Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Bellierd Library
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"...What’s this?"
Bellierd Library, Librarian Day 7 morning.
The previous day, Day 6, had passed peacefully with nothing happening.
Today, Day 7, was my final day working as the librarian, so I opened the bento box lid with a bit of joy in my heart.
"Is this a crying face?"
A small note stuck to the bento box lid drew a chuckle from me.
This monster, who had written words praising Bellierd Library two days ago, seemed to be expressing emotions a little more richly now.
I did feel a touch of familiarity toward this monster...
‘Is this... Stockholm syndrome or something...? Why the hell am I feeling fondness for the ones who kidnapped me...?’
I could only let out a sigh at the fact that I was developing feelings of affection toward my kidnappers.
‘Well, whatever... Just one more day to endure...’
If there was any silver lining, it was this.
Judging by the emoticon on the bento that seemed to express regret over our parting,
today truly was my last day working here.
‘Just endure today! Let’s hang in there!’
Hoping today, Day 7, would be a freebie like Day 6, I checked that morning shift start time was one minute away and immediately opened the door...
‘Whoa...’
From early morning, dozens of monsters were visible throughout the library.
‘We’re screwed...’
...
A monster resembling a human, but with ears where its eyes should be.
‘How does that thing even read books...?’
A monster about 4 meters tall, incredibly huge, yet with an extremely thin body.
‘How is its body thinner than a book...?’
A monster with two more identical bodies attached to either side, moving as a trio.
‘Reading three books at once.’
A massive eyeball with a few tentacles attached, floating around while returning a book with a torn cover.
‘That’s not even a Bellierd Library book...’
Entertaining patrons, shelving returned books, trying to ignore anomalies.
At first, just seeing monsters terrified me, but now that I’d seen so many, I’d grown somewhat accustomed to them—it was almost amusing.
‘This book goes... yeah, Shelf 22.’
About three minutes left until morning shift ended.
As the final task of morning shift, I’d come to insert a returned book into Shelf 22, but...
‘Where’s the empty space... ...Oh, we are properly screwed now.’
The spot where Shelf 22 should clearly have been was now occupied by Shelf 52.
Yes, that’s right.
I was now standing in front of Shelf 52.
Rule 4
If you discover Shelf 52, do not approach it. Remember that this library's shelves only go up to 51.
I shouldn’t get close to Shelf 52... This was where Shelf 22 was supposed to be...
‘Calm down... Whew... Calm down... Nothing’s happened yet...’
Whether unfortunate or fortunate,
nothing had happened so far.
Desperate not to show panic, I turned my body as naturally as possible to head back to the librarian’s desk, but...
"..."
The scene that unfolded the moment I turned froze me in place.
Because... right in front of my eyes...
Endless rows of bookshelves stretched out.
And moreover...
‘Of all things... why this...?’
53 54
55 56
57 58
59 60...
Shelves not present in Bellierd Library were lined up before me.
‘Status Window.’
I immediately tried to open the Status Window.
If I had Return Uses available, I could try escaping with that, but...
‘...Why won’t it open?’
The Status Window wouldn’t open, suggesting some major problem had befallen me.
For example... this might be a space where the Status Window couldn’t be used.
Or perhaps my Sanity had hit 0, preventing me from opening it.
‘...How do I get out of here?’
No matter the case,
I clearly needed to find a way out of this place.
After standing still for about five minutes doing nothing...
‘...Gotta move.’
Realizing no changes were occurring, I cautiously began stepping along the only path available between the shelves.
‘70... 80... 90...’
This place was as deathly silent as Bellierd Library itself, so only the sound of my footsteps echoed through the space.
If there were monsters, they’d have heard and come for me by now.
Since there’d been no reaction so far, I assumed none were present.
‘...Holy shit.’
After walking a long way to between Shelf 151 and 152,
a door sat squarely in front of me, as if inviting me to open it.
‘Looks like the perfect door to die opening...’
It’d be a lie to say there was no hesitation.
I wanted to survive more than anyone.
I’d clung to life this far, and I had to keep surviving somehow.
"..."
But no amount of agonizing would resolve this.
Gripping the Awl Made from Anonymous 10’s Teeth in my pocket tightly,
I cautiously...
Slam!
began smashing down on the closed door’s handle.
Slam! Slam! Slam! Slam!
I smashed it.
The exceptionally sturdy tooth from Anonymous 10 once again proved its worth,
gradually demolishing the seemingly solid door handle.
Slam! Slam! Slam! Slam! Slam!
I, determined not to go down easily, kept demolishing the handle when...
Thud... Thud... Thud...
suddenly, books began falling one by one from the shelves behind me.
Slam! Slam! Slam! Slam! Slam! Slam! Slam!
I kept slamming the handle without hesitation...
Creeeak...
"...?"
I realized a familiar creaking sound— one I’d heard before—was coming from beyond the door.
Creeeak... Creeeak... Creeeak... Creeeak...
The creaking from the other side of the closed door grew closer.
I recalled it was the sound made by the Mannequin Monster from Bellierd Library, but...
Strangely, my instincts screamed that I had to escape this place somehow.
Slam! Thud!
With a final full-force smash, I knocked the door handle to the floor.
Drip... Drip drip... Pour...
‘Fuck, I knew it.’
Red blood poured from the door handle.
If I’d opened it like a normal door and gone inside, that bleeding thing would’ve surely devoured me.
Bam!
Venting my anger, I kicked the door hard and bolted in the opposite direction.
I knew there was no escape behind me, but to survive even a little longer, it was unavoidable.
As I sprinted full speed the other way...
Drag...
...
Thud thud thud!
Thud thud thud!
Thud thud thud!
The Mannequin Monster began pounding madly on the bleeding door from the other side.
At first, I heard the handle turning, but for some reason, the door wouldn’t open, panicking the monster into slamming it furiously.
‘Serves you right!’
Destroying the handle had apparently been correct.
Unlike a normal door, this one bled, and breaking its handle kept it from opening.
Thud... Thud thud... Thud...
Books continued falling from the shelves one by one as I ran toward where Shelf 52 stood.
Running at full speed, the distance that took 20 minutes walking there covered in under 2 minutes.
And there, Shelf 52 blocked my retreat once more.
"Get out of my way!!!!!"
Without slowing, I hurled my body full force at Shelf 52.
I had no intention of dying meekly.
Thrashing wildly,
smashing this place however I could, determined to inflict massive damage on this unidentified library with my death.
Thinking I’d shatter Shelf 52, I threw myself at it, but...
Screeech—
"!"
The Shelf 52 I collided with began toppling backward...
Crash...
"...!"
When Shelf 52 hit the floor, somehow... I was collapsed on the ground in front of Bellierd Library’s Shelf 22.
‘...Am I back?’
Whether this was truly Bellierd Library or not was secondary.
Being collapsed on the floor was never good, so I quickly got up and started walking...
‘I’m back!!!’
Seeing monster patrons reading all sorts of books in my view confirmed I’d really returned to Bellierd Library.
‘Haa...!’
Overwhelmed with emotion, I stood dazed for about ten seconds, but
pulling myself together, I hurried back to the librarian’s private room to conserve energy for afternoon shift.
‘Status Window. ...Still won’t open.’
Even after returning from beyond Shelf 52, the Status Window still wouldn’t open,
meaning my Sanity had truly hit 0.
‘Gotta eat quick and recover Sanity.’
Eating would restore Sanity, so I decided to chow down,
returning to the librarian’s room and opening the bento.
‘At least I can rest for an hour.’
Eat well, sleep well, rest well.
These three actions boosted my Sanity, so after eating, I planned to rest fully for an hour.
"Whoa... On the last day, they packed a ton of food."
Rice, sides, soup, dessert.
Grabbing chopsticks at today’s luxurious bento contents—
Creeeak... Creeeak...
"..."
Creeeak... Creeeak...
A sound that shouldn’t be heard.
Why was it coming from beyond the door...?