Chapter 118: Searching for a Language Book in the Romance Section
The enormous library doors loomed before them. Tall. Ancient. Imposing.
Elanor stepped forward and gently pushed them open.
The doors opened easily, almost without a sound.
And the group entered, in silence.
But there was too much silence in the air.
Endless rows of shelves. Books as far as the eye could see. But... there was no one. Not a soul.
Moon frowned.
"Where’s the librarian? I want to see the adventure books."
Elanor looked around, confused.
"That’s exactly what I’m wondering..."
Chloe tilted her head. Then she made a gesture with her hand, pointing toward the back.
As if to say, "listen."
Max sharpened his hearing, noticing sounds. Low. Strange.
They were coming from behind the shelves.
His eyes narrowed.
’...bandits?’
His mind reacted quickly.
’...did they break in to steal...?’
He looked at Chloe and Elanor.
"Stay here, together."
He activated his ring. An invisible pulse spread outward. Absolute silence. The sound disappeared completely around him and Moon.
"Just in case," he muttered.
Moon was already ready. She unsheathed her frostfire sword. Her eyes gleamed.
"I’m going with you, Dad."
Max nodded.
The two of them moved forward. Without sound. Without footsteps. Like shadows.
They passed shelves. One after another. Until they reached the end.
The last large shelf.
A sign hung above it:
ROMANCE
The sounds were clearer now.
Max frowned. And then, he understood what kind of sounds they were.
"...ah, shit."
Before he could do anything, Moon rushed toward where the sounds were coming from. Weapon in hand. Ready to attack.
Max reacted instantly. He jumped after her, grabbed her, lifted her slightly off the ground, and covered her eyes.
"Hey—!"
Moon struggled.
"What’s going on?!"
And behind the shelf... stood Don and Arwen. Against the wall. Kissing.
Max deactivated the ring. Sound rushed back all at once.
"...what the hell is going on here?"
"Don’t look!" he told Moon, keeping her eyes covered.
Don and Arwen immediately pulled apart. Both completely red.
Don adjusted his gloves. He straightened his shirt into his suit.
Arwen buttoned up the front of her blouse, quickly fixing her hair before putting her glasses back on.
"...we weren’t expecting visitors," she said, trying to maintain composure.
Don cleared his throat.
"We were... looking for the Elvish language book."
Pause.
"...and one thing led to another."
Max looked at him.
Then at the sign.
ROMANCE
"...yeah, sure."
He crossed his arms.
"Looking for language books in the right section, I see."
Don sighed.
"...very well."
He gave in.
"You’ve discovered us."
He glanced sideways at Arwen.
"We’ve maintained a... discreet relationship."
Pause.
"For years."
Max raised an eyebrow.
"Not that discreet."
He shrugged.
"Rumors fly through the halls."
Don inclined his head.
"My apologies."
Arwen raised a hand.
"I’ll get the book for you."
She looked at him.
"I hope this hasn’t been... uncomfortable."
"A little," Max replied.
In his arms, Moon frowned.
"Where are the bandits?"
Don blinked.
"...bandits?"
Max let out a laugh.
"No bandits."
Pause.
"All clear."
Arwen extended her hand.
In the distance, a book slid off a shelf on its own. It floated gently through the air until it landed in her palm.
A yellow book. Worn and old.
"It’s the only one left here."
She explained.
"There was another, but it was donated to the city library."
Max nodded.
"This works, thanks."
He released Moon.
And the group returned toward the entrance.
Don and Arwen behind them.
Elanor and Chloe were still where they had left them.
Maintaining an awkward silence. A very awkward silence, since they didn’t know how to communicate with each other, and the princess was still a bit jealous.
Max lifted the book.
"Alright, mission accomplished."
He smiled.
"We got it."
Elanor nodded.
"We can sit over here."
She pointed to a nearby table.
"So she can use it now."
Max looked at Chloe.
"Come on."
He gestured to her.
"Let’s sit down."
Chloe sighed, relieved.
"Finally I’ll be able to communicate with someone without depending on you."
Max looked at her.
"Hey."
She smiled.
"I’m kidding."
She gave him a light shove.
"You’re a good translator."
Max laughed.
Elanor watched them. Jealous again.
Moon, curious, tilted her head.
"How is she going to learn the language with that?"
Max lifted the book.
"Easy."
He handed it to Chloe.
"You have to consume it."
Chloe held it.
"...okay, consume it."
Pause.
"How?"
Max pointed.
"You have to think about it. Go to the inspect window. Focus on the item."
Chloe stared at the book, completely focused, for a few seconds.
Silence.
"...it popped up."
Max smiled.
"Good."
"...but..."
She frowned.
"The ’consume’ option is grayed out."
Pause.
"...it says ’restricted.’"
Max blinked.
"...what?"
He leaned in slightly.
"That’s... weird."
Max frowned, thinking.
"...do this," he finally said. "Accept the party invitation."
Chloe looked at him.
"...how do I do that?"
Max sighed.
"Then I need to ask you something."
Chloe nodded.
"Ask anything."
Max looked straight at her.
"Before you appeared in the throne room..."
Pause.
"...did you hear a voice? See a system window, like the one just now?"
Chloe narrowed her eyes, recalling.
"...yeah, maybe."
She shrugged.
"But I didn’t pay much attention. I didn’t understand anything."
Max nodded slowly.
"Alright..."
He pointed at the air in front of her.
"Try to accept the party invitation by focusing on the notification."
Chloe closed her eyes, concentrating.
Max felt the shift. A new presence.
He blinked.
And then, there it was.
Chloe’s profile appeared in his party interface.
Max opened his window and looked.
First, the basics. Name. Level 1. Class.
All normal.
Until he scrolled down to the stats. He froze.
"...uh..."
He blinked. Looked again.
The numbers... made no sense. They were absurdly high for someone level 1.
Far above normal. Even for someone summoned.
Max swallowed.
’...what is this...?’
He kept scrolling. Skills.
And then, he saw it. A single skill.
SSS rank.
His eyes widened.
"...no..."
His expression changed completely.
"...this can’t be."
Moon stepped forward.
"What’s wrong?"
She frowned.
"Why that face?"
Max turned slightly toward her and spoke in Elvish, in a low voice.
"The worst possible thing just happened."
Moon tilted her head.
"Huh?"
Max clenched his teeth.
"Chloe has a skill..."
Pause.
"...that prevents her from consuming the book."
Moon’s eyes widened.
"...what?"
Max looked back at the interface, serious.
"...she won’t be able to learn the language like this."
Beside him, Chloe was still looking at the book.
Frowning.
Not understanding a single thing that was happening.