Method

Method

I let out a chuckle at this unexpected stroke of luck before turning my gaze and speaking to Espin.

“Then what we need to find out now is why the Heaven God Cult targeted the Illusion Library, right?”

Espin nodded at that and crossed his arms.

“I thought the same and asked about it… but they’ve put an unexpectedly high-level lock on that information. No matter what I tried, I couldn’t break through.”

“… Is that so?”

“Yeah. Well, in other words, it’s likely that they’ve put such a strong lock on it because it’s that important information…”

Espin sighed and nodded, then slowly looked at the flesh in front of him as he continued speaking.

“The problem is that to dig any deeper now, there’s no other way but to go out and investigate in person.”

I laughed at the mention of having to go out and investigate in person.

It was something I had more or less anticipated anyway.

‘Well, it’s not a bad thing. I was planning to stop by the Illusion Library anyway.’

Thanks to Delia’s diligent management, a large amount of points should have accumulated.

I decided to stop by the Illusion Library to use the points I had, and was about to slowly move my feet.

Espin leaned against the wall, staring at me intently, then crossed his arms and said.

“… Be careful. I looked into information about the Illusion Library separately during this investigation, and there was no other information besides it being a ‘suddenly appeared’ ruin. It’s quite suspicious.”

I couldn’t help but agree with those words.

As Espin said, the Illusion Library was a place where,

Strangely enough, its information was not well-known compared to its importance and influence.

‘On top of that, they’re doing the peculiar act of buying and selling information or memories of living beings.’

Thinking that I couldn’t help but be suspicious even if I didn’t want to be, I slowly turned my head.

‘Then I have no choice but to thoroughly investigate the Illusion Library this time.’

Thinking that I might make some significant discovery this time, I slowly moved my feet.

* * *

As I entered the Illusion Library, Amber greeted us as always.

I looked at Amber, who was still holding a book as big as herself,

And casually greeted her while trying to gather information.

“Has anything unusual happened?”

Considering that the Heaven God Cult had approached near the Illusion Library, I asked this question.

If the Heaven God Cult had done something wrong, I asked to uncover it, but

Unfortunately, they had only gathered nearby and hadn’t done anything, as Amber nodded and smiled brightly.

“No. It’s always the same as usual. Organizing books, arranging items. Adding points for the information you bring…”

“I see.”

I watched Amber nodding her head, pondered for a moment, and then slowly opened my mouth.

“I’d like to purchase information with the accumulated points. Is that possible?”

“Information? What kind of information do you want?”

To that question, I looked around slowly and spoke rather directly.

“Information about the Illusion Library.”

“……”

At those words, Amber closed her mouth and looked at me, then put the book on a nearby desk and said.

“Hmm… Do you really need to buy it? I don’t think it would matter much to you whether you know it or not.”

I couldn’t tell if she really said that for my sake, or if she wanted to hide the information.

‘Now that I know the Heaven God Cult is targeting the Illusion Library.’

I couldn’t just ignore this information and move on.

So when I told her that it “doesn’t matter” and that I’d like to purchase the information.

She seemed troubled for a moment, then reluctantly spoke as if squeezing out the words.

“… I’m sorry, but you don’t have enough points. This is confidential among confidential information.”

At the mention of it being confidential among confidential information, I had a feeling that it would be good to dig into this information.

Although I still couldn’t understand what was contained in the Illusion Library.

‘Considering that there was little description even in the original novel, and the fact that the Heaven God Cult prioritized taking over this library.’

Now, taking into account that the Heaven God Cult was willing to sacrifice a bishop to get the Illusion Library.

I could tell that the significance of the Illusion Library was enormous.

‘Then what could it mean for them to hide it like this?’

While I was lost in thought, believing it must be related to purchasing ‘information and experience’.

Luna poked her face out of my arms and started to say something.

[Tell me anyway!]

“What?”

[Tell me because I’m a regular customer!]

Confused by that tone reminiscent of a difficult customer, Ember looks at Luna and then quickly shakes her head in refusal.

“Absolutely not. This isn’t some cheap food… It’s not something I can tell you just because you throw a tantrum.”

[Luna doesn’t care about that. Tell me quickly. If you don’t, I’ll destroy this place!]

The threat of destruction seems to have an effect as Ember hesitates for a moment.

Then, pulling out a new book from her chest, she speaks in a somewhat subdued voice.

“… Can you handle it?”

At the word “handle,” I became somewhat interested.

From their perspective, I am a customer of considerable importance and a seller.

The fact that they are responding so firmly, anticipating a potential falling out, definitely meant there was something to it.

‘That means I have no choice but to use a trick.’

Of course, I don’t necessarily need to fall out with the Welcome Library.

There was a need to use a different ploy.

Thinking this, I patted Luna’s head to calm her down.

“Luna, that’s enough.”

[……]

Luna, seemingly dissatisfied that I’m not taking her side, buries her face in my chest and starts whining.

While patting Luna’s back, I apologized to Ember.

“Luna spoke out of turn. Please forget about it.”

“……”

Ember glanced at me and nodded slightly.

I looked at Ember for a moment, then slowly turned and said.

“I’ll use the points later.”

“… Yes. But as I mentioned earlier, is there really a need to dig into this? I doubt we can collect all the points, and even if we do and purchase it, I’m not sure it’s worth that much.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Ember seemed displeased with my uncertain answer, staring at me silently before slowly nodding.

“Alright. In any case, it’s all your choice, Deren.”

I listened to Ember’s words as I slowly returned to the mansion.

*

After arriving at the mansion, I told Espin about what had happened earlier and asked for his opinion.

“What do you think?”

Espin sighed at my question, looked at me, and shrugged.

“One thing’s for sure, they’re willing to protect the Illusion Library even if it means becoming your enemy.”

“I see.”

“Well, I’m not sure about that Ember’s true personality. But the fact that they showed a serious face instead of their usual demeanor… They probably were genuinely trying to turn you and Luna into enemies.”

Espin leaned against the wall and continued speaking slowly.

“What’s even stranger is… isn’t that person a seller? If they’re a seller, their goal should be to extract as many points as possible. Shouldn’t they be happy about the opportunity to sell you meaningless and insignificant information… and information they can sell multiple times?”

He said it was incomprehensible that instead of being happy, they seemed to dislike it.

Espin scratched his head and sighed.

“It seems like something huge is hidden, but I can’t figure out why. Is there any way to find out?”

After pondering for a moment, I told him about ‘what I had thought of earlier’.

“There is one way.”

“What? There’s a way? What is it?”

At those words, I smiled lightly and explained a very simple yet effective method.

“We can destroy the Illusion Library and then steal the information there.”

“… What?”

I was smiling again as I looked at Espin, who was staring at me as if I were crazy.

Espin sighed and said to me.

“You’re saying you’ll destroy the Illusion Library without knowing how strong it is or what impact it might have? Does that make any sense?”

Realizing that Espin was misunderstanding something, I shook my head and explained.

“I think you’re misunderstanding something. I didn’t say I’d destroy it with my own hands.”

“… Huh?”

Espin stared at me blankly for a moment, as if his brain had short-circuited.

Then he blinked rapidly and stared at me intently.

Looking at Espin like that, I took out the mace from my chest and continued speaking briefly.

“When we have a good substitute like the Heaven God Cult, there’s no need for me to step in. Don’t you think?”

“… So you’re saying… You’ll make the Heaven God Cult attack the Illusion Library, and then plunder the information?”

I nodded with satisfaction towards Espin, who understood perfectly.