Chapter 79 (1/2)

Catalog of Relics

The librarian led Hikaru to a private room where one could handle precious, old books. It was s.p.a.cious, yet bleak, its walls bare, and furnished only by a bookrest, a table and a chair at the center.

「Eating and drinking is not allowed inside. You can't use quill pens as there is a chance you might spill ink. Use of pencil to take notes is allowed if you have approval.」the librarian said, casting a glance at the princ.i.p.al who stood beside Hikaru.

「Do you need to take notes?」the princ.i.p.al asked.

「No.」

「There you have it.」

「Very well.」

The librarian bowed his head respectfully then left. An armed guard stood at the only entrance to the room, perhaps to prevent people from taking books out or damaging them.

A book with a gorgeous binding sat on the bookrest, its size midway between an A3 and B4 paper. ”Zubura Relics Catalogue Presented to Forestia” was written on it.

Hikaru opened the book to a preface. Apparently the book contained a list of all the relics that Zubura surrendered to the government when the Allied Nations was founded. There was no table of contents.

A detailed drawing of the item took up most of a page's s.p.a.ce, and written below it were the item names, descriptions, and owners.

「Pfft.」

Hikaru almost burst out into laughter as soon as he saw the first page. A mask with glaring eyes and long nose. The drawing wasn't colored but it was most likely red.

It's a tengu mask!

He knew right away that the one who made the relics was j.a.panese.

Why make this, though?

Demon Mask was its name. The description read ”A mask made of metal. Most of the paint had worn off, leaving behind a dull brown color. Application unknown. No monsters or races with long noses existed in the past.” The formal description made him want to laugh even more.

「Hikaru? Do you know what this is?」

「Uh, no. I just thought it looked funny.」

He had to be careful since the princ.i.p.al was watching beside him.

「Why is this mask the first item on the catalog?」

「It's the item they excavated the most.」

「…What?」

「They've found about a hundred of these Demon Masks so far.」

What are you doing, man?! Do you love tengus that much?!

「Um, are you sure you should be here? You must be busy.」Hikaru asked.

「I am. But I have to provide hospitality to the one who saved my relative and an important person from my hometown.」

「What do you mean?」

「Lord Silvester and League told me about what you did.」

「Oh, is that so?」

He didn't expect that at all. Those two stood almost at the top of their respective nations. Hikaru didn't think they'd openly admit that an outsider helped them out.

「Hikaru. Lord Silvester and League are both great men. Even though they're still young, they're righteous and hold proper views..」

「I don't think their type will survive in Forestia.」

He knew how Queen Marquedo and Zofira were having a hard time dealing with politics. The center of the government was a place of lies and deceit.

「Are you worried about them?」

「…Not really.」

「You've changed. I wonder what happened. When you were applying for enrollment, you were like a thorn that p.r.i.c.ked anyone who'd dare touch you.」

「Am I a sea urchin or something?」

「Sea… archer?」

「It's nothing.」

There might not be sea urchins in this world. Hikaru had a vague idea of his sudden change. It was because he told Lavia everything. But does it really look like I've changed that much?

「…Let's continue.」

「Please go ahead.」

She didn't pry deeper. Hikaru went on reading. Items he thought were clearly from j.a.pan included a statue of the Buddha, bell, and a tea cup. One item - its use unknown - piqued his interest.