The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board

Seol gathered Bron and the Frostmaw tribe around the broken Head of the Library.

Seol was standing by the head of the Library's side.

Bron knew from the beginning why Seol had called them.

"So the new All Knowledge will decide our fate."

"Bron."

"There's no need to be nervous. Warriors decide on the lives of others all the time. This is just another one of those moments."

Bron’s eyes blazed with boldness, yet a faint tremor remained within.

"Do you remember when we first met?"

"Ah, of course. If I knew things would turn out like this, I would have dealt with you back then. Hahaha…"

"Hahaha! You should have, indeed."

The Frostmaw Tribe burst into laughter, easing the tension slightly.

However, that tension didn't belong to Seol. He hadn't let this guard down even for a moment.

"I became All Knowledge."

"I know…"

"Do you know what that means?"

"Yes, that you…"

A shadow fell over Bron's face.

"…are now our God."

For a moment, the expressions of the Frostmaw trolls froze.

This must be how condemned criminals look when they are dragged to the execution ground.

"Bron… Before making a decision, there's something I want to ask you."

"Anything. I'll answer with honesty."

Whir—!

Jamad appeared. He would be asking the question, not Seol.

"What is your desire?"

"Didn't I tell you before? I've already died once before. I don't fear death."

"No! That's not an answer. You aren't being honest. Think carefully, Bron. Right now, you're afraid."

"Afraid…? Me?"

"Yes. You're afraid of holding onto hope. Afraid you'll have expectations."

"Haha… Hahaha…"

Thud…

Bron dropped a book to the ground.

"This book, I've finished reading it."

"What book is it?"

"We came out of it."

The book’s title was 'The Reason Why the Frostmaw Tribe Ultimately Fell.'

"I read it just to pass the time… If I knew this would happen, I wouldn't have bothered."

"Bron, we're waiting for your answer."

"Damn it…"

Bron began trembling.

"Damn it! Why aren't you a machine?! Why…"

"…"

"You're making us have hope for mercy! Damn it! Damn it!"

Fwoosh…

A wild energy surged from Bron's body.

The Frostmaw Tribe, Seol, and Jamad looked at him with tense eyes.

Swoosh…

"Bron…"

Bron knelt and placed his forehead on the ground.

"All Knowledge. Please, spare us."

"…"

"We want to live."

"What do you desire?"

"I want to set everything right… I must go back. They still need me."

All other Frostmaw Tribe members suddenly followed his lead.

"What the…"

"Please, spare us. Let us return."

"We want to live. We beg you."

"God… We… We…"

Everyone cried out together.

"We want to live."

BZZT—!

Seol and Jamad closed their eyes and entered the Night Crow form.

Seol replied to their pleas, "Bron and the Frostmaw Tribe, listen."

"…"

"You all will return…"

Will they return inside the book, or…

"To life."

Was it life?

"This isn't a decision I made as All Knowledge, but one I made as Seol, a human."

Though Seol said he decided as a human, to the Frostmaw Tribe looking up at him, his words carried the weight of a god.

Bron lifted his head.

"Yes… All of this… It is neither chance nor fate but will. So, if you have any complaints about this decision, come and confront me later."

"Seol…"

Swoosh…

Seol glanced at the Head of the Library one more time and then made his first decision as All Knowledge.

[The Frostmaw Tribe, led by Bron, are people who have already left the world of the living. Those who have encountered death before are contradictory beings who shouldn't exist even inside the Library of All Knowledge. What decision will you make as All Knowledge?]

Among the countless choices, Seol chose one.

"Permit the export of the book titled 'The Reason Why the Frostmaw Tribe Ultimately Fell.' The duration is…"

[Permission granted to export the book 'The Reason Why the Frostmaw Tribe Ultimately Fell.']

[Please set the duration of the export.]

"Unlimited."

[Export duration has been set to Unlimited.]

"Haha… Ha…"

[Exporting this book may result in significant complications. Will you still permit the export even considering this?]

"Yes."

Whir…

At that moment, Bron and the Frostmaw Tribe were engulfed by a snowstorm.

"I will banish them from the Library of All Knowledge."

Creak…

Creak…

The machinery turned on.

"Seol!" Bron shouted.

The strength they had in life was returning to Bron and the Frostmaw Tribe—a cold and chilling power.

"Why make such a decision…"

"Because I'm not a god."

He made that decision because he wasn't a god.

"We…"

"Humans don't care about such things. I will be returning authority to this machine soon. That's why you should leave this place. After all, this thing might not agree with my decision."

Whoosh…

The Frostmaw Tribe began to vanish.

However, they weren't turning into letters. Instead, they were slowly dissolving into the snowstorm.

"Hahaha! I'll have to put this in my autobiography too! How marvelous, how marvelous!"

"Joneh, please leave my name out."

"You! Anyway, Seol, it was fun! I hope we meet again someday."

Smiling for the first time, Santio said to Seol, "Take care of the Frozen Truth."

"You knew…?"

"Of course. But… I heard you should take it. That it's just right you do so."

"Who…"

He scratched his Aries's head.

"I saw this through astrology."

"Haha! Take care!"

"Feel free to seek us out if you ever need anything."

"Ah, don't be surprised if your name ends up in my autobiography."

[Charm activates. You receive additional favorability.]

[You have acquired 'Wanderer Joneh' as a helper.]

['Wanderer Joneh' is a Transcendent rank.]

[Helpers have a chance of appearing in all Adventures.]

[They will help you based on their favorability toward you.]

Joneh disappeared from beyond the door.

[Charm activates. You receive additional favorability.]

[You have acquired 'Curly Haired Santio' as a helper.]

['Curly Haired Santio' is a Transcendent rank.]

[Helpers have a chance of appearing in all Adventures.]

[They will help you based on their favorability toward you.]

Santio also disappeared through the door.

Now, only a few Frostmaw trolls and Bron remained.

"Seol, Jamad… I won't forget your decision."

"…"

"I will definitely repay you…"

Seol and Jamad grinned.

Fwoosh…

[Charm activates. You receive additional favorability.]

[You have acquired 'Bron, the Great Hail' as a helper.]

['Bron, the Great Hail' is an Immortal rank.]

[Helpers have a chance of appearing in all Adventures.]

[They will help you based on their favorability toward you.]

Bron, the Great Hail.

The last Great Shaman who controlled the Hail Primal Power.

He was returning to life.

"…No matter what!"

Whoosh…

In an instant, the Frostmaw Tribe and Bron were swept away by the snowstorm and disappeared.

"Now…"

Creak…

Seol placed his hand on the machine.

"Is it time to get scolded by the Head of the Library?"

Fwoosh…

Seol commanded the machine to restore itself.

Fwoosh…

As expected of the Library of All Knowledge, letters began gathering and reassembling the broken parts of the machine.…

Clang…

Clang…

Fwoosh…

An intense light burst forth from the Head of the Library.

A light far more radiant than when he had first seen the Head of the Library.

"The library is a bit messy, right?"

Ziinng…

The machine emitted a light.

Drrr…

There was a huge vibration on the eighth floor.

The snowy mountains gradually faded and were replaced by bookshelves. This process repeated across every floor.

"Well, then…"

Seol smiled and placed a foot at the exit.

"See you later."

[You have relinquished the position of Head of the Library of All Knowledge.]

[All Knowledge has inherited the position of Head of the Library of All Knowledge.]

[You have earned the inaugural achievement 'Chasing After Dreams.']

[You have obtained the inaugural title 「Retiree」.]

…

"Goodbye."

Fwoosh—!

Seol threw himself to the light-filled exit.

The Head of the Library moved, trying to catch him.

Fwoosh…

He began falling.

The exit was a seemingly endless, bottomless pit.

He looked up at the sky.

Even from the outside, he could see the interior of the Library of All Knowledge.

He could also see the Head of the Library looking at him.

It was definitely waving its hand at him.

[The former Head of the Library, 'All Knowledge' has returned to the position of new Head of the Library.]

[Secret Labyrinth 'Library of All Knowledge's Control Room' has been unlocked.]

[Secret Labyrinth 'Dusty Library' has been unlocked.]

[Snowman’s great achievements have caused changes in the world.]

[Large and small changes happen in Pandea, The World of Eternity.]

[An unidentified group of Trolls began crossing the continent. Their destination is unknown.]

[The usage conditions of the Library of All Knowledge have become stricter.]

[The Library of All Knowledge is relocating.]

[Faction: Bron's Frostmaw Tribe has been established.]

[All players entering the 8th floor of the Library of All Knowledge can now select the 'The Frostmaw Tribe and the three Fools' Adventure.]

[All players entering the 8th floor of the Library of All Knowledge can now select the 'The Value of Stories' Adventure.]

[You have obtained a large amount of adventurer points.]

[You have talked to a Legendary Adventurer.]

[Your Wisdom, Intelligence, and Spirit have been increased by 30.]

[You have obtained additional rewards.]

[You have briefly served as the Head of the Library of All Knowledge.]

[You have obtained additional rewards.]

[Faction: Bron's Frostmaw Tribe has been established.]

[You have obtained additional rewards.]

…

WHOOM…

"Ugh…"

It was as if Seol had just woken up from a dream.

He got up as if he had just fallen from the sky.

And in front of him.

"What's this…?"

There was a silver chest before him, something he had never seen before in any of his adventures.