52. Elven Ruins – The Repository of Records

* * *

We arrived at the ruins located in Gangnam, Seoul.

“The explanation is over. This ticket allows you to stay in the Elven Ruins for 10 days. Would you like to enter the Elven Ruins?”

No need for further explanation.

I handed over the ticket to the guide who had been explaining about the ruins.

“Yes.”

“Ticket confirmed. Have a good time.”

Following the guide’s instructions, I stepped through the portal and found myself in an enormous ruin.

Buildings resembling medieval European architecture were abundant, most in ruins.

Naturally, as it was a ruin, but this place would have been Reina’s hometown if the Elven Kingdom hadn’t fallen.

“Wow, this is the Elven Ruins.”

Reading about it in novels wasn’t the same as seeing it in person. The ruined site was the remains of the Elven Kingdom.

According to the guidebook, the elves, who once lived in the forest, finally defeated the Demon King and established their kingdom, moving away from their forest life.

“But there are so few people.”

“It’s so boring.”

“This is all because of Yoo Eun-ha!”

Reina scowled.

It wasn’t that it was boring; it was just that there wasn’t much to see. If there were something exciting like a roller coaster, it might have been more thrilling.

“But if we add some intense, passionate moments here, how would that be?”

“Not this time!”

I casually reached for Reina’s chest, but she slapped my hand away.

Why had I even brought Reina to this boring place? I felt a sense of self-loathing.

“Ugh.”

“You didn’t use to be like this. Why are you doing this all the time?”

She used to feel differently before her awakening. She might have disliked men but didn’t need to force herself. But that was in the past.

Her voluptuous and alluring body could provoke both men and women. It was only a joke, but Reina, now a Dark Elf, was already satisfying enough.

Still, I needed to be prepared for Choi Si-woo, who might attack me in her nymphomaniac state.

“Haa… At least let’s enjoy the ambiance here. I’ll do anything you want when we return.”

“Really?”

“If you say anything strange again, I really won’t let you!”

Reina misunderstood my playful tone.

After all, the Elven Ruins event involved time travel to the Elven Kingdom. It was only natural to feel the presence of our ancestors.

“Both of you, over here.”

“This is all because of Yoo Eun-ha!”

Reina pointed at me, scowling.

She had been clinging to me the whole time, and now she was angry.

Lee Yoo-jin, who had been watching, scolded Reina with an envious expression.

Perhaps I needed to build some affection with her too.

“Senior Lee, didn’t you say something about me being your yoba in Japanese?”

“Ah, that… Never mind.”

My casual remark made Lee Yoo-jin blush, and she quickly entered the ruins.

One important thing: Lee Yoo-jin didn’t refuse my suggestion.

It was just a joke, but now I felt like I really should follow through.

We entered the ruins.

“This is part of the ruins.”

“I thought the Elven Kingdom was said to be as large as South Korea.”

In fantasy worldviews, countries are often described as being city-sized, but the Elven Kingdom seemed vast.

Not that South Korea is large, but in the fantasy context, the Elven Kingdom rivaled a great empire.

“What’s that? An restricted area?”

“You can’t go in. The buildings might collapse.”

It was clearly a building that would collapse upon entry. It felt like a temple, but in the original story, there was nothing inside.

Originally, Choi Si-woo would cause a commotion and accidentally injure Reina, causing a drop of her blood to activate the site. But now, since Choi Si-woo remained in Songdo, I had to handle everything.

“Hmph. We can solve this with strength. Let’s just destroy it.”

Reina mimicked clearing the ruins with her hands and bowed.

“These ruins are valuable even if they’re just a part. They should be preserved for research. We can’t destroy them.”

Perhaps there’s no need to care so much about ruins from another world. Still, the fact that they’re Elven ruins makes them worth noting.

Elves have long been a fascinating race, appearing in novels, comics, and anime. Naturally, people would be interested in their ruins, especially since elves are part of human history as hybrids.

“Why is it so complicated?”

“That’s not the entrance. We need to go elsewhere.”

I led them away from the collapsing building to the side.

It looked like a place where delinquent girls would linger, but according to the novel, this was the place.

“What is this?”

“The leaders of the Elven Kingdom recorded their history before the kingdom fell. It’s a sort of lament.”

Not just their end, but a lament for their fate, left in hopes that future elf descendants would see it. The lock was set so that only those with the royal bloodline of the Elven Kingdom could open it.

“This is a magic circle.”

“It’s a chance to see your ancestors’ history. You might not get another opportunity to visit the ruins.”

Originally, Choi Si-woo would cause a ruckus and accidentally injure Reina, causing her blood to activate the site. But this time, it’s different.

I had reluctantly brought Reina to the Elven Ruins, and now she had to bleed herself.

Pshuuuuu!

“Kya aa aa aa aa!?”

“Yoo Eun-ha, is this okay?”

“Everyone, hold hands tightly!”

The phrase “let the rhythm guide your body” came to mind.

And then, I found myself separated from the others in the temporal storm.

[You have entered the Repository of Records.]”

[Warning! A life form incompatible with humans has been detected. Intruder must be blocked.]”

[Warning! The intruder’s level is too high; the barrier cannot activate!]”

[Warning! Instead of barrier activation, the intruder is being moved to the Repository of Records!]”

* * *

I awoke to a cold wind brushing against my skin, feeling filthy.

Looking around, I found myself in a space filled with piles of books.

Strange. According to what I knew, the repository should be filled with glowing magic and neatly organized bookshelves, with a record-keeping artifact in the center.

But this place was just piles of books.

Perhaps this was the “Repository of Records” mentioned earlier. At least it wasn’t an ordinary repository.

It didn’t appear in the original story either.

“Hey, Aca Record. What is this Repository of Records?”

[It’s a type of trap created by the Elven Kingdom’s repository. Normally, it’s a barrier to block intruders, but if the intruder’s level is too high to be stopped by the barrier, they are imprisoned here as a fallback. The Repository of Records stores discarded knowledge or old, unnecessary information-essentially a dumpster for discarded data.]”

My head hurt. This place caused such a severe headache, indicating its importance.

Repository. Warehouse. Even if it’s called a dumpster, it’s still part of the repository.

Perhaps the repository’s internal traps were difficult to install, so they used the discarded “Repository of Records” as a trap.

“Anyway, is this place the repository?”

[Yes. You can think of it as the dumpster of the repository.]”

“I see.”

In short, we’re screwed.

[Master, using the power of the Black Dragon could allow you to escape, but it risks burning down the repository. I don’t recommend it.]”

“Reina and Yoo-jin are the problem.”

[However, Master’s power isn’t just at a high level. It’s beyond that. Normally, escape is impossible, but this place can’t handle your presence, so an exit has opened.]”

In short, we’re trapped in a dungeon.

“Well, let’s look for an exit then.”

After dusting myself off and standing up, I checked the area. To my left was a strange bulletin board.

Some parts looked erased and rewritten.

“What’s this? Safety guidelines?”

-Welcome to the Repository of Records. These guidelines are provided to ensure employee safety. Do not disclose the following contents outside under any circumstances, and the authorities are not responsible for accidents caused by ignoring or violating these items.

What is this Naver rumor?

It’s tedious to read, but understanding it might provide escape hints.

1. If you discover a “closed shelf” while exploring the hallways or through the control room’s magic gear, cease all actions immediately and exit the repository to inform the supervisor. Do not look inside or enter the “closed shelf.” The “closed shelf” has been removed from the repository and does not exist. Therefore, you should not see a “closed shelf.”

2. If you hear a voice through the control room’s magic gear stating that the records of the traitor Ralph have disappeared from the rebellion records, do not investigate. Immediately respond that you will handle it, then replace the magic gear and seal the rebellion records. The magic gear in this repository has no communication function and does not supply magic.

3. Corpses are occasionally found in the repository. This is a common occurrence in all repositories, so follow safety protocols. However, if a corpse has a damp paper on its face, do not approach it. Seal the area and inform other staff members.

4. If you feel like you’re going in circles in the hallway while heading to the back door, crouch in a corner, close your eyes, and cover your ears. Day staff check the back hallway first thing in the morning. Stay there until a staff member finds you.

5. If you hear paper rustling sounds, immediately lie flat on the ground and remain silent until the noise stops. Do not hide behind cover or enter a room. Afterward, call a janitor to clean the bookshelf’s stains. Do not pay attention to any subsequent items if they exist.

6. If burn marks are found in the hallway, immediately trigger the fire alarm in the control room to evacuate all researchers. Check the headcount and wait at least 2 hours before re-entering. Inform visitors that it was a fire alarm due to a researcher smoking in the restroom. If someone is missing during the headcount, enter the burned area after 2 hours. You will find a desiccated elf, unconscious.

7. Sexual activity is strictly prohibited in the repository, regardless of gender, at any time or place.

8. Do not answer the purple magic gear in the control room. It has no communication function or magic supply.

9. If a pale, white-haired woman with bloodshot eyes arrives on a rainy day, and she is dry despite having no umbrella or raincoat, do not chase her away. Check the location of the sealed shelf in the control room’s 3-year-old records and inform her. Ignore any male screams of being caught in the rain later. Do not get involved.

-XXXX Year XX Month XX Day, Administrator Maxim Western-

10. Ignore items 1~9. The control room is currently in a destroyed state and sealed. Staff should complete their light patrol and leave immediately.

-XXXX Year XX Month XX Day, Administrator Riana Silverluck-

11. Item 10 does not exist. Whatever is written in item 10, ignore it completely. If the administrator’s name is Riana Silverluck, ignore it. Riana Silverluck is a dead elf and cannot modify the guidelines.

-XXXX Year XX Month XX Day, Administrator Maxim Western-

The years and dates were erased.

Shit, I’m terrified of this kind of thing. But before that-

I looked at the door on my right.

A sign in what appeared to be Elvish hung on it.

It felt ominous.

“Aca Record. What does that sign say?”

[It says “Control Room.”]”

“Oh, God, have mercy.”

Fucking safety guidelines. What are they expecting?

Well, let’s think positively. Calmly, if possible. Everything here can be interpreted.

This is the Elven Ruins. According to the setting, elves were a race with advanced knowledge and magical civilization.

If this were pre-Catastrophe Earth, where magic didn’t exist, it would be impossible. But this-

1. The “closed shelf” is said to have been removed. This means it was closed when it was supposed to be, but due to the control room’s malfunction, it reappeared. So, don’t approach it carelessly to avoid trouble. Or, it means a skilled intruder who can restore the closed shelf has entered.

2. Someone hacked the magic gear and sent a voice about the missing records of the traitor Ralph. It’s happened before, so the intruder should seal the rebellion records. The magic gear in this repository has no communication function, and the repository is managed by only one guard.

3. It means that intruders, possibly elves, entered and died while rummaging through the records. Inform other staff members so they won’t be startled by the corpse.

4. The repository is so complex that you might loop endlessly. If lost, don’t wander and wait in a corner until the morning patrol finds you.

5. Elves rummaging through the shelves are dangerous, so lie down until they pass. Afterward, call a janitor to clean up. Be cautious, as they might do more mischief later.

The problem lies in items 6 onward. They are fake safety guidelines created by the intruders.

6. A ploy to fake a fire and evacuate everyone for 2 hours, allowing them to rummage uninterrupted. Since there’s only one guard, they might think no one knows the manager exists. Hence, they’re fools.

7. This is about monopolizing the records. It shows their desire to hoard the knowledge, distinct from the fools in item 6.

8. The purple magic gear does have communication and magic functions. The intruders disabled it to prevent the guard from contacting the outside.

9. One of the intruders’ wives might come seeking revenge. Since her husband is an intruder, she’s furious. Direct her to where her husband is rummaging. The intruder, drenched in the rain, would be found in the sealed shelf. This item was added by a rival intruder.

Maxim Western created items 1-4, but the rest were added by other intruders since there was space. The 10th item was written by Riana Silverluck, a member of the Elven royal family.

10. It’s a mess, typical of a royal who can’t tolerate this. It means to destroy everything.

11. Since the repository is closed, the intruders are doomed. But they refuse to give up, trying to restore the control room and continue their filthy deeds. Adding Maxim Western’s name as the administrator lends credibility.

Interpreting this, it really does seem like this place is used as a dumpster.

It must have been set up to mislead intruders trying to infiltrate the repository.

“Then, we need to find the back door.”

Anyway, the intruders have made even the ruins a hassle.