May 5, 2016Tgurneu
Bantorra Library was composed of six big Archives and five Labyrinths. All of it was located underground, and besides the large gate on the surface, there was no other way to intrude inside.
The Sixth Archive was the closest to the surface. From the fact that it wasn’t sealed and even Librarians with no combat capabilities were allowed to enter, it was known as the Open Archive.
About four fifths of all Books were housed there. This was where ordinary people who led ordinary lives would arrive at after their death.
By opening the door at the back of the Sixth Archive, the true form of the Library – the Books Labyrinth – would be revealed. No one had ever measured it precisely, but there was about a kilometer from the surface to the deepest parts. It was said to be easily larger than a town.
The Labyrinth was further divided to six Levels, and naturally, it grew more complex as one went deeper inside.
The Books that were designated for sealing would be scattered among the Labyrinth’s Archives according to their importance or danger held within them.
Those who challenged this Labyrinth as well as protected it – were called Armed Librarians.
The Fifth Book Labyrinth was silent. After Minth left her, Noloty walked there alone. She cautiously surveyed her surroundings. When she descended about fifty stairs down, as it became suddenly colder, she felt the hair at the back of her neck stand up. Noloty gently lowered the knapsack on her back. Something came walking at her from the front. It was a four-legged beast colored black as ink that looked similar to a horse.
These kinds of beasts who confronted intruders were called Guardian Beasts. They were created by the Overseer of the Past Bantorra to indiscriminately attack every living being inside the Labyrinth. Those who didn’t have the strength to defeat them were not allowed to head inside.
“Alright, here we go.”
Noloty readied her fist.
In the blink of an eye, the upper body of a man grew upon the horse’s back. It was a knight clad in black armor with no lower body. His right hand held a spear while his left hand held a muzzleloader-style revolver.
“So it’s a Cavalryman.”
Noloty muttered.
The Cavalryman started charging. At the same time, he shot towards Noloty. She deflected the bullet using the rope on her fist. While evading the thrust spear by a hair’s breadth, she kicked the horse’s legs. Noloty’s flank bled a little.
The Cavalryman, having lost its balance, collapsed to the side. While trampling its revolver underfoot, Noloty used her other leg to kick the Cavalryman’s head.
As his head was knocked off his neck, the Cavalryman ceased all movements. The black knight’s torso burrowed into the horse’s flesh. The Cavalryman stood unsteadily, turned its back to Noloty and went away.
“Whew…”
Noloty sighed and relaxed her body. Even with her power, it wasn’t difficult beating the Guardian Beasts of the Fifth Level.
Noloty picked up luggage and started walking again.
From then, after going up and down twelve flights of stairs, she turned around the 58thcorner. When she arrived there, she passed several Armed Librarians and trainees. Climbing a long set of stairs, there was a copper-colored door in the middle of the large wall. Noloty extended her hand towards this double door which was three times the height of a human being.
“Whew.”
Noloty held her breath and pressed at the heavy door. It made a loud sound as if the ground was shaking, and the door slowly opened. Warm air came flowing inside – the fresh air of a place inhabited by the living.
Noloty came back to the huge spiral staircase at the very bottom of the Sixth Archive.
“Noloty Malche, safely returned!”
“Welcome back, Noloty.”
A voice called to her. Mirepoc Finedell put her hands on the railing and talked to her.
“Good job. You were quick this time.”
While saying so, she handed a cup of tea to Noloty. The sweet, hot tea permeated her cold body.
“You’ve grown a little, Noloty.”
Mirepoc spoke in a friendly tone. Starting from the Monster incident from a little while ago, Mirepoc seemed to get a slightly better opinion of Noloty.
“No, I don’t really feel so.”
“But you did. Feeling that will come later.”
After Noloty finished drinking and returned the cup to Mirepoc, she smiled. She was honestly happy at having been approved by her superior that was of the same age.
“After delivering the Books, even if it seems a bit early, go back and take a nap. I’m going to have you work more tomorrow, so you have to stay sharp.”
“What about you, Mirepoc-san?”
“I was entrusted with the control room until tomorrow morning. After that’s over I’ll sleep a little and then go and help Mattalast-san.”
“I see…”
Mirepoc went back to the control room. Noloty also wanted to head up, but just as she put her feet to the stairs, a woman came walking from above.
“Oh, Noloty.”
Noloty’s legs stopped. Her body shook with more tension than when she fought the Guardian Beasts.
Accompanied by footsteps of sandal-covered feet, the one who came down was the Acting Director of Bantorra Library, Hamyuts Meseta.
“So you came back, good job. Keep working hard.”
Hamyuts walked slowly while her luggage hung from her waist.
Only a handful of Armed Librarians knew what really happened the other day in Bujui during the fight against the Monster.
Hamyuts manipulated Noloty in order to revive the Monster. Nobody talked about the fact that she wanted to fight Enlike afterwards. Minth told her to forget it all. Noloty also thought she should do so, but she couldn’t forget the fear of facing Hamyuts Meseta no matter how much she wanted to.
“E-even you’re shelving Books, Director?”
Noloty raised a nervous voice and tried talking normally. However, even her body was frightened, let alone her mouth.
“Yeah. Because we don’t have enough manpower.”
While saying so, Hamyuts caressed Noloty’s head.
“You’re also working hard, huh? You’re almost fully qualified now.”
Hamyuts smiled while tousling the girl’s hair.
“What’s wrong, Noloty? You’re pale.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Oh well, see ya.”
After saying so, Hamyuts left for the Labyrinth.
Noloty couldn’t understand Hamyuts at all. She was competent, but was also known as an extremely ruthless woman. Until now, even Noloty thought so. However, she had the feeling that something far more dangerous hid in her true nature.
“She’s scary but… I can’t do anything about her.”
Noloty muttered, and then began climbing the spiral staircase.
Normal librarians hurriedly went up and down the stair while holding baskets full of Books. Crossing paths with them, Noloty grew closer to the surface.
Entering a side path that was close to the topmost level, she arrived at a waiting room made for the normal visitors. It was filled by the smoke of tobacco and the sighs of people who were tired of waiting. They were many who had to withstand vexatious procedures and long waiting times so they could view certain Books.
“Ah, Noloty-san. I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Let me read it already. I can’t take it anymore.”
Those who wanted to read Books as well as the normal librarians started talking to Noloty.
“Noloty-san, here’s some water.”
A librarian passed Noloty a bottle.
“Ah, thanks. But I’m not thirsty. Rather than that, let’s hand out the Books.”
Noloty took a small wooden box from within the rucksack on her back.
“…I see.”
The librarian who held out the water bottle replied in a small voice. Noloty didn’t pay him any heed and started taking Books out.
“Umm, who requested the Book of the hunter Goul Baroque?”
“I did.”
The one who raised his hand was a bespectacled old man with a hunched back. Noloty heard that he was an expert in the research of ancient civilizations. She then began the obligatory explanation.
“I’m sure you are well aware of this, but I’ll explain it for a second time. This Book was designated under the Fifth Seal. You are strictly forbidden from taking it outside the archive or showing it to other people. In the case of violation, your memory will be wiped off by the Fiction Obliterating Cup Argax and you will be forbidden from entering the Library ever again. Leaking information or damaging the Book will also incur punishment by law. If you acknowledge all of this, please sign here.”
“Yes yes, give it to me. Now I’ll be able to understand the lifestyle of people in the southern frontier during the year 800!”
Noloty checked the signatures on the document and then guided the old man to the reading room.
“And now, who requested the Book of the sea adventurer Bleuney Stamp?”
“I did.”
Noloty passed the Book to the man who held his hand. He was probably an adventurer just like the Book’s owner. He was a burly man with a scar on his face.
After explaining and confirming his signatures, Noloty guided the man to the reading room.
“The Book of the astronomer Honney Mashea.”
“I’ve been waiting for this forever! The Astronomy Society meeting is next month!”
The scholarly woman ran to the reading room in the middle of Noloty’s explanation.
“The Book of the coal mine owner Colt Moari.”
A man stood up, grinning. Although officially his goal was the reclamation of the coal mine, his true aim was to locate the whereabouts of an enormous inheritance. He received the Book, barely able to suppress his joy. However, Noloty read the Book before, so she knew – there wasn’t any inheritance.
“Next is the Book of the Magician Mill Moomiton.”
And thus Noloty handed over all Books. A third of the people in the waiting room received their Books and went to the reading room.
Now my work for today is over – just as Noloty thought so, a voice called to her.
“Umm…”
It was a woman about twenty three years old wearing mourning clothes.
“How can I help you?”
“Umm, I was supposed to get the Book of my husband Bleuney Stamp, but…”
“Oh, that one. Earlier I gave it to another person, so you can get it once he finishes viewing it.”
“But my husband wasn’t a sea adventurer…”
The mourning woman said in hesitation. Behind Noloty, a librarian looked at the Book list and then said to her,
“Noloty-san, that was another person with the same name.”
It seems she made a blunder. Noloty thought for a second they were tricking her. However, the librarian stared at her from behind, and at her front the mourning woman grabbed her handkerchief.
“…I’ll go bring it now!”
Noloty fled from the waiting room.
“I haven’t grown at all.”
As she muttered this, Noloty went down the spiral staircase of the Sixth Archive.
Before she dived in the Book Labyrinth again, she wanted to eat. The cold inside it made her hungry.
“You there, please wait.”
When Noloty turned around, she saw the adventurer man whom she gave the Book to before.
“What is it?”
“I’d like to ask you if I can go retrieve the Book myself?”
Noloty mentally sighed. Once in a while there were these kinds of people. Newspaper reporters that wanted to see the interior or warriors that wanted to test their own skills – there was no end to people who wanted to enter the Labyrinth.
“I have confidence in my abilities. Don’t worry about me.”
The adventurer rolled up his sleeve. He certainly seemed to be well-trained, and could be a splendid warrior if he had some discipline. But that wasn’t the issue here.
“I appreciate the offer, but you can’t do that. No one can enter except Armed Librarians or trainees.”
“I see. Thank you.”
“Yeah. Unfortunately, we have such rules.”
When Noloty said so, the adventurer made a small laugh for some reason. Then, he went further down the staircase.
“Good grief.”
Half a month passed since the Monster incident. What awaited Noloty who resolved that incident was her unchanging usual daily life.
Carrying a bag full of Books on her shoulders, going back and forth inside the Labyrinth – that same kind of daily life. She came back to the simple days of slowly grinding through her mountain-load of work.
“I wonder how you’re doing now, Enlike-san.”
Noloty recalled the face of the young man she met in battle. He was supposed to have stayed at Bantorra Library. However, ever since the incident ended, she hadn’t seen him at all.
Around the same time…
It was in the part of Bantorra Library above ground. Inside a huge room in the castle there were two men.
Once of them was the Armed Librarian Mattalast. And the other was the ex-Monster, Enlike Bishile. He left the Indulging God Cult and started cooperating with the Armed Librarians.
Enlike closed his eyes while sitting on a chair. Mattalast stood next to him while calmly smoking his pipe. The two didn’t make any sound. Enlike was focusing inside himself, and Mattalast held his breath as if to not disturb him.
“…It’s no good.”
Enlike opened his eyes.
“Is it impossible?”
Mattalast sat down on a chair next to him.
“The Imaginary Entrails are filled with knowledge. However, I cannot touch or read it.”
“That’s a problem.”
Mattalast blew out smoke.
“So it’s just like the Magic Agency thought. You can possess Zatoh’s body, Enlike-kun, but you can’t go as far as control his Magic Right.”
Mattalast gazed towards the report sent by the researchers from the Magic Agency. Inside were written the research results of the Book-Eating ability conducted by the Magic Agency as well as several researchers’ opinions on the matter. As Enlike became a collaborator with the Armed Librarians, he conveyed everything he knew about the Indulging God Cult to Mattalast. However, since he was a mere Meat he barely knew anything. The only things Enlike could tell him were about the ship, about the island, and about how he overtook Zatoh.
The one who should have deep knowledge about the Indulging God Cult was the Monster Zatoh Rondohone. Just now, Enlike tried pulling out his memories from inside the Imaginary Entrails.
“Most probably, both the act of using the abilities of eaten Books as well as accessing their memories is part of Zatoh’s Magic Right. In fact, right now I can’t eat any Books, nor can I control cloth.”
Enlike said while emitting small sparks from his fingers.
“But you still have your regeneration, don’t you?”
“That seems to be the exception. It might be because it’s an automatic ability or because Kayas is letting me use it.”
Enlike said with a downcast gaze. He was probably reminded of his comrade that would never return.
“Well then, Enlike-kun. What are you going to do from now on?”
“I’ll undergo Magic Deliberation and acquire a new Right. I’ll get one that’ll allow me to retrieve Zatoh’s memories.”
That would be difficult, Mattalast thought. Acquiring an inborn ability such as Book-Eating through normal means is next to impossible. However, Mattalast couldn’t tell him to quit.
Enlike was sincere more than Mattalast expected. He couldn’t tread upon his efforts like that.
“…Sorry, Mattalast. I can’t offer much cooperation after all.”
“Don’t mind it. We once tried to kill each other after all.”
Mattalast smiled. Strictly speaking, that wasn’t Enlike-kun though, he added in his mind.
“Also, you can still be plenty of use even in your current state. For example, we’ve found plenty of goods on the island you came from. That alone is a big progress.”
Then, the door opened without even a knock.
“Mattalast. A report came from Guinbex government.”
The one who came inside was a man wearing a dark-green military uniform. He had a medium build and height, with a physique that didn’t stand out at all. His hair was slicked backwards as if he attempted to erase any and all of his features.
His symbol as an Armed Librarian was on a medal attached to the chest of his uniform. He had several documents in his hand.
“From Guinbex? Why?”
“This is about the manufacturer of the food found on the Indulging God Cult’s island. That was unmistakably food made for the use of the Guinbex army.”
“As we thought. Where did the manufacturer lead us to?”
“I don’t know. I’m going to issue instructions on that matter now.”
The man put the documents on the table. He turned his eyes to Enlike, and then snorted.
“I am First Class Armed Librarian Feekiee Quinn.”
He introduced himself in a cold voice.
“We’ve met once before, so I know you. I also heard your name at that time.”
Feekiee averted his gaze from Enlike.
“I see. I don’t have time to remember dogs abandoned by the Indulging God Cult one-by-one.”
“Hey, Feekiee. Try to get along with him.”
Mattalast chided in while smoking his pipe.
“Mattalast, be careful around him.”
Feekiee left those words and then left. Mattalast shrugged as if giving up. Enlike saw Feekiee off with a discouraged expression.
“Sorry, Enlike-kun. Don’t be offended. He’s just a bit too serious.”
“Yeah. I don’t mind.”
“Good grief, everyone from Guinbex is too serious that it’s troubling.”
Mattalast removed the ashes from his pipe. He put another leaf, lit it with a match, and then suddenly changed the topic.
“Hey, Enlike-kun. Do you know why I’ve been assigned to you?”
Enlike raised an eyebrow.
“I don’t.”
“It’s because I’m the best against surprise attacks.”
“What do you mean?”
“If I were in the Indulging God Cult, I would, without any doubt, want to erase you.”
“…Really?”
“The biggest strength of the Indulging God Cult is the fact that nothing is known about it. They should be afraid of information leaking first and foremost. Am I wrong?”
“That might be true, but…”
“To tell you the truth, I’m expecting you to play the role of bait.”
Mattalast brought the index finger on his right hand close to Enlike’s face.
“When those insolent guys come near you…”
He grabbed his finger using his left hand.
“Chomp.”
Mattalast twisted his fingers.
“I don’t like the way of doing it.”
“No, it’ll be fine.”
Enlike emitted small sparks from his body. Mattalast smiled as he thought about how reliable he was.
Two weeks have passed since the incident. It’s about time for something to happen, Mattalast thought to himself. I wonder where it’ll come from.
CHAPTER 1: RED WARNING LIGHT – PART 2
May 9, 2016Tgurneu
Noloty was eating her meal inside a break room for Armed Librarians located in the Sixth Archive. She stuffed herself with smoked salmon and onions sandwiched inside rye bread with nothing to drink.
“Are you going inside the Labyrinth again, Noloty-san?”
Ireia talked as she placed freshly baked bread on top of the tray. Since Noloty’s mouth was full, she answered by moving her head.
“You’re working quite enthusiastically. You’re a good girl, Noloty-san. Please work and eat a lot.”
Noloty received the tray. The fourth bread became her dessert. It was soaked in plenty of butter and honey. It made a sweet smell all the way to the finger she used to pinch it.
The break room in the Sixth Archive was also commonly called old Ireia’s room. Ireia was a master in baking and she worked here for the Librarians roaming around.
“Mm.”
By the way, I need some water. With her cheeks stuffed full of bread, Noloty looked for water.
“…”
She picked up a water bottle. However, it was too light. Her mouth still full, Noloty looked here and there searching for a drink. Suddenly, a cup full of water was placed into her hand.
Without hesitating, Noloty drank the water.
“Oh, thanks.”
The man who gave her this seemed to be a normal librarian. He didn’t even look at Noloty who thanked him and exited the room.
At that moment, Noloty felt slight discomfort. She stopped her hand and thought for a bit. But she soon gave up.
Noloty hadn’t noticed. That man was the same one who tried to make Noloty drink in the waiting room earlier. It was too trivial to notice.
After leaving the room, the man went down the spiral staircase unsteadily. His gait was shaky, as if he was drunk. He then muttered.
“Make Noloty Marche drink water. Make Noloty Marche drink water.”
He kept muttering. He said the same thing over and over like a broken gramophone.
“Make Noloty Marche drink water. Make Noloty Marche drink water.”
Some voice asked him if he was okay. The man didn’t even turn his gaze. While continuing to murmur, he went to the corner of the Archive.
“Make Noloty Marche drink water. Make Noloty Marche drink water… I made… Noloty Marche… Drink water.”
The man’s muttering ended. For a while, he simply stood there silently. Then, he took a small knife from his pocket. Slowly and carefully, he stabbed his own neck.
During that time, Mirepoc had just finished checking the telegraph in the control room. That room was placed next to the entrance to the Fifth Labyrinth. Its interior didn’t look fitting to the old-fashioned Bantorra Library. The telegraph was connected to various placed inside the Labyrinth and was intended to let Armed Librarians inside know about any unusual events.
Fifty years ago this kind of modern facility would be unthinkable. Even Bantorra Library, that prided itself on tradition, made some advancement during the wave of modernization and mechanization.
Just as she confirmed that there was nothing wrong with the device, the buzzer rang.
One of the several hundred lamps gave off a red light. It meant that something abnormal happened in the Sixth Archive. Mirepoc took the handset of the communication device and contacted the Sixth Archive’s security room.
“Control room speaking. Did something happen?”
While trying to calm the upset librarian, Mirepoc listened to their story. When she heard about the incident, she instinctively raised a voice.
“Suicide? Inside the Library?”
“Yes ma’am.”
Mirepoc became worried. She might need to go there, but she can’t leave this place unattended.
However, not many Armed Librarians are inside the Labyrinth right now. Only the Director ever sets foot in dangerous locations. There were low chances for trouble. It should be fine.
“I’ll come soon, so call Ireia. Don’t touch the scene. I understood.”
Mirepoc cut off the communication, touched the gun hanging on her waist and leaving the control room.
Noloty’s surroundings seemed busy. Did something happen? She wondered. But rather than that, she thought it would be more important to fetch the Book and ignored the clamor around.
On her way, she peeked into the control room.
“Huh? Mirepoc-san isn’t here.”
She looked around for a short while, but didn’t see her. Noloty left the control room and headed for the Labyrinth entrance.
“Oh, I was waiting for you, Noloty-san.”
Noloty found two figures in front of the Labyrinth gate.
One of them seemed familiar. It was the man with a scar from his right eye to his lips – the adventurer that received the Book earlier. A jute bag was strapped to his shoulders and he held an ice axe made of steel in his hands. It looked as if he was just departing for a new adventure.
The second person she didn’t recognize. It was a young woman in her twenties with long, flaxen hair. She wore a white coat on top of an inconspicuous yet high-quality one piece dress. Noloty honestly thought that she was beautiful.
She wondered if there was something wrong with the woman’s sight. She held a long cane and her eyes didn’t seem focused, meekly gazing at the floor.
“Let’s go immediately. I was tired of waiting.”
The adventurer smiled towards Noloty. She had no clue why he was here and what he was waiting for.
“Did we make some arrangement?”
“You already told us. You’re going to let us into the Labyrinth.”
“Did I really say such a thing?”
Noloty placed a hand on her chin and pondered. She felt as if she could and couldn’t remember that. For some reason, it seemed vague inside her head.
“You did. You thanked me when I said I wanted to accompany you.”
I did say that, Noloty thought. I definitely did. But why can’t I remember what happened before and after? No, wait, there was supposed to be something important before that.
“Time is of essence. Let us go.”
The adventurer put a hand of the Labyrinth’s gate while he prompted the cane wielding woman.
Strange. Something is definitely strange. Noloty kept thinking. She felt something was strange, but she couldn’t understand what.
“Come on, quickly.”
“I understand. Let us go.”
Saying so, Noloty also put her hand to the door connecting to the Book Labyrinth. It felt cold to the touch. The door recognized the shape of Noloty’s soul in order to confirm she was a personnel allowed to enter the Labyrinth. It was then unlocked.
“…Let us go now.”
Noloty pulled the heavy door and set foot inside the cold Labyrinth.
“Noloty-san, which route are you going to take?”
“Because I’m the most accustomed to route 16, we’ll go from there.”
“I see. We’re headed to route 51, so we’re splitting here.”
The adventurer urged the woman and they were both gone inside the Labyrinth.
After seeing their backs off, Noloty stood there for a short while.
Something’s strange. Something’s wrong. While unable to understand the situation, Noloty kept standing in place.
“…Nobody’s coming after us, Winkeny.”
The adventurer said. It was an especially small voice, so it didn’t reach the young woman walking next to him.
“Yeah, nobody’s coming.”
The one replying wasn’t the woman. Something was wriggling on the adventurer’s back. That thing replied in a small voice as well.
“Our infiltration was a success, adventurer Locolo.”
“Stop that already. I’m no adventurer. That’s so stupid.”
The man – Locolo – said. A cruel smile floated to his lips.
“By the way, that woman just now was the one who stole Ganbanzel’s Monster. She was even less of a threat than I thought.”
Locolo smiled while looking back.
“Let’s stop the idle talk. The Monster is irrelevant right now.”
The voice on his back said. Locolo didn’t listen to it.
“I like that Thought Sharing woman better. She seems tough.”
At that moment, the woman walking next to Locolo talked to him.
“Did you say something, Locolo-san?”
“No, nothing.”
“I see…”
The woman put one hand to her cheek.
“Anyway, it’s really cold in here.”
“That’s true. Well, you’ll get used to it soon.”
The woman murmured in worry.
“Mokkania has been living here for a long time. It’s bad for his health, so it makes me worry.”
“Right, let’s go quickly to Mokkania’s place.”
“Yes, let’s hurry up. I want to meet him. I want to meet my cute Mokkania as soon as possible.”
With the sound of the cane accompanying her steps, the woman kept walking slowly.
In the part of Bantorra Library above ground, Mattalast and Enlike were still talking.
“Will that really go well?”
Enlike questioned the Armed Librarian’s strategy – which was waiting for the enemy to strike under the assumption that their side has an overwhelming advantage. It was obvious that he would question the strength of Bantorra Library after they once allowed the Monster to escape.
“Don’t underestimate us Armed Librarians. Our battle strength’s different than what it was before.”
“Just how many do we have?”
“We have five people on the same class as me or above. The Director, me, Ireia… There’s also a guy called Mokkania, but maybe we shouldn’t count him.”
“And the final one?”
“You.”
“I see.”
Enlike thought for a short while.
“Does anything in this world that can defeat all of us exist?”
“That’s being a bit reckless. If the Cult had such battle strength, the Library would have been destroyed long ago.”
Mattalast shrugged. The fighting strength of Bantorra Library surpassed an entire country’s military. Even Hamyuts wouldn’t be able to stand up against them.
At that moment, he recalled another person. It wouldn’t be impossible for him to count as the world’s strongest along with Hamyuts.
“But… if we’re talking within certain circumstances, there’s one person that can beat us all together.”
“Who is it?”
“Don’t worry. He’s an ally.”
“Which one was he?”
“You still haven’t met him. I’m talking about Mokkania whom I’ve mentioned just now.”
“What kind of person is he?”
Enlike leaned forward. Mattalast began explaining about his ability and nature.
Enlike listened to him with a facial expression that couldn’t be called calm by any means.
Noloty, who was headed towards the Fifth Archive, stopped and turned around on the way. For some reason, she was worried about the man she met before. She returned to the gate and took route 51.
Noloty remembered. After turning in the middle of this route, one can reach the room Mokkania lives in.
“Is something going on with Mokkania-san?”
Noloty muttered. That monstrous man couldn’t possibly get killed, but her uneasiness grew the more she kept walking.
She arrived in front of Mokkania’s room. There was no-one inside. Neither the two people from before nor Mokkania. Noloty turned back and proceeded towards the Fifth Archive through route 51.
In the middle of the Fifth Archive, there was a telegraph facility that was connected to the control room. She thought she could contact Mirepoc there and ask whether something happened outside.
“Here it is.”
Just as she thought of running to the telegraph room, she saw a person. Mokkania, whom she has been searching for, now made his way out of the room.
“Mokkania-san.”
He wasn’t someone she wanted to talk with, but it was an emergency. No, it was a situation that might become an emergency now.
“…What?”
“Did two people who aren’t Armed Librarian come here?”
“…Did something happen?”
“They might be enemies.”
Mokkania glanced at Noloty.
“Go away.”
“Huh?”
“I’m telling you to go away.”
She couldn’t understand him. Where should she go away to? Was he possibly telling her to go out of the Labyrinth?
At that time, another figure appeared from within the telegraph room.
“Is someone there, Mokkania?”
One of the pair, the woman holding a cane, started talking to Mokkania.
“Mokkania-san, umm…”
Who is that person? Noloty wanted to ask this, but stopped herself. A black shadow lurked at Mokkania’s feet.
The black shadow gradually increased in depth and extent. At that moment, she understood – Mokkania was going to attack her.
Noloty ran away. She didn’t think about fighting for even an instant, and ran away like a scared rabbit.
Overwhelming force came surging from behind.
Noloty screamed. The black shadow touched Noloty’s feet. She felt sharp pain in her heel as if her bones broke.
“…Well, that kind of guy.”
Mattalast finished his explanation.
“In conclusion, if he’s inside the Labyrinth, the man called Mokkania is undoubtedly the world’s strongest.”
“I see.”
Enlike thought for a while, and then suddenly spoke.
“Mattalast. Since a bit earlier, I’ve notice the Library’s weakness.”
Mattalast was slightly surprised.
“Weakness?”
“Armed Librarians are extremely vulnerable to a certain situation. It’s not like I can bring up any concrete evidence, but this is probably something that all Armed Librarians don’t even try to think about. This is only a hypothesis, but I don’t think you should leave that Mokkania guy alone.”
“…What do you mean?”
“It might be that I only think so because I myself was a traitor, but I believe that the Indulging God Cult is thoroughly prepared for this kind of situation. In that aspect, the Indulging God Cult will completely defeat you.”
“And what is that situation?”
“Betrayal of an ally.”
Enlike pronounced. At the exact same time, Mattalast rose from his seat.
Two seconds later, Bantorra Library’s alarms blared. Mattalast knew that this indicated danger of the highest priority.
After having finished investigating the suicide scene, Mirepoc returned to the control room. At the very least, it was obviously not a murder. She would leave the investigation of the motive and such for other people.
Mirepoc gasped as she returned to the control room. Another red lamp started flashing. The blinking lamp let her know that Noloty was in great danger.
“Noloty? Why is she inside?”
Mirepoc doubted the machine was at fault. She immediately used her Thought Sharing and called to Noloty.
“Noloty… Noloty… Where are you right now?”
The fact that she received no answer was bad news. Mirepoc propped up her sword and grabbed it, intending to run towards the Labyrinth. At that moment, another red lamp had been lit.
“Kalne-san?”
Mirepoc muttered the name of that Armed Librarian. He was supposed to have gone into the Fifth Archive to do some shelving, but she couldn’t believe he would face trouble against the Guardian Beasts of that level there.
Then, another lamp lit up. It time it was the lamp of Bloze the trainee. Next came the lamp of Mumool the trainee. And so on, and so on.
Mirepoc then noticed that she had received a telegram.
When she saw its contents she sounded the alarm without any hesitation and shouted into the communicator.
“Revolt… there’s a revolt! Mokkania Fleur is revolting in the Fifth Archive!”
The following was written in the telegram:
“Immediately order all Armed Librarian inside the Labyrinth to depart. Those who won’t comply will be attacked.
Mokkania”