Chapter 001: The Librarian

"Mm..."

A soft murmur echoed through the silent space.

Aizen felt as if he had returned to the warmth of a womb, immersed in a sensation akin to being surrounded by soothing water. His body and soul basked in comfort.

Just as he was about to sink into this blissful state and succumb to a deep slumber, a sudden thought descended upon him.

[The individual matching the designated criteria has been selected and successfully integrated into the Library.]

[You have become the Librarian.]

This was an utterly pure and direct thought, resonating in his mind as if a voice had spoken within his consciousness. It startled Aizen out of his unconscious state.

"Splash!"

Instinctively sitting up, he caused a ripple of water around him. Only then did Aizen realize that he was indeed submerged in water.

Oddly, though he was in the water, his clothes were entirely dry, as were his hair and body. Not a single drop clung to him.

"What... What's going on?" Aizen murmured in confusion.

The sound of splashing water continued to resonate, drawing Aizen's attention away from his bewilderment. He began to survey his surroundings.

What he saw captivated him completely.

A vast, cylindrical space unfolded before his eyes. It was at least several hundred meters in diameter, with an equally impressive height, yet it felt neither empty nor overwhelming. Instead, it exuded a perfect sense of balance.

The reason for this harmony was evident: the area was filled with countless bookshelves, arranged in deliberate formations throughout the space.

Some bookshelves stood on the ground, while others climbed along the cylindrical walls, stacked vertically. Each was neatly filled with books, creating an atmosphere of mystery, tranquility, and intellect.

The floor was covered in deep red carpeting. Walkways extended along the walls and midair, while the ceiling was open to reveal a breathtaking starry sky. Countless stars twinkled above, casting a magical light over the entire scene.

Aizen found himself in the very center of this space, within a sunken area enclosed by wooden railings.

The area appeared designed for leisure, featuring a large fountain, a pavilion, a lawn, and even a hammock woven from flowering vines. It was reminiscent of a fairytale paradise.

Aizen sat in the fountain's crystal-clear water. The fountain's central jets continuously sprayed water that landed on him without leaving a single drop behind, as though everything was merely an illusion.

"Where... am I?"

Entranced by the beauty of his surroundings, Aizen took a long time to regain his senses. Finally, the question surfaced in his mind.

Then—

"Buzz—"

That same thought returned.

Aizen was enveloped by its intangible presence and involuntarily closed his eyes.

Minutes later, when he opened them again, the confusion was gone, replaced by understanding and acceptance.

"So this is the 'Fantasia Library'… What an incredible place."

This was a realm formed by humanity's collective emotions—fantasy, curiosity, longing, regret, admiration, and wistfulness for other worlds—all combined into an existence detached from reality.

It wasn't part of any physical location, yet it connected both reality and imagination.

Each book here represented an alternate world born from someone's imagination. Every page told a life story shaped by someone else's fantasy.

The Library's purpose was to gather these stories and fantasies, transforming them into books, bringing imaginary worlds to life, and crafting infinite, vibrant universes and dimensions.

However, there was a catch.

"To make a fantasy world real, it requires someone to live through it."

"Lives created from others' imaginations are hollow. Without real people experiencing them, these fantasies will always remain just that—fantasies."

"That's why, from the moment the Fantasia Library was formed, it needed a Librarian—someone to live out those imagined lives and journey through those fantastical worlds."

And so, Aizen was chosen.

He became the first-ever Librarian of the Fantasia Library.

"... Does this count as finding my true calling?" he wondered aloud.

Before coming here, Aizen had worked as a clerk in a bookstore.

His life had been far from idyllic. His parents divorced when he was young, leaving his grandparents to raise him. They passed away of old age when he was in college, just as he was becoming independent.

His parents had moved on and built new families. Aizen felt out of place no matter where he went, unwelcome in both households. So, he chose to work part-time while studying, earning a mediocre degree and becoming a jobless graduate. He eventually found a semblance of stability as a bookstore clerk.

Aizen remembered that the night before, he had stayed late at work to organize a new shipment of books. Too tired to go home, he'd fallen asleep in the store's storage room.

And now, he had woken up here, chosen by the Fantasia Library to become its Librarian.

"Well, why not?"

Aizen stepped out of the fountain, still entirely dry. Looking up at the starry sky through the open ceiling, his eyes reflected the starlight.

"If reality is disappointing, I'll just leave it behind."

"From today onward, I'm the Librarian of the Fantasia Library."

"Exploring countless imagined worlds and living through real experiences... That should be exciting, right?"

Years of self-reliance had honed Aizen's adaptability and resilience.

It didn't take him long to accept his new role and begin contemplating his next steps.

"Buzz—"

The intangible thought descended once more.

By now, Aizen understood that this was the Fantasia Library itself communicating with him.

The Library had no will of its own—no intelligence or emotions. It operated like a law of nature, only bestowing its power when the Librarian needed it.

Aizen perceived it as a voice in his mind, though no actual sound or text existed. The Library's power simply manifested in a way he could understand.

Now, it spoke again.

[As the Librarian, you are entitled to a gift—a power uniquely suited to you.]

[When you complete a life experience, the Fantasia Library will reward you based on the depth of that experience and the authenticity of the world you lived in, enhanced by your gift.]

[Granting the power…]

Suddenly, the entire Library began to stir.

Soft lights emanated from the floor and bookshelves. The starry sky above grew even more radiant, with stars shining brilliantly one after another.

Bathing in this light, Aizen felt an unfamiliar sensation swelling inside him.

The feeling intensified until something emerged from his body—a single page.

"What is this...?"

Aizen stared, stunned, as the page hovered before him.

It absorbed the Library's light and began to burn. When the page was completely consumed, intricate golden patterns appeared in midair.

These patterns connected and intertwined, forming a complex, mystical geometric symbol. The symbol flew toward Aizen and merged into his body.

In that instant, Aizen instinctively understood what he had gained…