Y/N: ...

His doubts made his decision falter. After thinking about the end, he feared his own death, even though he decided by himself to reach that conclusion. To make everyone happy, one must be discarded and he was ready to be that person...

So why couldn't he make the final step?

'Because you're a coward.'

Y/N: I don't...

Koishi: Mister Y/N?

The small girl snuffed out her own worries and called his name. After all, everything was falling back onto him, he had to make the final choice that would determine the outcome. He would be the sole culprit for failing the plan that he yearned to complete.

To reach that point and still decide to run away, he was the worst coward to exist. He acknowledged his own ineptitude, a spineless leech that knows nothing but failure in everything he tries. With his short life, all he knew was misery from the people around him, all forced to fight to exhaustion... until they collapse and pass away.

Y/N's mind: So... I still am a coward, even after all of this?

He questioned himself, not realizing that the girl beside him was pulling his sleeve. To her, he only seemed to not have heard her but on an objective point of view, he was hesitating on his final decision, choice that would not change his future. In both cases, his journey would end and happiness will emerge out of it.

'All will be well, as long as I close my eyes.' that were his thoughts. Nothing will ever be achieved if he remains still, he needed to make a choice for the greater good and to finally create the idealistic world that he was reaching for.

Koishi: ...Y/N?

Dropping the honorifics, she finally called his name as it was. Dragging himself into the terrible world that he was living in, he glanced at his companion, who has not yet been alerted of the end of the journey ahead of them. However, he was not planning on telling her either.

She would just try to stop him and he would rather not have to dispose of an unnecessary body a few moments after the ritual has been prepared.

Y/N: Yes?

Calmly, he responded to the girl and that simple word made her drop a sigh of relief, even she couldn't understand why though. Seeing his expression loosen up gave her a small boost of confidence, still waiting for his answer.

Y/N: ...I think we should wait a bit more.

Koishi: Hm? Why?

Tilting her head to the side, she asked if there was a reason for that change of plan but nothing came out of his mouth, he was dead silent when facing her question. It was understandable, after challenging many hardships, giving up right at the end would raise a few eyebrows from those witnessing it.

'My will is faulty, I can only follow the path of repentance.'

Y/N: I need more time to recover, that's all.

After confronting AND defeating the jester of madness, one would need more time to catch their breath. She remembered that and nodded, unaware that he decided to run from his duties for an another reason.

His feelings were telling him to grasp the end, yet his cowardice would not grant him the satisfaction of completing his own goal. His eyebrows slightly furrowed, not happy about the outcome of the situation. The girl couldn't notice that change of expression, only able to see a blurry figure that was once the familiar shape of the man who carried the entire operation.

Koishi: *Yawn*

Letting out an elongated yawn, she placed her hands behind her head, closing one of her eyes too.

Y/N: Tired?

He calmly asked, glancing at the objects that they acquired along the way. Everything was ready, everything was waiting for him to take the final step, only for the librarian to turn his back to it out of selfishness.

'The end doesn't change, all librarians will die.'

He knew the outcome, nothing would change it, he was fated to perish one day or another. However, he could choose his own way out, he had all the opportunities in the world to end everything after all.

Koishi: I think I'm going to close my eyes... just for a little...

Clearly affected by her sleepiness, she sat down on a chair and placed her arms on top of a desk, using them as a temporary pillow for her head. Her face buried inside that "pillow", her energy ran out and she fell deep into a restless sleep.

Y/N's mind: Now could be a good time to do the ritual, she wouldn't have to see the end.

It was the perfect time indeed, she would not have to see the final act of the ritual. Nodding to himself, he silently grabbed the wood and the ores, leaving the torch of madness and pills behind.

Come to think of it, the pills were unnecessary, yet he went out of his way to get them. All the time they both wasted in the bamboo forest was not worth the result but if he wished to end it with no sounds, it would come in handy.

Y/N: ...

Marching to the entrance, he took a deep breath, solidifying his will to proceed onwards. After so long, he would finally know that his efforts would bring his wish to reality, he couldn't give up right now. That short moment of hesitation in his mind was gone, replaced by the thought of finally being the hero for once.

The hero that will save the lives of all who perished inside the library. Surely, everything would end happily if all was undone, it would be nothing but a mere illusion. Then, his eyes would close forever, a smile to welcome those who deserved a second chance.

'The animal decided to put itself out of its misery.'

Y/N's mind: Everyone, I did it, all for the sake of your happiness.

Clutching what he was holding, a smile perked up on his drained visage, the bags under his eyes not rendering it justice either.

Y/N: Circle... circle...

Moving his eyes across his field of view, he spotted the carved spot in the floor and made his way towards it before dropping everything he had. His sore arms did not respond well to that movement and sent a signal to the rest of his body, making his experience less than comfortable. Enduring the pain, he sneaked a look at his limbs and gave them a solid punch to dissipate the pain, not like it did much.

Y/N: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 for minerals, put the fire in the middle and toss the rest there too. That shouldn't be too hard.

Kneeling down, he quietly went to work and carefully placed everything inside and around the circle in the floor. Not wishing to fail the spell, he stopped himself from accepting the result once his task was completed and asked for the library to bring him the book.

Y/N: ..?

Instead of a single book, it brought a total of 6, all flying down to his feet before landing perfectly on the ground, making a single 'thud' that was muffled between the books stacked on top of each other.

Y/N's mind: That's...

On top, a single letter was waiting for him, a dark paper with golden writings on it. He recognized the message and a drop of sweat fell down his face. His execution was finally arriving and the library knew it as well, deciding to let him know just like before.

Y/N's mind: Calm down, you won't have to worry about it, it'll be over before they arrive.

Even after reassuring himself, his heart still skipped a beat, knowing that the paper in front of his eyes would lead to the death of many, just like in the past. The cycle would repeat unless he does something about it, end it forever.

He took a hold of the letter and cleared his mind.

'For you, librarian, heed my final words.

After many trials, many failures to protect the library and many deaths occuring inside those walls, a decision had to be made, to choose where we wished to proceed with this ever-so increasing genocide. With librarians losing the advantage and failing to protect the library from outsiders, we have finally come to a conclusion.

Our final answer is to abandon the library, we will no longer allow the knowledge inside those walls from leaking outside. Thus, we will discontinue our support and close the library indefinitely.

For this final reception, fight alone and finally be at peace, your fight has finally reached its end librarian.

Our deepest apologies,

-M'

Y/N: ...

Reading until the end, his mind spaced out, something breaking inside his heart. The confidence he carried with him vanished and he was left with nothing but mere confusion and frustration. Silently taking in everything, his lips distanced themselves and a single word escaped his mouth.

Y/N: You...

His fingers pressed themselves against the black paper, threatening to tear it apart. His tired eyes were filled with anger against the hands who forced him to protect this cursed place, only to abandon him at the very end.

Y/N: You little shit, I'm gonna fucking rip your head off!!

Fueled by his feelings, he tore the letter apart, gritting his teeth during the whole process. Trying to gain as much pleasure as possible from destroying that message of farewell, he tossed the result of his action inside the circle, deciding to burn it along with the wood to prove those who abandoned him that they were wrong.

It was finally his time to show his vengeance, to cheat death and prove that giving up will never make you achieve anything.

Y/N's mind: You forced us to do this work and then you discard us? I'll show you what those puppet of yours can do on their own!

The ritual would work, he knew that for sure. After seeing the words written to him, he would make sure that it would succeed.

...If it didn't, his anger would not allow him to pass away.

Y/N's mind: Calm yourself... no point getting mad for this crap.

Heaving a deep sigh, his bloodlust lowered, allowing his mind to think clearly through the dark mist of rage. Everything was ready, he just needed the fire that he left behind with Koishi. That realization gave him motivation, the will to pursue his path without falling to needless violence.

Y/N: ...

Reaching for the back of his head, he could feel the presence of the red and white bow that the shrine maiden wore, a reminder of what he has done, a reminder telling him that failing his goal was not an option or else torment would be eternal.

...

...

Marisa: We should be there soon, hard to navigate around when this place is a maze.

The witch led the group aiming for the library, holding her dress with both of her hands, revealing a pair of dark blue high heels that did not fit her usual attitude at all, just like her outfit. With her hair growing much longer than she wanted, she had to turn it into a ponytail just so that it wouldn't drag itself across the ground.

Kasen: Wouldn't it be more preferable to change outfit before entering that place?

Marisa: It's... difficult to explain.

Hesitating a bit in her words, she turned her head and got a good look at the party following her. Standing side my side, the gap youkai and her 'servant' were walking in the back... or at least one of them, the 'master' of the duo deciding to fly instead of walking. Walking in front of them, Kasen was staring back at her, waiting for a response to her question.

Reinforcement is also coming, the message that she probably sent before they entered would have reached the Moriya shrine by now, it was only a matter of time before they obtained a response.

Marisa: As much as I would like to get rid of that thing, it feels... oddly familiar, almost like it was an extend of my body.

Kasen: That could possibly be a curse, we should take a look at it once we're done.

Yukari: Well, I wouldn't be surprised if it was indeed a curse but I have my doubts.

Deeply in her thoughts, the woman was still attempting to enter the library hidden underground with one of her gaps, only to fail each time. That strong opposition made her more conscious of a terrible possibility, something powerful might be hidden there.

Yukari's mind: A future incident in the making, a struck of luck for us to discover it so soon.

Ran: Lady Yakumo, is something the matter?

Yukari: Oh, don't mind me Ran, I'm simply thinking to myself.

She flashed a smile to the one beside her before falling back into her theories. To be able to defeat both the Hakurei shrine maiden AND the curious witch at the same time, one would need more than simple raw power, they would need to be prepared to face everything.

One could think that their current team might not be enough to take out the threat.

Yukari: ...

If the culprit cannot be neutralized, it must be eliminated.

...

...

Grabbing the first book at the top of the pile, he took a good look at the cover and felt a large weight being placed on his back. He knew that what he was doing was wrong, he was a murderer in the eyes of everyone but being faced by the ones that would punish him for his acts still gave him shivers.

'The book of Yukari Yakumo, the grand gap youkai that knows many.'

Y/N's mind: So, this is it...

Worthless words were said into his head while he opened the book, taking a look at one of the many judges that has deemed him guilty and for a good reason.

[Yukari Yakumo]

[Level: 90]

[HP: 750]

[Stun Resist: 200]

[Passives]

-Companionship: At the beginning of the fight, summons [Ran Yakumo] & [Chen] to the field if they are not present. While alive, this character gains a 20% boost in Evasion and Defense. When one mentioned ally is killed, that bonus is reduced by 10% and gains a 10% Strength boost for the rest of the fight.

-Knowledge: At the beginning of each turn, restore this character's energy to max and allows this character to ignore the resistances of opponents.

-Gap: Can perform 4 additional attacks per turn.

-Boundary of Life and Death: This character cannot be stunned and reflects any effect causing instant stun against the attacker. When taking a lethal hit, does not die immediately. For the next 5 turns, this character will recover 50 HP at the beginning of each turn and will receive 200% damage from attacks, dies if taking a lethal hit after this effect has stopped.

-Boundary of Barriers: Ignores Defense and Evasion from enemies.

-Boundary of Destruction: If this characters wins the first attack used against an opponent during a clash, destroys the attackers' following attacks for this clash and inflict 10 Stun damage to the enemy.

-Fervent Emotion: Begins the battle with a Mass Attack.

-Magic: This character can use magic.

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

-Flight: The person is capable of flying.

Y/N: ...

Closing the book solemnly, he tossed it onto the floor and turned his back to the pile, deciding to keep his morale to a minimum level by not reading the others. One was enough for him to insist on going with his plan.

They won't spare him, nobody will.

Y/N: I'm gonna have to hurry without waking Koishi up.

Mumbling to himself, he silently moved his feet meticulously, hoping to make as less noise as possible. Approaching the area where the girl was resting, a few sweats fell down his face, thinking about the result of his plan. Surely, once the shrine maiden will be ressurected, they would leave this place, knowing that the threat ended its own reign of terror.

Arriving near the desk, he observed the small girl sleeping in the same position as before, a weak breath reaching his ears from where he was standing. Averting his eyes from the youkai, he grabbed the pills and kneeled to the floor in order to grab the torch of insanity left behind as a 'gift' from his previous guest.

Y/N: ...

Glancing back at the sleeping satori, his eyebrows slowly dropped into a sad gaze. It would be his last time seeing her, the last chance for him to say farewell to one who helped him reach this point. After everything she did, leaving without a word would be the cruelest decision and so, he approached her.

Y/N: ...?

Raising his hand to give her a pat on the head, his body stopped in mid-motion. Something caught his attention and tossed a wrench into his plan.

What seemed like a peaceful slumber was nothing more than a lie. In the corner of her eyes, tears were forming and falling down on the desk and sleeves. Her mouth was contorted into a painful expression and her breathing echoed against his eardrums. What he thought to be a regular breathing was instead her gasping for air, only to be muffled by her own 'pillow'.

Y/N's mind: What's going on?

Was she having a nightmare? What was he supposed to do in this situation? He wasn't ready to deal with something like this, he didn't know how to react. Looking around, more pressure fell down on him, his mind telling him to do something.

'It's all my fault like always, the black sheep is the culprit when nobody knows the true one.'

Y/N: ...

Holding his forehead, he lowered his eyes and saw a piece of paper under the sleeves of the girl, something that wasn't there when he left. Curious, he reached for it and gently pulled it away from the sobbing girl.

'I don't want to be abandoned, I don't want to be forgotten, I don't want to be alone. I beg you to stay, I beg you to not discard me like everyone.

If my powers are scaring you then I'll get rid of them. Please, I beg you to stay with me, why do I have to be tossed aside unlike everyone else?

Please... call my name.'

Y/N: Your... powers?

Finally, his mind made him acknowledge what the message was written on. A dark paper with golden letters, an invitation. The same way of communication used for the librarians to receive and invite guests.

Y/N: ...

Frowning, he dropped the pills and the torch on the floor, knowing that a fire wouldn't start inside this cursed place. As a librarian, it was his duty to receive his guests, no matter who they are, until the end. He wanted to complete the ritual before those who are aiming for his life arrive but unlike them, that one was asking only for his presence.

...It was his duty as a librarian to accept such request.

Y/N's mind: I can at least do that, a final farewell.

Looking down, he saw the sleeves of his own outfit, still wearing the jester uniform. Knowing that it wasn't the proper suit for him, he prayed that the library, even after abandoning him, would still give him the ability to borrow its powers.

...

...

Emerging out of his hiding spot, the colorful suit was no longer covering his body. Instead the dark clothes with red stripes were replacing them. Just like before, the completely red blade was hidden inside the black sheath by his side, waiting for the future battle.

Y/N: ...

Observing the guest crying to herself, he raised his arm and looked at the invitation given to him. It was his turn to become the guest, to enter a place where he shouldn't be in the search for something. In his case, that thing would be the final words of comfort to give to the girl, to appease her worries.

'I don't want to be abandoned', those words remained stuck inside his head. Closing his eyes, he moved the letter to his face and followed the instructions that were written on it. Inhaling a deep breath, he accepted the invitation.

Y/N: Koishi Komeiji, reveal your fears to me.