Library

Irina flashed a playful smile, her eyes gleaming with mischief as she leaned closer "Oh, my sweet, charming poet~"

Leonard let out a long, exhausted sigh, already sensing trouble. "Yes, Irina, what is it?"

Poor Leonard, Irina thought, suppressing a laugh. He already looks like he's completely over me, and it's barely been a minute. Little does he know, I've got plans—big plans! I'm planning to spend the entire afternoon with him.

With a mischievous glint, she straightened up, clapping her hands together with enthusiasm. "Get ready. We're going on a date!"

Leonard's eyes widened in shock. "Wait—what?!"

Earlier that morning, Irina woke without any sense of time since there wasn't a single clock in the entire apartment.

After reporting to Dunn, I should pick up a clock on the way back, she thought, making a mental note. Now, according to Irina's memories, the largest library should be that red building near the church in the city center. It's about an hour's walk from here, or twenty minutes by carriage.

She began changing clothes, getting ready for the day ahead.

Since I'll have to eat breakfast on the go, I might as well walk and enjoy the view before heading to that smog-filled, airless city of Backlund, she mused, picturing the difference between Tingen's more peaceful outskirts and the industrial chaos of the city.

Fortunately, over the years, Irina had been quietly borrowing money from the orphanage owner.

I've built up a decent amount of savings, she reminded herself with a smirk.

An hour later, Irina, cloaked in a worn, tattered mantle with the hood pulled up, stood before the red building. Though it wasn't raining, the sky was clouded, and the wind carried a biting chill.

I'm freezing. Why did I think wearing such light clothes was a good idea? It's summer, but I can't even feel it.

Taking the stairs two at a time, she hurried toward the entrance. After pushing open the large doors, Irina glanced around. Moments later, she realized she hadn't moved for a while.

She awkwardly approached the receptionist, hoping her earlier moment of paralysis had gone unnoticed.

If it had, it wasn't what the receptionist seemed concerned about.

"Hello, I'd like to browse the library," Irina said softly.

On the desk, a wooden name tag read, 'Emy.'

"You?" Emy glanced at her briefly before returning to her paperwork.

"Yes...?" Irina replied, feeling a flicker of uncertainty. Did she see me standing there like an idiot just a second ago? That was embarrassing, but still.

"I'm afraid you're in the wrong library," Emy said flatly. "The free-entry one is in the suburbs, near the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery."

"Uh?" Irina blinked in confusion. "I think there's been a misunderstanding. I'm sure I'm in the right place. This is the largest library in Tingen, with at least twice the number of books compared to the other, right?"

"That's correct," Emy said, not looking up, "but you'll need to pay for a daily pass or a membership card."

"That won't be a problem. How much for a day pass?" Irina asked.

Emy paused, finally lifting her gaze from her paperwork to meet Irina's eyes for the first time. "Oh... you can afford it?"

A short while later, Irina fumed internally. Can you believe it?! I know I don't exactly look my best right now, but for her to think I was some kind of beggar?! That's just too much! Sure, my clothes are bad, but still...

...

Okay, maybe I should stop making excuses. My clothes are terrible. I can't wait for Daly to have some free time and introduce me to her tailor.

Saving money would be the smart move, but... I should enjoy it while I can. This world is too dangerous; who knows when it'll be my last moment. Might as well go out with style.

Irina wandered through the library, browsing aimlessly but finding nothing that sparked her interest.

Boooooring! Ugh, why do I even bother?!

She stopped in her tracks, mentally organizing her priorities. Should I just grab a random history book? It might help with my Sequence 8. I mean, as a History Teacher, I should at least know some history, right?

... technically, I already do. But I can't exactly go around telling people the truth about the ancient Sun God and all that...

Grabbing a couple of history books, she set them on the table near a comfortable-looking chair. Uhm... What if I want to take a break? Maybe I should grab a novel or two.

Irina headed toward another section of the library. I should also find a book on languages—I have no idea how to speak ancient Hermes yet.

Then, a thought struck her. Oh, I know! Let's see if I can find something on Roselle's inventions. I'm curious how much he 'borrowed' from the modern world. Should I even call him a 'He'?

Hmm... Ah, there it is! 'The History of Roselle's Inventions.' That was easier than I thought.

Minutes later, she had piled two stacks of thick books, about ten in each. Maybe, just maybe, I overdid it... Oh well, too late now!

Settling into the chair, she dove into the first book. After finishing it, she moved on to the second. She laughed at some parts, then quickly started on the third. Oh, the Gods had a good time rewriting history and filling it with all this nonsense. 'History is written by the victors,' right, Roselle? I'm sure you 'invented' that saying too.

By the time she opened the fourth book, she had fallen into a steady rhythm, absorbed in her reading. As she neared the end of the 18th book, she was suddenly interrupted by a firm hand on her shoulder, shaking her.

"—hello?! Leonard calling Irina! Are you there?" The voice of the Poet cut through her concentration.

Irina glanced up, startled to find Leonard standing beside her. "Oh, hi Leonard. You know it's rude to interrupt someone like that, right? Anyway, what are you doing here?"

Leonard removed his hand, frowning. "I should be the one asking you that! You were supposed to be back at three, and now it's five! The captain sent me to find you after you didn't show up at four."

Irina blinked in confusion. "What are you talking about? I just sat down not long ago. I'm in the middle of something here."

Leonard looked at her like she'd lost her mind. "What are you talking about? The receptionist told me you entered the library around nine this morning! You've been here for more than eight hours."

"Heh? No way I—"

A loud growl echoed through the almost empty library. Irina's stomach. Leonard scowled at the sound.

"Apparently, you haven't eaten anything either. And here I thought girls usually took care of themselves," Leonard muttered. "Let's go. I'll help you with those books."

He moved away and picked up one of the piles of books.

"Yeah, just give me a second. I've got four pages left," Irina replied.

"Fine, but make it quick."

Irina hurried through the last few pages, and then began gathering the books to return them. As she was about to finish, she suddenly froze mid-motion. Leonard glanced at her and asked, "You alright?"

When she didn't respond, he stopped walking and turned to look at her.

"I— I— I need a bathroom. Right now!" Irina blurted out.

"I saw a sign near the entrance," Leonard said, surprised by her urgency.

"Thank you dear Poet!" she shouted as she bolted out of the room, nearly running for her life.

Leonard stood there, dumbfounded, watching her disappear down the hall.

"..."

Pallez's voice echoed in Leonard's mind. I didn't notice anything unusual. I still don't see why you're so fixated on her.

Leonard began reshelving the books, talking quietly to Pallez. "Don't you remember that strange feeling we had before meeting her? No one else was around. She must've been the cause."

I remember it well. And because of that, you should stop focusing on her. If she's hiding something, she'll just bury it deeper once she senses your suspicion, Pallez replied.

"So you do think something's off about her," Leonard pressed.

It was a fleeting sensation. What you felt couldn't have been caused by someone whose Sequence is 5, let alone an 8, as your colleagues believe she is. That had to be the work of an angel. Something she's clearly not. It could have been just a Sequence 1, or maybe 2 passing by.

Leonard relaxed slightly at the possibility that his new coworker wasn't a threat. "If you say so..."

She's still interesting, though, Pallez remarked, amusement in his tone.

Leonard tensed immediately, his voice turning serious. "What do you mean by that?"

A light chuckle resonated in Leonard's head.

She's good at what she does. Did you see how she played the situation yesterday? She had you right in her hands, toying with the moment like a child with a new toy. You didn't even notice, but she couldn't stop herself from laughing. You practically ran out of that room in tears, Pallez teased.

"I wasn't crying!" Leonard retorted, louder than intended. The heads of everyone in the library turned in his direction.

"Sorry..." he mumbled, embarrassed.

Pallez chuckled again, his voice brimming with amusement. Ah, youth.

Leonard didn't respond, silently resuming his task of putting the books back in their places.

The ride back to the security company was quiet, broken only by the occasional growls from Irina's stomach. Both sat across from each other, silently watching the scenery pass by. After a while, Leonard decided to break the awkward silence.

"So, about those books... why did you take so many? You can't possibly read 21 books in a day," he said, trying to lighten the mood.

Irina responded half-heartedly, "Hm? I was finishing my 18th when you interrupted me."

Leonard whipped his head towards her, shock written all over his face. "What?!"

She turned to face him, confused by his reaction. "Why are you so surprised?"

"I can't even finish half a book in a day!" he exclaimed.

She shrugged. "Well, unintelligent people usually can't read quickly, even if they have more hours in a day."

He's a Sleepless, so he doesn't need much sleep...

"..." Leonard fell silent, and Pallez chuckled in his mind.

See what I meant earlier? He teased.

Ignoring the voice in his head, Leonard continued watching Irina.

"I'm sorry you had to come fetch me. Apparently, I lost track of time. Allegedly, raising one's Sequence enhances certain abilities," she added, shifting the conversation.

Leonard was grateful for the change in topic. "So, you're a Sequence 8, then. With enhanced abilities, you read faster, but still—18 books in 8 hours?! That's over two books per hour! Do you even remember what any of them were about?"

Irina beamed at the question. "Yep! I could even summarize them for you. One of them was particularly interesting."

Leonard's curiosity piqued. "What was it about?"

"The story follows a lonely dragon who, after ruling a nation for many years, decides to step down and live a normal life to honor his deceased friend. But before he leaves, he puts the country through a test to ensure its strength. Something unexpected, however, disrupts his plans."

Leonard leaned forward, intrigued. "Does the country survive? What happens after?"

Just then, the carriage stopped in front of the security company.

"Oh, look! We're here. Let's go," she said, quickly opening the door and hopping down.

"Wait! You still haven't told me what happened!" Leonard called after her.

She looked back over her shoulder as she walked toward the building. "Don't worry about it. I'll tell you later."

Look at his face, Irina thought with amusement. He looks so confused.

"'Later'? What do you mean by that?" Leonard asked, still baffled.

In the Captain's office, Dunn sat quietly, listening to Irina and Leonard as they gave their report.

"It's alright," Dunn finally said. "We didn't know the specifics of your Sequence, so small accidents were to be expected. That's on me for not preparing better. I assumed, since your Sequence doesn't have offensive abilities, nothing serious would happen. Unless your Sequence 8 has changed that? Can you try meditating to discover your abilities and the name of your Sequence?"

Let my mind go blank. Imagine something that doesn't exist in this world. I have to follow this rule. That's the only way I can enter Cogitation and only then can I exceed the concept of 'I,' Irina recalled, remembering the description in the novel.

I'll just copy Klein's method and imagine three spheres of light...

She managed to slip into a shallow state of Cogitation, retrieving just enough information. Slowly, she came back to herself.

"I don't know any potion formulas or anything like that. But... the name of my Sequence is..." she trailed off, looking dejected.

Dunn leaned forward expectantly. "Yes?"

Irina sighed. "History Teacher."

Dunn and Leonard exchanged confused glances. "What's wrong with that?" Dunn asked.

"It's boring! And I still don't have any offensive abilities. None!" Irina exclaimed.

Neither Dunn nor Leonard looked particularly surprised.

"That's not unheard of," Dunn reassured her. "Some pathways don't gain offensive abilities until mid-sequence. So, what can you do?"

"I have some kind of protective ability... I think I've had it since Sequence 9, but I didn't notice until now. It doesn't seem active yet—it'll probably kick in when I really need it, but I don't know when that'll be."

Dunn nodded for her to continue.

"I can also determine the age of objects by looking at or touching them. And I can tell if a text is as old as it claims to be."

Dunn smiled. "That's useful—"

"Absolutely useless," Leonard cut in.

"Leonard!" Dunn scolded.

Irina's face fell, and she covered her face in her hands, clearly disappointed.

"It can be useful," Dunn insisted. "In many situations, I'm sure—"

Irina perked up, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "Like what, for example?"

"Like... uh..." Dunn hesitated, at a loss for words.

The spark in Irina's eyes faded. "See? You're lying!"

She buried her face in her hands again. Leonard glanced at Dunn. "Look what you did, Captain. Now she's crying."

Irina interjected before Dunn could respond, "It's not his fault... it's just the truth."

An uncomfortable silence settled over the room.

"It's fine, really," Irina said quietly. "I'll find a way to make it useful. I'm just curious about how the protection works... I wish it were more practical. Maybe Sequence 7 has some offensive abilities?"

"You're Sequence 7?" Dunn asked, surprised.

"If I am, I can't feel it," Irina replied.

Dunn encouraged her to meditate again, but Irina faked it this time.

"Nothing new," she lied.

It's not like I can tell them I know all the Sequences up to True God... she thought.

Dunn nodded. "Raising your Sequence isn't easy. You were already at 8, which is why it only took a day to understand it. The Church doesn't have the corresponding formulas for the next ones."

"I see... I guess I'll have to be lucky to advance," Irina said.

"Now, about today's issue—since you don't notice time passing while reading, it'd be smart to get a pocket watch and check it after each chapter or book. I have to admit, reading 18 books in 8 hours is impressive. Even people of the Reader pathway aren't that fast."

Irina grinned. "Hehe, I am speed."

Dunn and Leonard both stared at her, confused.

Of course they wouldn't get the reference, she thought.

"I just really love reading, especially novels. I've always read a lot, so I'm pretty fast," she explained.

Dunn nodded. "I understand. Now that we've cleared up your Sequence, you can officially start your normal work tomorrow. You'll have lessons with Old Neil to get a better grasp of the Bejonder world. For now, go home and rest."

Leonard chimed in, "Aren't you forgetting something, Captain?"

My savior! Irina thought. It'd be weird if I asked myself.

"What is he forgetting?" she asked.

Leonard shrugged. "I don't know, he's just usually forgetful."

"Oh! Right," Dunn remembered. "Which day would you like off?"

Ah, this!

"Monday! I can't wait until Tuesday for the new chapters!" Irina said enthusiastically.

"Chapters? Aren't books complete?" Leonard asked, confused.

"Well, yes, but not all novels. Some are updated weekly. In the library, most are updated on Mondays since it's right after the weekend."

Dunn nodded. "That shouldn't be a problem."

They bought it. The real reason I want Monday off is for the Tarot Club. I need to prepare... I can't wait for Klein to arrive next year! By then, I'll be a Sequence 6, a powerhouse in their eyes! He better not make me wait two years... I don't even know if I'll survive that long.

"Is that all, Captain?" Leonard asked, bringing Irina back to the present.

Irina grinned. "Right, is that all, Cap?"

"Cap?" Leonard asked, bewildered.

"Cap!" Irina repeated excitedly.

Both Leonard and Dunn stared at her, baffled.

Don't they use abbreviations in the Victorian era? Irina thought, confused.

In front of the Security Company, Irina broke the silence with a playful tone.

"I have lessons tomorrow," she stated. "Me, a History Teacher, becoming a student. It's quite funny when you think about it."

Leonard nodded, slightly amused. "I see your point."

That's ironic, Leonard thought to himself. Though, as a Sequence 8, it shouldn't have any negative consequences for her.

A strange silence settled between the two Nighthawks.

Why is she still hanging around? Doesn't she have somewhere to be?

After a brief pause, Irina spoke up, her voice tentative. "Sooo... you have the rest of the day free, right?"

Leonard glanced at her, slightly suspicious. "Yeah, why?"

A mischievous smile crept across Irina's face.

I don't like that look. What is she planning? Leonard thought.

Pallez chimed in, Is something fun going to happen? It's not every day someone so boldly messes with you like she does.

With a playful glint in her eye, Irina declared, "My dear, adorable poet~"

Leonard let out an exhausted sigh. "Yes, Irina? What do you need?"

This can't be good...

Irina's smile grew wider. "Get ready. We're going on a date!"

Leonard's eyes widened in shock. "What?!"

Pallez, clearly entertained, added, Oh.