"The Talented Dragon Hides Its Claws" ~ The Eldest Son of the Baron Family, Called Useless, is Actually One of the World's Strongest ~ - Episode 21

The morning after arriving in the capital.

After the two had breakfast at the inn,

“I’m going out with Stingray, so take your time and rest.”

“Today, I’m going to relax while eating hay.”

“Vroom vroom”

I greeted my horses and went out for a stroll.

“As a capital city, having a lot of people is better, but when it gets to this point, it’s really annoying. If I let my guard down, I might get lost right away.”

“I think you’ll get used to it eventually. Just hang in there until then.”

“Speaking of which, the elixir will be received tomorrow, so the maximum stay period is four days.”

“…I forgot.”

I shouldn’t, I shouldn’t. I was completely in travel mode.

I apologize for explaining this repeatedly, but Stingray had been traveling alone for several years before the war, so his homing instinct is weaker than that of others.

“By the way, I heard that Lady Lena is planning to take the entrance exam for the Imperial Academy next year, but aren’t you planning to buy a mansion in the capital?”

“Purchasing it is difficult considering Arden’s finances, but renting it is not out of the question. However, considering the security aspect for Lena, I am thinking of having her stay in the dormitory for now.”

“Ah~. No matter how excellent the capital’s security is, there’s still a possibility of getting involved in an incident. If you can’t arrange a mansion and staff of the same scale as the main residence, it might be wise to choose a student dormitory as a safe option.”

While I was strolling along, I arrived at my destination for the day, the Wheel Grand Library. Here, ordinary people cannot enter without undergoing various screenings to prevent theft, but if you are a noble, you can use it freely after simply presenting your noble crest once.

“Not just the Empire, but a library where books from all over the continent are stored… There’s no reason not to stop by here.”

“Experience and knowledge cannot be bought with money, you know. I didn’t use it before because the review process was a hassle, but thanks to you, Ryuu-sama, I was able to access it easily, so I think I’ll read as many books as I want this time.”

For Ryu, who is a bookworm, this place is like heaven. It’s no wonder that his mouth corners rise unconsciously.

After a few dozen minutes, the two sat at a table, facing each other, enjoying their reading.

Up to this point, everything is normal. However, there is one unusual thing.

It is the fact that there are over a hundred magic books piled up on the table.

Ryu continues to flip through the book at inhuman speed.

“…………”

Even though he was supposed to be reading, his eyes and hands were always working at full throttle. It probably didn’t even take him three minutes to read a thick book. The people around him were also watching the scene with their mouths agape.

“Um, Lord Ryu, can you really read that?”

“Ah. It’s all perfectly memorized.”

“Oh, I see.”

So you can read at that speed…

“Shall I return the book and bring back a new one?”

Sorry. Please.

Even while having a conversation, Ryu continued to flip through the magic book without resting his hands or eyes.

Such incredible concentration… More than a bookworm, it’s like a book monster…

The phrase “本の魔物とは言い得て妙である” can be translated to English as “It is indeed apt to say that books are like monsters.”

In the end, Ryu continued to devour books until he was satisfied, and by the time he left the library, the sky was tinged with crimson.

And just before the sun set, the two of them were walking down the main street again.

“I was so engrossed in the book that I even forgot to have lunch. Sorry for pushing you.”

“No, no. When I was traveling, it was quite common for me to skip lunch.”

“But you’re still hungry, right?”

“……Yes”

Stingray replied shyly.

“Well then, how about we splurge a bit and go to a fancy restaurant for a change?”

“Uh, is that okay?”

“Ah. Let’s eat our fill today.”

Ryu, trying to act cool, said “once in a while,” but this was his first time going to a high-end restaurant. In the Arden territory, where even taverns are few and far between, there was no way a high-end restaurant could exist.

The two headed to the high-end restaurant near the inn where they were staying.

At the entrance of the restaurant, two bouncers in black suits stood, seemingly very attentive to security. This is probably why it is considered high-end. That said, anyone who didn’t look suspicious could enter normally, so Ryu and his companions, who appeared clean and presentable, were no exception and were able to enter smoothly. After entering, they were greeted by another attractive staff member and promptly shown to an available table.

Ryu and Stingray glanced at the menu for a while, and after careful consideration, they both decided to order the same dish.

“Two servings of flying rabbit stew. Also, two servings of earth dragon fillet steak. For sides, a seasonal vegetable salad and Grace wheat sourdough bread.”

“Understood. Please wait a moment.”

After waiting anxiously for about ten minutes, the food finally arrived.

“Ohh~”

“Hehehe. It’s hot, so please be careful.”

Seeing the two of them with childlike expressions, the waiter couldn’t help but smile.

The meat of the soaring rabbit is so tender it falls apart on the tongue, and the earth dragon steak has a robust flavor with delicate herbal notes. Additionally, the seasonal vegetable salad pairs perfectly with the dressing, leaving a crisp and refreshing texture that is quite impressive. The natural yeast bread, when bitten into, releases a sweetness that spreads in the mouth, making you involuntarily imagine those golden wheat fields.

In short…

“It’s incredibly delicious.”

“It’s super delicious, though.”

It is so.

On the way, a red-haired woman came into the shop and sat at the table next to me.

Ryu momentarily stops eating and squints his eyes.

“……”

“Ryuu-sama, is something the matter?”

“No, it’s nothing. Let’s continue eating.”

Without paying much attention, I indulged in the gourmet food.

“Maybe we hit the jackpot with this place.” *munch munch*

“I think there’s a high possibility of that,” munch munch.

While we were talking.

“Indeed, the food here is exquisite. It’s one of my favorite places.”

The red-haired woman interrupted the conversation.