The Nerd Turned Out To Be The Tyrant Chapter 109

Dietrich’s statement, which was explaining how unprecedented and extraordinary the opening of the Imperial Palace Library was, was summarized as follows.

 

‘The size of the collection is the highest in the empire. The collection of books is not only in quantity, but also in quality and is in excellent state of preservation. It is the first time under the current emperor that it has been opened to commoners. Even though the entire library is not open, the reason Dietrich likes it so much is probably because there are a lot of historical materials. That’s also useful.’

 

Luce asked to confirm. 

 

“Brother. Is there something special about the books there?”

 

“Of course! Aside from the fact that there are a lot of materials that are not even in our academy library, the books in the imperial palace library will be much more helpful to my research. Because…”

 

“Because the names of the aristocrats and the royal family are properly written, there is no need to cross-verify them?”

 

Dietrich opened his eyes wide as if wondering how she knew. Luce shrugged her shoulders. 

 

‘Because it’s a book that the imperial family collected or compiled for their own use, so there would be no reason to go through the trouble of deleting the name like regular books.’ 

 

“Luce, since you’re saying that, you’re curious about books too, right? Would you like to come with me?”

 

“Brother, if you’re planning to use Luce as a scout to find books, you’d better stop.” 

 

“What do you mean by scout!”

 

“Then you don’t?”

 

Dietrich, stung by Dominic’s harsh words, avoided eye contact and muttered.

 

“Ah, well, let’s help each other and survive. I have a lot of books to find, so it would be good if Luce helps me, and if Luce comes with me, uhm.”

 

“I guess you can’t remember the good points.” 

 

“Boss, you say that too? Hmm, hmm, I mean. Luce, if you come with me! You can be escorted by your cool brother!” 

 

“….”

 

“The academy is so harmful to humans. It’s driving people to this point.”

 

Isaac asked in an innocent tone next to Dominic, who was looking at him disdainfully with an expression that asked if all his cool brothers were dead.

 

“Cool brother? Who is it?”

 

“….Are you asking me because you really don’t know, boss?” 

 

“Yes. Do you have any other companions other than Dietrich?”

 

Thinking that Isaac must be the brother’s counter, Luce decided to accompany Dietrich.

 

Arthur, who had been listening to the whole story as if it were not today, gave Luce a special vacation. Organizing recipes was an important part of Luce’s job, but she did it after work, too, so she should have had enough time to rest. Luce gratefully accepted his favor. 

 

The imperial palace library was located in the northernmost part of the palace, on the outskirts of the palace. Well, if it had been in the center of the imperial palace, it wouldn’t have been easy to open it, no matter how good the intention was to share knowledge. It was a fortunate thing for Luce, who found the sight of the imperial palace very uncomfortable.

 

Dietrich, who had passionately declared that it was the best, and the first, was correct, as there was a long line in front of the northwest corner leading to the library entrance. Leaving behind Dietrich, who was busy exchanging greetings with the people at the academy, Luce gazed at the imperial palace visible beyond the wall. The late summer sunlight reflected off the spire and stung her eyes. 

 

‘Still, I don’t think I’ll be meeting any nobles today.’

 

Since it was a day open to the general public, she expected that the upper class nobles would have disappeared because it was noisy or because they didn’t want to mix in. Luce’s thoughts seemed to be correct, as the luxury carriages that often used to stand in front of the imperial palace were nowhere to be seen today. 

 

‘I don’t want to meet the original characters without knowing anything. I have to know something to be able to deal with it and not get discouraged. Just like I was able to act in the Duke of Ximel.’

 

There is now quite a bit of information accumulated about <The Cruel History of the Vladin Empire>.

 

She got to know the female protagonist of the original work and also learned about the reactionary Duke Ximel and Count Menelik. She also learned that the current powerful person was uneasy about the current political situation, and that the situation in the imperial palace was changing rapidly after the auction.

 

However, no matter how much she investigated, there were questions that couldn’t be answered.

 

‘Wizard Radanum.’

 

The wizard who was declared dead to the public is actually alive. Some people liked him and some disliked him, but there was no disagreement that the events caused by the wizard had a great impact on the main characters. But it was unclear exactly who he was and what he was doing.

 

Is there no other way than to meet them face-to-face while knowing their exact name and status, like when obtaining information from nobles? But how on earth can they meet someone as good as a wizard?

 

There was one more question.

 

‘Who on earth is the male protagonist?’

 

The way to resolve the second question may be surprisingly simple. It is to wait for the female protagonist Aloise to get married and see the other person. There was a high probability that it was the prince, but there was something strange about her to conclude that way.

 

Arthur said he had seen the prince. As he recalled the memories of the fifth birthday celebration held in the square, all kinds of positive words poured out of his mouth. The words of other citizens of the capital, who reminisce about him, saying that he looked like a fairy from a legend and how lovely his bright smile was, are not much different.

 

The blonde prince, who deserved to be loved, was engraved in people’s thoughts as a kind, sweet, and even cute person who was almost like a myth. 

 

The sense of disconnect is too great to be the story of the bloody childhood of the male protagonist in <The Cruel History of the Vladin Empire>.

 

What naturally came to mind was the ‘other prince’ that Angel had mentioned. According to Angel’s letter, what if the male protagonist was a mysterious prince whose existence was kept secret despite suppressing the rebellion?

 

Of course, he would be superior in both military power and resourcefulness, and his hand speed would likely be cruel, so he was able to resolve the feeling of disparity she was feeling now.

 

‘But Alois… No matter who the opponent is, her fate is decided.’

 

The ending was said to be extremely violent, but was the development process gentle? How much more will she be hurt?

 

There was a vision of blood splattered on the white palace. The face of Alois, the only protagonist of the original work that she knew, was also overlapped. Luce bit her lips. 

 

The third problem was very personal.

 

‘How is Rev connected to the aristocrats?’

 

Is there a chance that the child will get angry?

 

The day she met the boy who called her ‘Cherry’, Luce wrote a letter to Angel and Yohan. When the answer comes, her complicated mind will be sorted out.

 

“It’s a big problem. There are so many people that we won’t be able to get in today if it continues like this.”

 

Dietrich’s disappointed voice pulled Luce out of the swamp of her thoughts. Luce looked around and saw that the long line was still there.

 

“Why is it so slow?”

 

“They say there’s a lot to write down. Purpose of visit, fields of interest, identity, etc.”

 

“What’s that short line?”

 

“They say it’s a passageway for professors and staff to come in and out. Haha, this is a total waste. But you can’t bring the professor here.”

 

At this rate, it really seemed like it would be wrong to go in today, as Dietrich said. While Luce was thinking about what to do, a hand was suddenly placed on her shoulder.

 

Luce’s eyes grew larger when she looked back in surprise.

 

“Oh my, you’re a prospective pharmacist, aren’t you?”

 

The woman who almost bought lily of the valley ointment instead of Plantain lilies was smiling brightly.

 

***

 

“You work here as a librarian… Wow, that’s such a cool job.”

 

“What do you mean by cool? it’s all the same no matter what, well.”

 

The woman who spoke casually seemed to be in a fairly high position, despite her tone. The library staff members standing at the entrance bowed deeply to her and immediately opened a special passage.

 

The woman who introduced herself as Elaine chuckled as she looked at Luce and Dietrich, who were constantly admiring her, and then looked down at the documents they had filled out.

 

“This lady is curious about pharmacology books. And this young man here wants to see history books?”

 

Luce stated the reason for her visit as reading pharmacology books. As she stood behind Dietrich, when the purpose was to read history books, there were many more documents to fill out and many were rejected.

 

“I think you got in easily thanks to this young lady. Originally, the young man was a companion. Who would write ‘on sabbatical’ in the name of their advisor? If you’re on sabbatical, you don’t have a name?” 

 

“Now that I escorted you, I’m a wonderful sister.”

 

“You know I like you a lot, Sister Luce, right?” 

 

Dietrich, who called Luce his sister without a moment of hesitation, was so happy that he didn’t know what to do.

 

The library they arrived at with Elaine’s guidance truly boasted great grandeur.

 

“Okay, the young man can go to the right. The pharmacist girl can go to the left. The pharmacology shelf isn’t that big so it won’t be hard to find, but the engineering shelf is in front of it, so you can see it right away if you go behind it. Hmm, would it be complicated? I’ll show you around. My office is nearby anyway.”

 

“Thank you very much. Miss Elaine.”

 

“What, it’s still a long way off to pay back what you’ve been helped with.”

 

Dietrich went to the library on the left while the two women talked quietly.

After Luce had found the flower shop where she worked, Elaine moved away with a rather habitual request to look carefully at the book.

 

The library was quieter than expected. The place where Luce was located was especially unpopular. Luce gently rubbed the spine of the book. The smell of heavy paper and fiber dust, characteristic of old books, permeated the air. Luce thought that it had been a very long time since she had seen a book like this.

 

The sound of paper being turned, the late summer sunlight shining on the book, and the voice that used to follow after that.

 

“Luce.”

 

It may be fading, but it is still vivid.

 

She keeps taking it out and looking at it, so it might wear out, but the memories don’t get old.

 

Luce murmured quietly, holding a bitter smile.

 

“You must have loved being here, Rev.” 

 

Luce raised her hand. She took out a thick book. Luce, who was about to give her eyes to the book, instead gave her eyes to the blank space created by the book. It would be more accurate to say that she was distracted.

 

There was a man in the bookshelf opposite.

 

A man who proves his existence with a white shirt, buttons neatly buttoned up to the end of the neck, and neat footsteps. 

 

“….”

 

The man who was standing like winter in the middle of summer opened his mouth.

 

“Luce.”

 

It was neither worn out nor faded.

 

“I miss you.”