Ascendance of a Bookworm (LN) - Volume 5.1 - Chapter 4

The New Librarian

Every single Ehrenfest student attended their classes the next day, and before we knew it...

“All the first-years passed!”

Theodore gleefully reported this achievement, overjoyed to have passed his first-ever class. We shared in his excitement while we all ate lunch together. Brunhilde had informed me that the fifth-years had all passed with ease, and we third-years had, of course, done the same.

“That said, Theodore—we third-years not only passed, but we also did so with perfect marks. Heh heh heh...”

I couldn’t suppress a chuckle. As third-years, we had exams for both our shared classes and our specialty courses. Today we had done the exams for our shared classes, which required us to recall the names of all the gods. Naturally, this was a simple task for those of us who had been raised with karuta and picture books. It was so easy, in fact, that it had actually been a little underwhelming.

“If your exam was that straightforward, then even I would have gotten a perfect score,” Theodore muttered. “I wish I were a third-year already...”

I turned my attention to his sister. “Judithe, the fourth-years have written lessons this afternoon, correct?”

“Correct. And we’re all going to pass,” she replied with a confident grin. “We didn’t spend the past year studying for nothing.”

Theodore joked that she would need to be careful about tripping over her own feet and somehow failing—and it was then that an ordonnanz flew in.

“Lady Rozemyne, this is Solange. The Sovereignty has sent a new librarian and asked that she be registered with Schwartz and Weiss. When will you have the time to come by?”

The message repeated twice more, and the joy in her voice was unmistakable. She had waited years for another librarian to be sent from the Sovereignty, and now she wouldn’t need to spend the majority of the year all alone, nor would she have to do all the work by herself.

I gazed up at Rihyarda, who was serving me, and she nodded with a smile. “The registration should not take long. We may head there after eating. The librarian will certainly struggle to carry out her duties without having Schwartz and Weiss registered to her. I must stress, however, that there will not be any time for you to read, milady.”

“N-Not even a little?” I asked, desperate. It hadn’t taken very long at all to register Hildebrand and Hannelore, so I couldn’t see why we wouldn’t have time.

Rihyarda sighed. “I will shut your book the very instant the library signals it is time to leave, whether you like it or not.”

Woo-hoo! Library time! Library time!

I told Solange that I would be going to the library after lunch, then asked my retainers to prepare.

Theodore smiled. “This is exciting. I’ve never been to the Royal Academy’s library before.”

“Um... as you have not yet been registered, I am afraid you cannot accompany us today,” I said. I understood the joys of one’s first trip to the library painfully well, but he would simply have to wait.

Theodore slumped over, clearly disappointed. “So out of all your retainers, I’m the only one who has to stay behind...?”

“I will make arrangements for you and the other new students to be registered. Please be patient until then,” I said, trying to console him both as his lady and as an older student. In truth, however, I was struggling not to break into a smile.

Because, I mean, his pouty expression makes him look just like Judithe whenever she’s all, “But I’m a guard knight too”! They really are siblings!

There was no denying that the similarity was adorable, but I elected to stifle my laughter; pointing it out now would only make Theodore feel even worse. But then Judithe tipped me over the edge. “Pouting like that in front of your lady is embarrassing!” she said, wagging a finger at him and putting on a “big sister” face despite the fact that she always pouted as well.

Unable to contain it any longer, I suddenly burst into laughter—and then my retainers all did the same.

“Wh-What’s with everyone?” she asked. “What’s going on?”

We couldn’t stop laughing. They were even similar in how they looked around at us all, lost for words. It took Leonore, who was holding a hand over her mouth to maintain some semblance of elegance, to clarify.

“Theodore’s pouting expression looks identical to your own when you wail about not receiving work as a guard knight, Judithe.”

“We are not identical, Leonore!” they both shouted at the exact same time—which only served to make us laugh even harder.

And so we started toward the library, leaving behind Theodore, who was still pouting about us all having laughed at him. Lieseleta spoke cautiously as we trudged down the hallway.

“Um, Lady Rozemyne... does this new librarian mean that you will no longer be Schwartz and Weiss’s master?”

“I imagine so? Schwartz and Weiss are the library’s magic tools, and their master was once an archnoble librarian, so it makes sense that I would return them now.”

I had been providing the two shumils with mana both to make my time in the library more comfortable and to assist with its management, but it wasn’t like I was invested in being their master. It was best for them to go to the new archnoble librarian, whom Solange had so fervently hoped for while running the library by her lonesome.

“Even knowing that this is how things must be, I cannot help but feel it is a shame...” Lieseleta said, resting a hand on her cheek and letting out a truly disappointed sigh. It was a rare sight; she seldom expressed her feelings so openly. “Their new master will need to prepare new clothes for them, I presume? I went out of my way to fashion some new outfits for them to wear, but it seems we will not have an opportunity to use them.”

Because we had put all of our embroidery on the vest and apron, we could swap out any other parts of the shumils’ clothes with ease. Lieseleta had apparently made a new dress and pair of pants for them.

“You truly do love shumils, don’t you?” Philine and Judithe said in perfect unison before heaving emotional sighs.

Lieseleta blushed a little, embarrassed. “I do, but I did this to market Ehrenfest’s new dyeing method.”

“Well, at the very least, it will take some time for the new clothes to be prepared after the exchange. It took us an entire year, even with Ferdinand assisting us. If we first consult Professor Solange and the new librarian, then I am sure they will allow us to provide Schwartz and Weiss with new outfits for the year.”

It was possible that the Sovereignty could prepare new clothes faster than we could in Ehrenfest, but even then, I couldn’t imagine that they would be finished prior to Lieseleta’s graduation.

It certainly will prove a challenge, trying to supply Schwartz and Weiss with mana while at the same time dyeing the cloth and thread for their embroidery.

“Lady Rozemyne, thank you ever so much for taking the time to come to the library on your very busy first day.”

Solange greeted me from outside the reading room, having been waiting with Schwartz and Weiss. We exchanged the usual, lengthy noble greetings, then began walking to the office. Only now that I was here in the library did I really feel that I was back at the Royal Academy.

“It is good that a new librarian has been sent from the Sovereignty, but she will not be able to do her work if she cannot touch Schwartz and Weiss,” Solange explained. “As she is an archnoble, I thought it best that we transition ownership to her as soon as possible.”

It seemed that she felt deeply troubled about relying on a student for their mana when they needed it for their classes. She also regretted that my ownership of the two shumils had forced me into a ditter game against Dunkelfelger that I would rather have avoided.

“Furthermore, you are taking both the scholar and archduke candidate courses starting this year, no?” Solange continued. “Taking two courses at once will require a great deal of mana, so I am glad the librarian arrived in time for this year.” Her blue eyes wrinkled in a caring smile, and the realization that she had genuinely been worried for me made a warmth spread through my chest.

“I, too, am glad you finally have somebody to work with, Professor Solange, after spending so long working in the library alone.”

“Oh, yes. Even just having someone to speak with cannot be compared to working alone. This new librarian is a bookworm like you, Lady Rozemyne, so I am sure you will become fast friends.”

“I am looking forward to meeting her. Her being a woman is also convenient, as she shouldn’t take issue with the tools calling her ‘milady.’”

We continued toward Solange’s office. I was excited to see what kind of person this bookworm librarian was... but when we stepped inside, she was far from the only one waiting for me.

“Professor Solange... isn’t there only one new librarian?” I asked.

“Indeed, but as this is the handover of a royal heirloom, it was decided that royalty should also be present. You were an exception, Lady Rozemyne, as you registered your mana without even touching them.”

I averted my eyes, aware that it was exceptionally bizarre to become the owner of two magic tools by praying to the gods out of excitement and popping out a blessing after registering at a library. Even I started to blink in surprise when I thought back on the things I had done.

Aaanyway... Royals must have it rough if they’re obligated to attend even a simple registration. Or, actually... is this kind of thing why there always needs to be a member of the royal family in the Royal Academy?

“Rozemyne.”

“Lady Rozemyne. It has been some time.”

Our arrival clearly hadn’t gone unnoticed. The royal family’s retainers moved to the walls to make space—and to my surprise, Hildebrand wasn’t my only unexpected guest. Eglantine was with him as well. I widened my eyes, not having expected to see her.

“Lady Eglantine, why are you here at the Royal Academy?” I asked.

“Ahaha. Surprised, I see. In truth, I have been tasked with serving as the professor of the archduke candidate course. We will be seeing a lot more of each other from now on.”

The professor who had been teaching the archduke candidate course before was a fairly old member of a branch of the royal family and had told the king that they wished to retire soon. Eglantine had then been selected as a replacement.

A noblewoman marrying a prince and then becoming an academy professor, hm? True love stories are stranger than fiction.

I certainly hadn’t considered that I might see Eglantine again in the Royal Academy—let alone as one of my professors. It was a surprise, but also a welcome one, as the last thing I wanted was another professor like Fraularm bothering me.

“Lady Rozemyne, allow me to introduce you,” Eglantine said, then indicated the forty-something-year-old next to her. “This is Hortensia, the Royal Academy’s new archnoble librarian.”

Hortensia had distinctive, light-blue hair, and she exuded a kindness similar to Eglantine’s. Judging by her age, she was likely a scholar just returning to work after raising her children. It was good to know that she would probably mesh well with Solange.

“I should point out that I could have done this on my own,” Hildebrand informed me. “Lady Eglantine asked me if she could attend as well. I do not need her help or anything.”

The thought hadn’t even crossed my mind, but I recalled Sylvester saying before that Hildebrand wasn’t massively aware of his status as a royal. Maybe part of the reason for Eglantine being here really was to ensure that he carried out his duty correctly.

“Hortensia was from Klassenberg before she moved to the Sovereignty,” Eglantine said. “The two of us have spent some time together in the past, so I came to introduce her myself. I also wished to see you again, Lady Rozemyne, so I could not pass up this opportunity.” She then gave me a smile that contained a hint of playfulness—in notable contrast to Hortensia’s more reserved expression. Still, the two women came across as very similar. Thinking back, the dormitory supervisor Primevere seemed much the same. Maybe all women from Klassenberg were this kind and gentle.

And as an aside, Eglantine is even more beautiful now that she’s gotten married and is living such a joyous life...

“Lady Rozemyne, may I pray for a blessing in appreciation of this serendipitous meeting, ordained by the harsh judgment of Ewigeliebe the God of Life?” Hortensia asked, snapping me back to reality. She had stepped forward and knelt while I was looking over Eglantine.

I stood up straight and said, “You may.”

“I am Hortensia. I look forward to working with you.”

Once the light of the blessing had flown and our greetings were concluded, Hortensia stood up and turned to Solange. “This may run into Lady Rozemyne’s afternoon class if we do not move things along. Solange, how does one go about changing the tools’ master?”

“The former master will grant you permission to touch Schwartz and Weiss, which will allow you to touch the feystones on their foreheads and start to overwrite her mana with your own,” Solange explained. It was a similar process to when Hildebrand and Hannelore had registered their mana.

“Lady Rozemyne, may I take ownership of the tools?” Hortensia asked me with a calm smile.

Everyone in the room tensed up at once. Watching me were two members of the royal family and their retainers—many more people than I had expected. I never would have thought that a handover of royal heirlooms would draw so much attention.

I guess I remember someone saying that becoming the master of a royal magic tool is a great honor or something?

Feeling a little awkward with so many eyes on me, I called Schwartz and Weiss over. Naturally, I took care to warn others not to touch them, then said, “Schwartz, Weiss, I grant Professor Hortensia permission to touch you both, such that she might register herself as your new master.”

“Hortensia. Permission granted.”

“Registering.”

Hortensia reached out and touched their feystones—and with that, the mana registration was complete.

“But, Solange, we did the same thing when I registered with them...” Hildebrand said, his confusion clear on his face. “Is that really all you have to do to become their master?”

“Oh, no, Your Highness. Hortensia will become their master only when the mana she has supplied them surpasses Lady Rozemyne’s. It may take some time, as I just finished resupplying them with mana from her feystone the other day.”

Solange then returned the large feystone that she had used from spring to autumn, offering me a few words of gratitude as she did so. I gave the feystone to Rihyarda and asked her to put it away.

“What is that feystone?” Hildebrand asked.

“It would be problematic if Schwartz and Weiss were to stop moving between spring and autumn, so Lady Rozemyne lent me this feystone containing her mana,” Solange replied, which made everyone present widen their eyes.

“She gave you a feystone that large...?” Hildebrand asked. “Is it really that big of a deal if the magic tools stop working when nobody’s attending the Academy?”

Now I was the confused one. Winter certainly was the busiest time of year for Solange, but she had work to do during the other seasons too—plus, she needed Schwartz and Weiss around so that she wouldn’t be so alone.

“The library struggles to run without Schwartz and Weiss,” I said. “And as I am so enamored with books, it is obvious that I would use my mana to make the library more comfortable.”

“Is it obvious...?”

“But of course. I do not think it that surprising that someone would spend their mana on what is precious to them...”

“Lady Rozemyne certainly does love books to a shocking degree,” Solange said with a knowing smile. “Her efforts have saved me on many an occasion. Oh, and that reminds me—Lady Rozemyne, do take care not to supply mana to Schwartz and Weiss until the change in ownership has stabilized. If you continue to supply them, then the change may never occur no matter how much time passes.”

In other words, she was asking me to stop doing work for my Library Committee. It was a shame, but I nodded in agreement; I understood what a huge problem I would cause otherwise.

“I worry that I might still touch them by instinct, so I will avoid coming to the library as much as I can moving forward,” I said.

“What...?” Hildebrand muttered. My retainers—and everyone else, for that matter—were similarly blinking in surprise.

Solange alone smiled and nodded. “Indeed,” she said. “As you are taking two courses this year, I ask that you focus on your studies like any other student.”

“Oh my. But, as it stands, I am already fully prepared,” I replied, my chest puffed out.

“I would expect nothing less. You are as reliable as always.”

Hildebrand watched on in a daze. “But will you be able to resist the urge to read books...?” he asked, his voice almost a whisper.

“I will not, no—nor do I plan to,” I replied. “I recently came into possession of something that I sought for so long: my own library.”

“Whaaat?!”

“Thus, I am taking inspiration from the library here in the Royal Academy and will spend this year researching magic tools that I can use in my own. There are a great many documents that I intend to reference to this end, so I will not have any shortage of reading material. I shall work my hardest to make my dream library a reality.”

“How wonderful,” Solange said, sharing in my celebration. “You are searching for ways to make magic tools as efficient as possible, as you told me last year, correct? Please do show me what you come up with. We may want some here as well.”

Even now that Hortensia was here, Solange was still expressing an interest in my redesigned magic tools. She must have picked up on my confusion, as she went on to tell me more about the library.

“Back when I first started serving here, there were three archnoble and two mednoble librarians. Some previous generations had even more staff. There is still going to be a limit to what Hortensia and I can accomplish together, and for that reason, we would very much appreciate you assistants continuing to provide us your mana—though only in a capacity that does not burden you. Lady Rozemyne—we must, of course, ask you to wait until your ownership has been fully transferred.”

It seemed that my Library Committee wasn’t being disbanded just yet. That was a relief.

“Do send word once the ownership has been transferred. Then I can start providing my assistance again. Oh, and incidentally—I wish to schedule the registration of new students,” I said, suddenly recalling that Theodore was waiting all alone back at the dormitory.

Solange took out a board and started to write something. “I see that we can expect Ehrenfest first once again. Understood. I will send a letter once everything has been decided. And with that said... will we be having another bookworm tea party this year?”

“A bookworm tea party?” Hortensia asked.

“Indeed. We come together to have tea and exchange books. It is something that I very much look forward to after having spent such a long time here on my own. Though with Lady Rozemyne taking two courses and the matter of Schwartz and Weiss’s ownership, we may not have an opportunity this year.”

Solange had evidently been looking forward to our tea parties together, and realizing this made me want to hold another one no matter what.

“I already have some new books to offer,” I said. “We may have to hold the tea party later than we did last year, but I would certainly love for us to have another—assuming that I can finish my classes before the library becomes busy, that is.”

“Lady Rozemyne, do allow me to attend, if so. I can recommend a few books of my own,” Hortensia said.

My eyes lit up at the very idea; a Sovereign noble from Klassenberg was bound to recommend some books that I didn’t even know about. “I will strive to finish my classes as soon as possible.”

“Rozemyne, I want to join too,” Hildebrand said, suggesting himself with a smile. It made sense that he wanted to join us, since he had attended our previous tea party, but...

This isn’t good... I was told to avoid interacting with the royal family and the Sovereignty. What should I do?

Arthur, who was standing behind the prince, received this idea with a strict frown. Eglantine looked equally troubled as she said, “It is not proper for a member of the royal family to make a request of others in such a manner. Furthermore, did Lady Rozemyne not collapse during last year’s tea party? I am sure that she received quite a scolding from Aub Ehrenfest for passing out in the presence of royalty.”

“Is that true, Rozemyne?” Hildebrand asked, looking at me anxiously.

Telling him that it hadn’t been a problem would ease his worries, but I wanted to keep our interactions to a minimum. Everyone had given me so many warnings already, and I still wasn’t sure what I should and shouldn’t say. At the same time, however, saying that Sylvester had scolded me would probably make Hildebrand less likely to attend. I didn’t know how to answer.

“Thus, in order for Lady Rozemyne to avoid another scolding, it would be best for us to invite her instead,” Eglantine informed the prince. “Lady Rozemyne, what say we have another tea party when you are in good health?”

“That would be delightful, Lady Eglantine.” Her position as my guardian angel hadn’t changed even now that she had graduated, so I eagerly accepted her help.

That’s Lady Eglantine for you!

There was no longer any time for me to read, so I got ready to head to my afternoon class. Schwartz and Weiss hopped over to see me off, but as I went to leave, they pointed at the door to the reading room.

“Milady. Pray.”

“Gramps is waiting.”

That reminded me—they had said something similar last year and then pushed me to pray to the Mestionora statue on the second floor. Maybe this “gramps” wanted mana once per year or something. It hadn’t come up since, so the whole thing had completely slipped my mind.

Still, I was told to hold off on supplying my mana... I thought. Hortensia would need to start supplying hers as their new owner.

“Schwartz, Weiss—it has become Professor Hortensia’s job to provide you with mana, so you should seek her assistance instead of mine henceforth,” I announced. “I will start coming by to help out once the change in ownership is complete.” I then reached out, stroked their feystones... and supplied them with a little bit of mana.

Ah, whoops... Force of habit. At this rate, the ownership will never transfer over. I’ll just keep things simple and stay in Professor Hirschur’s lab this year.