Haa, I took a deep breath and tilted my head back.
A building that seemed to pierce the sky stood tall.
A majestic building with gray walls and a sharply rising spire.
The name of this building, which looked more like a small castle, was 'Lordbelle Archive'.
The imperial library of the imperial palace, the Lesollo Grand Library of the National Lesollo Academy, and the archive of the Lordbelle Duchy.
It was called the three major libraries of the empire.
Among them, the most famous was this place, the Lordbelle Archive.
This was because it was known to be the most difficult to access and to contain the most extensive and precious books.
'That's true.'
It is a famous story that the first head of the family who built the Lordbelle Archive loved books very much.
She collected rare books from all over the continent and stored them here, in the Lordbelle Archive.
Following the will of the first head, all the successive heads of the family were devoted to collecting books.
The history was different from that of the academy or the imperial family, which built libraries later.
Therefore, no one can enter the Lordbelle Archive.
Only high-ranking executives of Lordbelle, those who have been directly granted access by the head of the family, and members of the family could enter.
Even then, books cannot be taken out.
In a way, it was the most difficult place to enter in Lordbelle, along with the head of the family's office.
'And I too...'
In my previous life, I once tried to enter this place and failed.
More precisely.
'I was kicked out.'
That day, I ran away to this place to avoid Banshees, who was particularly venomous.
At that time, I didn't know exactly what this place was.
I just went in to hide for a while.
'Where did this rat come from!!'
A bitter smile formed.
Even now, when I think of that time, the tips of my fingers trembled.
'But it's different this time.'
I hardened my heart and slowly approached the building.
The security was tight, but there were no knights guarding the front.
There was no need. This building itself was enchanted.
I placed my hand on the stone door engraved with the Lordbelle crest.
It looked very large and heavy at a glance.
Krrr...
It opened obediently as I pushed it inward.
I paused for a moment and slipped through the gap.
As soon as I did, a great spectacle unfolded.
A ceiling soaring so high that the end could not be seen, and countless books filling all directions.
It was completely blocked up to the ceiling and had no windows, so it felt like a completely different world.
With so many books, there could be a lot of dust and the air could be musty, but the air was also fresh because magic maintained a pleasant environment.
Above all, the characteristic of this library was that there was no separate lighting.
Instead of lighting, magical tools that emit light, called floating stones, floated around and illuminated the surroundings.
If there was someone reading a book, it would naturally stick next to them and help them read the book.
Therefore, although it was a library, it had a mysterious and dreamy atmosphere like a magician's laboratory.
It was like a deep night in a forest where fireflies were floating around.
I stood still and looked around.
It was then.
"Who are you?"
I stopped and held my breath at the sudden voice.
Thump, thump.
Someone's footsteps were getting closer.
I could tell who it was without looking.
"Identify yourself. This is the Lordbelle Archive. Only those who are authorized to enter may enter. If you are lost, I will guide you."
He didn't seem to recognize me yet, and his tone was quite polite.
He seemed to think of me as a child who had visited the duke's mansion with her parents and accidentally wandered into this place.
But, well.
"No. I came here on purpose."
How will his attitude change when he sees me?
I turned around.
The man's eyes gradually widened as he saw me.
"You are..."
I smiled brightly at him.
Jiles Smoore.
He is the librarian of the Lordbelle Archive, and a terrible...
'Lordbelle follower.'
That's why he hated me as much as Banshees did.
'Nice to see you again.'
I gave him a bright smile as a greeting for our reunion, watching his expression gradually distort.
Jiles' eyes, glaring at the black-haired girl, gradually shook violently.
He could recognize her immediately.
Jet-black hair like a raven's feathers and blood-red eyes.
A small girl who looked like she wasn't even 10 years old.
'That bastard!'
The Smoore family has followed Lordbelle for generations and inherited the position of librarian of Lordbelle.
Some may say that it is just a librarian, but the Smoore family felt great pride in their role as the librarian of Lordbelle.
How could they not feel pride when they directly managed all the knowledge of the continent?
In particular, Jiles Smoore had an unusually strong pride in it.
Not only that, but he had great reverence for Lordbelle itself.
A sun-like being that has taken root since the founding of the empire, destroying evil gods, producing countless talents, and standing above the imperial family!
He would not hesitate to give his life for Lordbelle.
For him, Lordbelle was an impeccable sanctuary.
But one day, a dirty bastard suddenly rolled in from the slums and defiled his sanctuary.
Jiles rarely leaves the library, but he clearly remembered the drab hair and blood-red eyes that he had only seen once from afar.
And yet, that thing is now in his sacred space!
Jiles raised his eyes sharply and shouted.
"What do you think this place is!"
His roar echoed throughout the library.
Jiles thought that she would be frightened and run away if he did this.
The Lucia he saw from afar was huddled up and very scared.
'Tsk!'
That was even more displeasing.
Even if it's only half, it cannot be denied that Lordbelle's blood is flowing.
But what a pathetic sight!
He couldn't call that the Lordbelle that he followed and admired.
His heart was the same now.
But unlike Jiles' expectation that she would be frightened and run away, Lucia looked at him with a calm expression.
Then she smiled brightly and said.
"It's a library, right? Here."
"......!"
Instead of being startled and running away, Lucia was very relaxed.
Jiles, who was even more angry, shouted.
"Who asked because they didn't know that? This is a place where only authorized people can enter!"
Yes, this is a special place where only those who have permission from the head of the family can enter.
A place where such dirty things cannot enter recklessly...
"But members of Lordbelle can enter without special permission, right?"
"......"
Jiles was momentarily speechless.
That's because Lucia is right.
But...
"Y-You're not all the same, even if you're a member. You're only Lordbelle in name, but you haven't even met the head of the family!"
He gained strength from his words and became arrogant.
"How can you call someone who hasn't even met the head of the family a member?"
The story that the bastard went to the office every day but never opened the door was already famous.
In that respect, Lucia's situation was no different from his.
No, no! He is a body who is in charge of the great mission of protecting and managing the Lordbelle Archive.
His situation was clearly different from that of a girl who barely had Lordbelle's blood flowing through her.
Jiles, who had completely regained his momentum, said confidently.
"Now that you know the subject, get out of here-"
But Jiles couldn't finish his words.
"I haven't met the head of the family... my father?"
Lucia tilted her head as if she was really hearing the story for the first time.
Then soon.
"Ah! I guess you don't know the outside world because you're always trapped here."
"Wh-What did you say?"
He, who had suddenly become a simpleton who didn't know the world, looked at Lucia with an absurd face.
'What?'
The Lucia he knew was never such a sassy brat.
'Was I wrong about something?'
At the moment when the certainty that Lucia was a stupid, timid, and alienated existence within Lordbelle was slowly disappearing.
"But if you're still suspicious..."
Jiles' eyes widened as if they would burst as he confirmed what Lucia was handing over as if she had no choice.
'Th-This is...!!'
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