第５９５堀：図書館の怪 (Part2)
I followed Mikos deeper into the library.
As I scanned the bookshelves, I realized that the library’s collection was actually smaller than I had initially thought.
The reason for this is that the bookbinding technology in Heiden hasn't progressed very far; the bindings are unnecessarily ornate and bulky. The papermaking process is also unrefined, leaving the pages thick and yellowed. On top of that, there’s no adhesive binding—everything is tied together with string.
Consequently, there are no slim, high-page-count books like the ones common in modern Japan; there are only thick volumes with relatively few pages. I’d wager the actual volume of content is two or three times less than it appears.
Well, the saving grace is that thanks to Kamishiro-san’s stubborn insistence on inventing and popularizing movable type printing, books aren't prohibitively expensive. Not that it would have been possible for Kamishiro-san to replicate modern industrial printing, of course.
While I was lost in these thoughts, Mikos stopped and turned back to me.
"We’re here."
"Let’s see... history?"
"Yes. This is where the history of Heiden, as well as books on other nations, are kept. This is where the strange rumors come from—people hearing odd voices, getting trapped in the library, or finding secret rooms."
To the eye, it was just a corridor lined with ordinary bookshelves. The books themselves didn't look particularly ancient.
"History books, huh? I’ve never come here before."
"Is that so, Kagura?"
"Yes. If you’re a noble, you learn more than enough about the country’s history at home. Only eccentric researchers would bother coming all the way to the academy library to look them up."
I see. So, not many people go out of their way to come here. That makes it all the more suspicious.
Just as I started to step forward, Shuten stopped me.
"Father. No. There is something underfoot."
"Underfoot?"
At Shuten’s words, everyone shifted their gaze to the floor.
"Hmm? I can feel a flow of magical power..."
"Where is it?"
"Look, right there in the center..."
"Ah, that? It looks like an unremarkable block, but there’s definitely a strange flow to it."
I pointed it out, and Taiki-kun seemed to notice it too, followed by everyone else.
Time to report.
"Exploration team here. We’ve discovered a suspected trap in the history section on the third floor. We are beginning our investigation."
"Copy that. Be careful."
So, time to investigate! Or so I’d like to say, but it’s not that simple.
"Well, we know it was placed here artificially, but we can't just smash it to pieces, can we? It feels like this is the trigger for everything."
As Taiki-kun said, the mystery of this library is the rumor of a secret room. We can't just dismantle the trap in front of us because there’s no guarantee we could put it back together.
"However, placing a trap on the floor is, in a sense, rational. Unlike books or shelves, the floor cannot be easily moved, making it the perfect place to set a mechanism for the entire building. The rumors of a secret room... their credibility has increased."
Everyone nodded at Cleena’s words. It was indeed a clever trap.
"The problem is, someone has to step on it..."
The question became: who would do it?
"Mikos, you said that those who got lost were able to get out, right?"
"Ah, yes. I don't know how long it took, but the stories say they eventually came back out."
"The range is likely just this corridor. If we target the entire third floor, we’ll end up dragging others into it."
Even if it’s not crowded, it’s not entirely deserted. Given the number of victims, the range of this "infinite loop" where people get trapped is likely limited to this history corridor.
That settled the division of labor.
"We’ll split into those who step on it, those who monitor from nearby, and those who monitor from a distance."
Kagura, who carries the blood of the Kamishiro family, would be the one to step on it. Monitoring from nearby would be Mikos, myself, Ria, Cleena, Shuten, Suiryu, and Kirue.
Monitoring from outside the corridor, confirming only by voice, would be Rurua, Deryu, Taiki-kun, Amanda, and Eoid.
Kanna and Agil were stationed on the second floor, and I had already contacted Taizo-san.
With this, we should be able to react immediately if something happens.
"Alright, we are initiating the trap test."
"Understood."
"Five, four, three..."
I started the countdown and looked at Kagura.
"Two, one, zero."
As I nodded, Kagura steeled herself and stepped onto the block where the trap was set.
"Kagura has triggered the trap. Everyone, confirm status. Taiki-kun, Taizo-san, do you copy?"
There was no reply—only the sound of static.
"...Father. Shuten and the others were blown away."
"Blown away?"
"Indeed. This is the library, yet it is not the same library. The location has shifted. This sensation... is it similar to the 'Infinite Path' layered within a torii gate?"
...In other words, this is the real deal.
Oh, boy.
I really hope we can actually get out of here.
Aren't infinite loops supposed to be terrifying? This is like something out of a trope.