Chapter 48
Claude and his family, having been summoned by the Royal Palace, were visiting the Royal Capital once again.
Since they had some time before their audience, they had come to the old bookstore they visited last time.
The elderly shopkeeper greeted them amiably.
“Hoh ho. Welcome back.”
Claude, who was earning substantial profits from various ventures, had been given a considerable allowance. He began pulling out books that caught his interest one after another and lining them up.
“I’m glad you’re buying them, but are you sure about so many?” the shopkeeper asked.
“I don’t know when I’ll be able to come to the Royal Capital next, so,” Claude replied.
Claude paid for the books and stored them away in his Item Box.
“As thanks for buying so many books, if there’s anything specific you’re looking for, I can try to stock up on books in that area. What do you say?” the old man offered.
“Hmm. I’d appreciate it if you could find anything related to ancient magic.”
“Hmm. It will take some time, but since there aren’t many buyers for those, I should be able to gather some.”
“I plan to enroll in the academy in the Royal Capital the year after next, so please do.”
After leaving the old bookstore, he wandered around town, exploring without any particular destination.
Leaving the high-class district and entering a general residential area, he found many stalls lined up.
Thinking that something like this would be nice for a change, he bought about three skewers that were giving off an appetizing aroma.
He took a bite out of one, and put the rest into his Item Box.
As he started walking again, he heard the voice of a crying girl.
Thinking he couldn’t just leave her be, he called out to the girl.
“What’s wrong?”
“Hic… I got separated from my mommy.”
“Oh, I see. That’s terrible. I’ll help you look for her.”
“Thank you, Onii-chan.”
The girl, who had stopped crying, made a ‘kuu~’ sound as her stomach rumbled.
“Are you hungry? If you like, you can have this.”
He took out one of the skewers he had just bought from his Item Box and gave it to the girl.
“Onii-chan, this is delicious!”
“I’m glad. Let’s hold hands so we don’t get separated, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Did your mom say what she was going to buy?”
“Umm, let’s see… She said she was going to buy fish and vegetables!”
“I see. Well then, shall we try looking for the fishmonger and the greengrocer?”
“Okay!”
Still holding the girl’s hand, Claude walked on, searching for the fishmonger and the greengrocer.
It seemed the girl’s mother had been looking for her lost daughter, as she was found quite easily.
“Merry! Oh, thank goodness! You suddenly disappeared, I was so worried!”
“Onii-chan helped me look for you, Mommy!”
“Thank you so much,” the mother said.
“Not at all. I just couldn’t leave her be,” Claude replied.
After bowing their heads, the girl and her mother disappeared into the crowd.
As it was time for him to return as well, Claude started walking towards the inn.