Library Sit-in Incident (3)
Ariel Tianis revealed herself from the darkness. With her ability, hiding her body like an assassin was a piece of cake.
“...Why are you three here...? This isn't right. Follow me for now. It's dangerous here.”
Right after she finished speaking.
Boom!Boom! Enormous footsteps echoed from far away. The culprit was the golem that activated whenever the magic triggered.
We couldn't take on that thing yet. It was filthily powerful, and if a fight broke out, golems from nearby would swarm us. We had to leave it alone until it weakened.
“Hurry...!”
The princess shouted urgently, keeping her voice as low as possible. We followed behind her.
The library had a central staircase. But instead of heading there, she climbed to the upper floor using the ladders meant for pulling books off shelves.
“Golems are everywhere right now. Moving via the stairs is too risky.”
We nodded and kept following her. After that, we avoided corridors and stairs several more times. Eventually, we reached the lounge on the third floor.
Once there, the princess pressed parts of the wall in a specific sequence. The wall split open, revealing a hidden space. We slipped inside.
“You can talk freely here. It's one of the few safe zones.”
The door sealed shut, cutting us off from the outside. Her voice sounded relieved.
But I didn't drop my guard. I extended my senses to probe the space ahead. Only after confirming it was empty did I finally relax.
The princess might not realize it, but this place didn't guarantee absolute safety. Golems could spawn randomly. She'd led us here, so she'd probably checked, but it was better to be thorough.
“So, why'd you come here?”
“To resolve this incident.”
She let out a sigh at my question.
“I appreciate the sentiment, but you shouldn't have come. Do you even know the library's situation...? You should have brought a professor—or at least come with escorts.”
“Looks like Your Highness doesn't know this place.”
“What do you mean?”
She tilted her head.
Ariel, the princess, had read the founding emperor's diary passed down in the palace. That's how she knew about the academy. But all she knew was that a spirit managed the library. She had no idea that when the magic activated, only students could pass through the mana barrier.
“The founding emperor set up the barrier himself. Even someone with a professor's skill can't enter.”
“No way...”
She gaped in shock. She probably hadn't had time to ask Shasha amid the chaos. The spirit had been too busy to explain anyway.
That's when Rana spoke up in a bright voice.
“It's okay, Your Highness! That's why we're here! We even came prepared!”
Rana turned to show her bag.
“Exactly. We've got a month's worth of food for ten thousand people, and most importantly, a solution.”
“Is that... true?”
At Evan's words, the princess turned to me with an expression pleading for confirmation. I gave her the answer she wanted right away.
“Yes. So please lead the way.”
“Ah, got it.”
Her footsteps quickened. After about ten minutes, we arrived at a hideout crowded with people.
“Kyle, look—there are stars floating.”
“A place like this in the library? Amazing.”
Evan and Rana marveled at the hideout.
This was the shadow rift the founding emperor had created to protect users. It was very different from ordinary spatial rifts. And it was safe from external threats. However, all its power went toward maintaining the space, so there were no food supplies or facilities—just a few chairs.
“Oh? The princess is here!”
“Who's she with? Did they come from outside...?”
“Does that mean we can leave now?”
Students' voices rang out. Excluding staff, there were about five or six thousand people, so even a fraction speaking made the space echo.
They swarmed the princess at our arrival.
“We can leave now, right? Right?”
“Please, just say yes...”
“It's too scary here...”
It had only been about three hours, but the students looked wrecked. Their eyes were hollow and lifeless, their faces pale with terror. The desperation in their cries was palpable.
And there was good reason for their state. Once the magic activated, the deployed golems moved to eliminate intruders—which included the library's own users. Most had likely been hunted to the brink by those murder machines. Torn clothes and bloodstains in the distance confirmed it. Plus, being trapped in an inexplicable space for hours... Their minds were at their limits. If we didn't present a solution now, they looked ready to explode.
“Everyone, please calm down...”
The moment the princess said that—before she could even finish.
“We're sick of hearing that!”
“Let us out! Right now!”
“You're dragging this out on purpose, aren't you?!”
The students were consumed by rage in an instant. It started with a few, but the madness spread like wildfire to nearly everyone.
I'd expected it. The novel played out the same way.
“Uh, uh...”
Caught off guard by the reaction, the princess stammered. Her body trembled, her breathing grew ragged.
Royals were taught from childhood to protect imperial citizens. So she'd probably run herself ragged—saving people from golems, comforting them, calming the anxious, searching for a way out. All alone, until her body and mind reached their extremes, giving her all.
But what she got in return was blame and abuse. Ariel Tianis had a strong will, but she wasn't unbreakable. She was still an eighteen-year-old student. Without her royal sense of duty, she'd have shattered like the rest long ago.
And hadn't I seen it earlier? Her voice had perked up just a bit at the mention of help. Outwardly invisible, but her ironclad spirit was already eroded to hell.
I couldn't stomach this pathetic spectacle any longer.
“Shut your damn yapping.”
My voice, infused with mana, filled the space. The clamor died down a notch.
Then someone charged at me, yelling.
“Who the hell are you...!”
Thwack! I grabbed his mouth and jaw, slamming him to the ground and smashing his head into the floor.
His body shuddered in agony before going limp. He wasn't dead.
“Anyone got something to say? Step up now.”
I glared with killing intent, and the students fell silent. Only quiet remained.
“Good. Finally some peace.”
Most here were general students with no combat prowess. Suppressing them was easy. To their cowed, deflated morale, I growled low.
“We were dispatched to solve this. But look at you lot—pathetic. Hiding like cowards and barking at the one who ran harder than anyone.”
“Th-that's not... we...”
“Shut your hole.”
I crushed another fool who dared speak out of turn. Rebellion finally vanished from his eyes.
“I expect nothing from trash like you. You're just baggage from the start.”
Panicking idiots rampaging were no different from enemies. Hell, not a single brave student had stepped up to help us before. If there had been, the princess wouldn't have had to move alone.
“So stay out of the way. Eat the food we brought and hole up like this until it's over.”
The students stayed silent. I added one more thing.
“Remember this: your lives hang on us. Rana, Evan—look after the princess.”
“Got it!”
“Yes, bro!”
They supported the princess, who was on the verge of collapse. I headed to a spot suitable for discussion. The crowd parted before me.
Voices trailed behind.
“The princess is so kind. Everyone's too harsh.”
“Yeah. World's full of selfish jerks who only think of themselves. We almost had a disaster if we hadn't come.”
“Cut the crap and move.”
“Yes, bro!”
We sat the princess in a chair. Rana pulled water from her subspace bag and handed it over. I threw up a mana barrier to block sound.
“You okay, Your Highness?”
“Thanks, Rana. I'm fine now.”
Color returned to her face, her mind cleared. She hesitated a moment, then looked at me.
“That was... too far just now. They were just scared. You could have been kinder...”
“Your Highness, talk sense.”
I couldn't help but laugh at her, even in this state. Of course, it was just like her.
“They're useless vermin that contribute nothing here. They'll only cause chaos and get in our way.”
If we'd left them be, that's exactly what would've happened. I could see it clear as day. In the game, they constantly obstructed if you didn't resolve it.
“And were there only students here? No—academy staff too. Unless you're planning to coddle every last one, pick your moments.”
The library staff had stayed calm and rational, keeping still. Unless we meant to kill them all, my actions were right. Besides, nothing tames crowd psychology like swift violence.
“......”
The princess fell silent for a bit.
“Sorry... I was short-sighted.”
“That's fine. More importantly, let's discuss the incident.”
I spread documents across the table. Then I activated magic in my hand, concentrated mana in my feet, and dashed to a nearby table.
Boom! A roar erupted from underfoot as I reached the table two spots away in a flash. I reached under and grabbed the hider.
Magic manifested simultaneously.
“Gotcha. You little rat.”
“L-let me go!!”
Shasha's form appeared. The spirit couldn't be seen or heard by anyone but the princess. Hence the magic to make it visible to all.
Normally, Shasha would've shown up the moment the princess returned. But because of me, it hadn't. No choice but the rough way.
“Wh-what are you gonna do to me! You villain!”
“Quit squirming.”
“So you could see me after all!”
I trapped Shasha in my hand and returned to my seat. Sitting down and loosening my grip let its head poke out.
“Shasha? Why were you hiding? And how did you even...”
“Shasha? So cute!”
The princess was stunned, while Rana leaned in close to inspect it.
“Secret. Don't run—stay by Rana.”
I warned it and handed it to Rana.
“Hi! I'm Rana Heytald. Nice to meet you!”
“Hehe, nice to meet you too!”
We hadn't met before, but it worked like a charm. Artificial life was still life, after all.
“We're ready. Let's begin.”
I pointed to the first page of the booklet.
“According to the professors and this guide, top priority is stopping the golems and trap magic. The device is in a secret room on basement level two.”
“That's not easy. The basement holds precious materials—overwhelming number of golems. Impossible without Shasha.”
“That's only if they spot you.”
I handed the princess a magic tool that rendered the user invisible.
“Your Highness can handle it.”
She was perfect for it—thanks to her ability to expand and heighten senses. A certain potion would boost success even more.
“Next, the stone to open the clocktower door. We'll handle that.”
There was a gatekeeper, but we were all skilled enough.
“After opening the door, touch the clocktower core to reset it—but with Shasha...”
“No clocktower! It's dangerous now!”
Shasha cried out then. Its face was deadly serious.
“What do you mean?”
“The magic triggered because the sealed lich broke free. It's guarding the clocktower—its center.”
“So you can't control it?”
“Yeah. If I could use the controls, why would I be here? I'd have shut it down and freed everyone right away. The lich revoked my authority. It couldn't take it over either, and touching the core would reset it normally—but the process is too risky!”
“Its power level?”
“8-circle!”
We three were stunned at Shasha's words.
“8-circle... same as Grandpa...”
“Rana, it's not just any 8-circle. A lich that's lived centuries is near 9-circle.”
“Can... can we even kill it ourselves?”
Their reactions were natural. Overflowing talent or not, they were Expert-level—not Masters. No way they could take a lofty undead like that.
Of course, I had solutions galore.
“You just assist us. Don't worry.”
“What?! You'll all die, you idiot villain!”
“You're the clueless one. Dumb artificial spirit.”
I stood and pressed under the third table in the corner. The table's center popped open, revealing an old key.
“The founding emperor hid tons of opportunities in the library. You should know.”
“Right! If we use that...!”
Shasha clapped, face lighting up like it'd finally remembered. What a dimwit spirit. In the novel, it spilled this late too, delaying the library Strategy
“You're smarter than you look?”
I ignored Shasha and placed the key on the table.
“A lich is tough for us alone, sure. But not impossible. This is the way. Might be scary, but trust me and follow. Rana, Evan.”
I looked at them. They answered without hesitation.
“If Kyle says so, I trust you!”
“Bro's word is law!”
I turned to the princess next, staring silently. She sighed deeply.
“No guarantee we'll win, and it's insanely dangerous—I want to talk you out of it somehow... but okay. I'll trust you.”
With her answer, I picked up the key again.
“Then let's move.”
The 'Library Sit-in Incident' would've trapped them for a week originally.
I planned to end it in two days.