Being able to get a Relic Bookmark again was already remarkable, last time heâd only earned one by completing a trial from another Librarian projection.
This time, it was effectively double rewards for a single trial.
[You took out the Invasion Bookmark and handed it back to the Librarian.]
[He accepted it, but instead of turning on you with fresh curses as youâd imagined, he simply let out a long sigh, looking thoroughly exhausted.]
[He began chanting a lengthy incantation, preparing to departâŠ]
Lin Xunâs eyes flickered.
The Invasion Bookmark was returned, and the trial rewards had been delivered, but this Librarian seemed to have forgotten something.
[You reached out and stopped him, interrupting his spell.]
[The Librarianâs eyes widened in anger. He was just about to explode, but you raised a finger and pointed at the monocle on his face.]
[He fell silent for a long moment, then finally tore off the monocle and threw it to you.]
[You have obtained Librarianâs Monocle (Rare Item)!]
[You accepted the monocle but still didnât let the Librarian leave.]
[Under his helpless gaze, you slowly spoke, âthough returning the Invasion Bookmark had erased his second offense, he shouldnât forget that your extra gains from the illusion were still his dereliction of duty. If he simply left, he would still face punishment.â]
[You smiled faintly and asked whether he wished to avoid that penalty.]
[He blurted out immediately, âOf course I do!â]
[As soon as he said it, the Librarian eyed you suspiciously, thinking you were about to use this as leverage for another round of extortion.]
[But you shook your head and explained that, according to what heâd said earlier, there were other locations in this chapter where you could learn the precise position of Great Kyo-no-Ćeyama.]
[You offered to let him erase the information youâd acquired, thereby nullifying the grounds for his punishment.]
[However, he had to tell you where to find clues hidden like those for Great Kyo-no-Ćeyama, and how to obtain them.]
In the game, learning a specific location was like unlocking a route map for a new area.
Without that knowledge, you could only wander aimlessly and pray for luck to stumble onto the place by chance.
For example, in the previous chapterâs Shamaraâs Astrologer Tower, Lin Xun hadnât obtained a route map but had simply run into the hidden map by sheer good fortune in the mists.
But places like Hidden Canyon were another story, without a clear map, you could explore your entire life and never find them.
Having the Librarian tell him where the route map lay didnât count as a material reward; it would help the Librarian erase his punishment while also benefiting Lin Xun, a win-win outcome.
Exactly. Rather than heading straight to Great Kyo-no-Ćeyama, taking this extra step to first seek out the route map would bring Lin Xun even greater gains!
So many years had passed since the God War between the Chaotic Origin Dragon and Ancient Heavenly Enma had ended, no one knew how long.
The illusions in this realm were merely shadows drawn from the river of time and couldnât change the timeline. Whatever history had been, it remained.
Judging by Shuten Dojiâs unyielding nature, the Shuten clan was likely wiped out in the God War.
Even if Shuten Doji really had hidden his kin in Great Kyo-no-Ćeyama, so much time had passed that it was quite possible the place would now be deserted.
Meanwhile, the site where the Great Kyo-no-Ćeyama route map was hidden might hold other clues, maybe even the lair maps of other yokai clans, like the Nine-Tailed Fox or the Great TenguâŠ
Adding one more step would unlock more possibilities. Why not?
[The Librarian was momentarily stunned. He couldnât understand why, after all the hostility and your ravenous greed, you would suddenly be so âhelpful.â]
[You spread your hands, saying he could believe it or not, as for who would be punished, it wouldnât be you.]
[The Librarian frowned in thought. After a long silence, he finally spoke, he could not tell you the exact location of that place, nor how to acquire the clues.]
[But he could tell you a segment of this worldâs history.]
[Before you could respond, the Librarian began to speak in a calm, measured voiceâŠ]
[Ancient Heavenly Enmaâs victory in the God War also meant that humanity had triumphed over the yokai race.]
[Therefore, most books recording information about the yokai were destroyed in the war, with few surviving to the present.]
[However, the books chronicling the history of the God War were preserved and treasured by the victors, passed down to this day, and among them are ancient tomes containing astonishing secrets.]
[Today, these historical volumes are kept within the Imperial Palace of Kyoto in Sakura Falls.]
[Since you are an Apostle of the Chaotic Origin Dragonâs Oath faction, you might as well go there to study history.]
[âAs the saying goes, âReading history brings wisdom; knowing the past illuminates the present.â I am certain you will learn much âusefulâ history.â]
Lin Xunâs eyes lit up.
âGood grief, claims he canât reveal anything, but he practically just sold the family silver!â
[The Librarian stopped speaking then. He looked at you and gestured for you to relax your mind, just as you had when entering the illusion, and not to resist.]
Lin Xun understood, this was the Librarian preparing to erase his knowledge of Great Kyo-no-Ćeyamaâs exact location.
Once the Librarian removed it, he would no longer be able to travel straight there, essentially losing the route map. Apart from remembering the name, he would have no other useful clues.
Just like knowing the name No-Illusions Shrine, Lin Xun still had to search painstakingly and only after finding the precise location could he go there.
[A vast psychic force surged toward you. Do you wish to resist?]
Lin Xun wasnât afraid of the Librarian turning hostile. Unless an Apostle attacked first, the Librarian could not retaliate.
This was knowledge many Apostles had earned through hard-won experience, trading soul strength for it on the Apostle Forum.
Though few had ever managed to kill the Librarian, plenty of reckless Apostles had tried, perhaps that was simply the nature of the playersâŠ
[You relaxed your mind and let the force sweep through your bodyâŠ]
[After a moment, the Librarian withdrew his psychic power.]
[He fixed you with a long, searching look, as if trying to memorize your face, then began murmuring an incantation. His figure vanished.]
[An aged voice echoed atop the towerâŠ]
[âClever ApostleâŠI look forward to meeting you in the next chapter, if luck favors both of usâŠâ]
Lin Xun opened his panel and inventory and found everything in order. The Librarian hadnât tampered with anything.
He grinned. âWhatâs this? Even looking forward to seeing me again⊠Is this Librarian projection some kind of masochist?â