I place the book I had borrowed earlier back in its original spot, taking in the distinctive scent that fills a room full of books.
At first, I was surprised that a church would even have a library, but in this world, the clergy are considered intellectuals and a neutral force. The religion that prevails across this continent is called Ariestism, which, from the perspective of my past life, has some unique aspects.
They adhere to a doctrine of human reverence, which is why they are enthusiastic about preserving books that compile human experiences and knowledge. However, some even go so far as to claim that since war is a human endeavor, it should be embraced too…
And then there’s another aspect that’s, well… peculiar enough that it makes you wonder if it’s really okay. Aside from the doctrine of human reverence, the rules are generally relaxed, and in some regions, the teachings are even adapted locally.
From my past life perspective, it’s somewhat akin to Protestantism or Eastern Orthodoxy—distinct yet loosely united as one religion. They don’t have bad relations among themselves either, accepting these differences as regional variations.
Perhaps it’s this very flexibility that allowed it to adapt and spread across different regions.
But seriously, what’s up with this religion?
Well, that aside…
“Did you find any books you liked?”
“Yes, I think I’ll borrow this book on Greif-style magic.”
It looks like Erich is planning to borrow a book to improve his magical skills.
If I recall correctly, Greif is a well-known noble family famous for their expertise in magic, the Greif Marquis family, perhaps? A book from such a long-established family must be reliable… probably.
I picked up a few history books and left the room.
I informed a nearby sister about the books I was borrowing, expressed my thanks, and left the church.
By the time I stepped outside, the snow that had been lightly falling when we arrived had accumulated to about 2 centimeters.
We carefully made our way back to the castle, trying not to slip.
Once we returned to the castle, I brushed off the snow and sat down on a chair by the fireplace. Outside, the snowfall made it dim, but the fire crackled and illuminated the room.
I picked up the history book I had borrowed earlier.
The title read The History of the Kingdom of Orlando II. It’s a continuation of the first volume I’ve already read, covering the history of the country I now live in.
Reading a history book of another world feels a lot like reading a light novel about a fantasy world, and it’s quite entertaining.
But now that I’m actually in another world, I wonder if Japanese stories would be considered fantasy here?
With such trivial thoughts in my mind, I turned to the first page of the book.
