Chapter 381

Words : 2266 Updated : Oct 11th, 2025

However, there was one problem. He felt uneasy about leaving his position at will. Everyone was already on edge and tense, and now to move separately? That would be like confessing that they were the culprit. “I can’t stand this anymore!” Just as Rudger’s group was about to move, an angry roar erupted from one side. Looking to see who it was, they saw Truth School mages with their faces contorted in anger. “We’re moving separately!” A stubborn old man with a beard declared. In response to this sudden declaration of independent action, a middle-aged mage stepped forward and spoke. “What are you trying to do? Don’t you know it’s more dangerous to scatter in this situation?” “What else can we do? You want us to stay here motionless when we don’t even know when we’ll be able to get out?” “Shouldn’t we all put our heads together to find a solution?” Though the door wouldn’t open, they believed there must be a way to escape. That’s what the mages in this place thought. In such a situation, it was natural to try to stop the Truth School from acting independently. After all, knowledge shines brighter when shared. However, the Truth School mages thought differently. “Why should we?” “Excuse me? What do you mean by...” “Why should we put our heads together with you? Collaboration is only possible when the levels and caliber match.” “...” The middle-aged mage’s face hardened. The Truth School mage’s words were nothing short of insulting him and the other mages present. “Aren’t you going too far with your words?” “Why? Did we say anything wrong?” “Even if you are our seniors, there are some things that cannot be ignored when heard.” It was undeniable that the Truth School was smarter than other mages but openly stating that in public was a different matter entirely. Limrei, who was watching this scene from afar, clicked his tongue and shook his head. “Tsk tsk. These old folks wasted their years. What good is knowledge without wisdom?” “...” “What? Why are you looking at me like that?” “...It’s nothing.” Rudger turned his gaze away from Limrei and looked at the still irritated Truth School. Because the other side was also provoked by their behavior, both parties’ voices grew increasingly louder. At this rate, it seemed they might draw their staffs and fight at any moment. As everyone watched anxiously, Rudger carefully observed the Truth School mages. ‘That group has a total of 20 members. That’s the maximum number that can move around in the mansion.’ Are the combat mages who came with them waiting outside the mansion? If so, they probably aren’t related to the killer group. The killers are at most 10 people, and considering some have already left the mansion, 5 would be the limit. The Truth School might not be significantly related to the Black Dawn Society. Yet they want to move separately because of their characteristic arrogance. ‘This actually works out well. Rather than sitting together here discussing escape methods, it’s better if we split up.’ He had been looking for a way to return to the library anyway. The Truth School conveniently provided an excuse, so all he had to do was go along with the flow. As Rudger predicted, the Truth School mages left the hall, declaring they would move separately. No one tried to stop them. Rather than trying to stop those self-centered individuals, it was better to seek solutions among themselves but the Truth School’s actions were enough to create cracks in the group of survivors. “We’ll move separately too.” “Us too.” “Having too many people together is difficult anyway.” People who had been watching the situation began to leave one by one. “Everyone’s starting to move separately.” Rudger nodded at Arpa’s words. Most mages were like that from the start. Very few work together, especially in situations like this where they can’t trust each other. Rudger carefully observed the mages leaving the hall and spoke. “Let’s move too.” In a situation where everyone was splitting up and scattering, no one objected to those words. The group once again left the hall and walked through the corridor. Naturally, Arpa was the one leading the way this time. “Are we going the right way?” Roina asked cautiously. Though she spoke that way, worry was still evident in her voice. “What if we get lost...?” “Haven’t you seen? Arpa knows how to find the library’s location.” “But the mansion’s mystery...” “Just because it’s mysterious doesn’t mean it’s omnipotent. If you know how to analyze its patterns and flow, it can conversely become a tool to use.” Long ago, those who visited this mansion claimed they handled some of the mansion’s functions to protect their records. From the mention of using the mansion’s mysteries, it was clear that they created some of the rules that exist in this mansion. The implications were significant. Just as even terrible poison can become medicine when used appropriately, the mansion’s mysteries could also be turned around if they could be handled. Even if something is full of unknowns, it becomes easier to deal with once you understand its principles or usage methods. Just like how humanity was able to manifest mana, an unknown force, into magic. “It’s here!” Arpa said that as he flung open the door. “We’ve arrived properly.” “To find the library so easily...” Roina was once again amazed at how easily Arpa found the library. Even if he had done it once before, doing it consecutively was clearly different. She had been half-skeptical about the claim of analyzing the pattern of how rooms move within the mansion, but this confirmed it. That Arpa truly possessed the brilliant mind capable of analyzing the library’s location. ‘How is this possible? This isn’t something you can do just by being smart.’ The first time Arpa demonstrated his ability was during the Cheshire Tiger’s attack. At that time, Arpa showed tremendous power and defeated the Cheshire Tiger. Would there be anyone else that age capable of such a feat? Even just that would make Arpa an incredible talent if he continued to grow. But not only that, he could even remember everything she saw just once. ‘Is he even human?’ Roina wanted to ask that, but the situation didn’t allow for it. It was the same for Sempas and Limrei. “Oh my.” Looking around inside the library, Rudger clicked his tongue at the neatly organized sight. “All the books we piled up before leaving have been completely reorganized.” “Yes. Not only can we not take items out, but everything we messed up returns to its original state once we leave and come back.” Rudger briefly examined the bookshelf. Even the positions of the books on the shelves had all been switched around. ‘Having to search through all those books again is already daunting, but fortunately, we have a veteran who can find books here.’ Rudger was about to ask Limrei to find the book but quickly closed his mouth. Instead, he made a different suggestion from his original plan. “Let’s all split up and search for the book individually.” “What? You want us to do it separately?” Limrei asked that, seemingly having sensed something. “You all know how to find books anyway. Then it would be much more efficient to search separately. Especially when time is of the essence like now.” “...Fine. But I have no intention of teaching my [Book Selection] magic.” “I can teach the version I modified. And besides, there’s no need to teach it since Roina here seems to have already figured out how to use it.” At those words, Limrei’s sharp eyes turned toward Roina. -Eek! Roina unconsciously shrunk her shoulders but she didn’t deny Rudger’s words. “...Right. This child is Lexer grade, so it makes sense.” “I’ll teach Sempas.” “Do as you please.” Limrei answered curtly and disappeared behind the bookshelves. Rudger taught Sempas the magic formula. “It shouldn’t be difficult to follow. It’s modest compared to Limrei’s [Book Selection], but it’s better than searching blindly.” “...This feels strange. I never expected to receive magic instruction so directly like this. It can’t be easy to teach magic you’ve figured out.” “It’s an urgent situation.” “...” No mage would teach magic they’ve discovered just because the situation is urgent but Sempas didn’t argue. He had already realized that he shouldn’t expect normal reactions from this man. After all, this was someone who could create his own version of magic on the spot after seeing Limrei’s magic with his eyes. With this level of ability, it wasn’t strange at all to treat a book-searching magic like this as trivial. “Thanks for teaching me. I’ll search hard.” “I-I’ll search too.” With that, Sempas and Roina also left for their assigned search areas. Now only Rudger and Arpa remained. Then Arpa, who had been quiet, called out to Rudger. “Leader.” “What is it?” “No. Just now, you seemed to strangely change your attitude. Weren’t you going to say something to Grandpa Limrei?” “I was, until right before.” “Huh? But why...” “Arpa. Did anyone follow us from when we left the hall until we got here?” Arpa thought for a moment and shook his head. “No one.” “I thought so.” Arpa was puzzled by Rudger’s strange attitude but Rudger couldn’t satisfy Arpa’s curiosity right away. He had something else he needed to do. ‘Right?’ Rudger asked inwardly as he looked at the ‘man’ standing behind him. Pale complexion, dim and unfocused eyes, and even a semi-transparent body, this was someone he had encountered as soon as they entered this library but Arpa couldn’t see this man standing right in front of Rudger. The same was true for Roina, Limrei, and Sempas. This man was visible only to Rudger’s eyes, just like the invisible frame, one of the mansion’s mysteries. ‘Judging by his clothing, he seems like a scholar from very long ago.’ Why did this man, who might be a ghost, suddenly appear before him? Rudger found the reason in the book he had read in the library. ‘It was you. The person who snuck into this mysterious land 500 years ago and stayed in the mansion.’ Though he asked that, the man didn’t answer but Rudger had a feeling that he was the author of the book he had read. He had thought of it as a ghost mansion when seeing the mysterious phenomena, but to think there would actually be a ghost. Why did he appear before him? And what exactly does he want? Rudger stood still and stared at the man. -Swoosh. The man weakly raised his hand and pointed in one direction. Is there something over there? Rudger walked in the direction he pointed. When Rudger reached the indicated direction, the man appeared there like a mirage and pointed out a new direction, as if guiding him that he needed to go this way. Whether it was a trap, or if there really was something else there Rudger intended to confirm it with his own eyes. When they finally reached the end of the library, the man silently disappeared into the bookshelf. ‘Is it here?’ Rudger approached the bookshelf where the man had vanished and carefully examined the books. Being led here meant there must be a hidden place somewhere here. That action proved correct. ‘Here it is.’ In the gap between the bookshelves, he felt a faint flow of air. It was such a weak flow that it would have been difficult to notice without getting close to inspect. Rudger followed the flow and touched the nearby books until he found one book with a different texture. This is it. When he lightly pulled the fake book that mimicked the appearance of a real one, the bookshelf silently slid sideways and a hidden space inside was revealed. “Wow. How did you find this?” Though Arpa asked in surprise, Rudger didn’t have a proper answer he could give. He couldn’t say that a ghost only visible to his eyes had shown him. When Rudger entered the hidden space, Arpa followed behind him. “Leader. Should we tell the others...?” “Shh.” When Rudger said that, Arpa immediately closed his mouth. Even though Arpa wasn’t very perceptive, he sensed something from Rudger’s actions trying to hide this fact from their other companions. The hidden space wasn’t very large. It was just the size of a small office with a work desk and various other miscellaneous items. Unlike other places in the mansion, it was characterized by not being organized. As if to prove this, the air inside was incredibly musty due to the dust accumulated over a long time. Rudger saw the skeleton sitting at the office desk. The ghost stood quietly beside that skeleton. “This is you.” At those words, the ghost nodded and disappeared like a mirage. Rudger silently approached the remains that were nothing but bones. There were several books placed on the desk. Just how important they might be would only be known after reading them. As Rudger reached for the books with that thought, he noticed something strange. ‘There’s no dust on the books.’

Chapter 381

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