Scritch. Scritch. Scritch.

Something akin to the sound of scratches could be faintly heard in the otherwise silent room. Inside, the figure of the semi-exhausted librarian could be seen attending to the book he carried with him.

His eyes, who remained fixated on what was in his hands, barely cared enough to blink, keeping their focus on what he was performing. The motions of his hands as his gaze did so, however, could be called anything but fatigued.

Scritch. Scritch. Scritch.

In his hand, a pencil could clearly be seen by anyone paying a sliver of attention in his direction. With it, lines upon lines were added to what was once a blank page within the book he possessed.

So many were created and yet, none bore a single word in them. Of course it was to be expected out of a simple drawing.

Following his movements, almost in tandem, the sounds of swings tearing the air accompanied his task. These came from a certain girl with red eyes and brown hair working on Netzach's floor.

Beside her, per usual, the previously mentioned Sephirah was sleeping on his couch without a care in the world.

The sight has quickly become something common.

Returning to the devilish woman currently in action, instead of wearing the librarian uniform given to her once she was rescued from her "prison", she was wearing a dark cloak covering her entire body. 

From within it, multiple sharp appendages swiftly emerged like a hedgehog raising its thorny armor.

For the first time since he began, the director's unwilling helper raised his gaze just in time to see a trio of blades pierce a book Hava had thrown as a practice target. Her confident grin remained a constant throughout her entire training.

Seeing what she wore brought back memories of a reception they had a few days ago relating to a group called 'The Carnival'. Although the manner of speech showed by the trio under that title was something that was briefly laughed at, what Angela & her assistant had witnessed them perform was far from a fun sight.

...

...He didn't want to ponder about them. No, he didn't want to remember them. He didn't want to remember the faces of terror and agony the assistant librarians on Keter's floor showed as their skin & flesh were torn off and turned into silk, nor the sight of exhaustion on Roland's face as he carried his battered & slashed body alongside the books of both the defeated guests & his allies.

It was by far the loudest he had ever heard Morgan speak and it scarred him. The sheer volume of her yell shook him and made him unconsciously try to forget what they had gone through.

Although the physical wounds were gone, the mental trauma was still felt by the duo who had perished in that cruel method.

Probably out of empathy, Angela's assistant tried to not think about that horrible reception. He refused to go back to what was said on that day.

Hava didn't seem to care though, she looked content with the outfit they stole from said guests and was exploring every nook and cranny it could offer.

In an attempt to change his thoughts and once more lose his memories associated to the Carnival, the ex-captain resumed his drawing as he asked a question to the girl in the room.

Y/N: Hey Hava, can I ask you something?

Hava: Hm~?

The sound she made as a response came right as she caught a second book with one of the many blades hidden under her cloak. With the item now firmly lodged into her weapon, she lowered it and watched it slide down to the floor.

Finally, she turned around and stepped closer until she could peek at what he was doing, prompting him to continue.

Y/N: How was the City? In general I mean.

Hava: Oh, finally asking more questions~? Took you a while I have to admit.

Y/N: I was bound to ask at some point. The only stories I hear of are from Roland and the guests we receive. Angela is just as clueless as I am so she's not helpful...

Hava: So the first person you came to ask to was me~?

The devil with red eyes leaned closer as she replied. It was clear as day that she was messing with him and so, the only response she got in return was a prolonged silence.

Netzach's assistant feigned a hurt expression for a moment as a form of protest against the silent treatment. She then placed one of her fingers on a specific part of the drawing in front of her, showing an awkward connection of lines that made it look unnatural compared to the rest.

Hava: As much as I would like to be honored to be asked a question like this, my knowledge is not that great. As a Backstreets resident, I know nothing of what's inside the Nests except a few rumors.

Y/N: ...Wasn't Lobotomy Corporation located inside a Nest?

Hava: It was, it doesn't mean I know much about it though. I was basically thrown inside and the rest is history.

The fatigued worker nodded back. There was no need to remind each other of what happened afterwards, it was mental scar attached to every employees that were trapped within the main branch facility.

Y/N: What about the Backstreets. Was it... you know-

Hava: Horrible?

A bead of sweat formed on the assistant's face as he awkwardly nodded. He was planning to ask her in a more polite way but she cut straight to the point.

For a few seconds, what came out of Hava's mouth was a hung silence.

Y/N: You can be honest, the invitation showed us plenty already.

His words caused the pondering expression on the girl's face to break slightly alongside the usual grin she carried everywhere. She looked conflicted by the question thrown at her by the director's helper.

She let out a quiet sigh as she took a seat on the ex-captain's chair, the left armrest to be more precise. As she did so, the one already sitting in the chair could feel the faint sharpness of the weapons hidden behind her cloak grazing him.

Hava: As easy as it would be to just say that it was the worst, I'll probably be one of the few to say that Backstreets are far from terrible. At least, the District I lived in before joining L Corp was.

Y/N: Really?

The eyes of the man focused on his drawing shifted and looked in the direction of his interlocutor before his entire head followed along. That's when he saw the lack of smile present on her face.

Did he struck a wrong nerve with his question? That was what was floating in the back of his head.

Hava: Realistically, if the Backstreets were as horrible as everyone proclaim, nobody would live in them. They are chaotic but not fully hostile. People grow up, learn & live in them.

She finished her phrase by pointing at herself, presenting herself as proof of her own statement. As she did so, her smile finally returned to her expression.

Hava: I mean, look at me, I didn't turn out too bad, right~?

Y/N: ...

Hava: Say yes or I'm twisting your nose~

Although what she said could easily be taken as a threat, the way she laughed it off clearly showed that she wasn't going to follow up on what she claimed. She wrapped one of her arms around his neck and gave the inspired worker a closer peek at her usual visage.

Seeing her in that mood, the director's helper couldn't help but shrug in return as he flashed her a grin of his own.

Y/N: You're far from an angel, we both know that. Wouldn't want you any other way though.

Hava: That's what I like to hear~

With a smile on both faces, the duo quickly returned to the drawing the tired ex-agent was working on, soon reaching its completion... or at least tried.

The focus required to keep the efforts going snapped in many pieces, all caused by the singular sound of as door being violently opened. While the devil with red eyes remained stoic, the ex-captain easily jumped a full meter out of his seat.

The disturbance was loud enough to snap Netzach out of his drunken slumber.

In the doorway, the silhouette belonging to a certain gloomy assistant librarian revealed itself.

Y/N: Oh, Morgan... Is everything alright?

It was a rare sight to see someone like her, who generally prefered to remain quiet and hidden at all time, cause such a ruckus. Everyone present in the room looked at her as she walked inside, revealing that the outfit she was wearing matched Salvador's.

The closer she got to the group, the easier it became for them to notice the many bloodstains on her outfit alongside the multiple bullet holes piercing it. Her shoulders were dangling on both sides of her and her eyes barely hid the exhaustion in them.

It was a gaze fitting for someone who saw death in the eyes.

Morgan: ...I need a break.

Her words barely escaped her throat as she let herself plop down on the nearest chair. Many bags were under her eyes. A bead of sweat appeared on the former captain's face as he watched her take a deep breath.

Morgan: Can't you ask miss Angela to change things... I can't take it anymore...

If the girl currently sitting near the director's helper wasn't as fatigued as she currently was, she would have absolutely thrown herself on the floor with a bow to prove her desperation.

In response to the sudden request, the best he could do was utter a words.

Y/N: ...I'll try, we both know how Angela is.

Hava: I'm sure you'll find something, we all know who's her favorite~

Y/N: Sadly.

His singular word of defeat was quickly followed by footsteps coming from outside of the room. It didn't take a genius to figure who it was right after Morgan's entrance. The distant groans of pain fully confirmed the guess shared by the librarians who did not participate in today's reception.

Roland: Phew, they took us by surprise.

Rin: I want to change floor...

As expected, the remaining duo belonging to the Floor of General Work joined the assistant librarian who got ahead of them. For the Grade 9 Fixer, it was evident why he came here of all places. For his second assistant though, it was up to speculations.

Morgan barely acknowledged her coworkers entering the room. Her eyes were spacing out, focused on nothing in particular.

Hava: Wow, look at all of you, they sure didn't miss you~

Roland: I definitely wouldn't have minded if they did a few times. I thought I was a goner back there.

The Fixer working for the Library made his way towards the couch Netzach was using as his bed, hoping to get his fill of beer as a way to evacuate his stress. When he finally reached his destination, the uninvited guest stretched his sore limbs and sat down.

Full-Stop Office was the name of the group the Library received today. With nowhere to go, the trio of that Office was forced to sign their lives away in an attempt to escape from a threat much larger: A Fixer with the title of 'The Blue Reverberation'.

Thinking back to what he saw before going down to the Floor of Art, Angela's first helper definitely could tell at a first glance that something was not right with the man they ran away from.

What exactly though was not completely certain. Although he hadn't met him in person, there was an air around him that didn't put the ex-captain at ease.

It also didn't help that Roland himself did not speak of a single positive subject about him. It easily made a bias against him.

...Also the skeleton partner that he briefly talked to didn't help him look like a good guy. That point was the ex-agent's own opinion though, it looked too close to an Abnormality for his own taste. 

Humanoid Abnormalities were the main cause behind the many headaches he was forced to endure during his work within Lobotomy Corporation and seeing something close to one brought back bad memories.

Hava: You should add a few lines there, it makes the fabric more realistic.

Y/N: Already on it.

Thankfully, the voice belonging to a certain employee brought him back to reality before anchoring him to what he was close to finishing. He replied in return and followed her suggestion before taking one final look at the result.

"Not bad for a first time, I think?" Those words were the only thing he could say as a comment towards his own work.

Rin: Is that... a rabbit?

Curious about what the duo were exchanging about, one of the assistants working under Roland's orders stepped closer and took a look at the drawing made by the director's assistant.

Just as she said, the result showed a simplified rabbit wearing a worn out suit with dark stains on it. All around it, dozens of pocket watches were floating in the air, all indicating a different time.

Y/N: Mhm. I needed more ideas and so I made something that was already in the back of my head.

Hava: More like you needed more monsters to throw at your poor victims~

Y/N: Haha, nice try but we both know that they brought their own demise last time.

Hava: If you say so~

Rin: ..?

Multiple questions were floating above Rin's head as they heard the words thrown between the duo. One part wanted to inquire about what they were talking about while the other simply begged to drop the subject for the sake of taking a break.

...Sadly, with a sigh of resignation, the one who just returned from a terrible duel with their life on the line chose to listen to their body and walked away, focusing on their own well-being for now. The last thing Rin needed was to inflict themselves with an extra headache.

Y/N: Still, maybe I should go easy on them this time.

Hava: I'm sure a certain Arbiter would say otherwise.

Y/N: ...Sounds somewhat in character. However, I'm not her.

The ex-captain flipped through the pages used by him to write down important notes as he replied. His eyes quickly went through what he already had set in stone and turned towards the entrance that led outside of the Floor of Art.

Y/N: ...I'll try to not make them almost lose a character on the first fight at least.

Hava: Aw, that's not the true L Corp's experience.

Y/N: I don't need to give them more PTSD than they already have.

A bead of sweat fell down the ex-captain's face after hearing the playful words coming the devil with red eyes. His creation was made as a fun activity for the assistant librarians to pass the time between each other and create some bonds, not as a way to reinforce the hell they went through.

As he thought of that, the faint sounds of more footsteps making their way over quickly grew louder until the noises were strong enough that everyone could hear them.

The first one set foot inside the already filled room was Malkuth's first assistant, Cereb. His eyes scanned the room until the location of the director's semi exhausted doll was found.

His smile grew wider as he led the group following behind. The reason they were here after all was to meet with the one in possession of the book, the "Game Master".

Cereb: This time I'm ready Y/N, I won't let myself get defeated!

Standing right behind him, Dana let out a deep sigh as she was forced to listen to his words. She placed a hand against her forehead and mumbled to both herself and everyone would could hear her.

Dana: ...And do I have to remind everyone who caused us to die in the first place?

Upon hearing her words, the confident smile on the boy with red hair's face wavered. An awkward laugh quickly followed afterwards.

Cereb: W-Well, I was playing a hero of justice, of course I couldn't let what happened slide. It was my character!

Zophia: Then this time play a normal person. That'll solve the issue.

Cereb: But that's not fun, I like making a funny character.

Dana: At least take us into account while making this one...

Y/N: Haha, you shouldn't worry too much. I'll try to adjust the difficulty this time now that I have more experience.

The man currently sitting down tried his best to quell the tension between the trio to varied degrees of success. In the end, though, all of them took a seat and ignored the barely conscious Morgan looking at the ceiling.

Y/N: Do you want to join Hava?

Hava: Hm, I dunno, it's much funnier to spectate when they fail~

Cereb: Even more reason for you to join, can't laugh at us if you're one of us.

Dana: ...Ignoring that remark, I definitely wouldn't mind either. It reduces our chances of all dying on the first fight.

The girl working on Yesod's floor voiced out her own opinion on the matter, only to be met with a wide grin coming from the devil with brown hair. She had some level interest in what they were doing but it was clear as day that what truly interested her was to see them mess up.

In a way, Cereb's method of playing was basically free entertainment for her.

Zophia: ...I'm gonna need a drink before we start. I'm not doing this sober.

Dana: Lucky you...

The one who was once the captain of the Information team watched her coworker stand up from her chair and make her way towards Netzach & Roland's corner. Meanwhile, sitting next to her, Cereb was attending to his character sheet, thinking about what to create this time.

Cereb: Hm... maybe a sailor this time... or maybe a silent and stoic man.

Y/N: Try to also divide your stats. We all saw what happened when you placed everything in one thing.

Cereb: H-Haha, I will!

His stutter brought out an expression that both said "You were planning to do that again, weren't you?" & "Please don't" on the Game Master's face. Sitting next to him, Hava kept looking at the group with a wide smile, like a seer aware that everything was going to go downhill soon enough.

Zophia soon returned with enough cans for her to go through the entire session without running. With one can already opened, she too began the task of creating her new character, followed by Dana soon after.

As they did so, Angela's unwilling helper took a deep breath and pondered on how to begin their adventure... for the second time.

Y/N: Eh, I'll figure it out as we go along.

Then, with a light shrug, the assistant librarian moved a majority of his burden to his future self as he wrote down additional notes. He might as well use the time he had now to further develop what he already wrote down.

With that, the memories of the recent receptions haunting his head were pushed to the back of his mind for the time being. This was his own method to let out some steam.

(I skipped over the Carnival reception & Full-Stop Office, yes I know. If I have to be honest, I genuinely had no idea what to write when it came to these receptions. I already somewhat struggled with Gaze Office since there wasn't much use in that reception and here, it's mostly the same.

So I decided it wasn't worth burning myself out trying to find a method to extend chapters way beyond what they should be and mixed them together in one. It saves me both time & energy. I hope you all don't mind.

Anyway, that's all I have to say. See you all for the next chapter... if you're still reading this.)