Transmigrated Into A Tragic Romance Fantasy-Chapter 16: A Young Lady Who Cannot Dine Alone

“This one is written by Baron Erickson. It’s a typical tale of a wanderer. The main character is a wanderer bard, so it should be a light and enjoyable read.”

Tap-.

“Ah, this one is good for beginners! While the writer is unknown, the book is about a band of mercenaries and their adventures.”

Tap-.

“Ohh, this one! The ending is great. This book is filled with twists, so if you enjoy being surprised you will love this book.”

Tap-.

“We can’t forget this one! This is a novel inspired by the Great Knight Order. It’s a must-read, the Knights’ fervent loyalty is moving.”

Tap-.

That makes it four books already.

As we stood at the entrance of the Pure Literature section, the tower of four books was rising, and if it continued to rise this way, I might be crushed under the excitement of a veteran reader.

“Ariel? I think this should be enough for now.”

“Huh? Are you sure?”

Ariel’s overflowing excitement died down a bit, but even this was more than enough.

A newbie reader who gobbled everything a veteran threw their way would easily grow spoiled.

Moreover, I’ve already spent a lot of time here, I still had my training lessons with Rachel and my city’s exploration to do. So I simply couldn’t afford too much time for reading.

These four books were already poison-tested by a veteran.

They would be of higher quality than the seven books I had impulsively grabbed, even though these four were already an excessive kindness.

Of course, our personal preferences may vary, but if a veteran analyzed the genres of my seven-book tower and made this selection, then I could trust her without a doubt.

Ariel mournfully placed a book back into the bookshelf as she muttered wistfully.

“Oh...That’s enough for today then...”

“Something wrong?”

“Oh, no, it’s nothing.”

Ariel trailed off, looking embarrassed.

It seemed the veteran reader, who had gotten a taste for nurturing newbies, didn’t wish to part ways.

It’s understandable.

I would have felt the same way.

The joy of sharing one’s experiences and hobbies and forming a bond in the process was a natural human instinct.

While our encounter had been accidental, she had helped me greatly.

If it hadn’t been for Ariel, I would have picked boring books and ended up feeling burnt out.

Since I’ve received great help from her, it would be only right to repay with something of equal value.

“Will you come to the Library tomorrow?”

“M-me?”

“Yes.”

“Sure! I come here every day. I think I’ll keep coming for about a fortnight. There’s so many more books I wish to read.”

“Hmm. And at what time do you usually come here?”

“Ah? I’m here from morning till evening...?”

Sigh-.

I had asked something obvious.

Wait. As far as I know, there’s no separate space for outsiders to eat in the Library.

Not to mention, it’s like there would be a convenient vending machine in a medieval library as well.

“How do you eat then? From what I can see, this place doesn’t have a place selling meals.”

“Ah......”

Ariel hesitated for a moment before answering me.

Honestly, my question was born out of curiosity, but I felt as though I asked something unnecessary, so I was about to change the subject when Ariel mumbled with an embarrassed expression.

“I...Starve, actually.”

“...You...Starve?”

“Mn.”

A noble lady from a Count’s family going hungry.

It’s something unthinkable in this aristocratic society, something completely absurd, truly a unique situation.

Even I couldn’t believe what I had just heard, as I asked again just to be sure.

“So you don’t eat anything? For the whole day? Aren’t you hungry?”

“I am a bit hungry, but......I love reading so much that I just endure it.”

“That is...Impressive.”

“I would waste too much time if I went outside.”

“You do know that you could just borrow some books, right?”

The look I received from Ariel left me speechless.

It was a look of utter disbelief as if to say, ‘What is this crazy person saying?’

“Borrowing is only allowed when there’s no other choice, or...maybe when I’m going home?”

“......”

I think I understood what Ariel meant by ‘no other choice’.

Maybe she’s referring to natural disasters, illness, or being forced to go on a trip.

For a bookworm, this library must be providing the best reading environment amidst its musty and homely smell.

Her desire to read must be stronger than her needs, however, I still had a question.

“Why don’t you have your maid pack a lunchbox for you?”

“......”

Ariel hesitated again,

The answer she gave me felt truly odd.

And with that response, I realized that I had no memories of seeing her eating at the Academy’s cafeteria.

As I thought about it, one memory led to another.

“It’s a bit....Well...I don’t like eating alone. And it would probably be uncomfortable forcing a maid to eat with me. So I just wait till I get back to my quarters...I don’t like causing problems for others.”

I understood her completely.

After all, if a lowly salaryman had to eat with the CEO, he might choke on his rice.

Anyway,

It seems that I have found a way to repay her kindness.

If I want to continue reading good books while I’m here, Ariel’s assistance would be necessary.

Especially since this library, the largest in the North, harbors a lot of rare books.

In an era where technology was lacking, good entertainment is as rare as pearls in the mud.

To indulge in good books before leaving the Grand Duchy, a veteran bookworm’s help is essential.

“How about we eat lunch together? If you go with me, you can dine in the Great Hall as my acquaintance. It’s close to the library too.”

For me, who valued a good book over this pointless Betrothal Contest, it was natural for me to offer an easy way to pay her back.

After all, what sort of newbie would refuse the helping presence of a veteran?

Ariel’s eyes widened in surprise as she asked.

“......Really?”

“Well. It occurred to me that I don’t have anyone to eat with either.”

“You? Why?”

I shrugged my shoulders while holding the four-book tall tower.

It’s rare to find someone willing to sit and eat with a notorious wastrel.

While I also don’t like eating alone, it would be worse if I dragged a pitiful person and forced them to eat with me.

For Lee Jun-Woo, who had to work three jobs just to make ends meet, eating alone was already part of his day-to-day life.

Moreover, sharing a meal and having small talk with someone who has the same hobbies could turn out to be quite enjoyable.

In the end, I gave her an answer that encompassed all these reasons.

“The life of a wastrel is a lonely one.”

“Ah......”

Ariel sighed, agreeing with me.

Now that I think about it, she was very different from the normal noble ladies who were skilled in concealing their true feelings.

**

Swoosh.

Glance.

Swoosh.

Glance.

Swoosh.

Glance.

Swoosh.

Glance.

......

Glance?

We moved toward the designated reading spot and sat down.

I was reading one of the books Ariel recommended to me, while she read a book of her choice.

The problem was,

Having a veteran reader checking out a newbie every time he turns a page could be a bit overwhelming.

Every time I turned a page, Ariel would take a peek over her book and then quickly bury her head back into it.

This had already happened a dozens of times,

It was impossible not to be conscious of it.

Thump-. As I set down my book and looked up, Ariel quickly hid behind hers again.

There was no need to ask why she was doing that.

“It’s interesting.”

“Huh?”

“This book, it’s really interesting.”

I held up the book.

It was titled [ The Loyalty of the Great Knights ]. This book was the last of the four she had recommended.

Though I only read 10 pages, her recommendations didn’t disappoint. From the little I’ve read, I was already hooked.

While it was a bit too early to discuss the book’s overall quality, I made certain to mention my early opinion to a worried Ariel.

And it was truly interesting.

Immediately after, a relieved smile spread across her face.

“Phew~. I’m glad. Since this was my first time recommending a book to someone, I was worried...”

“Is that so?”

“Mn! No one here likes Pure Literature. Even the maids only read those sappy romance novels.”

Ariel sighed as she complained.

She seemed someone with unique tastes, like a woman who enjoys mainly RPGs over a cute-looking game, and because of it, was forced to enjoy her hobby alone.

Though that worked out in my favor.

Jun-Woo was also a solitary reader, but at least in his world, there were many anonymous communities where he could talk about his preferences and find like-minded people.

Had it not been for that, he would probably be suffering just like Ariel has been.

While reading can be enjoyed in solitude, even the biggest loner would find the need to discuss the books he has read.

“I didn’t expect you to dislike romance.”

“It’s just not fun, you know? And besides, that kind of romance is nothing but a fantasy for us.”

[ Us. ]

Instead of the romanticism depicted in those novels, the so-called ‘true love endings’, the nobles of this world would mostly marry, not out of love for their partner, but for convenience and benefits.

It seemed this young lady preferred reality over such fantasy.

In this fantasy world, tales of wandering mercenaries, chivalrous knights, heroes, or even wars between two races were considered ‘realistic’.

Well, for me who had no romantic attachments in my old world, both romantic novels and this world’s pure literature could be considered fantasy.

“So, you read only pure literature?”

“I do read classics and mythology too, but mostly pure literature.”

“Oh? Classics and mythology... that must be interesting?”

“You think so too?”

As I showed interest, Ariel’s blue eyes sparkled like the sea reflecting sunlight.

And my own eyes twinkled a bit as well.

Classic literature in a fantasy world should relate to the history of the continent, the founding kingdoms, or even mythical heroes. Even mythology here should be interesting since it would be the tales of gods who were actually real and still had some power over the people or the land.

There were so many tempting books.

“After I finish what you’ve recommended, could you suggest some classics or mythology?”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“I’d love to!”

After saying this, I checked the time we spent in this brief reading session.

It was almost time to train with Rachel.

Gathering my books, I stood up.

“I should go now. I have training in the evening. I’ll read the rest tonight, so let’s talk more tomorrow.”

“Okay. I’ll be waiting here tomorrow too!”

“Thanks for today.”

“Huh?”

A familiar expression appeared on Ariel’s face, it was the same that Randler often had.

An expression that screamed - ‘What is Elden Raphelion doing?!’

“What’s there to thank for? I also enjoyed talking about novels like this.”

This content is taken from freёnovelkiss.com.

“Then, I’ll be going.”

“Okay!”

Ariel waved goodbye with a bright smile.

After awkwardly returning the gesture, I headed to the library entrance and borrowed four books.

But now that I think about it...

Just where did Rendler go? Didn’t he say he would fetch me some magic theory books?

It’s already been over an hour since I’ve met Ariel.

Did that old man walk over to the Mage’s tower to get the books?

Even after waiting for a while, Rendler was nowhere to be seen, so I had to ask someone for help.

“You. Did an old butler with a mustache visit the magic theory section?”

“Hmm...I’m not sure, My Lord.”

What?

“Where did he go?”

**

“......Where in the world am I?”

The old butler, Rendler, who boldly set forward into the library following his memory of a previous visit, was now utterly lost.

He seemed to have ended up on the fourth sub-level of the Library.

In a storage area.

“Which way should I go......?”

Sob-.

Blinded by his tears, the emotional butler wandered off for a while more, until he was caught as a trespasser by a security guard and was finally able to meet with his Lord again.

Those who were directionally challenged had their own set of difficulties to live with.