Chapter 85

Chapter 84. The Magic Grand Library (2)

Amid the marble floor and the splendid lighting,

an endless expanse of shelves was filled with countless types of books.

Though the shelves were intertwined like a maze, Jinhyuk traversed them without hesitation.

He moved forward,

precisely toward the central information desk.

How long had he walked?

At the end of a widening passage, he saw an old wooden desk and the figure of a person sitting at it.

"Hmm?"

Creak!

An old man wearing a monocle and a black suit stood up from his seat.

A slight hint of puzzlement was visible on his face.

He knew the reason.

How did this person navigate through the maze and find the information desk in one go? That was what he was curious about.

"Surprising. First-time visitors usually get lost in the maze of books."

"Kind of just followed the path. To be honest, I'm pretty lucky."

Jinhyuk shrugged.

It was an absurd excuse, but Rick didn't press further.

Instead, he looked at Jinhyuk with interest.

"My name is Rick Hennessy, and I manage this library."

Rick politely removed his bowler hat and bowed deeply.

'To have a middle manager bow like this...'

This is why the old man is scary.

If he had been rude or ignored me, it would have been easier to deal with.

Maintaining consistent manners despite his high position is a sign of his composure.

A giant among the largest trading companies in the tower and a key figure managing the Magic Grand Library.

To get what I want from such a cunning person, I need a plan.

"My name is Jinhyuk Kang."

"So, you are Player Jinhyuk Kang. Welcome. You are the one who visited here the fastest after being recognized by the tower. As a reward, you can choose and purchase one book from the Magic Grand Library. Please take your time to select."

Rick extended both hands.

A treasure trove of knowledge encompassing barriers, incantations, magic, and illusions.

This place has everything.

But.

"Even if I choose what I want, I can't just have it, right?"

"Haha, that's correct. This place only offers the opportunity to choose. To purchase it, you must pay its value. Of course, we don't accept Earth currency. Only coin exchanges or bartering with items are allowed, so please keep that in mind."

This was also expected.

However, the useful magic books all required coins in the billions, so buying anything with coins was practically out of the question.

"I don't have many coins, so buying with coins would be difficult. I'm interested in bartering. Could you recommend a suitable magic book?"

Jinhyuk took out 'Merlin's Staff' from his subspace inventory and placed it carefully on the table.

Rick's eyes narrowed slightly.

This was a habit he had when he liked something.

"Hmm. How about this one? It's a fire magic book, reportedly written by a Red Dragon. Exchanging it for Merlin's Staff would be a mutually beneficial deal."

Rick quickly selected a book with a red cover and golden runes.

As expected.

In the past, he had suffered huge losses by agreeing to barter without knowing the exact value of items.

He had given up all his items to get a useless magic book.

At the time, he thought the Magic Library was an incredible opportunity, which led to that mistake.

But.

"That's strange."

"Strange? What do you mean?"

"From what I know, this book was written by an imperial court magician, not a Red Dragon. His name was... Telemon, I believe? He had just surpassed the 6th Circle."

Not even a chief magician.

A court magician of around 70th rank who scribbled a magic book.

Would you try to sell such trash?

"......!?"

Rick's pupils dilated.

Where there was a mix of curiosity and interest before, now his face was a mix of shock and caution.

"How did you know that...?"

"I have a wide network. Thanks to that, I have quite a bit of information."

Jinhyuk smiled and took out a coffee pot, filter paper, and coffee beans from his subspace inventory.

These were things he had bought from the 'Coin Exchange' before coming here.

"It seems this will be a long conversation. Would you like a cup?"

Jinhyuk placed the finely ground coffee beans in the filter and poured hot water over them.

"No, it's not the coffee that's important right now..."

Rick, who had been shaking his head, suddenly twitched his nose.

The fragrant aroma of coffee filled the room.

"This can't be."

It was the coffee made from 'Bengenti Jungle Coffee Beans,' which Rick preferred the most.

"Do you like this coffee, Player Jinhyuk Kang?"

"I don't like instant coffee, so I've tried many different kinds. The coffee inside the tower has a better aroma. Among them, this one was the best match."

"...... Hmm. Your taste in coffee is excellent. I personally prefer this the most."

I know.

I've seen you drink 12 cups of this coffee a day.

Personally, I prefer sweet drinks like caramel macchiatos or chocolate frappuccinos, but what's important now is to win his favor.

[The librarian 'Rick Hennessy's favorability has increased significantly.]

[Though he always seeks profit, he will soften his stance for you.]

His sharp eye for identifying genuine items and the shared taste in favorite foods naturally make him like you.

Especially since I've been subtly using the 'Empathy' skill, this psychological battle is practically over before it even started.

"May I ask you a personal question, Player Jinhyuk Kang?"

"Go ahead."

"I knew you were different from ordinary players from the moment you arrived. But, it seems you have a background beyond just being special."

Common sense dictates that a player who just entered the 5th floor shouldn't know such information.

Naturally, he would think there was something more.

"I'm curious about your background. That's what you want to ask, right?"

"You read me well."

...Good.

The corners of Jinhyuk's mouth turned upward.

I've been waiting for you to ask this.

"Actually, the Egyptian deities are watching over me. Thanks to them, I was able to come here and obtain various pieces of information about the tower."

"The Egyptian deities, you say?"

"Yes."

"That's... They would show interest in a player so soon..."

"They seem to care for me quite a bit. Of course, it's an honor for me."

If Anubis heard this, he would probably collapse, clutching his throat.

Or, more accurately, he might bite his tongue and fall from the top of a pyramid.

Considering all the things I've been through, I could write a book.

But from Rick's perspective, there was no way to verify this.

At least not at this moment.

"I seem to have treated you poorly, Player Kang."

Rick's tone of voice completely changed.

"Those who are valuable deserve appropriate treatment. As an apology, I will gift you one of the books here."

Wow.

Look at that.

I expected the conditions to change, but this is beyond my expectations.

He's essentially issuing a blank check, regardless of the price.

"Can I really choose anything?"

"Of course, it's a gift as an apology. Don't worry, take your time to choose."

"In that case..."

If I don't have to worry about the price, there are plenty of things I want.

I was originally planning to give up Merlin's Staff to get something in exchange.

Thanks to this, I can get what I want for free.

Jinhyuk started walking leisurely through the library.

＊＊＊

Thud.

His pace gradually slowed.

A moment later, Jinhyuk stopped in front of a secluded bookshelf.

12F - 127 Row.

Right here.

'Textbooks were so boring, but why is this so welcoming?'

Jinhyuk chose one of the books in the library.

It was an old book with a striking black cover.

"Are you sure you want this one? It's definitely a good magic book, but it's written in ancient runes, so not just anyone can read it..."

"I, Black Dragon Makethrian, wrote this to commemorate becoming an ancient dragon. Over a thousand years, I have pondered the ways to break the rules of the world. Blah blah. A book written by a lizard with a severe case of middle school syndrome. I'll take this one."

Jinhyuk naturally recited the first page of the book.

Ancient runes.

After seeing them for over a decade, they feel more familiar than Korean.

"Ha ha ha! I apologize again. Indeed, you are blessed by the deities."

Rick burst into hearty laughter.

Whether it was because he was amazed that Jinhyuk could interpret ancient runes or because he casually mentioned a dragon, the strongest of all beings, it was unclear.

What was certain was that he had won the favor of one of the most influential middle managers in the tower.

"I will also keep an eye on you, Player Jinhyuk Kang. I sincerely look forward to our next meeting."

With that,

Crack!

The library began to crumble into a pile of sand.

Having obtained the reward, it was time to return to reality.

＊＊＊

The Tower of Trials, 5th Floor.

Although only two days had passed since the 4th floor was cleared, many people were already challenging the 5th floor.

Due to the nature of the maps, which close on a first-come, first-served basis, they were trying to secure a favorable spot.

The most popular place was the 'Mine.'

[C - 101 is full.]

[D - 77 is full.]

[E - 158 is full.]

Jinhyuk, watching the rapidly flashing status window, let out a small exclamation.

"Wow. The speed at which they're filling up is almost like university course registration."

Especially like those super popular general education courses that fill up in seconds.

I understand.

The appeal must be that finding a gem is recognized as a clear.

At least compared to other places, the risk of losing your life is lower.

But.

"They don't seem to know that it's safe but the clear speed is abnormally slow."

Finding the 'Royal Diamond' buried deep in the mine is as difficult as finding a needle in a desert.

Many have failed even after 90 days of mining, and the only thing they get is a tired body.

Jinhyuk didn't even glance at the popular maps.

Instead, he looked at the place players feared the most.

[Z - 01 (Mental Ward)]

Current waiting: 37

Remaining time: 0h:2m:13s

The Mental Ward.

A building of death where cursed monsters and mad patients roam.

This is the battlefield to choose in the 5th floor.

'It's almost full.'

Just as Jinhyuk was about to accept the challenge,

Ding!

An unexpected message arrived from those who had never shown their presence before.