After leaving the bookstore, Riveria headed straight back to the Twilight Manor.
However, as soon as she entered, she ran into Finn.
"Hmm? Didn't you say you were going to buy?"
"Why didn't you bring back those blank books this time?" Finn looked at Riveria with surprise.
Riveria would often go out a few days after returning from an expedition and bring back blank books.
Finn knew what she was trying to do with them.
Riveria had been studying Grimoires and attempting to create them ever since she was Level 4.
As everyone knew, crafting a Grimoire required two specific Development Abilities: Mystery and Mage.
Back then, just like now, Riveria didn't have Mystery.
Yet, she refused to give up.
She wanted to research the process of making Grimoires to see if she could trigger the conditions for obtaining this development ability.
However, after so many years and two rank-ups, Riveria still hadn't obtained Mystery or succeeded in making a Grimoire.
Despite this, she hadn't given up.
After every expedition, she would bring back blank books from a bookstore in Orario and continue her experiments.
The results were always the same—no progress, and countless hours wasted.
"Someone else bought them," Riveria sighed.
"Huh?"
"There are others who buy these kinds of books?" Finn was genuinely surprised.
Aside from mages trying to craft Grimoires, who would buy blank books?
Could it be…?
"I don't know, but I've asked the storekeeper to keep an eye out for me," Riveria replied.
Even without Finn voicing his thoughts, Riveria could tell what he was thinking from his expression.
"I hope whoever bought those books succeeds," Finn said with a smile.
Only those attempting to craft Grimoires would buy blank books.
Aside from Riveria, Finn had never heard of anyone else in Orario trying to make Grimoires.
Of course, there might be others, but he wasn't aware of them.
However, it was a fact that no Grimoires had been produced in Orario.
If there had been, Finn, as the captain of the Loki Familia, would have known.
The Grimoires in Orario all came from Altena.
Even then, only a handful made their way to Loki Familia.
If someone in Orario succeeded in crafting one, it would be a blessing for the adventurers here—especially for large Familias like theirs.
Grimoires were incredibly valuable, as they could awaken magic in adventurers.
While they were expensive, large Familias like the Loki Familia could afford to purchase a few.
If there were a steady supply of Grimoires, the strength of the Loki Familia would undoubtedly grow.
This wasn't an exaggeration.
Otherwise, Riveria wouldn't have been so determined to study them.
"Yes, I hope so too," Riveria nodded.
"Hmm? You said the person who bought the blank books was an elf?" Finn suddenly caught onto something Riveria had mentioned.
"Yes, the shopkeeper said it was an elf boy," Riveria confirmed.
Hearing this, Finn immediately thought of Orsted.
"Did you ask the old man what the boy looked like?" Finn asked.
"What are you implying?"
"Finn, I won't go around investigating my own people."
"Don't think that just because I'm an elven royal, I can do whatever I want," Riveria replied, her tone tinged with displeasure.
As a member of the elven royalty, Riveria was revered by many elves.
With a single call, she could summon elves from all over Orario.
This was one of the privileges of her status.
But she disliked this power.
Which was why she hadn't pursued the matter further when she learned that the buyer was an elf.
Now, hearing Finn's question, Riveria assumed he wanted to investigate the elf, which only deepened her dissatisfaction.
"No, I was just wondering if that elf you mentioned might be Orsted," Finn explained calmly, unbothered by Riveria's reaction.
"Hmm? Do you think the boy who bought those books is that person Orsted?" Riveria frowned.
"Yes, I've heard so many incredible things about Orsted."
"So when I heard that the person trying to make a Grimoire was an elf, the first person I thought of was Orsted."
"I have a feeling it might be him," Finn admitted.
He couldn't help it.
Orsted had left a deep impression on him the day before, and that impression was still fresh in his mind.
"It can't be that much of a coincidence, can it?" Riveria's frown deepened.
"It's no trouble. Where's the bookstore you usually visit?"
"I'll go ask. It's still early, so it won't take much time," Finn said, preparing to head to the bookstore.
"I'll take you there," Riveria said after a moment of thought.
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