This pipsqueak is determined to get on my nerves! I swear, why does she think that she's gonna prove me wrong? It's just not gonna happen. I've read too many books and studied too many things to be wrong about this. I swear, as soon as we get to the library she is going down!
I came to an abrupt stop at an intersection before I arrived at the library I've been to a thousand times.
"The library is just down this street. Don't steal anything. My bringing you here is a statement about my character. Don't screw it up for me."
"Huh? Why would I wanna steal some dumb books? All we're gonna do is prove you wrong and then buy my dinner. If that's so hard for you to comprehend then you might want to just give me the juns to begin with." Kany placed her hands on her hips and leaned forward towards me. Her smirk slightly irritated me but I know it's just unwarranted confidence.
"Tch! Fine! I like my steaks medium by the way! Make sure you remember it." I began stomping towards the library. The large wooden doors filled my view more and more with each step. I gathered myself before I opened the door, but the runt just decided to burst in.
"Howdy! We need books on monsters and what happens when they die! Can anyone help us?" She tread her dirty shoes on the pristine marble flooring. Each step left more and more dirt. I couldn't help but cringe in response to her poor sensibilities.
I ran forward towards the front counter. I can't let her just run her mouth like this and ruin my reputation.
"H-Hey! Sorry about that, haha! I apologize but would you please guide us to books pertaining to monsters, their origins and their life cycles please?" I placed a small badge onto the desk as I said this.
The receptionist looked up at me and then to the badge. I could see his contempt through his glasses. He took out a slip of paper and wrote a single sentence with his signature on it.
"Take this and go to section 2f. Row 13."
"Thank you." I bowed my head. I could hear the loli giggling behind me, but I ignored it. I'll make her pay later. Literally.
I took the sheet of paper and my badge.
"Let's go pipsqueak. Try to keep up."
"Fine. Fine." She placed her hands over her head and began to follow me. I had to tell her to stop whistling three separate times.
This library is one of my favorite places other than the guild hall. There are 2 floors and the building is one of the largest in all of Ruks. I've frequented this place since I was a child. Anything to get me out of the house.
We walked up the stairs towards section 2f. The signs made it easy to navigate the rows. Before long, we arrived at section 2f. A man greeted me as I approached so I handed the paper that the receptionist gave me to him.
"What um… What row do we need to go to again?" I could feel my face heating up in embarrassment as I asked this.
"Pfft."
Oh great.
"Row 13 Magic Man. Come on." She walked ahead of me towards the thirteenth row. I can't let her beat me so I took long strides to catch up.
"Okay 'M'… Magnificent… Miniature… Monogamous… Ah! Monsters and their origins! This will probably work!" I declared as I pulled the book from its shelf.
"Well? Let's crack it open. Use that one class of yours." Kany sat down in front of a small wooden desk that had been polished to a pristine shine. I took a seat next to her and placed the book down.
"Okay… Monsters and their origins. Let's look at the life cycle first. Agreed?"
"Got it."
I cracked open the book to page 224. The page read out "Monster life cycle. The cycle of the goblin."
"Voila. Read away." I tapped the book and smirked.
"Monsters originally emerged from the primordial energy of creation, fire and brimstone, yadda yadda yadda. 200 years ago the demon king began to use his energy to create monsters at an alarming rate. Monsters…" She trailed off.
"Hmm? What's that? Am I right?" I got up really close as I said this. I can't wait to hear her say "You were right."
"It says 'Monsters appear and their exact origins are unknown.'"
"Yeah but the book says that monsters are created by the demon king's energy! What else could it say?"
"No no no. It says that that's a THEORY! Not a fact. You don't win."
"What? That's not true…" I grabbed the book and read it over.
No way… That's not possible…
"What the hell? I could have sworn a book just like this said that they spawned through the demon king essence juice and all that! It even explained how monsters gain their assigned roles!"
"Well…" The pipsqueak stepped out of her chair and walked towards the stacks. "I guess we need to look up more then."
I stood up to follow her. It's time to research! I won't let Kenji beat me every time!
It took us an hour and a half to exhaust every relevant book to the topic we were discussing. By the end of it, we both held our heads up in exhaustion.
"I can't believe all of these books are conjecture! How is that even possible?"
"I dunno. Nobody ever said writing a book makes you smart. Maybe it's just a lot of dumb people stealing each others work."
"Hm…" I cupped my chin. "Kenji always says that during times like this you need to do one of those 'point by point analysis' things."
"That's only to find out stuff that matters to us. It's small scale information. Nothing like entire mechanisms of the world!"
"Well why wouldn't it work for that too? If it can work small why can't it work big?"
"...Fine. What's the first point?"
"Point one: Um… Where do monsters come from?"
"The answer is nobody knows." She placed her head on the table.
"Come on! Humor me for a minute!"
"Fine. Uh… That one book said the primordial energy so I guess that."
"Exactly! So primordial energy stuff! That means that monsters come from energy!"
"Okay. So what's next?"
"Point two: How often do monsters show up?"
"What? How the hell would we figure that out? We need research data from an army or something, not just a book written a hundred years ago."
"Yeah… so we can't find that out."
"You know, Onii-san is way better at this than you are."
"H-Hey! It's not my fault!"
She laughed at my stammering.
"Look, let's just go get food, okay?"
"I-" My stomach rumbled. "...Okay." I stood up. I can't research on an empty stomach after all!
We stood up and left the library. I held my head down in defeat. The pipsqueak held her head upwards in victory.
"So where am I gonna spend your money? What's the most expensive place around here?"
"H-Hey! Just because I didn't prove you wrong doesn't mean you proved me wrong either! It just means that we had a draw! I don't owe you anything!"
She stopped in her tracks.
"Well… I need food. I can't exactly forgo eating! I'll die!"
"Well then, I guess we need to find a cheap place for your cheap pallet."
"My pallet isn't cheap. Look, is there anywhere you know about that's nice around here?"
"...There's a place nearby. It serves this one weird food."
"Really? What's it called?"
"It's called 'Soo-shee.' It's raw fish and rice. I can't explain it but it's actually really good."
"Raw fish? Is that healthy?"
"I dunno but it's good."
"...Fine. Let's go!" She ran up behind me and held my robe. I can't help but feel like a father guiding his child. I hope I don't get arrested for being a creep or something.
We walked down the street and found the building with a strange sign. I've never understood what these symbols mean, but I know that they indicate soo-shee so I go along with it.
"Welcome!" The man inside shouted.
"Woah. Rustic."
I sat inside of the small shop and ordered. The adult child sat next to me and, after a moment, ordered her own items.
"Wow. This is actually pretty good."
"I know, right?"
Our bills were placed in front of us after we finished. Before I pulled out some money, I realized something.
"Wait… We never decided who is paying for who."
"Well… I'll pay for you and you pay for me. Does that sound alright?"
"Okay!"
Well, at least I got a good meal.
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