Published: September 6, 2025
I wrote a letter to Ferdinand, handed it to Raimund at the Hilsure laboratory, and spent the day working on a prototype for a new magic tool. Right now, Raimund is researching a magic tool that causes various colored lights to shower down at designated times.
When this magic tool is used, colors suddenly appear on the pages, startling anyone immersed in reading and causing them to look up. In that moment, the attendants can easily take the book away, making it very effective at interrupting reading sessions. Among the attendants, this tool has a great reputation. Personally, I wanted a magic tool that would return finished books to the bookshelf automatically, but the attendants insisted firmly, saying, “Lady Rosemine’s library absolutely needs this one.”
"Why not research the light-showering magic tool first, and then work on the one Lady Rosemine wants afterward?"
“Dr. Hilsure, don’t you agree?”
Hilsure and Raimund readily accepted the attendants’ suggestion, probably influenced by the ‘softening’ strategy of the attendants who prepared delicious meals for them.
… I understand how a good meal can weaken resolve, but this feels a bit off! And I’m the one making the preparations!
“I’m going to the library to research the light-showering magic tool.”
“Raimund, I’ll accompany you and ask Schwarz and his group if there are any relevant materials…”
“If it’s just to ask Schwarz and his group, Raimund can handle it. Besides, Lady, you’re prohibited from entering the library by the royal family, right? If you want to read books, it’s better to return to your room.”
… Ugh, I want to go too.
Ricarda’s words made me slump my shoulders. Being forbidden makes you want to do something even more. I still have unread books in my room so I can hold out, but once I finish them, I’m sure I’ll suffer withdrawal symptoms.
“Lady Rosemine, weren’t you going to hand these transcribed materials to Dr. Hilsure?”
Liselotte said, handing me a stack of papers. The contents were copies of books written by people who had studied Schwarz and his group.
“These were written by someone who researched Schwarz and his group in the past. They’re just for lending, so please copy the parts Dr. Hilsure deems necessary. They’re not to be given away since eventually they’ll be shown to Lord Ferdinand.”
“Where did you find such materials? They weren’t in the place where the research results are kept on the second floor, were they?”
“I heard they were in the closed stacks. Dr. Solange lent them to us.”
Hilsure blinked as she compared the documents with me.
“…I usually ask my students to run errands, but I don’t often consult Solange directly. I wonder how many materials are in the closed stacks?”
“I heard that the closed stacks hold such precious materials they must be preserved with magic tools, so it would be good to ask Dr. Solange once.”
Apparently, the closed stacks were an area Solange hadn’t fully managed until now. As Schwarz and his group became active and gained more collaborators, their mana stabilized, allowing them to finally tackle this area.
Solange mentioned that during the time she was the sole guardian of the library, there wasn’t enough mana to properly maintain the storage stacks, and some deterioration had set in. Altansia prioritizes mana supply to such areas, so it’s a tough job.
… The library definitely needs more mana.
“Lady Rosemine, you said you planned to give these to Lord Ferdinand, but isn’t this an unsuitable environment for research?”
“He still doesn’t have his own room or a secret room, so it’s not really a place to do research. But he wrote in his reply that he wants to conduct research.”
I want to at least secure the materials for him. And when a secret room is ready and he has an environment for research, I hope to load lots of tools, materials, and documents into the mini bus and bring it to Arensbach Castle.
… Although I doubt Aub Arensbach would ever approve, so it’ll just be a dream.