Library of Heaven's Souls

Before he knew it, Gray found himself in another world… 

He had been quietly reading web novels in the cemetery as usual. Then, there was a flash of blue light from one of the tombs as he suddenly arrived in… what the hell was this?! 

As a night guard and student on Earth, Gray had read countless stories both at his job and in the classroom. Yet, he had NEVER heard of something like this! 

He seemed to be in a fruit market, but one that was VERY wrong: 

"Buy my melons, they're juicy, they're squishy, they're to die for!" 

"Taste my carrots! Thick, long, and hard… just like my bones!" 

"Lick my peach nectar! Even I can taste the sweetness!" 

The problem wasn't the suspicious-at-best advertisements. No, the issue was that the ones shouting were UNDEAD! Necromancy in broad daylight?!

"I-Is this because a glowing tombstone brought me here instead of a truck?!" 

But other than the undead sellers, the scene looked relatively normal. Plenty of expectant faces, youths in Chinese-styled ancient gowns, a beautiful sky, and food stalls all over. 

'Relax, Gray. Besides the Undead, it seems like a typical transmigration. First, gotta figure out where I am, then improvise afterward. You got this!' He encouraged himself. 

But that's when it happened… 

— Clip! Clop! Clip! Clop! Clip! Clop! — 

T-That sound? Galloping horses! Dread washed over him, even though he did not know why, and he instantly threw himself under a nearby cart, hiding. 

From his position, he could barely see anything, but it was enough to petrify him: skeletal hooves engulfed in blue flames, dark miasma, and the smell of decay spreading. 

Necromancy again? Through the cracks, he peeked at a couple of horsemen getting off their undead mounts, their metallic armor as black as night clanging as they did. 

They surveyed the marketplace, their raspy voices echoing: 

"Where the hell did that bastard go?"

"He can't have gone too far, not with my Soul Poison!"

"Didn't you say he'd be dead already? Still, the City's closed. We WILL find him." 

As they left, Gray breathed a sigh of relief. Those things would have made Nazguls look huggable! But before he could calm down, a splitting headache assaulted him. 

Along with it came the memories… 

This body? It actually wasn't his. 

It belonged to the Gray Gale of this world! 

The latter had succumbed to that Soul Poison, and HE had taken over. 

"Goddamn. Those were the Royal Death Knights, reporting directly to the Hellrand Duke!" Why would they possibly want him dead? He instantly saw it. 

Him, kidnapping the youngest princess. 

Him, tomb raiding the Royal Catacombs. 

Him, also destroying their Ancestor's body. 

"W-What in the Evernight's name have you done, Gray Gale?! Return! Log-Off! Get me out of this!" He had an instant of panic, but his survival instinct made him clear-headed. 

The knights WOULD come back. 

When they did, he'd be royally fucked. 

What could he do? Fight? Nope! Run? Sure, but where?

"C'mon, brain, show me EVERYTHING!" 

Gray focused, even more images appearing, but they were getting increasingly vague. It was as if he was watching a low-res MeTube video with unskippable ads to boot! 

"How huge the City's #1 Courtesans eyes are? No time for that!" 

"Where to get the cheapest mysterious meat in the district? NOPE!" 

"C'mon, I need a place to hide or seek refuge. Does the Duke have any enemies?!" 

But no matter how much he racked his brain, or rather his previous self's brain, all he could find was tidbits of useless information. Sighing, he crawled out from the cart. 

But just as he was getting up, a passerby swerved and… 

— BAM! A youngster slammed headfirst into him, the guy's ice cream splattering all over his ornate robes. A second later, furious shouts exploded out of his mouth: 

"You bastard! Do you know what you've done? Do you know who I am?!" 

Bastard? The guy hadn't been looking! But before he could protest, his eyes landed on the robe, and his entire body trembled. 

It was royal blue with a primordial Golden Crow pattern adorning it. As soon as he saw the fabric, his brain finally cooperated, feeding him visions of the Golden Crow Academy! 

Mage Academy? Stylish uniforms? Cool buildings? Yes to all of it, the Academy's power easily rivaling the Duke! Plus, they had no obligation to follow the man's will. 

But there was something even better: they were recruiting! That's why so many hopeful youths crowded the streets in the first place. They'd soon try their luck. 

"That's it! I might not be doomed just yet!" 

A plan instantly formed itself in Gray's mind, the other guy still raging. 

"Bastard, pay up for the Cleansing spell AND the ice cream, or I'll destroy you! I'll—"

"Pay up? Of course, I'll pay! You possibly just saved my life. Thank you so much! You don't know how much I LOVE you right now!" 

Gray energetically shook the angry guy's hand in his excitement, the latter's rage turning into indescribable confusion and discomfort. He didn't swing that way! 

But Gray only had thoughts for the Academy. Without even saying goodbye, he ran away as fast as his legs could carry him, his eyes transfixed on his destination. 

Even in Hellrand's narrow alleyways, with towering buildings blocking his sight, he could still see it. The Golden Academy not only floated in the air, but it actually glowed! 

It was akin to a beacon, attracting the youths and comforting the elders. As long as it stood, strong Mages would protect this City from all threats, beasts or humans.

As for how the trip went, it was a goddamn Nightmare! 

— Clip! Clop! Clip! Clop! Clip! Clop! — 

— Clip! Clop! Clip! Clop! Clip! Clop! — 

— Clip! Clop! Clip! Clop! Clip! Clop! — 

Every time Gray heard the sound of the Knights closing in, he had to find the most impromptu hiding spots. 

Hay Pile? Sure. 

Public Fountain? Reluctantly. 

Horse-breeding stall? NO COMMENT! 

By now, he was wet, suspiciously sticky, and getting pricked by hay. Still, he kept going, his life far more important than his dignity. 

There it was, right on the other side of the street, Glowing Teleportation circles beckoning him. He knew that stepping on one would bring him inside the Academy.

How many times had his other self dreamed of this place? Countless, the daydreams the best side-dishes to plain rat meat. But, there was still an issue… 

— Clip! Clop! Clip! Clop! Clip! Clop! — 

Not only was there a Knight patrolling on his skeletal horse but even a couple of them were sitting right at the Circles, glaring at every new incoming mage. 

Enter the Academy? Sure, but every one would be checked! They clearly had thought of all his possible retreat paths and were cutting them perfectly! 

"What now? Rush in? No, as if I'd ever outrun a horse, especially an undead one!" 

Gray observed it all from a distance, plotting. 

Right now, he had only rough hemp clothes and nothing else to his name. As for personal power, it could be considered nil. It wasn't like he'd magically grow stronger, right?

Still, it wouldn't hurt to try…. 

"C'mon, feel the Qi in the air? Nope. How about Mana? Neither. System, please Awaken and save this handsome Transmigrator!" Even that wasn't working. 

All he managed to do was focus so much that he turned red, looking so constipated that a nearby auntie prayed for his soul and his shorts. It was a monumental failure. 

"Tch— It's fine, who needs a cheat anyway? I just need my brains and my handsomeness. Everything else is fleeting." He was already picturing how a brilliant MC would solve this. 

Get courtesans to distract the Knights? No, those were money-hungry creatures, and he was every shade of broke. They wouldn't even give him a second glance. 

Head to a nearby bar and start a fight? Or maybe even a fire? No, his enemies weren't just Knights, but Death Knights. They'd probably watch on, happily placing bets. 

Wait, what if? Should he go back to that horse stall? The Stallion had been traumatizingly vigorous, and perhaps he could enlist its help! 

Soon, he happily pushed the stall's door. As for what awaited him… 

It was a crime scene, a strapping Stallion neighing in disappointment. Its partner? The mare looked dead, utterly out of energy, her entire body glistening with… sweat. 

Perhaps desperation had turned Gale crazy, but he actually addressed the Stallion: 

"Looks like your mate's out of commission, how regrettable. How about coming with me? Help me with something, and I'll find you an even better mare!" Gray sweet-talked it. 

"Neigh! Neigh!" The Stallion looked incredibly suspicious, but then its dark eyes gleamed with intelligence and desire as it finally nodded and followed him. 

— Successfully Obtained a Horse! —

If this were a video game, there would have been a 'New Party Member' chime right there! 

With this, Gray could try his luck at bypassing the Death Knight squad guarding the Academy! If he managed to teleport in, it would be his win. 

As for his opponents, they were still there, loudly complaining: 

"Tch— They get to hunt while we babysit." 

"Keep watch. Maybe he'll try to join the Academy." 

"Scoff, I wish he DOES try! Then we could catch the asshole. Still, that won't happen. Our target's a worthless Street Rat, after all. He wouldn't even dare come here." 

But before they could speak another word, the sound of galloping was heard, their colleague passing by on his skeletal horse. They exchanged silent nods: 

'Everything under control here.'

'No enemy sighted either.' 

One had to admit that even as they complained, they remained vigilant. Gray could feel their glowing purple eyes scouring the street. 

Still, watching? They could freaking watch this: Gray sent his secret weapon! 

— Clip! Clop! Clip! Clop! Clip! Clop! — 

Was it their colleague again? NO! This time, it was a black Stallion, bulging with so much muscle that it seemed to be juicing. The creature powerfully erupted into the plaza! 

"Neigh! Neigh!" 

It bolted at a Skeletal Horse, powerfully ramming it! — CRASH! Its momentum was so strong, that the rider was ejected from his saddle, and sent flying away. 

But so what? The knight collided heavily with the ground, leaving a crater in the solid chiseled stone, but nevertheless got right back up. Damage? Zero! 

Except, he had misunderstood the Stallion's motive all along. Attack? This wasn't an attack. It was simply getting into position. 

This Stallion—was it trying to mate with his skeletal steed?! No, it wasn't trying; it was doing it! The trembling Death Knight cried out in rage and despair.

"Dumb animal, you're DEAD!" 

"Neigh! Neigh! Neigh!" 

Not only did the Stallion not back off, it even sneered a the Knight. Too late! Under the horrified gaze of the crowd, the Stallion…. NO COMMENT! 

"Useless creature! How DARE You?!"

"Sullying the Death Knights' Reputation? Courting Death!" 

"Quick, hack this blasphemous beast to pieces. Hurry it up!" 

At this moment, it wasn't the skeletal horse that was in danger. No, the latter had infinite endurance. The issue was that their Knight Order would become a laughingstock! 

They could already picture the entire Capital snickering:

"Psst— Did you hear about the Knights? Their steed got @#!*" 

"No way?! Who had the galls to do something like that?! Hero!" 

"It wasn't even a powerful foe either. I was just a regular Stallion…" 

Veins about to burst from their heads, ALL the Knights went to attack the assailant, their boots glowing purple as they dashed. What happened next merely took a second. 

One Death Knight cleaved the poor Stallion in half, another decapitated it, and the last one turned it into an eunuch, which was frankly overkill at this point. 

"At least it died doing what it loved." Gray couldn't help but sigh as he witnessed the fall of a legend. Luckily, he had already reached the Transportations arrays. 

That's when the Knights finally looked back, not because they had heard him, but simply because they had just remembered their duties. That's also when their eyes met. 

"W-What?! Isn't that the guy?! It's him, get him!" 

Sadly for them, Gray's body was already dissipating in an explosion of shiny particles. Grinning, he left them gentle parting words as he teleported: 

"Get FUCKED! 

Yet, merely seconds later, he regained his composure. He'd have to join the Academy, or else he'd be quickly thrown out, his fate far worse than death. 

Or at least, he tried to regain his composure, his expression soon turning to shock, awe, and disbelief.

So this was the Golden Crow Academy? It was incredible…