Overtime

The signature gray hair and amber-colored eyes of the Yuncandels. At first glance, he had a bigger build than Nuriel, maybe even a bit taller.

"This is my first time meeting you in person," Jonas greeted as he handed over a book. "I'd like to borrow this."

Nuriel quietly took the book, half-expecting something about sword techniques or its history. But when he read the title, he didn't bother hiding the brow he raised.

The Industrial Society and Its Consequences

Jonas quickly caught his expression. "Just because I'm a Yuncandel, you assume I wouldn't read things like this? Even if you're my brother's brother-in-law, that doesn't mean you should—

"Wait wait, you've got it all wrong," Nuriel cut in, gesturing him to relax. "I didn't see you at my sister's wedding back then, so my first impression of you was a bit..."

Jonas stared blankly before finally piecing it together.

"You were there?..."

He looked into Nuriel's steady gaze. A red hue started to form on his cheeks. "It's just something that I needed to do."

Nuriel quietly gave Jonas a few remarks in his mind. After all, Jonas gave Yushin a good beating and acted all cool saying 'Jonas Yuncandel, remember that' before disappearing. If Nuriel hadn't already seen what Yushin had endured before, he might've been more concerned about Jonas's reaction.

"I shouldn't have judged a book by its cover. My mistake," Nuriel said while doing the documentation, checking the records, and making the receipt.

He remembered the crystals he usually saw in buildings. If he had one, he could process the loan in his sleep—but that would technically mean losing most of his job, which meant lower salary.

'I should catch on the technology of this era.'

After it was finished, Nuriel gave him the book and asked in a polite tone, "Why did you pick that one?"

Jonas sighed and dragged his thumb across the hard cover, flipping through the pages.

"I know my family ousted you from the head of the Malachi family. Replacing you with one of my distant relatives whose name I probably can't even remember."

He closed the book and continued. His gaze exuded maturity—unlike the image of him beating up Yushin. The aura was like night and day.

"They're too serious about the value of strength and whatnot. It's actually driving me insane. Knowing that technology is evolving, things like swordsmanship are gradually losing their value unless you're at the level where I am."

Nuriel chuckled inwardly. 'At your level? The confidence on this kid...'

"I'm planning to take a different course after my study at the Swordsmanship Academy. Perhaps engineering? Or... nursing? Regardless, don't think of me as some brute like the rest of my family."

There was a bit of silence between them. Before Nuriel could reply, Jonas suddenly glared at him.

His expression read as, 'If you say that to my family, they'll kill me—so I'll kill you if you tell them!'

"Don't worry. I also value knowledge," Nuriel said calmly.

Jonas nodded in appreciation, but before he could turn back and walk away, Nuriel posed another question.

"I have a request," he said.

Jonas turned his head slightly. Only a glimpse of his amber eyes was visible, just enough to show mild interest.

"I'd like you to befriend Yushin... the one you beat up. He's a swordsman, but he chose a completely different college here in the university. Maybe you can learn a few things from him, and he'll learn something from you."

Jonas blinked. His gaze lingered in the distance for a moment before he gave Nuriel a quick nod and walked away.

'He's actually quite nice... I'm so glad...' Nuriel thought with a mix of comedy and despair. He rested his chin on his palm and sank into thought.

From what he had seen of Yushin, the boy's personality was hard to pin down. He'd been bullied or more accurately, tortured, yet from the outside, aside from his striking appearance, he remained respectful and plain.

'Perhaps he's a ticking time bomb.'

Especially with that ominous scepter fragment. If Nuriel could guide Yushin into collecting more fragments, Yushin would grow stronger, and in turn, so would Nuriel.

For the first time since arriving in this world, he offered a silent prayer for Jonas, who was now burdened with the task of befriending a potential walking calamity.

But if Jonas succeeded, Yushin might also gain access to the famed sword techniques of the Yuncandel family. Thinking along those lines, Nuriel sighed.

'Your benefactor is so considerate of you... if we ever meet in the scepter throne room, you have to give me praises... and scepter fragments.'

His daydreams were cut short by a sudden voice.

"Is daydreaming all you do?"

Orwell had appeared from his blind spot.

Nuriel stood in surprise and quickly greeted the custodian, who returned it with a smile and that piercing, clear-eyed gaze of his.

"I saw how you handled that Yuncandel boy. Very impressive. If you're such a smooth talker, you should direct it somewhere else," Orwell said, his voice was casual but his clear eyes told everything he actually meant.

'This guy is insane...' Nuriel kept smiling.

He returned to his seat and met Orwell's eyes.

"I'll note that, sir."

Orwell chuckled at the half-assed reply before continuing.

"You can daydream all you want, since there's a reschedule."

'A reschedule?'

Noticing Nuriel's puzzled look, Orwell cleared his throat.

"The College of Magic ordered the wrong edition of a set of books and stored them in the library section of the Spire. You'll need to remove them and replace them with the new ones. Since they won't admit their mistake, they asked us to deal with it at night."

Orwell grinned, his clear eyes glinting.

"Go home and sleep. The both of you will pull an all-nighter. After all, we gave them nearly four hundred copies. You'll need to take your time."

The Spire. He remembered the towering structure when he was chasing after Vivienne in her dream, with its library located near the top. If it was just the two of them, they'd have to make multiple trips.

And yet, Nuriel couldn't bring himself to be annoyed. Gaining access to the College of Magic's private library would practically grant him the entire foundation of this world's magical knowledge. And more than that, Orwell had let them off early!

'So considerate! If this were back on Earth when I was young, I'd still be doing my normal shift... plus unpaid overtime!'

Nuriel bowed solemnly, thanking him. He then turned to Vivienne, who had already picked up on the conversation.