After being thoroughly grilled by their respective soulmate, both Daegok-soo and Gwi-jaum was thoroughly defeated mentally. It was fortunate that none of the collateral before could be traced back to them or at least no 'concrete' evidence to suggest so.
Still, although that punishment session last only like few minutes, it probably did more damage than to Gwi-jaum more than anything in his previous life did. The image of a flawless Regressor shattered fast in this current life of his.
"Now, let us enter the library, shall we?" Yeon said in sweet tones as if the words she spoke before didn't contain the poison that murked their fighting spirit altogether.
"Yes... ma'am". Gwi-jaum said in defeat for the first time around.
The library of town central or as officially called as 'Grand Library' is a large institution building where numerous books, tomes, scrolls, anything that contain information is stored and circulated. Often many researchers and educators of all walks of lives gather over as they share their learnings and document them for the people to access.
"So... Gwi-jaum, what makes this place so important? I mean the knowledge is no doubt one of them but are there some secret overpowered skill books or similar?". Daegok-soo asked as a lot of Regressor novels love to shower their self-insert overpowered abilities with half-assed reasonings.
"I fucking wished. Even then, it is still rather too useful to pass up. Especially that we're taking on uncharted path here". Gwi-jaum said as a lot of things aren't exactly as he dreamed.
"So, what is there for me here?" Mel asked as she wasn't exactly the most book-smarted individual that can be found here.
"Don't worry. There's no doubt that there's something for you here". Gwi-jaum said to his totally-not-girlfriend that he managed to get one before Anssa-um.
Gwi-jaum heard of what Anssa-um was trying to craft before and he managed to make a functioning prototype of it even. It's a path that he has never taken before but... with the way things have gone in his previous life, he decided that a new path is better sought after.
"Daegok-soo, Yeon, Mel... we're going to recreate firearms. And make it so that it can overcome the challenges that will come our ways in this Tower". Gwi-jaum said as he attempts to rouse their spirit back. Mel meanwhile has no idea what is a firearm at all since she is a Tower's inhabitant.
Whoever said that a firearm is boring and weak because all they need to do is to pull the trigger and boom, their targets are dead then they have never seen the agonizing effort it took to craft just one that can kill in said simple manner. There were so many details and unspoken things involved that making a sword in comparison is braindead.
All that dirty works mechanized and automated in their world so no one now amongst them remembers just how painful that experience really is. And here, they will have to start out from square one with no additional help. Suffer the production part so that the reward they reap will be effortless.
But they don't have to start from the primitive firearm itself. With basic knowledge of how modern firearms in their world worked as per part of being enlisted, they could skip toward where firearms as it is reliably outmatching other weapons in terms of utility.
Besides...
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Eternal Arm Masteries (Rank: C) {Growth}
The ability to wield all weapons with proficiency. Even if picking up
unfamiliar weaponries, host will be able to perform combat techniques
suitable for the wielding weapon.
Holder: Hoe Gwi-jaum
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
It was the same skill he has in previous life, but he couldn't leverage it much except in emergency situations where he couldn't make use of his original weapon for some reason. But here... he wonders how much a gun counts into this could.
Gwi-jaum proceeds to divide all of his party members into their respective roles before he continues on their guidance. Each of them has their own flaws and strengths that need to be capitalized, himself included as even his Regressor's privilege will expire eventually. Know himself and no foes can overcome him.
Daegok-soo, whose stats are now specialized in DEX and AGI which enables him to move in rapid speed and uncanny reflexes. Normally, that would have made him a stealthy adversary if it weren't for his personality being so... manic and furious that any attempt to hide may as well be accompanied with many neon signs pointing his own position to others.
Daegok-soo's a vanguard. He who steps first into the frontline and danger, into battlefields that is unfamiliar where life and death intertwines.
Anssa-um is a Spec Op, but right now, he is dedicating himself into the production role of crafting firearms for everyone. That alone makes himself incapable of participating in direct combat, but he is still as capable as he knew of him
Jiang... is something. There was almost no redeemable quality physique-wise, and he would be hard-pressed to use any melee weapon effectively. His only saving grace is the firearms they plan on crafting and how much it could carry him forward in this Tower is wholly dependent on it.
And Gwi-jaum, himself. Is a regressor who is omniscient regarding almost everything this Tower has about. Whether learned by himself or through others. With his Immovable Swordsmanship and Eternal Arms Mastery, Gwi-jaum decided that he will be frontliner like Daegok-soo too. If Daegok-soo is the unstoppable spear then he will be the immovable shield they needed.
Then there's Yeon. Her Master of Magic is a practically a cheat skill that is too powerful for her own good. If she is to stay with Daegok-soo then she would be the party's heavy firepower that can cast all kinds of magic at will. Too powerful she is that lives are to be extinguished by her like wind blowing the candles out. Her title of 'Witch of Blood' in his previous life isn't meant to be taken lightly.
And if she came across her previous class job again, she could also fill in the production side of it which will be sorely needed to push their firearms further.
And Mel... She's complicated even by Gwi-jaum's standard. All Gwi-jaum will said about her is that... she is a greatsword user with decent proficiency at it, but it was more of a medium for her to use her Light-affinity magic. So much so that she was more of a Light magic user than swordswoman. Anymore and it would just needlessly complicate things.
"Let us starts in earnest". Gwi-jaum said as the entrance to the Grand Library is now in front of them.
Everyone enters the Grand Library as they take in its internal structure for certainty. So many floors, so many books to read. Its atmosphere certainly didn't disappoint its namesake for just how seemingly vast everything is.
Gwi-jaum did the registry procedures for everyone else to spare the boring stuff. His selfless sacrifice is forever remembered.
"Don't act as if I died, you melodramatic drama queens. Here, now all of you can go and discover for yourselves". Gwi-jaum said as he hands over their respective library cards before he heads out on his own.
Daegok-soo looks at the library card that is made out of carved wood before looking at the vast quantity of books in this library. With a heavy sigh, he knew that he ain't filtering that vast amount of information without guidance and the limited time he has.
Eyes of Secret
His only saving grace activated again. As his irises transformed into purple hue once more, he scans through numerous books that is tidily placed unto shelves. If anything was important enough to trip its detection much like the hidden quest with the glasswork shop, then that is good enough for him.
He doesn't need anything overpowered at all, just something good enough to supplement his Thousand March Footwork.
Then... something trips its detection as he noticed a glow of purple seen only to him. With haste, he quickly approaches his detected signal. Anticipation filled his body as he took it out to see that it was...
A cookbook...
Disappointment was his first expression and thought but he decided to scan it even more just to see if there's any additional hidden secret about it that he doesn't know about.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Dragon Queen's Culinary Record
Classification: Skill Tome (inert)
Rank: S+
A household list of recipes that is made by the Dragon Queen herself.
Made with love for her human husband so that they can share a meal together.
Contains both mortal, dragonkin and combination variation for each recipes.
Consumption of the following recipes will grant temporary positive effects
and long-term usage will grant permanent stat boost.
Written in both Dragon's Tongue and Common. With additional notes, and hints.
It's not only a cookbook but a testament to a love that crosses the boundary of
human and dragon's realm
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
"...What the fuck did I just read?" Daegok-soo said as he couldn't really believe that such a thing can be found on the Floor 1 of the Tower at all. It was inert, sure. But the implication of the description that was given to him was just... impossible to describe completely unlike his skill.
He was pretty sure that the most broken thing wasn’t the recipes themselves in the cookbook but the Dragon's Tongue and its human translation itself. From what he remembered, dragons are mythical creatures that wield absolute power and anything related to them is no doubt that even if it's just a cookbook.
"I just have to stumble into this of all the things, huh? Guess Gwi-jaum is going to like this a lot." Daegok-soo said as he wonders about the peculiar book he obtained and what of it being inert means.
Meanwhile, Anssa-um is filtering through numerous metallurgy books to see and discover if there's any fantasy metal is there in the Tower. After all, it was a staple in fantasy settings and that will help immensely in making enhanced firearms once their conventional variants become obsolete.
Everything that dictates a firearm's firepower is the firearm's internal mechanism, the cartridge size, ballistic and powder. Everything else dictates the handling and all quality-of-life stuffs.
And all of that can be fixed using better materials, even if the quality necessitated can be used better elsewhere. Once he analyzed all the recorded supernatural metal that is found here, a proper path with required steps can be made and that's already far better than anything else.
The first step is Dark Steel alloy which is made by using the iron mined from the leyline veins. Its quality over standard steel is evident in itself thus if they're desperate enough, they could make the transition toward it if they must.
From what is heard from the blacksmith he is interning in, they're pretty costly but still often used for heavy-duty tools or constant exposure to hazard.
"Hey, Anssa-um. I see that you're stuffing yourself with books again. The last time you did that was like... entry exam for university and you fell ill after it". Daegok-soo said as he is carrying the inert skill tome by his waist.
"Don't remind me of it. It wasn't the best display of myself at all." Anssa-um said as he already felt tired when his mind coming across that piece of memory in particular. He wasn't the brightest bulb in the box for sure.
Daegok-soo used his Eyes of Secret once more on the stack of books that is placed on the desk. His discovery of how there might be things that are not to be found early in the Tower such as the Dragon Queen's cookbook he found earlier. Does any inhabitant in this Floor here even recognize what a dragon is?
Thus, there might be hidden information or headstart that can be extracted even with each page of the books. He knows that his Eyes of Secret is brokenly overpowered and he won't make any attempt to deny it. This experience explains why just so many authors love using it and its variants in every of their MCs in those novels.
Daegok-soo's purplish irises gazed upon the mountain of books. Anssa-um waited in anticipation as he knew that's the indication of Daegok-soo using his starting Skill. Then, he reached out for one of the books that he had yet to read then starts to flip the pages toward his designated page.
Orichalcum forging and crafting for all levels of Blacksmithing.
This... this isn't something they could make use of yet. But this confirms Daegok-soo's suspicion that his Eyes of Secret being so universally applicable that it couldn't possibly reflect its rank of C correctly. It was as if it was his only guiding compass in the sea of storm.
The easiest method to increase a firearm's firepower is to increase the powder load or use more explosive charge that is used in its cartridge. But this isn't something that could be done casually. One misstep and the cartridge that stored it and the gun that it chambers in also blew up in your face.
Brass is used to make cartridges instead of steel is because of its malleability thus the sealing of the cartridge is done far more effectively. But it isn't the most durable thing to exist considering mishaps with it still occur commonly.
And as Daegok-soo analyzes the texts, he came to learn that Orichalcum... is just brass but better durability and its capability to channel mana more effectively. But that alone is a heaven-send for them because apparently, they can synthesize low-purity Orichalcum with brass alone using alchemy and mana.
A cartridge made from Orichalcum might sound like the dumbest thing to make use of it but that means they can pack much more firepower in a single round without it blowing their entire gun up. Of course, if they also improve the firearm they use consistently but that's common senses already and doesn't need to elaborated on.
"Bruh... And we thought that Tower-climbing was going to be more hellish. Of course that it still is but it goes far more smoothly than I thought". Anssa-um said as the entire party is making very good progress in comparison to what they thought before. Other Climbers could be swinging their weapons trying to hone their skills while they be inventing something that never existed. There's no telling which way is right, but he could tell that a lot of writers will say the former.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Anssa-um looks at the page that Daegok-soo uncovered while his face shines with glee. If it weren't for his help, he would have mindlessly tried to filter for anything that he didn't know already and then proceed to just shut down mentally against the impossible task that he assigned himself to.
With parting words, Daegok-soo left Anssa-um to his device.
Getting to the next floor, Daegok-soo saw many more people looking for books to read and it seems that this floor has plenty more rare kinds of books to be found and discovered. And knowing his girlfriend's specialty, he heads toward the Magic section of the Grand Library. Which to no one's surprise that he found her there with a book chosen already.
"Hey, Daegok-soo. What do you think of this book that I found? Its title seems ominous but I trust that you have better judgment with it than I do". Yeon said as she presents him with a large and thick tome to him.
With an agreeing nod, Daegok-soo used his Eyes of Secret to scan it.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
A Method to the Madness
Classification: Skill Tome (inert)
Rank: A
A scientific dissection of witchcraft and their internal logic so that
any practitioner has greater understanding of how witchcraft alchemy works
in comparison to standard alchemy as we know of.
Providing a historical analysis of how standard alchemy and witchcraft came to diverge.
Highlighting both principles and perspective and tracing their root over the eras.
In short, witchcraft made standardized for all magicians who wish to learn.
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
"It's a good book if you look past its rather ominous titling. Probably no wonder why it just left collecting dust there in the first place". Daegok-soo said as he probably would have dropped it if he didn't know what it exactly its content is from the title. Like he could make a better name for it such as 'Scientific Witchery'.
Alchemy is one of the things they need to prepare for eventually. They done the hidden quest for the old man of the glasswork shop for his custom-made ware at a dirt-cheap price. They are prepared for it and knowing Yeon's capability, she will no doubt do well as both an alchemist and magician that they could rely on.
If only Gwi-jaum would act kindlier toward her but he could only guess as to why that someone who was such a stoic person freaked out so much at her presence. Just what did Yeon in Gwi-jaum's past life did to traumatize him so badly?
"By the way, I'm going to check up on Gwi-jaum with what I found soon. See you later". Daegok-soo said his word of departure along with his gesture. Yeon keeps looking at him with that gaze that seemingly penetrates into his soul but goes unnoticed to him.
"Yeah... This parting between us is temporary unlike our love". Yeon said to herself which would have come off as innocent if it weren't for Gwi-jaum's knowledge of what she had become in his previous life.
A little while later, he made his observation as he noticed that the number of books presenting are reducing the higher the floor he is moving on. He could probably say that more exotic books are existing on higher floor in here but this is a public library, not a Murim sect's technique archive.
"Daegok-soo! You're coming to here to find Gwi-jaum, right?" Mel spoke to him while hiding behind a bookshelf.
"Yeah, did you find something that you want to use? From what I heard, you're a greatsword user and there are probably not a lot of techniques for it". Daegok-soo said as his only idea of a prominent greatsword user is the White Swordsman from Lucidity which is a prominent manga that he read from.
"Well, what do you think about this?" Mel said as she presents him a book that caught her interest. And like that, Daegok-soo used his Eyes of Secret to scan it again.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Motion Cancelling
Classification: Skill Tome (inert)
Rank: B+
Contains the teaching of how to hasten your own actions and cutting down
the intermission time between each attack. An intense focus and precision are
required to enable attack with swiftness and without delay.
This skill is effective for all weapon users but it's most prominent with heavy weaponry
such as two-handed greatsword, hammer, etc... These weapons often have long delays
between their attacks thus came the conception of this skill to overcome its limitation.
To make their movement fluid and their attacks rapid.
Additionally, mastery of this skill will grants increase in DEX and AGI.
And it is compatible to any skill that practitioner have great understanding on.
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
Upon reading its description, he finds that it is easily the thing that Mel could make immediate use of its description is anything to say. However, the last paragraph intrigued him as it is said to be compatible with any skill that the practitioner understand greatly. The DEX and AGI bonus is simply the cherry on top.
Perhaps he could incorporate it with Thousand March Footwork. Although it is registered as his own and its usefulness prove, it has that one weakness that bothered him to no end.
He couldn't make repeat usage with it. The constraint of timing required due to his lack of stat right now. Worse, he couldn't chain its Motion Form and Martial Form together despite they both requiring each other's reliance to build and make use of momentum for each other's full potential.
His mentor Harold Seminute overcome its problems despite only being LV1. So it can't possibly be just a matter of stats. But if Motion Cancelling is the necessary puzzle piece to bridge the disparate gap then...
"Can I borrow it ever you're done with it?" Daegok-soo asked, partially out of sincerity and partially desperation of his own circumstance.
Mel nodded before the two part way again in this library.
Once more traveling inside the Grand Library and scanning all the sections of books for anything interesting to carry with him. However, it seems that the Dragon Queen's cookbook was the only thing exceptionally rare that can be found here so far. Anything else just didn't register as mysterious enough for Eyes of Secret to mark upon regardless of usefulness.
And he didn't exactly have eternity to read all of their synopsis either way. The only way to know the exact good things that he needed is just asking Gwi-jaum himself although the fact that he left them to their device means he must be having his own important things to do here.
Stumbling across the Bestiary section is Jiang who is already gleaming through his second book about monsters in this world. While the appeal of medieval fantasy world seems galvanizing with all the way you could obtain power, not so much when you realized the threats that involved in this place as a normal person here. Unfortunately, they too are a staple of those genres.
And poor Jiang looks like he is about to pass out trying to force himself to keep reading this vividly-described information of what these monsters will do to its victims in general. To be fair, a lot of them don’t sugarcoat it just so that they deter incapable folks from doing stupid things involving them. Better to be safe than sorry.
"You alright?" Daegok-soo felt like he must intervene, or Jiang would just went out cold on the desk in the next moment.
"Thanks, your presence is enough to reassure me from the nightmare that will come in my sleep". Jiang said as he decided to take his eyes out of that nightmare fuel of a book but kept reading for the party's sake should they come across.
"I think nobody but you get traumatized about things like this. Aren't we already desensitized to violence and killing? We got enlisted into the army, this isn't something that should have stumped us to begin with" Daegok-soo said to Jiang, not sure if this is right way to phrase or not.
The world they lived in isn't perfect, but it isn't the most awful compare to human's imagination. But in the recent time, it was just unquestionably terrible as people's divide between each other only widen. From what he even knows, the people half the world across are willing to celebrate the genocide of each other. Not the best way to maintain faith in humanity if one keeps gazing into the abyss for too long.
"Bruh... I was assigned to logistics. I obviously didn't partake much in direct combat like you do and I'm thankful that it stayed that way until my leave". Jiang said Daegok-soo can't just equate the experience of his with him.
The rat in his pocket which has stayed silent the whole time in his pocket reared its head again. As if trying to encourage him, it squeaked, and Jiang simply understood fully thanks to his starting skill of Animal Communication. And afterward, he realized that perhaps he isn't as helpless as he thought himself to be.
Jiang sighed, closing the book and rubbing his temples. He looked up at Daegok-soo, his eyes reflecting a determination that hadn't been there before. "You're right, Daegok-soo. We've seen worse in our world. And if we're to survive in this Tower, I need to be prepared."
He reopened the book, his gaze hardening as he forced himself to read the gruesome details. He imagined himself in those scenarios, fighting off the monsters with whatever weapons he could find. He envisioned himself protecting his friends, standing his ground even when fear threatened to consume him.
"I won't let my fear control me," Jiang declared, his voice steady. "I won't let these monsters intimidate me into submission. If they come for us, I'll be ready."
Daegok-soo watched as Jiang immersed himself back into the book, his expression serious. He couldn't help but feel a small sense of pride for his friend. Jiang was facing his fears and insecurity head-on, preparing himself for the battles to come. It was his resolve.
Daegok-soo departed from this place again wonders where Jiang will take himself upon.
A little bit later at the highest floor of this library. Daegok-soo sees the scant number of books remaining here and he won't make any question about the scarcity here. Then, he finally found Gwi-jaum who is carrying a tower of books in front of him with a height that stretches from his waist to cover his face.
"I guess that's why this floor has far fewer books than the lower". Daegok-soo made his jest.
Setting themselves aside at a reading table, Daegok-soo placed the Dragon Queen's cookbook in front of him. His Eyes of Secret has detected it as a Skill Tome. In fact, a lot of the books that the party members took is also a Skill Tome but there was one additional thing slapped to it.
Inert. They were all inert and yet he has no idea of what an active Skill Tome even it. Gwi-jaum is the Regressor and he needs his knowledge now of this matter.
"I see. That's what get you work up recently. This isn't something you would learn now but it won't hurt to explain". Gwi-jaum said as he looked at the Skill Tome that Daegok-soo brought.
"Those Skill Tomes that you found are like the same as those Skill Books found in role-playing games and the like. You're familiar with that, right? Much like the same as those things, this Skill Tomes were meant to be imbued with mana and became depleted and inert after a single use as all the imprinted knowledge instilled to said mana transfer directly into the mind. It's even possible to turn an inert Skill Tome into a functioning one but..."
"But what?" Daegok-soo asked seeing Gwi-jaum suddenly stop his explanation midway.
"The ability to rejuvenate a Skill Tome isn't possible here in this Tower's Floor or even the first 10 at all. Although an inert Skill Tome can still be learned manually through its text content, the fact that it was brought here at all and missed entirely is a strange thing that I didn't even know about in my past life". Gwi-jaum explained the mystery to Daegok-soo.
"So... who do you think is responsible-". Daegok-soo said before he cut himself off upon realizing that line of thought would just be futile.
"Well, it doesn't matter since we can learn it by manual either way as we should but it's best to just keep this in mind for now. An inert Skill Tome is no different than a normal skill book either way". Gwi-jaum said as he doesn't exactly put this lightly as a Regressor.
The atmosphere was still and tension was so thick that one could cut it with a knife. Seeing that he doesn't making things pleasant with his words, Gwi-jaum changed the subject.
"Eternal Arms Mastery. You know that skill of mine, right? Universal mastery of weapons regardless of types by some degrees". Gwi-jaum made his explanation as Daegok-soo has already known about it.
Gwi-jaum placed one of the books that he found. It's not a Skill Tome but it is still a useful book. Even if it is rather thin.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Adventurers' Hierarchy to Power
Classification: Skill Book
Rank: E
A detailed classification of the power scaling of Adventurers by their martial level.
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
It was simple as that as if one couldn't try to extrapolate more than it should or it would just be a meaningless babble.
Unlike ranking that is being spoken nonchalantly in their world's martial art novels and the like, there was a measure of concrete classification going on here
The ranking is divided between 3rd-rate to 1st-rate and then the Peak itself. And they too are divided as early, mid, and late.
-Early 3rd-rate is when the martial artist have learned only either martial art or internal energy art.
-Mid 3rd-rate is when said martial artist have learned both of what said above.
-Late 3rd-rate is when they finally master both of their individual martial arts and internal energy arts.
From what the entire party is showing themselves to be capable of right now, only Gwi-jaum, Daegok-soo and perhaps Mel is placing in Mid-3rd-rate. Jiang and Anssa-um doesn't even register and Yeon is more of a mage than a martial artist. Even Daegok-soo's placement as Mid-3rd-rate is shaky at best since his only internal energy art is entirely makeshift and shoddy.
And even then, using them in tandem with one another is a different challenge to those who has yet accommodate to it. Surpassing it and one reaches the threshold of being 2nd-rate. So mental-wise, they're as capable of Early or Mid-2nd-rate but combat capability-wise still fall behind as their actual placement.
Adventurers in this world is classified from F to S, and there's additional extension if it needed. While not exactly hard-required, reaching S rank and beyond often necessitated one to become as least of a Late 1st-rate. And the differences between a Late 1st-rate and a Peak martial artist is as much of heaven and earth itself.
Normally, Adventurers could have spent their entire lifetime trying to move toward the next step of martial prowess but Tower Climbers like Gwi-jaum and his friends having the support of the Tower's System thus their growth become much more accelerated and any advancement in their progress become noticeable to themselves. That alone is far more reassuring because it will motivate them to become better while others keep struggling and wonder if they even make any progress on themselves at all.
"So... why do you trying to show me this?" Daegok-soo asked, knowing that anything involves him are a lot more complex than what he may suggested at first.
"Daegok-soo, how far do you think we can proceed if we tried to use firearms in comparison to the martial artist?" Gwi-jaum made his question as if to test Daegok-soo himself.
After a little thinking, Daegok-soo already know what Gwi-jaum is thinking about. He muttered his one answer. "Early 3rd-rate".
Because guns have no martial art to complement with it. In their world, by detaching guns from human's physiology thus it become unbounded by human's limit of power.
But here, that act has instead left it as an unreliable tool here where human's strength exceeds it too easily. No matter if they could imbue mana or spiritual energy to it nor the better material used, if it has no technique to back its power then it would forever be outmatched by the intents of the martial artists past Early 3rd-rate.
That's when he realized what Gwi-jaum's Eternal Arms Mastery could do. By just repeatedly using many different weapon types, even unrelated altogether at once, that skill of his received explosive growth to rank up that early. And thus, in return making him wield all weapons with proficiency and techniques, perhaps even different firearms if it could translate into them at all
And from there, Gwi-jaum will derive his brands of gun martial for each weapon types. Handguns, shotguns, rifles, whatever personal-carry firearms that they can craft and make use. None of it would be something profound to be discovered but the fact that they have something means they stood a better chance should conflict with other similar martial fighters arise.
It's a harrowing path that they have chosen. One that is literally against all logical principles but... Gwi-jaum simply doesn't want to go down the path of his previous life anymore. That the world of theirs simply has nothing of worth to carry over or contribute.
A long while later, everyone met up at the reception area and decided on the books they're borrowing. Every one of them borrowed a decent amount of them and here Gwi-jaum is going overboard with a pillar of books he is trying to smuggle out of here. Although with his friends' reassurance that he is a responsible person, it did take them another while just to get the clerk believe them enough for the decision.
By the time they stepped out of the Grand Library, it was twilight already and the night is about to take its place. The six of them looked at one another, discussing whatever they borrowed. Gwi-jaum didn't join the conversation however as he gazed into the distant twilight, as if he is looking toward the past future that has yet to occur.
"Hey, worry about the future?" Daegok-soo intervened, knowing that the responsibility of a Regressor must be too great for someone like him.
"Not exactly that. Just that I wonder if I'm really going to be able to make sure that all of us will come out alive even if nothing will go with our projected plan". Gwi-jaum said as even though his foresight is really great, it isn't absolute.
Gwi-jaum solemnly rethinks of his past life, and all the struggles that learn to overcome with his own strength that he obtained with his hard works and efforts. But, none of them was for anyone's sake but himself. Even Mel who was his past life's final partner during the last stretch of the Tower, their connections were more of survivors who bond together out of trauma and for each other's strength than genuine feelings.
This is going to be his life where he will use all of his efforts to help others now that he had full-control of his own life's trajectory. That he knew of the treacherous paths forward that he must step forward with his own.
But he's not alone. And that's already a step above his previous self.
At the entrance gate is someone. Shrouded in a blue cloak, beneath is white shirt and black pant. Can't mistake such fashion sense if they tried, that's Harold waiting for them as he is leaning on the gate as people are leaving.
"Harold, what are you doing here?" Daegok-soo asked as it is strange for someone like him to wait for someone at all. Or even come here since he has nothing to even remotely do.
Suddenly taking somethings out of his pant's pocket are a bunch of tickets. They didn't get to see properly but Harold elaborated on it.
"They just recently open a culinary fair just now at the town central's marketplace tonight. Normally, I would have just come there by myself but my conscience decided to make me invite all of you here". Harold explains himself, trying to make himself as cold and stoic even if he actually isn't.
"Tsundere behavior... Boohoo..." Anssa-um speaks under his lips with his over-generalization of what Harold is doing.
"Cool, can we get one now-" Daegok-soo said before the hand that is showing them the ticket gets put back in the pocket.
"Surpass me before getting to the fair and I'll give you one". Harold said before he just makes everyone there eating dust. Especially as they're still carrying books with them.
"Damn you, old man!" Daegok-soo said in infuriation before he just pursues him again for that action. It seems that what supposed to be their day of rest, end with another chase, again.
And as Daegok-soo makes haste after his mentor, Anssa-um got on his motorbike to chase, Gwi-jaum pursues again as everyone else also got on their pace to chase after. Now with additional weight that they must carry.
Their lives were always about the run itself.