Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: 47. Wrong Encounter (2)
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"So, the reason you came to see me..."
Katrina said as she sliced the bread. She had kneaded the dough herself and baked it in the oven. Steam rose along with a tantalizing aroma.
Yuri nodded.
"Yes. I came to ask for your help."
"What kind of help?"
"I want to enter the Imperial Palace."
"The Imperial Palace?"
Yuri nodded again.
"I was hoping the princess would invite me."
The Imperial Palace, where the emperor resided, was no place just anyone could enter.
There were sections open to outsiders with permission, but only a tiny fraction.
To venture deeper, one needed the emperor's approval or an imperial family member to accompany them.
"Why?"
"Just curious. Isn't it the most secretive place on the continent?"
"Why me, though? I thought you were close with Uncle Ragnar."
"His Highness Ragnar seems quite busy."
"I'm busy too..."
"That doesn't mean you're free, Princess."
"I have muffins to bake and jam to make..."
"You must really like baking bread."
"Yes. Cedric actually tempted me with bread once."
"Really?"
"He seems to adore his brother. The way his eyes lit up..."
"He respects him."
"Music to my ears."
Yuri thought she seemed like a pretty decent person.
Her speech and actions were gentle, and her hobbies were humble. He'd never imagined an imperial princess donning a baker's hat and baking bread herself.
His brother had impeccable taste in choosing a partner.
"Try some."
Yuri took a bite of the slice Katrina had cut for him.
It was packed with butter and sugar, filling his mouth with a sweet, nutty flavor.
"How is it?"
"It's genuinely delicious."
"How much?"
"Enough that if Jared choked on bread and collapsed right here, I wouldn't care."
"...?"
Jared shot Yuri a look, but he ignored it and kept eating.
Katrina burst into clear laughter.
"Wow, that's high praise."
"...?"
This time, Jared glanced at Katrina before quickly averting his eyes.
Katrina covered her mouth, laughing for a good while as if it were the funniest thing.
"Alright. I'll show you around the Imperial Palace."
"Thank you."
"Uncle Ragnar might get upset, though."
"He won't. Haha..."
Yuri had a specific reason for asking Katrina instead.
Ragnar was already investigating black magic. If the culprit was inside the palace, he'd know it.
Traveling with him would draw unnecessary attention.
Yuri wanted it to look like he was visiting purely on Katrina's goodwill, unrelated to Ragnar.
"When's good? Today?"
"Whenever is convenient for you, Princess."
"I'm fine anytime."
"Hmm..."
"I can tell from your face. You want to go today, right?"
"Honestly, yes."
"Then let's go. It's not far by carriage. You're not planning to see every nook and cranny, are you?"
"Haha, no."
"Then what are we waiting for?"
"Thank you. And please, feel free to speak casually to me."
"How polite. I'll drop the formalities once we're closer."
Yuri nodded.
"Shall we head out now, then..."
"Wait."
Katrina grabbed Yuri's wrist as he stood.
"Eat more bread first."
"Pardon?"
"There's plenty inside. Eat while I get ready."
Yuri and Jared ended up eating bread until she returned, then had to share their thoughts.
"How good was it?"
"Even if Jared had a heart attack mid-bite..."
"Hey."
Unlike when she was dressed like a baker, in her red gown, she exuded the dignity befitting the continent's noblest bloodline.
Her bright golden hair and green eyes complemented the crimson perfectly.
Katrina summoned a lavish carriage from somewhere near the villa and had Yuri and Jared board it.
As they approached the Imperial Palace with her, the gates began opening even from afar—no inspections needed.
Her escorts waited at the entrance.
"We've entered the Imperial Palace."
Yuri closely observed the scenery outside the carriage window.
He'd visited for banquets before, but entering deep inside with imperial company was a first.
"What do you think?"
"As expected of the Imperial Palace. The scale is immense. The decorations are exquisite too."
"It's huge, right?"
"Yes, very."
"I wonder what our prince wants to see in this vast palace?"
"Pardon?"
Yuri looked at Katrina. She just smiled and shrugged.
Then again, Cedric had said they connected intellectually. She was sharp enough to guess he had some purpose here.
Yuri simply bowed his head.
"I'm just grateful."
"If you're grateful, sing my praises to Cedric."
"Of course."
Katrina rode through the palace interior, explaining the visible buildings as they passed.
Yuri pretended to listen intently while spreading his aura sense, searching for traces.
It'd be great to encounter the black-clad figure from last night, but he didn't expect it.
Trusting his unusually sharp senses, Yuri activated the Mana Circulation Method.
Outwardly attentive to her explanations, he analyzed signals caught by his inner sense.
"That's where His Majesty holds meetings. More like one-sided announcements, though..."
"I see."
"And over there are the palace servants' quarters. I visited once—it's decently nice."
"Why did you go?"
"Curiosity."
Suddenly, Yuri sensed something and glanced at a spot outside.
Jared, noticing, quickly distracted Katrina.
"P-Princess. Um, if I may ask... something I'm curious about..."
"Yes?"
"Uh... what kind of bird is that flying over there?"
"Pardon?"
While Jared babbled nonsense, Yuri focused. Heart-Soul Severing energy coursed through his core and meridians.
Internal energy rose to his head, settling into his senses.
A new sense beyond the five tracked the target.
Yuri's lips curled up.
"Lucky."
He muttered unwittingly, drawing looks from Katrina and Jared. Yuri calmly continued.
"I mean, getting to glimpse the famous Imperial Library from afar."
Outside stood an exceptionally tall building. The upper levels soared like a tower, while the base was a sturdy rectangle.
The Imperial Library, repository of the empire's knowledge.
Inside, Yuri had detected energy akin to the black-clad drug dealer.
Whether it was him or something related, he couldn't tell yet.
Katrina asked.
"Want to see it?"
"Is that possible?"
"Yes, as long as you don't go underground."
The library's fame came from its scale. The aboveground parts were massive, but the underground levels delved even deeper.
"I kindly ask."
Katrina laughed at Yuri's words.
"Ah, so the library was what you wanted to see. Not just a martial artist after all. You remind me so much of Cedric."
She assumed the library itself was his goal.
Technically, what he sought happened to be there, but Yuri didn't correct her.
He just gave an ambiguous smile, reinforcing her assumption.
The coachman turned toward the library at her direction.
Palace servants passing by halted, bowing to her carriage.
"That's the Imperial Library..."
Up close, its imposing presence intensified.
The front building was grand; the tower required craning one's neck.
Sages, scholars, and mages etched on the walls were masterfully carved.
Guards saluted as Katrina appeared.
"We need to sign the registry here."
"Yes."
It listed imperial family and select nobles. Katrina, Yuri, and Jared were added below.
Inside was pitch black without lights.
A wizened old man appeared with a lantern.
"A princess visiting? Wonders never cease."
"Why say something embarrassing like that."
Katrina laughed lightly, then pointed to Yuri behind her.
"Actually, came for a guest. He really wanted to see the Imperial Library."
"Yuri Brioll."
The librarian-like figure received Katrina's formal tone, so Yuri matched it. The old man bowed to Yuri.
"Prince of Brioll, come so far..."
He turned and led them inside.
Following the corridor felt like traversing a cave. The scent of aged books grew stronger.
The old man stopped and raised his lantern.
Yuri and Jared gasped unwittingly.
"Ah..."
"This is..."
The interior had soaring ceilings, bookshelves reaching the top.
Ladders leaned here and there for high shelves.
A world filled entirely with books.
"By any chance..."
Yuri asked instinctively.
"How do you manage humidity...?"
Stagnant air bred mold and bookworms. Sealed and dim, it worried him.
The old man smiled faintly.
"With magic."
"I see. Unnecessary concern."
Magic solved everything—how convenient.
"Take this."
He fetched a lantern and booklet from his worn wooden desk.
It roughly outlined the library's classification.
"Quite disorganized."
The old man nodded at Yuri's comment.
"Too many books, always piling up. Can't keep it sorted. Don't even know what's where..."
The booklet had vague categories, no system.
Katrina told Yuri.
"Yuri, feel free to look around. I'll chat with Parkinson here."
"You sure?"
"Yes. Just stay aboveground. Guards are watching."
"Thank you."
Thanks to her consideration, Yuri and Jared could explore with lanterns.
Once away from Katrina, Jared spoke up.
"Wow, incredible. Your Highness, a place like this exists. My head already hurts."
"You're chatty today."
"With the imperial princess here, how could I? Whew..."
"Shh."
Yuri spread his aura sense again.
Tracking was tricky. The energy was there, but pinpointing impossible.
It felt reflected from all directions.
"The magic..."
Various magical devices disrupted his senses.
Plenty of time left.
Yuri scanned shelves slowly, all priceless tomes.
"Uh..."
Suddenly, faint light flickered between towering shelves.
Yuri halted. Jared, chatting behind, bumped into him and stopped.
Yuri stared ahead.
Someone approached with a lantern.
Yuri smirked, advancing slowly.
The black-clad energy was strong.
That's the one.
The figure paused at Yuri's light, then approached.
Distance closed.
Yuri peered through the dim light. Unaware of his identity, it was one-sided observation.
The figure emerged.
A tall young man.
Yuri narrowed his eyes. Oddly familiar face. The youth tilted his head passing Yuri.
Right after crossing.
Both whirled, pointing.
"You!"
"You!"