NOVEL NEXT Chapter 20
“This place…!”
As I got off the carriage, the majestic royal capital unfolded before me.
Buildings with tall roofs stood densely packed, and the road was beautifully paved with gray bricks.
Above all, the grand cathedral towering in the center.
That is, without a doubt, the symbol of Centinium.
The city I stayed in before could be reduced to nothing more than a countryside village in comparison to this overwhelming scale.
‘It’s just like what I saw in the game.’
I know the streets and geography inside out, yet I’ve never been here before.
It’s truly a place that feels both strange and familiar.
Ever felt déjà vu?
“Are you alright?”
As I stood there dazed, Angela, concerned, spoke up.
“Ah, yes. It’s just been a while since I’ve been in the central area.”
“…Is that so?”
Angela let out a small giggle.
“Don’t worry! Even if I look like this, I’ve been here often, so leave the directions to me!”
Just for your information, Angela is currently bundled up with various hats and cloaks, hiding her face.
In the outskirts, it might not matter, but in the capital, there’s a chance people might recognize Angela.
‘Well, I’ve visited this place hundreds and thousands of times, so I’m used to it.’
Seeing Angela bouncing in excitement, clearly happy that she could help me, I felt I couldn’t say no even as a polite rejection.
“Well then, can I ask for your help this time?”
“Leave it to me! I’ll lead you magnificently like a proper lady!”
Thus, I began to follow Angela, and—
We got lost for two hours.
…It was a trivial matter.
*
“Sorry… I’m so sorry… Ugh…”
Fortunately, I found a suitable inn before sunset.
But Angela’s guidance was nothing short of absurd.
How on earth did we end up on a path leading from the city center to a secluded valley?
—‘Huh… I’m pretty sure going this way would take us there…?!’
Thank goodness I recognized some spots from the halfway point; otherwise, we nearly ended up outside the central area.
“Ugh… I’m sorry…”
Angela covered her face, her ears turning red.
“I’m fine, Princess.”
“…Couldn’t you just tell me off more bluntly…?”
“How could I possibly do that?”
I might end up executed for royal disrespect if I did.
After comforting Angela as much as I could, I headed outside for some real activities.
“Let’s see… we’ll have to wait until night for ‘that’ to appear…”
In the meantime, I should look around.
With the mode activated, there might be differences from the Centinium I knew.
“Today’s freshly made stamina potions are 3 gold!”
“It’s a magical tool powered by refined mana! Get it now for a 10% discount!”
“We’re selling various scrolls, grimoires, and wands! New items have arrived, come take a look~!”
The marketplace bustled with vibrant noise.
‘The store locations seem roughly the same as I remember.’
Especially the potion shop and magical tool store, which I visited frequently in the game, were perfect replicas.
If I had to point out a slight difference:
‘They’re all women.’
Store owners, customers, and even passersby—all women.
‘…Isn’t this just a simple reversal of gender positions?’
No matter how you look at it, the Valdeon Saga wasn’t a game with such a drastic gender imbalance.
Conversely, it meant that all men must be somewhere here.
‘Why the hell would anyone play such a game?’
It seems the mode has elements that skew gender ratios as well.
Look at them.
“Hey, look there! A guy…”
“Go talk to him? Hey, how do I look right now?”
“…He just made eye contact with me, didn’t he? I think he’s interested in me! Hehehe.”
Even as I stood still, merely breathing, the atmosphere around me stirred.
Still, since this is the capital, I wouldn’t face harassment or mindless hunting.
But it doesn’t feel pleasant to feel like a caged animal.
I tried my best to ignore those heavy, sticky gazes and searched for something with my eyes.
‘It should be around here…’
I definitely knew it was nearby in the game.
That place that would be more useful than weapons or potions right now…
“…!”
Found it.
The faintly painted four characters on an old sign.
[万冊書庫]
The moment I saw it, my heart raced.
Unlike the flashy neighboring stores, it wasn’t refined, and there were no customers.
It looked like a dilapidated used bookstore, where one could barely tell if it was open.
‘Here it is, my treasure trove.’
To me, that place appeared as a paradise overflowing with honey and milk.
Not hesitating at all, I opened the door and stepped inside.
Jingle~
A cheerful chime that didn’t match the atmosphere rang out.
As I entered, there was a labyrinth of bookshelves and a thick layer of dust.
“Cough! Cough!”
Ugh.
How much cleaning can one possibly avoid for dust to swirl like fog?
Thanks to that, my mouth and nose felt gritty.
“Ugh, I think my nose is going to run…”
“…Oh? A customer?”
A light voice emerged while I grappled with the dust.
“A customer? What a surprise… Oh my, what a cute young lord we have here?”
Just as I expected, she didn’t change at all.
The NPC who runs [万冊書庫] is certainly a major character.
“Hehe, did you take a wrong turn? The tea shop and desserts are deeper inside.”
“No, I came to the right place.”
“Oh my.”
With her beautifully rolled brown ponytail and round glasses, she was a character that had garnered quite a fanbase despite not being a heroine.
‘Anna.’
She adjusted her glasses, smiling with satisfaction.
“Did my young lord really come here to read books?”
“Yes. I just arrived and have been searching for a bookstore.”
“Oh my, you have such a wonderful hobby~. Nowadays, very few people read books, you know.”
Anna’s face lit up with excitement as she suddenly started chattering about various topics.
“I recently read the new book by author Romalio, and the content was just so beautiful…”
“[Peonies and Droplets of Rain] you mean?”
“Oh! You know it!”
From then on, I had to endure Anna’s ramblings about books.
The crux of it was that I had to give the ‘right answer’ to her questions.
“In the game, the responses were multiple-choice, so I could rely on luck.”
As expected, life is the real deal.
If I wasn’t seasoned enough to recite the answers, I wouldn’t have been able to pull this off.
“Oh my, I don’t remember the last time a conversation was so enjoyable!”
After I gave all the right answers, Anna brightly smiled, seeming satisfied.
“With such a lovely young lord as my conversation partner, I lost track of time. I hope I didn’t trouble you? Surely, talking to someone as dreary as me wasn’t enjoyable…”
“No, I found it fun, big sister.”
“Oh my… oh my oh my oh my…”
Anna reacted shyly to my word “big sister.”
“Well, to show my appreciation for your company, I should give you a gift. How about unrestricted access to reading the books in this bookstore?”
“Really?! Thank you!”
That was a successful ‘first day.’
‘The secret quest at the bookstore consists of a seven-day linked series.’
To unlock the quest, I must engage with Anna’s conversations and only say ‘correct words’ to her questions.
If I succeed, I’ll get to read all the books in [万冊書庫] for free.
By continuously spending time with Anna for a week like this, I’d be able to receive the final quest.
[Entry Tip for Beginners #7]
If you go to the market street in Centinium, there’s a place called [万冊書庫].
Make sure to talk to Anna there to receive a quest.
However, since this is a secret quest, you need to consistently visit and chit-chat with her for a week to receive it.
It might be tedious, but you must do it to make the game easier.
Answers to the questions are summarized below.
1. [Peonies and Droplets of Rain]
2. [The Last Breath]
3. Author Andeiri.
.
.
.
If I have any tips that haven’t been mentioned here…
“Let’s see… This is it!”
Utilizing the hidden treasures found in [万冊書庫].
I weaved my way through the bookshelves, pulling out the necessary books.
[Three Talents Sword Technique]
[Basics of Swordsmanship]
SDVIMVFoanVzY1YwSVhjamMzUkt1ZVlrRFBTUmxWa3JYVjZ1K0xrLzRrSUVaY2hFVi9Bd3BxSDVlazc5c0NFNw
[Basic Management of Internal Energy]
[Gaungqi: The Invisible Armor]
This bookstore is a collection of books that Anna, who loves books for what they are, has gathered indiscriminately.
So if you look carefully, you’ll often find such third-rate secret books embedded among them.
‘But isn’t that just third-rate?’
That’s right.
Normally, such secret books would be discarded and considered worthless.
Who would find enlightenment in such low-tier books?
“Except for me.”
I smiled as I opened a book.
[Comprehending the Truth Contained in “Exceptional Talent”!]
[The “Swordsmanship Genius” Fully Understands the Secrets of the Secret Arts!]
No matter how powerful a weapon may be, if one can’t wield it, it becomes useless.
Conversely, a supreme master can harm a thousand men with nothing more than a twig.
‘This applies here too.’
Ordinary individuals might grasp only a singular concept from this book.
But with this body, enhanced by various talents,
“One glance is enough to awaken a thousand truths.”
[I Comprehend the Fundamentals of Swordsmanship.]
[All swordsmanship skills are integrated into “Sword Mastery” Lv.0.]
[Skill Level Up!]
“Sword Mastery”
Lv.0 -> Lv. 3
“Sword Mastery.”
It’s an essential ‘growth skill’ needed for an ultimate build related to swords.
The acquisition condition is to achieve ‘enlightenment’ while possessing three or more swordsmanship skills.
[I Weakly Comprehend the Truth of Qi!]
[You Have Obtained the Skill, “Gaungqi”!]
I obtained the “Gaungqi,” which Marco utilized to coat his body in armor-like energy for enhanced defense.
Vwwww…
When I tried utilizing it, a weak blue energy swirled around my body.
‘…This is successful!’
This advantage is invaluable, one that can’t be quantified in monetary terms.
Just by reading a few books, I laid the foundation for my ultimate build.
‘By the way, I should clean this place up soon.’
Even after focusing on reading, dust accumulated on my head and shoulders like snow.
Though gaining enlightenment in such a cramped space makes me feel like a martial arts master.
‘Anna… Is her lung health alright?’
Rubbing my eyes and looking outside, I noticed that dusk had begun to settle on the roadside.
Night would soon fall.
“They should be appearing soon.”
The hidden piece to allow for customization.
A special item that can only be obtained here.
I stretched and started to tidy up the books.
-‘At a specific condition, the Masked Merchant will appear in the nights of Centinium.’
And one of the items that the masked merchant sells,
Is precisely what I’m looking for.
“Let’s go.”
Thus begins the agonizing preparations for entrance.