Misunderstanding and Misconception (3)
Tuesday passed with theory classes followed by training. Then Wednesday arrived. After lunch, I headed to the library.
[Identity Verification: Cadet Imir]
[Reservation confirmed.]
[Welcome to Library Level 3.]
After the verification let me in, there were even fewer people than a few days ago. Probably because the curious freshmen had wandered off. Suited me just fine. Like before, I started wandering the shelves, organizing books. I was repeating that achievement grind from last time. After sorting a hundred volumes, I finally got the reward.
‘Master of Rare Book Organization 4’
“...As expected.”
It took longer each time, but the rewards scaled up too. Using tentacles in the CCTV blind spots saved even more time. Should I keep going?
“......”
How much time passed like that? I was deep into organizing when an announcement blared.
One hour until closing. Patrons, please gather your belongings and prepare to exit.
Time had flown by already.
“Whew.”
That was enough for today. I'd done plenty. Next time, I could snag rewards without wasting much time. As I caught my breath with that thought, something slipped from between the books I was sorting. I snatched it mid-fall—pulled it in with a void tentacle and checked it out. A slip of paper covered in strange script.
“What the hell is this?”
I examined it closely and quickly realized. Ah, a secret message. In an academy at the heart of magitech and advanced industry, it was par for the course—industrial spies, guild scouts, demons, infiltrators always lurking. They prepped for exposure, avoiding traceable electronics for old-school methods like slipping notes into specific books to swap intel among themselves. And this looked like one such trace.
“......”
Seeing something I'd only read about in the setting felt weirdly surreal.
“...Wonder if there are more.”
Intrigued, I started flipping through books for more slips. If they were secret messages, they might prove useful. But nothing else turned up. Finding even one in this massive library was the oddity. Or was I just lucky?
“...Ah, screw it. Wasted effort.”
I dropped the search and focused on decoding the slip instead. No sweat—Omnilingualism handled it. After my head spun from the effort, it resolved into a 10-character string of letters and numbers. Like a password or something. Mulling it over, I guessed what it pointed to.
“No way... book sorting code...?”
My hunch checked out. I headed to where that book should be shelved. Not far from this CCTV blind spot—and that area was another blind spot too.
“...?”
But the spot was empty. I let out a deflated chuckle, then it hit me after some thought.
I realized too late.
“Oh.”
This empty shelf... it was where Omnilingualism's inscribed book had been. No wonder it was gone—I'd used the inscription and taken the book.
“...Hmm.”
What did that mean? Pondering, I slipped out before closing time. Today was freshman orientation for the reading circle. Dinner first, then head over—time was tight.
“......What.”
Hero Association executive Lee Jin-chang had been tailing and watching Imir. The guy who'd single-handedly quelled that bloody sparring incident? Was he a new comet like Choi Ji-seong? Curiosity had gotten the better of him. He'd missed the last library visit due to no reservation, but this time Imir booked Level 3, so he snagged Level 4 approval easily as Association staff. Now he observed from the upper terrace, undetected.
“...Hoo.”
At first, the diligent book-sorting impressed him. Doing the librarians' unpaid work? A rare good kid in this day and age.
“...What?”
But reaching into thin air? Every time his hand extended, books floated up and slotted into place.
...Telekinesis? No, not quite. Mana was there, but twisted—something darker, more sinister...
Lee Jin-chang didn't clock the demon gear for book-sorting. Too mundane a use. But that alone screamed suspicion. Far beyond normal cadet level. Even he couldn't identify the magic...
“......”
Then Imir picked a slip from a shelf, sorted a bit more, read it, and moved to another shelf. Judgment made.
“Guild scout undercover... or some criminal infiltrator.”
Note-swapping confirmed it. Scout or villain—both crimes. Premature guild contact was illegal; villains self-evident. Worst case, a demon.
...Should I summon him for questioning?
As he rose to act—
“What're you doing?”
Footsteps. Lee Jin-chang turned. Park Dae-sik, the Hellhound, stood there.
“Long time no see, Hellhound.”
“Long time my ass. What're you doing here?”
“Suspicious cadet.”
“Suspicious cadet?”
Lee Jin-chang pointed at Imir. Park Dae-sik followed, then scowled.
“What's he done?”
“Looks like a guild scout or villain.”
“Bullshit.”
“Just swapped code. Pulled a note from a shelf, read it, moved.”
Park Dae-sik's face darkened viciously.
“Talking out your ass. Outlaw hunting's my job. You're just decoy bait.”
“That punk's mouth...”
“And my nose says he's a normal cadet. Can't you see him organizing books?”
“......”
Lee Jin-chang scratched his neck, embarrassed. Park Dae-sik was right. Outlaw detection was his gig; he was mere camouflage.
“...Anyway, I tipped you off.”
“Piss off. My nose isn't twitching—you're barking up the wrong tree.”
“...Hmm.”
Passing Park Dae-sik, Lee Jin-chang reflected. Only one had keener senses than the Hellhound: the academy president, living legend, Immortal Saint Kang Yu-han. If Park said no...
Guess he was off-base.
“Quit bullshitting and get out of my patrol zone.”
“Yeah, sorry. Keep up the good work.”
Leaving the library, Lee Jin-chang thought: Still... suspicious.
I scarfed convenience store cup ramen and headed to the reading circle room. Forgetting the note, pondering future issues—then a familiar silhouette ahead. Mo Ye-ji.
“......”
She didn't spot me, kept walking, turned into a club room, paused like she was steeling herself with a heavy breath, then entered.
“...Huh.”
Too late, I realized: that was the reading circle room.
“...What.”
Mo Ye-ji never joined reading circle. No real benefit. Yet here she was. Or maybe just visiting? I held judgment and went in.
The air crushed down heavy. Amid a few freshmen, two women locked glares, poisoning the vibe.
“......”
Yep, she joined. Seeing Mo Ye-ji seated confirmed it. My head spun. She definitely didn't join reading circle... why? Her clubs were always hunting and travel. Was my memory wrong?
The glaring duo spotted me and paused. Mo Ye-ji's face stiffened slightly; Ha Yeon-si's twisted openly. The only empty seat? Smack between them. The others must've bailed on the death stares.
“......”
No choice—I sat between them. About to nod hello, I turned—
“Don't talk to me.”
Ha Yeon-si beat me to it. Fallout from that comment? But this intense? She was two-faced—should've smiled while hiding her thoughts.
Then hot breath grazed my ear.
“...Right? What I said?”
Mo Ye-ji stared, face screaming see?.
“......”
Caught off-guard by the chaos, I froze. My stiff expression hardened hers too. She bit her lip like she'd slipped, looked away.
What the hell was going on?
Then the door opened. A cadet entered.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. Got held up...”
I eyed her coolly: blue hair called king's color elsewhere, moonlit wave-like eyes framing fresh-leaf lips.
“I'm reading circle president Han Ga-rin. Nice to meet you. Today's orientation is for OT no-shows...”
She was an assassin infiltrated for a mission.