Chapter 291
Chapter 291
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 291
>Chapter Title: The 31st Knight Overturns the Board
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The sign's message gave a rough idea of how all this had happened.
We earnestly request that you never open a book on the 4th floor.
If you must check a book's contents, please remove it from the shelf and wait at least half a month before opening it.
If problems arise from ignoring these rules, the library takes no responsibility for user safety.
At the bottom of the sign, in tiny print, more was written.
If you've survived a problem occurring, calmly wait for it to resolve itself.
The more severe the problem, the quicker it will be handled.
After reading the entire sign, Kang Seol glared at Jone.
"...Did you carelessly open a book?"
"Well..."
"What book did you lay hands on..."
From afar, Santio lifted the culprit book by its cover.
"This one."
*Griz's Visions of the Future*
He seemed utterly unconcerned about the side effects of giving an engineer words like "future" and "imagination."
Jone hurriedly made excuses.
"No, I mean... that bastard made it sound so intriguing! Even the reviewer wrote something so tantalizing, I couldn't hold back!"
- 'The most shocking ending since the invention of writing!'
- 'A story that stunned all of America!' - Kim Jeon-mi
- 'The book that moved the world!' - Hong Sesang
- Only those who've fallen for fake reviews get it lololol
- Can't resist this thumbnail!
- Jone is innocent!
Kang Seol pressed his temple and asked.
"More importantly, how the hell did you even get here?"
"Ah, is that really the priority right now?"
"It is. We're in the Gui Realm right now, aren't we? In the Mansang Library."
"...What? G-Gui Realm? For real?"
Kang Seol found it baffling that they had appeared in the Mansang Library at all.
He knew the Zodiac's 12 Towers were a nationwide organization scattered across Pandea, but they weren't evenly distributed.
Moreover, the tower in the Khan Empire wasn't Libra or Scorpio seats. It was hard to believe they had been sucked into the Gui Realm like him and arrived here first.
Jone snapped at Santio.
"See! I told you, Santio! Let's stop and head back!"
"Actually, I said that exactly. You kept insisting we go higher."
"...Really? No wonder it rolled off the tongue so nicely. Anyway... if what you're saying is true, we wandered in here cluelessly. We entered the Mansang Library months ago. No way we came from the Gui Realm."
"...Months ago? You mean you've been wandering the lower floors this whole time?"
"Lower floors! Who the hell divides the Mansang Library into upper and lower? You see this mess on the 4th floor and still say that?"
Santio adjusted his glasses.
"Jone, you're the one who turned the 4th floor into this mess."
"...Really? No wonder I felt inexplicable guilt while talking."
Santio turned to Kang Seol.
"We encountered an unexpected variable on the 3rd floor. Most of our wasted time was spent there."
"Young man, got any ideas? That thing's blocking the exit, so how are we supposed to move on?"
"Why not just wait for it to disappear on its own?"
"It's been three days already."
"......"
"It doesn't even say when it'll vanish, so it'd be faster if we dealt with it ourselves."
Kang Seol slipped out from behind the bookshelf and joined them, moving bit by bit.
"Do you remember exactly how that giant soldier appeared?"
"I remember that crystal clear! Right over there! I opened the book, and the thing drawn in it popped out!"
"Be precise, Jone. It's more accurate to say it emerged from that 'page' rather than the book itself."
Scolded by Santio, Jone pouted.
"Yeah, yeah. But I can't tell if it was a picture or writing. Keep that in mind."
"Something from the open page emerges... So you two can't take down that giant soldier?"
"Griz's creation? We're scholars, lad. My specialty is teleportation magic. This sheep-head handles astrology and magic resistance. We'd have a shot against living things."
"I at least have two specialties, unlike you, Jone."
"Astrology's useless right now! And teleportation is a profound field!"
"You mock the futures revealed by astrology? Allow me to divine yours right now. Hmm... A shadow of death looms over Jone's face."
"That's just your shadow! You're standing awkwardly and casting it!"
"Oh, my apologies."
Jin Ryeo grimaced and whispered to Kang Seol.
"You know them? Should I tell Kuhn..."
"I know them."
"I see..."
Jin Ryeo smacked her lips.
Jone asked.
"By the way, where's your master?"
"We've been apart for a while."
"Hmm... Shame. Libra's solid firepower."
"How about teleporting that giant soldier to another floor with your magic?"
"Something that size? Impossible."
"Why?"
"To teleport something that big, you need a marker drawn in advance. It's a predefined space you mark for transfer. It's an unbreakable magical ritual."
"Then just clear it from the exit."
"Another issue. Teleporting that size would leave me magically exhausted for weeks. At my age, recovery's slow... I don't want to risk that in the Mansang Library."
"Teleportation magic has a lot of drawbacks."
"I told you, that's because it's profound!"
Santio said.
"As expected, scorning astrology means you'll be mocked. I foresaw this with astrology."
"...Is that even useful?"
Kang Seol pondered while staring at the giant soldier.
'A normal one, I'd just smash it... But one born from Griz's imagination... Tricky.'
Griz was the genius who had designed "Universe," Kang Seol's old belt.
He was also a once-in-a-generation inventor influencing the entire continent.
A giant soldier from his dreams? Kang Seol didn't even want to imagine its power.
'And of all times, while Bitan is bedridden...'
With Bitan sickly, Kang Seol couldn't perform at his peak.
Bitan shone brightest with Kang Seol, and vice versa.
Jone slyly suggested.
"So I thought of this—what do you think?"
"What..."
"Since the giant soldier came from a book, pull something from a book that can take it down."
"An eye for an eye... sort of?"
"Exactly!"
Santio shook his head.
"Not easy. That monster's another vicious invention of Griz. His imagination births horrors that devour terrible resources."
"Heh heh! No problem! Just pull out something I'm sure can flatten that bastard!"
"......"
"For example... this guy!"
Swoosh...
The book Jone slyly offered had a flashy title.
*Zodiac's Prosperity and Glory*
Below it, in small letters, the author.
Author - Jone Priya.
"This..."
"Yeah, my book. Know how the preface starts?"
"......"
"Azran! The freezing cold that freezes even death..."
"Isn't this about Zodiac? Why the Duke of Frost..."
"Who reads a stiff Zodiac book starting with that? Prefaces need punch! Nothing punchier than the Duke of Frost. With Azran illustrations, it sold like hotcakes."
Santio tilted his head.
"So opening the preface summons the mightiest frost mage in human history?"
"Bingo. What do you think?"
Kang Seol shook his head.
"Rejected."
Santio backed him up.
"Jone... I told you it's too risky."
"No, why?"
"Are you sure the Azran that emerges will be our ally?"
"Well... Huh?"
"We've never summoned an intelligent being from the 4th floor, so no guarantees... but it would be a last resort."
"Tch... Fine."
"I'll keep it in mind. Not the worst idea."
Azran's magic was mostly all-range frost spells.
As a mage nearing ascension, his mastery was unparalleled, but no guarantee his copy would distinguish friend from foe.
"So what now? Fighting bare-handed against that giant soldier..."
"How about this book?"
"What book..."
Swoosh...
Kang Seol offered a book and explained his plan.
The two grand mages stared at it, pondering deeply before saying.
"This... seems like a good idea."
"We should hunt for more of the same type."
"I know a few in similar fields! I've read them, so they'll be accurate."
"But we'll still need to approach that giant soldier. Who draws the short straw?"
* * *
Whirr...
Clank...
KABOOM!
Every time the giant soldier occupying the 4th floor's center swung its arm lightly, bookshelves toppled like dominoes.
Books would restore via the Mansang Library's miracle anyway, but the chaotic terrain was terrible for fighting.
What could they do? Someone had to step up.
"Griz. Why'd you imagine something like this?"
Creak...
Creeeak...
As Kang Seol muttered, stepping over shattered shelves, the giant soldier turned to him.
Pssshhh...
It vented steam.
Kang Seol flung open the book he'd grabbed.
[You have violated the rules.]
['Witch Willaim's Basic Alchemy - Sticky Goo I' Chapter 1 unfolds.]
[- Sticky Goo, combined with moss widow spider fluids...]
Splatttt!
A foul-smelling slime sprayed across the book's face.
In a blink, it coated the giant soldier's arm thickly.
Jone shouted.
"Willaim always skips her intro and dives into sticky goo! Even up to volume 3—safe!"
"How do you know so well?"
"Loved it!"
KABOOOOOM!
Kang Seol dodged the giant soldier's fist; it slammed harmlessly where he'd stood.
Twitch...
The sticky goo was working.
Crack...
Creeeak...
'Not enough!'
The giant soldier was about to rip its arm free from the ground.
Whirr...
[Jone uses Stepping Stones.]
[A bidirectional door forms.]
Whoosh...
Jone's teleportation magic provided support.
Books flew from the glowing door.
"Catch! Open any page except the last! Back pages better!"
Kang Seol snatched it midair and climbed the giant soldier's shoulder.
Tap... Tap...
He opened the book.
[You have violated the rules.]
['Grotesque Objects of Absurd Effects' Chapter 167 unfolds.]
[- Ishtald's obsidian axe increases weight based on the wielder's strength, an utterly ridiculous...]
Whish...
An obsidian axe burst from the book onto the giant soldier's arm.
BOOMMM!
Stuck fast, that arm pinned to the ground, immobile.
"Nice! Prime trash! You're lucky!"
Pssshhhh...
Steam jetted from the giant soldier; the useless arm detached.
"Whoa!"
Griz had even imagined that useless feature.
Whirr...
"Catch! Sticky Goo 2!"
Whoosh-!
Kang Seol grabbed and opened it instantly.
[You have violated the rules.]
['Witch Willaim's Basic Alchemy - Sticky Goo II' Chapter 1 unfolds.]
[- Sticky Goo has various real-life uses. As an eco-friendly material...]
Splatttt-!
Sticky goo splattered on the giant soldier's knee.
"Danger!"
It spewed flames at Kang Seol's position.
Roooar-!
"Whew!"
Kang Seol dove into Jone's stepping stone just in time—otherwise, he'd have faced the flames head-on.
Fire Monkey resisted most fire damage anyway, but better safe. Unnecessary hits could hurt later fights.
"That damn thing setting the library ablaze! Santio!"
"Got it."
Snap-!
Whirr...
[Santio uses Flame Resistance Cloak.]
[Increases flame resistance by 30% for allies in range.]
Snap-!
[Santio uses Refreshing Breath.]
[Breathing unaffected by harmful effects for a duration.]
Kang Seol charged back at the giant soldier.
Crackle...
He clenched his fist and struck its chest.
CLANGGG-!
'...No dice!'
Its outer shell was so hard his hand ached. Direct hits were out.
Whirrrr...
"Damn it! Dodge!"
Kang Seol spotted magic gathering in its mouth and bolted.
KABOOOOOMMMMM-!
No match for Seolhong's iron cannon, but absurd destructive power for a giant soldier's weapon.
He dodged, but the shock made his hairs stand.
'At this rate...'
Anxiety gripped them: the library collapsing first?
'Change plans?'
As he pondered everyone piling on, a shout rang out.
"F-Found it! Kang Seol! I got something perfect!"
"Jin Ryeo!"
"Trust me! I've read it hundreds of times!"
Such conviction—first time hearing it from her.
"I'll trust you!"
"Yes! No—pass this to him, old timer!"
"This brat!?"
"Hurry! Urgent!"
Whirr...
Whoosh-!
Kang Seol glanced at the tossed book's title.
*The One Who Reclaimed the Wing Mountains*
"This..."
"Ch-Chapter 30! Remember exactly! That's the spot!"
"Spear or person?"
"Spear!"
Whirrrr...
Whooooommm...
The one-armed giant soldier swung at Kang Seol, but he rode the arm up to its head.
Pop-!
Before opening, Kang Seol hesitated.
'This... too risky... If a person comes out, we're done.'
Seeing his doubt, Jin Ryeo scattered coins into the air.
Several platinum coins vanished.
"Kuhn guarantees! Chapter 30 is the spear!"
"Then..."
Fwooooosh-!
Golden light erupted from the book, an aura unlike any before.
[You have violated the rules.]
['The One Who Reclaimed the Wing Mountains' Chapter 30 unfolds.]
[- The Dragon Lord's black spear, forged from sky dragon lightning...]
CRACKLEBOOM-!
A bolt of lightning struck the giant soldier's crown.