I Have Become an NPC at the Tower’s Used Bookstore

[Buying Used Skill Books.]

I posted a notice on the bulletin board located in the square.

It was a masterpiece among masterpieces, made through cottage industry. I felt even more proud because I made it purely with my own strength, without anyone else’s help.

The drawing part, in particular, is perfect.

The old man showed a jealous reaction when he saw this, saying even a young child would draw better than this.

Well, how could an ordinary person match the sensibility of a genius?

I drew people simply as stick figures, using just lines and circles.

And books as two rectangles.

Two people trading with each other, both showing bright smiles as if they’re satisfied. Those smiles were expressed with triangles.

“Mmhmm.”

This is enough. I nodded in satisfaction that was overflowing.

This is the aesthetics of simplicity.

And I now have enough money.

The old man returned my money, and Ber forgave my debt.

With the debt I had to repay gone, the world couldn’t look any brighter. Of course, it’s night right now.

It’s just a manner of speaking. A metaphor, a metaphor.

Even if skill books contain the same skill, their contents are all different.

The content varies depending on the style of the skill book’s creator.

No identical skill books exist in the world. Each holds its own unique charm.

This is also why the same skill is slightly different for each person.

Therefore, the more you read skill books containing the same skill, the more that skill is bound to develop.

Because you can gain various knowledge, including different applications or concepts derived from it.

Of course, you need to be able to read, understand, and apply the skill book. The understanding mentioned here means a perfect understanding that the system can accept.

The number of people who read books has decreased compared to before. Those who enjoy reading are gradually disappearing.

It’s a problem that arises as leisure time disappears.

During the day, they climb the Tower, and at night, they guard the outer regions. One person isn’t responsible for both day and night.

If they were, they wouldn’t even have enough time to sleep.

Players are assigned guard duty on a monthly basis.

Some are relieved of climbing duties and exclusively dedicated to guard duty, and vice versa.

Even so, time is limited.

It’s the cause of seeking more stimulating entertainment in a short time.

In the process, interest in books has only continued to decline.

How serious is it? Even among wizards, pure wizards who focus on research are decreasing, and the trend is toward combat wizards who focus on skills for rapid growth.

Skill books aren’t the only way to gain skills. Skills can also be acquired through enlightenment or repeated mastery.

This is the reason I was able to acquire skills even after reading used skill books.

Currently, the former case is overwhelming.

Because it’s that much simpler and requires less effort.

But there are disadvantages. Skills not based on understanding are bound to hit limitations quickly.

A tower built without a solid foundation is inherently precarious.

That’s why the current ranker system remains unchanged and firmly in place. Since rankers don’t change, it becomes easier for upper guilds to monopolize.

This is why the Tower has stagnated to the point of nearly rotting.

“In the end, it’s a matter of effort. A difference in effort.”

To be precise, it’s not a difference in quantity but in direction.

Simply repeatedly using a skill to increase proficiency isn’t the answer.

To reach a higher level, understanding must precede.

“But it’s not my concern.”

Whatever it is, it’s the players’ problem.

I, as a fragile NPC, don’t know about such things.

Players are like moths.

Even though they don’t have to climb the Tower, they’re obsessed with climbing.

What makes them like that?

They are moths flying towards the light hanging on the Tower.

Not even realizing they’re burning, they continue to fly towards the light.

I’ve seen many who have burned that way. I’ve watched too many.

I knew those who had turned to ash and shattered, whose memories had faded away with the blowing wind. No one remembers them.

So it’s better not to get involved.

To me, knowledge that can be accumulated for a long time was more important than a handful of fleeting relationships.

The conversation we had at the coast was an extension of this.

.

.

.

“It would be good if you shared that vast amount of knowledge you’ve accumulated.”

The old man muttered while looking at the coastline.

“Why should I?”

“Because it would make climbing and protecting the Tower much easier.”

Wondering if he was serious, I looked at the old man.

I see eyes deeply sunken like the calm coast.

Not the shining eyes of a young child pursuing pure joy, but the eyes of an old man whose color had faded after many years.

They resembled an antique that exudes a dignified charm despite the accumulated dust.

“No.”

The old man ignored my refusal and continued.

“Then surely fewer people would die.”

“That’s wrong.”

I too have trained disciples before.

I thought that since I couldn’t climb the Tower, I should nurture players well instead.

So I vaguely thought that it would be good if the survival rate increased.

But I was wrong. I was wrong.

The price for that mistake was too bitter for me to bear. So bitter that a sour taste still lingers around my mouth.

“I like it just as it is now. I like it just about now, staying in the lower floors without any thought of conquering the higher floors.”

I preferred it like now, maintaining a stable life without pushing too hard.

When people gain power, they struggle to show it off.

They chase after the empty value called honor, disregarding their own lives, which are most important.

When they climb one floor, they want to climb another. They keep looking up and moving upward.

Unable to overcome their own aspirations, they burn from within and fall. With their wings also caught in flames, they fall stupidly without even thinking of struggling.

I’ve just watched the fall of countless heroes.

“There’s no need to climb the Tower, right?”

If they’re going to fall anyway, is there a need to soar?

“Well, all that matters to me is our store anyway. I just need to protect my used bookstore. I don’t care what happens to others.”

“That’s a lie.”

“What is?”

“Never mind. You must have your own circumstances. It seems I’ve spoken nonsense. I’m sorry.”

“…Just keep your promise.”

You’re making my heart unsettled for no reason. This isn’t the character I usually am.

Thinking that, I raised my head.

I see the dark night sky.

Even in darkness, light existed. Rather, in the darkness, the light seemed to emit a stronger color.

It’s different from the Abyss that exists in the outer regions. There was a clear difference from the Abyss that swallows even light.

I seem to be getting emotional today.

I should go back to the store and read some books.

I took a step, deliberately trying to think positive thoughts.

* * *

“Can Fireball also reach the power of Hellfire if it’s honed well? What do you think?”

“Of course it’s possible.”

“What?! I must have misjudged you. How can a low-level skill like Fireball compare to a high-level skill like Hellfire? These are truly the end times.”

“All skills are equal. They may be categorized by grade, but still. And it is the end times. The world was destroyed and the Tower was built, so what nonsense are you talking about? Are you getting senile, old man?”

“Such disrespect!”

“Hmph, I can’t hear the words of a junior who entered the Tower later than me. And I might have presbyopia, but I’m older than you!”

After a long time, I’m having a constructive discussion with the old man.

Since both of us are intellectuals, the level of conversation going back and forth is extremely high.

It seems childish, but it’s a conversation that holds a profound meaning. Anyway, that’s what it is.

I was worried that things might be awkward after our previous conversation, but fortunately, that wasn’t the case. I liked this childish, no, profound atmosphere in which we’re conversing.

“Don’t you know the height of tuning is the original? After all, Hellfire is derived from Fireball.”

“Of course, there’s that perspective. But if you look at this skill book, it’s written in a completely different system. How would you explain that?”

“Huh? It seems you’ve misunderstood the topic of discussion. The topic is whether Fireball can reach the power of Hellfire. If even one person has used the Fireball system to create Hellfire, it’s evidence that it can grow to that extent.”

Hellfire is created by adding onto Fireball and modifying it bit by bit.

No matter how low the grade of a skill, if you hone it, you can reach a higher grade skill.

Although that process wouldn’t be easy.

There’s actually a successful case, isn’t there?

Not everyone can reach it, but it’s a path that someone has succeeded on.

It’s strong evidence that someone else might succeed in the future as well.

“Do you mean that through skill growth, one can overcome the grade one is inherently born with?”

“Yes. Do you know why there are multiple skill books for one skill?”

“It means that everyone has a different perspective. Even with the same Fireball, some focus on power, others on accuracy, and still others on light cost. That’s why skills acquired through skill books often specialize in just one aspect.”

“Oh? What’s this? You already knew.”

“Not as much as you, but I’ve also been researching steadily.”

“Then why?”

If you already knew, wasn’t this pointless argument unnecessary?

“I needed confirmation.”

The old man’s eyes take in the books that fill every corner.

“You’ve accumulated quite a lot.”

“Jealous?”

“Yes, I’m jealous. I envy that attitude of being confident in the path you’ve built.”

The old man’s eyes were full of regret and were shaking violently in uncertainty.

But soon they become calm again. Endlessly calm, like the sea after a wave, as if nothing had happened.

“What’s wrong? It’s not like you.”

“Is that so? Huh huh.”

“They say people die when they do things they don’t usually do.”

“…I just came because I wanted to chat. No one wants to be friends with this old man.”

“What? Are you an outcast?”

“Yes, in the same situation as you. People in the same situation should get along well.”

What on earth is this old geezer saying?

“W-what are you talking about? I have friends, you know.”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to lie. Huh huh, between us who know everything, what’s the point?”

“No, I really have a lot of friends!”

There’s Ber! And the old man!

After staring at my fingers that couldn’t fold any further, I quietly lowered my hand.

Anyway, I had one more, so it was my win by decision.