Laughter echoed once more through the air, light and unrestrained, drifting between stone walls and wooden stalls like an invisible thread binding the people together. Wherever humans gathered, there seemed to exist this strange atmosphere—an effortless warmth, a fragile illusion of normalcy. Meruem observed it in silence, his gaze steady, his mind unsettled.
Were these truly the same humans President Netero had spoken of?
The ones capable of boundless cruelty.
Those who crushed the weak beneath ornate palaces, who delighted in suffering from afar, who fed upon despair as though it were sustenance.
And yet here they were—laughing, trading, smiling—lives steeped in hardship and poverty, yet still able to produce joy. How could beings surrounded by deprivation still find the strength to smile? This contradiction gnawed at Meruem's thoughts, deepening the intrigue humans had already begun to inspire within him.
The merchant city of Valmeris stood as one of the most prominent trade hubs in the surrounding regions. It had flourished through the commerce of rare inks, preserved fish, and scholarly materials—goods destined for ports and capitals alike. Nearly all its inhabitants were merchants or artisans, most belonging to the modest but stable middle class.
"It's a city built on exchange," Edrin explained calmly as they walked. "Not just of goods, but of ideas. Valmeris survives because knowledge moves through it as much as coin does."
Komugi walked close to Meruem, her steps light, her expression openly curious.
"We're going to do some shopping while the caravan rests," Edrin continued. "If you'd like to come, we'd be honored."
Komugi turned to Meruem with bright eyes.
"I think it would be nice, Sir Meruem… to take a look around. I know I don't know you very well, but I get the feeling you haven't seen much of the outside world."
She hesitated, cheeks flushing slightly.
"I—I don't mean that in a bad way. Just… it might be good for you."
Meruem studied her for a moment, then nodded.
"Very well. We will accompany you."
Then, quieter, directed only at her:
"Do not fear addressing me."
Komugi's thoughts nearly exploded at the words.
"Yes—yes, Sir Mer— I mean… I'll try to be careful."
She smiled, relieved, her expression warm in a way Meruem found unexpectedly disarming.
"What troubles you?" he asked.
"N-nothing!" she replied quickly. "It's just… you seem different. Compared to the palace. You feel more… human."
She panicked immediately.
"I mean—in a good way!"
Edrin chuckled as he joined them.
"She still calls you 'Sir' or 'Majesty,' huh? You really do look like a prince."
Komugi lowered her head.
"I think I've always called him that."
Edrin clapped his hands.
"Alright! We meet back here before nightfall. We camp outside the city, then depart at dawn."
The group split, each merchant tasked with gathering supplies.
Edrin, Meruem, and Komugi remained together, assigned to retrieve several rare volumes destined for the port.
The city unfolded before them like a living organism. Spice markets, weapon forges, food stalls overflowing with color and scent. Komugi and Edrin eagerly tasted local dishes while Meruem politely declined, observing instead. Yet even amid prosperity, hunger lingered in the alleys. Children with hollow eyes. Adults whose bodies bore the marks of long deprivation.
Meruem slowed.
"How can this city be called prosperous," he asked quietly, "when such suffering exists?"
Edrin followed his gaze, his expression heavy.
"That is the reality of humanity. Prosperity does not erase cruelty—it often hides it."
Meruem wrapped his tail subtly around his waist, instinctively concealing it to avoid frightening passersby.
And then they stood before it.
The Astryx Grand Library of Valmeris.
Its sheer scale defied reason. A colossal structure of white stone and dark glass, its name etched in ancient script above towering doors. The building radiated presence—as if it were aware of those who approached.
The narrator interjected softly:
Before knowledge, even kings must hesitate.
They stepped inside.
The interior revealed a labyrinthine marvel—concentric circles expanding outward, a massive central chamber with spiraling staircases ascending endlessly. Seventy-seven floors, each visible from the ground level, stacked like layers of thought reaching toward the heavens.
A gentle melody floated through the space, drifting from the upper floors. At every level stood a receptionist, poised and welcoming.
An elderly man approached.
"Welcome to the Astryx Grand Library. How may I assist you?"
"We are seeking Mister Caldrien Voss," Edrin replied.
"Please, follow me."
Shelves stretched endlessly, each floor dedicated to a domain of existence—Nen theory, extinct species, forbidden geography, records of the Dark Continent, sealed archives pulsing faintly with Nen inscriptions.
"Nearly seventy million volumes," Edrin whispered. "And that's excluding restricted texts."
Komugi clutched her hands.
"I… I can't believe this."
Meruem's thoughts echoed.
Humans revere knowledge… yet fail to embody it.
They stopped before massive doors.
"Please wait here."
As the guide departed, Meruem felt it again—that sensation.
A presence. Watching.
He could release his En.
But he didn't.
Curiosity restrained the king.
The door opened.
"Edrin, my old friend!"
Caldrien Voss emerged, sharp-eyed despite age. They embraced warmly.
"You're here for the shipment, I assume?"
"Yes."
Caldrien turned to the others.
"And these must be your companions."
Komugi bowed slightly.
"I'm Komugi."
"And you?" Caldrien asked Meruem.
"Meruem."
"A pleasure. From which region?"
"The Eastern Republic of Gorteau."
Caldrien's smile faded slightly.
"I've heard… things. You must still be recovering."
Meruem remained silent.
The world believed him dead.
It did not know its king walked among them.
A name was called.
"Elios."
Their guide stepped forward, his eyes sharp, his posture tense—as if guarding against something unseen.
The air grew heavy.
And thus the chapter closed.
What truths lay hidden beneath seventy-seven floors of silence?
And what would awaken when Meruem sought answers meant for no king?