Chapter 8: I Bought A Book For My Children
by fnovelpia
The bookstore was quiet.
When the door opened, the soft chime echoed, and the old man behind the counter looked up.
“Welcome.”
“Where are the books about children?”
“They’re over there.”
With a slight nod of his head, I thanked him and walked toward the place he indicated.
Perhaps it was because it was early in the morning, but when I glanced around, it seemed like I was the only customer.
The sunlight softly poured through the dusty windows.
With every step I took, the faint smell of paper and ink gently tickled my nose.
“…It smells nice.”
It was a scent that made me pause for no reason.
Right.
I used to like this smell.
‘I threw it all away, though.’
I slowly walked along the bookshelves.
The walls and shelves were filled with books.
‘Let’s see.’
Standing still, I carefully scanned the shelves.
The types of books were very diverse.
Novels, plays, history books, herbology encyclopedias, alchemy introductions, magic theory books…
My gaze stopped for a moment.
History.
Herbs.
Magic.
Alchemy.
They were familiar words.
Once upon a time, I used to spend entire days studying books like these.
The feel of the cover,
The smell that lingered in the book.
I would absorb every sentence, making them my own.
I learned everything, and due to some cyclical repetition, it all became useless.
I repeated that for what felt like an eternity.
“Ten thousand years, twenty thousand… No, thirty thousand… Forty thousand…”
How long had I lived like that?
I started counting with my fingers, but stopped when I reached five.
It had been at least 7,000 years since I last touched a book.
I thought I would never come near one again…
‘If I learn this, I could use it if the child gets sick or injured.’
I am an evil dragon, so I cannot use healing magic, which is of the light element.
But—.
Herbology and potion-making were possible for me.
[Introduction to Herbology]
[Basic Potion Making]
[Identification and Uses of Medicinal Plants]
I picked a few books just by glancing at their titles and contents.
‘The child is waiting.’
I turned my gaze toward the magic section.
There, a variety of theory and introductory books were arranged.
Perhaps there might be something useful.
[Principles of Space-Time Magic and Its Possible Applications]
As I quickly scanned, my eyes stopped in front of one book.
Space-time magic…
It reminded me of something that happened a few years ago.
It was not long after I started traveling the world.
A short 40-year holiday.
Since I spent 10 years just staring out of a window, that left me with about 30 years of time.
Leisurely walking around, I thought to myself.
‘Should I learn teleportation?’
But using ancient magic might raise suspicion.
I thought it would be better to learn the [long-distance teleportation] magic of the present era.
Flying around and walking were honestly a hassle.
So, during my travels, I met a magician and asked him about it.
“Excuse me? Long-distance teleportation?”
“Yes.”
“How is that even possible? It’s impossible, absolutely.”
I doubted my ears.
It was a basic magic that even children used in the past.
I blinked in confusion and asked again.
“You’re saying it’s impossible?”
“Yes, to be exact… We’ve found ancient texts on it, but we cannot make it practical.”
“…You can’t make it practical? Why?”
“Because it consumes too much mana. Plus, if you even slightly miscontrol your mana, you’ll be torn apart while still alive.”
Getting torn apart just from that?
How weak had these humans made their bodies?
Just as I was about to sigh, the magician casually shrugged and continued.
“Though, my master, a renowned great magician, can use it.”
“…Really? How?”
“He’s spent his whole life researching it! Of the few magicians who can teleport, my master can travel the furthest!”
That sounded like something worth learning.
Intrigued, I tilted my head and asked.
“How far?”
“Don’t be surprised when you hear it. He can travel a whole 1 meter!”
Why did my forehead throb?
In the past, I used to perform magic that allowed me to travel continents back and forth without any preparation.
‘Even those with no magic knowledge could teleport between villages with just a few tries…’
1 meter.
That tiny distance was now considered the greatest achievement by today’s humans.
‘Walking is better.’
That day, I completely gave up on learning present-day teleportation magic.
“…I see. That’s impressive.”
“Next time, you should definitely attend one of my master’s lectures!”
I waved my hand lightly and turned my steps away from the magician.
“I thought it would be easier for you to travel without revealing your true identity.”
I looked up at the sky, recalling the words of an old companion.
The insides were so different.
What good was it if the outside only looked the same?
‘In the end, it’s just as inconvenient.’
Still, I picked up a few basic magic books.
[Introduction to Basic Magic]
[Basic Magician Training Textbook]
[Safe Magic Training Methods for Beginners]
There might be something useful in them.
Above all—.
The child might develop an interest in magic.
Right now, the child can’t speak,
And the child’s expressions are hard to read, but…
Someday, the day will come when you reveal your true intentions.
What do you want to do?
What do you desire?
So, to prepare for that moment, you must know.
What you need to teach.
How you should show it.
‘…I am as ignorant as the next person in this era.’
Still, I will teach as much as I can based on the standards of the present world.
Because that child will have to live with the things of the world for their whole life.
Unlike me.
Finally, I reached the bookshelf with books related to children.
I slowly stretched out my hand.
Running my fingers over the spines of the books, I skimmed through the titles.
[Basic Guide for Beginner Parents]
[For Parents with Children About to Enter Academy]
[Essential Study for Parents with Teenagers]
Light-hearted covers.
Brightly colored letters and cute illustrations.
‘…Which one should I buy?’
I hesitated, but then decided to buy everything I could see.
One book,
Another one.
I stacked them up so high that I could no longer see in front of me.
Perhaps that’s why.
The old man at the checkout counter approached, surprised.
“Wait! Are you planning to buy all of these?”
“Yeah.”
I answered shortly and then picked up another book with my other hand.
On the cover of the book was an illustration of a child holding a rabbit doll.
‘It looks like her.’
Thinking that, I scanned the shelf again.
The old man hurriedly grabbed my arm and said,
“You’re a first-time parent, aren’t you?”
“Yeah.”
I answered without hesitation.
“How old is your child?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know….”
“I found her. In the ruins.”
The old man fell silent for a moment.
I stared at him, and then the memory from a moment ago came to me, so I spoke.
“The food merchant said it was a baby.”
“A baby, you say?”
“Yeah, they said she can’t speak yet and crawls around, so they called her a baby.”
“I see. Then these books are still too much. Would you mind setting them down for a moment?”
I slowly set the stack of books down.
Dust flew over the books piled up neatly.
The old man picked up each book, checked it, and shook his head.
“This one, this one too. Not needed right now.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Besides, if it’s a baby, why are you picking up books for teenagers? That’s still ten years away.”
“Wouldn’t it be necessary in ten years?”
“…Just how thorough are you in preparing?”
The movement of the old man’s hands grew faster as he set the books down.
Eventually, only two books remained.
[Encyclopedia of Parenting]
[Basic Guide for Beginner Parents]
The old man handed the books to me.
“These should be enough. If it’s your first time, this will be overwhelming enough, trust me.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah. You said your child is crawling, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Then right now, what’s most important is how you interact with her.”
Interact.
Interact, huh.
The word echoed in my mind.
I knew the word, but it felt distant.
“You, who don’t talk much, especially need to be careful. The child will feel every little action you make.”
“…I see.”
“That’s good, though. It’s fortunate someone like you found the child.”
Fortunate.
Is it really fortunate?
I just stared blankly at the books.
“…It’s hard.”
“Heh, it’s tough at first, but once you get used to it, it’s manageable. Spend time with the child, cherish it. Watch carefully, listen well, and hug a lot.”
“…I know how to hug.”
“Well, that’s good then.”
The old man smiled and took the books I had chosen to the register.
After the payment was completed,
he handed me the paper bag with the books and said,
“Your sincerity will reach the child. So don’t be too scared.”
“…Is that so?”
“That’s how it is.”
I took the paper bag carefully and bowed my head.
It was a sincere thank you.
‘…Ah, right.’
I took a diamond out of my pocket.
“Here.”
“Why… this?”
“As a token of thanks.”
The old man stared at me with a stunned expression,
But soon shook his head and handed the diamond back to me.
“It’s fine. I’m old and don’t need things like that.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Just raise the child well with that.”
“Okay.”
I nodded slowly.
In truth—
I had kept it for the child.
‘That’s what they said to do.’
I carefully held the paper bag and greeted him.
“Take care.”
“Yeah. If you have more questions, come back anytime.”
“Okay.”
I opened the bookstore door and stepped out.
The soft ringing of a bell echoed again.
“I’ve wasted more time than I thought.”
The sunlight had grown stronger.
Looking up at the sky, it had already risen to its zenith.
“Let’s hurry.”
Next was medicine for the child.
A robe, clothes.
And…
‘Formula, right?’
I quickened my pace.
The sound of the books clinking together inside the paper bag I was carefully holding echoed.
It was a sound I hadn’t heard in a long time,
And a sound I felt just a little nostalgic about.
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