Chapter 198: The Book of Challenges (1)

“Everyone, step aside.”

“What? But...”

“Give our guests a place to stay.” Nain Darhon then turned to Karyl. “And you and I are going to have a longer discussion.”

Mikhail and Serica had worried that the tense exchange would devolve into a fight at any moment, but Nain Darhon was being unexpectedly cordial.

“Speak your mind.”

At Nain Darhon’s command, the hunchbacked man hurriedly descended the stairs.

Watching him go, Karyl called out to him as though they were acquainted.

“I’d like some wine from Cotteru. If you have any, could you bring a bottle over here?”

The man stopped in his tracks.

“Excuse me? Cotteru is a northern region. There’s no way we’d have that here...”

“Oh, that’s unfortunate. I thought you might be able to get it.”

After this strange exchange with Karyl, the man quickened his pace down the stairs.

“You two stay here.”

“...?”

Nain Darhon looked puzzled as he glanced at Mikhail and Serica standing behind Karyl.

“We’re about to discuss a very significant matter. Even within Antihum, few know about it.”

“So?”

“Well, of course, those two need to—”

“They’re essential in dealing with the Dust of the Void,” Karyl cut him off. “While this whole thing might be a secret in Antihum, it’s just someone else’s business for us, nothing more. They stay, or we have no deal.”

“Such arrogance... Are you a dragon or something? Acting so high and mighty...”

“I’m no dragon, but I’m planning to hunt one after leaving here. If you’re interested, you can come along.”

“...Huh?”

Even more bewildered than before, Nain Darhon simply chuckled at Karyl’s absurd invitation.

“A dragon? Are you trying to revive the ancient practice of dragon hunting? Which dragon are you planning to hunt? The Gold Dragon, Enuma Elashi, or Cruah, the Green Dragon?”

“I’m heading to the lair of the Platinum Dragon.”

“The chief of dragons?”

Despite Karyl’s audaciousness, Nain Darhon didn’t take his words as mockery; he merely sighed.

“It won’t be easy.”

“I have a reason to meet him. But first, I need to resolve the issue here.”

“I wasn't referring to your task, but never mind. It’s not my place to say."

Nain Darhon then pointed at Mikhail and Serica.

“Are you two also planning to take the library’s test? If you wish to speak to me, you must pass the test."

Vooom...

As soon as Nain Darhon finished speaking, the bookshelf behind him split apart, revealing another bookshelf behind, holding just one small book.

“The test is open to all. However, if you don’t have the qualifications to access the library, you’ll pay the price."

The two nodded nervously.

Nain Darhon died in an incident before the Oracle War. If my guess is correct, it has to do with what he’s doing now.

The Dust of the Void, an incomplete Tarak, had exploded with enough force to obliterate the village of Antihum, home to hundreds.

Though it was unclear how far Nain Darhon had advanced in his project, if he lost his life experimenting with the refinement of Tarak, something that not even Allen Javius had mastered, then...

I could save him this time around.

Allen Javius’ resurrection through Tarak research.

Kaye Aesir’s second companion.

Duaat, the Dark Spirit King sealed in the library.

And lastly, Nain Darhon's life.

“...”

Karyl folded his fingers one by one, adding Nain Darhon to the list of things to gain here and etching it into his mind.

“Do we have to take the test? Even though we're here to help you?”

“It’s the only way to get past Antihum’s barrier. Although it’s in an ordinary village, you need to see the true form of the Grand Library for it to be of any help,” Nain Darhon explained.

Karyl shrugged, disappointed.

“So not even the owner of the library can make it easier for us. I was hoping for a shortcut, but I guess it can’t be helped. Mikhail, Serica, prepare for the trial."

“What? Do we really have to do it?” Mikhail asked, his expression tense as he looked toward the back of the study.

“Of course. Why else do you think I brought you along?” Karyl then turned to Serica. “With your Halgard spear technique, it shouldn’t be too difficult. Also, make sure you don’t lose the magic wand I gave you."

“Lord, I’m—” Mikhail began, but Karyl kept talking to Serica.

“I would’ve taught you some magic if we’d had more time. Well, given your personality, I reckon you’ll be fine.”

“...What’s that supposed to mean? Are you making fun of me?”

With a grin, Karyl ruffled Serica’s hair. Despite being younger, his touch felt like that of an older brother, leaving her flustered.

“You can infuse magic into your spear technique, right? Your father must’ve taught you the theory."

“How do you know that?”

At that, Karyl smirked and said, “You're a mercenary, right? Talkative mercenaries know the theory even if they can’t do it.”

“...Hmph,” Serica scoffed.

Of course, she didn’t know that in her previous life, she would tell her father’s stories whenever she used her perfected Freezing Spear technique.

Serica, don’t worry about anything else. I’m making you do this for one reason only. Not for the third-rate Halgard technique but to learn the Dark Slash of the Spear King here at Antihum.

She was a master of the third-rate spear technique, but if she managed to learn the Dark Slash here, she could surpass the Spear King.

The Halgard spear technique lacks offensive power, so it’s decent only for defense. But the Dark Slash excels in both offense and defense.

Serica Lauren had the chance to create an unprecedented spear technique and surpass her past self.

“And... What about me?” Mikhail asked urgently as he saw the two stride forward.

“You...”

Karyl turned slightly, looking at him for a while before saying,” Well, I’m sure you’ll manage.”

“...What?!”

With a peculiar smile, Karyl turned to Nain Darhon.

“Very well. We’ll take the library’s test.”

Nain Darhon grinned as if he had been waiting for this.

Rumble, rumble...!

With a sound like a monster’s roar, the hidden bookshelf split open, just like the larger one, revealing a black book tightly bound in chains.

Duaat’s seal must be behind that.

Though Ramine was asleep, Karyl could sense the spirit’s presence thanks to his contract with the Blazing King. He focused entirely on the seal behind, barely concerned with the trial that was about to commence.

“The Book of Challenges,” Nain Darhon spoke in a low voice. With that, the chains unraveled, and the small book floated above his hand.

Grrr...

The living eyeball embedded in the book cover swiveled to look at Karyl.

Nain Darhon opened the book and recited, “By the creator’s authority, I grant permission to read.”

***

“Hmm...”

Karyl slowly opened his eyes.

As the Book of Challenges unfolded, the room was engulfed in a blinding darkness, forcing him to keep his eyes shut until now. Although the concept of blinding darkness seems oxymoronic, it was the only way to describe the peculiar sensation.

[Courage, Confrontation, Obstacle]

Three words emerged slowly from the darkness, as if floating on the surface of water.

The trial of the Grand Library was straightforward—one had to simply pass the test that appeared in the darkness.

Having taken this test once before, Karyl was neither surprised nor flustered. The only difference was that now, unlike before, there were three choices.

Hmm, is it perhaps because Mikhail and Serica are also here?

In his past life, he had chosen Confrontation. The other two, Courage and Obstacle, likely appeared because of Mikhail and Serica.

“It means I can take a different test...”

As he murmured, the words Courage and Obstacle faded away.

Seeing this, Karyl exhaled lightly with a knowing expression.

“It seems the two have made their decisions.”

He smiled faintly, guessing who had chosen which trial.

Karyl placed his hand on the remaining word, Confrontation. Then, in the blink of an eye, an entirely different scenery appeared before him.

He found himself in an empty space with nothing in sight. There were no clues, no signposts to guide him, but Karyl simply walked forward, resolute.

Come to think of it, this is the only thing that is exactly the same as in my previous life.

Although Karyl had drastically shifted the course of history, making this timelike completely different from the previous one, the trial of the library remained the same. It seemed this wasn’t a part of history he could alter, but rather a glimpse of the fate still awaiting him.

As he kept walking, Karyl felt like he had lost his sense of direction, unsure if he was advancing or walking in place.

“...”

Time kept passing, but he couldn’t tell how long he had been walking; he was exhausted, his throat dry, but he kept moving forward.

One step per second. Over 600,000 steps means roughly... a week. It took ten days last time. How long will it take this time...

The trial was grueling, but Karyl wasn’t about to give up. This wasn’t even about preparing for the hardships that lay ahead. What truly spurred him to keep going was the thought of who awaited him on the other side.

Last time, it was incredibly tough... but compared to climbing Pharel, this is nothing

, Karyl thought with a smile.

This isn’t even a trial or a hardship. If anything, it’s the one thing about the Immortal Council that I actually like.

Using necromancy to reject death, creating darkness, and researching curses in pursuit of hell—although polar opposites, death and creation are undeniably connected in the realm of divine power.

The reason the Immortal Council remains so secretive and closed off, unlike the Dawn Council, is due to the suppression by the Church.

In contrast, the Dawn Council focused solely on elemental magic and even studied the Church’s holy light magic. This garnered them full support from the Church, which was why Kadin Luer, a member of the Dawn Council, had been selected as the imperial court sorcerer.

“Just for rejecting that wretched god, the Immortal Council has enough reason to continue existing in this world,” Karyl muttered with a cold smile, as if speaking to someone.

Confrontation.

When Karyl first learned of this trial, he interpreted it as a cruel test, one that asked him to raise his sword against the god he served in fulfilling the Oracle. And indeed, it was exactly that. As the vanguard leading the Ten of the Oracle, even raising his sword for this trial had been a struggle.

However...

Step, step, step...

The current Karyl was different. He drew his sword, lightly tracing a circle in preparation for what was to come. Returning to this place, he felt like he finally understood the true meaning behind the Confrontation trial.

...How long had he been walking for again?

Flash!

Boom...!

He dashed forward with all his might, the ground shattering under his feet. His blurred figure disappeared into the darkness, accompanied by a deafening sonic boom.

“Finally...”

In the distance, a woman’s figure emerged from the darkness.

Channeling all his pent-up frustration, Karyl grabbed the woman’s face and shoved it back with all his strength. He then forcefully lifted her in the air and slammed her head straight into the ground.

Crash!

Through his fingers, he looked her in the eye.

“We meet at last...”

The woman’s delicate face resembled the massive statue erected in the center of the plaza in Heim, the Holy Land of the Church.

“Thank you for giving me this trial.”

Shunk!

Then, without hesitation, Karyl plunged his sword into Yula’s neck.