Research Room
I headed to the historian's research room with the Guildmaster. Like the library, it too had been ransacked. Bookshelves lay toppled, precious volumes scattered about, and a heavy, tense silence hung in the air. Unlike the library, however, clear traces of a fierce struggle remained here. Sharp claw marks ran along the walls, and scorch marks remained on the floor.
The Guildmaster cautiously examined the room, murmuring, “...This isn't the work of ordinary thieves... It must be the doing of a powerful monster, or someone's magic...”
Among the scattered books, I found a single scrap of paper. It appeared to be a note scribbled by the historian. In distorted handwriting, barely legible fragments read: “Atlantis... forbidden ritual... alternate dimension... timeline...”
“Atlantis...” The guildmaster reacted to the word. “...Could that legendary civilization be involved in this incident?”
I opened the Infinite Book and began searching for descriptions of the Atlantis civilization. Then, a detailed account I hadn't noticed before jumped out at me. It was a terrifying description: the Atlantean civilization had performed a ritual to open a door to another dimension, and through that ritual, they had summoned a powerful demon.
“According to this note, the historian seems to have been trying to unravel the secrets of that ritual...” The Guildmaster said, frowning. “And that might be why he was attacked...”
I clenched the crystal orb and recalled the message left by the librarian. Those masked figures in the footage... They might be descendants of the Atlantis civilization. And it's highly likely both the historian and the librarian were attacked by them.
“What exactly are they after?” the Guildmaster asked. “Atlantis' technology? Or something else...?”
I couldn't answer his question. Many mysteries still lay hidden behind this incident. The Atlantis civilization, another dimension, timelines, and the words of the Creator of the Universe... Piecing together these fragments might reveal deeper truths about this world and the cosmos. But the path to that truth would be unimaginably dangerous and arduous.
Closing the Infinite Book, I looked at the Guildmaster. His eyes held a mixture of hesitation and resolve. Would he stand with me to the end in this difficult adventure? And what fate would we face ahead? Our journey had only just begun.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
