Prologue

If anyone were asking me what I am, ordinary would be the proper term in my case. I wasn't born with any talent at all, unlike those people who hold a status of a hero or others who had the skills they need to make a decent salary and livelihood. Still, indeed one must not contain any grudge against others as it leads to irrational thoughts.

"Umm… Excuse me."

A young little girl stood in front of my desk, asking for my service, bringing my senses back. I placed a bookmark into the tome I was reading and focused my attention on her.

"How can I help you?"

I gave a gentle smile as I began my service.

"D-do you have the newly released of this series?"

She held out a book that she was hugging, showing the name of the series she was searching for.

She has good taste in picking the right title for herbalism for a girl at her age. Kind of thinking of it, she came here regularly when it comes to this topic.

"Ah, yes. That has just arrived just yesterday. Please wait here for a moment."

I stood up from my seat and made my way to the specific bookshelf where the book was. The library I was working in was located in the middle of a Capital, where you can pretty much meet all kinds of people. By people, I meant humans and beastfolks.

There was once a war before this era. However, most of the clans' leaders were killed in the process, and those who replaced them were unlike their predecessors. Thus, a treaty was formed among them where the country reached unity and prosperity for everyone, regardless of their kind.

"Hmmm. I remembered I put it somewhere here."

I placed a wheeled ladder onto one of the bookshelves and set the wheels into a stationary setting, keeping it stable. I climbed up the ladder, keeping my firm grip on the ladder as I look at the spines along the bookshelf.

If anything, working as a librarian has somehow improved my eyesight. I didn't tell my colleagues anything about it as it might bring unwanted attention or gossips from them. I did measure out how far I can read a standard text size of a book spine, and it turned out to be one hundred metres. But when it came to multiple texts placed next to each other, it was mentally tiring.

"There you are."

I took out the volume the little girl had requested and carefully climbed down the ladder. Just as I was about to head toward my desk, the same little girl stood in front of me once again.

Maybe she couldn't wait to get her hands on this book.

That was my initial thought in this situation. It was usual for a die-hard fan to follow me in the library to borrow the books, but this one seemed different from others. Her gaze wasn't focused on the book I was holding but me, instead.

"As I thought, you are the one I am looking for," said the young girl. Her expression turned serious.

"?"

"Your name is Sylvia, aren't you?"

"Pardon me?"

"You can't fool me. I have read reports about you. Your actions, services and knowledge you have gained over these years were not something that we would leave unnoticed."

"I honestly have no idea what you are implying. Wouldn't it be rude not to introduce yourself?"

She cleared her throat and introduced herself.

"My name is Eliza, Head of the Government's Merchant Division."

"…"

Fortunately, there was no one around them. If any onlookers heard about this, they would probably laugh and think she was joking, but her eyes said otherwise. That was why I respond to her introduction in kind, thinking there was no point hiding it since I was speaking with an official.

"It is as you suspect. My name is Sylvia. What business do you have with me?"

I didn't know where this is going, but I know something big is coming up.

"I want you to work with me."

"What…?"

What did the Government's Merchant Division want with a librarian like me? I guess I have to ask them for details later. But if I did so, they probably not going to leave me alone. Either way, I don't have much choice, do I?