episode_0163

“Where should we go next?”

We entered an alley where no one passed by and checked the documents.

“Um…”

There weren’t many people on the character list.

If you plan on going around, you’ll be able to meet them all before the sun sets.

Besides, the location was just right.

“Library. I think this would be good.”

I said, choosing one of them.

A librarian working in the old building of the city library.

22 years old.

A woman named Jerry was the target this time.

No ability.

I thought I could get quite a bit of information from the librarian.

I wish he had a good personality, but we’re given too little information right now.

There was a need to go and check in person.

“I think it would be perfect to go to the library and then have lunch.”

I said, checking my watch.

So we headed to the library.

The distance to the library was not that long.

The building had a clean exterior and was characterized by the absence of any decoration.

We passed through the automatic doors and entered the library.

We weren’t the only ones using the library.

People sitting scattered here and there were reading books on thin pads placed on their desks.

E-book.

But I hated e-books.

Fortunately, this was not our destination.

As I walked across the interior of the building, a large door appeared.

Antique decoration that still evokes the feeling of the past.

It was a door that somehow felt like it would smell moldy.

I pushed the door with all my might.

Although it looked old, it must have been well maintained, as the door opened smoothly and without making a sound.

I smiled slightly at the smell that wafted in as soon as I opened the door.

The smell of paper and dust.

This library was divided into an old building and a new building.

Our destination was this place, the old building.

The people I saw at the shrine were not visible here.

So it gave a quieter feeling.

“A strange smell.”

Shine made a subtle expression at the smell of books wafting around her.

“I like this.”

It brings back old memories.

I have a simple memory of going to the library and studying like crazy.

Why did you try so hard back then?

I tilted my head and walked further in.

A librarian was sitting not far from the entrance to the old building.

A quiet and calm atmosphere,

Short black hair moves calmly.

It was no coincidence that her gaze slowly moved towards us.

She immediately noticed our presence, wearing bracelets.

Black eyes blink slowly.

I swallowed dry saliva.

But she bowed her head to us, gave us a silent greeting, and returned to her book.

I sighed in relief and looked at Shine and Rain’s expressions.

Shine was looking around, seemingly uninterested in the librarian.

It was the same with Rain.

She was taking a selfie with her cell phone.

Still, I wanted to praise the library for using the silent function.

I was feeling a bit annoyed for no reason, so I snatched Rain’s cell phone away.

“Ouch!”

Rain let out a short groan, as if surprised by my sudden behavior.

I took a picture of myself with the cell phone in my hand.

There was no sound, but my photo that appeared on the screen was saved to Rain’s gallery.

“Rain. Focus on the mission.”

“Ah, ah, yeah. That’s right. Yeah, focus. ”

I said, handing the phone back to Lane.

After giving me my phone back, Rain fiddled with it, muttering absentmindedly.

I reached out and grabbed Shine’s arm.

Her gaze, which had been looking around, begins to turn towards me.

“Shine is also focused.”

“Yeah. I’m always focused on Jeff.”

“Not to me. Focus on the mission.”

“Yeah.”

As I said that, I went deeper.

Since there weren’t many people and the librarian’s attention wasn’t focused on us, we were able to wander around freely.

I looked around at the numerous books with my mouth open in a daze.

From novels that I wanted to read in the past but couldn’t buy because there was no DL version, to books on etiquette that are now outdated.

There were a huge variety of books.

But that wasn’t the book I was looking for.

As I was wandering around with Rain and Shine looking for books for a while, I caught sight of Jerry, the librarian, walking towards me from afar and held my breath.

Jerry was pulling a small cart.

Looking at the books placed on top, it seemed like they were going around organizing returned books.

His gaze, which had been absentmindedly pulling a cart, turns towards us.

“Are you looking for something?”

A quiet voice flowed out.

It was a beautiful voice that made it seem like I would fall asleep if I listened to it quietly.

I nodded absentmindedly.

Jerry paused at my answer.

“What book is it?”

“Do, it’s a city record!”

I told Jerry the name of the book I was looking for.

City records, usually these municipal libraries, had books published that recorded the major events of the area.

It would have been nice to see it as a compilation of only the major events reported in local newspapers.

These are incidents that can be found by searching the Internet, but books like this have special features that are not found in newspaper or Internet articles.

“If that’s the case, then this way.”

I tried to figure out her personality.

The eye contact was ordinary.

Jerry left the cart he was pulling behind and began to guide us.

Judging from the way he walked without showing any sign of being annoyed, he didn’t seem to have a bad personality.

She walked to the far corner and pointed to the very bottom with her hand.

“This way.”

The books that are shoved in the very corner and at the very bottom.

That’s why it’s not easy to find.

I walked over to the book and squatted down.

“Thank you.”

Jerry nodded slightly in greeting and returned to where his cart was.

Although he seemed to have a good personality, for some reason he had an atmosphere that made it difficult to approach him.

I watched Jerry walk away and then pulled out the most recent record.

A solid weight is felt at your fingertips.

“What are you looking for?”

“Take them out one by one.”

I asked both of them to bring out their books as well as me.

The two of them, like me, each took out a copy of the records and held them in their arms.

The thick book was so hard that it could be used as a blunt instrument.

I took out the book, sat down in a suitable seat, opened it, and said.

“If you have any records about the museum, please let me know.”

Amy said.

There’s something in the museum, something important is coming in.

So what I have to do is collect information about the museum.

Victor and Amy are inside, we are outside.

It was a mission that Amy trusted me, Shine, and Lane with.

I had to do my best.

I opened the book.

The paper had a stiff texture, as if not many people had looked for it.

I felt the paper slipping between my fingers and began to look up information about the library.

A bookshelf that moves quickly.

But nowhere was there any mention of a museum.

It could just be that nothing special happened.

but.

“Not here.”

“Here too.”

Shine and Rain also couldn’t find any information about the museum.

We brought in the remaining records and began to look through them.

3 years, 4 years, 5 years, records that keep going back.

After ten years like that, I was able to discover one strange thing.

“This is…”

It feels like new for a book that came out 10 years ago.

The cover was moderately worn and smelled of dust.

But the papers inside felt different.

Compared to recently published books, it doesn’t feel that different.

A book that records events in the city ten years ago.

I finally managed to find some records about the museum.

But it was so ordinary.

There was a brief explanation that a new exhibit had arrived, followed by a description of the exhibit.

I took out my notebook and made a brief note of this.

“Did you find something?”

“Yeah.”

Shine came up to me and asked as I scribbled something in my notebook.

Lane was sleeping with his head buried in a book.

I had eaten and had a snack, so it was time to start feeling sleepy.

I yawned and checked the rest of the records.

For 10 years, all books published after this one contained information about libraries.

It was clear that something had happened ten years ago.

“Look carefully. Shine. If you look here, this paper feels different, right?”

“Yeah.”

Shine nodded while listening to my explanation.

I continued.

“This book came out 10 years ago. But it’s not that different from the recent ones. This means it was republished and revised, but why did they do that? Why did they use the old book cover?”

“To hide information modifications?”

“I think so too.”

I nodded.

“All references to the museum have disappeared from all records since 10 years ago. As Amy said, there must be something there.”

As I said that, I became lost in thought.

This is why I like books.

When you correct incorrect information, it inevitably leaves a trace.

But it was too sloppy. If you wanted to hide it, you could hide it properly.

“It’s too artificial. It’s like I’m looking for it…”

I muttered softly.

There are several ways to give paper a worn look.

Special chemicals could be used, or individual pages from books published in the same year could be used.

“Um…”

I crossed my arms and pondered.

Could this be a trap intended to confuse those seeking information?

That was the moment.

Beep- beep- beep- beep-

An alarm started to sound on Rain’s phone.

The library was filled with the sound of little chicks squeaking.

It wasn’t a loud sound, but it was enough to shake the very quiet library.

“Rice!”

Rain jumped up.

The alarm sounds to signal lunchtime.

I had to go eat.

We quickly left the library, avoiding the crowd of eyes.

“What would be good for lunch?”

After leaving the library, we wandered the streets, thinking about what to have for lunch.

Hamburgers, chicken, pizza, tonkatsu.

I want to eat everything.

“How about there?”

At that moment, Shine, who was looking around, reached out and pointed to a sign.

A sign that says [Hungry Burger].

The description below states that it is a specialty handmade burger restaurant.

“I think it’s good!”

So the lunch menu was decided.

I grabbed Rain’s hand, who was hesitating behind me, and ran straight to the Hungry Burger.

There were quite a few customers inside the Hungry Burger.

I sniffed.

As soon as I open the door, the delicious smell that wafts in makes my mouth water.

“Welcome~”

As we opened the door and entered, a young clerk welcomed us.

A man who looked to be in his early 20s guided us to an empty seat with a small smile.

“Please call me when you decide on the menu~”

The three of us immediately opened the menu that was placed on the table.