Chapter 83
#Chapter 83: Librarian Ernst (4) - The Result of Ignoring Advice
To avoid any misunderstanding, Eris wasn't exactly someone who ignored her studies and only messed around.
Her desire to become a great mage was genuine, and there was nothing false about her wish to explore new theoretical treatises.
It's just that Eris is the type who takes care of troublesome, bothersome tasks first.
When she eats, she starts with the foods she likes least and saves the delicious ones for last, and if she has homework, she doesn't cut it close—she finishes it the moment she gets it.
From Eris's perspective, reading the book that the foul-tempered librarian handed her was practically homework.
So she only put it first because it took priority over everything else; she definitely hadn't picked up the novel first because she hated studying.
...Well, it was a miscalculation to keep reading it all the way through when she could've wrapped it up at a reasonable point and continued the next day, but thanks to that she saved time, so in the end there was no problem.
Lunchtime.
As Eris was driving away the drowsiness brought on by her lack of sleep and boring classes with coffee, the noble ladies seated at the same table started chatting away about this and that.
"Come to think of it, did you hear? Apparently a weirdo showed up at the Rowton Institute."
"A weirdo?"
"He's the adopted son of Count Grimun, and they say his theoretical classes are bottom of the barrel, but in practical classes nobody can keep up with him. So there's a rumor he'll be one of their representatives at this exchange meeting."
There are currently four 'training institutes' in the Kingdom of Rabelocia.
Each institute held exchange meetings at regular intervals to deepen their friendship, and as was usually the case with such events, rivalry and comparisons between the institutes were frequent.
The highlight, of course, was the mock battles fought by the student representatives of each institute, and since the audience for those mock battles included people from the royal family and the Sky Academy, ambitious students did everything they could to be chosen as their institute's representative.
Of course, that didn't have much to do with Eris.
Her ability was so outstanding even within Aldridge Institute that if she wasn't the representative, the question became who on earth they were supposed to send instead; and in fact, at the last exchange meeting, she'd flattened the representatives of the other institutes with overwhelming power.
"What do you think, Miss Eris?"
'What do I think? Comparing me to students from such a low-level place is offensive.'
"You'll be able to win again this time like you did last time, right? Right?"
'Winning is obvious. Was that supposed to be a question?'
"Our institute can't be outdone by the others! That way, I can brag to my parents!"
'Even if Aldridge Institute wins, that just means I'm the impressive one, not you. I don't understand what you're bragging about.'
While answering the noble ladies with cynical thoughts in her head, Eris kept those thoughts hidden on the surface and spoke in a calm tone.
"Thank you for your expectations. The world of magic is a place where you never know what might happen, so one must never let one's guard down—but even so, I'll do my utmost."
At Eris's words, which combined humility and elegance, the noble ladies reacted with squeals like birds gathered in a nest.
As she dealt with them wearing a manufactured smile, Eris sighed inwardly.
She felt a weariness of a different kind from physical fatigue.
Rather than waste time and mental energy on such pointless matters, it would be more worthwhile to read the novel that the librarian had handed over...
'...No, what kind of ridiculous thought is that.'
Eris forcibly brushed the thought that had risen in her mind away.
It must've been because she was still groggy from sleep, she thought, and decided she ought to have one more cup of coffee.
***
Eris's second visit to the library came on the third day after receiving the theoretical treatise.
And the one most surprised by that fact was none other than Eris herself.
'It took only three days to completely finish and fully absorb a theoretical treatise.'
Considering that in the past she'd had to struggle for nearly three weeks to digest a theoretical treatise of a similar level, the gap was truly astronomical.
To think that simply having an easy-to-read annotated edition would change the result this much.
The existence of the grimoire she still hadn't obtained was another thing, but finding that library could only be described as a stroke of luck in many ways.
If not for that librarian at the counter who did nothing but read their own book whether customers came in or not, it would have been an even greater stroke of luck.
"Ahem!"
When she cleared her throat to make her presence known, the librarian's eyes finally turned toward Eris.
Thinking those eyes were as sharp as ever, Eris nonetheless complained.
"...Do you not know the concept of customer service?"
The librarian shrugged.
"No one in a given profession can be perfect at that profession. Sometimes it's nice to have a librarian who's a little lacking in one area like this."
Was he really making a joke now?
Eris stared at the librarian, but it was far too difficult to read any emotion from that expressionless face.
In the end, she shook her head and returned the books.
The original theoretical treatise. The annotated edition of the theoretical treatise. And one novel that was, well, passable—no, useless.
"It would be even better if the next book were a grimoire."
"Unfortunately, I can't give you a definite answer on that."
"Isn't it the librarian's role to retrieve the books the customer asks for?"
"If it were a book on the first floor, yes. But the ones on the second floor are, strictly speaking, closer to non-circulating items."
No matter what she did, he never gave her an inch.
Eris let out a sigh and held out her hand.
"Enough. Just give me the problem."
"Understood."
The librarian took a sheet of paper from a drawer and handed it to Eris.
[In the story, the protagonist Ralph lures an ogre, raging with hunger, into the hut where a kind elderly couple live in order to stop it from heading toward the village. Thanks to Ralph, the villagers survive the crisis and praise him as a hero, but Ralph himself is tormented by guilt. What do you think of Ralph's actions?]
After studying the problem carefully, Eris soon realized something and objected.
"Wait, this kind of question doesn't have a clear-cut answer."
"That's fine. For questions that ask for your impression, as long as something is written there, whatever it is will be treated as a correct answer."
"Are you serious?"
"Why would I lie about something like this?"
To gauge the other's sincerity, Eris stared at the librarian, but it was far too hard to read any emotion from that annoyingly expressionless face.
Eris fell into thought for a moment.
By the problem's difficulty alone, it was incredibly easy.
At the extreme, you could even pass by writing just a single word.
But.
'...In the end, the one bringing the reward is this man.'
Based on all her experience so far, even if Eris used such a trick to get through, the librarian would keep the promise.
Instead, the librarian would bring back some worthless trinket from the books on the second floor. Even that wouldn't count as breaking the promise.
Then answering earnestly would be the better move if she wanted a good reward, but....
"Mm."
Eris hesitated, unable to open her mouth easily.
If she had to write down a specific detail from a book, that would be easy. She'd just need to pull the information out of her memory.
But talking about her own impressions like this was rather awkward. The criteria weren't clear.
'...No, this is all for the sake of the grimoire.'
What was a bit of embarrassment compared to the chance to improve her abilities right in front of her?
Eris put on a calm front and spoke.
"I think the protagonist is terribly foolish."
"Oh? Why is that?"
"If the protagonist hadn't made that choice there, the ogre would have headed to the village, and there would surely have been enormous casualties. The lives of two elderly people and the lives of an entire village can't even be compared. The protagonist did the right thing."
"If that's all, then he wouldn't be foolish but wise, would he?"
"No, he is foolish."
Eris declared it flatly.
"Even while suffering so much, the protagonist doesn't do anything. He doesn't even go to the elderly couple's bereaved family to make amends, let alone build a grave for them because he's afraid what he did might be exposed. On top of that, every night he's afraid to fall asleep and ends up forcing himself to sleep with alcohol. At this point, he's neither one thing nor the other, is he?"
If he thinks what he did was right, then he should live proudly with his chest out.
If he thinks what he did was wrong, then he should strive to atone for it.
Trying to do neither and remaining in that half-baked state is the very definition of foolishness, Eris judged.
"I see."
The librarian nodded.
Eris asked.
"Do you perhaps think the same as I do?"
"No, not at all. If anything, had the protagonist done such a thing and then proudly called himself a hero, I would've felt nothing but disgust. But that's why this is even better. Comparing different opinions is enjoyable."
The librarian's expression remained as impassive as ever, but the look in her eyes seemed a little softer than usual.
"This is your reward for this time and the books for the next problem."
Saying that, the librarian took out five books and held them out to Eris.
Two theoretical treatises and their annotated editions. Lastly, a novel.
"That's quite a lot, isn't it?"
"Didn't you approach it seriously? There should be a reward to match."
"Hmph. Good that you know it."
Even as she snorted, Eris couldn't hide how pleased she was.
It was a sense of fulfillment similar to what she felt when she safely completed a difficult assignment set by her master and received praise.
'...No, wait. Focus. The situation itself is weird from the start!'
Startled by how she had almost gotten conditioned without realizing it, Eris shot a sharp glare at the librarian.
If they had been students at the same institute, it would've been the kind of glare that would make someone tremble, wondering if they'd done something wrong.
"Ah, and by the way, I recommend reading the novel last. That way it should interfere less with your studies."
But it didn't work on the librarian even a little.
Resisting the urge to land a blow on that shameless, polished face, Eris left the library without even saying goodbye.
The "I look forward to your next visit" from behind her had never sounded so irritating.
***
"That night."
"...If there were anything wrong with the books, I'd at least have something to complain about."
Checking the books she'd been handed, Eris let out a complaint that wasn't quite a complaint.
The theoretical treatise laid out ideas so advanced that a low-level institute wouldn't dare touch them, while the annotated edition broke those difficult concepts apart and packed them neatly into the reader's head.
Would it be easier to understand if I said it's like the difference between chewing unground wheat as-is and eating it after it's been milled into cake?
Eris had seen a few real grimoires back when she lived with her master, but honestly, the value of this annotated edition of the theoretical treatise was starting to seem higher than that of a middling grimoire.
As much as she wanted to dive straight into the theoretical treatise, Eris first pushed the books she'd been reading aside and picked up the novel in the corner.
"Read it last because it would interfere with studying? Hmph."
Eris sneered at what was truly a cheap little provocation.
Even during the previous loan, Eris had read the novel first, but even then all that happened was that her sleep time on the first day decreased a little; it had caused no problem at all with studying the other theoretical treatises.
After all, there was no way she'd get all worked up over a single novel or have it affect anything else, was there?
Eris opened the first page with a confident attitude.
A detective protagonist with a distinctive hunting cap, coat, and pipe.
The sidekick, always at the protagonist's side.
A rival exuding villainous charisma.
The protagonist then tumbles over the waterfall together with the rival─
[─To be continued in the next volume.]
"……."
Eris fell silent.
A very, very long silence.