Reincarnated as the Final Villain’s Vessel

Since the residence was located at the edge of the Axis, I had to walk for a while before the other buildings began to appear.

And the deeper I went into the Axis, the more people there were around me.

At first, no one looked at me, but slowly I began to feel gazes gathering on me, especially when the students started appearing.

Well, maybe the staff don’t know me, but I don’t think there’s a single student who doesn’t... Yeah, that’s fame... How wonderful.

Well, the Axis is still the same as ever... I mean, why would I think it had changed? It’s only been five months, and here I am acting like an old man returning to his old neighborhood.

I walked while passing students in the usual gray uniforms. Some looked like third-years, but most of them were first-years.

Of course, almost all of them looked at me as though they were seeing someone who had returned from the grave... Even though I had only returned from another world.

But the great thing was that none of them spoke to me... I don’t know whether that’s a good sign or a bad one, but it’s still great.

"Should I go to the restaurant first or the library?" I muttered.

After some thought, I decided to go to the library first. It hadn’t been long since I had breakfast, so let’s wait until later.

I walked in silence until I reached the library building and entered.

As usual, there was a reception desk with someone sitting behind it, a book hiding his face.

I walked directly up to him and asked,

"Where can I find the Ancient Languages section?"

He answered without taking his attention away from the book.

"Z-13."

I passed him and continued deeper inside as the towering bookshelves appeared before me.

Searching online would probably be faster, but there are laws preventing many things from being published there... Certain types of monsters, magic, and so on.

There are databases containing all of that, but they’re isolated from the internet... I guess humanity learned its lesson after what happened in the past... So books are still the best option even today.

"He’s back."

I walked past the students while searching for the designated section, listening to the whispers of some of those who saw me.

"The news wasn’t a lie."

I ignored it as though I couldn’t hear anything.

Well, at least for now.

"Caius..."

I turned my head toward the familiar voice and saw a certain person with the same green eyes and dark hair stepping out from between the bookshelves.

He walked toward me wearing the black uniform embroidered with gold, his arms spread wide and a smile large enough to show his white teeth.

"Caius, my dear friend."

It looked like he wanted to hug me.

The moment he reached me, I took a step back, causing him to close his arms around empty air.

"Oh... Why would you do that? That’s not very nice of you, my friend... I heard the news this morning, but I thought it was just the usual nonsense on social media... Yet here you are, in the flesh."

"Do you know how shocked I am to see you right now? It’s like a dream..."

His words came one after another with that huge smile on his face.

"Where were you all those months... And where are the princess and the others..."

I raised an eyebrow at his questions. "And who are you?"

His face froze and his smile trembled before he placed a hand on his chest in an exaggerated manner. "Ouch... How can you say that after all the time we’ve spent together?"

"Doing missions and studying in the same class. I was even there watching when you stabbed the professor... Oh, I probably shouldn’t have said that."

He spread his arms again as though introducing himself on a stage. "So... Do you remember now?"

I placed a hand on my chin in thought.

"So...?" he asked again.

I shook my head. "No, I have no idea."

His arms dropped and his expression turned into exaggerated sadness. "Come on... You really don’t know?"

I nodded to confirm it.

He lowered his head as he spoke. "Ivan ... Ivan, your classmate."

I smiled. "I know."

I mean, of course I know. My memory isn’t that bad.

The moment I said that, his expression brightened as he placed a hand on my shoulder. "Then why are you pretending not to know?"

I pushed his hand away and shrugged. "Because it’s a little fun."

The moment I said that, I turned around and continued walking in search of the language section, and also away from the eyes that had gathered around us.

And of course, Ivan wasn’t going to leave me alone.

"Wait, you still haven’t told me what happened to you all?"

"And why should I tell you?"

Ivan smiled and spoke in a confident tone.

"Because we’re friends, my friend."

I almost laughed at that, but I decided to answer.

"We were just wandering around another world."

"Come on, stop that and answer me."

I gave him an amused look. "I did answer."

He let out a resigned sigh. "Haaa... You really don’t change... Or do you?"

"Why are you coming to the library on the very day you returned? Are you trying to become a bookworm or something... Trust me, as advice from your friend, that doesn’t suit you."

"I’m just looking for something."

"What are you looking for? Maybe I can help you find it. I’m not a bookworm, but I know the library a little."

What a way to put it, but I decided to just ask him.

"I’m looking for the Ancient Languages section... He said it’s in Z-13."

Ivan placed a hand on his chin as he walked.

"I don’t know if what you’re looking for is there, but I think Z-13 is up there."

He pointed upward, where the shelves stretched toward the sky...

Well, not the sky, but still high enough that I feel clouds might form up there.

Why do they build a library this tall? I mean, there’s plenty of space outside.

"Haaa... I guess I should go."

Ivan nodded.

"I’ve got classes in a little while too... Speaking of classes, you’ll be coming back to study with us and take the exams, right?"

I shrugged. "No, we passed, so that’s just you."

I moved toward the stairs leading upward while waving at him. "Anyway, go study, kid."

"Wait, you still haven’t told me how you passed... And where you were... Wait."

I walked away, leaving Ivan behind shouting loudly in the library, drawing everyone’s attention toward him.

After leaving him behind, I climbed the stairs until I reached the designated section.

There, books stretched across the shelves, some of them looking as though they were centuries old.

I ran my hand across them while reading the titles until I found something.

"Ancient Languages of the World of Aetheron."