episode_0026

26. Affectionate Lovers.

After his bath, Johann was assigned a room to stay in.

Servants brought meals directly to his room.

It was a different class from the food he had eaten at the inn.

Perhaps because of that, Sarah had her head practically buried in the table.

‘Still, it’s not quite like modern times.’

Of course, it couldn’t satisfy Johann’s taste. He vividly ‘remembered’ the taste of the food he had eaten in modern times.

Johann called out to a servant standing next to the door.

“Is there anything else scheduled for today?”

It was the man who had wiped Johann’s body earlier. He opened his mouth in a mechanical tone.

“After you finish your meal, you will have an interview with the head butler.”

“Ah, the one I saw at the main gate…?”

“Yes. That is correct.”

He looked like someone with a high position in the mansion at first glance.

Johann clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘I’m tired…’

He had drawn out the highest intensity of firepower, just like yesterday.

It was only natural that fatigue had accumulated.

But that didn’t mean he had any intention of refusing. Johann was not the kind of person to let go of a lifeline that rolled in.

“Is there anything I should be particularly aware of, or anything I need to prepare?”

At Johann’s words, the servant closed his mouth. He looked like he was struggling, as if he was wondering whether or not to tell him.

In the end, he judged that there wouldn’t be a big problem. The servant spoke in a flat tone.

“Just show proper etiquette and don’t lie. That will be enough.”

“Is that all?”

“That’s all.”

He had been doing well so far, so there was nothing difficult about it. But that didn’t mean he was relieved.

‘Well, he’s just saying the obvious. Tsk. There’s not enough information.’

He didn’t know if the servant didn’t tell him, or if that was the truth.

It seemed like he would have to meet him in person to find out.

Wiping his mouth with a napkin placed nearby, Johann followed the servant’s guidance.

…Before long, he arrived in front of a door.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

After knocking three times in a steady rhythm, the servant speaks in a more polite tone than before.

“Head Butler. I have brought the magician.”

A calm voice was heard from inside. It was a sound telling him to come in.

Whether it was regularly oiled or not, a smooth hinge sound was heard.

“Then, I will take my leave.”

With those words, the servant retreated without leaving a single footstep.

It was like seeing a ghost living in the hallway.

“Excuse me.”

As Johann said, bowing his head, the middle-aged man also stood up from his seat and responded.

“Nice to meet you. Please, have a seat.”

“Thank you.”

He didn’t turn his head or his eyes, but he could tell. It was a terribly desolate room.

All the structures in the room were already stored in Johann’s head.

There were no special decorations on the wallpaper, just a table and two chairs.

‘Maybe even this was prepared recently. I guess they don’t want to release information so easily.’

It was a scene where he could see that they didn’t trust Johann as much as Johann distrusted them.

The butler poured crimson liquid into a teacup.

“Please, have some. It has a nice aroma.”

“Yes.”

Indeed, the butler had a different inclination than the knight. It seemed like he was trying to have a conversation more slowly and deeply.

‘Not good.’

The higher the chances of making a mistake. He preferred the knight’s refreshing way of speaking.

Johann glanced at the butler. At that moment, their eyes met.

Goosebumps!

Goosebumps rose from his forearms to his calves. What was it? It felt like he was looking at a giant snake.

He reflexively drank the tea. It was an attempt to gain even a little bit of stability.

‘Hmm? This is delicious?’

Absurdly, the tea tasted really good. It was even better than what he had drunk in modern times.

Whether it was modern or medieval times, it wasn’t a particularly stimulating food in the first place.

“It seems to suit your taste?”

“Yes. It’s delicious. Thank you for the precious experience.”

“Have you ever had it before?”

“No. It’s my first time.”

It had a flavor that seemed like black tea mixed with blueberries, and it was right up Johann’s alley.

“Hooh… Is that so.”

The butler’s eyes shone as he watched him.

‘It’s an expensive thing that can only be found in the capital, but his reaction is shallow. Is he a fallen aristocrat?’

It was tea prepared to see Johann’s reaction on purpose. Thanks to that, he got a slight clue.

Even if he’s not an aristocrat, he’s probably a young man born in a wealthy family at least. The taste of commoners is terribly shallow.

“I heard that you learned magic on your own?”

“Yes. I was lucky enough to make a connection, so it was possible.”

“Haha. Luck? It’s an opportunity that most humans would have missed. You have great talent.”

“You flatter me.”

After that, they shared trivial small talk. It was mainly the butler asking questions and Johann answering.

“Now… The reason I called the magician is not for any other reason, but to give you a magic book.”

‘Magic book!’

No matter what the quality was, it was meaningful to obtain an item that was not sold on the market.

The butler took out a magic book from his bosom. The cover was made of blue leather, and there was a pattern that looked like waves crashing.

At first glance, it looked like magic related to water. It was the icing on the cake for Johann.

‘If I’m lucky, I might be able to learn high-level water magic.’

“We obtained this with difficulty… It is ‘The Book of Raging Waves’.”

The butler handed it to Johann. As soon as he grabbed it, a thrilling sensation traveled up his fingers.

“Please, open it.”

“Yes.”

Swoosh, pure white paper with a subtly bluish tint turned smoothly. Immediately after, Johann felt like he was separated from the world.

The tower, the mansion, the butler. He indulges in the magic book without being disturbed by anyone.

He liked this feeling. It was only for a short time, but he could forget the desperate reality.

How much time had passed, he carefully closed the book.

“Have you read it all?”

“No. I haven’t seen it all. I was looking at it intermittently…”

“I see.”

Of course, the knowledge of the magic book remained vividly in Johann’s head. It’s all thanks to his trait.

There’s no way the butler would know this fact. The butler quietly nodded inwardly.

‘Well, even if he has great talent, it was too early.’

Only 3 hours. It was impossible for a human to acquire all the information in the magic book within that time.

‘Unless it’s a dragon…’

Ordinary people don’t have that good of a memory. Moreover, the letters in the magic book are made up of special characters called ‘magic language’.

Only those with the talent for casting spells can interpret them. Naturally, it also takes a long time to read.

“How is it? How long do you think it will take to learn?”

“Hmm…”

Johann was sweating profusely inside. As he didn’t know the average for magicians, he had no idea what answer to give.

He rolled his eyes to the side and looked at the status window.

‘I’ve already acquired it… As expected, let’s stall a little more.’

Judging from the butler’s reaction, it’s definitely an abnormal speed. He doesn’t intend to hide his talent too much, but there’s no need to pretend to be too mediocre.

He can use his full power sufficiently, but not to the extent that he exceeds the owner’s capabilities. This level was just right.

“I’m not sure. I’ll try my best for now.”

This is the best answer for now. There is still a lack of information.

“I understand. Please, tell me when you succeed in obtaining the spell.”

“Yes.”

The butler predicted that it would take Johann about 3 days. Acquiring a spell is not an easy task.

You have to memorize ‘all’ the contents of the magic book and understand it.

It’s not for nothing that magicians have weak lower body muscles. There was literally no time to exercise.

They’re already busy memorizing letters, so where would they find the time to train their bodies?

“You must be tired, please rest comfortably.”

It was an order to leave. Johann didn’t refuse.

“Yes.”

It was quick to get to the room he was assigned to. Sarah was inside waiting for Johann.

Sarah’s position is nominally Johann’s lover. According to the common sense of this era, cohabitation was essential if you were dating.

It was a barbaric world.

“You worked hard today.”

“Yes. You too, Johann.”

She spoke calmly. Johann was inwardly surprised.

“…Thank you for following me even though there was no detailed explanation.”

“It’s okay. I’m sure you had your reasons, Johann.”

“Thank you.”

At first glance, it looks like she’s sending Johann endless trust.

Is it because she is an infinite regressionist, or does she truly believe in Johann?

‘There’s no way to know.’

“Did you achieve your goal? You said you came to learn new magic, right?”

Johann showed the Book of Raging Waves from his bosom. Her eyes lit up.

“Is that it?”

“Yes. It’s a water-based magic book.”

“Is it related to the magic you learned last time?”

“That’s right. I was lucky.”

Sarah spoke to Johann with a calm expression.

In fact, Johann made a unilateral choice, but she didn’t seem to be shaken at all.

“Congratulations. By the way, did you find out anything?”

Rather, she was more concerned about the future than the past. Johann liked her progressive mindset.

“Yes. First of all, the middle-aged man I saw at the main gate is the head butler of this mansion…”

They sat on the bed and chatted. They may not think so, but anyone could see that they were an affectionate couple.

Thus, the night in the unfamiliar mansion was drawing to a close.