2.
A cruel fate awaited those who were bewitched by stories.
I wasn't talking about people who simply enjoyed them. I was talking about those who were bewitched. Crazed. They fell deeply again and again, and eventually, they gave up half of their lives to stories.
For them, reality was nothing but a world that could not be a story. There were no dramatic plot twists. No shocking endings. People were just people who could not be reborn as [characters].
Reality was a disappointment.
Humans were contemptible.
And above all else, they worshipped stories.
Disappointment, contempt, and worship made up the true identity of 'those who were bewitched by stories.' That was why they became fanatical when a story unfolded in real life and cheered when real people were reborn as characters.
They hadn't actually lost the heat in their hearts.
They were just waiting for the right moment.
"..."
The final boss of all readers was standing before me now.
"L-Lefanta Aegim and… your crossover?"
This individual loved stories so much that he built a library himself.
"For certain, that's… an attractive offer."
The library he built was so large and magnificent that it covered a whole world and was called the Great Library of All Things, for it contained the thoughts of all creation.
"However, I can only offer you Apocalypses. It is an inviolable rule for me. All stories have the right to end autonomously, so rashly intervening is…"
His lips were quivering now.
'He's wavering.'
I was certain. In the end, the Librarian would be persuaded. No practical logic could convince the Librarian.
But the words [Don't you want to see it?], referring to the story, could tempt the Librarian down to hell.
"Ah. You can just drop it if you don't want to see it."
It was an irresistible offer.
"I was just making an indulgent suggestion. I could make a scene where your two favorite characters interact. But if you don't want it, I won't force you."
"..."
"But you actually want to see it, don't you?"
The Librarian's complexion changed visibly. His emotions were transparent. Suffering. Agonizing. Craving for a decadent dessert, a crossover that would never transpire organically.
"I…"
Eventually, the Librarian opened his mouth.
"I signed a contract with the Tower."
The breath coming from his lips was hot.
"Not all Constellations make contracts with the Tower. Only the Constellation who sign contracts can enter. We're tenants, basically. In exchange for renting a floor of the Tower, I have a restriction."
"What is the restriction?"
"To provide humans only Apocalypses…"
The Librarian flailed his hand.
Each time his hand sliced the air, the books that orbited around him fell to the floor.
"An Apocalypse can mean many things, but The Epic of Lefanta Aegim is not one of them."
These books had the same function as being the Librarian's guards. When Hunters attacked him the other day, the Librarian used the power of the books to subdue them.
"A contract is a contract… I cannot violate it as I please. The Tower, the Master of the Tower, will be furious. I do not want to anger the Tower Master. Mm. Traditionally, aren't tenants at the mercy of their landlords…?"
In other words.
The Librarian was stripping himself of his weapons.
"J-just for reference…"
Dozens of books were dropped. Neutralizing all the powers he held, the Librarian looked at me.
"I actually don't have much power on my own…"
"..."
"It's not just me. Many Constellations are like that. We have special powers, but surprisingly, we're not that good at fighting. Without a book, I become but a simple, fragile reader. Well. So… You get it, don't you, Gongja…?"
I did. I understood completely.
"Yes. You can't break the contract."
I strode toward the Librarian. The distance narrowed. The librarian was primly holding his sleeves together. With a tense expression, he looked up at me.
"Unless it's an unavoidable situation."
I grabbed the Librarian by his neck and lifted him up.
It was easy. [The Corner Librarian] didn't weigh much.
Though his clothes were long and thick, there was no resistance when I lifted him up.
"Oh…!"
The Librarian exhaled.
"Please be gentle when you take [The Epic of Lefanta Aegim]."
"Ah…"
The trembling of the Librarian's lips increased. Intimidation and coercion. Though he was the master of a world and a Constellation, the Librarian did not fight back at all.
"How rude… I have shown you endless kindness until now. I trusted you. To think you would betray me like this…! Aaah. I'm hurt. This is why so many stories warn against trusting a human…"
This guy was terrible at acting.
I smirked and squeezed his throat a little harder. The Librarian whined.
"Give it to me."
"..."
"If you don't, I'll kill you. Pervert."
The Librarian's face, looking up at me, began to become shadowed. We were acting. But the Librarian felt the sincerity in my voice.
It was natural.
If we wanted to trick the Tower, the intimidation had to be somewhat realistic.
"P-pervert? Gongja, don't you think you're being too harsh…?"
"What else do you call someone who collects a person's hair and nails? Furthermore, you said that your lifelong dream is to die by Lefanta Aegim's hand. Your wish… Is it normal to want to be killed by the character you love the most?"
The Librarian shut up.
"Ah, speaking of. If I think about it, I'm also a character you love."
The edges of my lips curved up.
"How about it? You don't need to wait. I can make your wish come true now."
"Now…?"
"Do you want to die here by my hand?"
The Librarian flinched, and his shoulders curled in. He spasmed as if he were struck by lightning. Envy and desire oozed from his upturned eyes. Little by little, very slowly, the Librarian pulled something from his bosom with a trembling hand.
[The Epic of Lefanta Aegim].
It was an old, worn book that had been read hundreds of times and stained by his hands. It was the most cherished book that the Librarian had in his infinite collection, the one that he carried on him.
"I will give it to you…"
The Librarian presented me the treasure he valued over his own life.
"Well done."
I didn't let go of his neck as I grabbed [The Epic of Lefanta Aegim] with one hand. "Ah," said the Librarian, parting his lips. His face was a mess now. Ecstasy and self-loathing were blurred together.
+
[The Epic of Lefanta Aegim]
Genre: You cannot view this at your current level.
Difficulty Level: You cannot view this at your current level.
Player Limit: You cannot view this at your current level.
※The Serialization is ongoing.
Introduction: You cannot view this at your current level.
+
"Oho."
Was it impossible to read anything about a book not authorized by the Librarian? This was new information.
I looked down at the Librarian with interest.
"I can't see it, though? It's unreadable."
"W-well, you can only see the Apocalypses because I allow it… Normally, all the books here are forbidden texts. Humans cannot just read them…"
"Then explain it with your mouth. Firsthand."
"..."
The Librarian could not refuse. It was the character he said he loved most. The Librarian started sharing Lefanta Aegim's history on his own accord.
"Lefanta Aegim is… The Constellation Killer is from the same region as you."
"What?"
"He was born in the same world, same area, and as the same race as you. Not just that, but you have the same family name."
Then, the Librarian said something completely expected. He lowered his gaze and murmured, "The surname Aegim was something the Constellation Killer made himself. It's a simple compound word. Though, he used the language from England instead of the one from where you were born."
England? Was it English?
Since it's 'Ae' and 'gim'—
"…Does it mean 'I' and 'Kim'?"[1]
"Correct."
Oh, my god.
"Didn't I tell you? Once is a coincidence. Twice is a connection. But the third time is an inevitability. The fates of you and the Constellation Killer have intersected at various points, so it can be said that the relationship between you two is inevitable."
My eyes widened at the unexpected background of the Constellation Killer.
'He's from Korea?'
The only person I've met so far from there was the thug with the disgustingly cool ponytail. But the Constellation Killer came from the same place.
'Does this mean I'm the only sane person from Korea?'
I was starting to doubt the integrity of other people from Korea when the Librarian spoke again.
"The Constellation Killer was summoned to another world as a child," said the Librarian.
"At the time, the Constellation Killer was just a high school student. Of course, he was extremely confused when he was summoned. However, he awakened an ability in the summoned world and persevered through the perilous world."
"…Wait. Just a moment."
I was seized by a strange feeling of familiarity. Didn't I know this plot?
"A high school student being summoned to another world. That's totally…"
"Correct."
The Librarian nodded slightly.
"The genre of [The Epic of Lefanta Aegim] is [High School Student Messes Around in an Isekai]. For short, just [Isekai Student]. Though the Constellation Killer is too old to be called a high school student now…"[2]
My jaw dropped. Isekai?
'That term was as extinct as a dinosaur when I heard it as a child.'
Could it be?
Was the Constellation Killer, Lefanta Aegim, an old fossil?
"Of course, it would be unfair to say that he simply messed around. The Constellation Killer suffered countless hardships before he became the first emperor of the Aegim Empire…"
Whenever the Librarian recited the story of Lefanta Aegim, his voice turned into a glowing light that entered [The Epic of Lefanta Aegim].
The light permeated the book, soaking into it, and settled into readable words in the epic.
-A long time ago.
-There were people who lived on top of the corpse of the ancient Dragon Emperor.
"The Constellation Killer… set foot on the 20th floor that you now own."
-They wished for a hero.
-Because there were no heroes among them.
"That's where he began his journey that would pierce through the world."
-They prayed to God.
-God granted their wish.
"It was a journey to found a country…"
Then, the Librarian looked down at the book, which began to emit a white light like the other Apocalypses, as if he were afraid.
"And now, the Constellation Killer is on the 50th floor."
The 50th floor.
The Constellation Killer was at the place Bae Hu-ryeong had talked about.
"Here… there's a problem. You have not yet reached the 50th floor yet. You haven't gotten out of the [beginners' area] yet. And the 50th floor is higher up; it's a special place… It is strictly, seriously forbidden to send beginners to the 50th floor."
His words surprised those who had been listening with bated breaths.
"Everything below the 50th floor is the beginners' area?"
"But we've worked so hard to get here…"
I wasn't surprised.
I knew for a while that the floors before the 10th floor were a tutorial. I also heard from Bae Hu-ryeong that we would be competing with Hunters from other worlds starting on the 50th floor.
'In other words, it means that not having to compete with Hunters from other worlds until the 50th floor is a measure to protect beginners.'
Thinking that, I asked, "When you say forbidden, do you mean you cannot send me to the 50th floor under any circumstances?"
The Librarian's face crumpled again.
"That's… No. The one who sends you… If the floor administrator pays the price, it's possible."
"Then, it doesn't matter. Aren't you going to pay the price?"
"A-at least…"
The Librarian was close to tears.
"At least limit the people to just one, Kim Gongja, please…"
"…All right."
Even if the Librarian didn't make such a desperate plea, I had intended to face Lefanta Aegim alone.
"Send me to the 50th floor."
The Librarian closed his eyes tight.
"…Don't regret it."
"I'm going so that I won't regret it."
The Librarian gave up after hearing my resolute reply. His jittering hand smoothed over the cover of [The Epic of Lefanta Aegim]. Then, he whispered in a frail voice.
"Death King. I designate you as a character of [The Epic of Lefanta Aegim]…"
At that moment.
[Warning!]
[Abnormal access has been detected.]
[A penalty will be given to 'The Corner Librarian.']
A vicious voice slammed into the inside of my head. The Librarian flinched. I probably wasn't the only one hearing the voice. However, the Librarian didn't stop talking, even as he shuddered.
"I exercise my power."
[Repeating the warning.]
[A penalty will be given to 'The Corner Librarian.']
The Librarian exhaled.
"I don't care. Go, Death King… And show me the image of you with the Constellation Killer."
Fwooosh!
White light blinded me.
[Abnormal access has been detected.]
As my vision continued to turn white, the warnings continued to ring.
[Warning!]
[The blessing given to you by the Goddess of Beauty is suspended.]
[You can no longer observe others' favorability rating!]
[The blessing given to you by the Goddess of Vitality is suspended.]
[You can no longer observe others' psychological states!]
Then.
[A resident of the 'Tower' that has not been given a name enters the 50th floor.]
On a stage where nobody from my world has gone before.
I took my first steps on the '50th floor' of the Tower.