Rudger instinctively tried to enter combat.

Given what Dreamland had shown so far, that black mud was likely to be something dangerous.

Attack before being attacked.

There was no doubt that this was the best course of action in the current situation.

But before Rudger could step forward, Zantman was quicker to raise his hand to stop him.

"Calm down, teacher."

"..."

Rudger stared at Zantman.

His expression didn't show much sense of crisis.

If Zantman, who had information about this place, showed such a reaction, it meant that the black mud wasn't that dangerous.

Rudger withdrew his fighting spirit.

However, he didn't completely lower his guard in case of unexpected situations.

"What exactly is that?"

"An information collective that exists here. What's known as the 'Librarian.'"

"Librarian?"

As soon as those words ended, the mud spread on the floor suddenly rose up.

"Eek!"

Sedina let out an involuntary scream.

The black, slimy mud grew to a size of 2m.

A blunt streamlined body. The arms were attached like wings, and golden circuits were engraved like patterns all over the black body.

The overall shape resembled a penguin. Even the way it walked, waddling, was exactly like one.

However, where the head should be, instead of a beak, there was only a round golden hole.

That appearance created a strangely dull cuteness.

Even Sedina, who was startled, felt her tension dissipate at the sight of what looked like a large mascot doll.

"As you can see, it's an information collective that inhabits the lower part of Dreamland, not threatening at all."

"So what does this librarian do here?"

"What would a librarian do? Obviously, it plays the role of protecting this place, the library."

"This place?"

"The lower middle layer of Dreamland. The last world before descending to the deep layer. This is the dream library, [Sanctus Bibliotheca]."

Translated, it meant sacred library.

Rudger once again took in the scenery of the library.

This place, filled with all sorts of bookshelves and books, was larger than any library Rudger had ever seen.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that its end couldn't be seen.

The floor sparkled with starlight as if the Milky Way of the night sky had been transferred there, and from above the ceiling, gentle sunlight was shining down.

A place where day and night coexist.

A library that exists somewhere in between.

"This is a place created by the accumulation of people's dreams. Considering why Dreamland was created, all the books shelved here are someone's memories and dreams."

"You're saying there are this many?"

"It's also a place that has existed alongside human history."

If that's the case, isn't this truly a treasury of knowledge?

It was clear that all sorts of magical knowledge from the very distant past, now lost, would be stored here.

Sedina was also inspired by this.

She too, as a magician, was curious.

"Stop."

Zantman stopped Sedina as if he had expected this.

"I recommend not touching the books here carelessly. No, beyond recommending, it's better not to touch them at all."

"Why, why? When you think about the knowledge here..."

Sedina timidly objected.

Rudger also didn't respond, but inwardly he was amazed that such a place existed, and felt desire.

'If this is a place where all past memories are recorded, I might be able to find a way to cure Rene's incurable disease here.'

Right now, he could rely on the black magician's curse, but even that situation isn't certain.

And now they've arrived at a place where all past knowledge and records are stored.

For Rudger, he couldn't help but be engulfed by the temptation of knowledge.

Not just Rene's treatment method.

Beyond that, there were the world's mysteries that magicians had yet to solve.

Couldn't they discover their origins?

It was truly a value that was difficult to calculate in monetary terms.

Even someone who wasn't a magician would understand the importance of this place but that's why Rudger suppressed his desires.

The deeper one went into Dreamland, the more the difficulty increased to a level that was hard for human unconsciousness to handle.

But now suddenly a library appears where all the world's knowledge can be confirmed...

"There are conditions for viewing the books, right?"

"Huh."

Zantman expressed admiration at Rudger's statement of the correct answer.

Usually, when people face such situations, they get distracted by the scene before them and overlook important facts even if they're not ordinary people.

Who could come this far in Dreamland?

Throughout past history, only Dream Walkers could come here.

He didn't know about the more distant past, but at least that's how it was as far as Zantman remembered.

Even Dream Walkers, who diligently train their minds not to be swayed in Dreamland, become fascinated when they face this holy library but Rudger didn't.

Being human, he wasn't completely immune to the temptation of this situation.

He just cut it off cleanly with reason as sharp as a well-honed blade.

Zantman knew better than anyone that this wasn't as easy as it sounded because he remembered when he first came here himself.

"You keep surprising me, teacher. I suppose the Master does have an eye for people after all."

"What's with the sudden praise?"

"Is it wrong to call something impressive, impressive? Going back to our previous conversation, you're right. There are conditions for viewing the books here."

"Those conditions seem quite strict."

"Quite?"

A sneer appeared on Zantman's lips at those words.

Because he knew that even the word "quite" was woefully inadequate.

"What's placed here is a book but not a book. More precisely, it's memory. It's the collective of knowledge, experience, and memories that someone has accumulated throughout their life, melted into dreams. I don't know how it came to be displayed so prominently in book form, but that's not what's important."

Zantman's eyes held clear caution as he looked at the books shelved in the bookcase.

"Think about it. What must one give up to obtain knowledge that isn't their own? Dreamland is never a place that bestows grace upon anyone. It tries to suppress and devour them, and even when it gives something, it tries to take something else of equal value. It's a world that is dreamlike yet cruel."

Hans, who had been quietly listening, opened his mouth.

"Then, are you saying that to obtain knowledge, we must offer other knowledge as payment?"

"Similar. But would simple knowledge be enough? Didn't I say? Experience and memories are mixed in here too."

"That's..."

"To gain something, you must lose something. The content contained in one of these books has someone's entire life melted into it. What do you think will happen if you read it all?"

"...You're saying you must give up your entire life."

"That's right."

Zantman nodded.

Knowledge for knowledge.

Memory for memory.

Experience for experience.

It makes an exchange as precisely as if measured on scales.

When one completely reads a book, the person who read it disappears and transforms into the being contained within that book.

"It's essentially memory overwriting, isn't it?"

That was what Seridan said after understanding the situation.

And Zantman didn't deny those words.

Someone's self disappears, and based on the memories contained in the book, a new self takes over the empty body.

Then who exactly would that be?

The owner of the book, or the person who read it?

"What do you think would happen if memories change but that person's body and soul remain the same? Even necromancing a soul into a dead body causes massive repercussions. But what if the body and soul are fine, yet the foundation of memories completely vanishes?"

"This is quite an abstruse and ambiguous story. If the soul and body remain the same, is there a problem with only memories changing?"

"Let's say there's a person A. They read a book containing person B's memories. Thus, A's memories disappear, and B's memories are inscribed. Then is that person A or B?"

That's an extremely complicated matter.

Both body and soul belong to A.

But the memories are B's.

It's different from A simply losing their memories and accumulating different experiences through a new life.

When someone with amnesia lives their future life, it's still their own life.

But if all of one's past is erased and replaced with the memories of someone completely unknown...

Who exactly do they become?

No, in the first place, in such a case...

Can that person remain sane?

"You finally seem to understand."

Seeing Rudger's expression turn serious, Zantman continued speaking as if lamenting.

"I didn't believe it either. But only after seeing what happened to my companion who, unable to resist the temptation of knowledge, opened a book, did I realize the severity."

"Did that person...read the entire book?"

"Only about half. But even with just half of those memories, he went mad. Memories that aren't your own, memories of someone else. Not simply existing as information, but flowing in as vividly as if you experienced them yourself."

Even for happy, joyful things, when something that isn't yours flows in, it creates confusion due to that disconnect.

But what about memories that are horrific, painful, and regretful?

Though they aren't your memories, they feel as vivid as if you experienced them directly.

There's something called empathy quotient.

People suffer as if they experienced something themselves even when it happened to others.

Then what would happen if those memories actually flowed in?

"Human minds are fragile. Even Dream Walkers who train their minds more diligently than ordinary magicians are the same. With just half of someone's memories, a Dream Walker goes mad. Do these books look tempting? I felt the same at first. But not anymore."

Zantman spoke with a trembling voice.

"This place frightens me the most. That with all these seductive and beautiful temptations present, I cannot touch any of them. That even while knowing I must not touch them, somewhere in my heart, the desire to open them keeps twitching."

At those words, Rudger suddenly recalled such a saying.

The most dangerous temptations don't reach out from dark, slimy places.

Rather, they hold light and reach down proudly from the sky along with heavenly harmony.

Like divine mercy bestowed by God.

"Let's move on. There's nothing for us to gain here."

Just as Zantman was about to hurry his steps, it happened.

"Since you've come all this way, why not stay a little longer?"

At the sudden voice of an uninvited guest, everyone's gaze turned to one side.

A path opened between bookshelves and desks.

There stood a skinny, tall old man with his hands behind his back.

The golden light flickering in his crooked eyes reminded one of a crescent moon hanging in the night sky.

* * *

Rene clicked her tongue at the complex and dizzying structure of the celestial island.

At first, she tried to stay put with the thought of waiting for rescue as much as possible, but after seeing a giant eel moving from above, she changed her mind.

The further down she went, Rene felt something indescribably anxious.

Her eyes throbbed, and it felt like this entire world was warning her of danger but it was still okay for now.

Whether it was because the level of danger wasn't serious, or there was another reason, she didn't know.

'If I were alone, I wouldn't have been able to make such leisurely observations.'

Rene looked at the people moving with her.

Although separated from Erendir, she hadn't ended up alone.

Because by her side was someone who was more reliable than anyone else in this situation.

"Rene. Are you okay?"

She nodded to Freuden Ulburg who asked while looking at her with worried eyes.

"Yes. I'm perfectly fine!"

She deliberately showed off her biceps as if boasting.

Of course, all that was visible was her school uniform, and what was inside was just smooth skin without muscles.

Henry Preston, Freuden's best friend, who was watching this scene through narrowed eyes, shook his head.

'That Freuden. How nice it would be if he showed such gentle behavior more often normally.'

It wasn't just Rene and Freuden here.

Other second-year students including Henry were also present.

Normally, Freuden would have exercised his charisma to lead the students here but since Rene arrived, Freuden's attention was focused on her.

The other students were surprised by such behavior from Freuden.

'Looking at Freuden's usual behavior, you could say he's almost blatantly showing his feelings now.'

Henry's narrowed eyes turned toward Rene.

'Come to think of it, that junior is no ordinary person either. To remain unmoved even when Freuden is acting like this.'

It felt like she didn't recognize Freuden as a member of the opposite sex from the start.

Though her attitude showed goodwill, it was more like treating a nice person who treats you well rather than romantic interest.

'Sigh. My friend. How did you end up falling for such a girl?'

Henry had to barely swallow the sigh that was about to come out.

It's not that Rene is bad. She has a good personality, she's pretty, and she's even well-versed in magic.

Though she has some difficulties in manifesting magic due to her constitution, but what's that compared to everything else?

Being of common birth?

The Ulburg family had the wealth and power to make even a street beggar into a minor noble.

The problem was that Rene didn't see Freuden as a member of the opposite sex at all.

Someone like Freuden would have well-bred young ladies lining up for him, yet it was curious how this commoner girl only treated him as a good senior.

'Or is it? Perhaps that's what makes her more attractive?'

However, looking at Freuden's attitude, it seemed like there must have been something more between them in the past.

'Yet Rene herself doesn't seem to notice it at all. Something feels off.'

Whether knowing Henry's concerns or not, Freuden continued to be conscious only of Rene.

"Let's rest here for now."

At Freuden's words, the students sat down with sighs of relief.

"Then I'll go look around the area."

"I'll go with you."

"It's okay. I can do it alone since I'm just looking around nearby."

Seeing Rene wave her hand as she spoke, Freuden couldn't insist.

After leaving her spot, Rene quietly examined the surroundings.

Her eyes, which could detect danger in advance, played a big role in finding potential threats.

'This place seems okay.'

Just as Rene was about to go back and tell them it would be safe for a while, she turned around at a sudden creepy feeling.

There, a pitch-black darkness she had never seen before was undulating.

'What, what is this?'

She had never seen such darkness before in her life.

It wasn't actually existing darkness, but a danger signal sent by her Judgment Eye.

Toward the startled Rene, a man in the darkness slowly opened his mouth.

"So here you were."