After we finished our showers, we stepped out of the shower room.
The clothes had been quickly cleaned in the magic washing machine. I felt refreshed yet a bit drowsy. When I glanced out the window, the night sky had already fallen, and the outside was shrouded in darkness.
"Zeon, I'm heading back to the dormitory. What about you?"
"I'm going to stop by the main auditorium before I leave."
"Got it. See you tomorrow, then."
"Yes."
Calere and I exchanged brief farewells and went our separate ways.
'Should I head to the main auditorium?'
I didn't have a particular reason to go there. It was just a feeling, like I should drop by before returning to the dorm.
As I walked into the hall, I saw Jazlyn in the distance, exiting the library. She was far enough that she didn't notice me. Behind her trailed dozens of her personal guards, all of them carrying stacks of books.
'Why is she borrowing so many books?'
I know Jazlyn loves books, but it's strange for her to check out this many at once.
'She must be investigating something. But what could it be?'
As a Silver Badge in the SS, I knew all the details of Jazlyn's schedule, from her preferences to her latest interests. Because of my proximity to her, I could observe her closely, and the other Silver Badges, like Kallena, often talked about her daily routines.
'As far as I know, Jazlyn hasn't had any recent assignments. She's already completed all the homework from her classes. So, what could she be looking into?'
Something inside me was telling me I needed to find out what Jazlyn was investigating. I waited until she was out of sight, and then I made my way into the library. Though the inside was well-lit, it was eerily quiet since it was nighttime, and there wasn't a single person in sight.
'Where's the librarian?'
I glanced at the counter, but it seemed like the librarian had stepped out momentarily.
'They say the library is staffed 24/7. There must be someone around here somewhere.'
I wandered silently through the large library, careful not to make a sound. Between the rows of shelves, I spotted a female librarian wearing glasses as she busied herself with organizing books. She was so absorbed in her task that she didn't notice me.
'I guess I'll have to hypnotize her for a bit.'
I walked up behind her and gently placed my hand on her shoulder.
"Kyaaa…"
Startled, the librarian let out a small scream. I quickly covered her eyes, resting her head against my shoulder.
"Sleep."
With that simple suggestion, the librarian went limp in my arms.
'Now that I have her, I can start gathering information. Since she doesn't know me, I'll need to alter her memories and make her believe we're familiar with each other.'
Human memory is fragile, easily manipulated. For instance, let's say you saw a beautiful girl yesterday. You remember her face but not what she wore. If you imagine that she wore a white blouse and a skirt, your mind can turn that thought into a false memory. But then, if someone else insists, "She was actually in a white T-shirt and jeans," your memory changes again, now seeing her in those clothes instead. It's a simple example of memory manipulation.
This concept has been used extensively in history. In the 1990s, the United States saw a rise in false memories during psychological therapy. Therapists, influenced by Freud's theories, believed that forgotten childhood traumas were causing their clients' current mental health issues. By insisting that clients had repressed memories of traumatic experiences, particularly sexual abuse, some therapists convinced people that they had been victims of horrific events. Hypnosis, counseling, and the power of suggestion led many clients to falsely accuse their parents of crimes they hadn't committed. False memories tore families apart, and only later did research reveal how easily our recollections can be distorted.
It's frightening how malleable memory is. Nowadays, pseudo-religious groups and manipulative organizations use these same tactics to brainwash people, so it's something everyone needs to be wary of.
In any case, my plan was to implant the idea that the librarian and I had a close relationship. I placed her into a deep trance and began questioning her.
"You feel comfortable telling me everything… Speaking makes you feel lighter… What's your name?"
"Susan…"
"How old are you?"
"Twenty-five…"
"When did you start working here?"
"Since I was nineteen…"
"Are you from a commoner background?"
"Yes…"
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
"No…"
"What are your hobbies?"
"Reading novels…"
"Where do you usually read?"
"At the library…"
"Do you have any friends you read with?"
"No…"
"Do you have many friends?"
"Not really…"
"What would you like to do if you had more friends?"
"I'd like to read novels with them and talk about the stories…"
"What's the most interesting novel you've read recently?"
"Reincarnated as a Tentacle at Max Level and Conquering Another World…"
"Tell me about it."
"It's about the protagonist being reincarnated as a tentacle monster, brainwashing people, and building an army of monster subordinates…"
This was my chance to slip into her memories. The key was making sure that Susan didn't feel a disconnect between reality and her altered memory. Considering I've only been at the academy for less than two months, the fabricated memories would have to fit within that time frame.
"You are asleep, but your eyes are open."
Susan opened her eyes.
"Can you see me?"
"Yes…"
"I am Zeon, your close friend since the beginning of the semester…"
"I don't know you…"
"Remember your time reading novels in the library… Picture it clearly… Do you remember?"
"Yes…"
"I was sitting beside you, reading as well… Recall that memory carefully… I am your close friend… We talked about the novel, and you laughed because it was so enjoyable… Do you remember us having fun together?"
"Yes…"
"I am your close friend, right?"
"Yes…"
"My name is Zeon. When you're with Zeon, you feel happy and comfortable…"
I had successfully implanted myself into Susan's memory. Before waking her, I added a trigger word, 'Susan enters the cozy room,' for future use.
Clap!
Susan snapped out of her trance and smiled warmly when she saw me.
"Oh! Zeon! When did you get here?"
"Just a little while ago."
"You should've called me!"
"You were so focused on organizing the books that I didn't want to interrupt."
"Sorry, once I get in the zone, I tend to tune everything out."
"I know. By the way, have you finished reading 'Reincarnated as a Level-Max Tentacle Conqueror'?"
"I was busy after we read it together, so I haven't had the chance."
I decided to cut the chit-chat and get to the point.
"I see. But, sis, I have a question."
"What is it?"
"Do you know Princess Jazlyn?"
"Of course! She comes to the library quite often."
"She checked out a mountain of books earlier. Do you know what kinds of books they were?"
"Hmm… A mix of legends, philosophy, and culture. It was a pretty diverse collection."
"Could you tell me the names of the books?"
"Of course not. We can't reveal student loan information to others."
Susan crossed her arms, her expression firm.
'Guess I'll just have to persuade her.'
"Susan enters the cozy room."
Susan's eyes went blank as she fell into a trance once again.
"Is friendship important to you?"
"Yes…"
"Do you value your friendship with Zeon?"
"Yes…"
"Your friendship with Zeon is precious… It fills your heart and mind… Has it grown stronger?"
"Yes…"
"Rules like the library's aren't as important as friendship… You can overlook them for the sake of friendship… Can you break the rules for Zeon?"
"Yes…"
Clap!
Susan blinked, waking up once more.
"Sis, can you show me the list of books now?"
"Sure!"
"But didn't you just say no?"
"Huh? Did I? Anyway, follow me."
Susan led me to the counter, pulled out the loan records, and flipped through them until she found the entry.
"Here it is—Jazlyn's loan list for today. Why do you want to know this, though?"
"I'm just curious."
"Well, whatever. Now that I've shown you, what will you do for me?"
"What do you want?"
"Hmm… There's a new cake at the Academy Café. Buy me one."
"Deal. I'll bring it to the library tomorrow."
"Great! Just leave the book list here when you're done."
With that, Susan walked off to continue her work.