After exchanging names, the two fell silent again, Talulah rubbed her hair in frustration.
"Do you... know Koschei?"
"Know."
"!!!"
Talulah's expression turned serious, and before she could ask a question, Kashena had already fluently recounted Koschei's life and achievements.
Obviously, it is not surprising that a duke is known to the public.
The question that was about to be uttered stuck in her throat, Talulah awkwardly changed the subject:
"... You know so much about this, do you know the person in question?"
"This is basic knowledge that anyone who has received a normal education should know."
Kashena's gaze remained calm, but perhaps it was Talulah's imagination, but she seemed to detect a hint of disdain...
"Although the Duke Koschei was not active in politics, his clothing designs were highly praised even in Holy Steed Castle."
A serpentine gaze swept over Talulah, and Kashena frowned, turning her head away.
"If Miss Talulah wishes to enhance her charm, I happen to have some written by that duke..."
"No, I'm not interested in that kind of thing."
"..."
For a fleeting moment, Kashena's facial muscles twitched, and she picked up a book from the side and casually flipped through it.
"Miss Talulah, please feel free to speak your mind if you have any questions."
Talulah tensed up; she did indeed have many problems—
Who exactly is this person? What is their relationship with Koschei? Is this encounter a coincidence or premeditated?
The words were on the tip of his tongue, but reason prevailed and he swallowed them back.
The few aristocratic servants told her that this was still too impolite.
Seeing Talulah silent, Kashena shifted her gaze slightly, landing on Alina was pretending to read a book not far away.
"Miss, don't you have any books that interest you?"
Alina was momentarily flustered when caught red-handed, but quickly regained her composure.
She closed the book in her hand and walked to the bar.
"The store has a wide variety of books, more comprehensive than several bookstores we've visited."
"Why would Miss Kashena want to open a shop here? It's so remote, I'm afraid business won't be good..."
"Because this isn't a bookstore."
"???"
Meeting the questioning looks of the two, Kashena calmly said:
"This is just where I store my books. I usually ask someone to look after them, and I just happened to have some free time today to take a look."
Talulah narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing the other person's expression, trying to find a flaw in it.
Alina didn't question it, but simply held up the wrapped history book in her hand and asked casually:
"I see... Do you know where else you can find books like this?"
"I want to teach the children in the village, and I need some teaching materials."
"This book is not suitable as a textbook."
Kashena stood up and walked to the bookshelf on the other side, her black dress swaying gently.
She paused in front of the bookshelf for a moment, took out a red book, and put it back on the table.
"This is..."
"The complete history dates back to when the Hippogryph Kingdom still existed."
Talulah turned the pages of the book, trying to discern the other party's intentions.
However, this is indeed an ordinary history book, if there is anything unusual about it...
The history in the book is extremely detailed, even recording the conversations of those involved.
Even at some key historical junctures, the pages are filled with annotations.
The handwriting was slender and strong, just like the figure behind the bar.
"Are these notes all yours?"
"Yes."
Talulah's initial wariness was quickly replaced by her thirst for knowledge.
She flipped through the pages quickly, her eyes lighting up especially when she came across the chapters about the fall of the Hippogryph Kingdom.
"Just like the teacher said... even the mighty Hippogryph was overthrown by the people."
"Conflict, uprising, alliance... the process is exactly the same!"
"Miss Talulah."
"Ah! Sorry, I got too excited."
Kashena shook her head as she watched Talulah almost collapse onto the bar, then turned and poured two glasses of hot water, pushing them towards the two of them.
"Thanks!"
Talulah drank the scalding water in one gulp; that temperature was nothing to the Red Dragon.
While Alina was flipping through the red book, she eagerly pressed for an answer:
"Ms. Kashena, did you come up with all these ideas on your own?"
"No, that's a conclusion drawn by 'many people' over a long history."
"I see, so you're a pragmatist? Then may I ask—"
Talulah's questions came pouring out like an avalanche: the fall of the Hippogryph, the rise of Ursus, and insights into those histories.
Kashena always answered calmly, her words concise yet always hitting the nail on the head.
In contrast to the harmonious atmosphere here, Alina's brows furrowed more and more tightly.
"Miss Kashena."
She closed the red book and looked directly at the shop owner.
What is your opinion of the people of Ursus?
"Alina?"
Talulah was taken aback, somewhat puzzled as to why her friend had suddenly interrupted her.
Kashena and Alina locked eyes, with the latter making no attempt to look away.
"Essentials for forming a nation."
"Necessity?"
Talulah's smile gradually faded; she sensed something from that title.
"Yes," Kashena replied calmly.
"Whether it's labor, production, or the military, the entire country needs them to function."
"They are indispensable—essential—for the continuation of this country."
Silence spread among the three of them, and Alina closed her book.
"In your opinion, did Ursus create the Ursus people?"
"Yes."
"Wrong!"
Talulah suddenly stood up straight and retorted to Kashena.
"It was the Ursus who overthrew the Hippogryph Kingdom; it was their resistance that made Ursus it is today! It should be the Ursus who made it—"
"There is no difference."
"What?"
Seeing Talulah's confused expression, Kashena calmly repeated:
"There is no difference."
She took the red book from in front of them, gently flipped through it, and stroked the annotations.
"The defeat of the Hippogryph was not due to their rule by violence."
"The success of the Ursus people was not due to the unity of the populace."
She looked up, her eyes devoid of color.
"If Nightmare Khan hadn't crushed the Hippogryph's army, Ursus would have had no chance of resistance."
"Without Igor, a soldier, leading the way, the ignorant Ursus people would never have been able to unite."
Kashena closed the book and looked down at the two of them.
"Ursus's success was a coincidence, Miracle of the times. Even without Ursus, any other race could have achieved the same—"
"Wrong."
Talulah interrupted her; the girl's voice was calm, completely devoid of the expected anger.
Kashena squinted.
"Miss Talulah, simply denying it does not prove your correctness."
She didn't get angry; instead, she turned around and continued searching through the bookshelves.
"After our conversation, I have a general understanding of what kind of person your teacher is."
"It must be said that some of his views directly address the core issues of this country, and he is indeed a wise man."
A book was placed on the desktop.
"Unfortunately... he chose the wrong path."
Before the two could even open the book, Kashena had already begun to speak:
First example:
"Vlar Ilyich Voronin, businessman, non- Infected."
"Dissatisfied with the oppression of their neighbors by the mines, they organized a people's attack on the mines."
"The struggle lasted a month; he died from betrayal by his deputy."
Second example:
"Led Vic Kovac, nobleman, non- Infected."
"Witnessing family members being sent to the mine due to infection, she led her family in a rescue operation, and after the success, rallied the Infected to fight back together."
"The protests lasted two weeks, and he died in the military crackdown."
Third example:
"Khar Sergei Petrov, civilian, Infected."
"His mine was abandoned due to Catastrophe, but he survived Catastrophe and organized the Infected on the snowfield to form a rebel army."
"The resistance lasted a week, and he died from the army group's artillery fire."
The two. "..."
"This book records the stories of 298 rebels, and without exception, they all failed."
Kashena's voice remained calm throughout, while Talulah's head drooped lower and lower in contrast.
"Miss Talulah, history is a great teacher. It will tell us what we should and shouldn't do."
Kashena pushed the booklet in front of Talulah, leaning forward slightly.
In the dim light, shadows enveloped the Red Dragon, like a snake hunting its prey.
"Clearly, your teacher's idea is on the wrong track."
Talulah lowered her head, her body trembling slightly.
Kashena squinted, the darkness in her eyes deepening.
"If you want to learn more, I can help you--"
"Very good..."
Kashena paused in her movements.
"That's wonderful!"
Talulah suddenly raised her head, her face not showing any frustration—but rather flushed with excitement.
"Little Tal?"
Alina, who was about to step forward to stop her, froze.
Kashena's brows furrowed, a reaction completely different from what she had expected.
"Thank you, Miss Kashena!"
Talulah grabbed Kashena's hand, her eyes burning with passion that made Kashena instinctively lean back.
"Thanks to you... otherwise I wouldn't have known that there were so many comrades on this Daichi!"
"Comrade?"
Kashena leaned against the bookshelf, a rare look of bewilderment on her face.
"Yes! He's a comrade!"
Talulah let go of her hand and paced back and forth in the narrow bookstore.
"Even though they lived in different eras and had different backgrounds, they still made the same choice!"
She turned abruptly, her eyes burning with fire.
"That idea actually emerged a long time ago! There have been pioneers on this path for a long time!"
"They are losers."
Kashena recovered from her brief lapse in composure, but her tone became somewhat impatient.
"They've appeared countless times, but they've failed every time."
"But they were never wiped out."
Talulah's smile widened, and Alina, watching her friend, softened her expression as well.
"Miss Kashena, are you familiar with the lives of people on the snowfields?"
Life on the snowfield?
Kashena's voice regained its calm.
"I know, the permafrost, the blizzards, the winters when you don't see the sun for half a year."
Alina raised her head and looked directly into those black eyes.
"Do you know how the people on the snowfields survive?"
Kashena didn't answer; it was Talulah who did.
"If the permafrost is too thick, just smash it through with a pickaxe."
"If the snowstorm is too severe, then we'll hunt wild animals and use their fur to keep warm."
"If the cold winter is too long, then let's prepare firewood in advance to melt the snow in anticipation of spring."
Talulah's voice grew increasingly impassioned; this Red Dragon with Victoria blood was now proud of Ursus.
"Countless hardships tried to overwhelm them, but they persevered and even grew stronger."
"Ursus has been established for nearly a thousand years, and the people of the snowfields have survived on this icy plain for even longer!"
Talulah tall, confident and proud.
"They are the most resilient people on this Daichi. They are exploited, abandoned, and consumed like objects—but they have never truly fallen."
She walked back to the bar and looked directly at Kashena.
"You're right, Miss Kashena. History is a very good teacher."
The girl reached out and gently stroked the booklet containing the names of the losers.
"The teacher has already told me what to do."
She looked up, her smile as radiant as a flame, burning brightly in the dimly lit bookstore.
"Fall down, then get back up."
"If you fail, try again."
"Little Tal... is it really okay to just agree on behalf of our mentor like this?"
"Um... it's just an academic discussion, I hope my supervisor won't mind?"
Talulah was a little unsure and looked hopefully at her friend.
"Why don't you Alina, plead with them..."
"Don't want."
"Hey↗↘↗--"
[Just let her go like that?]
"Otherwise what?"
Watching the two figures disappear into the distance, Kashena gently closed the door.
[... Don't tell me you were convinced by her.]
"..."
There was no response, Kashena returned to the bar and picked up the roster again.
[Ha... if she continues down this path, she'll become the 299th.]
Perhaps.
Kashena put the book away and looked at her shadow.
"But that's none of your business."
Are you really going to leave the group?
"Yes."
You are fighting against all Snake Scales.
"I'm just exploring a possibility."
Kashena gazed at the distorted shadow, her voice remaining calm.
"Just like we tried countless times, back when this land wasn't called Ursus."
[...]
[You are free, Kashena]
"..."
The shadow of the snake remained in his sight until it transformed back into human form.
Kashena turned around and began packing her luggage.
She needs to leave before the other Snake Scales arrive.
My appointment with the forest... will probably have to be postponed.
Those guys will definitely be waiting for her on the road; going there now would be like walking into a trap.
She needs an assistant.
A... sufficiently powerful helper.
As she left the store with her luggage, Kashena reminisced about her memories.
On the roadside, the two snow-shoveling duo, having finished their work, were chatting as they hurried home.
"It's settled then. I'll go to Chernobog tomorrow and ask around. I'm leaving my job to you..."
Kashena stopped in her tracks, suddenly remembering a piece of intelligence.
There was someone, someone who perfectly met her requirements.
Right now, in Chernobog.
"It's time we met..."
Kashena continued walking, towards the gradually darkening night.
"The [General] of Ursus"