Upon arriving at the library, I immediately searched for the books I needed. The spacious room, filled with countless books, made it difficult for me to find them.
After spending about two hours, I finally managed to gather the books. I then hurried back to my dorm to study them.
There were five books I needed. They consisted of books filled with numbers, strange patterns, and other complex writings. After reading and analyzing them throughout the night, I began to understand all parts of the books.
The two books filled with numbers—what I assumed to be similar to mathematics—were used for calculating mana loads with the magic channeled into them. This was also applied in the field of alchemist, as concocting certain potions naturally required measurement.
Meanwhile, the two books with strange drawings contained summoning spells commonly used by summoners, as well as sealing spells often employed by sorcerers during sealing processes.
The last book was filled with writings about oaths and vows of knights. Honestly, I thought it was the worst book I had ever read. It was nothing but a collection of knights' thirst for praise, boasting about how great they were, and so on.
I had thought it would take me a week to study all of them.
But… what is this?
I was able to understand them even before a single day had passed. Perhaps my reading habits in my previous life were proving to be very useful in this one. My inability to go outside freely back then had led me to spend most of my days reading all kinds of books.
After reading so much, I grew tired and sleepy, so I decided to go to bed. However, just as I was about to return the books to the shelf, I accidentally knocked another book off it and onto the floor.
As I bent down to pick it up, I froze in shock at what I saw. A book with the words "I've been waiting for you" written on its front page. My heart raced, and my breathing became uneven.
I slowly picked up the book to see what it was. When I saw it, my heartbeat returned to normal. It was just one of the three books I had brought from home. It was the blank book I had opened on the train yesterday.
Wait—
Now my heart was pounding again. I flipped through the book all the way to the end, but found nothing written except that one sentence.
Right.
It was the same blank book I had opened on the train yesterday. But why did it have writing now?
Had I just not looked carefully yesterday and missed it?
And more importantly… what does "I've been waiting for you" mean?
It genuinely sent chills down my spine. But slowly, I calmed myself. It was already one o'clock, and today had exhausted me.
I decided to put the book back on the shelf and go to bed. I didn't want to think too much about it now and chose to leave it for tomorrow's me to handle.
---
Morning came.
I got up from my bed and opened the window. I brewed a cup of tea and looked out at the view from my dorm.
Some students were already training in the field. Others were rushing to the library, even though the new school year hadn't officially started yet.
Alright.
Time to check that mysterious book from last night. I picked it up and placed it on the table. Slowly, I opened it.
The first page still had the same sentence from yesterday. I then turned to the second page.
To my shock, a new message had appeared on the next page:
I know you're surprised.
But you don't need to be afraid.
I'm here to help you.
Three lines written downward stared back at me, wide-eyed.
Damn.
I was trembling in fear just from a few lines of text. Still scared, I flipped through the next pages. But nothing else appeared. I kept flipping until the last page but found nothing more.
The book consisted of thirty pages, with only the first and second pages containing what seemed like messages. As if someone was trying to speak to me through this book.
Was it a ghost? Or a human?
But even stranger, why through this book?
Out of frustration, I shouted loudly at it.
"Hey, can't you speak to me directly? Are you so shy you can't show your face? Is it that hard to talk to me in person?"
Damn it.
"I'm shaking in fear, about to wet myself, because of you, you bastard."
I took a deep breath to calm my rising anger.
I began to reflect on what was happening. The writing on the first page must have appeared on my first day here. But I hadn't opened the book until nighttime. The second page's writing appeared today with another mysterious message.
I wondered if the messages would continue daily—one page per day—until all thirty pages were filled after thirty days.
Just who was trying to speak to me through this?
I paused, deep in thought.
Then suddenly, my stomach growled.
Alright.
Maybe we should start by feeding ourselves first?
---
After filling my stomach in the cafeteria, I returned to my dorm to rest for a bit.
But on my way back, while admiring the scenery, I bumped into something big and solid.
Damn.
Did I just walk into a wall?
A muscular adult man with a mohawk turned around and brought his face closer to mine.
"Hey, kid, do you not have eyes?!"
Anger and annoyance were clearly written all over his face.
The veins in his face looked like they were about to burst.
But what shocked me even more was the spilled ice cream staining his clothes.
Looks like I'm in deep trouble.
My body instantly trembled in fear, and I instinctively backed away.
Then I bolted in terror, yelling apologies loudly as I ran.
"HEY, I'M NOT DONE TALKING TO YOU!!!"
The man shouted after me, but I ignored him completely.
Damn… damn… damn…
I could tell from his face—he looked like he wanted to kill someone.
Damn it, I don't want to die again after just being brought back to life.
I finally made it back to my dorm, panting heavily.
I grabbed some water and tried to calm myself.
He's not going to chase me all the way here, right?
Who was that guy anyway?
Why is he here at the academy?
Is he a teacher?
If he's a teacher… then I'm doomed.
Feeling exhausted, I lay down on the bed. My body, drowning in fatigue, couldn't resist the sleepiness. Slowly, I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.
---
A blinding light woke me up. I opened my eyes and looked around. I was shocked by what I saw.
I was back in the dark waters.
The place I had been after my death.