Semi-Coercive Imperialist

The center of the Empire. Johann’s room, left untidy from not being cleaned for a long time.

Ink-stained bundles of paper were piled on the floor like snow, and empty coffee cups and bread crumbs dominated the desk.

“…….”

In the midst of that chaos, the writer continued to write the final chapter of his novel with hollow eyes.

With a trembling pen tip, he crafted sentences.

[“The duty of a true noble. The posture that a noble must uphold. Have we perhaps forgotten this for far too long……?”

Valtaras placed his hand on my shoulder with a sorrowful smile. His hand was cold, yet the warmth contained in his soul warmed my heart.

“But one day, even they will finally come to realize. That the privileges they enjoy are a heavy debt built upon the blood and sweat of countless Arans.”]

Valtaras in the novel was heading toward his end.

[“Paul, as you said, if I go there, I may die.”

Valtaras smiled. It was as if he sensed his own fate.

“But even so……”]

Johann felt he knew how Valtaras would end, but he could not stop. He became Paul and gazed endlessly at Valtaras’s retreating figure as he departed for the battlefield.

His hand moved on its own. The time leading to the end would not stop.

[……The news of Valtaras’s death was conveyed through a short letter. From afar, I heard of his solitary war. He fought an impossible battle as an individual. He destroyed countless armies alone. But what he faced was the unstoppable tide of the era’s flow, a massive wave that was the totality of corruption……]

Johann could not bring himself to depict the scene of Valtaras’s death.

His pain was expressed through the medium of a letter, conveyed in short prose.

[Gazing at the Empire’s never-extinguishing night view, watching our lives that always recede into the distance, Valtaras believed in a future that held dreams. Perhaps the path he pursued was the conscience that all of us had lost.]

More noble than any noble, yet a hero murdered by the contradictions of the Empire and the aristocratic society.

[I thought to myself. That you were worth far more than thousands of those bastards combined. That you, more than anyone, could look into the mirror without a speck of shame.]

[Only after you died did I finally begin to think about what your beliefs could have brought to the Empire.]

Johann pressed his pen onto the paper so hard it seemed as though it would tear through.

[……Though the coffin carrying Valtaras was buried beneath dark soil, it is atop that grave that we will finally greet a new morning.]

However, he couldn’t bring himself to place a period at the end of the last sentence. All sorts of chaotic thoughts swirled in his head.

It was a strange thing.

He had written a cursed tragedy without even realizing it. It was a story too painful to read again.

In the end, he crumpled up all the manuscripts and threw them into the trash bin.

“Haa…….”

An indescribable emotion rose like a tidal wave from the depths of his chest.

For a long while, Johann covered his face with his hands, stifling his breath.

***

The Empire. Sentinel Knight Order Headquarters.

I visited Chiron’s office as soon as I returned.

“You broke the encirclement in less than a month.”

Chiron smiled as he flipped through the report.

“……As you’ll see in the report, the efforts of the Durkon Legion and the Berton unit were instrumental.”

It was also my first time actually witnessing Schweitzer’s maneuvering methods. There was a definite reason why his legion was ‘much faster’ than others.

“Also, though the supply route has opened, the civil war itself is still ongoing.”

The Zerpha civil war had only just begun. The encirclement had been broken, but the Republican faction’s power remained intact.

It would become a prolonged war.

“I suppose so. But it seems the Imperial Palace won’t be paying much more attention to Zerpha. They already seemed displeased that Durkon is stationed in Alcantara.”

Chiron’s grasp of the political landscape is, at times, astonishing. Though a knight of Sentinel, he gathers scattered fragments of information from deep within the Imperial Palace with surprising accuracy.

“Looking at the current power map of the Royalist faction, it doesn’t even seem like they can sustain their own food supply……”

Most of Zerpha’s agricultural region was occupied by the Republican faction. Even so, before my Regression, the Empire only supported the Zerpha monarchy with leftovers, spoiled food, at best.

I replied calmly.

“I intend to handle the supply myself.”

“……You?”

Chiron’s eyes widened.

“No matter how capable you are, supporting half a country for free would be burdensome, wouldn’t it? If the war drags on, it’ll be a bottomless pit.”

“For free?”

I tilted my head slightly.

“When did I say I’d supply them for free?”

Chiron’s expression hardened for a moment.

I continued speaking with a small smile.

“Sir Knight. I am not a philanthropist.”

A nation is a far more reliable commercial partner than any individual. I cannot miss an opportunity like this.

“Of course, I’ll be putting it on their tab.”

It was, in fact, something the Empire itself had done.

Of course, the Empire had supplied trash, but I intended to supply proper food.

“Once the war is over, I’ll collect a price equivalent to the value.”

I planned to charge them with interest. If the Royalist faction won, that debt would become a leash around their necks.

Chiron stared at me intently, then nodded.

“……Indeed. That’s very like you. Good work. I’ll benefit from this too.”

As the overall commander of this expedition, Chiron would take credit for the achievement on paper.

“Yes. Then I’ll take my leave.”

I gave a short bow and left the office.

For the first time in a while, I returned to my own knight office.

“Welcome back!”

“We’ve heard the news, Sir Knight.”

As I walked past the administrative officers greeting me, suddenly.

My footsteps stopped.

I stepped backward again.

Then walked forward again, and again stepped back.

“…….”

Something felt off about a certain spot.

I glanced sideways in that direction.

Someone was sitting there far too nonchalantly.

Tap. Tatatatatatatatata. Trrrrrrrrrak.

Slamming the keyboard at an incredible speed, her eyes fixed on the monitor, my executive secretary.

“……You’re back from vacation?”

It was Yukia.

Without taking her hands off the keyboard, she answered indifferently.

“Yes, sir.”

Yukia had returned. And she even spoke for⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠mally.

As if it were nothing. As if nothing had happened.

It was a good thing.

But I decided not to make a big deal out of it. Yaken are like wild cats or stray dogs, if you approach too aggressively, they tend to flee.

“…….”

I entered the office in silence and sat down. I pulled a small notebook from my chest.

Scratch, scratch.

The Crown Prince Alonso’s words were being written in real-time.

[Zerpha’s capital is overrun with refugees. Citizens fleeing the Republican massacres have flocked to the capital seeking the king’s protection…… But the capital’s surrounding soil is barren, making food self-sufficiency difficult. There’s little food left in the warehouses, and many citizens are starving. The generals continue to debate about unseen enemies within……]

“So he’s writing a diary.”

Crown Prince Alonso’s lamentation was almost impressive.

[Do not worry. Supply distribution will begin soon.]

I had entrusted Dieter with organizing the logistics efficiently.

Civilian and military supply lines would be strictly separated, and distribution would be handled entirely by Lieutenant Colonel Kai Han. If it were left to Zerpha’s corrupt generals, those rat bastards would skim off the top and sell it on the black market, no doubt.

But that aside.

“……What’s Johann doing?”

That problematic man, who had such a rare talent even among war criminals, still hadn’t sent word about the manuscript.

I’d better go see for myself.

Not to rush him, but just in case something had happened.

…….

I visited Johann’s rented room.

“Welcome, Sir Knight.”

Johann looked haggard. His body was also unkempt, as if he hadn’t washed for a long time. Traces of daily life and writing were scattered throughout the room.

“It looks like you’ve been writing something.”

“Ah… no. I tried to write the manuscript, but it seems I lacked the talent… I couldn’t write a single line.”

That couldn’t be true. He was a war criminal, and yet even scholars of the Allied Nations had said of him, “If nothing else, his literary talent deserves praise.”

My gaze naturally shifted toward the trash bin beside the desk. Crumpled bundles of paper were stuffed in haphazardly.

“This looks like a manuscript.”

I picked it up.

“Ah. Th-that, I was going to dispose of it—”

Before Johann could stop me, I had already opened the papers and started reading.

Skimming through from the first sentence, I quietly sat down in a chair.

“…….”

My eyes moved across the page.

Johann’s writing style was captured in my retinas.

It was fascinating.

Far better written than I had expected.

The content, yes, but even more so, the sentences seemed to shine.

“…Ha.”

I finished the manuscript in an instant.

When I came back to my senses, this is how it was; dusk had already settled outside the window.

“Johann.”

“…Yes.”

“You really are a genius.”

It was sincere praise, without exaggeration, yet Johann’s expression remained dark.

“……It is too shameful a story. That it ends with such a tragic conclusion—”

“No. I actually like that part the most.”

I truly meant it. In this single book, Johann had perfectly captured both the duty that Imperial nobles should bear, and the depravity of the current Imperial nobility. At the same time, he hadn’t neglected the art of literature or the enjoyment of storytelling.

“But Valtaras… he dies. He’s betrayed, forgotten, and lonely.”

“That’s fine.”

Johann’s concern, the fate of Valtaras dying.

But to me, that’s what made it even better.

“Tragedies leave a stronger impression in people’s memories.”

Even if Valtaras was modeled after me, I won’t die.

I am no longer an irresponsible man.

The cause that took root as my belief grows firmer in my heart with each passing day.

Perhaps it’s because I’ve already killed too many people.

Because I had already taken too much, accumulated too much karma.

“You said it yourself, Johann. Negative emotions remain more vividly in the human brain.”

Having done this much, if I fail to prevent the destruction, I would have no face to show.

If I fail to prevent ruin, I’ll remain nothing more than a demon who committed a⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠trocities at the end of the world.

That’s why I have to live.

I have to survive, and p⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠rove it, no matter what.

“That’s why, all the more reason, a noble like Valtaras has to die for the story to resonate.”

I carefully smoothed out the manuscript and placed it on the table.

This is actually also about the Emperor. As the Empire approaches its final years, the Emperor becomes increasingly prone to jealousy. He also comes to believe in superstitions easily.

No matter how much popularity and praise Valtaras gains, he ultimately dies miserably in the novel. With such an ending, it should also prevent any potential unease the Emperor might feel.

“In the end, what moves people’s hearts is literature created by humans.”

This「Valtaras」will sell, no matter what.

I’ll make sure it sells.

All I have to do is place it where eyes will see it, on bookstore display tables, in the archives of military garrisons across the Empire. It’s good enough to sell on word of mouth alone.

“…Yes.”

Still looking embarrassed, Johann nodded.

“And one more thing.”

I handed him another bundle of papers.

“It’s the first draft of my autobiography.”

“A first draft… sir?”

“Yes. I want to write this together with you.”

At that moment, Johann’s eyes sparkled. The expression of shame he had shown while speaking of 「Valtaras」flared up and vanished in an instant.

***

……The Empire’s central magic tower, Sentio.

“Aaaha~”

Ezell yawned and stretched.

Lately, she’d been staying cooped up inside the Magic Tower. Because the outside world was too noisy. News of war never ceased, and the political climate changed drastically day by day.

She found it more comfortable to bury herself in the silence of the laboratory and solve mana formulas.

“I should at least go for a walk.”

So, she stepped out of the tower for the first time in a while.

Plod, plod.

Walking down the street half-asleep, she found herself in front of a large bookstore before she knew it.

“Huh?”

She spotted a familiar back.

A woman was standing in front of the outdoor bookstand, reading a book without moving an inch.

It was Sonnet Kandel.

“Hello?”

Ezell approached her warmly and greeted her.

“…….”

There was no answer. Sonnet was frozen like a sta⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠tue.

“Excuse me? Miss Sonnet?”

Ezell called out again. When there was still no reaction, she walked around and lightly tapped her on the shoulder.

“Hey?”

“…Ah.”

Only then did Sonnet turn her head. She immediately furrowed her brow.

“You broke my immersion.”

Her voice was d⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠ripping with irritation.

“…Huh?”

“…….”

Zzzzzing. She stared at Ezell like she was about to kill.

“Ah, sorry.”

Ezell awkwardly apologized and glanced at the cover of the book in Sonnet’s hands.

A pitch-black cover, with the title embossed in gold.

「Valtaras」

Author: Johann

“Johann… There must be about fifty thousand people with that name.”

Johann was the most common name in the Empire. There was even a saying, “Throw a stone and you’ll hit a Johann.” It was just a joke.

“…….”

Sonnet gave her a frosty glare, said nothing, walked into the store, paid for the book, and walked off in a huff.

“Ugh… So full of herself.”

Ezell pouted and picked up a copy of the book from the stand.

“What’s so great about it that she’s so immersed…….”

[ Nobles naturally bear responsibilities. In ancient Aran language, this is called Noblesse Oblige..]

Starting with that oddly satisfying first sentence, she turned the page.

And so, one page, two pages.

Three pages, four pages.

Five pages, six pages.

Seven pages, eight pages…….

“…….”

Her vision narrowed naturally. All her focus poured into the page.

It was as if the letters were dancing. As if the sentences were infused with mana, vivid images formed in her mind. The image of a noble named Valtaras began to emerge.

A flawless noble, without a single flaw. Yet in front of a lady named Chloe, he would crumble like a boy…

In an instant, she was sucked into the book.

“Hey. Hey, hey.”

Then. At that moment.

Someone tapped her on the shoulder.

“Ah, damn it.”

Irritated, Ezell furrowed her brow and turned around.

“Ezell. What are you doing?”

It was a fellow apprentice from the Magic Tower. Ezell found herself growling without realizing it.

“You broke my immersion.”

“Uh, huh? I mean, you didn’t even respond when I called you.”

“…….”

Ezell glared at her fellow student, then, holding the book, walked straight into the bookstore, paid for it, and quickly walked home with brisk steps.

What she needed now was a quiet space—somewhere she could concentrate without anyone interrupting her.

“Ugh, what’s so damn special about it…”

As she walked away, she faintly heard her fellow apprentice, who had just broken her immersion, muttering something familiar under their breath as they picked up the book.

~~~