Chapter 12: This is Youth!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
There were two staircases leading the way up to the second floor of the library. The entrance to the North staircase was guarded by a broad shouldered and solidly built brawny man who had a pair of glaring, big eyes. Not only did he have malice written all over his face, his gigantic body appeared to be blocking the entire pathway of the staircase, leaving no space for any one to slip through at all.
As for the South entrance, the staircase seemed deserted and there was only a simple wooden door placed before it. Many students were clustered around it talking to each other but nobody dared to push open the door and make their way up. And because a Sound Barrier was placed around that area, they could not hear a single word from the students at all, making the whole scene seemed strange and peculiar.
When Baiyi got closer enough, he used his Psychic Energy to lightly probe the area surrounding the door and immediately found out the reason why there was no need for guards. His interest was piqued as he asked Mia, "Oh? There's a barrier around the door? It looks like we'd have to break the barrier before we could go up right?"
"Yes, that's right!" Mia nodded. "If we can't afford to pay the fee to access the second floor then we can only go up by breaking the barrier here."
"Hmm... Interesting," Baiyi said with an intrigued look on his face.
He actually found this peculiar trick to be a pretty nifty idea. Placing the books that the students need on the first floor and those that they did not need on the second floor was a method to protect the books from getting lost.
It would not hinder the students who were gifted with high innate aptitude because they could just enter by breaking through the barrier. And for those who wanted to satisfy their curiosity but have no way of breaking the barrier, the library would allow them access as long as they pay the fee that was required. Not only did they managed to find a way to protect the books but at the same time, they also managed to make a little money for the library. It truly was an ingenious way to kill two birds with one stone.
However, from what he could gather from looking at the students around him, he knew that none of them realized the real intention of the academy. Basically, what the academy was trying to say was that if you could not even break the barrier it meant that the books on the second floor were not suitable for you at all. Just leave and stop wasting your time. Young people need to learn to let go!
"It appears that such an ingenious design has been treated as some sort of game by the students, " said the Archmage in his thought. "Hello! This is not a stage to show off your power!"
Just as he finished saying his words, Baiyi and Mia entered the Sound Barrier at the same time a freckled boy walked away from the group of people. Standing in front of the door, his face that was putting on a strong facade could not hide the anxiety he felt in his heart. With his forehead covered in sweat, he hugged the textbook on barriers tightly in his arms and proclaimed loudly, "Alright everyone! I'm going up now!"
After saying those words, he moved to the door inch by inch as slow as a snail and carefully focused his Psychic Energy and Mana to the node of the barrier. Just as he thought he was about to break it, he turned his head towards the bystanders and flashed a confident smile while saying out loud, "Oh yes! It looks like I'm in luck today!" Having said that, he placed his palm on the door handle and all of a sudden, a wave of invisible energy struck at him and he was blown far away from the group.
"Ouch! Ouch! It hurts! You all have to be careful!" That pitiful student could not help but let out a string of shrill cries but he did not forget to warn the others about the situation at the same time. It appeared that he still had some energy left and was not really wounded by the spell. He just looked flustered.
Despite the fact that there was already a demonstration of what would happen if they fail, the determination of the rest of the students did not wavered at all. On the contrary, they were even more eager to break the barrier. One by one, the students went up to try. No sooner had one fallen the other would immediately take the position and try again. And everytime before they hold the handle, they would yell out all sorts of embarrassing things.
"It's my turn to shine today!" and then proceeded to get struck by lightning...
"Behold! I shall defy nature today!" and then managed to get himself frozen into an ice sculpture and the other students had to move him outside to be melted under the sun...
"For the sake of the beautiful Miss Tisdale, I'm going all out!" and then got himself charred by a big explosion...
Compared to the tranquility outside of the Sound Barrier, the area inside the Sound Barrier bustled with noise and excitement. Baiyi who was watching the commotion was speechless, he did not know whether he should laugh or cry.
He asked one of the students who just got his voice back from the effects of the spell, "Are all of the students in your academy usually this lively?"
"Well, this is YOUTH! It's beautiful, don't you think so?" Instead of feeling embarrassed, the student replied with pride.
However, not everybody was as calm and patient as Baiyi. For instance, one of the Voidwalkers with the title Hitman remarked all of a sudden impatiently, "This is so troublesome! We should just find a way to sneak in instead."
"Eh? Wait a minute, sneak in? But, but these students didn't do anything wrong at all, did they? We don't have any reason to treat them like that. The most they did was stealing a few glances at Mia. Mia-chan is pretty cute so it's normal for guys to show interest in her. L-let's not do that okay?" Another Walker said immediately in an appeasing tone.
"To sneak in under such circumstances would be pretty inconvenient actually. It's not that I don't have faith in Sir Hope's innate capabilities but it's just that there are too many people right here and it would be pretty hard to clean up the mess later," another Walker, otherwise also known as the Assassin analyzed from a technical point of view.
"We need to keep a low profile right now. Let's not kill anybody unless the situation is really dire. Not to mention that these kids are all innocent and harmless," the Archmage finally said.
The Hitman began to feel awkward as he tried to defend himself, "Although I am not really sure of what you’re all talking about but I think all of you have misunderstood me. I'm merely saying that we should infiltrate when no one is looking. You have really misunderstood me! Are you doubting my professionalism now?"
No no no! They are not doubting your professionalism at all, Sir Hitman. We all know that you have a profound mastery and vast experience in infiltration. Not to mention that you have also undergone countless of harsh and rigorous training over and over again. Of course, you always apply all these knowledge when you are on your mission but then… it's just that… Baiyi thought to himself.
There was no doubt that the Hitman was a strong and powerful person before his death. But the thing was he had a very short temper and was very impatient. And as a result, most of his infiltrations had a tendency of ending in a certain, specific way:
Oh shit! I'm discovered by the black ops! How troublesome! Let's just kill them all!
Damn it! The patrol team saw me! This is so annoying! I should just kill them!
Oh f*ck! The guards noticed my movement! So irritating! I'll just wipe them all out then!
Not again! This time it's the bodyguards who saw me?! Ahh they're so annoying! Let's just slaughter them!
Alright! Mission accomplished! Nobody knows I was the one who infiltrated just now! What a smooth mission!
Well, of course nobody would find out he was the one who snuck in if he had killed off all the witnesses. It made people wonder what kind of training did he actually underwent. With the way he was so lacking in stealth, was the training conducted by a caveman? The Voidwalkers thought that apart from having different names, there was not much of a difference between the Hitman and a berserker actually.
And that was why when he suggested sneaking in, his idea was unanimously rejected by all the Voidwalkers.
At any rate, Baiyi decided to put the books down on the floor while he waited patiently with Mia.
Not long after, a librarian walked up to Baiyi and politely asked him for his library card. Apparently there were designated cards for Soul Armatures as well.
How could he have the card in the first place?
"If it's like this, I'm afraid I would have to ask you to come again during the weekend as the second floor is only opened to the Soul Armature during that time. Other than that, only the students are allowed to use the second floor," the librarian said.
Not allowing the good students to have much contact with the other Soul Armatures, eh? Baiyi thought to himself but since he had no intention of breaking any rules, he pointed to Mia and asked, "How about her? Can she go up and copy the notes on my behalf?"
Before the librarian could say anything, Mia responded in a dejected manner, "Eh? Me? B-but I.... It's impossible! Even those seniors have failed."
Glancing at the sophomore badge on Mia's collar, the librarian could not help but laugh, "Well, if she can break the barrier then yeah, no problem! But isn't this a little bit too far fetched? The barrier could hurt her you know?"
"No problem! I have faith in her!" Baiyi said as he proceeded to drag Mia to a deserted corner where he asked her in a low voice, "Mia, do you really find that barrier intimidating?"
Embarrassed, Mia nodded her head but as soon as she did that, she lowered her head and pulled on the hem of her skirt nervously. Perhaps, she thought that she had let Baiyi down.
With such a cute kitty-like confession of course she did not get scolded by Baiyi. Instead, he continued patiently, "Trust me, Mia. The foundation of this barrier is actually very simple. You can do this!"
"Eh? C-can I?' Looking at Baiyi with uncertainty, Mia's face was filled with doubt.
"Have faith in my judgement, Mia," Baiyi reassured her. Crouching down, he focused a slight bit of blue-colored Mana that had no attribute on his finger tip and lightly drew the formation of the barrier just now. "You just have to do as I say. I guarantee that you'll be able to break the barrier in no time."
Pulling on her long ponytails, Mia crouched down as well. She thought that she would be going through a long lecture so one could imagine her surprise when Baiyi finished his explanation with just a few sentences.
"T-that's all?" Her face was filled with disbelief, she found it hard to believe that this barrier that had stopped countless of students from entering could be broken by a few simple steps. Even somebody at her level could do it.
"The theory behind this barrier is not that complex actually. It's just that this barrier was formed from a Magical Formation that most of the students here are not familiar with. That is why many of you find it difficult." Waving his hand, Baiyi erased the drawing on the floor before he stood up, "Just go and have a try. I'll wait for you right here. Don't forget to make a copy of the latest journal for me alright?"
"Alright. I'll go try it out, Mr. Hope." Even though she nodded her head, there was still a slight sense of uncertainty on her face. After all, being expelled by the barrier was not something pretty. The guys were probably fine with it but for a small little girl like Mia, of course she did not want to make a fool out of herself in front of so many people.
However, as Baiyi's words that were full of confidence appeared in her mind, she went to queue up behind the long line of students despite her nervous state. It was not that she did not have faith in Baiyi, but instead, the one she doubted was herself.
"Seems like our little girl doesn't have much faith in herself, does she?" The Archmage asked.
It's alright. We will slowly work on that, Baiyi replied calmly.