"Wow..."
Seriously.
"It's amazing..."
I knew that the central district of the capital would be flashy, but seeing it in person, it was much larger than I expected, and more than anything, it was full of energy.
'It's like a completely different world from where I lived.'
I don't remember my early childhood very well.
'Lucia, my daughter... it's safe here. No one will find you.'
My mother passed away when I was three years old.
All I remember is her caressing my cheeks with her thin hands, trembling with anxiety.
I didn't understand it then, but looking back now.
'She must have been afraid that the Duke would find me.'
She must have known in advance that I would be used as a sacrifice for the Abyss and ran away.
That's why she hid in the most barren and cold land, where the Duke's gaze couldn't reach.
The air was sharp, the ground was cold, the people's faces were expressionless, and the voices that flew by were only harsh.
In contrast, this place is.
"Look over there, a traveling troupe!"
"Wow! Let's go see it!"
"Oh my, it's quite warm today. I wonder if spring will come soon."
"I'm sure the spring festival this year will be very beautiful too, right?"
"I should get my clothes tailored in advance. Speaking of which, a new design came out at the Ruble Costume Shop..."
A fountain soaring to the sky, a minstrel singing beautiful poems, a traveling troupe selling tickets in colorful clothes, and innocent children wandering around.
People taking leisurely strolls while chatting, and large shops.
There wasn't a hint of winter on the clean streets.
"..."
The feeling of standing alone on top of it was strange.
An inexplicable sense of bewilderment and bitterness, and doubt about whether I could blend in among them.
"No."
I'm tired of falling into such thoughts now.
There was no hesitation.
First, I took out the map Marin had packed from my bag.
The location of the bookstore that Marin marked wasn't far from the plaza.
It wasn't difficult to find the bookstore.
Well... it was the biggest building in the vicinity.
Tring.
The bell installed on the door announced the presence of a customer.
"Welcome."
The employee looking at the desk at the entrance greeted me kindly.
"Hello."
After bowing to her, I looked around the inside for a moment.
But...
'Amazing.'
It was nothing compared to the Rowdebel library, but it was still a three-story building filled with books.
It seems difficult for me to find the book I want here by myself...
"Excuse me."
I approached the employee at the desk.
"Yes?"
"I'm looking for a book."
"What is it?"
"That..."
Is it because I know the content of the book?
I felt a little embarrassed for some reason... but I mustered up the courage thinking of Cherish.
"I'm looking for a sequel to <Arista and Ellesa: Hearts Across Borders>. Do you have it?"
My embarrassment was short-lived, and worry naturally crept in.
That's because <Arista and Ellesa: Hearts Across Borders> itself was such an old book.
It's from the time of the first family head, so it's a work from a thousand years ago.
Will they even know <Arista and Ellesa: Hearts Across Borders>, let alone the sequel?
Contrary to those worries, the employee's reaction came back right away.
"Ah, that book."
"You know it?"
I asked without realizing it.
You know that?!
"Of course. It's a great book. Masterpieces are valuable regardless of the era."
The employee clasped her hands together and made a blissful expression while imagining something.
I don't really want to know what she's imagining.
"But did that work have a sequel?"
In contrast to when she praised <Arista and Ellesa...> with sparkling eyes a moment ago, the employee tilted her head with a puzzled look.
"As far as I know, that's all that author has published. Of course, since she left behind so many unpublished works, there may be unknown published works, but it seems difficult to find them at our bookstore."
"Ah."
I was relieved for a moment, but disappointed by the result that came back.
What should I do?
'Should I get her another book?'
But I want to gift Cherish with the book she wants if possible.
Besides...
'There was content related to the sequel in the first family head's letter.'
Cherish also mentioned the sequel, so it must exist.
As I couldn't let go of my attachment, the employee added a word.
"If you're really disappointed, why don't you go to <Uncle Jack's Used Bookstore>?"
"Uncle Jack's Used Bookstore?"
"Yes, just a moment."
She tore a piece of paper and drew a map on it.
"It's a bookstore that has been run down through generations since a long time ago. The store is very dilapidated, it's in a sparsely populated area, and above all, it's a place that only collects used books, so people don't visit it often, but..."
I looked down at the map she drew.
It was coincidental.
'It's near my next destination.'
"It's a place with all sorts of books, so you might be able to find the book you want."
After putting the map in my pocket, I sincerely thanked the employee.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, I hope you have the luck to find the book you want."
When I bowed to the employee who waved her hand until the end, I was about to leave the store.
Thud.
"Ouch."
Because I was looking back, I accidentally bumped into someone coming in.
"Ah, I'm sorry."
I apologized and lifted my head.
It was a tall man, and the first thought that came to mind when I saw him was.
'Like a flame...'
His fiery red hair, as if burning fiercely, resembled a flame.
His eyes were also red, just like his hair.
Similar to mine... but more saturated and intense.
'It's my first time seeing someone with red eyes...'
That's probably why I stared at him without realizing it.
Without even realizing that my hood had been pushed back.
"Hmm?"
He tilted his head and suddenly brought his head closer to me.
"Have we met somewhere? Why do you look so familiar?"
"Ah."
Only then did I realize that my face was exposed and quickly pulled my hood forward.
"No."
"It's not not, but... you definitely look familiar. Do you really not know me?"
He pointed at his face with his finger and asked again.
He asked with a playful smile, but his eyes shone sharply as if gauging my identity.
I swallowed hard and shook my head.
"No. I think you have the wrong person. I'm sorry for bumping into you. Then, goodbye."
After bowing, I quickly moved my place.
Of course, I don't know if that man and Marin know each other or not.
'If they know each other, I should avoid him even more.'
I heard that Marin was dragged to the underworld guild after wandering on the streets.
If he knows Marin...
'There's a possibility he's from the underworld guild.'
I have to avoid him as much as possible.
"Did I see it wrong?"
Pretending not to hear the man mumbling from behind, I quickly blended into the crowd.
After moving aimlessly as if washed away by the waves, I looked back.
Fortunately, the red-haired man was nowhere to be seen. It seems he didn't chase me.
"Hoo."
After sighing in relief, I took out the map from my chest.
I've been walking only looking ahead.
"I'm nearby."
I turned my head and looked at the narrow alley between the stores.
Certainly... it was a path where it didn't seem like there would be a bookstore, just as the employee said.
But according to the map, I had to cross this alley.
"Hoo!"
After taking a deep breath, I moved my steps into the alley where even light didn't reach.
Unlike the bright outside, the alley was quiet and dark like another world.
Moreover, there were continuous crossroads like a maze, so it seemed like I could easily get lost.
I might have gotten lost if I had only looked at the map the employee gave me.
Luckily, I arrived at the destination safely by cross-checking with the map Marin packed.
Drip.
I stopped walking and raised my head.
Creak... Creak...
The sign, barely attached as if it would fall if I touched it, was swaying with a gloomy sound.
The name written on that sign.
<Jack's Used Bookstore>
Fortunately.
'I think I found it correctly.'
I smiled slightly.
I carefully pulled the old doorknob.
Squeak. The door opened stiffly. As soon as it did, a smell of old things wafted out...
I slowly went inside.
'It's dark.'
The light that barely came in through the small window couldn't illuminate the entire inside.
The narrow store, already narrow as if it reminded me of the alley I came through, had books piled high on both sides and a narrow path in the middle.
Where is the owner?
I was looking around.
"....Are you a customer?"
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