Chapter XXXVI - A Nerd (part 1)

After we ate lunch, we both went to our own homes. 

Everyone else seemed to have their own houses. Some of them are nobles after all. While the others are commoners, they still owned a house in the commoners district.

Me?

I'm sticking with an inn until I have enough money.

Unlike them, I don't have parents here that own a house. I don't have any family at all. 

So, the inn it is.

Arriving at the inn, I quickly changed into my regular casual outfit for females. I'm still not used to it, but at least now I don't feel disgusted when wearing it. It's called adaptation, plebs.

After changing my clothes, I went straight to bed.

There's still a couple hours until the third bell, so I thought I could use it to nap. I don't have anything to do after all.

DING!!!

DING!!!

The nap went by like a flash, since it doesn't come with a dream. The third bell rang and woke me up. 

After washing my body, I prepared myself to go to the library. Let's just hope I am successful in awakening my teammate's admiration for literature.

"Ugh..."

The old lady at the library is still here, as usual. She let out a growl and held her head as if she was having a headache. I just grinned while veins popped on my head and went straight to the back.

I forgot to warn my friends about that old hag. Best if they handle it themselves, actually.

Now, what do I want to read...

I came here so that I could help my friends pick a book to read. But even myself doesn't know what to read. After a minute of pondering what to read, I ended up reading a book about types of food in Mazino.

"Evening, Rize."

Fifteen minutes later, the first person to arrive is Valey. She seemed to be eager to know a lot about her archery stuff, so she came early. I waved at her and patted the chair right next to me.

"What are you reading?"

I showed her the book's cover. The title alone shocked her.

"Honestly, I wasn't expecting you to be some kind of nerd, Rize."

"Really? Was I not too clear about that?"

"Well, you are now."

She chuckled. God, she's pretty.

She said that she will be learning more about archery, though she doubted any of the books here can teach her any more than what she already knows, she just asked anyway. 

I showed her the way to where the books about archery are at. I'm starting to get pretty good at looking at the library's pattern here.

We arrived on the second floor, on the bookshelf where books about 'hunting' are located. I picked a book about expert archery and gave it to Valey. She opened it while standing and read it. The more she read, the more focused her face looked.

After a while, she suddenly closed the book with a slap.

"I will be borrowing this."

Her face looked surprised and serious.

"Take it, then. Anything else you want to read?"

"Hmm, are there any story books here?" 

I pondered for a while.

"Like, children's story books? Or some... The ones for adults?"

"There's story books for adults?"

Huh?

I took her to the bookshelf filled with story books, like fairy tales and bedtime stories. She looked through the books one by one. Then she tapped happily as she picked a book from the shelf.

"My father used to read me this story. I have been looking at it for years."

"Ooh... What's the story about?"

"The princess and the king of dragons."

"Huh. Sounds very... unique."

Like, actually. That sounds a lot like a casual bedtime story.

"Are you kidding?! This is the best story book out there!"

Valey was a little pissed and spoke louder than previously.

"Hey, sshh! No shouting!"

"Sorry!"

She whispered. She took the storybook and stacked it with the expert archery book.

"Let's go back to the table."

.

When we went down, Barett was already there, waiting. He said something about a scary old lady at the receptionist's desk, but I simply answered that he was being delusional. The old lady isn't scary at all.

I left Valey at the table while going with Barett to look for a book he wanted. I'm feeling like I'm slowly becoming some sort of nerd guide, but that's okay. If it means increasing my team's intelligence, I'm willing to make myself a nerd once more.

Cony and Hod arrived at the same time, right after Barett just finished taking his books. The whole team finally arrives.

After a while, everyone had already gotten their books. I had to remind them that these books can not be harmed in any way. Because if anything happens to it, I will have to deal with the old Hag.

Everyone started reading. The atmosphere turned silent as they all focused on what they were reading. Oh dear, I'm so proud.

Nearly an hour later, Hod finally talks.

"Some of these... I can understand it as a theory. But in the end, I still have to practice."

"Same."

Barett answers. He is reading a book about earthen magic. Meanwhile, Cony is reading the sword arts book I bought.

Valey is reading expert archery. It seemed to be doing very well for her since every now and then, she tried the poses using an imaginary bow.

"Then, why don't we take the book out for a mission tomorrow?"

I suggested while holding my book. It was actually the idea I had for myself, where I would train using the book on my own. But with some company, I wouldn't be so lonely.

"Agreed! But can we really bring these outside?"

Barett asked. He seemed to have forgotten that I slammed five books at the diner, earlier today. Hod reminded him, and then he just scratched his head.

"Don't worry. I'll do the talking. Just give the books to me later, and I'll register it."

They continued on with their reading for a few minutes until they called it quits. They stacked their books on top of the table, right in front of me. I stored the books inside my space ring and went straight to face the tiger.

.

BLAM!!!

The old lady at the desk wasn't even scared when I slammed the books on her desk. She just looked at me with a demeaning look. I returned with a grin.

"I'm borrowing these books."

I can feel the presence of my friends peeping from the left, behind the bookshelves. They are watching with high curiosity and worry.

"No."

"Heh?"

I flicked my head to the right. Did she really just reject my request?

"I said no."

She took a sip on her glass of water, calmly.

"May I know why?"

I asked calmly, as well.

"Not until you apologize for slamming the books."

"... What?"

She is challenging me. I lowered my head and lifted my hand, with my palm facing her.

"I'm very sorry for slamming the books and angering the goddess of papers."

She just looked at me with her demeaning look. I really am getting pissed here. Then all of the sudden that look turned into a smirk, surprising me.

"All right. Next time, don't harm the books. Now get out of here."

She pushed the stack of books a little closer to me, then opened her book once again.

I touched the stack of books and inserted magic energy into my space ring. The books on top of the table disappear into thin air.

I turned around and walked to the door. My friends immediately realized it's over, and followed me to the door.

"That went better than what I had expected."

Hod was the first to talk. Once we got out of the library, we grouped up to discuss.

"Well, it could have gone better, but you guys are there so I can't really piss the old lady. Otherwise, it would take years."

I summoned the pile of books from my space ring and held them in one hand. Everyone else started to pick their books, one by one.

"So, where do you think we should practice these?"

Cony asked. I looked at Hod, and he returned with a grin. I gestured my hand to tell him to speak out.

"Well...-"

KREK!!!

Ah, there it is again. The cracking noise.

I am hearing it very clearly. It sounded far, but at the same time, so close. I started looking around to find the source, but only ended up making myself looking stupid.

"Looking for something, Rize?" Hod asked from being curious, but I only turned my concerned gaze back to them.

As expected... they did not hear it. Only I could.

"Nevermind. As I was saying..."

.