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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Resonance and Power
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The vice director, startled, covered her mouth with her hand and discreetly turned her head.
Fortunately, no one paid her any mind. They were all too busy hiding their own mouths and expressions.
She wasn't the only one who felt as though the voice, seemingly pouring in from all directions, had struck her heart.
The patrons in attendance, along with the other children who were merely there to fill the seats, were all momentarily stunned by the profound emotion.
Even the cold-blooded director, who only knew how to look out for her own interests, was no exception.
"Please... continue reading."
Carolyn, dabbing the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, couldn't hold back and urged him on.
Loan read the next sentence.
The symbiotic process continued—mana carried the sound, and the sound, in turn, propelled the mana.
"At Duke Ludger's calm confession, Verdi was at a loss. She found it difficult to even meet his gaze and tried to look away..."
Bathed in the gentle sunlight, Loan was a beautiful sight to behold as he read.
As everyone listened, captivated, to Loan's reading.
Loan grew curious to know in more detail what kind of reaction the phenomenon he had created was drawing from the audience.
As the sound waves spread to every corner, reaching the audience and creating a resonance, Loan used his circulating mana to sharpen his five senses.
His hearing was far more acute than when he had eavesdropped on the administrators' conversation.
'I can hear everything.'
The faint breaths that escaped like sighs, the rustle of clasped hands, the sound of a bitten lower lip, the trickle of tears on skin, and even the distinct rhythm of each heartbeat.
Responding to their reactions in real-time, Loan varied the tone and speed of his voice, as well as the amplitude of his emotions.
As the sound became ripples of mana, continuously tapping against the audience.
The story gradually flowed toward its climax.
"Ahh..."
"Oh my!"
"What a beautiful story..."
After observing the shimmering mana of those who had cried, laughed, and raged in sync with his reading.
Loan slowly closed the final page of his reading debut.
A silence followed.
"..."
Only after Loan offered a small smile to those who had listened so intently to his reading.
Did applause and exclamations of awe finally erupt.
Theo and Lily, who had read before him, were long forgotten.
Loan, now the star of the patronage reading, expressed his gratitude for the ensuing praise.
"It was a blessed moment. Truly a beautiful reading."
"Thank you, Lady Carolyn. Your attentive listening helped me become more immersed in the reading."
"My, how polite and well-spoken he is. You've been educated so well."
It was thanks to his avid reading of books on etiquette and speech.
Loan said with a bright smile.
"It's all thanks to the care of the director and vice director."
Loan's remark brought the director and vice director an unprecedented amount in donations.
Carolyn, who had put Loan forward for the reading, gave a purse of money so large it made the director's eyes widen.
Along with words of how deeply moved she was.
"I would love to hear Loan read again tomorrow, if that's possible. There's a particular book I'd like to hear."
"Of course, you must. I will have him ready, Lady Carolyn."
After all the patrons had left, Loan received praise from the director and vice director, along with a kind offer.
"You did wonderfully. You deserve a reward. Is there anything you wish for, Loan?"
"I'd like to have a delicious meal with all the members of the reading group. How about chicken?"
"Of course. Anything else?"
"I'd like to prepare a little better for the next reading. Would it be possible for me to use the library without any time restrictions?"
"Hahaha, if it's for the reading, how could I refuse?"
The director was in such a good mood that she readily accepted Loan's unreasonable request.
In the dining hall, Loan's reading was still the talk of the town. All around, the emotions from earlier were being relived.
The same was true at Loan's table.
Loan felt quite shy at the praise from the children in his room.
No one even touched their food, too busy going on at length about what they had felt.
Reciting passages from the book, they discussed how this part was, how that part was, and so on.
Loan placed a chicken leg in Lily's hand, which was gesturing wildly in front of him, and said.
"Everyone, please eat while you talk..."
Lily's face flushed red.
Normally, she should have been envious and jealous. But for some reason, she wasn't.
Loan's reading wasn't something that could be imitated simply by having a nice voice, changing one's tone, or infusing emotion.
Like an invisible, indescribable wall that she was already certain she could never overcome.
She instinctively felt that Loan existed somewhere far away, a place she could never reach.
The hearts of all the other children, who could only gaze at Loan with expressions of awe and admiration, felt the same.
Feeling a little embarrassed, Loan quickly chewed on his chicken.
He was eager to reflect on the special experience he'd just had.
* * *
After the meal, Loan was alone in Library 2.
The other children, saying they had lost all motivation after Loan's reading, had returned to their dorms.
It was practically a strike, but the shelter staff didn't scold the children.
Thanks to this, Loan had some quiet time and space. He browsed through the books he had read so far and walked to his favorite spot by the window.
「Why the Union - The Sum of Freedom, Faith, Harmony, Balance, Honor, Responsibility, and Pragmatism」
「The Background of the Kingdom's Birth and the Meaning of the War's End」
「A Gourmet's Stroll Across the Continent: Featuring Special Recipes Using Products from the Seven Duchies」
History and geography books that had allowed him to explore the world.
「A Compendium of Royal Etiquette and Speech - by Lord Chamberlain Bill Hellington」
「The Path to Becoming a Proper Human - Broadening the Horizons of Character Through Critical Thinking」
「The Virtues of an Adult: Realizing Beliefs and Ideals」
The books that had served as his guide when he pondered how to grow up to be good and polite, just as Helen had said.
And now, Loan had stepped into the section containing books on life, physiology, and nature.
'I need to learn more about the body—how it works and reacts. After all, it's the body and will that move mana.'
Loan began pulling out books one by one.
「Basic Anatomy in One Volume」
「The Laws and Principles of Phenomena - Movement and the Human Body」
One book explained the structure and function of the body, focusing on illustrations of bones, muscles, joints, and organs.
The other dealt with connecting the laws of natural phenomena, learned through observation and reasoning, to the human body.
In the end, it was his own body that moved using mana. Both books seemed quite helpful.
「The Essentials of Strength Training with Meat: Based on the Legend of the Butcher」
Wouldn't mana be more effective if supported by stamina and strength? This book contained methods for training the body through nutrition and exercise.
「The Five Senses (Sight, Hearing, Smell, Taste, Touch): An Essential Understanding of Humanity」
Why did the earlier reading draw such a fervent response from the audience?
My appearance, which others talk about? That probably had an effect. My voice, which they also say is handsome? That too, probably. In any case, the core of a reading is the act of producing sound.
Through clear self-assessment, Loan was fairly certain about the positive impact of sight and sound, but he still didn't understand the special phenomenon of his mana spreading out and reaching the audience.
The process of waves becoming vibrations, creating tremors and resonance.
Could that be called the sense of touch?
Loan pondered this as he placed the books on a cart.
Then, his gaze fell upon the next book.
「Understanding Sex」
The title didn't conjure any particular thoughts or images.
Still, it was in a similar category, so he thought it might be helpful. He pulled it out and began flipping through the pages.
'Hmm…?'
Loan froze, sensing a familiar mana signature heading toward the library, and turned around.
As expected, it was Blake who opened the door and came in.
"Hey, Loan. Heard you killed it at the patronage reading today."
"Hello, Blake."
"Too bad I missed it."
"You were on duty, weren't you?"
Since Loan wasn't allowed to leave the main building, Blake often came to check on him like this.
Blake came closer, grinned, and ruffled Loan's hair.
"I was wondering how you got through your books so fast, but you've been reading without a break, huh? What're you reading? Let's see, Under... standing Sex..."
Blake glanced between the book and Loan, then gave a sly grin and poked Loan in the side.
"You interested in this stuff these days? Haha. Well, you're at that age, I guess. But listen, kid."
"Ow! Ow!"
Blake put Loan in a headlock and continued.
"You can't learn this stuff from books, no matter how much you read. That's what amateurs do."
Does he think teasing is a sign of closeness? After chuckling while keeping him in the headlock for a while, Blake shook the book and resumed his talk.
"This is something you have to learn through experience. Ha, I could teach you a thing or two... but unfortunately, I don't have time right now."
"You seem busy?"
Loan asked politely as he straightened his hair and clothes.
"Yeah. You know, those guys who came after you before."
"You said they were mercenaries hired by Manson's gang, right?"
That's what he'd said, but Loan knew they were from the Union.
Blake nodded and replied.
"Yeah, that's right. They've started causing trouble again, so a few of the administrators and I are going to deal with them."
"If you're getting involved, Blake, I'm sure they'll get what's coming to them."
Blake laughed cheerfully as Loan gave a small pump of his right fist.
"Haha, yeah. Hearing you say that gives me a boost. I was really bummed about missing tomorrow's reading."
Watching Blake give him a deliberate wink, Loan felt a little confused.
His opinion that Blake was a bad person hadn't changed. The evil deeds Blake had committed as the dorm leader were countless.
And yet, he was always kind to Loan. Sure, he did mischievous things like just now, but he was more the type to watch over and care for his every move.
Blake is a bad person, but he treats me well, so should I consider him a good person?
What about the Union? I thought they were a good organization, but what if they do something bad to me?
A moment's contemplation.
Loan let out a short sigh and said.
"It's alright. There will be other chances. I have a feeling I'll be doing a lot of readings."
"Oh-ho?"
"Anyway, be careful, Blake."
"Yeah, yeah. Anyway, you do you. And read this book when you don't have a reading. Don't want you to lose your energy. Hahaha."
Blake's chuckles could be heard for a while even after he was out of sight.
The Union and Blake.
As Blake's mana faded into the distance, Loan briefly imagined what a fight between those who had mastered mana would be like.
Then his thoughts turned to himself.
'How strong am I?'
He had never been in a proper fight.
Intimidating the other children in the dormitory had been enough.
Other than briefly carrying heavy loads, he had never used his mana-enhanced strength on another person.
Besides, the problem was *how* to attack.
Unfortunately, there were no books in the library on how to fight well.
'…'
Loan readjusted his grip on the thick book he was holding, using both hands.
He gripped the hardcover book, bound in stiff leather, with both hands and focused.
All he needed was will and conviction.
The circulating mana momentarily surged into the muscles that needed strength.
*Riiip—*
The book was torn clean in half.
An impossible feat, not just for a child, but even for an ordinary adult.
He was now accustomed to using mana to momentarily boost his strength.
Loan compared himself to Blake, using him as a benchmark. He was, after all, the strongest person Loan knew.
'I don't have enough mana in my body to wield it explosively like Blake. I can only use my circulating mana for a brief moment. I need to find another way.'
If I study and understand the human body, maybe I'll figure something out.
As Loan vaguely pondered this.
"Ah..."
He felt a slight pang of regret for the copy of 'Understanding Sex' he had just unthinkingly torn in half.