Daily Life of A Caretaker

Disclaimer: I own nothing, this is purely a fanfic for enjoyment.

Cross-over from various games, books, anime, manga, and movies.

The familiar characters you see here belong to their respected authors and owners.

"Speech"

Arc 5: Break - Chapter 3

"Are you sure this is the librarian, Jin?" Weiss asks me, confused. She raises an eyebrow, casting a skeptical glance at the tiny book in front of us. "Because I'm pretty sure that's just another book—smaller, almost the size of my hand compared to the other books around us. And besides the size, there's just a pair of glasses sitting on top of it. Doesn't really scream 'librarian' to me."

I nod, my eyes fixed on the book as it sits on the front counter, where a librarian would normally be stationed. The counter is cluttered with the usual assortment of books, but this little one stands out. "Yup. This is the librarian."

Weiss shakes her head in disbelief, clearly unconvinced, but before she can voice any more doubts, Ruby chimes in, her grin widening.

"The glasses definitely make the book look smarter compared to the others." Ruby remarks, leaning in with an almost mischievous look in her eyes as she inspects the book more closely.

I can't help but smile at her playful comment, enjoying the lighthearted atmosphere.

"Thank you. I've always told others that wearing glasses makes me smarter than the rest of my kind." The tiny book suddenly responds in a smooth, genderless voice. Its words break the silence, and as it speaks, the glasses atop it catch the light, almost gleaming as if emphasizing its newfound intellectual prowess. The book's response adds an unexpected touch of humor and depth to the otherwise unassuming object.

"Well, Jin is right. This is the librarian." Octavia didn't seem surprised.

"I am the Action Genre's Librarian; please refer to me as such to avoid confusion in the future. There are others of my kind, and not many can identify us separately." The Action Genre's Librarian introduced itself, its voice carrying a hint of authority. "Now, what can I assist you with?"

Octavia exchanged glances with the rest of us before speaking up, her voice clear. "Can you tell us about the requirements we need to meet in order to read the books here?" She shifted her gaze back to the librarian. "And are there any rules we should know about while we're here in the library?"

"Of course, I can do that." The Action Genre's Librarian responded confidently. "To read the basic knowledge books, all you need is a library card to open them. Without it, you'll trigger their defensive system, preventing access. However, for books beyond the basic knowledge level, there's a catch." The librarian paused briefly, its glasses gleaming as if for emphasis. "You need to first earn book points by passing a review test at the end of the book you read in the library. Don't bother asking what kind of review test it will be; after all, this is the library of the Action Genre. You must be prepared to be sent into the book's world for the review test. Whether you pass or fail, you'll stay in the book's world for a few hours before being sent back."

As the Action Genre's Librarian spoke, my mind wandered to the Knuckle Sandwich book. I couldn't help but wonder what kind of review test it might involve.

The Action Genre's Librarian continued, unfazed. "As for the rules: You're not allowed to take any books outside the library. If you try, they'll simply vanish from your hands, and you'll be temporarily banned from using the library. The duration of the ban depends on the book you tried to take. Another rule is that you can take books from others while they're reading them by challenging them to a duel, with the book points as part of the bet. You can find other minor rules easily using the library card. It's all in there."

"How do we get this library card?" I ask the Action Genre's Librarian, trying to mask my growing unease.

"You fight for it." The Action Genre's Librarian replies without missing a beat, its tone matter-of-fact. "Beat it into submission. Simple as that."

We all exchange glances, clearly baffled. Ruby's eyebrows shoot up, Weiss frowns slightly, and Octavia raises an unimpressed eyebrow. The collective confusion is almost perceptible as we turn back to the Action Genre's Librarian.

"Uh, okay..." I hesitate, still processing the bizarre response. "Where do we find the library card… to, uh, beat it into submission?"

The tiny book adjusts its glasses slightly, though how it manages to do that without hands is a mystery, and continues in the same calm, neutral tone. "I'll summon them for you. Since there are four of you here, I'll call in four library cards. Before the fight begins, however, there's one formal requirement: you must sign a contract."

"Contract?" Octavia asks, narrowing her eyes.

"Yes, a contract." The Action Genre's Librarian confirms. "It's a simple bet. If you win, you get the library card. If you lose, the consequence is straightforward: you'll need to write a ten-page report on a random book of my choosing. However, as this is your first time, I'll be lenient. The report will be reduced to one page for now. But make no mistake—after this, it's back to the full ten pages if you fail again."

Weiss grimaces. "Ten pages sounds like torture." She mutters under her breath, glancing nervously at Ruby.

I can't help but feel a twinge of apprehension myself. "So, let me get this straight." I say, my tone cautious. "We fight these library cards, and if we lose, it's homework?"

"Nope, not homework. Punishment. This is the library of the Action Genre. Doing homework requires you to fight and other stuff, not doing paperwork." The Action Genre's Librarian replied, its glasses catching the light dramatically. "The stakes are fair, wouldn't you agree?"

I glance at the others. This is turning out to be far more than just a library visit.

"Let's do this! Even if we fail, doing a one page report is nothing!" Ruby declares with uncontrolled enthusiasm, pumping her fist in front of her like she's gearing up for an epic battle.

"Yeah... nothing." Weiss mutters under her breath, her usual composure slipping as beads of cold sweat form on her forehead. She looks far less confident than Ruby, her expression a mix of dread and disbelief.

"Ugh... I need to think about which spells to use." Octavia grumbles, furrowing her brow as she pulls a small, weathered spellbook from her pocket. Flipping through the pages, she mumbles to herself, clearly strategizing.

I turn my attention back to the Action Genre's Librarian, trying to stay focused amidst the rising tension. "So, where do we go to face these library cards?"

The Action Genre's Librarian adjusts its glasses again, the tiny book somehow exuding an air of authority. "Right here. I'll summon them here. It will be a fair fight—one library card per challenger. You'll each face your own opponent simultaneously. Be prepared."

The atmosphere in the area shifts immediately. Ruby bounces on the balls of her feet, brimming with energy, while Weiss looks like she's debating whether to faint or run. Octavia's focus sharpens as she clutches her spellbook, clearly preparing for the worst.

I roll my shoulders, feeling the anticipation settle in. If these cards are anything like the rest of this library, this fight is going to be far from ordinary.

The Action Genre's Librarian begins speaking with a strange muttering sound that grates on my ears, each word more bizarre and unintelligible than the last. The unsettling noise leaves me more bewildered with every passing second—until I notice my vision blurring momentarily. Alarmed, I snap my fingers, activating my Boundary Manipulation to reverse whatever strange influence is trying to affect me.

"Congratulations, Sho Jin. You have beaten your library card." The Action Genre's Librarian declares, their tone filled with an odd mix of praise and amusement. "Now, you just have to wait for those three. In the meantime, you can check out the library card to summon it. Just think about it and will it to appear in your hand."

"Okay..." I mumble, my voice trailing off.

I'm left speechless, trying to make sense of what just happened. Somehow, I managed to beat the library card into submission, but all I did was counter the blurring effect with Boundary Manipulation. It feels anticlimactic, almost as if the card itself gave up after my intervention.

The thought lingers in my mind: what would have happened if I hadn't reversed the effects? Would I have been trapped in some illusion, disoriented and vulnerable, or was it some kind of test of will? Either way, I'm both relieved and curious—relieved that I have the power to handle such situations and curious about the challenges this library card might have in store if Boundary Manipulation isn't enough.

I glance over at Ruby, Weiss, and Octavia, noticing how all three stand frozen, their expressions dazed and distant. In front of each of them hovers a shadowy figure, each one faintly outlined in the shape of a card. It's clear these are the library cards summoned by the Action Genre's Librarian.

"No helping them." The Action Genre's Librarian says firmly, their voice cutting through the strange atmosphere. "They must defeat their library cards themselves. Otherwise, there will be complications in their use of the cards in the future. This has happened many times before, so it's best they rely on their own strength."

"Sure, works for me." I shrug, setting aside any fleeting thoughts of stepping in to assist. It's their challenge to face, and interfering might only make things worse for them down the line.

With that, I summon my own library card. It materializes in my right hand, a sleek, black-silver metallic card. The surface glints faintly, and I can't help but blink in surprise—once, then twice, and even a third time—as a realization dawns on me.

This library card is eerily reminiscent of my glowing books as it directly injects knowledge into my mind. What's more, the process is smooth—no headaches, no discomfort—just the sudden, seamless acquisition of information. Its simplicity and efficiency catch me off guard.

With some time to spare while waiting for the girls, I decide to focus on the influx of knowledge that the library card has imparted to me. The information feels layered and intricate, yet somehow easy to navigate.

Suddenly, Ruby's voice pierces the air, laced with raw frustration. "Sacrifice!" She screams, her tone almost feral as she lunges at the shadowy figure representing her library card. Her hands swipe through empty air, her expression shifting to one of bewilderment. "Ah?! Where did it go?!" She spins in place, her silver eyes wide and bloodshot, frantically searching for the library card.

The Action Genre's Librarian interrupts her frenzied state with a calm, almost monotone voice. "Congratulations, Ruby Rose. You have beaten your library card into submission. To summon it, simply think about it, and it will appear in your hand."

Ruby freezes, her chest heaving as the Librarian's words sink in. Slowly, the tension in her shoulders eases, though her face remains a mixture of confusion and rage.

"Good job, Ruby." I approach her with a calm smile, gently patting her on the head. The tension in her frame starts to ease under my hand. To help her recover further, I hand her a Senzu Bean, which she eagerly eats with a big smile on her face. Her expression softens, though her frustration still lingers in her voice as I ask, "What made you so mad?"

Ruby frowns, her scowl deepening as she recalls her experience. "That library card sent me back to my childhood." She explains, her voice laced with lingering anger and sadness. "It made me think I had actually traveled to the past—right before everything started going bad. For a moment, it felt so real. I even tried summoning to see if I could still use my abilities in that 'past,' and it worked. But just when I thought I could grab the library card, I was yanked back here." She lets out an annoyed huff and glares down at the card in her hand, which she had just summoned. "I have half a mind to keep sacrificing it."

I chuckle softly, continuing to pat her on the head in an attempt to diffuse her lingering frustration. "Well, don't worry about it. It's all over now. The card is yours, and you won. That's what matters."

Ruby glances at me, her scowl fading slightly as she nods. "Yeah... I guess."

I give her a reassuring smile. "Now we just have to wait for Weiss and Octavia to finish their test." Ruby grumbles something under her breath but otherwise stays quiet, clutching her library card tightly as she waits alongside me.