8. The Omega Library and the Dragon
Starting November 2023, The Korea Daily is excited to publish the fantasy novel series “Sword of Malta – Lightning in 72 Years” on our website. This new captivating series follows a trio of young adventurers on their quest to uncover the mysteries of ancient civilizations, including the Maya and Inca. In an exciting development, Netflix is currently adapting the novel’s storyline into a film.
The ‘Sword of Malta – Lightning in 72 Years’ is the latest novel authored by Jeeyoon Ha, who created the “Pangaea series.” Ha’s debut novel, “The Pangaea: Finding Xibalba,” was selected by the Korea Creative Content Agency in 2022 as part of their initiative to support the global export of fantasy literature.
Readers can eagerly anticipate the online publication of two installments each month, with new chapters appearing bi-weekly, offering a regular escape into this magical realm. *Mark Oh translated the Korean novel into English.
“Got it. Miss *Tyson… let’s go to the library now. The only way to verify the Black Panther’s map navigation and the secret of the map is to go to Malta in the Mediterranean, right? We need to find out about the password to unlock the seal on the Dead Disk before we go. We need to check the ‘Ballad of Sansuna’ that Ms.Goil mentioned… she must have missed something.”
“Of course she missed something. She is a dinosaur herself, right?… Maybe Brachiosaurus? Trusting a dinosaur’s intelligence and going to the library… I’m against it.”
Suri was in a hurry, but Maru was grumpy.
“That dinosaur intelligence might be higher than pig intelligence, you know? Dinosaurs lived on Earth for 185 million years… But the birth of pigs is at most 9000 years ago… Don’t you get it? The Sirius star at the apex of the triangle, the Sirius lightning, the lightning every 72 years? Dead Disk, Torch Sword… really, don’t you get it? This isn’t stupid, it’s almost intellectual stagnation?”
Suri stuck out his tongue.
“The one who’s intellectually stagnant is you… Sirius is not a special star. It’s just a common star that often appears in ancient civilizations… No wonder you’re last… I knew you were better off than me.”
Maru teased Suri as if he was insignificant.
“Are you making fun of me for being last in the whole school? So you think I’m funny?”
“I… I’m the second last in the whole school. Honestly, which is harder, being first in the whole school or being last?… The bottom 10% are full of last place applicants like orcs. A kind of last circle? The last place is very noticeable, right? So they are fighting each other to be last, isn’t it a big deal? The universe has to help. King of the Last?”
Suri even wagged his finger, but Maru just giggled.
“So…what?”
Suri was at a loss for words.
“I mean… about the island of Malta. It could be a huge aircraft carrier, right?…Ha ha… Maybe I’ve watched too many movies… but it’s true that something is strange. Why would they list so many numbers to hide a secret? Is it just pointing to Malta?”
Maru muttered as if he was talking to himself.
“Let’s head to the library for now. Let’s look for the ‘Ballad of the Mountain and River’ in the library. Shelf 39, “The Winged Traveler,” page 72… but… 72?”
Suri tilted his head in confusion.
The Omega Library was known for its collection of ancient books, and only the green central corridor was accessible. The Dragon, a bookshelf that contained ancient books, was not open to anyone. Suri had a quarrel with Mrs. Hamilton, the librarian. Mrs. Hamilton, who had been a librarian since she was 19 and was now almost 101, was notorious for being strict, but lately, he had been erratic due to dementia.
“Suri?… You can’t go in. The bottom of the class is off-limits… It’s in Article 178, Clause 1 of the Omega Archaeology School rules.”
Mrs. Hamilton’s voice was windy due to her lack of teeth.
“I’m not Suri… I’m Professor Sirius, the ancient astronomer.”
Suri suddenly lowered her voice.
“Sirius?… A professor?… But… you’re a kid?”
Mrs. Hamilton narrowed her eyes.
“Mrs. Hamilton, have you read the book ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’? … Professor Sirius is just like Benjamin.”
Sabi intervened.
“Benjamin? Oh… So that’s why you’re young… There’s no such thing as being late to do something valuable….”
Mrs. Hamilton winked at Suri.
“I’m trying to do something valuable now, Mrs. Hamilton.”
Suri whispered respectfully into Mrs. Hamilton’s ear and finally managed to get the key to the Dragon. The key was in the shape of a long dragon’s head. When he turned the key to the right in the keyhole, it opened with a click. As soon as he opened the door and entered, it seemed to smell of the ancient times.
“It’s the smell of the sand in the Levant region…. Like the Neanderthals would have walked barefoot on that sand….”
Suri slowly walked to the bookshelf as if mesmerized. The dark red bookshelf was packed with books made of clay tablets and papyrus.
“The Babylonian Assyrian Library collected clay tablets, and the Egyptian Alexandria Library collected books made of papyrus. But the Omega Library has all of that… how did they collect it? Those libraries have long disappeared… where did they get it? Did someone steal it?”
Unable to shake off his suspicion, Suri stared at the endless bookshelves. The bookshelves had all kinds of books. Some books were yet to be read, and some were refusing to be read. Some books didn’t exist. Some books were destined to become the history of future kingdoms. Some books even had her name on the cover. Each book had its own name.
“Will I be able to read all these books?”
“You can’t read them all, Professor Sirius. It’s not you who choose the book, but the book that chooses you.”
A dazzlingly white cat approached Suri, who was overwhelmed by the bookshelf. It had a long white beard, reminiscent of a wizard like Gandalf.
“My name is Malta. I’m the guide to the books of the Dragon.”
The color of Malta’s eyes was like the blue of the Mediterranean Sea.
[To be continued…]
