The Great Library of Vera soars above us, and it is the tallest building in the city. Its walls are constructed with some kind of white marble that gleams under the sunlight.
As we approach, the details of the structure amaze us even more.
"Wow, look at those pillars!" Yumi exclaims, her eyes alight with wonder as she takes in the colossal golden entrance gate. Intricate symbols and patterns adorn its surface, turning the gate itself into a work of art, while the gleaming fences surrounding the library look as if they're crafted from pure gold.
"Is this really a library? It looks more like a palace!" Yumi says, her astonishment obvious.
I have to agree.
If I didn't already know that it is a library, I might mistake it for the opulent residence of a king.
But why would a mere library be this extravagant?
Well, while libraries on Earth might be nothing special, in this world—and in Vera, in particular—the Library is no less than a sacred place. This is because knowledge and access to books and other educational materials are heavily guarded by the nobles and wealthy. According to Sophia, the Library's gate only opens for those of Green Rank or higher. This rule ensures that the general populace remains weak, uneducated, and ignorant of various matters, thus keeping power firmly in the hands of the ruling class.
Or at least, that is my theory.
At the gate, we show our identity cards to the guards, who promptly step aside to let us in.
Once we pass through the imposing entrance, we find ourselves in a lush garden brimming with flowers of every color and trees in full bloom. A serene pond shimmers beneath the sunlight, and a winding cobblestone path leads to the library's grand double doors. Crafted from dark, polished wood and embellished with delicate gold accents, the doors themselves are an impressive sight.
"There are twenty-one floors in total," Sophia explains. "Yumi and I can only go up to the first three. With your Crimson Rank, you can go all the way to the twentieth."
"Got it," I respond with a nod. "What about the last floor?"
"Well, that one doesn't open for anyone," Sophia says, "Only members of the royal family can access this floor."
"Interesting…"
And then, as we step through the doors, we're greeted by a flood of natural light pouring in through high-arched windows. The interior is breathtaking, with vaulted ceilings painted in vivid frescoes depicting myths and legends, seemingly poised to come alive. Plush red carpets mute our footsteps, and along the walls, towering bookshelves are crammed with tomes and scrolls.
Before long, a woman approaches us.
She's dressed in a neatly tailored navy suit—somewhere between formal office attire and scholarly robes—and she wears large glasses that lend her a poised, studious air. Her short, curly ginger hair frames a beautiful face.
"Good morning! Welcome to the Grand Library of Vera," she says, offering a polite nod. "My name is Catherine. May I see your identity cards, please?"
"Certainly," I reply.
Together, we hand over our cards.
Catherine carefully examines the cards, ensuring their authenticity.
Then, after a moment, Catherine addresses Sophia with a respectful nod. "Thank you, Mrs. Crowhart. You and your daughter have access up to the third floor. And Mr. Crowhart," she continues, turning to me, "with your Crimson Rank, you may go up to the twentieth floor. Please note that staff members will be checking identity cards at the staircases leading to the higher floors. Simply present your badge to them for access."
"I understand. Thank you very much," I reply, bowing my head slightly in acknowledgment.
"It's my honor, Mr. Crowhart," Catherine says with a courteous smile. "Please enjoy your time in the library, and let me know if you need anything further."
With that, she steps aside, leaving us free to explore the library within the limits of our respective ranks.
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I take a few moments to wander around, familiarizing myself with both the layout of the building and the library system itself. To my astonishment, the library follows a system remarkably similar to Earth's Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC). Books are assigned numerical codes based on their subjects, spanning ten main classes—000 through 999.
For general works, it's 100–199. For philosophy and psychology, it's 200–299, religion; and so on, each of which is then further divided into ten divisions, and each division into ten sections.
However, here, instead of social science being the fourth class, it's magic and enchantment.
Regarding language, the world has a common language called Lorelian. Every human and higher intelligent creatures or beings all speak it. It was created by the Heavenly Gods and angels, to help nascent races communicate. Infants over five months old begin to speak it, and everyone can read and write in it by age ten. This divine gift fosters understanding and unity across different races and cultures.
Upon arriving here, we too are blessed with the ability to understand Lorelian. That's exactly why we can all understand and speak this native language right away.
Once Catherine is out of sight, I turn my attention to Yumi. "Yumi, I have a favor to ask while you browse the books," I say.
"Yes?" Yumi tilts her head curiously.
Reaching into my pocket, I withdraw a peculiar object from Earth.
Yumi's eyes immediately light up at the sight of it. "Your smartphone!" she exclaims. "Mine's already out of battery, but yours is still functioning? How does that even work?"
"Nuclear power," I answer with a grin and a wink. "Anyway, here's what I need you to do…"
I then outline my plan: Yumi will use my phone to scan books on the first three floors, allowing me to upload and analyze their contents later. This approach will save me a great deal of time, as I won't have to comb through the same materials manually.
Additionally, once I explore the higher floors, I can update the phone with more advanced knowledge. That way, Sophia and Yumi can still access the information despite their lower Identity Ranks. It's a sneaky little workaround for the system that only I can do, and of course, it feels like cheating a little bit.
"And which books do you want me to scan?" Yumi asks, her enthusiasm clear in her eyes.
"Anything that catches your eye," I reply. "History, magic, geography—whatever you find interesting."
"Got it! Leave it to me!" Yumi says confidently.
"And if you get bored, feel free to ask Sophia to take you outside for some fresh air or to explore the city," I add. "As for you, Sophia," I turn to her, "I'm planning to spend most of the day here on the higher floors. If I don't make it back by sunset, go on without me and return to the tavern."
"Understood." Sophia nods. "Have a productive day."
With our plans set, I focus on my primary objective.
"Sapphire," I command silently. "Initiate rapid scanning mode."
"Record all text that comes into view."