The fourth level, the "Silent Great Library," is currently serving as the witches' new home.
Higashino Makoto stood at the entrance to the library, gazing at the space illuminated by magical light.
The library is much larger than when I last visited, covering an area of about 3,000 square meters, with bookshelves extending from the floor to the dome, and each shelf is crammed full of books.
The air is filled with a faint scent of paper, leather, and antique ink.
Every few steps, a magic lamp floats in mid-air, casting a soft orange glow between the bookshelves.
This place holds Novas Ettier's most precious treasures.
Magical tomes brought from the YGGDRASIL game world, historical documents collected from the Overlord World, Breathing Techniques transcribed from the Demon Slayer world, scientific data copied from the One Punch Man- Punch Man world, and so on.
These books are extremely valuable and a treasure.
Now, six new residents have moved in.
Reisen.
"Exist."
Have their rooms been arranged?
"It's all arranged."
Reisen opened her notebook, her crimson eyes scanning the records.
"On the east side of the fourth level, near the entrance to the library, there are six suites, each equipped with basic living facilities, and... a magical monitoring array."
Higashino Makoto nodded and stepped into the library.
Footsteps echoed in the empty space, and the bookshelves on both sides stood like silent guards.
He walked through the front hall, down a long corridor, and came to the area on the east side.
Six doors stood side by side, each engraved with a number and a name.
Greed, pride, sloth, gluttony, lust, anger.
Each door frame is inlaid with a silver-white rune stone, which is the core of the magic monitoring array and can sense the magical fluctuations, vital signs, and any abnormal activities inside the room.
If a witch attempts to use her Authority to attack others or damage facilities, the monitoring array will immediately trigger an alarm and transmit the information to the control center on the Seventh Floor.
Although Higashino Makoto has developed a collecting obsession, he hasn't forgotten that witches are all mentally unstable beings who cannot be analyzed using conventional thinking.
As a worst-case scenario, Higashino Makoto planned to directly activate the Hourai.
"The prison doors don't need keys."
Higashino Makoto stopped and stood in front of the first door.
The code on the door: Greed.
He pushed open the door.
The room was messier than I had imagined.
Books, books everywhere.
Books were piled on the bed, stacked on the table, scattered on the floor, and even the windowsill was crammed with them.
Some of the books were from the library, while others were brought by Echidna herself from other worlds. When her soul was contained, she also took the Tome of Wisdom and some important magical tomes with her.
Her long, silvery-white hair shimmered softly under the magic lamp.
She sat cross-legged on the floor, holding a thick, leather-covered book in her hands. Her dark pupils darted across the pages, and a faint smile played on her lips.
Echidna.
"Um."
She didn't look up.
How long have you been here?
"I don't know, maybe... two days? Three days?"
I heard you haven't eaten yet.
"That kind of thing isn't important~"
"You are human now, and humans need to eat."
Echidna's finger paused for a moment, then continued turning the page.
"Humans... what a nuisance. I should have resurrected later."
Higashino Makoto walked up to her, squatted down, and looked her in the eye.
"You've been reading?"
"Right."
What are you looking at?
History, magic, science... everything.
Echidna looked up, her dark pupils reflecting Higashino Makoto's face.
"This world is more interesting than I imagined. Tier Magic, World Item, race conversion, resurrection... How fascinating!"
The corners of her mouth turned up in a smile.
Higashino Makoto didn't reply. He stood up, walked to the window, and opened it.
Artificial sunlight streamed in, illuminating the entire room.
"Are you planning to stay here indefinitely?"
"Currently... yes."
Echidna lowered her head and looked back at the book in her hands.
"There are so many things here that I don't know. I want to understand, I want to learn, and I want to record them."
"Then what?"
"And then... I don't know."
Higashino Makoto turned around and looked at her.
"Have you thought about the matter of racial transformation? Or should we keep the human race?"
Echidna remained silent for a moment.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I want to understand this world first, to learn about the new magic, everything in this world. And then I'll decide what to become."
Higashino Makoto looked at her, his eyes devoid of any emotion.
"OK."
He strode toward the door.
"Wait a moment."
Echidna's voice came from behind.
Higashino Makoto stopped in his tracks.
"Thanks."
"What are you thanking me for?"
Thank you for leading me away from that grave and bringing me here.
Higashino Makoto did not turn back.
"You're welcome, it's a deal."
He stepped out of the room.
The door closed behind him.
The second door: arrogance.
When Higashino Makoto opened the door, Typhon was standing on the windowsill, his crimson eyes gazing at the artificial sky outside.
She changed her clothes; she was no longer wearing the blue and white striped sundress, but a simple white dress.
Her short, grass-green hair shimmered softly in the sunlight, her dark brown skin glowed with a healthy sheen, and her bright red eyes were clear and luminous.
She looks just like any ordinary little girl.
Higashino Makoto.
She turned her head and looked at the man who walked in.
"How boring... Aren't there any criminals I need to Judgment?"
"There are many criminals, but I can't let you go now. You need to study the laws and regulations properly first."
Typhon jumped off the windowsill, walked up to him, and looked up at him, though she still only reached his waist.
"That kind of thing doesn't matter, just ask them what they truly feel."
"Honestly, how many people can truly be completely without guilt? Be a good boy, read more books, and use your Authority less. After you've finished your business, I'll take you to prison."
What kind of prison?
"Tartarus Grand Prison, a place specifically for imprisoning the strong."
Typhon's crimson eyes lit up.
"Can I go now?"
Higashino Makoto looked at her, his golden eyes devoid of any emotion.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because it's not time for the prisoners there to be Judgment."
Typhon's lips tightened slightly.
When will that be?
"When it's time for them to be punished."
Typhon stared at him for a long time.
Then, she lowered her head.
You don't believe me.
"Yes, I'm not entirely at ease with it."
Higashino Makoto crouched down to be at her eye level.
"You need to learn what true sin is. It's not about whether you believe someone is guilty, or whether they are guilty simply because they believe they are. It's about whether the world and the law deem it sinful—that's what sin is."
A complex light flickered in Typhon's crimson eyes.
Does the world have consciousness?
"Yes, but not completely."
"Then who will Judgment the world?"
Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment.
"I."