That menacing aura grew stronger, closing in on me. I swallowed nervously. Before I could even turn my head, a cold, unfamiliar hand suddenly gripped my right shoulder. A cold sweat broke out, and my heart began to race.
"You haven't paid yet, kid. Anyone who enters this library must pay."
It was Sarasa, the golem from before. His voice was exactly the same, only he was deliberately making it sound ominous.
"I don't have any money! Besides, I'm here because of Clover!" I protested. I truly didn't have a single coin to my name. My gaze was still fixed ahead, my body cold with sweat. Sarasa's aura was genuinely frightening.
"No excuses, kid. Money is money."
In the end, my plans to go to the guild today were canceled. I had to help Sarasa clean the dusty shelves in the library. What else could I do? "Money is money," as he said. I had to clean at least one shelf before I could leave. It sounded easy, but one shelf here was 3 meters tall and 10 meters long! Ugh, this was going to take forever.
"Hey, why don't you just use your magic to clean all this dust?" I complained lazily. The golem Sarasa was also cleaning a shelf on the other side.
"If I used my magic, you'd just leave immediately, kid... Besides, magic has its limits. Energy has its limits too," he replied.
"Even though you've 'leveled up'?" I asked, surprised.
"Yes, that's right, kid. This library is huge, so I'd need a massive amount of mana to clean it all instantly with my magic... I have the energy for it, but not the mana," he answered again.
"Huh? And what's the difference between mana and energy, anyway?" I asked, my curiosity overflowing.
Sarasa let out a small laugh. Was he going to act all proud again? Probably. He started walking towards me, stopping to stand squarely in front of me.
"That's a good question, kid... Let me explain... So, the main difference lies in their form and function..."
'Energy' is the general capacity to do work. It's the raw fuel that allows living beings to move, think, and survive.
'Mana' is energy that has been refined and is ready to be shaped into magic. Mana is energy processed by our magical core into something that can execute specific commands, like spells.
So, my body has plenty of energy, but that energy must first be converted into the specific mana needed for a cleaning spell. This conversion process takes time, and there's a limit to how quickly I can produce mana. To clean the entire library, I'd need a huge reserve of mana, which I can't generate quickly.
"Do you understand?" he asked.
Of course, I didn't understand such a heavy explanation.
"Old man, can you explain it more simply? You're showing off," I teased. He let out a heavy sigh.
"Is your head just stupid? Just imagine it like this, kid..."
'Energy' is like your physical stamina. You have the stamina to run, lift books, or clean dust. The heavier the work, the faster your energy runs out.
'Mana' is like the tools. For example, to clean dust, you need a feather duster. To move heavy books, you need a cart. 'Magic' is how you use those tools.
"So, even though I have a lot of energy, I still need a feather duster that's big and strong enough to clean this whole library in an instant. If I just use a small duster, I'd have to keep refilling it, and it would be just as tiring," he explained. This time, I could understand it better.
"So, energy is the physical stuff in your body, while mana is the magical energy itself, right? And magic/spells are the power that comes from combining the two?" I asked.
"Yup, exactly, kid. So now, stop complaining and just clean!" he ordered.
Well, whatever the case, I really did have to pay up and clean properly. So even in this world, you can't completely rely on magic, I thought.
"Ah, by the way, where does mana come from? Why can you run out?" I asked.
"It's like this, kid. There are many ways to get mana. I'm a golem. My magical core produces mana on its own, slowly, like dripping water. I can also get it from eating magical plants or absorbing it from crystal stones, but that's expensive! The problem is..." He patted his stony belly.
"...My'tank' is only this big. For a cleaning spell this huge, I need more mana than my tank can hold at once. It's useless to have a vast water source if your bucket is small, right? It's better for me to use physical labor, which I definitely have enough of. It's economical and gives me no headache!"
I stared at him in confusion. I didn't really understand what he was saying. Is a librarian's speech always this hard to grasp? Or am I just too dumb? Whatever.
"Whatever, but isn't there another way? Like an energy transfer or something? I can't believe a fantasy world can't handle an energy transfer," I said.
"What do you mean 'fantasy world'? Hmm... Well, it is possible if I get a mana transfer. A transfer would mean my tank is effectively unlimited for a while, but who would do that for me, kid?" he replied.
"Me, of course." I grinned arrogantly, feeling confident that I possessed the mana Sarasa was talking about.
"Really? You don't have any power at all, kid. I don't sense any magic in you," he mocked.
Damn, and I was feeling so confident. It felt like a solid slap to the face. I need to hold myself back next time.
"Whatever! Just let me try! We won't know if we don't try, right?!" I protested. Honestly, I was pretty embarrassed; my face was probably red right now.
As if seeing the determination on my face, Sarasa grinned widely.
"You're right, kid... Let's give it a shot."
...
Clay Stone Golem Sarasa began teaching Kai Nirwana—who now went by Kai Altaze—the method of transferring mana to another person. It wasn't an easy process for a beginner. Unlike monsters, humans tended to find it more difficult to transfer mana to others.
Kai needed to be hyper-aware, focusing all his thoughts inward, including the entire network of blood flow from the tips of his toes and fingers. His breathing also had to be stable. Kai's heart was pounding nervously, but Sarasa helped him calm down.
Kai was told to close his eyes and visualize the movements inside himself: how breath flowed in and out through his nose, how his heart beat, and his sense of touch clearly feeling the cool breeze on his skin. His ears could even clearly hear sounds from outside the library: children's laughter and the gurgling of water.
He began to feel something strange: a faint warmth, like a very fine stream of water, flowing slowly within his veins. Was that mana? It had been inside him all along, just dormant and unnoticed. It was a truly thrilling feeling.
As Kai began to succeed in focusing his mind, the air around them felt heavier and static. The dust floating in the air seemed to freeze for a moment, illuminated by a bright blue glow that began to emanate from Kai's palms. In this phase, Kai also needed to affirm his intention to transfer mana into Sarasa's body.
Kai began to open his eyes. Sarasa looked surprised and proud seeing the orb of mana in Kai's hand. Moreover, the mana shone brightly, emitting a light of blue and yellow. Kai gave the mana to Sarasa, and a moment later, the light dimmed as it was absorbed by him.
"This is truly incredible power, Kai!... It's been so long since I've consumed mana directly—" Before Sarasa could finish his sentence, Kai fell backward, fainting.
It turned out that if a mana transfer was too large, the user could directly lose all their energy and pass out. Kai didn't know this from the start and ended up transferring all of his mana to Sarasa.
Kai was unaware of what happened while he was unconscious. But when he woke up, he was in a different place. It wasn't the cold library floor where he had fainted, but he seemed to be lying on a soft, plush mattress. It felt like home. He also couldn't smell the books anymore. Where was he?
Kai tried to open his eyes, but they felt incredibly heavy. His head was also throbbing badly, as if it had been spun around multiple times. His consciousness returned slowly, like someone swimming up from a dark seafloor. The first thing he felt was an immense emptiness and dizziness in his head, as if his brain had just been scrambled. His tongue felt dry and bitter. Then, he became aware of the soft mattress beneath his back and sheets that smelled of a mix of sunflowers and straw, very different from the musty smell of books and dust in the library.
"Where am I...."
He forced his heavy eyelids open. His vision was blurry, only making out shadowy shapes and dim light from a window. Before his eyes could focus, a small shadow moved. Kai barely had time to see the silhouette of two large, glistening eyes before the world spun and a biting cold assaulted his entire face. A bucket of cold water was mercilessly dumped on him, soaking through his sleep clothes and making him choke.
....
Feeling the sudden shock of the cold water, I jolted awake in disbelief. I immediately sat up, scared half to death. For a moment, I thought I was drowning in a sea or a lake near the library. My heart was beating fast, as if trying to escape my chest. The cold from the water splashed on my face spread throughout my body.
But... when I shifted my gaze to my left, there was a little girl holding a bucket in front of my face. Her eyes looked watery, as if she'd been crying. I didn't know why she looked so sad. And why did she pour water on me? The girl remained silent, letting out a small whimper, "uuhh..". She was still staring at me with her glistening eyes.
"W-who are you, kid?" I asked softly, trying not to scare the little girl.
But sure enough, she immediately ran away from me. The bucket she was holding even shattered when it hit the floor, creating a loud "CRACK". Weird, it was just a bucket falling, but the sound was pretty loud.
I looked around the place. It looked like a typical fantasy-world room, with wooden walls and a small window on the left side, with creeping vines decorating the walls and the window. On the left side, there was also a small desk and a cabinet filled with books.
When I turned my gaze to the right, I was utterly shocked to see a large black Dragon near me, standing proudly. I was completely startled. It was two or three times bigger than me.
"Don't worry, it's me... How dare that little kid splash you with water," it said. Just looking at its face, you could tell it was angry. It seemed the little girl ran away not because she was scared of me, but scared of this dragon.
As I was staring at Clover's gift, the dragon that had grown so large, the smell of cooking suddenly wafted past my nose. The scent was truly starting to make me hungry. Even though it was unfamiliar, it was tantalizing.
I started to get up from my bed. The bedsprings creaked softly as I moved. I stepped towards the door, following the smell that kept teasing my nostrils. I kept walking, followed by my dragon, which had shrunk its body to the size of a dog trailing behind me.
I walked cautiously, following the enticing aroma that led me through a wooden corridor, until I finally arrived at a set of wide-open double doors. A gasp almost escaped my lips.
A vast hall stretched out before me. The sound of a noisy crowd, like a market, filled my ears. The light from magical crystal lamps reflected off the various weapons and armor worn by adventurers.
My eyes scanned the crowd, taking in the scene. Was this the Guild? A wide room with a high ceiling was filled with loud, bustling noise. The clinking of beer mugs, the rough laughter of adventurers, and excited whispers from table to table filled the air. The sharp smell of beer, savory roasted meat, and the scent of old, slightly burnt wood blended into one, creating a distinct aroma that... whetted the appetite. Sunlight filtered through stained-glass windows, illuminating dust particles dancing in the air and lighting up a large bulletin board covered in various posters and quest notices. This place was... a real Guild? A true paradise for adventurers!! Many people were coming and going around this place. What touched me was that these people genuinely looked like adventurers from the fantasy countries I often watched in anime! So cool!
But before I could take another step, a large shadow swept over me, blocking the light from the crystal lamps. I looked up. A man with a neck as thick as a normal person's thigh and a broad chest that seemed capable of stopping a bull's charge stood blocking my way. The greatsword hanging at his waist nearly touched the floor. The muscles in his jaw twitched as he clenched his mouth.
"You," his voice was deep and resonant, like thunder from within a cave, cutting through the guild's noise into an ominous silence. Two dozen pairs of eyes, previously busy with their own affairs, were now fixed on us.
"So you're the one who brought that Blackscale Dragon into this guild?"His gaze was piercing, as if weighing whether Kai deserved to live or not.
His face was terrifyingly large for a human. Was he a Giant? Or a half-breed? The atmosphere had suddenly gone completely silent. The people who were busy coming and going earlier seemed to have frozen. Their stares were truly fixed on us.
The dragon behind me also seemed alert. It began to enlarge its body to protect me from behind.
"T-that..." I stammered. Honestly, I was terrified. My legs felt as stiff as wood as I planted them on the floor. The smile I attempted felt fake and rigid on my face. What should I do with my hands? I thought, alternately clenching and unclenching my palms, feeling all the eyes in the room on me.
"You, right?" he confirmed again. It was obvious the dragon was with me; what more needed to be clarified?
"T-that... isn't it obvious?" I stammered. Getting confronted like this right after waking up, who wouldn't be shocked?
Everyone's stares were focused on me. Oh, what did I do wrong? And that little girl—the one who had splashed me with cold water—was there. She looked frightened, hiding behind the back of an adult female adventurer. Could they think I was the one who made the girl cry? Probably.
The man in front of me was still looking at me with a murderous glare. I was honestly worried about what he'd do next. But suddenly, a smile spread across the man's face. He smiled proudly at me. He walked closer and gave my shoulder a casual thump.
"You should look prouder, man! What's with that nervous face? You're the one with a cool Blackscale Dragon," he said.
Who would have thought I'd get a response like that?
"Come on, join us for a drink at our beloved guild," he invited.
I was still feeling really awkward. Before I could process all this information, several elves—beautiful and... ahem, sexy ones—started pulling my hand, guiding me to a seat nearby. The dragon behind me also seemed to shrink its form and perched on my shoulder. It was pretty heavy, honestly.
I followed instructions and sat down nervously on one of the long benches next to a row of adventurer men drinking beer.
"Hey man, where are you from?" one of the guys next to me asked. He even leaned his body closer to me, acting really familiar.
"Ah, I'm from Swercity," I answered, just as the golem Sarasa had instructed me. My real identity had to be kept secret.
"Oh, Swercity. I thought that city was almost dead. I heard there was a war with the giants there, right? So you're one of the survivors?" he asked back.
"I was traveling at the time, so I wasn't there. But when I returned, many buildings were destroyed, including my house," I offered, an excuse suggested by Sarasa.
"My condolences, man. So this is your first time in this town, huh? Welcome! How about buying us a round of beer, hahahahah!" he laughed, nudging my shoulder; his laughter echoed through the guild.
"Huh? Shouldn't it be the seniors who treat the newcomer?" I retorted jokingly, a smug expression unknowingly appearing on my face.
"Hahaha, what country's rule is that? You..." This time he patted my back gently; he seemed like the type who got along easily with others. They looked at me with friendly faces. Somehow, sitting among these strange men at this long table was slowly spreading a comfortable feeling through my body, a feeling I had long forgotten since the COVID pandemic began.
But out of the corner of my eye, I caught another gaze. A wizard with a hat and a scar on his cheek looked at me cynically, then spat on the floor before turning away. A group of adventurers near the bar scowled, whispering. I caught fragments of words: "...teacher's pet..." and "...new dragon tamer, let's see how long he lasts..."
So, being accepted into the guild wasn't as simple as smiles and offers of beer. There was petty politics and jealousy to face. It seemed I had already made enemies on my first day. Hahaha.
"Kai, don't mind them... They're just arrogant barbarians who always want to win," someone said, noticing what I was thinking. I nodded slowly.
After many conversations, we had been chatting here for several hours without realizing it. I got to know many people, including the little girl who had splashed me, and through our conversation, I learned that she was a Bubble species.
"Bubble species? What does that mean? A bubble? But why do you look human?" I asked, puzzled. The little girl looked just like a regular human child, a crybaby like any other. What were their distinguishing features? That question crossed my mind.
"Seems like you've been cooped up too long. Maybe you should learn the names of the species in this world with Sarasa," suggested Roger. Roger was a pure human species, yet his body was so large, burly, and tall. I wondered what he ate to get that big, but his hairstyle was terrible, hahaha. Despite that, his role was no joke; he was a Swordsman. I needed to be careful.
"So, what's the bubble girl's name?" I asked.
"She doesn't have a name. Bubbles find it very hard to have names, you know. Their job is just to fly around," answered another man named Tre. Tre was also human, like Roger, but his body wasn't as big, so he chose the Wizard role, apparently.
My gaze remained fixed on the little girl. She noticed my stare and blinked her large, glassy eyes. She let out a small "Buu..." sound, soft like the wind. Tre the Wizard burst out laughing.
"She said, 'It's their tradition!'" Tre explained, still laughing. "Bubbles believe that air and water bubbles are purifiers. They splash people who have fainted or are sick with cold water to 'drive away the tired spirit' that makes the body weak. It was a sign she cared, not that she was being mischievous!"
"But the funnier thing is... Sarasa's expression when he brought you to the guild, hahaha."
"His stony face... haha, he looked so panicked."
I looked at the little girl, who was now smiling sheepishly with her hands clasped together. A strange tradition, I thought, but at least her intentions were good. Maybe she's an Arc Priest.
"Hey, you. Want a free beer? My treat," the voice came from one of the female adventurers. She moved towards me and made the offer. She looked cool and tomboyish; a sword was also visible on the belt on her left side. She leaned her body and her face close to mine. A wave of heat rushed to my face; I probably looked red right now, but Roger nudged me and smirked slyly.
"Yes, of course, thank you," I replied politely. The woman pursed her lips and smiled proudly. Without another word, she sat down in front of me, shifting two large men aside to make room.
It didn't take long for the beer the woman ordered for me to arrive at our table. This cool woman's name was Zoe. The bubbles floating on top of the beer looked tempting. I swallowed before throwing a glance at Aest (?), seeking approval. Zoe just gave a grinning smile and a small nod of approval. A moment later, my hand reached for the beer mug, guiding it towards these thirsty lips. This was my chance to taste beer in a fantasy world!
Before I could even take a sip of the beer right in front of my mouth, the dragon on my shoulder lifted its head. Its small body stiffened, its marble-like black eyes staring sharply towards the window. It let out a soft snort, a low hiss that only I could hear.
"What is it?" Kai whispered.
Before the dragon could respond,
"BOOOOM...."
A loud,thunderous crash echoed...
The boom wasn't just heard; it was felt like a punch to the chest. The vibration shook the stools and tables. The sound of clashing glasses filled the room. And what happened next unfolded in tragic slow motion. The dragon also reflexively jumped down, poised to protect me.
"WHA—!?" My shocked expression was cut short. The beer mug in my hand flew, and the cold, foamy brown liquid landed right between my eyes, perfectly drenching my entire face.
I sat frozen. Beer dripped from the tip of my nose and chin, forming a small puddle on my lap. It felt cold, sticky, and the smell was now piercingly strong. For a split second, my world fell silent, and the only thing I was aware of was the bitter taste of beer at the corner of my mouth. Damn it! The beer splashed right into my face before I could even taste it.
On the other hand, hearing the loud crash, everyone simultaneously rose from their seats and ran towards the guild door. Except... Zoe.
Then,I heard.
"PFFFT— HAHAHAHAHA—!!!"
The sound was like a bullet shattering the silence of my world. Zoe, sitting in front of me, was laughing hysterically while pounding the table loudly. Both her hands were holding her stomach, which probably hurt from laughing. Her eyes were squinted, nearly closed, and tears streamed down her cheeks.
"LO—LOOK AT YOUR FACE!!" she shouted between laughs that nearly choked her.
"HAHAHA!JU—JUST LIKE A WET DOG GETTING HOSED DOWN! THE TIMING WAS SO PERFECT! HAHAHA!"
"Hey! Watch your mouth!" I protested, embarrassed.
Zoe was truly laughing her head off, her mouth wide open with uncontrollable laughter after seeing the beer suddenly flung right into my face in front of her eyes. But, even so, her hand suddenly thrust a clean cloth in my direction. I hadn't expected her to be this nice after embarrassing me to death. I immediately took the cloth and put it on my face; the cloth automatically turned yellow from the beer wiped off my face.
After cleaning my face with the cloth from Zoe, I saw her still smiling while wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"Well, the beer's gone, but we've got an adventure," she said, standing up. Her face shifted from joking mode to the seriousness of an adventurer.
"Let's go see what happened."
With that, the two of us, followed by the now-alert dragon behind me, ran after the crowd that had packed the guild exit, trying to find the source of the thunderous boom.
And guess what was standing before us? It was a giant wooden crate, maybe twice the height of a grown man, standing in the middle of the square. Some of the planks on its side were broken, as if the crate had endured a rough journey. However, the guild's craftsmen and mages seemed unfazed. With gleaming eyes, they swarmed it, removing large bolts and melting iron seals with magic. The sounds of sizzling spells and creaking wood echoed each other.
"CRACK!"
It didn't take long for one of the wooden crates to be forced open and collapse to the ground. But it wasn't darkness that greeted them. Instead, a golden light radiated out, followed by a hiss of magical wind smelling of cold metal and old wood. The crowd, including me, spontaneously drew closer, as if pulled by a magnet.
And inside... was an arsenal.
Swords with intricately carved hilts, staves whose tips pulsed with magical crystals, round shields with surfaces as smooth as mirrors, and daggers with blades as thin as a devil's nail. Each weapon emitted its own aura; some warm and soothing, others piercingly cold like ice. They weren't just shiny; they were alive, breathing within their magical power.
Our astonishment was cut short when several guild staff, polite but firm, asked us to step back, not wanting any trouble. We complied and stepped back, waiting with curiosity. A woman stepped forward, and the crowd immediately fell silent, giving her way. She seemed to be the Guild Master. Her simple yet elegant dress, made of forest-colored fabric adorned with embroidery like tree roots, set her apart from the heavily geared adventurers. Her gaze was calm yet authoritative, sweeping over the crowd like an eagle watching its territory; she looked so graceful.
"Adventurers!" Her voice was loud and clear, cutting through all whispers. "As you have witnessed, and as the guild promised... Behold! A special shipment straight from the best workshops of Rioncity!" She pointed at the wooden crate.
"These special weapons are not for sale. They are rewards for those who successfully complete the special quest we will hold!" the woman stated firmly.
Whispers started coming from the adventurers' mouths. "Rioncity? That famous city?", "No way! They didn't hold back, Rioncity!", "Come on, come on, we have to get one!", "This is gonna be awesome." From what I gathered, it seemed this would be a weapon hunt; Rioncity must be truly incredible from their remarks.
Zoe nudged my shoulder, looking at me with a face full of spirit. "Kai, you don't have any gear yet, right? Get ready to take the quest!" she said, her voice trembling with enthusiasm. Seeing Zoe's blazing spirit, a fire ignited within me too. This would be my first adventure.
"Brave adventurers of the Dukecity guild, prepare yourselves!! Prepare your armor, sharpen your weapons, steel your minds! The grand quest opening will commence tomorrow morning!"
A tremendous roar immediately greeted the announcement. Cheers and enthusiastic shouts filled the air, shaking the very foundations of the guild. I stood amidst the uproar, my heart pounding. On my shoulder, my black dragon snorted softly, as if sharing the same fervor. Adventure had knocked on the door.
"So this is the Aeveternum Expanse..."
"Alright then...I'll enjoy it while I can."