Chapter 26
Chapter 26
Chapter 26.
It wasn't actually a grand destination.
Ting-!
[New Location Discovered: Seiran's Library]
The only library in the middle stratum of the Border City.
As I entered its gates, the first thing I saw was an impressive catchphrase engraved on the main entrance plaque.
Information is the key to survival, the seed of power.
For the past few days, the library had been closed for internal renovations, but it reopened today.
This was a place that only opened after clearing Act 1, Chapter 2 in the game, but it seemed to have been implemented this way in reality.
'If not, I would have come much sooner.'
[Red Street Pillar marvels at how big a library can be]
A total of ten floors, including the basement.
Among the densely packed bookshelves, armed adventurers, researchers, and scholars moved about busily.
The library's collection was vast and useful, sought after by everyone regardless of their profession.
<The Labyrinth is Alive>
<Compendium of Labyrinth Traps>
<Labyrinth Edibles>
<What If You Loot a Core from the Labyrinth?>
From various labyrinth strategy guides compiled by renowned exploration teams.
<10 Basic Healing Potion Recipes>
<Maintenance is Survival: Basic Equipment Inspection Manual>
<How to Write an Exploration Log>
Basic books needed by novice adventurers.
<Critical Reading of the Rutian Scripture>
<Lost Passages: Restored Original Text Before the Rutian Cult's Censorship>
<108 Cases of Forbidden God Contracts>
Even forbidden texts that were unimaginable outside the reach of Rutian's influence.
'It's filled with all sorts of books.'
This was because the City Administration was extremely proactive in stocking its shelves.
The diverse knowledge contained in books increased adventurers' survival rates.
A higher survival rate naturally led to more exploration and more achievements.
As part of these efforts, book donations were also encouraged.
Donors received various rewards and benefits, so adventurers and scholars not only dedicated mysterious ancient texts unearthed from labyrinths but also wrote and submitted their own books.
[Ninety-Nine Overlord Knight King comments that it's a good strategy]
There were even novels and art books for those whose minds and bodies were weary, which explained why the library was so crowded.
'...This world needs a hero? What kind of book title is that?'
[Addict Saintess asks what book you're looking for]
'The book I'm looking for...'
I cast my gaze towards the shelves filled with books related to gods.
Folklore, myths, legends, various scriptures... exactly the books I was looking for.
'I'll start searching from over there.'
However, before I could begin my search, there was one thing I had to take care of first.
Thump-
I turned my back on my intended destination and walked towards the opposite bookshelf.
Then, I found and pulled out a book.
A book with a rather peculiar title: <How to Move, Fight, and Dodge Like a Cat>.
But the moment I placed it in front of a cat statue on the 9th floor—
Ting-!
[Hidden Piece Discovered! The cat wants to read too]
—Luck +1
—Noise reduction during stealth is permanently decreased
—Night vision improved
[※ The cat statue seems to be smiling]
I let out a cheer.
'It worked, as expected.'
Seiran's Library.
It was called a 'honey pot' among players because it was filled with countless small Hidden Pieces.
.
.
.
Half a day passed.
I left doodles in the corner of a reading stand.
I wrote the word 'book' backward on the bathroom mirror.
I buried a possessed book in the garden's lower section.
It was a moment where my meta-knowledge as an extra shone.
[Luck +1]
[Fame gain rate slightly increases!]
[Luck +1]
[Divine Resistance slightly increases!]
[Luck +1]
[Rare item drop rate slightly increases!]
…….
Although there were no combat-related bonuses, non-combat perks and the Luck stat increased noticeably.
Especially Luck, which increased by 1 for each Hidden Piece.
Luck was a somewhat special stat, explicitly stated in the official settings as 'involved in evasion rate, critical hit rate, and strange coincidences.'
It was also a stat that couldn't be directly invested in like Magic Power, making it extremely difficult to raise on one's own.
But thanks to sweeping up all the Hidden Pieces today, my Luck reached a whopping 19.
Nearly double what it was before.
'...Could another companion event trigger?'
With such pleasant anticipation, I safely completed the library's final Hidden Piece.
It was a mission to sneakily place desserts and love letters on people's desks and run.
Ting-!
[Luck has reached 20]
[Your Luck shines even brighter. Minor misfortunes naturally recede, and unexpected small fortunes linger by your side]
[Companion character affinity gain rate slightly increases!]
I passed by people looking around with excited faces and returned to the quiet bookshelves.
It was already late evening.
The crowded patrons were starting to leave one by one.
'Shall I begin...?'
It was time to focus on the original purpose.
I picked up the books I had my eye on and sat down at a reading desk.
<Where Does the Shadow of Light Head?>
<Sanctuary of Deception>
<Silent Voices>
All were books designated as forbidden by Rutian, questioning their mythology.
If it had been during the busy hours, I would have met the sharp gazes of Rutian followers quite a bit.
But there was no helping it.
'The information I'm looking for won't be in ordinary books.'
Rutian's mythology was a fabrication.
They carried out many manipulations to engulf this world.
Over a long period, they fabricated the Seven Evils into the 'Seven Benevolent Gods' and propagated them to the world,
and they consumed all areas of the continent, from scriptures and education to art, music, literature, and legends.
'The gods who prospered and protected human civilization are actually different.'
The so-called 'Forgotten Era.'
It referred to the era of gods erased by Rutian.
Reflecting this thorough distortion in the game's settings, records and legends related to it were barely touched upon.
As a result, even I, a veteran player, didn't know much about the Forgotten Era.
'It's a kind of McGuffin, I guess.'
The problem was that even now, with it becoming reality, it was difficult to find related information.
Only a few forbidden books remained, filled with vague speculations.
'Still, I have to try my best.'
I needed to find a god related to death regression and Karma, one not mentioned in the setting books.
Such a god would hardly appear in the myths or legends edited by Rutian, would they?
Rustle-
I opened the first page.
[This world is woven with threads of falsehood...]
Approximately 9 hours of reading.
To get straight to the conclusion, there were no direct clues.
I searched every keyword that might be related, but no legend or folklore matched.
I forced myself to suppress my disappointment.
'Well, you can't expect to hit the jackpot on the first try.'
The only fortunate thing was that I found parts mentioning 'time reversal' in a few books.
[Our conclusion is that time is a cosmic constant, and no Divine Rank or being can transcend its laws]
[Time is a wall in the form of a door. It appears open, but no one has ever stepped beyond it]
[They burned the world and overturned the order of the stars. But they could not bend time]
...They all declared 'impossible,' though.
Whether renowned scholars, devout priests, or great mages.
They all spoke in unison,
declaring that no matter how powerful a Divine Rank, they could not interfere with time itself.
That time was an absolute concept that could never be altered or manipulated.
'Come to think of it...'
Whether by chance or design,
<Forgotten God> was a game that lacked the common save or load system.
But if that were the case... what was the phenomenon happening to me now?
'More importantly, you guys immediately recognized that I had regressed. If this is true, how could you be so indifferent? It's against the laws of the world.'
[…….]
'Is there really no god who governs time?'
Naturally, the Three Gods did not reply.
'Anything is fine, just tell me if you know something. I'll give you Karma.'
[……]
As expected.
Sighing, I closed the last book.
<Beyond the River of Time>, by Ellen Veira.
One paragraph particularly lingered before my eyes.
[Numerous experiments were all rendered powerless before the irreversibility of time. However, I do not stop. For I have witnessed a single possibility somewhere along this path]
Ellen Veira.
The only person who mentioned the possibility of time reversal.
But sadly, I couldn't find any of her other works at Seiran's Library.
This book too was shoved into a corner, covered in dust.
If the title hadn't caught my eye, I probably wouldn't have found it.
'...Is she an unpopular author?'
Perhaps there were more of her works in the upper floors of the library.
But entering the upper floors was impossible right now.
'Damn it. I'm blocked.'
Still, it wasn't a complete waste.
Although it wasn't related to Karma or death regression, I had gained something.
I opened my notebook and reread the densely written notes.
They were notes summarizing books published by a research group called the 'Society of Oblivion,' and they were quite interesting.
-Under Rutian's tyranny, most of the ancient gods perished, but some did not.
-It has been rarely observed that a tiny minority exist in the form of relics or nameless Guardian Spirits.
...Doesn't this immediately bring examples to mind?
'It sounds exactly like you guys, doesn't it? Right?'
[The Three Gods remain silent]
I continued reading.
-Unfortunately, it appears Rutian's side is quickly erasing related traces. However, it is undeniable that they still exist in this world.
This was a very important clue.
Gods who once looked upon humanity with favor but lost their Divine Rank after being persecuted by Rutian's Evil Gods.
Originally, in the game, these forgotten benevolent gods were merely background settings and did not appear on the main story.
Players interacted only with the gods of the current era and overcame trials with their power.
That was the established formula.
Naturally.
Interacting with weakened and fallen gods would be of no use.
...But I was different.
'Because I can help restore the Divine Rank of the ancient gods with Karma. The Divine Rank of gods who were once powerful enough to contend equally with the Seven Evils.'
[……]
'My guess was right. You guys were actually great Divine Ranks, and likewise, great benevolent god companions are still somewhere.'
No answer is needed.
Find the forgotten benevolent gods.
I now had a new, firm goal.
Although there was no concrete method yet—
I felt that this path was the only breakthrough that would lead me, an extra, to the true ending.
'Alright, I'll call it a day.'
In any case, I had found a small milestone amidst the ambiguous situation.
I stretched with satisfaction and cast my gaze out the window.
The sky was as black as ink.
The time was already four in the morning.
The library was exceptionally quiet, and the few remaining patrons were rubbing their sleepy eyes in the practical books section.
The ancient texts section where I was sitting was a complete no-man's-land.
“……”
...At least, it had been until just now.
'What the...? When did you get here?'
A silhouette clad in a black robe sat quietly at the desk opposite me.
I glanced at him absentmindedly.
It was only then that I felt a strange unnaturalness.
'Why didn't I notice you approaching? Serpent's Nest should be active...'
Moreover, he didn't move an inch during the few seconds I was looking at him.
He held a book but didn't turn the pages or adjust his posture.
There seemed to be no rise and fall of breathing, which a living being would naturally have.
He just sat there, head bowed.
“……”
A chill crept up my spine.
It wasn't just my imagination.
Something was wrong.
The moment I was certain of that.
Our eyes met.
“……?”
I realized belatedly.
His gaze was not on the book, but
on me, beyond the bookshelf.
From the beginning, always.
'Ah.'
...I don't know which came first.
Blink-
The moment those unfocused, dull, ominous pupils were swallowed by eyelids.
And the moment his silhouette melted into the air like an illusion.
“……”
I remained frozen in the quiet library for a while.