Chapter 341 : Side Story (11)

Colombous is a Prince.

His mother’s name is Serena de Verchello.

His father’s name is Zionis Cordis, or the 51st Emperor also called Shion Pollinglight. Colombous is their eldest son.

“That means you are the one who will become the 52nd Emperor someday.”

“Really? Don’t you have younger brothers?”

“Cassias and Cornus? They’re only 5 and 2 years old now. They’re no match for me.”

“How old are you?”

“11 years old this year.”

Colombous swept back his sweat-soaked hair as he spoke.

“More importantly, who are you?”

The First Prince’s eyes narrowed.

He looked ready to raise the wooden sword in his hand.

If the opponent hadn’t been a girl who looked younger than him, he might have swung the wooden sword right away.

“How did you get in here? This training ground is for the exclusive use of royalty.”

“Really?”

The girl tilted her head.

Her hair was amber-colored.

“The door was open.”

“What? No way… It really is.”

Tsk. Colombous clicked his tongue.

The Prince, turning 11 this year, felt troubled.

Just as he was immersed in swordsmanship practice, some girl appeared.

He wasn’t sure how to deal with this situation.

How are they standing guard?

He blamed the guard.

“You.”

He gestured to the open door with his chin.

“I don’t know who you are, but get out quickly. If someone sees you here, it’ll be a big problem ….”

Speaking, Colombous stopped his motion.

“…No, that won’t do.”

“What won’t do?”

“If you run into someone while leaving, the guard mister will be in trouble.”

An unidentified girl entered the Prince’s training ground.

If asked whose responsibility it was, it was naturally the guard’s responsibility.

However, Colombous didn’t want the guard to be reprimanded.

The girl looked at such Colombous with surprised eyes.

“You. You’re mature, aren’t you?”

“Because I’m eleven years old.”

Seeing Colombous proudly straightening his shoulders, the girl giggled.

It was similar to the behavior of adults who only saw him as cute.

Colombous felt offended inwardly.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Because you’re cool.”

“Liar. You thought I was like a kid, didn’t you?”

“…Did it show?”

Then I apologize.

The girl bowed her head.

She was much smaller than Colombous.

“You look younger than me.”

“Is that so?”

“No matter where I look, you look like that.”

“Then maybe so.”

The girl grinned and twirled around.

Her skirt hem, and her amber hair fluttered.

Colombous suddenly felt familiar to her.

Although he couldn’t know the reason.

“Anyway.”

Colombous put down the wooden sword.

Wiping off his sweat roughly, he beckoned to the girl.

“Follow me quietly. There’s a path that doesn’t catch people’s eyes easily. I’ll let you out that way.”

“A secret passage?”

The girl’s eyes sparkled.

It was an attitude like an innocent child, and she was indeed a child.

“It’s a secret passage! As expected of the Great Imperial Palace of Cordis!”

“…It’s not like that. It’s just an old path that isn’t used much. Just go out quietly through there.”

They said it was a passage used by servants bringing meals in the old days.

Muttering, Colombous moved his steps to the corner of the training ground.

Although it wasn’t visible well as it was hidden by various equipment, there was a small door.

Before he knew it, the girl followed with scurrying steps.

“It connects to where the detached palace is… there’s no way you would know that path, right?”

“Probably?”

“…I would have to guide you, right?”

“That would be nice, right?”

The girl laughed continuously.

Wondering what was so good, she was grinning while examining Colombous’s features here and there.

While feeling burdened, Colombous didn’t entirely dislike that gaze.

Soon, the girl asked.

“Hey, Colombous.”

“By the way, did I tell you my name?”

“Who wouldn’t know the name of the First Prince of Cordis?”

That’s true too. Colombous accepted it.

The girl clasped her hands behind her back and thrust her shoulder forward.

“Since it’s come to this, can’t you show me around the Imperial Palace a bit?”

“…You….”

Colombous narrowed his eyes.

He suspected if this suspicious girl was a spy.

But what spy would be so openly suspicious?

Moreover, right now is a time of peace among peace.

Since there is no country hostile to the Cordis Empire, there is no country that would bother sending a spy in this manner.

“…No, it’s dangerous. It’ll be a big problem if you catch people’s eyes.”

“It’ll be fine if you protect me, right?”

It was true.

If the eldest son of Emperor Shion protects her, who would scold her?

Colombous mumbled with his lips.

“…I have to train though.”

“Just one day is fine. And it seemed like you already trained hard today? You were covered in sweat!”

“Hmm. Hmmm….”

A very brief contemplation.

Colombous felt his heart being pulled.

Touring the Imperial Palace with this girl whose reason was unknown approached him as incomparably attractive.

“Fine.”

The boy opened his mouth.

“Instead, that outfit won’t do. I’ll bring you servant clothes, so wear that.”

“Then am I a servant?”

“Yeah. Pretending to be a newly entered servant.”

“That’s exciting.”

The girl laughed brightly and took the lead.

Not even knowing the way, she went ahead of Colombous, and Colombous followed behind her.

“Let’s go together!”

“You have to come quickly!”

“What kind of kid is that…!”

Colombous raised his voice.

“More importantly, you, I haven’t even heard your name! What’s your name?”

“Secret.”

The girl who was running out suddenly turned back.

“I have many secrets, Colombous.”

She lifted her index finger and placed it on her lips.

And then she laughed brightly again.

That appearance was pretty.

Colombous pouted his lips like his age.

“…Are you going to be like that? Even though I’m going to the trouble of showing you around the Imperial Palace.”

“Ah, was that a bit too much if you say it like that?”

The girl swept her hair. Where… the amber hair looked golden for a moment.

“Somnia. Call me Somnia.”

***

“Somnia.”

“Why, Colombous?”

The two exchanged words.

The passage exiting the training ground was coming to an end.

“Is there anywhere you want to go?”

“A place I want to go?”

The girl named Somnia pondered for a moment and then rummaged through her bag.

Only then did Colombous realize that Somnia had been carrying a bag all along.

Why didn’t he notice until now?

Even though she had been carrying such a large and baggy bag by her side all along.

Inside the bag he sneaked a peek at, there were several letters.

Somnia looked like a mail carrier.

Though where would there be such a small and amber-colored mail carrier?

“Library.”

Somnia, who took out a letter and looked at it, opened her mouth.

Colombous felt interest in her letters, but Somnia quickly closed the bag.

“I want to go to the library.”

***

Look at the majesty of the Cordis Imperial Grand Library!

Books in the Imperial Common Language number as many as 660,000.

Languages of other regions are about 520,000.

Close to a whopping 1.2 million books are there.

Unless it is the Grand Archive of the Silver Dragon Magic Kingdom, it cannot dare to be compared.

The pride of the Imperial Grand Library is not just its scale.

Just about 10 years ago, the Cordis Empire was ruled by three Man-Gods.

They were all beings who had lived for over 1,300 years, and they used to use the Imperial Grand Library as a storage place for items of memories.

Because of that, items so old and rare that ordinary people could not even imagine were hidden here.

Therefore, the security had to be strict, but for Colombous, it was no problem at all.

“I’m going in.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

At a single word, the soldier immediately stepped aside from the door.

Colombous’s father is Shion.

It means he is the Emperor’s eldest son.

There was practically no one who would stop him in the Great Imperial Palace.

“To go to the upper floors, we need to receive a pass….”

“Where are you going?”

“Wait a moment.”

Colombous moved his steps leaving Somnia behind.

Uh, it’s okay though! Somnia called, but Colombous’s heart was ahead.

He approached the librarians in the library lobby, and among them, discovered a familiar mustached man.

“What are you doing here, Dean Cornelius?”

“Oh?”

Cornelius, who was busy rummaging through documents, let out a glad gasp.

“Oh! Your Highness!”

The Mustache Dean passed through the desk and approached in front of Colombous.

Three-Star Magic, ‘Passing Through’.

It wasn’t magic to use in a place like this, but Cornelius didn’t care.

“What brings you to the library?”

“I originally come often. What are you doing here, Dean?”

“As you can see, I am doing librarian work.”

Cornelius touched his mustache.

Colombous narrowed his eyes and looked at him.

“You have nothing to do?”

“Depending on the listener, that is a question that could cause offense. However, since the listener is Your Highness, I understand.”

He spoke in a pompous voice.

“I am a busy person too. Just that today is a holiday, and having nothing to do, I came to help out at the library.”

“If it’s a holiday, you should go home.”

“…….”

“Your wife must be sad.”

“………….”

The silence was long.

Looking at the Dean whose face became sorrowful, Colombous couldn’t help but ask.

“…Is something wrong?”

“No. It is….”

“Try saying it comfortably.”

“…Is it really okay?”

Cornelius Merhes decided to confide his inner thoughts to the 11-year-old Prince.

“…Actually, Your Highness. You know my hobby, right?”

“Fishing?”

“Yes. It’s a hobby I picked up in the Hanchamus Islands long ago …that is not important. I have received help from many people to continue my hobby. Especially His Majesty Shion gave great help.”

“What did the Imperial Father do? What help did he give?”

“Hmm.”

The Dean gave a small cough.

“Nothing special…. There were many times I went fishing alone making an excuse that His Majesty was summoning me.”

“…You mean you sold the Emperor’s name to fish? Are you crazy?”

“No, His Majesty said it was okay….”

“But that got caught?”

“Yeees….”

Colombous spat out.

“You reap what you sow.”

He didn’t have the heart to deal with him anymore.

Cornelius made a crying face and said.

“You are too much!”

“I will tell your wife that the Dean is hiding in the library.”

“Your Highness! Anything but that!”

“You’re noisy! Just give me an upper floor pass!”

At the Prince’s shouting, Cornelius pouted his lips.

Since every word was correct, he didn’t really have anything to say either.

Looking at the Dean handing out one pass, Colombous said.

“Give me 2.”

“2? Hmm?”

Only then did the Dean recognize that Colombous had a companion.

Looking at the amber-haired girl, Cornelius pulled up the corners of his mouth.

“Who is she?”

“…It’s a secret.”

“Secret.”

Giggling.

“Anyway, you really take after His Majesty Shion.”

***

Cornelius, having given out the passes, returned to his seat and rummaged through documents.

Looking closely, he wasn’t doing work but pretending to do it.

Because a big shot like the Dean of the Imperial Academy of Magic was doing that, the other librarians also looked uncomfortable.

Please don’t mention my story to my wife…! Pretending not to hear, Colombous returned straight to Somnia.

“I got the passes. Where do you want to go first?”

“1st floor.”

“You’re not going to the upper floors?”

“I heard there are only difficult books there. I don’t think I’ll go.”

“…Then we don’t need passes?”

“That’s why I said it’s okay.”

Only then did Colombous realize the reason Somnia called him.

Realizing his heart had been ahead, he felt embarrassed.

He possessed emotions mature for an eleven-year-old.

“Come here. There’s a book I’m looking for.”

Somnia moved her steps.

Wandering between the bookshelves, she found several novels.

Because her hands couldn’t reach, Colombous took them out for her instead.

Just how old is she?

Small height, yet a mature attitude unlike her height. Meeting her, the boy is just confused.

“This one, and this, and this… found them all.”

“They’re all by the same author.”

“Yeah. Artis Atea’s seven-volume serial novel.”

Somnia brought two chairs from somewhere and placed them side by side.

The boy and girl sat side by side on the aligned chairs.

“Let’s read now. I, Artis Atea, had a bizarre experience in the Drako Great Mountain Range. I announce first that this is a story based on a true story….”

“…Do we have to read aloud?”

“Yeah.”

“All seven volumes?”

“Yeah.”

Colombous felt bewildered.

He just found the girl named Somnia bizarre.

Appearing suddenly in the training ground, continuing to do only bizarre actions, yet strangely ending up following her words.

He is the First Prince of Cordis, an exceptionally noble person even among noble people.

Yet when talking with Somnia, he ends up not caring about his status in the slightest.

That point was the strangest, yet he didn’t dislike it.

“…Fine. Let’s read….”

“Uh.”

Thud, a sound rang out.

Somnia opened her eyes wide.

“Uh?”

A single book suddenly appeared and fell in front of them.

The cover is black. Somnia has a puzzled face even while holding the black book.

“They said the black book would appear only if we read all seven volumes aloud?”

Lifting the newly appeared book slightly, even the paper inside was all black and no content was written at all.

Only the title and author are written in golden ink.

Unusually, it used the Ancient Hotus language.

The author’s name is ‘Artis Atea’.

The title is ‘Key.’

No, looking closely, one more line was written below it.

Not Ancient Hotus, but modern Cordis language.

[Thinking about it, reading all seven volumes aloud is annoying, right? I’ll count it as read.]

[From ss.]

“ss?”

“Sen.”

Somnia said.

“ss means Sen Sorti.”

“……?”

Colombous couldn’t understand her words.

As if she knew that would happen, Somnia grinned and pulled the boy.

“Here. Let’s go. Now we can go down.”

“Go down?”

“The basement of the library. The place where the treasure among treasures ‘Mana Armor Valziart’ was once kept.”

Somnia said.

“I have someone to meet there.”

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