Akatsuki Translations

In this satellite city, books are a rare form of entertainment for the citizens and are also traded goods exported to other cities.

However, no matter how much paper can be produced, it won’t become a book unless someone writes on it. Therefore, many people in Aruto are engaged in writing activities. From hobbyists to best-selling authors whose works span cities, even skilled mages who write magical tomes are present.

The methods for creating tools and magical items for these people have been refined over time. Aruto has become an industrial city distributing high-quality paper to various cities, and it has also become a melting pot where authors of various genres publish a wide range of books.

As long as one complete the necessary procedures, anyone can participate as a seller in the “Book Market.” It’s not a tourist attraction for outsiders. In the current world, not many people come from outside the city. In the Book Market, one is allowed to bind the books they’ve written and sell them. It is an excellent opportunity for them to sell their works.

To be recognized in Aruto, which has produced numerous masterpieces of various genres, is equivalent to being recognized throughout the continent. Therefore, for writers, this Book Market was a battleground. For the citizens of the city of Aruto, the Book Market was as important as dungeons are to other cities.

“I re–ally want to go home~…”

Of course, not everyone there was competing.

The girl’s name was Minne. She was an ordinary citizen of this city, a petite girl wearing glasses.

“They never learn. Why~ do they keep publishing books~… They’re not going to sell anyways.” -Minne

She had opened a stall in a corner of the Book Market. All she did was lay out a mat and display a few books her parents had made. Her parents usually worked in bookbinding and design, taking on jobs to design book covers.

It was a small-scale business, but it was well-known in Aruto for its meticulous work, good sense, and, above all, for listening to the clients. In one corner of the Book Market, they produced and sold their own children’s picture books in limited quantities.

However, that day, due to a sudden job, she was asked to manage the stall in their stead.

“…” -Minne

Various people passed by her. Naturally, since it was the liveliest place in the city. Minne, however, didn’t advertise her wares vocally.

To be honest, selling her parents’ books was embarrassing. While there were those who praised her parents’ work, and she was indeed proud of their job, she honestly didn’t like their picture books. They weren’t bad, and they got the gist of the stories right. Just, it was embarrassing.

But everyone in this city, including herself, had sophisticated tastes. They were all too familiar with decent work. Thus, her parents’ books rarely sold. She had manned the stall several times, and they had sold at most two or three books.

Yet, every opportunity they got, her parents joyfully produced books for the Book Market. From Minne’s perspective, they never seemed to learn.

“We~ll, at least I can slack off~…” -Minne

Like many other citizens, Minne loved books. She had collected all the works considered masterpieces. Hence, she could also understand the simplistic nature of her parents’ picture books.

So, without much enthusiasm, she continued her duties, engrossed in reading a new installment of an adventure novel series.

“Excuse me.”

“Eeek?!” -Minne

Smirking a bit, she was reading a scene where a young city knight captain and a rough yet charming female knight were starting to fall in love, when she was suddenly addressed, causing her to yelp in surprise.

She felt embarrassed and a bit angry, thinking, “What’s with this person?” But then she realized she was manning a stall and that the woman addressing her was a customer.

“W-Welcome… Huh?!” -Minne

She was taken aback by the customer’s extraordinary beauty.

The woman had flowing silver hair and a physique that would captivate even another woman’s gaze. A mysterious golden-crimson cat, presumably her pet, was snuggled beside her.

It didn’t feel real. She looked like the princess straight out of Minne’s favorite romance novel. Despite being of the same gender, Minne’s heart raced at the sight.

The woman, seemingly unaware of Minne’s flustered state, smiled enchantingly and pointed to the merchandise.

“Do you have picture books suitable for reading to small children?” -Shizuku

“Ah, yes. Uhm, h-here you go…” -Minne

She handed over one of the picture books her parents had made. After giving it, she wondered if she should have given such a book to such a person. There were definitely better ones available.

“My, what a lovely illustration. It seems like it could also be educational for learning letters.” -Shizuku

However, the woman didn’t seem concerned about Minne’s hesitations.

“Miss, are you an adventurer?” -Minne

“Yes, indeed.” -Shizuku

She easily affirmed. An adventurer was the last thing she looked like. Minne wondered why such a beautiful woman would choose that path. Perhaps she was a princess who bossed her male companions around. Minne’s imagination, fueled by her books, ran wild, but obviously, the woman in front of her was unaware of these musings.

After browsing for a while, the woman held out the book she had been examining. Minne thought she was returning it, but the woman smiled warmly.

“How much is this?” -Shizuku

It seemed she actually wanted to buy it.

“Oh, um, y-yes… It’s t-ten copper coins…” -Minne

“Understood.” -Shizuku

She paid the slightly high price due to the self-publishing costs and smiled happily. Minne couldn’t quite understand what the woman found so appealing about her parents’ book. There were definitely better-illustrated ones out there.

Still, the woman seemed genuinely pleased with her purchase. Perhaps she wanted it not for herself but to read to a younger sibling or a child she knew. Imagining this scenario, the woman didn’t seem like an adventurer at all. She resembled more a priestess who served the spirits.

Maybe she wasn’t a frontline fighter but instead provided support from the rear.

She seemed so gentle and kind. Minne convinced herself of this. She couldn’t imagine such a gentle and beautiful woman fighting monsters—

” Also, do you have a powerful magical tome that can annihilate monsters from a distance?” -Shizuku

Apparently, she wasn’t the type to relax in the back.

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Fortunately, or perhaps not, Minne’s parents were familiar with magical tomes. Their profession in bookbinding was not limited to ordinary books. They also took on jobs related to magical tomes.

Therefore, in addition to the handmade picture books made by her parents, magical tomes that her parents had worked on were also displayed in their stall. There were many for sale due to their regular magician customers.

“Umm, we do have tomes for offensive magic, but are you a magician, ma’am? If so, perhaps a different magical tome would suit you better.” -Minne

“Is that so?” -Shizuku

“Hmm~… Specifically, what kind of magic are you looking for? Something that activates automatically?” -Minne

“Automatic activation.” -Shizuku

The gorgeous young lady seemed a bit lost in response to the explanation and tilted her head. Minne explained the products as she usually did when she was minding the store.

“Well… The effect of a magical tome varies based on its contents, as you’d expect. The activation methods are diverse, from reciting the inscribed spell to channeling magical power to manifest its effect.” -Minne

Just as no two ordinary books are the same, magical tomes are distinct based on their content.

Most of the magical tomes produced by Minne’s parents contain mundane spells, but they offer a wide variety. They have various effects, and their magic efficiency is good, so they consume less energy. However,

“Most of our tomes are designed for people who are not adept at magic or those who don’t have the leisure to prepare spells in advance. In other words, a lot of resources are dedicated to assisting these individuals.” -Minne

“So if one is somewhat skilled in magic, it’s superfluous?” -Shizuku

Minne nodded.

“This magical tome, for instance, substitutes the incantation but consumes more magic and might even take longer than a poorly recited spell. If you don’t narrow down its use, it might become useless.” -Minne

“I see. Offensive magic might be better learned personally… are there any unique items only available as magical tomes?” -Shizuku

Minne pondered. While the request was a bit troublesome, there were customers like this young lady who sought tomes to complement abilities they couldn’t achieve on their own.

“This one, for example, activates automatically by drawing on the minimal magical energy that leaks from one’s body. Its effect is a small blessing of luck… but it’s really just a minor fortune.” -Minne

“Minor won’t suffice… and the book is a bit too large for traveling.” -Shizuku

“Are you on a journey?” -Minne

“I’ve just started, but I plan to travel around this continent.” -Shizuku

Despite the proximity to the City of Sin, Greed, a haven for adventurers from far and wide, Minne thought this lady quite adventurous. What to recommend now?

“How about this one? It’s called 【Footprints in Fresh Snow. 】” -Minne

“This one… there’s nothing written in it, right? And only two pages?” -Shizuku

Indeed, this magical tome was blank with only two empty pages. Unlike other tomes filled with magic circles and formulas, this one had none.

“It consumes almost no magical energy. It draws from the ambient magical energy and the tiny amount that leaks from its owner. Its effect is…” -Minne

As she said this, Minne channeled magic into the “Footprints’” cover.

“….My” -Shizuku

A vague image appeared. At first glance, the simple drawing looked like a child’s doodle, but upon closer inspection, it was a map of the surrounding area.

“It maps the area as perceived by the user.” -Minne

Minne believed this tome to be useful, especially for dungeon explorations. However, it wasn’t popular. Most adventurers here based themselves in Greed, where the ever-changing terrain rendered maps pointless. The same was true for this tome. Since most explorers in Greed rely on magnetic stones to determine their exit direction, “Footprints” never sold well.

But for an adventurer planning to leave Greed, it might be different. This could be helpful for her upcoming journey.

The beautiful lady in front of Minne picked up the tome, studied it, closed her eyes, and…

“――――” -Shizuku (singing)

She sang. It was just a few seconds, but the melody was sharp and beautiful, making Minne instantly realize it was a genuine song. The lady opened her eyes, checked the “Footprints” tome again, and smiled.

“I’ll purchase this.” -Shizuku

Regardless of the item, she easily paid the appropriate amount (ten silver coins) for the magical tome. She was undoubtedly an adventurer.