1 Chapter 1: The Mundane Life in the Library;unedited

Chapter 1: The Mundane Life in the Library

In the vastness of space and time, known as the universe, one might wonder if there's only one or countless others.

Fengzhiqi Academy, though not yet a decade old, is a private high school that enjoys a fair amount of popularity. It is distinguished by its exceptionally liberal school culture. In other words, aside from its liberal ethos, it lacks any other distinctive features, making it a very ordinary and normal high school. However, a unique bookstore has opened nearby. To the average person, it appears merely as a small bookstore, no larger than 100 square meters. Due to its proximity to the school, it attracts more students than a typical bookstore of its size, but fundamentally, it remains a conventional bookstore. Yet, for those destined, crossing an invisible threshold reveals a vast library, rich in collections. Contrary to the small, bustling bookstore, this library, despite its size, sees few visitors, a consequence of the scarce number of "destined" individuals.

The library's owner, or rather, the librarian (though one could also call him the master of the library), is a young man. He has been managing this library for a considerable length of time. So long, in fact, that calling him a "young man" might seem inappropriate, but since he looks the part, the title has stuck. Originally an ordinary Earthling, an accident led him to replace a deity-like being, inheriting not only their position but also their powers and knowledge. While he could gradually master the powers over time, accumulating knowledge required his own effort. Thus, he categorized the deity-like being's knowledge to better assimilate it, resulting in the creation of this grand library. Essentially, it's a practical application of the memory palace technique. Whenever he distilled essence from the vast ocean of knowledge, he would compile it into books, categorizing and shelving them accordingly. What began as a single bookshelf, due to the deity-like being's extensive knowledge, quickly outgrew its confines, evolving from a small bookstore to a large one, and eventually into the library it is today, continuously expanding.

The length of time the young man has spent is evident from this progression. However, a life immersed in endless knowledge proved too monotonous and dull. Thus, one day, he established connections between the library and various universes, allowing destined individuals to visit through any bookstore or library door. Whether they come to read or for other purposes doesn't matter; any change they bring to the monotonous library is welcome, hence he places no demands on these visitors.

Some, indeed, visit just to read. For instance, a young girl named Irena was a frequent visitor for several years. Despite being only seven or eight years old, she had an avid interest in reading, having exhausted her home collection. Opportunities to persuade her parents to buy new books were rare. So, when out of reading material, Irena would head to the young man's library—through a door in her study. The principles behind this were unclear to her, and she didn't ponder over it. The library's ability to make visitors overlook any inconsistencies is part of its magic.

To the young man, this little girl, Irena, with her gray hair... reminded him of a character from an anime he once watched. But, that was it; he didn't dwell on it. After all, the library's doors open to all universes, making the origins of its visitors, human or otherwise, unsurprising. Thus, to him, she was simply a book-loving little girl.

There was another girl, similar in age to Irena, who visited during that period. Unlike Irena, she only came once and seemed more interested in the young man than the library's vast collection. Her name was Misaka Mikoto, a lively and kind-hearted child. Her visit seemed accidental, but the specifics didn't matter. Upon seeing the young man, she became curious—a natural reaction for a child. She approached him with various questions, to which he responded intermittently while reading. She shared her experiences, mentioning a research institute and a researcher named "Mikihara Genso" who wanted her DNA sample. The young man, raising an eyebrow, casually warned, "That old man is no good; don't agree to anything."

What happened next is unknown. Whether Misaka Mikoto heeded his advice or refused Mikihara Genso's proposal was not his concern. Not that he couldn't find out, but he saw no need to.

Misaka Mikoto never returned to the library. Whether she lost the means to come back or encountered some danger didn't matter to him. He simply stretched and did his morning exercises, enjoying the sunrise from another world through the library's window.

"Life like this isn't too bad," he thought. If new visitors arrived, he'd chat with them. Otherwise, he'd read or write, compiling more books. A simple, ordinary life, free from strife, has its charms.