Chapter 13: Pages of Coincidence

“Wow, El. What a coincidence to run into you here.”

A familiar voice spoke as I was browsing the shelves.

“Oh, Celie. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

I encountered Celie in the library of the academy. As the best academy in the continent, the library is filled with various academic materials, from simple textbooks to papers filled with complicated terminology that would make anyone want to give up reading at the first page.

The swordsmanship department doesn’t have much reason to visit unless it’s exam time, but for the other departments—especially the magic department—it’s a place where students find themselves relying on it quite often during their studies.

Moreover, according to rumors passed down among students, there was even a graduate who solved all their meals and accommodations in the library throughout their four years of study, so there’s no need for further explanation.

However, it seems that there have been numerous reports of misunderstandings with people mistaking students for homeless individuals, so such extreme cases no longer happen.

For reference, the student in question is said to have started working as a teaching assistant—not a s*ave—under their supervising professor after graduation, which I truly find hard to understand why someone would do something so foolish. Well, there are all sorts of people in the world.

In any case, although this library was built for educational purposes, it isn’t just a dull place. There are also many books available for students’ enrichment. Although they comprise a smaller portion of the overall collection, given the library’s size, even that is impossible to read in its entirety before graduation.

Naturally, my purpose here is not to browse various reference books for midterms, but to explore novels.

“I came because the novel you lent me last time was interesting. I thought I might try reading some other novels as well.”

Having been raised as an assassin, there was naturally no time for reading books. If I had time, I would have had to practice my stealth or swing my sword one more time.

“Oh, have you already read it all? You read it pretty quickly.”

Because of this, it was natural that I would become captivated by the first novel I picked up when Celie lent it to me. I read it all night on the day I borrowed it and ended up dozing off during class the next day, getting called out for it.

“Yeah. But I don’t know what to read next. Just looking at the titles doesn’t give me a clue about what the contents are…”

As I mentioned earlier, the amount of books the academy library has is immense. So, I was seriously contemplating what novel to choose among the numerous options.

I couldn’t just pick a novel to be responsible for my weekend on a whim. Of course, those novels might have their own charms, but I want the best weekend possible.

“Then, can I choose one for you?”

“Oh, weren’t you here for something too, Celie? Is it okay for you to help me out?”

Given that Celie is a model student and an honor student, she likely came to the library to prepare for her midterms, unlike me with my unwholesome motives. Therefore, taking her time away would surely weigh on my conscience.

“No, I’ve already accomplished my purpose for being in the library. You don’t need to decline.”

However, contrary to Celie’s words, she wasn’t holding any books. If she had just come to return the book she borrowed, she could have used the desk at the entrance, so her comment about achieving her purpose was probably a kind lie to make me feel less guilty.

In this state, Celie is quite stubborn. Even if I refuse, she would persist in telling white lies to continue helping me.

In that case, accepting Celie’s help would actually take less of her time.

“Then should I take you up on that? The last novel you lent me was fun, so I trust your judgment.”

Upon hearing my words, Celie immediately reached out and pulled out a book.

It seemed that she had been to the library often, as she effortlessly grabbed the desired book from the large shelves stretching up to the ceiling without even pretending to search.

The book Celie handed me was about the same thickness as the last one. It didn’t seem too burdensome to read.

At first glance, the title didn’t give me any clues about its content. However, there was no way the book Celie picked out would be boring.

“Do you need anything else?”

“No, I think one book will be enough for now. So, what’s the real reason you came to the library? Studying for midterms, as expected?”

“Huh? No, um… yes. I came to prepare for the midterms!”

“I knew it. You’re just lying because of me. Celie is just too kind; it’s a problem.”

Having struck a nerve, Celie laughed awkwardly.

“Then should we study together? Oh, but maybe I would just be a distraction for you…”

“No! Let’s do it! Study!”

“Shh, shh!”

Avoiding the librarian’s piercing gaze, I took Celie to an empty study room.

Since we were going to study together, I thought about calling Ann and Yuri, but considering Celie’s concern that it might take too long to gather everyone and that dinner time might pass us by, we decided to postpone studying together for now.

“The Skull Wolf shares thoughts among its pack, making it tricky to deal with them in groups. But if you can catch the leader, they’ll fall into confusion, so you can target that.”

The swordsmanship department has a practical focus compared to other departments. Strategies for dealing with monsters or magical beings are part of that curriculum.

In that respect, Celie was a very excellent teacher.

“The Wraith is a ghost monster, so ordinary attacks won’t work, but if you use magic or aura, you shouldn’t have much trouble dealing with it.”

Demon Eyes, Succubus…

From easily encountered monsters to higher-ranked magical beings that aren’t well-known, unlike me, Celie knew the tactics for handling all kinds of monsters.

She even surprised me with her knowledge of weaknesses for monsters that you wouldn’t know about unless you faced them directly or learned about them in class.

“How do you know all this, Celie? Is it because you’re from a hero family and learned this from a young age?”

“Haha… well, that’s right.”

It seems that heroes don’t just drop from the sky. If you look at Celie on a regular basis, you can guess how much effort she must have put in. She must have worked hard, sweating and bleeding, to become a hero.

“Here, this part might come up in the exam, so it would be good to remember it well.”

Although the initial intention was to study together, before I knew it, Celie had snuggled up beside me and was teaching me.

Feeling guilty for taking her time, I told her that she didn’t have to do this, but she said she was fine and that teaching me was also a way for her to study, making an effort to ensure I wasn’t uncomfortable.

As expected, Celie is kind.

***

On a Saturday late morning, I barely managed to catch a few hours of sleep at dawn after reading a novel all night. I ended up oversleeping, but today was a weekend without classes.

The book I read all night wasn’t just something Celie recommended for no reason; it was definitely interesting. At least in terms of enjoyment.

However, it wasn’t something I wanted to read again like the previous book, so I returned it right away and headed to the library from the morning to find a new novel.

“Wow, El. What a coincidence to run into you here.”

While returning the book I read all night and looking for a new novel, I once again ran into Celie. Meeting her in the exact same spot, with the same appearance as yesterday—what a remarkable coincidence.

“Did you finish the one I recommended yesterday already?”

“Yeah. It was more interesting than I expected, so I ended up reading it all night.”

“How was it? Did you like the content?”

“It was fun, but honestly, I don’t think it’s my taste. The male protagonist was just too trashy.”

The man in the novel was nothing short of trash.

He deceived women and exploited them without remorse.

Even until the end of the story, he remained consistent in his trashy behavior, leaving no room for sympathy.

Eventually, the woman, fed up with the man, left him, and his fate was so miserable that he avoided dying from anger.

In fact, when the time came to judge the man at the end, I even felt a sense of catharsis.

“Um… how about this book?”

This time, without a moment’s hesitation, Celie took a book off the shelf and handed it to me.

The title was “When the Lilies Bloom.”

Once again, just by looking at the title, I had no idea what the content might be.

However, Celie’s hit rate was 100%.

It couldn’t possibly be boring.

“If Celie recommends it, I can trust it.

Now that I’ve chosen a novel, shall we study for the midterms together again today?”

“Yes!”

“Then, will you wait for me in the study room? I’ll bring Anne and Yuri.”

Today, unlike yesterday, we called Anne and Yuri to study for the midterms all day long.

However, it turned out that Anne was tutoring Yuri while I was getting tutored by Celie.

And then night came.

Once again, I lay in bed and pulled out the novel I borrowed today.

The novel was easy to read, and I quickly flipped through the pages one by one.

“Oh…”

The content was an ordinary romance novel.

However, unlike yesterday, the emotional dynamics between the two women were quite delicate this time.

Love between women?

Imagining it as love between men made me feel nauseous, but perhaps because I’m a man, the theme of love between women didn’t feel particularly burdensome.

The fact that it was simply a novel played a part in that.

In the end, it’s just a novel.

As long as it’s entertaining, that’s all that matters.

In that sense, this was indeed a book recommended by Celie.

I should ask Celie to recommend me another book next time.

I’m sure Celie will consider my tastes and recommend a suitable book.

By the way, this book is a bit risqué. Oh my…