# Chapter Six
The "Knowledge of the Deeper Shadows" quest ignited a cold excitement in Kang Jin-woo. The idea of a secret library or a mysterious book collector possessing the secrets of dark magic was far more enticing than merely hunting small "Anomalies" or manipulating local thugs. This was a chance for true advancement on the "Shadow Path" the System seemed to be pushing him towards.
But how does one search for something inherently secret? It wasn't as if there were advertisements in local newspapers for "Hidden Dark Magic Libraries." He had to be creative, to use his skills of observation and analysis.
Jin-woo began his search in the most likely places to harbor such secrets: used book markets, antique shops, and the older districts of the city untouched by complete modernization. He would spend hours wandering these places, not looking for specific books, but for patterns, for unusual people, for anything that might hint at a hidden world of magic and forbidden knowledge.
He used his "Cold Observer's Eye" extensively, examining shop owners, customers, and even the dusty books themselves. He discovered many small, interesting details – a bookseller who was once a failed detective, an elderly customer who bought romance novels to hide her true interest in military history books, and an old cookbook that contained coded recipes for poisonous substances.
["Secrets of Country Cooking" Book – Common Grade (with Hidden Content)]
[Description: An innocent-looking cookbook. Contains secret codes between recipes explaining how to prepare various poisons from household ingredients.]
[Note: Authored by a vengeful widow in the 19th century.]
Jin-woo smiled. The world was full of dirty little secrets, and he enjoyed uncovering them. But none of this was leading him directly to his goal.
After several days of fruitless searching, he decided to change his tactics. Instead of passive searching, he decided to cast a bait. He summoned his two new followers, Park Ji-hoon and Kim Yoo-ri, and gave them specific instructions. They were to spread subtle rumors in the underworld and in some circles interested in the paranormal (which Jin-woo discovered existed, albeit small and scattered) about someone looking for "very rare books related to ancient shadows and spirits," and that he was willing to pay a good price for information or the books themselves.
This was a risky plan. It might attract unwanted attention. But Jin-woo was confident in his ability to handle any threat that might arise. In fact, a part of him hoped a threat would emerge. Boredom was his greatest enemy.
Park Ji-hoon, the thin young man with anxious eyes, and Kim Yoo-ri, the quiet girl who observed everything with cautious intelligence, carried out his orders with fear and obedience. They weren't loyal to him; Jin-woo knew that. They were driven by fear and the desire to survive. That was enough for now.
A few more days passed. Jin-woo continued to study the "Tattered Book of Dusk Rituals" and managed to decipher some additional parts, but he hit a dead end without a deeper understanding of magical principles. He desperately needed more knowledge.
Then, one evening, as Jin-woo sat in a cheap cafe browsing an old newspaper (just to look normal), Kim Yoo-ri approached him. Her face was paler than usual, and her eyes held a mixture of fear and excitement.
"Sir Kang," she whispered in a low voice, "I think we have a lead."
Jin-woo raised his eyebrows slightly. "Speak."
"Park Ji-hoon met someone in a bar in the port district last night. A strange old man, known for collecting odd things. When Ji-hoon was heard talking about rare books, the man approached him and said he knew someone who might be interested. Someone who lives in the old book district, and is known only as 'The Librarian'."
"The Librarian..." Jin-woo repeated the name. It sounded promising. "Any other details? An address? A description?"
Yoo-ri shook her head. "No. The old man was very cautious. He just said that 'The Librarian' doesn't meet just anyone, and that we must prove our worth first. He gave Ji-hoon a riddle, or perhaps a test. He said if we could solve it, 'The Librarian' would know we were serious and might agree to meet us."
"A riddle?" Jin-woo smiled. This was getting more interesting. "And what is this riddle?"
Yoo-ri took a small, crumpled piece of paper from her pocket and placed it on the table in front of Jin-woo. It was written in a shaky handwriting:
"Where the longest shadows dance at noon,
And where history sleeps beneath centuries of dust,
Seek the gate unseen by all but those who know,
And offer a sacrifice of forgotten knowledge,
For the door of secrets to open unto you."
Jin-woo read the riddle several times, his eyes gleaming with cold concentration. It wasn't a simple riddle. It was full of metaphors and vague hints.
"The longest shadows at noon..." This indicated a specific time and place. "History sleeps beneath centuries of dust..." This reinforced the idea of the old book district or a historical place. "The gate unseen by all but those who know..." A secret entrance, of course. "A sacrifice of forgotten knowledge..." This was the most interesting part. What constituted "forgotten knowledge"? A rare book? A secret piece of information?
"Did the old man say anything else?" Jin-woo asked.
"He said 'The Librarian' values true knowledge, not just superficial curiosity. And that the sacrifice must be something of real value in their world," Yoo-ri replied.
Jin-woo nodded. He had an idea of what might be a suitable "sacrifice." The "Tattered Book of Dusk Rituals," despite being torn and dangerous, was definitely a piece of "forgotten knowledge." And it might be valuable to someone like "The Librarian."
"Very good, Yoo-ri," Jin-woo said, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I think we have enough to start. Tell Ji-hoon to stay out of sight for now. I'll handle this myself."
The next day, Jin-woo headed to the old book district. It was a strangely charming area, with its narrow cobblestone alleys and old wooden buildings that seemed to lean on each other for support. The smell of old paper and dust filled the air. He spent the morning wandering the district, observing the shadows, and trying to decipher the first part of the riddle.
"Where the longest shadows dance at noon..." At noon, the sun is at its highest point. Shadows are at their shortest, unless something blocks the sun in a particular way, or if the place itself is designed to create unusually long shadows at that time.
Jin-woo noticed that most of the buildings in the district were low, two or three stories at most. But in the center of the district, there was an old clock tower, much taller than anything else around it. At exactly noon, the shadow of the clock tower stretched across a small cobblestone square, falling directly onto the facade of an old bookstore that looked like it had been closed for years. The store was situated on a corner, and its own shadow mingled with that of the tower, creating a complex pattern of light and darkness.
["Ink and Soul" Rare Books (Apparently Abandoned)]
[Description: Once a prestigious store for rare books and ancient manuscripts. Closed abruptly about a decade ago. Rumored to be haunted or to hide secrets.]
[System Note: Very faint but persistent magical energy detected emanating from within the building. Traces of a "Hidden Gate" also present.]
Jin-woo smiled. This was the place. "The gate unseen by all but those who know." There was no obvious door to the shop; the facade was covered with old wooden planks. But when Jin-woo examined it closely, using his "Cold Observer's Eye," he noticed that one of the planks was slightly different. It looked newer than the rest and wasn't securely fastened.
He waited until the square was empty of passersby, then cautiously approached the plank. He pushed it slightly, and it slid inward easily, revealing a narrow, dark opening. This was the "gate."
Now, the final part of the riddle: "A sacrifice of forgotten knowledge." Jin-woo took the "Tattered Book of Dusk Rituals" from his small bag. He knew that offering such a dangerous book might have consequences, but he was willing to take the risk. If "The Librarian" was a true collector of dark knowledge, he would appreciate this gift.
He took a deep breath, then gently placed the book inside the dark opening. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, he heard a faint clicking sound from within, and felt a cool draft of air coming from the opening. After that, the wooden plank slid completely to the side, revealing a narrow, dark passage leading into the building.
[The offering has been accepted.]
[The gate to the "Library of Hidden Secrets" is temporarily open.]
[Warning: Enter at your own risk. Not all you find may be friendly.]
Jin-woo's sadistic smile widened. "Friendly?" he thought to himself. "When has anything interesting ever been friendly?"
He stepped into the dark passage, and the wooden plank slid silently shut behind him, plunging him into complete darkness. The air inside was cold and damp, carrying the scent of old, decaying paper, and something else... something like ozone, or static electricity. There was a feeling that this place was not just an old bookstore, but something older and stranger.
Jin-woo proceeded cautiously, his shadow dagger in hand. The passage was short and soon opened into a large, circular room. The walls were completely covered with bookshelves stretching from the floor to the high, vaulted ceiling. There were thousands, even tens of thousands of books, most of them looking very old and bound in leather. In the center of the room, there was a large desk made of dark, polished wood, upon which a single lamp cast a dim green light on piles of manuscripts and scrolls.
And behind the desk, someone was sitting. Jin-woo couldn't see their face clearly at first; it was obscured by shadows and the hood of a dark, monk-like robe. But when the person spoke, their voice was deep and resonant, carrying a hint of light mockery.
"Welcome, seeker of shadows. It has been a long time since someone offered a worthy sacrifice at my door. Tell me, what drives a nascent psychopath like yourself to seek knowledge that might burn his fragile soul?"
Jin-woo froze for a moment, not from fear, but from surprise. How did this person know his true nature so quickly? Was "The Librarian" watching him? Or was there magic in this place that revealed secrets?
Then Jin-woo smiled his cold smile. "My fragile soul?" he said with similar mockery. "I think you mistake me for someone else. I am here because I seek power, and knowledge is power. And you, 'Librarian,' seem to have plenty of it."
The figure behind the desk chuckled deeply. "Power... Yes, many come here seeking it. Few understand its true price. Tell me, nascent psychopath, are you prepared to pay that price?"