Lam Huy Trường opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was—
He murmured in a daze.
"Strawberries…?"
The next second, a foot entered his field of vision.
Before he could even react—
SMACK!
A devastating kick landed squarely on his face.
Pain shot through the bridge of his nose and instantly snapped him awake.
And then he realized—
He had just said the wrong thing.
"GAAAAAHHHH!"
"My noseee!"
"Pervert."
SMACK!
"Shameless creep."
SMACK!
Every word came with another merciless kick straight to the face.
Lam Huy Trường hurriedly sat up and dodged to the side.
He avoided the foot—
Only for the next attack to become… books.
A jab to the waist.
A hardcover slammed directly into his face.
Another smacked the back of his head.
Books flew at him from every direction as if they had minds of their own, leaving him no chance to breathe.
"Please stop—!"
Lam Huy Trường shouted with tears in his eyes.
"I'm sorry! I really didn't mean it!"
But the books showed absolutely no intention of stopping.
Even in the middle of the chaos, one thought still flashed through his head—
She looks incredibly moe when she's mad…
Wait.
Was now really the time to judge how moe she was?
No.
What he should be thinking about right now was—
How to calm her down!
With no other choice left, Lam Huy Trường immediately dropped to both knees and raised his hands like a criminal waiting to be cuffed.
"Please have mercy on this shameless pervert…"
Inside, he warned himself immediately.
Don't deny it.
If you deny it, the sentence gets heavier.
My survival instinct is screaming that I barely escaped death once already—and if I don't want to go back there…
Best option—
Admit guilt first.
Didn't the elders always say—
"If you behave, you'll be forgiven."
After finishing his inner pep talk, Lam Huy Trường cautiously cracked one eye open.
His whole body ached like he'd just been run over by a truck.
But strangely—
No more books were flying at him.
Slowly, he raised his head.
The girl was still standing there.
Only—
This time, in those eyes—
Lam Huy Trường could clearly read the feeling of a volcano on the verge of erupting.
---
A memory suddenly flashed through his mind.
First—
He had used the Everlasting Dream Wishing Stone on a large scale again.
And apparently—
He had gone a little overboard.
Lam Huy Trường clicked his tongue.
So that really is the limit of the human body?
Messing with death like this… no wonder I ended up half-dead.
Did I seriously die for real?
But thinking back carefully—
He vaguely remembered this little librarian girl who looked like a tiny princess…
She always seemed to appear whenever he was in danger.
Probably something like—
Singing a holy hymn he'd heard somewhere before.
Then restoring his energy.
If he woke up here—
Then things had probably gone exactly like he expected.
A blessing in disguise.
Lam Huy Trường let out a quiet breath.
Alright.
Now—
He needed to talk to her.
That was the next step.
Right?
The corner of his lips curved slightly.
A faintly suspicious smile flashed across his face.
---
Sector B – Shelter.
A girl dressed in cook's clothes with a bandana tied around her head was walking quickly through a long metal corridor.
Her footsteps echoed softly against the cold steel walls.
When she reached a corner—
She immediately stopped and leaned against the wall.
In the distance, two men wearing security uniforms with the security division emblem on their chests were talking.
Both looked tense.
"I still can't reach the captain or the others."
"What the hell is going on?"
"I couldn't get any more information from the quarantine zone either."
"The AI keeps saying everything is normal… but I feel like they're hiding something."
One of them hesitated for a few seconds before lowering his voice.
"Should we… head to the surface and look for clues?"
The other man immediately shook his head.
"People from Sector A and Sector B are trapped down here like lab rats along with us."
"If the outside was safe, do you really think they'd still be here?"
The girl quietly listened from the shadows.
Her brows slowly furrowed.
Right then—
Tick. Tick. Tick.
A tiny sound rang out beneath her feet.
She instantly lowered her gaze.
The small round robot she had been carrying earlier was now gliding across the floor, its rotating disc humming softly beneath its light-blue body.
"Shh…"
She quickly raised a finger.
But it was too late.
"Who's there?!"
One of the security officers immediately shouted toward the dark corner.
She jumped.
Then slowly stepped out from the shadows.
Gave them a small wave.
"Ah—"
"It's Miss Sora from the cafeteria."
"What are you doing here?"
Only then did she scratch her cheek awkwardly and smile.
"I saw you two looked worried…"
"So I was wondering if there was anything I could help with."
Sora smiled at them.
The same familiar smile she always used when greeting customers in the cafeteria.
A smile that naturally made people relax.
A smile that could wash away exhaustion.
And strangely enough—
It worked anywhere.
The two men who had been tense a moment ago suddenly froze.
Their expressions softened instantly.
Like their stamina bars had just been fully restored.
"No, no!"
"We're not worried at all!"
One of them waved both hands.
"Thanks for asking!"
"Hahaha! I feel so energized now I could stay on guard all night!"
The dark-skinned young man even threw an arm around his teammate's shoulders and laughed loudly.
He looked so fired up his nostrils practically looked ready to release smoke.
Seeing the mood ease up, Sora slowly stepped closer.
"Actually…"
"I wanted to ask about someone from your security team."
"Would that be okay?"
The one being held immediately shrugged his teammate off.
Then quickly stepped forward, crossing his arms and trying to look cool.
"Go ahead."
"I know a lot about this place."
Before he could continue—
The dark-skinned one immediately shoved himself in front.
"No, ask me instead!"
"I'm basically the local guide for Sector B, C, D, and E!"
"Ask me anything!"
The other man stared at him.
"Move aside!"
"You ask the AI about everything!"
"Local guide?"
"You're the toilet janitor at best!"
"What did you say?!"
"You wanna fight?!"
And just like that—
In the blink of an eye—
The two young men rammed foreheads together and rolled up their sleeves like angry bulls preparing to charge.
Sora stared.
A trace of helplessness flashed through her eyes.
What even is this…?
In the end she sighed softly.
Then reached into her pocket and pulled out a wristwatch.
Normally she never wore one.
Cooking meant too much oil and grease.
Her finger lightly pressed a button.
Immediately—
A horrifying scream like a girl shrieking echoed through the corridor.
"AAAAAAAHHHHH—!!!"
The two men nearly jumped out of their skin.
In an instant they grabbed their weapons and stepped into defensive positions.
"A monster?!"
"What was that?!"
"Did something break in?!"
Sora calmly pressed the button again and turned it off.
Then smiled warmly at both of them.
Her voice stayed gentle and friendly.
Like she was chatting with regular customers in the cafeteria.
"Do either of you know…"
"…someone named Kai Mercer?"
---
Lam Huy Trường immediately put on the face of a man with only half a breath left.
A performance worthy of an award—
officially began.
"Haaah…"
He let out a deep sigh.
Then deliberately dragged out each breath, wheezing like an old man one step away from meeting his ancestors.
"I'm… dying…"
"Cough… cough…"
Inside—
He was grinning.
Hit the sympathy button.
If she still has even a little compassion, she definitely won't just watch me die.
So grab onto this lifesaving straw called pity first.
Getting close to a 2D girl? Easy work for a veteran like me.
He was practically ready to smirk in triumph.
And then—
BAMMMMMMMMM!
A bucket of cold water hit him straight in the face.
More accurately—
A book flew directly into the middle of his nose.
"AAAAAH—!"
Lam Huy Trường fell backward.
What the hell?!
Did I read the room wrong?
I literally studied the newest edition of How to Win Friends and Influence People!
But the tragedy wasn't over.
One book slammed straight into his face.
Another struck his ribs like a fighter's kick.
Then dozens more shot toward him like a nonstop combo with no openings at all.
Smack! Crack! Bam!
They beat him mercilessly.
Until—
Lam Huy Trường ended up trapped inside a mountain of books piled over him like a pyramid.
Only a tiny slit of light remained above him.
From inside that "book tomb"—
He could see a pair of furious eyes staring down from above.
Her hair drifted lightly in the air.
From this angle—
It looked like monster tentacles.
Lam Huy Trường swallowed.
I'm doomed.
A hundred questions and I got all hundred wrong.
Before that "book coffin lid" fully closed—
He needed to pry it open somehow.
Fast.
Otherwise—
He might become the first transmigrator in history to enter the record books for…
being crushed to death by books.
"I'm sorry!"
"I seriously didn't mean any harm!"
He surrendered immediately.
Then couldn't stop himself from blurting out in frustration—
"Why is it every time we meet…"
"…you always seem angry at me?!"
The first sentence was a desperate apology.
The second—
Was the honest cry of a man who felt deeply wronged.
What did I even do?!
Why does it feel like the professor ate the snails and I'm the one getting blamed for the shells?!
At that exact moment—
The "book coffin lid" suddenly stopped.
A small gap opened.
Just enough for a thin ray of light to slip through.
Then—
A quiet voice rang out.
Soft.
Adorable.
But sharp as a blade.
"You're not him…"
"…so don't try to act like him."
Lam Huy Trường blinked.
For the first time—
He heard this fierce little librarian say a sentence that long.
"Okay."
"Fair enough."
He struggled halfway out of the pile and immediately raised both hands.
"So you're only angry because of that?"
His voice was full of confusion.
Then he threw manners aside completely.
Library etiquette?
Polite conversation?
Forget it.
Survival came first.
Pride?
Throw it out the window.
Lam Huy Trường didn't wait for her answer.
He took a deep breath.
Then shouted louder, like he was dumping out all the frustration inside him.
"I was just trying…"
"…to talk to you!"
"But you keep…"
"…pushing me away!"
His voice echoed through the silent library.
Half grievance.
Half helplessness.
He reached beside him and grabbed a nearby book.
Then hurled it toward the opening above.
"Fine!"
"If that helps you feel better—then do it!"
The book spun several times in the air.
No idea whether she dodged or not.
Only—
A second later Lam Huy Trường collapsed back into the book pile he had just fought his way out of.
He sprawled there like a dried fish that had completely lost the will to live.
"Go ahead."
"Keep taking your anger out on someone who doesn't even know what crime he committed…"
His tone was tragic.
Like the whole world had betrayed him.
Then he rolled onto his side.
Pouted.
And wore the face of an exhausted otaku betrayed by reality.
"This life is suffering…"
"Even the library…"
"…has a librarian bullying me."
He was one step away from squeezing out a few fake tears to complete the performance.
Then—
Silence.
A few moments later—
The books around him started trembling.
One after another.
Even the pile crushing him—
Rose into the air.
Separated.
Then returned to their places on the shelves as if none of it had ever happened.
Lam Huy Trường barely had time to react—
Before his body lost support.
Thud.
He dropped straight onto the floor.
"Ow…"
He immediately sat up.
Blankly looking around.
Then—
Like remembering something—
He quickly crossed his arms.
Turned his face away.
And deliberately avoided looking at the girl.
The posture of someone—
obviously sulking.
Even though—
Every now and then—
He still secretly peeked to see if she was paying attention.
Inside his head, strategy mode activated instantly.
Looks like she can see through my actingmy acting.
Then this time… make it more real.
One hundred percent angry.
Negative emotion level: maximum.
Clench teeth.
Look fierce.
Like a debt collector ready to break someone's door down.
Lam Huy Trường adjusted his expression.
He dug through every memory of angry tsunderes, delinquent anime characters, and every furious face he had ever seen.
Who knew watching anime would actually help one day.
Alright—
—time to become the blue raccoon who got his dorayaki stolen.
"Nobi over there…"
"Don't think I'm forgiving you…"
"Keep pushing it and I'll go back to the future—!"
Right then—
"Actually…"
A tiny voice suddenly sounded out.
Lam Huy Trường froze.
The corner of his eye shifted.
The little librarian was lightly clutching the edge of her own clothes.
Her expression looked like she had countless things she wanted to say—
But had no idea where to begin.
This time—
Lam Huy Trường didn't just turn his head away.
He turned his entire body in the opposite direction.
He stared toward a distant dark corner of the library.
His ears, however, were secretly standing at full attention.
But the only thing he heard—
Was a faint hesitant murmur.
And the sound of her slightly uneven breathing.
For some reason—
Lam Huy Trường suddenly felt like someone had shoved a bomb into his chest.
"Aiii…"
He let out a long sigh.
Then finally turned back.
And looked directly at her.
"Name?"
"Hm?"
"Alright."
"My name is Lam Huy Truong."
"Lam Huy Truong."
"I don't belong to this world."
"I… transmigrated here from somewhere else."
As he spoke, he scratched his cheek.
His tone sounded like he was casually telling a story nobody would ever believe.
"Don't ask why I ended up inside the professor's body."
"I honestly have no idea either."
"Maybe some crazy goddess threw random magic at me…"
"Or maybe some game administrator tossed me in here because of a single email."
At that, he shrugged helplessly.
Like someone who had already given up arguing with fate.
"But…"
Lam Huy Trường looked up at her.
"How did you know I wasn't the professor?"
His eyes blinked curiously.
The girl blinked back.
She said nothing.
Only lightly waved her hand.
Immediately—
From the deep darkness behind the bookshelves—
Something enormous shot forward.
BOOM!
It landed right in front of Lam Huy Trường with such force the floor shook and bounced him up a little.
"Nani?!"
He instantly raised his guard, ready for another attack—
But then froze.
"…A mirror?"
Right in front of him—
Was a gigantic bronze mirror.
He had imagined all kinds of possibilities.
Some hidden trick.
A mysterious identification artifact.
But—
It was literally just a giant mirror.
Big enough for a person to stand inside from head to toe.
Ancient patterns were carved around the frame.
And on the base beneath it—
A single inscription.
~Mirror of Truth.~
Lam Huy Trường swallowed.
Then unconsciously looked into it.
Inside—
Was himself.
His own familiar face.
Only—
Dressed in the professor's clothes.
And in that instant—
Lam Huy Trường understood everything.
Everything.
So that's what happened.
The moment I stepped in here…
I got exposed immediately.
My fake identity was busted from the very beginning.
Slowly, Lam Huy Trường turned toward the girl.
His expression complicated.
"You…"
"How did you—"
Before he could finish—
She quietly pulled a small hand mirror out from inside her book.
Then raised it.
Lam Huy Trường stared.
Silent for a few seconds.
Then slowly nodded.
Like he fully understood.
Ah.
Of course.
There's even a mini version.
If a certain blue raccoon has a pocket-size version of everything…
Then why wouldn't the giant mirror have one too?
He immediately clasped his hands together.
Then dropped to his knees in surrender.
Fast.
&
Clean.
~Without hesitation.
"I surrender."
"Completely."
Inside his head he muttered—
Please let this little librarian be descended from the seven dwarves.
Because if she's the evil stepmother instead—
This handsome young master is definitely dying here.
Then—
Lam Huy Trường suddenly paused.
Wait.
If she already knew I was fake…
Then why did she still save me?
His eyes gradually brightened.
Then instantly switched into emotional mode.
Sparkling.
Then sparkling x2.
x3.
x4.
Filled with a strangely hopeful look.
He stared at her.
The girl had one hand lifted near her lips.
Her gaze lowered slightly as though thinking deeply.
A strand of hair fell gently along her cheek.
In the quiet library—
The entire scene looked unbelievably—
Moe.
It hit Lam Huy Trường directly.
And in his head—
Only one thought remained.
Way too moe.
Then the next second—
Smack!
Smack!
Both his hands slapped his own cheeks.
The sound rang sharply through the silent library.
"You idiot…"
"What timing is this to be thinking about moe…"
The sudden movement seemed to startle her.
Seeing that, Lam Huy Trường immediately rubbed the back of his head.
And gave an awkward smile.
Like absolutely nothing had happened.
"So… uh…"
"Thanks for saving me."
"Twice…"
"…Actually no."
He scratched his head again awkwardly.
"I guess counting the number of times a lifesaver saved you feels kind of weird, huh…"
Then he took a deep breath.
The scent of old books.
Ancient wood.
Cool, clean air.
For some reason—
His body gradually relaxed.
A smile unconsciously appeared.
"Anyway…"
Lam Huy Trường leaned back on both hands.
Letting his body rest.
His legs stretched across the cold library floor.
He tilted his head up.
Faint light filtered down between rows upon rows of towering bookshelves.
The quiet atmosphere slowly wrapped around him.
And before he noticed—
He had blended into the stillness of the place.
Then—
For no clear reason—
His chest suddenly felt lighter.
So light it almost felt like he could disappear into the silence of the library itself.
When he spoke again—
His voice was much softer than before.
Almost a whisper.
And for the first time since waking up—
He said something truly sincere.
"Thank you."