kscans

Chapter 31 - The Booklet I Found Deep in the Tower, Something I Definitely Shouldn't Touch

While tending the bonfire, I was planning to ask Mireille what to do with the things in the wooden box from the fourth floor that seemed unnecessary.

But before I knew it, I was just watching Mireille as she worked at her desk.

Her profile was serious. Her hand movements were fluid, with no wasted action.

I thought back to how she was yesterday.

The way she wrapped the bandages, the timing of her Sleep Orb throw, the dismantling of the materials, everything was precise, not what you'd expect from an eighteen-year-old.

She said she had been drilled by her master, but there weren't many alchemists of this level even in the Royal Capital. Though not as much as a magician, an alchemist needed both quantity and quality of mana. And delicate hands, and vast knowledge.

...Her talent must have been recognized from a very young age.

I was conscious of my feelings for her. But more than that, I wanted to know more about her.

---

In the end, I couldn't bring myself to speak to her while she was so focused.

...Well, I can at least sort through this stuff.

With that in mind, I opened the lid of the wooden box. Inside, it was packed with booklets.

I picked one up. The paper was ordinary. No special processing or watermarks. No codes or hidden text... at least, not yet.

I flipped through the pages. Inside were the characteristics and weaknesses of the monsters in this Tree Sea, written alongside precise illustrations.

From small monsters to creatures I had never seen before. It seemed to be organized by region.

"...Wow, this is amazing," I muttered. It was incredible how much detailed information had been gathered. I had struggled in the fight with the Helkaarn yesterday, but if I knew its weaknesses and characteristics, my chances of winning would increase dramatically.

...No, wait. This Tree Sea is the king's direct domain. Isn't this a highly confidential document?

--There was a hand-drawn map inside as well. The monsters' habitats were marked in detail.

And there, my hand stopped. I remembered the map I had drawn for Mireille the other day when I was explaining the Tree Sea.

...It was similar. Far too similar. The way the terrain was drawn, the placement of landmarks, it was the same.

Where... did I learn to draw like this?

My gaze was drawn to the handwriting on the map. I recognized it. No, there was no mistaking it.

This... was the Supreme Commander's handwriting.

My heart gave a heavy thud. Was I looking at something I absolutely shouldn't be?

On the back of the booklet was an unfamiliar symbol. The knight order's mark was a combination of the kingdom's flag and a holy beast... but this was different. It was a crest I had no memory of.

A chill ran down my spine. I quickly put the booklet back in the box and decided against looking at it outside. At the very least, I shouldn't be touching this outside the tower. This was a 'secret'.

I carried the box back into the tower. The moment I closed the door, a breath escaped from the depths of my lungs. ...This was too dangerous.

The Supreme Commander had been in and out of this tower. Or, for some reason, Mireille's master had been storing the Supreme Commander's confidential documents here.

...But why?