Chapter 118: The Library (5)
Chapter 118: The Library (5)
I don’t know if it’s still the case these days, but back when I was a kid, there were a few things every elementary school had in common.
A particularly friendly young teacher, a cat that wandered the grounds, a scary older kid who snatched your cards claiming it was a "Shadow Duel," and the 7 Great Mysteries.
The important part here is the 7 Great Mysteries—specifically, the urban legend that you’ll die if you learn all seven of them.
Having transferred elementary schools three or four times, I noticed something surprising: those damn 7 Great Mysteries were almost identical everywhere.
They usually start with a prologue like, "Our school was originally a cemetery," or "It used to be a mental hospital."
And they always end with a final mystery that you must absolutely never find out about.
Back then, I’d tremble in fear, but thinking back on it now, it’s a bizarre concept. How can so many different schools have overlapping ghost stories? Does the ghost work two jobs?
Some schools even had ghost stories about a dance studio when they didn't even have one, and others claimed to have "7 Great Mysteries" but actually had eight.
It’s clear that this lack of consistency is why kids stop fearing school ghost stories the moment they hit middle school.
Anyway, the reason I’m bringing this up out of the blue is…
Because the hidden piece tucked away in this library is related to a ghost story.
"Carla. Have you ever heard of the Academy's 7 Great Mysteries?"
Perhaps it was because I’d answered her question about what book I was looking for with a sudden mention of ghost stories and mysteries. Carla blinked her ruby-colored eyes cutely and asked back.
"The 7 Great Mysteries… Master, surely you aren't talking about those flimsy urban legends I know?"
"Yeah. Exactly those. Those prank-like ghost stories."
"Hmm… Since the library contains books created and donated by seniors, it wouldn't be strange for there to be a collection of ghost stories. And they are quite fun if you're just looking for entertainment."
"No. I’m not just looking to enjoy a scary story. I’m planning to actually investigate them."
Unprepared for such an answer, Carla scratched her cheek with a troubled expression. Then, looking like an adult wondering how to break the news to a child that Santa Claus isn't real, she spoke up.
"Um… Master? Ghost stories are just tales someone made up. Besides, there’s no way a ghost would appear in an Academy where so many priests reside, right?"
"Probably. And even if one did appear, ghost-type monsters can be defeated with magic or Aura, so there's nothing to worry about."
Seeing me nod nonchalantly, Elisha seemed puzzled this time, tilting her head so her blue ringlets swayed.
"Oh? You seem well aware, Yandel. Then does 'investigating the ghost stories' have another meaning?"
"Ah, no, I meant it literally."
"???"
Carla and Elisha looked at each other for a moment, then tilted their heads in the same direction.
How cute.
"The Academy's 7 Great Mysteries are indeed nonsensical… but they aren't entirely made up. They’re warnings left behind by some seniors who actually experienced them."
Returning to the center of the library, I pulled a thin book from the bottom shelf of a towering circular bookcase.
"You'll see when you look at it. We don't even need to wait until nightfall."
The title of the book was [On Strange Phenomena Indescribable by Magic].
I flipped past the cover—which featured nothing but the white title against a black background—to reveal handwritten contents.
-I hope the juniors who see this book do not commit the same folly I did.
-However, if you are a talented junior, I hope you will finish the work I could not.
-I leave this record of the mysterious phenomena I experienced over the past four years.
The book began with rather ominous words. Following that, the seven mysteries were listed calmly in the form of personal accounts.
When I first discovered this book in the library while playing H&A, I was quite excited. It looked like it definitely had something to it.
So, for a while, I tried everything—camping out at the locations mentioned in the stories, intentionally doing exactly what the book said not to do…
The results were disastrous. I wasted about a month of in-game time with zero results.
But no matter how much I thought about it, this book of ghost stories was suspicious. No matter how much I searched the library shelves in the game, all I found were tips for beginners and basic world-building lore. Only this ghost story book contained a narrative unrelated to the main gameplay.
Eventually, I broke my personal rule of not looking at guides for a first playthrough and searched the community cafe.
"The content isn't what's important. Look at the author at the very end."
"3rd Year, Class 13, Adams Gilbert… Huh?"
"What, you noticed already?"
"Yes, Master. The Academy doesn't divide classes by numbers. But Class 13? That's suspicious."
"Now that I look at it, the name is a bit strange too. Isn't the order of the first and last names reversed?"
"Ah! You're right! Since you said the content isn't important, maybe this author's name is some kind of code?"
"If we look at the keywords, would it be 3, 13, and reverse order?"
Once I gave them a hint, Carla and Elisha began deducing everything on their own.
…It took me a while to notice anything was off even after seeing that. Well, in my world, dividing classes by numbers is normal, so it might just be a matter of what one is used to.
To me, the class notation wasn't a big deal, but to these two who had only ever known the Academy, it was glaringly obvious.
I wrapped my arms around the waists of the two as they exchanged theories. Perhaps because their waists were so slim despite their curvaceous figures, they tucked perfectly into my sides.
The mixture of their unique scents—one refreshing and the other reminiscent of grass—put my mind at ease.
"Hehehe…"
"Wh-what is it, Yandel? It's a bit embarrassing with so many people around."
Carla giggled as if she just enjoyed the attention, while Elisha looked around nervously but didn't pull away. I chuckled at their contrasting yet similar reactions and nodded toward the stairs.
"I already know the answer, so just follow me. I won't need your strength until after this."
"Gasp! Master, Master. Is this a chance for me to get a reward?"
"A reward… what are you going to ask for?"
"That's a secret, of course!"
"Why does a slave have so many secrets from her master? But you're cute, so I'll let it slide."
"Hehe."
"What about you, Elisha?"
Elisha’s face was flushed, still conscious of the lingering glances from others, but she soon regained her composure and snapped her fan open.
"If Carla can do it, so can I. I don't know what's going on, but keep your eyes wide open and watch my performance."
Then, she added while subtly averting her gaze.
"Well… if you want to give me a reward? You're allowed to."
"Just in case, is yours a secret too?"
"Of course."
"I feel like I'm just handing out blank checks here, but… whatever."
Only after promising Elisha a reward if she did well did she finally nod.
"Then, let's go."
Holding the ghost story book, we all headed toward the library entrance.
*
Since we had started from the center of the library, we reached the entrance in no time.
Naturally, I wasn't planning on checking the book out and leaving. I only came here because this was where we had to start.
"Yandel? Don't you think it's about time you told us? What exactly was the code in that author's name?"
"Ah, I forgot to tell you. It's nothing much. We just have to step on the 13th step of the 3rd floor."
"What? Isn't that a bit too simple?"
"Yeah. But that's really it. Do you remember the phrase written at the beginning?"
"'Never commit the same folly as I did. But if possible… please resolve it'?"
"Exactly. That's why he hid it in such a tedious way, but arranged it so that anyone determined to find it could do so easily."
"Yandel, you seem to have known this from the very beginning."
"Ahem… that part is a secret."
"…I suppose so. You'll likely have many more secrets in the future. Just… tell me everything someday. That will be enough."
"……."
Elisha probably said that because she mistakenly thinks I'm the sole heir to some secret organization. But what I'm hiding is far more significant than that.
I swallowed the bitter smile that threatened to surface and nodded.
"Yeah. I hope I can do that."
I took a moment to steady my slightly heavy heart. Suddenly, Carla tugged on my sleeve.
"Master, Master."
"Yes, yes. What is it, Carla?"
"You said it was the 13th step leading to the 3rd floor, right?"
"Right. That's the entrance."
"But this is the 3rd floor… and there are only 12 steps?"
That was an excellent question. The theme of the library's hidden piece wasn't a ghost story for nothing.
"Carla. Elisha. I think it's about time you two actually read this."
When I fluttered the ghost story book I’d brought along, the two questioned me with puzzled looks.
"Didn't you say the content wasn't important?"
"Yes. I only skimmed it, but it seemed like a collection of plausible-sounding nonsense about the Academy's 7 Great Mysteries."
"It wasn't important for getting this far, but it's quite important for what lies beyond. Let's see… look at this part here."
I flipped through the pages and stopped at a specific one.
"The 13th step…?"
"Yeah. That's this."
A familiar ghost story: there are normally only 12 steps, but if you count them as you climb, there is somehow a 13th step. And if you step on it, you are dragged to the other world.
"The only difference is that it's not the 'other world,' but a barrier? A subspace? Something like that."
"Uh, well… I trust you, Master, but space magic is based on complex calculations, so it doesn't just glitch out that easily…."
Carla looked troubled.
I stood before the stairs, holding Carla's hand in one and Elisha's in the other.
"We can just check for ourselves."
Then, linked together, we began to climb the stairs one by one.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
.
.
.
.
.
Twelve.
And thirteen.
The moment I took that final step, the world inverted.