Chapter 58
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Why Her?
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After finishing the meal with Marcel, I immediately handed the book I'd received from him over to the guild appraiser.
This time, if good results came in, I'd be thrilled—or so I thought.
On the way back to the inn...
I think I'd overestimated humans as a species.
Even if they lacked intelligence, I figured they had some learning ability. But nope, not even that.
The adventurer's companions who'd gotten thoroughly thrashed that morning came looking for me.
No hesitation—I just beat them senseless.
Marcel had taught me that as long as I didn't kill them, it was fine. So the same went for me.
"You were depressed because I killed an innocent person? Think I'd hesitate to cut down villains?"
My sword, devoid of any hesitation, was sharper than ever and showed no mercy.
I severed an arm, and he let out a scream.
Not wanting to hear it, I grabbed a nearby pebble and shoved it into his mouth.
His teeth shattered and blood sprayed, but that wasn't my problem.
They'd charged at me trying to rape me—they should be grateful I let them live.
That aside...
"Why are you all so pathetically weak?"
Rummaging through their pockets turned up some copper coins.
Which meant these guys were adventurers of the same rank as me.
"Is that why you all stick together, playing in your little group?"
Sure, I was on the stronger side among my rank...
But I hadn't expected this level of disparity.
It only took five moves to subdue all three of them.
I shouldn't get arrogant about my skills—there was still a massive gap between me and silver-rank. But at this level... I wasn't just top-tier in my rank; I was probably one of the best.
That thought crossed my mind, but I quickly shook my head.
No matter how I spun it, it wasn't that I was exceptional—they were just that incompetent.
I kicked them until they could barely crawl and dragged them to the guards.
Handing them over, the guards sighed and began a simple investigation.
Plenty of street witnesses had seen them charge at me, and getting statements from them via soldiers was easy work. I was cleared in no time.
But not for those who'd attacked me.
They'd wielded weapons and assaulted someone right in the middle of the street.
Unlike Marcel, who handled things in secluded spots, this was broad daylight on a public road. Even if it was adventurer business, the guards couldn't turn a blind eye.
Their futures didn't look bright.
From what I overheard during the questioning, they'd planned to grab me and use me to threaten Marcel.
Utterly ridiculous.
I'd only just learned today how much Marcel cared for me, but even so, I doubted capturing me would make him fold.
"I'm exhausted..."
I'd planned to rest today, but all sorts of nonsense had piled up.
I stumbled into the inn and flopped onto the bed.
The people close to me always vanished at some point.
That lingering anxiety had gnawed at me...
But seeing Marcel return safe and sound, unlike Ban's sudden disappearance, brought a belated wave of relief.
A grin tugged at my lips as the tension drained from my body, and I fell asleep in an instant.
When I woke again, the sun was already setting the next day.
"...What."
Staring out the window left me baffled.
I'd resolved yesterday to get moving starting today, but I'd already blown more than half the day.
Of course, I hadn't eaten a thing, so my stomach growled fiercely, but now wasn't the time to worry about that.
I hurriedly changed clothes, grabbed my sword, and left the inn.
I headed straight for the guild.
Time was late, so putting it off until tomorrow would just lead to endless delays. What needed doing today had to be done today.
"Leni!"
The moment I stepped into the guild, I called out the name of the appraiser girl I'd learned about while commissioning the book translation yesterday.
Spotting me, Leni's pretty face scrunched up in a frown.
"You're late!"
"Sorry... overslept..."
"Ugh, anyone can see that. Your hair's a mess."
"...Heh."
I chuckled awkwardly and ran a hand through my hair, but the stray strands refused to settle.
"You wanted those, right? The books written by monsters... or whatever. Don't know why you need 'em, but a few came in."
"Really?"
"Think I'd lie?"
Appraisers also handled relaying items for appraisal, it seemed.
She remembered my request from yesterday and rattled it off.
"One goblin-written book and one orc-written book. Two in total."
"Just two?"
Adding the one I'd commissioned for translation, that made only three.
These were special books, so I'd figured Leni was my best shot at sourcing them, but they weren't as easy to find as I'd hoped.
Sensing my disappointment, Leni put her hands on her hips with a look of exasperation.
"You think monsters who can write books grow on trees? At best, you've got goblins or orcs... and maybe a couple others."
She closed her eyes, lips moving as if thinking, but couldn't recall more and raised her voice instead.
"Anyway! Far as I know, there aren't more than five kinds of monsters that bother writing books."
"I see..."
"How many have the brains for it and their own script and actually compile it into books?"
Fair point. Not many, when you put it like that.
There were plenty of intelligent monsters.
Plenty with their own languages, too.
But ones with their own writing systems? Rare.
And ones intelligent enough to use writing for full books? Even rarer.
"So, what'll it be? Buying them all?"
"Yes."
"Gonna get them translated?"
"Yes."
"Then that'll be 26 silver total."
"Wasn't it 10 silver per appraisal?"
"Yeah, but the books themselves are 6 silver. Two goblin books at 2 each, one orc book at 4."
"No one else buys monster books?"
"Who'd want this junk besides you? There were a few who tried deciphering monster languages from these once... but why bother?"
Leni shrugged, meticulously inspecting each silver coin I handed over before staring right at me. I met her gaze without flinching.
Leni, with her petite frame not much different from mine, wore an oversized robe that dragged on the floor.
Strands of bright yellow hair like forsythia spilled from the hood, matching her vivid yellow eyes—pretty cute, actually.
"...Hey."
"...Yes?"
"What's your deal with the Saint?"
"That orc book? The Saint heard you were looking for books and dropped it off."
"...Why would he?"
"Beats me. That's why I'm asking you."
"I have no idea..."
"Maybe he just likes doing good deeds? Who knows—"
The Saint knew I was hunting for books and sourced one for Leni to pass on?
I had no clue how that chain of events happened, but him going through her instead of coming straight to me suggested some ulterior motive.
Trouble was, I couldn't guess what it was. My head throbbed.
"Anyway, translations are one book per day... Yesterday's is almost done, so... come back in two days."
"Always impresses me how fast you are."
"Gotta be, to make a living off this."
She said it casually, but adjusted her slipping robe with a little puff of pride, chest out, beaming smugly.
Seemed my compliment hit the spot.
"Feeling good, so I'll knock a bit off!"
With that, she rummaged in her robe and pulled out two copper coins in her small hand, offering them to me.
"...1% discount?"
"Buy yourself a snack."
She spun on her heel, robe trailing as she headed to her workshop. I stared at her retreating figure before snapping out of it.
She was cute, playing grown-up like a kid, but I couldn't forget I had a busy day ahead.
I'd scored two special books.
Now for the ordinary ones.
Not knowing skillbook conditions, I planned to buy all sorts and test them.
The bookstore was about to close, so I rushed there, grabbing the titles I'd premeditated.
Swordsmanship theory, basics of magic, what are spirits..., military strategy tomes.
From basic primers to simple novels.
I bought over twenty volumes, hauling them back to my inn room with grunts of effort.
Honest training was fine, of course.
Nothing wrong with getting stronger the hard way.
But I needed to power-level fast, so I intended to milk my abilities for all they were worth.
"If even one turns into a proper skillbook, it'll make me way stronger than years of grinding..."
I examined the books with desperate hope.
How much time passed like that?
Chirp chirp—
The birdsong heralded morning, and I could only let out a hollow sigh.
Traits:Autonomy B, Silent Steps B, Gloomy Aura D, Villain F, Deception F
Skills:Military Swordsmanship D, Assassination Sword C, Lightning C
Nothing had changed.
Guess ordinary books don't cut it.
I'd wasted a fortune for nothing, but at least I knew regular books wouldn't work—so that was some consolation.
Knock knock.
I turned toward the door at the sound.
"......Who is it."
"Hello! It's Rie."
"......Rie?"
"The Saint sent me!"
Her voice carried a subtle excitement that only baffled me more.
......Why her?