Chapter 4 : 「The Opening」

Ancient Knowledge.

Those were the words written on a transparent electronic floating device, which gave a certain futuristic vibe. A pair of intrigued eyes, filled with curiosity, were focusing on the floating letters. Or more accurately, on their insides.

To the natives, it was probably a typical sight, nothing was out of the ordinary. However, it was different for the boy with an expressionless face.

The previously young man—now a teenager—Arthur, couldn’t comprehend how it was operating. It wasn’t due to a lack of knowledge, however, quite the contrary. He comprehended every facet, leading him to an irrefutable conclusion: it shouldn’t work—certainly not with the machine’s components he discerned through his Quantum Vision.

That raised the question, “How?”

The rules and laws of nature were the same. That, he had confirmed. That can only mean that there was something that manipulated those regulations that he had yet to figure out, something he couldn’t see, even with his special vision.

Something that was able to achieve a thing that was deemed impossible in his old world.

Temporarily suppressing his curiosity, Arthur pushed open the colossal doors leading to the expansive library.

There, he witnessed firsthand a surprising development.

The library’s heavy oak doors swung open with a faint creak, ushering Arthur into a world of whispered secrets and bound knowledge. As he stepped inside, the scent of old paper and leather bindings enveloped him, a fragrant embrace of history. The hushed symphony of turning pages and the occasional murmur of scholars in deep discussion created a soothing ambiance.

Sunlight filtered through tall, stained-glass windows, casting a mosaic of colors upon the polished wooden floors. Rows upon rows of towering bookshelves stretched into the distance, their shelves lined with tomes of every size and age, standing like ancient sentinels guarding the wisdom within.

The vast library stood as a testament to this world’s knowledge, its grandeur evident in every meticulously carved arch and towering shelf. Sunlight streamed through the ornate windows, illuminating the sea of books that seemed to stretch into infinity. The air was imbued with the scent of aged paper and leather, a fragrant reminder of centuries past. Tall shelves, lined with volumes of every size and age, created a labyrinth of wisdom waiting to be explored. Polished wooden floors reflected the soft glow, while dust motes danced in the beams of light, adding an ethereal quality to the space. This immense repository of living beings thought was a sanctuary for seekers of wisdom, a haven where the echoes of history whispered softly to those who would listen.

To Arthur, however, those details were secondary. What picked his interest was something else entirely: The interior defied the laws of spatial logic.

There was no denying it, and there was no doubt about it.

The library was larger than it was supposed to be.

As if to reaffirm, Arthur exited the library, then returned, once again opening the sturdy wooden doors to find the same expansive vista before him.

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Allow me to pose a fascinating question: how many books have you read in your lifetime?

While the average count might have eluded me, I was acutely aware that I had devoured a staggering amount—more than a thousand times the norm.

So, how many did I manage to read, you ask?

Prepare to be astonished: the answer lies in the realm of a few million.

But don’t be too taken aback, let me explain.

A normal person can read on average about 1,000 words per minute. However, Howard Berg, who is listed in the Guinness World Records as the fastest reader, can read up to 25 thousand words in just 60 seconds and retain 90% of the information.

Normally, I would also be skeptical of this revelation, that is if I wasn’t able to achieve a similar thing myself.

After all, I was capable of reading more than just a simple 25,000 words/minute and with a 100% comprehension rate.

Even if the system says I am 16, I was about to turn 20 years old before I got kidnapped by an omnipotent goddess. The earliest memory I had of gaining awareness was when I was 1 year old. Adding to that the fact that I never slept after, I can remember approximately 9,993,240 minutes of my life thanks to my photographic memory. If we assume that I could only read 25,000 words a minute and with the average book’s length ranging from 200 to 1000 pages depending on the type with 200~400 words on each page, with simple math calculations, you can conclude that it takes a maximum of 8 minutes to finish a 500 pages long book. Meaning, in my lifetime of 19 years, it was possible to read over 1.2 million books. And that was with just 25,000 words per minute.

But of course, that was just in theory. In practice, one has to include the time lost turning the pages and getting a new book in the equation. While it may seem insignificant, it doesn't allow for maximum effectiveness. I didn't have those problems, though. You see, the books there were special, to say the least.

I think that's enough for an elaboration.

Passing by a female librarian who exudes a sense of knowledge and approachability, I asked a few questions. “Excuse me, mind telling me how the inside of this library is larger than the total volume possible from outside?” It was risky, but I tried nevertheless. After seeing the reaction of the librarian, however, I confirmed that it was fine. “Sure!”

According to her, the owner of this unusual structure is a well-known witch who goes by the name of Seraphina Nightshade. She was also one—if not the only one—of the most capable individuals when it comes to breaking space-time.

She extended this library to private areas that she received as gifts from multiple rulers of some countries. The process was like linking two separate places together by manipulating the fabric of reality, such power went beyond what I was capable of at the moment. Truly a powerful existence. Apparently, the floating devices outside were her idea, too.

It seemed we would be best friends, considering my power’s potential.

What an intriguing person, Seraphina Nightshade, I was a little enthusiastic to see her in person.

Strolling around, I arrived at another closed zone where I found other well-known individuals sitting close by, each with his or her own table. It seemed that this spot was un-spokenly reserved for famous figures, which explained the stares I was receiving.

At any rate, I was now in the Ancient Knowledge’s dangerous zone, sitting on a wooden chair and placing my arms on a table with a random book in my hands, “The Elements of Poker” by Tommy Angelo. It was surprising to see a book that was from my old world, and the same writer, too. As the title suggested, it’s about Poker. A should-read tier.

Hmm? You ask why I was reading a book I already knew? Well, here is the answer.

It was because of a thought that lingered in my mind—were I to swap books every minute, the librarians might eventually tire of my ceaseless curiosity.

So, I had another idea in mind. Pretending to read the book in my hands, I skimmed through the countless books in the library using my special vision. Turned out you don’t need to open a book to read it. Makes you wonder why I didn’t just read from my room, right? I will answer that after a moment.

Back to the library.

Saying it was huge would be an understatement, it was bigger than anything I was aware of. I wasn’t aware of the full scale because I was just using my normal vision, but now I could see that The Library of Congress in Washington, which was the biggest in my previous world, didn’t even compare to this one.

Even with my inhumane reading speed, it would take me years to fully save all the information it stored. Learning History and geography was easy, as it took only a couple of books to grasp everything. That’s why for the time being, I prioritized the things I had yet to learn; Magic, Martial Arts, Unique Traits, and Special Abilities.

The navigation was quite easy, as most famous books had a few scratches and cuts even in this magical library. Was that witch unable to cast something to protect them? Considering that she manipulated Space-time, it would be a shame.

Scanning, my eyes shone in various degrees of blue and purple as I absorbed whatever I came across, but, fortunately, it wasn’t enough to gain anyone’s attention. That was because, in this world, it was common for some individuals to have special eyes. The person sitting in front of me was one of them, too. Scratch that, everyone in this “Zone” had weird eyes themselves.

Totally focusing on my quest to satisfy my curiosity, the wondering looks I was receiving from a certain someone across the table may have gone unnoticed.

“Hey, you there, are you alright?” asked the person in question. The silence that enveloped the atmosphere was interrupted by the whispers of a boy who seemed to be in a similar age to my own.

It appeared that I was overly immersed in my mission to consider that I may have been on the same page for too long. Of course, to the person who asked and the others around, it was pretty suspicious, after all, it had been an hour already.

They didn’t realize that it was intentional, though.

Slightly raising my head, my eyes fell on a young boy who possessed an air of regality. His features were delicate, yet there was a strength in his gaze that hinted at a depth of character beyond his years. Maybe his eyes were a helping factor to create this impression. The fine details of his attire spoke of craftsmanship and opulence, each thread woven with care and precision.

It was evident that he was no ordinary person, as he was the crown prince of Veridora, the largest country on this earth, The map says that it was 2 times larger than Asia as a whole. It was also the neighborhood country of Ravenshire, and its biggest rival in this continent. All according to what I had just discovered.

“Yes, I’m quite alright,” I reassured him. “Thank you, anyway.”

Though he appeared to accept my assurance, his facial expressions betrayed his efforts. “I was just thinking about something. No need to be worried,” I added, trying to lessen the preying eyes.

It didn't work.

“I see. Sorry for the interruption,” he replied with a made-up smile, clearly doubting me, and returned his attention to his chessboard. It appeared that I already made a bad impression.

Looking down, the board was made out of pure steel, which was slightly heavy for a regular Chessboard. It also operated using voice commands. However, because he was in a library, he was manually moving the pieces by himself: A solo game. And it appeared that he was going to win in the next few moves. The position was not an ordinary one, and because I was observing his moves from the start of this game, I knew that he was an expert. If I had to give him an estimated title, I would say he was certainly qualified to be a Grandmaster. It meant that he was above 2,500 ELO.

“You like Chess?” I inquired.

“Hm? Oh, no. Not particularly,” he answered in a slight surprise, not expecting me to initiate a conversation with him. The so-called Prince.

”I like most strategy games. It just so happens that Chess is one of the best.”

The prolonged silence, interrupted only by the sound of papers turning and a comfortable metallic “Tic,” resonated in the area.

“Then, would you like for me to be your opponent?” to my offer, he only raised his eyebrow, as if questioning my ability to even play properly. Or perhaps, my ability to be a challenge for him. He was clearly looking down on me. For a prince, this attitude might have been perceived as arrogance, considering that it was a typical occurrence.

“I may not seem like it, but I am a pretty good player. It seems your self-game is going to end after 3 moves anyway,” Looking at his board for a short moment, realizing that I saw through his queen sacrifice tactic, he let a word escape his mouth. “Impressive,” after that, he began placing the fallen pieces for both colors on the board again.

“So, what color do you want to take? Should we determine that with rock-paper-scissor?”

“No, that’s not necessary. I will take the black pieces,” I said confidently. In response, he just stared at me in amusement. “You will regret this. Not that it will make a difference, though.”

There was a hint of arrogance in his voice, the type you get when have a long time since you tasted defeat. His source of confidence was his pure talent—in other words, himself. While mine was the time and effort I put into improving myself.

We were fundamentally different.

He was very talented, and truly a natural genius, but he also only faced those who were weaker than him. He had yet to meet his equal, and the result was that he didn't put any hard work into sharpening his abilities.

What a waste.

“Then you wouldn’t mind if we bet something, right?” Taking his time placing the pieces, he looked at me from his peripheral vision. I was able to notice a few interested eyes looking my way, but I paid them no mind.

Without waiting for a reply, I expressed my demands. “If I win, I will get a favor from you. How about that?”

“And what if you lose?” Continuing what he was doing, as if he didn’t even doubt his victory, he asked.

“Of course, to make things fair, you also get to ask for anything from me.”

“A favor from a prince and a normal citizen are not equal. I find no purpose to do something stupid.”

He was quick to judge that I was a nobody, thus making my demands seem like asking for money.

“No, you misunderstood me. The favor I want is from you, Alistair Duvalier. Not from the crown prince of Veridora, Alistair Duvalier.”

As if taken aback, his expression changed into confusion. The same look was on many faces. He was probably reevaluating my personality.

“So, what do you say? Though I have to alert you, I never lose.”

A faint smile appeared on his face. “Interesting. Very well then, let’s play shall we?”

With that, the Chess match began.

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The pieces moved with a calculated precision, each player’s mind working through potential strategies and counter-moves. Alistair’s eyes gleamed with focus, his experience evident in every deliberate placement.

As the game progressed, it became clear that Arthur’s confidence wasn’t misplaced. He skillfully navigated the board, anticipating Alistair’s moves and countering with his own cunning tactics. The library seemed to fade into the background and they paid no attention to the audience, leaving only the chessboard in their shared world of strategy.

Alistair’s initial confidence gave way to a more serious demeanor. It was evident that he was facing a formidable opponent, one who refused to be underestimated. The pieces danced across the board, capturing and defending, each move carrying its own weight in the unfolding battle.

Seconds turned into minutes, and minutes turned into hours, but neither player showed signs of fatigue or impatience. The intensity of the match seemed to envelop them, a silent challenge between two minds honed by different forms of knowledge.

The precision and calculated moves on the board left no room for doubt—Arthur's mastery of strategy was undeniable. Even Alistair, a seasoned player, couldn't help but acknowledge the depth of Arthur's skill. The library, once filled with the soft murmur of scholars and the rustle of turning pages, now held its breath, captivated by the battle of wits.

To the spectators, this was indeed a sight to behold. They watched in awe and astonishment as the intense chess match unfolded before them. A mix of surprise and admiration filled their expressions as they witnessed the unexpected outcome. The renowned chess player, Alistair Duvalier, had met his match in the form of a seemingly unknown genius named Arthur.

Finally, after a well-orchestrated sequence of moves, Arthur cornered Alistair’s king. It was a checkmate, an outcome Arthur had confidently predicted from the beginning.

As Arthur secured his victory, a sense of respect and camaraderie filled the air. The match had transcended mere competition: it had become a testament to the power of intellect and strategic thinking. Both players exchanged words of praise, recognizing each other's abilities in this cerebral duel.

Alistair leaned back, a mix of surprise and admiration in his eyes. “Well played, really well played. You’ve earned your victory.”

A small smile played at the corners of Arthur’s lips. “Thank you, Alistair. It was a pleasuring experience to play against such a skilled opponent.”

To Arthur, who played against computers his whole life, and never lost after a certain point, this was what he truly felt. The level of his adversary was irrelevant to him, what he enjoyed was the human touch. It was a very rare moment for Arthur to speak the truth.

Alistair leaned forward, studying the board. “You truly are a master of strategy. I must admit, I underestimated you. Even if I didn’t, though, I would have lost still. I now find it hard to imagine beating you.”

The two players shook hands and with that, the game concluded, leaving behind an air of mutual respect between the two and a shocked crowd. They returned the pieces to their places, the steel chessboard now carrying the memory of their strategic battle.

For Arthur, this victory was more than just a triumph in a game of chess. It was a confirmation of his place in this world of ancient knowledge and untapped potential. Arthur knew, that this was only the beginning of a series of events that would shape his journey in this new world of ancient secrets and unexplored mysteries.

“I almost forgot. What's your name?” asked Alistair. His voice cut through the silence like a sudden gust of wind on a calm day.

Oh, right. Arthur thought. I didn't introduce myself now, did I? With a little awkwardness in the air, Arthur declared his name. The name lingered in the air, poised to be etched into the collective memory of those who were present.