The Woman Found the Will I Wrote

15 – Ruins 2

What are the odds of being called a ghost by a ghost in a lifetime?

I opened my mouth looking at the startled ghost with a pale face … Or, being a ghost, was it always pale?

“Who are you?”

When I asked shortly, she stepped back and began to speak to me.

“I … am Ember, in charge of the Illusion Library. Wh-who are you?”

The word, ‘Illusion Library’ made me pause.

I couldn’t dream that this place was the Illusion Library.

‘Was the Illusion Library, mentioned every now and then in the latter part of the narrative, this enormous ruins? I had no idea.’

I had believed them to be two different places since they were depicted as completely separate entities.

Many thoughts rushed in as I realized the two were actually the same.

Among those thoughts, the most prominent was ‘how to conquer the Illusion Library.’

‘Of course, since Lumi enters the Illusion Library in the latter part, there is a possibility of a different test.’

Aside from that, there was no denying the substantial advantage of knowing the place.

I introduced myself to Ember who was anxiously staring at me.

“… Lerche Dern.”

Upon hearing that, Ember repeated my name.

“Dern, Dern?”

She stares holes into my face, donning an expression of incomprehension.

Though I find her gaze considerably burdensome,

“If I avert my eyes, it will feel like I’ve lost.”

So, I bear with the discomfort and return her stare. Eventually, Amber is the first to turn away and speak to me.

“I’m, I’m sorry. I didn’t expect you to come.”

Her words sound as if she knows me.

Remembering the information about the Illusion Library I’d read in a novel, I pair it with her tone of voice.

[The Illusion Library that possesses narratives from across the world. It is said that one can gain substantial rewards if they successfully complete the missions bestowed by the library.]

Recalling this, I finally understand something that was elusive so far.

Why did Cheonshin Cult indulge so much in wickedness after acquiring the ‘ancient magic’?

‘It must’ve been to solve a mission issued by the Illusion Library.’

As I nod, thinking that anyone would do so if promised a reward equal to or more valuable than the ancient magic,

Amber smooths out her voice and speaks.

“Regardless of how things are…as you are our guest. Let me guide you around.”

Adjusting her oversized hat, Amber starts showing me around with a wave of her hand.

*

“In our Illusion Library, we purchase ‘narratives’ from our visitors.”

Actually, I already knew this after reading the novel.

However, I didn’t want to arouse suspicion by explicitly showing that I knew, so I feigned ignorance and asked,

“Narratives?”

“Yes. To put it differently, we buy our guests’ stories.”

Amber walks over to the numerous books placed against the wall and continues.

“I can’t comment on why we purchase narratives…however, there are places that genuinely need your experiences and memories, so it’s enough if you know that we buy them.”

As that part doesn’t concern me, I just nod in agreement.

Amber, seeing this, points to the exquisite displays placed here and there and resumes her speech.

“To return to the main point. If you sell your story to us, you will receive suitable compensation.”

She continued her speech, occasionally glancing at me.

“By the way, the compensation can be converted into coins or material goods. If you want to buy powerful items, I recommend you receive coins as your payment.”

Nodding in response, I ask,

“So how do I sell my story?”

“You can sell a story of your choice, or clear the missions that we assign. You can sell in these two ways.”

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“Missions?”

“Yes. From menial tasks like farming to grand deeds like assassinating a Pope or starting a war, we have various missions. You just need to accept a mission suitable for you and complete it!”

“…Lastly, if I sell my story, will all of the experiences associated with that story disappear?

At this, Amber chuckles waving her hand.

“No, that doesn’t happen. We essentially copy your memory, so your memory won’t disappear. So don’t worry.”

…By now, I guess I’ve asked almost everything I wanted to ask.

Believing that even if I speak freely now Amber wouldn’t suspect much, I begin looking around.

‘Sure enough, it is filled with splendid merchandise, just as described in the novel.’

Of course, there’s a chance that it all might just be lavish on the outside and worthless decoration inside.

In this space, there was nothing meaningless. If it was as Ember had said, there shouldn’t have been.

Considering this, it was likely a magical artifact possessing at least one unique ability.

Because of this, I was examining whether there were things that could be of assistance to me.

Closing the book she had been holding, Ember spoke to me.

“Do you see anything you like?”

In response to Ember’s question, I nodded and looked at the items placed before me.

*

[Ancient Magic Book]

– A magic book containing lost ancient magic.

*

“Hmm, you want the Ancient Magic Book. Just for your information, the price of this book is one million coins, you can obtain it by achieving a significant accomplishment.”

A ‘significant accomplishment’… Isn’t that too vague?

When I looked at Ember as if to ask for more details, Ember opened the book once again and said,

“The criteria for a ‘significant accomplishment’ are so broad that it’s difficult to describe, but based on the achievements recorded in the past… say, inciting a war between two closely connected nations.”

Somehow specific yet unclear.

So, I silently looked at Ember and brought out one of the questions that had come to my mind while reading the novels.

“May I sell others’ stories?”

“Others’ stories?”

“For example, after killing someone. Bringing their corpse and extracting all the stories from their head, or kidnapping a human and forcibly stealing their stories. Things like that.”

“……”

At my words, Ember looked at me with a rather surprised expression and said,

“… It’s not written that it’s not allowed.”

“So, it’s allowed.”

“… I guess you could look at it that way?”

Ember seemed hesitant to confirm it as allowed, she kept going around in circles accepting my words.

And from her words, I briefly concluded,

‘Then it’s better to kill enemies and sell their stories, rather than selling mine.’

Selling my stories would have been easier and simpler.

But this Illusion Library seemed suspicious no matter how I thought about it, so I didn’t want to take unnecessary risks.

So, I decided to be cautious about selling my stories until its safety was guaranteed.

And I decided to start thinking about which guys to sell and earn one million coins.

‘One million. I wonder if I can collect it quickly.’

No matter how I thought about it, it would take at least a few years to collect it alone, so as I was thinking about other ways,

A good idea suddenly crossed my mind.

“Can I read the Ancient Magic Book instead of purchasing it?”

“Read it? That’s the first time I’ve heard such a question… Hmm, there’s no rule that it’s not allowed so wouldn’t it be possible?”

“What is the cost?”

“Wait a moment… I’ll do a quick calculation.”

At that, Ember took out a large book nearby, read the written text, and relayed it to me.

“About 10,000 coins per hour… seems about right. If you damage or attempt to make a copy, there’s a rule that forces you to pay a million coins.”

It’s written in the rules, but the moment Ember hears this fact unknown to her.

She catches on that she’s not the one who created this library and continues speaking.

“Understood.”

It seems like it would take a considerable amount of time to purchase the ancient spellbook in its current status.

They decide to rent it for an hour and learn all the magic in the place, and continues speaking.

“I’ll come back soon.”

Ember nods nervously at the mention of coming back.

“Ah, yes…”

And then, as if having something to say, her lips quivered a bit.

But soon her gaze turns far away, hugging the book closer.

Leaving Ember like that, I decided to sell off a few prisoners in the family basement for now.

I took my steps slowly.