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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Helga ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
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Chapter 9
‘I love being a professor.’
I watched as the student’s face turned ashen. Just moments ago, she had been so confident. Clearly, she hadn’t expected me to be a professor.
"I suppose being qualified to teach at Masterclass means I’m one of the most powerful people in this field."
A sense of power I’d never experienced during my villainous days washed over me.
With a satisfied smirk, I slipped my ID back into my pocket. "Masterclass regulation 3-1 clearly states that all 13th Department professors have unrestricted access to the library. Did it change overnight?"
"N-no, of course not."
"Then is there still a reason I can’t enter?"
The student stepped aside, her expression a mix of confusion and fear.
I brushed past her and entered the library. A wave of magical energy scanned me, verifying my identity.
"Beep. Identity confirmed. Professor Do Jin-hak of the Deconstructionist Department."
With my faculty card granting me access, I was finally inside the Hwadam Library.
‘It's much larger on the inside than it looks from the outside.’
The library was even more expansive than I’d imagined. It had been enchanted to grow continuously to accommodate the influx of new books.
‘That's why they say students get lost in here all the time.’
Hwadam Library was often jokingly referred to as Hwadam Prison.
The reason for the library's immense size was simple: it had been founded by Seo Gyeong-deok. While known as a Taoist master in folklore, Seo Gyeong-deok was a pioneer of modern military strategy in historical records.
‘I hope he's burning in hell.’
Seo Gyeong-deok had lived for over 500 years, becoming a founding member of the Masterclass. He had dedicated his life to studying and combating supernatural threats. This library was a testament to his centuries of research.
"Now, what was the name of that book again?"
I had come here to take something, but I couldn’t remember the exact title.
"Excuse me, Professor."
I was pulled from my thoughts by the student. "I couldn’t help but notice you’re new here. Would you like me to show you around?"
She seemed genuine, but I could sense her underlying suspicion.
"I don’t need your help,” I snapped back, annoyed by her persistence. "I'm not a child."
She persisted, her eyes filled with doubt.
Given my reputation, her skepticism was understandable.
"I’m not here to cause trouble," she insisted, her voice soft. "I just want to make sure everyone is following the rules."
Her words were polite, but her gaze was unwavering. She was clearly not convinced by my dismissive attitude.
I sighed. "Fine. I'm looking for a book on ancient curses."
Her eyes widened slightly. "A book on curses? That's a rather specific request."
"It's for research," I lied, hoping she would buy it.
She nodded slowly, still not entirely convinced. "I see. Well, I may be able to help you with that. The book you're looking for is in the restricted section. It's a dangerous book, and only certain individuals are allowed to access it."
"Dangerous, huh?" I smirked. "I think I can handle it."
She hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. Follow me."
As we walked through the labyrinthine corridors of the library, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. The book I was seeking was said to contain knowledge of powerful, forbidden magic. If I could get my hands on it, it could be a valuable asset.
We reached a heavy, iron-bound door. The student inserted a key into the lock, and the door creaked open. The room beyond was dimly lit, filled with shelves of ancient, leather-bound books.
"This is the restricted section," she said, her voice hushed. "Please be careful."
I nodded and began to browse the shelves. As I scanned the titles, I couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement. This was it. The key to unlocking my true potential.
‘This library is definitely too big for that.’
There was no way I could search the entire library without knowing the exact title of the book the Phantom Thief was after.
I cleared my throat. "Since you're so eager to prove your skills, let's see how good you really are."
"Just tell me the name of the book, and I'll find it for you right away."
"Forget the name. What do you think is the most valuable book in this entire library?"
The girl blinked, clearly surprised by the question.
I elaborated, "Imagine you could steal only one book from this vast collection of rare texts. Which book would you choose?"
"Steal a book? Why would anyone do that?"
"Just answer my question. Or do you ask this many extra questions during your classes too?"
After a moment's thought, she replied, "If I were to steal a book, I'd take the first two volumes of The Nature of Attributes. Of course, I would never steal anything! But if I were a thief..."
The girl kept emphasizing the hypothetical nature of her answer.
I was more interested in the book title.
"Why that book?" I asked.
"Well, The Nature of Attributes is a book written by Hwadam based on the stories of the ancient Kamarysh clan from the Abyss. The Kamarysh were said to be the closest beings to the Abyssal Lords and possessed knowledge of long-forgotten attributes."
"Hwadam wrote about the Abyss?"
"Yes. It's a book about evolving one's abilities, but it's so complex that only a handful of people truly understand it. It's a treasure that can only be found in the Hwadam Library, and its value is immeasurable."
I nodded in agreement.
‘A perfect target for the Phantom Thief.’
"It's in the G section. I can guide you there. Just give me a moment. This library is so vast that you need a map to navigate it."
I knew that. The library was designed to be a maze, with seemingly endless shelves and constantly shifting rooms.
‘But what is she doing?’
Instead of checking the map, the student closed her eyes and muttered something. With a snap of her fingers, a wooden staff appeared in her hand.
‘She's a summoner.’
I recognized the spell. It was a basic summoning spell, but it required a good deal of skill.
She drew a summoning circle on the floor and chanted an incantation. A blinding flash of light erupted, and a creature materialized.
It was a small dragon, no larger than a human head.
"This is Karpi. It's a Karmarysh, one of the most advanced species in the Abyss. They have spatial awareness far superior to humans. With Karpi's help, we can navigate the library without getting lost."
I was astonished. Dragons were incredibly rare, even among summoners.
"Let's go."
The girl and her dragon companion turned and began to walk deeper into the library.
‘I've only seen a dragon a few times.’
Even though it was just a hatchling, it was unusual for a mere student to summon a dragon. It was a bit too much for a simple library NPC.
"Now that I think about it, her face looks familiar. Could she be more important than she seems?"
I decided to ask her a casual question, just to be sure.
"What's your name?"
"Me? I'm Arche from the Summoning Department... Oh, Karpi, stay still! I'm sorry. She must be hungry because she was suddenly summoned."
The student, Arche, introduced herself and then went to the library's staff room to find some snacks.
When she opened the door, she found another student working.
"Hey, Senior, are you on duty today?" Arche asked, surprised.
"Yeah, I've been waiting for you. Quick, switch with me."
The senior student looked exhausted, as if she had been working all night.
Arche clasped her hands together. "Sorry. I need to find a book quickly. Have you seen my bag?"
"Your bag? Did you summon Karpi again?"
"Hehe, I need to find a book in a hurry."
"Ugh, I told you to memorize the map."
The senior student grumbled but went inside and brought out a large bag. Inside were plenty of snacks for dogs and cats.
"Karuru!"
The dragon, which had been running around wildly, immediately pounced on the food and began to devour it. Even though it was a baby, it was still a dragon and could eat an incredible amount of food.
But I was more interested in the student.
More specifically, her name.
‘Arche... that blond hair... could she be that Arche?’
I remembered seeing the name Gianluca de Arche on the student council roster. She was ranked 7th overall in the last semester and majored in Summoning.
As soon as I recalled the name, my image of the stern-looking student council member changed.
"Gianluca..." I muttered.
Gianluca de Arche. In the game's world, she was a prominent figure in the rebel army that opposed the powerful Military Association.
‘No wonder her face looked familiar.’
I remembered her now. I hadn't recognized her at first because her current appearance was so different from her image in the game.
‘I can't believe it's her. How could she be so different?’
Gianluca was known for her intense hatred of the Military Association and was considered one of the most dangerous rebels. She was said to have led a legion of dragons and devastated Military Association bases.
It was hard to imagine her feeding a baby dragon like that.
"I'm sorry for the wait. I've fed Karpi, so I can guide you now. But please don't wander off. Many people get lost in here."
Arche turned around and began to walk, looking serious.
I felt a sense of confusion.
‘She's so different from the Gianluca I know.’
The Gianluca I knew was a radical, destructive force. It was strange to see her as a student.
‘I wonder what happened to her. What kind of event could have caused such a change?’
I didn't know much about Gianluca's backstory, but I was curious to find out more.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Helga ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
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