Chapter 19: The Raid [4]
The library of Everlight. A magnificent cylindrical tower-like structure that was at least three hundred meters tall. It was said that everything that humans learned was recorded there.
Rita was lost in her thoughts as she walked toward the library.
She knew that she had to learn about the Abyss, about the monsters, about relics, about what methods humans could win against monsters…
And based on the information that she would acquire inside the library, she needed to know what was her current level, and which of these methods she could use to become stronger.
For some reason, what she needed to do had become clearer as she continued to think. It was frustrating but it wasn't completely hopeless.
But when Rita was still in that state, someone was observing her.
"Who are you?" Valentina's odd question brought Rita back to reality.
Valentina was staring at her all of this time and that made her a little uncomfortable.
"Mm? Sorry, I was lost in my thoughts. M-Miss Valentina, I am going to the library. Are you going with me?"
Valentina tilted her head in confusion after hearing Rita's words and seeing her change of expression.
'What was that?' Valentina thought. After observing Rita for a while, she began to wonder about a lot of things.
"Choupyu~ I am more or less familiar with the library. I can show you around," Valentina said with a weird pose, taking interest in Rita.
However, she felt a vague similarity between her and Rita, and it was strange. 'She doesn't have a relic?' Valentina wondered.
"Really? T-thank you," Rita said with a smile and both of them started to walk to the library.
People search always for a relic first when they want to become an adventurer, Valentina thought. After all, it was impossible to become an adventurer without one.
It was weird that this thought never crossed Rita's mind. Almost as if she subconsciously believed that she didn't need to think about that.
'What is this feeling?' Valentina wondered, thinking about Lucian's words.
In the end, she became unsure of what Lucian's goal was.
"My soulmate! Ma fleur noire! Mon ombre! This is destiny!"
Suddenly, a voice came from within the crowd. It was loud, yet soft and full of emotion.
"Geh!"
"Miss Valentina?"
Valentina had a very weird expression on her face. Usually, she was expressionless, so it took some extremely shocking situation to put her in this state.
Rita was surprised to see Valentina making such a face.
"Let's hurry! Something is coming!"
However, because Valentina was frozen for a minute, it was already too late.
Someone was posing around them with such a style and elegance, enveloped by a strange aura that made him look like he was shining.
Most of the time, Valentina would be able to avoid this person, but she forgot about him as she walked with Rita.
The person in question was very handsome. He had shoulder-length pink smooth air. He was tall and his body was well-built. His clothes were white. He was very energetic and expressive. In summary, the complete opposite of Valentina.
"From the moment I was born, I saw you in a vision. The other part of myself. Valentina. Oh! Such a lovely name."
The person was posing, acting as if he was reading lines from a theater play, with his dramatic tone.
"M-Miss Valentina, who is this person?" Rita asked awkwardly.
"A degenerate," Valentina said, in an extremely cold tone.
"Oh! Good afternoon Miss. My name is Christophe," the man said, bowing elegantly with one hand behind his back, and his other hand offering Rita a pink flower.
"I-I am Rita."
"Rita. Mmm. As bright and warm as the sun. Lovely," Christophe said. "But in my heart, there's nothing as beautiful as my other half!"
After saying these words, Christophe kneeled in front of Valentina and displayed a little box containing a ring with a black gemstone encrusted to it.
"…" Valentina had a blank expression on her face. It was as if she was trying to prevent her brain from processing what was happening. Then, she turned back and walked away, ignoring Christophe.
"M-Miss Valentina…" Rita was unsure of what to do as she followed Valentina.
As for Christophe, the smile on his face didn't waver. He was just moved to tears after seeing Valentina's reaction.
"Ah! She is lovely! That coldness! That darkness! Only she can make me a complete being!"
For some reason, Christophe had the face of someone who had seen an angel.
After a while, Rita and Valentina arrived at the entrance of the library, a huge door made of some kind of robust-looking wood.
Inside, the bookshelves were also made of wood as well as everything else. It was more as if they entered a forest than a library. But this place had that serene and calming feeling due to the green and golden leaves on the tree branches.
"Ladies, it might presumptuous of me to say this, but you can ask me anything. I will do my utmost to help you if it's within my capabilities. I might not look like it, but I am quite capable."
Of course, another weird person tagged along. Rita didn't know what else to do apart from showing a feeble smile on her face.
"Mr. Cristophe… D-Do you happen to know where should begin my search if I want information about the Abyss and mutated monsters?" Rita couldn't stand the awkward atmosphere so she tried to say something.
"Don—" Valentina tried to stop Rita but it was too late.
"Oh. So that's what you are looking for. Your decision is indeed a wise one. I came here myself before I became an adventurer," Christophe said, acting as if he was looking at something distant. "At that time, I had yet to find my raison de vivre. I was a pitiful man, at that time, wandering aimlessly without a direction like a lost soul. I believed that solitude was my only salvation. Until that day when I found her, my raison d'être. And…"
Christophe went on with his story for fifteen minutes, about how meeting Valentina changed her life and how he felt like he was reborn again.
"I-I see…"
Valentina had a blank expression on her here face, while Rita forced herself to smile, looking at the man in front of them. His enthusiasm was overwhelming even for Rita.
"Allow me to be your guide, ladies," Cristopher said, walking proudly in front of Valentina and Rita, satisfied with his emotional speech.
He was rather unique but he wasn't a bad person, thought Rita.
And, Cristopher's knowledge was beyond her expectations. While reading the books, Rita listened to Cristopher's brief summary of the content. It was as if he had memorized everything inside these books.
This made it easier for Rita to find the information that she was searching for.
"Miss Rita. I am impressed by your ability to assimilate information," Cristopher said, seeing that Rita immediately remembered everything he said.
"N-no, it's not that amazing," Rita said shaking her head.
However, Cristopher looked at her curiously as she was engrossed in her reading.
"…" Valentina didn't say anything and just stood beside Rita, far from Cristopher. She wanted to leave but there was the deal with Lucian and she was also interested in Rita.
Unfortunately, there was someone with sparkling eyes staring at her this whole time. She was the type of person who didn't what to do when someone showed her this much affection so openly.
The three of them attracted a lot of stares from the visitors because of their appearance as they continued to skim through the bookshelves.
In the end, Rita managed to learn all of the important information she needed to know without Valentina doing anything much.
They spent a long time inside the library but Rita felt like time passed quickly.
After that, Valentina vanished into the shadow which surprised Rita, and Cristopher went somewhere, saying that he need to prepare himself for the upcoming raid. As such, Rita was left alone.
"They are such interesting people," Rita muttered to herself, as she walked alone under the city's night lights.
There were still a lot of people on the streets, and the building was lit up colorfully.
"Pretty," Rita muttered, looking at this scenery.
Christopher told her about a good place where she could stay for the night after leading that she had just arrived in the city, and she was now on her way to that place.
Looking around her, everything was foreign and she was by herself. She felt a little bit lonely, thinking about her friends.
"I…" But she knew that she shouldn't let that past tie her down.
As Rita continued to walk, she felt that someone was following her, but when she looked around, she could only people passing by without looking at her.
She thought that it might have been her imagination. Vicky told her stories about young girls walking alone at night, and then getting kidnapped so maybe she was just thinking subconsciously about that.
"Huh!?"
Suddenly, someone grabbed her from behind and everything became dark.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone