NOVEL NEXT Ch. 11
Chapter 11: The Only Chance to Enter the Library
【Alchemy Genius】was about to go insane.
As a hardcore alchemy enthusiast, he firmly believed that everything in the world could be explained with chemistry and formulas—including love.
Ever since he became obsessed with Mophis, he had poured all his energy into the great subject of “how to win Mophis’s heart through alchemy.”
He had tried making a 【Charm Amplification Potion】, drank it, and then threw flirty looks at the Sacred Window—only to be beaten up by patrolling knights who mistook him for a pervert.
He had tried concocting 【Fragrant Pheromones】, spraying them into the wind, hoping to send his love into the library—only for the wind to shift and attract a herd of lustful wild boars, causing a small riot.
He had even thought of setting up a giant alchemy array around the library to make a “grand confession of love.” But as soon as he drew the diagram, 【Mad Blade】 confiscated it on the grounds of “potential noise and light pollution that might scare his wife.”
Repeated defeats, and still he tried again and again.
At this moment, he was sitting under a pavilion, staring at the rows of crossed-out failed plans in his alchemy notes, sinking deep into self-doubt.
“Could it be… that love really isn’t a chemical reaction?” he groaned, clutching his hair in agony.
Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted something near the library’s main doors—a dusty old book lying on the ground.
He remembered that book.
It seemed like it had fallen on the first day when 【Mad Blade】 and the others charged in, knocked over by someone.
Later, everyone had been too focused on the “Sacred Stone” and the “Sacred Window” to pay any attention to this shabby book.
Compelled by fate, 【Alchemy Genius】 stood up and walked over.
He bent down, picked up the book, and patted the dust off it.
On its cover, in ancient writing, was a title—《Introduction to Ancient Alchemy》.
“Alchemy?” 【Alchemy Genius】’s eyes lit up instantly.
This… could this be a sign from his wife?
She knew he was an alchemist! She knew all his efforts! She was silently encouraging him in this way!
Once this thought took root, it spread wildly in his mind, unstoppable.
He felt as though he had been enlightened in an instant.
His previous failures had all been because he was too superficial! Charm potions? Pheromones? All too low-level!
Who was Mophis, his wife? A well-learned noblewoman of ancient times! What she appreciated was true knowledge! The essence of alchemy itself!
This book was her test for him!
A test of whether he had a heart that respected knowledge and loved learning!
【Alchemy Genius】 trembled all over with excitement.
He held the 《Introduction to Ancient Alchemy》 as if it were a sacred relic.
He didn’t open it, but instead made what he thought was the wisest decision—to return it to its rightful owner.
He walked to the tightly shut library doors and carefully slid the book through the crack beneath them.
“Miss Mophis, thank you for your guidance! I understand now!” he bowed reverently toward the doors.
After finishing, he felt his soul had ascended to a higher plane.
He turned, intending to return to his alchemy laboratory to devote himself to study, and only after mastering new knowledge would he come back to present his results to Mophis.
But he had barely taken two steps.
“Plop.”
A soft sound came from the crack beneath the door behind him.
As if something had been pushed out from inside.
【Alchemy Genius】 turned back in confusion.
There, lying quietly on the stone steps before the door, was an ancient-looking “card,” made of some kind of special hard material.
On top of the card was a small slip of paper.
His heart skipped a beat.
He trembled as he picked up the card and the slip of paper.
On the card, in gilded letters, were the words: 【Forgotten Library - Beginner Library Card】.
And on the paper, written in elegant handwriting that seemed to still carry the fragrance of ink, was a single line:
【Thank you.
Books should be returned to their original place.】
Boom—!
【Alchemy Genius】’s brain felt struck by lightning, going completely blank.
A… library card?
A card to enter the library?
And this… was this Mophis’s own handwriting?!
He felt a surge of blood rush straight to his head, overwhelming him with happiness so intense he almost fainted on the spot.
“Ah… ah…”
His mouth hung open, but no sound came out.
He clutched the library card and note tightly to his chest, tears streaming down uncontrollably.
Nearby, players “worshiping” at the library also noticed the commotion.
“What’s wrong with that guy? Standing at the door laughing and crying—has he gone mad?”
“What’s that in his hand? Looks like… a card?”
One sharp-eyed player nearby spotted the writing on it.
“A… a library card?! Holy crap! It’s a library card for the library!”
That shout was like a spark in a powder keg.
“What?!”
“A library card? The one that lets you enter the library?!”
“How did he get it?!”
“Quick! Surround him! Don’t let him get away!”
In an instant, hundreds of players swarmed and completely surrounded 【Alchemy Genius】.
“Brother! What’s going on? Where did that come from?”
“Did you trigger a new encounter? Tell us the method!”
【Alchemy Genius】 finally snapped out of his ecstatic daze.
Seeing all the eager, distorted faces around him, he instinctively hugged the card and note to his chest, eyes wary.
“I… I don’t know.”
“Bullshit! You definitely know! Spit it out!”
“If you don’t, we’ll…” a warrior player growled, brandishing his axe.
“Stop!”
A commanding voice cut through the chaos.
【Mad Blade】 and 【Pierce-Through-Heart】 pushed their way forward.
“What are you all doing? Planning a robbery?” 【Mad Blade】 swept his cold gaze across the crowd.
“Don’t forget the rules of the Knights! Any malicious action toward the ‘Chosen One’ will be treated as provocation against all members!”
The players shrank back under his glare, finally calming down.
【Mad Blade】 stepped up to 【Alchemy Genius】, his tone softer.
“Brother, don’t worry.
We mean no harm.
We just want to know—what happened exactly?”
【Alchemy Genius】 looked at 【Mad Blade】, then at the watchful players around him.
He knew he couldn’t keep it secret.
Taking a deep breath, he recounted with pride and solemnity his “epiphany” and “test” just now.
“…So, I understood.
What Miss Mophis needs isn’t shallow flattery, but respect for knowledge! I returned the 《Introduction to Ancient Alchemy》, and then… she granted me this honor!”
He held the library card high, like a supreme medal.
The crowd fell utterly silent.
Everyone was stunned by his words.
Picking up a book and returning it… triggered the event?
That simple?
“So that’s it…”
“We were wrong all along… Hanging around here every day only disturbed her.
We only thought about what we could get from her, but forgot that she’s a ‘Librarian’!”
“Exactly! Her duty is to guard knowledge! And we let a precious alchemy book gather dust outside for so long! We… we’re guilty!”
“This alchemy bro… he’s the one who truly understood our wife’s heart!”
The players’ eyes toward 【Alchemy Genius】 shifted instantly—from envy, to admiration, to shame.
【Mad Blade】, however, caught another crucial detail.
He picked up the slip of paper, reading aloud the line: 【Books should be returned to their original place.】
“This… isn’t just literal.” he said gravely.
“This means there are more quests waiting inside the library!”
“【Alchemy Genius】, this quest can only be completed by you! Right now, you represent the will of all members of the 【Mophis Wife Knights】!” 【Mad Blade】 placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
“Go in! Fulfill our wife’s instructions!”
“Yes! Go in!”
“We support you!”
“Brother, you’re our hope!”
With the crowd cheering him on, 【Alchemy Genius】 felt himself burn with passion.
He was no longer just an ordinary alchemist.
Now, he was the “Chosen One,” the “Hope of the Knights”!
He nodded heavily, turned, and strode toward the library doors that would change his fate.
He gently pressed the library card to the door.
【Ding!】
【Identity verification complete.
Welcome to the Forgotten Library.】
The heavy doors, under the stunned gaze of all the players, slowly creaked open a crack.
Light spilled through, as though it led to another world.
【Alchemy Genius】 turned back once, seeing all those expectant faces, then drew a deep breath and stepped inside.
The doors closed slowly behind him.
The entire courtyard fell silent.
Every heart followed that lone figure into the mysterious world that belonged only to Mophis.