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

"We have arrived at the library."

By the standards of the sea witches, this repository of knowledge was remarkably well-protected. Various experimental subjects were stationed throughout the area, and several witches stood watch as sentries.

Inside, many more sea witches could be found, though most were simply preoccupied with their own research and seeking information for their personal projects.

This library served as the definitive archive for all sea witch knowledge; it was the primary destination for any witch seeking inspiration for their next experiment.

While gaining entry normally proved difficult, I was granted access because I was accompanied by the former crown prince.

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

I stood there, however, feeling uncertain about what I should actually be searching for.

Even with permission to browse the stacks, I had no idea where I ought to begin.

Noticing my hesitation, the former crown prince kindly inquired about the specific information I was after.

As it happened, he possessed an intimate knowledge of the layout because he had previously spent time working as a volunteer librarian.

"I was a newcomer to this place and wanted to be useful. At the same time, I hoped to uncover more about the nature of the sea witches, which is why I spent so much time here," he explained.

"Did you manage to discover anything useful?" I asked, my voice tinged with curiosity.

He remained silent, but the melancholy smile on his face provided a clear enough response. Eventually, he added, "I failed to find what I was looking for, but I did gain a deep understanding of their ways. Without that knowledge, winning my wife's heart wouldn't have been so simple. This library is actually where we first met."

I couldn't help but offer a wry smile as he began reminiscing about his history with Zyra.

Under different circumstances, I might have found his romantic history interesting, but I simply didn't have the luxury of time right now.

Upon reaching the history section, I interrupted his story with a polite cough and turned my attention to the surrounding volumes.

The former crown prince stood by patiently, as if waiting for me to finish.

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

I didn't expect to have much better luck than he did, but I felt compelled to try nonetheless.

Unfortunately, the former crown prince's prediction proved accurate.

Despite scouring numerous books, I found nothing of substance. There was plenty of data regarding the origins and development of the sea witches, but the specific answers I sought were missing.

Now that I understood the reality of the sea witches, it was obvious that the records kept in this library were incomplete from the start.

It appeared that the majority of the recorded history served as nothing more than a facade.

The former crown prince shifted his gaze, making it evident that he was also aware of this deception.

Did that imply the existence of a secret history hidden somewhere else?

Noticing my expression, the former crown prince shook his head. "I've searched before," he said, "but there was absolutely nothing to be found."

I believed his words, as I could easily guess his original motives for coming here. Furthermore, he seemed far too acquainted with the history section for it to be a coincidence.

Even so, a hidden truth regarding the sea witches' past had to exist somewhere within these walls.

There was no way they would fail to leave behind some record of the truth for future generations.

Based on the knowledge I had already acquired, I had a hunch about its location.

"Since this involves matters related to the gods, that must mean..."

Following my intuition, I raised my hands toward the bookshelves standing before me.

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

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

"Click."

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

Slowly, the massive bookshelf in front of us began to slide aside.

Once it stopped moving, a concealed chamber was revealed to us.

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

The secret room was sparsely furnished, yet it wasn't entirely vacant.

The most prominent items were three books kept in storage.

Their flawless condition suggested that some form of preservation magic had been used to keep them from decaying.

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

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

"I found his offer hard to believe at first. However, this was the only path to our survival. I can only hope that when our descendants discover this record, they will not despise me for the choice I made."

That single line was the only part of the text that glowed; the rest of the book contained a straightforward account of the sea witches' past.

It was the genuine history, mirroring the tale the kraken had shared with us.

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