"Your book's here," Kiori said, bringing my attention to a levitating book.
I looked up, and sure enough, there was an empty space under the blue mark I put on the underside of the shelf. I stretched both of my hands out, and the book floated into my hands. I nearly forgot about it because of my conversation with Kiori.
"What does it say anyway?" I presented the cover to my summoner.
"An in-depth history of ghost and appeasement practices and how to avoid angering them."
I turned the cover toward me out of bewilderment. There's a book on this, and I just happened to select it on a whim? Talk about coincidence.
"What's the usual borrowing time for a book from this library?"
"2 weeks."
"Are extensions allowed?"
"They are, but you'll have to ask her." Kiori looked at the air where Ms. Jaklin was supposedly. "And I'm not reading the entire thing to you."
"Damn."
Reading this book would be extremely helpful now that I know for a fact that ghosts exist.
"You want to check it out?"
"Yeah! I mean, I don't want to unknowingly anger a ghost! And you have a ghost managing this library. I have to read this!"
I promise I'll take notes, no matter how bored or uninterested I become while learning about it.
Kiori held the book on Almalga ferns. "I'd like to return this and check out that book." He pointed to the book I was holding.
Instantly, the book on Almalga ferns floated upward, retreating to an out-of-reach shelf. Seconds later, the book I held vibrated with a hum like a smartphone notification.
"Umm… is this supposed to happen?"
"That's just her way of keeping track of checked-out books."
"What does it do? The, err, whatever made it vibrate?"
"Oh, she just put her essence on it. If you don't return it or forget to ask for an extension, it's destroyed, and you'll have to pay for the damage."
I felt my eyes open wide from what he just said.
"She destroys a book, and I have to pay for the damage?"
"Yup."
"Not that I plan on destroying it or seeing that happen, but what would be the cost of having to pay for this book's destruction?"
"Depends on the book, but from what I've heard, someone had to pay at least 2000 Qiliq."
That's 4 times what I've been paid!
In that moment, I realized I had 2 choices. Either I could go investigate whatever led to Griesies going on a rampage or read as much as I can on this book about ghosts and appeasement practices.
2 weeks is plenty of time.
…
We returned to the dorm, and I immediately placed the book on the table as gently and quickly as possible, before producing a stone statue depicting a man reading a book while striking a pose. The pose I had in mind came from a meme of someone reading a literal book on fire. That statue was placed next to the book.
"I'm gonna go look into something," I said to Kiori while checking that my keys were still on me. They were.
"I'll come with you."
I turn around.
"You sure?"
"Last day of break, and I don't feel like spending it here."
We left the dorm, and I produced a hovercraft and drove us to the outskirts of town. After I stopped, we got off, and I dissipated the hovercraft.
"So, what did you want to look into?" Kiori asked.
"Just wanted to check if Byclaes Anzer was still around."
Truthfully, the likelihood of meeting him in this town was nearly zero, but I still wanted to check in case he had some unfinished business and happened to stay behind a little longer.
I entered the guild hall.
"Ah, hello, Nolval! Are you here to request another commission?" A clerk at the desk greeted me.
"No. I just wanted to ask if Mr. Anzer told you about where he was travelling to next. Oh, and directions to the inn he stayed at."
"Umm… I believe he said something about his plans to travel to Mipheroah. Why do you ask?"
"Just wanted to ask him about something."
"As for the inn…"
She gave me a series of directions that matched what I remembered. I simply asked again because Richter was the one who led the way, so I didn't commit the route to memory.
After that, we left the building and went to the inn. The innkeeper greeted us, and then I asked him if Mr. Anzer was still here.
"He left 30 minutes ago. I believe he said he's headed to Mipheroah to explore possible business opportunities."
I felt a tap on my right shoulder and turned to see Kiori leaning in.
"We might be able to reach him." He then posed with fists in front of him, as if pretending he was holding the handles of a scooter or motorcycle. I instantly understood what he meant.
I ran outside and produced the hovercraft, and the both of us got on, and we sped off toward wherever Kiori pointed.
In a few minutes, we were outside of town.
"You certain this is the way?" I asked Kiori, who held onto me on the hovercraft.
Finding a Rhino Tortoise shouldn't be difficult since they're large and hard to miss. My real concern was Kiori assuring me that the path I was taking was correct, even though he had never met Byclaes Anzer. Also, we were travelling across grass, so I had no footprints to follow.
"Yes. If we keep going this way, we'll be able to catch up to him soon."
I sped up the hovercraft as I steered it away from obstacles, soaring over hills, dodging trees, bushes, and boulders.
We cleared another hill, and sure enough, Griesies and the cart he was pulling immediately came into view.
Along with the sight of him and Mr. Anzer being surrounded and attacked by bandits, with Griesies defending Mr. Anzer with his body. I assumed they're bandits since their clothes weren't exactly uniform.
Kiori and I ducked, using the hill for cover. I made my hovercraft disappear to ensure we wouldn't be discovered as easily.
The onslaught of attacks, which were a combination of arrows, rocks, axes, and maces, ceased, and someone else emerged from the trees and approached the Rhino Tortoise.
From what I could tell, he was either shirtless or their shirt was brown. I couldn't get closer out without risking our position. All I knew was that this person was in charge of the attacking bandits.
"Are you going to do anything?" Kiori kept his voice low.
"If that person is the leader, then dealing with him should make the others panic."
"So, what's your plan? You came all this way to talk to Mr. Anzer. Surely you're not gonna let this guy take him, or worse-"
"I got it, Kiori."
Byclaes would die.
I needed to make them panic enough to flee on their own using a display of overwhelming might that is only meant to scare.
I focused on the shirtless man, sorting through different visualizations that popped up in my mind. I've decided to settle on something simple, making the man fly without his consent.
Instantly, the man flew a few feet into the air, probably at least 10 feet. He came down and landed on his rear. The way he fell caused him to slam the back of his head into the ground, rendering him unconscious. He looked unconscious. If he died, well… that's a fair consequence for trying to rob a merchant and Rhino Tortoise owner. More fair if he held killing intent toward Mr. Anzer.
I heard a shout, and the rest of the men standing moved in panic. To add to their panic, I spontaneously erected a simple square-shaped pillar in a gap between the scattered men, making sure the gap was far enough for the pillar to not hurt anyone else.
They moved faster.
I enjoyed the show, as if they were ants running about.
2 people lifted their leader and brought him somewhere obscured by a tree. Moments later, everyone fled, while one of those bandits rode a horse that was dragging a cart with the unconscious leader.
After waiting a bit, observing Griesies's and Mr. Anzer's behavior, I recreated my hovercraft and drove both Kiori and me to meet them.
"Mr. Nolval, what are you doing here? And what is that thing you're on?"
"Personal invention. Are the both of you alright?"
"Yes! Yes. Why are you here, and who is this?"
"Kiori, meeting Byclaes Anzer. Mr. Anzer, meet Kiori."
"Nice to meet you." Kiori offered his hand to Mr. Anzer, and they both shook hands before Byclaes turned to me. "Now, why are you here?"
"Do you know what Almalga ferns are, sir?"
He turned to Griesies and started rubbing his face gently. "I do, and I don't want Griesies to ever go through that pain again."
"Nolval believes someone fed him Almalga ferns."
"Who?" Mr. Anzer snapped toward me.
If looks could kill.
"I don't know, but if you inspect Griesies's poop next time he defecates."
"What now?" I heard Kiori ask.
"If traces of Almalga ferns are present, and you prove you haven't them to Griesies yourself."
"I would never."
"You might have a case that could lead to the perpetrator's arrest."
What are detective agencies like in this world? The only reference I have for capable detectives is the detective character archetype, like Detective Conan or Sherlock Holmes, and many other characters that fit the category. Well, whatever. I'm sure Mr. Anzer could figure it out from here.
"You should consult a detective."
Afterwards, Mr. Anzer returned to the adventurer's guild to request escorting protection all the way to Mipheroah and promised to write me a letter after Griesies poops to report if Almalga ferns were found in Griesies's feces. Kiori and I promptly returned to the dorms to clean ourselves before going to sleep.