Soon, Jan stood before the library.
Ever since Basil found out he had a regular visitor, he'd stopped locking the door.
So this time, Jan didn't bother knocking—he walked straight in.
The librarian immediately noticed him and lit up. "Hero! It's been a while! Have you come to pick up more books? Tell me what you're looking for—I'll help."
Despite his nearly crippling back pain, Basil was overjoyed. Jan's visits were, after all, the highlights of his week.
Someone actually visiting the library—or even requesting help to fetch a book in Valkeries? Yeah, that almost never happened.
But Jan quickly waved his hand. "Maybe later, Basil. I still haven't finished the ones I picked last time."
Basil's joy crumbled into disappointment. Halfway through standing, the giant slumped back into his chair with a heavy thud.
Jan noticed and quickly added, "I—I'll ask you if I need anything. I'll also help reorganize a section or two before leaving today."
[Reorganize the Library (0%)]
It had been a while since he'd received that mission, but he still hadn't found the chance to make progress. The library was massive, and reorganizing it would take forever, so he kept putting it off. At this rate, it would never get done—so he decided to tackle it little by little.
Still, that would have to wait—Jan had been itching to try something new since morning.
With quick steps, he went to the reading table, set down his backpack, and took out his books. Then—
Zizizzizizi!
[Mind Overclock!]
As he stared at the page, sparks danced at the corners of his eyes.
"It's working!"
As he'd hoped, the skill didn't just enhance his reaction speed—it also amplified his cognition.
His eyes devoured the text, and his hand couldn't flip the pages fast enough to keep up with his mind. With one glance at a page, he was already reading out of order—skipping, connecting, rearranging. His inner narration became a hurricane of thought—concepts from the book fracturing, merging, and expanding in an instant.
A manic laugh escaped Jan as lightning flickered around his eyes. Basil flinched at the sudden sound, but hearing the laughter, he decided not to interfere.
'This way, even if I don't have much time, I can read more than ever!'
The only downside was that it consumed Mana.
Yes, he had plenty—but it wasn't endless. Unfortunately, that meant he couldn't maintain this state all the time. Still, for a quick read, it was the best solution.
Jan could already feel a dull headache forming. Nothing Maria's healing couldn't fix, of course.
Before him lay two of the books he'd picked when he was researching Aeris's illness:
General Healing and Restoration
A Study of Elven Races and Their Affinities
The only medical text, and the only elf-centric one, he could find in the entire library.
'The titles feel underwhelming, though…'
He had a bad feeling this would be a waste of time—but he decided to trust the old saying: "Never judge a book by its cover."
In this case, by its title.
====
[Congratulations! Your skill has improved: Reader Lv. 4]
[Congratulations! Your skill has improved: Mind Overclock Lv. 2]
[Warning! Your Mana is critically low!]
*Thud—*
"Always judge a book by its cover—always!" Jan groaned, slamming the book shut and clutching his head as pain pulsed behind his eyes.
He'd started with the medical book, but it was a complete waste of time—filled with archaic practices straight from Earth. The more he read, the more disappointed he became.
The second book, however, had much more to offer.
It described the division of elves into five primary lineages.
Jan didn't bother with all of them; he focused only on the Sylvan Elves—deep forest dwellers with a strong affinity for Wind, Dark, and Light.
'Aeris did mention she could use all five affinities…' Jan thought, smiling faintly. 'As I thought, she's amazing.'
More importantly, he discovered that Dark Elves weren't one of the five branches. According to the book, Dark Elves didn't exist before the Tower—or even right after it. They began to appear only about two hundred years ago.
He read aloud softly:
"Some say it's a myth—a story mothers tell to scare their children. They claim Dark Elves are creations of the Tower. That's what they want us to believe.
But in truth, they were once ordinary elves—infected ones."
Jan sighed, recalling the passage. That's all the author had written—no mention of how the infection spread. But he did record his own observation of one such victim.
"He didn't last long. By the fifth day, black blood began oozing from his ears, eyes, and nose…"
Jan froze, eyes widening as the words sank in. His hand shot to his backpack, and a small bottle materialized in his grasp.
He pulled it out, letting the dim light catch on the glass. The thick, dark liquid inside shifted unnaturally—smooth, almost alive.
It was the blood bottle—the very one he'd risked his life to steal from Saveth.
"Could it be...?"
He had seen Saveth use it once—to resurrect himself from death. Something Loris Thorne had written was impossible through ordinary magic.
Only [Interference] could break that rule.
"Did he use it to infect Aeris, too? Is this how he's turning her kind into Dark Elves?"
There was only one way to find out.
Jan rose quickly, tucking his staff back into his backpack.
He remembered Aeris and Sophia mentioning that the priest couldn't create an antidote until they identified the source of the infection.
If this vial truly contained the catalyst, then he might finally have an answer.
He turned toward the exit—only to find Basil's massive frame blocking the door.
"Where do you think you're going, Hero?"
Jan laughed nervously. "I just remembered I, uh… had to do something."
Basil's eyes narrowed into a cold glare. "And what about your promise to reorganize the library?"
Jan sighed in defeat. "Two sections!"
"Four!"
"Three!"
Basil crossed his arms, towering. "Deal."