Chapter 16

The next day.

I half-heartedly listened to the class, and in the afternoon, we came to the library.

"I'd like to see the magic books of the Second Form of all attributes."

"Sure, no problem. Please wait a moment."

When I spoke to the librarian at the reception, she said this and went to the back of the library, returning with four magic books. "Here you are." She was quite friendly. Being good-looking really does have its advantages.

"......Alright."

After flipping through the fire attribute attack magic "Second Form" magic book, I opened my status and confirmed that "Fire Attribute · Second Form" had been added to the magic skill list, then handed the magic book to Sylvia.

It wasn't about "deep understanding" or anything. Probably because I had used this magic in my previous life, it was determined that I already deeply understood it. I wonder. Well, it doesn't matter as long as I can remember it.

"Hey, is it already good?"

"Yeah, I've learned it."

"...You're as always."

Glancing at Sylvia, who had a look of exasperation, I flipped through the remaining three books and handed them to her.

Okay, I've learned them all. Next is the Third Form.

"Excuse me, is it possible to see the magic books of the Third Form?"

"Um... please wait a moment."

The librarian, slightly puzzled, went to the back of the library.

After a while, she returned with a plump woman in her fifties with heavy makeup.

"Nice to meet you, I'm the head librarian, Silk. You're the rumored exchange student, right?"

"Yes, I'm Second."

The woman's name is Silk, but she doesn't look like Silk at all. She's more like a furoshiki with a pattern of Tang grass that's been wrapped up and puffed up.

"You're so handsome! It's an honor to meet you."

"Y-Yes."

She shook my hand firmly. Her hands felt like soft cream buns, but the purple nail polish made them look like poisonous buns.

"Alright. You want to see the magic books of the Third Form, right? May I ask you a few questions?"

"Sure."

"First, could you tell me your purpose?"

Silk asked with a smile, but her eyes weren't smiling.

"In my country, they are quite rare, so I want to take a look."

"I see. So, you were just flipping through the Second Form books?"

"Yes, they were quite rare."

"Please don't take this the wrong way, but if you're not really interested in the content, the Third Form might be similar to the Second Form, and flipping through it might not be very interesting."

Hmm.

"No, that's not the case. There's a lot to be learned from the book itself, not just the content."

"Such as?"

Grr.

"For example, the thoughts and history of the people who have used it before. Since it's rare, just holding it is quite moving."

"I see. However, it's difficult to lend it out for that reason..."

Damn, this old lady is tough.

"To be honest, lending out the Third Form books requires permission from various parties, and a legitimate reason that can be documented is necessary. I'm sorry, but I have to decline the loan this time."

"...I understand. It's a shame."

Gah, it didn't work! I underestimated her—damn it.

Silk bowed and left with a smile, which was quite annoying.

I need to think of another way...

"Second, how did it go?"

When I returned to Sylvia, she asked me, and I told her it didn't work. Sylvia, for some reason, seemed pleased and said, "Even Second has his limits," which made me angry, so I told her to hurry up and learn and gave her a headbutt.

Sylvia, who had memorized the infantry archery and mounted archery skills in about 15 minutes at Comiket, had struggled for about an hour to memorize the First Form magic book, grunting and groaning. It was probably due to "deep understanding" or a difference in talent. It's typical of Sylvia to struggle so much with magic despite being a magic archer type.

"Hmm, can you memorize it in two weeks... Second, do you have any tips?"

Sylvia asked for help.

Tips—my least favorite word. When I was the world's best player in my previous life, new players would ask, "Can you teach me how to get stronger?" or "Are there any tips for raising my PS?" in the chat, which was extremely annoying. Their selfish intentions to take shortcuts to become the best were obvious, and it was very unpleasant.

But surprisingly, when I heard the word "tips" for the first time in this world, I wasn't at all uncomfortable.

Sylvia was asking for tips out of concern that "if she can't memorize it in two weeks, it will be a burden to Second." Her consideration felt very pleasant. It was a world of difference from my previous life. I was even happy to be relied on.

"Alright, I was planning to act separately today, but I'll change my plans. I'll teach you."

I savored the joy of teaching someone for the first time in my life and sat next to Sylvia, who looked both apologetic and happy.

"That's it for today."

When it was time for the library to close, I closed the magic book that had been open. It was the first time I had properly read the contents of a magic book, and the text was long and difficult, like a thesis.

It would be better to know more practical things. I told Sylvia everything I could remember about the effects of the magic, the situations in which it should be used, and the monsters it was effective against, like a strategy wiki.

Sylvia listened to me with interest, taking notes and asking questions, like a serious student.

"Did you memorize it?"

"...No, sorry. Not yet."

"Alright. Don't worry about it."

When I asked, Sylvia shook her head apologetically. Of course, you can't memorize it in one day; otherwise, there would be no need for a magic school.

We returned the magic books and left the library.

Stretching, I started to walk back.

"Whoa!"

A small cat-eared girl appeared in front of me.

She opened her cat-like eyes wide and shouted, then opened her mouth wide and stared at me.

Her greenish-blue eyes reflected the corridor lights, and her sharp teeth were visible at the corners of her mouth. Her chestnut, fluffy short hair had ears sticking out, and even a tail peeked out from behind her skirt. A cat?

...But what a ridiculous face.

"Super handsome!"

She spoke.

"Me?"

"Yeah!"

She's cute.

"I'm Eco Leaflet! And you are?"

"Second."

"Second!"

Eco called my name and approached with a big smile.

Then she noticed Sylvia behind me.

"Oh! Who are you?"

"I'm Sylvia Virginia. Nice to meet you."

"Sylvia! Nice to meet you!"

She shook hands with a smile and waved her hand back and forth, which made Sylvia look uncomfortable.

Looking at her makes me feel happy.

A pet animal, no, a completely harmless girl like her being called a "fallen beast person" and bullied... It's unacceptable. I can't let it go.

"Hey, Eco, do you have any problems?"

I asked, thinking it might be meddlesome, but I couldn't help it.

"Huh? No, not really?"

She doesn't seem to have any problems. Huh?

"Really? If you have any problems, you can tell me. I'll try to help."

"Really!? Thank you!"

Aww, she's so cute. I want to... no, I want to be friends with her.

But there's one thing that bothers me.

"Hey, what's this big load?"

It's a cart next to Eco, loaded with a pile of luggage about as tall as her, about 1.4 meters.

"This? This is something everyone asked me to do."

Ah, I see, I see.

You're running errands. I understand.

Looking closely, the luggage was all books. They must be the books to be returned by the entire F class. She brought such a large amount of books on a cart to the library by herself... That's brave.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I'm pretty strong, you know."

Eco puffed out her flat chest and said proudly, "Huh-huh."

"Alright. But since you're here, I'll help you."

"Really!?"

"Yeah. I'll help you myself. It's a rare opportunity, so feel honored."

When I said this in a grand manner, Eco was delighted for a moment, then looked sad for some reason.

"Second, thank you! ...But, I'll do this by myself."

"Huh? Why?"

"Because I can only be useful to this extent. So, I'll try my best to help everyone. If I can be more useful, I think everyone will be nice to me."

"......"

Suddenly, my heart ached.

I remembered something.

What did I remember?

A voice from the depths of my heart said, "Stop it."

Stop it, Eco. It's...

"See you!"

Eco waved her hand cheerfully and started to move the luggage.

Seeing her straightforward and desperate efforts, her earnest attempts, and the gears of her efforts that never meshed... I remembered the "pain" at its core.

Futile.

No matter how much I played online games, nothing would come of it.

Even if I worked harder than anyone and became the world's best, it was still just an online game.

I knew it best.

Betting my life on something like this is futile.

"......It's futile..."

I tasted the depths of despair and was made to realize it to the point of nausea.

How futile my efforts were.

How foolish, how worthless, and how hopeless I was.

I chewed on it over and over again, and then died in a disgraceful manner.

I ran away. I ran away to online games because reality was unchangeable. I ran away from society because it was troublesome. I ran away from people. I ran away from life. I ran away because I didn't like it. Like a child throwing a tantrum because things didn't go as I wanted, I was irrationally angry at the injustice I had arbitrarily perceived, and I repeated self-deception and justification. In the end, I irresponsibly abandoned everything and ran away from life.

And I came to this world.

It was a miracle. It could be called a divine blessing. I, who was so hopeless, was miraculously saved.

...But, will a miracle happen for Eco? There's no guarantee.

Eco will eventually experience a similar despair to mine.

Or perhaps she already has.

I can feel her pain.

That's why. Because I realized it, I want to save her with my own hands...

"Second?"

Sylvia's worried voice brought me back to reality.

Eco had already finished moving the luggage and was no longer there.

"......Sorry. Let's go back."

I left the school building with Sylvia.

Thinking about Eco Leaflet, who was somewhat like me.

Thank you for reading.