A comic book, but a librarian

302

Chapter 302: The job with free food and accommodation really fascinated the evil spirit.

The conference was very successful. The reason for its success was that it was held smoothly. As for the actual effect...

Not to mention that Saki Kawasaki and Yukinoshita Yukino are relatively insensitive to supernatural phenomena, but because of their lack of strength, it is impossible for them to go deep into the places to investigate, so most of the places can only end with suspected.

Yotsuya Miko could see it very clearly, but her abilities were very limited. After all, apart from her powerful eyes, her physical fitness was at most at the top level among students of the same age. Even so, she only had this power because when the mountain god made a contract with her, the power benefited her body.

Therefore, Yotsuya Miko's investigation report is very detailed, but the points involved are too few, and it often happens that a lot of time is spent and in the end the other party is just a harmless spirit.

Of course, Hikigaya Hachiman's investigation was a bit more bizarre. Most of his investigation was closely related to the locations of certain special buildings. I don't know if it was his intuition that played a role, but his investigation report did provide a lot of meaningful information. But to be honest, he looked a bit possessed.

"I always feel like there's something wrong here, Uesugi. Sorry, I just can't get rid of this feeling, so everything I found out is a bit weird."

Hikigaya Hachiman admitted his selfish motives very directly. He did look a little sleep-deprived and even a little uneasy.

"What's going on? Can't find any clues?"

"Yes, if this is true, then the other party hid it too well, so well that I can't even find any clues. But this is how I can be sure that there is indeed something wrong with this matter. Otherwise, there would be no news at all."

Hikigaya Hachiman pinched the bridge of his nose. He decided to let the matter go and deal with the final exam first. As a high school for college entrance examinations, the requirements for the final exams were definitely not low. After all, the things taught by the teachers were at most less specific than those in private schools in terms of the entrance exam questions for a specific university. So if he wanted to learn all of these things, he would have to divert his energy away from his little detective game.

"We will solve this problem after the winter vacation. Now let's finish the exam first. By the way, I will mark the information you provided on the map later. If you are interested, you can find a time to choose the corresponding location to clean up. After all, this is also for the safety of Tokyo. By the way, we basically have no external help, and the official will probably never be able to spare any manpower."

Uesugi Sumire began to mark the map. Of course, they would not waste all their short lunch break in this room. Hikigaya Hachiman had already planned to take a nap in his dormitory at Integrated High School. He stayed in the dormitory except for the weekends. Although his home was only about an hour's train ride away from the high school, it was indeed more convenient to live in the school.

Uesugi Sumiko was the last one to leave the room. He locked the door before leaving and set up some sleight of hand. As he worked on it whenever he had free time, most of the areas of Integrated High School were slowly covered by special formations. Once certain special points were activated, the enemy would understand why the immortals were immortals.

……

"Area No. 1 has been set up, and Area No. 2 is ready. Please start the operation!"

The interior of the abandoned factory has long been renewed, and it is filled with evil spirits wearing safety helmets preparing to start their work. The evil spirits that were caught in the painting and refined into part of "Hell Transformation" were originally somewhat dissatisfied and resentful, but when sufficient spiritual power was transferred to them and they were relieved of the pressure of survival, they instead became the most loyal guardians and supporters of "Hell Transformation".

Probably in this world, only the painting spirit born in the "Hell Transformation" painted with the red essence has the special power to fully transform the red essence into spiritual power. Therefore, most of the red essence sent by Uesugi Cheng went into its stomach, and some of the spiritual power was divided to its younger brothers. The rest was used by them for metal smelting.

So, this group of evil spirits actually began to live the life of workers in an orderly manner, sorting the metal, throwing it into the furnace, then adding fuel, and finally fishing out the finished product.

These crude metals naturally cannot be called mountain copper. After all, Uesugi Cheng did not teach Hua Ling the method of refining mountain copper. However, after these metals are contaminated with spiritual power, they can definitely be called special metals that are resistant to spiritual power.

The orderly work even made this unmanned factory look as if it had regained its vitality. Although this kind of scene was more frightening to people, they had even taken preventive measures.

Not only did Uesugi Cheng cast many suggestive spells on this area, they would also use various methods to suggest passers-by to leave from time to time. Even the delivery drivers were chosen by them to be one of those who was better at suggestion and illusion, and they would let him take his wages and leave happily.

"Put the finished products over there, and then everyone return to their respective locations to take turns standing guard. Today's work is over."

The last furnace of crude metal came out of the furnace. After the work was completed, the evil spirits took off their safety helmets and returned to their original wild appearance. The difference was that there was more or less a scorching breath wafting from their bodies, and even many of the evil spirits' clothes had faint traces of ashes left after being burned to ashes. However, their breath did not seem to be weakened at all, but became even stronger.

"Boss!!"

A group of evil spirits suddenly stood at attention and loudly welcomed their master's master to the factory. Seeing this scene, Uesugi Cheng almost thought that he had walked into not a newly completed factory, but a gang gathering.

"Alright, alright, keep a low profile. This is considered illegal occupation of land. Cover it up better. I'll bring you some more supplements later."

Behind Uesugi Cheng was a small box towed by a small trailer. Inside, a red liquid as bright as sunset was shaking in a retort, emitting heat through the glass.

The group of evil spirits dispersed in an instant, as if they had never existed. Uesugi Cheng dragged the fuel to the core storage room and placed them next to the box containing the paintings, so that the painting spirits could get their own food.

"Speaking of which, why haven't you grown up at all after eating so much red essence?"

Uesugi Cheng was a little confused. The energy contained in the red essence that Uesugi Cheng had fed since he started painting might have been enough to sink an island, but the flame in front of him still looked like a tiny flame.

"Don't like growing bigger? Okay..."

303

Chapter 303 Fraser Strathcoine.

Uesugi Cheng got an answer that made him feel a little helpless. The painting spirit was very satisfied with its current exposed body size. The power given to it by the red essence would indeed make its body grow rapidly, but it would actively choose to compress its body back to its original size. In fact, it had been doing this for a long time.

So Uesugi Cheng could only respect its own choice, and then put the crude metal into his trailer, ready to take it back to the Silent Bookstore and put it in the workshop for secondary refining, and then store the obtained mountain copper in the warehouse until it is needed.

The factory has entered the stage of automatic operation. Uesugi Cheng only needs to bring supplies and raw materials to the factory regularly to harvest the metals he wants. This undoubtedly greatly reduces his pressure. After all, even if he can separate his soul to do different things, a person's energy is always limited, and it is completely inferior to the efficiency of this group of skilled assembly line evil spirit workers.

After receiving the goods, Uesugi Cheng added some blinding spells to the factory to ensure its absolute safety, and then turned his attention to the Silent Bookstore.

The main part of the Silent Bookstore has been basically renovated. The various reading rooms, study rooms, and warehouses in the lower level of the castle, as well as the church and various gathering places in the upper level have been reactivated and can play their own functions at any time. As for the Alchemy Bottle Prison in the back, Uesugi Cheng has no plans to go there for the time being. After all, the main facility already has enough facilities that he needs to spend time studying.

However, there is no need for Uesugi Cheng to use any facilities other than the desk for the time being. After all, in Silent Bookstore, all he does is read and make some necessary materials or items, so there is no need for him to use those facilities.

"Is this the clock that was designed and built under the supervision of Ms. Serena? It is truly unique and exquisite."

Uesugi Cheng came to the entrance of the tallest tower of Silent Bookstore. Inside the tower was the largest bronze bell in the entire Silent Bookstore, as well as a timing device for ringing them. Uesugi Cheng felt that the design of these large bells could, to a certain extent, serve as a reference for his own production of the Ys Bell, so he came here to observe at this time.

"I was going crazy when I was sorting out the parts. I never thought I could put them together and turn them into a functioning machine."

Uesugi Cheng looked at the gears of all sizes and the corresponding ropes. As long as he pressed the button here, the five big bells on the next floor would ring according to his wishes. It must be said that the improvements in some places of Silent Bookstore and the main castle which has basically not changed are like things from two different eras.

As for the five big bells upstairs, they all have their own names, namely, "The Giver", "The Storyteller", "Tongue of Shuar", "Ms. Janice" and "The Great Peacock". Of course, some of the bells were once rusted to the point of being unusable, so the night shift office and the bookstore administrator had the opportunity to carry out modern repairs and renovations on them.

"Tsk, their craftsmanship is indeed very good, but why does the repair work look so much like... it is mixed with some irrelevant technical verification... What a waste, adding meaningless things to such a good clock."

Uesugi Cheng felt a little sorry that these clocks, which were supposed to be simple and elegant, had some extra cumbersome things on them, but he had no intention of modifying them. After all, compared to making modifications, Uesugi Cheng felt that it was more meaningful for him to create his own works.

"Librarian. I have something urgent to ask you."

At this time, a middle-aged man with a bald head, which was common in the British Empire, knocked on the door of Silent Bookstore, and Uesugi Cheng welcomed him into the bookstore.

Mr. Fraser Strathcoine: Philanthropist, collector, former librarian. A complex man, but not cruel.

Yes, this is the Council's former Treasurer and (for a brief and annoying period when no other candidates were available) its fourth Librarian.

"I wanted to speak to you in private, Librarian. I've been troubled by dreams about eyes lately."

He told them his purpose as soon as he entered the door. To be honest, Fraser was still skeptical about whether the new bookstore manager could clean up such a big mess. But when he actually saw that Silent Bookstore was running normally even though there was only one person, he breathed a sigh of relief and turned his attention back to the events he was concerned about.

"The blindness, the revelations, in Messina... there was something familiar about these phenomena. I felt like I had found a solution."

The former bookstore manager thought that what happened to him seemed to be related to what was happening in Messina, so he came here specifically hoping to get answers from the book.

"This book……"

When Fraser walked into the familiar reading room, he saw a book that was extremely familiar to him, written by his adopted son Christopher Strathcoine.

Night Travel Notes Volume 2

"What's wrong? It seems that the author of this book is indeed unusual to you. However, I never ask about other people's family affairs. Would you like a drink? I also have some alcohol produced by your special whiskey distillery in stock."

Uesugi Cheng saw his complicated look, thought about it and asked politely.

"Thank you, Administrator. I'll buy you a drink after I get the answer I want."

Fraser nodded and accepted Uesugi Cheng's invitation, but he still wanted to know the answer more. After all, this was related to his opinion of the bloodline in his body.

So he had a book from the "Locksmith's Dream" series that met his requirements in his hand, and Uesugi Cheng had a copper coin and a business card in his hand as usual.

"No, this is another existence. Those dreams of mine have not yet come true in reality. Maybe they never will. Thank you, librarian."

After carefully completing the analysis, Fraser let out a sigh of regret or joy, and put down the book.

"It looks like you've discovered the culprit behind this series of events."

"Yes, Eyeless Saint Lucia, the Named One of the Curved Moon. Although I don't know what happened to Mansu, I think it's probably not a good thing. Maybe the Candle Maker also had an influence."

Fraser touched his hairless head and decided to have a good drink with Uesugi Cheng to forget everything they had just said.

304

Chapter 304: Bird Song Studies and [Stories of the Sky]

Of course, the last two people didn't get drunk as they said. It would be better to say that they subconsciously controlled their alcohol intake. Uesugi Cheng really didn't like drinking, especially when the taste of this kind of wine was a bit strange to him.

【Strathcoine Whisky】: Peated viper-like peat flavor. (2 scales, 1 cup, 1 honey)

His visitor, Mr. Fraser, seemed to be preoccupied. He was slightly tipsy and found a room to rest for the answer he wanted. After paying the copper coins as a reward, he seemed to be thinking for a long time while holding the book "The Locksmith's Dream: Light Through the Keyhole". In the end, he did not say more to Uesugi Cheng and seemed to be just staring at the book in a daze.

"Administrator, I don't know why it is you, but I hope... this world can move towards a better future."

Before leaving, Fraser left this meaningful words, but Shangshan Cheng didn't care much. After all, he hadn't even finished repairing the Silent Bookstore yet, so how could he have time to think about more things? The future was still too far away for him now. After all, the future pointed to by the leap knowledge he had now was not the development he wanted to see.

[Story of the Sky Lv.2]: Sometimes we can hear the idle chatter of the Nine Winds. (Quoted from 3 Dome 2)

Uesugi Sumiko put down the "Critique of the Rope Sisterhood and Their Decadent Customs" in his hand. The contents of the two books about "The Story of the Sky" felt very novel to him. It was very interesting to look at the history of that period from the perspective of some people who did not know much about the secret history or were vague about it.

Of course, Uesugi Cheng read these books to learn the great arts not only for learning, but more for the Night Watchman Tree in his body.

【Bird Song Learning Level 2】

【Perch】

One is a scene thief, the other is the king of scavengers.

One plundered the border, the other twisted the knots.

One steals color, the other steals bones.

This is the science of bird song. (Getting grief)

Birdsong studies, in the mouths of some people with sharp tongues, is called "a strange subject that regards gossip tabloids and Si Chen's dark history as a subject." It is also the subject with the most knowledge and the least practical requirements among the nine great arts.

But the power it possesses is unquestionable. The techniques and formulas contained in these stories and secrets are also of great benefit to Uesugi Cheng. After all, even with the lowest benefits, when Uesugi Cheng presents them to the Night Watchman Tree, he can at least enhance his soul and further expand his power.

"The Old Copper Nose and Soft Metal" and "The Smelting of Vinzant" were placed on Uesugi Cheng's desk, but he did not plan to read and study them immediately. He planned to wait until the end of the semester to study, and start his first creation of the Ys Bell before the New Year.

……

At the gate of Tokyo University, Uesugi Sumiko got out of the car with his small bag on his back, said hello to the driver arranged by Uesugi Shin and left. He came to the gate of Tokyo University as he and Professor Sugino had agreed, intending to go to the Academy of Fine Arts to study and see if he could find any interesting works or inspiration.

Uesugi Cheng put on a pair of glasses, and Zuo combed his hair slightly, making him look completely different from his usual self, and then walked into this famous school for all Japanese.

No one, whether students, teachers or even staff, who were coming and going, noticed Uesugi Sumika, a guest who had sneaked in. Everyone was busy with their own things, such as New Year's activities. To be honest, Uesugi Sumika really felt that the atmosphere here was a lot more relaxed than that of Unified High School, especially at the end of the semester. The students of Unified High School were already in a highly nervous state, but here there seemed to be a special sense of relaxation.

"Oh, you're here. Come sit down..."

Sugino Jiro was obviously still busy with his work. For a man in his sixties and almost seventy years old, it was indeed a big challenge to skillfully use computer software to do office work. At least Sugino would show a helpless expression from time to time.

"I'm sorry, I'm not very familiar with the use of computers, and I haven't finished the work for a while."

The old man apologized sincerely, then turned off his computer, sat down opposite Uesugi Cheng, and started to make water to make tea.

"How is your first impression of the University of Tokyo?"

“Very interesting and relaxing…”

Uesugi Cheng put his bag aside. He had to say that the decoration here was really beautiful. Uesugi Cheng memorized all the styles and accessories in his mind, intending to see if he could use them when he returned to his apartment or even the big house.

"Is that so? It seems like they left a good impression on you, so... do you want to come here to study?"

“…Isn’t it a question of whether I can come?”

Uesugi Sumiko smiled and took out a stack of drawings and handed them to Sugino. These were still comic drafts, but they were comic drafts that he had revised and redrawn all the main characters.

"Hmm, it's actually this kind of extremely realistic style. If this style is not well controlled, it will be quite troublesome for comics. After all, readers don't read comics to learn sketching."

Sugino said this after reading the first two pages of the comic, then he looked at Uesugi Sumiko who suddenly raised his head and smiled.

"Although I'm an old man, I can't be completely ignorant of the development of art, right? Especially since Japan's animation and comics art systems are very developed, it's normal for someone like me who studies art to have some understanding of them."

“But I have to say that with the help of your painting skills, Uesugi-san… the immaturity of the camera arrangement will be covered up, especially when you come up with such a large spread.”

That was the last page of the first episode. The redrawn old hunter was covered in a straw raincoat, sitting under the window of a thatched hut. Snowflakes fell on his shoulders through the thatched hut. The main perspective was from the perspective of the middle-aged man who wanted revenge. The hunter's scarred face looked extremely deep and sharp under the projection of the cold sunlight, and the light treatment was just right to make people feel chilly.

"I have to say, it still exceeded my expectations... Where is it going to be published? I can't wait to buy a copy and take a look."

Sugino Jiro seemed to be half joking when he said this, but his hand holding the manuscript was still shaking unconsciously.

"Maybe this is genius."

305

Chapter 305: Peaceful Afternoon Time

“Is there anything that needs improvement?”

"If you ask me, maybe the content of the lens narrative can be enriched a little bit. Your paintings are so realistic, you can definitely fill some of the relatively empty spaces with something, such as scenery or some small objects. For example, inside this house, although it is a thatched house, you can fill it with some things that can hint at the background and the development of the story..."

As soon as Sugino Jiro talked about this, he began to talk nonstop. He carefully explained his own views to Uesugi Sumika, but after he finished speaking, he suddenly seemed to remember something and coughed twice in embarrassment.

"Sorry, this is your work after all, I think I said a little too much."

"No, thank you very much...I'll look into it some more."