Only I Am A Reader

Chapter 186 - A Library’s Purpose

Less than two days had passed since the free library picking had ended, but Iyeolhan was already gathering the trio for another meeting.

'That should be more than enough.'

As the head instructor, Iyeolhan judged that it would be wasteful to wait any longer, it was no time for the children to finally start learning!

Although they were already in possession of treasured technique books, no one expected children under the age of 10 to properly learn their content on their own, something like weapon skills could be instinctively trained by being thrown into battle, but true martial arts didn't work that way.

Let alone learning, the children didn't possess enough knowledge to pick their techniques, leaving them on their own with the books was like providing raw material to someone who never cooked before. The Heavenly Strength Society encouraged self-reliance, but they didn't plan to let the excellent seeds rot away uselessly. The right to pick their own techniques wasn't without reason either.

'It was a bit unconventional this time, but…'

The storage housing countless records of martial arts from the entirety of murim, the Heavenly Demon's library, it only appeared to be an empty corner hiding under Mount Heaven, but it was most definitely a single entity. It was the closest thing to an artifact that had obtained consciousness.

Unlike 'Ego Weapons' that had certain renown with the upper-class murim-ins, the library wasn't 'born' in that state due to its superior material or their maker's skill, it didn't have any offensive or defensive abilities either. The library was but an agglomeration of bookcases that rose in number as several generations of Heavenly Demons continued accumulating knowledge, through the profound passing of time, the forbidden area developed a single faint ability.

'It's understandable.'

The ability was as faint as it could be, but no one could dispute its nature. The essence of a library was to provide a reader with something to read, and that was exactly what this ability 'provided'.

Iyeolhan didn't stay in the library as the children made their choice so as to guard the books, that wasn't one of his duties. He was only there to observe!

Even for children, the library faithfully did its job. It wasn't that apparent, but anyone who entered the library would end up picking one book that suited them the most regardless of whether they intended to or not. However, such a faint ability wasn't absolute, it only made one 'pick', not to read or take away, and that was where Iyeolhan's role came to shine.

Cheon Yeon had only picked two books before retreating, but the fact that she did so meant that her 'match' was already in her hands, this was something that Iyeolhan was familiar with as a frequent 'library interpreter'. Cheon Yong didn't pick anything, but Iyeolhan could easily pick up the momentary attraction that the clueless child had shown. Only…

'An irregular can't be judged with common sense.'

Cheon Baekho's actions made it impossible for Iyeolhan to reach a judgment, he thought that he was playing around, but no normal person would 'play' all day long like that. This was just a superficial observation that had a distinct limit. Once he witnessed the whole thing, Iyeolhan matched what he saw with one conclusion.

The child was irregular just like his behavioral pattern had been so far, that didn't necessarily mean that he was a genius or an idiot, only that he didn't conform to the norm as fate wouldn't allow it. It could be that all books equally suited him that he could only behave so strangely, or it could be that he was incompatible with all of them, everything was possible, but interpreting the situation was a fool's errand, the fact that he made a choice in the end was more than enough.

'This generation might be the start of something interesting…'

Iyeolhan's gaze fell on Leo as he stopped and turned to face them, but he had no idea what was going on in the instructor's mind. Leo was only focused on the purpose of the meeting.

The library's ability was something that the author used to show off Yeon's 'destiny', so Leo naturally had knowledge of it, but it was similarly emphasized that not everyone managed to get their 'match' even with an interpreter like Iyeolhan.

In reality, Leo's expectations for this effect's manifestation simply faded away as soon as he made it into the library. Baekho would have ended up getting a book from Iyeolhan just like Cheon Yong, but he was more than just that. He wasn't a certain book's destined reader, but a reader of all. He had preferences and quality requirements. However, the whole library was within his reading list.

The presence of such a big collection had agitated him, this was undeniable but it was only a part of the truth. Without knowing it, Leo had fallen under the library's effect, only that its effect covered most of the library as his target. This was in fact the true culprit behind Leo's frenzy reading session rather than his overflowing emotions…

"Good job."

After clearing his mind, Iyeolhan walked towards the wall of the dining cave, performing a familiar set of movements. The wall parted from the middle, but it did so slowly this time.

Shhh… shhh… shhh…

"You have done well to get so far on your own, but…"

"Here! I'm not too late, right?"

Interrupting the head instructor's speech, Cheon Jeong stormed in, only stopping to stand by his side, her childish and unrestrained nature was properly exhibited once more.

"Ahem. It's now time for you to walk the proper path, learning under someone's guidance."

Keeping his gentle face on, Iyeolhan ignored the interruption as he stepped into the open wall. The stimulated dust made it hard to see, but the largest space that Leo and the others had seen since entering the Heavenly Furnace revealed itself.

"Let's start, shall we? I will take her."

The Blade Spirit took the stage immediately after, pointing towards her choice. However…

"Eh, really? You came out this time?"

[ Plot Change detected. Special Event occurrence has been confirmed. ]

The winds of change had arrived…