Chapter 69, The Library

Translator: Lizz

 

When Edward carried Sylvia into the library, Calogero and Beffa were already there.

Calogero raised one eyebrow at the sight of Edward carrying Sylvia, but when he saw that Sylvia was in good spirits, he prompted Beffa as if nothing was unusual.

 

“So, what happened?”

Beffa gestured toward the back as if to guide them.

“In fact, I think you’ll understand if you see it. Could you come this way?”

 

Beffa led them toward the shelves at the back.

“When I looked at the books stored here, I noticed something strange.”

 

Books without titles were packed tightly together.

Beffa pulled one out and handed it to Calogero.

This time Calogero truly raised his eyebrow.

“This… is not a book.”

 

It was a fake object made to look like a book, crafted out of paper.

Beffa nodded to Calogero, then tilted the book at the bottom right of the shelf forward, followed by the one at the top right, then the bottom left, the top left, the center bottom, and the center top, one after another.

Finally, he pushed in the book on the fourth row from the top at the far right, pressing it firmly with strength.

 

“”…!””

 

Calogero and Edward were struck silent with surprise.

“…There was a hidden room.”

Beffa said in a heavy tone.

 

While Calogero and Edward froze, Sylvia looked blankly at them.

She glanced between the three and tilted her head.

 

“What’s the matter?”

Sylvia asked, and the three of them snapped to attention, staring at her.

 

“Uh… Lady Sylvia. Could it be that you already knew?”

Beffa asked nervously. Sylvia nodded as if it were nothing.

“Yes. The fortress belongs to me, after all.”

 

The three were speechless.

But Edward was the first to recover.

 

“…That’s right. So, do you know what’s inside this hidden room?”

“Um… it’s like a retreat space, with a desk, a chair, books, and writing tools.”

 

Edward pondered.

“…Well, it’s a fortress, so of course it would have hidden rooms.”

He nodded, then asked Sylvia further.

 

“How many of these rooms without ordinary doors are there?”

“Eh. There are lots.”

Sylvia answered immediately, and Edward and Calogero looked up to the heavens.

 

“…Well, it is a fortress, and if Lady Sylvia is aware of them, then isn’t that fine? The existence of hidden rooms known only to the master is normal.”

Calogero said. “Indeed,” Beffa nodded.

“Still, now that we’ve found it, we have to inspect the inside. A hidden room that servants know about isn’t really hidden.”

Edward remarked, and Beffa bowed.

 

“We were just investigating the relationship between the Lord of the castle and the person depicted in that portrait, so if possible, I would also like to examine that room. What do you think?”

Edward looked at Sylvia, and she nodded.

“Please do.”

“Then, with permission granted, we will conduct the investigation.”

“Don’t get too carried away.”

Edward cautioned.

 

As they were leaving the room, Edward spoke to Beffa.

“Oh, right. Sorry for asking so much… but if you happen to know of any, do you know of a suitable mercenary group?”

Beffa was taken aback.

Edward began to explain.

 

The current concern was expanding their fighting force.

The fortress was impregnable thanks to Sylvia’s magic, but in terms of manpower, Edward was the only real combatant.

Gina was assigned strictly as Sylvia’s guard to ensure nothing like the previous incident happened again, so she wasn’t counted. The other servants were ordinary people.

Calogero could set up barriers, but Edward preferred him to focus on healing, so he wasn’t counted either.

 

“Even if you can fight, that still makes only two of us, right? That’s far too few. Not enough for fortress security.”

“I can fight, yes, but I’m more suited to assassination. As a knight, Edward is the only one.”

 

Beffa understood what Edward meant, and the two of them worried together.

“For the defense of this town and maintaining order, we should at least have a squad.”

“…I don’t have any leads.”

Edward muttered.

“Can’t you get support from the Duke’s house?”

“I’d rather they think Lady Sylvia is dead. Rumors will reach them eventually, but until then I want to build as much strength as possible.”

“Ah, I see. Understood.”

Beffa quickly realized and bowed.

 

“That’s why I asked if you had any connections. My own contacts… well, I do have some, but only for mercenaries in emergencies. They have no loyalty to Lady Sylvia, and it’s impossible to expect any. I don’t want to use them unless absolutely necessary. Ideally, I’d like to find a group that was falsely accused and ruined. As long as they aren’t burning with vengeance, such people could be persuaded to swear loyalty to Lady Sylvia.”

 

From the outside point of view, it sounded outrageous, but Beffa nodded deeply as if in understanding.

“I’ll try looking into it.”

“I’m counting on you. Don’t push yourself.”

“Understood.”

 

Edward was aware that he was asking for something unreasonable and thought it impossible.

Until Beffa later approached him with a radiant smile…