"Oh my, Elys. Fancy meeting you here."
As I was browsing through the bookshelves, a familiar voice called out to me.
"Oh, Cilly. I didn't expect to see you here."
The place where I ran into Cilly was the academy's library. Being the continent's top academy, its library housed a wide range of academic materials, from simple textbooks to complex dissertations filled with jargon that could make you give up reading after the first page.
The Swordsmanship Department students usually didn't have much reason to visit unless it was exam season. However, for other departments (especially the Magic Department), it was said that they heavily relied on the library throughout their entire time at the academy.
Rumor had it that there was even a graduate who managed to live and sleep in the library for all four years of their enrollment. The explanation really isn't necessary beyond that.
However, it's said that after multiple reports mistaking them for a homeless person, the academy no longer allows students to go to such extremes.
Incidentally, this particular student started working under their supervising professor after graduation, not as a slave... but as an assistant. Why they made such a foolish choice is beyond me, but I guess it takes all kinds.
Although the library was built for educational purposes, it wasn't a stuffy, boring place. It also offered a fair number of books aimed at broadening students' horizons. While these made up a small portion of the entire collection, the library was so vast that it would be impossible to read all of them before graduation.
Naturally, my purpose here was not to look for reference books for the midterms, but to explore some novels.
"I found the novel you lent me last time really interesting. So, I thought I'd come and check out some others."
As an assassin in training, I never had the luxury of reading books. If I had free time, it was better spent honing my stealth skills or practicing my swordplay.
"Oh, you already finished it? That was quick."
So, it was only natural that I got hooked when Cilly lent me a novel to read for the first time. I stayed up all night reading it, to the point that I got caught dozing off in class the next day.
"Yeah. But I have no idea what to read next. Just looking at the titles, I can't really tell what they're about..."
As I mentioned earlier, the academy library's collection was vast. That's why I was seriously contemplating what to pick from the many novels available.
I couldn't choose a book to accompany my weekend on a whim. While impulsively chosen novels might be entertaining in their own right, I wanted the best possible weekend.
"In that case, would you like me to pick one for you?"
"Uh, don't you have things to do here too? Are you sure you have the time?"
Cilly, being the model student and top of the class, had probably come to the library to study for the midterms, unlike me with my improper motives. Naturally, I felt guilty about taking up her time.
"Oh no, I've already done what I came to the library for. So there's no need to decline."
Despite her words, there was nothing in Cilly's hands that resembled a book. If she were here simply to return a book, she could've used the desk at the entrance, so her words about achieving her purpose were probably a kind lie to ease my discomfort.
In this state, Cilly would be stubborn. Even if I declined, she would continue insisting with little lies to make me feel less burdened.
In that case, it would be better to accept her help to take up less of her time.
"Alright then, I'll take your help. Since the book you lent me last time was good, I can trust your recommendation."
In response to my words, Cilly immediately reached out and pulled a book off the shelf. She must have visited the library often, as she grabbed the book she wanted from the tall shelves stretching to the ceiling without even pretending to look.
The book she handed me was similar in thickness to the one before. It didn't seem too burdensome to read.
Just from the title alone, I had no idea what it was about. But there was no way a book chosen by Cilly would be boring.
"Do you need any more?"
"No, I think one is enough for now. So, what was the real reason you came to the library, Cilly? Studying for midterms?"
"Huh? No, uh... um... yeah. The midterms! I came to prepare for the midterms."
"Just as I thought. You didn't have to lie because of me. Honestly, you're too kind for your own good, Cilly."
Cilly let out an awkward laugh as I hit the nail on the head.
"Then, shall we study together? Although, I might just end up being a distraction..."
"No! Let's do it! Study!"
"Shh, shh!"
Avoiding the glare of the librarian, I led Cilly to an empty study room.
* * * *
Since we were going to study together, I thought about inviting Annie and Yuri as well. However, Cilly pointed out that if we all gathered, we might end up wasting the evening, so we decided to postpone the group study for another time.
"Skull wolves share their thoughts within the pack, which makes them tricky to deal with in group fights. But if you can take down the leader, the rest will fall into chaos, so you should aim for that."
Unlike other departments, the Swordsmanship Department has a strong practical focus, and part of that involves learning how to handle monsters and demons.
In that regard, Cilly was an excellent teacher.
"Since wraiths are incorporeal monsters, regular attacks won't work on them. But if you use magic or aura, you shouldn't have much trouble."
Demon Eyes, Succubi...
Cilly was well-versed in countering all kinds of monsters, from the commonly encountered to the obscure higher-level demons whose names we hadn't even covered in class. Her knowledge even extended to strategies you wouldn't know unless you'd faced the monsters directly. I was taken aback by her depth of understanding.
"Cilly, how do you know all this? Is it because you come from a hero's family?"
"Haha... Yeah, something like that."
It seems that heroes don't just fall from the sky. Well, it's obvious from the way Cilly usually behaves how much effort she's put in. She, too, must have worked hard, shedding sweat and tears to become a hero.
"Here, this part is likely to be on the test, so it'd be good if you remember it well."
When we first started, I intended for us to study together, but before I knew it, Cilly had moved right next to me, teaching me as if she were a tutor.
I felt a bit guilty, so I told her she didn't have to do this, but she insisted she was fine with it. She even said that teaching me helped her study, and she reassured me so I wouldn't feel uncomfortable.
Cilly is truly kind.
* * * *
On Saturday, I woke up late in the morning. The night before, I stayed up until dawn reading the novel, and only managed to catch a bit of sleep. While I ended up sleeping in, it's the weekend, so there are no classes today.
The book Cilly recommended was entertaining, not just for show. It was definitely fun—very fun.
However, unlike the previous book, it wasn't something I felt like reading again, so I decided to return it right away and look for a new novel at the library.
"Oh my, Elys. Fancy meeting you here."
While returning the book I'd read overnight and searching for a new one, I ran into Cilly again. It was the same spot as yesterday, with her looking exactly the same. What a coincidence.
"You've already finished the one I recommended yesterday?"
"Yeah. It was more interesting than I expected, so I ended up staying up all night reading it."
"So, did you like it?"
"It was interesting, but honestly, not really my style. The male protagonist was such a trashy character."
The man in the novel was absolute garbage. A trashy guy who only deceived and took advantage of women. He remained consistently awful throughout the entire story, leaving no room for sympathy. In the end, the woman, disgusted by the man, left him, and his fate was miserable enough that I didn't feel angry. In fact, the moment he was punished gave me a sense of catharsis.
"Hmm... Then how about this book?"
Once again, without a moment's hesitation, Cilly picked a book off the shelf and handed it to me.
The title was "When Lilies Bloom."
Again, I couldn't tell what it was about just by looking at the title. But Cilly had a 100% accuracy rate. There's no way this would be boring.
"If it's a recommendation from you, Cilly, then I trust it. Now that I've picked out a novel, should we study for midterms together again today?"
"Yes!"
"Then could you wait for me in the study room from yesterday? I'll bring Annie and Yuri."
Unlike yesterday, today we invited Annie and Yuri to join us, and we spent the entire day studying for midterms. Although it ended up with Annie tutoring Yuri and Cilly tutoring me.
And then night came.
As expected, I lay on my bed and took out the novel I borrowed today. The story was so engrossing that I quickly turned the pages.
"Oh wow..."
The story was a typical romance novel. However, unlike the one I read yesterday, this one had intricate emotional lines entangling two women.
Love between two women. On the contrary, imagining love between two men makes me nauseous, but maybe because I'm a guy, the concept of love between women doesn't feel too burdensome. Of course, the fact that it's just a novel helps too. In the end, it's fiction. As long as it's entertaining, that's all that matters.
In that sense, it was indeed a book that Cilly recommended. I should ask her for recommendations next time as well. Cilly will probably consider my tastes and suggest an appropriate book.
Still, this book is a bit risqué... Oh my.