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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
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Chapter 10: The Grunewald Clan Library
“Hey, Peter.”
I asked before entering the library.
“Did I say anything stupid back there?”
Peter looked at me like I was crazy.
“Were there any moments when you didn’t? I felt like my spine was going to chill every time you said something.”
“What did I do?”
“You used to be so quiet, but today you were glaring and talking back...”
“Hmm, I guess I did go a bit overboard.”
I won’t deny that I overcompensated because of the huge difference in our social standing and power.
But that’s exactly how the mad dog Karzan survived in the Underworld. When the situation called for it, you had to be aggressive.
“But you were so cool. You didn’t get intimidated by the head butler at all.”
“Really?”
If even Peter thought so, how would Aiden have felt?
‘Father will probably take this seriously.’
If I couldn’t catch my father’s attention, dreaming of becoming the heir would be pointless.
‘The more eyes are on me, the more valuable it becomes to prove my abilities.’
As many possibilities awaited me as the books that slept in this library.
“I’m going in. Wait for me.”
“Yes, sir.”
As I entered the library, I gaped at the towering bookshelves that seemed to reach the ceiling.
“Wow. This is incredible.”
How many books could possibly be here? I was sure to find the mana cultivation technique I was looking for.
“Oh, I suddenly feel like becoming a righteous thief.”
Calm down, Allenvert. With this body, you wouldn’t even last ten minutes if you tried to run away.
“Young Master Allenvert! It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you.”
An old man greeted me. He was bent over and frail compared to Aiden.
“I heard you were sick. I’m glad to see you’re well.”
“I woke up this morning.”
“Oh! That’s why I haven’t heard this good news yet.”
It was obvious he was the librarian.
“I’m sorry. I can’t remember your name. I have amnesia.”
“Oh dear.”
The librarian looked sad.
“That’s terrible. How could...”
“Don’t feel too sorry for me. I heard I was quite a pathetic person in the past.”
“How could you say that? You were a very kind young master.”
Unlike the head butler, the librarian was a rather kind old man.
“My name isn't important since I spend my life buried in books. You don’t need to know it. But since you’re here, let me guide you.”
He seemed to be quite idle, probably because he didn’t get many visitors, but I pretended not to notice and accepted his offer.
“You won’t find books that aren’t in here anywhere else. From history to mathematics, literature, rhetoric, chemistry, and magic, it’s truly vast…”
As I listened to the librarian's explanation, I slowly looked around the library.
“Oh, is there a specific book you’re looking for?”
“I wonder. What kind of books did I read before?”
“Hmm, let me see.”
His troubled expression made it easy to guess that I must have only read trivial things.
“You liked stories about the valor of knights. And other heroic tales…”
It seemed I had spent my time reading mostly useless things.
“Don’t bother with that kind of stuff.”
“Oh, is that so? ...Ah, perhaps? Yes, I see. You've reached that age now.”
The librarian nodded as if he had figured something out and guided me.
“This way. Follow me quietly.”
“?”
“Ahem, well, the erotic section is over here. I’ve kept it in a secluded place.”
“What?”
“It’s alright. Other young masters have visited this section while growing up. Don’t be embarrassed. It’s a natural part of growing up…”
Now I saw that he was a rather perverted old man. I glared at him and said.
“Mind your own business.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Shall I leave you alone then?”
“That’s not it. I want to find some martial arts books.”
“Huh?”
It seemed that finding martial arts books was even more surprising than finding erotica. Allenvert, your reputation really is...
“What kind of martial arts books are you looking for?”
“Obviously, the secret martial arts of the Grunewald clan.”
“Oh dear.”
The librarian looked surprised and led me to another section.
“I can’t believe you don’t remember. It seems you’ve been avoiding these books for a long time.”
“Everything before I woke up is shrouded in a thick fog.”
“I see. Well, shall I explain a little?”
His face looked like a grandfather who wanted to tell his grandson a story, making me realize that people age in various ways.
If the head butler was a senior who had lived as steadfast as a rock all his life, then this librarian here seemed like an elderly man who had quietly buried himself in books and retained his childlike innocence.
He was a person who did not seem to have been weathered by the storms of the world, which surprised me.
"The children of the Grunewald clan usually start their martial arts training in earnest around the age of 10."
"What do they do before that?"
"Since their bodies are not yet fully developed, they focus on basic physical conditioning to build up their strength and nervous system. They are also given nutritious food and tonics, and learn various academic subjects."
"I see."
It was not much different from the methods of other renowned clans. There was a slight delay, but not a significant one.
"Do they mainly learn sword techniques?"
"Generally, yes, but some also choose to specialize in staff techniques, fist techniques, and so on, depending on their preferences and aptitudes."
"So that means the Grunewald's martial arts are quite diverse."
"Oh, yes, indeed. The martial arts of the Grunewald are counted among the top three of the kingdom."
"That sounds promising."
I nodded and casually asked.
"But earlier, who was this 'young master' that you mentioned who often visited the erotic section?"
"Ah, that is..."
The librarian closed his mouth with a pained expression as if pleading not to be asked further.
'This must be his way of asking me to pry a little more.'
He seemed lonely and isolated, having spent his life buried in the sea of books.
As a naive old man, he probably found it difficult to mingle with people, having only delved into the world recorded in books rather than the real world.
In other words, this means that finding out answers would not be too difficult a task.
"If it troubles you, I won't ask further. Well, it's not like I have anywhere to go and share the story."
"Ah, yes, that's right?"
The librarian quickly responded.
"It was actually the Third Young Master."
"I see."
- The Third Young Master is likely to be flamboyant and gloomy.
I dispassionately recorded my prejudiced assessment of the elder brother's temperament in the mental register of people. It was partly in jest, but the truth is, this is how one can glimpse human nature.
'Anyway, he's quite loose-lipped. He may not be the kind of person who can keep someone else's secret.'
I should be more careful with my words.
"By the way, are these books here available for borrowing?"
"The martial arts books are difficult. But if you wish to read them here, you are welcome to do so."
It's rather fortunate. There might be something better among the books that someone has already borrowed.
"Then I shall read them here."
"Thank you for your understanding."
The librarian added cautiously.
"As you might guess, the highest-level martial arts that are exclusive to the patriarch, and the techniques too advanced for beginners, are not stored here."
"Of course, I understand."
Since this was not a place exclusive to the direct bloodline, the martial arts available here must be the more common ones that are also permitted for the branch clans.
'But the highest martial arts are not always the best.'
Now, it would be much more advantageous to select and learn the commonly practiced and proven fundamental techniques. I had the necessary aptitude for that.
I looked around and pulled out an old book adorned with gold leaf.
"I think I'll start with this one."
"Oh, why did you choose that particular manual?"
The librarian was impressed.
"That's the manual created by Duke Vitenfeld, our clan head 200 years ago."
"Why is such a precious thing here?"
"Because it's so demanding and inefficient, no one looks for it anymore. But from what I've read, it contains incredibly profound principles..."
I scratched the back of my head, looking at the librarian's overly bright eyes.
"Oh, I just picked it at random."
"You mean you felt a kind of destiny when you picked it at random?"
Seeing the librarian's hopeful expression, as if he had imagined some romantic connection, I said.
"No, I just picked it because the title sounded cool."
"Huh?"
A cool title means nothing.
...But it could mean everything.
‘Sometimes, opportunities come from the most unexpected coincidences.’
Even if I wasn't satisfied with this book, it didn't matter. If necessary, I could read every manual on these shelves.
With the determination to spend as many days as it took, I turned the first page of the old book.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
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