36 - The Academic City's Library
My basic policy in Alamsars is the acquisition of knowledge.
It was said (or rather, the Academic City claimed) that the "Library" the city takes such pride in gathers all the knowledge of this world.
True to its reputation, it is the most impressive building in the Academic City. Perhaps because it had been expanded many times, the architectural styles are inconsistent, giving it a cluttered feel that is quite characteristic of the city.
I intend to visit the private academies and the many dojos, but my primary goal was the library.
Above all—.
"So this is the legendary library... The building is magnificent. I have high hopes for the contents."
The Third Generation is in high spirits.
My ancestors are generally greedy when it comes to technology and knowledge, but the Third Generation is the most interested of them all.
Since Novem and Aria had been out since morning, I was alone today.
"To view the rare books, I need to deposit five silver coins and become a member?"
A notice for first-time users was posted on the bulletin board at the library entrance.
If one only wants to read general books, a usage fee of one copper coin is sufficient.
However, to read books of value, it seems one must pay five silver coins to become a member first.
Even then, there are books that the Academic City will absolutely never show to outsiders.
"I'm glad I brought money..."
If I can use it for the rest of my life for five silver coins, it's cheap.
I took five silver coins from my wallet and headed to the reception to register as a member.
The Second Generation observed the surrounding atmosphere.
"There are quite a few young ones. Realizing that this many people can read and write makes me understand how much the era has changed."
I wonder how many citizens in the village could read and write during the Second Generation's time...
It was certainly fewer than now.
He had made citizens out of people who were too busy surviving to do anything else, people who had lived like barbarians until then.
He must have struggled quite a bit in that regard.
The Seventh Generation spoke.
"But this truly is impressive. To think they store books in a building of this scale."
Perhaps he had never visited one himself, as the Seventh Generation also seemed impressed upon seeing it in person.
Once I finished the procedures, I headed toward the section for specialized books that I could now access.
However, the building was vast, so I decided to check the map near the reception.
"There are so many that I can't decide what to read."
While I was thinking about where to read today, I called out to a girl coming out of the reception area.
"Excuse me, do you have a moment?"
"...Yes."
She was a quiet girl.
She was short and had a slender build.
If there was any femininity to her, it was perhaps her chest, which pushed against her clothes despite her slender frame.
She had navy-blue hair, and since she didn't seem to care much for her appearance, it looked as if she had just combed it through with her fingers.
The length reached her shoulders, and the ends were frizzy and stray.
Her half-closed, sleepy eyes were red.
If she hadn't come out of the reception area, I might have mistaken her for a child.
The clothes she wore gave the impression of wearing whatever was available rather than being fashionable.
She wore a shirt and a slightly short skirt.
(...She's not some kid, is she?)
While thinking such rude thoughts, I asked my question.
"I want to go here; which way should I go?"
When I pointed to the map on the bulletin board, she looked at it and then looked at my face.
"...I am going there as well, so I will guide you. It is part of my job."
"O-oh, I see."
Seeing the detached girl, I was reminded of the guild staff. To be fair, her attitude wasn't as bad as the staff member I dealt with back then.
Rather, I couldn't help but feel she looked younger than me.
She looked far too young for a staff member, making me feel as if I were being guided by a child.
As I walked down the hallway, the silence bothered me, so I spoke up.
"By the way, there are so many books here. I only recently came to Alamsars, but do many people come from the outside?"
When I said that, she answered flatly.
"Yes. Most people ask the same question. I have answered that question many times with 'Everyone says the same thing.'"
Hearing that, my smile twitched.
The Fourth Generation—.
"This type has her own world, so she probably won't be swayed even if Riel is a bit kind to her."
(I'm not trying to pick her up or anything...)
I wanted to tell the Fourth Generation, who claimed I was hitting on a girl, to look at who the girl was.
Hitting on a young girl... if Novem found out, what would she say... I'd like to think I wouldn't be encouraged.
When I reached the place I was guided to, it was a room where specialized books on agriculture were kept.
Inside, a fair number of people were sitting at desks, reading and transcribing books.
I could tell they were studying desperately.
"They're quite passionate."
"...Please refrain from talking from here on. Even when no one is around, please avoid speaking loudly. If you need a break, there is a place further down the hallway."
"S-sorry. By the way, do you lend books out?"
When I asked, she shook her head.
"Lending is prohibited in principle. There are many books where the existence of the book is more valuable than its contents, and such items are expensive."
I nodded and headed toward the shelves.
She followed behind me.
The Third Generation called out titles that caught his interest, so I decided to pick them up and read them.
"I want to shut myself in here for a while, but I don't have the time... Riel, could you slow down your reading pace?"
Apparently, my reading pace is so fast that the successive heads are doubting whether I'm actually reading. I believe I understand the content, but...
As I tried to sit in an empty seat, I looked around.
Then, I tilted my head.
"...What are you doing?"
"Eh?"
The girl who had guided me—who was supposed to be a staff member—was simply holding a book and trying to sit in a seat, and she looked slightly surprised to see me.
(No, I'm the one who's surprised)
After staring at each other for a while, she simply sat in the chair and began reading a book.
Even the Third Generation seemed surprised.
"Huh~, what's going on here?"
He seemed to check with the Fourth Generation, but he was troubled as well.
"How should I know? Maybe this is her job, or maybe it's a break?"
I forced myself to accept that as the reason and sat in the empty seat next to her and began reading.
While thinking I should have prepared something to take notes with, I turned the page.
Inside the library, it was so quiet that I could hear the sound of someone taking notes.
I could even hear footsteps in the hallway, but once I concentrated, those too stopped bothering me.
While reading for a while, I listened to the successive heads exchange opinions on the subject.
"If only I had this in my eraaaa!!"
To the shouting Second Generation, the Sixth Generation said.
"This only finally became widespread in my era, so it was probably impossible for you."
The Seventh Generation agreed.
"Moreover, in my era, new methods also became widespread."
The Second Generation lamented upon hearing that.
"...Why are your reactions so lukewarm! Isn't this revolutionary!"
Even the successive heads had different opinions regarding technology.
Up until the Third Generation, they had truly lived while farming, so they were greedy for agricultural technology like this.
However, the Second Generation was also the one who suddenly became quiet, as if he couldn't understand once the topic shifted slightly.
Hearing those opinions, I thought—.
(They're noisy... well, it is interesting in its own way)
Having finished the book I picked up, and since it was time, I returned the book and prepared to leave.
However, I was surprised to see that the girl reading next to me... the staff member, was still reading.
"...Is your work okay?"
Then, she looked up from her book and tilted her head.
"Work? No, today is my day off..."
Then why did she guide me?
Maybe she's a relatively good person.
She seemed to have finished reading as well, so she stood up and went to put the book back.
As I went to return mine, I noticed that the people sitting and reading around us had changed considerably.
"Quite a bit of time has passed."
I don't have a pocket watch, so I don't know the exact time, but judging by the amount I read, it's past noon.
I told Novem I would eat outside, so it's not a problem, but I've certainly become hungry.
Then, I heard the sound of a stomach growling near me.
I felt the gazes of those around me, but that sound wasn't mine.
And then, another cute sound was heard.
"...Um, aren't you hungry?"
I couldn't help but call out to her as she returned a book to its original place and picked up a new one.
Then, she nodded.
The Third Generation said.
"Why not treat her to a meal as a thank you? You have money, right?"
The one who opposed that opinion was the Fourth Generation.
"Don't do anything that might lead to a misunderstanding! After all, Riel confessed to Aria unconsciously!"
I was the one who was surprised upon hearing that.
"Eh?"
When I let the sound slip out, she held the book and tried to head toward a seat.
"...Sigh. Um, if you'd like..."
I decided to invite her to a meal.
I heard the Fourth Generation's voice.
"Ah~, he invited her. He's definitely going to cause a misunderstanding."
The Second Generation said.
"She doesn't look like that type, though."
The Fourth Generation snorted.
"I didn't say it was this girl. I mean Novem-chan will misunderstand."
Hearing that, the Seventh Generation said.
"Hmm... her face is good, and her intellect might be passing, but I wonder about the rest."
The House Walt family precepts.
Those were the criteria for choosing a bride.
The fact that they would welcome a bride who cleared six items was one of the facts House Walt wanted to keep hidden, which had been passed down as a joke during drinking parties.
The Seventh Generation seemed to think that if she couldn't clear the conditions, Novem wouldn't care. However, the Fourth Generation's opinion was different.
"...I wonder what Novem-chan would think if he had a meal with a girl who doesn't fit the conditions."
Hearing that, I also thought that it might indeed be a bit problematic.
(I-it'll be fine... yeah, surely it'll be fine. It's just a meal!)
While reassuring myself, I decided to leave the library with her.
[Clara Blumer].
That was the name of the girl with navy-blue hair and red eyes.
I heard she works at the library.
She seems to live in Alamsars by registering as an adventurer and occasionally earning money through support work.
She receives requests as a temporary staff member from the library and helps out when they are busy.
I decided to treat her to a meal at a snack shop on the street, and I was able to hear various things from her.
"A former academy student? But you're fifteen, right?"
Clara, who was fifteen like me and Novem... nodded while drinking tea after the meal.
"I skipped grades. It's common in the grades where basics are taught. Some people have already received education, and there are individual differences in how quickly one learns reading, writing, and calculation."
I nodded, but I wondered internally if the difference was really that great.
She is an adventurer who takes on library requests because she had no work after graduation.
It is possible for her to become a full staff member, but she seems to be refusing because she is busy.
When I asked the reason—.
"...The time I have to read books would decrease."
It was a reason the Third Generation would likely agree with.
Furthermore, she possesses a support-type skill.
"You have a skill, but you're an adventurer on your own? Don't you team up with someone?"
I thought it was rude, but I was also looking for companions.
I wanted to know the situation in Alamsars.
However, I was unexpectedly able to hear the details of her skill from her.
"My skill is reading books. It's not useful for combat, and many library staff members possess this kind of skill."
Skill [Reading].
It is a skill for reading books, and apparently, it can translate and read them regardless of whether they are in a foreign language or an ancient tongue.
The Third Generation looked envious.
"I wish I had a skill like that."
Then, the Sixth Generation said exasperatedly.
"The Third Generation's skill is the worst among us... though it was that much useful."
The Third Generation's skill seems to be evaluated as the worst among the seven.
I was curious, but I couldn't ask now, so I decided to ask next time.
"Isn't that an amazing skill?"
"...If you're asking if it's amazing or not, I think it's amazing, but many people possess it. Besides, I dislike using a skill to read."
She said that books should be read by oneself.
Perhaps because she was that kind of person, the skill [Reading] manifested.
"Was it okay to tell me?"
When I said that, Clara stated flatly that it was no problem.
"I am not allowed to read important books, and [Reading] is not omnipotent. It's not as if I remember everything constantly."
It's not a skill that's that convenient to use, and since many people have it, it's not a rare skill.
"What kind of things do you do as a support adventurer?"
"...I'm asked that often, but I basically do luggage carrying as well. Because my body is small, people think I have no physical strength, but I do the basics. After that, I provide support with magic. Lighting up the labyrinth, preparing fire, preparing water. I can contribute as support by doing those things."
It seems she finds it offensive that she looks unreliable because her body is small.
But it's certainly hesitant to make such a small girl carry heavy luggage.
Looking closely, her features are also cute.
I thought that if she set her hair and wore more appropriate clothes, she might transform.
"...Riel-san is also an adventurer, right?"
"I am. You can tell?"
When I asked back, Clara answered shortly, "I can tell."
"If you want information from me, I'll tell you. Please ask as much as you like in exchange for the meal. However, I am a support specialist who basically doesn't participate in combat, so there's little I can teach you."
She probably thought the purpose of the meal was information gathering.
That's why she might have accepted the invitation.
"It helps that you're straightforward. Didn't you think I was a bad person?"
Clara shook her head.
"The location is what it is, and you were reading books seriously... if I was deceived, it's just that I was wrong."
Looking at Clara, who didn't seem to have much attachment, I only muttered, "I see."
After that, we had some small talk and left the shop.
Clara went home, and I was about to return to the inn, but—.
"That's quite unusual."
Since someone called out to me, I turned around, and there was Miranda-san.
Remembering the Sixth Generation's words, I became slightly cautious and stepped back.
Seeing that, Miranda-san smirked.
"You didn't seem like that back then, but are you the type to move fast? Don't make Aria and that side-tail girl cry, okay?"
She directed a mischievous smile toward me; she is a cute person for her age.
I felt like I might let my guard down.
"That's not it. I met her at the library, so we had a meal... no, it's nothing (I can't talk back)."
Thinking that what I was doing was no different from picking up girls, I stopped denying it.
Then, Miranda-san laughed.
"It's a joke. That girl is Clara, right? She's famous, so I'm sure it just ended with a meal."
"Well, it was a promise for just a meal."
While wondering what I was saying, I looked at the luggage Miranda-san was holding.
"What's that?"
In the brown paper bags she held, there seemed to be ingredients and such.
"Ah, this? Food. Recently, the person I employed suddenly quit, so I've been doing the shopping myself. Even though it's live-in and the pay is good, they quit quickly."
Seeing Miranda-san's troubled face, I offered to carry the luggage.
I reached out and took the food in the two large paper bags she was holding.
"I'm sorry. Oh, I'll guide you to my house while I'm at it. It's a bit of a walk, is that okay?"
"I don't mind."
"...Hmm, you really are the type to move fast."
When Miranda-san said it teasingly, I denied it.
"I'm not!"
And so, I headed toward Miranda-san's house.
I heard the Fifth Generation's voice.
"Are you going of your own accord? Well, you'll probably be able to get through it even if something happens... but just stay cautious."
The Sarcly family, Miranda-san's maiden home, had a marriage relationship with the Walt family two generations ago.
Once the person dies, the connection fades.
However, there might be some kind of connection, which is why she contacted me.
(Novem and Aria aren't here, so this might be just right. If there's danger, I can just get through it with my skills)
Based on the reaction from Miranda-san's skill, she is not an enemy.
However, I decided not to neglect my caution.
"Now then, I hope it's not a case of being too cautious."
The Fifth Generation's voice sounded colder than usual.