9 Years Later.
"Adonis, my child. Where are you running off to?"
"Today I'm 9 years old, Mother. That old butler said I can enter the library only when I turn 9."
"I see... but there is no need to run, is there?"
Nine years had passed in the blink of an eye.
Adonis had grown into a fine-looking, handsome boy.
But the name, Adonis Kingsbane, the youngest son of Duke Kingsbane, was known only to a handful of people.
Including the Duchess, Duke Kingsbane had a total of seven wives. And his children numbered a staggering 18.
Adelaide was just a servant girl with no noble backing like the other concubines, so her status was very low.
Naturally, Adonis's status was also at the very bottom.
Other jealous servants even openly rubbed salt in their wounds, saying that if not for Adelaide's vixenish seduction, the Duke wouldn't have taken a second look at her.
But in reality, it was the Duke who was swayed by his mother's beauty.
To be honest, he didn't really care much about the internal affairs of the Duchy.
Once he grew up, he would take his mother and leave.
But for that, he needed to understand the current world more.
He had seen magic, he had seen Swordmasters, and heard about Dungeons from Celine, but he needed to learn the history, just to confirm whether he was in his own game or not.
Because if his guess somehow came true, then he was sure no one could stand in his way.
As the designer himself, he knew every plot, every hidden Dungeon, every powerful Treasure's location, and the main villain.
So, traversing through the red flags would be very easy.
But of course, these were just his wishful thinking.
He still had no solid proof that he was in the same world.
If he had, he should have recognized Duke Leonel Kingsbane and King Magnus the 3rd.
He learned the King's name from Adelaide, but unfortunately, this name didn't match any of the plots involved in the game.
He asked Adelaide and Aunt Celine for the world's history, but unluckily, none of them were very literate or interested in history and geography.
But they did give him the world's name:
AVALON.
The world's name didn't match his game either.
So naturally, the chances of being in his own game were very miniscule.
However, there was only one place that could confirm all of his doubts: the family library.
But, in the past, whenever he tried to enter the room, the librarian stopped him, saying "Children under 9 are prohibited to enter."
In their common sense, at that age, children start to read and write, even if they are from a noble family.
So Adonis's request to access the library came as preposterous to everyone.
They thought Adonis was just trying to act smart, not taking the effort to understand his true capabilities at all.
But they didn't know that As a 30-year-old soul living inside a baby, it wasn't that hard for him to learn the language and write or read fluently. Especially with his special gift to understand all languages, even some beginner scholars might need to learn a thing or two from Adonis.
But of course, no one takes a child seriously, especially if your mother is just a servant, who has no official status as a wife.
"What a ridiculous irony this is..." he murmured. "But I guess it's normal for the people of this world where the men are too full of themselves, and the women are very insecure."
While walking down the hallway, he felt several overly curious gazes, but he didn't mind.
He reached the library within ten minutes.
The Family Library of Kingsbane was a massive hall containing countless wooden shelves and vast arrays of books. The librarian was an old man who had little to do but swat away flies with a hand brush.
Click!
As soon as the old man sensed someone entering, he straightened his posture completely. However, when he noticed Adonis, he relaxed.
"So, it seems you have finally reached your 9th birthday, Young Lord Adonis."
Adonis approached the desk and performed a flawless, elegant bow, one that carried neither arrogance nor excessive humility.
"Indeed, you are correct. Your memory remains as sharp as ever, Oscar. It seems age has yet to dull your mind."Adonis replied calmly.
The old man known as Oscar Rodriguez curved his lips upward. It was a smile, though barely one at all.
"I had to, Young Lord Adonis. After all, the number of times you have requested access to the library before coming of age is far too many to count. So I have had no choice but to remember your face well."
"Still, rules are rules. No matter how much I admired your enthusiasm, I could not bend them. If my refusals came across as overly strict or discourteous, I ask that you forgive this old man for acting beyond his place."
Adonis waved his hand and shrugged,
"There is no need for concern. Your actions were only proper. I accept your apology without resentment.
Now, If you would be so kind, could you tell me where the history books are kept?"
Oscar was inwardly pleased with the boy's attitude and maturity. He had seen all the offspring of Duke Kingsbane, but none had shown such an interest in history—especially while maintaining such a mature temperament. He felt as though he were talking to an adult rather than a boy.
Oscar pointed the way,
"Of course. Proceed straight down that row, then turn right. Afterward, take a left, and you will find the shelves containing historical records of the Fernis Kingdom, as well as those of its neighboring Nations."
"Thank you,"
Adonis headed off, not wanting to waste a single second.
"What a remarkably curious child. But alas! The boy's Ether level is painfully weak."
He sighed quietly.
"He will awaken a White Sword Soul at best. Ah right—His awakening ceremony should take place in only a few days. When the time comes, I should visit the church and offer him some comforting words. After all, Lord Duke is not the type to console a child whose talent falls short of expectations."
Meanwhile, Adonis reached the history section.
Unlike the rest of the library, the shelves here appeared older and far less maintained.
A thin layer of dust coated the wood and aged papers. Yet to Adonis, this neglected corner held exactly what he was searching for.
History of Avalon.
Without hesitation, he began scanning the surrounding shelves, his small hands moving swiftly as he selected several books related to the Fernis Kingdom and the greater world of Avalon.
One by one, he gathered them into his arms, treating each tome with care despite the urgency in his movements.
Once satisfied, he made his way to a nearby reading table and neatly arranged the books before him.
While looking at those books, he took a small breath
This was it.
It was time for every remaining doubt to be answered, and for the truths buried within history to finally reveal themselves.