Chapter 7: Slashing at the Past
Disclaimer: For the sake of convenience, future formatting will be like this one.
Urban Plague Office plot skipped.
"They look like Fixers too. I heard you used to belong to the Charles Office. Do you know them?"
"No. That's like grabbing two random people off the street and asking if they know each other."
"I see. Then what level do you think they are at?"
"Probably just established? They're the lowest-level Fixers, only doing odd jobs like finding cats."
"Then what level is the Charles Office at?"
Roland's expression showed a hint of panic after hearing that. He thought for a moment before speaking,
"Not top-tier, but they have a bit of a reputation. I was part of the lowest level there too, being an information specialist, you know."
The two listened and pondered for a while.
"Alright, then you two go handle the reception. It's a good chance for Ayou to learn your combat techniques."
"Sure." Roland breathed a sigh of relief.
"Get ready to take the stage. I'll go handle the reception."
After two snaps, only Roland remained in the lobby.
"??? I didn't get on the ride???"
The next second, Ayin teleported back, grabbed him, and teleported away with a snap.
The two were chatting on the stage.
On the other side, two ordinary Fixers came up: Long Aotian and Lu Guan.
"So, what is the origin of your sword anyway?"
"Uh, let's talk about that after the fight. I'll go first, you watch from behind for a bit. I'll leave one for you to practice on."
Roland stepped forward directly.
"Why are there two brutes again?"
The two Fixers charged straight at Roland, but Roland dodged with a side-step.
He slashed lightly at the person in front. He drove his blade into the opponent's body, then sprinted forward to the other person. The opponent held their sword up to block, but Roland didn't slash; instead, he tripped him to the ground with his leg.
When the other person recovered, he tried to sneak attack from behind. Roland looked down, saw the shadow on the ground, and threw his sword backward. The hilt struck the opponent square in the face.
"That's enough. Come on, you go fight that one that isn't hurt much. What's his name? Long Aotian?"
After the two fought, Roland had played enough and had two small cuts on his hand. After killing Lu Guan, he looked at Ayou.
Ayou was still fighting the opponent, but he looked at ease. Roland could tell he was toying with the opponent.
"That's enough, stop playing. Time to finish this."
"Fine."
Ayou also severed the opponent's head with a single slash, and the two turned into books.
Roland and Ayou took the two books and walked off the stage. The Urban Plague Office reception concluded.
Angela took the books, glanced at them briefly, and tossed them on the ground. The projections of the two people manifested.
They saw Ayou and were calm, but also a bit shocked that they still had consciousness. They just complained a bit,
"Should've just gone to find cats."
"So why did those three react so strongly when they saw you?"
"How would I know?"
After Finn's plot
"It seems there is some class stratification there too."
"Librarian, please. If there were no class stratification, The City would be in chaos. People would be bullying those above them, and at the same time, the lives of Fixers are just that worthless."
"Ayou, you go. I'll handle the reception. Roland, you take a break."
"Sure."
Ayou saw Finn.
"How old are you?"
"17."
"Hello, my name is Ayou, I am a Librarian of The Library."
"Nice to meet you. My name is Finn, currently a Grade 9 Fixer."
After the fight, Roland found Ayou and said,
"Actually, you don't need to specifically learn combat techniques. You'll get used to it after fighting enough. What's important is adaptability."
"Such a super rookie. Falling down... I feel a bit of sympathy for him."
Roland muttered.
"But if you sympathize with them, who will sympathize with you?"
Angela was a bit emotional at this moment.
"Did I say something wrong?"
"No."
"He has a sister. I don't know how it's written in the book. There aren't many people like him who dare to go against the current of The City. It's a pity he's an honest man."
"Do honest people deserve to be bullied?"
"My dear Librarian, what's wrong with you again? Did I—did I bully you?"
Roland was a bit scared now, fearing that if he said the wrong thing in the next second, he would be turned into a human stick again.
"No, I just thought of some things from the past."
Angela's emotions stabilized.
"Didn't you say he didn't explain where your sword came from? Let's go, it's a good time to find a place to talk."
Seeing the situation, Ayou took Roland and walked away.
Angela sat in the lobby, dazed, and took that book out of the drawer again to write.
Ayou and Roland arrived at an open space, and Ayou spoke,
"As you can see, the Librarian might have some unpleasant past, and I might have some too, but I've already forgotten them. Know when to shut up; you don't want to be turned into a popcorn machine again, right?"
"Indeed, you can't judge a book by its cover. I didn't expect her, as strict as she is, to have such a fragile side."
"Say less. She can hear anything in The Library."
"Ah, well... that... that sword was left by my grandmother. And there was also a mask..."
"Librarian, when does the next reception start?"
"Now."
Roland looked at Angela's expression. Her face didn't seem to change. He thought, 'Finally, I survived.'
After the Urban Plague Office plot.
"It looks like a large number of people came this time. Call out Finn and those two, let's all go together."
"What about the Rats?"
"Do you expect those three to be of any help? Besides, the number of participants is limited. They have already turned into books. Their bodies are similar to your weapons; they are both temporary products."
"Alright, let's make it quick."
"Didn't he tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"Then let him say it again, Ayou."
"Heightened emotions make the guests' books more valuable."
"Ah, this... how could I forget? Look, didn't we fight quite slowly before?"
'I think I really forgot.'
At the entrance.
"Finn has been here, right?"
"He has already turned into a book. Don't you regret it?"
"What do you understand? This is the fate of a Fixer. A young lady from a Nest like you will never understand."
"May you find the book you seek..."
"Finn, after you go up, The Library will suppress your emotions to prevent the opponents from affecting you."
"Understood. We are no longer people of the Urban Plague Office; we know that much."
The opponents were Urban Plague, Allie, and three cannon fodder. Same configuration, same quantity.
After Urban Plague stepped onto the stage, he saw the three familiar people opposite.
"Is this how you three repay the Office?"
Finn and Long Aotian didn't answer.
"They are no longer themselves, don't you understand? They have turned into books. It was you who sent them in."
"Take them out one by one, focus fire."
The opponent's cannon fodder died quickly. Five against four, the advantage is with me.
Urban Plague faced Finn.
"Don't you want your salary? Don't forget your sister."
Finn's eyes were vacant; he didn't speak.
Roland sneaked up again.
"Chatting with the enemy on the battlefield is not a wise move."
After the battle, everyone turned into books. The Urban Plague Office reception concluded.
After leaving the stage, Roland said to Finn,
"How does it feel to fight your former boss?"
"I feel like my strength has weakened."
"I wasn't asking about that... Forget it."
"Roland, what kind of person do you think I am?"
Roland thought for a moment and said,
"A bit naive and ignorant. I can't say much else."
"Do you think so too?"
"I-I..."
Roland gave Ayou a look for help.
Ayou shrugged, expressing helplessness.
"You guys wait a moment, I want to be alone for a while."
Later, she took out that book again.
"Let's go, let's go."
On the other side, in the light. Carmen complained,
"I finally coaxed her, oh my, why bully her again? This A, sigh, I'm speechless, he doesn't do anything."
Angela wrote,
"'Where did this Ayin come from?'"
The words appeared immediately, no, they seemed to be erased. After waiting a while,
"'This, to put it simply. When he was merging into the light, he got stuck halfway, and then the light suddenly disappeared. His body got stuck halfway inside, and his consciousness was transmitted in.'"
"'So is Ayin on your side?'"
Carmen looked at the three personalities over there.
"'Uh, should count as A, but maybe not the A you are thinking of.'"
"{Can't exactly tell you that it was Ayin who told me to kick him down.}"
On the General Works Floor, Ayin released the few people from the Urban Plague Office. There were a few too many people on the field.
The Rats, Finn, Urban Plague, and Allie, as well as the cannon fodder, plus Ayou and Roland.
"So what did you say to the Librarian when you entered?"
"A young lady from a Nest like you will never understand."
Roland thought about his past words.
"Looks like you hit his sore spot. By the way, what exactly did you guys do in the past?"
"How would I know? Only know it was an underground Wings of the World."
"L Corp?"
"Should be. Some time ago, L Corp suddenly exploded for some reason, and other branches collapsed too."
"Other Wings of the World like K Corp and R Corp that had relations with L Corp. Partners have all fallen into huge panic since L Corp exploded, and they are all overwhelmed now."
"I have absolutely no impression. Now I don't even know anything about the past L Corp. Maybe I was just a small employee."
"Should I go apologize to her again?"
"Oh, no, no need. Our Librarian is quite magnanimous, merciful, and kind."
Roland recalled past experiences.
"I feel like what you said is not quite right."
"Don't worry so much about that. What is your relationship with Allie?"
"Colleagues, superior and subordinate."
"Anything else?"
"This... no."
"Boring."
Brotherhood of Iron
"Steady-steady as a rock."
Roland, Finn, and two cannon fodder went to conduct the reception. The two cannon fodder revived after dying.
Instead, Finn's combat techniques seemed to be improving on the stage.
"No matter where you are, you have to work hard to climb up, right? This is what my sister taught me."
"Family, that is truly a strange word."
"Is prosthetic modification allowed in The City?"
"There's too much of that. But for those who are fully prosthetically modified, except for the brain, it also means their brains aren't quite normal. Who would throw their brain into a pile of scrap metal?"
"That's true, they were also forced."
"It's those people I told you about before who are sleeping here."
"Then how does The Head view robots?"
"Non-human sentient beings? This kind of rule is set by The Head. We can only say, if you say so, then it is. As for The Head, they say, I say it is, then it is."
"Oh, Librarian, you don't need to worry. At least I don't think so."
"You already know?"
"How could I not see it? Look, you also have your own thoughts. You have emotions, you get angry, it's just that, from my perspective, I haven't seen you smile."
"Smile?"
Angela recalled her most recent smile.
"Librarian, can you install their prosthetics on me?"
"Didn't you say earlier that these people are stupid?"
"I'm just curious, anyway, now there are conditions."
"Fine."
Angela tore off the pages of the Brotherhood of Iron and threw them to Roland.
After Roland put them on,
"An-Angela, this-this isn't right, is it?"
"If you have any issues, go find Ayou. I'm going down first, the floor has opened. You two can go down in a while."
"Hey-hey!"
Angela looked back at Ayou and teleported away.
At this moment, Ayou was covering his mouth, laughing at Roland.
"Hmm, books also have characteristics, it's normal, right? You can try wearing just a part of it."
"Th-this. Still-here."
Under constant trial and error, Roland eventually couldn't speak at all.
Roland took it off directly.
"It seems this thing is a bit high-end. The vocalizer is placed on the chest. No, this damn thing is leaking electricity."
At this moment, Ayou took the Brotherhood of Iron page and said to Roland,
"You go down first, I'll go talk to them about relevant matters. I'll go down after I organize their books."
"Sure, then I'll go down first."
After Roland walked for a while, he discovered the floor had extended.
"The floor has indeed extended as Angela said."The floor really has extended just as Angela said."
Roland, walking along the path, exclaimed, when suddenly he heard...
"Angela, I still cannot forgive you to this day."
Upon hearing the voice, Roland leaned against the doorframe. Looking at the scene before him, Angela was speaking with a yellow-haired girl.
"Ilya, I have already said that this topic is long closed. Now, all you need to do is enjoy all of this and submit to me."
"You have no right to call me by that name. And don't think that just because you gave me a human body, I will forgive you."
"Returning to your true self, isn't that a good thing?"
"Looks like they have a bit of a disagreement."
A voice came from above.
"Doesn't seem like a small one."
"Ah!!! Holy shit!"
"You scared the life out of me! When did you get here?"
"Just now."
At this moment, Angela also heard the commotion from this side and sighed sadly.
"Angela, the two of us have arrived."
"Mm. What I needed to say has been said. You all should introduce yourselves. Marcus, you were the first to wake up. Have a chat with them."
Marcus ignored her.
"The atmosphere just now was truly tense."
"Hello, I am the Designated Librarian of the History Floor, Marcus."
"My name is Roland, and I am currently a Librarian of the General Works Floor."
"My name is Ayou, Designated Librarian of the Story Fantasy Floor."
"The situation is completely different from just a moment ago."
"Of course. I wouldn't let my own situation affect everyone else."
"Do you have some kind of grudge against Angela? She took everything away and stole our efforts."
Roland didn't know what to say at this moment.
"This..."
"Mr. Ayou."
"I'm here, what is it?"
"If you remember anything, please don't be angry. This is all our fault."
"What happened? Why are you starting to apologize?"
"Ayou, that is not your name. Rest assured, your past is worthy of respect. Don't rush if you can't remember some things."
"Ah, could it be that I was some big boss in the past?"
"Perhaps."
Roland recalled the conversation from just a moment ago.
"By the way, Angela seemed to be talking about flesh and blood, bodies, and enjoying things earlier."
"That... my past body was like a prosthetic, already in an irreversible state."
"In other words, did you restore your flesh and blood body through prosthetic surgery or something? That's amazing! Is this also thanks to the power of The Library?"
"I think so."
"As expected, The Library completely shatters all the common sense I've held my whole life. But I get the feeling you aren't very satisfied with this current body. You didn't look very happy back then."
"No, no, no, I am quite satisfied. It's just that this isn't the result I hoped for. Angela, she..."
Meanwhile, in the main hall of The Library, Angela sat by a table reading a book. For some reason, she felt empty inside. Looking up, she saw a brown teddy bear appear on the other side of the desk. Underneath it was pressed that diary.
"T-04-06-1??"
She picked up the teddy bear and looked at its face. Lost in thought, she opened the diary to find an extra line of text.
"Smile more. Just like him. Let him accompany you in my stead."
Angela picked up the quill and wrote back.
"Why give me T-04-06-1?"
"Angela, if you say it like that, I'll be sad. I..."
"Thank you. I like it very much."
On the other side, within the light, Carmen was about to continue writing when she saw that line of text.
"...Sigh, poor child."
Angela hugged the teddy bear and began reading "Class Differentiation."
...
On the History Floor.
"There are some things in The Library that I need to tell you in advance."
"Wait a moment, let me write it down first so I don't forget."
Marcus opened the memo book and took out the duck pen from the side.
However, different words were written on the first page.
"Today is... If nothing goes wrong, I remember it should be... it should be today that I wake you up. Happy Birthday, Ilya. Your memo book and pen are both here; you don't need to replace them again. Now, you just need to think about it to turn the page. There is no last page, and the pen will never run dry. Do you know? I was thinking about this at the time, but I worked so hard on it for a long time."
"Hey, Marcus??"
"Ah, I'm listening. Please go ahead, I will write it down."
...
"Now, several guests have turned into books. Take two of them with you to help you organize the books."
Ayou placed those books on the table and introduced the situation of these people.
"I think Finn is great. He is a very hardworking and motivated young man. No need for the others; I think he is very capable."
"Alright then."
With a snap of his fingers, Ayou projected Finn.
"Finn, you will help out on the History Floor. He is your superior, Marcus."
"Mm, okay. Please take care of me."
"I will definitely lead Finn to grow and become stronger."
Roland and Ayou left. Marcus opened the first page again and looked at that sentence.
"Your past things are still there. If you want to go back and look, then take a look. After all, that is your history."
"Ah, don't think I'll be happy just because of this... Er, actually, I am a little bit happy, but there's no need for you to be so tsundere."
"Finn, let us become the brightest star in The Library."
The two brothers walked back to the main hall.
They saw Angela in the corner, not knowing what she was doing. The two thought she was sad and drawing circles on the ground, so they were preparing to go over and comfort her.
Then, Angela hugged the teddy bear and put the books on the floor back onto the shelf.
"Director, mm, it's nothing."
"Wait a moment, I have something to ask."
Roland spoke up at this moment.
Angela held the teddy bear with both hands against her chest and asked.
"What is it?"
"What is the situation with Finn?"
"What are you referring to?"
"His tactical skills seem to have improved."
"Isn't that normal?"
"But he has already become a book."
"He is a book, that is true, but now he is a product of the manifestation of their inner selves. The same as your sword. Although they are all temporary, they also possess the capabilities of a normal body."
"Oh, damn. I won't be replaced or surpassed by him, right?"
"There is no need to worry about that. You are a Designated Librarian. Your position is unshakeable, and The Library has control and suppression over them, so you don't need to worry. In reality, you are also somewhat suppressed by The Library."
"Ah, am I not a Designated Librarian?"
"Only after it is completely determined that you pose no threat to The Library will you be released, and perhaps you will be allowed to go out afterwards."
"Ah, so it is possible to go out."
"Yes. I went out once before, it was just a little unpleasant, that's all."
Roland thought for a moment, not knowing what he was struggling with.
"Now, begin preparations for Abnormality suppression."
...
"They can help you with future receptions."
Angela took out the book of the Blood Bath.
"Ayou, you... never mind, you handle it."
Roland and Ayou took the book. It was still dripping blood constantly.
The two opened the book and entered the Book World. Looking at the scene before him, Ayou suddenly remembered something. He started to feel dizzy, clutched his head, and collapsed to the ground.
Roland noticed his condition and was about to show concern when a humanoid blood clot appeared before him.
"Tsk tsk, of all times."
"Since there is some suppression, it should be fine."
Roland fought and soloed the Blood Bath by himself.
/Was there really a need for two people?
After the suppression ended, he supported Ayou as they walked out of the Book World.
"As expected."
"What 'as expected'? Don't 'as expected' me. Look at him, what's wrong with him?"
"A self-protection mechanism of the human body. Or you could say it's PTSD. This Abnormality was his regret and shadow in the past. As expected, he still hasn't walked out from it."
"But didn't he lose his memory?"
"I don't know either. You take him to rest first; we won't do any receptions today."