Ch.347Repository of Wisdom. Library (1)

Year 1203, Month 18, Day 1.

Exactly Month 18. On the first day of the final month of the year, the Iron Worker Party arrived at the Library.

On this day, which seemed both meaningful and meaningless at the same time, Viktor stood on the bridge, gazing at the strangely shaped tower that rose to the edge of the sky, and spoke.

“…This looks quite different from any library I’ve known.”

“Well, it contains all the wisdom of the world. An ordinary appearance wouldn’t have been suitable. Still, it’s magnificent, isn’t it?”

“…Indeed. It is.”

The Library boasted an incredible height, so tall that even Viktor, who had ascended to godhood, had to look up to see it all.

Looking closely, the Library’s structure appeared to be formed from stacks of books piled on top of each other. According to Simon, this design was a visual representation of the mind of Logos, the God of Wisdom, symbolizing how wisdom and knowledge come together to create something greater.

“But there are fewer people than I expected. I thought a famous place like this would be crowded.”

Even viewed from the sky, the Library had eerily few people.

A building of that size should have people flowing in and out like a whale filtering plankton. Yet only a few people could be seen entering and leaving. Looking closer, it was strangely peculiar how few people could be seen through the windows.

“There should be many people at the entrance, as you thought. But inside the Library, there would be few people, as you said. Except for the Librarians, apostles of wisdom.”

Seemingly aware of his gaze, Simon, the sage, began to elaborate.

“Is there any need to gather at the entrance?”

“That’s enough for them. After all, it’s a place where a god resides. Even adventurers can’t enter carelessly.”

“…I see.”

Come to think of it, even at Krix Hall, Karyl’s ascension site, one needed to show the blood of a god to receive proper respect.

By that logic, to enter the hall of wisdom, one would need to bring knowledge worthy of the Library.

Fortunately, the Iron Worker Party had such knowledge.

It was knowledge about the physiology of gods—specifically, how Viktor had gradually lost his humanity and then regained it after securing a sufficient number of followers.

Since this was something people had only speculated about but never clearly established, even the God of Wisdom would have no choice but to let the Iron Worker Party in.

In truth, they had planned to cause a scene if they weren’t allowed in.

“Prepare for landing. We need to go inside.”

Viktor gave the order to his soldiers, who saluted and began following their master’s command.

“Understood, my lord. Preparing for landing!”

And soon, the massive warship Sky Warden, weighing over a million tons, began to descend slowly.

As if bowing its head in awe before the vast repository of knowledge.

*

After the Sky Warden landed, the Iron Worker Party began heading toward the Library’s entrance along the path where other people were coming and going.

“Make way! The God of the Sun walks this land!”

“Step back! I said step back!”

Of course, this doesn’t mean they walked together with other people.

His loyal royal guards forcibly cleared a path, pushing people aside like rice cakes, while adventurers and pilgrims hastily moved out of the way, kneeling before the Sun God to show respect.

Finally, the Iron Worker Party reached the Library’s entrance and faced the Librarian, an apostle of wisdom guarding the entrance.

“I behold the God of the Sun.”

“You are an apostle of wisdom?”

“Yes. May I ask the reason for your visit?”

“To enter and look around the library, and to speak with your master.”

Upon hearing this, the Librarian’s eyes narrowed, and he brought forward a floating parchment scroll that had been hovering beside him.

“Even if you are the God of the Sun, this domain is consecrated to the God of Wisdom. To enter this hall of wisdom, you must offer knowledge worthy of it. Do you have knowledge worthy of being stored here?”

“Hmm… Do I need to explain this verbally?”

When the Sun God said this, the Librarian immediately took out a quill from his possession, levitated it, and handed it to Viktor.

The scroll also floated over to him, and when Viktor touched both the quill and scroll, they suddenly became animated as if alive, making a fuss before the quill began scratching something onto the edge of the scroll.

“…Is that the Ancient Imperial language?”

What was being written in the imperial script of the Nariaki Empire (Japanese) was, naturally, Viktor’s discovery about the relationship between gods and their followers.

The fact that as the number of followers decreases, gods weaken, and as the number increases, gods become stronger.

The Four Great Gods were beings who drew power from human nature itself, so they couldn’t feel such differences in power. Skills like being good at killing people or making money were matters of technique, not inherent nature.

If anything, their low points and high points were the same.

Scratch… scratch…

“Does it usually take this long?”

“I don’t know what knowledge you’ve brought, but it seems quite profound. Knowledge recorded here must be comprehensible to others, so all supporting information must be included as well. Would it help if I said it’s being written out very, very thoroughly?”

“I understand, roughly. It seems to be finished now. Take it.”

By now, the quill had inscribed the knowledge onto the scroll in tiny letters.

The firmly closed doors of the library began to open, and Viktor started to lead his party members inside.

Thud.

“I’m sorry, but your party members cannot enter with you.”

However, at that moment, as if to break the atmosphere, the Librarian blocked Simon’s path. Hearing this, Simon’s expression turned to one of dismay, and Viktor’s face gradually hardened.

“What are you saying? He is my party member and also my advisor. To say that someone under my authority cannot follow me—is this a challenge to me?”

When Viktor reprimanded him in a stern tone, the Librarian bowed his head but did not yield.

“I apologize, but this is an order from the God of Wisdom. As his apostle, I cannot go against his will.”

Viktor knew well that apostles were less independent entities and more like advanced robots controlled by their gods. He had once been an apostle himself, after all.

In the end, threatening him would be meaningless, but he couldn’t just leave Simon behind.

“Then give him a scroll and quill as well. Though he may be merely mortal, he has witnessed countless knowledge while following me. Your master has bestowed upon him the title of sage. Surely he deserves the chance to take the test, does he not?”

“That is true. However, not all sages can create knowledge. Most sages’ knowledge is merely derivative of what exists in this great library.”

“Enough! Stop belittling him and give him the quill and scroll. He is my sage and will surely pass the test.”

“If that is your wish, I shall comply.”

In truth, this was a gamble.

Viktor, having already passed the test, could simply enter, but if Simon, who bore the title of a god’s sage, failed the test and this became known to the distant crowd, it could lead to rather unfavorable consequences.

Seeming to understand this, the Librarian handed the quill and scroll to Simon while quietly saying:

“Sage, your master has faith in you. Please do not disappoint him. For your master’s sake, or for your lord’s sake.”

Simon’s eyes were trembling greatly.

For him, a spellcaster and sage, entering the Library had been a lifelong dream, and furthermore, inscribing knowledge worthy of being recorded in that great library was equally important.

But what if… he lacked that ability?

If it became publicly known that he had learned nothing new during three years of adventure… what would Logos, the God of Wisdom, think of him?

And above all, how should he think of himself? Such questions swirled like a whirlwind in his head.

For a long time, Simon stood dazed, but no one rushed him.

Anyone who had come to this place understood how harsh this test was for someone holding the position of sage.

“….”

And finally, as he grasped the quill, it spun around briefly… then began to write something on the scroll.

Seeing this, a smile formed on the Librarian’s lips, and Simon, wiping away cold sweat, opened his mouth in joy.

“I… I did it… I’ve recorded new knowledge that didn’t exist in this world in the great library…! Oh my…”

Simon wept with childlike joy.

The dwarves supported him while acknowledging that they themselves lacked the intellect to take the test, and soon returned to the Sky Warden with the royal guards.

Viktor gently embraced Simon and began walking toward the slowly closing doors of the Library.