A comic book, but a librarian

376

Chapter 376: Preparation before going home and an unexpected visit.

"Although I didn't have much to bring, when I really went out, I unexpectedly had more stuff than I expected."

Uesugi Cheng put down his bag, looked at his packed luggage, and sighed.

He originally thought that he would not be living here for very long and would not have much luggage to take with him. It turned out that he brought not only clothes but also small items that he usually used, various electronic devices, books, and even some materials that could not be stored for a long time when no one was around.

"Mr. Ji-sheng... Is it okay to leave those paintings there?"

Himegami Sakura looked at Uesugi Sumire's studio with some worry. After Uesugi Sumire painted "Hell Transformation", although he did not continue to plan to paint those epic masterpieces that could be handed down from generation to generation, to be honest, she was not at ease at all, because Uesugi Sumire had actually been redrawing and repairing his previous works.

What was originally just an ordinary studio was now filled with a repressed atmosphere in the eyes of Himegami Sakura. Various mysterious paintings were covered only by a thin layer of white cloth. Himegami Sakura had no idea what kind of function they played, but she knew that if the painter Uesugi Cheng was not around for a long time, these paintings might start to play tricks.

"Oh, I forgot about that. Those paintings... I don't think anything will happen to them, right? My paintings are not left outside, so no one will steal them, right?"

Uesugi Cheng was a little hesitant. He didn't think his paintings were worth stealing. After all, not everyone has the ability to appreciate art.

"That's not what I meant, sir... I think it's better to worry about the thief's life than to worry about the thief stealing the paintings. Those paintings seem to know that you are going out, and they are starting to make a move."

The unpleasant aura in the studio pressed towards her fiercely after Ji Shenying said this, but she shattered it with a cold snort. It must be said that the intelligence of these paintings evolved very quickly. She had never thought that these paintings could actually understand their conversation.

"Is it really necessary..."

Uesugi Cheng took a look at the studio. The aura inside was not only weak but also not aggressive. It made people immersed in it. Besides, when Uesugi Cheng painted these things, he deliberately chose landscapes and scene paintings that did not have so many troublesome subjects.

"In fact, I think it is necessary, but it depends on your intention, sir."

Himegami Sakura silently used the mist to calm down the restless guys in the studio. It seemed that her master did not have a clear concept of his own strength, or the energy he had invested in art led him to misjudge these things. But it didn't matter, even if Uesugi Cheng didn't do it, she would do a little bit.

"Okay, I'll go set up some protection... Just help me push the luggage to the door, and I'll go with you later with the luggage."

Uesugi Cheng nodded and walked into the studio. The recommended protective and suppressive measures would not take him long, but if he saved that time, he didn't want to rush back to deal with the problems he had caused when he was at home.

Five minutes later, after confirming that no sound could be heard from inside his studio, Uesugi Cheng simply decorated the entire studio with roses and rose flowers so that the covering vines would not look so bare. This was a technique he learned at the Silent Bookstore, from the method used by the previous administrator to seal the room. Because it was beautiful and fun enough, Uesugi Cheng copied this technique. He didn't expect that it would come in handy today.

"Let's go, get in the car."

This time, Uesugi Sakura did not let Himegami Sakura sneak into his shadow. After all, she seemed to have not had a complete experience of riding in a car, and Uesugi Sakura did not intend to let this become her "inexperience", so he let her follow him downstairs.

I have to say that long-term spiritual nourishment and material subsidies are quite effective. Himegami Sakura looks like a 1.4-meter-tall girl. If you don't look closely at her joints, no one can recognize that this is a doll.

"We've put everything away, let's go."

Uesugi Sumire got into the car, and the professional driver wearing sunglasses nodded, completely ignoring Himegami Sakura who was sitting next to Uesugi Sumire.

Of course, this is just a little trick of Uesugi Cheng. After all, it can save a lot of trouble of being questioned.

"Call me when you get there. I'm going to sleep first."

Uesugi Cheng closed his eyes and did not give the driver time to respond. The silent driver was already used to this kind of thing. Rather, he would wonder if the world had gone crazy if young Master Uesugi sat in the car full of energy and chatted with him.

Uesugi Cheng's body quickly fell into sleep. After all, he had been running outside every day in the past few days, and physical fatigue was not so easy to eliminate.

Himegami Sakura looked out the window silently. It was the first time for her to sit in a human car. After all, she usually either used concealing or protective powers for this kind of transportation, or simply sat on the roof of the car and set off. This was the first time for her to sit inside and look out.

"It seems that this method is quite effective... But it can't be used for too long. Otherwise, if this sword is left in the Noon World for too long, I'm afraid someone from the Sundering Wolf will come looking for us..."

Uesugi Cheng breathed a sigh of relief as he looked at the sword lying quietly in the sarcophagus, no longer emitting any breath. At least his guess was correct. This sword required a certain amount of force to suppress. It couldn't be too fierce but also not too weak.

Moreover, if it is left in the Noon World for too long, Uesugi Cheng is somewhat afraid that the sword will establish a connection with the Split Wolf again. By then, the loss of the sword will be a small matter, but the Split Wolf will have an extra weapon made based on [Leap Knowledge: Ruthless Change] in his hand, and it goes without saying what will happen.

"The next step is... these two books, and then we can celebrate the New Year with peace of mind. These portions of honey are good, I'll make honey tea or cakes for them to try."

Uesugi Sumiko began to count the inventory in the warehouse, thinking about what gifts to send to his family next.

"Hello, I'm here again."

A middle-aged man wearing a hat came to the door of Silent Bookstore, looking a little dusty. Dr. Ibn Adim appeared in Uesugi Cheng's sight again, one of the few moments of sunshine in these windy and snowy days.

"I'm here for the Medusa incident, and I hope to ask for your help."

377

Chapter 377: Family Conflict.

"'She may be the oldest of her kind still alive, but she is dead.' We used to say this about Medusa, the Ligeia who prowled the streets of Budapest at night... but lately she seems to have begun to haunt the day as well."

Ibn Adim, an immortal who is suspected to be a wandering traveler. This is the information in Uesugi Cheng's memories. In fact, who this person is is not very important to Uesugi Cheng. After all, his identity in the Silent Bookstore is just a visitor, just like Ms. Azita.

"Medusa's riddle is: 'What is not to be seen?'

Ligeia's riddles rarely have just one answer, and if I'm planning on going to Budapest I'd better make some preparations."

He seemed to be talking to himself in a panic. Uesugi Cheng did not respond, but was just looking for books. He knew that even an immortal would feel a little nervous when facing the oldest living Ligeia. After all, apart from anything else, Ligeia feeds on humans.

"What can't be seen... This is a good riddle, but I have to tell you, this question has too many answers. If you don't mind, you can consult Dr. Allen Desquamation... He is a master of riddles."

Before Uesugi Cheng could finish his words, Iben showed a very speechless expression.

"I'm sorry, but I only know of the existence of the immortal you mentioned. I have never seen him."

"There will be opportunities in the future, but guessing riddles is best done by yourself, right?"

Uesugi Cheng handed the selected books to Iben, then sat beside him and watched Iben begin to think.

"The Book of Centipede. I think this book is just the right one for your question, and it's not too difficult to understand. So, what kind of Ligeia is Medusa?"

"There is almost no answer to this question. Everyone has a completely different opinion about her. If I really have to say... she is an ancient. This is the only answer I can give."

Iben frowned, then relaxed.

"Some authorities say the answer is 'eternity.' Others say 'shell species,' but I fear that might anger her... perhaps the safest answer is 'me.' Thank you, Librarian."

"It doesn't matter. After all, this is your answer. Maybe I should meet that Medusa once. You said she has started to appear during the day, right?"

"Yes, otherwise I wouldn't be in such a hurry to leave."

Iben nodded, took out a copper coin and placed it on the table along with his business card.

"This is my reward. If you are going to Budapest, my only suggestion is... Never mind. There is no need to give you any advice. I think I have guessed who you are. I have to say, it is a wonderful fate."

Iben's tone was no longer as reserved as before, and it sounded more like he was chatting with an old friend.

"The past is inseparable from me, but it is not important to the present, so let it be... Happy New Year."

"Ah...it's New Year already. Happy New Year. It's been a long time since I said this to anyone. I really miss it."

Iben was stunned for a moment, then smiled and responded to Uesugi Cheng's blessing.

Then he immediately left Silent Bookstore in the wind and snow, and Uesugi Cheng did not try to keep him. The wandering traveler's subordinates always need to hurry on, no matter where they are going or where they are.

"Sakura, are you okay?"

"Everything is fine, sir. You slept for about an hour. We are out of the city now."

Himegami Sakura turned her head, and her long black hair swayed with her movements, looking like a piece of black silk that was rolled up.

"I see."

Uesugi Cheng narrowed his eyes, then rubbed them, yawned, and casually took a bottle of drink from the small refrigerator next to the car and opened it. The driver in front was still driving quietly, and did not react at all to Uesugi Cheng's mumbling just now.

"Hmm, the feeling of bubbles is interesting, but I can't taste it..."

Himegami Sakura also took a bite. She could feel the bubbles exploding in her 'mouth'. It was a wonderful feeling just like the bubbles falling on her arm and then breaking. Unfortunately, as a doll, she had no sense of taste. Uesugi Cheng spent a lot of effort to cultivate her sense of touch.

"I want it too, I want it too!!"

The little Kishimoshin took the drink, and her eyes lit up after taking a sip. The wonderful sweetness and the feeling of bubbles exploding in her mouth were something she had never experienced before.

The driver looked back in confusion, and through his sunglasses he saw that Uesugi Sumika seemed to be still sleeping. Then he turned back to look at the road in confusion. He always felt as if he heard some strange noises. Could it be that he really hadn't slept well recently?

In fact, when they returned home, except for the old housekeeper who came out to greet Uesugi Sumiya, everyone else was busy with their own work. This was the change that occurred after Uesugi Shin took over the affairs of the family. After all, he felt that it was better to finish his own business early and have more time to rest than to go through all the pomp and circumstance.

"A lot of the etiquette and manners of those guys are actually due to comparison, but fortunately they don't do anything worse, they just get caught up in things that are of no use."

Uesugi Nobuyuki held his cigarette and sat in his seat, while Uesugi Cheng leaned against the window to avoid smelling the secondhand smoke. Compared to the Uesugi family's main household which felt a bit lifeless last year, it was obvious that all the servants now had more life on their faces and did not look so depressed.

"If it doesn't work, I'll just fight that guy again. I've fought with him a lot anyway."

Uesugi Sumiya's irrelevant words and attitude made Uesugi Shin really feel awkward to respond. After all, among the people he knew, no one would casually talk about fighting with his own father, or even a one-sided beating.

"Father, it's not easy for him either..."

It was only then that Uesugi Nobuyuki realized that his attitude had actually begun to lean towards his father's. Although that guy had beaten him a lot when he was a child, ever since Uesugi Sumire grew up, he had seen scenes of Uesugi Sumire returning the beatings tenfold. This made it difficult for him to think how cruel his father was. After all, even so, Uesugi Sumire was not kicked out.

Although Uesugi Nobuyuki felt that if his brother was driven out, he and Uesugi Saki would most likely be the first ones to start resisting.

"Let's have a good New Year. Let's all give in to each other and be more restrained."

This was all Uesugi Shin could finally squeeze out. Uesugi Cheng nodded but didn't say anything else.

378

Chapter 378 The Past and Late Night Radio.

In fact, the feud between Uesugi Sumire and his family can be said to be long-standing, and it can even be said that it is not a problem to make a short novel out of it.

The cause of the incident was his father. After that old-fashioned man who had the will but not the ability became the head of the family, the man who had been instilled with the idea of ​​reviving the family since childhood realized for the first time the gap between himself and his ideal. Helplessly, he could only choose to maintain stability while training the next generation, hoping to cultivate a child who could become the head of the family in his ideal.

The first son and the first daughter were both very outstanding and talented, so Shinichi Uesugi passed on the education he had received.

As a father, he didn't want to see the two children being tortured by things that shouldn't be borne by them, but as the head of the family, the words "I give you this position so that you can revive our family" have always been lingering in his mind, so his expression became less and less, and he hoped that he could be cruel, and Uesugi Nobu and Uesugi Saki would understand his good intentions in the future.

Then his second son, the devil, was born. He did not have much hope for Uesugi Sumiya. After all, his eldest son and daughter were already good enough. If the second son was also very good, it would easily cause conflicts that he did not want to see.

However, he did not expect that this child was far more outrageous than he had imagined. When he was scolding his eldest son and daughter, his second son actually dared to talk back to him. This was a situation that was absolutely not allowed in the education that Shinichi Uesugi received, so he rarely took action.

Of course, what he didn't expect was that the child could actually fight back and talk back to him, even leaving him speechless many times.

"I'm doing this for your own good!!! Do you think you can handle this position with your current incompetence?!"

"I'm doing this for your own good, you old bastard! To prevent someone from pulling out your oxygen tube in the ward in the future!!!"

The last words spoken by the fifteen-year-old Uesugi Sumiya before she swung a vase and smashed it on his head made him fall into complete silence. He was sent directly to the hospital with an extra bandage on his head. What made it even more difficult for him to accept was that Uesugi Shin and Uesugi Saki said nothing about it, and even seemed to be protecting Uesugi Sumiya.

It took him a long time to reconcile with his mediocrity, but he really had no way of giving up his ideals, which were the curse that his previous generation had carved into his heart for half their lives.

……

"In the end, I just let it go. He was right. You can do much more than an old man like me. The greatest fortune for a mortal like me is to have children like you."

Shinichi Uesugi pressed the cigarette into the ashtray. He was very different from the serious and old-fashioned man who seemed like a machine a year ago. At least he looked much more relaxed now, and his tone of voice was more like that of an ordinary old man.

"Father, don't say that... You are right about some things."

Uesugi Nobuyuki sat in front of him, and the task of communicating with his father was basically given to him. After all, he couldn't really let Uesugi Sumiya come and chat with his beloved old father, otherwise he was afraid that the vase or something else would be stained with blood again.

"Some things... that is to say, most of them are not right..."

Uesugi Shinichi smiled self-deprecatingly.

"I practiced swordsmanship for ten years, but I was beaten to a pulp by that kid with my bare hands. I was even sent to the hospital by a vase..."

Uesugi Nobuyuki sometimes felt that although his father said that Asumi was not his son, the two were actually exactly the same in some aspects, such as not letting others take over the conversation.

"Okay, how is he doing after transferring to this school... and by the way, how is that bastard who tried to bully him?"

Shinichi Uesugi lit another cigarette.

"He's doing pretty well... That guy has been sent to Hokkaido. What happens to him has nothing to do with us. It was done by the people of Shuchiin."

Uesugi Shinko cooperated very well and lit a cigarette. He was a non-smoker before, but he started to smoke after taking over the job left by Uesugi Shinichi.

"If it were in the past, I would definitely be furious and ask how this kid could have gotten into this state. We should solve the problem in a way that is more in line with the interests of the Uesugi family... But now, you're doing a good job."

Uesugi Shinichi nodded and said nothing. In fact, Uesugi Shinichi was also present on the day that Uesugi Cheng dropped out of school. After all, it was a reconciliation between the two parties. However, Uesugi Shinichi had a relatively high status, so he arrived later. As a result, when Uesugi Shinichi walked downstairs, he witnessed the student who tried to bully others and his father flying out of the second-floor window.

Otherwise, Uesugi Cheng would definitely not need to transfer schools, after all, the responsibility was not originally his.

"Serious violent tendencies... Hehe, they thought Cheng was kicked out of the house and wanted to bully him, so how come that doesn't count as violent tendencies."

This is Uesugi Saki's evaluation of the ending. She also contributed a little, using some favors and making some arrangements with Hokkaido to ensure that those two people would not be able to come back here within ten years.

……

"Oh, I didn't expect that everything in the room was so clean. I thought I was the one who was going to do it."

Uesugi Cheng was lying on the bed. After opening his suitcase, he arranged the things inside according to the pattern and order he was familiar with. Then he fell into confusion, because he really didn't know what to do now. Most things could not be done in a short time, but just lying here would be very boring.

Himegami Sakura squatted silently in the corner, picked up a book from the bookshelf in the room and began to read. Although it was a little difficult to understand, she felt that the storybook was quite interesting.

"Forget it, let's just find someone to talk to."