Chapter 27: The library
’’Well, let’s see.’’ Alaric looked around the library to find a bookshelf that he supposed to be the place that had the books he wanted.
However, the library manager had only told him that the monster-related books were in Area 13. He was so utterly irresponsible. If Alaric were the principal, he would have fired that old man on the spot.
’’It’s hard to find some books in a web-like place like this.’’
While figuring out how to handle the situation, his eyes, by chance, caught a student reading nearby.
The student looked frail and pale, but more importantly, he looked like a classic bookworm, so Alaric casually walked toward him. People like that weren’t usually the rude type—they tended to stick to their books and ignore the world. No point in overthinking it.
Judging by appearance wasn’t 100% accurate, but it worked often enough. Alaric just hoped his guess was right this time.
’’Hey, buddy, can I ask you something? Got a minute?’’ Alaric kept his tone low, trying not to sound annoying.
The frail student looked up and adjusted his glasses. He frowned a little before answering.
’’Sure. What do you want?’’
’’Ah... uh... I’m looking for books about monsters and dungeons... and also some papers or info related to the Demon Cult.’’
The student’s frown deepened. Honestly, those books were usually for kids or investigators, but he didn’t drag his suspicion too long and pointed a thumb behind him.
’’Everything you want is over there.’’
Alaric blinked and nodded before quickly walking over there.
’’Thanks for your help.’’
Pretty soon, after taking the books he wanted, he simply carried them and put them on the table, opposite the frail-looking student.
Cack!
The student glanced at Alaric with clear irritation at the sound, but quickly went back to reading.
Alaric scratched his head in regret and began his work for the day.
Half an hour later...
Alaric grimaced after finishing the second book about dungeon monsters. He couldn’t help but mutter:
’’What luck.’’
Indeed, all the monsters in this world barely resembled the ones he had imagined from the countless novels he’d read.
Goblins were not a race he could defeat easily with mere blows... They acted in groups and had a strange combat style.
They were literally nothing but monsters.
Menacing and hideous.
Not only that, there were tons of monsters he needed to study. However, he would never be able to finish in just one day, since the topic on goblins had already taken him three hours.
If he lunged into a green-dungeon alone, the only outcome... A brutal death, even if he possessed a summon with high potential.
So the best way was to follow the academy’s course. Instead, he should handle monsters in the outside circle, which might match his current level. But in order to get government permission to go there, he had to join one of three organizations: Clans, Government, or Guild.
Joining a clan was impossible since no clan except the legendary ones would accept his profile.
The Government... uh, an organization for the sake of humanity? Sounds good, but if he joined, he’d have to sign many contracts and would be a literal dog. Plus, he wasn’t old enough to sign with them yet.
’’Damn! This is a big problem.’’
So, joining the guild wasn’t a bad idea. They consisted of non-summoners and summoners, and were temporary groups he could join or leave anytime without any binding contract or terms.
"Good, I’m gonna join a guild to hunt monsters outside the dungeons while waiting in the Green Dungeon."
Alaric nodded to himself before glancing at the piles of papers beside him. He quickly took and read it.
Around hours later. He leaned his back against the back of the chair and pressed his eyelids in tiredness.
They contained information about the Demon Cult and the troubles they’d caused around the world. All in all, wherever they went, death and chaos followed. They occasionally interfered with and obstructed guilds and clans from clearing dungeons.
They acted like enemies of humanity. Not only that, they organized murders on both small and large scales in the world’s major cities.
They were nothing but a cancer on humanity, just like the professor had told him.
"If that’s the case, I can find them easily... but I should take the initiative. That way, I can make the first move."
"I think it’ll be an easy mission once I have a tool for it—my curse."
He thought of the [Curse of the Demon King]. He would be at the center of everyone’s troubles, so if he wandered the cities, he believed he would encounter Demon worshippers somehow.
However, he needed to prepare for the worst. He was still weak—a weak slave. Judging by his progress practicing with his summon, he guessed he’d need a few months before he’d have enough strength to fight an ordinary man in this world.
"I don’t like sitting around doing nothing. The best training is still fighting in a real match."
Well, it was just a fact... only by going through the most dangerous moments could humanity surpass their initial limits.
He rubbed his chin, pleased with his decision, and glanced at the student ahead.
"Excuse me, do you come here often?"
The young student put the book down and nodded, looking confused.
"My name’s Alaric. And you?"
...
The young student frowned again and asked in an uncertain voice,
"What do you want? You look suspicious."
"Ah, sorry. I guess you’d be suspicious if someone suddenly asked your name," Alaric said, scratching the back of his head.
"Basically, I’m planning to come to the library often from now on. And I don’t want the next time I see you here to just call you by some random name—like, buddy, or dude."
"You know, I need someone to show me where the books are."
The young student was silent for a moment, then nodded, as if accepting the strange reasoning. He didn’t dislike someone trying to learn.
"My name is Leo Alvarez."