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　It was a stern-looking woman who approached us. It was a woman with a pair of glasses.

　She looked like a librarian, an old maid at that.

　I thought she must have missed her chance to get married, but surprisingly, she had a ring on her ring finger.

　How surprising, I rudely thought. Then the monocle-librarian,

　Raised her monocle and she said,

“You guys are outsiders. Why are you here?” (Librarian)

　Her voice was still stern. Well, yes, we are outsiders but she is a concerned party. She has a responsibility to protect the books in this library.

　And then there’s the suspected book-burner, Nine, and a pair of strangers, a man and a woman. It’s impossible not to feel hostility towards us.

　I give Nine a look, wondering what I should say, but he doesn’t seem to have any good reason to be here either. I’m in trouble.

　If nothing is done, the guards will be called in.

　As I was wondering if I should use my magic to put her to sleep, an unexpected person came to my rescue.

“I’m sorry for coming in without permission.” (Sicily)

　After bowing her head in a polite manner, Princess Sicily reveals her identity.

“I am Sicily von Ernia. I am the third princess of this country.” (Sicily)

“Princess Sicily!?” (Librarian)

　No one would not be surprised by the sudden visit of a member of the royal family.

　In addition, Sicily was the popular Princess General. She is more famous than a top-notch stage actor.

　Thinking so, she speaks eloquently like an actor.

“I’m sorry for entering a place where outsiders are not allowed. However, we have permission to enter this building itself. The reason why we came here is that we heard that there is a valuable grimoire about fire magic here. If you don’t mind, may I have a look at the fire grimoire?” (Sicily)

　She’s good, I thought. It’s not that she’s a royal, but she is soliciting their cooperation.

　The librarian woman who wore a wedding ring replied,

“… I understand. I am a subject of this country. At the request of the princess.” (Librarian)

　She acknowledged.

　The librarian thought, “That’s the princess,” but the librarian looked a little unhappy. This bothered her, but she shook it off and said,

“But as you can see, the fire grimoire in this room has disappeared.” (Librarian)

　She continued, her expression grim.

“A series of valuable grimoires have been destroyed by someone. I can’t believe that someone would burn valuable grimoires in order to steal the ‘ashes’.” (Librarian)

　Her stern eyes are directed at the red-haired wizard Nine, who argued,

“You make it sound as if I’m the culprit.” (Nine)

“I’m not saying that but you know you’re under suspicion, and you have the nerve to sneak into this place.” (Librarian)

“If I don’t do something, they’ll make me look guilty. I want to prove my innocence.” (Nine)

“You’ve been practicing fire magic so much that you’ve neglected your other subjects.” (Librarian)

“Because I’m a man who is fascinated by flames and a man who indulges in fire magic.” (Nine)

　He said playfully, but the librarian woman did not laugh. “Well, you both…” I was amazed. Apparently, the two are acquainted with each other.

“Are you two acquaintances?” (Sicily)

　The princess asked reservedly.

　The two nodded their heads, letting out a breath.

“The auntie with the glasses… I mean the lady is my teacher from the Magic Academy.” (Nine)

“So, you’re a professor?” (Sicily)

“I’m one of the many other faculty members.” (Librarian)

　The librarian woman immediately denies it. It seems that she does not want to be recognized as Nine’s teacher.

“My name is Octavia, Octavia von Revic.” (Librarian => Octavia)

“Her maiden name is Maltalyltoterius. I think I bit my tongue. I don’t know how you were able to marry someone with that. Even back then, she was such a pushy teacher.” (Nine) [T/N: マルトアリルトテリウス or “marutoarirutoteriusu” I really don’t know how her surname from before is read.]

　I’m sure Octavia glared at Nine when he made a joke.

　Nine pretended to be frightened

“So, scary.” (Nine)

　That said, he doesn’t seem to be scared.

　I could imagine the relationship between him as a student and her as a teacher.

　a prankster and a teacher who had a hard time dealing with most of his actions.

　Nine, who seemed to have been born to break the school rules, and Octavia, who had been born to make him follow them, must have been a bad match.

　But now was not the time to comment on their school days.

　Our goal was to exonerate Nine and find the culprit who had burned the fire grimoire.

　So I’ll make it clear.

“I’m Leon, the Strategist of the Libra Division. At the moment, I’m trying to recruit this guy named Nine to be a subordinate magician of the division. So I want to cooperate with this man and remove the suspicion that is hanging over him. I’ll be sending a formal request from the military to the leaders of the Magician’s Guild to investigate. So will you cooperate with us and help us find out who the culprit is?”

　Nine, who heard the words, looked shocked.

　She looked at me like I was insane for bringing him into the military, but I didn’t argue with her.

　Octavia could not argue against a formal military request.

“… I understand. I will cooperate with the investigation.” (Octavia)

　She said, issuing us a permit to enter any room in the library.

　She remained reluctant until the end, but she still issued the permit quickly and politely.

　Seeing this, Nine made a joke only to me.

“Octavia-sensei is a tsundere, isn’t she? She always says yes in the end.” (Nine)

　He was a man who hadn’t shed his student mentality, but strangely I found him hard to hate.

　My gaze changes from the naive Nine to Octavia.

“…Well, aside from Nine, what about the madam?”

　It seems like she’s been strict since she was a teacher, but that’s not the problem.

　I had a feeling that she was hiding something.

　I didn’t know what it was yet, but I knew it would come out in the course of the investigation.

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