“This one is written by Baron Erickson. It’s a typical adventure story about a cheerful protagonist. The main character is a wandering bard, so it’s enjoyable for a light read.”
Tap-.
“Oh, this one is a great choice for beginners! It’s by an unknown author and tells the story of a mercenary group. They go on adventures and solve various incidents with their amazing companions.”
Tap-.
“Right! And this one too! The ending is really good, and the plot twists are intricately designed, so if you love twisty stories, this is perfect.”
Tap-.
“Oh, I almost forgot this one! It’s a novel inspired by the Great Knight Order, and it describes the knights’ fervent loyalty in an incredibly moving way. You really must read this.”
Tap-.
That’s already four books.
From the entrance of the Pure Literature section, the stack of four books started to rise, and if it kept going like this, I felt like I would be crushed under the weight of the veteran reader’s kindness and enthusiasm. I had to call for help.
“Uh, Ariel? I think this should be enough for now.”
“Huh? Really?”
Ariel’s enthusiasm dimmed a bit, but this level of kindness was already excessive.
A newbie snatching up everything a veteran throws their way could easily become spoiled.
Moreover, during my stay, I needed to balance real training sessions with Rachel and my exploration of the northern city, so I couldn’t afford too much time just for reading.
These books had been vetted by a seasoned reader.
They were surely of higher quality than the seven books I’d mindlessly grabbed earlier, so four was definitely an abundance of graciousness.
Of course, everyone has different tastes, but if a veteran reader analyzed the genres of my seven-book stack and made this selection, I had no doubt in trusting her choices.
As Ariel wistfully returned one of the books to the shelf, she said with a hint of disappointment, “Well then, that’ll be it for today…”
“Is something wrong?”
“Oh, no, it’s nothing.”
Ariel trailed off, looking shy.
It seemed the veteran, who had developed a taste for nurturing newbies, was reluctant to end her time with me.
I completely understood that feeling.
I would have felt the same way.
Sharing one’s experiences and emotions while forming connections and intimacy enhances self-esteem—it’s just human nature.
I’d received significant help from this chance encounter.
If it weren’t for Ariel, I might’ve ended up picking bland books and become discouraged.
Having received such great aid, it felt right to give something back in return.
“Are you coming to the library tomorrow too?”
“M-me?”
“Yeah.”
“Absolutely! I come here every day. I think I’ll keep coming for about two weeks. I still have so many books left to read.”
“Hmm. What time do you usually come?”
“Me? I’m here from morning to evening…?”
Ah.
I had asked something obvious.
Wait, though. I was pretty sure that the Grand Duchy castle didn’t have any dining area for outsiders.
Not to mention, there’s no way a medieval library would have a modern convenience store.
“So how do you handle lunch? I doubt there’s anywhere to eat around here.”
“Ah…”
Ariel hesitated for a moment before answering.
I was merely curious, but I began to feel like I’d asked too much, so I tried to switch topics. Just then, Ariel mumbled in an awkward tone.
“W-well, I… I actually skip meals.”
“…You skip meals?”
“Uh-huh.”
A noble lady from a count’s family going hungry.
In this aristocratic society, that was something unimaginable, completely absurd—truly a rare situation.
I couldn’t believe what I’d just heard and needed to confirm it.
“You mean you don’t eat anything for an entire day? Aren’t you starving?”
“I feel a little hungry, but… honestly, I love reading so much that I just put up with it.”
“Impressive…”
“If I took time to go out for food, I’d waste too much time.”
“Can’t you just borrow something?”
That look I received from Ariel really did leave me speechless.
It was a look that said, “What sort of craziness is this person talking about?”
“Borrowing is only for situations where I have no other choice, or when I’m going home and whatnot.”
“……”
I could roughly guess what Ariel meant by ‘no other choice.’
Things like natural disasters, a short trip, or being bedridden due to illness, perhaps.
And in her bookworm world, this library, with its musty yet comforting smell, must provide an excellent reading environment.
With her desire to read outweighing her hunger, yet I still had a lingering question.
“Then why not ask your maid to pack you a lunch?”
“…….”
Ariel hesitated again.
The answer she finally gave seemed absurd.
And that response made me realize I had no memory of seeing her eat at the Academy cafeteria.
As I recalled this, one memory led to another.
“It’s just… a bit awkward to eat alone. If I asked my maid to join me, I think it would make her uncomfortable, so I just wait until I get back to my place… I really don’t want to be a burden.”
I completely understood that mindset.
After all, it would be awkward for a lowly employee to share a meal with their boss.
Anyway,
It looked like the newbie, who had received such kindness from the veteran reader, found a way to repay her.
In order to grab some fun novels during my stay, her help was essential.
Especially in the largest library in the northern region, where rare books lay in wait.
In a place lacking reproduction technology, interesting and unique stories are like pearls hidden in mud.
To indulge in those before leaving the Grand Duchy, the assistance from a veteran reader was nearly a necessity.
“How about having lunch together? If you come with me, you can eat in the Great Hall as my acquaintance. It’s close to the library too.”
For me, valuing meaningful reading time over a pointless engagement contest, it was the natural thing to do to offer this simple return of kindness.
What kind of newbie would turn down the help of a veteran reader?
Ariel’s eyes widened as she asked, “…Really? Why?”
“Well, I have no one to eat with either.”
“You? Why?”
I shrugged while holding my tower of four books.
It’s rare to find someone who wanted to sit down and eat with a notorious nuisance.
As she said, it would be unreasonable to force poor souls into eating with me if I despised dining alone too.
And honestly, eating alone felt tiresome.
For Lee Jun-Woo, who had to juggle multiple jobs just to survive, eating alone was just another part of life.
More than anything, dining with people who share the same interests while chatting about random stuff is a joyful experience.
In the end, I offered her an answer that encompassed all these reasons.
“The life of a nuisance tends to be lonely.”
“Ah……”
Ariel sighed in agreement.
Now that I think about it, she was quite different from the usual noble ladies skilled at concealing their true feelings.
Swoosh.
Glance.
Swoosh.
Glance.
Swoosh.
Glance.
……
Glance?
We walked toward the designated reading spot and sat down.
I was reading one of the books Ariel recommended while she dove into one she had chosen.
The issue, however, was that having a veteran reader keep checking on a newbie with every page turn could get a little overwhelming.
Every time I flipped a page, Ariel would sneak a glance over her book before quickly burying her head back into it.
This had happened at least a dozen times.
It was impossible not to notice.
Thump-. Setting my book down and looking up, Ariel promptly ducked behind hers again.
There was no need to ask why she was acting like that.
“It’s interesting.”
“Huh?”
“This book—it’s really interesting.”
I held up the book.
It was titled [ The Loyalty of the Great Knights ]. This was the last of the four she had recommended.
Although I had only read ten pages, her selections didn’t disappoint. I was already hooked.
It might have been too early to judge the book’s overall quality, but I made sure to voice my initial thoughts to a worried Ariel.
And it truly was interesting.
Immediately, a relieved smile broke across her face.
“Phew~. I’m glad. Since this is my first time recommending a book to someone, I was worried…”
“Is that so?”
“Mn! No one here likes Pure Literature. Even the maids only read those cheesy romance novels.”
Ariel sighed as she complained.
She seemed to have unique tastes, like someone who prefers RPGs over cutesy games and is forced to enjoy her passion alone.
That worked to my advantage.
Jun-Woo was also a solitary reader, but at least in his world, there were many anonymous communities to discuss preferences and find like-minded individuals.
If not for that, he would probably be suffering just like Ariel was.
Though solitary reading can be enjoyable, even the most introverted individuals crave discussions about the books they’ve read.
“I didn’t expect you to dislike romance.”
“It’s just not fun, you know? Besides, that kind of romance is just a fantasy for us.”
[ Us. ]
Rather than the romanticism depicted in those novels and the so-called ‘true love endings’, the nobles in this world primarily marry not out of love but for convenience and benefits.
It seemed this young lady preferred veracity over fantasy.
In this fantastical realm, tales of wandering mercenaries, chivalrous knights, heroes, or even wars between two races were regarded as ‘realistic.’
Well, for someone like me who lacked romantic ties in my old life, both romantic novels and pure literature here could easily be classified as fantasy.
“So, you read only pure literature?”
“I also read classics and mythology, but mostly pure literature.”
“Oh? Classics and mythology… that must be fascinating?”
“Do you think so too?”
Seeing my interest spark, Ariel’s blue eyes sparkled like sunlight on the sea.
My own eyes twinkled a little in response.
Classic literature in a fantasy realm should relate to the continent’s history, the founding kingdoms, or even mythic heroes. Even the tales of gods should be captivating since they were real and still held power over people or the land.
There were so many tempting books to dive into.
“Once I finish what you’ve recommended, could you point me toward some classics or mythology?”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“I’d love to!”
After saying this, I glanced at the time during our short reading session.
It was nearly time to train with Rachel.
Gathering my books, I stood up.
“I need to head out now. I have training tonight. I’ll read the rest later, so let’s chat more tomorrow.”
“Okay! I’ll be here waiting for you tomorrow too!”
“Thanks for today.”
“Huh?”
A familiar expression crossed Ariel’s face, similar to the one Randler often wore.
It was an expression that shouted—‘What on earth is Elden Raphelion doing?!’
“What’s there to thank me for? I really enjoyed discussing novels with you.”
“Well then, I’ll be off.”
“Okay!”
Ariel waved goodbye with a bright smile.
After an awkward return of the gesture, I headed to the library entrance to borrow those four books.
But now that I think about it…
Where on earth did Rendler go? Didn’t he say he would fetch me some magic theory books?
It had been over an hour since I last saw him with Ariel.
Did that old man wander over to the Mage’s tower to get the books?
After waiting for a while with no sign of Rendler, I had no choice but to ask someone for assistance.
“You. Did an old butler with a mustache come to the magic theory section?”
“Hmmm… I’m not sure, My Lord.”
What?
“Where did he go?”
“……Where in the world am I?”
The old butler, Rendler, who had boldly ventured into the library following his memory from a previous visit, was now utterly lost.
He appeared to have ended up on the fourth sub-level of the library.
In a storage area.
“Which way should I go……?”
Sob-.
Tears streaming down, the emotional butler wandered around until he was caught as a trespasser by a security guard and finally reunited with his lord.
Those who struggle with directions certainly have their own set of challenges to face.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.