The Terminally Ill Prince is the Mad Dog of the Underworld (Novel) - Chapter 10
Chapter 10. The Library of House Grünewald
Read it only at Utoon.net!
Discord
“About earlier.”
I asked Peter before entering the library.
“I didn’t make any verbal mistakes, did I?”
Peter answered with eyes like he was looking at a madman.
“Weren’t there tons? My spine kept shivering every time you spoke.”
“What did I do wrong?”
“Someone who could barely speak properly before was suddenly wide-eyed and speaking so forcefully…”
“Hmm, was it that much?”
I won’t deny that I acted too strong precisely because the difference in status and power was so great.
But acting strong in such situations was exactly how Mad Dog Karzan survived in the underworld.
“But you were cool. You weren’t intimidated at all even before the head butler.”
“Was I?”
If it looked that way even to Peter’s eyes, how must it have appeared to the head butler?
‘That should be enough for father to not take it lightly.’
After all, dreaming of becoming heir without catching the family head’s eye would be beyond wishful thinking.
‘The more eyes watching, the more value there is in proving my talent.’
As many possibilities awaited me as there were martial arts texts sleeping in the library.
“I’m going in. Wait here.”
“Yes, sir.”
Entering the library, I gaped at the walls of bookshelves that seemed to reach the ceiling.
“Wow. This is incredible.”
Just how many books were sleeping here? With this many, there must certainly be mana cultivation methods meeting my conditions.
“Ah, suddenly I want to become a righteous phantom thief.”
Calm down, Allenbert. With this body, you’d be caught in less than ten minutes if you tried to run.
“Young Master Allenbert! It’s been so long!”
Unlike the head butler, a small elderly man with a hunched back greeted me.
“I heard you had a fever. I’m glad to see you’re well.”
“I woke up this morning.”
“Ah! That’s why I hadn’t heard this joyous news yet.”
He was clearly the librarian of this place.
“I apologize. Actually, I don’t know how to address you. I have amnesia.”
“Good heavens.”
The librarian made a sympathetic expression.
“How harsh. How could such…”
“No need to feel too sorry. I hear I was quite a pathetic fellow in the past.”
“How could you say such things? You were truly a kind person.”
Unlike the head butler, the librarian was quite a friendly old man.
“My name isn’t important as I live buried in books, so there’s no need to know it. Rather, since you’ve come after so long, let me guide you.”
Though he was probably just free due to few visitors, I accepted the librarian’s consideration while pretending not to notice.
“Books not found here can’t be found elsewhere. From history to mathematics, literature, rhetoric, chemistry, magic studies, truly vast…”
I slowly looked around the library while listening to the librarian’s explanation.
“Ah, are you looking for any particular book?”
“I’m curious. What kind of books did I usually read before?”
“Well, about that…”
Seeing his troubled expression, it was easy to tell I must have read nothing worthwhile.
“You liked tales of knights’ valor that suited you. Besides that, various hero stories…”
It seems I just killed time reading mostly useless things.
“I’ll say in advance, I’m not interested in such things.”
“Ah, then…? Ah! Perhaps? I see. You’ve reached that age already.”
The librarian guided me as if he’d thought of something and understood by himself.
“This way. Please follow quietly.”
“?”
“Ahem, the erotic books are this way. I’ve collected them in a secluded spot.”
“What?”
“It’s alright. Other young masters also visited a few times while growing up. No need to be embarrassed. It’s a natural process…”
Now I see he was quite an impure-minded old man. I glared at the librarian and said:
“Unnecessary meddling.”
“Ah, I apologize. Shall I leave you alone then?”
“That’s not it, I want to see martial arts texts.”
“Eh?”
Somehow seeking martial arts seems more surprising than seeking erotic books. Allenbert, your reputation…
“What kind of martial arts texts do you mean?”
“Obviously our House Grünewald’s secret martial arts.”
“Oh.”
The librarian showed surprise while guiding me to another section.
“You really must have lost your memories. To seek books you’ve long avoided.”
“Everything before waking seems hidden in thick fog.”
“I see. Then may I explain a little?”
His face looked just like a doting grandfather desperate to tell his grandchild old stories, and I newly realized how diverse the ways of aging can be.
The head butler was an elder who had lived his whole life hard as rock, while this librarian seemed like an elder who had kept his childlike innocence while quietly buried in books. I found it fascinating how he appeared largely unmarked by life’s tribulations.
“The children of Grünewald typically begin formally learning martial arts around age ten.”
“What do they do before that?”
“Since their bodies aren’t fully developed, they focus on basic physical exercises to develop strength and nervous system, consume good food and medicinal supplements, and learn various academic subjects.”
“I see.”
It wasn’t very different from other prestigious houses’ methods. Though slightly late, the difference wasn’t significant.
“Do they mainly learn sword techniques?”
“Generally yes, but depending on preference and aptitude, some choose spear techniques, martial arts, and other branches.”
“So that means Grünewald’s secret martial arts are quite diverse.”
“Ah, of course. Grünewald’s martial arts are among the top three in the entire kingdom.”
“That sounds promising.”
I nodded and asked casually:
“By the way, which young master did you say frequently sought erotic books?”
“Ah, that…”
The librarian sealed his lips with a face that was dying to speak.
‘Isn’t this basically begging me to ask more?’
He had an expression suggesting he’d spill everything if gently prodded.
‘He must be bored and lonely. Someone who spent their life buried in books would have a peculiar mindset and difficulty socializing.’
In short, the librarian was an innocently aged elder. Though he must have read and reread the world recorded in books while buried in the library, he probably hadn’t seen the real world.
In other words, it wouldn’t be difficult for this Mad Dog Karzan to wrap him around his finger.
“If it troubles you, I won’t ask. Well, it’s not something I’d discuss elsewhere anyway.”
“Ah, indeed?”
The librarian quickly answered.
“Actually, it was the third young master.”
“Ah.”
-Third young master, likely lustful and gloomy.
I roughly recorded my prejudiced impression of my elder brother in my mental directory. Though half in jest, human nature often reveals itself in such things.
‘Anyway, he’s loose-lipped. He might not be someone who could keep my secrets from others’ questions.’
Must watch my words, Allenbert.
“Can the books here be checked out?”
“The martial arts texts are difficult. But if you’d like to read them here…”
That’s rather fortunate. Someone might have checked out better ones.
“Then I’ll read here.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
The librarian added out of concern:
“As you might guess, the highest-level martial arts permitted only to the family head, and techniques too difficult for beginners aren’t kept here.”
“Of course, I understand.”
Since this wasn’t a place only direct bloodline could access, these must be distribution-level martial arts permitted even to branch families.
‘But higher-level martial arts aren’t always better.’
Right now, it would be far more advantageous to choose and learn proven, common mental techniques. I had the wisdom for that.
I looked around and pulled out an old book decorated with gold leaf.
“This book seems good for now.”
“Oh, why did you choose that mental technique?”
The librarian exclaimed.
“That was created by Duke Vitenfeld, the family head from 200 years ago.”
“Why is something so precious here?”
“Because it’s complicated and inefficient, so no one seeks it now. However, from what I’ve read, it contains remarkably profound principles…”
I scratched the back of my head while looking at the librarian’s uncomfortably shining eyes as he marveled.
“No, well, I just picked what caught my eye.”
“Picking what caught your eye, does that mean you felt some kind of destiny?”
Looking at the librarian’s face full of expectation, as if he’d imagined some romantic connection, I said:
“It’s not that, I just chose it because the name sounded cool.”
“Pardon?”
A cool name is nothing.
…But it can also be everything.
‘Opportunities sometimes come from such random coincidences.’
It didn’t matter even if this book proved unsatisfactory. If necessary, I could master all the mental techniques shelved here.
With the mindset that it didn’t matter how many days it took, I opened the first page of the old book.