Laugh Encyclopedia (1)
A few days had passed since I formed a partnership with the Anomaly Management Bureau. In that time, there hadn't been any contact from the Pioneer Division Chief. She seemed like a busy person to begin with, and it didn't look like she had many reasons to seek my help right away. More than anything, we hadn't nailed down any specifics on how our collaboration would actually work.
So, my daily routine continued much as before. The only real difference was that my interests had shifted toward anomalies.
"Alright, so which of you has knowledge about anomalies? Hands up!"
Flutter? Flutter flutter? Flutter?
In response to my call, the books gathered around me reacted in all sorts of ways. Some ignored me, some eyed each other's reactions, others glared at their rivals. A few even flipped open themselves as if thinking, I'll give it a shot anyway, despite having no relevant knowledge.
"Hmm... no luck, huh."
Maybe because the Anomaly Management Bureau was the organization that defined and named the concept of anomalies in the first place, none of the books here held any related information. If any had, I probably would've remembered it vaguely.
Flutter! Flutter flutter!
"Why am I curious about anomalies? Well... they just seem interesting?"
Flutterrr!
"Okay, if we're splitting hairs, you guys, me, and this whole library are anomalies too... but I'm still curious about the others out there."
When it came to mystery and grotesqueness, the books in our library could hold their own against any anomaly. From what the Pioneer Division Chief had said, it sounded like she already classified me, the library, and all these books as anomalies. But how to put it? Curiosity about family versus strangers just hits different. These guys had been with me from the start, so the novelty had worn off.
"Alright... dismissed."
In the end, without any solid info, I had no choice but to wait for the next patron to approach the library.
A short while later, a patron wearing a mask came trudging in and requested a certain book.
"Laugh Encyclopedia? Sorry, we don't have that one."
The patron shrugged comically in disappointment, then indicated their intent to donate a book to me. And that book? It was none other than the Laugh Encyclopedia they'd just asked for.
"Huh...?"
Were they messing with me? When I shot them a scary glare, the smiling mask face flipped in an instant, sweat gushing out cartoonishly. Then it mimed pulling a handkerchief from an inner pocket to dab at the mask's sweat while making excuses.
"Oh, right—it's awkward to donate if the library already has it... yeah."
It was a pretty reasonable logic. Public libraries often stock two or three copies of popular books. But for the Shinbi Library, every book was unique—only one copy—so duplicates were indeed tricky.
"In that case, we need to inspect the book first. Shall we head to the reading room?"
At my words, the patron sketched a beaming smile on their mask and thrust up a thumbs-up in exaggerated style. It was the kind of over-the-top gesture you'd see in an American cartoon, and I couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
"Pfft."
Dinggg!
The eyes inside the mask bulged out in shock, then it wiped away bloody tears trickling from the torn slits and raised the thumbs-up even higher. Seemed like my laugh had pleased them.
"You react that much to a little chuckle? Anyway, this way, please."
The patron followed with dignified gestures. Next, we spent time inspecting the book they'd handed over.
"Hmm... definitely a unique one."
Clap clap clap! The patron's white-gloved hands gave small applause in agreement. Thanks for appreciating it?
"The contents... pfft. Ahaha. Who knew jokes could be this clever...!"
!!
The patron thrust up another thumbs-up. True to its title, the Laugh Encyclopedia was apparently a compendium of every joke in the world. It was sneakily entertaining—even I, who rarely laughed, couldn't hold back a grin at the first one.
Sensing I liked it, the patron fidgeted anxiously before gently snatching the book back. With cartoonish flair, they flipped through the pages like in an animation and showed me a particular one.
"Ahaha, hahaha...!"
Clap clap clap!!
It must've been one of their favorites. Delighted by my reaction, they started clapping again, then eagerly showed me another page.
Spread laughter!
"Uh...? Ahaha... th-that might be tough. I'm a librarian, not a clown."
The mask shifted to a sad expression. As a laughter enthusiast, they probably wanted to share jokes together. But I couldn't exactly propagate laughter at their whim. My job was librarian—spreading knowledge, if anything.
My resolve softened a bit, a ticklish sensation teasing my heart, but I still turned down the offer. The sad mask turned wistful, then it lightly smacked its own head with a thwack.
Crunch.
Didn't hit too hard, did it? Brain matter seemed to ooze out. Yet it moved fine and offered a handshake, as if thanking me for laughing at the jokes.
"Hmm... it felt good to laugh after so long. I'll gladly accept this book."
The patron responded with an exaggerated Western gentleman's bow. Then, with a waddling gait, they exited the library, lifting their mask for a final wave. Beneath it... there was no face.
"Ahaha... hmm. Hm. Hm...?"
After they left, I opened the Laugh Encyclopedia to revisit the joke they'd shown me. But for some reason, now that they were gone, the jokes felt oddly unfunny.
"Jokes usually lose their punch when read back-to-back..."
Maybe try the other books...? Or show it to the Pioneer Division Chief. That way, I could see if it's funny to them too. And if they like it...
Wait—wouldn't that be spreading laughter?
Hehehehe...
It felt like the patron's goofy laugh echoed from afar. Maybe their laughter was stored in this Laugh Encyclopedia, finally spilling out.
"For now, I shouldn't shelve this one yet. I'll keep it with me..."
Thwack!
Something smacked my shoulder. Like getting whacked with a wooden stick by a monk during meditation when your focus slips. In an instant, the patron's lingering laughter vanished from my mind, replaced by the cool, library air filling my laughter-shrunk lungs and heart.
"Huh...? Jijong?"
Flutter. Flutter flutter.
"What was I doing? Oh, a patron donated a book, so I was inspecting it to add to the collection."
Flutter.
"Why was I laughing? This one had some really funny jokes. But now they're not quite as amusing. Might need to check it again later."
Jijong stared at me silently for a moment, then stroked my head with its thick cover.
Flutter.
"Huh? Good job because I'm working hard? ...What? You're a book, I'm the librarian. Since when does a librarian get praised by a book...?"
Flutter. Flutter.
"Ugh, feels like you're teasing me. Anyway, this book... guess I'll just shelve it right away."
Why had I even wanted to keep it separate? The more I thought about it, the less hilarious it seemed.
"Oh yeah, Jijong."
Flutter?
"Lemme tell you a joke from that book. What's the cruelest meal in the world?"
Flutter! Flutter flutter! Flutter flutter flutter!!
"The answer is humans while still al—mmph! Pfft, why cover my mouth...!"
Flutterrr!
"Th-that unfunny...? Fine, got it..."
But why chew me out? I was just sharing one from the Laugh Encyclopedia. When you see a good joke, don't you wanna try it yourself?
Bickering with Jijong, I returned to the shelves, assigned a serial number to the Laugh Encyclopedia, and slotted it into a suitable spot. Gradually, I refocused on library duties and started forgetting about it.
***
"Phew... haaah..."
Maybe the books' war games had been extra intense today. With more damaged books than usual, the librarian's workload had piled up. As a result, the girl slept deeper and longer than normal, sprawled out on her desk.
In the meantime, one book walked across the floor toward somewhere. The book labeled Earth Religions I arrived at none other than the Laugh Encyclopedia the girl had received hours earlier.
Flutter.
At Jijong's command, nearby books dragged out the Laugh Encyclopedia and pinned down its corners like they were subduing a criminal.
But Jijong stopped them, slowly approached, and opened the Laugh Encyclopedia. Inside...
...there was nothing written.
Hehehehe...
Only the echo of some entity's laughter reverberated.
This was a "fake book"—no will of its own, no contents. Jokes don't need real books. Just props mimicking them.
Jijong began dismantling the Laugh Encyclopedia page by page with countless elderly hands extending from the shelves. Before the girl could notice, it completely tore and devoured the thing.
Then, it slowly approached the girl and stroked the back of her head.
"Mmm..."
Now, the girl had never received the Laugh Encyclopedia.
The library, the girl, and the books thus regained their peace.
Hehehehe...