Kays Translations

Chapter 21 – At the Imperial Library

Ren continued listening.

“A foreign trading company has asked whether it can invest further in a venture in which House Ignat is also involved. Viscount Clausel is at the center of that venture.”

“So that is what this is about—wait. In that case, should you not have approached Lessard-sama before me?”

“Normally, you would be right. This time, however, the other party specifically wants to meet you. Of course, whatever answer you give, I still intend to speak with Viscount Clausel.”

“…Pardon?”

“I recently had an opportunity to speak in Eupheim with the chairman of a foreign trading company that does business with us. He already knew who you were.”

“H-How?”

Ren’s bewildered expression was matched by the disbelief in his voice.

Once Ulysses explained, however, part of the story began to make sense.

“This goes back to the venture led by Viscount Clausel. That trading company is involved in it, and I heard its chairman personally visited Clausel to inspect the town.”

“…I think I can guess. He heard about me while he was in Clausel, didn’t he?”

“Apparently so. Unfortunately, Viscount Clausel is currently in Elendil, so the chairman could not meet him. Instead, he heard about you and became interested. But that was not the only reason.”

Ulysses brought up the merchant escort request Ren had accepted during the winter before his enrollment at the academy.

The job had come to Ren while he was still preparing for the entrance examination.

“You mean when I escorted a merchant partway to Clausel, including the journey by magic ship?”

“Exactly. The man you protected was one of that chairman’s subordinates.”

“So that was connected too. I understand how the chairman learned about me, but what exactly interested him?”

“Your flight during the Viscount Given incident.”

Many townspeople had seen Licia and Ren return to Clausel and later heard what had happened to them.

The chairman had reportedly been deeply moved by the tale of their escape.

“He is an unusual merchant who began his career as a knight. After hearing about your accomplishments, he said he very much wanted to meet you. I intend to speak with Viscount Clausel soon.”

“Just to be certain, Ulysses-sama, you will also attend the meeting, won’t you?”

“Of course. He also wants to hear how you protected Fiona in the Baldor Mountains. Naturally, I would like Viscount Clausel to attend as well, provided his schedule permits.”

The chairman did not know that Asval had been resurrected in the Baldor Mountains. So few people knew of Asval’s return that the chance of the information leaking was extremely small. The fact that Fiona had been rescued by Ren and brought safely down the mountain, however, was known to others and could not be concealed entirely.

“I apologize for keeping this from you until today. We had arrangements to settle on our side.”

Ulysses had also wished to avoid forcing a sudden appointment upon them.

For that reason, he had contacted Lessard separately and asked him to reserve a little time during the Lion King Grand Festival.

“Ha ha ha! Ren, it sounds as though the man has taken quite a liking to you! This is a fine opportunity. Tell him one of your heroic tales!”

“Do I look like someone who enjoys boasting about such things?”

“Kuku. Even if you do not look the part, I suspect you secretly have that side to you.”

“I knew it. I may have badly misjudged the man I believed was my best friend.”

“I say it precisely because I regard you as my best friend. Hearing that your reputation is spreading makes me as happy as though the achievements were my own. Besides—”

Radius turned to Ulysses with an air of certainty.

“Ulysses, the company in question is quite large, isn’t it?”

“Just as you suspect. It is one of the Sky Continent’s foremost trading firms, renowned for dealing in monster materials and a wide variety of other goods.”

“Fufu. Then this should be a valuable opportunity for Ren.”

“What do you mean?”

The answer would normally have occurred to Ren immediately, but the proposal had been so sudden that he had lost some of his usual composure.

“House Clausel would benefit greatly from establishing ties with a major foreign trading company—especially one based on the Sky Continent.”

“I see. Now that you mention it, you’re right.”

That observation dispelled Ren’s confusion.

“Ulysses-sama, could you tell me more about the chairman?”

“Of course.”

Lessard would almost certainly approve. After all, the meeting could bring considerable benefit to Clausel.

◇　◇　◇　◇

Beyond the main avenue, near the center of the castle town, stood the Imperial Library—the pride of the Imperial Capital.

Countless shelves lined the walls of its vast atrium, and its many-tiered interior possessed an imposing grandeur. It was one of the oldest buildings in the historic capital and drew a constant stream of visitors from both within Leomel and abroad.

Because the Imperial Library housed important collections, the areas open to ordinary visitors were severely restricted. The Forbidden Archive beneath the building was in a class of its own. Protected by an exceptionally advanced security system, numerous magic tools, and knights trained in the Mighty Sword Style, it was a sanctuary that had never permitted an intruder to pass.

At this hour, only staff members and guards remained inside.

A young man serving as the library’s director was preparing to leave his office in the darkened rear of the building when circumstances forced him to stop.

“D-Director!”

A knight assigned to guard the Imperial Library burst into the office without knocking.

The director frowned. The knight was experienced and highly capable; seeing him in such a panic was deeply concerning.

“Calm yourself. What happened?”

“A-A visitor has just arrived…!”

“A visitor? I have no appointment at this hour.”

“I know! But she said she could only examine the collection at her leisure after normal operations had ended!”

The director tilted his head and sighed, unable to follow the knight’s explanation.

“Calm down and start again.”

He tried once more to steady the man.

The knight’s breathing remained ragged, sweat covered his brow, and his eyes were stretched wide with an anxiety entirely unlike his usual composure.

This was plainly no ordinary situation. The director’s expression hardened.

At last, the knight began to settle. He swallowed despite his parched throat and forced himself to speak.

“Explain clearly. Who has come?”

Before he could finish the question, footsteps sounded in the corridor leading toward the office.

The visitor was approaching. From the knight’s condition, the director could easily infer that she was someone of tremendous rank—but just how tremendous?

He narrowed his eyes at the silhouette emerging from the dim corridor.

The knight’s answer was beyond anything he had imagined.

“A-A Sword King—!”

A beautiful woman came into view.

She wore vestments of dark blue cloth embroidered with golden thread, and silver hair smoother than silk flowed behind her as she approached. Her blue-green eyes rivaled the color of her robes. Having never seen a Sword King from so close, the director caught his breath at both her beauty and the pressure of her presence.

Fifth in the Sword King Rankings—the White Dragon Princess, Lutreche.

One of the most powerful beings in Leomel approached them, her footsteps echoing through the library.

“Please forgive my unannounced visit.”

Her voice was as clear and lovely as a ringing bell.

“I would like to search for a book.”

The director’s throat had become as dry as the knight’s, but he could not permit himself to be discourteous before Lutreche.

As though guided by an instinct for survival, he managed to ask, “…What sort of book are you seeking?”

“I apologize, but I do not know. That is why I must ask you to open the places where I may be able to find it.”

“…Pardon?”

It was not meant as a riddle.

Lutreche plainly had a purpose. She had come to the Imperial Library convinced that some book within its collection would help her accomplish it.

Still bewildered, the director asked again.

“You mean the rooms containing our valuable collections?”

“Yes. His Majesty has granted me permission. Here.”

As Lutreche stepped into the light of the office, she produced a sheet of parchment.

In the emperor’s own hand, it instructed the library to allow her to search wherever she wished, with the sole exception of the Forbidden Archive.

The parchment also bore the emperor’s seal. When the director examined it through a spectacle-shaped magic tool, he confirmed that even the ink was the special kind reserved for imperial documents. It was unquestionably genuine.

“U-Understood…! Which collection would you like to see first?”

“Several areas interest me. I would appreciate your guidance.”

Lutreche left the office and began walking.

The director glanced at the knight, who still stood beside him in a daze. After ordering him to wait there, the director hurried after Lutreche to guide her personally.

They descended several staircases and passed through a succession of long corridors, drawing steadily closer to the deepest reaches of the Imperial Library.

Here, rooms containing rare and precious books stood side by side. Special permission was required to enter any of them, and Lutreche had been granted precisely that.

“This document bearing His Majesty’s permission will allow me to enter alone, correct?”

“Y-Yes! The seal is printed with special ink. It should retain its effect as a key for several days!”

“I understand. Then I shall search for a while. Thank you for accommodating me despite the sudden visit.”

She bowed so neatly that one could almost imagine hearing the motion itself.

The director nearly collapsed when a Sword King unexpectedly bowed to him. He hurriedly begged her to raise her head.

Lutreche complied, said, “Then, if you will excuse me,” unlocked the door, and stepped inside.

“W-What in the world is happening…?”

No answer came to the director’s mutter. He remained frozen in bewilderment for some time.

Meanwhile, Lutreche entered a room lined with valuable books.

By the faint moonlight filtering through the windows, she began her search. For hours she moved from shelf to shelf and, at times, from one secured room to another, looking for the book she needed.

Before she realized it, dawn had arrived.

Morning sunlight streamed through the window. Lutreche sighed and closed what might have been the hundredth book she had examined.

“It appears the information was erased thoroughly.”

She murmured to herself and approached the window.

“Given served as assistant to the Minister of Justice. If a man in that position became interested in Ashton, I thought he must have learned something here, at the Imperial Library…”

She placed a fingertip against her lips and considered the matter.

“…Then it must be in the Forbidden Archive.”

The emperor had permitted her to enter the rooms containing valuable collections, but the Forbidden Archive was another matter entirely. Lutreche was neither a citizen of Leomel, a knight, nor a civil official, and therefore had not been granted access.

She had failed to find the information she sought, yet she was now convinced that the relevant book or records lay within the Forbidden Archive. That certainty alone was a valuable result.

What purpose had driven her to undertake this search remained unclear.

She touched her fingertips to the window.

“Mother… what should I do?”

After speaking those words, Lutreche fell silent and continued gazing outside.

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