Lord of Mysteries: The Traveler

Read ahead on my P@treon...

[email protected]/MayaMatengele01

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After familiarizing himself with the general layout of the library, Florent sat at an empty table on the seventh floor, pondering his next steps for studying.

The familiar feeling almost brought him back to his college days, when he was more interested in reading domestic and foreign novels from the school library rather than studying there...

His roommates often wondered why Florent, who spent so much time in the library, only managed to get average grades...

Chuckling inwardly at why he was reminiscing about such things, Florent turned his thoughts to the present issue... which specific books he needed to read.

Books that would aid in his role as a 'Trickmaster' were undoubtedly those related to magic. Unfortunately, such books were scarce on the sixth floor, mostly discussing the techniques of magicians and the secrets behind magic performances.

Sadly, no magician would write a book that exposed and offended all their peers. Therefore, even the most famous magic books only introduced a few harmless tricks, methods that were either inhumanly difficult or required years of practice to master.

As for other magic tricks, they were described in such vague terms that they might as well have not been mentioned at all.

'Hmm, I can read a few of these and take notes on tricks that can be performed using the 'Trickmaster' abilities. They might serve as a stepping stone to join a circus after my promotion. Oh, and I should also watch circus performances occasionally, focusing on the magicians' acts. I'll add that to the plan...'

Florent couldn't help but tap the table, drawing disapproving glances from those around him, so he switched to tapping his forehead instead.

'The role of 'Astrologer' requires a foundation in mysticism, which can be divided into three parts. One part is the books at home, my father's collection includes a significant portion on divination, especially crystal and astrological divination, with other forms of divination also covered...'

'Another part is the astrology section in the theology category on the second floor of the Trier National Library...'

<...The majesty of the gods is like the stars in the sky, lofty and distant; divine grace is as vast as the sea, divine wrath as deep as the abyss...>

'The final part is the astronomical observations in the natural sciences section on the third floor, which includes ancient star charts from before the invention of telescopes, showing changes in constellations due to seasonal and annual variations, as well as modern, more detailed star maps created with the use of telescopes. The former is macroscopic, the latter microscopic, each with its uses...'

Florent pondered the next steps in his role, though he couldn't be entirely sure of their accuracy...

His father had never left behind specific methods for acting, and most people relied on time and experience to gradually digest their potions...

'The next sequence after 'Astrologer' is 'Scribe'. The principle of the 'Scribe' role is to record various supernatural abilities, and the customs and landscapes of different regions. The most useful books for this are undoubtedly the travelogue section on the fifth floor...'

'...As one of the most appealing forms of realistic writing, travelogues hold a significant place in the literature sections of most libraries. As for supernatural abilities, recording them is one thing, but understanding and defining them is another. This part is relatively easier for me...'

At this point, Florent stopped tapping his fingers and instead clasped his hands together, closing his eyes to summarize, 'In short, what I need are books on magic from the sixth floor, astrology-related theology books from the second floor, astronomical natural science books from the third floor, travelogues from the fifth floor's literature section, and the mysticism books from my home. Oh, and I should also visit the circus to experience magic performances firsthand...ʼ

"That settles it. Time is tight, so I need to act now. The more I procrastinate, the less I'll achieve."

Florent also recalled how he sometimes wished to study in the library but ended up spending very little time on actual learning due to laziness and lack of interest. Although, reading novels in the library was indeed much more enjoyable than studying.

Out of curiosity about travelogues, Florent decided to start with the travelogue section...

These were the closest thing to novels in terms of realistic reporting, and many travelogues were even more interesting than fiction because they were based on real experiences. After all, reality often produced stories more bizarre than anything a novelist could conjure.

Even within the travelogue section, the Trier National Library excelled, with clear classifications such as: travelogues from Intis Republic, Loen Kingdom, Feysac Empire, Feynapotter Kingdom, the Seas, and even the Southern Continent. Some of these could easily be classified as novels, as they described places unreachable by ordinary people.

~Travels and Observations in Trier~ by Isais Bellu, a Loen national...

Florent couldn't resist his curiosity and pulled out this book. He flipped through the cover, briefly reading the author's introduction and table of contents. The book seemed highly readable, as the author had written it in the style of a novel.

Isais Bellu was one of Loen's most famous bestselling authors in recent years. This era favored travelogue-style writing, and what was even rarer was that Isais Bellu is a woman and a devout follower of the 'Evernight goddess'.

This was particularly surprising in Intis, where the 'Eternal Blazing Sun' held greater sway. Yet, among Intis's travelogue readers, Isais unexpectedly enjoyed immense popularity.

<...In the 'City of the Sun', everything is so bright, a stark contrast to the gloom that dominates Backlund. Of course, I don't dislike overcast weather; overly intense sunlight can harm both others and oneself...

...If you want to write a travelogue that feels authentic, the best approach is to become a local, to experience the joys and sorrows of the people. Fortunately, my friend lives in Trier...

...As a follower of the 'God of Steam and Machinery', their family's interactions are more comfortable than those of the 'Eternal Blazing Sun' worshippers. Of course, the subtle condescension in the words of Sun followers is what makes me somewhat disdainful of them. But it's undeniable that Sun worshippers are quite gentlemanly when conversing with unfamiliar ladies...>

Florent became so engrossed in the book that he lost track of time...

After finishing the relatively short travelogue compared to the millions of words in online novels, Florent let out a satisfied sigh, stretched, and only then noticed the warm and orange glow of candlelight filling the room.

Returning the book to the shelf, he lingered on the aftertaste of the travelogue...

Reflecting on his own understanding of Trier, he realized why Isais Bellu's works were so highly praised.

Leaving the Trier National Library, Florent walked home slowly, savoring the blend of crimson moonlight and the fading amber sunset on the streets...