Chapter 76 (2/2)

Still, n.o.body bothered correcting him, so Fii didn’t care either. She wasn’t exactly a n.o.ble, but royalty was very similar.

“Keh! I’m your regular, but look at how you treat me.”

“What I really want to sell are just these old books. People who read nothing but those vulgar sc.r.a.plets aren’t real customers.”

“Shaddap! It’s these d.a.m.ned sc.r.a.plets that you’re living on!”

Although their words were harsh, everyone could tell they were close, so everybody ignored them and browsed the books.

It was at places like these that a person’s tastes would really show.

Slad and the other Lowtown apprentices were looking at nothing but sc.r.a.plets. Most of the commoner boys from other areas were the same.

Remié and Doug were more interested in the old books. The two of them just seemed better bred.

Remié liked a lot of things, so he had a look at cooking books and various novels, but Doug was looking at nothing but novels about knights.

Gorms looked at both the sc.r.a.plets and the books. When he did look at the books, they were mostly things like books on military history or tricks to strengthening your body.

Since Fii didn’t have any particular tastes, she just went to see if they sold the books that the Captain and the others at the 18th recommended to her.

After browsing for about half an hour and talking to the shopkeeper, in the end it was only the first boy, Slad, and Remié that bought anything.

They felt a little apologetic, but the old shopkeeper didn’t seem to mind. He saw them off with a smile.

They had been rather welcomed.

“What did you buy?” Fii asked Remié.

It turns out he had bought a book on embroidery. He liked plush toys but was too embarra.s.sed to buy them. Apparently making them himself was his new goal.

(Looks like he’ll be last on the rankings as well, this time.)

As for Slad, he had apparently bought the new instalment of some action story.

Speaking of which, his room had a lot of these sc.r.a.plets. Sc.r.a.plets were only held together with glue, so it didn’t take long for them to fall apart. But Slad took care of him, and the old sc.r.a.plets on his shelf were still pristine and readable.

“Is it interesting?”

“Yeah, it’s super interesting. Want me to lend you the series?”

“Yeah. Please.”

As for what the first boy had bought―――

“What the heck…”

“It’s a book with rumours and occult stories from different countries!”

Just a look at his sc.r.a.plet was enough to see all kinds of suspicious lines.

『Suspicions regarding the circ.u.mstances of Prince Domash’s accidental death! It was no accident, it was an a.s.sa.s.sination!』

『A mysterious person who appears on street corners. The truth behind Balsmashshootman!』

『Unloved by the King, and locked in the inner palace! The grudge that drives the vengeful spirit of the second queen to roam the Capital each night!』

A glance was enough to tell that they were all incredibly fake-looking.

But the boys all read through it with sparkling eyes.

“Oooh! Amazing! They’ve apparently confirmed the existence of a mysterious giant creature in Borden Lake!”

“Ooohh! That one that people have been talking about?”

“In other words they’re f-, finally planning to capture it!?”

“Yeah. Apparently the survey team is recruiting people right now. And apparently amongst the members is the legendary hunter, Luvisess, as well!”

“UOHHHHH! I WANNA JOIN TOO!”

Fii had a look and listened in, but when she saw the boys getting engrossed over obviously fake stories, she couldn’t help but feel astounded. Fii now understood how the old shopkeeper felt a little.

TLN: ‘sc.r.a.plets’ in the raws is written in a similar way to ‘magazines’, but the word actually used instead means ‘sc.r.a.p paper’.

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