Chapter 62: Please Be Quiet In The Library (5)

There are games that incorporate even their system mechanics into the game’s lore.

Saving, for example, might be described as divine intervention or a place where an immortal unconsciously returns for rest.

Something like that.

This game also tries to integrate its system into the lore, stuffing various explanations into item descriptions.

I never really paid much attention to it, but I did remember The Book of Storage.

Of course, I would. It’s a save-exclusive item—how could I not read about it?

Unless I was doing a no-save run, I had no choice but to check it out.

So, I figured there was a good chance The Book of Storage would be in this secret archive that supposedly contained every book in existence… but actually finding it was still a bit surprising.

I opened the book, filled with memories from my past life, using my front paw.

…Well, of course.

There’s nothing written inside.

While The Book of Storage functions as a save-and-load system outside the game, within the lore, it allows me to store specific memories inside it.

Naturally, if I wish, I can load them as well.

It’s an item that can be used in various ways, but right now, it’s not immediately useful.

Saving a memory doesn’t erase it from my mind, after all.

However, as someone who knows the original game’s knowledge, The Book of Storage is a necessity.

It’s not some overpowered artifact, but it has plenty of uses.

For example, I could record small but crucial details from the original game that are easy to forget and reference them later.

Or, with permission, I could store and access someone else’s memories.

Especially since this world is starting to deviate from its original course.

“Nine, what are you doing?”

“Just looking at a book.”

“A book?”

Momo approached me with curiosity and peeked at The Book of Storage.

But she quickly lost interest and turned her gaze to me instead.

Without knowing its function, The Book of Storage was just an empty, dusty notebook.

Momo pressed her paw against my side and spoke.

“What’s written in it?”

“The Book of Storage.”

“I don’t get it—”

“That’s fine. You don’t need to.”

“Nine, this place is sooo boring~”

“If you go to the others, they’ll play with you.”

“No one’s paying attention to me…”

It seemed like everyone else was too absorbed in reading the books they had found.

As cute as Momo was, even she had her limits in situations like this.

“Take a nap.”

I increased my size to that of a tiger and patted my back with my tail.

Soon, a somewhat heavy weight settled onto me.

“Can’t I go explore?”

I understood her urge to run around, but this place was more dangerous than it seemed, so I couldn’t allow it.

Instead of answering, I covered Momo’s body with my tail.

Before long, soft breathing tickled my fur.

Finally, some peace.

[Can’t you be a little cuter, like that cat?]

“…No.”

[Ugh, I have no comeback for that.]

A voice filled with disappointment echoed in my head.

For the Grand Mage, who was enough of a cat lover to have two feline familiars, not being able to touch us must have been frustrating.

“So, how’s Alice?”

[She has remarkable talent. Not quite on my level, of course~]

Well, obviously.

You were one of the greatest mages in the continent’s history.

You literally defined the magic system of this world.

“Whatever. Can you fix her constitution?”

[Of course! But it’ll take some time—]

“How long, exactly?”

[Two years?]

That’s way too long.

“Can’t you speed it up?”

[Maybe if we stayed here the whole time, but otherwise, no. Changing someone’s natural constitution is extremely difficult.]

“But what if we use The Book of Storage?”

[The Book of… Storage?]

“You don’t know about it?”

[No, I do… but… that book was here?]

Her confused voice buzzed in my head.

Judging by her reaction, she genuinely didn’t know.

“You’re the one who placed magic over the secret archive, and you didn’t know?”

[But that book was supposed to be… gone…]

Her voice started breaking up, like a video buffering.

This didn’t happen in the original game.

…Then again, the characters in the game could only say pre-written lines.

Here, they were living beings in a fully realized world, so it made sense that there were things I didn’t know.

I waited patiently for the fragmented piece of the Grand Mage to collect her thoughts.

Luckily, I didn’t have to wait long.

[So, you’re saying that book is here?]

“That’s right.”

I tapped The Book of Storage with my paw to confirm its existence.

[I was certain they were all destroyed… How did it end up here?]

“No idea. What matters is that I found it.”

[How do you even know about that book? What are you hiding?]

“That’s a trade secret.”

[If I were still alive, I would’ve read your entire memory by now.]

“Yeah, yeah. So, what do you think? What if we store all the information Alice needs in here?”

With Alice’s level of talent, just giving her the right information would be enough for her to reach the correct answer on her own.

That meant we wouldn’t have to go through the hassle of coming back here again.

[Wouldn’t it be better to just transfer my consciousness into another living being? Like, say—]

“You wanna die?”

[Oh my, how scary~]

A shrill, unsettling laugh echoed through my head, as if she had caught me in a weak spot.

“Eliza’s Memoirs.”

[Wait, what?! That’s cheating!]

“Shut up. You want me to read it aloud?”

[Hmph, I could just take it back—]

“You don’t actually think your diary exists only here, do you?”

What would people think of their revered ancestor if they found out all the embarrassing blunders she had made?

Like how she lost Pelisec to her rival…

[How do you even know about that?!]

“Oh, I know more than just that. You’d better behave yourself.”

[Ugh…! This is infuriating! Why did someone like you have to end up here?!]

“You got yourself a good successor. Drink to that.”

“Nine, the sun’s about to rise…”

“You heard that, right? So hurry up and store the information.”

[Haa… As annoying as this is, I can’t just abandon such a promising successor…]

With a sharp snap of her fingers, The Book of Storage flipped open on its own.

The blank pages quickly filled with dense text.

Watching it happen felt strangely fascinating.

[There, done. Now get lost!]

“Yeah, yeah, I was leaving anyway. Enjoy running in circles for another thousand years.”

[You can come visit sometimes!]

“No thanks.”

[I’m allowing it, you brat! How dare you refuse?!]

Alright, we were done here.

“Take care. We’ve got a sunrise to catch.”

[Wait—]

“I’ll come back later.”

[Bring butterbeer!]

“I’ll think about it. Alright, guys! Let’s go! The sun’s almost up!”

At my call, everyone dusted themselves off and got ready to leave.

“Everyone got what they need?”

A chorus of confirmations came in response.

Good.

Time to head out.

Leading the way, I exited the secret archive.

By the time the morning sun started creeping over the horizon, the group had scattered, leaving only me, Momo, and Alice.

I called out to Alice.

“Alice. Take this.”

“…A notebook?”

“Yeah.”

She studied it curiously before opening it.

“It’s a notebook detailing how your ancestor solved your constitution problem.”

“Th-That’s amazing…”

“It’s just scraps of information, but the knowledge itself is real, so you can trust it.”

That annoying ancestor was loud, but she was genuinely useful in the game, so this should be fine.

Alice clutched the notebook tightly, a beaming smile on her face.

Good. Now her constitution should—

“Nine…”

“What?”

“Well… um…”

Why was she hesitating so much?

A strangely bittersweet scent brushed past my nose.

What was she trying to say to create this kind of atmosphere?

It was probably just a thank-you.

Still, I figured I should wait patiently.

After a long pause, Alice finally spoke.

“…Can I hug you?”

“…What?”

“I—I’ve never hugged you while you’re standing on two legs before.”

“…Sigh. Do whatever you want.”

“Yay!”

Being too popular was a problem in its own way.

I patted Alice’s back with my paw as she buried her face into my chest.

“So soft… I feel like I could fall asleep like this…”

“Go sleep in your dorm.”

“C-Can you sleep with me?”

“I’m heading home.”

“T-Then how about a snack before you go?”

“Nope. Cats don’t like their routines getting messed up.”

“…Okay…”

Alice pulled away, her white fur now covered in my fluff.

She sighed in disappointment as she walked off.

“Momo, let’s go home.”

“Okay!”

With Momo clinging to my back, I started heading toward our den.