episode_0060

“Why is that one thing left behind and not erased?”

That’s all that’s left, that’s it.

An echo rings at the end of my words. Following that voice, Serim Choi raises her head and looks at the sky.

The bookshelf stretches endlessly toward the sky like an old tree, and is filled with books. Aside from the length of the bookshelf, anyone would be puzzled by this structure. The primary value of a library is accessibility, allowing anyone to access knowledge. No one can touch the book that has multiplied high in the sky.

But that’s not true.

“Dabin. Just a moment.”

I moved my eyes to follow her gaze. In the night sky, which seemed empty and black, there were stars.

no. It wasn’t a star.

It wasn’t until I saw some books shining at my feet that I realized it.

My excellent aptitude for observing anomalous objects presented information that I would not otherwise have been able to see before my eyes.

[reference]

Someone was accessing a book in the library and consulting knowledge.

The referenced books become dust of light and ascend to heaven.

Like an hourglass winding backwards, time in the library suddenly began to rewind.

From midnight to dawn. From dawn to morning.

However, even they could not completely change the logic, and the sky remained a black square.

“Wow… … .”

under the dark sky. The surroundings were filled with vibrant light.

Some of them stayed with me.

“The ending we are looking for is a story written at a higher level of narrative.”

Serim Choi opened the book and placed it at my feet.

The knowledge that was stuck between the piles of books and could not be moved only then became light and dispersed.

“It could be the floor right above, or it could be much higher than that.”

A gentle hand caresses my earlobe.

“One thing is certain, you have to be there.”

I looked up all the way to the sky, but I couldn’t figure out who they were.

Rustling.

The spell ended with the sound of Daju tossing and turning.

“Did I say too many strange things earlier?”

“Yes.”

I answered honestly.

“To be honest, there are so many things in my head that I don’t understand. I poured it out somehow.”

Choi Se-rim sat on the bookshelf and stretched out her arms outside the cliff.

A few specks of light pass by her fingers.

“It may be difficult now, but there will be a time when we can solve this slowly.”

“Did you do something to wake you up when you had a headache earlier?”

What I said was half-joking.

“Yes.”

But Choi Se-rim only nods and does not smile.

“Let’s talk about this next time.”

“If not now, there won’t be much of a chance for the two of us to talk.”

I responded grumblingly, but

“No. It will happen soon.”

Choi Se-rim only answered quietly.

Rustling.

Once again, the sound of Daju tossing and turning was heard.

This time, Daju stands up and looks around.

“Huh? Where am I?”

He even talks in his sleep with his neck fully submerged.

“Why am I here? what. I was originally… … .”

Choi Se-rim looks at Yoon Da-ju intently for a moment.

Daju falls down with a loud thumping sound. When I checked, he was asleep again.

“I will be watching the fire, so keep your eyes peeled, Dabin.”

“Yes.”

“I could help you fall asleep right away. Shall I do it?”

“No.”

After waving my hands, I lay down.

I feel like I’m going to fall asleep right now. Falling asleep as if passing out is a bit scary.

***

Da-ju Yoon and Hae-won Jeong are both sound asleep. Da-bin Lim, who had just closed her eyes, is also breathing comfortably.

I am completely alone now.

Crack. Crack.

Choi Se-rim looked at the burning flames and let out a cough that she had been holding in.

It feels like my lungs are being stabbed with a sharp awl and my entire head is pounding, a painful feeling.

The coughing got worse, and soon my palms were covered in blood.

‘Dabin probably didn’t see it.’

A pale palm swept the bottom of the bookshelf.

Serim Choi used the book as a tissue to wipe away the soggy blood stains.

Every time the heart beats, a low whisper is also heard.

It was the price of holding on to knowledge that one could not handle and not letting go.

[Library and knowledge about this place]

[Location of books in the field of philosophy]

[Where to head next]

Each one corresponds to an extremely dangerous memetic killing agent.

This kind of knowledge eats away at a person little by little just by holding it in one’s head.

“Phew… .”

After sighing bitterly, Choi Se-rim closed her eyes and placed her hand on her forehead.

It was time to erase my own memories again.

It erases memories from consciousness and traps them in the unconscious.

Choi Se-rim was able to survive through the method of recalling memories in appropriate fragments when necessary.

‘It won’t last long now.’

She concentrated deeply into her consciousness and confirmed the hint she had given herself.

[Condition: Arrive at the library and go quite deep inside.]

[Many memories are sealed in the unconscious until the conditions are met.]

[Memory unlocked.]

It was a condition he had set himself a long time ago.

I didn’t remember until this morning.

The condition arrives at the library. The reason it didn’t end with is probably because they were worried about the side effects of unlocking the memories.

A huge headache. I thought that if I complained of a headache so bad that I couldn’t move properly, I would give up on the expedition and turn back. Then the purpose cannot be achieved.

“… … .”

Choi Se-rim felt sorry.

The side effects inevitably exploded while being chased, causing hardship to many people.

I guess I’ll have to be a little more careful this time.

The conditions are: in the library. When arriving at the ‘destination’, detailed work was done there.

If all conditions are met, Choi Se-rim’s memories are released back to the surface.

Memories are fading away quickly.

[Hyung ■ Elementary School]

[Narrative ■]

[Star of Oblivion]

[■■role■responsibility, duty]

Before the last memory sank into unconsciousness, Choi Se-rim got up and moved.

This was where Dabin Lim was sleeping.

Sigh.

I remove Dabin’s hair and place my hand on his warm forehead.

‘When I get out of here, I’ll have to cut my hair.’

It’s probably hard.

Choi Se-rim smiled bitterly.

With this, I explained everything I knew. If you were Davin, you could do it. It was a predetermined story.

***

A glass bead with cracks here and there begins to shine. The stained glass that covered the ceiling changed color as if heated by the warm sunlight.

It was a morning at the library, lit by huge lanterns instead of the sun.

Now I have come up from the cliff and am looking through the books again.

That’s roughly a few hours.

Jeong Hae-won finally straightens his back and cries.

“No!!! Does it make sense to find what you want among these many books? Is there no search system here?”

“Hey. Are you the only one having a hard time?”

I tapped Jeong Hae-won’s side.

“Kids these days only look at smartphones… … . Aside from that, it’s fun to read this and that. uh? It’s work. Don’t just think like this! Develop yourself! I mean, think like this.”

“No… … . Are you really an old man?”

A joke that is easily exchanged based on the concept.

I push Jeong Hae-won as if whipping a whip.

“Just do what you’re told!”

That’s what I say, but if I don’t do something like this, I’ll get bored and go crazy.

Jung Hae-won is playing by building a tower out of a pile of books, and Yoon Da-joo is lying down in front of the bookshelf and melting.

Choi Se-rim is looking at the book without losing concentration, but if you see her intermittently clasping her hands and sighing, she is also exhausted.

In short, finding a needle in a sandy beach.

There are almost endless books, but there are only a few lines of content to find.

[Return of the genius explorer]

Not this either.

[Raising a dog together]

This is also far from what you are looking for.

“Ugh… … .”

Just when I was about to sit down.

“Oppa! Look at this.”

“Huh?”

Da-joo runs here holding a book.

What.Did you find something?

I had some doubts, but as expected, Daju did not disappoint my expectations.

The book cover slowly comes into view.

Above the picture of the embarrassed girl, the title is written in cute font.

[TS: Have you become a girl?]

Daju is cackling like she’s dying from fun.

“Isn’t this about you?”

“Yay, Mr. You are the real one!!!”

I put my weight on my arm with the intention of pushing him away, but Daju quickly dodged.

“Uh huh?”

The body loses balance and falls forward.

The moment I felt dizzy, Daju held my hand and held me up.

“A. You have to be careful.”

Daju looks down at me and smiles.

I didn’t have anything to say, so I just sighed as I straightened my hair.

“But Daju Yoon, I think you are worth living. Yesterday it fell from above and rolled. Are you okay with your injury?”

“Ah. That one?”

Daju Yoon naturally tilts her head and speaks.

“You felt better when you woke up?”

“It’s fascinating.”

“Me too. I guess I was hurt less than I thought.”

“You shouldn’t have hurt me a little more.”

“Ah, oppa! Aren’t those words too harsh?”

I ignored Daju and headed back to the bookshelf.

After looking at the small text for a while, I was finally straightening my back and doing some stretching.

This time, a strange book caught my eye.

All the other books are plain, but the spine of the book on the other side shines colorfully.

It’s not a book nearby, and it’s not particularly close to the light. For some reason, I feel drawn to it.

If that book catches your eye, you have to pass by at least three bookshelves.

Even if you estimate it, the distance seems to be 300 meters.

I was moving at a fast pace, but at some point I was jumping.

“Heh, heh.”

For a moment, I was running as if I was possessed. As I reach my destination, I am out of breath.

“Hey… … .”

A voice that I can’t believe came out of my mouth comes out.

It seems a little bit erotic… … . Who wouldn’t have listened?

I sat down with my hands on the floor and looked back.

thank god.

Jeong Hae-won is following, but the distance is quite far away.

“Sister! Where are you going all of a sudden?”

I’ll rest for a bit, and then when he comes, I’ll pamper him a bit.

With that thought in mind, I lay down.

Cool floor.

Grumpy hair falls on the back.

It was fine until I laid down, but the long hair was pulling and it hurt.

I lifted my head, pulled out my hair, collected it neatly, and this time lay down, using the bag on my back as a pillow.

“Gasp, gasp.”

Breathing that doesn’t come back even though you feel like you’ve rested enough.

I’ve gotten used to this body, and I’ve been running around a lot. This guy’s physical strength shows no signs of improving.

I raised my head a little and looked up at the bookshelf. A wooden bookshelf with scratches here and there. The books were placed quite high.

“Sister!”

“Uh. Are you here?”

“Did you find anything? He suddenly started running… … .”

And then Jeong Hae-won arrives.

I sat up.

“Haewon. Look.”

He pointed with his finger to where the book was.

“Up there… … .*sigh* I have to go up?”

“Yes.”

I gulped and swallowed the saliva that had accumulated in my mouth.

“… … So, please help me stack the books. Make stairs and go up.”

“Is that okay? It looks like it’s going to collapse.”

“So, when I go up, you should be watching from below.”

“Let’s wait until someone else comes, just.”

“I don’t like it.”

When I spoke firmly, Jeong Hae-won laughed awkwardly.

I shouldn’t be like this, but it’s becoming more and more fun to manipulate my younger brother.

Since I take the lead and tell people to do this and that, I feel like this is more manly… … .

Three rows of bookshelves are approximately 2 meters long.

The book I’m looking for is about seven rows up.

You can easily reach it with a ladder, but the height is not that easy.

The work was completed faster than expected.

“Good job, you.”

“With the two of us, it was over quickly.”

“You also like soccer.”

“Yes.”

If a kid like this goes to the military, wouldn’t he become an S-class recruit?

I do not know. Because I went to public service because of my back.

“But why?”

“No. Just.”

After answering indifferently, I went up the stairs made of books.

A khaki sign stuck in the seventh step.

I was finally able to check the title of the book that had been shining brightly from before.

[*Apocalypse Scenario: 5000]

I skipped the first chapter.

– Book classification: *Pointer

– The contents of the book are the ‘address’ of the designated document. In other words, it indicates the ‘location’ within the library.

– Therefore, the book does not contain the contents of the designated document.

– The designated document is [Apocalypse Scenario: 5000], which deals with a scenario of human extinction that occurs when ■■ fails to ■■ and makes a wrong decision.

“Hmm?”

I turned to the next chapter, but I can’t see the content.

The paper was filled with seemingly random alphabets and numbers.

Next chapter too. And the next chapter was the same.

‘what.’

Just as I was about to question it, letters appeared on the book.

[Displays the reference address.]

[Looking for a notation that readers can understand… … .]

[Adopt ‘notation: symbol’.]

… …

[Close the book, then open to page 9 again.]

… …

[The name of the arrow shown on page 9 is ‘Pointer.’]

[You can access the information you want by moving to where the pointer points.]

Like a compass, the arrow drawn on the book began to rotate back and forth.