Chapter : 22
I’ll Save You in the Bad Ending Route
Moonshadow Antiquarian Bookstore
The next morning, the weather outside the window was fresh and pleasant. Truly, it was perfect weather for going out.
As I left the dorm room, Pina gave me a look of envy that was almost tangible. It made sense—this was my first outing since the winter make-up period started. Demian and I could freely get a pass for leaving the school as Orion exam applicants.
“Bring me some snacks on the way back,” Pina said.
“Cheese madeleines?”
“Perfect!”
Pina loved any dessert with cheese.
Soon, it was the appointed time to meet Freya. I said goodbye to Pina and left the dorm.
At the back gate of the school, Freya had parked a brown, antique carriage and greeted me. Demian stood beside her in an old, brown outing uniform.
“Come on, get in quickly,” Freya said with a joyful smile and a nod. She wore a thick blue fur coat over a maxi dress that reached her ankles. She looked so elegant that it felt like seeing a model in a magazine.
“She really looks like a noble lady.”
I didn’t have many clothes, so I just wore a plain green dress with no hat and tied my hair with an old hairband.
Regardless, with an excited feeling, I climbed into the carriage. Soon, the carriage started moving at the driver’s command.
“I wonder what other towns look like, besides the school?”
The carriage rattled along at a fast pace.
“You should consider it an honor to join the ladies’ outing,” Freya said to Demian, who sat beside me with an indifferent look. Demian didn’t reply.
Freya looked out the window. Pulling back the curtain, the cool wind blew in, and we could see a vast river. The carriage crossed a bridge, and colorful buildings were visible in the distance.
“We’ve arrived, Ailan.”
We had reached Brtea Village, known as the Milky Way Village.
We got off at the circular plaza in Brtea Village. The buildings were charming and pretty, giving the feeling of being in a French town.
Shops surrounded the plaza in neat rows. Surprisingly, it was bustling with people—villagers buying meals, wizards buying magical tools.
“So this is what a village in a world with wizards feels like.”
The people looked happy, each struggling desperately to make a living. It was a place perfectly deserving the term “peaceful village.”
While I explored the new magical village with curiosity, Freya led Demian and me without hesitation into the magic shop district.
“Since Califrand is cold, make sure to buy warm clothes. What kinds of monsters are there again?”
“Yes, there are many ice- and darkness-type monsters…”
Freya held her hat so it wouldn’t blow away in the wind as she walked. Demian and I followed her, listening carefully to her explanation.
“Since neither of you has fire-type magic, make sure to get at least one fire tool.”
Freya picked up a fireball and handed it to me.
“Don’t forget light-element armor either.”
We went shop by shop, and Freya bought everything we needed. All the items could be purchased with the school-provided support funds.
We shopped for magical tools for a full two hours. We bought suitable winter gear—perfect for fighting monsters. Freya’s judgment was impressive. But we bought so much that my hand kept getting full, and Demian’s became burdened with heavy winter gear. Eventually, he staggered unsteadily.
“Demian, are you okay?”
“I… I feel… like I’m dying…”
His breath hitched, and his body tilted to one side.
“No, don’t drop them!”
With a loud crash, Demian collapsed to the floor along with the items. Freya, arms crossed, looked down at him.
“Can’t even carry that? You need more strength training. Aaron should have been here.”
“I-I’m sorry…”
Freya turned her head haughtily and walked to a bench to rest. Clearly, Demian had earned her disfavor by cutting her hair into his possession. I helped Demian pick up the items and loaded them into the carriage.
“This should be enough items.”
Freya had chosen everything we might need.
Fire-element underwear, ice-element armor, healing potions, and even a fireball. We were perfectly prepared for the upcoming exam in Califrand. Freya was indeed a top student.
“It’s lucky Freya helped us,” Demian said, looking relieved after loading all the gear into the carriage.
“Indeed,” I said. She was the first friend I made here. It felt rewarding.
After organizing, I stood in Brtea Village’s plaza. Shopping was done. It was time to explore the village freely. Honestly, this was the whole point of coming out!
“Alright, let’s go explore the village together, guys!”
“I’m too tired. I’ll just sit here for a while. See you later,” Freya said and disappeared into the village’s most famous dessert shop.
“I… I’m going to see the new potions… um, that museum…”
“Really? Want to come with me?”
“Uh… no, I’ll go… alone… see you later!”
Demian glanced at me and vanished. Well, he tends to spend hours focused on something once he starts, so it was probably best not to follow.
It was disappointing that the three of us couldn’t explore the village together.
“I’ll wander a bit and then head to Freya’s cafe.”
I walked along the brown brick streets, exploring Brtea Village.
The streets reminded me of the pretty villages in Switzerland I had seen in photos. It had been a long time since I had such a healing stroll. Even though it was winter, it felt warm enough, and the villagers were kind enough to give directions.
After buying a box of cheese madeleines for Pina, I tried to head back to Freya’s cafe—but suddenly, I couldn’t remember the way.
“Where am I?”
I thought I remembered the way back and followed it, but I ended up completely lost in a narrow alley.
“Is anyone around? I just need to get to the plaza…”
I cautiously walked through the crowded alley, looking for someone. But the people who had been around just moments ago were nowhere to be seen.
Crash!
“Eek!”
A strange sound made me turn around—just a cat running past. An empty street and sudden noises made my heart race.
“I-I’m not scared~ I’m fine~”
I hummed a little tune to calm my nerves as I walked. Yet, at every corner, I tensed, afraid something would jump out—maybe a monster… or a dark wizard…
“Don’t panic. I’m a wizard. Even if I’m the weakest, I’m a student of Roas Academy. I’m stronger than ordinary people.”
And if an overwhelmingly strong enemy appears, I’d use wind magic to escape.
After walking a few more minutes with these thoughts, I reached the end of the alley. There stood an old antiquarian bookstore.
“A bookstore? Here?”
I looked around, checking for people. There was no one—and no shadows either—but the bookstore existed. Curious if anyone was inside, I approached the dusty window. A small light flickered inside.
“Someone… might be here…”
The sign was too old to read, and the pile of books outside smelled musty. But I had nowhere else to go.
“I’ll go in and ask for directions.”
I carefully opened the bookstore’s door. The old bell rang. Inside, despite it being daytime, it was very dark, and the scent of old books tickled my nose. Stepping on the wooden floor made a creaking sound.
“Hello? Is anyone here?”
My voice echoed through the two-story bookstore. Books were stacked high to the ceiling, and a massive ancient magic circle was drawn on the central ceiling.
I felt a sense of déjà vu.
“Why does this place feel so familiar? It’s like I’ve been here before…”
I walked into the bookstore, almost entranced.
“Welcome, guest!”
Then I heard a child’s voice. A pointy-hatted figure jingled as it emerged from behind a stack of books, footsteps approaching quickly.
The bell grew louder, and a fairy-like creature appeared before me. It was only as tall as my thigh, with large blue eyes and a face resembling an Upalupa fairy.
“Uh… this fairy must be…”
“You came again! Did the book you bought last time help you?”
The fairy smiled at Ailan.
“Wait, I remember now.”
With the scent of old books and the welcoming ‘Oompy’ fairy, I realized without a doubt: this was Moonshadow Antiquarian Bookstore.
In the game, this shop appeared randomly once a month. No one knew when or where it would appear, and visiting it even once lowered the game’s difficulty dramatically. It sold rare items of all kinds. Eventually, players even started calculating when the store would appear.
I was stunned. I had gotten lost, only to end up here…
I could even buy items that would help with the Orion exam right away! What luck!
Then, suddenly, a cold rational thought entered my mind. The fairy’s words were strange.
“Book? You know me?”
The fairy seemed to know the real Ailan, not me. Its large, dark eyes smiled at me.
“Of course! I’m curious if the ‘diary’ you bought last time helped!”
A diary? Did Ailan really buy a diary here?
I quickly racked my brain. I had cleaned Ailan’s dorm multiple times but didn’t remember ever seeing a diary.
“What diary? When did they buy it?”
The fairy’s smile suddenly vanished. Its hardened expression gave off a chilling feeling.
“Oh! You must be someone else! Sorry. I mistook you because you look the same! We never disclose personal info about our customers.”
“What? Wait!”
I reached out urgently.
A strong magical power flowed from the small body into my fingertips.
“Please leave, guest. Unless you are looking for the ‘diary,’ it will be difficult to return to our store.”
“W-wait! At least tell me what diary it is…!”
The fairy smiled at me. Strong wind blew around us. The stacked books opened, and papers flew. I had no choice but to squeeze my eyes shut from the sudden gust.
The air changed. When I opened my eyes again, the bookstore was gone, replaced by a street.
“Wh-what… is this?”
It all happened so fast it felt like a dream. Looking at my dress, black dust had settled on the hem.
Brushing it off, I confirmed it was reality.
Ailan really… bought a diary here?
My mind was in turmoil. Imagining the real Ailan buying a diary in such a rare bookstore was so unfamiliar.
“After 2000 hours of gameplay, I’ve never seen a story where Ailan bought a unique diary… What kind of diary was it?”
I hadn’t been particularly curious about the real Ailan’s whereabouts—because I had possessed them.
But thinking about it, something felt off. If I had possessed them, I should completely replace them. But if it’s not replacement, then what?
“What if the real Ailan’s soul exists somewhere else?”
A chill ran down my spine. Hearing the mention of the real Ailan at Moonshadow Antiquarian Bookstore felt like waking up from a dream.
Where had the real Ailan gone after I possessed them? Could it be related to Ailan buying a diary here?
My heart pounded, my hands grew colder, my throat dry. I felt like I had gotten involved in something enormous.
