Chapter 16

Chapter 015

Academy Library, 3rd Floor, Office.

"This is Chief Do Jihwan, who will be working as a librarian from today. Say hello."

"Nice to meet you, please take care of me."

I greeted, but the response was cold.

It seems that from the start, the atmosphere wasn't welcoming.

"I'll introduce you to everyone later, but let's go out for now."

The librarian who was introducing me led me out with a stern face.

Click.

After locking the office door, he checked for any prying eyes and whispered softly.

"I'm sorry."

"Relax."

"Excuse me?"

"Be casual."

The bald librarian had been showing me respect, but I immediately warned him.

"Be casual, what do you mean by that...."

"Act professionally. Appropriately for your position. Adapt to the situation."

Frowning as I warned him, the librarian finally realized what I meant.

"Ah, ahem. Sorry... Sorry. I've been a bit distracted lately."

The librarian fanned his face with his hand and cleared his throat.

"My name is Baek Ok-gi, the librarian. I've been in this position since the library was established in the Academy."

"You've been here a long time."

"Yes. And the reason for the cold reception is that they think you're my parachute."

"I understand."

If I'm a parachute, there's nothing I can do.

The others must have worked hard to pass the exams and get in, so someone who came in through connections wouldn't be well-received.

In reality, I'm a high-ranking member of the Gyeoksa, a secret organization, who has been assigned here as a librarian.

"This library has a total of 5 floors. 3 above ground and 2 below. Your area will be the basement 2nd floor archive."

"Isn't there a staircase to the 3rd basement floor?"

"The 3rd basement floor is the preservation archive. It's where books that need to be discarded are stored. The 1st and 2nd basement floors are general reading areas, and the 1st and 2nd floors above ground are reading rooms. The 3rd floor is a combination of a book cafe and offices."

"So, I'm going to the basement?"

"Yes. For now, you'll be working in the basement. You should have taken over the previous librarian's position, but the previous librarian was of a higher rank."

"But I'm the same rank, right?"

"Yes, but seniority is hard to ignore. Especially in a place like Jeju Island, which is isolated from the outside world."

"I understand."

In other words, I'm being sent to the most difficult area, where I won't even see much sunlight.

"What will I be doing there?"

"Have you ever worked as a librarian before?"

"Yes."

I learned it.

Before coming to Jeju Island, I spent a week learning the duties of a librarian with the help of a Gyeoksa member at a small library in Busan.

"Following the manual shouldn't be a problem."

"Right. There won't be many people coming in and out of the 2nd basement floor. Most of the books there are about science, technology, and arts."

"......Really?"

Wait.

"Didn't I hear that the 'general literature' section is in my area?"

"It was supposed to be, but it got complicated. The general literature books are spread out on the 1st and 2nd floors, and you won't be in charge of that area. It's a place where you have to deal with a lot of people."

"I see...."

"Think positively. Apart from those who come to write papers, almost no one will visit your area."

The library has a classification system.

It's a way to categorize books, using the first digit from 000 to 900 to distinguish the subject matter.

The area I'm in charge of is 400 for natural sciences, 500 for technology, and 600 for arts.

The books I was aiming for are all in the 800s, which are mainly on the 1st and 2nd floors above ground, not in the 2nd basement floor I'm assigned to.

"Is one of the reasons you came here to read the books here?"

"Yes, that's part of it."

All kinds of novels that can't be found outside.

Why can't they be found outside? Because the novels here are actually 'textbooks' for those who have awakened abilities in this world.

For example, there's a novel called 'Red Flame Dragon.'

It's a novel about a dragon knight who handles red flames.

This novel, which was published as a paper book in rental stores, was deleted from existence and now only exists within the Academy.

Why is it treated as a banned book?

Because the protagonist of this novel uses abilities very similar to those of the A-class ability user 'Scarlet Dragon' in Korea.

Naturally, the relationship was reversed.

Scarlet Dragon became so engrossed in the novel that he adopted the protagonist's techniques as his own skills. When he showed A-class potential, the state immediately collected all copies of the novel and placed them in the Academy.

Publicly, everyone knows.

It's not that the novel was deleted, but the Hero Wiki clearly states, "The origin of this hero's ability is 'Red Flame Drake.'"

However, the state collected all copies of the novel to prevent certain incidents.

To hide Scarlet Dragon's skills.

To hide Scarlet Dragon's weaknesses.

To prevent information about Scarlet Dragon from being obtained through the novel.

The original author might feel wronged that their hard work was suddenly designated as a banned book by the state, but such complaints usually disappear in the face of 'patriotic pension.'

Is there a hero who uses the abilities from my novel as a motif?

The author who becomes the 'original' of a hero's ability receives a pension from the state, with a minimum of 5 million won per month, depending on the hero's rank.

That's why this world is flooded with all kinds of literature.

Success as literature is one thing, but in a world where human imagination is closely related to the manifestation of abilities, being chosen by a hero can lead to a life that even a landlord would envy.

An era where imagination is power.

That's this world.

And this library is a treasure trove of concentrated imagination.

...In that sense, being sent to the 2nd basement floor, which is filled only with natural science content, is like being exiled to a place far from the main stream of this world.

Sadly, this is the reality.

In this world, humanities, which can stimulate human imagination, are the 'mainstream.'

"For now, you'll have to stay in the basement. I'm sorry. I'll try to...."

"It's fine. No matter what, as a librarian...."

I pointed to the lower floor.

"Can't I borrow books to read?"

That's how I became a librarian who wasn't welcomed by anyone.

* * *

About a week into my job.

The number of people visiting the 2nd basement floor of the library was less than 100 a day.

100 might seem like a lot, but considering that 2,000 people visit the humanities section on the 1st and 2nd floors every day, this place is like heaven.

'Students really come here a lot.'

Through the library's computer lending system, I could see that humanities books were being borrowed frequently, and I could check who was borrowing them.

Most were Academy students.

They all read novels to improve their abilities.

And the seniors read the novels that formed the basis of their abilities to gain indirect experience and strength.

'This is terrifying.'

To have to read novels not as novels but as 'standards of ability.'

It's so sad that it makes me want to cry.

I mourn for the poor souls who can't enjoy content as content.

While no users came in, I was about to take out a book I had borrowed.

And as soon as I took it out, I had to put it back.

"Returning a book."

A woman placed a book on the return counter in front of me.

She was a foreigner with red hair, and I stood up to take the book from her as she smiled at me.

"How did you know I was here?"

"I helped a lot with your transfer here. I'm higher up than the librarian."

"Indeed."

As I scanned the book's barcode, I cautiously asked.

"Which organization are you from?"

"Why? Are you planning to create your own 'Night Parade of One Hundred Demons'?"

"I'm afraid someone might hear."

"Oh, you're scared? Don't worry. No one comes to this place. I wouldn't bring up such a story out loud in a situation where I might be overheard."

The woman took out a business card from her wallet and handed it to me.

"Risara Lakshmi. Professor of Ability Studies at Jeju Academy."

"Y-Youk."

"...What's with that reaction?"

"I have an allergy to professors."

"What? Have you ever been a graduate student?"

"Something like that."

I was a graduate student before I was possessed.

"Still, it's interesting. I didn't expect the leader to send you here personally. Is it a coincidence? With all the beautiful women from different countries gathered here."

"I don't think so."

It's bound to happen.

"When the Academy semester starts, I won't be able to come often. So, I'll tell you now. I don't want my identity to be revealed and lose my professorship. So, please take care, Villain Executioner."

"Are you telling me to keep my identity hidden and handle things well?"

"Something like that. I'm looking forward to seeing how many female students you can charm. Especially since you came in as a librarian, not a student, teaching assistant, or lecturer."

"You can have high expectations."

I extended my hand to Professor Risara.

"Because in fantasy, the librarian is always the strongest."

Ding dong.

The first semester of the Academy began.