Study time and connections

(Lex POV)

I quietly comforted Angeline he best I could using only words, once she calmed down I asked if she could see the list above her head that continued to linger over head, so at least I didn't have to decide what to make Angeline to me now.

There was a full drop list that ranged from an ally, rival, daughter, amongst other strange titles. I simply selected (Remind me later) on each notification it was annoying as hell and Angeline looked at me like a weirdo. I sighed inwardly as I looked outside the window.

***

I lead Angeline back to the rooms where Esel, Lily and the rest had already fallen asleep. Roy again not being here at night. Is he not even going to act like he's going to sleep? He was awake the whole day, I know that since I met him and now he's seemingly awake the whole night too.

He should be the one with the [Sleepless] skill seriously. The condition for said skill to level up is actually really generous, I can either stay awake the whole night or sleep a certain amount of sleeping. The decision? I was finally going to catch some z's.

***

The next day was odd, I rest with Angeline constantly making "contact" with my hand the entire night, that left me with an inexplicably freaky chill in my spine the entire night but my tiredness eventually overcame the tribulation.

I woke up at the same time as the previous day, I spent time in the kitchen cooking up some breakfast for myself, the kids and Arlan. Angeline stood by my side silently drooling.

***

Arlan was in weird mood to say the least, he looked at me with reluctance and his emotions showed to be those of consideration and curiosity. He tried to pry out more information from me during his experiments but I kept my story the same, saying there wasn't any progress in getting all my memories.

I really do think I might be Arlans lucky charm because he succeeded on two more of this experiments excitedly. When I asked what they did he loomed around the answer but mostly cake up short with directly telling me ther effects.

***

Another day, another chance to go to the library, I have more time to revise because Arlan still doesn't think I qualify to roam around him. I got to learn more things about the gods, their respective histories, some of their relationships are... complicated. As someone with an outsiders word view the scandals between gods simply looked like celebrity gossip. When here it's treated as political propaganda against certain religions creating rifts between humanity as it always seemingly does.

It really ticked me off, from Kim Oh-Jins perspective, even with my memories having huge gaps in it I know the annoyance that is incompetent government's and other communities in societies. Lex Armines was neutral he mostly cared for the health and often helped with the menial task in the business.

While back on Earth I was so self absorbed in my own problems I couldn't give less of a shit. As long as it doesn't directly impact me or my family's living situation I was cool with it.

The most fun read so far has been on the nation of various other intelligent species. It really does sound mystical. Annoyingly there was a lot of subtle prejudice towards certain species. Either it was because of appearances, political relationships with certain races gone haywire or simple unaccepting nature towards existences different from their own. This would be bad enough if humans didn't also have plain racism, sexism and other... isms. Though here they re surprisingly accepting of all things LGBT+.

***

Angeline would tell very briefly about her young selfs scope of knowledge... her knowledge was very limited but when I asked her about the nation's she knew I heard 5 kingdoms names... that don't exist anymore. Is she actually young? I haven't heard of a duke Gracia either, in Cheshire or outside this nation...

"Angeline do you have any memories of your parents?"

I just blurted out the question but when I asked she visibly shook, the same pale look on her face appeared but he swore that she didn't remember anything. Desperately as if trying to convince me... and herself. I listened with a gentle and pitying look on my face and I assured her that I believe her.

I guess that's another thing that I've to research on. While at the same time contemplating the various mysteries of the system's, the one who gave it to me and also about these new notifications that appear when I come into contact with the head mist.

I asked questions to the system several times even hoping to annoy it, but all I got was the same stupid response.

[[ This decision will effect your destiny ]]

Over and over it was beginning to piss me off, something that was usually a rare occurrence for me back on Earth. Even he couldn't annoy me this much. (A/N foreshadowing much?). It didn't answer what I want and only added to the pressure. I don't like decision making makes ke feel restricted and without another option. Even when I have like 25 ish different options,I could even just choose to deny all of them but I can literally predict it would give me a [Loner] skill or something.

Anyways I'll use this week to make a decision, I'll stock up on knowledge for 5 days, find books to learn magic, aura and creatine and make a decision from there. I'll choose one to specialise in or if I discover being a little talented I could choose the jack of all trades route, then if I'm really~ talented I'll combine all three and rise to the top like the overpowered protagonist I hope I'll be!

"*Sigh* at least I hope it'll end up that way it'd be really cool..."

I mumble very quietly so much so that even Angeline right next to me couldn't here, but soon I heard a BANG!

I flip my head almost 180 degrees like an owl on accident it really hurt my neck, it seems there's an issue with having too much control on my body, it's like a games sensitivity slider set to the max. Soon after the bang I heard a cough m

"Khukhum! Sorry, but could you please dial down the talking to yourself, you've been here for a few hours now and you keep on talking as if there's someone next to you or to yourself."

The "local" library hottie noble woman walked up to me, arms crossed who I... forgot to acknowledge was here. I need to remember servants etiquette I don't want to suddenly offend her because of my ramblings to Angeline. Angeline had a bit of a pouty look going on when she walked over.

"Who do you think you are talking to, aunty? Your talking the heiress of the famous duke Gracia! You talk to thi sweet mister this way who was talking to me!"

A sudden haughtiness I didn't expect, to appear from the sweet angel Angeline came through looks like the nobility's sense of superiority flowed in her blood or is it behaviour she inherited from her parents?

The beautiful and yet simple looking reader had brown hair tied into a ponytail and amber eyes that shone through in todays dress she wore. She raised and eyebrow when I looked at Angeline,

"A-are you ignoring me? The daughter of a count?"

I suddenly stood up like a soldier which surprised her. Hand on my chest and a light bow,

"I apologise miss, I was just very interested in the book I was reading but felt the experience was lacking so talked as if to another presence was there, to offset my... discomfort."

I didn't know if this was the best set of words to use, because I don't know how much nobles in this world nitpick the use of words in etiquette. Luckily it seems I got lucky enough because she accepted it,

"Hmph okay I'll accept that explanation because I can understand the sentiment to an extent, but please do so elsewhere because my hearing is extra sharp, especially in a library as quiet as it is today."

"Okay, I'm thankful for your understanding miss...?"

"Apologies, I'm the daughter of count Esteria, Amber Esteria pleasure to make your acquaintance, servant of Arlan Schmidt."

"You've heard of me?"

"I've hear of sir Arlans arrival in the capital as well as the arrival of his slave servant. Also you're wearing his sigil on your broche."

"Oh, right that makes sense, your observation skills are worthy of praise. I am who you say I am. Lex Armine the servant... and slave of Arlan Schmidt."

'Shouldn't be one for long if he falls for the idea though hehe.'

A smile crept up on my face as I hoped to get a nigh continent rank magus to be my slave/bodyguard. Amber seemed to pick up on this though,

"You seem... happy to be a slave."

'How should I answer this? I'm not happy about it but Arlans a decent person even in Earth's standards, not including his pride.'

"My master has treated me well, and also it occurred because of a deal in the first place miss Esteria but even you'd like to hear more I'd implore you to take a seat."

"... I am a bit interested."

Yes! I was going to take this chance to build my first connection with nobility, and it'd be cool to pry some information about the higher ups situation from her.

"Then please, I could even prepare some tea if you'd like master says I'm decent at my work already."

She nods silently and so I go borrow some from the reception on the first level, Angeline still following me silently but her face looked a bit let down. I wasn't going to comfort her right now, besides I can only see her feelings, I can't make out her exact thoughts it's best for her to sort herself out.

Bringing back the necessary ingredients, I prepare some tea that won't make her to sleepy according to the manual, but does create a relaxing feeling.

"Miss did you prepare tea for yourself the other day? I don't see a servant here with you."

Her feelings changed a little as I watched her status, from simply relaxed and interested she's now feeling a bit thoughtful.

She didn't answer and I didn't pry, I'll figure out her place in the family later first I wanted to hold an intellectual talk after I told her a modified version of me saving my father and meeting Arlan. Obviously I left out my abilities and other things I shouldn't have to mention. Everything was purely coincidence and it seems she was very intrigued. There were minor changes in expression I normally wouldn't have caught but comparing it to her changing feelings I took all opportunities to learn something new. Regarding body language now.

No opportunity to slack off!

Once I was done she also felt thoroughly relaxed because of the tea I prepared and complimented me for it. It's always a satisfying feeling when you know you've improved in pretty much anything.

***

Once she was satisfied with the story I took the comfortable position I was in to talk about history, for this kingdom and the empire of other races, just to get a grasp on if I was talking to a more open minded person or not.

"Are you talking about the empire of Eden? It's an interesting place, not lot of humans there... but I guess that's what makes it so special. What about you what do you think?"

I smiled it seems at the very least she's not opposed to a single race or anything in particular, so I give her a semi complete description of my fascination of such a place. It reminds me of an isekai'd slime after all with their country of beasts, demi humans and others.

"I think it's a interesting place as I've told you, my father is a merchant so I've had the pleasure to meet a few rare tourists from there, they can be a pleasure to talk to."

She nodded and so we ended up talking about out opinions on various moves the kingdoms of the past had made, the empire of Eden and also the state of Cheshire as a whole. There were a few cute interjections from Angeline as she played around talking about beautiful elves and riding dragons and the like. Amber of course didn't hear those.

We spent the day talking about stories after that, and went our separate ways I pulled off a very successful job at holding a conversation. Something I wasn't easily able to do on Earth. I guess it helps when we share similar interests in reading.

***

We bid farewell to eachother. Angeline and I would talk about different games we could play in our free time that don't require contact or losing eachother. Since for now I was her 'protector'.

A few days passed, days of standing with the disturbed Arlan, a few chats with Esel and Lily who would take my place with Arlan in occassion. Esel would find news in the prisoner I managed to defeat, I somehow managed to interact with Royand casually about our days. Then finally it ended with a reading and conversation session with Amber at the library.

5 days had now passed and I recorded everything I wanted about the world and various other pieces of knowledge, including in the different sources of power in this world.

Day 6 it was time to finally train and figure out my abilities. Luckily even when plot armour was active nothing great happened.

Time to train!

******

(A/N time for Lex to get stronger, he got a library gal pal, a cute girly roaming around with him, and some studies saved in his inventory. Time for him to seek strength not knowledge. Read the authors note.)