No Dogs at the Library Entrance

A tall figure, draped in a raincoat that barely covered his entire body, followed behind the two professors.

The two professors— Professor Rice and Professor Larry —walked forward with their heads down and somber expressions.

It's almost 11 o'clock now, and the library has already closed, but there are still people inside who haven't left.

As the three passed the library, Lizzie Bryan, who was crouching among the bookshelves, greeted the two professors.

Lizzie Bryan is neither a history student nor a scholar of ancient languages.

But she was a librarian, and both professors were frequent visitors to the library, so they knew her.

She seemed surprised to run into other people at the library at this hour, and gave an awkward smile.

Professor Rice knew why she was embarrassed; even as a librarian, she shouldn't have stayed at this hour. She was clearly taking advantage of her position to sneak away.

Normally, Professor Rice wouldn't mind criticizing her, while Professor Larry would definitely kick Lizzie out.

But the situation was special now, so Professor Rice didn't say anything, and Professor Larry just gave him a reproachful look.

The three continued walking towards the library's exit.

Lizzie was squatting down, reading a novel.

She only had a few chapters left to read, but she had already borrowed too many books this month and hadn't returned them, so she was no longer eligible to borrow any more.

Left with no other choice, she stayed here under Bean's protection.

Lizzie was extremely annoyed when she saw Professor Rice and Professor Larry passing by.

She shouldn't have stayed in the outer area; there are plenty of spaces inside the library where she can be kept hidden.

But when Lizzie realized that neither professor had blamed her—

She became bolder.

She happened to come across some ancient Chinese linguistic knowledge in the novel that she was unfamiliar with.

Lizzie wouldn't call out to Professor Rice, asking him to stay for her sake.

As a respectful student, she would proactively walk quickly to keep up with the professor and try not to waste his time.

So, to Professor Rice's bewilderment, Lizzie, oblivious to the warning in Professor Larry's eyes, suddenly walked over.

Lizzie stopped halfway.

An almost instinctive fear prevented her from taking the next step.

She finally realized the enormous human figure behind the two professors—was it really a person?

Lizzie swallowed hard, her voice trembling with fear. In her twenty-odd years of life, she had never doubted her own eyes as much as she did today.

From the waist of that tall creature, something that seemed to slither out, twisted in an unsettling way, before coiling around the shoulders of the two professors.

And the body beneath the black raincoat----

"What are you trying to do?" Professor Larry snapped. "Don't waste our time."

As he spoke, he and Professor Rice continued walking forward.

The two kept their heads down, neither paying any attention to Lizzie, who remained stunned.

But the two professors breathed a sigh of relief when they realized that the people behind them hadn't stopped.

Several seconds later, after the professors and the people in the raincoats had disappeared into the distance, Lizzie, who had been standing there in a daze, finally came to her senses.

She took a few steps back, leaned against the wall, and felt her own heartbeat.

The question I wanted to ask is gone.

I can't remember anything from the novel.

Lizzie took a deep breath, watching the three walk away, fear overwhelming all her delicate thoughts.

What is that?

Lizzie Bryan, a student about to enter her junior year at Miskatonic University, slapped her face hard.

She moved toward the library desk where there was a telephone, though Lizzie hadn't yet decided where to dial.

"You did a really good job," Professor Rice said to Wilbur.

He had no intention of speaking to the Monster, but he felt it was necessary for Wilbur to stop thinking about Lizzie.

"Professor Armitage is old," Wilbur replied.

The sound alone made both professors feel uneasy.

Wilbur seemed quite pleased with his plan, elated by the victory he had already secured, and echoed Professor Rice's words, "Ha, an extraordinary being who has undergone four ascensions, a powerful man who could rival my great-grandfather—it's unbelievable—perhaps old age really can dull a person."

His voice became even more strange and grating with laughter. "Fortunately, I no longer need to worry about 'aging'."

The tentacles resting on the necks of the two professors twitched slightly, forcing them to slow their pace.

Then they passed Mr. John's little house.

There was no barking of dogs, nor was there Mr. John.

"Where is Mr. John?" Professor Larry asked.

"They're dead," Wilbur replied. "I can't let them block my way."

Professor Larry glared at Wilbur with resentment.

But Wilbur laughed even more wildly, "Just kidding! Just kidding!"

He softened his laughter before continuing, "I didn't see him, nor his dog. I have no idea what they were doing."

Professor Larry peered through the small window and saw no blood, which reassured him.

Feeling the cold tentacles on their necks, the professors were disgusted but dared not say anything, and continued walking forward.

But the tentacles suddenly tightened.

"Wilbur —what do you want now?" Rice felt like he was suffocating.

"Professors, please don't rush off," Wilbur said.

They were both looking at him.

Meeting their gazes, Wilbur's terrifying face beneath his hood broke into a wide grin. "Could you—tell me what that woman's name was?"

He watched with satisfaction as the two grew increasingly angry and terrified, his smile growing ever more cheerful, "You two are truly good professors—in that case, I'll take her with me and leave—ah, I've observed Professor Larry's car; it can seat four—you two sit in the front, and the student and I will sit in the back. If you—if this car can't get out, your student will be in danger."

Professor Larry suddenly opened his mouth and spat at Wilbur.

He probably aimed for Wilbur's face, but Wilbur was too tall, and the spittle landed on Wilbur's waist.

"Ha."

Wilbur didn't care, and didn't even notice the small puddle of water. "I guess that student is hiding now, or trying to make a phone call—professors, do you think the call will go through?"

He glanced back with amusement, noticing a deep shadow behind him. "Look what I've found! Looks like she's got guts, actually chasing after us."

Professor Rice closed his eyes in frustration.

Wilbur never intended to let Lizzie go.

Wilbur was simply getting carried away and wanted to play a game of the villain deceiving the hero, like a cat playing with a mouse.

Even so, even if he were carried away with his success—which Wilbur certainly could do, and who could stop him?

Professor Armitage was not there, so Jack and the security personnel went to the history department building.

The people who stayed here didn't even have a gun.

But then, some clueless guy knocked on the library door.

Not only that, the clueless fellow even answered Wilbur's question.

Hope leaned against the wall, or he would have almost collapsed. "She couldn't make the call. Because you bastard, after you called me from the librarian's office, you cut all the library's phone lines."

Wilbur licked his lips. "It's good that you're here. Now I don't have to worry about not being able to find you when I get back to Dunwich."