『"What is it? Did something happen?"』

  "No, you were looking this way so I just waved. Did something happen on your side?"

  『"I didn't know about this square next to library."』

  "I chose a book already so I'll be coming out right now."

  『"Got it. I'll wait over here."』

  I said so, and hurried to the reception at quick pace to borrow the book, then headed towards where Taku was.

  The library's interior had bookshelves installed symmetrically right from the entrance, the bookshelves by the wall were low as not to block the windows, and the bookshelves on the inside were taller. When one enters between the bookshelves, they can feel the tight walls of book approaching them from both sides, it was narrower than it looked like.

  In one part of the library there was a door leading directly to the square, I used it to go outside.

  "Sorry. I made you wait."

  "You took quite a while, is the library that wide?"

  "Oh, the part you called me through friend chat is the deepest part in there. It should be that one?"

  I said so to Taku and pointed at the window through which we spoke with friend chat. It was the very end of the building. In response to it, Taku tilted his head puzzled.

  "Yun. What 'deepest part' are you talking about, was the window adjacent to that one."

  Impossibru. The corner with crafting books is in the innermost part. There shouldn't be another window next to it. In the innermost part there were bookcases on the entire wall. There was no space for anything beyond.

  "It can't be helped. Let's check it out."

  "Check what out..."

  "Obviously, what's inside of that window!"

  Taku said so, and called me, we peeked in through the window. Certainly, through the third window we could see the place I was in earlier. And when we looked through the innermost window, we could see space that shouldn't be there.

  "It's riddled with bookshelves and I can't see well."

  "No way, hidden space? Why is such a thing..."

  To think there's a place like that inside of the library I'm so familiar with.

  "Hey, how are the library's bookshelves installed?"

  "They're installed in few columns of tall bookshelves."

  Indeed. They're installed like that to make it impossible to see what's behind.

  "That's it then. They're making an illusion of distance with all the bookshelves? In order to make people not realize that's the actual size of the building."

  "Why would they do..."

  Such a thing. I wanted to ask, but Taku raised both of his hands.

  "No idea. We can't do anything about it now, let's go hunt!"

  "Y-yeah, you're right."

  "What's with your disinterested reply. If you're that worried than I'll try researching it a bit. Don't worry. I'll tell you later what's the result so let's go hunt for now."

  "I'm not worried. I get it."

  I shook off Taku's hand who was lightly patting me on the head, and as if to run away, I started moving my legs faster.

  And like that, we went out for some light hunting. I was a little tired afterwards because I had to match Taku's a 'bit too fast' pace.

  At first I felt concerned and fuzzy because of the library's mysterious space, but since there was no room for that during high-speed hunting with Taku, I forgot about the library before long.

  A few days later, Taku came to deliver the results of his findings.

  ●

  Summer vacation has ended, but September still displayed signs of lingering summer heat. I fanned my flushed body as I walked towards the school, hoping to cool off in the classroom, my bad friend Takumi approached me immediately in the entrance to classroom.

  "Shun. Do you have some time available tonight?"

  "What, suddenly coming at me with no greeting. Well, I don't have anything planned."

  "So can you leave some time open? The results of the research from before are prepared."

  I said and sat down on my seat, then, Takumi hit my desk loudly.

  "H-hey, geez."

  He gave off an atmosphere that hinted an all-nighter to play the game. I judged so. Since summer vacation has ended, we need to fix that lazy attitude and match the school life's rhythm right. And thinking so, I started to listen to the homeroom which has started.

  Then, after seeing that Taku has been dozing off for two hours I spat out a small sigh, I need to photograph the notes for him, I muttered quietly. In the end when 'show me' came I spat out a sigh again.

  Then, after school finished and I went home a mail from Takumi came with details on the meet-up.

  "Uhh... 『I'll pick you up at 【Atelier】 at 10 p.m.』 huh, deciding one-sidedly again."

  However, my reply was short. Roger. A single word.

  I checked the current time, then made dinner, cleaned up after eating, spend some time for bath and school preparations, when I finished it was about the specified time.

  After I prepared dinner in a hurry and the time for it has come, Miu came down from her room on the second floor.

  "Yahooo! There's a sweet and spicy chicken for dinner!"

  "The dinner's almost ready so go ahead and sit down. I'll be finished here soon."

  I cut the chicken, and for finishing touch I soaked it in a soy-based sweet and spicy sauce.

  Meanwhile Miu ate the sliced cabbage that was served, and then started to eat the fried chicken dipped in sauce I put down.

  "Let's eat!"

  "Not everything is prepared yet."

  While I was preparing garnish, spinach and miso soup, Miu stuffed herself with rice. Seeing that energetic way of eating I made a bitter-sweet smile.

  "Onii-chan, add more sauce."

  "My share would decrease then..."

  I only made two peoples worth of sauce, since there was no way around it, I poured some of my share into the outstretched bowl.

  "Food dipped in sweet and spicy sauce is delicious after all."

  "Good grief, make sure to taste it properly."

  "Anything that Onii-chan cooks is delicious."

  As Miu said with a smile, the uncomfortable atmosphere completely disappeared and I took a bite as well. It was a bit sweet and spicy, there wasn't much of the sauce, just the chicken itself seasoned with pepper and salt was delicious enough.

  After the meal we drank tea together, relaxing.

  "Haa, this is happiness."

  "You're happy with just a cup of green tea. If there were some sweets to come with it it would be even better..."

  "No, if you eat too much you'll get fat."

  "Don't tell girls they'll get fat! Theeeen, after this I'll come to 【Atelier】 so prepare some snacks! We'll continue the tea party over there!"

  "No can do. Also, I've already got something planned with Takumi."

  "Mhh... Takumi-san huh... it can't be helped then."

  After I said so, Miu quietly backed down. Ohh? I was a bit surprised, but Miu immediately made a bright expression.

  "Then I'll excuse myself first."

  "Yes yes. Put the cups inside the sink."

  I said so and looked at Miu's back who was going into the bathroom. Geez, you could act more calmly in the house. I worried as her elder brother.

  After that, I washed the dishes and got in the bath. I went back to my room around half past eight. I killed some time before the appointment for meeting with Takumi by preparing for tomorrow's school, and lied down on the bed leaving well before the appointed time.

  I put the VR gear which was beside my bed on my head and started it up. My relaxed consciousness dimmed and sank into darkness because of the hypnotic induction.

  When I next woke up, I was inside of a dim stone workshop. From the workshop part of 【Atelier】 which I had set as my login point, I moved out to the store.

  Because Kyouko-san the NPC only acted as a salesperson during the day, instead of having it open at night-time, 【Atelier】 door's was firmly locked when the darkness came and a 'closed' sign hung at the entrance.

  Waiting by the entrance of the store was a familiar boy.

  "Taku, sorry. I made you wait."

  "Ah, no problem. You're just on time."

  I was a bit worried that I had him wait, but it seemed like I was more or less on time. Taku too, had a radiant smile on his face.

  "So, what 『Results』 did you talk about."

  "Eh? Didn't I tell you?"

  "You didn't, did you. Something about research results, you didn't tell me the reason for calling me one-sidedly. Good grief."

  I folded my arms amazed. Trying to recall it, Taku twisted his neck left and right. After a while, he concluded 'probably haven't told you', and wondered 'where to start'. And as an introduction he started to talk about the investigation's results.

  "Yun, do you remember when I went together with you to the library? That unnatural space in there."

  "Ah, yeah I remember."

  "There's a hidden space inside the library's building visible from the window."

  "That's quite classic."

  In the old mansions and buildings there's a hidden space. It's the type of content that exists in many games.

  "So it's an area that can't be simply entered? My 【Discovery】 Sense didn't give any reaction. Or maybe my 【Discovery】 level isn't high enough to give a reaction?'

  【Discovery】 is an auxiliary Sense which allows sensing hidden objects and the like, is what I meant. In the library, there was nothing like that. There's a possibility something will be added in future update, but it was still unknown.

  "It's a pity. But I have managed to get inside yesterday."

  "Seriously."

  "Well, you'll understand once you come."

  With that said, we headed towards the library together, at this time of the day the entrance should be closed... or not?

  "Hey, why is it open. This door."

  "There's no way we could enter if it was closed, right."

  "No, but isn't it closed in the evening..."

  "Oh, despite the closing time you're free to go in and out. However, if you try to take out a book from library you'll be forced to pay fines. The resistance is pointless."

  "What's that, scary."

  "Well, it's a system-based thing. There's no problem if you escape outside without doing anything."

  "That sounds even more scary..."

  Since I had 【Hawk Eyes】 I could see in the darkness, but there was a certain atmosphere in the library at night. Taku took out a lantern from his inventory and lit it.

  And, facing the bookshelf deepest in, when I pressed strongly on the second bookshelf——

  "A rotating bookshelf, is it a ninja mansion or what. Moreover, during the day 【Discovery】 Sense didn't react, and now it could be seen clearly."

  "Entering is limited from 8 p.m. after closing until 4 a.m. in the morning. If by chance you're trapped inside, you'll be forcibly removed and transferred to the library."

  "Hmm. Why is that?"

  "When I tried various things which took me entire night, I was removed."

  So that's why he looked so sleepy. Hey, if Taku couldn't complete it then I wonder what's in there. I shivered slightly.

  And when I glanced inside through the rotating bookshelf entrance, I saw a spiral staircase leading to the basement.

  "...hey, is it underground?"

  "Who knows, let's go."

  "Somehow, I've got a bad feeling."

  In a place the moonlight didn't reach, underground the only source of light was the lantern, Taku and I walked down the stairs. And after we proceeded to a certain extent and left the stairs, atmosphere has changed.

  The air felt dusty and chilly.

  "Somehow, it feels kinda haunted and I don't like it..."

  "Right. I think so too, what I investigated yesterday was up to this entrance."

  I immediately turned to the right, and tried to run back the way I came from, but my shoulder was caught by Taku and I failed.

  "There's no need to be that scared, is there."

  "Release me! I've got a bad feeling about this!"

  "Well, you're necessary to me though."

  Taku said such a thing with no hesitation, but I have no intention of getting dragged into a place with such haunted atmosphere. No thank you.

  "I will be going home. Uuu, let's hurry back to 【Atelier】."

  "Give up I said, also——"

  I didn't listen what Taku was saying to stop me until the end and went back to the spiral staircase. He was holding the lantern, but since I had 【Hawk Eyes】's night vision capability I could go back without a problem. However, everything felt unclear, hazy and colourless.

  As I headed to the stairs Taku followed me from behind, when I moved there, ahead was.

  "Ehh, ah——"

  In front of the spiral staircase there was a wall, the road we used to come down was closed.

  Taku who caught up to me from behind uttered continuation of the sentence I didn't listen to earlier.

  "Also——it's impossible since the entrance is blocked by a wall."

  Seriously. I tried touching the stone wall blocking the staircase, hitting it, it didn't even budge as I pushed it.

  When I took a few steps back from the wall, Taku called out to me.

  "Now, let's go back and search the library's underground."

  "Why do you look like you're having fun."

  Feeling gloom because of the haunted atmosphere I spat out a sigh, and when I attempted to descend down the stairs a light was emitted from the wall behind me.

  When I looked back, slipping through the wall was a party which came to this side.

  "...ah, eh? M-Myu? W-why——"

  "Aah... we've been found! Everyone hide! Hide!"

  Why are you here. Before I could say that, Myu released a light sphere from her finger, dazzling me. It's already too late to hide! To begin with, there's nowhere to hide on this spiral staircase!

  As I raised my hand to block the light, Taku's eyes adapted to it and he asked Myu the same question I did.

  "Eh? Myu and the others. What a coincidence. No way, have you been following us?"

  Although Taku spoke as if poking fun at them, several of Myu's party members shoulders trembled. Seeing that reaction, when my eyes got accustomed to the light I stared at Myu intently, although I didn't ask she started making excuses.

  "No, that's cause, if Taku-san and Onee-chan are going alone, something's going on! Is what my intuition said."

  "I'm sorry, I tried stopping her."

  Lucato averted her line of sight and apologized. Well, there's no way around it if Myu strongly insists, but it seemed she didn't want to stop her all that much. I thought.

  "Well, explore all you want. I'm going back."

  "Why! After putting so much effort to follow I want to go with Onee-chan!"

  "No, I'm good. Rather, I'm logging out and escaping now!"

  I really didn't want to go, but Myu grabbed my hands not letting me go. Seeing this situation, Rirei's breath turned suspiciously rough which made me want to retort.

  "Why is Yun-san so much against it?"

  Why, is what Lucato asked Taku.

  "Yun is scared of ghosts and the like."

  "Haa?"

  Lucato tilted her head as if she didn't really comprehend that, Hino and Toutobi responded with "so undead-type mobs like those from a haunted house appear here" which was quite accurate.

  "Come on, it won't be scary with everyone here! It's okay, it's okay."

  "Haa, geez. Why did it turn out like this."

  I leaked out a sigh, I wanted to shout at Taku for involving me in such a thing, but I was thankful for Myu and the others to jump in and participate together. With just Taku and me it felt discouraging, but if Myu's here then it'll be much brighter and something to laugh about later.

  ●

  When we went down the stairs, a sudden quest's announcement has been relayed to each party.

  【Quest: Obtain the Underground Library's Treasure】

  We stood at the entrance of the underground library. It seems like there was a condition for this hidden quest, Myu and the others felt like going on adventure to explore it, but I didn't feel like it at all.

  When we proceeded to library and everyone received a quest, I let out a sigh.

  "So, what do we have to do to escape? Also, what was it that you needed me for."

  "Rather than treasure, it's escape for you huh. Can you read this with 【Linguistics】? You should be able to."

  Saying so, Taku pointed at the letters carved into the stone wall of the entrance.

  Myu and the others all looked at it, but since they didn't have the corresponding Sense, they tilted their heads in puzzlement.

  "Umm... 『Returned to place with correct colour』 it says."

  "So it's like that after all. To put it simply, these are the hints to complete it. It means to find a mismatch on a bookshelf and return it to the matching correct bookshelf."

  Oh, I see. So we have to look for a book on a wrong bookshelf and return it where it should be, is what it means. Then, Taku pointed at some spaces on the shelf with books missing.

  "Hey, how do you know that despite not being able to read?"

  "I investigated it by brute force yesterday. Even if I can't read, I could tell it's probably the type of quest that requires you to place something, but in the end I was stuck."

  No, being able to infer that much is amazing right. Is what I wanted to retort, but several people seemed to understand immediately.

  "I see, if the right book is placed in the right spot, the bookshelf will move allowing us to progress?"

  "Correct. Lucato-chan is very perceptive."

  "Thank you very much."

  "Grr, even I do know that much."

  Myu puffed her cheeks towards Lucato who answered Taku, though, she spoke with a refreshing smile on her face. Sorry, I didn't know.

  "And so, to proceed further in I want Yun to help out."

  "...in order to escape, I will do my best to help out."

  This place had a lot of fine details like spider webs everywhere and piled up dust, in order to escape quickly from this grim underground it would be best to help out Taku. I was not good with the eerie atmosphere of this underground library.

 

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