The royal library, filled with the unique, damp scent of old books.
It’s not just a place stuffed with books; for every book lover, this is a spot they’d want to visit at least once due to the quality and rarity of the collections.
A haven of knowledge and calmness.
There, a girl was sitting, leaning against a bookshelf, eagerly indulging in knowledge.
Eve, with her glasses perched on her nose.
She used to wear them every day, but lately, with so much going on, she only puts them on when she’s reading.
Even as I approached, Eve was so engrossed in her book that she didn’t notice me.
Not wanting to interrupt her precious time, I strolled through the aisles looking for an interesting book.
“……”
However, I found myself hesitating to pick one up.
Since this was the royal library, it was full of heavy and specialized texts rather than light readings.
Yet, I decided to pick up a history book from the kingdom.
Flap flap.
As I skimmed through it, a soft giggle floated in from next to me.
“Hehe.”
Before I knew it, Eve had closed her book and was looking at me, her hands wrapped around her knees.
“What’s up? How long have you been watching?”
“Not long.”
Yet, even as she said that, Eve had no intention of getting up. She kept giggling, but in the library, she tried to keep her voice down.
After all, there was no one here except the librarian.
“There are so many fascinating books here. You can even find discontinued books that you can’t get anymore.”
Eve looked at the stack of books beside her with satisfaction. If knowledge were like food, she must be feeling stuffed.
“So, why did you come here, Daniel? Do you want me to find you a book?”
“Um……”
I opened my mouth for a moment, then quickly shut it again.
Seeing Eve’s puzzled look, I shrugged my shoulders and came up with a quick excuse.
“Can you recommend a book?”
After I placed the history book back on the shelf, Eve puffed out her cheeks and immediately stood up, dusting off her butt.
“Let’s go!”
With Eve’s excited voice, I slowly followed her, savoring her back view.
“Daniel likes useful books, right? Biographies, philosophy, magical beasts, herbal medicine, and traditional customs come to mind. I read novels sometimes, but it doesn’t seem there are many here.”
Having recommended me several books before, Eve briskly walked, listing off her tastes.
“True. But today’s a bit different.”
“Hmm? You want to read something different! I sometimes feel that way too. So, what do you want?”
To Eve, who was acting like a merchant selling goods, I smiled and replied.
“A book that you really enjoyed reading.”
“Eh?”
“I’m curious about the book you found so fun you read it multiple times.”
“Ah…… um, well, it’s a romance novel.”
Eve blushed and scratched her cheek with her finger. I nodded without hesitation, sensing her embarrassment.
“Is it around here?”
“Ah, I saw it pass by earlier. Just a sec!”
Eve dashed off, probably worried I might change my mind. I followed behind her as she dashed about, tapping her fingers on the bookshelves until she pulled out a thin book.
[Lybeine’s Umbrella]
I recognized the title.
I hadn’t read it, but I had seen it several times recommended in bookstores due to its unique name.
“It’s a bit of an old book, so it might feel stiff to read, but it’s a true classic. I was surprised to see it here.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
It seemed the royal library minimized the number of novels, so seeing one here gave me more trust in it.
I took the book from Eve and sat in front of the bookshelf, mirroring her previous position, leaning back and opening it up.
Eve gasped, suddenly asking, “Ar-are you going to read it now?”
“Hmm? Why?”
“Aren’t you busy?”
“Not really.”
Since preparations were winding down, I had no need to interfere with anything. Protecting the meteor strike, dragon support, Yggdrasil’s staff, and so on.
While I took the first steps, it was the much more specialized people who would carry it out.
Everything I could prepare had already been done.
As for Eris, she was still training separately at the moment.
While it might seem harsh, it was still necessary.
It was a rare moment of relaxation.
My body naturally loosened up, the scent of books surrounding me as I savored the sentences, imagining the author’s world.
Starting from a fascinating introduction, the book had a charm that pulled me in so I wouldn’t get distracted.
At that moment, Eve came back, carrying another book and sat right next to me. She pushed up her glasses and smiled broadly.
“Feels like a library date, doesn’t it?”
Even as she said that, her face turned red, but I replied honestly.
“Yeah.”
“Um…?”
Eve looked surprised by my straightforward answer, her mouth slightly agape as she stared at me. I pretended to ignore it and returned my gaze to the book.
I focused for a while.
Before long, I noticed that Eve, sitting next to me, was also quietly turning the pages of her book.
Swish.
Swish swish.
The rhythmic sound of pages turning felt like a melody, as if we had joined an orchestra.
The most serene symphony in the world continued.
For a time, this peaceful moment lasted, but suddenly, the sound of pages turning stopped. Eve was staring blankly at me.
“What’s wrong?”
“Is the book… interesting?”
I could sense her concern that it might not match my taste. The book was definitely enjoyable. While it wasn’t my usual preference, I understood why it was called a classic.
But my real pleasure stemmed from…
Feeling like I was getting to know Eve through reading this book.
If it were Eve, she would have likely been moved by this scene, right?
Wouldn’t she have exclaimed in awe over this line?
Wouldn’t she love a character like this?
Through this book, I learn more about you.
So it couldn’t have been boring, and I continued reading without noticing the time passing.
Those thoughts lingered in my mouth, but I answered simply and succinctly.
“Yeah, it’s interesting.”
“Really?”
Eve beamed once again.
She had this adorable critter vibe, bringing back the fond memories of when I used to call her ‘little creature’.
Though a bit of that old image remained, Eve had grown so much compared to back then.
“Is there something you want to do after graduating from the academy?”
Hearing that, I was really curious what she would be like by the time she graduated. I imagined the more mature version of her, fitting the name “young lady.”
Eve seemed taken aback by my sudden question, tilting her head for a moment before, like unveiling a precious gem, she replied softly.
“I want to be a writer.”
“Hmm, a writer.”
I was not too surprised, since it was one of the expected answers, but Eve seemed to be revealing a secret she felt shy about.
Seemingly determined to explain why she chose that profession, she started elaborating.
“You see, I’ve had many experiences hanging around with you, Daniel, by coincidence, right? So I thought it’d be fun to adapt those experiences and write about them.”
“Yeah, it’ll be hard to find anyone who’s had as many experiences in such a short period as you have.”
Especially since the state of the continent was a mess from the start of the academy.
“Right? I haven’t laid out everything in detail, but I’m still considering things. I’m thinking of taking a class with Professor Veritio, who’s a playwright.”
“Oh, you’ve even got Professor Veritio? He’s definitely someone who can help you a lot.”
He was famous even amongst elves, not just for his simple playwriting.
“That sounds nice.”
Watching Eve planning was bringing a genuine smile to my face.
It wasn’t just about stopping an apocalypse; she was thinking about what came after, using her current time as an experience.
“So, um, Daniel.”
Eve fiddled with the fingers resting on the book cover.
I told her to feel free to talk, and Eve averted her gaze to ask.
“Is it okay if the main character is named Daniel?”
“Me?”
“W-Well, I’ll change the name! But I want to copy your personality and speech patterns!”
Eve spoke rapidly as if she was gathering her courage, but to me, it didn’t matter.
“Do as you like.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, changing the name shouldn’t cause any big issues.”
“Thanks!”
Eve clenched her fist in excitement.
Just as she tried to refocus on reading, she suddenly remembered something and asked.
“But what do you plan to do after graduation, Daniel?”
“Me?”
Graduation?
After graduation…
In the past, I had thought I would go back to being a Sherpa.
But right now…
“I don’t have any particular plans.”
