Chapter 190 - Agent Zero (9) (1/2)
Zero tumbled through the other side of the gate and landed with a heavy oof. He didn't know which part of the library that door-gate took him to but he knew for sure for a fact that the world he was seeing wasn't in the right orientation.
It took Zero a few clumsy attempts to right himself. Landing with his butt in the air on his back upside down while crashing into a wall isn't the best landing position. Zero adjusted a few kinks and tested his joints before studying the new area. This room didn't have any windows or furniture. It only had some light emitting crystals hanging from the ceiling and another door to his left, adjacent to the door he exited from. This new door didn't have keyholes so Zero put the key away into his inventory and opened it.
The teenager was mildly surprised to see students roaming around and seated on some of the provided desks. Zero didn't know which level he was on but the sight of students made him happy. At least there was some progress.
Nobody paid him any attention as he entered and Zero skittered around the side of the library trying to find any hints about his whereabouts. He pulled up the map in his head but didn't know what to make of it. All it told him was how he was in the library building but not the level he was on.
”Funny,” he thought to himself. ”Is the map broken?”
Zero tried to look out for any staff that might be on standby on this level but found none. Everywhere he looked, there were students he didn't know. It was strange that Zero couldn't find anyone from his class or from Beelzebub's class on this level. In fact, now that Zero had a closer look, the uniform they wore was slightly different too.
He was turning around when he bumped into someone.
”I'm sorry!” he squeaked when he noticed how he bumped into someone's chest. That demon had a furry chest and Zero had to crane his neck upwards. Zero didn't know if should run or apologise again after getting into trouble with a chimpanzar demon.
Instead of getting angry, the chimpanzar demon calmly stared at Zero.
”You seem lost. This is the second floor of the library meant for the regular stream students. If you're looking to go to the third floor of the library for special stream students like yourself, you should head to the lifting lobby.”
Zero blinked. ”Lifting lobby?”
The chimpanzar demon roared with laughter. ”I'll take you there,” he said and Zero thanked him. Who knew that there were nice demons around? Now, he wouldn't have to worry about getting lost with such a nice guide.
The library was massive! Zero ogled at the number of books and the rows of shelves along the floor in aisles. There was an area dedicated to writing and reading, an area for relaxing and a counter that students can check out the books they wanted to loan.
”Here we are,” the chimpanzar demon smiled and Zero stared at the lifting lobby. It was a huge empty room with nothing but a runic circle on the floor.
”Thank you,” he smiled at the good samaritan. The chimpanzar demon left and Zero stepped onto the magic circle.
”Now to figure out how to use this circle...” he frowned. It wasn't anything that Mii would help him with. Zero was stuck. Should he ask Bob who was with Olaf to know how to use the lifting lobby? While the brunet was contemplating, someone else entered the room.
The newcomer blinked at the sight of a strange teenager whose face he had never seen before muttering to himself while staring at the floor. While it wasn't common to see new students appear every now and then, this particular student was different. Even without looking at his face, he could tell that the brunet wasn't in the same class as the rest. He may rival Beelzebub the Demon Lord who was also known to be the most powerful student in the Academy.
”Is there anything you require help with?” a polite voice asked, breaking Zero away from his muttering.
He turned around and was about to thank the stranger for offering help when he saw a familiar face. The newcomer had blue skin, wild looking hair that was shaved on one side and the other covering his eye, multiple facial piercings and beautiful aquamarine eyes.
”Target encountered, I repeat. Target encountered! Abort mission, Zero!” Bob cried out in the young doctor's mindscape. Mii smacked the dragon over the head.
”Don't listen to this buffoon, carry on as planned. I've marked him on the map,” the strawcherry fairy told Zero.
Rayneld was observing the transfer student with interest when Zero froze up for a second. It was almost as if Zero was cautious of him for a while. Also, another thing struck him as odd. He was almost certain that he'd seen this person somewhere before. If only he could remember where he saw this particular brunet...
”I was just wondering how to use this lifting lobby, could you teach me? I need to get to the third floor...”
Rayneld grinned. ”Third floor huh... looks like you're in luck. I'm heading to the third floor as well so it's not a problem. Lifting lobbies only work when you have a special access pass. As a new student, I doubt you've received yours yet. All you really need to do is channel some mana into the pass and the lifting lobby will activate. You can select the level you wish to go by standing on the runic circles dedicated to the floor you wish to go. Of course, you'd have to be authorised to access them first otherwise, it wouldn't work. From the crest on your uniform, I think you'll be able to access just about any floors apart from the seventh and eighth.”
Zero smiled and thanked the manta ray demon as they parted at the third floor. Rayneld didn't seem to suspect a thing so Zero allowed himself some time to calm himself down. Now that he made contact with his target, there was no real reason to continue associating with him and risk exposing his cover. He checked the map just in case and was satisfied to know that Rayneld was on it.
After checking the time and discovering that he had a good forty minutes or so left, Zero decided to check out the history section on the third floor. Surprisingly enough, the Academy focuses more on combat and magic classes. Etiquette, business and literacy were taught to only aristocratic. Also, there was one class that intrigued Zero. It was called human studies. Demons study all about humans from how they look, talk, act, feel and behave. naturally, this class is only available for the special class students that Zero happened to be part of.
”Do you think they have human study materials here?” Zero asked Mii in a low whisper, not wanting to attract attention.
The strawcherry fairy raised a brow. ”Why do you want to read up on that? You can study about humans on Earth when you return.”