I Built a Divine Zoo in Another World

Chapter 149: Hark Castle Library (2)

Lukas simply stood there for a few seconds, absorbing the sheer magnitude of what he was seeing. His heart raced, and a smile of pure admiration spread across his face.

It was like stepping into a temple devoted to knowledge.

He smiled.

"This... is incredible."

Astra tilted her head as she gazed at the towering bookshelves, her eyes shining with curiosity. Even though she couldn’t understand the value of those books, she seemed to recognize the importance of that place.

Lukas took a deep breath, filling his lungs with air heavy with stories and secrets.

This time... He wasn’t there only because of the strange rat. Of course, it was still his main concern, the reason that had brought him to the castle.

After meeting the Rat King, witnessing its terrifying power and monstrous transformation, Lukas had finally realized how important it was to understand the creatures of that world. The unknown was dangerous, and knowledge was the only true weapon against fear.

He didn’t want to be caught off guard again. He didn’t want to face another monster without knowing what it was, where it came from, or how to defeat it. If there was any record of that little rat with the golden stripe, he would find it.

But now there was something more. Much more.

He wanted to learn. Everything. Absolutely everything he could about that world. Every detail, every secret, every piece of knowledge hidden within those walls.

History. Geography. Politics. Kingdoms. Races. Magic. Beasts. The more knowledge he acquired now, the better prepared he would be for the future. Especially when he finally entered the Royal Academy.

His gaze quickly swept across the signs marking each section. The inscriptions were elegant, written in golden letters upon dark wood.

"Geography."

He found it a few minutes later, in a wing at the right corner of the library. Entire bookshelves were dedicated exclusively to the subject, with books organized by region, historical period, and topic.

Lukas slowly walked toward them, his fingers running along the spines as he read the titles. There were books about every known kingdom, about oceans and mountains, and about cities and villages.

After searching for a few moments, he found a thick volume with a blue cover, its golden letters gleaming beneath the light.

Kingdom of Rhyne

He carefully pulled the book from the shelf. The volume was heavy, its thick pages yellowed by time. The cover was made of leather, soft to the touch, with a golden crest stamped upon the front.

He sat near a window where the light was better. The chair was comfortable and upholstered, and the table before him was wide enough to accommodate the large volume.

He opened the first page.

And began to read.

He discovered that the Kingdom of Rhyne had been founded approximately four hundred years earlier by the legendary King Aldric Rhyne, known as The Unifier. The story was told in great detail, complete with illustrations depicting the battles and treaties that had given birth to the kingdom.

Before him... That region had been divided into three small kingdoms constantly at war with one another. Territorial conflicts, trade disputes, and conquests. For decades, that part of the continent had been consumed by chaos.

Then Aldric appeared. According to the book, he possessed such overwhelming strength that he defeated all three kings one after another. His brilliance as a strategist, his strength as a warrior, and his vision as a ruler were all described with an admiration that bordered on reverence.

Instead of destroying their lands... He united them beneath a single banner. Thus, the Kingdom of Rhyne was born.

Lukas continued reading, carefully turning the pages. The kingdom was located in the southern region of the Human Continent of Hyndor. It was neither the largest kingdom in existence, nor the wealthiest, nor the most populous. Neither was it small. It was considered a medium-sized kingdom with a respectable amount of territory.

Even so... Its military strength was recognized throughout the continent. Rhyne’s armies were renowned for their discipline, strategy, and adaptability. The knights of the region were considered among the finest on the entire continent.

Over the centuries, Rhyne had expanded its borders several times through war. Primarily against the Kingdom of Portkar, its northern neighbor.

Lukas turned a few more pages, finding detailed maps of the borders. The two kingdoms shared the northern frontier, a mountainous region that had served as the battlefield for countless wars.

According to the book, they had been enemies for approximately two hundred years. Battles between them occurred constantly, interrupted only by brief periods of truce that never lasted long. Sometimes one kingdom gained territory, only to lose it later. Neither side had ever managed to secure a decisive advantage.

The curious part... was that the book never explained how the war had begun. It merely stated that it existed, as though it were an eternal truth, a fact as obvious as the color of the sky.

Lukas frowned slightly, feeling that something was missing from the story.

"Strange..."

He wanted to uncover the true origin of that conflict someday. There was something about the omission of that information that stirred his curiosity.

He continued through the pages, eventually reaching sections dedicated to the kingdom’s nobility. Soon, dozens of crests appeared, each representing a different family.

Ducal families, the rulers of the three great administrative regions. Marquises, who governed important frontier territories. Counts, such as the Hark family, who ruled lands and commanded armies. Barons, with their smaller yet no less important fortresses.

Extinct houses whose names survived only within the pages of history. Houses that still endured, whose members still ruled, still fought, still lived.

Lukas carefully memorized the most important names. Especially those he would likely encounter once he began studying at the Royal Academy, where the children of the nobility gathered to learn and forge alliances.

Soon he discovered another important piece of information. The Kingdom of Rhyne was divided into three great administrative regions, each governed by a powerful duchy. The region containing Dmond Manor, as well as Count Hark’s territory... belonged to the Duchy of House Reaart.

Lukas slowly closed the book, his fingers still feeling the texture of the leather cover. He had learned more in just a few hours than he had during his entire life until then. Every page was a window into a world he had only just begun to understand.

But this... was only the beginning.

His gaze returned to the shelves, moving across the titles with renewed curiosity. This time, his eyes settled on a much larger volume, so large that it had to be held with both hands.

The golden letters on its cover immediately caught his attention.

The Human Continent of Hyndor

His heart quickened. It was exactly what he had been looking for. A complete overview of the continent, its kingdoms, its great powers, and its history. The book that would provide the context for everything he had learned and everything that was still to come.

Lukas carefully held the heavy book with both hands, feeling its weight like that of a priceless treasure.

He smiled faintly.

Then he returned to the table, ready to immerse himself in many more hours of reading.

His first day in the library... had only just begun.