1,000,000 Karma: My Reward Is a Quiet Life-Chapter 92: The Record Keeper

"Thernon is set to only restrain unknown guests. I’m not sure why he acted the way he did...I’ll look into it," Vastro assured with a confused look. "For now, you’re all welcome to the World Guild."

While the invitation was heard loud and clear, they looked at the guardian, waiting for him to lead the way.

"So...?" Noah lingered.

Vastro nodded, holding his hand up, "Due to circumstances, the actual path is to remain hidden until you’re all verified."

"Then how’re we being let in?" Rain questioned.

"Yeah, are you gonna blindfold us or something?" Otto asked.

"Not at all," Vastro assured. "Just hold still for one moment, and we’ll be there in a jiffy."

’In a jiffy?’ Noah repeated the rather peculiar saying in his head.

While he stood there, the air around them began to hum and fluctuate, giving way to a pillar of blue light that engulfed the group. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"Access: World Guild!" Vastro invoked.

A weightless feeling overwhelmed him as his senses were overridden in tandem. There was nothing to see through the blinding light, feeling both his body and soul being transported before—

"We’re here."

Seamlessly, he blinked once, finding himself within an unknown interior.

The ambience of chatter was the first thing Noah sensed, looking around to confirm there were indeed hundreds of people there. Of all species and specialties, the adventurers and workers of all calibers conducted their days.

Sleek, beige walls held up the colossal halls, housing the busy foot-traffic. The sheer scale of the interior spanned far enough that it rivaled a city in scope, perhaps more, though he couldn’t tell from just one look.

Vastro stepped in front of Noah, gesturing, "I can escort you to the Record Keeper, but your friends will have to stay behind."

"Seriously–?" Otto protested.

"You’re all free to help yourselves to the establishments of the World Guild, or if you wish to relax," Vastro pointed around in the direction of various venues. "As members of Noah’s party, you’re all treated in respect to his rank."

"Well, you’ll be fine for a bit, right?" Noah asked, looking at the others.

There were no protests from his friends, who seemed a bit too eager to explore what the exclusive place had to offer. He wasn’t a fan of leaving them in the dark, but he accepted the offer.

’Right now, getting answers is my top priority,’ he thought.

Through the crowd of adventurers, he stuck close to the high-authority member of the World Guild. Vastro moved through the sea of people like a surfer against waves, completely used to traversing such dense foot traffic. Meanwhile, Noah felt his shoulders colliding with other people every other step.

"So–" Noah began to ask, having to dodge a bull demi-human from bumping into him. "About this "Record Keeper"--why does he want to see just me?"

"I’m not privy to that information," the blue-haired man answered, smoothly avoiding a pair of elves walking through. "All I know is that the Record Keeper wanted to speak to you and you alone. When they make a request, it isn’t to be taken lightly."

"Something like your boss?" Noah asked.

"Something like that, sure," Vastro smiled. "They command great respect from all. So, when they ask you to do something, you should probably do it. Make sense?"

"Guess so."

Along the walls, some boards stretched far, housing countless quests for the taking. There were those that were a lot more lucrative than others, he imagined, seeing as adventurers hoarded around certain boards. It was "first come, first serve’, from what he could tell.

"This way," Vastro guided.

Through a corner, a series of corridors and stairways led them through the depths of the grand structure. It felt like they walked a dozen miles before finally entering a different area of the building; cerulean steel surrounded them, housing lively aquariums in the walls.

"Woah," Noah quietly remarked, looking up.

Through the clear glass of the ceiling, the colorful marine life could be seen swimming in tranquility, without a worry in the world. Just at the end of the corridor, a set of doors that housed a celestial complexion sat.

"Alright, right down there is where you’ll meet them," Vastro stopped, standing at the entrance of the hall.

"Right, thanks."

As he stepped towards the doors, he watched the fish swimming in their vibrant biomes. After some strides, he reached out to the doors, pressing his hand against it—

Click.

As if verifying his presence, the passage unlocked and opened itself, welcoming him in. He let himself through, stepping into the rather particular interior.

An expansive chamber lined with countless bookshelves, seemingly infinite in scope. Hanging from the unseen ceiling, planetary globes and constellations shimmered on display.

’A library?’ He thought.

Rather than a place for all people to come for knowledge, it felt more like the study of one who devoted themselves to the pursuit of all answers.

"Welcome, Noah Soul."

A feminine voice, wizened by many years, greeted him as he looked ahead. Bookshelves rotated, revealing a woman sat between piles of books with her curtains of brown-silver hair draping over her lilac dress.

Atop her head, a rather giant hat like that of a leather wizard cap sat, though it felt more a part of the strange woman than an accessory.

"Err, hi?" He returned the greeting, stepping closer, though not too close.

The studious woman looked up at him from the heavy book sat on her lap, staring right through his very being with her crystalline, magenta eyes, "Take a seat."

"Where–?"

As he posed the question, he glanced behind him, finding a cushioned chair somehow perfectly placed for him to seat himself. He sat there, staring at the unknown woman before she finally removed the book from her lap, meeting his gaze once more.

"I am the Record Keeper," she introduced, leaning back in her self-adjusting chair. "I appreciate your timely decision to come see me."

"So, that letter...You know how I came to this world? You know what I am?" Noah slowly asked, looking straight at the wise woman.

The archivist stood from her own chair, taking a stroll around the shifting archives as the shelves adjusted to her every step.

"I do not know how you’ve arrived to Gaios, but I understand much else," the Record Keeper explained. "You were brought here on the fourth day of spring."

"How do you know that–?" Noah questioned.

"Mana," the Record Keeper informed.

"Mana?" He repeated.

"You see, you’re not the first case of a being from another world being transported here," the Record Keeper relayed her knowledge, looking right at her guest. "Far from it, in fact."

With the wave of a hand, the keeper of the archives commanded an ethereal display as if prompting holograms to shine in the room. It showed a scaled down valley, with a rift in the sky above it, rumbling until a "silhoutte" popped from it.

"These ruptures in the skies come with a burst of mana powerful enough to rival the awakening of a disaster. It lasts mere minutes, but I’m able to detect these ruptures from anywhere in the world," the Record Keeper explained.

"I’m not the first...So, are there others in the same situation as me?" He asked.

A nod confirmed it, presenting him with a reality he hadn’t quite considered before. Sure, he gave it light thought when he first arrived, but the lack of meeting anybody that gave him any indication other than his own solitude in circumstances denied it.

"When you have insight into as many things as I do, you begin to recognize the patterns of this world. All things have a rhythm to them; a beat that drums to the pathways of fate," the Record Keeper explained.

With each step she took, her rather sizable chest bounced to a noticeable degree. Well, ’noticeable" was putting it lightly, as even the gentleman in Noah fought his hardest against his natural instincts not to look.

Or, at least, not make it so obvious he was staring.

"So," he cleared his throat. "What did you want to see me for, anyway?"

"For starters, I just wanted to see what kind of person you were. It’s not everyday somebody from a different world comes to Gaios, you know," the Record Keeper answered with a playful look. "I’d like to see if you’re someone that is making this world better, or worse."

"And what’s your evaluation?" Noah asked, not particularly fond of the idea of being judged by somebody he hardly knew.

The wise woman stepped closer, leaning down to meet him eye-to-eye without any care for how close their faces got. She stared right at him as if judging every moment he’d led in his short stint at a second life.

"You’re a perfect member of society," the Record Keeper deemed, standing up as her impressive mounds bounced right in his face. "You give greatly, and you hardly take."

"Did I just come here for an assessment?" Noah asked.

"No," the Record Keeper answered with a pleased smile. "I have had a theory that there is a greater reason for the summoning of otherworldly beings into Gaios. A purpose beyond redemption."