Black Solstice-Chapter 20: Research [2]

I walked in a straight line.

After receiving directions from one of the passing demons, I made my way toward the academy library at a steady, unhurried pace.

Solstice Academy.

The supposed demon institution that pursued the concept of coexistence with the human race.

Truth be told, coexistence wasn’t possible at this stage.

What the academy taught young devils was how to blend into human society, and at times, many devils ended up occupying high positions such as political leaders or roles of similar influence.

In that regard, what exactly was the goal of the demon race?

Complete destruction seemed plausible, yet the rules of this place did not support that logic. It appeared the high-ranking devils had no intention of eradicating the humlan race.

Well, most of them didn’t, anyway.

My goal on this beautiful morning today was to find out "why"

What would you do if you suddenly found yourself in a foreign country?

Naturally, the only logical thing to do in that situation was to gather information.

That meant learning everything I could about the Devils who ruled this realm — their history, customs, power structure, and their rules and regulations.

This was vital for both my survival and my college life.

In the end, it all came down to one simple fact: I was powerless and lacked information. So it was a no-brainer that understanding this place would be my first priority.

I should be able to find what I need in the library. It shouldn’t be too hard. It’s not like I’m a spy searching for classified documents.

...Actually, it did feel like I was a spy sent by the human race.

But that line of thought was dangerous.

What if demons existed who could read minds? Wouldn’t they be able to uncover my true identity?

My body trembled.

I should probably learn magic as quickly as possible.

I pushed that thought aside for now.

Ten minutes later, I arrived in front of a towering white structure.

This was the Arcane Scriptorium.

Unlike most of the academy, its walls were crafted from smooth, pristine alloy, with wide translucent windows that allowed streams of soft light to spill through. Surprisingly, this was the only place on campus that possessed a distinctly human aesthetic.

There were very few people around, suggesting that the library was not a popular destination among Devils.

It made sense. Most of the information stored here was likely accessible through magical archives or shared knowledge networks. In that case, why would a Devil trouble themselves to visit a physical library?

I probably looked strange for coming here so early.

Entering through the automatic door, I stepped inside, glanced around, and blinked a couple of times.

No matter which direction I swept my gaze, tall shelves packed with paper books stretched far into the distance. Between them were neatly arranged study tables, where several young men and women sat in calm silence. Most were using terminals to take notes, while a few still preferred writing by hand.

But my interest was captured by those "terminals."

Glass-like devices hovered just an inch above each desk, their surfaces rippling with pale runes instead of digital icons. Whenever a student touched one, the runes shifted, forming symbols, diagrams, and even floating projections of text. It looked like a fusion of modern tech and ancient sorcery.

One girl lightly tapped the surface of her terminal. A series of glowing runes unfolded in midair, arranging themselves into a floating diagram of a demon anatomy chart. Another student swiped his fingers through the air, and the book in front of him flipped its pages on its own, synchronized with the terminal’s display.

I stared, entranced.

’What... is this... place?’

It was familiar and completely alien at the same time.

The demon race seemed to have taken inspiration from human society and made technological advancement of their own. The vibe I was getting from this place was like someone had taken a human library, dipped it in magic, and then upgraded it ten times over with a form of supernatural engineering.

It felt unreal.

"So this is what a demon library looks like."

I lingered for a moment before shaking my head, forcing myself out of my stupor.

Trying not to show my confusion, I glanced around and noticed a member of the library staff.

It was a young woman with short, tightly curled hair that shifted from blonde to a soft pale pink, giving it a voluminous, plush texture. She had deep, rich brown skin and full lips, with defined makeup and expressive purple eyes.

She looked like an upperclassman. A badge on her chest read [Nola].

On Earth, some degenerates might call her a "gyaru," though such people would hardly be seen in a library.

I approached the young librarian and stopped a few meters away, waiting patiently to be noticed. Nola, however, kept her gaze fixed on the book in her hands, completely absorbed, her eyes brimming with deep emotion.

What was she reading so intensely?

Curious, I looked at the book title which read: Poem of Pity

My eyes narrowed.

’This title... Is it something similar to Shakespeare? Do demons have their own version of classic literature? It is certainly peculiar.’

Poem of Pity. It felt like a tragic tale between two lovers.

I cleared my throat.

That seemed to catch Nola’s attention, as she slowly lifted her gaze toward me.

"Ah," she murmured, surprisingly soft and feminine. Then she smiled, neutral but welcoming. "A freshman? How wonderful. How can I assist you?"

I hesitated before answering thoughtfully. "I want to read about the Dream Realm and its current state across its various regions."

"Can you be more specific?" she asked. "There are several books that could fit that description."

"I see. Then perhaps a book that details the geography of the Demon Realm, as well as who controls which areas and why."

"Ah, I understand. So you’re a lover of history as well. Don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place! Oh, before I forget, take a look at this."

Nola reached beneath the reception desk and pushed something toward me. It was a small form.

Tilting my head, I asked, "This is...?"

"It’s a recruitment form."

"Recruitment form... Could it be that the library is short-staffed?"

"Not exactly," she replied quickly, as though unsure of how to explain. "The library isn’t necessarily short-staffed, but it would be helpful to have an extra pair of hands. In addition, there are other benefits for becoming a librarian."

"You certainly have my attention."

Who wouldn’t be intrigued by the word benefits?

Her smile remained neutral as she continued,

"You gain permission to enter special archives, and sometimes even guidance from senior researchers. It’s not required, but it’s an opportunity if you’re serious about study."

"And... what kind of tasks would I be doing?" I asked.

"Nothing too difficult. Mostly organizing texts and occasionally helping maintain the terminals. There’s nothing dangerous, but accuracy and discretion are expected. The library keeps track of everything, down to the smallest detail."

Finally, she added, "Plus, the pay is rather good."

So it was like a part-time job if I understood correctly.

Seems reasonable enough, and she doesn’t seem to be deceptive either. The pay is modest, but at least it’s something, especially since I don’t have any money. Still, I shouldn’t rush into making a decision. Let me finish today’s goals and think about it later. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

With that thought, I took the form and returned her smile.

"Give me some time to think about it before I give you a proper response."

"No, that’s fine. Take all the time you need."

"Hm. So... back to my earlier question."

"Oh, yes. Please, follow me."

Just like that, both of us headed into the depths of the library.