The humidity of the lonely cave was peacefully stagnating in the air, slowly turning the atmosphere into a guillotine to those breathing it. It was silent and nothing was moving, it was like the very lifeforce of the ground was killed, never to be healed again. However, it was not the case, it could only be the madness of those walls screaming at the ones walking by them, screaming to warn the newcomers.

Speaking of newcomers, another foolish soul stepped into the cursed hallway that was made eons ago. The sound of the footsteps were suppressing the silence, the sound of someone humming as well echoed. The girl that many considered a soulless shell was walking around the underground with her smile that could give the creep to anyone not expecting her.

...They get scared, she leaves and they forget about her, only for the system to begin once more, such is her curse. The curse of forever being someone that people could vaguely remember in the back of their head. Koishi Komeiji, the girl who closed her eyes and at the same time, the little humanity she had as a youkai.

Koishi: *Humming*

There was a certain elegance with her movements, it was like witnessing a puppet finally walking on its own for the first time. Normally, such thing wouldn't be possible but in the land of Gensokyo, the fantasies are more than real.

Many things that were discarded as fairytales were living people inside the boundaries of this secluded world, a world where those beings were the center of attention while the humans were the weaklings. The fear of death was one that none of them could ignore, they lived their life like if the current day was their last.

However, it did not concern the girl with short green hair, her dark hat with a yellow ribbon careful resting on top of her head dancing with her movements. They were quite unnatural, it was like watching someone blindly walking in an unknown place, she was barely reacting to her surroundings.

Koishi: I'll make a wonderful surprise to my sister~

She talked to herself, not minding it for a second. She lost her sense of judgement a long time ago, it was discarded as well due to many mistakes of the past. Those many mistakes became a permanent scar that she hid away for all eternity but this is not a tale about her scars but someone else's.

Koishi: ...?

Her feet scrapped the floor and stopped at her confusion. To her right, a door that many would not have seen in her place due to its color was closed. A door like this should not be here, it was a fact but here it was, defying the law of nature and order. The girl was quite 'confused' by this sight, a remant of her feelings.

That moment of slight shock pushed her to step closer, smiling with anticipation. She glanced around but couldn't find a doorknob, the door wasn't given one. Left stuck at the first step, the youkai looked around herself before placing her right hand on the wooden structure. Feeling the weak warmth of the air pressing against the wood, she began to push, to which it opened without a single hesitation. It was inviting her inside like the previous victims who fell into its trap.

Behind it, all she could see was a barely illuminated room with the ground filled with unknown objects, her eyes unable to see what was hidden in that abnormal darkness. Normally, any sane person would step backward but her sanity was not in the equation, simply following her subconscious and instinct.

With it, the beginning of the reception began, the guest/intruder entering the forsaken room left to rot in its corner of this reality.

...

[Warning! You are not authorized to access 1st person mode! Returning to 3rd person mode.]

...

Once inside the room, Koishi was left in awe. Indeed, with the door now closed, the lights magically turned on by themselves and her sight became clear. Around her, large bookshelves filled to the brim were forming a fortress with walkways between the top of them, acting like a second floor. Unfortunately, she couldn't find the stairs but it didn't matter since she could fly around the place.

Koishi: A library? Strange...

She mumbled to herself, absorbed in her thoughts. She was turning around herself with a slight interest and a wide smile but that always remained on her face so it wasn't a big deal. The objects that she once couldn't recognize were simple books laying around, discarded. Her observations were cut short by the sound of a bell echoing above her, attached to a ceiling that she couldn't see with her mere eyes.

*Dong* *Dong* *Dong*

With it, a voice rose up in the distance. It was everywhere, on the other side of the world, right behind a bookshelf, above her, behind her, no places were left. A sound like this would normally destroy one's eardrums but it left no damage.

???: Intruders detected inside the library. Presence unknown, proceed with caution.

Koishi: Intruder?

She asked, not receiving an answer in return. As expected, nobody would speak to one intruding in their territory. Knowing that a fight may begin, she jumped in place to warm herself up before confronting the one that will oppose her. With her soulless smile, she waited for the opponent, different from her usual playstyle.

Time went by but no one showed up, leaving her confused. As she was about to step further in this strange place, footsteps echoed, walking closer. She stopped and waited for the one that will be greeting her inside the library.

???: ...Another one, can't catch a break in this place.

It was a rough voice, almost damaged as well. The person speaking emerged from a corner of a bookself, dragging with him a body covered with many bandages and syringes injected in his back, barely holding the sword that he was carrying in his right hand. The man lost all colors in his hair and watched the girl with the same amount of life that her eyes carry, close to none.

Koishi: ...

She tilted her head to the side, feeling his heartbeat even with the distance between them, he was definitely human. He was human but his body was damaged beyond repairs, his hands covered in bandages. However, despite his horrible wounds, he raised his sword and held it with both of his hands. The blade itself was not impressive but it was tainted by sorrow and pain, making it a cursed object to the person holding it.

???: What? Cat got your tongue? You came here to kill me, just like your friends. So act like the killer you are.

He hid his mouth with the dark sleeve of his trenchcoat, frowning at the girl. The youkai didn't say anything, knowing that now wasn't the time to do so. Normally, she would have happily fought with someone asking for it but it was a peculiar case in this situation.

???: Fine, keep your mouth shut, that'll make my job easier.

He glanced at the sleeve that he used to wipe his mouth and one could see the familiar color of blood on it. Shaking his head lightly, he looked back at his opponent, the youkai who did not move from her spot ever since he stepped in the room.

???: ...It was your mistake coming here.

With that, he charged at her. Seeing his attack brought her back to her senses and she responded with a wave of heart-shaped projectiles aimed at him. Even with her sense of judgement almost gone because of a decision she took in the past, she could tell that she would be unable to talk to him unless she stops him from attacking her.

The man ignored the attack and kept dashing in her direction until her projectiles and him collided. He swung his sword upward and a small light emanated from the clash of weapons, the sword winning against it. The spark of magic against non-magic caused that small light to gain a power beyond normalcy, it was a firework of ether and metal. Left with no words in her mouth, she knew that it would be quite a tough opponent, even in his current condition.

???: You thought of me lightly, I can feel it, I'll make you realize that mistake.

Koishi, feeling the dangerous aura around him, attempted to fly away amd gain a certain distance between the both of them. The guardian of the mysterious library looked at her escaping and jumped on a bookshelf, using it as a ladder to quickly reach her height while swiftly taking a book with him.

Koishi: Say, how long have you been here?

She finally asked, startling her attacker for a moment. It was quickly discarded and he recovered his seriousness.

???: No need to tell you, you just want to kill me like your friends.

Koishi: Friends?

He tossed the book in front of him with all his strength and performed the impossible, jumping on top of the flying book and using it as a support to launch himself at her, completely defying the laws of this Earth. His blade pointed at her, leaving the time for her to react quite short. However, still paying attention, she grazed the incoming attack.

Koishi: Who are you talking about?

???: Like I said, you're here to finish their job, no point telling you.

Holding onto the sword, his body fell down and landed on the second floor of the library, switching back into an offensive position. During the fall, some of the syringes couldn't take the hit and broke into shards, digging into his skin as a result.

Koishi: I discovered a door and wanted to know what was on the other side, that's all.

???: ...Is that so.

He squinted his eyes, not believing her statement for a moment. The girl noticed it and showed him her hands, still smiling after all of this.

Koishi: See? I'm not attacking you.

???: ...

He didn't respond, gritting his teeth while enduring the pain inflicted on his body. However, he still held onto his sword, her words were said with nothing to back them up so it was meaningless to his eyes.

???: You can be lying, your type seem to do that a lot.

Koishi: Lie?

She placed a single finger against her cheek.

Koishi: Why would I do that?

???: You... Tch, playing the innocent one now? What are you hoping to achieve?

Koishi: ...I don't know, I was curious to see what this place was.

She answered to his question.

???: Leave if you do not want to proceed further, I don't need the likes of you stepping on the gravestones of my friends.

Koishi: Your friends?

???: *Cough* Shit.

With that, the guardian of this place lost his balance and fell down to the bottom floor, a loud thump echoing in the large room filled with nothing but books. It left the youkai with a small surprise but she still fell down to the ground next to him.

Koishi: Hm? What's wrong?

???: ...

Barely any energy in his body, he stood up like a rusty machine and used his weapon as a support for his body before walking in the back of the library. Leaving the youkai on her own, he turned a corner and cussed under his breath.

Koishi: ...

She decided to follow him, not because she was worried but because she knew deep inside that he wouldn't go far in his current condition. A sense of responsibility overwhelmed her and she followed him through the maze, stopping when he did.

???: What do you want?

Koishi: ...

???: *Sigh* Do I really have to say it for you to leave?

He turned around and gave her a cold look, the bandages reinforcing that feeling.

???: You won, yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay. Happy now?

He asked with a slight irritation.

Koishi: What's your name?

???: ...Huh?

Koishi: What's your name?

She repeated herself, her hands behind her back. The man looked at her like she was insane and glanced aside for a moment, considering the consequences of telling her such a thing.

???: Not like it'll matter in the end. I'm Y/N, last person alive in this prison that we call a library.

Koishi: Y/N... that's a weird name.

Y/N: I bet it's better than yours.

Koishi: I'm Koishi Komeiji.

Y/N: ...I'll take my name over yours anyday.

He mumbled that with a weak smirk, too tired to act tough in front of his opponent.

Y/N: I guess you're here for your book...

Koishi: My book?

Y/N: That's what they all want by entering this library, the prize given to those who win against the librarians on this place. They want to learn everything about something dear to them, something they want to know.

He snapped his fingers and after a moment, a book flew in the air before stopping between them. The girl grabbed it carefully and read the cover to herself.

'The book of Koishi Komeiji, the youkai running from her past'

Koishi: Is this...

Y/N: Yep... that's your book, everything you did in the past is written in it and is constantly writing more words as we speak, only ending with your life.

Koishi: ...

She opened the book and flipped through the numerous pages of her past, recognizing some events but refusing herself to acknowledge them. Done with her research, she returned to the very first page and saw that it was blank with the exception of few words.

[Koishi Komeiji]

[Level: 47]

[HP: 261]

[Stun Resist: 60]

[Passives]

-Unconscious: The person's Evasion cannot be predicted nor prevented.

-Sealed Humanity: The person do not receive debuffs from witnessing people's death and emotions.

-Magic: The person is able to use magic.

-Danmaku Fighter: Increase Evasion/Stun Resist by 20% during battle.

-Flight: The person is capable of flying.

Koishi: What is this?

She asked while showing the man the page. He took a peek and rolled his eyes, still holding into his sword in order to stay on his feet.

Y/N: Your present self, it represents who you are right now.

With that, he stepped away and began his walk in a certain direction. Seeing him trying to gain some distance from her, the youkai floated right behind him, trying to remain as quiet as possible.

Y/N: ...What a weirdo, what's with her smile anyway?

He mumbled to himself, not knowing that she was listening to his conversation aimed at nobody. Followed by the invisible presence of the youkai, the man returned to a desk where a single desk lamp, many empty syringes, bandages and bottles of painkillers were left there. The man sat down and held his head with his bandaged right hand, sighing.

Y/N: Please... at least 2 hours of sleep.

He whispered, closing his eyes before dozing off. Gone from this level of reality, Koishi stepped closer and looked around until her eyes landed on a book resting with the medical supplies. At first glance, one would assume that it was a regular book but it has the same aura as the tome containing everything about her life.

Koishi: Hm...

She sneaked beside him and pulled the treasure out of the minefield. Successfully retrieved, her smile grew wider before walking away, back to the entrance where she would be ready to leave in case something went wrong. Curious, she took a peek at the cover.

'The book of Y/N L/N, the last librarian and the last body in the library'

Koishi: Maybe I should give this to Satori, she might know something.

Who knows, maybe she knows about this library, it wouldn't surprise her. She knows many things that she doesn't, maybe she knows the man known as Y/N and the meaning of that library.

She stepped outside and the door silently closed behind her, abandoning the wounded human inside that place. Her smile gone, she opened the book to take a peek at what was written inside, passing time while returning to where she lives. She checked the first page, curious to know about his 'present self' like he said when she saw hers.

[Y/N L/N]

[Level: 20]

[HP: 468]

[Stun Resist: 103]

[Passives]

-Extreme Fatigue: Begins battle with 25% HP (Cannot exceed 25%).

-Curse of the Youkais: Begins battle with 10% of their HP after effects are applied (Cannot exceed that number).

-Grief: Begins battle with 25% Stun Resist (Cannot exceed 25%).

-Deadly Starvation: The person is unable to naturally heal themselves.

-Deadly Dehydration: Strength is reduced to 15%.

-Librarian: Strength, Defense and Evasion increased by 10% while fighting inside the library.

-Lone Fighter: Evasion increased by 10% while fighting alone.

Koishi: So many things, yet so many bad ones, how is that fair?

She asked, closing the book for now. Indeed, she arrived in front of her home, the Underworld would be the name that many would know it for. Recovering her smile, entered and ran inside the large house, searching for her sister.

Koishi: Sister, I have a present for you!

She yelled with conviction once inside the room, making the girl with short purple hair look in her direction. The blue dress and the red eye connected to her turned as well, her eyes showing an interest, what could she be bringing this time? The girl named Satori Komeiji wondered.

Satori: What is it?

Koishi: This!

She handed her Y/N's book, curious to know her reaction. She carefully grabbed it and examined the cover.

Satori: Where did you get it?

Koishi: A library, why?

Satori: ...Koishi, you aren't going to start behaving like that intolerable witch, please avoid stealing from the Scarlet mansion.

Koishi: I didn't steal it, he said that it was my prize for winning.

She said that while taking out her own book, showing her sister what was written on it. Satori slowly took a glance between the book in her hands and the one she was carrying.

Satori: Who gave you those books?

Koishi: Y/N, a human guarding the library, he said that I could take my book for defeating him.

Satori: Koishi, I hope you went easy on him, even though I would have liked if you didn't attack him at all.

Koishi: He attacked me first. He quickly gave up after falling down to the ground from the second floor.

Satori: And you left him there?!

It was the first time in a while that Satori raised her voice, shocked to hear that her own sister left a human on his own with possible bruises.

Koishi: He said to leave.

Satori: *Sigh* Where was he?

Koishi: Near the entrance to the Underworld, said something about me trying to kill him like the others.

Satori: A human this close to Hell? This is dangerous.

She stood up, still holding onto the book.

Satori: Please show me where he was.

Koishi: Huh? Why?

Satori: Please.

Koishi: Fine, be quick! Otherwise, I won't wait for you~!

She dashed outside, flying in the direction of the mysterious library, followed by the one who can read minds.