Book Restoration System: Savior Of The Forsaken Legends [BL]

Auri sat cross-legged on top of a flat rock with the manual resting on the ground next to him. He had been thinking, trying to formulate a plan for what his next step would be while he bathed in the morning sun.

Naturally, he had to go down the mountain and look for the nearest human settlement. Although the weather in the mountains wasn't that bad right now, it's hard to predict what will happen at nighttime. With the temple in ruins, he had no immediate shelter to run into in case the weather turned for the worse.

There's also the issue with food. His stomach had been grumbling since earlier, but he knew nothing about the flora and fauna of this world. He didn't know which plant would be edible, and what type of animal would be easier to hunt.

"This is harder than I thought." Auri sighed, rubbing his stomach. "If I had known this would happen, I should have eaten the tiramisu Jim had ordered before I started arguing with him."

The front page of the manual flapped in the slight breeze, catching his attention.

Auri picked up the booklet and inspected it again. "Maybe I should start with this. It's my system. Even if it's a bit crappy, it wouldn't let me just die of starvation, right? Hmm... [Repository]."

The air shifted after he chanted the command. Then, an enormous book appeared in front of him.

"Whoa..."

To call it a book wasn't quite right. Its size was comparable to a small carry-on suitcase. It reminded him more of the ancient codices he'd seen in a museum he once visited with his grandfather when he was younger.

Auri placed a hesitant hand across the hardcover and felt a faint energy pulse at the tip of his fingertips. "This thing is... something."

The codex opened as though it had a life of its own. Auri stared at the empty page and watched as texts inscribed themselves across the vellum paper, reading the words as they went.

"The world itself is a book, and within these pages, pieces of the world can be set aside for your keeping—until they are needed once more. Turn the leaf to the [Chapter 1: Attire and Accessories] page and claim the gift that has been set aside for you."

Auri flipped through the thick page as instructed and arrived at the said chapter where he found a tapestry-inspired illustration of a man with white hair. The man wore a simple white tunic and brown pants secured by a leather belt and a dark gray woolen cloak draped over his shoulders. Fingerless gloves covered his hands while a pair of leather boots clad his feet. Beneath the illustration was a block of summary.

[The Wanderer's Wardrobe Set]

These garments once belonged to a traveler who ventured across the world in search of the remnants of history that are long since forgotten. Though their owner is long gone, and their countless journey have weathered the stitches of their seams, their purpose still lingers in the fabric of their memory. Should you walk the same path, these garments will serve you, and protect you, just as they did with the one they once served.

Right after he finished reading the text, a system prompt appeared.

[Would you like to extract the 'The Wanderer's Wardrobe Set' and equip it?]

Auri blinked at the floating parchment and nodded.

Then, the vellum page shifted. The colors within the illustration bled into reality and wrapped around his skin like ink crawling across an empty canvas. Fabric and leather wove into existence, covering his exposed skin, replacing his burnt jeans and tattered shoes with a comfortable pair of trousers and sturdy leather boots. The fingerless gloves fitted snuggly around his hands, and the cloak that materialized around him flapped crisply in the wind, carrying a silent promise of endless adventure.

Auri clasped the cloak and relished in the comfort it brought. Somehow, its warmth felt familiar. It felt strangely... home.

The floating parchment appeared again with a sudden message.

[Would you like to store your previous attire inside the repository?]

"No, let's just throw them away," Auri replied. "They're not that pricey. And it's not like I can use them again anyway."

[Initiating disposal of the damaged pants and shoes...]

A sudden ding echoed in his ears.

[Relic found in the damaged pants' pocket. Would you like to retrieve it or include it in the disposal?]

"Relic? What relic?" Auri asked in confusion, then suddenly, he remembered the golden key his grandfather gave him. "Oh..."

Damn, he almost forgot about that.

[Beware: disposed items can no longer be retrieved. Please proceed with caution.]

"Retrieve it. I can't lose that key!"

The key came into existence, its golden sheen catching the sunlight, shimmering as it fell into his hands. It felt heavier than when he first received it. Maybe because it was no longer just a symbol of inheritance. It's now his last connection to the world he came from, carrying the memories of the people he left behind.

Auri pressed it against his chest and tilted his head to the sky, casting a hushed prayer to the higher power from above—to let his family be safe while he was gone.

After casting out all the negative thoughts, Auri turned to the codex and browsed through its pages again, studying it further. As the texts explained, he could put things into the repository, and retrieve it again if needed it. The repository was his inventory. It was a little unconventional, but he would admit that it was rather crafty.

The repository was divided into six chapters. The first chapter was where he could store clothes and accessories. The elaborate illustration of the man he saw earlier had disappeared after he equipped the clothes.

The second chapter was titled 'Tools & Machinery' where he found several illustrations of basic restoration tools like a precision knife, bone folders, bookbinding needles, threads, scissors, glue, and even a book press, which was used to ensure pages were firmly pressed together.

The third chapter had empty pages, but it was understandable because it was titled 'Artifacts & Relics'.

Auri stared at the golden key in his hand. "The system called this a relic, so it means I can put it in here."

Right after he said those words, the key disappeared from his grasp, and an exact image of the key manifested on the vellum page as an illustration. But it didn't end there. A block of text also appeared alongside it, as if to summarize the story behind the item.

The repository wasn't just an inventory. It can also be used for record-keeping—an archive of his own.

Auri scanned through the words, excitement bubbling in his chest. "Forged by a skilled locksmith, this intricately designed key once belonged to the previous Savior..."

Suddenly, whatever came after the word 'Savior' became blurred like a smudge of ink on paper, leaving it incomprehensible.

[Notice: your level is too low to access this information. Minimum level required: level 20.]

Auri sucked in a deep breath, pushing his frustration away as he tried to think rationally. From a game developer's point of view, this makes perfect sense. He had just arrived in this world. There will be high-level information he wouldn't be able to access just yet.

But despite the system's censorship, he didn't feel discouraged. In fact, the available information he gathered about the key was enough as a starting point. If he wanted to know more details about the key, there's only one left to do.

Auri stood from his long-seated position with renewed determination. "I need to level up."