A week later, after finishing his military science and strategy class, Ard locked himself away in the library. For one week since his fight with Eva, he had been continuously studying history, genuinely wanting to know what was truly happening to him, such as the Exgrandal sword that was already in his dimensional box when he learned to use it in his seventh life, the dreams he had about another world in a state of war that was completely unknown to him, and so on.
Ard kept going back and forth, grabbing books from the library shelves—major history and legends. Although he had read them many times, he was trying to understand what truly happened in the past. While he was concentrating on a book about the battle between the demon lord and the first female Emperor, which only existed in the Orthus Empire's archives,
"Hey, what are you reading?"
Suddenly, a girl rested her chin on Ard's shoulder. Of course, Ard turned to look at the girl. "Clatter," Ard immediately shifted and fell out of his chair. "Shhh," everyone in the library immediately shushed him.
"Mi... Mi... Mirea?" Ard asked, pointing at the girl with long black hair, a thin build, thick glasses, and who was hugging a large book.
"Huh... you know me? You're a first-year, right? I'm a fourth-year," Mirea said, confused.
"Oh... ha ha... sorry, I got the wrong person," Ard replied. "Mirea Kranzer, a commoner who, in the future, becomes a Sage and my teacher... so she also goes to this academy. I know she's older than me, so she must be 18 now... but this is a coincidence. I learned this world's history from her in my seventh life. Hopefully, she can help me," Ard muttered to myself.
"Who are you? Are you interested in history and legends? I've noticed you coming to the library every day until evening for a week now," Mirea said, sitting next to Ard without being asked.
"Y-yes, my name is Ard, and I'm curious to know what really happened 1,000 years ago... and 3,000 years ago," Ard said.
"Nice to meet you, Ard... which kingdom are you from?" Mirea asked, holding the arm of her glasses and placing her book on the table.
"Oh... I'm from the Orthus Empire... but my grandmother is from Fredonia; she likes telling legends," Ard said. "Once again, I don't know which grandmother told me. I hope she believes me," Ard muttered to myself.
"Ah, Fredonia. No wonder you're confused between 1,000 years and 3,000 years. To this day, many people are still confused about the timeline of historical events and the time the first female Emperor lived... but actually, it's not like that. The events of 1,000 years ago and the events of 3,000 years ago are two different things," Mirea explained enthusiastically.
"Um... you seem to really like history and legends, don't you?" Ard asked.
"Yep, that's exactly right... I'm researching legends, especially the two swords used in the battle 1,000 years ago between the first female Emperor Evelina and the Demon King Azroth," Mirea said excitedly.
"Oh... I see... and what about 3,000 years ago?" Ard asked.
"Hmm... according to ancient records that have only been partially translated by royal researchers and are always told in the Fredonia Kingdom, it's the story of the journey of two heroes, Ashton and Esmeralda. The records say they were reincarnations from another world who could fight since childhood. They lived in a village that is now the Fredonia Kingdom," Mirea said.
"Yes, that's right. They traveled to fight demons and eventually managed to seal the Demon God Malekh. After that, they returned and were welcomed as heroes, isn't that the story?" Ard said.
"Exactly right! You seem to know the generations-old story in the Fredonia Kingdom too," Mirea said, smiling.
"Ahahaha... yeah, Grandma always told me it as a bedtime story when I was little," Ard lied. "I'm the third prince of Fredonia. If I didn't know that story, I'd really be worthy of the 'trash prince' nickname," Ard muttered to myself.
Suddenly, Mirea fell silent, her face becoming serious. She pushed up her thick glasses and stared intently at Ard beside her.
"But actually, the story isn't a fairy tale with a happy ending... according to the translation results, three kingdoms 3,000 years ago called the Soranus Kingdom, the Chronius Kingdom, and the Teranius Kingdom collaborated to capture them both. They then intended to execute them because their power was considered dangerous and could become a threat," Mirea said.
"I-is that true?" Ard asked. "I already know that. You told me in my seventh life," Ard muttered to myself.
"Ashton and Esmeralda managed to escape and get married. They lived peacefully for a while at the foot of the mountains that are now the Durnhill Kingdom. But their happiness didn't last long. They were discovered, and at that time, Esmeralda was pregnant. They were brought to the main square of the Chronius Kingdom's capital and immediately put on trial to be executed. The common people, nobles, and the royal family ultimately killed the pregnant Esmeralda right in front of Ashton, which led Ashton to surrender himself to the influence of the Demon God and become Azroth, annihilating all three kingdoms until nothing was left," Mirea said.
The atmosphere became silent again because after Mirea stopped talking, Ard also didn't say anything. Even though he already knew, it was still hard to believe because he always heard the story end beautifully.
"Azroth resurrected the demon race and subjugated humanity for 2,000 years until the female Emperor Evelina was born, who then led humanity, founded the Orthus Empire, and killed Azroth by sacrificing herself... so those two stories connect, right?" Mirea asked.
"Y-yes, that's right," Ard replied with a slight smile, thinking. "Hmm... I already know this part... but I want to know more... should I just show her Exgrandal? I know I can trust her, and she was the one who told me never to show Exgrandal to anyone in my seventh life," Ard thought to myself.
Ard turned to look at Mirea. He studied Mirea's face, which was still the same as the adult Mirea he knew in his seventh life, but just as Ard was about to open his mouth,
"Ard,"
Ard turned to see the girl's voice calling him. He saw Eva walking toward him, alone.
"Ugh... this princess is interrupting me again," Ard muttered to myself.
Mirea, seeing Eva approach, immediately stood up and bowed. Eva glanced at Mirea.
"Please sit, Senior Sister," Eva said.
"Thank you, Your Highness," Mirea replied, immediately sitting back down afterward.
"What are you reading, Ard?" Eva asked, looking at the open book in front of Ard.
"A legend about 1,000 years ago and the founding of this empire," Ard replied.
"Oh... why don't you just remember it? You actually know what happened and how our fight ended... everything's right here," Eva said, stroking Ard's hair, which instantly made him uncomfortable.
"Y-yes, that's why I'm curious and want to know," Ard replied, moving away.
"That's good. Keep it up. If you remember, let me know. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go back to the dormitory. You shouldn't stay in the library until late either. Go home and rest; don't get sick. Well, see you later, Ard. (She turned to look at Mirea and bow) Senior Sister," Eva replied.
"Okay, see you later, Your Highness," Ard said. "What is that princess talking about? She's just making people misunderstand. What if someone overheard? How am I going to face Alicia now?" Ard muttered to myself.
Ard turned to look at Mirea and was shocked because Mirea now looked excited. Her large eyes, magnified by her glasses, were gleaming, and her mouth was wide open as if ready to devour the new knowledge in front of her.
"What did Princess Eva just say? You already know what really happened back then? And what did she mean by 'our fight'? Quick, tell me everything," Mirea asked eagerly.
"I knew it... someone misunderstood... damn it," Ard muttered to myself, shaking his head.