A Curator’s Benevolence and a Guard’s Ambition

Having said that, she glanced at Mrs. Su beside her. “You may attend to your own tasks; there’s no need to keep me company.”

“Very well, Curator.” Mrs. Su cast a worried glance at Iordera before turning and departing.

She found it rather peculiar. While The Curator had always exuded a benevolent aura, in the past, she would at most feign ignorance when such incidents occurred.

Yet, today, she had initiated conversation with Iordera, even reassuring her not to worry and to browse freely.

Still, it couldn’t be anything ill-intentioned, could it? Perhaps The Curator, too, found the young security guard endearing.

Mrs. Su attributed this to Iordera’s appealing looks, for it was the same with all the other staff in the library—amidst a group of older women and men, the arrival of such a petite and charming girl was bound to make her the darling of the group.

However, despite Mrs. Lailila’s words, Iordera still felt a blush of embarrassment.

She picked up the fallen books, neatly placing them back on the shelf. “I apologize, Curator. I was simply curious and just flipping through…”

“It truly is quite alright, my dear,” Mrs. Lailila responded with a gentle smile. “In truth, many young people who apply to work at the library do so primarily to read the books here in their leisure time. Otherwise, who would willingly undertake such a poorly compensated position?”

Iordera was rendered speechless.

Indeed, being a library security guard for only four gold coins a month was rather meager.

Saroyan, the empire’s most prosperous metropolis, was an international city second only to the Imperial Capital.

In modern terms, it would be considered a global tier-one developed city.

Earning four thousand a month here was akin to subsisting on thin air.

“Yet, knowledge, after all, cannot fill an empty stomach,” Mrs. Lailila continued, “Thus, over time, only the older odd-job workers remain.”

After a moment of thought, Iordera declared, “It’s alright. To be able to read more books, I am willing to endure hardships.”

Her true objective, after all, was the restricted section, and this excuse served perfectly as a cover.

“That’s excellent. It’s good for young people to read more and improve themselves,” Mrs. Lailila said kindly. “However, I must remind you that the books accessible to regular staff are limited to this floor. The upper levels are not open to you, so please remember to adhere to the regulations.”

Iordera blinked her eyes, adopting an innocent expression. “Are the books on the upper floors better? How can I gain the right to read them?”

“If you work diligently and get promoted, that will suffice,” Mrs. Lailila mused. “For a security guard, promotion would mean becoming a Security Supervisor, who, theoretically, has access to any part of the library.”

“Alright,” Iordera nodded her small head vigorously. “I will work very hard!”

While The Curator’s words sounded somewhat like an executive making grand, empty promises, they were quite practical; she might as well give it a try.

With a clear goal in mind, Iordera genuinely committed to her role as a security guard, patrolling the library several times a day, diligently performing her duties with utmost professionalism.

However, Hecate had not been seen these past few days.

At times, Iordera couldn’t help but look up, gazing towards the rooftop.

She was supposed to reside there, yet she rarely seemed to venture out.

Only The Curator, Mrs. Lailila, was often seen strolling about.

This benevolent old woman, with her perpetually serene expression, was exceedingly kind to all the staff.

During her leisure time that day, Iordera picked up the book she hadn’t finished reading last time.

Unbeknownst to her, Mrs. Lailila stood on the high-stepped staircase, observing her from afar through a transparent glass panel in the wall.

As a former elder of the Imperial Cabinet, Mrs. Lailila had been involved in politics for most of her life, holding a position at the pinnacle of power for over a decade.

She possessed more secrets than an ordinary person would hear in a lifetime of bardic tales.

There was one matter she kept hidden from Principal Louisa: Hecate had never had a romantic history in over a century, yet now she suddenly had a “little sweetheart.” This fact alone warranted serious attention.

Mrs. Lailila knew a secret, or perhaps an anecdote, concerning Hecate.

If the Witch Miss kept her word, and if a single angry remark could be remembered for a hundred years, then…

Then the true identity of this delicate, charming girl before her would be quite astonishing.

****

“What was all that fuss about? Just this.”

Iordera closed the book with a sigh of disappointment.

She had hoped to find more detailed stories about Hecate, but was thoroughly let down to discover it merely listed some of the other woman’s life achievements.

It spoke of her being over ninety levels, an unparalleled genius, the future successor to The Guardian, and a spellcaster who had mastered all six elements.

The most substantial piece of information was merely that Hecate had invented alchemical blood vessels, allowing alchemical creations to surpass Level 50—yet Hecate had already told her this personally.

Returning the book to its place, Iordera sat on the floor, staring blankly at the ceiling.

‘What exactly is Hecate planning?’ she wondered.

Having been framed and imprisoned by her former teacher, she had languished in a sunless cell for more than half a year.

After successfully escaping, she neither sought revenge nor found a place to simply vent her emotions.

Instead, she had risked re-imprisonment to come to Saroyan.

‘All because I am here?’

‘What exactly does she want to do? Could it be, as Nina and Yuna suggested, that she wants to *do* me?’

The more Iordera pondered, the redder her face grew, until it was burning hot, and she suddenly realized she had forgotten to cool down today.

“Roar—!”

After running to the back mountain and letting out a mighty roar, she felt refreshed and completely calm.

Returning to the library, she picked up the previous book and found the section on The Guardian, Sheila, to read.

As the continent’s sole alchemist of her caliber, Sheila was equally extraordinary in her field.

However, the most significant difference between her and Hecate in alchemy lay in their focus: one on contributions, the other on achievements.

For instance, Hecate had invented the Hecate blood vessels, enabling alchemists everywhere to attempt creating artifacts above Level 50, thereby elevating the overall standard of alchemy.

Sheila’s alchemical achievements, on the other hand, were almost entirely irreplicable, offering no benefit to others, and even consumed unique materials found nowhere else in the world during their creation.

For example, this book recorded that Sheila had “allegedly” created a truly autonomous automaton, which was considered the pinnacle of alchemical achievement.

“An autonomous automaton, huh.” Iordera murmured, closing the book.

In truth, when Hecate was in Zero Prison, on the second day of their acquaintance, she had already hinted… no, she had explicitly stated it.

Iordera was no fool; she understood perfectly well.

According to Hecate, she herself was the autonomous automaton created by The Guardian, Sheila, the ultimate achievement in alchemy.

Yet, it was precisely because of this that more questions arose.

For instance, Hecate, who was an adversary of Sheila, harbored no ill will towards her, “Sheila’s creation.”

‘Well, if ‘wanting to do’ doesn’t count as ill will.’

Furthermore, theoretically, her identity should be quite distinguished, so why had she ended up being auctioned off as a doll by a merchant caravan?

‘Hmmmmmmm…’

“Iordera! Iordera!”

Mrs. Su’s voice interrupted Iordera’s thoughts. “Iordera, are you there? Come quickly!”

“What is it?”

“The new tea party has begun!” Mrs. Su exclaimed excitedly. “This tea party is far more important than the one at the start of the semester.”

“Why?” Iordera asked, not understanding.

“Because the freshman ranking matches are over!”