Ch.77Promises must be kept.

Yeah.

I said I’d escape the apartment in style.

I said I’d change my fate.

That’s all fine. It’s fine, but when the next morning came, my thoughts changed.

From the moment I opened my eyes in bed, I knew.

It wasn’t time yet.

As a Librarian, I can see the future.

There are several limitations, but I can at least outline major events.

By now, a helper should have come to this 7th floor.

But not a single person, not even a mosquito, has come here.

This is the limit of my ability.

Being vulnerable to external variables.

And the range of future I can see is narrow, so I usually don’t even know what variables are at play.

All I knew was that it would be delayed.

It’s certain they’re coming, but I don’t know when.

“Ugh…”

Since there’s nothing I can do right now, I’ll have to spend some time here living my daily life.

And just because it’s daily life doesn’t mean there are no crises.

For a while now.

I’ve been groaning and curling up my body.

“Argh.”

My stomach is cramping, aching. It really hurts.

I tried to check my body’s condition with my insight but quickly stopped.

Anyone could tell what this is.

Period.

I can do a simple condition check, but if I actually see it with my eyes…

I think my heart would shatter.

I’m not mentally prepared yet.

It’s not like I hadn’t thought about it. But I thought it wouldn’t happen to me.

Several weeks had passed since I became a woman, and I hadn’t felt any menstrual pain or anything similar.

I guess the stress must have delayed my cycle.

I’ve had so many near-death experiences that it’s hard to count them all now.

Monsters, incidents, disaster broadcasts everywhere I go… Especially recently, it’s been a real march of hardship.

“Hnnnggh. Uuugh…”

I got up from my bed and sat with my back against the wall.

I pulled my thighs tight against my stomach and wrapped my arms around them.

Like a curled-up hedgehog Sonic.

If I don’t do this, I feel like I’ll be rolling around in pain.

I heard that severe cases like this are rare, so I was relieved.

Was I an exception? Or did it get worse because of stress?

Come to think of it, this is karma too.

Fatigue. Stress. Irregular sleep and bad eating habits.

These are the main causes of severe menstrual pain, and I’ve done them all.

Maybe that’s why.

Every time I move, the pain surges so badly that I can barely move properly.

“Fuck fuck fuck fuck…”

I cursed wildly while pulling the blanket over my head.

Why do I have to go through this?

It’s not even in my destiny, yet it comes as if it’s the most natural thing.

After lying down for a while, I finally managed to get up.

It took time, but my body, now transformed into a woman’s, eventually adapted to the pain.

I remember what I was told about what to do in this situation.

When I first came to the apartment. Things Daju told me when she cornered me.

At that time, I thought she was just teasing me, but now it’s unexpectedly helpful.

First, apply a warm compress.

I had prepared everything at home.

“Heh.”

I felt proud for a moment, then stopped.

As I filled a water bag with warm water by myself, reality hit me hard.

Click-

I lay back down on the bed and hugged the warm pack.

The pain is definitely less. I’m starting to feel sleepy again.

That makes sense, since it’s 6 AM now.

More like dawn than morning. Maybe the pain woke me up early.

I hope I’ll feel better by the time we all have breakfast together.

This isn’t going to keep happening, right?

In the morning, we all gather to check on each other’s condition.

Even though the 7th floor is relatively safe in this apartment, something could happen overnight.

Whether anyone is hurt.

Whether everyone’s mind is sound. Whether anyone has gone crazy.

It’s a habit for everyone’s safety, but right now, that makes me more anxious.

“Ugh.”

It wasn’t just painful in the morning.

Food doesn’t seem to go down properly, and my body keeps feeling weak.

Still, I try to act as normal as possible during the meal.

“Why does Dabin look so weak today?”

Heo Yoon looks at me with concern.

“I think it’s because I couldn’t sleep well yesterday. I’m sleepy.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

I could never say it myself.

If I spoke honestly, my heart might really shatter.

It feels like I’d be acknowledging that I’ve truly become a woman…

I made eye contact with Choi Serim, but I quickly looked away.

Everyone is still eating.

Fortunately, only Heo Yoon and Choi Serim have noticed my condition.

The rest are just eating as usual.

I wish I could go back to my room and lie down right now.

But if I get up and leave alone, I’ll just make others worry more.

This period lasts 3 to 4 days. Or up to a week if it’s long, right?

Let’s just get through this quietly. Quietly.

“Dabin. Are you very tired?”

“Huh?”

Choi Serim spoke to me in a kind voice.

“You can go back first if you’re having a hard time.”

“No. I’m just a bit sleepy.”

“Hmm… really?”

Her voice suggests she already knows everything.

Of course, Choi Serim can read minds.

I can block this by consciously thinking about it, but normally it’s impossible.

I conveyed my thoughts to her.

‘Please don’t tell anyone else.’

Choi Serim just smiles as if she finds me cute.

‘Hm? Why, Dabin?’

‘…Just don’t say anything.’

‘Did you take medicine? I can bring some from the storage.’

‘I have some at home. I already took it earlier. About three hours ago.’

I’m really grateful for her consideration in this regard.

‘Okay. Hang in there, Dabin!’

‘Yeah…’

She sends encouragement only with her eyes, without saying anything out loud.

“Then I’ll go back first.”

“Huh? You’re leaving already?”

“Yes.”

“See you, Dabin!”

Screech-

I got up from the table and returned to room 704 where I stay.

There’s nothing else to do anyway. Let’s just stay quiet for the next few days. I’ve been through enough already.

Even if it’s not just during that period, saving energy is necessary.

When the helper arrives.

That’s when many things will start happening.

I lay back down on the bed and hugged the warm water bag.

But the more I think about it, the more unfair it feels.

Why am I going through this?

***

Now it’s day 2.

As if being in pain all day yesterday wasn’t enough, the feeling returns first thing in the morning.

I’m starting to get irritated.

Knock knock knock-

“Oppa! Come out and eat!”

Thump thump thump!

“You said you were tired yesterday, you’re not dead, are you?”

I sighed deeply and opened the door.

“Wow! You’re alive!”

A voice full of mischief.

Yoon Daju was standing in front of the door.

“Yeah. I’m not dead. What is it?”

“That’s a relief.”

“I’d rather be dead right now.”

Daju glances at me with a smile.

She might seem cute at first glance, but now I know. That’s the expression Yoon Daju makes before she does something inappropriate.

“What is it? Just say it.”

“You know. The maid outfit. I was thinking, wearing the same one as last time would be boring, right? So I looked for something else in the storage.”

Daju pulls out her phone with a serious face.

The screen shows a picture taken in the storage room.

“This time, let’s go with a swimsuit.”

This is ridiculous.

Yoon Daju is truly insane. While I can barely move because of stomach pain, she’s all excited.

“Why should I do that?”

“What?”

“I’m tired, so leave me alone for a bit. Can’t you see I’m not feeling well right now?”

“…”

Daju looks at me quietly and tilts her head.

“Oppa, you seem different from usual. Yesterday too.”

“No? I’m exactly the same. And anyone would end up like this if they were constantly harassed by someone like you.”

Then she nods as if she understands.

“Ah~ I get it. So oppa, you’re-“

“Daju.”

I cut her off with a cold voice.

It was the most threatening voice I’ve ever used in my life.

Even Yoon Daju hesitated for a moment.

“Yes?”

“If you don’t stop right there, you might end up bleeding too.”

Poke poke.

I made a gesture of poking my stomach.

“Right now.”

“Huh?”

Yoon Daju steps back with wide eyes.

She seemed genuinely surprised, which I hadn’t expected.

Why is she suddenly acting like this?

“Oppa, so you’re-“

“What?”

“I really didn’t know. I just thought you were feeling a bit down… Hang in there.”

Bang!

Then she closed the door herself and went out into the hallway.

“Ah.”

My body is trembling now and I can’t put strength into my hands.

“Fuck.”

I feel like I’m going to die.

***

After getting through the night, my physical condition improved rapidly.

The heavy feeling in my lower abdomen has decreased significantly, and now I have the energy to look around.

Let’s start with some reading.

In a corner of the living room.

Since the day I returned from the library, my bag has remained in the same place.

I had selected only the necessary books from among many.

Even so, there are well over 20 books. Each one is thick and quite heavy.

I barely managed to pick up the bag and throw it onto the bed.

Thud-

The bag fell with a heavy sound.

Sitting beside it, I opened the zipper.

[The Principles and Understanding of Supernatural Abilities]

[Memetic Kill Agent Management/Response Manual]

[Occult]

All with strange titles.

If books with the same titles were found in ordinary libraries or bookstores, they would undoubtedly be scams.

They would probably be full of strange cult-like content.

However, the source of these books is anything but ordinary.

The infinite shelves. Information brought from the Wanderer’s Library.

They are dangerous, but at the same time, just knowing them can be powerful.

Knowledge is power.

I selected one of the books and turned the pages.

There are various supernatural phenomena in the world.

It was time to test one of them.

The necessary materials are as follows:

– Paper and pen

– Memetic Kill Agent

– A small amount of human blood and flesh

– Candle

– Sufficient space

– A young virgin to participate in the ritual

As it happens, I have everything.

It’s a bit bitter to acknowledge the last line, but I decided to move on.

I am technically a virgin. For now.

And there’s one more important ingredient left.

– A talking phone.