Chapter 10
Before going to the library, I looked at the quest and thought:
‘Can’t I just pick any job?’
I’d already reached the peak in my past lives, so I figured it wouldn’t be that hard.
Sure, it’d be boring and annoying to choose the same job again and develop it, but with my life on the line, that wasn’t something to worry about.
‘Alright. I’ll become a mage!’
The moment I decided that—
Ding!
[SYSTEM]
Job selection through ‘information acquisition’ has not been performed. This choice is not permitted.
(Hint: Library)
I really hate you.
That’s why I ended up coming to the library—clinging to Arthur’s back while trying to communicate through useless body language.
“What? Where are you trying to go?”
“W-What are you doing? You like me? You think I’m the best?”
“Books? You want to read books?”
There were some irritating misunderstandings along the way, but I ignored them and kept gesturing desperately.
And finally—I made it to the library.
And then…
“Lady Sekina, there will be more than enough books for you here. This place houses hundreds of thousands of volumes! A magnificent space that humans could never hope to replicate!”
…I despaired.
Hundreds of thousands?
How am I supposed to go through all that with only 21 hours left?
It felt like someone was saying: Close your eyes. Is it dark? That’s your future.
Suppressing the headache creeping up the back of my head, I recalled the quest.
Job Advancement Quest <Find Your Class!>
You have lived multiple lives and experienced many professions. That may be why it’s difficult for you to choose now.
But think carefully. There must be a class that suits you perfectly.
(Hint: Library)
Time Limit: 21 hours
Reward: Increased proficiency in chosen class
Failure: Death
Let’s think.
The hint is the library, but it doesn’t say I have to search the entire place. The actual mission is simply to find a job. That probably means gathering information from books.
‘Can’t I just skim one or two books and decide?’
That would count as “information acquisition,” so even this damn system should approve.
With that hopeful thought, I widened my eyes and began crawling with all my might.
“Lady Sekina! I’ll wait here!”
“Byaaak! (I’m going!)”
I crawled deep into the library, figuring that the deeper I went, the more special and advanced the books would be.
As expected, there were magic books and secret techniques I’d never even seen in my past lives.
‘If I’d learned these, maybe I wouldn’t have died back then.’
Well, pointless thought.
So I reached for a magic-related book—
“…Mya? (What’s that?)”
A book spine was shining so brightly it made me squint.
It practically screamed, Pick me.
After throwing me into a library with hundreds of thousands of books, it felt like the system was giving me at least this much of a hint.
‘Hmm.’
I pulled my hand back and thought for a moment.
Up until now, the system’s quests had all been about developing me.
That’s why I’d been trying to see it in a positive light.
Sure, I’d cursed it nonstop, but that was in the past. I was going to start being nicer to it!
‘But if it pulls crap like this, of course I’m going to get pissed.’
Failure equals death? Death?
I let the favor thing slide, but you can’t pull this kind of nonsense for something like job selection.
From the quests so far, it seems like this thing wants to raise me and lead me to the game’s bad ending—
‘But the stick is way too harsh.’
This thing clearly has never raised a kid.
You’re supposed to balance carrot and stick!
[SYSTEM]
Select the book that caught your eye!
Failure will result in death!
‘So?’
[SYSTEM]
Death…
‘So what? I’ve already died six times.’
[SYSTEM]
……
Of course, it’s not like I actually want to die.
I want to mess this game up in this life.
But I needed to assert dominance here.
So I deliberately puffed up my chest and raised my chin.
‘If I die here, that’s a loss for you too, isn’t it?’
The air wavered for a moment.
Job Advancement Quest <Find Your Class!>
Rewards:
- Increased proficiency in chosen class
- Low-tier monster summoning circle (Acquired)
- Gate summoning circle connecting to the Demon Realm (Added)
Failure: Death
The death penalty stayed—but a new reward was added.
‘A gate summoning circle?’
No idea what it is, but if I got it through intimidation, it can’t be bad.
‘Good thinking. Keep doing this from now on.’
I smiled in satisfaction. The air seemed to ripple angrily, but I ignored it.
Then I reached for the book.
The moment I touched it, a brilliant light stabbed into my eyes.
I couldn’t even read its contents.
Instead, a system window appeared.
Job Advancement Mission <Find Your Class!>
Honestly, I don’t feel like congratulating you, but congratulations anyway.
We welcome your definitive job advancement. You can no longer escape.
Wow, holding a grudge, huh? Fine.
Rewards:
- Increased proficiency in chosen class (Success)
- Low-tier monster summoning circle (Acquired)
- Gate summoning circle connecting to the Demon Realm (Added)
‘Summoning circle?’
As the light faded, I slowly looked down at the book.
And saw its title.
<Everything About Summoning Magic>
“….”
There’s something I forgot to mention.
In my six past lives, there was exactly one thing I never managed to master—something I gave up on early.
That was summoning magic.
“…Shi— (Shit…)”
Summoning magic is troublesome in many ways.
First, you have to draw an extremely detailed and precise summoning circle. Controlling mana outside your body is already hard—but now you have to draw with it too.
And it’s not like it saves mana either.
It consumes mana just like regular magic.
Once when drawing the circle, and once when activating it.
Why would anyone choose to become a summoner when it consumes mana twice?
That’s why most people chose to become mages instead. Summoning magic eventually became a lost art.
And yet…
[SYSTEM]
Congratulations on becoming a <Summoner>!
Looks like the system really wanted me to become a summoner, huh?
It said it’s a definitive job. That I can’t escape it.
‘Why is my life like this…’
As I sighed deeply—
“Ah, Lady Sekina. You were here. I thought you might’ve gotten lost.”
Arthur approached and spoke.
“Hmm. Did you choose a book on summoning magic?”
The book spine was still faintly glowing, but Arthur didn’t seem to notice at all.
There’s no way demons wouldn’t know a type of magic… What exactly is this system?
I wondered briefly, but set the thought aside. More important things to think about.
“Honestly, I had hoped you would grow up to become a knight like us…”
Who asked you?
“That’s why we poured so much mana into you…”
Did I ask for it? You forced it on me.
“Well, babies don’t always follow their parents’ wishes. It can’t be helped.”
Who are you calling parents? Are you insane?
“Anyway, summoning magic isn’t a bad choice. When the Demon King subjugates monsters, he uses summoning magic. He calls creatures from the boundary between the Demon Realm and the human world—and wipes them all out.”
Resting quietly in Arthur’s arms, my eyes widened.
He uses summoning magic for subjugation?
Wait—then the more I master summoning…
…the higher the chance I’ll be right next to the Demon King?!
‘Sorry for cursing you.’
I silently apologized to the system and wiggled my fingers.
Summoning magic. Monsters. Demon King.
The three concepts quickly connected in my mind.
“Oh, but don’t think of summoning monsters carelessly. The creatures in the Demon Realm right now are all insane. Maybe because the Demon King’s power is sealed—they’re running wild.”
I nodded. I already knew that.
Without the Demon King’s power, the Demon Realm had fallen into chaos.
“Once you learn to read properly, study it then. I’ll remember this book and bring it to you.”
Arthur moved to put the book back.
Wait—hold on. I still need to check that!
“Bya… (Wait…)”
“Thought I heard a rat crawling around.”
But my words were cut off by a sudden voice.
Who?
I quickly turned my head.
Standing on the second-floor stairs was a young girl.
“…No, it’s a bug.”
…Did she just insult me?
