Chapter 44

Regardless of the matter concerning the second prince, Shu and Iris came to the first-class district to achieve their original purpose. They entered a large store that caught their eye and began searching for what they needed.

As befitting a store in the first-class district, a clerk greeted them as soon as they entered.

"Customer, may I help you with something?"

"I'm looking for books. A dictionary of Imperial and Grinia languages, a simple picture book, and a more challenging book, three in total."

"Understood. I will bring them to you immediately."

The clerk bowed politely and signaled to another clerk nearby. Another person then approached and guided Shu and Iris to a table.

This store is visited by nobles.

Unlike a typical store where customers browse the merchandise, here, the system is to request items from the clerks, who then bring the desired items.

"Please take a seat."

Shu and Iris sat in the chairs the clerk pulled out for them. Immediately, warm drinks were brought from the back. The service was impeccable.

"It is an honor to have you visit the Alrin Chamber of Commerce, Drain Branch. Our Alrin Chamber of Commerce mainly deals in luxury goods and has a good relationship with nobles and the wealthy. I am confident that you will find what you are looking for."

"Ah, by the way, do you also have pens and blank notebooks?"

"Of course, we have them. May I ask what you need them for?"

"Well, I'm a magician. I want to buy something to record my research."

Recently, his studies of magic have deepened, and he thought it was time to summarize them. Ultimately, he plans to compile them into a magic book.

That's why he requested a blank notebook.

The clerk, upon learning that Shu was a magician, looked at him with respect.

"Are you a magician, sir? Perhaps you are from another country?"

"Yes, I am. I also want to study the language."

"I see. The Eldorado Kingdom is poor, but if you go to the mainland of the Subarokia Empire, you will find many magic books. Of course, our Alrin Chamber of Commerce main store also carries many magic books. Please consider us when you need them."

Magicians are intellectuals, and some travel to gather knowledge. The clerk, knowing this, saw an opportunity and recommended magic books to Shu.

While magicians generally don't earn much, developing useful magic can bring in a lot of money. However, because they are intellectuals, many wealthy nobles and the rich send their children to become magicians. The clerk mistakenly thought Shu was a wealthy child.

"Are you from the east... the Holy Grinia?"

"Hmm? Yeah, that's right."

"Hmm. So, is this young lady your lover?"

"That's right!"

"No, you idiot. I'm his guardian."

"Guardian!?"

Iris was surprised, but in a way, Shu's perception was correct. Iris is childlike, not in appearance but in personality.

However, the clerk watched their interaction with a smile, sensing a good relationship.

Though it was clear they weren't lovers, the clerk saw it as a business opportunity and recommended other items.

"By the way, sir, our store also carries cute clothing. Would you like to see something for the young lady?"

"Wow, I'm interested, Shu!"

"Stop it. It will be a lot of luggage. We'll go to the empire soon, so if you want to buy something, wait until then. Got it?"

"Okay..."

Iris is already over twenty but has a childlike personality. She is interested in her clothing. Previously, she worked as a holy knight and had enough money to buy various clothes. She left all her clothes in the Ramza Kingdom, so she is interested in new clothes.

It was natural for her to show disappointment.

Shu, seeing this, sighed and spoke.

"I'll buy you something eventually, so don't be upset."

Iris visibly cheered up upon hearing this. She is simple.

While they were talking, one of the clerks brought the books Shu had ordered. The books were a dictionary of Imperial and Grinia languages, a simple picture book, and a more challenging book, as requested. The clerk who had been serving Shu and Iris took the books from the arriving clerk and began explaining.

"Sir, these are the books you requested. First, the dictionary. It is the latest edition and covers most everyday words. It should be sufficient for most uses unless you are doing academic research. The simple picture book is here. It is a famous fairy tale in the empire."

"What is the story about?"

"Oh, are you interested, young lady? To put it simply, it's a story about a hero who sealed a fearsome dragon. In fact, it is based on a true story."

When Shu looked at the cover of the picture book, he saw a dragon breathing black flames, facing a young man with a staff. The young man was clearly the protagonist.

"Sounds interesting."

"Indeed."

If it were just a fictional story, he wouldn't have shown much interest. However, since it is based on a true story, he found it intriguing. He was looking forward to reading it.

Seeing that Shu and Iris liked the books, the clerk began explaining the last one.

"This is the third book. It is a famous love novel. It has even been performed as a play in the capital of the Subarokia Empire."

"Well, since it's for language practice, a popular novel seems appropriate."

"Indeed."

"I'll take these three books. How much with the notebook and pen?"

"It will be six gold coins. The dictionary is quite expensive."

Books themselves are not rare, so they are not particularly expensive. However, dictionaries are different. They take a lot of time and effort to compile, making them expensive.

Shu, who earns money as an assassin, handed over six gold coins without a word. The clerk counted them and spoke again.

"Indeed, six gold coins. Thank you for visiting our store."

"Sure, I'll come back if I need anything."

"We look forward to your next visit."

Shu picked up the books and left the store. Iris finished her tea and followed Shu.

The clerk, who works in a top-tier store, remained professional until the end.

He saw Shu and Iris off and bowed deeply.

◆◆◆

Back at the inn in the third-class district, Shu and Iris immediately opened the books. They decided to start with the picture book, using the dictionary as a reference.

The story was about a fearsome dragon that breathed black flames and a hero who sealed it... a story of a magic knight.

When they opened the cover, unfamiliar Imperial Civil characters lined the pages.

"I can't read it at all..."

"Civil characters have meaning in each character. They are ideographic. Once you understand them, they are easier to read than Grinia characters."

Shu had the knowledge from his previous life, including knowledge of Chinese characters. Each character has a specific meaning, and combining them can create diverse words. While it takes time to get used to, once you do, there is nothing easier to read.

The Civil characters used frequently in the Subarokia Empire and its vassal states are all ideographic. The number of characters to learn is vast, and each one is complex. It might give you a headache the first time you see them.

However, Shu started understanding the characters with his analytical skills.

"Civil characters are diverse, but each character has meaningful parts. Characters with a part meaning 'fire' often represent heat or passion. Characters with a part meaning 'water' might represent rivers, lakes, or tears. Recognizing these parts makes it easier to learn."

"Ugh... you make it sound so easy."

"The dictionary won't be useful if you can't use Civil characters to some extent. You need to learn at least a bit."

As a monster, Shu's body is composed of magic, and his memory has no physical limits. He can record information rather than just remember it.

Thus, he quickly understood the characters.

Of course, the characters in the picture book were simple.

"Got it. I'll read it to you for now."

"Thank you very much!"

"I might stumble in the middle, but don't worry about it."

"Okay."

Shu, with the dictionary in hand, looked at the picture book and started flipping through the pages.

～～～

Once upon a time, there was a rich empire.

The great emperor led the people and made the country happy.

People always smiled, and they never lacked food, clothing, or a place to live.

The country had many powerful magic knights.

They defeated the monsters that attacked and protected the people's safety.

Among them, the magic knight Albein was particularly outstanding. He could produce explosive flames that burned everything, great floods that swallowed evil, whirlwinds that blew everything away, and perfect protective earth.

One day, the emperor said to Albein,

"For the people, we must ensure more safety."

"Your Majesty, this Albein will defeat many monsters."

The emperor, pleased with his words, ordered Albein,

"Go north and conquer the land of darkness."

The land of darkness was a dangerous place inhabited by many strong monsters. However, Albein, with a heart of justice, believed that defeating these monsters would protect the people. So, he set out on a journey to destroy the great darkness in the land of darkness with four companions.

Albein, the strongest in the country, would not lose to any monster.

Together with his four companions, he liberated the land of darkness from the monsters.

After defeating all the monsters in the land of darkness, Albein and his companions returned to the country. The emperor praised their achievements and gave them the title of heroes.

Albein lived happily with his beautiful wife.

However, the land of darkness was not completely destroyed.

In the far north of the land of darkness, there was a fearsome dragon. The dragon had been sleeping for hundreds of years and had not noticed that its subordinates had been defeated. When it awoke and saw the changed land of darkness, it was angry.

"You! I will take my revenge!"

The dragon, spewing dark, dark, black flames, first destroyed a nearby town. The northern town, where smiles had returned after the darkness was banished by the hero Albein, was once again visited by fear.

The giant dragon's shadow covered the town, and the dark flames burned people and buildings.

The town elder said,

"Oh, what a disaster. The king of the land of darkness has returned. That is the prison king Belorg."

The prison king Belorg could not be stopped. Those who were hit by the cursed flames lost their lives, and buildings hit by the cursed flames turned to sand and collapsed.

The flames that never went out tormented the people, turning the place into hell.

The prison king said,

"My anger will not subside. I will bring disaster."

The prison king manipulated black flames, destroying town after town. Finally, he reached the capital and released dark flames.

The cursed flames that never went out burned people and buildings one after another.

Many magic knights challenged the prison king, but they were all burned by the black flames.

The emperor said to the hero Albein,

"Please defeat that dragon."

"As you wish, Your Majesty."

Albein realized that even the strongest magic knight like himself would find it difficult to defeat the prison king.

However, he also realized that he could seal it by sacrificing his life.

Albein decided to seal the prison dragon by sacrificing his life.

"This life is dedicated to the empire. I am not afraid of death."

Albein raised his staff. This staff was Albein's magic equipment, the supreme staff that could use any magic.

A white light was emitted from the staff aimed at the prison dragon rampaging in the capital.

"ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO