NOVEL NEXT Chapter 13
“Oh my, Elysia. What a coincidence to run into you here.”
While I was examining the bookshelves, a familiar voice called out to me.
“Oh, Selian. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
The place where I encountered Selian was the Library within the Academy. As the foremost Academy on the continent, the library is filled with a variety of academic materials, ranging from simple major textbooks to papers filled with difficult terms that make one want to give up reading from the first page.
Unless it’s exam season, there isn’t much reason to visit the Swordsmanship Department, but for the other departments (especially the Magic Department), it’s said that you end up indebted to the library throughout your time there.
Furthermore, according to rumors circulated among the students, there was even a graduate who managed to get by living in the library for all four years of their studies, so there’s no need for further explanation.
However, there have been numerous reports of misunderstandings leading to accusations of homelessness, so it seems such extreme cases are no longer common.
For reference, that student supposedly began their work under the supervision of a professor after graduation, not as a slave… but as a teaching assistant, which I truly cannot comprehend why anyone would do such a foolish thing. Well, there are all kinds of people in the world.
Anyway, while this library was built for educational purposes, it isn’t just a boring place. There are plenty of books available for students’ cultural enrichment. Although they constitute a smaller portion of the total, given the size of the library, even this would be impossible to read completely by graduation.
Naturally, my purpose here wasn’t to prepare for midterms with reference books, but rather to explore novels.
“I came because I enjoyed the novel you lent me last time and thought I might check out some others.”
Growing up as an assassin, I obviously had no time to read things like books. If I had time, I should rather hone my stealth skills or swing my sword one more time.
“Oh, have you read it all already? You read it quite quickly.”
Given that I was quickly drawn into the novel I started reading thanks to Selian’s recommendation, it was only natural. I ended up reading it all night and even found myself dozing off in class the next day, resulting in being called out.
“Yeah. But I don’t know what to read next. Just looking at the titles, I can’t grasp what they’re about…”
As I said before, the number of books the Academy Library possesses is extraordinarily vast. Thus, I was seriously pondering what to choose among the many novels available.
I couldn’t just pick out a novel on a whim to determine what would take responsibility for my weekend. Of course, those novels might have their own charm, but I wanted the best weekend possible.
“Then, would you like me to choose for you?”
“Ah, but didn’t you come to the library for something yourself, Selian? Is it alright for you to help me?”
Being a model student and an excellent scholar, Selian probably came to the library to prepare for midterms, unlike me with questionable motives. Therefore, I felt guilty about taking up her time.
“No, I’ve already accomplished my purpose for coming to the library. You don’t need to refuse.”
However, contrary to Selian’s words, she wasn’t holding any books. If she just needed to return the ones she borrowed, she could have simply used the desk at the entrance, so it’s likely that her saying she accomplished her goal was a kind lie to make me feel less burdened.
In such a state, Selian was stubborn. Even if I refused, she would persistently keep lying to be considerate and would try to help me.
If so, willingly accepting Selian’s assistance would be the better option to lessen the time I stole from her.
“Then should I accept your help? Since the last book you lent me was entertaining, I can trust you to help me.”
Upon my words, Selian immediately reached out and pulled out a book. Perhaps having frequented the library often, without even pretending to look, she effortlessly took the desired book from the towering bookshelf.
The book Selian handed me was similar in thickness to the last one. It didn’t seem too burdensome to read.
At first glance, I couldn’t grasp the content just from the title. But surely, a book chosen by Selian wouldn’t be boring.
“Do you need more?”
“No, one book should be enough for now. So what was your real purpose for coming to the library? Still studying for the midterm exams?”
“Uh? No, um… yes. I came to prepare for the midterms!”
“I knew it. You ended up lying because of me. Selian, you’re too nice for your own good.”
Having been hit right on target, Selian chuckled awkwardly.
“Shall we study together then? Oh, would I just be a distraction for you…”
“No! Let’s do it! Study!”
“Shh, shh!”
Dodging the glares from the library’s staff, I led Selian to an empty study room.
*
Since we were going to study together anyway, I considered calling Anne and Yuli, but Selian’s concern that we might lose track of time and dinner could be upon us made me postpone gathering everyone for study.
“The Skull Wolf is tricky to deal with as they can share thoughts among their pack, making it difficult to confront them as a group. But if you can take down the leader, they’ll fall into chaos, so you can exploit that.”
The Swordsmanship Department is notably more practical compared to the other departments. Strategies against demonic creatures or the demonic race are among them.
In that respect, Selian proved to be an excellent teacher.
“Since the Wraith is an ethereal monster, ordinary attacks won’t work, but if you use magic or aura, you shouldn’t have much trouble dealing with it.”
Demons like the Succubus, and…
From easily encountered demonic monsters to lesser-known high-ranking demonic races, unlike me, Selian knew the responses needed for all of them. In fact, she surprised me with her knowledge of strategies that I wouldn’t know unless I faced them directly, as well as weaknesses of monsters I hadn’t even learned about in class.
“How do you know all this, Selian? Is it because of your hero lineage that you were taught from a young age?”
“Haha… well, that’s right.”
It seems heroes don’t just fall from the sky. Given Selian’s usual demeanor, I could imagine the effort she must have put in. Surely, she also must have worked hard, shedding blood and sweat to become a hero.
“Here, you should remember this part because it might come up in the exam.”
What started as a shared intention to study together soon had Selian pressing herself against me, teaching me.
Feeling a bit guilty for not needing her help, I told her she didn’t have to, but she insisted she was fine and that teaching while studying could help her as well, trying to make it so that I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable.
Surely, Selian is kind.
*
On a late Saturday morning, I had finally managed to catch some sleep after staying up all night reading novels until just before dawn. I ended up sleeping in, but today was a weekend without classes.
The book I had read all night was certainly recommended by Selian for a good reason—there was no question it was fun. Well, at least it was entertaining.
However, it wasn’t a book I wanted to revisit like the previous one, so I returned it right away and headed to the library in the morning to search for a new novel.
“Oh my, Elysia. What a coincidence to run into you here.”
As I was returning the book I read overnight and looking for a new novel, I again ran into Selian. To meet in the same place, looking the same as yesterday—this was a coincidence of a different kind.
“You must have finished the book I recommended already?”
“Yeah. It was more entertaining than I expected, so I ended up reading it all night.”
“Did you like the story?”
“It was interesting, but honestly, it doesn’t seem like my type. The male protagonist came off as just a total jerk.”
The man in the novel was nothing but garbage. He deceived women and only took advantage of them. Even by the end of the story, he remained consistently terrible, leaving no room for sympathy. In the end, the woman became disillusioned with the man and left, and his fate was so miserable that I could avoid a fit of rage. If anything, I felt a sense of catharsis by the time the man was judged at the end.
“Um… then how about this book?”
Without hesitation, Selian fetched another book from the shelf.
The title was “When the Lily Blooms.”
Judging by the title alone, I had no clue what it was about. But Selian’s accuracy was 100%. It couldn’t possibly be boring.
“I can trust your recommendation, Selian. Now that I’ve chosen a novel too, shall we study for the midterms together today?”
“Yes!”
“Then can you wait for me in the study room from yesterday? I’ll go get Anne and Yuli.”
Today, unlike yesterday, I called in Anne and Yuli, and we studied for the midterms all day. Though it turned out that Anne was tutoring Yuli, and I was being tutored by Selian.
And in the evening.
Once again, I lay in bed and took out the novel I borrowed today. The pages of the novel turned quickly, flipping through one after another.
“Oh…”
The content was an ordinary romance story. However, unlike yesterday, the emotional nuances between the women were quite delicate.
Love between women. Imagining it as love between men made me feel nauseous, but since I’m a man, I didn’t find the theme of love between women particularly burdensome. The fact that it was simply a novel likely contributed as well. After all, a novel is just a novel. As long as it’s entertaining, that’s all that matters.
In that sense, it was certainly a book recommended by Selian. I’ll have to ask her for another suggestion next time. I’m sure she’ll recommend a book that suits my taste.
By the way, this book is a bit steamy. Oh boy…