
"Got it. Let's head to the second floor. We might find more info."
"Yes, Hero. And be careful. Unlike the first floor, I sense monsters on the second."
"You too, Lucille."
Cheon-ho readjusted his kukri and ascended the stone stairs stripped of their carpet.
It was just as he reached the entrance to the second floor.
"He—"
Lucille opened her mouth. But almost simultaneously—no, a fraction faster—Cheon-ho moved. He extended his left arm to shield her, lowered his stance, and glared ahead.
He sensed presence from the front.
But it was different from before.
Unlike the wild animals or poachers he had encountered while camping with his father in the mountains.
Unlike the monsters he had faced in the labyrinth world.
An alien aura.
But a clearly detectable sensation.
[Acquired Presence Detection Lv1.]
[Presence Detection has reached Lv3.]
Cheon-ho naturally breathed the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
And he instinctively knew what that alien aura was.
It was like internal energy.
Mana.
Magical power.
He felt Lucille gathering mana behind him. At the same time, he sensed magical power approaching from ahead.
And one more thing.
'No killing intent.'
No hostility either.
But Cheon-ho didn't let his guard down. It was an unfamiliar labyrinth world.
Moreover, he wasn't alone. He had to protect Lucille.
After a few seconds.
The source of the magical power finally revealed itself.
[Oh... we give thanks to the five goddesses.]
[How long we have awaited the day a living being would visit this place!]
A blue, translucent human figure appeared at the door.
Lucille spoke quickly and softly.
"Hero, it's a pure ghost. Not a ghost-type monster—seems like a human soul bound as an earthbound spirit."
"Hmm."
Cheon-ho looked at the ghost again.
An elderly man.
His loose-fitting clothes looked comfortable to wear but impractical for movement.
The glasses and overall vibe screamed scholar.
"I'm Park Cheon-ho. This is Lucille, the angel who serves the five goddesses."
As Cheon-ho slightly lowered his kukri-holding hand, the old man's face brightened.
[Oh! An angel has come!]
A favorable reaction.
He had mentioned Lucille on purpose after seeing the ghost pray to the five goddesses, and it worked.
Cheon-ho gave Lucille a look, and the quick-witted angel stepped forward.
"I am Lucille, angel serving the five goddesses. Why does one who should return to Eos, Goddess of Death, Darkness, and Dawn, linger on this earth?"
As Lucille spoke calmly with holy light emanating, the old man knelt fully in prayer.
Cheon-ho inwardly admired this side of Lucille, different from her usual self.
The old man answered Lucille.
[I am Notrang Painot, humble librarian of the Imperial Library.]
To summarize the rest briefly:
When the Empire was swallowed by the Great Labyrinth, the imperial household was too.
As Lucille predicted, part of it became this tower and was left here, but tragically, the first to find it weren't humans, but monsters.
[That was when I lost my life.]
But Notrang's soul remained in the tower.
Partly because the tower gained mystical power upon entering the Great Labyrinth, but mostly from his sense of duty as imperial librarian to protect it, even partially.
[Evil monsters have occupied this tower. Angel, I beg you—exterminate the monsters and safeguard the Empire's treasure at the top floor.]
"The Empire's treasure?"
At Cheon-ho's question, Notrang's face lit up with pride. He continued with immense self-satisfaction.
[Indeed. The Aiter Empire's treasure... the greatest gem of the imperial treasury awaits at the top floor. Because part of the imperial library and treasury fused into this tower.]
"What treasure?"
[Heh heh... prepare to be amazed. None other than the Empire Guardian Sword—Holy Sword Mitra—is here!]
"Hmm!"
Cheon-ho was impressed.
He had never heard of it, but it was the Empire Guardian Sword, a holy sword no less!
"The Empire Guardian Sword is here?"
Lucille's eyes widened as she asked, and Notrang's face beamed even more.
[Yes, angel. The Empire Guardian Sword is at the top of this tower. But sadly, evil monsters have occupied the tower... Wait, what in the world!]
Mid-sentence, Notrang shot up. He looked down at the first floor in horror.
[Th-the bookshelves! The library's collection!]
Not a single one remained.
The first floor was utterly empty.
[These vile monsters have finally! Finally!]
Cheon-ho broke into a cold sweat, while Lucille simply sweated profusely.
Lucille glanced at Cheon-ho with her eyes.
'What do we do, Hero?'
'Hmm.'
Cheon-ho pondered.
But unfortunately, Notrang gave him no time.
[Ugh, my blood pressure... even though I have none...]
[Angel, please, please safeguard the Empire's treasure...]
Clutching his neck and groaning, Notrang uttered his final words and began to ascend—no, dissipate.
It seemed the disappearance of the imperial library's collection—the greatest attachment keeping him in the tower—had done it.
Lucille stared blankly at where Notrang had vanished.
Cheon-ho did too, but unlike her, he kept a sharp expression outwardly.
[Poker Face has reached Lv2.]
"Hmm."
Cheon-ho took Lucille's still-blank face in hand. To her, who reflexively turned to him, he said,
"Let's pray for Mr. Notrang."
"Uh... yes, Hero."
Lucille sincerely prayed for Notrang.
With an angel praying directly, he must have no regrets.
"Hmm."
He felt a pang of guilt, but it had worked out somehow.
[Hidden Quest: Empire Guardian Sword]
[Exterminate the evil monsters occupying the tower and safeguard the Empire Guardian Sword.]
[Sub Quest: Ascension]
[Liberate the souls bound to the tower.]
[Imperial Librarian Notrang 1/1]
[Imperial Maid Noir 0/1]
[Guard Captain Catllang 0/1]
A light window appeared right on cue.
Empire Guardian Sword.
Holy Sword Mitra.
Cheon-ho looked up at the ceiling.
He felt the hero's soul burning fiercely within.
[Chapter 1 - Floor 1 #12] End