Chapter 92
Chapter 92. Welcome Banquet for the Envoys
“Ah, no. I think I need to go into the city.”
“Yawn~ Then let’s go together.”
Henelone shook her head, glancing up at the high sun and estimating the time. If she went to the city, shopped, and sent the mail, it would probably overlap with her regular leaving time.
Since no one was staying behind to watch the library, it seemed smarter to just finish work for the day and leave straight from the city.
“It’ll probably be late by the time I get back, so I think it’s better to just end work here today. I’ll head home directly from the city.”
“Hey now, I’m the security guard. I can’t just let the librarian wander alone. The captain asked me so earnestly, too.”
“Hmm… I’ve been wondering—why do you call Heinz ‘captain’?”
“Oh that, it’s just stuck on my tongue. Can’t shake it.”
Roger scratched his head awkwardly and smacked his lips at her question.
Flustered, Henelone waved her hands. She’d only asked out of curiosity, not to criticize.
Then, surprised by what he said next, she opened her mouth in shock.
“I was just curious!”
“Oh, I’m a former pirate.”
“…Heinz too…?”
“Mhm? Young Lady, didn’t you know?”
Heinz was a pirate!
***
“The captain took the Harfield ship all on his own and pulled out the sail. I mean, wow~ Was that a man or a bear?”
“He pulled out the sail? Seriously?”
“Well, it was big and half-broken, but still! He yanked it out and then, you won’t believe it, he swung that sail like a weapon, and bam! The Harfield guys flew into the sea like they’d been torn apart!”
“Wow…”
Roger turned out to be a much better storyteller than she expected.
The whole time they were in the city, he told her tales about Heinz and his feats.
His stories were so vivid that Henelone lost track of time, completely absorbed.
“And right at that moment, I showed up—clang!—and struck the sword aiming for the captain’s back! If not for me, he would’ve died right there. That wasn’t the first time either. I’ve saved him more times than I can count!”
Of course, most of the stories were about Roger himself, but Henelone carefully listened for the bits about Heinz.
Heinz, when he was a pirate, was rough, merciless and cool.
“He was the one who took down the Harfield pirates…”
“Well, to be exact, the captain and I.”
“Heinz is really incredible…”
“I’m pretty incredible too.”
The Highgate pirates of Harfield were infamous. Even Henelone, who’d grown up in the capital, had heard of them.
They attacked the trade routes between the Günther Empire and Harfield Kingdom, lived off piracy, and even dealt in human trafficking. Their growth had been rapid and terrifying.
That’s why the Günther and Harfield navies joined forces to launch a massive crackdown.
But it was Heinz who destroyed the group. Henelone couldn’t even imagine how dangerous and intense that battle must’ve been.
And that wasn’t all. His achievements extended beyond the fall of Highgate. Henelone had also heard of the Battle of Brenicke, and several other large and small sea skirmishes.
All of Heinz’s past, as told by Roger, was filled with life-threatening battles.
“He’s been through so much, and yet doesn’t have a single scar… Heinz really is amazing.”
“That’s all because I kept saving him. Hm? Wait—how do you know he doesn’t have any scars?”
“Heuk—th-that, uh… so…”
Startled by Roger’s sharp question, Henelone glanced around nervously. She couldn’t think of a good excuse.
Roger’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.
“Don’t tell me—you and the captain…”
“Bookstore!”
“Huh?”
“I need to stop by the bookstore!”
A familiar bookstore came into view ahead, glowing like salvation.
Henelone, desperate to avoid more questions, ran ahead and kicked the door open.
Roger, left behind, burst into laughter and followed her, snickering.
***
“Welcome…?”
Jingle! The bookstore door swung open with a sharp chime.
The clerk, who had just finished sorting a fresh stack of books, flinched and greeted instinctively.
Faded wheat-colored hair, a mischievous face, and freckles scattered like stars—Henelone gave a small bow to the familiar face.
The startled clerk blinked, then recognized her and came over with a bright smile.
“Oh my, Librarian! You’re here at just the right time!”
“Huh?”
“I heard there’s a ton of books coming in this time!”
Henelone’s heart gave a reflexive thump. She looked at the clerk with anticipation as the girl proudly held up one of the books piled beside the counter.
“Ta-da! Look at this, it’s a book from the Eastern Continent!”
“Ah… the Eastern Continent…”
The cover was worn and aged, marked with strange, complicated symbols she couldn’t decipher.
Henelone, who had initially perked up, let her excitement fade—it wasn’t the book she had been hoping for. She responded flatly, only to suddenly scream in realization.
“Wait, the Eastern Continent?!”
“Yes! Now that the Harfield pirates are gone, the sea route’s wide open, right? This time, a trade ship brought in goods from the Eastern Continent! Hehe, I grabbed a few books right away. What do you think? Isn’t it amazing?”
