Chapter 58 – Bibliomania. (3)
Translator: WH Editor: Sasha
4.
Find a book that has high chances of having a popular plot.
This was what I had instructed the Hunters to do.
“Do you all understand?”
I roamed among the Hunters and said,
“If the difficulty is too hard, it won’t do. But then it shouldn’t be too easy, too. An Apocalypse with a suitable difficulty! In addition to that, choose one that will give us a suitable reward.”
Following my instructions, 250 Hunters began reading the Apocalypses.
As if it documented the imprints of the world itself, the volume of each Apocalypse was so extensive. Even when all of the Hunters were reading it, it was never-ending.
“Death King, it’s strange.”
The only exception was the Heretic Questioner, who did not have a single book to read.
On the back of the Crazy Psycho’s hand, it still said ‘Fairy Tale’.
“What is?”
“I’m the only one who doesn’t have an apocalypse. Is fairy tale a minor genre?”
“Eyyy, no way. There may be people who have never read fantasy, and some may have never read romance, but I’m sure everyone has heard of fairy tales. It’s a majority even among the majorities.”
“You’re right. Hmm. But why isn’t a single book coming to me….?”
Crazy Psycho tilted his head.
‘Cause there’s no fairy tale ending in the destroyed worlds. You Natural.’
[T/N: It’s a short form for his small nickname that Death King gave, the full name is Natural Born Crazy Psycho (literally this was what he called him).]
These words almost rose to the top of my throat, but I held it in.
And pretended to know nothing.
“Who knows? Just wait a little longer. Out of all these books, there should at least be one that has fairy-tales as it’s genre.”
“Hmm. That’s certainly true. I guess I’m a little impatient. I’ll wait calmly!”
Crazy Psycho walked to a corner and sat there. I knew that the day when he would be given a fairy tale book would never come, the Witch also knew, and all the other Hunters knew too.
“Hey, religious brat.”
Let’s correct it.
It seemed that the Emperor of Light Novel did not know.
“Yes, Chen Mu-mun Master? Did you call me?”
“This seems to be a fairy tale. There was a book mixed into the Martial Arts group.”
“Oh hooo! Thank you!”
Heretic Questioner received an Apocalypse from the Venomous Snake. A bright smile, as if it had been made by grinding angels and saints together, hung around his lips.
It was a little scary.
“Then Death King, I’ll get to reading too! Ahhaa, I wonder what kind of Apocalypse this will be!”
“Ahhh, yes…..That, what’s the title of that Apocalypse?”
“It’s called [Me and Our Scapegoat]!”
The title was also a little scary.
In the end, all the groups received books. And they started reading.
Some time passed and then it was mealtime.
“Ughhh.”
“Ey-, I think my eyes are going to fall apart.”
Anguished groans were coming from here and there.
It was to the extent that everyone just took and ate the sandwiches and black tea that the bookmarks maids prepared without a single complaint this time.
“Death King…”
The Witch in charge of the [Romance] group was no exception.
“I, I can understand how that Constellation feels.”
“Huh?”
“I’m talking about these Apocalypses. They all got discontinued at the climax scene.”
The Witch looked exhausted.
“As soon as the Female Lead confesses to the Male Lead, the meteor comes falling down. As soon as they held hands and kissed each other, aliens suddenly invaded. It’s all messed up! Let’s disregard the meteors, but why the hell are there alien invasions in a court romance comedy?”
“Furthermore,” said the Witch.
“It’s even worse because up until it gets discontinued, it’s so interesting. The main character is charming and even the story is interesting… It’s just the ending is rubbish! It’s a perfect course meal, but when I cut the cutlet from the main dish, it feels like something would pop out……”
“No, you don’t have to tell me what’s going to pop out. Can’t you see I’m eating a tonkatsu sandwich right now?”
[T/N: Tonkatsu is basically pork cutlet]
“Ahh, I’m sorry. Death King. You’re right, sorry for not being careful with my words while you were eating…. No, but, I must tell you, what this feeling is!”
“This is all being broadcasted live. Witch-nim, live broadcast, okay?”
The Witch laughed and shut her mouth. This person really, even when she tried to make eye contact with the one-eyed giant zombie a while back, she always lost her temper at strange moments.
Anyway, it was a relief as the moment I finished the last bite of the Tonkatsu sandwich, the Witch looked around and brought her lips closer to my ear.
“What this feeling is……”
Will the viewers in the middle of Babylon Square hold their breath, while watching the Witch whisper in my ear?
I could hardly breathe when I heard her whispering. It was something that made me not want to look at the Tonkatsu sandwich for at least a month.
Oh, Dear God. Please save me…….
[Shiny is giving her best effort to save you.]
I wished that the Goddess, who couldn’t even save her own world, would just stay silent…….
Of course, the God of the Great Library did not save me either. Instead, Bang Gu-seok, the librarian, smiled as he floated around in the air.
“Finally, you lot seem to understand the pain the great me had suffered.”
The appearance of the librarian was that of a child. But the laughter on the face of the Constellation now was not childlike at all. It was a smile of a gourmet who lost his taste because he couldn’t overcome the sweet and salty combination of life.
“I wont hide it any longer. These 683 volumes of Apocalypses which I have allowed you to touch. Even in my Great Library, they’re Magic Grimoires(魔功書) that boast a particularly destructive power.”
“Magic Grimoires?”
“That’s right. While being extremely exciting they’re so interesting, that the readers cannot help but love these books.”
The librarian’s laughter resonated gloomily.
“But that’s all there is to it! Even though it’s so interesting, you lot will never be happy with it. No, it’s even more unfortunate as it’s so interesting! Because all these Magic Grimoires have a shitty ending!”
The Witch swallowed her saliva.
“Don’t tell me you chose only those kinds of books on purpose? To inflict the same pain on us…?”
“You may think of it that way.”
“That’s the only thing I can think of.…”
“Now then! I hope you lot fall into this hell of discontinued books and struggle with eternal pain like the great me! Come on! Hurry and suffer!”
The librarian laughed.
Some Hunters trembled with fear.
“Are you perhaps a demon?”
“I can’t believe you purposely let us read only the masterpieces that got discontinued. You’re crazy.”
“This deserves heavenly punishment…!”
Later, it turned out that they all originally had the hobby of reading novels. I didn’t really know, but for novel lovers, the librarian’s remarks were very frightening.
It was then.
“Ahh. Hun-, Hunter-nim.”
“Hmm?”
I heard a familiar voice from somewhere.
As I turned my head, one of the members of the [Fantasy] group was waving his hand. For a while, I wondered who that woman was waving at, and soon after I recalled her face.
“What’s this? Aren’t you Sajang-nim?”
[T/N: Sajang-nim refers to boss/president.]
A Hunter, who would later grow to become the Ministry of Alchemy Master.
The Alchemist who made me an elixir was here.
“Did Sajang-nim also receive a Title too?”
“it-, It happened by chance. Though it’s a tasteless Title such as ‘Alchemist’…. Ehehe.”
The alchemist who became an ‘Alchemist’ smiled awkwardly.
I was a little surprised.
‘The Ministry of Alchemy Master already received her Title?’
No matter how great of a Hunter she was, the woman in front of her had been wandering around the slums until recently. ‘Title’. It was a little early for her to have made an admirable achievement.
Even me, who was armed with fraud skills, I only managed to get a ‘Title’ after doing crazy things repeatedly, as expected, as the twig is bent, so grows the tree?
[T/N: as the twig is bent, so grows the tree is an idiom that means a promising person that stands out even when they’re young.]
“You’re really amazing, Sajang-nim. How did you get a Title in such a short time? As expected, my eyes are never wrong. At first glance, I knew that Sajang-nim would succeed. I did a profitable investment.”
“N-, no! I’m not amazing at all!”
The Alchemist shook her dry right hand.
“I’m serious. I’m not being modest or anything… All I did was stay still and I got a Title.”
“What?”
“I-, I also don’t know what happened. A few days ago, I suddenly heard a sound, [The item you produced has helped save the world], and I was given a Title. Ugh. I’m sorry. You’re probably really baffled right…?”
‘Ahhh.’
The Alchemist looked like she didn’t know what she was talking about even after she said it. But I was different. I realized the truth of the situation upon hearing her words.
“It’s because of the elixir you made for me!”
The cause was the elixir I took when I was fighting the Devil King.
In my bloody fight with the Devil King, I properly felt the effects of the elixir. Thanks to it maximizing my senses, I was able to watch the Devil King swinging his sword in slow-motion.
‘What the? Then….’
In other words.
‘Have I been carrying her all this while?’
[T/N: Carry in this context is like the gaming term, in other words, our MC carried her by using the item she made, that was why she could get a Title.]
It was like giving someone a bus ride unintentionally.
The Alchemist wriggled his fingers as she didn’t know that.
“Re-, Really what’s amazing is not me, but you, Hunter-nim! Ah. I should call you the Death King now…Death King-nim is indeed the awesome one. Up till a few days ago, you were out of the rankings, but you went up to 3rd rank at once! It’s such a great, great honour for me to get to know someone like you, Death King-nim! I really wanted to tell you this!”
“Eyyy, what do you mean? I just have good luck, that’s all….”
As she scratched the back of her head awkwardly, the Alchemist went “Ehehe.” and clasped her hands behind her back.
“Death King-nim, if you need anything, please tell me! As long as I can do it, I’ll help you all I can!”
Wow.
What’s this, this person?
Perhaps she was an angel?
-Hey Zombie. Can’t you raise the hurdle a little bit higher for judging people as angels?
‘Mr. Sword Emperor, I’m just trusting people. No matter how much I get betrayed, I can’t stop believing in people. It’s not my sin for carrying such a warm heart.’
-You’re speaking bullshit today as well. In English, it’s called a hot-dog sound.
[T/N: Literally, he said hot-dog sound.]
Let’s pretend I didn’t hear the last bullshit.
5.
It’s been four days since we started reading.
We finally succeeded in reading every single volume of Apocalypses.
Every Hunter announced that they had completed reading (完讀).
“In [Romance] Group, we recommend a total of four books.”
“The [SF] Group recommends two books.”
“In the [Mystery] group….”
Each group announced their recommended masterpiece.
Moderate difficulty. Adequate reward.
Recommendations that fit these two criteria were listed.
“My [Fairy Tale] group will recommend this! Although that’s the only book I have!”
+
[Me and Our Scapegoat]
Genre: Fairy Tale
Difficulty level: A-Class
Player Limit: 2 or more
※The Serialization is currently suspended.
Introduction: This world’s humanity had succeeded in creating a Utopia. But a special power source was required to maintain the Utopia. The power source needed were the screams of suffering of an innocent child who bears no crimes. Though it was a pity, for the perfect happiness of 17 million people, 1 innocent child should bear with it, right? Thanks to the meticulously developed torture techniques and life-saving treatments, about five years’ worth of screams were able to be extracted from each child. Such efficiency!
Reason for Discontinuation: 118,000 years had passed since the creation of Utopia. Eventually, all the innocent children were used up. The Utopia, which lost its power source, came to a stop.
+
I’ll have to stop by that Apocalypse regardless of the level of difficulty or reward being given.
However, there was a separate Apocalypse that caught the eye right now.
“The [Martial Arts] group strongly recommends this masterpiece.”
The Sword Saint said.
Sword Saint was the team leader of the martial arts genre. Unlike someone who appeared as a martial arts lover but instead lived as an Emperor of Light Novel, the Sword Saint was indeed a connoisseur of martial arts.
The old man flipped opens an Apocalypse.
“This is the book.”
+
[The Chronicles of Heavenly Demon(天魔)]
Genre: Martial Arts, Fusion
Difficulty Level: B Class
Player Limit: 2 to 4 people
※The Serialization is currently suspended.
Introduction: Murim. A world of those who revere Mu, those who use Mu, those who strive to attain Mu! A Heavenly Demon descended here and tried to unify Murim. A Demonic Cult(魔敎) brought together centering on the Heavenly Demon. The opposing forces who go against this Demonic Cult. Fighting over the control of the world…would be what they would’ve done.
[T/N: Murim(武林) is the Martial Arts World, Mu(武) is basically Martial Arts.]
If it wasn’t for the sudden super epidemic.
Reason for Discontinuation: An unidentified epidemic went rampant in the world, causing the Heavenly Demon to die. The Demonic Cult was annihilated. The other forces were also destroyed. End.
+
[T/N: I know, it reminds us of a certain manhwa/novel. But I just had to!]
“The reason I recommend [Chronicles of Heavenly Demon] is simple.”
Said the Sword Saint.
“There’s a character called Heavenly Demon in this world. It is the Murim, where the strongest of strongest Martial Arts Scriptures are gathered at. Therefore, there will be a huge hidden treasury (秘庫) at the stronghold of the Demonic Cult. Well. In short, a library or something would’ve been built.”
The Sword Saint had an awkward look. It was because all the people who were not part of the [Martial Arts] group were saying in reaction, ‘Martial Arts Scriptures? Hidden Treasury? What the hell is he talking about?’ In the end, the Sword Saint gave up on using martial arts terminology and used words that were easier to understand.
“It’s safe to say that the Martial Arts Scriptures are books that contain the secrets of a skill. If we succeed in saving this world, we will be able to get a library where the best skills in the world are stored. It’s a chance for our Hunters to be a level stronger.”
The Hunters’ eyes glistened.
“Martial Arts huh.”
“Does that mean we can get new skills?”
“Well. It’s really rare to be able to learn skills….”
“It’s an opportunity to learn the way to be strong!”
Everyone’s mood was pretty good. People who valued individual strength, just like the Sword Saint, responded particularly positively. Right now, our priority was to be strong. These claims were convincing.
Of course, it was a good story for me, too.
‘Isn’t that pretty good?’
I stroked my chin.
There must be a lot of Masters that fly around in Murim. If I die once by the hands of those Masters… Wow. Wouldn’t there be an A-Class skill even if I picked poorly?’
-Hey Zombie. Are you afraid no one would know you’re a Zombie, why are those screwed up thoughts all you have filled in your head?
‘A world I want to destroy just appeared. But it’s difficult with my current strength now.’
The Sword Emperor silently shut his mouth.
Instead, another being spoke up.
[Shiny notifies you that she sensed a vestige.]
The sword on my waist was suddenly vibrating.
‘What do you mean a vestige? What vestige?’
[Shiny says her sister is very close.]
“Sister, you say?”
Shiny… the so-called Constellation ‘Goddess of Protection’ was split and sealed within five swords. One of the swords was on my waist.
Even Shiny doesn’t know where the rest of the swords disappeared to.
But to be able to sense the vestige of her sister swords nearby.
‘Where? Where did you sense it?’
I looked around.
The Great Library of All Things. The bookshelves(書架) that continued beyond the horizon. Each bookshelf was huge. Looking up, it was as high as a tower. Of course, I couldn’t see anything besides books.
[Shiny advises that you focus your eyes ahead instead of looking around the wrong place.]
“In front of my eyes? There’s only Sword Saint in front of my eyes…… Wait a minute.’
Apocalypse.
A book containing a world.
‘Is it perhaps in there?’
The Holy Sword vibrated.
[Shiny affirms and says “Yes, warrior.”]
[Shiny says she feels her sister’s presence from the book that the Sword Saint is holding!]
At that moment, my next destination was decided.
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