Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 1957: Strange hidden room

"This is the library."

By the standards of the sea witches, this library was a location under significant protection. A variety of their magical experiments were housed within, and several witches were stationed at the entrance as sentries.

Additional sea witches could be found inside the hall, though most were simply preoccupied with searching for materials to further their personal research.

Essentially, this archive served as a repository for the collective wisdom of their race; it was the primary destination for any sea witch seeking a spark of inspiration for their craft.

Gaining entry was certainly no simple feat, yet I was permitted inside because I was accompanied by the former crown prince.

Despite not being a sea witch himself, he held a certain degree of status here due to his marriage to one of the Five Great Witches.

I was, however, quite uncertain about what I should actually be searching for in such a place.

Even with the doors open to me, I lacked a clear starting point.

Fortunately, the former crown prince noticed my hesitation and inquired about my objectives.

It turned out he possessed an intimate knowledge of the layout, having once volunteered his time as a librarian.

"I was a newcomer back then and wanted to be useful. Simultaneously, I hoped to uncover the secrets of the sea witches, which is what drew me here," he explained.

"Did you eventually discover anything?" I asked, my voice tinged with curiosity.

He remained silent, but the pained smile on his lips provided a clearer answer than words ever could. Finally, he admitted, "I found nothing of substance, though I did learn a great deal about their culture. If I hadn't, winning over my wife wouldn't have been so simple. This library is actually where we first met."

I couldn't suppress a wry smile as he began reminiscing about his life with Zyra.

Under different circumstances, I might have found his stories interesting, but time was a luxury I currently lacked.

Upon reaching the history department, I interrupted his tangent with a sharp cough and began scanning the surrounding volumes.

The former crown prince stood by quietly, appearing to wait for me.

It seemed he had gone through this exact process when he first arrived, only to come up empty-handed.

I doubted my own luck would be any better, but I felt compelled to try nonetheless.

Just as the former crown prince had foreseen, my efforts were in vain.

Despite scouring numerous texts, I failed to locate a single useful lead. While there was plenty of lore regarding the origins and development of the sea witches, the specific data I required was nowhere to be found.

Now that the truth behind their race had been revealed to me, I realized the records in this library were fundamentally incomplete.

It appeared as though the majority of the history documented here was merely a facade...

The former crown prince averted his gaze, though it was obvious that he shared this realization.

Did that imply the existence of a hidden history, tucked away from prying eyes?

Noticing my expression, the former crown prince shook his head. "I've searched this place before," he said. "There was absolutely nothing."

I didn't question his word, as I could easily guess his motives for coming here in the past. At the same time, his familiarity with the history section seemed a bit too precise...

This was no mere accident.

There had to be a concealed record somewhere that held the genuine truth of the sea witches' past.

After all, it was unthinkable that they wouldn't find some method to preserve and pass down such vital information.

Based on what I had already uncovered, I had a theory about where it might be hidden.

"If this is indeed connected to the gods, then that would mean..."

Following my intuition, I extended my hands toward the bookshelves looming before me.

The former crown prince stared at me as if I had lost my mind, but I remained silent, waiting for a reaction to manifest in my palm.

After a moment of concentration, a radiant mark began to glow.

"Click."

At the sound of the mechanical snap, both the former crown prince and I turned our heads toward the noise.

It wasn't long before the massive bookshelf in front of us began to slide aside.

Once the movement ceased, a secret chamber stood revealed.

"This is..." The former crown prince spoke, his voice trembling with shock, but I ignored his disbelief and stepped inside.

The hidden room was sparsely furnished, yet it was far from empty.

Centered within were three books kept in storage.

Their flawless condition suggested that some form of preservation magic had been employed to protect them from the passage of time.

As I reached out, a sudden light emanated from one of the volumes the moment my hand—the one bearing the Mark of God—drew near.

Because this specific book reacted to the Mark of God, it was undoubtedly the one containing the clues I sought...

"I found his offer hard to believe at first. However, this was the sole path to our survival. I can only hope that when our descendants discover this record, they will not judge my choice too harshly."

Only that single line glowed with light; the rest of the text was a straightforward chronicle of the sea witches.

It was the authentic history, yet it mirrored exactly what the kraken had already disclosed to us.

"What is the meaning of this...?"