I also learned that the South is so rich in resources that there is little that canât be found and that it has an unusually large number of allied clans.
However, because of the lack of spices, they are trying to maintain a friendly relationship with the West.
Wow. Messi is like a genius.
As I blinked my eyes, he shrugged and avoided my gaze out of embarrassment.
âWhat is it? That expression of surprise.â
âI thought that you didnât know about those things. How do you know everything?â
ââŚFirst of all, Iâm from a collateral family too. Iâve had all the basic classes so I know what Iâm talking about.â
âCollateral?â
âThey have the same roots as the Astrophel family.â
The roots are the same? Doesnât that mean they have the same ancestors? I was shocked.
âThen you are a distant relative of Daddy?!â
It was the strangest and most shocking thing I had ever heard.
When I asked back in amazement, Messi shook his head, saying it wasnât.
âIt may have been in the past, but not now. Nowadays, even non-collateral members of the clan who have contributed to the family are recognized as collateral.â
âIt was like that.â
âBut that doesnât mean there arenât any real collateral members.â
âIs that person Baon?â
I remembered Baon that also had black hair. I was told that black hair and red eyes are only innate to people of the Astrophel family.
This is because when you go around the house, sometimes you see people with those characteristics here and there.
Not only Baon, but Rosaria also had red eyes. Messi nodded a yes to my words.
It was a little complicated, but it seemed to be vaguely understandable.
To put it simply, it meant that both the clan members with blood ties and members without them would be recognized as collateral if they made a contribution to the family.
Iâve been feeling it for a long time, but the South was very open-minded.
If it was somewhere else, I donât think they would recognize someone as collateral simply because they made a contribution.
I asked softly, pointing north of the map.
âBy the way, Messi. How cold is it in the North?â
âWhy are you asking that all of a sudden?â
âI have to go play later. Sage lives there.â
ââŚâŚAh.â
Messi had a complex, subtle expression on his face. He was hesitant to ask how to explain.
ââŚDo you know what it means to invite another beast to your realm?â
âWhat does it mean?â
Is there such a thing? I blinked slowly. I donât know what it means.
Come to think of it, I remember that Rosariaâs expression wasnât very good when I told her that Sage had invited me over.
What the hell does that mean? When I shook my head that I didnât know, Messi sighed deeplyâŚ
âI knew it. You donât know.â
âYes.â
ââŚThen please listen to what it means from someone else. First of all, what I can tell you isâŚâ
What can you tell me?
âItâs very cold in the north⌠and youâre not going to go there.â
âWhy?â
âBecause the Lord will never allow it.â
So give up.
Messi patted my shoulder.
Why wonât Cade ever allow it?
I tilted my head.
Without a word, Messi wiped away the picture drawn on the floor with his feet.
* * *
The weekend was back. I didnât have any plans today, so I was going to borrow a book from the library.
To brag for a moment, I could now read an easy book without Rosariaâs help.
It was a great development.
By the way, this expression was also found in a book!
I opened the library door and went inside.
âHello.â
âYouâre here again, Miss Irene. Have you read all the books you borrowed last time?â
âYes.â
I handed the borrowed book to Media, who was managing the library.
Recently, I was mainly reading books that were popular with young beasts. What should I read this time?
After finishing my return record, Media smiled happily and pointed to the books stacked next to her.
âDo you see this?â
âWhat is it?â
âThese are the books I ordered for you last time. What would you like to read first?â
Hmm. What should I read first? There was more text in this book than what I normally read.
It seemed a little difficult, but I thought it would be ok. I read most of the fairy tale books in the library, so thereâs nothing to read.
Letâs read the thinnest one first.
âThen Iâll pick this one.â
âOh, would you? They said it was a popular book in the West.â
âWest?â
Are there different popular books in each area? Come to think of it, it felt a little different from the book Iâve read so far.
âYes. The recommended books for each clan are slightly different. Since each person has different personalities, there are differences in what they learn when they are young.â
âI see.â
âSo far, all that Miss Irene has read were recommended popular books for young beasts in the South.â
It felt a little strange. So what Iâve read so far is the preferred direction of growth in the South?
There are a lot of stories that usually say you have to look around and live together in cooperation.
âŚBut it seemed to me that people were acting as they please without paying any attention to their surroundings.
For reference, the next most important thing is ironic, âIâm good on my own.â
I donât know which side of the rhythm to match, but I think people might probably want to find the middle point and match it appropriately.
âThen Iâll go now.â
âYes. Have fun reading and come again.â
âYes.â
I left the library and headed to my room. I was going to stay in the room without going out today. I raised the straps of the suspenders that were drooping down from my shoulders and diligently headed for the room.
Now that I have developed stamina, I was able to go back and forth between floors without difficulty. Before that, I was tired too easily to even think about that.
âRodaria, Iâm back.â
âYou came early, Miss Irene. Have you decided on a book to read today?â
âYes. This one. Media recommended. Itâs popular in the West.â
âIâll prepare snacks for you.â
âUn. Thank you.â
I sat on the sofa and laid on a cushion. I was slowly reading the book, page by page when I suddenly heard the sound of the door opening.
It was Arban.
Rosaria who prepared the snacks distributed them on the table and welcomed Arban.
âWelcome, Young Master Arban.â
Arban nodded roughly and walked straight to where I was. I put down the book and curiously looked back at him.
âBrother Arban?â
âHey.â
âYes.â
His red eyes were staring at me with a burdensome look, and they narrowed even more. Why are you looking at me like this? As he leaned back, Arban folded his arms and sat down on the sofa opposite me.
âDid you take a pheromone class last time?â
âI did. Did you remember about that?â
âWho rememberedâŚ! So, was it successful?â
âNo. I havenât felt my pheromones yet.â
âYet? Then when can we go on a trip?â
Aha. Thatâs why he came to the room. Seeing him come to me on the weekend and ask questions, it seemed like he was quite upset.
Arban coughed and quietly brought out the main point.
ââŚWhen do you think youâll be able to succeed?â
âMaybe I can succeed in a few days?â
Arban let out a deep breath. He seemed frustrated because I didnât answer an exact date. He stood silently, immersed in thought for a long time, and opened his eyes to call me again.
âHey.â
âUh?â
âIf you want to be good at shapeshifting, you have to think that pheromones are evenly distributed throughout the body.â
In an instant, laughter erupted. I was wondering why he didnât say anythingâŚ..
âHehe. I see.â
ââŚWhat are you laughing at?â
âBrother Arban, have you been thinking about it so far to tell me that?â
I guess he must have been sitting without going back because he wanted to tell me how to easily succeed in shapeshifting.
Arban, who coughed and avoided my gaze, murmured.
âI didnât worry too much about it.â
Rosaria, who was watching from the side, was seen smiling happily.
âSince the Young Master taught her directly, Miss Irene will be able to do it soon.â (Rosaria)
ââŚAnyway. So when are you going to class?â
âNot today because itâs the weekend.â
âThen what are you going to do now?â
âIâm going to stay in my room.â
I pointed to the book I was holding. I was originally going to read this, but I think itâs more fun to play with Arban, so Iâll put it off for a while.
But what should I play with?
As I was looking around the room for something to play with, I suddenly remembered what Messi said yesterday.
âAh, right. Brother Arban.â
âYes.â
âBrother, do you know what it means to invite someone to your house?â
ââŚâŚWhat?â
Arban paused at my question and asked.
âWho said that?â
âSage.â
ââŚWho is he?â
âHuh? A friend.â
But why are you reacting so sensitively?
Arbanâs expression slowly began to wrinkle at my words that he was a friend and suddenly he got up from his seat.