Chapter 377 Hidden Motives

Atlas looked at the cat-girl as she continued pleading with him in her peculiar manner. "Please, nya~! W-would you really turn away such a beautiful lady?" Atlas frowned even more before answering calmly, "Who told you that you’re beautiful? In my eyes, only one person is beautiful."

The moment those words left his mouth, the cat-girl arched both her eyebrows and paused for a moment, seemingly processing his response.

"Nyaaaaaa!!!" She immediately wrapped her arms around Atlas’s legs and began crying loudly. ’What the hell is wrong with her? She’s breaking the rules of the library right now. Who knows what might happen to her?’ Atlas glanced at the people around them, noticing their confused expressions and the laughter they were struggling to suppress.

However, he paid them no attention, as his current problem was the seemingly unreasonable cat-girl clinging to him.

’I could teleport to the reading area I sensed earlier, but... why do I feel like she’ll follow me there too?’ He wondered, relying on his instincts as he watched her tear-filled eyes stare into his while she continued crying. After enduring the scene for a while, Atlas finally sighed and gave in.

"Tch, I think I’ll just give you the book in a few minutes. I’ll be done reading it by then."

"Nya?" The cat-girl immediately stopped crying, looking confused by his statement. She adjusted her glasses and stared at him curiously. "What do you mean, nya?" Atlas exhaled once more before shifting his attention to the book in his hand.

Without hesitation, he activated his Logic Alteration and changed the logic of the speed of his comprehension, increasing it by several thousand times before slowly opening the book.

With just one glance, he finished reading the first page and immediately moved on to the next. Another glance was enough to absorb its contents, and he continued turning the pages one after another.

Within a single minute, he had finished reading the entire book, which contained approximately four hundred pages, with every piece of information properly registered in his mind.

The cat-girl grew even more confused as she watched him flip through the pages as though he were a child pretending to read a book. However, Atlas soon closed it and tossed it toward her.

She caught it, her expression becoming even more bewildered as she looked between the book and Atlas. "I’m done. You can have it now. Don’t bother me anymore." With those words, Atlas vanished from the spot without giving her another glance.

"Nya?" The cat-girl was left standing there, staring at the book in her hands with nothing but confusion written across her face.

...

Meanwhile, Atlas appeared in another section of the library’s Entry Level. ’Next, I need a book explaining how to break through to the next stages of power. Then there’s my elemental awakening... I haven’t awakened even a single element, which means I’ve skipped the SSS, Ex, and Special Ex ranks entirely.’ A smile gradually formed on his face as he considered the possibilities.

’And then there are the laws...’

He found himself genuinely excited at the thought of learning so many new things. However, a familiar voice suddenly echoed in his mind. ’Having fun, are we? Do you even know how many things you need to learn? You have your own powers to master, the things you just mentioned, and the Codex as well. How much time do you think all of that will take?’

It was the voice of his second self, speaking with its usual calmness.

This time, however, Atlas neither felt confused nor startled by the sudden voice. Instead, he answered calmly, as though he had already accepted its existence as nothing more than another part of himself. ’Maybe it’ll take a lot of time. A lot. But regardless, they’re my powers, and I’ll master every single one of them.’

His second self remained silent for a moment before responding, ’It seems you’ve made some progress regarding my words. Still, you have a long way to go.’

Atlas didn’t respond to that statement, as he already knew it was true. He immediately searched for the book containing information about the power hierarchy and breakthrough methods, recalling the information he had just read.

According to the book, the Primartia Galaxy had existed for as long as its history had been recorded, meaning it had already endured countless eons. The galaxy contained countless regions, stars, and planets, along with numerous areas classified as Unknown Regions, where people could die, become lost, or disappear without ever finding their way back.

Beyond those regions were star systems, also numbering beyond count, with planets revolving around their respective stars. The book also contained detailed information about black holes, nebulas, and star collisions, explaining how each phenomenon could pose a serious threat to civilizations across the galaxy.

According to the records, these cosmic phenomena were among the most dangerous natural threats, aside from individuals who had reached the Nexus and Awakened stages. Although the book explained the reasons behind each threat in considerable detail, Atlas decided to move on to the next topic for the time being.

The next subject was the various factions within the Primartia Galaxy, with the Conclave being the first to receive a dedicated section. According to the records, the Conclave had existed since the earliest recorded history of the galaxy, having been established by its Ancestors.

Atlas continued reading through the information, only to find another organization mentioned before either the Weimbrons or the Eternals, both of which he had expected to appear much earlier.

The organization was known as the Recloaks, an assassination organization that had apparently emerged before the other two major factions. However, the book contained very little information about them beyond their name and general nature.

’Hmm, there’s barely anything written about them.’ Atlas wasn’t particularly surprised by the lack of information. After all, an organization specializing in assassination would naturally conceal its activities and information from the rest of the galaxy.

His attention then shifted toward the Weimbrons and the Eternals. ’So, the leader of the Weimbrons is named Demious, while the leader of the Eternals is called "The Monarch"?’ He found the titles peculiar, especially considering that both leaders had reached the Awakened stage.

’But they’re only single Awakened beings, aren’t they? The Conclave has three. Shouldn’t the Three Pillars be able to capture them at the very least, without destroying the galaxy?’ Just as Atlas was considering the matter, his second self spoke again.

’Don’t you think something is suspicious, main body? They recruited you by claiming that their goal is this "Beyond," which essentially means Ascension.’ Atlas paused as the implications of those words began to register in his mind. His second self continued, ’Even though only a few individuals are capable of ascending, wouldn’t that mean that the Three Pillars themselves might never be able to reach Ascension, regardless of whom they recruit?’

Atlas immediately narrowed his eyes. ’...You’re right. Although I didn’t trust that man from the beginning, I never considered him an enemy.’ He had initially regarded the Third Pillar’s actions with caution, but he hadn’t given much thought to the possibility that the Conclave’s stated purpose might conceal something else.

Now, however, the inconsistencies were becoming harder to ignore, ’But it seems he’s targeting something else.’

’Exactly. you should focus on growing stronger while investigating the matter gradually from the shadows. Judging by their actions over countless eons, they don’t seem to be in any hurry to accomplish whatever they’re planning. That means you have enough time to figure things out.’

Atlas nodded in agreement with his second self’s explanation before smiling faintly and reaching for the book on the floating shelf, the very one he had originally come here to find.

’It feels peculiar to say this to myself, but... thanks.’