Chapter 432: Blot
"Anyway, I can smell books. I believe you brought some to exchange for books from this library?" the figure continued in a calmer voice. "If you show them to me I can tell you what you can exchange for them."
Jonas hadn't expected such a reaction. From the way things had been going a moment ago, he'd expected that their combined group would be fracturing again and they'd be risking getting ejected from the library entirely.
One thing that he also found surprising, although he guessed it made sense with magic being involved in this world, that the one greeting them was a talking book. He wasn't sure what the book could do to protect the library, but he had a feeling that it was more than capable of handling itself in a dangerous situation.
Elmo pulled out the books that he had in his pack. While Jonas had been skeptical about what value the books actually had, he hadn't expected them to have this kind of value. Where they'd be able to trade books for them.
Although, part of the challenge would be getting the right books. Such as if the book they were looking for was in fact present in this library, and they were only able to exchange for one book, then that's the book they'd need to get. Regardless of what books anyone else in the combined group wanted instead.
As Elmo placed the books down in front of the talking book, two ribbon bookmarks came out from the inside of the talking book and picked up the books in front of it, like they were hands themselves, as it inspected each one.
When it was done, Jonas wondered why he felt such a sensation of apprehension. It wasn't like he considered this to be the only way to get the book that they wanted. Especially since he wasn't sure what the usual exchange rate at this place was in the first place.
"Alright," the book said cheerfully. "Based on the content and condition of these books," the book motioned to all but one of the books Elmo had put in front of it, "you can take any two books from this library that you would like. However, if you change your minds at any time, you can decide to take these books back with you and not make the exchange."
"Uh, if we only find one book that we want, would we have to still exchange for a second book?" Elmo asked. "Or would we be able to just make that split?"
Somehow the book nodded. Jonas wasn't sure how, but he got a clear sense that that's exactly what the book did.
"Of course," the book replied. "You would just have to figure out which of the books you brought would be left in exchange for it."