Ascendance of a Bookworm

While listening to the high priest standing beside me greeting everyone, I was staring at the small magic tool in my hand. It was a eavesdropping-prevention magic tool that allowed my voice to be heard only by a specific person—in today’s meeting, it was used so that only the high priest could hear me.

In essence, the high priest’s instruction was: don’t say unnecessary things, just keep quiet and watch. When I pleaded to support Lutz, I was told, “What I need to clarify are the intentions and thoughts of the parties gathered here. If a third party intervenes, it will cause confusion. Especially since you are not neutral—you openly side with Lutz. You’re a hindrance.”

I wanted to ask where all his usual roundaboutness had gone.

Since the condition for me to attend the meeting was to hold this magic tool, all I could do today was sit like a doll. To make matters worse, both Benno and Mark agreed with the high priest’s opinion.

The seats were arranged in a square around the table. The high priest and I entered and took the seats at the farthest end, with Lutz sitting directly opposite us, and Lutz’s parents, Benno, and Mark seated to the left and right.

After greetings and brief introductions, the high priest began by stating Lutz’s claims. These were things he had heard directly from Lutz, including family matters unknown even to me.

“...That is Lutz’s complaint. Lutz, is this correct?”

“Yes.”

Lutz, glancing nervously at his parents, nodded slightly when the high priest looked at him. I silently gave my utmost support to Lutz in my heart.

Clenching his trembling fists tightly, Lutz began to speak.

“No matter how hard I try, I can’t be recognized. Every wish I have is opposed by Father...”

“Don’t be a spoiled brat!”

Lutz’s father, Uncle Deed, clenched his fists on his lap and shouted at Lutz.

Startled by the sudden loud voice, my body jumped slightly in my chair. Perhaps he was used to giving orders to craftsmen, but his deep and powerful voice echoed not only in the high priest’s room but seemed to fill the entire noble district, causing my heart to shrink in fear.

Scary! I was really startled! My heart almost jumped out!

But I wasn’t the only one whose heart shrank. Everyone present stiffened and all looked at Uncle Deed at once.

I often get thundered at by Benno, but the force and volume of Uncle Deed’s voice, which was always booming outside, was on a completely different level.

“Trying hard? Not being recognized? Don’t say such spoiled things,” he said, shifting his broad shoulders and glaring fiercely at Lutz as if leaning forward. His voice was loud even without shouting, and deep and rough enough to be intimidating just to hear.

Lutz, pale from being shouted at in front of everyone, was biting his lip hard, trying not to cry, which was clear when viewed from the front. Even though I wanted to say something to him, I couldn’t. I bit my own lip in frustration just then, the high priest standing up beside me.

In a calm, clear voice, different from Uncle Deed’s booming shout, the high priest quietly asked, “Deed, you said ‘don’t be a spoiled brat,’ but what do you mean by that? Please explain.”

“Huh? What do you mean by ‘don’t be a spoiled brat’? Lutz is the one saying spoiled things, isn’t he?”

Uncle Deed crossed his arms and tilted his head as if puzzled. To him, it seemed like an unnecessary fuss over something that should be a single word.

“You told Lutz ‘don’t be a spoiled brat’ when he complained about trying hard but not being recognized, but I don’t understand what part of that is spoiled. I’m unfamiliar with craftsmen and downtown customs, so please explain it in a way I can understand.”

“Oh, you don’t get it? ...Explanation, explanation... that’s difficult.”

With Lutz, it could be brushed off with “why don’t you understand?” but with nobles, that wouldn’t do. Usually, short commands are enough for work. Uncle Deed frowned and searched for his words.