Chapter 30: The Great Western Albion Continent is Peaceful Today As Well! (5)
by AfuhfuihgsThe negotiations were concluded.
Edwin managed to prevent the mansion’s outer walls from being completely destroyed by agreeing to his daughter’s demands for pocket money, lifting her house arrest, and promising two puddings a day.
However, Lin did not immediately set foot on the streets of Lunden.
Though Edwin acknowledged that his overprotectiveness had been excessive, he also realised that as a parent, he hadn’t properly addressed Lin’s impulsive destructive behaviour.
Although the indefinite ban on going out was lifted, Lin’s outings would only be permitted after the complete repair of the outer walls.
Lin seemed to accept this condition, nodding her head in agreement.
And so, now—
While eagerly waiting for the wall repairs to be completed, Lin was killing time by lazing around in the mansion’s large library.
“Hmmm…”
The library of the Rosegarden family, an ancient alchemist lineage, was remarkably well-stocked.
From basic introductory books commonly found elsewhere to detailed encyclopaedias about herbs and by-products of magical creatures, it contained an abundance of knowledge.
There were also old books filled with the research journals and hypotheses of ancestors who had made their mark on history.
Not limited to alchemy, the library also contained information on elemental magic, spirit magic, and more.
To magicians and spirit mages, especially alchemists, it was nothing less than a treasure trove of dreams.
Despite not being located at Rosegarden Castle, the family’s main residence, this library still boasted an impressive collection, supposedly because someone brought a portion of the castle’s books when moving to the Albion continent.
“This one’s too difficult…”
Lin returned the incomprehensible book to the shelf.
Although she had proven her lineage by crafting various potions using a notebook left behind by an unknown alchemist, she still considered herself a novice compared to the legendary figures of her family who had left their marks on history.
“Let’s see…”
Looking for a book more suited to her level, Lin scanned the long, towering bookshelves.
Only after sprinting back to her room to fetch a broom to reach the high shelves—a little secret of hers—did she resume her search.
[Basic Alchemy for Dummies]
[Secrets of Spirits that Mages Don’t Know: Mysterious and Risqué Truths]
[Water Knows the Answer]
[Hold with Your Left Hand—That’s Closer to Your Circle]
“…Why are all the titles like this?”
Lin repeatedly pulled out and replaced magical books from the shelves.
Eventually, she stumbled upon one of the most renowned bestsellers often recommended as an introductory book for many alchemists and mages.
Taking it to the desk, she sat down and swayed her feet back and forth, unable to reach the ground.
But after a moment, she tucked her knees together and focused on reading.
“…Miss.”
“…….”
“Miss…!!”
“Eek!?”
She had been so engrossed that she didn’t notice the maid standing right next to her.
“Dinner is ready.”
“Oh…? But…”
Normally, Lin would have rushed over right away.
However, Lin hesitated, glancing back and forth at the theoretical book on the desk, unwilling to interrupt the good part she had just reached.
“Um… I don’t really have an appetite today…”
“That won’t do.”
But the reply was firm.
The lady’s maid who usually attended Lin was different from the other maids.
Unlike them, she was also of noble origin, which made her one of the few who could speak candidly to Lin, much like the head maid.
“You already skipped lunch, didn’t you?”
“Now that you mention it…”
Lin hadn’t realized it, but she had indeed skipped lunch.
On the desk, a single empty plate, left there in consideration for the young mistress, sat untouched.
After reporting the situation to the head maid, Lin’s lady’s maid had prepared a sandwich made with the most nutritious ingredients possible and left it there.
But simply having something to eat wasn’t the same as having a proper meal, so the maid remained resolute.
In the end, Lin trudged toward the dining hall, looking as if she were being dragged to the slaughterhouse.
During the whole journey, she clutched the magical book to her chest like a precious teddy bear.
“No reading during meals.”
“Mm-hmm. I know.”
“…I doubt you actually know that.”
Even while eating.
Even while lying in bed before sleeping.
Even when taking the dogs for a walk in the garden or riding in the carriage.
Lin never once let go of her book with her tiny hands.
There were only two times in the day when she set the book aside.
The first was during afternoon tea time.
The second was when she needed to use the magic she read about or conduct alchemical experiments, which required holding other tools.
“The house has gotten pretty quiet lately.”
“Hmm.”
Edwin and Leonard, observing Lin over the past few days, exchanged glances.
Leonard reminisced about the time when he too was completely absorbed in books like his little sister.
Meanwhile, Edwin felt a sense of relief seeing his daughter, who used to be so eager to leave the house, now willingly stay cooped up inside.
However—
That sense of relief did not last long.
“Miss? Lady Lin!!”
“Has she disappeared again?”
“Did you check the library?”
“I already searched it thoroughly, but she wasn’t there.”
“Where in the world could she be hiding this time…”
Lin’s reading addiction grew more severe by the day.
To avoid being interrupted while reading, she started hiding in various places, to the point where she became an expert at playing hide and seek.
“Lady Lin!!”
Here, a question may arise.
When she first returned to the mansion, she behaved normally—so why the change now?
The reason was simple.
When Lin first returned to the mansion, she was brimming with confidence.
But after witnessing the power of the family artifacts, she became painfully aware of her current lack of ability.
Moreover, after the indefinite ban on going out was changed to a time-limited one, she began wandering the halls out of boredom, and that was when she first discovered the library.
During her time surviving in the wild, Lin had been almost forced to learn magic.
Of course, there was a certain thrill about the new world of magic even back then, but the urgency to survive overshadowed it.
Her magic at that time was crude—formed purely through instinct, without any foundational knowledge.
While she did manage to pick up some alchemy from the notebook she found, most of it was still beyond her comprehension.
Perhaps that’s why—
The beginner-level magical theories, systematically organized for easy understanding, and the fundamental alchemical texts revealing the world of alchemy were more than enough to set Lin’s heart racing.
Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Edwin couldn’t help but feel concerned.
Despite the fact that the outer wall repairs, which his daughter had eagerly awaited, were finally completed,
Lin remained holed up in her room, the library, or the alchemy lab, except when playing hide-and-seek.
Even when she did go out, it was only to practice magic by the artificial lake in the garden.
“Lin.”
“…….”
Even when Edwin called out to her right in front of her, Lin didn’t respond.
It was clear—this was a severe case of book addiction.
“…Lin.”
He called her name once more, but Lin remained unmoved.
With no other choice, Edwin gently snatched the book from her tiny hands.
“Aah!”
Only then did Lin realize her father was standing in front of her.
“Lin.”
“M-My book…”
“The outer wall repairs are finished.”
Lin didn’t seem to care at all, stretching both arms toward the book instead.
No matter how much she stood on her tiptoes, trembling or hopping in place, the book was still too high for her to reach.
“As promised, I won’t stop you from going out to eat the street food you wanted.”
“I know… Hup! S-So… Jump! My book… Nngh…! Please give it back!”
The situation had completely reversed.
Now Lin, teary-eyed on purpose, tried to reclaim her book with all her might, while Edwin silently resisted, refusing to yield to his daughter’s cute persistence.
“…You there.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Prepare Lin in suitable attire for going out.”
“Understood. Miss Lin, this way, please.”
“Huh? Wait…”
Following Edwin’s order, the maid dragged Lin to the dressing room.
Lin was dressed in an outfit far too elegant and noble-looking just for eating street junk food.
“It suits you well.”
“Indeed. Today, you look especially adorable.”
“…R-Really?”
In a bid to prevent Lin from turning into a complete shut-in, both Edwin and the maid spared no effort in praising her.
While it was somewhat expected from Edwin, who was not very good at expressing affection,
the lady’s maid, known for her refined manners and eloquence, didn’t hold back her flattery, practically launching Lin into orbit with her words.
“Ehehehe…”
Lin, who had completely forgotten about the book by now, smiled in delight.
Seeing this, the maid decided to seal the deal by calling out to Leonard as he passed by.
“Hmm. I thought it would suit Lin, but I didn’t expect it to look this good… Even I was surprised.”
“Ah, did Brother Leonard choose this outfit?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Of course, it was a lie.
“Hehe… Heh…”
Regardless of the truth, Leonard’s quick thinking worked wonders.
In high spirits, Lin, now dressed in the most adorably charming outing clothes, finally ventured outside.
Under tight security and firmly holding her father’s hand, she happily enjoyed all the street junk food to her heart’s content.
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