༺ Young Girl who Can’t Eat Alone༻
“This one was written by Baron Erickson, featuring a cheerful protagonist’s typical wandering story. The protagonist is a wandering poet, making it a light and enjoyable read.”
Click.
“Ah, this one’s good for beginners too. It’s by an unknown author, focusing on a mercenary group. It’s about solving incidents and adventures with cool companions.”
Click.
“Right, this one too! It has a really satisfying ending with meticulously planned twists. If you like novels with twists, this is perfect.”
Click.
“Oh, we missed this! It’s inspired by the great Great Knights, a novel about the knights’ passionate loyalty. This is a must-read.”
Click.
Already the fourth book.
From the entrance of the pure literature section, four books began to form a tower. If this continued, I might suffocate under the benevolence of the veteran like Ariel and would need to signal for rescue.
“Um, Ariel? I think this is enough.”
“Huh? Really?”
Ariel’s excitement faded, but this level of grace was already more than I could ask for.
A newbie gorging on what a veteran casually tosses out could lead to indigestion.
Moreover, during my stay, I had to engage in practical training with Rachel and explore the cities of the Northern Territory, so I couldn’t afford to spend too much time reading.
These were books vetted by a veteran.
They were likely to be of higher quality than the seven books I, the newbie, had initially picked up, making these four books a more than generous grace.
Of course, there are personal tastes, but I had no doubts about the choices made by a veteran who analyzed my tastes based just on the seven-story book tower.
As Ariel was putting back the book she had just picked up, she seemed regretful.
“Then, for today, we’ll stop here… Ah, no.”
“…For today?”
“Ah, never mind.”
Ariel stumbled over her words, appearing embarrassed.
It seemed that the veteran, who had gotten a taste for nurturing newbies, was disappointed that the time for bestowing gifts had ended so abruptly.
I fully understood.
I would have felt the same.
Sharing experiences and emotions, receiving empathy, forming bonds and intimacy, and further boosting self-esteem are natural human psychological needs.
It was a great help to have met by chance.
If not for Ariel, I might have just dabbled here and there and given up in frustration.
When one receives help, it’s human nature to repay that help with something of equal value.
“Will you stop by the library again tomorrow?”
“Me?”
“Yeah.”
“Yes! I’ve been coming here every day. I think I’ll continue to do so for about a fortnight. There’s still so much I haven’t read.”
“Hmm. Around what time?”
“Me? I’m here from morning till evening…?”
Ah.
I asked something obvious.
Wait, but I thought there wasn’t a specific place for outsiders to eat within the grand ducal mansion.
Not to mention, it’s not like a modern convenience store exists in a medieval library.
“Then how do you manage lunch? There isn’t really a place to eat.”
“Ah…”
Ariel hesitated for a moment before delaying her answer.
I was just curious, but now I felt like I had asked something unnecessary and was about to change the subject.
Then, Ariel quietly responded with an embarrassed expression.
“I, actually, starve.”
“…Starve?”
“Yeah.”
A lady from a baronial family going without meals.
In the absolute power of the aristocratic society, it was unimaginable, incomprehensible, and truly a unique case among ladies.
I couldn’t believe what I heard and had to ask again.
“You go all day without eating? Aren’t you hungry?”
“A bit hungry, but… well, there’s nothing to solve it with, and I like reading books so much that I just endure it.”
“That’s impressive.”
“It takes too much time to sort it out outside.”
“You could borrow, couldn’t you?”
Probably the look I was giving Ariel at that moment.
The look of disbelief, raising eyebrows as if to say, what are you talking about?
“Borrowing is for when it can’t be helped, or when going home?”
“……”
I roughly got the idea.
What Ariel meant by “when it can’t be helped.”
Natural disasters, short trips, illness preventing outings, things like that.
And for a bibliophile, the musty, rich aroma of this library would provide an excellent reading environment.
Although the desire to read may be stronger than hunger, there was still a lingering question.
“Then, why not have a maid pack a lunchbox?”
“……”
Ariel hesitated again before responding, and her answer seemed quite absurd.
And with that response, I recalled I had never seen Ariel eating in the academy’s cafeteria.
As I recalled, it was ironic that one thing led to another in my memory.
“It’s a bit awkward to eat alone… And it would be uncomfortable to ask a maid to eat with me, so I just wait until I get back to my quarters. I hate to be a nuisance.”
I fully understood that sentiment.
After all, a junior employee wouldn’t be comfortable sharing a meal directly with the CEO, as the rice might just stick in their throat.
Anyway.
It seems like the newbie, who received grace from the veteran, found a way to repay it.
I needed her help to find interesting novels during my stay.
Especially since the largest library in the Northern Territory contained rare books.
In a place where duplication technology is scarce, fun and rare novels are indeed like pearls in mud.
To indulge in them before leaving the grand ducal mansion, the help of a veteran was nearly essential.
“How about we eat lunch together then? If you go with me, you can dine in the Great Hall as a guest. It’s close to the library too.”
For me, meaningful reading time was more important than a meaningless engagement battle, making it a natural promise and a way to return the favor.
After all, which newbie would refuse the support of a veteran?
Ariel’s eyes widened in surprise as she asked back.
“…Really? Why?”
“Well. I also didn’t have anyone to eat with.”
“You? Why?”
I shrugged, holding the four-story book tower.
It’s rare to find someone willing to sit down and dine cordially with a character known as a vile delinquent.
As she said, it was neither possible nor right to drag pitiful souls to the dining table just because I disliked eating alone.
And I was tired of eating alone.
To Lee Jun-woo, who had nothing, who had to work three jobs even at the expense of sleep, eating alone was just part of daily life.
Moreover, dining and sharing small talk with those who share the same hobby naturally brings progressive joy.
I summed up these complex reasons in my answer.
“The life of a delinquent is lonely, after all.”
“Ah…”
Ariel sighed again, implicitly agreeing.
At a glance, it seems this lady of nobility isn’t particularly good at hiding her own feelings.
**
Swoosh.
Peek.
Swoosh.
Peek.
Swoosh.
Peek.
Swoosh.
Peek.
…
Peek?
We had moved to a reading room to sit and read the books we had chosen.
The problem was.
While it was nice to receive such a heavenly grace, a veteran peeking over every time the newbie turned a page was somewhat burdensome.
Like a meerkat peeking over the book with each page turn, then burying her head back in, Ariel did this every time.
After reading 10 pages, it meant she had peeked over 10 times.
I couldn’t help but be conscious of it.
As I put down my book and looked up, Ariel quickly hid behind hers.
I didn’t need to ask why she was doing this.
“It’s interesting.”
“Huh, really?”
“This, it’s really interesting. You seemed worried.”
I showed her the book.
It was [The Loyalty Chronicles of the Great Great Knights], the last of the four books recommended.
Although I had only read 10 chapters so far, true to the veteran’s recommendation, it was highly engaging from the beginning.
Of course, it was too early to judge its fun factor, but I mentioned it was interesting, partly because Ariel’s concern was palpable and it also seemed like it would be fun.
Immediately, a smile of relief spread across Ariel’s face.
“Phew- I’m glad. I was worried. It’s my first time recommending a book to someone… Heh.”
“Really?”
“Yeah! There’s no one around me who reads pure literature. Even the maids all read only frivolous romances.”
Ariel sighed, bitterly lamenting like she was complaining.
Like women who prefer adult full 3D RPGs over cute pastel-toned 2D RPGs, it seemed she had to enjoy her hobby alone due to her unique taste.
Though it was a great help to me.
The modern Lee Jun-woo was also a lonely yellow dog who always read alone, but thanks to anonymous communities, he could share and empathize with the sentiments felt while reading those works.
If even that wasn’t available, I would have had to make the same complaints as Ariel.
Reading is known for solitude and contemplation, but just as even the most introverted need to go out sometimes, there’s also a need for debate and discussion about the works read.
“You don’t like romances, huh? That’s unexpected.”
“Just not interesting. You know? For us, such dramatic love is nothing but a fantasy.”
[Us]
Referring to nobles who must marry based on political strategies rather than ‘love’, seeing ‘people’ rather than ‘love’.
The lady who can’t eat alone seems to prefer reality over fantasy.
In a fantasy world, stories of mercenaries’ camaraderie, chivalry, heroic adventures, and wars between different races are more realistic.
For my previous life, which had nothing to do with romance, both were fantastical stories.
“That makes sense. So, you only read pure literature?”
“I read classics and mythology too, but mostly pure literature.”
“Oh, classics and mythology… That sounds interesting too?”
“Really?”
As the newbie showed interest, Ariel’s blue eyes sparkled like the sea reflecting sunlight.
And, my eyes sparkled just as much.
Classic literature in a fantasy world would involve the creation of continents, the founding of kingdoms, or legends of heroes, while mythology would not be about gods of imagination but about ‘real’ gods indirectly governing the continent.
The thought alone made my mouth water.
There seemed to be so many enticing things.
“After I finish the ones you recommended, could you also suggest some mythology or classics?”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Of course, I’d love to!”
After a brief reading session, I checked the time.
It was getting close to training time with Rachel.
Gathering my books, I got up from my seat.
“I should head out then. I have training this evening. I’ll read the ones you recommended tonight, so let’s talk more tomorrow.”
“Okay. I’ll be waiting here tomorrow too!”
“Thanks for today.”
“Huh?”
The casual thanks elicited a familiar expression from Ariel.
It was the same expression old man Rendler made almost daily.
‘Elden Rapellion —–!?’ That kind.
“No, thank you. I also enjoyed being able to talk about novels.”
“Then, I’m off.”
“Okay!”
Ariel waved goodbye with a bright smile.
After awkwardly returning the gesture, I headed to the library entrance and borrowed the four books.
But then…
‘Where did the butler go, saying he was fetching a magic theory book?’
It had been over an hour since I met Ariel.
Had he gone to the mage tower to fetch it?
Waiting for Rendler to show up proved fruitless, so I eventually had to ask a staff member for help.
“Has a mustached old butler visited the magic book section?”
“Hmm… I’m not sure.”
What?
Where did he go?
**
“…Where in the world is this?”
Old butler Rendler, who had boldly set out following his memory of a previous visit, had now tragically lost his way and ended up in the fourth-floor basement storage.
“How do I get out of here…”
Sniffle.
The tearful, crybaby butler wandered for a while before being apprehended by security personnel as a trespasser and finally got to see Elden.
It seems courage truly does come to those who are directionally challenged.
