Library Whispers and Hometown Plans
By now, I wasn’t sure if I could even call it “us,” but checking on each other in the library during lunch had become part of our routine. We only spoke in the quiet spaces between the shelves, when no one else was around. Arian’s gaze, once sharp with the word “distrust” practically etched into it, had softened considerably.
Today, while searching for something decent to read, I spotted the second volume of Fundamentals of Pure Magic that I’d seen last time and quickly pulled it down. We each picked our books, returned to the table, and spent the rest of lunch “watching” one another. At least, that was the excuse. Lately, it felt more like a quiet book club.
Arian glanced sideways at the cover of the book I’d chosen and spoke in a low voice.
“I thought you couldn’t use magic.”
“So why am I reading this?”
She didn’t bother turning to face me, and I answered without meeting her eyes either, my back still to her as I flipped the page. The rustle of paper filled the brief silence before her flat voice continued.
“Every time you come to the library, you only ever look at magic-related books.”
“Because of someone.”
At that shameless reply, she couldn’t hold back a small, exasperated sigh and shot me a sidelong glance.
Just sitting here without reading anything would look suspicious, so I had to pick something. Nothing else appealed, so I’d settled on magic books. Thanks to that, I was steadily accumulating knowledge I could never actually use.
When I shot back that I didn’t particularly enjoy coming to the library at lunch either, Arian blinked, looking genuinely puzzled.
“Still, there are plenty of other books besides magic ones…”
“They’re boring. Boring.”
I cut her off and walked over to an empty seat. The real issue wasn’t just boredom. The shelves were packed with topics aimed at the wealthy—How to Manage an Estate: The Basics, The Valiant Life of Ironheart Ermorak, Collected Works of the World-Renowned Artist Terkal. In a library full of upper-class culture, there simply wasn’t much here that someone like me could actually use.
Even if I read it, it wouldn’t help me anyway. What was a D-rank mercenary freeloading in someone else’s house supposed to do with estate management? At least magic books were interesting enough to pass the time, even if I couldn’t cast a single spell.
I quietly pulled out a chair and sat down, opening the book. It felt strange, like belatedly reading a setting book I’d never cared about while actually playing the game. Viewed as someone else’s world, it was oddly entertaining.
I was deeply absorbed when a voice echoed from the library entrance.
“Students still seated, please return your books to their proper places and prepare to head back to class.”
At the polite announcement, I closed my book, stood up, and slid it back onto the shelf where I’d found it. Though we arrived at different times, most of us left around the same hour. Back in the classroom, I spent the remaining lessons preparing for the next ones.
Glancing around, I noticed quite a few students still scribbling with their quills even during lunch. They had no choice but to care about how they appeared. With final evaluations looming at the end of summer and winter terms, no one wanted their family’s reputation tarnished by poor grades posted on the bulletin board. Reputation, status, honor… what a hassle.
Not that it matters to me.
After class, as I stepped through the academy gates, the thought drifted through my mind. Unless you were someone whose name alone announced you as the eldest daughter or second son of a famous house, the pressure of grades was relatively light. Besides, these evaluations were just narrative fodder in the game—barely a few lines to set up the concept of vacation.
The summer and winter breaks took up a decent chunk of the academy’s three years, yet in practice they vanished in under five minutes of dialogue, little more than time to chat or flirt with heroines. That was Kair’s story, though—the one bound to the system and the mansion. My situation was different.
I should focus on raising my level while I can.
I made the quiet resolution, feeling a flicker of anticipation for the small freedom I’d been given. The academy had slowed my growth a little, but it was time to stoke that fire again.
Having already forgotten about grades and looking ahead to the break, I was humming to myself as I set my bag down at home when Reina spoke up casually from the sofa.
“What are you planning to do during the academy break?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe head somewhere a bit farther away…”
I pretended to think on the spot even though I already had a plan, scratching my cheek as my words trailed off. My goal was to reach at least the area around Selindale—farther if possible, maybe near Pardin or Windren—where I could comfortably hunt monsters. If I was only thinking about levels, I could ignore gathering hides or meat and just hunt nonstop.
At my vague answer, Reina, who had been lying on the sofa staring at the ceiling, rolled over to face me.
“How far are you thinking of going?”
“I don’t know. Maybe stop by my hometown while I’m out…”
Instead of giving a firm destination, I answered ambiguously, as if I had several places to visit. I couldn’t send letters, so I had no way to share news with my family or Rein. Winter was over, but the wool hat she’d given me was already worn thin, and it had been half a year since I last saw any of them. Even if I couldn’t write, I should visit if I had the time.
I can hunt monsters along the way, too.
“Your hometown? Ah… you said it was a little past Windren, right?”
While I was busy trying to kill two birds with one stone, Reina asked a few more questions. She repeated the location of a place she’d never shown interest in before. I simply nodded, assuming she was just curious, and changed out of my uniform into lighter clothes suited for summer.
“Yeah, it’s quite a ways from Karsion.”
“Maybe I’ll tag along and take a look around?”
The moment my head emerged from the shirt collar, those unexpected words rang in my ears. A flustered voice slipped out on its own.
“Huh?”
I’d expected something like “Have a safe trip,” not “Want me to come with you?” I stared at her blankly, wide-eyed like a startled rabbit. Reina narrowed her eyes and gave me a displeased look.
“What do you mean, ‘huh’? Why, don’t want me to go?”
Her tone was sharp, almost mocking, and laced with hurt. I was momentarily thrown off. What part of that single syllable had offended her so much?
I scrambled to smooth things over, mixing in a topic change.
“No, it’s not that… It’s just so sudden. What about your work?”
“When have I ever had set work anyway?”
She answered indifferently about mercenary jobs. I could understand that she didn’t have fixed assignments, but… Why does that mean she has to follow me? Still, saying that would only repeat the earlier situation. I tried again, gently suggesting she might find it tiring.
“Wearing that heavy armor the whole way would be rough, wouldn’t it? There’s really nothing in my village.”
“Then I just won’t wear it.”
Again, a nonchalant reply. What had been the point of all those years she’d stubbornly worn armor to avoid being underestimated as a woman? Now that she was A-rank, she didn’t have to worry about that anymore, but… why was she so determined to come? Did she really not trust me that much?
Once she’d made up her mind like that, there was no stopping her. I swallowed my sigh and spoke first.
“Fine. Let’s go together.”
My voice was flat, resigned. Just like that, a trip to Pardin village with my teacher was forcibly scheduled. Reina’s lips curved in satisfaction, and without another word she rolled over on the sofa, turning her back to me.
Honestly, I could never figure her out. Still, unlike last time, there was no urgent commission forcing us back to the capital. On the way home I could send her ahead to Karsion while I stayed behind to hunt in various cities. There’d be plenty of time.
“Oh.”
While I was roughly mapping out the break in my head, Reina turned only her head toward me and let out a short sound, as if she’d just remembered something.
Right after that brief exclamation, she spoke again, almost offhandedly.
“You’re going all the way to your hometown, though. Shouldn’t you bring some kind of gift?”
“Y-yeah… you’re right.”
I echoed her realization, the words coming out awkwardly. Now that she mentioned it, every time I’d visited Pardin I’d only ever received things—never brought anything myself.
“Hmm…”
I pressed my thumb and forefinger to my lips, pondering the sudden gift problem that had crashed into my otherwise solid vacation plans. At my long, troubled hum, Reina spoke up from the sofa.
“Tomorrow after the academy, come straight home. We’ll go into the city and look for something suitable together.”
“Sure, uh—wait, what?”
I answered on reflex, then felt something was off and jerked my head up, blurting out a dazed question. Had I ever been given a choice? Before I knew it, tomorrow’s schedule had been decided in an instant.