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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“Johann, Johann! I heard from Karin—”
“Karin?”
“She’s a new friend! She’s from a small village in the western part of the empire, and her dream is to become a government official in the capital and buy a nice house for her family!”
Milia’s relentless friendliness had finally paid off. I cut my tonkatsu into bite-sized pieces and listened to her story.
“So, what’s the rumor?”
“Well, Karin and Sion said—”
“Who’s Sion?”
Why were more people being added to this story?
“Sion is also a new friend! She’s the heir to a viscount family and came here to study so she can inherit the family title!”
“…Alright, continue.”
“Um, where was I?”
“You’ve only mentioned your friends’ names so far.”
“Whose?”
“Sion and Karin.”
“Oh! Right! Sion and Karin told me that there’s something amazing hidden deep inside the library!”
…Was the rumor spreading already? I swallowed my tonkatsu and stared at Milia.
She continued, her eyes shining with excitement, clearly enjoying the act of sharing gossip.
“It’s an old rumor. There’s a hidden archive inside the library, and it contains something incredible! They say it can grant wishes!”
“A wish-granting artifact? That’s amazing.”
Karina, who was dipping her bread into her soup, expressed her amazement at the rumor. She seemed as intrigued as any young girl would be by such a story.
“I-I heard that too… b-but I don’t think such a thing…”
“But there’s no smoke without fire! There must be something there, or the rumor wouldn’t exist!”
She wasn’t entirely wrong.
Rumors needed a basis, however flimsy. And as Milia had said, the rumor about a hidden treasure in the library had a solid foundation.
There was a hidden archive in the library, and it did contain a wish-granting artifact. But it was unsettling that the rumor was already spreading.
It wasn’t supposed to spread for at least another two weeks.
While it was within the margin of error, it still bothered me.
The butterfly effect.
The flap of a butterfly’s wings creating a hurricane… or was it a tornado? Whatever it was, this was too significant to ignore.
…I needed to investigate. But I couldn’t ask directly.
What should I do?
“Johann, Johann! You’re good at digging, so you must be good at finding things, right? Let’s go find it!”
“No.”
“Hmph.”
I flatly refused Milia’s suggestion.
While finding hidden dungeons or secret rooms was child’s play for me, I had no intention of searching for it.
…I had already created a secret passage to the hidden archive.
“Milia, it’s best to enjoy rumors as rumors. The truth is often disappointing.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Milia, swayed by Karina’s firm response, reluctantly nodded. She looked adorable, accepting Karina’s advice like a younger sister.
“Karina is right. Rumors are only fun as gossip. There’s no need to seek the truth.”
As Viola had said, rumors were just rumors, so there was no need to verify them, even if they were true.
I placed a piece of tonkatsu on Milia’s plate and said,
“You’ve been mentioning your friends’ names a lot. It seems you’ve made quite a few.”
“Yeah! Sion, Karin, Lise, Leon, Sena…”
Milia’s list of friends continued until she reached double digits.
It sounded like she had befriended the entire first-year class of the General Studies department.
“…Are you just listing random names?”
“No! They’re my friends!”
Milia puffed out her cheeks at Viola’s accusation. But it was a strange claim, considering she had supposedly befriended the entire department.
The second semester had only started a week ago.
“I’ve made friends with everyone in the General Studies department, so now I’m going to make friends in other departments!”
“Alright, good luck.”
I wasn’t sure if she could actually reach her goal of one hundred friends, but I supported her enthusiasm.
She had a dark past, she deserved to be happy. I would intervene if things got dangerous, but for now, I would let her enjoy her newfound social life.
“Johann, give me another piece. Hee hee.”
I happily placed another piece of tonkatsu on her plate.
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“Yawn… Mister, I’m going to bed.”
“Alright. Goodnight.”
Time for me to sleep as well.
I wanted to continue working, but the sun would be rising in a few hours, and I had to prepare for my escort duties.
I finished cleaning the workshop and locked the door. It wouldn’t be opened until tomorrow evening.
I slung my shovel over my shoulder and headed back to the main Yeomyeong-gwan building.
The estate was dark and quiet at this hour as light sources were limited in this world.
The hallways were deserted, save for the occasional maid.
I reached my room.
[Contractor, are you sure you’re in the right room?]
“Yummy… hee hee…”
“…Why is she here?”
Milia was fast asleep in my bed, looking like a puppy that had stolen its owner’s spot.
I placed my shovel on the table and briefly considered waking her up.
Should I wake her?
“…I should take her back to her room.”
I decided against waking her. She looked happy, whatever she was dreaming about. I didn’t want to disturb her.
I gently lifted the red-haired Dullahan. She was surprisingly light.
“Mmm…”
As if sensing she was being carried, Milia wrapped her arms around my neck.
We were now in close contact.
I walked down the hallway, feeling the strangely soft sensation against my chest.
My footsteps were silent.
The hallways of Yeomyeong-gwan were carpeted, befitting a high-class estate. The carpet absorbed all sound as I walked towards Milia’s room.
Seeing no signs of Milia letting go, I said,
“Rue, open the door.”
[A Contractor asking a grimoire to open a door…]
It would have done it anyway.
I chuckled as a tentacle reached out and wrapped around the doorknob. It had been almost two months since I met Rue. Time flew by.
“…It’s been a while since I’ve been in Milia’s room.”
Milia usually came to me, I rarely visited her.
I gently pried her arms off my neck and placed her on the bed. I turned to leave, eager to wash up and sleep, when I heard a soft voice.
“Johann… Karina… don’t go… I don’t want to be alone…”
I stopped and turned back.
It was just sleep-talking, but I had never heard such a vulnerable tone from Milia before. I sat down next to her and took her hand, which was reaching out for something in her sleep.
“…I’m not going anywhere, so don’t worry.”
I couldn’t leave her like this.
I sighed, looking at Milia, who was now clinging to my arm. The soft sensation against my skin was unsettling, her unguarded posture even more so.
She needed to stop acting like a child…
“…I don’t know what to do.”
This was something I should probably discuss with Karina. It was a bit awkward for me to address directly.
I had planned to lie down and think about the library, but that plan was out the window. It was difficult to concentrate while being held captive like this.
I leaned against the headboard and closed my eyes.
Fortunately, the floor was carpeted, so it wasn’t too uncomfortable. This was still far better than the deserted island.
…Though I should at least take her shoes off.
I couldn’t let her sleep with her shoes on, even if this was a western-style setting.
I reached down and removed her shoes.
Time to sleep.
“Hee hee…”
I closed my eyes.
Exhausted, I quickly drifted off to sleep.
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