Chapter 84
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: It's Hard to Accept Negative Reality (5)
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“Oh... This is incredible...”
Imperial Library.
The place said to house the world's most important documents and rare books.
The very spot where even entry is forbidden unless you're royalty or someone approved by the royals.
And here I was, right in the middle of it.
“Wow... I've dreamed of coming here since I was a kid.”
The place itself wasn't all that large.
Compared to the capital's grand library—the largest in the empire—it was only about a fifth of the size.
Similar to Hassler's library, or maybe a bit smaller?
But the contents held within? Far from small.
It was packed with documents and books I'd never even seen before.
Honestly, I prided myself on reading more than most people.
Yet even I had only heard the names of some books here—others were referenced in passing but impossible to track down, and plenty were so obscure I'd never even encountered their titles.
It was a treasure trove of truly rare volumes.
“C-Can I really look at everything here?”
I asked the emperor.
Was I truly allowed to peruse all these materials?
“Anything you're not supposed to see is kept separately, so no worries.”
Imperial histories with undocumented details, forbidden tomes that could endanger the reader or those around them just by being read.
There were things here no outsider should ever lay eyes on.
But since those were locked away in vaults or separate rooms, I could relax.
“Browse to your heart's content. I hope you find what you seek.”
With that, the emperor left the library, leaving me alone with one librarian who seemed to manage the place.
“...Ah, what do I do?”
This is bad... I want to read everything here.
No, I can't.
I'd only come to search for martial arts materials and head back to Hassler.
But, but...!
'Types and Ecology of Unknown Ancient Races.'
'Records of Deep Demon Realm Exploration.'
'The Day the Heavens Opened.'
Documents and records I'd never laid eyes on before.
How could anyone resist that temptation...!!
“Ugh. Sorry, everyone. Looks like I'll be back a little late...”
In the end, I succumbed to the allure of knowledge.
Oh man, this is trouble.
It'd take at least a month to read everything here...
Whatever.
It's not like Hassler will have any issues just because I'm gone.
“We're back!”
Time flew by, and the group that had headed to Bastia finally returned to Hassler.
They could've taken it easy on the way back, but Jenny and Lin seemed in such a rush for some reason.
They'd notified their return a week ago and arrived right on schedule.
“Ah! You're back!”
“Welcome back.”
“First off, the branch chief said he has something to tell you—head up when you're ready...”
The guild staff welcomed them back and tried to direct them to Branch Chief Terry.
But.
“Big Brother Kane! We're here!”
“Instructor Kane! We've returned.”
“Haha! Both of you looking for Kane first thing!”
Jenny and Lin wasted no time darting around the guild interior in search of Kane.
Scarlett pretended not to be with them while wandering the guild just the same.
“Haa... So full of energy.”
“Heroes really are something else...”
“Scarlett's a hero too, though.”
“Scarlett's an exception, honestly.”
Scarlett's party members and Veronica were utterly exhausted from the breakneck pace of the return trip.
They just stared blankly at the three energetic ones, slumped in chairs in the waiting area.
“Um... Th-The branch chief said he has a message...”
The guild staff kept repeating themselves to the drained group and the hyper trio, but no one was listening.
“More importantly, where's Big Brother Kane?”
“Ah... Just a bit longer... I feel like I'm gonna die. Why'd we have to run practically the whole way...”
As the staff grew flustered by the reactions, Branch Chief Terry descended from upstairs.
“Instructor Kane is currently on leave and has gone to the capital.”
“The capital? Why the capital all of a sudden...?”
Jenny, Lin, and Scarlett—all desperate to find Kane—tilted their heads in unison.
Why the capital out of nowhere?
Business at Hero Academy?
Or something to do with that emperor connection he'd mentioned before?
Or maybe...
“Th-The Saint is in the capital...?”
Crash—
Right then, a clattering sound erupted from the adventurer guild entrance as someone dropped a pile of gifts.
There stood the Light Hero, Mersen Remnant, face ashen like the world had ended.
Beneath him lay scattered gift boxes labeled “To the Saint” and “Goddess Offering.”
“How could this happen? To miss each other like this!”
“Why's that guy here?!”
“The Light Hero?”
“Ugh, why him...”
Jenny and Lin searching for Kane, Scarlett too.
Veronica and Scarlett's party slumped in chairs like ragdolls.
Mersen wailing amid the gift boxes.
It was...
“Haha, what a mess.”
Branch Chief Terry suddenly felt exhausted without lifting a finger.
Kane had gone to the capital to gather materials on the martial arts he'd recently been studying, plus he had business with the emperor.
After much convincing that he'd return soon, and granting ample rest time, Terry finally got the Bastia team into his office.
(For the record, when told Kane would be back shortly and to wait, Mersen suddenly knelt before Jenny in prayer.
Declaring, “I heed only the words of the Goddess and the Saint,” he earned a very annoyed standby order from her. Now he sat quietly in the first-floor waiting area.)
“So, the guild's granting special exceptions?”
Having barely conveyed the guild leadership's instructions, Terry sighed in relief and nodded.
“Yes. Jenny's and Lin's merits have been recognized with an unprecedented two-rank special promotion. The rest of you won't get rank-ups, but the guild will provide compensation.”
This mission had greatly boosted the Adventurer Guild's reputation.
Jenny's shift to adventurer had already improved their image, but now they'd forged a bridge to good relations with Bastia.
Seizing the chance to climb higher, the guild had banned all attacks on beastkin.
And eyed expansion into the Forest Continent.
Honestly, building friendly ties with them to boost trust and image—then securing a foothold on the Forest Continent to monopolize pioneer gains—seemed smarter than barbaric hunting and enslavement.
They judged it could build a force rivaling any nation.
Thus, major rewards for Jenny's group to cement good ties with the guild.
“Two ranks... Straight to A-rank?”
“Compensation, huh. Wonder how much?”
Jenny and Lin were still C-rank adventurers.
A two-rank jump would vault them to A-rank instantly.
Under normal quest standards, even with their strength, procedures would've taken at least three months.
B-rank required promotion exams, after all.
But hitting A-rank meant access to higher-quality quests.
Not just named requests like this one—they could pick major gigs themselves.
S-rankers Scarlett and Veronica, plus Scarlett's underperforming party, would get separate payouts too.
All good for them.
They were adventurers, after all.
The guild wouldn't bind or control them with rewards.
Leadership knew that well.
Hence the special favors as a “please look kindly on us” gesture.
“We'll reconvene when guild reps arrive. And...”
Finally, Branch Chief Terry smiled warmly at them.
“You all did outstanding work. Thank you.”
“Phew, should I return to the capital to serve the Saint after all? But the Goddess issued a standby order, so...”
Down on the first floor, Mersen pondered his world's toughest dilemma: guarding the Saint versus obeying the Goddess's command.
Bang!
“...?”
The guild doors flew open violently.
“I hear there's an adventurer named Lin here! Come out now!”
A bearded middle-aged knight in plate armor bellowed furiously, calling for Lin.
“Wh-Who's that?”
“Why's he after Lin all of a sudden...?”
As everyone panicked at the sudden chaos.
“Hey, knight guy, what's with barging in here starting trouble?”
A burly, rough-looking muscled man approached him.
A B-rank adventurer, he looked far rougher than the bearded knight—yet diligently attended Kane's lessons, reviewed alone, full of passion.
He couldn't stand this knight ordering out Lin—one of(?) Kane's favored adventurers, whom he respected.
Plus, as a B-rank, he figured he could handle most knights.
But.
An adventurer was just an adventurer.
No B-rank could beat Niber, captain of Pacific Kingdom's 2nd Knight Order, gifted with exceptional Hero's Quality.
Thwack!
“Scram, you filthy savage.”
Niber moved at invisible speed, smashing his fist into the adventurer's face.
“Guhk?!”
The man flew back in one blow.
The moment violence erupted, the air chilled.
“Bring me the adventurer called Lin. Now.”
Ignoring the frosty mood, Niber repeated himself.
More knights entered behind him, thickening the tension.
'Lin? You mean... the Ice Witch.'
Mersen recalled the massive ice spike that nearly impaled his groin.
And Lin's coldly murderous glare over her slightly damaged staff.
“...Ugh.”
Terrifying enough for trauma, yet he didn't hate her.
He knew the staff was a Saint's gift—he'd have done the same.
'The Goddess would hate this mess.'
Mersen had no interest meddling in guild affairs.
Only stepping in if they bothered the Saint or Goddess.
(Of course, oblivious that he was their biggest pest... whatever.)
'Plus, if the Ice Witch sees this, who knows what she'll do.'
She might turn the whole guild into a bloodbath.
'Can't let the Goddess or the returning Saint witness that.'
(Though Lin wasn't that ruthless, in Mersen's mind, she was.)
“Hoo.”
Deciding to intervene for their sake, Mersen rose quietly.
“Why do you seek this Lin?”
He stood before Knight Captain Niber.