episode_0014

“Wow… How many volumes is this?”

Even in the original work, there was a brief mention of the Grand Library.

It was a scene where a maid of Remyan returned and borrowed books here.

It was a book about magical studies that Remyan had requested, but the maid also borrowed a “personal” book.

It was a sweet romance novel.

That’s why I heard it.

If there are romance novels, there must be fantasy novels like ‘The Emperor of the Ring’ or ‘The Game of Thrones’.

Reading a romantic fantasy novel in a romantic world is as natural as having a needle when you have thread.

The problem is.

“It’s too complicated.”

The inspiration of Lendler has already disappeared somewhere.

As he muttered in his mind, he had asked to bring books related to “Magic Theory”.

It was to study theory with books before starting practical training with Rachel from tonight.

Although it seemed like he had been to the library before, if he had known this, he should have asked for directions in advance.

“Hmm…”

The endless rows of bookshelves that opened like a subway door were so high that you had to crane your neck to look up.

The packed books were dizzying just to look at.

Although there were signs above each bookshelf for classification, it was difficult to identify them because there were so many types.

It was truly a complexity that felt like being crushed by books.

Nevertheless, what felt good was the musty yet cozy smell of the library, the quiet and tranquility that seemed disconnected from the world, and the fun of shopping in the cradle of knowledge.

Anyway.

“I need someone to help me… Ah.”

In my wandering eyes, I saw a librarian wearing a hat with the library emblem.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes, how can I help you?”

The librarian, who was organizing books, looked at me.

“Uh, Elder Master? What, what brings you here…?”

Now, as a matter of course, wonder and confusion filled the librarian’s pupils.

Elden Raphelion’s hometown is a three-day ride from the northern territory, and if even a librarian from that distant library knows his name, what kind of mischief has he been up to?

He seemed to be quite a remarkable fellow.

A familiar gaze.

In the librarian’s eyes, I must have looked like an arsonist looking for kindling.

Instead of explaining, I chose to remain silent.

“I want to find the novel section.”

“Why, why? Oh, I’m sorry. What genre of novel are you looking for?”

“Hmm.”

As mentioned earlier, Elden Raphelion’s memory was not perfect.

Just as memories after a binge drinking night come and go sporadically, I was the same.

Especially when it came to genres that Elden was not interested in, his thoughts sometimes seemed somewhat foolish.

Therefore, when asked to define what genre of novel, the answer lingered in my throat.

To say fantasy? It was strange to look for a modern novel in a fantasy world like this.

Literary fiction? I wondered if such a classification existed in the medieval era.

“….!”

As the silence grew, the librarian’s face turned paler and seemed like he would cry at any moment.

I had to end my dilemma quickly.

In the end.

“…A novel that a grown man can enjoy.”

An embarrassing answer popped out of my mouth.

Since it couldn’t be defined in words, I had to explain it.

A response that I did my best to give, and fortunately, the librarian’s expression returned to normal at Elden Raphelion-like answer.

“Oh, then will you follow me?”

Right.

I thought, thankfully, that we were able to communicate, and followed the librarian who walked briskly.

Walking through the bookshelves that continued like a maze, it took about 5 minutes.

The footsteps of the librarian stopped.

“Here you go! Have a good time~!”

…A good time?

Although the librarian’s greeting seemed somewhat peculiar, from the librarian’s perspective, wouldn’t the time spent choosing books be enjoyable, like playing a game? With that thought in mind, I approached the bookshelves.

[Tale of the Dragon Maiden]

[Ways to Cool Down the Hot Lady]

[Owner of the Broken Window]

[The Great Hero Taming the Demon Queen]

……

It seems like there was a communication issue.

**

“Eek! I, I have committed a crime and deserve death-!”

I turned back to the librarian and conveyed my request once again, this time managing to reach my destination safely.

I wonder if there’s a reference book on how to live as an Elden Raphellion.

With such futile thoughts in mind, I entered the [Pure Literature] section.

“Well, fantasy novels are considered pure literature in a fantasy world.”

To me, they are just fantasy novels.

As expected, the Pure Literature section was filled with titles full of romance and excitement.

[Red Wolves]

[The Lion King Ratan’s Saga]

[Rania Chronicles]

[Emperor of Darkness]

Of course, even though they are fantasy works, since they are set in medieval times, they might be as foreign to a modern person like me as a child eating fermented soybean paste, but luckily, I was that child.

Having delved into both web novels and classic fantasy works, the ultimate bookworm among bookworms was me, Junwoo.

“Hmm~ Where should I start?”

I decided to take a look around the Pure Literature section first.

If I were to rent all of them just because they piqued my interest, I would easily end up with around 100 books.

To select the most interesting one, careful consideration was necessary.

No matter what I start with, the first step is crucial.

The success of the first step heralds a good reading experience.

Therefore, like a fortune teller, I circled the Pure Literature section, trying to choose the most interesting book among the many that made my mouth water.

“Hmm, do I have decision-making issues?”

There were too many novels that made my mouth water to the point where I felt overwhelmed.

How nice it would be to have a chance to search for recommendations at a time like this.

Or how nice it would be to have a friend who is a novel enthusiast.

Regretting the absence of the tools of modern civilization and a novel enthusiast friend, I circled the section once again, and in the end, I had to grab seven books that looked enticing.

Without any introduction, with only the title and author written on the cover, I felt like I had to at least skim through them to get a sense of satisfaction.

Carrying the stack of books to the 7th floor book tower, I began to move towards the reading area.

However…

“It’s getting annoying.”

There had been something lingering on the edge of my vision since earlier.

She appeared to be a woman of my age, dressed like a noble lady.

I tried to confirm her face, but no memories came to mind.

A fool and a library.

Ignoring the combination of these two words, which I assumed she didn’t understand, I pretended not to care and continued on.

Step, step.

Step, step.

…

…

Step, step.

Step, step.

Her footsteps followed mine, and I couldn’t ignore her any longer.

First, I decided to leave the books at the reading area on the 7th floor.

Placing the books on the desk in the reading area, I felt a presence behind me.

Feeling annoyed by the bothersome follower, I furrowed my brows and put on a stern expression.

Even if a reputation is useless, infamy has its uses.

I turned around to face the follower.

“I just need to take care of something quickly.”

The reason for her lingering on the edge of my vision, her inability to speak up easily, and her following me around was probably due to her status as a noble below a viscount.

There was no reason to tolerate the annoyance of being interrupted during my reading time.

Therefore, I coldly warned her…

“…Wow, is that really Elden Raphellion?”

The end of the rolled bread hair, Lady Yeongae, held two books in her arms and said with a bright smile.

**

“Hehehe~”

A humming that came out naturally.

Soft footsteps.

The time to find something to read buried in the thick smell of paper never gets boring.

“What should I read today~”

Lady Yeongae, a viscountess who loves reading to the point where it’s not an exaggeration to say that the reason she entered the Royal Academy was because of the library there.

Despite being teased by her close friends as a bookworm, Lady Yeongae had traveled all the way to the Northern Province for one reason only, the Grand Library.

Not even the harsh cold could stop her reading enthusiasm.

“Wow~ This looks interesting, doesn’t it?”

It had been over a day since she arrived in the Northern Province, and she was ecstatic to finally be surrounded by the novels she had heard so much about and wanted to read.

“Wow! A novel written by Ront? I have to read this for sure!”

And so it was today.

Among the thousands of novels, she happily laughed and enjoyed herself.

Her skirt fluttered, and she skipped around.

Then, a question arose in her mind as she looked at her smile.

“Huh…?”

A familiar silhouette caught her eye.

A rare sight in the Elpherion Kingdom, a man with jet-black hair and ruby-like eyes.

She had often seen his back and side profile because of where she was sitting.

She tried to approach him to greet him, but her steps suddenly stopped.

That’s right.

“Elden wouldn’t be in the library. Fool.”

Although they were in the same class, they had no close relationship or connection.

However, she knew that he was the opposite of a quiet place like the library.

Elden, who preferred to be with Deron, Kyle, and Blend, drinking rather than reading books and enjoying dynamic activities over static ones.

So she thought she must have been mistaken and tried to look away.

“Come to think of it, those 4 were the final candidates for the Grand Lady’s Engagement Tournament, right?”

She remembered what a maid had told her.

Knowing that she was in the same class, she had asked who among the 4 she thought would win.

As someone who had no interest in anything other than novels, and was so indifferent during her school days that she was considered to be in the lower ranks academically, the Engagement Tournament was just one of the things she had no interest in.

The man’s face looked like Elden’s, and that’s why she was happy to see him in an unexpected place.

“Hmm, he really looks like Elden.”

No matter how she looked at it, it was Elden Raphelion.

Moreover, as a final candidate for the Engagement Tournament, he had every reason to be at the Grand Palace.

But what was he doing in the pure literature corner?

Had he finally opened his eyes to the fun of pure literature?

In response to the unexpected question, Lady Yeongae, with her rolled bread hair, found herself wandering around Elden without even realizing it.

And then, when he had built a 7-story book tower, she sighed.

“Oh, that’s really boring.”

They were all books that were close to being failures, written to make readers uncomfortable.

As an introductory work, she couldn’t recommend these books that he had stacked on the 7th floor.

So she had no choice but to follow him.

And then.

“…I just wanted to take care of something quickly.”

She faced him.

It really was Elden.

“…Wow, what? It’s really Elden Raphelion?”

“…Indeed.”

“What are you doing here?”

“As you can see, I’m here to read some novels. But who…?”

“Huh?”

Throughout my school years, even if we had no contact at all, that’s just how it is.

Just because a few years have passed since spending three years in the same class, does that mean you can’t recognize me?

Of course, I may have seemed distant due to my poor quality, but still, it was a bit sad to be treated as if we were complete strangers. So, Yeong-ae felt she had to introduce herself.

“Me, don’t you remember? I used to sit diagonally behind you in our graduation class.”

Yeong-ae, the curly-haired girl who always sat behind Elden and read novels, was none other than Ariel Elden, the daughter of Viscount Elden and a novel enthusiast.

“Hmm.”

“Do you remember now?”

“I’m not sure.”

“……”