My Glasses Will Be Able to Conquer the Whole World, I Suppose

Chapter 200 – Glasses Boy Explores the Tower Guided by Hydra

“… Everyone, disband! This isn’t a spectacle, so move along!”

… He was swiftly reprimanded with a punch.

In a sudden fit of rage, Lisse landed a solid blow, leaving me feeling deflated.

“…I’ll remember this.”

Another rough-looking boy, who had also been on the receiving end of a similar blow, seemed quite downcast as well, murmuring those words before leaving.

Following Lisse’s second order to disperse, everyone finally starts to move. …Well, it didn’t take long after our arrival for things to get moving. Will we manage to make it through safely from here on out? Ah, it hurts.

“I understand your sentiments, but you should try to change your mindset.”

Our guide, Hydra, interjected, calming Lisse, who grumbled in response.

“Why am I the only one getting scolded when I’m not even involved?”

While she glanced at me.

“I’ll guide you to your rooms from here. If you wish, I can also show you around the facilities in the tower. Get acquainted with your surroundings today, and prepare for life here starting tomorrow.”

Rooms, huh?

The tower looked quite large from the outside, but would we each have our own room, or would they be shared?

Upon asking for guidance on the facilities, Hydra started with the first floor.

The tower consists of six floors.

The first floor serves as the hall where Lisse punched me.

The kitchen is also on the first floor, and it seems this is the dining hall.

Meals will be prepared on a rotational basis, with different people taking turns each day.

Both newcomers like myself and Lisse, as well as Cherry and Florentine, who arrived just yesterday, have not yet been assigned to the meal rotation.

I expect an instructor will inform us about this soon.

“…What’s your name anyway? Don, is it?”

“No, that’s my foster father’s title.”

…

“I’ve abandoned my birth name, and after my foster parents passed away, I was also disowned by the family. I lost everything at that time. But I really wanted to inherit something from my foster parents.

So, I chose to adopt the name ‘Don’, by which my old man was called by those around him. It’s not my real name, and I’m not a ‘boss Don’ either, but the family said it was fine like this. So I embraced it. So, in an unconventional way, ‘Don’ is like our family name.”

…There is Lisse and the Taboo Child talking about something heavy behind me, but yeah, let’s not dwell on it.

Cherry is accompanying us, but maybe because of the nature of the conversation, she hasn’t said a word the whole time. Lisse isn’t saying anything either.

Speaking of which, terms like ‘family’ and ‘Don’ from Florentine… could she really be the daughter of some underworld boss? …No, let’s not think about it.

They might surprisingly explain it lightly if I ask, but it seems like the kind of topic you shouldn’t ask about lightly in the first place.

I might not know how to respond after hearing it.

“… You can call me Don if you want, punk.”

“… You still lack the age and dignity for that. Besides, you don’t even have the air of a Don.”

Yeah, it doesn’t feel very ‘Don’-like.

…Come to think of it, Lisse’s name also felt kind of different. But I won’t ask her about it.

“Next is the second floor.”

Despite Hydra’s meticulousness, it’s impressive how they manage to maintain such privacy… Well, everyone has their own story. It’s not something you can easily meddle with.

Climbing the stairs, we arrived at a floor with rows of doors.

“These will be the rooms for the candidates to reside in. They may be small, but they’re individual rooms.”

Ah, individual rooms. I’m used to small spaces.

“There’s a plaque on each room. Eil and Lisse, your rooms are already set up, so drop off your luggage there and return. I’ll be waiting here.”

With that said, I start looking for my own room… Hmm?!

From the room at the back, there’s a strange smell coming… It’s oddly familiar. It reminds me of the scent of brewing Poison Berries…

Poison Berries, when consumed in small quantities, only cause stomach discomfort. However, when brewed into powder, it becomes a highly lethal poison.

That’s probably the smell of it being made.

Lisse and I stopped simultaneously.

“It’s better not to get close to that room. The surrounding rooms are also vacant, and it’s isolated.”

Hydra informs us from behind.

“A girl named Carofern resides there. She’s skilled in pharmacy, often concocting medicines and poisons in her room. Strange smells, explosions, and smoke are a common occurrence, so you’ll get used to it soon enough.”

…Seems like quite a stimulating environment.

As we confirmed the locations of Cherry and the others’ rooms that came with us, we found our own room.

They appear to be arranged in the sequence of our arrival at the tower. Lisse’s room is adjacent to mine.

I opened the door and checked inside—ah.

It’s certainly small inside, with only a small window, a bed, and a desk, but there’s something significant to me.

… My bow and arrows.

Resting on the desk, they were entrusted to Sorichika before our venture into the lawless country of Krozheit.

She must have strategically left them here.

They don’t seem to have been left lying around, as they’re not covered in dust. It’s possible she left them shortly after Yorgo ordered everyone to disband.

Although the string isn’t drawn, I pick them up and take aim.

…It feels strange.

Since becoming an apprentice to my master, except for exceptions like being unable to move due to injury, I’ve handled the bow almost daily.

This is the first time in a long time that I haven’t touched it.

Yet, it fits comfortably in my hand, as though I’ve wielded it just yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that.

Though my instincts may be dulled, I believe my senses remain sharp.

Perhaps it’s thanks to the sensory training I received from Scorpion in the Assassin’s Village.

The bow has become an extension of myself. I want to shoot it right away, but I’ll have to wait a little longer.

I’ll go on a hunting excursion later.

On the third floor, there are also numerous halls.

Unlike the first floor, large boards adorn the walls, providing space for written words, with desks positioned in front of them.

“This is where we have classroom lectures. The instructors write on those boards when teaching us.”

Hydra explained.

Hmm.

I’m looking forward to what kind of lectures they’ll teach.

As for the fourth, fifth, and sixth floors, access is restricted to candidates without authorization.

“The fourth floor is the library. It contains numerous valuable books, so access is restricted to prevent defacement, damage, or loss.”

Hydra elaborated.

With the instructor’s consent, you can enter the library and even borrow books.

During our studies on “aptitude” in Haidiga, Sorichika and I relied on the town’s lending library. It was quite expensive, if I recall correctly.

I wonder if there are any books on “aptitude” available here as well.

There are still many “invisible aptitudes” to learn about.

Knowledge will be my weapon. No skill will be left unrefined.

… There’s also Adyll Grandma’s letter, so learning about “aptitude” might be essential, if anything.

“The fifth and sixth floors are reserved for the instructors’ personal use. I’ve ventured there only a handful of times, but the setup is fairly similar.”

Hydra clarified.

Hmm, personal space.

Well, even top-notch assassins are still human beings.

They probably want their own space and time without being disturbed, too.

“And there’s also a basement, utilized as a pantry and storage area. Access is restricted to those on duty only.”

Hydra explained.

I see. So there’s a basement as well…