Chapter 289
Chapter 289
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 289
>Chapter Title: Adventure 33-(Special) 'Solemn Library'
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You are searching for a way to defeat the Yaksha, the culprit behind the chaos in the spirit world and the mortal realm.
The situation has improved greatly with the addition of Hahmune, the excellent descendant of Orgo, as your ally.
Hahmune led your party to the Myriad Library, insisting that its knowledge is necessary to counter the Yaksha's sword.
Here, you must acquire all or at least some of the books on the list that your ally Hahmune has targeted.
Objective: Acquire at least 1 book from Hahmune's book list.
Warning: This adventure is extremely dangerous.
Warning: This adventure's situation changes from moment to moment.
Remaining time: 「Unknown」
The moment they entered the library, the sight that greeted them was patrons that looked like puffs of smoke.
White smoke clumped together in the shape of people, walking about.
"Shh...."
Hahmune brought his index finger to his lips.
Then he pointed to the text written on the information sign right at the entrance.
On the first floor reading room of this place, many people come and go, so we request greater silence from all patrons.
Reading requires no attitude other than silence, and violating this may result in a warning from the librarians.
Furthermore, causing excessive disturbance may result in immediate expulsion.
We also inform you that patrons remaining in the library without a pass will be immediately expelled.
If you talk or get caught sneaking in, they'll beat you senseless and kick you out.
It was something along those lines.
A rule that could be found in any library.
However, Hahmune's expression was poor.
Scribble scribble...
Hahmune wrote on the notepad he had prepared.
- This is a big problem.
Kang Seol's party's faces filled with question marks.
- The rules per floor seem to have changed once more.
"......"
- The translation is useless now. From here on, we'll have to rely on our wits to proceed.
If one word or rather one symbol could describe everyone's faces, it was a question mark.
It was the bewilderment of heading out thinking it was a lunch meetup, only to find everyone else had brought packed lunches except you.
Scribble scribble...
- The first floor is, so to speak, a place where unnecessary information gathers. In other words, scraps. There's no chance of getting the book we want here. The books we need will be on the floors above.
Seolhong borrowed Hahmune's notepad and replied.
- Where is the door to the upper floors?
Scribble scribble...
- The layout changes constantly, so no map exists. The structure of each floor is different too, so no need to memorize paths.
Scribble scribble...
- Let's meet on the 5th floor. It's the rest floor, so we can talk comfortably there.
Nod...
With Hahmune's final written sentence, the party moved in perfect unison.
The sight of the five sticking close together made them look like thieves targeting the massive library.
Compared to the vast library's size, their cockroach-like smallness soon made them look like petty burglars.
'Librarians, huh...'
Creak... clank...
Creak... clank...
There were entities patrolling the library sections at regular intervals. They were golems made of a peculiar material.
'First time seeing a librarian in the flesh...'
Having come once before, he knew how they operated and the scope of their patrols.
Creak...
Clank...
Creak...
Clang...
A librarian passed near where the party was.
A choice appeared to Kang Seol.
[The librarian on the 1st floor of the Myriad Library is patrolling nearby. One just passed by your side. How will you act?]
1. No need for deep thought. Hurry along without delay.
2. Stand in place and grasp the librarian's movement path.
3. This position is dangerous. Change locations.
4. [Requires: Mountain Sorcery] Erect an earth wall to block the librarian's path.
...
If it were his first visit to the library, he would have picked one of these. They were quite reasonable choices.
Swish...
As Hahmune seemed to think it was an opportunity and stepped forward, Kang Seol grabbed his shoulder.
"......"
His face was a question mark too.
Kang Seol gestured with his palm facing down, then crouched.
Hahmune trusted him too, so he didn't move rashly.
'Not yet... A perfect opportunity will come soon.'
An opportunity that came once every few minutes.
Acting prematurely before then could bring every librarian in the library swarming like a horde.
Creak...
Clanggg...
Suddenly, all the librarians stopped in place.
Sss...
Kang Seol's choices changed.
[The librarian on the 1st floor of the Myriad Library is patrolling nearby. One just passed by your side. How will you act?]
1. No need for deep thought. Hurry along without delay.
2. (Added) The librarians seem to be changing patrol paths. Move through this gap.
3. Stand in place and grasp the librarian's movement path.
4. This position is dangerous. Change locations.
5. [Requires: Mountain Sorcery] Erect an earth wall to block the librarian's path.
...
A new choice had been added.
This was the moment Kang Seol had been waiting for.
'Now!'
After signaling the party, Kang Seol moved hugging the ground. His crouched legs were uncomfortable, but the hassle of clashing with a librarian would be dozens of times more exhausting, so he endured and searched for the exit.
The library's librarians changed their fixed patrol paths every few minutes. It seemed intended to disrupt routes so unauthorized patrons couldn't move freely.
And between each changing their routes, about 10 seconds of blank time occurred. At that point, all librarians stood still, seemingly receiving the updated information.
10 seconds.
To move without being perfectly detected, they had to use these brief 10-second windows.
Halt...
Kang Seol stopped.
Creeeak...
Clank...
Creeeak...
Clang...
After a few more minutes passed.
Clangggg...
The librarians halted movement again.
This time, even without Kang Seol's signal, everyone moved quickly.
Because a door leaking light was right in front of them.
Dash dash dash...
- Disturbance detected.
- Disturbance detected.
The librarians all turned their heads toward the sound.
But there was no one there.
Kang Seol's party had already slipped through the door leaking light.
"Whew...."
"Hahaha! You idiots!"
"Shh!"
"Eek...."
The 1st and 2nd floors were connected, but the rules applied separately.
Meaning, if librarians existed on the 2nd floor, rules related to them would be on the information sign.
"...No sign? The signboard?"
"Huh?"
The sign that should be on the 2nd floor was nowhere to be seen. No signs of life either.
"No rules?"
"Maybe.... Let's scatter and search for now."
From the 2nd floor, they had to search for desired books while ascending. Before entering the library, Hahmune had given each party member a memo.
The memos listed the names of books Hahmune needed.
'Lots related to Yaksha.'
No need to worry about not finding books in the library's vast size. That was due to the Myriad Library's special aura.
Because of this unique aura, the Myriad Library was also called the Library of Fate. If a book a patron desires definitely exists in the library, they feel it when passing the location.
In the end, it required the effort of checking near every bookshelf, but they could definitely find the book.
In fact, the probability of a desired book not existing in the Myriad Library was almost zero.
Even if a book hadn't been compiled in someone else's hands yet, the library absorbed regional information and produced it as a compilation.
The library not only distributed books but produced them.
Generally, books in the Myriad Library filled higher floors with harder-to-obtain information. This wasn't absolute. Occasionally, very rare books were shelved on lower floors.
'Some exploited that.'
When the Myriad Library appeared in the mortal realm, those without the means to reach high floors searched the lower ones.
If they luckily got a valuable book, it would certainly help.
Rumble...
Lost in such thoughts, they searched for books for quite a while.
They finished searching all but one section of the 2nd floor when a signal came from the last section.
'...Found it.'
This was the place.
Kang Seol approached the bookshelf and placed his hand nearby.
A choice appeared to him.
[You place your hand on the bookshelf.]
1. Pull out 「Know Your Lumbar to Straighten Your Back」.
2. Pull out 「10-Second Vegetable Chopping Method」.
3. Pull out 「Origin of Yaksha」.
4. Pull out 「Oops! My Mistake!」.
...
Kang Seol quickly grabbed 「Origin of Yaksha」 and tried to return to the party.
'Hm?'
In one corner of the 2nd floor, a pile of books had collapsed in a heap. Feeling something off, Kang Seol approached and rummaged through the pile.
Swoosh...
A cold texture.
'The information sign!'
The sign was hidden inside the book pile.
Someone had clearly hidden it on purpose.
Kang Seol dug a bit more into the pile to check the contents.
"......"
At that moment, a small dog approached.
It was Chiwu.
Chiwu had been behind a bookshelf, so he couldn't see what Kang Seol was doing.
"Find something?"
Kang Seol approached Chiwu with a nonchalant reply.
"Nah, nothing here."
"Let's go that way. I found something, but I can't reach it?"
"Want me to get it?"
"Yeah, over here."
Curiously, the entire party was gathered where Chiwu pointed.
"Kang Seol?"
"What, already?"
"Got the book?"
Kang Seol tilted his head toward Chiwu and asked.
"You guys are all here, so why ask me for help?"
"Oh, well, you see..."
In that instant, the air flow changed.
Rippp...
Riiiiip!
Human skin tore, and the entire party's appearance transformed. Manifestations of evil spirits.
They turned into black, murky forms and thrust sharp hands toward Kang Seol all at once.
Stabbb...
Stab...
"Ugh...."
Their arms pierced Kang Seol from multiple directions.
However, the evil spirits that succeeded in stabbing smiled, only for their faces to twist in an instant.
"You... what are you?"
"Sa... lt?"
Pierced all over, Kang Seol grinned.
"Yeah, fake."
Fsssh...
The thing resembling Kang Seol turned into black smoke and vanished.
"Like you lot."
The evil spirits turned to look toward the exit.
"There!"
"The guy's there!"
Kang Seol was already standing at the exit.
The hidden sign read as follows.
The 2nd floor connects to independent spaces.
Even if you encounter party members who came with you, do not travel together.
Head to the next floor as quickly as possible while they haven't noticed it's not you.
If it's not 'it' but 'them', good luck.
The moment he confirmed this, he summoned a clone, disguised it as Chiwu to lead the evil spirits, and sneaked toward the exit himself.
'Troublesome, but no need for such methods usually...'
This was the Myriad Library.
Couldn't solve everything with brute force, and the appearing entities were bizarre. Needed to proceed cautiously.
"Stop right there!"
"Won't let you go!"
"Stay here! Remain in the library forever with us!"
Hmph.
Kang Seol snorted once, then headed to the next floor.
'The others should be fine, right?'
They were together on the 1st, meeting on the 5th rest floor, so only moving separately on 2, 3, 4. Probability of issues was extremely low. Plus, the weakest Seolhong had awakened Yuwha’s power, easing worries.
Step...
Step...
3rd floor.
Through the door Kang Seol exited, someone screamed and burst out.
"Waaah! Get away!"
"Jinryeo?"
The one who came through the door was Jinryeo.
"Huff huff... Nothing chasing you from behind?"
"...No."
"Whew... huff... There was definitely something behind... Like, dark murky things... Anyway... Can you lend me some money?"
- Nice weather, lend me some money?
- Oh right, yesterday when I was there, lend me money?
- Unfortunately, teacher, lend me some money?
- Habitual debtor lololol
- This Jinryeo is not fake.
"Money?"
"Running out to give to Kunna.... Almost got done in by those evil spirits."
Kang Seol expressionlessly handed over a pouch of platinum and gold coins. He'd amassed plenty so far, but auction house items weren't things he needed, so he'd only bought a few spares.
"It's a loan."
"I'll work like a dog. Should I destroy the library? Hey, Kunna... Huh? This jerk... Answer me! I got money!"
"Enough. Didn't run into the others?"
"Ran into some..."
"Fakes, right."
"Yeah, spot on. Phew... At first, didn't get what independent space meant, pondered a while, then asked you, Kang Seol."
"......"
"Your eyes went bright red chasing me, so I just bolted. Good thing the exit was right there..."
Jinryeo looked around, then clutched his head.
"Aaagh! No sign again!"
"Yeah, be careful."
"D-don't get separated."
"What if I'm fake?"
"Argh! Almost swore! No pranks like that! Should I check with Kunna?"
The 3rd floor search began like that.
"This isn't it... That neither... Why's it so huge! Found anything?"
"Not yet."
"Hmm... Nothing on 3rd?"
After two hours with no gains, the two grew a bit weary.
Kang Seol stood before a bookshelf and sighed.
"Sigh..."
"Sighing won't do your life any good."
Startled by the voice, Kang Seol jumped and hurriedly backed away from its direction.
An old gentleman dressed quite sharply, hat pulled low, was smiling.
"What's so surprising?"
"Well..."
No presence.
Or rather, Kang Seol hadn't noticed.
He, whose senses were sharp enough no one could rival as second, hadn't detected the old man's approach.
"You..."
Kang Seol panicked briefly but recalled something upon seeing the old man's attire.
'No way...'
In the Myriad Library, encounters were often unwelcome. But some cases made you wish to meet them.
Like the existence before his eyes now.
Ssss...
The old man spoke.
"By any chance, do you have a favorite book?"