Chapter 3 – Butterfly’s Library (2)

Ŕè​ãd́ ̂ò​n̈ ̃Ḱät̂​R̈êà​d̂​ín̂​ǵC̃àf́ê

 

I liked butterflies.  

Not in the way people often say—that the flutter of a fragile butterfly’s wings can cause a storm on the other side of the Earth.  

No, it wasn’t just a matter of belief or disbelief. The existence of butterflies itself felt mystical.  

Their delicate wings seemed to hold the secrets of the world, appearing fragile yet noble.  

Perhaps that’s why, since childhood, I spent my time watching butterflies.  

Even the most boring hours at school would pass quickly if a butterfly flew by the window.  

Just by watching it.  

“Oh, a butterfly.”  

*Flutter, flutter.*  

Every time the butterfly moved its wings, the air seemed to ripple, as if it were speaking to me.  

A butterfly with rather red wings landed on my finger.  

“Such a cute butterfly. It’s not a tiger swallowtail, and it’s definitely not a common species. Maybe it’s a unique butterfly that only appears in the library…”  

Butterflies taught me many things.  

They guided me, showing me that I couldn’t leave the library, and later, they led me to the rooftop, where I could enjoy the view outside.  

They revealed that this place wasn’t just a simple, vast space with one or two floors, but a place that stretched infinitely, growing larger and larger.  

And when I realized that I was no different from a god within this space, I felt grateful to the butterflies.  

But at the same time, when I realized that I was trapped here—or perhaps guarding this place—I felt drained.  

Because I couldn’t leave.  

All I could do was watch and feel.  

 

*Step, step.*  

I went up to the second floor.  

This place had every book.  

No, even saying “every book” felt insufficient.  

This library was a space where all the knowledge of the world lay dormant.  

Simply by thinking of a book, it would appear in my hands, and by merely wishing, any food I could imagine would be laid out before me.  

Perhaps this place was paradise, but because I valued the act of searching for books with my own hands and feet, this paradise felt somewhat mundane.  

So, I often enjoyed going up to the second floor and rummaging through the dusty books myself.  

Today was no different.  

“Here it is. Seok Joo-myung’s book.”  

Seok Joo-myung, the foremost authority on butterfly research in Korea.  

He studied the beauty of butterflies and their lives, and to me, he was a short-lived hero.  

*Swish.*  

I pulled out his book and naturally smiled, and as I opened it, the smile quickly turned into happiness, amplifying my emotions.  

But the smile didn’t last long.  

 

*Creak.*  

The sound of the library’s main door opening echoed.  

I closed the book in my hand and approached the railing.  

Looking down from the second-floor railing, I saw a familiar face.  

It was Wilhelm, with his fiery, intense gaze, who had come here often before and had returned once again.  

“Welcome to the Butterfly’s Library.”  

He stepped inside the library as usual, and upon hearing my voice, he slightly bowed his head in my direction.  

“Huff, huff… I’ve come again, Witch.”  

His tone was familiar, but I treated him as indifferently as ever.  

Because, although he was a guest, he was just someone who came to borrow books.  

I answered softly and indifferently.  

“Yes, guest.”  

Wilhelm stroked his chin and slowly continued.  

“You’re still the same. I actually like that about you, Witch. Hoo…”  

I felt a slight question at his words, but I didn’t show any emotion.  

“Yes.”  

I let his words pass without much thought.  

The conversation wasn’t important to me, and I was still more interested in focusing on the book.  

After a while, Wilhelm looked at me and then, as if familiar, headed to the second floor.  

I quietly and gently descended with the butterflies, carefully taking my seat as the librarian.  

While I was descending, he was ascending to the second floor, and the wooden stairs creaked, the sound faintly echoing through the library.  

For a long time, he rummaged through the bookshelves, letting out small exclamations.  

“Is it here? Ah, no. It was here… Ah!!! Found it! This was the name, right?”  

As always, it seemed he had something he was looking for this time, and with a tense expression, he slowly muttered to himself as he searched the shelves, determined to find the book he wanted.  

 

[Guest: Wilhelm von Albert – Royalty]  

[Nationality: Hanseatic Empire]  

[Payment: Gold Coins]  

 

I looked at the text that appeared before my eyes and thought.  

Visitors here often tried to hide themselves, but the library revealed all truths, and the fact that Wilhelm was royalty of the Hanseatic Empire was information that had suddenly appeared one day, so I had no choice but to find out.  

He was the second consecutive visitor to this place, and for some reason, his name stuck in my mind.  

This time, too, after briefly reading a book, he eventually decided to take one with him.  

“I’ll take this book today.”  

I looked at him indifferently and offered a blessing.  

“May this knowledge be useful to you.”  

Wilhelm paused at my words, then smiled softly, holding the book to his chest as he left.  

“Thank you.”  

Soon after he left, the familiar text appeared before my eyes.  

 

[Borrowed Book: *Das Kapital*]  

[Authors: Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels]  

 

Even after he left, the library remained quiet.  

I read the information before me and fell into thought.  

I didn’t need to deeply ponder what his choice meant or what changes the book would bring to him.  

This place was simply a space to lend knowledge, and I was merely fulfilling my role as the librarian of this space.  

The library was still enveloped in silence.  

A butterfly brushed against the window and flew up, and I watched it for a long time, murmuring.  

“Indeed, butterflies are the best.”  

 

*****  

 

[A few days later]  

“Here it is. *The Origin of Korean Butterfly Names*.”  

I set out to find another book by Dr. Seok Joo-myung.  

And finally, I succeeded in finding another book by Seok Joo-myung, *The Origin of Korean Butterfly Names*.  

As the librarian, I could locate any book just by imagining the arrangement of the shelves in my mind.  

But this ability made me feel even more like a being tied to the library, which didn’t sit well with me.  

So, I searched for it with my own hands, which gave me a greater sense of accomplishment.  

“Tiger swallowtail, cabbage white, black-spotted moth… Yes, that’s right.”  

As I stroked the book’s cover and murmured softly, three butterflies with red wings flew over and gently landed on my shoulder.  

*Flutter, flutter~*  

As the butterflies fluttered their wings, I looked at them and smiled softly.  

“Hehe. I don’t know your names. But someday, I’ll find out. Until then, let’s just call you ‘Library Butterflies’.”  

The butterflies seemed to like the name I gave them, gently fluttering their wings.  

The rhythm of their wings was as calm as a breath, and their red hue glowed faintly.  

After that, the butterflies and I spent some quiet time together.  

It was so peaceful that I couldn’t even tell how time passed, and so comfortable that I didn’t even notice how many hours had gone by.  

 

Then, suddenly, I heard a low voice, even though the door hadn’t opened.  

“What is this place…?”  

It was a guest in a suit.  

His voice was low and trembling, but at the same time, it carried a sense of awe.  

He looked around the grand and dreamlike interior of the library, muttering to himself.  

“Hmm…?”  

I quietly looked down at him.  

His figure wandering between the shelves on the first floor had a distinctly different atmosphere from Wilhelm, and with his sharp gaze, he looked like someone searching for something important.  

“Welcome to the Butterfly’s Library.”  

My voice echoed softly from the second-floor railing.  

It was a gentle tone, but in the quiet space of the library, it created a sufficiently loud resonance.  

“Butterflies?”  

The guest asked, seemingly puzzled.  

“Yes. Butterflies.”  

As soon as my words ended, the butterflies perched on my shoulder flew up, and more butterflies appeared from somewhere, beginning to swirl around the library.  

They moved harmoniously, as if they shared a collective intelligence, drawing glowing trails in the air.  

The guest, overwhelmed by the sight, stopped and stared at the butterflies’ dance, entranced.  

“Wow…”  

I chuckled inwardly, once again feeling how well the butterflies fit this place.  

“This is the Butterfly’s Library. A library where everything exists… where all knowledge resides.”  

I shrugged and answered.  

Then, I felt like teasing him a bit.  

*Should I play a little trick?*  

In truth, I didn’t need to use the stairs in this library.  

Because the space accepted me as I imagined it.  

“Hop—!”  

I jumped over the railing and down.  

“Ah! Careful—!”  

He rushed over in surprise, but stopped when he saw me floating gently in the air and slowly descending.  

“Ah…?”  

His face was a mix of surprise and awe.  

It was as if he had witnessed a scene straight out of a dream, his mouth slightly open as he looked up at me.  

 

“No need to worry. Here, I can do anything.”  

I smiled as my feet gently touched the ground.  

The butterflies flew back around me, and the man stared at the scene with dazed eyes.  

His gaze was filled with the curiosity and reverence of a stranger stepping into a mystical world.  

“This place… is truly special.”  

He muttered softly, looking around.  

I smiled slightly as I watched him.  

“It is. There’s nothing ordinary here. So, guest, feel free to find the book you’re looking for. The Butterfly’s Library always welcomes you.”  

Observing the emotions flickering across his face, I wondered what book he would seek.  

After all, everyone who comes to this library eventually begins a journey to find themselves.