Chapter 36: A Looming Confrontation

Gentian stood at the stairwell, positioned precisely between the third and fourth floors.

She lifted her gaze, watching several figures descend from above. They were readers preparing to leave, most carrying bags or books, conversing quietly as they headed downstairs.

Simultaneously, a soft female voice echoed from the overhead broadcast system on the fourth floor:

“Dear esteemed readers, the fourth, fifth, and sixth floors of the library will soon close. Please gather your personal belongings and exit in an orderly fashion before 5:30 PM. Thank you for your cooperation.”

It was currently 5:15 PM.

Only fifteen minutes remained until the upper floors closed.

Gentian’s lips curved into a slight smile as she meticulously observed the departing readers, finding no anomalies.

‘Good. Now, I just need to wait for the readers to leave.’

Once those troublesome readers were gone, she could finally unleash her full power. It was far better than being constrained, having to worry about startling ordinary people during a fight.

She remained at the stairwell, carefully sensing the aura from above.

The fourth floor housed the foreign language periodical lending section and the preserved document reading area.

Indeed, the scent of an “Erosion” lingered there. The so-called special “Convergence” must be located on that floor.

Yet, this aura felt strangely peculiar—too obvious, almost like a deliberate lure left to draw her in.

She could sense a similarity between the “Convergence’s” aura and the malevolent spirit she had slain previously on Star River Avenue.

‘Did that entity… intentionally flee here?’

Furthermore, something else seemed to be aiding its concealment. She had sensed it the moment she arrived at the provincial library’s entrance, though the proximity now made the sensation slightly indistinct.

‘Is it a more advanced SR-level “Erosion” or above? Or could it be—’

‘A Witch?’

‘Now that makes things even more interesting~’

Outside, the sky had grown noticeably darker.

Though it was still afternoon, the light already resembled the gloom of six or seven in the evening.

****

On the third floor, in the west zone, near the elevators and stairwell, was a resting area.

Lin Mo stared intently at her phone, her brow furrowing deeper with each passing moment.

The group chat messages continued to pop up.

[Second-Tier Bloom Weaver (Anonymous)]: [Tch, with so many magical girls here, why is the clean-up so slow? Why not just transform and get it over with?]

[Second-Tier Bloom Weaver (Anonymous)]: [The ‘Erosions’ on the first, second, and third floors have been cleared. Those who are free and in the library, either come to the fourth floor or guard the stairwells and elevators. Besides the provisional ‘Convergence,’ there might be something else hiding behind the scenes.]

[Second-Tier Bloom Weaver (Gentian)]: [Oh right, I am Gentian, all courage and might!]

Lin Mo’s mouth twitched when she read the last message. Her already anxious state was now tinged with a wry smile.

‘This senior… can truly be a chuunibyou at any given moment.’

She switched out of the group chat and opened her conversation with Jasmin. The last message was still hers: [Don’t worry, I’m here.]

But she wasn’t with Jasmin at all. She didn’t even know where Jasmin was.

Lin Mo looked up, scanning her surroundings. In the Chinese book lending section on the third floor, many readers were still quietly immersed in their books. She needed to stand guard here, preventing any escaped “Erosions” from harming people, making it impossible to search for Jasmin.

Yet, at this moment, her frustration surged like a tide.

‘Why today of all days? Why did this have to happen precisely when I brought Jasmin out? I’d come to this library to “work” for several days before, and nothing like this ever occurred!’

She scratched her head, her mind a chaotic mess. She had sent a message to Teacher Cornflower earlier, but there had been no reply. Perhaps she was busy today.

“Master,” Xiao Li’s voice drifted in, “how about… you ask Jasmin to come to the elevators on the third floor west zone? That way, you two can meet up.”

“Then… we’d have to reveal ourselves?” Lin Mo bit her lower lip.

“If she doesn’t mind, revealing yourselves now is definitely the best option,” Xiao Li said. “It’s much better than not knowing where she is. And if anything were to happen, you wouldn’t even be able to protect her.”

Lin Mo fell silent for a few seconds.

Then she lowered her head and began typing:

[Jasmin, where are you right now? Don’t go to the fourth floor; come to the elevators on the third floor west zone. I’ll protect you. This is an order from our mentor.]

She tapped send.

Her fingertips hovered over the screen for a moment, then she added another sentence:

[Oh right, if you don’t mind, you can come directly. If you do mind… then transform before you come find me.]

She gripped her phone tightly, exhaling softly.

‘This… should be fine, right?’

****

On the same floor, but on the opposite side.

Su Xinxin stood by a bookshelf, looking down at the message Jasmine had sent her.

She looked up, glanced around to confirm her direction, then began walking towards the elevators on the other side.

As she walked, she inwardly asked Xiao Ming, “Um… Senior Gentian said there’s still something upstairs. Do we really not need to go up and help?”

“I already told you, we’re not the protagonists,” Xiao Ming yawned. “Just listen to your mentor Jasmine and guard with her. If anyone needs help, it’s the seniors’ business.”

“But…”

“No buts,” Xiao Ming interrupted her. “Master, you’re just an apprentice right now. The right path is to lie low.”

Su Xinxin was silent for a few seconds.

She knew Xiao Ming was right. Yet, she still felt a certain… indescribable sensation in her heart.

She quickened her pace, heading in the direction Jasmine had indicated.

She remained completely unaware that upon their meeting, her “Su Xinxin” identity was about to be exposed.

****

On the first floor, in the Children’s Library.

Daisy hugged her soft bunny plushie, standing by the window and gazing at the unusually dim sky outside, a look of confusion on her small face.

“Grandma, why is it suddenly so dark?” she tugged at the sleeve of the elderly woman beside her.

“It might be raining; it’s been like this these past couple of days,” Grandma said, looking down at her. “Come on, it’s almost time for us to go home. Besides, the first-floor library is closing soon.”

“Oh…”

Daisy nodded, following her grandmother towards the exit.

As they reached the doorway, she suddenly paused, turning to cast a glance back.

In that instant, the soft bunny plushie in her arms stirred gently.

“Master,” Little Daisy’s spiritual voice echoed in her mind, “outside… seems a bit strange.”

“What’s strange?” Daisy felt puzzled.

“I can’t quite put my finger on it,” Little Daisy’s ears twitched. “It’s just that… something seems to have enveloped this place.”

Daisy blinked.

She didn’t know what that was.

But she knew that the older sisters upstairs might be dealing with something very powerful.

“Should we…” she whispered.

“Master, you need to go home,” Little Daisy’s voice became uncharacteristically serious. “And you won’t be allowed to participate in that kind of battle.”

Daisy pouted.

But she also knew Little Daisy was right.

Hugging her soft bunny, she cast one last look upstairs. Then she lowered her head, asking Little Daisy to relay the situation here to Sister Ziyuan—hoping it would help them.

Having done all this, she turned and followed her grandmother into the deepening night outside.

After a few steps, she suddenly looked back again, raising her soft bunny and gently waving it towards the library.

The soft bunny also looked in that direction, as if saying: ‘You can do it, big sisters.’

Then, the small figure left the provincial library, disappearing into the gradually thickening night.

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