#096

The Room of Mathematics was about the size of a lecture hall capable of holding around 150 people. One wall was made of black slate and was being used as a chalkboard. People climbed up and down ladders, writing or erasing things on that wall. In a clearly visible spot, the solution I had seen on the wax tablet was written exactly as it was.

“Excuse me. Do you know who first came up with that solution?”

A monk with a grizzled beard scanned me from head to toe and frowned.

“Which university did you graduate from?”

“Pardon?”

“I asked which university you graduated from.”

‘…Do I need a degree just to have the right to ask a question?’

It’s not like I found the answer to one of the three great unsolved mysteries and was asking him to check if it was correct….

“Do I need qualifications just to ask who came up with the answer?”

“Listening to the questions of the unqualified is a wretched waste of time. I do not converse with those without degrees, so please move along.”

The monk gave a slight nod and turned away, as if telling me not to disturb him further. I was greatly flustered by the unexpectedly cold reaction.

‘Wow, I’m getting looked down upon for my educational background by a medieval person.’

The reactions of others were similar. They would ask who I had studied mathematics under, and once I told them I didn’t have a diploma, their attitudes shifted.

“If you lack a degree, it is highly likely that the time I spend explaining would be a waste.”

‘What the hell?’

“If you wish to ask questions without a degree, you must at least bring a letter of recommendation. Ask your supervising professor and come back. Oh, you never entered university at all? Then there is nothing I can do to help you.”

‘…Am I not even considered human if I don’t go to college?’

“How cruel of everyone to refuse to answer. I shall kindly explain it to you. Before that, if you have any intention of joining our school, please sign this contract….”

‘Gah, get away from me!’

Fortunately, there was at least one kind person who offered to explain without conditions. He was a man with pale skin, looking as though it had been a very long time since he had seen sunlight.

“My, coming to the fourth floor of the Main Hall without a degree. Fortunately, I enjoy wasting time, so I shall explain it to you.”

‘…Is he just a weirdo?’

The man spoke while carelessly brushing back his flowing black curly hair.

“In this library, books designated as forbidden in other dioceses are placed normally on the shelves. Anyone who comes to the library can freely take them out and read them. However, it is impossible for an unauthorized person to know the contents of a forbidden book. Do you know how that is possible?”

I glanced at Athanas, and he shook his head, seemingly not knowing either.

‘Does receiving the Blessing of Order naturally make one avoid forbidden books?’

“The answer is simple. This library is designed so that the moment you leave, any unauthorized knowledge is immediately forgotten.”

My mouth hung open at the unexpected answer.

‘Is this… the Dark Realm?’

Censoring books and designating them as forbidden? Why bother doing that? You can just censor the mind.

‘That’s some damn amazing information security technology.’

“Those designated as researchers—that is, those with degrees—will have their forgotten memories restored upon returning to this place, but your memories will remain erased. That is why everyone considers explaining things to you a waste of time.”

Hearing the explanation, I understood the reactions of the others earlier.

Since they wouldn’t remember the content anyway, they probably preferred to leave a memory of being turned away so that I wouldn’t bother coming back.

‘…But Oblivion doesn’t work on me.’

What happens if I unknowingly read a forbidden book?

Does some kind of theft-prevention alarm go off when I leave?

“Well, this fact will also be forgotten as you leave. So, why were you looking for where that solution came from?”

“I just wanted to express my gratitude….”

“Then would you like to deliver it in person?”

“Huh? Is that okay?”

“Even if the memory is erased, the feeling of having delivered your thanks will remain, so you won’t make a futile trip here again.”

“…Does the feeling remain even if you forget?”

“I don’t know. It’s a hypothesis. If you visit again because of this, it will prove my hypothesis wrong, won’t it?”

‘Is he using me for an experiment while he’s at it?’

Sorry, but you picked the wrong specimen.

I’m a goblin bastard whom Oblivion doesn’t work on.

“There is one more thing I’m curious about. I saw this answer outside the Main Hall first. The solution itself isn’t restricted knowledge, but can information about the person who came up with the answer be restricted knowledge?”

“When did you say the answer came from a person?”

“What? Then….”

“Now, we have arrived.”

The place the degree-holder guided me to was a room that wasn’t very large.

People were sitting in circles, spreading something out and muttering.

I narrowed my eyes.

‘…Isn’t that a Ouija board?’

When one person moved their finger across a metal pointer, the person next to them diligently transcribed the Sacred Script the pointer indicated.

No matter how I looked at it, they were performing the act known as a Ouija board in English, Kokkuri-san in Japan, and Bunshin Saba in Korea.

‘They’re doing Bunshin Saba in the Capital Church?’

Athanas, also seeing this sight for the first time, asked the degree-holder.

“What are those people doing right now?”

“They are accessing the great ‘Collective Unconscious.’”

‘Collective Unconscious….’

I frowned.

No matter how I looked at it, this was related to some player bastard.

‘Are they farming points with this right now?’

Faith Points can be gathered not only by spreading faith but also simply by expanding influence within a related Domain.

The Plague God only needs to spread plagues, and the Lord of Nightmares only needs to make people have nightmares.

And the Othergod who can gather points simply by providing ‘knowledge’ is….

‘…The Pioneer of Civilization.’

Of course, there’s a possibility it’s just another player doing this even if they can’t specifically gain points.

However, without any other additional evidence, it would be reasonable to assume it’s related to a player of the Pioneer of Civilization.

Athanas asked a question.

“Is there a god called the Collective Unconscious?”

“No, this is not a religious act related to a god. It is even less of a ritualistic ceremony to serve a god. The principle is a bit complex to explain…. I will explain it in detail once you get a degree and return.”

‘Bullshit….’

It’s not even just an Evil God; it’s related to an Othergod.

It’s practically like running an illegal gambling den on the top floor of the National Central Library….

‘The Order doesn’t crack down on this?’

I looked around. There were no people wearing masks, and only one or two people had their hoods pulled down. The people here seemed completely unaware that they were engaging in heretical acts.

‘…Could this be a licensed business?’

Because the people were so confident, I even started thinking that.

No matter how lazy the apostles are, there’s no way they wouldn’t know about this. Maybe it’s a place created by a player who claimed they would contribute their abilities to Order?

“Just in time, a seat has opened up over there. Would you like to try asking a question?”

I hesitated for a moment.

Should I trust in ‘Heaven Above, Earth Below, I Alone Reign Supreme’ and try an experiment?

If it’s related to an Othergod, information should definitely pop up in the System window….

But before my deliberation ended, Athanas sat down first.

“What do I do?”

“Just place your hand here and ask the question you want. Regardless of what it is, you will forget it eventually.”

Athanas fiddled with the flat metal pointer.

“…I don’t particularly feel any divine power here.”

“Of course not. That is just a piece of metal placed there for convenience. If you wish, you may use a coin you have. The tool is not important.”

At those words, Athanas took a silver coin out of his pocket. I carefully examined the parchment where the Sacred Script was laid out.

‘There’s something written faintly at the bottom.’

If the pointer isn’t important, is this parchment the important part?

But to me, who cannot see divine power, it just looked like a worn-out piece of recycled parchment.

‘I feel like some annoying audience member trying to figure out a magic trick.’

“Let’s start with a simple question. Come to think of it, I haven’t introduced myself, have I? Please tell me what my name is.”

At that moment, Athanas’s hand moved the silver coin rapidly and completed a name.

‘Cal-lis-ter’.

Athanas frowned slightly.

‘…His hand just moved regardless of Athanas’s will, right?’

The degree-holder brushed back his curly hair again and smirked.

“Correct. My name is Callister. You didn’t know, but your hand moved on its own, didn’t it? That is the power of the ‘Collective Unconscious.’ Now, in turn, I will ask something I’m curious about.”

Callister placed his hand over the silver coin and asked a question.

“Please tell me the name of the person sitting in front of me.”

‘A-tha-nas’.

“Then, what is the name of the person standing next to the table?”

‘Fa-bi-o’.

Callister’s hand moved quickly to complete the name. I narrowed my eyes.

‘…Wouldn’t it be more impressive if he guessed something like a middle name that I’ve never told anyone else, rather than just a name?’

A name, well, he could have just overheard it while we were talking. It’s not like we used aliases in the Main Hall.

I needed more definitive evidence that this wasn’t a simple trick.

“Can I try asking a question too?”

“You may. However, I will only give you one chance.”

“…Only one?”

“Because I’m letting you use it when you normally couldn’t.”

‘So damn stingy.’

I placed my hand on the silver coin and sank into thought. What question should I ask? If I can only ask once….

‘How to trisect an arbitrary angle using only a compass and an unmarked straightedge?’

No, it would be unnatural for the ignorant Fabio to ask something like that. Something natural, yet a question that only a player could answer….

“…What did I eat for breakfast this morning?”

Athanas abruptly asked the question.

‘Wait, what is this bastard Athanas doing?’

I was in the middle of agonizing over this…!

‘Did he not hear that we only have one chance?’

And he asks a moronic question that would only be acceptable in a four-panel gag manga?

The moment I was about to say something, Athanas wrapped his hand entirely around mine and forced the silver coin to move.

‘Po-ta-to-soup’.

“Quite surprising. I never told Fabio what I ate today….”

‘You just moved it yourself!’

More than that, what’s with that irritatingly surprised acting?

Is he doing a bad impression of someone acting?

“Why….”

“Why did you ask the question without permission? I helped because you were deliberating for too long.”

‘What is he talking about?’

“Fabio, why spend so much time agonizing over a question you’ll just forget anyway?”

“No, but….”

“Isn’t it a waste that the time the two of us spend together disappears because of such worries?”

As Athanas said this, he hugged me from behind. I gasped.

‘Is he crazy?’

Why is he suddenly doing this?

Goosebumps broke out all over my body.

Fortunately, the last shred of my remaining reason remembered that I had to maintain the ‘lovers’ concept right now.

“W-well, we’re together right now anyway.”

“…But the moment we leave, we’ll forget everything that happened here. When I think of that, every single second spent here is too precious.”

‘Ah.’

I realized.

‘…He’s basically saying we’re screwed, so let’s just naturally leave, right?’

Chapter 97