Library Occupation Incident (5): Final Briefing
Before diving into the strategy, we held one last briefing. I looked at the princess first.
"Your role is the most crucial in this operation, Princess."
To normalize the library, the princess absolutely had to shut down the golems and trap mechanisms. Only then could we smoothly handle the gatekeeper. If not, Rana, Evan, and I would have to deal with the gatekeeper while also watching out for golems and traps. And there were other reasons too.
"Thirty minutes. If you can't stop it within that time, we're in danger."
Richie was pouring everything into hijacking the library system from the clock tower. That's why there was no reaction even when he noticed our positions—he was fully focused. But if we made a serious move to interfere with him? Richie would step in, even if it delayed his takeover. Not directly, but indirectly. And that moment would be right when we headed underground to the defense systems.
He'd try to block the princess targeting the defense shutdown however he could. He'd seize hundreds of golems to go after her and trigger traps along every path. If that happened, she could get seriously hurt—or worse, die. Of course, I wouldn't let that occur.
The golems' top priority was eliminating intruders. Even if a new command came later, it wouldn't execute until the prior one was complete. A 8-circle mage couldn't override a 10-circle spell. That's why Rana, Evan, and I would draw their attention. If the three of us went wild, we could even pull in the underground defense forces. In that window, if Princess Ariel shut down the system, the plan would be perfect. Then we'd handle the gatekeeper and assault the clock tower. But we couldn't hold out forever. The razor-thin window was thirty minutes—no more.
"Our lives are in your hands, Princess."
"What a heavy responsibility..."
Her expression darkened slightly. No wonder— if she failed, it wouldn't just be us; the ten thousand students standing dumbly behind us might as well be dead too.
"I believe in you, Princess! So have some confidence!"
"I believe you can do it too!"
Rana and Evan offered words of encouragement despite their own tension. I chimed in as well.
"Yeah, I think you'll pull it off too."
With all preparations complete, the chance of her failing was near zero. Unless she deliberately botched it, success was guaranteed. And that line was just to instill the right amount of tension.
"Next: Evan takes the 2nd floor, Rana the 4th, I'll handle 6th and 7th. Princess, once you're done, come up and provide support."
After that, opening the clock tower would mean we were nearly finished. Kill Richie, restore the library—that was it. But there was nothing more to say about tackling the lich. Even with his abilities restricted by various opportunities, his magic utilization remained the same. We'd have to figure it out on the fly while facing him directly.
Right after, we scattered to our positions.
"Ah, can you hear me?"
I spoke into the communication magic tool plugged into my ear.
-Loud and clear!
-Same here, hyungnim!
-Yes, coming in perfectly.
The voices came through as if they were right beside me. Communications were solid.
"Alright, commencing the library assault now."
With those words, I swung my sword.
BOOM!
-BOOM!
-Thud!
-You bastards! Over here!
Their voices echoed in my ear. Hearing them, Ariel held her breath tightly. Her position was between the 1st floor and the basement stairs. Soon, the ground rumbled as dozens of golems appeared. Others from the 1st floor moved toward the upper levels too. As they emerged, Ariel poured more mana into her magic tool, fully activating it.
And ten minutes later.
Confirming no more golem movement, Ariel downed the potion she'd been given.
'Gotta finish in ten minutes.'
Originally, twenty minutes remained, but she figured that was only if they held to the absolute limit. They were all skilled, sure, but she didn't think they could block hundreds of golems alone. So she had to disable the defenses within ten minutes.
Meanwhile, the potion's energy spread through her body. Her heartbeat slowed to a lion's pace, and her entire form blended into the shadows. Nine minutes left. Ariel kicked off the ground.
The basement 1st level was nearly empty from the earlier chaos. Only about ten golems wandered the halls. Few enough. Thanks to that—and the magic tool and potion—she broke through faster than ever, quickly reaching the next level.
Basement 2nd level. Golems here numbered three times those on the surface, filling corridors, bookshelves, even ceilings without a single gap.
But she had to push through. Reach the secret room. Even now, the trio upstairs was panting hard enough to hear over the comms—they were running themselves ragged. Hesitate even a moment here, and someone could get badly hurt.
But it wouldn't be easy. Half the basement 2nd level golems were detection types. No matter how well she hid and assimilated with nature's aura, she couldn't slip past undetected. These were golems made by her ancestor, after all.
'It's not impossible.'
Ariel closed her eyes briefly, then opened them. Time branches appeared in her vision: the golems' paths forward, reactions to her movements—all laid bare.
This was her precognition, evolved into Sensory Transcendence. She could see two seconds into the future. Of course, it overtaxed her brain, devouring stamina and mana like crazy—she couldn't sustain it long. Ten seconds max. Her head already burned, nosebleed streaming.
-Happiness through sacrifice doesn't last long.
That man's words resurfaced. They haunted her mind relentlessly. Yeah, thinking about it, he wasn't wrong. If she died, someone would grieve, sparking more misfortune.
'But now's the time for sacrifice.'
His point was clear: don't throw yourself away utterly. Don't abandon yourself. But right now, she had to sacrifice—for their three lives hung on her.
Ariel gritted her teeth, enduring the pain as she moved.
'In 0.1 seconds, step back. Three approaching simultaneously—breathing room...'
She read the futures meticulously, pressing forward. By the time blood streamed from her eyes.
'Made it...'
Steadying her ragged breath, she slowly opened the secret room's door. There sat a massive magic device based on a magic stone, glowing red.
"Phew, just touch this, right?"
Door closed, she caught her breath, fiddling with her pocket watch. She wiped the blood from her cheek with her index finger. Finger to the left slot, watch to the right.
Student ID information and blood genetic data match.
Shutting down defense system.
Ariel let out a small gasp of admiration.
"My ancestor was incredible. Crafting something like this alone..."
She couldn't comprehend it no matter how she looked. Not just her—even modern mages couldn't.
"Ah, not the time."
Ariel touched the communication orb.
"Ah, can you hear me? The magic's about to stop soon."
-Got it, Princess!
-Yep!
Short replies, then silence. They must be pushed to their limits. Then his low, steady voice came through.
-You sound strained.
"No, I'm fine."
-Tch, obvious lie. Recover with potions and head up slowly. We'll wrap it before then.
"No, I..."
Click.
The connection cut before she could respond. Now her voice wouldn't reach until he reconnected.
"That wasn't my intention..."
Ariel felt a bit frustrated.
"Rana, Evan. Summon the gatekeepers right now."
-Huh? Hyungnim, golems haven't vanished yet?
"No time because someone overdid it."
I'd planned to let them build experience against the gatekeeper, but things had shifted.
-Kyle! Summoned it.
-Ah, I just did too.
At the same time, I summoned the 7th floor gatekeeper and led it down to the 6th. Naturally, hordes of golems pursued.
"Three minutes until golems and traps vanish. Prep as I instruct, then unleash the moment the obstacles disappear."
So I'd teach them a crash course. Rushing the assault caused hiccups like this, but no choice.
"Evan, yours is simple. Infuse your sword with max mana and stab it in."
I'd given Evan the Mana Absorption ability from a swordsmanship manual and mystery as his opportunity. For a country bumpkin commoner, he had few weaknesses now. Mana control and sword skills were top-tier. But his mana pool was lacking. Unlike other students, his mana core formed slowly. Even with spirit medicines filling it, still short. Hence the ability.
Mana Absorption let him wield ambient mana as his own. Amount depended on proficiency. Sword techniques would cover his gaps. We needed a strong single blow for the lich.
"Rana, you turn into a cat..."
-Cassie!
"Right, Cassie. Create an opening, then one-shot it. Others asleep?"
-Yeah! Leo's young, sleeps a lot. Takes time there anyway.
Rana had contracted two summons via opportunities: black cat Cassie and newborn dragon Leo. Cassie was a Dreamcat, crossing dreams and reality. It could turn her master's reality into a dream. With enough mana, even death was escapable.
"Then finish quick and bring the princess to me."
-Be right there!
-Understood!
I cut the comm link. After running a minute, I halted.
'Ten seconds left.'
9, 8, 7... Counting down inwardly, I assumed position and slammed mana into my sword. Influenced by Karthas's dark sheen, sword aura blackened. Normally best one-by-one, but multiples weren't impossible. Final second. Golems and two gatekeepers lunged.
I thrust Karthas straight.
Arden Swordsmanship First Form Variant—Dragon Burst
The technique activated as golems evaporated into smoke. Defense system down. But the technique was already unleashed. Dragon-shaped aura surged forward.
KABOOM!
The dragon head devoured the forward gatekeeper. Its path lay empty. Upper and lower body gone, only fragments scattered on the floor.
"Hoo..."
Confirming the gatekeeper's death, I exhaled. Glanced at Karthas. Despite rough use, the blade gleamed pristine.
"Swords really are the best."
A normal sword couldn't match this power. Satisfied with its first real combat, I sheathed Karthas. Felt like it was trembling in joy.
Thud!
The floor shook suddenly. I pinpointed the source instantly and touched my ear.
-Kyle, gatekeeper down!
-Mine too. Wow, Raman's impressive.
They'd handled theirs too.
"Princess?"
-Ah, she just arrived here.
"Grab the stone and head to the 7th."
I skimmed the reply, grabbed my stone, and waited at the 7th floor stairs. Moments later, the three appeared.
"Kyle~! Wait long?"
"Just got here myself. You okay?"
"No pain. Cassie helped."
"Just in case... Here, mana potion."
"Thanks!"
Cassie's ability guzzled mana. Fresh contract made it worse.
"Evan?"
"Heh, I'm fine of course. Thanks to hyungnim's gift, I'm topped off already. Body feels a bit tight, but no issue."
Good then. But...
"You look a mess."
Bloodstains smeared Princess Ariel's face—she hadn't wiped them all. She'd used precog; better avoided. Inefficient.
"The lich..."
"We can do it. I'm not that worn out."
She stated firmly. Still, I made her take a recovery potion before entering. Professors had stocked plenty.
"Stay sharp. Hold your positions exactly."
Seeing their resolute nods, I placed the four stones. The clock tower doors slowly parted.
RUMBLE!
The sight inside: Shasha kicking Richie's skull repeatedly.
"Lich bastard! Give up already! You can't steal Kiran's magic!"
She'd played her role perfectly. I turned to the three behind.
"Alright. Time to take down the lich."