Chapter 118 – Libraries (5)

I don’t know if it’s still like that these days, but when I was young, there were a few things in common no matter which elementary school I went to.

A particularly friendly young teacher, a cat that roams the school, a scary older brother who steals cards for a dark duel, and the 7 wonders.

The important thing here is the 7 wonders. It is the ghost story that if you know all 7, you will die.

I knew it thanks to having transferred elementary schools three or four times, but to my surprise, all of his 7 wonders were similar.

First of all, starting with the prologue that our school was originally a cemetery or a mental hospital.

The end always ends with the last ghost story you should never know.

At the time, I was trembling and scared, but now that I think about it, it’s a very strange story.

The schools are different, but there are so many overlapping ghost stories? Do ghosts run even if they are two-jabs?

In some places, there are no dance rooms, but there are ghost stories about dance rooms.

This kind of laxity must have played a part in the fact that there are no children who are afraid of school ghost stories even in elementary school or middle school, which are popular.

Anyway, why are you talking about this all of a sudden….

This is because the hidden piece hidden in the library is related to a ghost story.

“Carla. Have you heard of the seven wonders of the academy?”

When I asked what kind of book he was looking for, I wonder if it was because he suddenly answered that it was a ghost story or the 7 wonders.

Kara asked again, blinking her ruby ​​eyes cutely.

“The 7 wonders… Are you telling me that sloppy ghost story I know, Master?”

“Yes. That’s right, that joke-like ghost story.”

“Um… There are also books made and donated by seniors in the library, so there is nothing strange about having a collection of ghost stories. And if you just look at it for interest, it’s quite fun.”

“Nope. I’m not just trying to enjoy a scary story, I’m actually trying to dig it up.”

As if this answer was unexpected, Karla scratched her cheek with a troubled expression.

Then she opened her mouth, looking like a grown-up trying to figure out how to teach a child that there is no Santa Claus.

“Ugh… Master? A ghost story is a story someone made up. In the first place, there’s no way ghosts would appear in an academy with so many priests, right?”

“I guess so. Even if they do come out, there’s nothing to worry about since Ghost-type monsters can be defeated with magic or aura.”

Elisha tilted her blue bun hair this time, perhaps confused by my silent nod.

“Oh? I know you well, Yandel. So, actually digging up ghost stories has a different meaning, right?”

“Oh, that’s literally what it means.”

“?”

Carla and Elisha looked at each other and then tilted their heads in the same direction.

Be cute

“The seven wonders of the academy are really nonsense, but… It’s not that I made up a story that didn’t exist. It is a warning left by some seniors who experienced it firsthand.”

The center of the library that has returned. I took out a thin book from the bottom row of the tall circular bookshelf.

“You will know when you see it. You don’t have to wait until night.”

The title of the book is [About magical indescribable bizarre phenomena].

Turning over the cover with a single white title on a black background reveals the contents in handwriting.

-I hope that juniors who have read this book will not make the same mistake as me.

-However, if you are a talented junior, I hope you will complete the work that I have not been able to do.

-Leave a record of the mysterious phenomena I have experienced in the past 4 years.

A book that starts with something meaningful.

Since then, seven ghost stories have been calmly listed in the form of experiences.

When I first found this book in the library while playing H&A, I was quite excited.

Doesn’t it look like there’s something there just by looking at it?

So for a while, I tried everything, such as going to the place that was the background of the ghost story and waiting patiently, or choosing only what not to do….

The results were disastrous.

It’s because I’ve consumed about a month of in-game time without any results.

However, no matter how you think about it, this ghost story book was suspicious.

Even if you search all the bookshelves in the library in the game, all you can find are tips for beginners and simple worldview settings.

Only ghost story books contained stories that had nothing to do with gameplay.

Breaking the usual theory that the first playthrough is played without looking at the strategy, I searched the strategy cafe and found the result.

“This content is not important. Look at the author at the very end.”

“3rd grade class 13 Adams Gilbert… Yes?”

“What did you notice already?”

“Your master. The academy doesn’t divide classes by numbers. But half 13? It is suspicious.”

“Looking at it now, the name is a bit odd. Isn’t the order of the first and last name reversed?”

“Ah! That’s right! Since you said the content isn’t important, isn’t this author some kind of password?”

“If you look only at the keywords, 3, 13, and in reverse order?”

When given a hint, Carla and Elisha start guessing on their own.

… I didn’t notice anything strange about it for a while.

Well, on Earth, dividing in half with a number is commonplace, so it might be a matter of getting used to it.

It’s a half sign that doesn’t matter to me, but it’s not like the two of you who only went to the academy.

Both arms wrapped around the waist of the two as they exchanged guesses.

Even though they are plump up and down, the two hug each other, probably because their waists are thin.

The unique refreshing body scent and the body scent resembling the smell of grass mix and make you feel at ease.

Hehe… “

“What, what is it, Yandel? It’s a little embarrassing because there are so many people here.”

Carla, who seemed to be happy, and Elisha, who looked around her but did not fall.

He giggled and nodded his chin at the two opposite but similar appearances.

“I know the answer, so follow me. I need your strength not now, but next time.”

“Ugh! Lord lord lord Is this a chance to win an award?”

“A prize… What are you asking for?”

“That’s a secret, of course!”

“Why do slaves hide so many things from their masters? But it’s cute, so I’ll look at it.”

Hehe.”

“How are you, Elisha?”

Elisha dyed her face red as if she was still bothered by the glances around her, but she soon unfolded her fan with a calm expression.

“If Carla can do it, she can do it too. I don’t know what’s going on, but keep your eyes open and watch my performance.”

Then he added, averting his gaze from me.

“What… Want to give a prize? Can I give it to you?”

“I’m asking just in case, are you a secret too?”

“Absolutely.”

“How come you seem to be overdoing only empty checks? It won’t matter.”

She nodded her head only after making her promise to reward Elisha as well if she did well.

“Then let’s go now.”

Grabbing a ghost story book, we all headed toward the library entrance.

***

The entrance to which I arrived shortly after starting from the center of the library in the first place.

It’s obvious, but I’m not going to borrow it like this.

I’m here simply because I have to start here.

“Yandel? Wouldn’t it be okay if I let you know soon? What password was that author just a moment ago?”

“Oh, I forgot to tell you. Not a big deal. Just take the 13th stairway on the 3rd floor.”

“Yes? Isn’t that too simple?”

“Yes. But this is really true Do you remember the phrase at the beginning?”

“Never make the same mistake as yourself. But if possible… Can you solve it?”

“That’s right. That’s why I hid it so annoyingly, but I arranged it so that if I made up my mind to find it, it would be easy to find.”

“Yandel, you seem to have known in advance from the beginning?”

“Hmmmm… That part is a secret.”

“… I bet it is. There will probably be many secrets in the future. Just tell me all about it someday. That should do.”

“…….”

Perhaps Elisha misunderstood me as the sole successor of some secret organization.

But what I’m hiding is more than that.

I nodded my head, swallowing the wry smile that leaked out of me.

“Okay. I wish I could.”

It’s a while to calm down a bit of bitterness. Suddenly, Carla tugged at my sleeve.

“Master, master.”

“Yes. Why is that, Carla?”

“You said it was the 13th stairway to the third floor, right?”

“Right. That’s the entrance.”

“But this is the third floor… There are only 12 steps?”

That’s a very good question. The theme of Library Hidden Peace is not a ghost story for nothing.

“Carla. Elisha. I think the time has come to read this.”

The two question the ghost story book they brought here with a puzzled expression.

“Didn’t you say that the content isn’t very important?”

“Yes. I read it roughly, but it seemed like a plausible description of the seven wonders of the academy.”

“It’s not very important to get this far, but it’s pretty important beyond this. Let’s see… Look at this part here.”

I fluttered the bookshelf and stopped at one page.

“The thirteenth step… ?”

“Yes. That’s it.”

Originally there were only 12 of them, but if you count them while climbing the stairs, for some reason there is a 13th one.

A familiar ghost story that if you step on it, you will be dragged to the other world.

“The only difference is not the other world, but the barrier? Subspace? Do you think you are being taken to a place like that?”

“Uh, um… Although I believe in you, space magic is based on complex calculations, so it’s not so easy to make mistakes….”

Carla is embarrassed.

Holding Karla’s hand in one hand and Elisha’s hand in the other, she stood in front of the stairs.

“You can check it yourself.”

Then, they started climbing the stairs one by one, continuing horizontally.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.
.
.
.
.
.
Twelve.

And thirteen.

As soon as he took the last step, the world turned upside down.