Between the towering bookshelves that reached the ceiling, librarians appeared and disappeared, their movements seamless. Amidst the scent of old books, the sharp tang of disinfectant lingered in the air. There was a faint trace of blood too. Perhaps patients were being housed here. The scene overlapped with fragments of the fallen world Uijae had once witnessed. Collapsed bookshelves, scattered books, and weary Hunters sitting atop the disarray—this library had once become the last refuge.

**Click**, a librarian placed a steaming cup of coffee and a neatly arranged plate of cookies on the table. Uijae bowed his head in thanks, though he couldn’t remove his mask to eat or drink anyway.

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. The Guild Master mentioned that you might have to wait a bit. Is that alright?”

“Yes, that’s fine. Could I read some books while I wait?”

“Of course. Is there any particular book you’re looking for? I could help you find it if you like…”

“No, I don’t have anything specific in mind. I’ll just browse.”@@novelbin@@

“Understood.”

The librarian bowed politely before disappearing between the bookshelves. Uijae, not touching the coffee, stood up. He wandered between the shelves, glancing at the books packed tightly from floor to ceiling. Had Nam Woojin read all the books here? Without looking at the title, Uijae grabbed a book at random and opened it. It was so old that the cover and pages felt rough and brittle, and inside were symbols written in an unrecognizable script. He had never seen this writing before.

“……”

Uijae narrowed his eyes as he flipped through the pages. He couldn’t make out a single word. **Flick, flick**, he turned the pages until something like an illustration caught his eye. It was a drawing, depicting intricate patterns with fine lines. Somehow, it felt familiar. He traced the pattern with his fingers, the complex lines and dots stirring a faint recognition. Uijae frowned.

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