Of course, the size of each bookshelf was large, but the bigger problem was that my physical strength couldn't keep up.
Well, yeah.
'I haven't been eating properly.'
My body is already weak, and I haven't been eating properly at the right time. It would be strange if I had good physical strength.
"......This is hopeless."
When am I going to look through all this?
Looking at the endless rows of bookshelves lined up like dominoes ahead, my vision darkened.
I can't ask Giles to find it for me.
Otherwise, it will get into the ears of Ligrin or the Duke.
Speaking of which.
'I think they said you can find books with magic.'
So, I remember overhearing the servants talking about how they don't need a librarian anymore.
The problem is…….
'I don't know how to start that magic.'
"Haa."
I succeeded in entering the library, but my chest felt heavy because there was not much progress.
Besides.
"I have to go in there, too."
I turned my head and looked at the wall.
Purple light floated around the door attached to the wall.
A sign saying <Unopened> was hung above the door.
'Rodbel Library's Unopened Area.'
That place was literally an unopened area where only the secret books among the books of the Rodbel Library were collected separately.
If I were to find a clue to undo the seal of the evil god, it was highly likely to be hidden there.
However, even those of the Rodbel bloodline cannot enter and leave that place carelessly.
Only those who have passed the direct lineage test of Rodbel and performed the ritual can enter and leave that place.
"……."
And in the last life, I was not even given the opportunity to take the test.
But.
'This life will be different.'
I took a deep breath.
"First of all……."
I can't just stay like this and be depressed forever, so I thought I should move the ladder first, and it was at that moment that I stood up.
Rumble…….
The sound of the door opening echoed, and soon-
"Hey, you!!"
A boy's high-pitched voice echoed loudly throughout the building.
I didn't even have to turn around to know who the owner of the voice was.
He approached me with quick strides and turned my shoulder roughly.
Immediately, a white-haired boy soaked in sweat came into view.
As expected, it was Bansis Rodbel.
'Why is he here?'
Besides, he looked a mess.
His hair was soaked with sweat, and his clothes were covered in dirt.
It definitely wasn't the appearance of someone who had run over here with a newfound passion for learning.
"You, you……!"
Besides, judging from the way he looked, it seemed like he ran here knowing I was here.
How did he know I was here?
The answer came quickly.
'It's Giles.'
He must have run out in a hurry and told him that I came here.
There was no reason to tell Bansis directly, so he must have accidentally heard the conversation and ran over right away.
'It's obvious.'
I must have been very annoying to him.
Judging from the way he ran over as soon as he heard the news.
'I must be very annoying to you.'
But Bansis, I hate you just as much as you hate me.
I'm sick and tired of Bansis, who insisted on chasing me all the way here.
"Why."
I didn't bother to hide that feeling.
Even I could tell that the voice that came out was cold.
I can imagine what my expression looks like without even looking.
"……."
Bansis only opened and closed his mouth, his face red, as if he was at a loss for words.
'What am I doing with him right now?'
Even the time I'm spending doing this feels like a waste.
Clack.
I slapped away Bansis's hand, which was still holding my shoulder.
"I'll be going if you have nothing to say."
I was about to pass by him as it was, but then, Bansis, who suddenly came to his senses, grabbed my wrist again.
"Hey! I'm not done talking yet!"
And then, the moment he pulled me hard.
Thud!
Due to the recoil, I ended up pushing the books that were piled up like a tower for organization.
In an instant, the high-stacked books wobbled and began to collapse.
Over me and Bansis's heads.
"Uh, uh?"
Bansis, flustered by the unexpected situation, didn't even think of moving and just blankly looked at the falling books.
'That idiot!'
My body moved before I could think.
When I came to my senses, I was jumping towards Bansis.
─Quarrrrrrr!!
The enormous noise and vibration, as if thunder had struck, made my ears ring.
The view was suddenly blacked out.
'What happened?'
It happened so quickly that my mind couldn't keep up.
So…….
'I was about to leave him, so he grabbed me in a hurry.'
Because of that, I touched the books that were piled up high and they collapsed.
But…….
'Why doesn't it hurt?'
Normally, I should be in pain all over my body because I was buried under the books, but strangely, nothing hurt.
Besides.
'Why is the view so dark?'
The moment I raised my head in frustration, Bansis finally realized everything.
"Ugh……."
"Hey, you, you……."
It was because Lucia had taken the falling books on her body instead.
The black hair that had fallen down covered the surroundings like a curtain. Only Lucia's face, distorted with pain, filled his vision.
"You, you……."
Eyes as red as blood were struggling to look at him.
It was then.
Drip. Dripping…….
Something fell on Bansis's cheek.
What is this?
"……!!"
Bansis's eyes bulged as he checked it with his hand.
Blood. Blood as red as Lucia's eyes.
Of course, it wasn't Bansis's.
He didn't have a single scratch, let alone blood.
He reflexively looked at the owner of the blood.
As expected. Red blood was dripping from Lucia's forehead.
"Hey, you have blood……."
Bansis's voice trembled.
He didn't want this situation at all.
"I, I just……."
He was just angry at Lucia, who was leisurely reading a book, unlike him, who was panicking for no reason.
He just wanted to hear an apology for the words she had said to him, which were too offensive.
Of course, it was true that he didn't like Lucia.
"I, I didn't mean to do this……."
Drip…… drop…….
Was it his imagination?
The amount of bleeding seemed to be increasing gradually.
No, it wasn't his imagination.
Lucia's complexion, which was already pale, became even more pale.
As if she would die soon.
'W-what should I do in this case?'
I wanted to think of something, but I had never learned what to do in this situation.
My mind was completely frozen.
While Bansis was at a loss, not knowing what to do.
"……Uh."
At the voice he suddenly heard, he flinched and looked up.
And he froze.
Because Lucia's eyes, looking down at him, were so cold.
Because he couldn't feel even a bit of warmth.
"……I, really hate you."
With those words.
Thud.
Lucia collapsed.
"Hey, hey! Vermin…… Lu, Lucia!"
Bansis called her urgently, but in the end, Lucia did not open her eyes.
I didn't even expect love.
I just wanted her to look at me once.
So, every day, I waited in front of my father's office from morning until late at night.
Because I hoped that he would look at me even once after finishing work and call me by my name.
Because I felt that if that happened, I would be able to endure the difficult Rodbel life.
It was a day when heavy snow was falling.
That day was particularly cold and bitter.
I hadn't even dressed properly, so the chill that pierced my skin felt even more painful, as if I had been cut by a knife.
I had been guarding the door all day and was nodding off at night.
At that time.
Click.
There was a sound of the door closing along with the sound of someone approaching.
Suddenly!
I woke up and raised my head, and I saw my father's back.
Why was it?
Was it because it was a particularly difficult day and I needed more reward?
I called him with difficulty.
"F-Father……!"
At that moment, a miraculous thing happened.
Stop.
The steps that seemed like they would never stop stopped.
As if waiting for something, he stopped and didn't move.
'……Could it be?'
Could it be that he heard my voice?
So, is he waiting for me?
Instantly, my emotions surged beyond words.
The only thing I thought at that moment was that I had to run quickly.
Before my father moved away again…….
As I was about to move forward-
"Daddy!"
A white thread brushed past me.
Unlike my parched voice, a clear and bright voice echoed throughout the hallway.
Then, my father turned around. He-
"Miracle."
Smiling brightly.
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