Chapter 286: Cause and Effect (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 286: Cause and Effect (2)
I didn't have a specific destination in mind for this outing. I just walked wherever my feet would take me.
Oh, so that skewer shop was here twenty years ago too.
I didn't particularly like going on walks, but this time I quite enjoyed it. It was like a spot-the-difference picture game. Each time I saw a shop that was still in operation twenty years later, I was glad to see it even if I hadn't actually visited it a lot myself.
"...Huh?"
When did I get here? Force of habit really is a scary thing.
I raised my head absently to look at the beautiful exterior of the building in front of me.
[Ravigion Southern Central Records Archives]
This was the place everyone referred to as the library, and also the place I visited most in this world.
This place is exactly the same now as it is twenty years in the future.
It wasn't like I had loads of stuff to do right now, so I entered the library without hesitation.
"Hello, welcome." As soon as I entered, I was greeted by staff. To be honest, I was really taken aback.
The heck? This place was never like this.
The counters that were always empty except for Ragna were all filled with staff. The first time I ever came here, there had only been a single dozing librarian.
One of the many librarians approached me, a girl who appeared to be in her early to mid-teens. "Is this your first visit?" She looked very young. This couldn't be her full-time job, then. Was it like a part-time job? But why did she look so familiar? "...Is this your first visit?"
"Ah, yes... that's right."
"Then I will briefly guide you through the rules and browsing process."
As I listened to the woman's explanation, it seemed to me that it wasn't just the number of librarians that had changed. The administrative wizard was only one of the many people here. To find a book, a visitor had to give them a keyword so they could pull up the records with magic while the other ordinary librarians guided the visitor to the book's location.
"...Why do you use such a complicated process?"
"Sorry?"
"Wouldn't it be easier to cast a spell on the visitors and get them to search for books on their own instead?"
The librarian looked at me with eyes that seemed to ask, What the hell is this barbarian bastard talking about? and answered with a bright smile, "Haha, I guess you might think that way. But I heard bestowing magic on others increases the consumption of mana by several times."
"Oh, so the problem is that there are too few wizards."
"Yes. And I've never heard of a spell like that in the first place."
Huh? What's this now? That spell doesn't exist?
As I tilted my head involuntarily, the librarian continued in a low, self-deprecating voice, "There's no way those lofty wizards from the Tower would create a spell for us librarians."
"...Uh, I see? Sorry. I'll come back in a bit, then."
"It's all right. If you think of a book or a genre you would like to read as you browse, please feel free to ask us any time."
The conversation ended and the librarian returned to her seat. But thanks to that, I caught sight of her nametag, which hadn't been visible while we were talking.
[Apprentice Librarian – Shavin Emoor]
Ha, no wonder she looked so familiar. It was her. It looked like she had worked here until becoming an adult and getting a job at the administrative office.
That's so interesting.
I had the sudden thought that given the time period I was in, I might get a chance to hear young Missha's babbling.
Ah, I guess she still babbles in the present, though.
Anyway, that wasn't important. The fact that I could see the childhoods of people I was acquainted with if I wanted to? That might be interesting, but what did it matter?
"Dwalkie... would be alive here."
Riol Warb Dwalkie, the wizard who would probably be a raw nerve to me for the rest of my life.
If changing the future is possible...
Couldn't I possibly prevent Dwalkie from dying with my actions here? The moment I had that thought, an electric current ran through my body—not metaphorically, but literally.
Bzzzzzz.
What is this? Who seared me with electricity?
When I glanced down in response to the stinging sensation prickling at my feet, I saw a child looking up at me arrogantly. I responded graciously like the mature barbarian I was. "What the crap are you doing?"
The child answered my question. "I'm a wizard."
I was dumbfounded.
Yeah, what about it? What, did you think I would cower in fear or something?
"Human child, it seems you don't realize that wizards can also die when their necks get snapped." Since actually arguing with a six- or seven-year-old kid was ridiculous, I instead gave her some sincere advice. But was that not to her liking?
"Whatever, just get out of my way. I can't get past because of you." The child wizard glared up at me with attitude. Well, that answered the question of why she zapped me with electricity.
Ha, did she shock me just because I was in the way?
This was one rude kid, but I managed to hold it together, albeit narrowly, remembering Amelia's warning not to make a scene. "Yes, go ahead, child."
"What's good about being big? You can't even use magic."
"What did you say? You wanna see a spell that breaks necks?"
When I stood to the side to make way, the child snorted loud enough for me to hear before disappearing. "...How barbarian."
Yeah, that had no effect on a barbarian.
Tsk, tsk. Were all children like this twenty years ago? Jeez, it wasn't like this back in my day... What is this world coming to?
After that, I took a quick look around the library and without taking out a book, sat down in an empty seat. There was something I needed to make up my mind about.
Yeah, it'd be too much of a waste to throw away this opportunity.
It was a twenty-year time difference, after all. Just as Amelia said, this was an opportunity, and it occurred to me that it would be a loss to just go back to my original time immediately.
Although I can't do much since I only have three weeks left aboveground...
I made a list of things I could do during that time. A few things came to mind.
[Apprentice Librarian – Shavin Emoor]
Ha, no wonder she looked so familiar. It was her. It looked like she had worked here until becoming an adult and getting a job at the administrative office.
That's so interesting.
I had the sudden thought that given the time period I was in, I might get a chance to hear young Missha's babbling.
Ah, I guess she still babbles in the present, though.
Anyway, that wasn't important. The fact that I could see the childhoods of people I was acquainted with if I wanted to? That might be interesting, but what did it matter?
"Dwalkie... would be alive here."
Riol Warb Dwalkie, the wizard who would probably be a raw nerve to me for the rest of my life.
If changing the future is possible...
Couldn't I possibly prevent Dwalkie from dying with my actions here? The moment I had that thought, an electric current ran through my body—not metaphorically, but literally.
Bzzzzzz.
What is this? Who seared me with electricity?
When I glanced down in response to the stinging sensation prickling at my feet, I saw a child looking up at me arrogantly. I responded graciously like the mature barbarian I was. "What the crap are you doing?"
The child answered my question. "I'm a wizard."
I was dumbfounded.
Yeah, what about it? What, did you think I would cower in fear or something?
"Human child, it seems you don't realize that wizards can also die when their necks get snapped." Since actually arguing with a six- or seven-year-old kid was ridiculous, I instead gave her some sincere advice. But was that not to her liking?
"Whatever, just get out of my way. I can't get past because of you." The child wizard glared up at me with attitude. Well, that answered the question of why she zapped me with electricity.
Ha, did she shock me just because I was in the way?
This was one rude kid, but I managed to hold it together, albeit narrowly, remembering Amelia's warning not to make a scene. "Yes, go ahead, child."
"What's good about being big? You can't even use magic."
"What did you say? You wanna see a spell that breaks necks?"
When I stood to the side to make way, the child snorted loud enough for me to hear before disappearing. "...How barbarian."
Yeah, that had no effect on a barbarian.
Tsk, tsk. Were all children like this twenty years ago? Jeez, it wasn't like this back in my day... What is this world coming to?
After that, I took a quick look around the library and without taking out a book, sat down in an empty seat. There was something I needed to make up my mind about.
Yeah, it'd be too much of a waste to throw away this opportunity.
It was a twenty-year time difference, after all. Just as Amelia said, this was an opportunity, and it occurred to me that it would be a loss to just go back to my original time immediately.
Although I can't do much since I only have three weeks left aboveground...
I made a list of things I could do during that time. A few things came to mind.
First, the Genesis Treasures.
The Genesis Treasures would be stolen in twenty years. I wouldn't be able to stop that, and it would be virtually impossible for me to steal one in advance and bury it underground for safekeeping. I didn't know where they were hidden in their respective holy lands.
But I can leave a warning.
Like that, the first item on my to-do list was decided: write an anonymous letter that someone would be coming to steal the Genesis Treasures on March 1, year 153 of New World. Of course, it was unclear whether this would change the future, but since it did not require much effort, it wasn't like I had much to lose. On that note, I decided to include a word about the War of Sacred Relics. That had been the primary cause of the decline of the barbarian tribe.
It would be nice if they held as much power there as they do here.
I hadn't spent too long looking around the Rafdonia of twenty years prior, but the most noticeable difference was the number of barbarians. There were quite a lot wherever I went. This had probably been normal in the past. The War of Sacred Relics decreased the population and the Magic Tower then announced that our hearts were valuable as magical ingredients, leaving us in the state that we were in in the present.
The Magic Tower... can I not stop them somehow?
Hmm, I decided to think more about that later. Nothing really came to mind right now. Anyway, onto the next item on my to-do list: create a future where Dwalkie doesn't die. In the case of this item, there were a total of two methods that came to mind: either intervene and induce a scenario where he didn't become an adventurer in the first place, or kill that Dragon Slayer son of a bitch. The former had too many variables, while the latter would be the most effective solution. It was also a deed that would benefit the world in more ways than one. In many ways, there were only pros.
But the problem is, there's no way to know for sure if that bastard will even be in Noark.
According to public records, the guy first revealed himself about ten years after he stole the Dragon Sword. I heard he made his Orcules debut by single-handedly terrorizing the holy land of the elves after it was left in ruins by the War of Sacred Relics. Unfortunately, nothing was known about his past.
Then I should first meet with Dwalkie.
And so I chose to proceed with the plan to create a future where Dwalkie wouldn't become an adventurer. Many things could go wrong, but it was worth a shot. Not to mention I even knew where Dwalkie was staying at this time.
If I go find him and only tell him bad things about what a hard and disgusting job it is, I'm sure he'll be put off. Okay, then that's how we'll deal with that. Next up is...
Just as I was getting my thoughts in order, I heard the crackling of electricity from somewhere nearby.
Crackle!
Fortunately, this time it wasn't coming from my body.
"Agh!" When I turned my head in the direction of the sound, I spotted the man who was screaming after being terrorized by lightning.
"Move, don't block the way." The little kid recited the same line she spat at me earlier. But unfortunately, the results were not the same. Well, how many grown-ups were as benevolent and understanding as I was?
Slap!
The man slapped the child on the cheek without mercy. Although he had the build of a stick figure, it was still hard for a six- or seven-year-old to withstand the strength of a full-fledged adult.
First, the Genesis Treasures.
The Genesis Treasures would be stolen in twenty years. I wouldn't be able to stop that, and it would be virtually impossible for me to steal one in advance and bury it underground for safekeeping. I didn't know where they were hidden in their respective holy lands.
But I can leave a warning.
Like that, the first item on my to-do list was decided: write an anonymous letter that someone would be coming to steal the Genesis Treasures on March 1, year 153 of New World. Of course, it was unclear whether this would change the future, but since it did not require much effort, it wasn't like I had much to lose. On that note, I decided to include a word about the War of Sacred Relics. That had been the primary cause of the decline of the barbarian tribe.
It would be nice if they held as much power there as they do here.
I hadn't spent too long looking around the Rafdonia of twenty years prior, but the most noticeable difference was the number of barbarians. There were quite a lot wherever I went. This had probably been normal in the past. The War of Sacred Relics decreased the population and the Magic Tower then announced that our hearts were valuable as magical ingredients, leaving us in the state that we were in in the present.
The Magic Tower... can I not stop them somehow?
Hmm, I decided to think more about that later. Nothing really came to mind right now. Anyway, onto the next item on my to-do list: create a future where Dwalkie doesn't die. In the case of this item, there were a total of two methods that came to mind: either intervene and induce a scenario where he didn't become an adventurer in the first place, or kill that Dragon Slayer son of a bitch. The former had too many variables, while the latter would be the most effective solution. It was also a deed that would benefit the world in more ways than one. In many ways, there were only pros.
But the problem is, there's no way to know for sure if that bastard will even be in Noark.
According to public records, the guy first revealed himself about ten years after he stole the Dragon Sword. I heard he made his Orcules debut by single-handedly terrorizing the holy land of the elves after it was left in ruins by the War of Sacred Relics. Unfortunately, nothing was known about his past.
Then I should first meet with Dwalkie.
And so I chose to proceed with the plan to create a future where Dwalkie wouldn't become an adventurer. Many things could go wrong, but it was worth a shot. Not to mention I even knew where Dwalkie was staying at this time.
If I go find him and only tell him bad things about what a hard and disgusting job it is, I'm sure he'll be put off. Okay, then that's how we'll deal with that. Next up is...
Just as I was getting my thoughts in order, I heard the crackling of electricity from somewhere nearby.
Crackle!
Fortunately, this time it wasn't coming from my body.
"Agh!" When I turned my head in the direction of the sound, I spotted the man who was screaming after being terrorized by lightning.
"Move, don't block the way." The little kid recited the same line she spat at me earlier. But unfortunately, the results were not the same. Well, how many grown-ups were as benevolent and understanding as I was?
Slap!
The man slapped the child on the cheek without mercy. Although he had the build of a stick figure, it was still hard for a six- or seven-year-old to withstand the strength of a full-fledged adult.
"Birhe Te—" The child who was thrown back quickly got up and began to cast a spell, but the outraged man did not allow her the chance to do so.
Smack!
Merciless kicks were directed at the tiny body.
"...Shouldn't we stop him?"
"Librarian! Let's call a librarian."
People around us started to look, but no one stepped forward.
Ha, this is why I can't deal with nerds who only study. I can't concentrate.
"Who made that noise?" I had no choice but to head in the direction of the commotion and approach the still-angry man who was continuously stomping his feet. "Be quiet in the library." I tripped him.
Boom!
"Ugh, who the hell are you!?" The man fell on his butt and huffed as he got up. He raised his voice in annoyance. "Unless you want to get hurt..." He trailed off as soon as our eyes met.
"Unless I want to get hurt...? Why did you stop there?"
The man couldn't answer my question right away. I wondered if he was going to employ the number one method to piss someone off, but fortunately, that wasn't the case. "...Just be on your way." Stick Man tried to act tough even as his eyes slowly drifted downward.
Huh, that was weird. Given how mercilessly he had slapped a little kid, I had been so sure he was an egalitarian, too, like how barbarians didn't discriminate between men and women.
But it seems he's only tough when he's facing someone weaker than him.
Well, I mean, this kid was 100 percent in the wrong this time.
"Why don't you stop here? Can't you see people are reading?"
"...Tsk." When I laid out a justification for him, Stick Man clicked his tongue, turned around, and disappeared. He probably realized what a disturbing thing he had done once the anger subsided a little.
"Can you get up?"
"...Don't worry about it."
If you're going to say a line like that, at least wait to say it when you're a few years older and lose your baby fat.
Sigh.
I sighed and lifted the child who was curled up on the ground like a shrimp. "Do you have a mom?"
"I do."
Eh? You do?
"But you're alone?"
"...She's at home."
Oh, I see. You should've said that in the first place.
"Why did you leave the house alone without your mom? If you're going to come somewhere like this, come with her."
"...I can go places on my own."
"Is that why you got beaten like that?"
When I hit her where it hurt like the barbarian I was, the child frowned. "...I could've won."
"I see." This was why I hated children. They were so stubborn for beings that were such a long way away from developing rational thinking. "Whatever, you figure this out yourself. If you're going to pick fights again, do it somewhere I'm not."
"...I wasn't picking a fight. It's his fault for blocking the way in the first place."
What was she talking about? "It's your fault for using magic just because someone was in the way too. You should have asked him to get out of the way first."
"Birhe Te—" The child who was thrown back quickly got up and began to cast a spell, but the outraged man did not allow her the chance to do so.
Smack!
Merciless kicks were directed at the tiny body.
"...Shouldn't we stop him?"
"Librarian! Let's call a librarian."
People around us started to look, but no one stepped forward.
Ha, this is why I can't deal with nerds who only study. I can't concentrate.
"Who made that noise?" I had no choice but to head in the direction of the commotion and approach the still-angry man who was continuously stomping his feet. "Be quiet in the library." I tripped him.
Boom!
"Ugh, who the hell are you!?" The man fell on his butt and huffed as he got up. He raised his voice in annoyance. "Unless you want to get hurt..." He trailed off as soon as our eyes met.
"Unless I want to get hurt...? Why did you stop there?"
The man couldn't answer my question right away. I wondered if he was going to employ the number one method to piss someone off, but fortunately, that wasn't the case. "...Just be on your way." Stick Man tried to act tough even as his eyes slowly drifted downward.
Huh, that was weird. Given how mercilessly he had slapped a little kid, I had been so sure he was an egalitarian, too, like how barbarians didn't discriminate between men and women.
But it seems he's only tough when he's facing someone weaker than him.
Well, I mean, this kid was 100 percent in the wrong this time.
"Why don't you stop here? Can't you see people are reading?"
"...Tsk." When I laid out a justification for him, Stick Man clicked his tongue, turned around, and disappeared. He probably realized what a disturbing thing he had done once the anger subsided a little.
"Can you get up?"
"...Don't worry about it."
If you're going to say a line like that, at least wait to say it when you're a few years older and lose your baby fat.
Sigh.
I sighed and lifted the child who was curled up on the ground like a shrimp. "Do you have a mom?"
"I do."
Eh? You do?
"But you're alone?"
"...She's at home."
Oh, I see. You should've said that in the first place.
"Why did you leave the house alone without your mom? If you're going to come somewhere like this, come with her."
"...I can go places on my own."
"Is that why you got beaten like that?"
When I hit her where it hurt like the barbarian I was, the child frowned. "...I could've won."
"I see." This was why I hated children. They were so stubborn for beings that were such a long way away from developing rational thinking. "Whatever, you figure this out yourself. If you're going to pick fights again, do it somewhere I'm not."
"...I wasn't picking a fight. It's his fault for blocking the way in the first place."
What was she talking about? "It's your fault for using magic just because someone was in the way too. You should have asked him to get out of the way first."
"I did. I asked you and that man earlier. But both of you ignored me."
Huh? Really? I really didn't notice...
"So I won't do it," she said.
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm not going to say thank you."
"Oh, really?" I hadn't even expected her to. "Fine, just go."
When I waved her off, the child huffed in anger for some reason, then turned around and disappeared.
It was then that the staff rushed over. Fortunately, without me having to say anything, the other visitors nearby filled the staff in on what happened. "...I heard you stepped forward to sort this out. Thank you." They thanked me and disappeared. That was the end of the incident. I sat back down and got back to brainstorming.
Drag.
When I turned to look beside me at the sound, I saw that the kid from earlier had sat down diagonally across from me and opened a book.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"I'm reading."
"Why are you reading here?"
"Why can't I read here?"
Ha, honestly... Let's keep a cool head.
Employing all my patience as an adult, I switched seats. But what was this now?
Drag.
Not even a few minutes later, another chair was pulled up diagonally opposite me.
"Why did you follow me?"
"I didn't follow you."
"You did follow me."
"No, I didn't."
According to my abundant experience as a volunteer, it seemed I'd somehow caught this child's attention.
Indifference is key in moments like these.
If I didn't respond, she'd lose interest and wander off on her own. So I stopped paying attention and got back to thinking, but this damn kid didn't know how to stay in her lane.
"Why are you sitting there without a book?"
"..."
"Can't you read?"
"..."
"Shall I teach you?"
Oh my god.
"Hey, kid."
When I finally blurted something out after struggling to hold my tongue, the child frowned. "I'm not Kid."
"Of course you're a kid—"
"Arua Raven."
"...Huh?" I froze. For a moment, I wondered if I'd misheard her, but it wasn't my ears that were wrong.
"Arua Raven is my name."
...Wait, really?
She had flowy blonde hair, blue eyes, a small figure, and was human. That was all they had in common, but looking closely, I could see Arua Raven in her features. However, I couldn't be sure like with Shavin Emoor. That was because there was a big difference between being six or seven years old and being in your mid-to-late teens.
So I asked again just to confirm. "Is it Arua? Not Aruna, Aruru, Aruberos, or anything like that?"
"What are those strange names? My name is Arua. So say it properly."
Oh, so sensitive. In twenty years, there will be no one calling you just "Arua" anyway.
"So, how old are you?"
"Five years old."
Wow, even the ages match up—I guess it really is her.
It seemed she had been tall for her age when she was young. I was surprised by the sudden encounter but slowly started to grow curious. "What is that book? It looks like a book on magic. I guess you're doing some self-study?"
"Yeah."
"Aren't you going to the Magic Tower?" As someone who knew that Arua was associated with the Magic Tower in the future, I couldn't help but wonder.
She clicked her tongue. "You think just anyone can join the Magic Tower?"
Uh, that's true, but...
"Our family is too poor, so I can't."
"Is that why you're studying alone?"
"Yeah, if I become an administrative wizard in the future, I won't have to worry about making a living."
I nodded awkwardly. "...Th-that's true."
What was I like when I was five years old? I was in and out of the operating room, and reading all day in the hospital.
I was pretty precocious for my age, too, but nothing compared to this girl. At least back then I hadn't been worrying about the future. Well, I had also been at a crossroads between life and death back then, so it was mainly because I couldn't afford to.
"Anyway, I'm leaving."
"Huh? So suddenly?"
"It's time for my mom to get home from work. If she finds out I've been at the library, I'll be in trouble."
"True, I'm sure she'll be worried about you sneaking out like this."
"...It's probably something different from what you're imagining." With that, Raven set her book back on the return desk and left coolly without looking back.
Something different from worrying... what does that mean?
It could have been nothing, but Raven's strangely dark expression as she said that bothered me.
Does she have some sort of problem with her family?
Come to think of it, she never talked about her family in front of us. This was my first time hearing she was a commoner too.
"Hmm..."
This piqued my curiosity.
"I did. I asked you and that man earlier. But both of you ignored me."
Huh? Really? I really didn't notice...
"So I won't do it," she said.
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm not going to say thank you."
"Oh, really?" I hadn't even expected her to. "Fine, just go."
When I waved her off, the child huffed in anger for some reason, then turned around and disappeared.
It was then that the staff rushed over. Fortunately, without me having to say anything, the other visitors nearby filled the staff in on what happened. "...I heard you stepped forward to sort this out. Thank you." They thanked me and disappeared. That was the end of the incident. I sat back down and got back to brainstorming.
Drag.
When I turned to look beside me at the sound, I saw that the kid from earlier had sat down diagonally across from me and opened a book.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"I'm reading."
"Why are you reading here?"
"Why can't I read here?"
Ha, honestly... Let's keep a cool head.
Employing all my patience as an adult, I switched seats. But what was this now?
Drag.
Not even a few minutes later, another chair was pulled up diagonally opposite me.
"Why did you follow me?"
"I didn't follow you."
"You did follow me."
"No, I didn't."
According to my abundant experience as a volunteer, it seemed I'd somehow caught this child's attention.
Indifference is key in moments like these.
If I didn't respond, she'd lose interest and wander off on her own. So I stopped paying attention and got back to thinking, but this damn kid didn't know how to stay in her lane.
"Why are you sitting there without a book?"
"..."
"Can't you read?"
"..."
"Shall I teach you?"
Oh my god.
"Hey, kid."
When I finally blurted something out after struggling to hold my tongue, the child frowned. "I'm not Kid."
"Of course you're a kid—"
"Arua Raven."
"...Huh?" I froze. For a moment, I wondered if I'd misheard her, but it wasn't my ears that were wrong.
"Arua Raven is my name."
...Wait, really?
She had flowy blonde hair, blue eyes, a small figure, and was human. That was all they had in common, but looking closely, I could see Arua Raven in her features. However, I couldn't be sure like with Shavin Emoor. That was because there was a big difference between being six or seven years old and being in your mid-to-late teens.
So I asked again just to confirm. "Is it Arua? Not Aruna, Aruru, Aruberos, or anything like that?"
"What are those strange names? My name is Arua. So say it properly."
Oh, so sensitive. In twenty years, there will be no one calling you just "Arua" anyway.
"So, how old are you?"
"Five years old."
Wow, even the ages match up—I guess it really is her.
It seemed she had been tall for her age when she was young. I was surprised by the sudden encounter but slowly started to grow curious. "What is that book? It looks like a book on magic. I guess you're doing some self-study?"
"Yeah."
"Aren't you going to the Magic Tower?" As someone who knew that Arua was associated with the Magic Tower in the future, I couldn't help but wonder.
She clicked her tongue. "You think just anyone can join the Magic Tower?"
Uh, that's true, but...
"Our family is too poor, so I can't."
"Is that why you're studying alone?"
"Yeah, if I become an administrative wizard in the future, I won't have to worry about making a living."
I nodded awkwardly. "...Th-that's true."
What was I like when I was five years old? I was in and out of the operating room, and reading all day in the hospital.
I was pretty precocious for my age, too, but nothing compared to this girl. At least back then I hadn't been worrying about the future. Well, I had also been at a crossroads between life and death back then, so it was mainly because I couldn't afford to.
"Anyway, I'm leaving."
"Huh? So suddenly?"
"It's time for my mom to get home from work. If she finds out I've been at the library, I'll be in trouble."
"True, I'm sure she'll be worried about you sneaking out like this."
"...It's probably something different from what you're imagining." With that, Raven set her book back on the return desk and left coolly without looking back.
Something different from worrying... what does that mean?
It could have been nothing, but Raven's strangely dark expression as she said that bothered me.
Does she have some sort of problem with her family?
Come to think of it, she never talked about her family in front of us. This was my first time hearing she was a commoner too.
"Hmm..."
This piqued my curiosity.