Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Ed's Reading Milestone
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"From now on, I'll have to work hard if I want to hear you say my name."
I stood blankly in the middle of the office after Billy left, replaying his words over and over in my mind.
'What does he even mean by working hard...?'
Honestly, it wasn't just his words—his actions lingered in my head like an afterimage, leaving me dazed.
I had no idea why I'd even stepped out. I wandered down the corridor with slow steps, and that's when Karen, Ed's tutor, came walking from the opposite direction.
The classroom was downstairs, but I'd just kept walking wherever my feet took me until I'd ended up here.
It looked like class had just ended. I approached her first and greeted her.
"Karen, great work again today. Is Ed keeping up well with his lessons?"
I asked a few light questions about how Ed had been handling his classes lately and what he was learning. Simple stuff, but Karen's face paled.
"Well, um... He picks up continental history and languages quite well and always approaches lessons with such enthusiasm. His attitude is impeccable, of course."
I'd figured Ed would handle things on his own, but hearing it straight from his tutor made me swell with pride, like I was his mom or something.
I had no clue why she'd hesitated at first before saying such nice things, but I chalked it up to her carefully picking the best words.
Karen gave me a quick bow and hurried down the stairs. Just then, the door behind her opened, and Ed emerged from the classroom.
"Ed!"
Ed, stepping out, looked up at my call, spotted me, and waved happily before walking over.
"What brings you all the way here, Lady Lami? Did you come to see me?"
He gazed up at me with sparkling eyes.
He must have been thrilled that I'd come all the way to the classroom. Seeing it tick up by 1% put a smile on my face too.
I couldn't exactly say I'd just wandered down here by accident, so I went with a white lie.
"Of course. Was today's lesson fun?"
Talking to Ed always left me on edge, wondering when the choice window might pop up. But thinking about how I was gradually breaking free from its control filled me with a sense of liberation.
True to what Karen said, he must have been studying hard—Ed puffed out his chest and answered in a mature voice.
"You bet! I can read books now!"
He proudly showed off the thin book in his hand.
I remembered how he'd told me he secretly listened to other kids read because he wanted to read but couldn't.
Simply wanting to give the kid a break, I'd made him read despite not knowing his letters yet—and it'd always tugged at my conscience.
But now Ed could read on his own. I was so proud of him.
I reached out to stroke his head and praise him.
But of course, the choice window couldn't let a heartwarming moment slide.
'Why pop up right now of all times!'
That damn thing was about to ruin the vibe.
I clutched my head, glaring daggers at the window as I desperately hunted for the best option.
"Lady Lami?"
I couldn't take too long. Ed, expecting praise and holding out his book proudly, was starting to let his arm droop.
'Number 2 it is, then?'
The others might come off as downplaying his effort. The moment I selected it, my arms crossed on their own, and a prickly yet intrigued voice escaped my lips.
"Oh? Then read that book for me. I need to see how well you do."
Ed immediately opened the book and began reading word by word. Watching the pages turn smoothly without a hitch filled me with a thrilling mix of pride and astonishment.
They'd said his swordsmanship learning curve was fast too. Magic was a given with mana reserves fit for a future Magic Tower Lord.
And now even his brains were top-tier? No wonder he was the protagonist.
Listening to Ed read in his innocent voice as we walked slowly together, we soon reached the garden. It'd gotten pretty chilly after a short stroll, so we were heading back inside when a good idea struck.
"Ed, want to check out the village?"
It was a totally impulsive thought.
Until now, I hadn't the slightest urge to set foot in a village crawling with wolves. Outside trips to the Magic Tower and orphanage, I never left the Rub mansion.
Not just me—Billy hadn't taken Ed sightseeing either, so naturally, Ed spent most of his time cooped up in the mansion.
'Wasn't there a festival around this chilly season?'
I recalled something from the original story: a festival held in Rub Territory during cold weather.
'Gotta ask Billy for details later.'
Ed beamed back at me.
"Sure! Uncle's coming too, right?"
I'd planned to go just the two of us, but Ed clearly assumed Billy was a package deal.
"Hmm, if he's not busy? I'll ask him later."
"Okay!"
Billy was out right now, so I couldn't check immediately. Ed replied energetically to my "later" and grabbed my hand tight as we headed back inside the mansion.
Maybe because of the cold, overcast sky, but the top floor of the Magic Tower felt even more dreary than usual.
Billy turned from gazing at the lavender-tinted sky outside the window and eyed Nick, who was perched casually on the desk.
"I never get used to the sky here. That purple hue really shapes the Magic Tower's image."
He took the report from Philip's hand and began scanning updates sent to the Tower from across the continent.
"No romance novels with that title anywhere."
"Given the vibe of the title, maybe it's not officially published?"
"Already checked that angle."
They couldn't scour the entire continent for one book. Instead, Nick had mobilized mages stationed everywhere and Tower wizards to hunt it down.
He'd even tapped into shadowy info guilds, but no dice.
"Lady Morton definitely saw it in the library."
"Why can't I see that book? I'm dying to know what novel describes a magic circle only the Magic Tower Lord would know about. Didn't expect it'd take this long."
Nick had figured it'd be a cinch finding a single romance novel.
But even ransacking the Morton library in person turned up zilch.
Grilling Ramen just got the dumb reply that he didn't know every book there.
"Curiosity's making life hard for everyone."
Even as Billy hit the nail on the head, Nick kept a perfectly straight face, staring at Philip.
Deep down, Philip agreed wholeheartedly but fought to stay poker-faced in front of his boss.
"Anyway, I should drop by the mansion sometime."
Billy lounged on the sofa like it was his own home, leaning back fully and crossing his legs. Just then, a mage brought in refreshments.
"From that new cake shop."
The mage glanced nervously at the picky Nick, spoke in a shaky voice, bowed, and scurried out.
Nick cut a piece with his fork and tasted it.
"The mansion? Something up?"
"Lady Morton wants to talk to you."
"That lady sure has a lot to say to the Magic Tower Lord. Rare for a beastkin."
Sending letters via magic circle, treating him casually, and now summoning him to the mansion for a chat?
Nick mused that being the new Tower Lord meant way more fun than his predecessors.
Plus, he'd never seen rough-edged Billy, who'd always bristled with menace, treat anyone so gently.
Nick eyed Billy thoughtfully as he ate his cake, then dropped a line.
"So, what's that lady's angle bringing her to the Rub mansion?"
"Told you—Ed doesn't want to be apart from her."
"You know you're not the type to let a stranger into your home for that."
Nick had watched from afar till now, but he was starting to wonder why Billy had brought a sheep into wolf territory.
"Protector for Ed" felt too thin—Billy's attitude toward Lami was downright weird.
Maybe there was some backstory he didn't know? His hunch hit paydirt—Billy flinched for a split second.
Then Billy's mouth opened.