The Crazy Battle God Has Returned - Chapter 5

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

A Mad Swordsman Returns – Chapter 5

What is a Trial?
A mission created by the Lords to earn coins, and a type of dungeon.
Trials have rules that a Lord must absolutely follow.

1. It is permissible for a Trial to be ‘difficult’ enough to challenge completion, but it must not be so difficult that clearing it becomes ‘impossible’.
2. A Trial without rewards cannot exist. There must be rewards.
3. It is impossible to distribute rewards without reason.

Beyond these, many other rules existed.
For the transcendent Star Lords, these were nothing but tedious restrictions.
They adhered to the rules solely for the sake of coins.

※ Lords who successfully create and operate excellent Trials receive ‘coins’ continuously as ‘evaluation rewards’.
※ The evaluation criteria are based on the unconscious impressions left by ‘players’ who completed the Trial, and the assessment given by the ‘Divine’.

What if one succeeded in creating an excellent Trial?
One could establish a cornucopia that continuously generates coins.
For Lords obsessed with coins, there was no reason not to attempt it.
Thus, even today, the Lords conceived and created Trials.

‘If only all Lords were like that.’

Han Yu-sung thought this as he walked forward.
Naturally, not all Lords pursued ‘evaluation rewards’.
Some Lords earned coins by subtly exploiting players—or rather, quite a considerable number of them did.
The Trial I was heading to now was one of those.

“I’ve arrived.”

A clearing filled with countless people came into view.
Once, a grand library had stood here, but it was now gone, replaced instead by an enormous gate.
What appeared above the gate was a massive message.

[I, the Lord of Knowledge, welcome the newly awakened players.]
[This is a library created for you.]

It was a message left by the Lord of Knowledge.
As Han Yu-sung gazed intently at the massive gate, a message materialized before him.

[Challenge: Library of Knowledge.]
[A challenge opened by the Lord of Knowledge. A library brimming with countless books. You may select two books from this place and depart. However, the moment you choose a book, the Librarians will begin their pursuit. The higher the grade of the book, the greater the number of Librarians tracking you.]
[Rule: The Librarians cannot kill players.]
[Entry Restriction: Level 10 or above cannot enter.]
[Entry Fee: 40 coins. (Repeat entry permitted!)]

This was the description of the Library of Knowledge.
Beyond that portal lay entry into a library existing in another dimension. Within it, countless books were scattered at random.
Needless to say, these were no ordinary books.

[Every book in the Library of Knowledge is a Skill Book! Locations are randomized!]
[From the lowest grade F to, if fortune smiles upon you, the highest grade S! A golden opportunity to begin with an S-grade skill from the start!]
[There are already those who have claimed them. Check the interviews!]
[“I was fortunate. I entered the library wandering aimlessly, thinking ‘where should I go,’ and there before my eyes was an S-grade Skill Book!”]

Skills could be learned through various methods, but among them, Skill Books were the most popular approach.
This was because they could be traded or transferred.
However, high-grade Skill Books had such limited supply that they were unobtainable even with money.

“So it’s all about luck, isn’t it? An S-grade skill would mean…”
“Damn, that’s a complete life reversal. Do you know how hard it is to acquire skills? An S-grade skill? Even just getting an A-grade skill would set you up comfortably for a while.”
“But what exactly are these Librarians? Are they monsters?”
“Yeah. Supposedly they look pretty vicious.”

I overheard the nearby players gossiping amongst themselves.
Rookie players who had come seeking this chance at life-changing fortune.
But the Library of Knowledge harbored two critical flaws.

‘First, monsters pursue you the moment you touch a book.’

The moment you grasp a book, the monsters called Librarians come charging with eyes ablaze.
Each one possessed formidable strength individually, yet when their numbers increased, a buff activated, making them even more formidable.

‘The trap lies in the fact that this buff was never mentioned in the description.’

“My older brother who went in first said not to be greedy and only bring out C-rank skills. He said not to even dream of A-rank or higher.”
“Why? Are the Librarians that strong?”
“No, that’s part of it too. But apparently, they’re just hard to find in the first place.”

And the second problem.
This was the most insidious part.

‘High-rank skill books are inherently difficult to locate.’

You might call them bait products.
High-rank skill books were deliberately placed in hard-to-find locations. Moreover, the positions of the skill books constantly shifted.
There was no way a strategy guide could exist for such a structure.
Then who was that man being interviewed claiming he’d obtained an S-rank skill?

‘A promotional balloon, you might say.’

It was true that he’d actually consumed an S-rank skill.
Of course, for an S-rank skill, it wasn’t particularly impressive.
The Lord of Knowledge, having just opened the trial, had spoon-fed a low-quality S-rank skill to this man for promotional purposes.
The promotional effect had been remarkably effective.
Newbies came rushing in, wanting to obtain S-rank skills themselves.

“By now, the Player Community must be in an uproar.”

Han Yu-sung pulled out his smartphone.
There was an internet community used by players.
Naturally, discussions about the trial were rampant. Had anyone gone in before? How should you clear it? That sort of thing.
Discussions about the Library of Knowledge were also actively circulating.

[(Verified) I got this from the Library of Knowledge—is it any good?]
– What is this bastard? Another Library viral post popped up, get lost
– Viral? How is it viral when someone actually got an S-rank skill lol
– Isn’t that guy a sworn contractor of the Lord of Knowledge or something?
– Nah, he made a contract with a different Lord. I looked into it thinking it was a scam, but it was real; but apparently it’s not that great of a skill though
– Why would you go there? It’s just a waste of coins; such a waste of coins
– Why? Aren’t there lots of people coming out with skill books?

Opinions among players regarding the Library of Knowledge were sharply divided.
Why would you go there? It’s a waste of coins. Even if you do, you can’t consume the skill books.
On the other hand, there were those who recommended it.

– I recommend the Library of Knowledge. If luck is on your side, you start by consuming a good skill book, and above all, it’s a trial where you can’t fall behind, which is honestly huge
– Hmm, well it’s a decent place to get real combat experience
Newbies would be better off going to the Library of Knowledge and becoming humble rather than dying after entering some difficult dungeon thinking things will be different lol

The Library of Knowledge was a trial where you couldn’t die.
The Librarians never killed players. They merely subdued them painfully.
That’s why many new players wanted to experience what a trial was like in the Library of Knowledge.
Above all, there were actually players who obtained skill books.

– I don’t recommend it because the Lords often mess with trials, but if you really think your luck is that good, go ahead
You’re not going to listen anyway even if I tell you not to go, lol
– Honestly, it’s pointless to even say anything. They think they’re special

New players didn’t understand the value of coins.
Simultaneously, they were caught in the fantasy that they were special.
They were consumed by the delusion that they could obtain a good skill book in the library.
And the Library of Knowledge was designed to exploit such psychology well.
If luck is on your side, you can obtain a skill book, and there’s no risk of death?
Wouldn’t I be different from those other guys?

‘Well, I wasn’t any different from those kinds of people in my past life either.’

Han Yu-sung was the same.
I entered the library confidently, thinking I was different, that I would obtain a good skill book.
And I barely managed to leave with one D-rank and one C-rank book?

“This time will be different.”

Han Yu-sung stood before the massive door.
Then a message appeared as if to block his path.

[Note: Books obtained in the library cannot be used inside.]
[Note 2: External items other than equipped gear cannot be brought in. If you attempt to bring them, they will be stored in a pocket dimension until you exit.]
[Please pay the entry fee of 40 coins.]

As I paid the coin, the message vanished and the door swung wide open.
Han Yu-sung stepped through without hesitation.

A blinding flash engulfed my vision.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in an unfamiliar space.
A Library filled with towering bookshelves arranged in dense rows.
The shelves rose so high they obscured the ceiling, standing like walls themselves, packed tightly with countless volumes.
The bookshelves towered so high that they nearly reached the ceiling, looking just like walls, and they were packed tightly with countless books.

[Skill Book: Fire Arrow (D).]
[Skill Book: Hardening (F).]
[Skill Book: Hardening (F).]

But they weren’t particularly valuable skills.
I was at the starting point. Only low-grade skills existed in this area.
To find worthwhile skills, I’d need to venture deeper.
To find good skills, you have to go deeper.

“To do that, we have to break through this maze.”

The Library of Knowledge was a maze constructed entirely of bookshelves.
Most players who delved deeper in search of Skill Books would eventually lose all sense of direction.
That’s how they became lost.
Of course, that had nothing to do with me.
Of course, it was a story unrelated to Han Yu-sung.

Ahhhhh! P-please save me!

Should we start moving?

I moved through the maze of bookshelves toward the sound.
Following the knowledge from my past life’s ‘experiences’—swiftly.
Based on the “experiences” from my past life, quickly.

*   *   *

Numerous players were wandering through the Library of Knowledge.

“Where in the world are we? Everything here is D-rank!”
“Damn it, we just need to grab anything and find the exit…!”

Some had become so exhausted wandering through the maze that they gave up searching, simply snatching whatever books they could find before scrambling toward the exit.
Of course, not everyone shared that fate.
Some were blessed with fortune.

“Hey! Hey! Found it! Damn, we found it! B-rank!”
“This one’s B-rank too! Ha, all that wandering was worth it!”
“Good, just grab two books. Take them and let’s move!”

The players who had discovered quality skill books erupted in cheers.
They seized the skill books they needed and prepared to escape immediately.
That was when it happened.

“…Huh?”

A figure materialized before the players.
A man in a black robe, a lantern clutched in one hand.
The ominous aura gave them pause, but only for a moment.

“Kyiiiiiiiiii!”
“W-what the—?!”

The man unleashed a horrific shriek as his head tilted upward.
In that same instant, his body underwent a grotesque transformation.
He became a monster—impossibly tall and skeletal, with fingernails sharp as blades.
The Librarian tore down the corridor at terrifying speed.

Shrrrrip!

“Ugh, gaaaah?! My sword, my sword—?!”

Razor-sharp nails streaked toward the players.
The nails shredded their blades like paper, then tore through the players beyond.
They collapsed, their bodies ravaged by terrible wounds.
The Librarian retrieved the books from them and returned them to their shelves.
In that very moment.

Ssssshhhhh….

An ominous light materialized in the void, healing the players.
A message appeared before their eyes.

[You have been subdued by the Librarian.]

“No, not my skill book…!”

The players’ bodies vanished in an instant.
Having been subdued, they were expelled from the Library of Knowledge.
The Librarian, who had transformed into a grotesque monster, reverted to human form.

Click, click.

As if nothing had happened, he began wandering through the Library of Knowledge.

– We can’t find any more. Let’s just take this and leave.
– Ahhhhhhh! A, a monster! It’s a monster!
– Do something about those things! Isn’t there a way to kill them?!
– How are we supposed to kill a monster like that at our level…!
– We’re not dying, right? That thing isn’t killing us, right?!

Similar scenes unfolded throughout the Library of Knowledge.
The Library of Knowledge echoed with the cheers and screams of the players.
From a lofty vantage point, a pair of eyes observed the spectacle.

[Hehehehe, ah, how delightful. The joy of coins flowing in continuously is almost comparable to the pleasure of accumulating knowledge.]

It was the Lord of Knowledge, the architect of this ordeal.
He smiled faintly as he watched the players being driven out.
The thought of the coins he’d extracted from them was enough to make him laugh.
The coin revenue from this Library of Knowledge was not astronomical.
But the steady flow was its greatest advantage.
And there was one more thing.

[There’s no better place than here to dispose of cheap skill books.]

These skill books cost mere coins to produce and barely sell, yet I can dispose of them while turning a profit!
How many skill books exist with high grades but poor performance?
The Lord of Knowledge possessed far too many such worthless items.

[Foolish humans. How convenient that they occasionally bring me truly excellent skill books and spread word of them without prompting.]

The Library of Knowledge was no scam.
High-grade, excellent skill books genuinely existed within its halls.
Players did successfully escape with them, and S-grade skill books were indeed real.
The problem was that everything depended entirely on the Lord’s whim.

– Wait? Hold on! That one! Hey, there!
– Just run! Don’t you see the Librarians chasing us?!
– No, that! An S-grade skill book! It’s right there…!
– S-grade? Gasp!

Some players had discovered an S-grade skill book.
But they had already committed to their selections.
More critically, with the Librarians in pursuit, they couldn’t possibly reach it.

– We can’t! Just keep running! The Librarians are catching up!
– Damn it, maybe next time…!

The players had no choice but to abandon the skill book and flee.
The moment they departed, the skill book shimmered and vanished.
Like nothing more than a phantom.

[They’re so delighted by mere reflections in a mirror.]

Once outside, they would boast about witnessing an S-grade skill book.
That tantalizing tale of regret would draw even more players to return.

[Heh heh, I wish more would come… Hmm?]

As the Lord of Knowledge surveyed the Library, I noticed something.
A man in a black robe was striding purposefully through the maze.
The Lord sensed something unsettling about him—something difficult to articulate.

[How is this human moving in that direction…? No, it must be coincidence.]

There was something that needed to be hidden in the direction the man was heading.
But that unease was fleeting—the Lord of Knowledge shook it off.
There was no way a mere human could know the path to what he had concealed.
It was merely coincidence, the Lord reasoned.
Yet it would not take long for him to discover how gravely mistaken that judgment was.

Click! Rumble!

[…?!]

The man came to a standstill before a bookshelf that appeared to lead nowhere.
He studied it for a moment, then withdrew several books and rearranged them. The bookshelf groaned and swung open.
The Lord of Knowledge gasped at the sight.

[How—how is this possible?! How do you know of my hidden passage?!]

The concealed passage revealed itself before him.
His eyes widened to their fullest.
How could he possibly know of this place? Who could have told him?
Impossible. Even the Sworn Ones are ignorant of it!
No, there is no cause for alarm. Beyond that passage lies a labyrinth, does it not?
A labyrinth laden with countless traps. Surely the Player cannot….

Whoosh! Click! Crash!

[How is he evading all of this?!]

He was avoiding every single one.
Han Yu-sung advanced through the newly revealed labyrinth without hesitation, and he dodged each trap that sought to stop him without sustaining so much as a scratch.
As though he knew it all beforehand.

[No, no. Wait—if he reaches there…!]

Han Yu-sung was drawing ever closer to his destination.
The end of the hidden labyrinth.
Where the Lord of Knowledge had concealed his prize.

[An S-rank Skill Book!]

To the location where the Library’s highest-tier skill book resided.

* * *

There was a player.
A player known by the name The Great Thief. He possessed a unique ability to sense the location of precious treasures.
Having just completed the tutorial, he entered this Library to obtain a skill book, and he discovered the scheme the Lord of Knowledge had orchestrated.

[The Lord of Knowledge—this bastard is nothing but a con artist.]
[A scammer who preys on beginners. From now on, I, the Great Thief, will expose the truth of this Library so this bastard can’t pull his tricks anymore!]
[I only hope no more players venture to the Library of Knowledge!]

Along with his declaration, a map was posted to the Player Community.
A map documenting the Library of Knowledge. It recorded exactly where and how the Lord had hidden the high-tier skill books.
And how he himself had obtained an S-rank skill book.
What scheme the Lord had set up in this Library.

“Looking at it that way, he seems like some kind of righteous thief… though.”

Han Yu-sung recalled The Great Thief and let out a bitter laugh.
The Great Thief was hardly virtuous. He was obsessed with stealing things.
Even as the world crumbled, he stole to satisfy his greed, causing immense damage.
Eventually, he became a public enemy and was executed.
Well, regardless.

“It ended up helping me now.”

A small space with few bookshelves, unlike the outside.
Looking at the book in the storage chest at its center, Han Yu-sung grinned widely.
I couldn’t help but smile.

[Wind and Cloud Technique (S)]

An S-rank skill book lay right before my eyes.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————