Chapter 57
“Wahaha! So that’s how it was.”
Brenner laughed heartily.
The grandson of the old man—and the name of the little rascal—was Brenner.
Ever since he’d heard that Vendia and Denros had helped his grandfather, he had been acting friendlier than anyone else.
From the very first meeting, Vendia had suspected he wasn’t an ordinary person. Putting all the stories together, it turned out he was a moneylender.
And not just any moneylender—he was famous even in the capital, beyond this region.
How could the old man have a grandson like that…?
It was a mystery.
They said Brenner had so many enemies that he hid the fact he even had a grandfather.
That explained a lot.
Vendia had wondered how some guard-dog type had dared to pick a fight with her grandfather when a man like Brenner was backing him. Now she knew—it was because they had no idea.
While they chatted, time slipped by, and it was already evening.
After spending time with the old man and Brenner, Vendia and Denros were sent off with a farewell.
Brenner handed them a business card.
“If you ever need money, come find me. For you, I’ll even lend it interest-free.”
“Hahaha…”
No thanks, not buying it.
“Do you know how to read Ancient Script?”
“No?”
“You don’t, and yet you want to look at ancient books?”
“I’ll just give it a try first.”
Ignoring Ron, who clicked his tongue with a doubtful look, Vendia strode forward confidently.
She now stood before the largest library in the southern Heden territory.
After hearing what Denros had said yesterday, she had come to search for ancient books on magic.
Ron had simply tagged along.
“…Wait a sec. No way…”
“What is it?”
Ron suddenly twisted his expression at something, so Vendia followed his gaze.
That familiar face.
The man leaning against the library entrance as if he were the only person in the world.
Chin slightly down, eyes half-closed, arms crossed.
A man capturing the gaze of every woman nearby.
“Um… aren’t you Duke Kalvermer? You’re the one from that ‘life three-cuts’ photo, right?”
The women blushing as they shyly tried to talk to him—he gave them no glance, no reply, only silence.
And yet, they dared bring up the infamous three-cut photo. The impact of that was truly enormous.
He stood out so much that Vendia couldn’t just pass by.
“What are you doing here?”
She approached and asked.
The blue eyes that hadn’t looked at anyone else finally shifted to her.
“I came to read books.”
“…Huh.”
At his answer, Ron looked utterly dumbfounded.
“Just like that? Today?”
“Yes.”
Vendia’s eyes narrowed in suspicion as she scanned him.
He was the one who had hinted she should look for ancient books in the library—did he come here knowing she’d be here? Why?
And if he wanted to read, why was he outside instead of inside?
Don’t tell me… he was waiting for me? No way.
“…Alright then.”
It could just be coincidence, so Vendia brushed it off and walked inside.
“That crazy bastard,” Ron muttered as he grumbled and followed.
After asking the librarian where the ancient texts section was, Vendia moved deeper inside.
Unlike the bustling central hall, the deeper she went, the fewer people there were, the quieter it became.
“Ancient books, ancient books…”
She scanned the labels on the shelves quickly, passing dozens of cases.
“Found it.”
Reaching the section of old texts, Vendia stepped right in.
Her heart thumped.
Ancient texts would, of course, be written in the Ancient Script. But in this world, that meant—
‘What if it’s Korean?!’
That happened all the time in romance-fantasy novels!
That’s how the heroines would decipher ancient texts and—bam!—make history!
“…Of course not.”
Her shoulders, lifted with expectation, slumped miserably.
No such luck. There was no way Ancient Script would be Korean.
Naturally, nothing that convenient would ever be given to her.
“Is this worms or writing?”
Staring at the squiggly letters that refused to enter her eyes, Vendia despaired.
“Knew it.”
Ron clicked his tongue again, as if this had been inevitable.
“This one has a magic circle drawn. Couldn’t it be a magic text?”
“Who picks books by guessing like that, huh?”
“Ugh, fine.”
Irritated by Ron’s mockery, Vendia shoved the book back.
“That is a book of magic,” came a voice.
“What the—why are you following us?” Ron snapped, annoyed.
Vendia’s eyes widened in surprise.
At some point, Denros had stepped quietly between the shelves and was now beside her.
“I can read it,” he said.
He pulled out several books from the shelf, and finally reached for the one Vendia still held.
In that moment, his hand brushed against hers.
Unlike his faint flinch at the contact, Vendia simply let go of the book without reaction.
“….”
Denros stared down at their touching hands for a moment, then stacked her book on top of the others he held.
The touch had reminded him of old times—how she used to startle or blush even at the slightest contact.
But when he glanced at her now, there wasn’t a hint of fluster in her face.
“…Damn,” Ron muttered under his breath.
And for a moment, he regretted not learning Ancient Script as his grandmother had always nagged him to.
“Let’s go over there,” Vendia said, pointing at a desk.
With the selected books, the three of them sat down.
Since only Denros could read, he sat in the middle, with Vendia and Ron on either side.
“This one says, On the Source of Magic,” Denros began, skimming the text.
“You know that magic requires mana, yes?”
He glanced at Vendia. From her blank look, she clearly didn’t. Ron looked just as clueless.
Expressionless as always, Denros continued.
“The source of magic is mana. Magic stones amplify that mana. But not everyone with mana can use a magic stone. Only those whose energy is compatible with the stone can draw out stronger magic.”
At the mention of magic stones, Vendia’s eyes flicked to Ron.
His expression was gradually souring.
The Shunflek family was inseparably tied to magic stones—yet he looked utterly ignorant.
“You’re ignorant of your own family trade.”
“You son of a—mph!”
Ron’s eyes widened.
Just as he was about to snap, Vendia’s index finger pressed firmly against his lips.
“This is a library.”
“….”
Ron froze stiff.
Her finger against his lips was soft.
The moment he realized it, his face flushed bright red.
“W-what the hell? Why touch my lips—”
As he flusteredly pushed her hand away, he felt a burning gaze. Turning his head, he locked eyes with Denros—
Who was glaring at him as if he’d kill him on the spot.
