The pope turned back. ‘Hmfff… I must be really tired dealing with those pests all day. Before I knew it, I began blabbering to that boy. Then again, I guess he is not that bad. Trying to find ways to learn his gift faster, huh? I guess I should show more respect to him to please him. I thought I might have to force him to learn the nectar method after he found out he can cultivate. It seems that won’t be necessary.’
After the pope was out of sight, Roland gave a big sigh, “Hmf-fff… I thought I was seeing things. Our straightforward and noble Pope bowed to someone? And that too because he made a mistake by saying something he wasn’t supposed to? That can happen too?”
Jiro looked back at the big guy. “Come on. Why do you guys fear him so much? He isn’t that scary, is he?”
“Sage-sama. You say that because you haven’t seen his usual face yet. From the moment you came to the Temple, I think I have never seen the pope get angry at anyone, at all. That is not how things usually happen, you know. We always tiptoe around him. Fearing when he might find some fault.”
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s go to my room for now. It is late. Tsunade-san should’ve already come by my room with dinner by now. And who knows where that girl, Ruby, is. That cunning girl is always trying to get friendly with the servants of the Temple. She thinks I don’t know. But I already have my eyes on her. Who knows who is going to fall for her guilt trip. She sure knows many ways to get favor from people around her. I don’t know if I should feel at ease or worry about that fact.”
While walking toward the room of the Sage-sama with the sage himself, Roland was casually snacking on some peanuts from his pouch on his waist belt. “Isn’t that good, Sage-sama? That she is making friends? Why do you have to keep an eye on her for such things? I think she is a good girl. Pretty too. Who knows, she might just be trying to secure her master’s stance in the Temple by making allies here, you know? After all, she is only a slave to you. She might feel like if she is of no use to you, you might kick her out.”
Jiro gave the longest sigh, “Hum-ffff, if only it were that simple.”
***
On the morning of the fourth day in the capital, Jiro found himself standing in front of a massive stone building nearly an hour’s carriage ride from the Temple. Follow the newest chapters on novelping . com.
The Royal Academy’s central library sat at the heart of the academy district. It was larger than any structure in Doldia and most of the buildings he had seen in the capital so far. Wide steps led up to tall bronze doors. Banners of the academy hung motionless in the still air. Students in neat robes moved up and down the stairs in small groups, their voices low out of respect for the place.
Ruby, the slave girl of Jiro, walked beside him, neck craned back, mouth slightly open.
“Whoaaa… This place is ridiculous,” she muttered under her breath. “You could fit the entire Temple market in here and still have room left over.”
Jiro didn’t answer. His attention was already on the crest hidden under his left sleeve. Tsunade told him before coming here that he could only gain access to the forbidden section of the library if he had that mark of Sage. Even if he had a whole Temple knight battalion with him, they still wouldn’t let him in. That is how strict things are in here.
After enough gazing around, they entered through the main doors. The interior hit them with the dry, clean scent of old paper and preserving oils. The main hall was enormous, rows of towering shelves that seemed to stretch forever, ladders on rails, high windows letting in shafts of pale light that turned the floating dust into slow-moving gold. Soft footsteps and the occasional rustle of turning pages were the only sounds in this absurdly big space.
Roland and his full escort team were left behind at the exit of the library, as it was not allowed for enforcement to have entry in this place. Only Jiro and Ruby entered.
Ruby turned in a slow circle, eyes wide.
Jiro approached the long desk near the entrance where a middle-aged woman in muted archivist robes sat reviewing a ledger. When he stopped in front of her, she looked up with polite professional indifference.
He pushed back his sleeve and showed the dark, star-shaped crest on his left forearm.
The change in her expression was immediate. The indifference vanished immediately upon seeing the crest of Sages. She stood and offered a deep, precise bow.
‘Hmm, so almost every influential person in the capital knows about this crest for real?! Even if they might never meet the Sage in person in their lifetime, they still learn about it? Interesting.’ New chapters come out on novelping.com first.
“Sage-sama. Welcome to the Royal Academy Library. How may we serve you?”
“I need access to the forbidden section,” Jiro said. “Records concerning previous Sages and any experimental or hybrid methods of their gift activation. I was told this is the place I should come to.”
The archivist’s gaze flicked briefly to Ruby, then back to him. Her voice remained respectful but firm.
“Of course, Sage-sama. It is indeed the place. You may enter, of course. However, attendants and slaves are not permitted beyond the threshold of the restricted stacks. The wards will not allow it, and the rules are absolute, I fear.” She said in a respectful manner.
Jiro glanced over his shoulder. Ruby met his eyes and gave a small, unconcerned shrug. She was already drifting toward a nearby open shelf of historical volumes as though the ordinary collection alone was treasure enough for slaves like her.
“I’ll wait here,” she said simply. “Go find what you need, master. Just try not to get lost.”
Jiro nodded once, thanked the archivist, and followed her directions toward the far end of the main hall. Though he felt a little guilty toward Ruby, he knew he couldn’t exactly do anything about this.