The Hero is An Academy Librarian

"What about you, Mr. Percival? You don’t seem to like Verati very much."

Percy shrugged when Hildegard asked this.

"It’s neither here nor there. I don’t really dislike him either."

"But... he’s a hero. All the things he did for this world and the people he saved. How can you be so apathetic towards him?"

"Yeah, I know he’s a hero and all that. I just don’t think it’s right to worship someone just for doing what’s right. Verati did what he did because he thought it was the right thing to do. If that was enough to give someone a statue, then most of the world should have statues as well."

Hildegard blinked in slight surprise, and she thought about Percy’s words for a few long seconds before she said.

"Well, most of the world didn’t save an entire race from extinction."

Percy couldn’t help but chuckle in amusement.

"Yes, I suppose that is true. Okay then, Hildegard, you win."

Hildegard gained a victorious smile as she heard this, and she put another book on the shelf as another silence stretched through the library. The silence this time was not as tense or uncomfortable as it was in the past. Instead, it was a calm, peaceful silence. Almost like the two of them had come to terms with each other and they were simply enjoying each other’s presence.

But, as always, Hildegard couldn’t stay silent for long as she spoke again.

"My mother’s been telling me to come home."

Percy raised a brow.

"Is that so? Why would she want that? Doesn’t she know what’s happening?"

Hildegard frowned.

"She does. But she doesn’t care. She was against me coming to the academy in the first place, and I had to beg her for years before I could enroll. But now that the whole incident happened, she just wants me to leave the academy and go back. I told her I can’t leave because of the investigation, but she doesn’t listen."

Percy’s face twisted into a complicated expression. On one hand, Percy could understand Hildegard’s mother. No parent wants their child to go out into the world knowing that the child was going to face scrutiny and scorn from everyone around them, but on the other hand, Hildegard’s mother was only making things worse by making such demands. Right now, Hildegard was facing a lot of stress from everyone around her, and knowing that her own mother was also not on her side would only make things worse for her!

"What about your father?"

Percy asked this question nonchalantly, but he immediately knew that he had said something wrong when Hildegard’s face twisted into a frown. Hildegard went silent for a few long seconds before she spoke in a low, even tone.

"My father’s dead. He was a general in the dragon king’s army during the war, and he took a troop of soldiers to the city of Linata to conquer it for the dragon king, but he was intercepted and killed by Verati. I was barely two years old."

Percy blinked curiously, and for a moment he thought back to the last time he went to Linata. That was about fifteen years ago, and he had been there trying out a meat dish from one of the most popular restaurants in the city! It was literally pure coincidence that led to him running into the demihuman army and killing them! Percy didn’t feel any sort of guilt for what he had done because his actions had saved millions of humans in that city, so Percy just nodded once and said:

"I’m sorry for your loss."

Hildegard made an irritated sound.

"Don’t be. I never knew him anyway. And if I did, I don’t think I would’ve liked him. He is one of the reasons why I’m so hated in the world right now. If he had been a better person, then maybe the Hellfire affinity wouldn’t be treated with so much hatred. Verati wouldn’t have had to kill him, and he would’ve been there to help raise me. He was a monster, and I’m better off without him."

There was a look of pure hatred on Hildegard’s face at that moment that showed just how much she truly hated the man who claimed to be her father. From what Percy remembered, Hildegard’s father also had the [Hellfire] affinity, and it was during the fight with him that Percy had used the Verdant Ice skill for the first time to counter Hellfire! That fight had been so one-sided that Percy didn’t even remember the man’s face! It was honestly surprising that someone as kind and smart as Hildegard could come from such a terrible man.

Percy spoke up in a kind tone.

"Well, for what it’s worth, I believe you grew up to be just fine without him. His actions are his own, and they were his choices. You don’t ever need to let them affect you now. Do you understand?"

Hildegard looked over at Percy with a surprised look on her face as he said all this, and she studied his expression closely and saw that there was no amusement or pity in his eyes! Percy was completely genuine at that moment! Hildegard felt some tears gathering in her eyes, and she sniffled and quickly used the back of her hand to wipe her eyes while turning away.

"Thank you. I haven’t really spoken about this with anyone before, so that uhm... that means a lot."

Percy simply smiled, and he turned away to continue stacking the books. At this moment, Percy became certain that he had made the right choice in protecting Hildegard. This was not a girl who would turn to the dark side. Maybe Hildegard was a little rough around the edges, and she had a hard personality because of her upbringing. But she was also a very genuine and sincere person. Percy knew without a doubt that Hildegard was not responsible for murdering those students.

Percy finally put the last book on the shelf, and he turned to Hildegard and asked.

"Tell me what really happened in that library. I want the full truth."

Hildegard looked over at Percy when she saw the serious look on his face, and she also turned serious and nodded. Hildegard didn’t know why, but she had a feeling that Percy wasn’t just asking her this question for no reason. If she didn’t lay everything out here right now, then she might never get a chance to properly explain herself again! Hildegard spoke up seriously.

"After I came to the library that day, I went to the upstairs library to read the book I borrowed. I didn’t want to go back to the dorms because the girls are always mean to me, and I couldn’t go to class since it was so noisy. I don’t know why, but when I was in there, a boy came up to me and touched me from behind. Once I felt that, it was as if my magic reacted without my consent. It rushed out and opened the gates of Gehenna all around me, and then an explosion happened."

Hildegard had explained this to the City Guards, but she knew that they didn’t fully believe her. But the truth was that Hildegard didn’t fully believe herself either, so she couldn’t really blame them!

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