Kaito Aoyama was organizing yet another pile of dusty books in the Kyoto municipal library, sweating more from the tension of not dropping an ancient tome than from actual fatigue. The corridors were silent, broken only by the rustle of pages and the hum of the neon lights. He had learned to live with that muffled atmosphere, where even the smallest sound seemed deafening.
"Alright… just one more tome and then I can finally sit down with my lukewarm tea," he murmured to himself, lifting a volume with a title longer than his memory could even process. But before he could place it back on the shelf, a sudden thud made him jump.
The light flickered, and an unnatural gust of wind swept over him. Before he could react, the floor beneath him vanished like water, and Kaito was swallowed by a vortex of floating light and scrolls.
"Okay… this is going way too far… I'm probably dying, and my brain has decided to give me psychedelic visions," he muttered. But a deep, calm, authoritative voice resonated in his mind:
"Your role in this world has ended… and a new one awaits you."
Then… darkness.
When he opened his eyes, he was no longer in the Kyoto library. He stood in an open field, bathed in warm, golden light, under a sky painted with impossible colors: shades of pink, turquoise, and violet intertwined like living watercolors. In front of him, a sign hovered in midair, written in an unknown language, vibrating slightly:
Welcome to Aetheryon.
Kaito blinked, trying to figure out whether he was dreaming or if his life had genuinely taken a wildly absurd turn. "Okay… either I'm having a massive heart attack… or some whimsical god decided to make me a librarian in a fantasy world. Probably the second one, I'd say."
Immediately, a message appeared before his eyes, floating like digital characters in the air:
Growth System Activated Name: Kaito Aoyama
Initial Stats: STR: 10 | DEX: 10 | INT: 12 | MANA: 8 | RES: 10 | CHA: 9
Inner Tome: Active
Special Ability: Copies the worst ability of defeated enemies
Bonus: +1% to all stats per defeated enemy
Level Cap: None
Kaito took a moment to process it all. "Wait… what is this? I just died and now I have stats and bonuses? Like… a game? Maybe one of those online RPGs I hated…"
A faint creaking sound behind him made him turn: a creature resembling a giant rat, with glowing blue eyes and oversized teeth, was staring at him. Before he could react, the creature clumsily attacked.
Kaito raised his hands and, without thinking, felt a strange energy surge through his arm. One sharp, precise strike, and the rat collapsed. A detailed message appeared in his Inner Tome:
Copied Ability: Weak Bite (Aetheryon Giant Rat)
Type: Physical – Melee
Power: Minimal (base of the enemy)
Duration: Instant
Cooldown: 3 seconds
Limitations: Low damage, short range
Side Effects: None relevant
Stat Increase: +1% to all stats
STR: 10.1 | DEX: 10.1 | INT: 12.1 | MANA: 8.1 | RES: 10.1 | CHA: 9.1
Kaito's jaw dropped. "Ah… okay… so I can copy even the worst abilities of enemies… Interesting. A giant rat with horror-movie teeth… copied."
The Inner Tome flickered, suggesting possible combinations: "You could combine Weak Bite with a future fire or chaos spell for an unexpected effect."
After dealing with the creature, he explored the surrounding field. Towering trees with translucent, impossibly colored leaves surrounded him. Small lights floated through the air like words, symbols of living magic that seemed almost to invite him to read them.
Suddenly, a melodic voice rang out—clear and commanding. "Who dares enter the domain of the Living Tome without permission?"
From a massive tree trunk emerged an ethereal figure, with silver hair and eyes that seemed like open books. "Welcome, young librarian… or should I say, new Archivist?"
Kaito scratched the back of his head. "Archivist? Wait, I… was just a librarian… and now…? Damn it, I really need to stop reading fantasy at night, or I keep ending up in situations like this."
The ethereal figure smiled. "In Aetheryon, every book is a world, and every world needs someone to read it, interpret it… and rewrite it. You have been chosen."
Before he could ask more questions, a small glowing orb appeared. It contained symbols and words in constant motion. "This is your Inner Tome," the figure explained. "It will record enemies, abilities, Tomes, and every piece of information you gather. And yes… even the worst abilities can become your weapons."
Kaito nodded slowly, trying to accept the absurdity of the situation. "Okay… so… if I defeat enemies, I grow. And if I copy their worst abilities… I can become powerful. Fantastic. Perfect. Better get started before this giant rat comes back with friends."
The ethereal figure nodded. "Next stop: the city of Lumeris. There you will learn to read Tomes, understand filament magic, and perhaps… face some enemies more interesting than a giant rat."
Kaito looked around. The sky above shimmered with a thousand hues, the wind carried impossible scents, and the forest seemed alive, watching him. "Alright… new world, new rules, old librarian jokes… let's see what this city has in store. And I hope they have decent tea."
With a deep breath, Kaito began walking toward the horizon, the Inner Tome glowing slightly at his side, a small ironic smile on his face. His adventure was only just beginning, and Aetheryon had no idea how lucky it was to have such a… determined librarian.