Chapter 162: The Notes
Creeeak…
Creeeak… creeeak…
My feet squeaked on the old wooden planks, making sounds that could wake the dead in the eerily quiet night—this was the result of my best efforts to tiptoe.
Fortunately, there wasn’t anyone on this floor.
The room was darker than a black cat in a coal mine. I squinted at the faint sliver of moonlight sneaking in through the window, just enough for me to barely make out the shape of things. Cocking my head to the side, I tiptoed over to the display case and randomly grabbed a name-less hardcover notebook off the top. Flipping it open, I squinted at the fuzzy words inside.
…Poems. Page after page of songs of praise. Great, just what I needed.
I shook my head and put it back, then grabbed another one next to it, opened it up, and flipped through a few pages… Wow, what a fancy hand-drawn journal! But this was all about the cultural documentation of the Divine Era. Not useful to me now.
I put it back on tiptoes and reached for another…
I flipped through every book and document displayed, desperately seeking something useful like a kid in a candy store trying to find the one candy that doesn’t taste like licorice. The dim light was a serious drag on my efficiency, making me work like a snail in a marathon. For some really ancient tomes, I had to squint up close to the window just to read the scribbles.
Time ticked by.
“Chirp chirp—”
A tiny, sharp bug voice echoed from afar. One chirp, two chirps, three chirps… The eerie calls ricocheted off the empty night. I knew that was the signal from the Sword of Kanli. And that signal meant “Nothing fishy here, folks!” Looks like someone had finished their check and was prepping for an exit.
But me? I’d barely scratched the surface of that display case.
This was painfully slow…
Frustrated, I squished the thin notebook in my hands like it owed me money, frowned, and tossed it back. My gaze drifted to the wooden desk behind me. I stared at the drawers for what felt like an eternity… perhaps there’s something hiding in there?
Moving closer, I found the drawers weren’t locked. I pulled one open and rummaged through it, but all I found were odds and ends. Closed that one and tried another… I eventually opened every single drawer and found nothing useful.
My anxiety levels were peaking; I felt like a bunch of tangled ropes twisted into a Gordian Knot.
I plopped down in the chair in front of the desk, resting my chin in my hands and slipping into deep thought.
Sister Teresa’s office… maybe it’s all just a big nothing. There should be people coming here often, right? If that so-called “record book” really had troubles as suspected, who would be silly enough to leave it out in plain sight… Should I go peek somewhere else… but where…
Not too obvious a spot… Wait, could there be a secret compartment like in those movies?
With that thought, I started feeling around under the wooden desk, checking every corner thoroughly… Nope. I got back up and approached the display case, inspecting the sides and the wall behind it, still nothing.
I stood there, cocked my head, and then moved a chair over to stand on it, reaching up to poke at the top of the case… All I felt was a fistful of dust.
Frustrated, I moved the chair back to its spot just as the pleasant bug chirp rang out again.
I felt a little impatient.
But there really wasn’t anything here… Maybe I should step out for a bit.
“Creeeak—”
I cracked the office door open and poked my head out… Even though I knew no one was out there, I still couldn’t help myself.
The corridor was dim, the candlelight flickering like a candle in a horror movie, and not a soul was in sight.
I tiptoed outside, approached the neighboring door… When I had passed it earlier, I noticed it seemed like a library of sorts since it was stacked high with papers.
There might be something useful in there… I reached for the door and pushed, but it was locked tight.
…Ugh, how annoying.
I had no choice but to retrace my steps back to Sister Teresa’s office, planning to scale the outside of the building and climb through a window.
But with all those papers in there… Even if I could get in, it would take forever… Unless it’s morning by the time I finish, and that would not be too smart.
…Or I could just meet up with the Sword of Kanli first. I could ask Rect about Sister Teresa’s place and maybe drop by?
Seems like a more reliable plan… Alright, let’s do this!
Once I made up my mind, I jumped into action. I stepped up to the windowsill, half of my body already poking out… but I couldn’t resist looking back, my gaze falling on the mirror-display cabinet that was empty… Did she take that beautifully crafted axe that looked like it belonged in a museum?
I felt a twinge of confusion and couldn’t help but steal a few glances.
Mirror display cabinet… hold on… Maybe… I should check that out again.
I climbed back in through the window and approached the back of the desk, then lightly began to tap on the wall.
Knock knock…
A solid sound. Let’s try somewhere else.
Knock knock… knock knock…
When I knocked on the wall at the edge of the display case—
Thud thud.
…The wall behind it was hollow!
I jumped back in surprise and quickly knocked around the display to confirm it. Every knock produced a hollow, echoing sound—there was something back there!
Eyes glued to the exhibition case, I quickly found a little notch to hook my finger on. I slid my finger in and yanked at the mirror with all my might. The wooden panel behind it had a gap, and that hook used for hanging the big axe was just perfect for a handle.
Creeeak—
I opened the panel to reveal a storage room.
The storage room was filled with dust and cobwebs. Just as I was settling in to look around, suddenly, two pea-sized, furry spiders scuttled out in a panic.
“Ah!”
I stumbled back, nearly falling flat on my rear, and quickly covered my mouth.
Insects with too many legs… No, thank you!
Once those two spiders skittered off along the wall, I took a deep breath and approached carefully, pulling the panel open again… There lay a thick notebook.
That book looked nice and clean.
…This could be it!
I pinched it between two fingers and hurried back to the desk, eager to dive in and scour its contents.
What I found was elegant handwriting densely scribbled… that I couldn’t decipher.
[1183.6.5
2300 ml, no reaction from the remains.
1183.7.7
3 liters, no reaction.
1183.8.16
15 liters, weak reaction. Am I using the right method?
1184.10.2
The remains have shown new changes; our method is correct, but I need more media.
1184.10.9
32 liters, connecting with the consciousness of the remains; connection cut off after 3 seconds.
1184.10.15
4 liters, intense reaction.
1184…]
The more I read, the deeper my brows furrowed.
What on earth was this about…
“Chirp chirp—”
The third bug noise startled me, and I quickly flipped to the last page.
[1187.2.14
2 liters; I need two more months to complete the Goddess’ Tear.
1187.2.21
I’m so happy! Ailna was right; the entrance to the Land of Dragons is definitely hidden in Woodward Forest—our guess was spot on! All I need is another half-year…
1187.2.29
I don’t have time left. I will soon be exposed. Next, I will go all-in, destroy the Bell Tower, and fulfill my mission.
May I return to the embrace of the gods after my d*ath.]
And with that, the notes came to an end.
