The female librarian posed three questions. The person at the front of the line answered them one by one. Each response was a negative—a simple, hollow "no."
As the person spoke, the librarian methodically scribbled on her notepad.
There were only these three questions. Once they were finished, the female librarian gave a faint, indifferent wave of her hand, signaling the person to move on.
"Pass. Proceed to the second floor."
The first person obeyed wordlessly, moving with a mechanical docility as they climbed the stairs to the second floor.
Logically speaking, the second floor was just another part of the library's collection; there shouldn't have been any danger there.
But "logically speaking" rarely applied in situations like this.
Standing at the very back of the line, Horitake felt a flicker of concern. Worried that the first person might be devoured the moment they reached the upper floor, he activated his Spirit Vision. Utilizing the X-ray-like properties of the ability, he peered through the ceiling of the first floor to observe the situation above.
The second floor was hollow and silent. There wasn't a soul in sight.
The first person reached the landing. Because they were in a deep state of hypnosis and lacked further instructions, they simply stood there—stiff, indifferent, and motionless. They showed no sign of independent will or reaction.
Alright then. Since there's no immediate danger on the second floor, I'll hold my breath and see how this plays out, Horitake thought, deciding to remain a silent observer.
The long queue in the corridor shuffled forward a few paces.
At the front of the line, the second person underwent the same interrogation. The same three questions were asked; the second person gave the same three negative answers. The librarian recorded these results just as she had before.
Once the questioning was over, the second person was ordered upstairs.
The line moved forward again.
Then came the third person. Three questions, three answers, all negative. Recorded. Sent upstairs.
Then the fourth. The procedure was identical.
The fifth… the sixth… the seventh…
One by one, the individuals finished their "interview" and ascended the stairs. The line grew shorter, and the number of people remaining on the first floor dwindled.
Finally, after the first sixteen had been processed, it was the seventeenth person's turn: Horitake.
With an indescribable mix of emotions, Horitake stood before the librarian's desk. He listened to her recite the three questions he had already heard sixteen times over.
How should he answer?
"I've killed demons. I am the Sky Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps. I'm the very swordsman you're looking for—the one who flashes with purple lightning."
Should he be that "headstrong" and just give it to her straight?
He shook the thought away. Horitake had a feeling that this librarian was merely operating on her surface consciousness, acting out instructions and recording data almost subconsciously. If he threw that much information at her, her hypnotized brain would likely experience a total system crash.
So, standing before the desk, Horitake mimicked the others. He gave negative answers to all three questions.
The female librarian recorded his responses in sequence and gestured for him to go upstairs.
As Horitake climbed the stairs at a leisurely pace, he couldn't help but criticize the situation in his mind.
Hypnotized puppets really aren't the brightest. They can only execute commands mechanically. They have zero flexibility when faced with an anomaly. They're basically low-intellect robots.
His clothing and appearance were starkly different from the sixteen people before him. His expression and demeanor were obviously distinct as well. Yet, these two librarians hadn't noticed a single thing.
Well, they're just poor souls under a spell. I'll leave them be for now.
Horitake reached the second floor, curious to see what the next move was. After all this dawdling, the mastermind behind the scenes had to show their face eventually, didn't they?
As the seventeenth person, he had followed the tail of the line quite blatantly. Horitake refused to believe that the culprit hadn't noticed his presence by now.
The culprit definitely knew he was there.
The question was: what would they do next?
Horitake found himself quite looking forward to it.
Upon reaching the second floor, the scene remained unchanged. Aside from the oppressive gloom caused by the lack of lights, there was nothing unusual. Sixteen innocent, hypnotized victims were scattered across the floor.
Because their true consciousness was suppressed, they existed only on a primal, reflexive level. Without a direct order, they wouldn't move an inch. Consequently, they stood there like the living dead—dull, vacant, and stationary.
Horitake calmly pulled over a chair and sat in a corner of the reading area, watching the scene unfold with cold, observant eyes.
Now that the group was gathered, the next stage of the "procedure" was bound to begin.
Sure enough, the sound of rhythmic footsteps echoed from the stairs. The male and female librarians from the first floor ascended, each carrying a dim, flickering lantern.
They were still in a state of somnambulism, guided by some unseen command. Once they reached the second floor, they began to move with stiff, jerky motions.
The two librarians placed their lanterns on a table and began rummaging through the cabinets. Soon, they produced several coils of thick hemp rope.
Seeing the ropes, Horitake made a grim guess.
What else do you do with rope? You tie people up.
Step one: Hypnosis. Lure them from their homes in a trance and gather them at the library.
Step two: Entrance. Have them enter the building under command.
Step three: Screening. Use the female librarian's questions to cast a wide net and fish for specific information.
And now, Step four: Preparation for binding.
What would happen after everyone on the second floor was tied up?
Horitake estimated that once they were secured, they would be hauled to the third floor—or perhaps even higher—to be "served."
And who would be "served" human beings? A demon, obviously.
When a demon starts eating, the human "food" inevitably experiences excruciating pain. That kind of agony could easily snap a person out of a hypnotic trance. If they woke up to such a horrific scene, they would naturally try to scream and bolt.
To prevent any "food" from escaping, it was only logical to tie them up beforehand.
Good grief, Horitake thought. This entire man-eating protocol is more streamlined than ordering takeout!
He watched the scene play out with a calm expression, yet to make a move.
Even at this point, the demon hiding in this library still refuses to come out?
Just how much of a coward are you? Do you really have to push me until I lose my temper?
Or could it be that I'm standing right in your territory and you truly haven't noticed me?
Impossible. I don't believe that for a second.
Just as the thought crossed his mind, the male librarian—having already bound several people—approached Horitake with a length of rope, intending to loop it around him.
Horitake let out a helpless sigh.
"Alright, fine. You really are the ultimate coward."
"Since I can't exactly let you tie me up, I suppose I'll have to strike first!"
With a sudden flick of his hand, violent streaks of purple lightning began to flicker and dance. He threw the electrical surge outward; the purple lightning swelled instantly, expanding until it carpeted the entire second floor!
Every single person present, save for Horitake, was struck by the bolt!
Fortunately, the voltage wasn't lethal. Thanks to Horitake's precise control, the eighteen people—including the two librarians—were knocked unconscious in a single, flashing instant.
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