章 21: Let me in! Let me in!

He was so damn close, just a little bit more…

Even with the ongoing lecture, Gray's spirit was fishing in his Library Realm! He showed such zeal that it seemed like he was trying to clear the entire goddamn pond alone!

"C'mon, bite already! I don't have all day!"

On the way over here, he had already done plenty, but if he didn't reach that pity target of 100 catches, then it would all be for naught! Thus, he kept persevering!

The more he caught souls, the more junk he got: ectoplasm, ectoplasm, a lot of possessed decorative items, and even a few items with incredibly ridiculous properties…

[Obtained Throbbing Rod!]

[Contains the refined spirit of an S&M master! A single touch of this will bring unimaginable pain to its target but will cease if an attack is detected.]

"C'mon, who am I gonna play S&M with?! Keep that counter rising!"

[47/100]

[Obtained Memory: One with the Earth!]

[The entire world went against him. Roosters, noisy neighbors, shitty merchants, and even the Town crier! Use this technique to fall asleep anytime, anywhere, instantly!]

"I swear, those useless items take longer to fish. At this point, just give me Ectoplasm and be done with it!"

[74/100]

[Obtained F-Rank Riddler Soul!]

[This spirit claims to be the reincarnation of the sphinx. Summon it and see what happens if you can't answer its riddles. *PS: You really shouldn't summon it.]

"Riddler? Not the green one, right? Anyway, let's get this over with!"

[91/100]

Then, as if granting his wish, 9 Ectoplasms followed. Finally, freaking finally! He had filled it all! That's when it happened…

[99/100] → [100/100]

It suddenly erupted with blue, golden light!

Gray felt like he was staring at some Heavenly treasure, as if the counter were some sort of portal leading to the land of the gods. Then, the numbers rippled, and….

— FLASH! FLASH! —

Something materialized from it?!

It looked like a key made of pure Mana.

This wasn't just Power; this was pure Godliness!

[Ding! Obtained LIBRARY KEY!]

[Infused with the secrets of Heaven and Hell, this Key allows one temporary access to the Library of Heaven's Souls! Keep it preciously. It is more valuable than you are!]

"AMAZING! Finally, time for the long-awaited preview!"

Gray would have rolled himself on the ground in joy…. If he wasn't too busy rushing to the Library! What kind of secrets would he find in there? He couldn't bloody wait!

Then as soon as he came closer…

[Use LIBRARY KEY? Y/N?]

"YES! Let me in!"

That's when the world ended… or that's what it felt like. As the doors opened, it wasn't a building that was opening, but an entire dimension, infinite Mana erupting out of it!

Gray was suddenly sucked in, his body flying forward, the scene changing. It was now the interior of a Library. Ancient, otherworldly, and big enough to hold a universe!

Rows and rows of books, no Grimoires, with glowing souls flying all over. But just as he watched it all shellshocked, a wisp-like soul went toward him!

[Ding! A Soul Guide's Familiar Has Appeared!]

[It Stares at You in Disappointment!]

[It Will Still Guide You…]

The wisp shook its ethereal body as it flew away. It even did a few pirouettes as if asking him to follow it. Yet, there was something strange. Why did it seem… drunk?!

It kept wobbling from left to right as if unable to stay straight. What was up with it? Wait, what if? Gray grabbed an Ectoplasm from his soul and… threw it to the side.

— ZAP! ZAP! ZAP! —

Scary Heavenly lightning eradicated it!

It wasn't just burnt. It was utterly gone. Seeing this, Gray couldn't help but stare at the wisp. Why did this feel freaking premeditated?! It happily feigned innocence.

"Tch— As usual. The true homicidal maniacs are always the cutest! Lead the way, you bastard!" Gray followed the damn thing to a T. It went…

⬆️⬆️⬇️⬇️⬅️➡️ ⬅️➡️

Then they encountered a Bend in the path, an Alley opening between two bookshelves?! Had it not been for that wisp, he would have never found this place.

As Gray saw the interior, he stopped breathing. The walls were made of Divine/Hellish Grimoires that seemed… sentient?!

Not only did they radiate enormous power, but he could feel them judging him. As for what they'd judge, that much was obvious. In the middle of the room were three pillars.

Three pillars. Three Grimoires. Three paths to choose from. Somehow, he knew. He could only pick a single one, for now at least.

[Heaven's Soul Art! ~ Dissonance!]

[Gluttonous Dragon's Devouring Legacy!]

[Curse-Extinguishing Ninth Layers of Hell!]

As for their auras? So goddamn baleful! Was this the Library of Heaven's Souls or the Library of Hell's Souls?! Dark energy oozed from them all! Wrath, Hunger, and Decay!

But then he realized, it was so evident…

"Curse? Sera Blake. Devouring Legacy? Fatty Zhang. Heaven's Soul Art? This one's obviously intended for me. That's it, gotta save oneself before others!"

He reached for the Heavenly Soul Art, but just before touching it, he froze. This would definitely help him grow stronger quickly by leaps and bounds. But would it be enough?

How long would it actually take? What if it took too long? What if he failed his teaching duties and was delivered to the Duke? BAD END!

He felt his stomach twist and yet forcefully drove his hand away. Then he grabbed his final choice. This would buy him time and would save her. He'd—

— SWOOSH! SWOOSH! —

The walls exploded with Mana!

The sentient Grimoires? They had all come alive! They suddenly started flying off the shelves, and swirl around him like millions of insects! They had come for him…

[Heavenly Fisting Buddha Scripture Approves!]

[Ungodly Obliteration Pathway is Displeased!]

[Heaven's Soul Art! ~ Dissonance is Jealous!]

[World-Ending Summoning Ritual is Vexed!]

[Gluttonous Dragon's D— is Hungry!]

That's when he understood. Those weren't just Grimoires; they were the hopes, dreams, memories, traumas, and all that had made their creators.

Library of Heaven's Souls, how fitting!

That's when he was suddenly pushed out of the room, a certain wisp wobbling back over. But it suddenly swayed as it saw the Grimoire that he was carrying.

[It Stares at You With Ridicule!]

"Good, keep staring, but note my words. I'LL BE BACK!"

As he declared powerfully, he somehow felt the Grimoire in his embrace tremble. Then, a second later, he was booted out of the Library, a familiar screen reappearing.

[Curse-Extinguishing Ninth Layers of Hell!]

[Curses? Bring them all. I'll carry them. I'll suffer them. I'll endure them. I'll extinguish them. But just know this: no matter what… I WILL BE BACK.]

For an instant, human and Grimoire seemed to share a connection. The stubbornness to keep going, enduring it all. A cry escaped both their souls: they'd ALWAYS come back!

That's when the Grimoire exploded in black particles and—

[Curse-Extinguishing Ninth Layers of Hell!]

[Successfully Learned The First Layer!]

[Ding! Gained Curse Resistance!]

Along with it came the knowledge. The Curse-Extinguishing Path was suddenly revealed to him. Or rather, its beginning, but it would be enough for now! More than enough…

Gray powerfully opened his eyes, just in time for that annoying judge to jump on stage. The man looked… really pissed and was glaring at him. Yet, he looked quite strange...

He was covered from head to toe in blood. What was that even about?! Luckily, the gossiping students had him covered!

"Pfft— Crazy! Did this really happen?!"

"Yep, he broke through and splashed Old Blue!"

"Oh god, he's gonna tear him a new one for sure!"

Gray listening to Aldor → Gray breaking through → His Mana going wild, exploding outward → Blood and entrail flying on an unsuspecting judge!

As for why the judge hadn't dodged it? He had been too focused on Aldor's lecture! This meant that he was angry about the mess AND the interruption. That was bad, right?

That's when Gray took out a Certain Broken Bell as the man went:

"You clown, I'll show you who—" But his words suddenly failed him. As for what followed, it was the same silence, a poor Old Blue gesticulating in incomprehension.

"...….."

Gray grinned. It was time to dominate this lesson…

クリエイターの想い
ClasslessAscension

That Library looks as AWESOME as SCARY! One wrong step, and suddenly you're toast?! Good thing he had done a bit of parkour in his previous life... Yes, two weeks counted!